My DLP Xmas photos

[TDLFAN]

I just got back from a quick visit to DLP on November 30th.. braving the cold weather and very overcast skies over Paris. The temperature was around the low 20s with some breeze that made the windchill factor a bit rought to bear. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to see DLP a bit crowded in the afternoon hours, although by 7pm..the park felt empty again. The studios Park on the other hand..was a ghost city with very minimal guest count, which was too bad because they try to make things look nice for the holidays...

Due to my short time there, some of the things I wanted to see I simply didn't have the time for...like the Mickey's Winter Wonderland or Noel de Mickey shows at the park. However...what little I saw I was pleased with.

First up...La Parade De Noel. The last time I saw this parade was about 4 years ago, before they premiered the new music last year "Chant! C'est Noel" and changed the costuming to white and gold attires. The parade is pretty enough even though it recycles again the same old tired floats that have been performing over there for like over a decade now. However.. they go all out with snowfalls during the parade performance on Main Street (the spot to see this parade folks). Some guests were taken aback and surprised by that added snowflakes since the skies were very dark and they did a great job of conceiling the snow making machines. Great job overall, and not to be missed if you go to DLP.

After the parade...I took to the shops to enjoy the decor and merchandise, then headed out to the Hub to check out the lovely decorations, simulating oversized snowglobe-like decorations. Simply gorgeous...these oversized ornaments feature icons from the princesses movies...and also glow in sparkling fiber optic LED lights. Truly pretty. If only we could get this type of things done at our US parks during the holiday season.....

Finally, the piece de resistance so to speak are the fabulously elegant and understated Princesses Chandeliere along the stretch of Main Street and towards the Hub. At 6pm...a "Fairytale Celebration" was performed in which the classic characters, Disney Princes and Princesses and other dancer performed..to TDL's "One Man's Dream" theme song and same show's "Princesses Medley" (Who knew TDL has influenced DLP so much in regards to their entertainment? but again.. TDL is the park to follow in that aspect) After all of the song and dance..the castle went dark and sparkled with strobes... with Tinkerbell making an appearance from the top balcony of the Castle, illuminating the chandelieres on Main street, the Xmas tree, and the castle itself into a glittering fantasy of sparkling white lights that was simply... breathtaking to see. I was amazed by the understated and sheer elegance of this display of lights and for once..my jaw dropped in spectacular awe at the sight of it all. While this spectacular light display is not as complex or breathtaking as TDL's Lights of Romance, it still packs a visual punch that simply awes. Pictures do not do justice to this display as the lights on the chandeliers move in rhythmic patterns and are very subtle in motion but still...it was enough to dazzle me like DLP has never done before. This makes me aske the dreaded question... how on Earth is a park in financial stress like DLP able to pull this spectacle off when the supposedly self-congratulatory money pit aka the MK at WDW is still re-using the pretty by old fashioned garlands over Main Street that have been there since 1971???? Time for major changes at that park I guess, but let's not go into the MK's shortcomings here. Not worth it.

The only low point for me at DLP this evening was (again) seeing TDL's Fantillusion! reduced to a mere quarter of what that parade used to be, without show mode stops to make it even blander if that is possible. But enough of that!

Here is the link to all the pictures I took that evening...some are dark due to the overly overcast conditions over Paris, but I still hope you enjoy the understated beauty and elegance of this year's DLP Xmas at Main Street and the hub. Hope you enjoy (and comments and questions are welcomed..)

http://albums.photo.epson.com/
j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=31980376&f=

[tloolgb]

Thank you for sharing those, you are so lucky to get to visit parks all the time.

I don't care, I still think WDS main court is very nicely done, and the decor there is very nice too. Not tacky at all.

[evil mommie]

Awesome trip report and pics. Thanks so much for sharing, it felt like I had a tour!

[soundtracker]

More great photos as always, TDLFAN. Thanks for sharing them!

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: Oh, how lovely your photos were, TDLFAN, duckling!! I particularly liked the picture of yourself--dressed up like some sort of Puerto-Rican Eskimo in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. I wonder if I should send Santa Clause a message, suggesting that he come up with a whole line of TDLFAN dolls that look exactly like you--dressed the same way--for children to play with year round. (Of course we'd want them to be anatomically correct, too!)

ORWEN: I loved the pictures, too, TDLFAN! It's just that, well, it's a shame that the castle has started to lean over on one side. All those rumors about how the castle would sink if they ever drained the submarine Lagoon must have been true, after all!

ORGOCH: Good Lord, Orwen!! Them pictures ain't from Dizzyland!! They's from Dizzyland Paris Hilton!!! Anyway's, I can answer yer question 'bout that thing on the side a Scary Poppins' face, TDLFAN, ducklin'! It's s'posed ta be chimney soot! Ya know--like what Flirt the Chimney Sweep us'ly has on HIS face. This time I guess he wanted ta be clean whilst Scary Poppins was in the mood ta git down 'n dirty!

[TDLFAN]

Anatomically correct, eh? I wonder if they could come up with a box that big.

[SCUBAbe]

wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing them.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: Hmmmm....you may have a point there, TDLFAN, duckling. Just be careful WHERE you point, though. In the meantime we'll have to make sure Santa arranges for a very SPECIAL sort of box in your particular doll's case!

[aimster]

Great photos! I think I actually got the most excited about the Eiffel Tower one though. LOL!

[TDLFAN]

Originally Posted by aimster

Great photos! I think I actually got the most excited about the Eiffel Tower one though. LOL!

Understandably so... I still look up in awe at that majestic structure.

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

[Aladdin]

Thanks for the trip overseas, if only for 149 photos!

[Olivier]

Thanks for the great pictures! I loved this year Christmas too (I was there this weekend), but I think the castle lighting was much better last year.

But Christmas is definitely a great season to visit DLRP.