An Official Christmas 2009 Thread

[DLcub]

Does anyone know when the whole christmas spectacle ends? I'll be going sometime after the 27th and was hoping that the christmas rush of crowds had calmed down by then, is that hoping for too much?
Thanx!

[ICe101]

Originally Posted by DLcub

Does anyone know when the whole christmas spectacle ends? I'll be going sometime after the 27th and was hoping that the christmas rush of crowds had calmed down by then, is that hoping for too much?
Thanx!

It ends the 25th.

[ZeekSlider]

Yup. And then starts their preperation for their yearly Countdown party!!

[lonegungirl]

Originally Posted by honoraryhatter

On 11/18, there's a free gift for all those entering TDS. The free gift is a lights-up item. I have my doubt that it's the light-up wand, though. I have no further leads than that.

Oh, what a hurt. That's the day after I'm leaving. Any news on any holiday giveaways before that?

Weather here right now is very nice--maybe a little warm for me, but I run hot.

[TDLFAN]

I do not think there are any other holiday giveaways prior to this. And the only reason (I suspect) why they are doing this at TDS on 11/18th, is because they are trying to take away people from TDL, and any possible special Mickey's Birthday events they may be planning for that day.. but even that.. I am not sure about. Mickey's birthday used to be a big deal every year at TDL.. with special shows on this day only.

Originally Posted by Janell

Not that you were going to, but don't waste your time coming to DLR, same stuff as last year. And my best guess its the same stuff they have at WDW.

Have a great time on your trip. :-)

Thank you Janell. It will be strictly a shopping trip as I will be there for just a few hours of the day. And yes, I have known the same merchandise is sold at WDW and DLR, with the only difference being the name of the resort on it. To their credit, they do sell some new items from one year to the next.. like the beenie plush, which is dated on the foot to the particular year.. but even these plushes are so generic looking that unless you collect them, you'd think they are the same from one year to the next. It's not like at TDR, where every year, the characters sport a new look for the holidays and that new look is what the merchandise is all about. Reason again why TDR's seasonal event merchandise is simply the best collector items out there.

Originally Posted by Gurgi

Well, they did try to import some Christmas stuff from TDR last year, but only the snowmice.

They did not import from TDR. They simply tried to reproduce the same plush, but at a visibly much lower quality. I understand these may be on sale at TDR again this year but there, they do try to make changes to the basic design from one year to the next. Another example of this is the miceghost plushes sold for halloween... where from one year to the next, they have sold the same mouseghost design with subtle changes to its costume or look.. which is the reason why from one year to the next.. I buy them. One of my dear friends from Australia refused to buy the WDW plush last year because the quality was just inferior...and she is making a trip to TDR this year JUST to buy the new plushes.

[Janell]

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

Thank you Janell. It will be strictly a shopping trip as I will be there for just a few hours of the day. And yes, I have known the same merchandise is sold at WDW and DLR, with the only difference being the name of the resort on it. To their credit, they do sell some new items from one year to the next.. like the beenie plush, which is dated on the foot to the particular year.. but even these plushes are so generic looking that unless you collect them, you'd think they are the same from one year to the next. It's not like at TDR, where every year, the characters sport a new look for the holidays and that new look is what the merchandise is all about. Reason again why TDR's seasonal event merchandise is simply the best collector items out there.

I didn't realize that the plushes change each year. Thats good to know. Its nice that they do something to change them up. Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to take a better look at them. :-)

[1FoolishMortal]

They reused the "Snow Time" theme from last year's castle show as the parade's traveling music! LOVE that song.

Video from deepdisney:

YouTube -...

Also, Candlelight Reflections' finale got a reworked version of "Welcome to Christmas" as well as extra pyro and new effects on the barges/main tree.

Video, again from deepdisney:

YouTube - Candlelight...

[gurgi]

I do love "Snow Time"...I would have liked something new, but considering the theme of the parade is similar to last year's show, I'm not surprised. I do love the song anyway though.

[DisneySea_Fan]

Man, I wish I could get to TDR at Christmas time. Snow Time looks great Candlelight barges looks beautiful, but a bit boring...

[ZeekSlider]

I kind of wish I knew my obscure characters because I don't have name for Thumper's girlfriend. Love the sliding alien on the Toy float. It's a cute touch. And is it me, or does the float Alice and the Mad Hater are on look like it was recycled from a Princess Day float? The shape looks the same, but that may just be my eyes.

As for my favorite show of the season that I know I'll miss dearly? Wow! TDS is just getting bigger with these shows, aren't they? First Cool Service gets a bigger show, and then Candlelight Reflections has more chandellers on the barges?! And that finale with a new arrangement of "Welcome to Christmas"... *sigh* another well-deserved teary-eyed moment from them accented just so with each of the characters wishing each other a Merry Christmas... I'm going to miss this show so much.

[gurgi]

Well, Thumper's girlfriend doesn't really have a name other than "Miss Bunny". It's interesting how TDR will pluck obscure characters...or ones not represented in the parks that often (I don't think Thumper is obscure). They did it with Marie, then Clarice, and now Miss Bunny and Thumper. I wonder who will be next in a couple years?

[TDLFAN]

Remember they also have Fifi merchandise on sale.. but no rubber head so far.

As for the parade.. floats are nice. I like that Mickey and Minnie are on skates as they have been for years on the Xmas parade at DLR. As far as I remember, this is the first time they skate on TDL's parade. As for the music.. major disappointement with me. One of the joys at TDL is the original soundtracks from shows and parades from one year to the next. Its below them to take last year's show music and re-use it here.
I do like the new orchestrations for Candlelight Reflections Final.

[TDLFAN]

Originally Posted by DisneySea_Fan

Man, I wish I could get to TDR at Christmas time. Snow Time looks great Candlelight barges looks beautiful, but a bit boring...

Boring? Hmmm.. This is one of the classiest shows of any Disney park on Earth. It may be boring to you but it certainly is a very beautiful show to watch as it floats around the lagoon. What is it with the american fans who can't appreciate beauty and passiveness in their Disney entertainment? This is why they at WDW and DLR do not try harder and we get less quality than that found at TDR. Now you want to talk boring? EPCOT's Candlelight show. Now, that's boring and preachy and have religious undertones that Disney should keep off their parks for good. I will take Candlelight Reflections anyday over most of the garbage we get for Xmas at WDW.

[ZeekSlider]

If they replaced Epcot's Candlelight Reflection with TDS's version thereby removing all the preachy elements and adding a level of class and beauty to Epcot's Christmas Around The World, how would you react?

[ICe101]

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

Boring? Hmmm.. This is one of the classiest shows of any Disney park on Earth. It may be boring to you but it certainly is a very beautiful show to watch as it floats around the lagoon. What is it with the american fans who can't appreciate beauty and passiveness in their Disney entertainment? This is why they at WDW and DLR do not try harder and we get less quality than that found at TDR. Now you want to talk boring? EPCOT's Candlelight show. Now, that's boring and preachy and have religious undertones that Disney should keep off their parks for good. I will take Candlelight Reflections anyday over most of the garbage we get for Xmas at WDW.

I agree with both him and you. Candlelight Reflections is absolutely stunning! That is for sure, the music is breath taking, the illuminated lights flicker around the harbor creates a romantic and very aw inspiring atmosphere. Not to mention the characters on the barges, it is so masterfully created.

However, saying that. It really isn't BraviSEAmo worthy. BraviSEAmo has drama. Candlelight Reflections are a bunch of barges circling a lagoon. There is no in depth story telling! There is no excitement. There is no action, or sense of adventure. That is where Candlelight Reflections falls short, it would be amazing as a supporting show but as the major show for the holidays it simply does not compare to something like Mysterious Masquerade or Dreamlights Christmas. Candlelight Reflections just doesn't pack that punch you would expect from a main show.