Thank you, everyone!
I started to not feel well last night - was having sudden chills and was feeling like I was coming down with something - so I decided I'd better hit the hay early and rest (because the LAST thing I need is to be sick right before it's time to head to DLR on 12/2). I had to post the teaser photos yesterday, but I couldn't do anything further as far as photos.
Today I am feeling better. I think I was - as usual - ill yesterday because the sun was very harsh on me on Monday. I always end up getting sick from the heat in some way or the other, and it catches up to me the next day.
I'm going back into Photobucket shortly and am going to figure out what to post here and in the Christmas thread.
Laurie -
You and the family should love this year's holiday season at DLR! Even though you saw what makes the DLR holiday season so special last year, this year is better because everything feels more 'complete' now, if that makes sense. Even though there are slight missteps here and there (like the ugly trees in Toontown and, so far, no Christmas tree in Downtown Disney), because DCA doesn't have all of those obnoxious walls up everywhere, everything feels more open.
DCA is much more crowded now - more than I've ever seen it in the past - but the park just feels more festive and involved in the holiday spirit, whereas in the past it felt like a pale shadow of DL's holiday celebration. I think a lot of it has to do with Buena Vista Street being decorated and playing the vintage holiday songs (Jessica told me there is some Frank Sinatra in the rotation too). BVS sets the stage for everything since it's the first land we see, and because it is fully involved in the holidays it gets us in the holiday spirit.
It was actually very odd for me to not see the obnoxious walls all around DCA. Now that they are down, everything seems much closer together. As I walked around from area to area I was thinking, "Wow - I didn't realize that
that was so close to
that."
I got to see Jessica for a short minute - she told me to find her in her shop, and when I finally made it in there she was on her break and not around. I wasn't sure if I'd make it back there after she returned - I decided to pop back in on my way out of the park, but it was right as she was ending her shift and she had to clock out and meet up with her roommate. Hopefully I'll be able to see her for a bit longer sometime during the December trip!
Oh - I almost forgot to mention that I entered the CP lottery on Monday before I left for DLR. The info was up in the middle of the night, so I entered myself for
both time slots on 12/3, 12/4 and 12/5. I only asked for one spot (no guests). So I maximized my chances of getting some kind of CP slot, though it would have been nice to see one of the shows on the first night. We'll see what happens!
Oh boy, these pics have me even more excited for our trip!!!!! 
I'm so so glad they did not chintz out on the decorations and detail. 
