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

[danimaroo]

YAY! I've got a bunch for this week, so look out belooooow!

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[Sherry E]

danimaroo --

You were one of the ones I knew for sure had a whole bunch of IASWH photos (because I know you loved seeing it lit up at night!), so I knew this would be a Theme Week with your name written all over it!



(Now waiting for Bret/mvf-m11c to post his pictures...)

 

[ksromack]

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!

Guess what? I HAVE NEVER SEEN NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I know, right? I am ordering it this month, though........I'm getting it from my disney movie club......we splurged this year with our income tax refund and bought a 60" HD 3D plasma tv for our bedroom. I've heard that NBC is a good movie to get in 3D so I do try and get 3D movies when they are available...

 

[KCmike]

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 bet after seeing this overlay you will go back and watch the movie all over again and enjoy it more! We love it so much! On my wife and I's anniversary we rode it so many times. We can't get enough! This will be the kids first time riding it since 2007 when we went for Halloween and its the overlay's big 13th anniversary I think it is. They are doing extra special things this year! Woo Hoo.

Hope you like the Fairfield Inn. We think its the best on Harbor Blvd. It doesn't hurt that its next to Mickey D's for a quick bite in the morning or late at night.

Mike

 

[mom2rtk]

Guess what? I HAVE NEVER SEEN NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I know, right? I am ordering it this month, though........I'm getting it from my disney movie club......we splurged this year with our income tax refund and bought a 60" HD 3D plasma tv for our bedroom. I've heard that NBC is a good movie to get in 3D so I do try and get 3D movies when they are available...

What time should we be over with the popcorn? I'll need about 4 hours lead time..........

I bet after seeing this overlay you will go back and watch the movie all over again and enjoy it more! We love it so much! On my wife and I's anniversary we rode it so many times. We can't get enough! This will be the kids first time riding it since 2007 when we went for Halloween and its the overlay's big 13th anniversary I think it is. They are doing extra special things this year! Woo Hoo.

Hope you like the Fairfield Inn. We think its the best on Harbor Blvd. It doesn't hurt that its next to Mickey D's for a quick bite in the morning or late at night.

Mike

Next to Mickey D's, huh? Heck, that's almost as good as a refillable mug!

And hope you are right and we come away with a newfound interest in the movie!

 

[Sherry E]

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.

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!

Janet & Kathy -

I can tell you that -- love it or hate it -- you will both probably agree that the NBC overlay/Haunted Mansion Holiday is very detailed, if nothing else. You will probably be surprised at how thorough of an overlay it actually is. It's not like they just stuck a random prop from "Nightmare Before Christmas" here and there. Disney really did an extensive job on this ride, which I think is what delights and annoys people! Lol.

Now you still may end up disliking HMH -- some people love it; some hate it; some disliked it at first and then grew to tolerate it over time. It is a very polarizing ride. But at least there is a lot to look at in the ride, if nothing else! And the smell of gingerbread when you get to the ballroom/dining room scene is a fabulous touch!

Likewise, in certain rooms of IASW Holiday you will smell things like very faint peppermint and pine. Also, IASWH is extremely detailed too, to fit with the holiday theme.

I think you will both love IASWH, but I'm not sure if you'll love HMH. Either way, they are both things you can't find at WDW so that is something to look forward to!

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet & Kathy -

I can tell you that -- love it or hate it -- you will both probably agree that the overlay on Haunted Mansion Holiday is very detailed, if nothing else. You will probably be surprised at how thorough of an overlay it actually is. It's not like they just stuck a random prop from "Nightmare Before Christmas" here and there. Disney really did an extensive job on this ride.

Now you still may end up disliking HMH -- some people love it; some hate it; some disliked it at first and then grew to tolerate it over time. It is a very polarizing ride. But at least there is a lot to look at in the ride, if nothing else! And the smell of gingerbread when you get to the ballroom/dining room scene is a fabulous touch!

Likewise, in certain rooms of IASW Holiday, you will smell things like very faint peppermint and pine. Also, IASWH is extremely detailed too, to fit with the holiday theme.

I think you will both love IASWH, but I'm not sure if you'll love HMH. Either way, they are both things you can't find at WDW so that is something to look forward to!

I actually expect to enjoy it, precisely for the reason you stated. I want to see things that are different from WDW at Christmas. And it will give me a great chance to take dark ride photos I've never done before.

 

[funatdisney]

Next to Mickey D's, huh? Heck, that's almost as good as a refillable mug!

And hope you are right and we come away with a newfound interest in the movie!

Hi I had to chime in here about NBC. Another way to appreciate NBC is to listen to the NBC Soundtrack written by the talented Danny Elfman. The soundtrack has a Broadway musical feel to it and many of the tracks are featured on the ride. Here is a link to Amazon's listing. I think you may enjoy listening to it. We do.

 

[KCmike]

Strangely enough I don't have any of Fantasyland. Whaaat? Need to fix that for this Christmas. Here are some for IASM.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hi I had to chime in here about NBC. Another way to appreciate NBC is to listen to the NBC Soundtrack written by the talented Danny Elfman. The soundtrack has a Broadway musical feel to it and many of the tracks are featured on the ride. Here is a link to Amazon's listing. I think you may enjoy listening to it. We do.

That's a great idea! For me, the music is the greatest draw with Disney, and there are a lot of draws! I know I have at least a couple songs on a CD set I already have. I'll dig those out and see if it motivates me to buy the full soundtrack.

 

[figment_jii]

Here's my contributions to this week's theme!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm loving the photos everyone! It looks like I might have to do IASW a number of times to get all the shots I want. Does it back up more than normal because of the overlay?

 

[Sherry E]

Liza --

Please always feel free to "chime in" anytime (or "pipe in," as Laurie called it the other day) with opinions or thoughts! This is a discussion thread and we are a-sharin' info, experiences, photos, ideas, news, rumors, answering questions, etc., so it's good to have as many folks chiming in as possible!

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KCmike --

You probably don't have any Fantasyland photos because, for some inexplicable reason, Disney barely decorates FL outside of IASWH and the Storybook Land boat ride (where there are teeny tiny decorations)! I had to really comb the depths of my photos to pull up the few FL photos I posted this morning!

Given that Fantasyland is very European in feel/theme, it seems like it would be great to put up some kind of mini-Christmas markets or fairs like what can be found in certain European countries -- just like little carts and things, with a European twist. It wouldn't have to take up a whole lot of space.

I'd also love to see separate mini-Christmas trees in or around the dark rides in FL -- all themed to the characters/stories on which those rides are based. A Mr. Toad tree, a Pinocchio tree, a Snow White Tree, an Alice tree and a Peter Pan tree. Wouldn't that be awesome? Even if they were little tiny trees they would still be cool, thematically speaking.

Anyway, you've got another entry into the random draw, Mike. Thanks for posting your lovely photos for us to enjoy!

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figment_jii --

You've got another entry into the random draw!

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I'm loving the photos everyone! It looks like I might have to do IASW a number of times to get all the shots I want. Does it back up more than normal because of the overlay?

Janet --

Do you mean "back up" as far as long lines go? If that's what you meant, yes. At times the line for IASWH can grow to maybe 45 minutes or a bit longer. That's where the holiday tour comes in handy, because you can bypass all of that waiting!

As I mentioned in my intro to the theme this morning, people flock from all corners of DLR to see IASWH when the lights go on at night -- which is, of course, when we all want to get photos! But sometimes it is better and less crowded than other times, so you'll get in there one way or the other.

But, on the other hand, if you hit IASWH as soon as it opens in the morning, often times you can literally just dart through the queue and onto the ride without a wait -- I've done it. Also, if there is any threat of rain or cloudy skies, people will stay away.

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet --

Do you mean "back up" as far as long lines go? If that's what you meant, yes. At times the line for IASWH can grow to maybe 45 minutes or a bit longer. That's where the holiday tour comes in handy, because you can bypass all of that waiting!

As I mentioned in my intro to the theme this morning, people flock from all corners of DLR to see IASWH when the lights go on at night -- which is, of course, when we all want to get photos! But sometimes it is better and less crowded than other times, so you'll get in there one way or the other.

But, on the other hand, if you hit IASWH as soon as it opens in the morning, often times you can literally just dart through the queue and onto the ride without a wait -- I've done it. Also, if there is any threat of rain or cloudy skies, people will stay away.

Thanks for the info Sherry. Yes, I meant the long lines. It helps to have a realistic expectation.

We're planning on Wed to Wed 12/4 to 12/11. I'm hoping for low crowds, but will plan on IASW to be a big draw and be popular regardless.

 

[czmom]

I LOVE this week's theme. I think seeing IASW in person will be one of my favorite events from this trip.

Thanks for the info Sherry. Yes, I meant the long lines. It helps to have a realistic expectation.

We're planning on Wed to Wed 12/4 to 12/11. I'm hoping for low crowds, but will plan on IASW to be a big draw and be popular regardless.

Janet- hooray!!!! So happy to hear you have dates and a room booked! I am hopeful that SM will be open if BTMRR does indeed stay closed. Regardless it will be an amazing trip!

 

[GizMo123]

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

Thank you for the welcome! I didn't know about the Ultimate Holiday Tour until I read about it in a Disney blog last year. I was looking forward to it because my fiance and I have never been to any Disney park during winter season. CP would have been amazing to see but we arent going to be at Disney during the weekend.

Can't wait though, I know we will have a ton of fun.

 

[KCmike]

That's a great idea! For me, the music is the greatest draw with Disney, and there are a lot of draws! I know I have at least a couple songs on a CD set I already have. I'll dig those out and see if it motivates me to buy the full soundtrack.

My favorites include:
What's this?
This is Halloween
and Sally's Song.

The music in the film is really well done but I think you have to like the movie to enjoy the whole soundtrack. It will be very interesting seeing your take on the dark ride.

SHERRY E

Your probably right on the Fantasyland rides. BTW I loved all your photos for this week.

 

[danimaroo]

Thanks for the info Sherry. Yes, I meant the long lines. It helps to have a realistic expectation.

We're planning on Wed to Wed 12/4 to 12/11. I'm hoping for low crowds, but will plan on IASW to be a big draw and be popular regardless.

You'll be okay riding it during the weekdays. We didn't see bad waits for it during the weekdays, maybe 10 minutes or so max... the weekends were when things got crazy though, and the line would get pretty long!

Just expect the crowds to be a bit busy on the weekend, but otherwise you're in for a great trip!

 

[mvf-m11c]

A little late to the party but here are my pictures of IASWH and FL for this week. With work and everything going on lately, I'm still able to post my pictures for the theme today.

IASWH daytime

Ride Experience

At Night

Those wreaths on IASW Plaza are very neat to look at every time we walked down.

 

[pattyduke34]

Here are a few I have to share.