Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #3!- HOLIDAYS BEGIN 11/12/13!!

[mvf-m11c]

Critter Country

 

[dizneekrazee]

Hi!!

Our holiday trip is quickly approaching, just 20 days to go. I know the parks will be decked out for the holidays, but what about the hotels? We are staying at GCH, and was hoping to see a nice, big tree in the lobby to surprise the kids!! (They think we are staying at PPH again).

 

[Sherry E]

I've been super busy yesterday and today, and have not had a chance to post or reply as much as I usually would, so I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I've logged all of the entries into the random draw (by way of weekly theme posts or mini-daily theme posts). I haven't overlooked anyone! In fact, I'm glad to see that we've had more entries into today's theme since I last checked in.

All of the mini-daily post entrants yesterday and today have earned TWO entries each for getting the photos in by the deadline (11:59 PST). I gave JediMasterNerd one entry (even though he was late!!) just for trying to make it in on time, but next time -- post before midnight!!!

PHXscuba got another entry into the random draw for her weekly theme entry.

crystal1313 -- Yes, I guess that picture from yesterday's mini-theme counts. It's not a Christmas tree, per se. If it were a Christmas tree I would say that it doesn't work in the Holiday Flowers & Plants theme. But it's basically a regular tree...which is a giant plant.

Hi!!

Our holiday trip is quickly approaching, just 20 days to go. I know the parks will be decked out for the holidays, but what about the hotels? We are staying at GCH, and was hoping to see a nice, big tree in the lobby to surprise the kids!! (They think we are staying at PPH again).

dizneekrazee --

The hotels' decorations are typically not up until Thanksgiving or the day after. The GCH gets decorated first, then the DLH (but usually on the same day), then the PPH.

This year, because Thanksgiving is taking place so late in November and Hanukkah is also starting on that same date, I'm not sure if the decorators might make an extra effort to get the decorations up a bit early. If so, it wouldn't be more than a few days early. At the earliest, by the weekend before Thanksgiving but I think that's even a stretch. In other words, if you're talking about being at DLR on November 20th, I think that will be too early for decorations. It can't hurt to check the hotels because you never know, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[blue888]

Anyone else excited to see what new details Disney is adding tomorrow? They said to watch for more updates on Nov 1st!

 

[pattyduke34]

A few more here

ooppsss that did not work! lol hope this works...here they are..

 

[JediMasterNerd]

Boy, these themes make me realize how much we missed last year!! Of course we were always busy and saw and did so much, I guess you can't fit it all in within one visit. We never made it to Critter Country!! But we did hit Grizzly Peak a LITTLE bit - though this photo does NOT contain the decorations that are part of the theme... I think I was just enthralled with LOOKING at everything that I didn't think about photos of the decorations! Oh well... Maybe I'll have something good for the next theme!

J.

 

[Sherry E]

Now that we are in November (and the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas 2-month movie marathon begins tonight!), as far as I’m concerned it is officially the holiday season (in my own mind, anyway)! Some may not agree, but either way -- it’s Friday, which means it’s time for another theme in the rapid fire Daily Countdown to the holiday season at Disneyland Resort!!!!

…11 Days Until the
Holiday Season Begins at Disneyland Resort!!!! ​

Each day this week – from Tuesday, October 29th through Sunday, November 3rd – there has been or will be a new Disneyland Resort holiday mini-theme!! Unlike the weekly themes, the photos for the daily mini-themes may only be posted on the days the themes go up in order to earn entries into the random draw to win the $25 Disney gift card. If you don’t have photos to fit the daily themes, check back on the following day as there will be a new theme posted every morning (times may differ).

The weekly theme – which is currently “Disneyland Resort - Holidays Gone By” – is still active and open for photos from now through Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Several people may have photos to fit the daily mini-themes, but will they be able to post them in time to earn an entry? Let’s see if everyone can rise to the challenge and get their photos for the daily themes in on time. Muahahahahahahaha! Anyone who can get his/her pictures in on the days the mini-daily themes go up [by 11:59 p.m., Pacific Standard Time] will receive TWO entries for each photo contribution!!

Anyone who is not able to get photos posted on the day of each mini-theme but would still like to post the photos may do so when we get to our final weekly theme – “Holiday Cornucopia” (on Monday, November 4th).


So…what will be our seventeenth overall theme (and fourth daily theme) of 2013? Yesterday we observed how critters of one variety celebrate Christmas at DLR. Today, we observe how critters of a slightly different kind observe Christmas!!

In the Spotlight Today...

A BUG’S LAND!!!​

Much like Toontown, New Orleans Square and Cars Land, the Christmas decorations you find in A Bug’s Land in California Adventure are whimsically unlike any decorations you will find anywhere else in Disneyland Resort. They are very specific to the theme of the land, and really could not fit with any other area of the Resort.

As soon as you enter Flik’s Fun Fair you see that the Bugs have been getting ready for the holidays, stringing up giant (to us) colored lights and setting up enormous ornaments. Flik even puts on a special “red suit” for the occasion!

You will notice that the seasonal touches in A Bug’s Land are not overdone in that they are fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things – and in sharp contrast to other areas of Disneyland Resort – but they are minimal in an oversized way, of course!! The code word for today is: simple. In other words, there are no Christmas trees taking center stage. There are no reindeer prancing ‘round the shrubbery. There are no gingerbread houses or giant snowmen or snowflakes nestled in the foliage. What is there, however, is very fitting to A Bug’s Land’s theme and it is enough to indicate that these kinds of critters love to celebrate the holiday season too!

December 2011


Someone is wearing his Santa outfit (or at least part of it!)…

Giant Christmas lights…

Giant ornaments…

Miscellaneous…

November 2012

…With a certain menacing tower in the background…

Someone’s hiding in the shadows…

​

Please feel free to post your Bug’s Land photos today only. A new daily mini-theme will go up tomorrow, Saturday, November 2nd, 2013.

Also, please continue to post your Holidays Gone By pictures all week long (through Sunday, November 3rd, 2013, 11 p.m. PST), if you have them.

 

[ksromack]

-- it’s Friday, which means it’s time for another theme in the rapid fire Daily Countdown to the holiday season at Disneyland Resort!!!!

Somebody is up early today!!!!!!

So, Sherry.......how do you make your TR in your siggy show up as a title and not a link? I JUST started my TR from WDW from Dec 2012 and I don't know how to do that......

Here's a fun fact.....we'll be in DLR exactly a month from now. Today I made my Holiday Tour reservation for Dec 1st, 3:45 (or maybe it was 3:30)?

 

[mvf-m11c]

 

[ksromack]

And lovely......a shooting at LAX, live reporting on our news.....it makes you wonder how many poor folks had flown in there for a trip to DLR/DCA?

 

[Sherry E]

Somebody is up early today!!!!!!

So, Sherry.......how do you make your TR in your siggy show up as a title and not a link? I JUST started my TR from WDW from Dec 2012 and I don't know how to do that......

Here's a fun fact.....we'll be in DLR exactly a month from now. Today I made my Holiday Tour reservation for Dec 1st, 3:45 (or maybe it was 3:30)?

Kathy --

Sadly, I am usually up early. I don't think I could sleep in if I wanted to! For one thing, these people who moved in above me earlier this year make a lot of noise and constantly wake me up in the middle of the night just by talking loudly at odd hours or stomping across the hard floor in boots or heels or whatever. To be honest, that's one reason I'm looking forward to my DLR holiday visit -- I can sleep! I can sleep without being awakened in the middle of the night by loud, obnoxious neighbors. I will be sooooooo happy to get away from them for a brief time.

Sometimes I am able to get the themes posted to this thread earlier than other times, depending on what else I have to do around here, depending on whether or not my computer and browser are cooperating, and also depending on whether or not I have to pull all of the photos directly from Photobucket (which may be acting up) or can just go to one of my saved files and copy the links. I try to never get the themes posted any later than 11:00 a.m., if at all possible, and usually not earlier than 7 a.m. -- but it can vary.

Anyway -- about your TR and linking it. You have to use the "Insert Link" feature.

1. First, copy the direct link to the TR in the browser's address/search bar above.

2. Then type out the name of your TR in your signature or in the post where you want the title to show. Highlight that title with your mouse and leave it highlighted.

3. Then, open up the Insert Link feature (when you open up any text box to post or reply, it is the icon directly between the Increase Indent feature and the Remove Link feature). It's the icon with the globe and a link.

4. When that Insert Link box pops up, delete the http:// business that shows up in it because that will already be in the link to the TR that you copied. Insert the link from your TR in that box and click OK. Voila! You will see that the link codes are now in brackets around the title of your TR, and the title will show in your signature instead of the actual link/address.




Here is your TR title/link the way you want it to look -- if you Quote this post, you will see the full link with codes the way you want it in the text box, and you can just copy and paste that into your signature if you have a hard time with Insert Link:

My FIRST trip report EVER: We're 2 Empty-Nesters on the Deluxe DDP! December 2012 trip to Orlando.....

 

[ksromack]

Here is your TR title/link the way you want it to look -- if you Quote this post, you will see the full link with codes the way you want it in the text box, and you can just copy and paste that into your signature if you have a hard time with Insert Link:

My FIRST trip report EVER: We're 2 Empty-Nesters on the Deluxe DDP! December 2012 trip to Orlando.....

I did it! Thank you!

 

[ksromack]

The holiday season really has arrived.....I just got an email from Starbucks saying that the RED cups are in......

Can you tell I'm off work today? I should be doing something around the house...and yet, here I am.

 

[Sherry E]

Bret -- Great photos from A Bug's Land! The time of night that you were there -- before the sky had completely gone dark -- lends itself well to some of the pictures. You've got TWO more entries into the random draw for that contribution to the daily mini-theme.

JediMasterNerd and pattyduke34 -- You each received two entries into the random draw for your Critter Country/Grizzly Peak contributions

The holiday season really has arrived.....I just got an email from Starbucks saying that the RED cups are in......

Can you tell I'm off work today? I should be doing something around the house...and yet, here I am.

Kathy --

You mentioned the holiday season arriving and the Starbucks RED cups. That means that they should have their peppermint drinks and brownies in stock around now.

You know, every year at this time -- for, say, the first 2-1/2 weeks of November -- I never know if it is 'safe' to wish anyone Happy Holidays, Happy Thanksgiving, Seasons Greetings, etc. In my mind (as I stated in my theme entry earlier this morning), the holidays officially begin when November hits. In my mind, if the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas has begun, it's now the holiday season.

I was already in unofficial holiday mode in October, but I think that November is really the time when it is acceptable to say "Happy Holidays!" at the grocery store or the bank, or the Subway shop around the corner! I recall that last year I said it to someone in my building, and I think it must have been around November 6th or 7th. He looked at me strangely, as if this was unheard of. I said, "Too early? I'm not sure." He just mumbled something about getting food at McDonald's and then walked away.

I wonder if people don't like to hear Happy Holidays too early because it just reminds them that the really big holidays are coming up fast -- Thanksgiving and Christmas -- and they can't delay them. I also wonder if people don't want to hear a holiday greeting before Veterans Day, if there is maybe some unspoken barrier prohibiting holiday wishes before 11/11.

On one occasion I said "Happy Holidays" to a PhotoPass photographer in DCA a couple of years back (in December), and a guy who was waiting to have his picture taken in line behind me said, loudly and with snark, "Merry Christmas!" It wasn't like he was saying it to extend a festive greeting to me. It was as if he was correcting me in a nasty way.

I wanted to say, but didn't, "Hey, look, dude, I celebrate Christmas. I grew up celebrating Christmas. I love Christmas songs. I love Christmas trees. I love Christmas TV specials and movies. That's my holiday. Therefore, I have no problem with people wishing me a Merry Christmas. However, not all people celebrate Christmas. Many people don't...but they may celebrate Thanksgiving. They may celebrate Hanukkah. They may celebrate New Year's Eve. They may celebrate lesser-known holidays that fall within the November-December-early January time frame. It's the general holiday season. I don't know what each person celebrates, so I say 'Happy Holidays.'"

It used to be that people didn't like hearing "Merry Christmas" -- understandably, if they do not observe that holiday. But is it now not even okay to say "Happy Holidays"? I'm confused. I don't know what it acceptable to say or not to say, and when it's acceptable to say it!


Yay! You got the TR link worked out! I didn't know how to do the link at first either (when I first joined this board). I had to ask another DIS'er for help.



Are you caught up with all of the themes and code words (without giving anything away)? Including today's theme, you should have a list of 17 Themes and 17 code words so far. There are 3 more coming: 2 more mini-themes, tomorrow and on Sunday, and then the final "Holiday Cornucopia" theme on Monday (which will be valid all next week).

So, really, the code word challenge winner could win as soon as I put up the Holiday Cornucopia theme on Monday if he/she has been keeping a complete, accurate list of all of the themes and code words, in order, and if he/she has already figured out the song to which the code words belong. I'm afraid that some folks may be anxious to get their post with the list in on Monday and may either overlook something they should have added in, or not double check to be sure the list is accurate, in order and complete.

If the list has been kept complete and accurate up until Monday, and the song has already been secretly guessed, all it will take is speed -- the first person to post the complete and accurate list with the correct song is the one that wins.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sherry, I thought of you and your love of the holidays yesterday at Wal-Mart. I bought a small fiber optic tree to stuff in my suitcase to decorate our room. Here it was Halloween and I was buying a Christmas tree. The guy looked at the tree, then looked at me and just said "Really?" I just looked at him and said "Yep. Really."

I didn't get into the whole "I'm going to Disney and now that Halloween is over it seems so much closer" thing...... but I held my ground and bought the tree.

 

[julieheyer]

Bret -- Great photos from A Bug's Land! The time of night that you were there -- before the sky had completely gone dark -- lends itself well to some of the pictures. You've got TWO more entries into the random draw for that contribution to the daily mini-theme.

JediMasterNerd and pattyduke34 -- You each received two entries into the random draw for your Critter Country/Grizzly Peak contributions

Kathy --

You mentioned the holiday season arriving and the Starbucks RED cups. That means that they should have their peppermint drinks and brownies in stock around now.

You know, every year at this time -- for, say, the first 2-1/2 weeks of November -- I never know if it is 'safe' to wish anyone Happy Holidays, Happy Thanksgiving, Seasons Greetings, etc. In my mind (as I stated in my theme entry earlier this morning), the holidays officially begin when November hits. In my mind, if the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas has begun, it's now the holiday season.

I was already in unofficial holiday mode in October, but I think that November is really the time when it is acceptable to say "Happy Holidays!" at the grocery store or the bank, or the Subway shop around the corner! I recall that last year I said it to someone in my building, and I think it must have been around November 6th or 7th. He looked at me strangely, as if this was unheard of. I said, "Too early? I'm not sure." He just mumbled something about getting food at McDonald's and then walked away.

I wonder if people don't like to hear Happy Holidays too early because it just reminds them that the really big holidays are coming up fast -- Thanksgiving and Christmas -- and they can't delay them. I also wonder if people don't want to hear a holiday greeting before Veterans Day, if there is maybe some unspoken barrier prohibiting holiday wishes before 11/11.

On one occasion I said "Happy Holidays" to a PhotoPass photographer in DCA a couple of years back (in December), and a guy who was waiting to have his picture taken in line behind me said, loudly and with snark, "Merry Christmas!" It wasn't like he was saying it to extend a festive greeting to me. It was as if he was correcting me in a nasty way.

I wanted to say, but didn't, "Hey, look, dude, I celebrate Christmas. I grew up celebrating Christmas. I love Christmas songs. I love Christmas trees. I love Christmas TV specials and movies. That's my holiday. Therefore, I have no problem with people wishing me a Merry Christmas. However, not all people celebrate Christmas. Many people don't...but they may celebrate Thanksgiving. They may celebrate Hanukkah. They may celebrate New Year's Eve. They may celebrate lesser-known holidays that fall within the November-December-early January time frame. It's the general holiday season. I don't know what each person celebrates, so I say 'Happy Holidays.'"

It used to be that people didn't like hearing "Merry Christmas" -- understandably, if they do not observe that holiday. But is it now not even okay to say "Happy Holidays"? I'm confused. I don't know what it acceptable to say or not to say, and when it's acceptable to say it!

Yay! You got the TR link worked out! I didn't know how to do the link at first either (when I first joined this board). I had to ask another DIS'er for help.

Are you caught up with all of the themes and code words (without giving anything away)? Including today's theme, you should have a list of 17 Themes and 17 code words so far. There are 3 more coming: 2 more mini-themes, tomorrow and on Sunday, and then the final "Holiday Cornucopia" theme on Monday (which will be valid all next week).

So, really, the code word challenge winner could win as soon as I put up the Holiday Cornucopia theme on Monday if he/she has been keeping a complete, accurate list of all of the themes and code words, in order, and if he/she has already figured out the song to which the code words belong. I'm afraid that some folks may be anxious to get their post with the list in on Monday and may either overlook something they should have added in, or not double check to be sure the list is accurate, in order and complete.

If the list has been kept complete and accurate up until Monday, and the song has already been secretly guessed, all it will take is speed -- the first person to post the complete and accurate list with the correct song is the one that wins.

It's funny how so many people get touchy about those things. I do remember, growing up, that "Merry Christmas" was in stores, on ads, etc. now they all say "Happy Holidays" yet still sport a Christmas tree, etc,? I think we've taken "political correctness" too far. It's kind of you to be sensitive to others, but I'm not offended if someone wishes me a "Happy Chanukah" or a "Happy Quanza",etc. I politely reply "same to you, thank you"! I don't know many atheists, but would they really take offense to a Christmas or holiday greeting? Probably not. I would certainly never inflict my own personal belief on others around me, but would hope we could all get along . I'm sad people take everything so personally (not you, the guy). In this day and age, I'm actually pleasantly surprised if someone actually talks to me! So many social skills have suffered through this digital age, eye contact, smile and greeting? Rare!! Sigh. Just came to mind reading this .

Got more peppermint ice cream today, and always think of Sherry and this thread when I do!

36 days until we arrive at DLR!!!! You early folks are so lucky!!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I thought of you and your love of the holidays yesterday at Wal-Mart. I bought a small fiber optic tree to stuff in my suitcase to decorate our room. Here it was Halloween and I was buying a Christmas tree. The guy looked at the tree, then looked at me and just said "Really?" I just looked at him and said "Yep. Really."

I didn't get into the whole "I'm going to Disney and now that Halloween is over it seems so much closer" thing...... but I held my ground and bought the tree.

Janet -

Was it the guy who rang you up when you bought the tree who made the "Really?" comment? If so, what is he talking about? It's his store that is selling the tree for you to buy! If it was another customer who said it, that's an entirely different thing. Why do any stores carry any holiday stuff early if they don't want people to buy it? Clearly someone must be buying it early because the merchandise is showing up early every year.

In any case, people do buy things ahead of time to get prepared -- for entertaining, for traveling, etc. Sometimes some of the better sales on holiday stuff are during a non-holiday season (like before November). Also, if everyone waited until after Thanksgiving to buy anything holiday-ish the stores and malls would be even more crowded in that post-Thanksgiving/pre-December 25th time frame, if that is possible, and some merchandise will be gone. I think it's a great thing that people have the option to buy holiday stuff early if they want it.

Will the fiber optic tree travel well, being stuffed in the suitcase?

I've never packed a small tree, though I adore the idea of having one in the room (if only those darn trees offered by the Vacation Planning/Disney Gifts folks weren't so expensive). I think that if and when I ever stay at DLR over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I will have to have some kind of tiny tree.

 

[Phoenixrising]

Murphy's law states that the second I have a pile of pics printed off so I can wipe my memory card in prep for a trip, that something will happen so that I have to get more pics developed. Case in point this morning. I had gone to Costco to get a pile of pics printed off. As I approached our street there was one of our neighbours house fully engaged in fire. I grabbed the camera and took some pics of course, as I'm just as rabid of a photographer as Sherry is. The people who lived there are OK, but they've lost everything, and I doubt they have insurance. I really feel bad for them as they are an older couple and have been burned out of their home. Since I beat the media to the fire, I contacted one of the local papers and one of the best pics will be published in their paper. Now I have to get those pics printed off, but may use the printer I've got at home to do it, as there is not enough in the camera to do a Costco run. We had a really quiet Halloween with not many kids coming to the door. Now that It's Nov 1st, time to really ramp up preparations for both trips. As for Christmas I tend to shop year round, as I can find better deals other than the time leading up to Christmas. By the end of Nov I usually have around 90% of my shopping done, just have to pick up the stocking stuffers. DH on the other hand waits till the last possible second to shop, and it's not uncommon for him to shop on Christmas Eve.

 

[Sherry E]

It's funny how so many people get touchy about those things. I do remember, growing up, that "Merry Christmas" was in stores, on ads, etc. now they all say "Happy Holidays" yet still sport a Christmas tree, etc,? I think we've taken "political correctness" too far. It's kind of you to be sensitive to others, but I'm not offended if someone wishes me a "Happy Chanukah" or a "Happy Quanza",etc. I politely reply "same to you, thank you"! I don't know many atheists, but would they really take offense to a Christmas or holiday greeting? Probably not. I would certainly never inflict my own personal belief on others around me, but would hope we could all get along . I'm sad people take everything so personally (not you, the guy). In this day and age, I'm actually pleasantly surprised if someone actually talks to me! So many social skills have suffered through this digital age, eye contact, smile and greeting? Rare!! Sigh. Just came to mind reading this .

Got more peppermint ice cream today, and always think of Sherry and this thread when I do!

36 days until we arrive at DLR!!!! You early folks are so lucky!!

Julie --

So your store still had the ice cream in stock! I haven't been back to my Ralphs store since I nabbed the 3 cartons of "real" Peppermint Wonderland ice cream, though if I had any sense I would high-tail it over there today to cash in on the 70% off Halloween items (the store throws any leftover holiday stuff -- edible and decorative -- into sales racks and bins as soon as the holiday has ended, and you can get really cheap things). I am reluctant to check the ice cream situation again because, if I were to see more of the Grand ice cream on the shelf, I would be tempted to snap up even more of it to hoard in my freezer. If all I saw was the useless Slow Churned nonsense, I would probably end up hanging on to what's in my freezer for the next 3 holiday seasons and never eating it!

While I'm envious of the folks who get to begin their holiday vacations this month rather than next month, I also know that I would feel like I was missing something if I went to DLR before Thanksgiving. I like to be there when everything is in full holiday swing -- the hotels, Downtown Disney, all of it. I would miss seeing the carolers and Santa in the various hotel lobbies. I would miss seeing the gingerbread house in Storytellers Cafe. I love December trips.

I still can't figure out why there are apparently going to be carolers in Downtown Disney early in December, for one day only, and then not again for another 11 days or so. That makes no sense to me. If it's December, can't they get some carolers to come out and sing a few songs each day/night? If the carolers can stroll through the hotels every day and night, I don't see why they couldn't perform in DTD too. I won't be able to see the DTD carolers, but I hope all of the hotel carolers are in place when I'm there!

You're right -- I think people have gotten too sensitive and PC about holiday greetings, and it can make a lot of us uncomfortable! Then again, a lot of the reason why certain people don't like Christmas in the first place is that they feel it evokes a certain "phony" element. They feel that people are acting out of artificial niceness and that there is "forced cheer." So I suppose that wishing holiday greetings to folks who look at it that way would be seen as being phony.

The thing is, while I can totally see what people mean when they say that everyone is phony, not real and overly nice at Christmas time (funny -- I think that people often tend to be phony and not who they really are on Facebook!), the way I look at it is... what's wrong with forcing ourselves to be nice during a particular season, even if we aren't necessarily feeling upbeat or in the spirit? Being kind and friendly to people is never a bad thing, even just for the 2 seconds it takes to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or whatever the greeting of choice may be.

Yes, the warm feelings, kind wishes and sentiments should be present year round and not just at Christmas. But they often aren't. Yes, people should show their loved ones how they feel year round, and not just on Valentine's Day. But they often don't. Yes, people should give thanks and be thankful and appreciative year round, and not just at Thanksgiving. But they often don't. And yes, people should make "resolutions" to be better, act better, eat better, live better, spend better, be more responsible, exercise more, etc., year-round...and not just for the New Year. But do they always do it that way? Probably not.

So I feel that there is nothing wrong with a day -- or a season -- to 'remind' us to be kind, to be upbeat, to spread cheer, to exchange a smile with a stranger, to be thankful, to show someone we care, or whatever, even if it is forced, even if it is manufactured and commercialized and all of that stuff that people complain about! Basically, all of the commercialization is just a way to make things more lively and festive, for a longer period of time (and yes, get people to spend money to do it).

I'm all for being festive and I'm all for relishing and enjoying all holidays! I will say "Happy Valentiine's Day" or "Happy St. Patrick's Day" to a cashier at the store if I feel like it! I will say "Happy Easter" to the Vons grocery delivery guy. I, of course, will say "Happy Halloween" to anyone who will listen. There is nothing wrong with being nice, and being in the spirit!

Murphy's law states that the second I have a pile of pics printed off so I can wipe my memory card in prep for a trip, that something will happen so that I have to get more pics developed. Case in point this morning. I had gone to Costco to get a pile of pics printed off. As I approached our street there was one of our neighbours house fully engaged in fire. I grabbed the camera and took some pics of course, as I'm just as rabid of a photographer as Sherry is. The people who lived there are OK, but they've lost everything, and I doubt they have insurance. I really feel bad for them as they are an older couple and have been burned out of their home. Since I beat the media to the fire, I contacted one of the local papers and one of the best pics will be published in their paper. Now I have to get those pics printed off, but may use the printer I've got at home to do it, as there is not enough in the camera to do a Costco run. We had a really quiet Halloween with not many kids coming to the door. Now that It's Nov 1st, time to really ramp up preparations for both trips. As for Christmas I tend to shop year round, as I can find better deals other than the time leading up to Christmas. By the end of Nov I usually have around 90% of my shopping done, just have to pick up the stocking stuffers. DH on the other hand waits till the last possible second to shop, and it's not uncommon for him to shop on Christmas Eve.

Trish --

Your poor neighbors. That's so awful. Do they know what the cause of the fire was? I can imagine how distressing it must be for them, being older and now having lost everything they have probably held onto for decades.

That's great that one of your photos will be used in the paper, although the photo was taken under such dire circumstances. Does your paper need to have the actual printed copies of the photos, or can't they use the digital files if you were to email them? Could you just save the fire pictures to your computer to free up space on your memory card?

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet -

Was it the guy who rang you up when you bought the tree who made the "Really?" comment? If so, what is he talking about? It's his store that is selling the tree for you to buy! If it was another customer who said it, that's an entirely different thing. Why do any stores carry any holiday stuff early if they don't want people to buy it? Clearly someone must be buying it early because the merchandise is showing up early every year.

In any case, people do buy things ahead of time to get prepared -- for entertaining, for traveling, etc. Sometimes some of the better sales on holiday stuff are during a non-holiday season (like before November). Also, if everyone waited until after Thanksgiving to buy anything holiday-ish the stores and malls would be even more crowded in that post-Thanksgiving/pre-December 25th time frame, if that is possible, and some merchandise will be gone. I think it's a great thing that people have the option to buy holiday stuff early if they want it.

Will the fiber optic tree travel well, being stuffed in the suitcase?

I've never packed a small tree, though I adore the idea of having one in the room (if only those darn trees offered by the Vacation Planning/Disney Gifts folks weren't so expensive). I think that if and when I ever stay at DLR over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I will have to have some kind of tiny tree.

Sherry, it was the clerk a the register who made the comment. It was tongue in cheek, and all good fun, but yes, it was in HIS store.

We've brought trees a couple times. I have a small pink tree I bought one year after Christmas for $3. I intended to gift it to someone on my way out but ended up keeping it since it folded down so small in my suitcase. It wasn't prelit though and I didn't like how the lights looked in daylight so I liked the idea of the fiber optic tree where I wouldn't need to add lights. I got a $10 Wal-Mart gift card for using Ebates to buy our park tickets so I used it on the $15 tree.

I think it will do OK in the suitcase, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. And if it fits, we'll bring it back home. If it doesn't, no big loss.

Here's our tree from 2010:


IMG_6340-1 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

We have really enjoyed decorating our window at WDW too, but are sad PPH doesn't lend itself well to that. We still might put some lights in the window but probably will pass on anything else. Here are a couple of our prior windows:


IMG_6338-1 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_9961 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


IMG_9810a by mom2rtk, on Flickr