Is it just me....

[quest4dl]

or am I the only one who is not all that keen on holiday overlays. While I have not visited a Disney park over the holidays I did visit Busch Gardens last Thanksgiving. It felt very dis-orienting and disappointing to me that I was supposed to feel like I was immersed in Africa when Christmas music was blaring throught park (where were the cool African drum beats?) and Christmas decorations adorned every nook and cranny. I live in Chicago so when I visit sunny California or Florida I want no reminders of cold weather! I looked at someone's WDW holiday trip report and while Disney is definitely more 'classy' with respect to the decorations, all the extra wiring and lights was not so attractive in the day-time pics.

So, is it just me?

 

[Califgirl]

I LOVE Disney at the holidays! I love the overlays, I love the music and the carolers, the decorations, the special fudge, coffee flavors and other treats.
I love it all. Holidays at Disneyland are magical.

 

[Diznygrl]

I'm sure there are at least some people who feel the same way you do, but I'm not one of them. The holidays are a special and magical time, and combined with the magic of Disney, it's spectacular! I would say many people look forward to Christmas at Disney to really get themselves into the holiday spirit. Plus it's only temporary. I guess if you're not that jazzed about it, try going at a different time of year when everything is normal.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

or am I the only one who is not all that keen on holiday overlays....
So, is it just me?

It's just you! Nah I'm just kidding. While DS and I love the holidays at DL, we are pretty much over the HMH. We prefer the regular HM. That's about the only one we don't care for though...

 

[quest4dl]

I guess I also like enjoy seasonal holidays just in the season. I would love to enjoy the Christmas-y things around Christmas but not well before. I think the carols start playing on the radio in October now! I'd also prefer it to be mostly around the resorts and for parades and fireworks - I don't feel it should transform the whole feel of the park.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I love the all the Christmas decorations at Disneyland. There is something so magical about all of it.

 

[honeymom]

We didn't like the Haunted Mansion overlay at all. It was a big disappointment. Everything else was great though.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I had never been at holiday time before (until last Dec) so I had never seen it. It had always been my dream to go there to see the Xmas decorations, so I actually loved it. We typically go in summer at least once and sometimes in the spring, so we usually just get the regular Disneyland with no holiday overlay--and that is great too.

I liked having it be different for Xmas and listening to the carolers and looking at all of the decorations. I have only been to Disneyworld once, but could see how all of the Xmas stuff would look a little out of place with the warm weather.

My kids loved the Haunted Mansion overlay at Christmastime, and my little one was finally not scared of it--so that is a good thing in my book! She found it less threatening with all of the Xmas stuff in it.

The good news is that you can chose to go to Disneyland when they don't have any holiday overlays, so there is something for everyone.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I LOVE the holiday overlays at DL!

Heck, it's the only time I actually like to ride It's A Small World.

 

[natenapril]

We didn't like the Haunted Mansion overlay at all. It was a big disappointment. Everything else was great though.

I agree. We are headed back in May and are excited to go without the NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS overlay.

 

[disney-inspired]

I love the Christmas decorations at Disneyland! Personally, I don't mind the Holiday Haunted Mansion overlay. It's not very Disney though, so I do like the original better but my HMH is the only way I can get my little sister on the ride, I think she feels safer because it's neon colors.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well maybe because I live IN CA I love the holiday overlays. But I don't think that's the reason, I really think it's just because I love the overlays. I love Christmas, especially with kids, Disney sure does it well too.
We love the NCB HM overlay, the *snow*, the decorations, the special foods they have. I really don't care where I am, even if I'm in HI I want Christmas to have decorations.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm conflicted on it.

On one hand, I think xmas decorations are pretty, and I wish that having lights up all year was OK in this society.

On the other hand, they aren't magical to me, b/c I don't do the "reason for the season" other than Yule, so I can easily do without them.

I grew up in CA, so having holiday stuff up doesn't remind me of true cold. I mean, yeah, back then I thought 50 degrees was incredibly cold (though there's a pic of me at 16 outside wearing a sweater, gloves, and scarf, with a short skirt and bare feet...very odd), but I knew that in reality it wasn't. So in a way the decorations with bright sunshine and NO snow feels just fine to me.

I still haven't seen the IASW stuff at night.

I really really really dislike the Nightmare HM overlay, and wish they would STOP it. It takes up SO much time, and I understand from what people say that the movie is two holidays, but for a non-fan it's obnoxious.

But I do love pretty things like this:

 

[Albort]

its always each person's personality and liking. For me, i dont really like it as its like the busiest time of the year. I do however love the human sized teddy bear and the beginning of the Christmas Parade. Thats probably All i like about the Christmas overlay.

 

[totallycait]

I really love DLR at Christmastime, even the Holiday Its A Small World. But I hate the Nightmare Before Christas Haunted Mansion overlay. Will never go on it again.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I'm another one that enjoys it all! We love the HM overlay too!