They do a soft open every year for about a week. Some but not all decorations will be up, HMH will be running because it opens in Sept. IASW will have its overlay and they do a lighting ceremony the first night, Jingle Cruise will likely not be open yet. The big tree won't be up yet because it goes up last. They also usually film segments for the ABC Christmas parade, so they don't put the tree up until after that. This past year they ran the Christmas parade, but did not run the Christmas fireworks. In past years the Christmas fireworks have run starting the week before. This past year the characters remained in the 60th outfits until the official start too.
