Disappointing Christmas Decorations

[Mister Toad]

Just got back from the World. Love going this time of year, but I have to admit I was very disappointed in the quality and quantity of the decorations. To be quite honest, compared to other years, it was hard to even tell that it was Christmas.....

> No Santa Hat on top of the MGM water tower anymore
> No Green and Red alternating lights on the outside of the Contemporary, just the big white ones that are always there
> No Pointesetta trees in Epcot like there used to be
> Mimimal lampost decorations... some pointsettas, but that is about it... everywhere.
> No decorations - at all - on the Boardwalk or in any of their shops

To be honest, the only areas IMO that looked up to snuff were Main Street and the light towers in Epcot.

VERY disappointing.

 

[hcswingfield]

I read this morning that a lot of the poinsettia nurseries in Florida were destroyed by hurricanes. Maybe that's part of what is going on. The decorations last year were a little sparse, too.

 

[celestia]

actually, according to our cm newspaper, there are more pointsettias this year than in previous years.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Funny, looks better than ever to me.

 

[napnet]

Odd, we just were there this past weekend and was amazed at the decorations. I even posted a bunch of pictures http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=66724 of the decorations. I thought they were all tastefully done and amazing. There were a ton of pointsettias to me... most i have ever seen! Anyways it tops the last Christmas at WDW i went to in 92 :xmas:

 

[Mister Toad]

Can somone tell me where the Santa Hat went? Or the lights on the outside of the Contemporary? Or why Boardwalk had nothing?

Don't get me wrong, it still looked nice, but it was not "Disney Quality."

 

[Laura]

I thought the parks and resorts looked beautiful, and were absolutely Disney quality.

 

[MrNonacho]

Can somone tell me where the Santa Hat went? Or the lights on the outside of the Contemporary?

You know, in the past six holiday seasons, I don't think I've ever seen either of these. I know they haven't used the hat in that time, but have I just not noticed the Contemporary lights?

 

[shoppingnut]

The Santa Hat has been gone for a very long time, since sometime in the late 90's if I recally correctly. I wish they would put that back up I really loved the way it looked.

 

[peter11435]

Can somone tell me where the Santa Hat went? Or the lights on the outside of the Contemporary? Or why Boardwalk had nothing?

Don't get me wrong, it still looked nice, but it was not "Disney Quality."

The Santa hat has been gone for a long time now. Im talking like at least 6 years. The lights on the side of the contemporary are something that has only been done some years. As for the Boardwalk, I was just there the other day and didn't notice anything different from previous years. I have to agree with Photodave that the decorations this year are better than ever. I really don't see how you could say the decorations were not up to Disney quality everywhere but Main Street. Did you not go to Epcot (which does have some Pointesetta trees). Did you not see the SoL at MGM, or the holiday ending to Illuminations.

 

[geubux]

Let's see...One Santa Hat missing, some colored light bulbs not changed over and a few swags missing on one hotel. I seemed to remember that last week there were poinsettias (sp) in beds, forming trees, and hanging from lamp posts. Must be hell when your life is so full all you have to do is complain as to how someone else decorated for CHRISTmas.:brick:

 

[Mister Toad]

My family goes all the time, but it is the first time since 2000 that we were there during Christmas.

We all remembered WDW much more decorated then. A lot.

 

[peter11435]

We all remembered WDW much more decorated then. A lot.

Not to be rude, but your memory is playing tricks on you.

 

[robynchic]

Not to be rude, but your memory is playing tricks on you.

Yeah. The only thing I remember from when I was a kid, and went there in the holidays, was that there were famous bands at Disney/MGM Studios for New Years. Oh, and I remember that the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular had swastikas where appropriate. Or is that my mind playing tricks on me, after I've seen the movies TONS of times?

*Edit because my memory lapse has returned...somewhat*
I DO remember that MGM used to have famous bands come to perform. 2000-2001 NYE my family saw Vertical Horizon, and Sister Hazel was performing. That was the NYE that they had to cancel Fantasmic! because it was 23 degrees outside...

 

[surfsupdon]

I'd agree that over the years the Christmas decorations are not as "everywhere" as they once were. I have been to WDW for Christmas time for the past 4 years, but not including this current year.

You're right that the colored lights and BoardWalk shops are not as decorated as in years past. Also, last year, poinsettia trees were missing at Yacht and Beach, MGM's entrance, and at Old Port Royale, where these trees had been for the previous 3 years.

I underwstand that changes are made, or things are moved, but year after year there does seem to be less and less poinsettias around the entire Resort. I agree the Santa Hat was missing.

Of course Disney still does a fine job, but comparing the amount of Christmas decorations from 2002 to 2005, there are some exclusions that are missed. Just not as immersive.:xmas:

 

[CTXRover]

In 2001-2002, there was a notiecable cut in holiday decorations from year's past. Probably a knee-jerk budget cut to help the parks get through the drops in attendance those years. It was around this time that they stopped changing out the bulbs on the Contemoprary, dropped installation of some garlands around the resorts (Fort Wilderness for instance had garlands around all of the light posts along the inner roads of the resort...not anymore though). At that time, I thought there was a noticeable lack of decorations from year's before. Now though, I feel the decorations seem to be in full force once again. Not everything is the same as before, but there are obvious additions to the decorations this year and last that help make up for the stuff that was dropped. AK is probably the biggest. It was hardly decorated its first few years. A few garlands around Discovery Island's buildings and a very akward looking tree was about it for the first few years. Now it has one of the best main trees imo, beautiful decorated trees and garlands in Camp Minnie-Mickey, decorations all over Dinoland (appropriately tacky) and some of the best garlands and wreaths on property.

Overall, the decorations are as beautiful as ever imo. One thing I hate though is the celebration banners. It seems whenever the lamp posts in the parks have these things on them, the usual post decorations are dropped. The best were the mini-trees around each of Hollywood Blvd's lamp-posts. This year they are only around the 4 posts at the entrance and the remaining just have poinsetta hanging baskets so the HCOE banners could stay. Unfortunately it also meant less lighted stars on Sunset Blvd as well.

 

[Magic Maker]

I am sorry Mr. Toad, but the decorations are amazing. I feel bad that those few things missing, except Boardwalk (but we will get to that in a minute) put a big damper on your trip. Now everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you are by far the first person I have talked to in the three years that I have worked at WDW, and each of my jobs have consisted of talking to guests constantly and at length.
The Boardwalk has a GORGEOUS Christmas tree both in the Lobby and on the lawn of the outside courtyard. Also all the lamposts in that courtyard had garland.
I will tell you that BW has a very, shall we say, sensitive electrical system.

Anyway, I love this time of year, I think it is massively impressive at WDW.

 

[MickeyTigg]

No Santa Hat on top of the MGM water tower anymore
No Green and Red alternating lights on the outside of the Contemporary, just the big white ones that are always there.

Quite honestly....neither one of these have been used for a couple of years now.