When do the Christmas decorations go up?

[splash5]

I wasn't sure when the Christmas decorations go up. Isn't Nightmare before Christmas up around Halloween? What about park decorations?

 

[Desert Dwellers]

Christmas hits DL on Nov 12!

Here's a link to the Christmas at Disneyland thread. Lots of good info!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2262171&page=67

 

[Sherry E]

I wasn't sure when the Christmas decorations go up. Isn't Nightmare before Christmas up around Halloween? What about park decorations?

Haunted Mansion Holiday (with NBC overlay) goes up on September 17th for the start of HalloweenTime. HalloweenTime ends immediately after October 31. Then the holiday decorations begin to go up right away, a little at a time, and everything will be up and running and in full holiday mode, as Desert Dwellers said, on November 12th.

Check out the Disney at Christmas thread that Desert Dwellers gave you the link for. That's the DLR Christmas superthread, and there is all kinds of info.

 

[goldies 5]

The tree is usually up 3 or 4 days before the Holiday Season begins officially.

 

[Sherry E]

The tree is usually up 3 or 4 days before the Holiday Season begins officially.

Yep. There are actually 700 trees (literally, 700 trees of all sizes) all over DLR for the season, including all the hotels, both parks, window displays, inside shops and restaurants, in DTD, etc. Many of them (the less obvious ones) start to go up early (because DLR has less than 2 weeks to get everything up for the start date), which is why I said the decorations begin to go up right away (after HalloweenTime ends), and then appear little by little until the season start date. Two years ago I think the tree on Main Street was up one full week before the season began (it was a later season start date that year), according to some reports on here. Last year, however, I think the Main Street tree was only up just a few days beforehand, at most, because it was such an early season start date.

 

[goldies 5]

Sherry you are making me consciously aware to pay more attention to the smaller details, not just the larger ones. There really are so many things that can go unoticed if not paying good attention. I am going to spend more time looking and taking pictures of things that I would not normally of done. I will be consciously aware of doing so this year. That is what is fun about it. You see new things everytime, and it never gets old.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry you are making me consciously aware to pay more attention to the smaller details, not just the larger ones. There really are so many things that can go unoticed if not paying good attention. I am going to spend more time looking and taking pictures of things that I would not normally of done. I will be consciously aware of doing so this year. That is what is fun about it. You see new things everytime, and it never gets old.

You're absolutely right! You do see new things every single time - and they may not be new things in the traditional sense, but just things that we have always overlooked! There is always something else to discover during the holidays.

I only got the '700 trees' bit of trivia because my local news did a segment on the holidays at DLR about 2 years ago, I think, and they went to the Disney warehouse where all the holiday stuff is stored for DLR. They specifically mentioned 700 Christmas trees. They also mentioned how many miles of garland and other facts, but the trees stuck out in my mind! When you think about it - all the shops have trees, all the restaurants have trees, there are mini-trees in planters around Main Street, there are all kinds of tiny trees in window displays and at the Reindeer Round-Up and all over DTD, ToonTown has its own trees - I guess it would be pretty easy to see where all the 700 trees could go. (There are about twice as many trees scattered around WDW, I think!).

 

[raftislander]

I was eyeing certain dates in November but didn't want to be too late for Halloweentime but too early for Christmas. Now that I see this info, that trip is a go! Now I have to go read the other thread. I started reading it before, but it just made me want to go so badly. I knew that there were no dates in December that would work, and wasnt sure if my November dates would work. I had a great time last year at Halloweentime and I know many who think Christmastime is even better. How wonderful to get this news!

 

[Sherry E]

I was eyeing certain dates in November but didn't want to be too late for Halloweentime but too early for Christmas. Now that I see this info, that trip is a go! Now I have to go read the other thread. I started reading it before, but it just made me want to go so badly. I knew that there were no dates in December that would work, and wasnt sure if my November dates would work. I had a great time last year at Halloweentime and I know many who think Christmastime is even better. How wonderful to get this news!

Raftislander, when will you be going to DLR? If you go at any time past 10/31 you will miss all of the HalloweenTime stuff, and if you go anytime before November 12, you may see the beginnings of the Christmas decorations going up slowly but the season will not be in full swing yet and a lot of things won't be up and running yet until 11/12. In other words, there will be no It's a Small World Holiday yet, no sparkly nightime Winter Castle with the light display from the Castle up Main Street, no snow on Main Street, no Santa, no carolers, no Reindeer Round-Up, no parade, no 'snow-capped trees,' etc. All of that stuff generally starts on the actual season start date.

So are you planning a DLR trip that extends from 10/31 to 11/12, or are you just mainly going for Halloween but want to see the early Christmas decorations starting to go up?

And yes, to say that Christmastime is even better than HalloweenTime is an understatement! I love HalloweenTime at DLR, and I know they could make a much bigger deal out of it and really go all out with decorating. Maybe it will eventually get to that point. But Christmastime is a whole other level of DLR magic. The whole Resort really transforms into one big Christmas fantasyland, and there are touches of the holiday season - in sights, in smells, in sounds, in tastes - everywhere you go. It's not quite like that at HalloweenTime. Halloween has not fully reached that level of magical immersion yet.

 

[dizneedoll]

Last year they started putting up the Xmas stuff before Halloween. We saw snow show up on the castle and we saw Halloween decorations in NOS come down and Xmas stuff go up overnight and this was about 3 or 4 days before Halloween, which sort of P'ed me off if you know what I mean. We were there for Halloween Time and the dang thing hadn't even come yet and the stuff was coming down. Maybe this year since the parties are being held at DL they might hold off but who knows? We're going the week of the 17th for HWT this year so hoping that will be far enough back to not catch the beginning of the Xmas. We'll be back in Dec for that. I only like my holidays colliding inside the Mansion with Jack Skellington, thank you.
Have fun!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Last year they started putting up the Xmas stuff before Halloween. We saw snow show up on the castle and we saw Halloween decorations in NOS come down and Xmas stuff go up overnight and this was about 3 or 4 days before Halloween, which sort of P'ed me off if you know what I mean. We were there for Halloween Time and the dang thing hadn't even come yet and the stuff was coming down. Maybe this year since the parties are being held at DL they might hold off but who knows? We're going the week of the 17th for HWT this year so hoping that will be far enough back to not catch the beginning of the Xmas. We'll be back in Dec for that. I only like my holidays colliding inside the Mansion with Jack Skellington, thank you.
Have fun!

I know! It was a little odd to see snow on the castle on Halloween!!!

 

[raftislander]

Raftislander, when will you be going to DLR? ...
So are you planning a DLR trip that extends from 10/31 to 11/12, or are you just mainly going for Halloween but want to see the early Christmas decorations starting to go up?

Sorry, Sherry, I wasn't very clear. I have been looking at arriving late on November 10th and leaving the afternoon of November 14th. I did not expect Halloween to still be up, but wasn't sure if Christmas would be up yet. It was my desire to see DLR with Christmas decorations, but could not get down later in November or in December when I knew the decorations would be up. Having seen what it was like at Halloween and imagining what is was going to be like at Christmas, I just didn't feel like going if I was too late for halloween decorations and too early for Christmas. Now we can focus on seeing World of Color on November 11 and then be in DLR for the start of the Christmas season on the 12th!

 

[Sherry E]

Sorry, Sherry, I wasn't very clear. I have been looking at arriving late on November 10th and leaving the afternoon of November 14th. I did not expect Halloween to still be up, but wasn't sure if Christmas would be up yet. It was my desire to see DLR with Christmas decorations, but could not get down later in November or in December when I knew the decorations would be up. Having seen what it was like at Halloween and imagining what is was going to be like at Christmas, I just didn't feel like going if I was too late for halloween decorations and too early for Christmas. Now we can focus on seeing World of Color on November 11 and then be in DLR for the start of the Christmas season on the 12th!

Oh, okay, I see! I understand now. Well, you are in for a supreme treat! You got very lucky with the season start date this year. I wasn't sure if they were going to go with an 11/19 start date or 11/12. Last year was an early start date too. I was so excited when I received my DNews email from Disney Destinations and saw that the holiday season begins on 11/12! Since you have been there for HalloweenTime, you have soooooo much to look forward to at Christmastime. It's really a whole different level of magic. Just standing there staring at the beautiful lights on IASW Holiday at night is a highlight of any trip. The nighttime Winter Castle is stunning. You are going to be thrilled!

 

[splash5]

I think it would be cool to see the Christmas decorations in November. It will really get me feeling in the Christmas mood. We went right before Christmas a few years ago and it was strange to be where it was warm - didn't quite feel like Christmas (we are used to cooler temps in Washington). I think it might be better in Nov.

 

[raftislander]

I think it would be cool to see the Christmas decorations in November. It will really get me feeling in the Christmas mood. We went right before Christmas a few years ago and it was strange to be where it was warm - didn't quite feel like Christmas (we are used to cooler temps in Washington). I think it might be better in Nov.

So my fellow Washingtonian...Are you going to visit in November? The prices on tickets just dropped...Check Alaska out of Portland Hojo's still has several November dates for the entertainment rate of $59

 

[splash5]

We booked tickets on Alaska from PDX to SNA (John Wayne). I called Hojo but they said the entertainment rate wasn't available on my dates - I'll keep checking on that. We will be there the evening of the 10th-15th afternoon. I'm really excited now!

 

[raftislander]

We booked tickets on Alaska from PDX to SNA (John Wayne). I called Hojo but they said the entertainment rate wasn't available on my dates - I'll keep checking on that. We will be there the evening of the 10th-15th afternoon. I'm really excited now!

Call again....I see that the rate is still available for at least two of those nights...the 10th and the 14th. They will give you a discount on the other two nights for a rate of around $110.

http://www.hojoanaheim.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

See you in the parks and maybe at Hojo's. My DD15 and I are going Nov 10-14.

 

[splash5]

I will be there with my DH and DS (16). We will look for you.

 

[50sjayne]

Ok. I know this is overboard but I'm starting to get excited for our November trip in 2 years lol. We want to be there for my sons birthday the 17th so I'm thinking Tues-Sat. the 13th through the 17th. There will be no relatives this time of year (too cold which makes it for us just right ahhh) and it's been a long time since we have seen the christmas decorations. And it's a lot More now I guess. I've also never seen the haunted mansion Nightmare and by then carsland and the Ariel ride will be up, and the lots of other cool stuff in CA. Trust me I've done this wait before--easy as pie and I'll enjoy watching all the develpments from afar as usual.

 

[raftislander]

Ok. I know this is overboard but I'm starting to get excited for our November trip in 2 years lol. We want to be there for my sons birthday the 17th so I'm thinking Tues-Sat. the 13th through the 17th. There will be no relatives this time of year (too cold which makes it for us just right ahhh) and it's been a long time since we have seen the christmas decorations. And it's a lot More now I guess. I've also never seen the haunted mansion Nightmare and by then carsland and the Ariel ride will be up, and the lots of other cool stuff in CA. Trust me I've done this wait before--easy as pie and I'll enjoy watching all the develpments from afar as usual.

I always think that it is easier to have some trip to plan -even if it is distant- than to have none in the works. Your timing should be great - I see that you have seen WoC - to catch the next big openings. I forget..will the new Star Tours be in place as well?