I Am Back from Christmas Tree Hunting at DLR on Saturday!!!!!

[Sherry E]

Yay! I pulled it off! I will be at my beloved DLR during my favorite, magical holiday time of year on Saturday, and I am so happy!!! Those of you who know me a bit (Courtney, Kerri, Jasmine, Molly, Marie, Ashley, Naomi, etc.) know that this year has not been on my side in terms of DLR trips. All the odds seemed to be stacked against me. Well, it will only be a day trip (no hotel this time) and it will be a very costly day trip (more about that in my TR when I come back), but at least I am going!! I said all along, as much as I wanted to see DLR during Halloweentime, there is nothing at all like the holidays there for me, and I was not about to miss it!!! In two days I will be scoping out the gingerbread men with ears, the peppermint goodies and the Christmas trees!!!

Anyway, if anyone else is going to be at DLR this coming Saturday the 19th, let me know. I am trying to figure out what my friends are doing in terms of when we are meeting up, but if DIS-ers are around, I would like to keep an eye peeled for the LGMHs!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Congrats!!!!

 

[deejdigsdis]

Yay! When you mentioned in your other thread that you ordered your photopass cd I wondered if that meant you weren't going to make it afterall.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yay ~ I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[ACDSNY]

Have fun Sherry! I think we'll hit the X-mas time next Nov.

 

[PHXscuba]

Sherry:
Eat some peppermint for me, please. (Ford porn pictures always appreciated)
I am like you -- as much as I love Halloween (and adored our October DLR trip this year), I like Christmas even more. Maybe I'll tell DH that's what I want for Christmas next year ...

Bets of luck during your whirlwind tour!

PHXscuba

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Sherry, this is the best news I've heard all day! All week!

I am just SO happy for you, you are going to have SO much fun!

Please, add to my Christmas tree picture collection and take 105908356 more pictures!!!

And share the details on how you pulled this off!!

YAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

yay! I can't wait to see your photos and read you reviews!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Oh yay! The weather looks like it will be really nice for you too. We went last saturday and it was raining all day so it sort of lost a little of the holiday magic. I couldn't stop to enjoy all the decorations (or count Christmas trees) when I was trying to stay dry. But I got to meet Pixiewings and Eeee-va so that was fun!

Have a great time!

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, everyone! I will definitely share the details of how I pulled it off in my TR - if I have time today, I will do a fast little Pre-TR, or I will just explain after I get back. I hate that it is such a whirlwind trip, but it is better than NO trip! At the moment, I am still not sure who is meeting up with me at which times, so I don't know if I will have a chunk of the day to myself to really concentrate on photo-taking. I want my friends there the whole time, but at the same time I can get more accomplished in the picture arena if I am solo for a little while. In any case, I plan to be grabbin' goodies and hunting trees here and there, as I go along!

One of my Facebook friends just took her little boy to DLR yesterday for his first-ever taste of DLR at holiday time. I told her beforehand how magical it is, and how it is unlike any other time of year there. I think she thought I was exaggerating before she got there. Anyway, this morning she was raving about how spectacular it is and how her son couldn't stop staring at the Winter Castle at night. They loved the snow! She said she was "in awe" over how well Disney 'does' the holiday season, and she thanked me for my tips and suggestions that I pulled from the DIS to make sure they didn't miss anything.

I keep telling the non-believers, "You have to see Disneyland at Christmastime. If you only go there once in 5 years or even once in a year, go during the holidays. You will be amazed!" Usually, they don't really think it will be that great (because they probably think it will be like the 'other' theme parks during the holidays, which are just not that magical), but when they get there and see, hear, taste, smell, feel and buy all there is to experience in DLR holiday merriment, it is a whole different story!! Suddenly they see the light!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We just got back from 10 days at WDW, and Sherry...Disneyland feels more Christmasy to me than those theme parks did. I actually found myself missing Disneyland, which it's usually to opposite...I usually long for WDW. Anyway, I have seen the Christmas decorations at DL this year and they are fabulous! You will enjoy them VERY much! I would come hunt you down but we have all caught a cold so we will be home not spreading our germs around until we're all healthy Enjoy your trip and I know you will take some great pics!

 

[lulubelle]

Have a great trip Sherry!
Last weekend we got rained on so much - you picked the perfect time weather-wise! And yes, everything is so beautiful.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

Have a great time Sherry! Are you going to a 16 hour day?

I know it will be a magical day for you! There is no better place than Disneyland at Christmastime IMHO.

 

[liesel]

Yay! Have fun! I'll be anxiously awaiting your TR. We got some New Orleans Christmas music from the library and it is definitely helping with missing DLR.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm soooooooooooo excited for you!!!!! But at the same time bummed it's THIS weekend and not LAST weekend!! But I'll be excited for you for sure!!!

 

[OC_stacylace]

Hi! We're going tomorrow! It's my bday, and we're going to celebrate it Disney style with a special Fast Pass given as a bday gift to pass holders. I can't wait to go! I figure it will be crowded beyond measure, but we'll still have fun! I told my boys that we're done after the FP is used up!

 

[azdisneylover]

Woohoo! Sherrie, I hope you have the best time ever at Disneyland! I can't wait to read your trip report and see you pictures.

 

[prncssmel]

I am so excited that you are getting to go. I have been taking my Christmas tree photos, so maybe with you helping, we can get most of them.

 

[Sherry E]

Okay, I have returned from a most magical day at DLR yesterday. It essentially ended up being less than a 16-hour day in the actual parks, but longer than that in the whole area. Let's just say I was on Disney soil (in the GCH) at about 6:30 a.m., and then we were on the tram and headed to the parking structure about 15 minutes before midnight.

Of course I will do a TR on this one day extravaganza, but a few quick thoughts:

1. It was PACKED! I have been to DLR on the pre-Christmas weekend 3 years in a row now, and yesterday, by far, was more crowded than the last 2 years. It was crazy, crazy busy. The line for HMH was already 45 minutes before noon. The POTC line was longer than I have ever seen it (but fast-moving). The Buzz Lightyear line was long and slow. It was just full of people, everywhere we went. I didn't even get to accomplish all the things I wanted to accomplish because it was so crowded (like I didn't make it back to ToonTown, for example, and that was on my list, and I did not even begin to catch all the trees on camera that I wanted to!).

2. I converted yet another person. I took my friend to Goofy's Kitchen and she had never been there before, but she was with us at Storytellers Critter Breakfast in October. Garlic tomatoes - when did Goofy's add that to the buffet? Anyway, she is very opinionated and outspoken, and she will not hold back if she doesn't like something. I didn't even ask her, "What do you think of the food" one time during the meal, but she said several times as we were eating that she liked Goofy's food (both in quality and variety) so much better than Storytellers!! We almost went to the new Mickey meal, but I just knew that was going to be a madhouse, so I returned to my tried and true - Goofy's Kitchen. I am glad we did because they were on their game in the kitchen yesterday. Those mini-muffins that I love anyway were outrageously good yesterday and everything else was fantastic. My friend had some pumpkin bread that she said was amazing! The only thing that concerned me at first was that no characters were coming to our table. We got a photo with Max at the front, but everyone else was on the opposite side of the restaurant. Finally, we were hit with an onslaught - Goofy, Chip, Dale, Mulan, Belle, and maybe someone else I am forgetting. Pluto was there too but he was on the other side. There was also another character there that we saw and I am blanking out on who it was. There were quite a few, though, even if they did not all make it to us.

3. I encountered 'one of those' CMs who is less than 'Disney-like' in their attitude when I got my pineapple spears at the end of the night. She was a snippy little lady and I did not like her.

4. Some demon child threw water in my face on It's A Small World Holiday, and if I had not had my glasses on, the water would have gone in my eyes. Also, had my camera not been in its case and my cell phone in its pocket, those would have also been drenched, because the water got all over my face and chest. I like kids, but I was ready to hurl this one off the boat. ("Ho ho ho, spawn of satan!!! Since you like the water so much, have fun IN it")

5. Love, love, love eating peppermint ice cream!! Even though the Gibson Girl line was crazy, it was worth it.

6. Here is something to point out to any DIS-ers who have not yet been to DLR for the holidays this year. The 2010 version of IASW Holiday is slightly altered from the previous years' versions due to the addition of the Disney character dolls. For example, some of the holiday music has changed in certain parts. Where you sail past Woody and Jessie in the Americana/Western scene, the Christmas carol that is playing at the time (may have been "Deck the Halls" at that moment) suddenly changes to a twangy, Western-style version of it momentarily. And there are other little subtle holiday changes to accommodate the addition of the Disney characters, so it made it fun to try to spot the new things. So in other words, even though 90% of IASW Holiday is the same as the previous years, there are enough different things due to the Disney character additions so it is not exactly the same as before. I even spotted one or two props that I did not remember from before.

7. On POTC, when you first see Jack Sparrow on the right-hand side, has there always been a boat there in the water, obstructing the view? I don't think so. My friend noticed it too. I don't remember a boat being there in October, but there is a boat there now, and it was harder to see him because of it. I am wondering why they put it there.

I am sure I will think of more stuff, but those things are what come to mind right now. Anyway, stay tuned for the TR, which will be included as part of the ongoing mega-report linked in my signature below!

 

[tksbaskets]

...
We almost went to the new Mickey meal, but I just knew that was going to be a madhouse, so I returned to my tried and true - Goofy's Kitchen.

Hi Sherry!
Where is this new Mickey meal? We may try that when we arrive in less than a week!!!

I loved you Ho Ho Ho comment about the child on IASW. Priceless!
Looking forward to your trip report,
TK