Nothing to See Here...

[tksbaskets]

I love the picture!!

I don't know Molly but I think of Deej every time I see a cool light fixture, Bret when I see brave pics from Mickey's Fun Wheel, and you Sherry when I see an ice cream cone (or an attacking scarf) or think of DL at Christmas.

This picture makes me realize how much you don't really notice and the degree of detail Disney goes to when they decorate.

Can't wait to try and find something fun to post too!

 

[mvf-m11c]

It's nice to be back on the threads after a great trip to WDW. I am really far behind on your TR Sherry so it will take some time to go through what I have missed. I am not home yet just waiting at Denver for my flight back home to Sacramento. I can't wait to read your TR and get my WDW TR started.

Great picture of the window display on MS.

 

[Sherry E]

I love the picture!!

I don't know Molly but I think of Deej every time I see a cool light fixture, Bret when I see brave pics from Mickey's Fun Wheel, and you Sherry when I see an ice cream cone (or an attacking scarf) or think of DL at Christmas.

This picture makes me realize how much you don't really notice and the degree of detail Disney goes to when they decorate.

Can't wait to try and find something fun to post too!

TK -

Thank you!

On what day does your DLR trip begin? I forgot. I know that you're there around New Year's and after that. I wish I could get back to DLR - I would even be willing to go during that week, with all the crowds. I'd love to meet up with you!

Yes, Molly/bumbershoot is really the first one (that I am aware of) who began taking light fixture photos. And then deejdigsdis took the idea to another level. Then the idea kind of caught on.

I am happy to be associated with DLR at Christmas time when it comes to mind, as well as the ice cream cones and scarves of death!

It's nice to be back on the threads after a great trip to WDW. I am really far behind on your TR Sherry so it will take some time to go through what I have missed. I am not home yet just waiting at Denver for my flight back home to Sacramento. I can't wait to read your TR and get my WDW TR started.

Great picture of the window display on MS.

Hi, Bret!

Thank you - and thank you for popping in to say hello.

I just thought of you yesterday - I couldn't remember when the WDW trip was supposed to end. I've got to be sure to check out your TR from that trip because I am endlessly fascinated with the WDW Christmas decorations.

You actually have not missed much of anything here! I got back last week on Thursday. Then I was sick and waited a few days until I felt better. And then I just was not sure if I felt like doing a TR this time around, for various reasons.

So I started by posting my "Shadow Mickey" pictures and that was it. Then I posted the window display pics and my Christmas countdown photos yesterday & today, at the request of ddwlms/DebraDi.

But I actually have not officially started a TR yet! I did not get tons of photos this time - my trip was too busy with friends (friends either there at DLR with me, or friends backing out on me and making me sad) and then I was doing a lot of resting in the PPH room when I realized I started to get sick. Last year I got about 1600 photos and this year I didn't even get half of that, believe it or not.

I need a do-over! I feel incomplete!

But...the few photos I took this year are semi-interesting, hopefully.

 

[Sherry E]

I can't believe I forgot to ask this question earlier, but does anyone know of any free photo calendars this year?

It seems that each year (right around this time) one of the photo storage or hosting sites will offer a free calendar (to promote their services and products). Two years ago it was Shutterfly with the offer. Last year (into early 2011) it was Snapfish - as many of us recall, since many of us made calendars showcasing our DLR or WDW photos. I doubt that Shutterfly or Snapfish will offer another free calendar again so quickly, but I bet another company will.

Has anyone heard of anything?

I must admit, though - I think I am a bit spoiled by the Snapfish calendars. They are of such good, sturdy quality - and they are a good size - as well as being spiral bound, that I may very well order another one and actually PAY for it! I think they have roped me in as a customer! While I was happy to get the free Shutterfly calendar 2 years ago, its quality pales in comparison to Snapfish.

But that doesn't mean that I won't take advantage of a Free Calendar offer if one pops up - again, it's a great way to showcase Disney trip photos, and break the pages up by themes or lands or whatever. And who doesn't need a calendar? We all need calendars!

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Sherry,
We leave for DL on 12/31 and come back home 1/7/12. I'd love to meet up with you if it worked out. I'm smiling even thinking about it.

TK

 

[bumbershoot]

I'd say that over 1000 photos is plenty more than dabbling, Laurie!

Especially since she only took something like 40 on the last day. Soooo many pictures in those two days.....

I'm bummed, all of my nighttime NOS pictures are blurry and squiggly. Sigh.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'd say that over 1000 photos is plenty more than dabbling, Laurie!

Especially since she only took something like 40 on the last day. Soooo many pictures in those two days.....

I'm bummed, all of my nighttime NOS pictures are blurry and squiggly. Sigh.

Ok, so dabbling might not have been the correct word for what I was doing...... I took the majority on the first 2 days.....I told Molly that I wanted just to go have fun during the time we hung out & not worry about taking pics.

I have a ton of not so great night time shots to Molly......the parade from the train station were not very good......after seeing it twice & taking pics both times, I've decided I would need to see it probably a dozen times to get all the pics I want......seeing it during the day time would be good too!!

I didn't get over to NOS at night, so I never got to see it all lit up over there....bummer on your pics...would have loved to seen them!

 

[kaoden39]

Well, when you decide to analyze your trip in the form of a report I will be here.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi, Bret!

Thank you - and thank you for popping in to say hello.

I just thought of you yesterday - I couldn't remember when the WDW trip was supposed to end. I've got to be sure to check out your TR from that trip because I am endlessly fascinated with the WDW Christmas decorations.

You actually have not missed much of anything here! I got back last week on Thursday. Then I was sick and waited a few days until I felt better. And then I just was not sure if I felt like doing a TR this time around, for various reasons.

So I started by posting my "Shadow Mickey" pictures and that was it. Then I posted the window display pics and my Christmas countdown photos yesterday & today, at the request of ddwlms/DebraDi.

But I actually have not officially started a TR yet! I did not get tons of photos this time - my trip was too busy with friends (friends either there at DLR with me, or friends backing out on me and making me sad) and then I was doing a lot of resting in the PPH room when I realized I started to get sick. Last year I got about 1600 photos and this year I didn't even get half of that, believe it or not.

I need a do-over! I feel incomplete!

But...the few photos I took this year are semi-interesting, hopefully.

Thanks Sherry

It was sad this Friday morning that the trip was over and back to the real world. I also felt it was nice to be back home so I can show all my pictures and videos from my WDW trip this last week. The Christmas decorations around the WDW were amazing and most of them looked the same like last year. But I will talk about that more on my WDW TR when I finish my DL TR from last month.

If you decide to do a TR or not, I will always enjoy your pics and perspectives of the DLR.

I'm sorry to hear that you weren't feeling well during your trip and hope that those times when you were in the park were great.

I was a little bit surprise to hear that you only took about half of the pictures during your last year Holiday TR and this year. But when you are doing other things with other people, you can forget to take them so I understand. Glad that you taking the time to show and give your own perspectives of DL this year. During my DL trip, I must have at least took about 2000 pics. Half of them were good while the other half I will not show on my flickr account.

I will wait to hear more from your TR.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Sherry,
We leave for DL on 12/31 and come back home 1/7/12. I'd love to meet up with you if it worked out. I'm smiling even thinking about it.

TK

TK -

If there is any way I can make it during that time I will definitely let you know. I am itching to get back because I feel like this last trip was incomplete in many ways.

Especially since she only took something like 40 on the last day. Soooo many pictures in those two days.....

I'm bummed, all of my nighttime NOS pictures are blurry and squiggly. Sigh.

Molly -

You're telling the wrong person (about the soooo many pictures in two days). I took the majority of my 1600 photos from December 2010 in only 2 (solo) days. That little extra 'half' solo day at the end did not produce the mother lode of photos. But I still had to cut back on a couple of areas. If I'd had an all solo, full 3rd day, I would have conquered most of what I was trying to conquer!

Ok, so dabbling might not have been the correct word for what I was doing...... I took the majority on the first 2 days.....I told Molly that I wanted just to go have fun during the time we hung out & not worry about taking pics.

I have a ton of not so great night time shots to Molly......the parade from the train station were not very good......after seeing it twice & taking pics both times, I've decided I would need to see it probably a dozen times to get all the pics I want......seeing it during the day time would be good too!!

I didn't get over to NOS at night, so I never got to see it all lit up over there....bummer on your pics...would have loved to seen them!

Laurie -

Not all photos are winners - that's for sure! We all have clunkers in the bunch (I'm sure Bret even has a few clunkers!). It comes with the territory. We may take a certain number of photos, but that doesn't mean that all of them are good enough to show. They could be blurry messes or cropped, framed and lit really poorly.

And yet, at the same time, sometimes we are hard on ourselves and we think something is not a good picture when - to the average eye - it's perfectly fine!

I've discovered that half of what makes a great photo is up here (I am pointing to my head/brain, though you can't see it) - in our imaginations. If we can get the technological aspect of the creative process to follow suit and cooperate too, then we're in business!!

But, as I said to you yesterday (on the previous page), you'll get whatever you 'missed' in photos on your next holiday visit to DLR (if you and Mike take the kids back). You already got way more than a "normal" person would have gotten at 2-1/2 days at DLR.

We are not normal people, Laurie! We must face facts - we are way more obsessed with photo-taking than the average DLR visitor who is not into photography and is not into all the details that make DLR special. I have to remind myself (when I feel like I failed myself by not taking the same number of photos I took last year in December), it's not a race. It's not a competition. There is no time limit - we just do what we can! And I really love some of the photos that I have taken (last year and this year). At the end of the day, if I got a few that I love then I have to be happy with that.

Well, when you decide to analyze your trip in the form of a report I will be here.

Thank, Michele!

Thanks Sherry

It was sad this Friday morning that the trip was over and back to the real world. I also felt it was nice to be back home so I can show all my pictures and videos from my WDW trip this last week. The Christmas decorations around the WDW were amazing and most of them looked the same like last year. But I will talk about that more on my WDW TR when I finish my DL TR from last month.

If you decide to do a TR or not, I will always enjoy your pics and perspectives of the DLR.

I'm sorry to hear that you weren't feeling well during your trip and hope that those times when you were in the park were great.

I was a little bit surprise to hear that you only took about half of the pictures during your last year Holiday TR and this year. But when you are doing other things with other people, you can forget to take them so I understand. Glad that you taking the time to show and give your own perspectives of DL this year. During my DL trip, I must have at least took about 2000 pics. Half of them were good while the other half I will not show on my flickr account.

I will wait to hear more from your TR.

Bret -

Oh, believe me - I wanted to get even more photos than I took last year. But it ended up that I didn't even get half of what I took in 2010. It's not that I forget to take them - half of the time, when I am with friends, I pass by something and I think, "Hmmm....I'll have to get back to that later and take some pictures."

In other words, I am usually trying to figure out how to get rid of people so I can get my photos in peace!

Just kidding. The truth is that I simply cannot concentrate with I have other people around me - even just one person throws me off. If I am with friends and I am in 'friend mode,' then I tend to want to take character photos or photos of/with friends.

But when I am in solo mode - with not a single soul around me - that is when I can truly get creative and gain inspiration for photos. That is when I can get out there and practice, to try to get one or two golden pictures in the bunch. I can't do it when other people are with me. I just cannot focus.

So, between all my Orange County friends being with me on my first day; and then half of my second day being devoted to my Idaho friends and my Orange County friends; and then my third day being with my Idaho friends and then Laurie & Molly for the parade; and then my fourth day being sick and upset because my Idaho friends dumped me; and then my fifth day being sick, as well also being with Laurie, Molly and Liza, and then heading home early.........

....well, I was lucky that I got any photos, really! There was too much going on most of the time (good stuff and bad stuff). I used those treasured solo moments on my second day - and a little bit on the fourth day - to try to snap some photos. But it was tough because there was a lot of stuff going on.

It's all good, though - I got plenty of Christmas photos last year, and I got some good additions to the "Christmas Collection" this year. I am also pretty pleased with a few of the Halloween Time photos I got this year. By the time DCA is all finished, that's when I really need to hit the ground running and put the camera to work!!

I'm excited to see your WDW photos in that separate TR. Not that your DLR photos aren't great - we all know they are great - but WDW during the holidays is something I may never get to see in person, so it holds a real fascination for me because the decorations are so extensive (like at the hotels)!




ddwlms/DebraDi -


Here is my "8 Days Until Christmas" countdown photo (which was taken in 2010):

 

[tksbaskets]

Sherry, I had to laugh at the 'we are not normal DL people' when it comes to pictures. Isn't THAT the truth!

My family often teases me as I take just one more picture so that the trip report will be complete (OK, food pictures are solidly in this category). My DH even says, 'well anyone here that reads the DIS boards knows you are taking pictures of the food to post' and he doesn't ever get on the DIS boards (rest assured he is a wonderful man in other ways )

Is the picture today of the much sought-after popcorn bucket of 2010??

TK

 

[deejdigsdis]

The TR is on! I'm looking forward to following along, although it has been really hard to find the time/energy to pop into the DIS. I'm still not 100%. (I was sick during my trip too.) I hope it works out for you to go back this season. That would be great to meet up with TK and get some more pics that you didn't get a chance to take.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry, I had to laugh at the 'we are not normal DL people' when it comes to pictures. Isn't THAT the truth!

My family often teases me as I take just one more picture so that the trip report will be complete (OK, food pictures are solidly in this category). My DH even says, 'well anyone here that reads the DIS boards knows you are taking pictures of the food to post' and he doesn't ever get on the DIS boards (rest assured he is a wonderful man in other ways )

Is the picture today of the much sought-after popcorn bucket of 2010??

TK

TK -

Yes, same popcorn bucket, indeed! And it is being sold this year too.

(It's funny - I have been posting my Facebook Christmas countdown photos for ddwlms'/DebraDi's sake - and she has disappeared!)

No, we are not normal people on this board. As I was saying yesterday, you should see the looks on the faces of my friends when I tell them I took 1600 photos at DLR last year! That's not even in their comprehension!

"Normal" people do not take as many photos of the same sorts of things that I do. I have realized this. Normal people/casual Disneyland visitors take photos of their families - and they are not itching to get rid of the people they are with so they can focus in on the intricacies of window displays or the Reindeer Round-Up or Toontown!

The TR is on! I'm looking forward to following along, although it has been really hard to find the time/energy to pop into the DIS. I'm still not 100%. (I was sick during my trip too.) I hope it works out for you to go back this season. That would be great to meet up with TK and get some more pics that you didn't get a chance to take.

Hi, deej!

I knew you hadn't been around or had not been your usual attentive/healthy self, because when I specifically mentioned YOU and tipped my hat to YOU for capturing something in a photo, you did not comment.

(I can always tell when people are not paying attention because when I specifically address them for something or mention something that pertains to them, and they don't reply - that is a dead giveaway!!)

Remember, though - it's not a race! I know that many of us (myself included) have a hard time realizing this, but we don't have to exert ourselves and push ourselves to get our TR's up or to reply to other TR's. The DIS will still be here. We will all still be here.

I am a mod - and part of my 'duties' as a mod are to convey information and help people with certain things. If I have an area of expertise (such as Christmas at DLR), that's even better. But even I don't have to race or push myself to post TR's or post information! I just do what I can when I can.

What does frustrate me, though, is when I get on a roll and my PC starts acting up. If I feel inspired I have to go with it. And in fact, I have considered the fact that it MAY be a good idea for me to wait to post my TR until all the other holiday TR's have completed. That way, it won't seem too redundant and repetitive. That is not in any way a slam against other TR's - not by a long shot. There are many wonderful TR's out there. The thing is, when there are many active Christmas TR's or Halloween TR's (or whatever 'theme') out there...well, let's face it, the readers can only tackle so much at a time. So I have considered waiting until it seems that the bulk of them are done and then attempting a TR, but again, I kind of have to do what I can do when I can do it. If I feel inspired and don't post, then I lose the moment and I don't feel like doing it later on.

So it's all based on my mood and patience at the moment!

Anyway, deej - are you not watching the plethora of Rankin-Bass goodies airing on ABC Family today? Shame on you!

 

[kaoden39]

I love ABC Family this time of year. I certainly have been watching them. But tonight USA is having a marathon of NCIS, I will be watching that. I love that show.

 

[Sherry E]

I love ABC Family this time of year. I certainly have been watching them. But tonight USA is having a marathon of NCIS, I will be watching that. I love that show.

The Rankin Bass marathon will be long over by tonight. I think that ABC Family is running a shorter marathon of the Rankin Bass stuff this year. I recall it lasting longer last year, and there were more shows that they aired. Boo for shorter marathons!

Tomorrow on Travel Channel is a show called "Crazy for Christmas" which is from 2006, I think, but I have never seen it. That's one for the DVR! And then later in the week they are also airing a show called "Christmas Crazy" (what's the difference?) which appears to be new. Another one for the DVR. I love all those shows!

I have realized that the selections on my cluttered DVR are broken up into 4 distinct categories:

1. Halloween-related shows (Extreme Halloween, Scariest Halloween Attractions, America Haunts, Halloween Crazy, etc.);

2. Christmas-related shows (Extreme Christmas Trees, Dazzling Holiday Lights, Invasion of the Christmas Lights, Most Christmasy Places in America, Crazy Christmas Lights, etc.)

3. Disney/Catalina-related travel shows (including all shows about WDW, DLR or anything on Catalina)

4. Movies (all kinds of things that are not Christmas, Halloween or Disney/Catalina-related!)


There's no room for anything else on this DVR!

​

By the way...when I said I couldn't think of a title for the new TR, well that's not exactly true. I actually have a perfect title for it - and as I have done in the past, I thought of it because of an inside, running joke on this past DLR trip. I usually pull a title from some event that happened or joke that got tossed around.

As I have told you, when I get together with my DLR buddies such as Shawn, Jackie and Bob, we are often in fits of giggles over certain jokes or silly stuff. That's what happened on this past DLR trip (before I got sick and dumped by my Idaho friends).

BUT...I cannot use the title I would like to use for the TR because it is not DIS-appropriate! Oh, don't get me wrong - it's not X-rated by any means, and I don't even think it's R-rated. It's more at a PG-level. But it's just not appropriate for a DIS TR title. So I have to come up with something that is a little more 'family-friendly,' shall we say.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I love the popcorn buckets!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret -

Oh, believe me - I wanted to get even more photos than I took last year. But it ended up that I didn't even get half of what I took in 2010. It's not that I forget to take them - half of the time, when I am with friends, I pass by something and I think, "Hmmm....I'll have to get back to that later and take some pictures."

In other words, I am usually trying to figure out how to get rid of people so I can get my photos in peace!

Just kidding. The truth is that I simply cannot concentrate with I have other people around me - even just one person throws me off. If I am with friends and I am in 'friend mode,' then I tend to want to take character photos or photos of/with friends.

But when I am in solo mode - with not a single soul around me - that is when I can truly get creative and gain inspiration for photos. That is when I can get out there and practice, to try to get one or two golden pictures in the bunch. I can't do it when other people are with me. I just cannot focus.

So, between all my Orange County friends being with me on my first day; and then half of my second day being devoted to my Idaho friends and my Orange County friends; and then my third day being with my Idaho friends and then Laurie & Molly for the parade; and then my fourth day being sick and upset because my Idaho friends dumped me; and then my fifth day being sick, as well also being with Laurie, Molly and Liza, and then heading home early.........

....well, I was lucky that I got any photos, really! There was too much going on most of the time (good stuff and bad stuff). I used those treasured solo moments on my second day - and a little bit on the fourth day - to try to snap some photos. But it was tough because there was a lot of stuff going on.

It's all good, though - I got plenty of Christmas photos last year, and I got some good additions to the "Christmas Collection" this year. I am also pretty pleased with a few of the Halloween Time photos I got this year. By the time DCA is all finished, that's when I really need to hit the ground running and put the camera to work!!

I'm excited to see your WDW photos in that separate TR. Not that your DLR photos aren't great - we all know they are great - but WDW during the holidays is something I may never get to see in person, so it holds a real fascination for me because the decorations are so extensive (like at the hotels)!

I understand Sherry. I couldn't get a lot of pictures when I was with my group of 7 people during my WDW trip. But I did sacrifice it for getting everyone to the rides, shows, restaurants etc. and they all had a great time.

Going on a solo trip gets you in the photo taking mode since you don't have anyone since I have learned that from the last couple of years. I like to go on solo trips, but it also makes me feel lonely when I go by myself. At least I know some people that are locals that go to DL and have time to come out and hang out is always nice.

I'm glad to hear that you had a great time with the other DISers during your trip. I always enjoy your pictures no matter what since you do capture the smallest details that we barely see. Your photos and quests inspire me over the last two years to get even better pics and finding things at the DLR that we don't see.

I'm glad that you got to see my WDW photos on my WDW TR. WDW during the Holiday season is outstanding, but DL will always be my favorite no matter what during the Holiday season. I'm just hoping that DL won't make "A Christmas Fantasy" parade and "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks as part of an exclusive party just like at WDW MK MVMCP. We have talked about this a lot in the past and maybe DL management won't do a party just like MVMCP.

Since you have completed your trip, I would like to hear of your opinion of NOS this year compare to the last few years. I thought DL really toned downed the Christmas decorations this year after last year was really bad.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh I think that it is too bad you can't use that title. I bet that it is a kick.


I think it was shorter too. Those are my favorite Christmas specials, I drive Scotty nuts because I have to watch every one. Right now I am driving Loren nuts listening to Christmas music. Ah the price he pays by being in the same room as me.

 

[Sherry E]

I love the popcorn buckets!!

So do I, Kaitlin! I think they are adorable. I think they were such a big hit in the parks last year that they were brought back this year - why change what works, right?

I understand Sherry. I couldn't get a lot of pictures when I was with my group of 7 people during my WDW trip. But I did sacrifice it for getting everyone to the rides, shows, restaurants etc. and they all had a great time.

Going on a solo trip gets you in the photo taking mode since you don't have anyone since I have learned that from the last couple of years. I like to go on solo trips, but it also makes me feel lonely when I go by myself. At least I know some people that are locals that go to DL and have time to come out and hang out is always nice.

I'm glad to hear that you had a great time with the other DISers during your trip. I always enjoy your pictures no matter what since you do capture the smallest details that we barely see. Your photos and quests inspire me over the last two years to get even better pics and finding things at the DLR that we don't see.

I'm glad that you got to see my WDW photos on my WDW TR. WDW during the Holiday season is outstanding, but DL will always be my favorite no matter what during the Holiday season. I'm just hoping that DL won't make "A Christmas Fantasy" parade and "Believe...In Holiday Magic" fireworks as part of an exclusive party just like at WDW MK MVMCP. We have talked about this a lot in the past and maybe DL management won't do a party just like MVMCP.

Since you have completed your trip, I would like to hear of your opinion of NOS this year compare to the last few years. I thought DL really toned downed the Christmas decorations this year after last year was really bad.

Bret -

I know what you mean. Being at DLR and sharing rides - or just sharing the whole fun experience in general - feels more natural and just better with other people. Going on rides with people you know is the best! When you get off of Splash Mountain or GRR or POTC or whatever, and you can all laugh and talk about how you got soaked together, that is the best!

As Laurie said, Disneyland is really meant to be shared. Personally, I prefer to go on rides, pose for PhotoPass photos or characters photos and eat at any of the restaurants with other people. I laugh the most and have the best time with people when we are enjoying a meal together or posing for silly photos. I have eaten by myself - I did it last year and this year - and while it's okay, it's always better to have company for that.

But...when it is time to get serious about the photo-taking, that's when I need to be solo!! I cannot even imagine trying to get 'detail' photos while walking around with 7 people at WDW, as you did!

You will be so disappointed in me, Bret - can you believe that I did not even get into New Orleans Square on this recent trip? It is shocking and unforgivable, I know. I can't believe it myself. Last year, I combed every corner and inch of that land. This time...well, I just don't know where the time went.

We went on HMH and POTC, of course, but I never had time to explore the back alleys of NOS like I wanted to, or like I did in 2010.

However, I distinctly remember reading in your TR a couple of weeks ago that you were disappointed in the NOS decor this year (in some ways) because it seemed like it was less. I remember thinking, "You mean it was even less decorated than last year?" That stuck out in my mind. You were saying that you thought DLR had cut back because of cost or budget, I think, and I was silently agreeing with you. Because they added stuff in other areas - they added a couple of extra little things on the Castle and they added in some little things in DCA - maybe they had to cut back in NOS, where they felt it wouldn't be as obvious.

Ahhhh, but what DLR does not realize is that we DO notice when they have cut back on decorations. Maybe not everyone notices, but those of us who do go out of our way to take pictures of things notice when something ismissing.

Heck, Laurie hadn't even been to DLR for the holidays before last week, and even she noticed that the giant Mickey with the Santa hat in front of the DLH was gone!! Why did they take him down? He had been up there with his Santa hat since at least Christmas 2001, if not earlier than that.

However...where DLR takes certain things away, they seem to add other things in. The gingerbread house at Storytellers, for example - that was totally gone last year, but it was back again this year! And it smelled so gingerbread-y!! I was so happy to see it!

One thing I noticed about NOS from walking along the outskirts of it was that more of the Mardi Gras masks seemed to be outside, on the border, this year. Did you notice that or am I imagining it? Last year it seemed like there were not as many masks on the outskirts of NOS - only a few - and that most of them were inside NOS, on the streets. I could be wrong, though.

I DID go into Toontown (no photos this time, though) and saw the hideous trees. Ugh. So very disappointing. I don't know what DLR was thinking, but I am actually considering writing in and expressing my dislike of the trees in hopes they will come to their senses and bring back the other ones next year.

Thank you for the nice comments, Bret. I am glad to help inspire your photo endeavors in some tiny way. Actually, your photos and many others on the DIS inspire me too - so we all inspire each other!! There are so many little details to discover and focus on that is is almost impossible to catch them all, but if you put all of your photos, my photos, deej's pictures, Laurie's pictures, etc., together, I bet we would cover 95% of it all!

Oh I think that it is too bad you can't use that title. I bet that it is a kick.


I think it was shorter too. Those are my favorite Christmas specials, I drive Scotty nuts because I have to watch every one. Right now I am driving Loren nuts listening to Christmas music. Ah the price he pays by being in the same room as me.

Michele -

I'm not sure if the title would be a kick to anyone but me, but, alas, I cannot use it.

Yes - so you noticed the Rankin Bass marathon seemed shorter too? They short changed us!

Does Loren hate Christmas music altogether? I don't know - I think it is one of those things that people either love or they cannot stand. Some of the songs have such pretty melodies (the more spiritual songs like "O Holy Night") and some of them are so fun and lively ("Winter Wonderland," etc.). I love Christmas music! I am not ashamed to admit it!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Exactly. That would be nice.