Show me your Disney Christmas ornament

[luvtink]

My daughter just got engaged and she was asking about ornaments for them. We will be there in 7 days! This is great!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Checked out the flickr stream--what a collection!! You realize now, you're going to have to share a photo of whole tree once it's decorated, right??

Oh, and I am totally in awe of your bargain shopping to assemble your collection!! Way to go...

Thanks! I've been collecting for about 10 years...everyone jokes what it will look like in another 10 if I keep this going. I will try to remember to post a pic of the tree. We usually get a natural tree for our main tree ... should be getting it some time next week.

Once the obsession hit me- I realized that the only way to foster it was to find ways to buy at deep discount. Thankfully, Marshalls usually gets some really nice pieces. In addition to Lenox, they usually get Waterford, Spode, Wedgewood...and sometimes Christopher Radko, and Baccarat. I also try to buy at ebay auction during the off season, but it's tough because I'm usually going head to head with antiques dealers who are a bit better at aggressive bidding than myself. Still, I've won enough against them to make it worth it.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I love Christmas (even if I haven't been feeling real Chistmassy yet) and really enjoyed seeing everyone's ornaments and trees! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

We weren't going to be putting our tree up again this year (would've been 2 years in a row) because it was looking like we wouldn't be at home again. Plans are ever-changing around here. As soon as the boys caught wind of use being home on Christmas night they started plotting. While I was asleep (with the headcold from hell) they took the truck up to the mini-storage and brought back all the Christmas stuff. I finally got the tree decorated tonight. We've got a 9' slim but it's way too small to fit everything. I only ended up putting about half our ornaments on, of course all the most sentimental were the priority.

Our favorite souvenir whenever we travel anywhere is an ornament. Everywhere we visit we try to find an ornament. At WDW, we are addicted to the personalized ornaments. I hadn't noticed until tonight but the Mickey icon glass ornaments are smaller now than they used to be. Anywhoo, here's our years of WDW adventures:

First family vacation to WDW circa 2004:

Our 2005 trip I was sick as all heck the entire time. Didn't get an ornament. Kinda a crazy time in our family's history, too. In 2006 I got this gem...and, yes, it only counts as ONE WORD:

We paid for my in-laws to go with us for the 2006 trip. It was their first time going to WDW. This was our thank you gift:

We made 2 trips in 2007: January & December. Although they aren't dated, we got the glass Mickey ears hats for each person with their name painted on back just like it would've been embroidered on the hat:

We also stayed at the Contemporary for the first time:

In 2008 we left the kids at home and spent a whole 9 nights at WDW celebrating 15 years together:

For our getaway we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We vacationed at WDW again in early 2009. It was getting harder to find glass Mickey icons we didn't already have:

We took my brother (obrienIII) on this trip and it was huge! Here's what he gave us as a thank you:

(not pictured: the back says "Love, Jerry")


In early 2010 my in-laws traveled to WDW with us again. This time we stayed at my MiL's dream-resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge! Here's our safari ornament:

We were back again for November 2010! So hard to find glass Mickeys that are different for us! This was a great alternative:

Not sure which trip it was but somewhere around this time my hubby's favorite toy, Rex, came home with us:

September 2011 was a super big awesome trip! We did WDW + our first ever cruise! First cruise ornament:

We also celebrated our 18th anniversary:

Unfortunately, there's not a lot of unique or fun ornaments to be had nowadays. We do what we can to keep it fresh. I've also taken to repurposing other objects as ornaments. Here's a fairly bland Castaway Cay (Disney's private island) ornament:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

My MiL collects Christopher Radko blown glass ornaments. When I say "collect" I mean it. The woman has prototypes of ornaments that never went into production. We kinda started her on that buying her 5 of the Wizard of Oz ornaments at a Warner Bros. store that was going out of business. Anywhoo, once upon a time Christopher Radko produced ornaments for the Walt Disney Company! From what my MiL understands, there was a contractual falling-out and they've not been made for a few years. But, comb the interwebs and eBay and you'll find some outstanding ornaments. So jealous of my MiL with her autographed Cinderella's Castle! And her autographed limited edition Snow White set! Ugh! Here are my Disney Radko's:

Cinderella's Castle (not autographed):

Donald:

Daisy:

Huey, Dewey, & Louie:

Tinkerbell, a gift from my MiL:

I also have 3 of the Lenox ornaments. I have both Mickey & Minnie in their respective tea cups but Mickey fell out of his cup tonight. I had already hung him up but was still standing in front of the ornament when the cup detached and fell. I caught it! So, Mickey has to be glued back to his cup. Here's Minnie:

And, Mickey riding Dumbo:

I think I may have more Radko and Lenox ornaments but I didn't have time or energy to go thru the other boxes of ornaments tonight. Leaving to go out of town until Christmas day tomorrow. It's tough to remember everything you have when it's been almost 2 years ago that you packed it all up. LOL!

Our tree has tons more Disney on it than just what I pictured. That's just the better stuff. OH! And for those of you who still have the acrylic keychains from Chef Mickey's from back in the day floatin' around, those make great ornaments.

I load my tree down with stuff that's "us". It's stuff we've made, places we've been, pictures, or just stuff that we like. I like eclectic. It's so fun to decorate the tree because it's literally a stroll down memory lane. So fun! And so special!

Love love love this thread!!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks! I've been collecting for about 10 years...everyone jokes what it will look like in another 10 if I keep this going. I will try to remember to post a pic of the tree. We usually get a natural tree for our main tree ... should be getting it some time next week.

Once the obsession hit me- I realized that the only way to foster it was to find ways to buy at deep discount. Thankfully, Marshalls usually gets some really nice pieces. In addition to Lenox, they usually get Waterford, Spode, Wedgewood...and sometimes Christopher Radko, and Baccarat. I also try to buy at ebay auction during the off season, but it's tough because I'm usually going head to head with antiques dealers who are a bit better at aggressive bidding than myself. Still, I've won enough against them to make it worth it.

Girl, you should see my MiL's collection of Christopher Radko ornaments! She has autographed ones, prototypes, etc. She's got all the Wizard of Oz ones, all the Star Wars ones, many Disney ones, gobs and gobs and gobs of them! They're so expensive, I can't even imagine what kind of money she has tied up in them. She has graduated to a 14' full width (not slim) tree and still doesn't have enough room for all her ornaments. A few years ago she did a 2nd tree in the den with all the ornaments the grandkids made her which was cute.

OMG! Yes! Don't buy the collectible ornaments around the holidays! But then, I checked eBay several times over the past year to see if another Cinderella's castle showed up and I didn't see one for many months. I got mine around Christmastime last year and paid thru the nose. Ugh! What can you do? I need to keep an eye on Marshalls. I'd love to find some Radko's for the MiL!

 

[Tinkerkell]

We have too many Disney ornaments to post all, but here are a few.

The pickle from Germany!

A football with Mickey Ears we bought in September in Liberty Square

A couple more random ones

 

[Zipadeelady]

We vacationed at WDW again in early 2009. It was getting harder to find glass Mickey icons we didn't already have:

Love that you got all these personalized! Just had a why didn't I think of that moment. Do all the stores personalize or just specific ones? We've only been to the world a few times and our first couple were such a blur going from one ride to the next. Glad the kiddos are older and we can slow down a bit and see everything we've missed so far.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@Zipitidoda, we always got the personalization done at the Days of Christmas store in DtD. I'm not sure if they do the personalization in the Christmas shop in the MK. I think at one time they did but not sure if that's currently the case. Also,I know that it doesn't matter whereat Disney you buy your ornaments the Days of Christmas will personalize for the regular fee. Like our first cruise ornament with Mickey on top was purchased onboard the Disney Dream. We stayed at WDW 6 nights post-cruise so we had a chance to get it personalized.


Another poster mentioned picking up a glass Mickey icon ball and the ears falling off. When selecting your ornament examine it closely. I noticed in recent years that a lot of the ears aren't attached well. You can see the gap between the ear & the ball. Go thru the shelves & buy the best one. Compare them. Ask to see more from in back if you have to. The cruise logo on the one for our first cruise was painted off-center and smudge on most of the ones we saw. The CMs were do gracious & brought us whole trays from in back to choose from so we'd get the best one. The ornaments aren't cheap and you'll be looking at it hopefully forever. Get the best one! And don't be afraid to walk away if there isn't a solid superior one.

Last night it occurred to me, if this tree should fall and my ornaments break I think I would be physically sick. Freaking out. Full breakdown. I'm tellin you, I loooooove my ornaments!

 

[Lil Fort]

I am kinda fond of who gave it to me, but it wasn't a person. Remember the clue.

I know who gave it to you...

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

Here are a few of ours.

a different angle

 

[Minnie1976]

 

[Wojciehowicz]

I know who gave it to you...

You can't guess.

 

[dave&di]

We always buy my MIL a Christmas ornament, it's a tradition, on our last trip I bought my mum a Pinocchio tree ornament as she loves PInocchio! For some reason I never buy a Christmas ornament for us I think it's because I don't only want to display my souvenirs for one month!

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

/quote]

Mickey and Duffy are too cute!

 

[Minnie1976]

We always buy my MIL a Christmas ornament, it's a tradition, on our last trip I bought my mum a Pinocchio tree ornament as she loves PInocchio! For some reason I never buy a Christmas ornament for us I think it's because I don't only want to display my souvenirs for one month!

I bought a little gold colored tree that sits on a table from Pier One years ago. I put my small Disney ornaments on it and leave it out all year in the dining room. The grandchildren love going in there and checking it out.

 

[luv]

Wow. I'm impressed with this thread. On the rare occasion I look at WDW ornaments, they always look boring and cheesy. But I've seen some here I really like.

I have no Mickey on my tree. I have Thomas the Tank Engine and other silly kid stuff that DS liked when he was little. I gave him an ornament every year.

But no Mickey. I should have ONE. Will start looking for that "just right" one.

 

[erstwo]

Last year I took a page out of Hollybelle's Christmas decorating playbook and decorated a tree in one of our playrooms with Disney plush. We do have a few other Disney ornaments on the other trees in the house, but this is my best photo:

 

[PUSH]

A football with Mickey Ears we bought in September in Liberty Square

We have this one with 2012 painted on the right ear. Except we got it at DTD.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Girl, you should see my MiL's collection of Christopher Radko ornaments! She has autographed ones, prototypes, etc. She's got all the Wizard of Oz ones, all the Star Wars ones, many Disney ones, gobs and gobs and gobs of them! They're so expensive, I can't even imagine what kind of money she has tied up in them. She has graduated to a 14' full width (not slim) tree and still doesn't have enough room for all her ornaments. A few years ago she did a 2nd tree in the den with all the ornaments the grandkids made her which was cute.

OMG! Yes! Don't buy the collectible ornaments around the holidays! But then, I checked eBay several times over the past year to see if another Cinderella's castle showed up and I didn't see one for many months. I got mine around Christmastime last year and paid thru the nose. Ugh! What can you do? I need to keep an eye on Marshalls. I'd love to find some Radko's for the MiL!

I'm sure it's an AMAZING collection. I've seen the autographed ones go up on ebay, but never the prototypes. WOW! I can only guess what those must go for...YIKES! I know that Tink one that you posted usually goes for quite a bit at auction. An expensive hobby, but I'm sure she has fun collecting and gifting. Funny you mention tree size...that's one of the reasons I gravitated more to Lenox..so many of the Radko ornaments are quite large. Of course on the flip side, the Lenox are extremely heavy. DH prefers a natural tree, but we'd discussed investing in a 12' or larger for the living room...but aside from the challenge of how to shift the furniture and decorating on a ladder, after seeing the damage from an 8' falling on a carpeted floor, I can't stomach the thought of a huge tree coming down on wood floors.

It's funny...I try to buy during the offseason, but it never fails...there are usually 2 or 3 ornaments that catch my eye this time of year. All I can hope is that I find someone selling at auction with a reasonable starting bid so maybe I stand a chance. Your searching for the castle ornament reminds me of when I'd been searching for the Lenox carousel...I paid much more than I'd planned, but in the end- worth it! It's been a few years since I've seen Christopher Radko at Marshalls, but every now and then, they sneak them in there. Their boxes are at least quite distinctive so they stand out when you know what you're looking for. While I have my best luck in October, if you happen to be in Houston around that time, I've had my best luck at three different Houston area Marshalls.

1. Westheimer & Post Oak across from the Galleria
2. Westheimer & Dairy Ashford
3. West Gray near Dunlavy