Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread #5

[Sherry E]

I love everyone's photos. Makes me even more excited for our trip, and I didn't think that was possible!

There will be a parade of photos between now and November, as we wait the long wait for dates and news to trickle out from Disney. I am guessing that they will tell us the holiday season start date sometime by September 18th -- it might not be as late as 9/18, though. It could be 9/14 or 9/16. It could even be 9/9/15. I don't think we'll find out any later than 9/18, and we probably won't find out this month, unfortunately.

 

[mlnbabies]

Paradise Pier Tree



Looking down Main Street


Grand California Tree

 

[bhyer]

I just have to get in on the fun!! I've been following this thread for several years now (it's awesome) but this is the first time I've posted so hopefully I do it correctly!!! My favorite things, Christmas, Disneyland and my daughters AND this year I get to go to Disneyland the week before Christmas with both of my adult daughters!! And it's my birthday too!! Soooo excited!!

And just a couple more

 

[DLmama]

 

[Sherry E]

Welcome, bhyer! I'm so glad you decided to join us after following along for so many years. What beautiful photos you have shared -- and what a great trip you have in store, both as a celebration of Christmas with your family but also as a celebration of your birthday!

Hello, DLmama! I'm glad you have joined us again for this year's Countdown.

I wonder if it's just my browser acting up, but I can't see the photo. Can anyone else see it? Let me switch to another browser and see what happens

ETA: I'm in a different browser and still can't view the photo.

 

[Disney127]

Some photos of our holiday trip from last year, can't wait for this year's trip!

 

[sgrap]

November 2005, can't believe it has been 10 years since our last holiday trip! We are going again this November, and seeing all these pictures makes me so excited! We did an October trip last year, which was fun, but not quite the overwhelming festive feel of Christmas.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I also love seeing everyone's photos. I wish December were closer! This thread totally makes me even more excited for that DL trip. Here are a few extra photos I have from last December.

 

[Sherry E]

Hmmm.... I'm seeing some pictures that don't quite (technically) fit the Christmas tree theme, the Holiday flower theme, or the wreath theme! I don't want new people tuning in and getting confused as to what the theme is. Plus, we have 12 more theme weeks to go, so we will be covering a lot more territory (including It's a Small World Holiday). Stick to the theme, everyone (as best you can)! There are Disney gift cards at stake!

 

[ishbit92]

Hello everyone! I am so excited to participate in this year's countdown! Last year I read along, because I didn't have any holiday photos to share. But I went to Disneyland in November of 2014 so now I have pictures galore, and I am going again this December for part of my honeymoon so I will have even more pics for next year Here's what I have for trees, wreaths, etc:

Busy Main Street at Dusk--the wreaths looks so pretty

I think this is in the GCH..

New Orleans Square:

Parade tree!

Haunted Mansion!

SO excited to see this castle again, especially in the 60th decor!

I think this is Rancho Del Zocalo area?

California Adventure:

Disneyland Hotel setup last year

And finally, not sure if this one counts, but HoJo had a nice tree last year!

Can't wait until next week

 

[Sherry E]

Hello, ishbit92! I think I remember you posting once or twice last year -- probably to ask a question -- but that was it. I'm glad to see you back!

That's a very cute tree at HoJo's! It doesn't really count -- but that's okay, because the other pictures with wreaths and trees can count as your entry into the random draw -- but I love the little elf! I'm glad you posted the picture because I have no clue what the decorations at the non-Disney hotels are like!

 

[ishbit92]

Hello Sherry! Yes, I posted a few times in the super thread last year--but I plan on being more active in this thread this time around now that I have a bit more experience with the holidays at Disneyland . Yes, I was delighted to see the cute decorations at HoJo--I wasn't expecting that giant tree!

 

[TLinden16]

Lots of great pictures! Since I haven't been to Disneyland for the Holidays, I have nothing to contribute, but I enjoyed looking at them

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Toon town

[/URL][/IMG] I think this was the tree in Walt's apartment window.

Main street

 

[OHBelle]

I LOVE the pictures everyone is posting!!

I just wanted to add a couple more (I know it all still counts as one entry Sherry). I just love how they incorporated Holiday flowers in all the flower arrangements.

 

[jeanico2000]

DL and CA appear to be beautifully decorated parks for Christmas! Over the years, we have found that the Florida Disney parks have been decorating less and less, sadly. I can't wait to see the California decorations when we go in early December! Thanks to all for posting these lovely photos!

 

[DisneyWillow1975]

Sherry, this isn't theme related at all, but I just read the new DL update on Miceage. I can't figure out how to link to it but it may help answer the question about the Festival areas for both Halloween and Christmas. Assuming that any of the rumors are true, that is. Also has some interesting thoughts on the Christmas parade.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, this isn't theme related at all, but I just read the new DL update on Miceage. I can't figure out how to link to it but it may help answer the question about the Festival areas for both Halloween and Christmas. Assuming that any of the rumors are true, that is. Also has some interesting thoughts on the Christmas parade.

I read it earlier this morning -- http://micechat.com/108619-disneyland-rumors-starwars/ - it's actually just kind of expanding on what was already circulated earlier this year and last year (as far as the Festival arena and the ranch and Toontown), and that had already crossed my mind as a possible reason for why there is no Halloween Carnival this year.

However, my inclination, honestly, is to think that the work on Star Wars Land -- if it does not get cancelled -- will not begin this year. The Star Wars preview/premiere is scheduled to happen in the Magic Eye theater in Tomorrowland, according to MiceAge. As I explained here in this thread the other day, that theater is where the Candlelight performers rehearse. If that theater is needed for a big premiere and has to be prepped, my guess is that the Candlelight folks will need to rehearse elsewhere -- like at the Festival Arena next to the Ranch! That is my theory (and it would explain why the Candlelight dates have not gone up on the site where they should be, if the Candlelight status is in limbo).


The Christmas Fantasy parade possibly moving over to DCA is the only thing that was really surprising in that Update! I just can't picture that parade in DCA, when the Main Street backdrop is so charming.

​

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Sherry, should I save the in ride ISAW photos for another week? Some of them do have Christmassy greens. I would be happy to delete and save if those were some of the pix in question. Let me know and thanks for doing this and everyone for all your awesome photos!

 

[Sherry E]

Lots of great pictures! Since I haven't been to Disneyland for the Holidays, I have nothing to contribute, but I enjoyed looking at them

You will probably be away from this thread by the time we get to 11/2/15 (since you have so many wonderful adventures coming up), but that final Theme Week is the Holiday Cornucopia theme, for which any holiday photos are allowed (including DCL, WDW, or just random holiday photos). Anyone can participate in that one, as long as they have a holiday photo of some kind to share.

DL and CA appear to be beautifully decorated parks for Christmas! Over the years, we have found that the Florida Disney parks have been decorating less and less, sadly. I can't wait to see the California decorations when we go in early December! Thanks to all for posting these lovely photos!

For many years, DCA was lacking in a lot of holiday décor. I mean, it wasn't completely empty, but certain areas didn't have any decorations at all. Then, when all of the work began on Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, the decorations were really sparse. When the re-imagined DCA opened up in 2012, along came new decorations packages for Cars Land and Buena Vista Street. Then in 2013 Hollywood Land got new decorations. Last year there were some new decorations added to the Paradise Pier area. So, while there are still some lands that don't seem to be heavily decorated, there are usually still some little holiday touches here and there. Other lands have more elaborate décor.

Disneyland has great themed decorations in New Orleans Square, Toontown, Frontierland, Critter Country and usually Main Street. This year, with so much focus on the 60th anniversary as well as various rumors and tidbits that have come out, I have no idea if Toontown will be decorated at all; I have no clue if Frontierland will be decorated very extensively; and I have no idea if Main Street will be quite as festive as it usually is. There are many questions about this year's holiday offerings. Every year something appears and disappears from the decorations! If Disneyland Resort is about to undergo another wave of huge additions and enhancements, I think we can expect the decorations to be scaled back again.