JadeDarkstar
Dis Veteran Pirate dragon mom
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 7,823
Your pics are wonderful I hope to get some good shots in a few days. It was a well deserved win.
Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #4
- Thread starter Sherry E
- Start date
- Status
Sherry E
Currently tag-less...
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 19,646
So far, Bret/mvf-m11c and marlana323 have won Disney gift cards.
Remember, we have one more winner to go, to be chosen later on tonight (or tomorrow morning, if anyone else plans to post some photos)!! The suspense is not over yet! Anyone can win that final Disney gift card -- it could be Jamie, or pudinhd, or TK, or Disney127, or JadeDarkStar, or KCmike (who disappeared from the Countdown and never returned), or Orbitron, or pattyduke24, or Janet, or figment_jii -- or anyone who has posted photos since July 21st!!
Just to give you an idea of how I have set this up:
I have a small white box filled with folded or crumpled up pieces of paper. On each one of those small squares of paper is the info associated with the theme week.
So, for example, every time someone posted photos to a theme week, I would jot down something like:
Jamie/DisneyJamieCA
TW8
NOS/HMH
That meant that Jamie posted photos for the 8th theme in the Countdown, which was New Orleans Square and Haunted Mansion Holiday, and she earned one entry into the random draw.
I would toss the crumpled or folded piece of paper into the box.
If someone were to post to the daily mini-themes, that would earn TWO entries for each mini-theme, and my notation of it would be something like this (which I would copy onto a second square for the second entry):
Lori/Kylie71
TW15F
DTD
TW15F would mean the 15th theme week, and the 6th mini-daily theme, Downtown Disney.
So, Bret/mvf-m11c's winning entry -- or the crumpled square that I pulled from the white box -- said:
Bret/mvf-m11c
TW3
IASWH/FL
Some Theme Week Countdown 2014 stats/info, just for fun!
1. Views!! When we began this year's Countdown on Monday, July 21, 2014, the thread had somewhere in the range of 30,000 - 40,000 views (meaning people opening the thread, either lurking or participating).
We now have over 200,000 views!! We gained at least 160,000 views since July!
2. Pages!!! I kicked off the Countdown on 7/21/14, with the first theme on page 50 of this thread.
The final theme -- Holiday Cornucopia -- was posted on 11/3/14... on page 182!!! We jumped 132 pages since July (and actually more than that now, as we are well past page 182)!
3. Participants!!! All tolled, we've had 45 participants for the entire duration of the Countdown (so far), and 46 if we count Corinna/dolphingirl47, who contributed photos to both our NOS/HMH Theme Week and our Halloween Time/Holidays Collide Mini-Theme day, but was participating in the Code Word Challenge and couldn't earn entries in the random draw!
Remember that each mini-daily theme earned 2 entries, and each weekly theme earned one entry. This is a list of our contributors, and how many entries they each earned:
Amylew – 1 entry (1 theme)
ARIELvsURSULA/Jenna – 1 entry (1 theme)
Ashnjam – 2 entries (2 themes)
Blackjackdelta – 13 entries (11 themes)
Bryn Nicole – 3 entries (2 themes)
Crystal1313 – 17 entries (14 themes)
Darrenf67 – 1 entry (1 theme)
Dec2009mama – 11 entries (11 themes)
Dhorner233/Denise – 9 entries (9 themes)
Disney127 – 8 entries (5 themes)
DisneyJamieCA/Jamie – 27 entries (21 themes)
Disneylover2005 – 2 entries (2 themes)
DLmama – 13 entries (12 themes)
Egritz – 5 entries (4 themes)
Elk Grove Chris – 16 entries (15 themes)
Escape2Disney/Carrie – 5 entries (5 themes)
Figment_jii – 17 entries (15 themes)
I’m mikey – 4 entries (4 themes)
JadeDarkstar – 12 entries (10 themes)
Jenasweetemotion – 26 entries (20 themes)
KCmike – 12 entries (12 themes)
Krispin41 – 4 entries (3 themes)
Kylie71/Lori – 24 entries (19 themes)
Luisa – 27 entries (21 themes)
Minbabies – 1 entry (1 theme)
Minnie Sue Oz – 5 entries (5 themes)
Misskitty3 – 8 entries (7 themes)
Mom2rtk/Janet – 29 entries (22 themes)
mvf-m11c/Bret – 27 entries (21 themes)
Orbitron – 29 entries (22 themes)
Pattyduke34 – 29 entries (22 themes)
Perlster – 2 entries (1 theme)
Petals – 2 entries (2 themes)
Phoenixrising/Trish – 9 entries (9 themes)
PHXscuba – 20 entries (16 themes)
PixiDustDears/Amanda – 12 entries (12 themes)
Pudinhd – 24 entries (19 themes)
Rentayenta/Jenny – 27 entries (21 themes)
Sgrap – 22 entries (18 themes)
Speechphi – 19 entries (15 themes)
The_princess – 4 entries (4 themes)
Tksbaskets– 20 entries (17 themes)
Vintage Mousketeer – 6 entries (6 themes)
Yupikgal – 3 entries (2 themes)
4. Theme Popularity!!! Here is a break down of how many participants contributed to each theme:
Theme Week I -- Santa Claus -- Holiday Characters -- PhotoPass Pictures -- Monday, July 21, 2014 -- 25 participants.
Theme Week 2 -- A Christmas Fantasy Parade/Believe In Holiday Magic Fireworks -- Monday, July 28, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 3 – It’s a Small World Holiday/Fantasyland – Monday, August 4, 2014 -- 26 participants.
Theme Week 4 – Buena Vista Street/Hollywood Land – Monday, August 11, 2014 -- 23 participants.
Theme Week 5 – Mickey’s Toontown – Monday, August 18, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 6 – Hotels of the Disneyland Resort – Monday, August 25, 2014 -- 23 participants.
Theme Week 7 – Cars Land – Monday, September 1, 2014 -- 24 participants.
Theme Week 8 – New Orleans Square/Haunted Mansion Holiday – Monday, September 8, 2014 -- 30 participants.
Theme Week 9 – Main Street/Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle – Monday, September 15, 2014 -- 27 participants.
Theme Week 10 – Frontierand/Jingle Jangle Jamboree – Monday, September 22, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 11 – Christmas Trees and Wreaths – Monday, September 29, 2014 -- 27 participants.
Theme Week 12 – Pacific Wharf/Paradise Pier – Monday, October 6, 2014 -- 24 participants.
Theme Week 13 – Holidays Gone By (Things That Are Not There Anymore) – Monday, October 13, 2014 -- 25 participants.
Theme Week 14 – Holiday Treats and Treasures (a.k.a. Food/Snacks and Merchandise/Souvenirs) – Monday, October 20, 2014 -- 19 participants.
Theme Week 15 A (Daily Mini-Theme 1) – Jingle Cruise – Monday, October 27, 2014 -- 12 participants.
Theme Week 15 B (Daily Mini-Theme 2) – Critter Country & Grizzly Peak – Tuesday, October 28, 2014 -- 16 participants.
Theme Week 15 C (Daily Mini-Theme 3) – Holiday Horticulture (Holiday Flowers & Plants) – Wednesday, October 29, 2014 -- 19 participants.
Theme Week 15 D (Daily Mini-Theme 4) – A Bug’s Land – Thursday, October 30, 2014 -- 10 participants.
Theme Week 15 E (Daily Mini-Theme 5) – Halloween Time/When Holidays Collide – Friday, October 31, 2014 -- 20 participants.
Theme Week 15 F (Daily Mini-Theme 6) – Downtown Disney – Saturday, November 1, 2014 -- 13 participants.
Theme Week 15 G (Daily Mini-Theme 7) – Candlelight Ceremony & Processional – Sunday, November 2, 2014 -- 6 participants.
Theme Week 16 – Holiday Cornucopia (These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)– Monday, November 3, 2014 -- 27 participants
Remember, we have one more winner to go, to be chosen later on tonight (or tomorrow morning, if anyone else plans to post some photos)!! The suspense is not over yet! Anyone can win that final Disney gift card -- it could be Jamie, or pudinhd, or TK, or Disney127, or JadeDarkStar, or KCmike (who disappeared from the Countdown and never returned), or Orbitron, or pattyduke24, or Janet, or figment_jii -- or anyone who has posted photos since July 21st!!
Just to give you an idea of how I have set this up:
I have a small white box filled with folded or crumpled up pieces of paper. On each one of those small squares of paper is the info associated with the theme week.
So, for example, every time someone posted photos to a theme week, I would jot down something like:
Jamie/DisneyJamieCA
TW8
NOS/HMH
That meant that Jamie posted photos for the 8th theme in the Countdown, which was New Orleans Square and Haunted Mansion Holiday, and she earned one entry into the random draw.
I would toss the crumpled or folded piece of paper into the box.
If someone were to post to the daily mini-themes, that would earn TWO entries for each mini-theme, and my notation of it would be something like this (which I would copy onto a second square for the second entry):
Lori/Kylie71
TW15F
DTD
TW15F would mean the 15th theme week, and the 6th mini-daily theme, Downtown Disney.
So, Bret/mvf-m11c's winning entry -- or the crumpled square that I pulled from the white box -- said:
Bret/mvf-m11c
TW3
IASWH/FL
Some Theme Week Countdown 2014 stats/info, just for fun!
1. Views!! When we began this year's Countdown on Monday, July 21, 2014, the thread had somewhere in the range of 30,000 - 40,000 views (meaning people opening the thread, either lurking or participating).
We now have over 200,000 views!! We gained at least 160,000 views since July!
2. Pages!!! I kicked off the Countdown on 7/21/14, with the first theme on page 50 of this thread.
The final theme -- Holiday Cornucopia -- was posted on 11/3/14... on page 182!!! We jumped 132 pages since July (and actually more than that now, as we are well past page 182)!
3. Participants!!! All tolled, we've had 45 participants for the entire duration of the Countdown (so far), and 46 if we count Corinna/dolphingirl47, who contributed photos to both our NOS/HMH Theme Week and our Halloween Time/Holidays Collide Mini-Theme day, but was participating in the Code Word Challenge and couldn't earn entries in the random draw!
Remember that each mini-daily theme earned 2 entries, and each weekly theme earned one entry. This is a list of our contributors, and how many entries they each earned:
Amylew – 1 entry (1 theme)
ARIELvsURSULA/Jenna – 1 entry (1 theme)
Ashnjam – 2 entries (2 themes)
Blackjackdelta – 13 entries (11 themes)
Bryn Nicole – 3 entries (2 themes)
Crystal1313 – 17 entries (14 themes)
Darrenf67 – 1 entry (1 theme)
Dec2009mama – 11 entries (11 themes)
Dhorner233/Denise – 9 entries (9 themes)
Disney127 – 8 entries (5 themes)
DisneyJamieCA/Jamie – 27 entries (21 themes)
Disneylover2005 – 2 entries (2 themes)
DLmama – 13 entries (12 themes)
Egritz – 5 entries (4 themes)
Elk Grove Chris – 16 entries (15 themes)
Escape2Disney/Carrie – 5 entries (5 themes)
Figment_jii – 17 entries (15 themes)
I’m mikey – 4 entries (4 themes)
JadeDarkstar – 12 entries (10 themes)
Jenasweetemotion – 26 entries (20 themes)
KCmike – 12 entries (12 themes)
Krispin41 – 4 entries (3 themes)
Kylie71/Lori – 24 entries (19 themes)
Luisa – 27 entries (21 themes)
Minbabies – 1 entry (1 theme)
Minnie Sue Oz – 5 entries (5 themes)
Misskitty3 – 8 entries (7 themes)
Mom2rtk/Janet – 29 entries (22 themes)
mvf-m11c/Bret – 27 entries (21 themes)
Orbitron – 29 entries (22 themes)
Pattyduke34 – 29 entries (22 themes)
Perlster – 2 entries (1 theme)
Petals – 2 entries (2 themes)
Phoenixrising/Trish – 9 entries (9 themes)
PHXscuba – 20 entries (16 themes)
PixiDustDears/Amanda – 12 entries (12 themes)
Pudinhd – 24 entries (19 themes)
Rentayenta/Jenny – 27 entries (21 themes)
Sgrap – 22 entries (18 themes)
Speechphi – 19 entries (15 themes)
The_princess – 4 entries (4 themes)
Tksbaskets– 20 entries (17 themes)
Vintage Mousketeer – 6 entries (6 themes)
Yupikgal – 3 entries (2 themes)
4. Theme Popularity!!! Here is a break down of how many participants contributed to each theme:
Theme Week I -- Santa Claus -- Holiday Characters -- PhotoPass Pictures -- Monday, July 21, 2014 -- 25 participants.
Theme Week 2 -- A Christmas Fantasy Parade/Believe In Holiday Magic Fireworks -- Monday, July 28, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 3 – It’s a Small World Holiday/Fantasyland – Monday, August 4, 2014 -- 26 participants.
Theme Week 4 – Buena Vista Street/Hollywood Land – Monday, August 11, 2014 -- 23 participants.
Theme Week 5 – Mickey’s Toontown – Monday, August 18, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 6 – Hotels of the Disneyland Resort – Monday, August 25, 2014 -- 23 participants.
Theme Week 7 – Cars Land – Monday, September 1, 2014 -- 24 participants.
Theme Week 8 – New Orleans Square/Haunted Mansion Holiday – Monday, September 8, 2014 -- 30 participants.
Theme Week 9 – Main Street/Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle – Monday, September 15, 2014 -- 27 participants.
Theme Week 10 – Frontierand/Jingle Jangle Jamboree – Monday, September 22, 2014 -- 22 participants.
Theme Week 11 – Christmas Trees and Wreaths – Monday, September 29, 2014 -- 27 participants.
Theme Week 12 – Pacific Wharf/Paradise Pier – Monday, October 6, 2014 -- 24 participants.
Theme Week 13 – Holidays Gone By (Things That Are Not There Anymore) – Monday, October 13, 2014 -- 25 participants.
Theme Week 14 – Holiday Treats and Treasures (a.k.a. Food/Snacks and Merchandise/Souvenirs) – Monday, October 20, 2014 -- 19 participants.
Theme Week 15 A (Daily Mini-Theme 1) – Jingle Cruise – Monday, October 27, 2014 -- 12 participants.
Theme Week 15 B (Daily Mini-Theme 2) – Critter Country & Grizzly Peak – Tuesday, October 28, 2014 -- 16 participants.
Theme Week 15 C (Daily Mini-Theme 3) – Holiday Horticulture (Holiday Flowers & Plants) – Wednesday, October 29, 2014 -- 19 participants.
Theme Week 15 D (Daily Mini-Theme 4) – A Bug’s Land – Thursday, October 30, 2014 -- 10 participants.
Theme Week 15 E (Daily Mini-Theme 5) – Halloween Time/When Holidays Collide – Friday, October 31, 2014 -- 20 participants.
Theme Week 15 F (Daily Mini-Theme 6) – Downtown Disney – Saturday, November 1, 2014 -- 13 participants.
Theme Week 15 G (Daily Mini-Theme 7) – Candlelight Ceremony & Processional – Sunday, November 2, 2014 -- 6 participants.
Theme Week 16 – Holiday Cornucopia (These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)– Monday, November 3, 2014 -- 27 participants
Two people have won gift cards this year (Bret and marlana323) ...
Now there is one more Disney Gift Card winner to be chosen later tonight, and this whole Countdown will be done for the year. So if you have not posted photos for our final theme -- Holiday Cornucopia -- do it now if you want a chance to win a gift card!
Now there is one more Disney Gift Card winner to be chosen later tonight, and this whole Countdown will be done for the year. So if you have not posted photos for our final theme -- Holiday Cornucopia -- do it now if you want a chance to win a gift card!
Sherry E
Currently tag-less...
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 19,646
Wow, Sherry!!!! You are crazy organized with this superthread!! I love it!! Thanks for doing such a fabulous job!
I keep trying to tell people that I'm awesome and that this thread is awesome, but no one ever believes me.
ARIELvsURSULA
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
- Messages
- 90
3. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to post your "Holiday Cornucopia" Theme Week photos by tomorrow night -- Sunday, 11/9/14 -- at 11:59 p.m., P.S.T., to be entered into the Disney gift card random draw. This is our final Theme Week of the Theme Week Countdown for this year, and I am randomly choosing the 2 winners (from the photo contributors) early on Monday morning, 11/10.
The Holiday Cornucopia theme can include any kind of holiday season photo or wintry photo, as long as it belongs to you and is your property. The photos don't have to be Disneyland holiday photos -- you can choose a favorite family holiday photo, or a photo of a snowy scene somewhere, or a holiday photo from another Disney theme park. Or, you may want to post DLR holiday photos that didn't make it into previous theme weeks!!
I'm so glad to see this, because I would have loved to share some photos but I had none from Christmas time at DLR! I've never been for the holidays. I'm so excited, only 22 more days until we leave! Here are a few pictures of us around the holidays
My daughter when she was still so tiny with husband putting up the tree. Note the Disney tree and nightshirt lol!
My daughter got to cut the ribbon to the Macys holiday parade on her birthday at Universal Orlando last year! What a special experience that was. Shes the little purple headed girl haha
EVERYONE waved right at her!
This is the nicest lady who loved my daughters hair and invited her to cut the ribbon
Birthday dinner at Hard Rock. Yum!
All three of us with the conductor of Hogwarts Express. I cant wait to go back and see the fully functioning version!
We hit the Who jackpot wandering around a store one day! The young lady is my husbands cousin who we took with us last Christmas
MY personal favorite from the whole trip. Beetlejuice! He picked on my husband and I a little bit and it was hilarious. Such a great time. Cant wait for Disney holiday memories
tksbaskets
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2002
- Messages
- 4,457
Movie reviews for brand new Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movies so far:
One Starry Christmas -- A starry thumbs down.Not great. No chemistry between leads, especially since they were supposed to be soul mates. The girl was pretty, but annoying, and the guy was dull as dirt. Plus, the whole "I'm a budding astronomer and you're a fish-out-of-water cowboy" plot was irritating.
The Nine Lives of Christmas -- A furry thumbs up!
Tonight is the debut of A Cookie Cutter Christmas and I have high hopes. A holiday-romance-comedy and sweet baked goods -- what could be better in a Christmas movie?
That's why I'm here -- to sort through the peppermint madness. It is one of my missions in life. I will help determine what is the actual ice cream or just the cone! I know my Dreyer's Peppermint Wonderland/Stick ice cream, so if DLR tries to sneak in some impostor ice cream I will know it.
If the ice cream that he posted a photo of is pink, then it's the real deal. If it's green, that's not peppermint. If it's white, it may have some chunks of peppermint bark in it (which I don't like).
ETA: Okay, I saw the guy's photo -- wow! That is a giant cone full of ice cream. It's hard to tell what the actual color of the ice cream is in that photo because of the lighting. So I can't tell if it is a rich pink color (which is what it should be if it is the real deal Dreyer's Grand Peppermint ice cream), or a pale pink/whitish color (which would mean it is the inferior Dreyer's Slow Churned kind of ice cream that is not as tasty), or white ice cream with bits of bark in it. I can see bits/chunks of something in the ice cream and I am going to assume that it is the Dreyer's Grand Peppermint Wonderland with bits of crushed candy cane in it, but that photo is not the best representation of the ice cream and I can't be 100% sure. I need more evidence!
I can't wait to see both The Nine Lives of Christmas and A Cookie Cutter Christmas! So glad you liked the furry first one. If you liked it I'm sure I will too!
And.........
The very first winner of our 2014 Theme Week Countdown is......
The name I pulled from the box is.......
Bret/mvf-m11c (for his Fantasyland/It's a Small World Holiday entry in Theme Week #3)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats Bret!
rentayenta
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,424
Congrats Bret!
Sherry, DH strung up our Christmas lights today. He does it when it's warm because its too scary once the snow starts. I had to promise not to turn them on until Thanksgiving.
Sherry, DH strung up our Christmas lights today. He does it when it's warm because its too scary once the snow starts. I had to promise not to turn them on until Thanksgiving.
maleficent55
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 2,287
Congratulations Bret! Your pictures were amazing, I remember them!
I can't wait to see some of the current pictures from THIS years decorations!
I can't wait to see some of the current pictures from THIS years decorations!
pudinhd
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2007
- Messages
- 1,084
I keep trying to tell people that I'm awesome and that this thread is awesome, but no one ever believes me.
Well, I don't think those crazy people are on this thread or the Halloween superthread!
kylie71
Lilybelle
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2010
- Messages
- 3,944
Yay! You totally DESERVED the win!!! Buy something Holiday-ish, and FUN!!! You know I LOVE your pics , please continue spreading your love of DLR with us!!
--Lori
You are like a baseball lover, knowing all the stats!
You are amazingly organized, and I cannot tell you how much I aooreciate, all your hard work, I love this thread, and its been so fun participating the last 2 years!
--Lori
You know I LOVE your pics , please continue spreading your love of DLR with us!! --Lori
You are like a baseball lover, knowing all the stats!
You are amazingly organized, and I cannot tell you how much I aooreciate, all your hard work, I love this thread, and its been so fun participating the last 2 years!
--Lori
OHBelle
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
- Messages
- 118
Sherry--Movie reviews for brand new Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas movies so far:
One Starry Christmas -- A starry thumbs down.
The Nine Lives of Christmas -- A furry thumbs up!
Tonight is the debut of A Cookie Cutter Christmas and I have high hopes. A holiday-romance-comedy and sweet baked goods -- what could be better in a Christmas movie?
I haven't seen Nine Lives of Christmas yet, but I am really looking forward to it now. As I stated before, I had low expectations for it. If you liked it, I think I will too! I won't have time to watch it or A Cookie Cutter Christmas until later this week. I can't wait to sit down with some hot chocolate and watch them!! I am looking forward to it even more after reading your review. I will let you know what I think!!
The very first winner of our 2014 Theme Week Countdown is......
The name I pulled from the box is.......
Bret/mvf-m11c (for his Fantasyland/It's a Small World Holiday entry in Theme Week #3)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS BRET!!! Your pictures are wonderful and have been enjoyed greatly!!
I keep trying to tell people that I'm awesome and that this thread is awesome, but no one ever believes me.
I BELIEVE YOU!! You are definitely awesome and this thread is by far the best! Pretty much the first one I have ever taken part in. I can't wait until next year to be able to participate with pictures too!
disneygrandma
Mickey Fan
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,410
Congrats Bret! I just took a quick look at some past pictures & saw yours of the fireworks. Absolutely beautiful! The details & the colors are amazing! I'm sure I won't get anything that neat from my point & shoot Canon.
Are there any maps that show the parade routes? Which direction the parades go? Best places to watch from? And how long ahead of time do we need to stake out our spot? From what I've read, it appears there is both a day & night Christmas parade. Do these both go in the same direction? Or opposite?
I saw some pics in this thread that were in front of IASW, as well as on Main St. Lights from IASW made a wonderful backdrop to the parade.
I'm just not too familiar with DL, and don't know for sure exactly where to be for the parade. I would appreciate any help I could get with this. I would also like to know about viewing the fireworks. All tips & advice would be appreciated.
Also, when we were at DL in July, 2013, they wouldn't let anyone sit down to watch the fireworks. Everyone had to be standing, and packed in really tightly. Is it always like this? Or does that just happen in certain areas?
The last parade, in fact the only parade, we saw at DL, was in June, 2001, when we watched the night time electrical parade. So I've got nothing to reference for this trip. This will be our 1st Christmas visit to the DLR, and grand-kids 1st trip ever, and of course we would like this to be a magical time.
Thanks for your help!
Are there any maps that show the parade routes? Which direction the parades go? Best places to watch from? And how long ahead of time do we need to stake out our spot? From what I've read, it appears there is both a day & night Christmas parade. Do these both go in the same direction? Or opposite?
I saw some pics in this thread that were in front of IASW, as well as on Main St. Lights from IASW made a wonderful backdrop to the parade.
I'm just not too familiar with DL, and don't know for sure exactly where to be for the parade. I would appreciate any help I could get with this. I would also like to know about viewing the fireworks. All tips & advice would be appreciated.
Also, when we were at DL in July, 2013, they wouldn't let anyone sit down to watch the fireworks. Everyone had to be standing, and packed in really tightly. Is it always like this? Or does that just happen in certain areas?
The last parade, in fact the only parade, we saw at DL, was in June, 2001, when we watched the night time electrical parade. So I've got nothing to reference for this trip. This will be our 1st Christmas visit to the DLR, and grand-kids 1st trip ever, and of course we would like this to be a magical time.
Thanks for your help!
mvf-m11c
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2009
- Messages
- 9,320
Thank you everyone.
The park maps do show the parade route where the parade goes. The parade route is from IASW Plaza and Main Street Town Square by the Mad Hatter Store. A Christmas Fantasy parade can go from IASW Plaza to MS TS or MS TS to IASW Plaza. It will depend what day and how many parades are running that day. Mostly on two days, the first parade will come from IASW Plaza to MS TS and the second from MS TS to IASW Plaza. There will be days when ACF parade come from MS TS to IASW Plaza since the parade is only running once a day instead of twice. The best place to watch the parade is anywhere along the parade route. Most people watch the parade from MS. The place with the least amount of wait time is around IASW Plaza. You can get a spot about 30 minutes up front around IASW Plaza (depends on the day you go where if you go during the Christmas break, it will be longer). Both the day and nighttime are fun.
Here is a part of the park map from last years and it shows you the route of the parade. You see the red dots which shows you the parade route.
As for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks which plays during the holiday season at DL, the best spot to watch the fireworks is in front of Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle. It will require wait time which can be over an hour or even 2+ depends on where you want to see the fireworks. It can be from the street, curb, benches, etc. Benches are the longest which can be about 3 hours. You also have to include with the people that will be tall and can obstruct your view of the fireworks. If you don't want to stake out a spot that long, you can go around Main Street which has nice spots. Another great spot that not too many people go to when watching the fireworks is at IASW Plaza which you can see the fireworks and possibly see the projection on the facade of IASW during the fireworks (depends on what type of firework show is playing). Also you want to be in areas and after the fireworks that it will snow. It will snow in MS, IASW Plaza and around the Rivers of America by Frontierland/New Orleans Square side.
That is correct, in the past the CM's makes all the guests that were in front of SB Castle to stand up for the fireworks. Lately, they are not enforcing that rule and the guests were able to sit down on the curb or road to watch the fireworks. That was only the center while the left hand side and right hand side had to stand up. I don't know if they are still doing this but this is what I experienced last month during Mickey's Halloween Party for Halloween Screams fireworks. Also noted that there was no walkway in front when watching the fireworks so the guests can go to there next destination.
If you care about watching "A Christmas Fantasy" parade and "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks, it will require wait time. If you have multiple people in your party, you can have someone watch your spots so the other party members could do activities before it is time to watch the shows. Another idea is to bring a blanket so you can mark you area for the parade or fireworks. You can always use it to keep yourself warm when walking at the parks when it is cold.
Hope this helps you out.
The park maps do show the parade route where the parade goes. The parade route is from IASW Plaza and Main Street Town Square by the Mad Hatter Store. A Christmas Fantasy parade can go from IASW Plaza to MS TS or MS TS to IASW Plaza. It will depend what day and how many parades are running that day. Mostly on two days, the first parade will come from IASW Plaza to MS TS and the second from MS TS to IASW Plaza. There will be days when ACF parade come from MS TS to IASW Plaza since the parade is only running once a day instead of twice. The best place to watch the parade is anywhere along the parade route. Most people watch the parade from MS. The place with the least amount of wait time is around IASW Plaza. You can get a spot about 30 minutes up front around IASW Plaza (depends on the day you go where if you go during the Christmas break, it will be longer). Both the day and nighttime are fun.
Here is a part of the park map from last years and it shows you the route of the parade. You see the red dots which shows you the parade route.
As for Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks which plays during the holiday season at DL, the best spot to watch the fireworks is in front of Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle. It will require wait time which can be over an hour or even 2+ depends on where you want to see the fireworks. It can be from the street, curb, benches, etc. Benches are the longest which can be about 3 hours. You also have to include with the people that will be tall and can obstruct your view of the fireworks. If you don't want to stake out a spot that long, you can go around Main Street which has nice spots. Another great spot that not too many people go to when watching the fireworks is at IASW Plaza which you can see the fireworks and possibly see the projection on the facade of IASW during the fireworks (depends on what type of firework show is playing). Also you want to be in areas and after the fireworks that it will snow. It will snow in MS, IASW Plaza and around the Rivers of America by Frontierland/New Orleans Square side.
That is correct, in the past the CM's makes all the guests that were in front of SB Castle to stand up for the fireworks. Lately, they are not enforcing that rule and the guests were able to sit down on the curb or road to watch the fireworks. That was only the center while the left hand side and right hand side had to stand up. I don't know if they are still doing this but this is what I experienced last month during Mickey's Halloween Party for Halloween Screams fireworks. Also noted that there was no walkway in front when watching the fireworks so the guests can go to there next destination.
If you care about watching "A Christmas Fantasy" parade and "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks, it will require wait time. If you have multiple people in your party, you can have someone watch your spots so the other party members could do activities before it is time to watch the shows. Another idea is to bring a blanket so you can mark you area for the parade or fireworks. You can always use it to keep yourself warm when walking at the parks when it is cold.
Hope this helps you out.
disneygrandma
Mickey Fan
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2006
- Messages
- 1,410
CM's are OK with someone putting down blankets to save spots? How far ahead of the parade and/or fireworks would they allow us to do so?
Also, for the 1st time ever, we'll be renting an ECV. This will be a new experience for us. So would we be able to put a blanket down in front of the ECV? Blanket is for our grand-children, as there is no way that myself, or my husband, would be able to get down on to the ground, or back up again.
Finally, who/where would be the best place to ask as to what direction the parade would be going that day? If it starts on MS, then how much later would it be for the parade to be at IASW, or vice-versa?
Thanks for all the info and the map.
Also, for the 1st time ever, we'll be renting an ECV. This will be a new experience for us. So would we be able to put a blanket down in front of the ECV? Blanket is for our grand-children, as there is no way that myself, or my husband, would be able to get down on to the ground, or back up again.
Finally, who/where would be the best place to ask as to what direction the parade would be going that day? If it starts on MS, then how much later would it be for the parade to be at IASW, or vice-versa?
Thanks for all the info and the map.
KCmike
Never have fallen asleep on any
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2007
- Messages
- 9,783
Congrats Bret on the big win! Time to party!!!
Sherry those stats and keeping track make you my winner! If I win the final gift card I want you to have it!! Seriously your amazing. Thanks for all that you do.
Sorry I've been gone as things got a little crazy around here at home and work. I hope that everyone that has upcoming trips has a blast and I can't wait to see everyone's photos, trip reports, and all the overlays!!!
It's funny because when my wife puts up Christmas stuff in the kitchen we call it her doing the "kitchen overlay". Oh Disney your always on my mind.
Sherry those stats and keeping track make you my winner! If I win the final gift card I want you to have it!! Seriously your amazing. Thanks for all that you do.
Sorry I've been gone as things got a little crazy around here at home and work. I hope that everyone that has upcoming trips has a blast and I can't wait to see everyone's photos, trip reports, and all the overlays!!!
It's funny because when my wife puts up Christmas stuff in the kitchen we call it her doing the "kitchen overlay". Oh Disney your always on my mind.
DisneylandPlanner
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2006
- Messages
- 417
Sherry we believe you YOU ARE AWESOME!
Quick question the frozen lighting is that going to be nightly through the season. Looks cool but hope not I love walking through the castle.
Quick question the frozen lighting is that going to be nightly through the season. Looks cool but hope not I love walking through the castle.
mvf-m11c
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2009
- Messages
- 9,320
Thanks Mike.
That is correct. The CM's have no problem letting the guests lay down a blanket to save a spot for the shows and you can bring a blanket and spread it out for the fireworks, Fantasmic!, and parade. I have done it every time I see the fireworks and parade at good spots mostly around Main Street and the ground sitting area right next to the RoA for Fantasmic!. You have to have someone in your party telling other people that this is your blanket or you will lose your spot. There will be guests asking you if they could sit there but you are saving it for the rest of your party. I have seen people stake out spots over 3+ hours. It will depend on what spot you want to watch the show from and how long you are willing to wait.
As long as you have someone watching your blanket right next to the ECV, you will be able to save your blanket spot for the shows. You got to tell the people that are trying to get a spot and say that you are saving it for your group. My DA have used an ECV before and she watched my blanket while I am getting wandering around the park.
I would talk to the CM's that are managing the parade and they will tell you what direction the parade will be going. They have the answers as to where the parade is starting from and ending. If you are watching the parade from MS and it is coming from IASW Plaza, it can be about 10-15 minutes for it to get down from one end to the other end.
Your welcome.
If you are talking about Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle Enchantment Holiday Lighting show, it will happen during the holiday season at DL nightly. There are two shows a night about an hour apart until Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks. For example if the fireworks start at 9:25pm, the first show will be at 7:30pm and the second one will start at 8:30pm.
Here are my videos of SB Winter Castle Enchantment Holiday Lighting. These are two different shows and are not the same.
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle 11/18/10 1st Show
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle 11/18/10 2nd Show
That is correct. The CM's have no problem letting the guests lay down a blanket to save a spot for the shows and you can bring a blanket and spread it out for the fireworks, Fantasmic!, and parade. I have done it every time I see the fireworks and parade at good spots mostly around Main Street and the ground sitting area right next to the RoA for Fantasmic!. You have to have someone in your party telling other people that this is your blanket or you will lose your spot. There will be guests asking you if they could sit there but you are saving it for the rest of your party. I have seen people stake out spots over 3+ hours. It will depend on what spot you want to watch the show from and how long you are willing to wait.
As long as you have someone watching your blanket right next to the ECV, you will be able to save your blanket spot for the shows. You got to tell the people that are trying to get a spot and say that you are saving it for your group. My DA have used an ECV before and she watched my blanket while I am getting wandering around the park.
I would talk to the CM's that are managing the parade and they will tell you what direction the parade will be going. They have the answers as to where the parade is starting from and ending. If you are watching the parade from MS and it is coming from IASW Plaza, it can be about 10-15 minutes for it to get down from one end to the other end.
Your welcome.
If you are talking about Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle Enchantment Holiday Lighting show, it will happen during the holiday season at DL nightly. There are two shows a night about an hour apart until Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks. For example if the fireworks start at 9:25pm, the first show will be at 7:30pm and the second one will start at 8:30pm.
Here are my videos of SB Winter Castle Enchantment Holiday Lighting. These are two different shows and are not the same.
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle 11/18/10 1st Show
Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle 11/18/10 2nd Show
petals
Irish Princess because Cinderella said so!
- Joined
- May 18, 2010
- Messages
- 5,182
Suppose rainy day parade will do. It will make getting to see stuff in a short space of time harder if they start cancelling things because of the weather but fingers and toes crossed the rain goes elsewhere for my trip
Also congrats mvf-m11c
Sherry E
Currently tag-less...
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 19,646
I added Jenna/ARIELvsURSULA to our list of participants for her fabulous and fun photos, and gave her an entry in the random draw!!
Do we have any last minute contributors to our "Holiday Cornucopia (These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)" theme week -- anyone who has not contributed to the theme thus far?
This is who has submitted "Holiday Cornucopia" photos this past week (you just know I've been keeping track of who has been participating in each theme for the last few months!):
mvf-m11c
mom2rtk
minbabies
kylie71
egritz
Orbitron
pattyduke34
Speechphi
tksbaskets
figment_jii
Escape2Disney
petals
Luisa
Jenasweetemotion
pudinhd
sgrap
Krispin41
JadeDarkstar
Elk Grove Chris
rentayenta
DisneyJamieCA
Misskitty3
blackjackdelta
PHXscuba
crystal1313
ARIELvsURSULA
KCmike
If no one else is going to post photos for Holiday Cornucopia, I can draw the name of the final Disney gift card winner for this year!!!
Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?
Do we have any last minute contributors to our "Holiday Cornucopia (These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)" theme week -- anyone who has not contributed to the theme thus far?
This is who has submitted "Holiday Cornucopia" photos this past week (you just know I've been keeping track of who has been participating in each theme for the last few months!
):mvf-m11c
mom2rtk
minbabies
kylie71
egritz
Orbitron
pattyduke34
Speechphi
tksbaskets
figment_jii
Escape2Disney
petals
Luisa
Jenasweetemotion
pudinhd
sgrap
Krispin41
JadeDarkstar
Elk Grove Chris
rentayenta
DisneyJamieCA
Misskitty3
blackjackdelta
PHXscuba
crystal1313
ARIELvsURSULA
KCmike
If no one else is going to post photos for Holiday Cornucopia, I can draw the name of the final Disney gift card winner for this year!!!
Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?
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