Epcot's Nightmare Christmas just wont go away

[unkadug]

...that I'm following through on it! We're heading to Orlando in February for a long weekend and we won't step foot on Disney property for the first time EVER! Instead we'll be going to Universal as it offers a much more economical option with their $99 ticket for both parks for seven days. So we're off to try something new and couldn't be more excited.

I couldn't agree more - don't complain, vote with your dollars and find somewhere else to go!

What in the heck are you gonna do at Universal for seven days? :veryconfu:shrug:

A day, possibly two and I'm through with both parks. While the cost might seem like a bargain, I'd still be looking for "somewhere else to go!"

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Two days is the length of time it takes for a chance to ride RockIt without it breaking down.

 

[Skip]

What in the heck are you gonna do at Universal for seven days? :veryconfu:shrug:

A day, possibly two and I'm through with both parks. While the cost might seem like a bargain, I'd still be looking for "somewhere else to go!"

Notice the "I'm". While you might wish to speed through the parks, many love to take their time and relish in the exquisite theming that Universal offers. One could experience the major attractions at each park in 2 days, but with 5 or more you can be completely sure to enjoy everything the parks, Citywalk, Blue Man Group, and the resorts have to offer.

Two days is the length of time it takes for a chance to ride RockIt without it breaking down.

:lol: Sad but true. You'll probably take up half a day waiting for it with all of its random "maintenance checks".


This Christmas stuff at Epcot makes no sense. Why haven't they changed the music loop? The technical Christmas season ended January 6th... there's no excuse at this point. As a prior poster pointed out, Disney can get down decorations FAST when they wish to. With all of the horrible PR Epcot's Christmas has gotten this year, you think they'd want it to vanish as quick as possible.

 

[culturenthrills]

I think that's for a park capacity thing more than anything, as some years both Mansion and Small World close at the same time for 10 or 11 days to remove the Holiday overlay. But this year the Rivers of America was walled off and began draining for a five month rehab (REHABS RUIN VACATIONS! :lol: ) on Monday, January 4th, so they are staggering it a bit.

Haunted Mansion is closed to remove the Holiday overlay from January 4th until the 14th (RUINING VACATIONS! :lol: ). Then regular Haunted Mansion and Small World Holiday operate through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. On Tuesday, January 19th, Small World Holiday closes for 10 days to remove the Holiday overlay (RUINING MORE VACATIONS! :lol: ).

I will say at Disneyland this year, Santa's Reindeer Ranch and the Roundup Show closed promptly on Monday, January 4th. Garland and decorations were removed from Main Street for two days, the lights began removing from the Castle, and the Christmas Tree in the Town Square was gone last Wednesday. With the Christmas Tree gone, the regular music loop was turned on and the Christmas Carols were removed. You could tell they were moving farther into the park with the decoration removal when I visited last night, and with the main stuff gone all area music loops had the regular music playing. They decorate every single land in Disneyland for Christmas, except Tomorrowland. DCA has some fairly extensive Christmas decor as well, and that's coming down quickly this week.

New Orleans Square offers a good sampling of the type of Christmas decorations Disneyland puts up and takes down each year, so it's no wonder it takes them more than a week to get it all down. Every lamp post is decorated, every shop and balcony and doorway in that land gets the Jazz Age Christmas treatment. I wouldn't want to have to pack up all this stuff every year, would you? :lol:

New Orleans Square Lamp Post

http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/files/2008/10/dsc_0288.jpg

New Orleans Square Royal Street Garlands

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/3077034700_d24ed93def.jpg?v=0

New Orleans Square Shops and Balconies

http://www.mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/80758-1/NOS2-110108-AVP.jpg

New Orleans Square Alleys

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3413682854_caf73e29e8.jpg

New Orleans Square Courtyard Of Angels

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3167131265_e67842f88a.jpg

Wow, what a concept. Decorating the whole park. Having experienced DL christmas, WDW is a joke compared to theirs. And oh yeah, you don't have to pay extra for it.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Im sorry the idea is great but that is hellish to look at.

In the words of Lemmy No Class.

 

[CRO-Magnum]

It's really just a long weekend...

What in the heck are you gonna do at Universal for seven days? :veryconfu:shrug:

A day, possibly two and I'm through with both parks. While the cost might seem like a bargain, I'd still be looking for "somewhere else to go!"

... so of our 4 days we'll spend 2.5 days in the parts. I was surprised to find out it's SOOOO much cheaper than Disney. For our family of six we're looking at $600 at Universal whereas Disney tickets would be $1186 - almost exactly twice as much yet I don't feel Disney can possibly provide us with twice as much fun (we're veterans of Universal Hollywood, just not Orlando). And if we extend a day it doesn't cost us more.

I went to Universal Orlando the second day it was open back when I worked at WDW (I lived across the street almost literally when I worked at Disney CRO behind Wet n' Wild) and I was impressed with it then; I've been told it's much improved today.

Our kids have been disappointed our last two trips to WDW at how little has changed so they've asked for alternatives, which also cost so much less!

 

[unkadug]

Im sorry the idea is great but that is hellish to look at.

In the words of Lemmy No Class.

Ahhh...I take it you've never been to the French Quarter in New Orleans?

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Ahhh...I take it you've never been to the French Quarter in New Orleans?

I am familiar with the chebs out, bead throwing events, so is this another part of their entertainment?

 

[Texas84]

We just checked into the BLT (this place rocks) and I can see the Christmas overlay on the castle. When we got our tickets Christmas music was playing at the TTC. We love it! :xmas: Also got a nice surprise. Military tickets are $99 for four days. I thought that was only for active duty and retirees within the last year. But we had to go to the TTC to 'activate' them. Worth it! :xmas:

 

[unkadug]

It looks very authentic to the the decor and style of the area.

The gaudiness is VERY appropriate.

 

[WDW1974]

Just wanted to REPEAT since FACTS get lost here easily that:

1.) WDW has been for YEARS now leaving Christmas decorations up well into January (in some cases through MLK weekend);

2.) There's no special reason/equipment needed to take EPCOT's tree out and it takes little more than the flip of switch to swap soundtacks in the park;

3.) WDW DID put Halloween/Fall decorations up in late August this year. They actually held a Halloween Party the Friday night PRIOR to Labor Day Weekend;

 

[TP2000]

Wow, what a concept. Decorating the whole park. Having experienced DL christmas, WDW is a joke compared to theirs. And oh yeah, you don't have to pay extra for it.

It's fascinating how Disneyland decks out every land (except Tomorrowland, oddly) in themed Christmas decor, while Magic Kingdom just focuses on Main Street USA and the Castle.

Brer Rabbit delivers a Christmas Tree to Brer Fox and Brer Bear in through the barn at Disneyland's Splash Mountain

Jack Skellington invades Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday

It's A Small World Holiday never worries about its carbon footprint

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin gets in the spirit with the rest of Toontown

And on and on and on. There really seems to be an opportunity for Magic Kingdom to kick it up a notch. Or three.

 

[raven]

It's fascinating how Disneyland decks out every land (except Tomorrowland, oddly) in themed Christmas decor, while Magic Kingdom just focuses on Main Street USA and the Castle.

And on and on and on. There really seems to be an opportunity for Magic Kingdom to kick it up a notch. Or three.

Disneyland Resort also only has 2 parks and 3 resorts to decorate and all of their guests are compacted in those areas. WDW has 4 parks and many, many more resorts where guests are spread out all over the property. But if you look inside most of the shops and restaurants in the parks you will find Holiday decor.

 

[TP2000]

Disneyland Resort also only has 2 parks and 3 resorts to decorate and all of their guests are compacted in those areas. WDW has 4 parks and many, many more resorts where guests are spread out all over the property. But if you look inside most of the shops and restaurants in the parks you will find Holiday decor.

Yes. And I imagine WDW has a lot more Cast Members working there than Disneyland does. Cast Members who could, you know, maybe put up some Christmas decorations past Main Street USA? :animwink:

 

[RSoxNo1]

Disneyland Resort also only has 2 parks and 3 resorts to decorate and all of their guests are compacted in those areas. WDW has 4 parks and many, many more resorts where guests are spread out all over the property. But if you look inside most of the shops and restaurants in the parks you will find Holiday decor.

The attraction lineup in those two parks is pretty strong, for what it's worth. The difference in total attractions in Disneyland vs. Disney World isn't that substantial.

 

[bgraham34]

I do have to say I would love to see Splash Mountain Decorated. This is really well done.

 

[montyz81]

The nightmare known as Epcot Christmas 2009 just wont go away. It's January 9 2010, and Epcot is still limping along in it's Christmas mode. The tree is there, the music is playing. I would have thought that after the holidays were so badly received at Epcot, they would want it gone as quickly as possible - obviously not.

The same is true at Magic Kingdom, everything is still up, and I understand it will be until the 14th.

None of the guests are interested in the decorations now, Christmas is over. It's quite interesting to see how their reaction is different. Before and during Christmas, everyone wants their photo with the tree. Now, they just walk on by, wondering why the heck it's still Christmas at WDW when it's long over.

Of course, all the good stuff is gone. Things guests would want to see. Such as Peace on Earth, Candlelight, and the Osborne Lights.

Have Disney laid off a good chunk of Holiday services? I know they arent leaving them up as a service for the guests, it's because they don't have the resources to get them all taken down quickly.

Remember yesterday was the final day of Christmas in the Catholic church. Jesus' baptism was yesterday.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Thatll be it then,

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

It's fascinating how Disneyland decks out every land (except Tomorrowland, oddly) in themed Christmas decor, while Magic Kingdom just focuses on Main Street USA and the Castle.

Brer Rabbit delivers a Christmas Tree to Brer Fox and Brer Bear in through the barn at Disneyland's Splash Mountain

Jack Skellington invades Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday

It's A Small World Holiday never worries about its carbon footprint

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin gets in the spirit with the rest of Toontown

And on and on and on. There really seems to be an opportunity for Magic Kingdom to kick it up a notch. Or three.

Looks very pretty, that's for sure.


I do find that most resorts are decorated, so that's something. Would really like the see the attractions, get more love, too, though.

 

[raven]

Yes. And I imagine WDW has a lot more Cast Members working there than Disneyland does. Cast Members who could, you know, maybe put up some Christmas decorations past Main Street USA? :animwink:

It isn't the cast members that decide what to put up and where to put it. If it were that easy things would be different.