Hey all! As you know, the holidays are here! So to stay in the spirit here are a few discussion questions.

 

What is your favorite holiday event/overlay/entertainment offering that has been at a theme park? 

What is your favorite holiday movie? Song?

 

For me one of my favorite offerings that does not exist anymore is the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights. I am somewhat attached to them as my first Disney trip in the holidays occurred the year they debuted. Of course the Osborne Lights were also a highlight and are missed. Disney get your act together, we want lights 🤣.

As far as movies and songs this is tough as I watch a lot of the classic Christmas movies. Some of my favorites are now in their 20s which is tough considering that is early 2000s. Elf, Polar Express, Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, etc. are all on my list. Christmas music I would have to say some of the Disney Parks soundtracks (parades and shows) put me in the spirit the most compared to those you hear all around. 

What is your favorite holiday event/overlay/entertainment offering that has been at a theme park?  Well, I have to say I really like the feel of the Studios as they are the 'most' decorated IMO. Old days past, it would have been Osborne Lights.

What is your favorite holiday movie? Song? I never stop laughing at Christmas Vacation.

I really did like the Peace on Earth holiday tag following Reflections of Earth (surprise surprise), they obviously don't offer that anymore. As for a favorite song.. I like the classic traditional Christmas music but the instrumentals of them, the Epcot Christmas mix they have is always nice but as for a favorite song it would probably be the First Noel. For movie.. I have no idea I actually don't watch many Christmas movies now that I can think of it. For some reason Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings always feel Christmas-sy to me (no idea, don't ask why), so I'll go with that haha

Been too busy getting ready for Christmas to see this sooner. (we're hosting the whole family this year... parents... my sister and her husband... my sister-in-law... both our grown boys... etc... I have a big family)

As to my favorite holiday park experience, I don't really have one. We very rarely travel during the holidays since my extended family all live nearby and we're 500 miles from Anaheim. Back when the kids were little, we managed to get to DLA once and I really liked the Christmas Fantasy Parade... until the float of Goofy's Kitchen broke down right in front of us. We waited far longer than reasonable for it to resume and ended up hearing the audio loop for that segment about 45 times. It was freezing cold (43°F which for SoCal is almost record-breaking) with 100% humidity and a stiff breeze and we wanted to go, but after everyone else along the parade route did we didn't have the heart to just leave those poor CMs in the parade that kept right on dancing with a smile. (though thinking about it, their dancing was probably the only thing keeping them from going into hypothermia) To this day my SO and I can still recite all the lyrics to that section of the parade. It will haunt me for the rest of my days. :^þ

As for movies, the original "Miracle on 34th Street" has to be number one. There are tons of others we watch every year, ("The Lemon Drop Kid", "White Christmas", "Christmas in Connecticut", etc.) but that ranks #1 by far.

When it comes to music, I really love "An Old-fashioned Christmas" album by The Carpenters, but I also really love Manheim Steamroller,  Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby,  and a thousand others. We have a Christmas playlist that has over 500 songs and lasts more than a day without repeating a track, so we never tire of a song being overplayed. Right now I'm listening to Maynard Ferguson's, "A Concord Jazz Christmas" as we wind down to rest for tomorrow's festivities. Usually though, older is better. Silent Night makes me misty every time.

Merry Christmas everyone at PC!

Also saw this late...

Closest we were ever in a park near Christmas was at WDW the first week or so after Halloween a few years ago, we usually go before Halloween.  The decorations were up but the crowd levels weren't, so it was a nice time to visit.  We didn't attend any of the special events. I really loved the decorations and windows on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom.

No real favorite Christmas movie.  Living in Brazil the selection is far more limited, even with streaming, so it's been years since I've had to wade through the plethora of Hallmark Holiday tearjerkers.

Christmas music here includes a few US holiday standards, but just isn't a big thing .  The malls have fake snow, trees and some Christmas tunes playing, admittedly I still cant used to seeing those things or hearing lyrics about snow and frosty air when it's in the 90's here.  But when I decide to do some holiday baking I'll tune to the Seattle online all-Christmas radio station while pretending the oven heat is coming from a fireplace (the occasional burnt cookies help that illusion...).

On 12/26/2024 at 6:32 AM, Wabigbear said:

Also saw this late...

Closest we were ever in a park near Christmas was at WDW the first week or so after Halloween a few years ago, we usually go before Halloween.  The decorations were up but the crowd levels weren't, so it was a nice time to visit.  We didn't attend any of the special events. I really loved the decorations and windows on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom.

No real favorite Christmas movie.  Living in Brazil the selection is far more limited, even with streaming, so it's been years since I've had to wade through the plethora of Hallmark Holiday tearjerkers.

Christmas music here includes a few US holiday standards, but just isn't a big thing .  The malls have fake snow, trees and some Christmas tunes playing, admittedly I still cant used to seeing those things or hearing lyrics about snow and frosty air when it's in the 90's here.  But when I decide to do some holiday baking I'll tune to the Seattle online all-Christmas radio station while pretending the oven heat is coming from a fireplace (the occasional burnt cookies help that illusion...).

I share with your fake snow stuff here in Florida.. they like to blow fake snow around here too and everyone freaks out acting like it's the real thing 😅

On 12/28/2024 at 6:18 PM, wolfpaw said:

I share with your fake snow stuff here in Florida.. they like to blow fake snow around here too and everyone freaks out acting like it's the real thing 😅

Having grown up in the high desert, I guess I'm used to "dreaming of a brown Christmas". It rarely snows here before mid-January, though it does get well below freezing most mornings. Even when it does finally getting around to snowing, we rarely get more than an inch or two. Three years ago was wild... we got 2 feet in 3 days of almost constant snowing! (that's about 3 times our usual annual precipitation) Of course, this year we got the typical Christmas Eve rain... for about 10 minutes. Now all the newbies are running around like chickens with their heads cut off saying, "IT'S A DROUGHT! WHERE'S THE SNOW?" SMH.

Anyway, Happy New Year everyone! 

On 12/28/2024 at 8:18 PM, wolfpaw said:

I share with your fake snow stuff here in Florida.. they like to blow fake snow around here too and everyone freaks out acting like it's the real thing 😅

Fake snow is the definition of Florida Christmas. 

In the mountains of Brazilian states south of us, they can occasionally get a little snow during winter if polar air comes up from Argentina.  Mostly just a light dusting or frost.

Here in São Paulo the upper class folks often head to Campos do Jordão, a town up in the mountains outside of the city, were it can dip down into the mid-30's and 40's and they can wear their furs and ski parkas. 

Inside the city itself people break out the mufflers, gloves and heavy coats when it's in the 50's and 60's.  I get strange looks being the gringo who wears shorts and sandals at the same time.  Only time I wear long pants is when we fly to the States...