WDW Christmas Ride Overlays?

[b52hbuff]

We are experienced DL visitors, planning our first WDW trip in over 15 years. My question today is about Christmas attraction overlays.

For those of you familiar with the DLR, we have (had):
Jingle Cruise (not this year)
it's a small world holiday
Nightmare Before Christmas / Haunted Mansion
...and new for this year are overlays for Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's.

So, what is the story at the WDW Parks? I know you (all) never had iasw or NBC. I also am sad to hear that the Country Bear Jamboree won't get a Christmas overlay. That leaves only "Jingle Cruise" as the only Christmas overlay.

Are there any other Christmas overlays that I'm missing?

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Yup. "Jingle Cruise" is it.
(There is a special holiday section that is ADDED to the end of Epcot's IllumiNations.)

I've read many "explanations" over the years.
One most often stated is that WDW guests are overwhelmingly "first/only-time visitors,"
and DLR guests are overwhelmingly "locals."

That means that the closure time (x2) to convert attractions to holiday versions... and then back to normal, after the holidays... of too many WDW attractions can disrupt the vacations of "first/only-time" WDW visitors.

At DLR, the locals can be encouraged to see their favorite attractions in a new way, specifically for the holidays.

Take that at its face value, or not.

 

[KyleAfterAWhile]

Jingle Cruise it is.

 

[kmb584]

There's only the Jingle Cruise. I believe the thought process is that it wouldn't make sense for WDW to close attractions for the amount of time an overlay would take because it's viewed more as an international tourist destination, whereas DLR sees a lot of local visitors.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Jingle Cruise is the only overlay.
Country Bear Jamborree hasn't have one in years.
I only knew that version as a child always going in the end of November.
I watched the regular version once and ugh never again.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah, they do Jingle Cruise because it doesn't require any significant down time. Those overlay closures for HM at DL are brutal!

 

[b52hbuff]

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

 

[lauraleh]

I did read that the Frozen Sing A Long gets a special holiday ending. But I haven't seen it so I can't confirm that.

 

[b52hbuff]

Yup. "Jingle Cruise" is it.
(There is a special holiday section that is ADDED to the end of Epcot's IllumiNations.)

I've read many "explanations" over the years.
One most often stated is that WDW guests are overwhelmingly "first/only-time visitors,"
and DLR guests are overwhelmingly "locals."

That means that the closure time (x2) to convert attractions to holiday versions... and then back to normal, after the holidays... of too many WDW attractions can disrupt the vacations of "first/only-time" WDW visitors.

At DLR, the locals can be encouraged to see their favorite attractions in a new way, specifically for the holidays.

Take that at its face value, or not.

I can't believe that Christmas overlay for Country Bear would be more than a couple of days.

 

[Robo]

I can't believe that Christmas overlay for Country Bear would be more than a couple of days.

I agree, but I don't get to make any of those decisions.

BTW, it was specifically Country Bears Christmas about which the first "don't want guests to miss any shows for down-time" was cited by WDW management.
(This came after years of changing to the Christmas version (and back) had been happening at WDW.)

 

[eeyoresmom]

The Halloween overlay at HM in DL is incredible! I'm not even a fan of HM but we must of ridden it 5 times in 2 days when we visited in September.