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And the funny thing is, I found it today. Five full days after it was released. I am really behind the curve ball.
Liza --
Sometimes I think that Disneyland News releases things a bit later than when they are actually dated. I've noticed this phenomenon in the past (on press releases that were about subjects that I was not paying as close attention to as I do others) -- the press releases do not appear on Disneyland News on a certain date, but when they do come out they are backdated.
I suspect that Disney's whole press/PR/social media department decided to release info on 7/25. The Parks Blog usually puts something out before Disneyland News does, although Disneyland News might include an extra detail or two that the Parks Blog didn't mention (such as the actual start date of the season). And that's what happened, I guess -- the Parks Blog put out their Winter Dreams piece on 7/25. Disneyland News had not yet put anything up when I checked it on 7/25...and yet, now a press release is there with the 7/25 date!! I think they sneaked in the press release with the 7/25 date, but I think it actually may have gone up later than 7/25 (or at least
late in the day on 7/25).
What's interesting to note is that, a 2 or 3 years back, Disneyland News released a wonderful piece all about the "Fun Facts" of the holiday season (different stats on the largest decorations vs. the smallest decorations; how much garland was used, etc.). I vividly remember mentioning it in the previous Superthread and posting a link to it. That Fun Facts article stayed in the Disneyland News archives for a while -- until they revamped their site and changed the overall look of it. The holiday Fun Facts article disappeared forever.
...Until, one day, the Parks Blog did a holiday Fun Facts piece (I have a link to it somewhere on Page 1)!! I could tell by looking at it that it had a lot of the same info and text that had been in the Disneyland News article, but with some updates here and there. It appeared to me that the Parks Blog people dipped into the well of general DLR media and recycled that old Disneyland News Holiday Fun Facts piece in the form of a Parks Blog.
So it would seem that all of the different Disney news sources may pull from the same wealth of written material -- and then, depending on which Disney news source releases it first, the article/Blog may have some extra details or it may have fewer details. This can be annoying if -- like in the case of 7/25 -- one source releases info (the Parks Blog) but leaves out one major chunk of that info, such as the start date of the season. That date was posted on Disneyland News, of course, but a lot of other people don't even know about Disneyland News -- they only know about the Parks Blog or they know about the main DLR website.
And those of us who
do know about Disneyland News may not be checking it every single day because they don't put up new info every day, or because what they do put up is often just a version of what the Parks Blog posted.
Have been following this thread closely as we are heading over from Australia for a week in Disneyland from the 13th November to the 19th November. I am glad we will see some of the park "dressed up" for holiday festivities. Just a question during this time will the holiday fireworks be for the weekend only. Just trying to plan out my week. Many thanks.
OzCath --
Hello, and welcome!
If the holiday season is officially beginning on Friday, November 15th (as opposed to the date we previously thought was the start date), then there should be holiday fireworks showing every single night, all throughout the holiday season, from that point forward (unless there are wind/weather conditions that prohibit shows on certain nights). It
is possible that the fireworks may "soft open" a couple of days early, but if 11/15 is the official start date they will be running every night (with snowfall on Main Street, etc.) after that. But you may not get any fireworks of any kind on 11/13 or 11/14 if the holiday fireworks don't soft open.
Both parks will be decorated for your entire trip. While there may be some last minute odds and ends that go up between 11/13 and 11/15, the majority of the 2 parks' decorations will be up on your arrival date. The 3 hotels, however, will not yet be decorated. Downtown Disney may or may not have an ice rink this year.
As far as I remember they show every night.
I have been away for a long time and seeing your Christmas post made me smile, Sherry. Just like old times
Hello,
Krissy!
It has been a while since I've seen you on the board, now that you mention it! Welcome back!
Oh yes, I am firmly involved in the Christmas and Halloween Superthreads! You're not getting rid of me! This Christmas Superthread is bigger and better than its predecessors. The previous Halloween & Christmas Superthreads (before we hit the page limits) had many, many, many views. They were both very popular. It turns out that a lot of people enjoy the Halloween Time and holiday seasons at DLR!
Imagine that!
Sigh, we are from the East Coast and are making our first family trip to DLR. We have been to WDW many times, including every time of year but holiday. Our dates are Nov. 12-14. Those are set in stone due to commitments both in California & at home. I've been researching our trip for the past month or so, and was pleasantly surprised to see that we arrive on the first day of the holiday season. Now I see that it is probably not the case. Having never seen WOC at all, it doesn't make a difference that we would not see the holiday version. However, we are hoping for SOMETHING holiday, decorations, small world & haunted mansion, etc. My youngest would LOVE to see the holiday parade and fireworks/snowfall. I showed her a picture of the castle with lights and she gasped! Does anyone with past experience think that maybe a few events might have an early opening, before the 15th? Either way we are so excited to experience DLR for the first time. Having any holiday events would just be the icing on the cake!
LilyRos --
Welcome!
This has been discussed a lot, both in this thread and on the board.
Here's how it will work (
and we are assuming now that 11/15 is the official start date of the season, as reported by Disneyland News):
1. Decorations -- The actual decorations in Disneyland and California Adventure will slowly begin to go up, a little bit at a time, even before Halloween Time ends on 10/31. It is a very extensive process, so the Enhancement team and the decorators have to get an early start.
The majority of the decorations will be up in both parks during your trip. There may be a few odds and ends that go up between 11/14 and 11/15, but mostly everything will be up in that whole week leading up to 11/15.
The 3 Disney hotels will not be decorated at all at that point (unless something changes this year).
2. Ride Overlays -- It's a Small World will close for its holiday overlay in the last week or two of October. It will very likely "soft open" (meaning, opening before the official season start date) in its holiday form at least a couple of days prior to 11/15. It usually does.
Haunted Mansion Holiday opens on September 13th and will remain open all the way through early January, so you have no chance of missing that.
The teeny tiny decorations on the cottages in the Storybook Land boat ride will not be up yet and, in fact, that ride may be closed during your trip as it receives its decor.
3. Holiday Entertainment -- This is where you
may miss some things. If the season is officially beginning on Friday, 11/15, it is possible that the holiday fireworks and snow will begin a day or two early...but it's hard to tell. What I have observed is that the holiday fireworks seem to start early IF the season is officially beginning on a Monday. In other words, the holiday fireworks begin in time for the weekend leading up to the season start date. However, when the season begins on a Friday, there have been times when the holiday entertainment did not begin at all until that Friday.
So, because it appears that the official start date is a Friday, it is hard to guess at whether the holiday fireworks and snow will be going on a day or two early.
Same thing for the Christmas Fantasy Parade -- it may or may not soft open.
Things like the Jingle Jangle Jamboree (where Santa and a lot of characters in holiday attire can be found) will probably not begin until the actual official start date. Carolers will probably not appear in the parks until 11/15.
The Winter Castle usually does not have its "Enchantment Lighting" until the season start date if that date is a Friday, but when the season has begun on a Monday the Castle's icicles lit up a little early, according to some reports. So, again, this is something that may or may not soft open.
Basically, I don't think you will miss too much in terms of general park decorations in both DL and DCA (and most of the merchandise and holiday treats will be available too), but you
may miss some of the seasonal entertainment -- or you may get lucky and catch some soft openings on 11/13 or 11/14.
One thing I know for sure is that you will get to experience Haunted Mansion Holiday, and I think there is a very strong chance that you will get to ride It's a Small World Holiday as well! The other things? Time will tell!