I totally get the lights on the Castle being out already. In the retail world we've seen enough Christmas stuff already. I figured DLR wouldn't be too far behind, even if it's still Halloween Time. I get a kick out of how certain Holidays in a way get mushed together because there's no other way around it without cutting back.
Jazz - They don't have the lights out yet - or if they do hang them on the Castle, they don't turn them on until the holiday season begins. It's the fake "snow" that's on the Castle early. But the Winter Castle doesn't become aglow like the true Winter Castle until November 12th.
I don't see why anyone cares about snow on the Castle. I really don't see a big deal with snow being on the Castle. In many places it snows in Fall, so I can buy into that fantasy of being in a magical land where Halloween Time is about to end and the weather is changing to make way for the merriest of seasons.
If the giant Christmas tree were already on Main Street, that would be a different story and I would totally get it. If they had begun to put the snow up on the Castle in September, I could understand the frustration with that too.
But, folks, Halloween Time is almost over! It's not like there is another full month of Halloween Time! Actually, given the very limited amount of time Disney has to put everything in place for the holiday season - and again it's way more extensive than Halloween Time has ever been - I think the way they are handling it is rather clever. They are slowly putting merchandise in shops and phasing it in as Halloween Time comes to a close. But the bulk of the merchandise is not out yet. They put the snow on the Castle as though the weather/seasons are beginning to change (as I mentioned above). But they don't put anything really obvious up - like all the giant trees - until after Halloween Time is over.
I think anyone going to DLR now has a rare opportunity to enjoy a tiny bit of both seasons at once, which I think is really cool. I could totally buy Halloween Time with snow on a Castle rather than try to believe it's Halloween Time when it's 113 degrees outside! Now if only Disney would go back to including DCA in the Halloween Time festivities - it would really be a much more immersive experience overall!
If it's any consolation to anyone, I have a strong feeling that Christmas time will start at DLR a week later next year. Of course, Halloween Time may start a week later too, but if the holidays begin a week later than they are this year (or last year), then there won't have to be such an early installation of everything. The holiday season sometimes begins only a week before Thanksgiving, and not 2 weeks before. Next year I think Veterans Day may fall on Friday - 2 weeks before Thanksgiving - and I'm not sure if DLR would want to totally detract from honoring Veterans Day to start the holiday season. So I am envisioning that 2011 will see an 11/18 start date.
ETA: I should clarify - in the "real world," I think there should be more of a separation between the Fall/Winter holidays. In the real world, I
don't think we should see Christmas merchandise out until right around Thanksgiving - certainly not on a shelf with Halloween merchandise. But in a Disney-created world, I don't mind the overlapping, as it adds to the magical fantasy aspect for me!
You don't get as much interaction with him like you do at a meet in greet! I will tomorrow! I'm killing my hands making my Tinkerbell costume just for him 
hmmmmm
