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

[ksromack]

I don't know why I'm just thinking about this now, but does WDW not do any overlays like DL does?

I don't believe this is done at any of the WDW parks!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I don't know why I'm just thinking about this now, but does WDW not do any overlays like DL does?

WDW is considered more of a vacation destination and also a lot of "once in a lifetime" trips so they don't change up the rides DL is more of a locals' park so they do the holiday overlays to keep the locals interested.

 

[GizMo123]

I have been a long time lurker and finally decided to register!

I am going to Disneyland first and second week of December. I am so disappointed to here that CP has been reduced down to 2 nights! I was looking into booking the Ultimate Holiday Tour for this year just for the CP seating and the Parade seats!

Now I see that SM may be down too! That really bites big time! My fiance and I are huge Disney fanatics and were looking forward to all of that!

Oh well, at least we get to see Disney with all the Christmas decorations! I still cant wait (although my balloon just popped a little).

 

[ksromack]

I have been a long time lurker and finally decided to register!

I am going to Disneyland first and second week of December. I am so disappointed to here that CP has been reduced down to 2 nights! I was looking into booking the Ultimate Holiday Tour for this year just for the CP seating and the Parade seats!

Now I see that SM may be down too! That really bites big time! My fiance and I are huge Disney fanatics and were looking forward to all of that!

Oh well, at least we get to see Disney with all the Christmas decorations! I still cant wait (although my balloon just popped a little).

Welcome! We overlap a bit as we leave dec 9th. I' e never heard of the Ultimate Holiday Tour!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

WDW is considered more of a vacation destination and also a lot of "once in a lifetime" trips so they don't change up the rides DL is more of a locals' park so they do the holiday overlays to keep the locals interested.

Not to argue, but how is it to keep the locals interested? If they're local they can see it every holiday season - it's not really that new to them.

But more my point was along what Sherry was advising - that even the rumors of SM & BTMR end up being true, there are things unique that DL offers during the holiday season over WDW, so that all these people wanting to cancel their trips may have more to see than they realize. I just hope those people, while rightfully disappointed, can try to see the magic DL has to offer instead of going into with what they may be missing.

ETA: I do realize that DL is more of a local's park compared to WDW, so I'm not questioning that. Just how the overlays are for the locals.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Not to argue, but how is it to keep the locals interested? If they're local they can see it every holiday season - it's not really that new to them.

But more my point was along what Sherry was advising - that even the rumors of SM & BTMR end up being true, there are things unique that DL offers during the holiday season over WDW, so that all these people wanting to cancel their trips may have more to see than they realize. I just hope those people, while rightfully disappointed, can try to see the magic DL has to offer instead of going into with what they may be missing.

ETA: I do realize that DL is more of a local's park compared to WDW, so I'm not questioning that. Just how the overlays are for the locals.

I've heard that WDW will not do overlays because someone travelling from across the world would be expecting the ride they have always heard about and would be disappointed to find it different... Kind of like the birthday cake castle fiasco of 1997 I believe...

Whereas is DL is more locals and they are excited to see the rides different for the holidays so they would go more than one time a year... To see the rides without the holiday overlay and with the overlay.

 

[Sherry E]

It’s Monday -- and it’s time for the Theme Week Countdown!!

…12 Weeks Until the
Holiday Season Begins at Disneyland Resort!!!! ​

With each new week will come a different Disneyland Resort holiday theme!

As I have previously mentioned in this Superthread, I’ll be showcasing a particular aspect of DLR's holiday celebration each week until the start of November. There are many more themes to come over the next few months, including 11 main weekly themes (a new one every Monday through October 28, 2013); 6 ‘mini-themes’ which will be featured each day from 10/29/13 – 11/3/13, and a final “Holiday Cornucopia” theme on Monday, November 4th (there will be more details about what the “Cornucopia” can include when we get closer to that date!).

Theme Week Countdowns are a great way to keep the photos rolling in on a regular basis and build anticipation for November at the Disneyland Resort! They are also a way to display the different elements, nuances and details of the Holidays at DLR that may be totally new to some visitors...or previously unnoticed/undiscovered by others. Finally, this is an excellent way for our Theme Week Countdown participants to shine a light on their wonderful photos and attract visitors to their Trip Reports, blogs, etc.

Last week, we journeyed down the mystical, musical alleys of New Orleans Square and enjoyed Christmas with a Mardi Gras twist, including balconies draped in beads and lampposts adorned with mysterious masks. We also paid a visit to New Orleans Square’s most famous residence and met its temporary houseguest, Jack Skellington, as he attempted to put a bit of a “nightmarish” Halloween spin on the Yuletide season in Haunted Mansion Holiday. The week prior to that we discovered the many different types of themed Christmas Trees and Wreaths around Disneyland Resort.

So…what will be our third theme of 2013? Today we leave the Crescent City and expand our horizons to observe a bit of merry-making around the globe...

In the Spotlight this Week......

IT’S A SMALL WORLD HOLIDAY and FANTASYLAND!!!​

We all know the opening line…. “It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears…” (Some folks wish they could forget it!) For many of us, this song from Disneyland’s longstanding It’s a Small World attraction became one of our earliest introductions to Walt’s park, and has been embedded in our memory banks ever since. Ironically, something about the wide-eyed innocence of the message of unity and common bonds behind the song, as well as the Mary Blair-inspired dolls representing countries from around the globe, seems to either appeal to guests…or repel them!

It is true, It’s a Small World has become a ride that is often taken for granted and often ignored during visits to the Disneyland Resort. That is, until November rolls around….when the familiar whimsical façade gets a little face lift…and becomes It’s a Small World Holiday!!!

From November to mid-January (exact dates differ each year), It’s a Small World Holiday is one of the most popular attractions of the holiday season, and after dark is truly one of the most beautiful sights to see. At dusk, guests begin to flock from all corners of Disneyland Resort to gaze in awe at the brilliant colored lights which envelop IASWH – literally, thousands and thousands and thousands of lights that collectively glow like a beacon in the night. It is, quite simply, stunning. The code word for this week is: season. Even the surrounding area – the “Mall” – gets a makeover. The topiaries are adorned with lights, and special wreaths symbolizing various nations (with the same sort of playful design synonymous with It’s a Small World) mark a pathway to the ride. And those are only a few of the surprises you will discover.

But it’s not only the exterior of It’s a Small World that gets the seasonal treatment. The whole ride is transformed into a celebration of worldwide holidays. The famous dolls sing “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” (though, if you listen closely, you will notice that as you pass the “Little Mermaid” scene the lyrics change to “Jingle Shells”)….the faint scents of peppermint and pine fill the air in certain rooms…the colors are brighter and more vivid than usual...no corner is left unattended to. The details are just amazing!

If you love It’s a Small World and you love the Christmas season, you will absolutely adore It’s a Small World Holiday. If you don’t love IASW as a rule, you might just love this particular version of the ride because of the sheer beauty of it. Either way, it is a spectacle to behold!


Fantasyland – the land in which It’s a Small World is located – is, curiously, minimally decorated in November and December. This is notable as that area of the park would seem to potentially work well (thematically) with Christmas mini-villages and fairs along the lines of what you would find in several European countries. But if you look closely you will find a few little touches of the season here and there, such as on the Storybook Land boat ride, in the themed horticulture and in a few of the shops. You may even find Mary Poppins dancing to her favorite Christmas songs!

Fantasyland…



The sun shines on the Matterhorn in the distance, beyond the snowy peaks of the Fantasyland side of the Winter Castle…

The Storybook Land canal boat ride will take you through the villages in which some of our favorite Disney characters live – and, as you will see when you sail along, they decorate their cottages for Christmas too!

Mary Poppins and Bert will often stop in Fantasyland and dance to Christmas songs with guests!

Parterres…

It’s a Small World Holiday and IASW Mall, in the daytime…

Even the snack carts are decorated…

It’s a Small World Holiday and IASW Mall, after dark…

It’s a Small World Holiday, inside the ride…

​

I will post a few more photos later in the week, most likely.

Please feel free to post your photos of Disneyland Resort’s It’s a Small World Holiday and Fantasyland all this week, through Sunday, August 25th.

Then, stay tuned for our fourth theme on Monday, August 26th!! Some great themes are coming up in future weeks, so get your photos ready!

 

[tksbaskets]

I don't know why I'm just thinking about this now, but does WDW not do any overlays like DL does?

Nothing like this is done at WDW. They do decorate the parks and hotels very well but no re-theming of any rides.

Not that we didn't have a great vacation but I missed an entire theme week~

From our 2011/2012 trip:

2009:
Does this count as Fantasyland?

Had to get in early this week!!

TK

 

[crystal1313]

DS3 and DH watching the clock

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

You've given me another area to get some more photos of - I don't have many of Fantasyland that are of the area and not my kids!

Here is what I have. Some are from last year, but some will be from 2006/2007/2010.














This doesn't look like Christmas time, but it was!



And you'll forgive me for editing out my daughter's face (I hope!). Such a unique opportunity.

 

[Axlcat]

I must confess that once the "It's a Small World" theme gets in my head, it doesn't want to leave and that is not a good thing. I read recently of a person who was suing Disney because he somehow became trapped on this ride, and all I could think was - that poor man, having to listen to that song over and over and over. But I still manage to look forward to It's a Small World, and will be even more excited about it this time of year.

Thanks to everyone for all the beautiful photos. I hope to have plenty to share next year.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, TK, crystal1313 and Jamie, for the photos -- you've all got another entry into the random draw.

It usually takes me about 3.5 hours to put each one of the weekly themes together, between gathering my own photos from Photobucket, writing up the intros with some new text and/or piecing them together from previous years' Theme Weeks, revising, etc., but today it took me even longer because I was encountering browser issues (or PC issues -- not sure). Everything took so long and I was so frustrated. So I am just glad I got the theme posted at all!

​

I must confess that once the "It's a Small World" theme gets in my head, it doesn't want to leave and that is not a good thing. I read recently of a person who was suing Disney because he somehow became trapped on this ride, and all I could think was - that poor man, having to listen to that song over and over and over. But I still manage to look forward to It's a Small World, and will be even more excited about it this time of year.

Thanks to everyone for all the beautiful photos. I hope to have plenty to share next year.

Axlcat --

There are 2 holiday songs in IASWH (mentioned in above intro), so the regular song is not as prominent. Not that anyone would necessarily want to be trapped on the ride and listen to "Deck the Halls" on a loop either, but I'd rather have that happen to me than being trapped with the regular song (even though the regular song brings me back to my childhood DL trips).

 

[PHXscuba]

It usually takes me about 3.5 hours to put each one of the weekly themes together, between gathering my own photos from Photobucket, writing up the intros with some new text and/or piecing them together from previous years' Theme Weeks, revising, etc., but today it took me even longer because I was encountering browser issues (or PC issues -- not sure). Everything took so long and I was so frustrated. So I am just glad I got the theme posted at all!


There are 2 holiday songs in IASWH (mentioned in above intro), so the regular song is not as prominent. Not that anyone would necessarily want to be trapped on the ride and listen to "Deck the Halls" on a loop either, but I'd rather have that happen to me than being trapped with the regular song (even though the regular song brings me back to my childhood DL trips).

Sherry, were you able to get a new computer, or are you still fighting with the old one? I know a lot of people who are having trouble with their Windows-based computers -- our office just had to have its computers scrubbed of malware and my kids' computer has been fighting pop-ups even with security software.

And I am amazed at how well the usual It's A Small World song meshes with the Christmas songs. Those Sherman brothers are so talented!

Off to hunt down my IASWH and Storybook Canal photos!

PHXscuba

 

[funatdisney]

Lovin' all the pics so far.

PHXscuba you sure are right about the Sherman brothers! I had the pleasure and the honor of hearing Richard Sherman play It's A Small World in person at the 2011 D23 Expo. That was a moment! The Sherman Brothers are a treasure.

Some of my It's a Small world pics taken in 2012:

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet as long as they don't close Haunted Mansion Holiday and IASM Holiday overlay it will be worth your travels. There are so many little Disneyland moments to be had at Christmas. And so many big things like Billy Hill and the Hillbillies singing Christmas tunes, Carsland Christmas decorations, and a New World of Color to just name a few things. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed for SM to stay open.

Are you a fan of Nightmare Before Christmas?

Well, I'm afraid to answer. Neither Katie nor I are big NBC fans.

But I will say that we are still looking forward to seeing the overlay.

But we have made our peace. No matter what happens with SM and BTMRR we'll be going and looking forward to it. I went so far as to book the FFI today. I'd still like to find a way to stay at PPH but this will work if we just can't swing it.

Sherry, I'm looking forward to a week of IASW holiday and FL photos. That's right up our alley!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Well, I'm afraid to answer. Neither Katie nor I are big NBC fans.

But I will say that we are still looking forward to seeing the overlay.

But we have made our peace. No matter what happens with SM and BTMRR we'll be going and looking forward to it. I went so far as to book the FFI today. I'd still like to find a way to stay at PPH but this will work if we just can't swing it.

Sherry, I'm looking forward to a week of IASW holiday and FL photos. That's right up our alley!

I'm glad you're still going! I hope you have a wonderful trip

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm glad you're still going! I hope you have a wonderful trip

Awww..... thanks so much.

Now let's see some more photos everyone! I'm hoping I come back with a lot to share next year.

 

[Sherry E]

Liza -- You've got another entry into the random draw. Thanks for posting the photos.

Sherry, were you able to get a new computer, or are you still fighting with the old one? I know a lot of people who are having trouble with their Windows-based computers -- our office just had to have its computers scrubbed of malware and my kids' computer has been fighting pop-ups even with security software.

And I am amazed at how well the usual It's A Small World song meshes with the Christmas songs. Those Sherman brothers are so talented!

Off to hunt down my IASWH and Storybook Canal photos!

PHXscuba

PHX --

It doesn't have to be Storybook Land Canal boat photos (unless you have those to post) -- just IASWH and then anything in Fantasyland (Storybook Land or otherwise) that is holiday-ish.

No. I don't have a new computer. So the problems with this one are because it's old and the hard drive is bad -- and the OS acts up because of it. Then, everything else (software, browsers, word processing programs, etc.) acts up too.

It's a project to do the Theme Weeks. It's a labor of love, but it is a big project that requires a lot of time.

Sherry, I'm looking forward to a week of IASW holiday and FL photos. That's right up our alley!

Janet --

Good! To be honest, last week and the week before (New Orleans Square/Haunted Mansion Holiday & Trees/Wreaths, respectively) probably produced more of a variety of photos -- there are all sorts of trees and wreaths around DLR, and New Orleans Square's Mardi Gras-inspired decorations are exquisite even without the added Haunted Mansion Holiday factor. This week's theme may not yield as much of a variety because -- as I mentioned in my above intro -- Fantasyland has minimal decor, and IASWH is just one ride and one general area.

But, what you will see in everyone's IASWH photos will be colorful, fun and detailed!

I know of at least 4 other Theme Week participants who have awesome IASWH photos, but there are probably many others I haven't even thought of who do as well. I don't doubt we will see a lot of photos in the next couple of days!

P.S. Haunted Mansion Holiday has a fun hidden Mickey that is there during the holiday season (and not during Halloween Time) -- it's a 'snowdrift'-esque Mickey shape on the ballroom floor, over to the far right. It used to be underneath a window, and then it moved more inward. It kind of looks more like a giant Mickey-shaped cotton ball or bathroom rug than it does snow, though.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

Good! To be honest, last week and the week before (New Orleans Square/Haunted Mansion Holiday & Trees/Wreaths, respectively) probably produced more of a variety of photos -- there are all sorts of trees and wreaths around DLR, and New Orleans Square's Mardi Gras-inspired decorations are exquisite even without the added Haunted Mansion Holiday factor. This week's theme may not yield as much of a variety because -- as I mentioned in my above intro -- Fantasyland has minimal decor, and IASWH is just one ride and one general area.

But, what you will see in everyone's IASWH photos will be colorful, fun and detailed!

I know of at least 4 other Theme Week participants who have awesome IASWH photos, but there are probably many others I haven't even thought of who do as well. I don't doubt we will see a lot of photos in the next couple of days!

P.S. Haunted Mansion Holiday has a fun hidden Mickey that is there during the holiday season (and not during Halloween Time) -- it's a 'snowdrift'-esque Mickey shape on the ballroom floor, over to the far right. It used to be underneath a window, and then it moved more inward. It kind of looks more like a giant Mickey-shaped cotton ball or bathroom rug than it does snow, though.

Thanks Sherry! I really did enjoy the fist week with all the trees and wreaths. I was just a little distracted getting my son ready for school.

I just read Katie the description of the hidden Mickey so we can both remember to look for it.

 

[ksromack]

Please feel free to post your photos of Disneyland Resort’s It’s a Small World Holiday and Fantasyland all this week, through Sunday, August 25th.

It's a Small World is my FAVorite ride!!!!! On one of our trips to WDW this ride was down for renovations......it honestly put a huge damper on my trip

I love the facade at the DL version of IASW and I'm really looking forward to seeing it in person!