Hubby got a Camera & I got Christmas!!! 51 Chapters Completed!! 926 Pics!

[DizNee Luver]

Merry Christmas Ladies! Laurie I am enjoying your trip report and pictures. Did anyone catch the Disney Parks parade this morning? During the last few minutes they talked about this year being a leap year and extra magic for the parks in 2012 to be announced on Dick Clark's New Years Eve show. There was a website mentioned but I missed it. Anyone catch this or TIVO the parade?

Kris

Merry Christmas Kris!!

I DVR'd the parade, just haven't watched yet.....if I catch the website, I'll pass on the info here.....thanx for the heads up!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Hi Kris!!


I have heard speculation that people think it is going to be like another year of a million dreams type of thing.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Hi Kris!!


I have heard speculation that people think it is going to be like another year of a million dreams type of thing.

Ohhhhhh, I'll be excited to see what's up!!!

 

[kaoden39]

Ohhhhhh, I'll be excited to see what's up!!!

Me too!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Ok, so I just got done watching the Disney Christmas Parades that I DVR'd this morning. I have to say, now that I've seen the parade....that I was surprised to see so much that has nothing to do with the Christmas Fantasy Parade.

The Toy Soldiers are there, but at least the two times I watched it, there wasn't a Lotso Bear in a Dump Truck or Jessie & Bullseye in the Firetruck alongside Woody on the Rocking Horse.

After that, it went off to the Summer parade: Soundsational. Then the float for the princesses was all wrong (have no clue what parade that was from), Phineas & Ferb, Lion King, Mardi Gras........all from ??????

Now I understand, they're doing some filling.....but I was excited to show my family what I got to see & it was all wrong......

About 90 mins into the program where they jump back & forth between Disneyland & WDW.....I finally saw some more Christmas Parade things. The fairies weren't on the frozen pond....this is where Mickey & Minnie are ice skating during the parade & at least for the night time parades I saw....the bakers don't have flour fights. But it was nice to see some of the familiar things I got to experience a couple weeks ago.

One more little note........we don't have those BIG balloons of characters & items that were used during this taping. It reminded me of Macy's & trying to copy that.

Ok, as for the big news.........the way it came across for me was that on Feb. 29th there might be something special......not like a whole year thing. I could be totally wrong & the announcement will be made during Dick Clark's NYE countdown show.....so I guess we'll have to wait & see.

The website for the countdown of the big news is: onemoredisneyday.com

(something about the title of the website also suggested that it might just be a WooHoo for that day)

EDITED: So I just looked at the website.....maybe it has something to do with adding a day for free or something......giving you "one more day"!!

 

[Trentmom]

Glad you had a great christmas. The twins looked adorable in their Pjs

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I loved the kids faces when they saw their presents.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Glad you had a great christmas. The twins looked adorable in their Pjs

I loved the kids faces when they saw their presents.

The kids were pretty excited & happy with what they got.....even if we didn't do presents.....just the Santa ones. I think this worked out much better anyways.....the twins can only handle two or three new things at once...otherwise they get over stimulated & start freaking out. So breaking up our Christmas I think is going to work out very nicely & could become a tradition....lol

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chapter Thirty Three~~It's a Nightmare!!

Now that our entire group has regathered, it was time to see the Haunted Mansion with the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay that is done for the Halloween & Christmas holidays. I've never seen this & was excited to check it out!!

The outside & the horse-drawn hearse.

Inside the lobby & "elevator".

I wish this would have come out better, but maybe Mike can photoshop the exposure some.

When the doors open, you pass through this hallway heading towards your ride vehicles.

I was actually able to stop & get the change on this picture.....the ones above, the line was somewhat moving me forward.....but then we came to an abrupt stop, so wah lah!!!

And now we're moving again.....

As you make your way to the ride vehicles, this colorful backdrop welcomes you!!

Next installment will be finishing up the Nightmare.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chapter Thirty Four~~Let's Finish this Nightmare!!

Now that I've stepped into my ride vehicle, we're on our way. I was hoping for better pictures, but have shared the best ones. Maybe Mike's new, fancy camera will do better on these dark rides.

We stalled here for a minute or so, I tried to get a decent picture with the pause.

Jack Skellington & Zero......it looked really good on the camera screen, so was a little sad when I got it home & it wasn't as good as I had thought.

No hitchhiking ghosts today.......

A couple more from the outside......NOS Train Station side.

I hear hot cocoa & a gingerbread cookie calling my name is next!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chapter Thirty Five~~Hot Cocoa & Gingerbread Man are Calling My Name!!

Our group gathered after the ride by the exit for the NOS Train Station. We were going to ride the train to ToonTown. While we waited, we talked about our own family traditions. At this point, I also found out that we had 2 CM's & 1 former CM in our group. We loaded the train & made our way towards ToonTown.

It was fun getting back into ToonTown now that the sun was going down & things were lighting up. We were pointed out a few things but our main mission was to get our free holiday travel mug filled with hot cocoa & our delicious gingerbread man cookie!!!

We were doing this a little out of order due to time. We actually were supposed to ride Small World, then get our goodies for the parade.....but since we were late leaving the Tour Gardens.....and our group tended to be dragging a bit......we were going to get our treats, go watch the parade & THEN ride Small World. I didn't care really one way or the other, as long as I got to do everything.

Here are a few pics from around ToonTown:

Here's the Holiday Travel Mug that you get to keep:

Here's the yummy Gingerbread Man Cookie. My review of this.....taste is very yumalicious!!! The cookie is so moist under the enrobbed (dipped in chocolate) ears.....but the rest of the cookie is a bit dry. Now this one came in the sealed package & wasn't AS dry as one I got out of a showcase.

Once everyone had their goodies, we headed up to the VIP seating for the tour groups. The chairs are set up across from the Small World ride, just up from the gates where the parade will be coming out of. It was a perfect spot to watch!!!

When we were sitting & waiting, they did the Small World lighting......Wowsers!! That's a lot of lights!!!

Absolutely beautiful & fun to see it go from its daytime version to its lit up holiday nighttime version!!!!

Next: I Love a Parade!!

 

[Trentmom]

Haunted Mansion looks amazing.

I would love to see that someday

Small World looks so cool lit up. I wish WDW looked like DL

Neat Travel Mug, to

 

[kaoden39]

The little flowers in HMH crack me up. They remind me of Little Shop of Horrors. That tours sounds fun and oh could I go for one of those ginger bread Mickey's.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chapter Thirty Six~~I Love a Parade!!

It's true....I admit it....I love parades!!! Its tradition to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (even though, I'm usually the only one that actually will watch it). Disney parades always make me smile!! I've got a special place in my heart for the the Electrical Parade, as it was the first Disneyland parade I ever saw as a child. I was so excited to share it with my family in 2005 & once again in 2008......but alas......I haven't seen it since & it's not even in California anymore. I really hope they bring this parade back & run it as a nighttime parade on Main Street again...that is where it belongs. Well, I see I've gotten sidetracked....so let's get back to the tour!!

While we waited for the parade to start, the Tour Guides handed out our keepsake pins for the tour. It was the toy soldier with dangly legs (that I didn't realize until I got it home & was putting it in my pin keeper bag.....lol)
I also used this time to get more Small World pics.

This was the view from my seat of the gate that will open for the parade.

The clock hit the 30 min. mark & opened up.....I was trying to shoot from my seat & thru the heads of people in line for the ride.

If the clock hit the 30 mark, that means the parade should be starting!!!!

First up is the Ballerina & Duffy the Bear (from what I understand, that's new this year):

The Toy Soldiers (which came from the movie Babes in Toyland & were incorporated into the holiday festivities after the release of this movie):

More Christmas Fantasy Parade to come!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Haunted Mansion looks amazing.

I would love to see that someday

Small World looks so cool lit up. I wish WDW looked like DL

Neat Travel Mug, to

I really wish I would have done the HMH a few more times....once more for pics & once just to ride & look at it all. That's the only problem with my camera addiction....I miss lots of stuff because I'm looking at a tiny screen.

Small World is amazing when it's all lit up.......a must see!!

The little flowers in HMH crack me up. They remind me of Little Shop of Horrors. That tours sounds fun and oh could I go for one of those ginger bread Mickey's.

That wreath & flowers made me think of the exact same thing...... "Feed Me Seymour"..........

The tour is definitely worth every penny......Tour, priority loading on HMH, IASWH, Train, Free travel mug, hot cocoa, gingerbread man cookie & collectors pin.

 

[kaoden39]

I really wish I would have done the HMH a few more times....once more for pics & once just to ride & look at it all. That's the only problem with my camera addiction....I miss lots of stuff because I'm looking at a tiny screen.

Small World is amazing when it's all lit up.......a must see!!



That wreath & flowers made me think of the exact same thing...... "Feed Me Seymour"..........

The tour is definitely worth every penny......Tour, priority loading on HMH, IASWH, Train, Free travel mug, hot cocoa, gingerbread man cookie & collectors pin.

Great minds think alike.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Chapter Thirty Seven~~Christmas Fantasy Parade continues!

Next comes Donald & Daisy Duck!!

Pluto a top a snowcap as he escorts Mrs. Claus (who happened to know someone in our group & said hello to them by name)

Here comes the sledding Tigger & Pooh Bear!!

Next came the snowflakes. These were so beautiful & shiny (and you know I like shiny!!) but sooooooo hard to get a picture of!

Can you believe it....there's even MORE parade pics to come!!

 

[kaoden39]

I love the little carts that Pooh and Tigger are on. How adorable is that?

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love the little carts that Pooh and Tigger are on. How adorable is that?

I thought they were a very cute idea!!! I'd love to ride one!

 

[kaoden39]

I thought they were a very cute idea!!! I'd love to ride one!

I bet they get great mileage and I wouldn't have to take anyone with me.