Holiday season 2011

[WDW1974]

There were actually changes to the standard Magic Kingdom Halloween decorations this year that I would consider to be a fair improvement.

Like?

Curious as I didn't notice any, although I only did part of one day at MK on recent trip. ... But I didn't see anything that jumped out at me as new.

Also some fairly significant changes at MNSSHP due to the closure of Toontown. Overall, I'd consider the changes a net-gain.

Didn't do the Party this year. Only go now when I get freebies like last year!

I've heard mixed things about the show on the castle stage, am aware they have a new intro 'float' for the parade and a few new candy trails, largeky do to Toontown as you said. I guess the biggest would be the new Splash Mountain area. ... But those don't affect everyday guests and are basically out of necessity anyway.

Oh, and look for a Spirited email this week. :wave:

~GFC~

 

[WDW1974]

Isn't this normal for a theme park? I don't know of any that spend oodles of cash on an idea only to scrap it 5 or 6 years later if they expect to get any sort of return.

The majority of people coming probably haven't seen it. I've personally been to Disney dozens of times, but never at a holiday.

Normal for a local theme park, perhaps. But Disney built a reputation on keeping things fresh. Now, they show parades from 1972 and 2001 and put the same decorations up come holiday time year after year.

It may be typical for theme parks (and not even sure I'd say that), but it most definitely isn't (or wasn't) the Disney Way.

Hell, they change parades and holiday shows at TDR almost every year and plus the ones they don't.

A guest who visits WDW for Christmas in 2007 shouldn't get the exact same product (or pretty close) in 2011.

That's just being cheap.

~GFC~

 

[WDW Vacationer]

Normal for a local theme park, perhaps. But Disney built a reputation on keeping things fresh. Now, they show parades from 1972 and 2001 and put the same decorations up come holiday time year after year.

It may be typical for theme parks (and not even sure I'd say that), but it most definitely isn't (or wasn't) the Disney Way.

Hell, they change parades and holiday shows at TDR almost every year and plus the ones they don't.

A guest who visits WDW for Christmas in 2007 shouldn't get the exact same product (or pretty close) in 2011.

That's just being cheap.

~GFC~

Yeah. I think it is wrong accepted by the American Park visitors.

Look at what Tokyo does for holidays. Their entertainment is killer anyway, and they have parades and shows for almost every holiday for every guest. Even Easter!

 

[WDW1974]

Yeah. I think it is wrong accepted by the American Park visitors.

I would say it is more accepted in O-Town. They do have to freshen things up in Anaheim quite a bit, although still not as much as they should.

The Christmas Fantasy parade at DL has largely been unchanged for eons (no, adding a new Princess or foamhead doesn't make it new or different).

Look at what Tokyo does for holidays. Their entertainment is killer anyway, and they have parades and shows for almost every holiday for every guest. Even Easter!

Exactly. And they are ALWAYS looking to plus/improve on prior years. Easter, for example, is a totally new seasonal event/holiday to TDR. Yet, it's something that is so thorough from parade to Hub decor to menus to merchandise. It's something that WDW guests would never understand because 95% of them still don't recall when MK had a REAL Easter Parade (even if it only usually played 2-3 days a year) around/on the holiday.

And it isn't just TDR. Most Disney resorts do considerably more than WDW does, even little HKDL where if I am lucky I'll get to see how this year's Christmas celebration compares with last year's!

~GFC~

 

[WDWFigment]

Like?

Curious as I didn't notice any, although I only did part of one day at MK on recent trip. ... But I didn't see anything that jumped out at me as new.



Didn't do the Party this year. Only go now when I get freebies like last year!

I've heard mixed things about the show on the castle stage, am aware they have a new intro 'float' for the parade and a few new candy trails, largeky do to Toontown as you said. I guess the biggest would be the new Splash Mountain area. ... But those don't affect everyday guests and are basically out of necessity anyway.

Oh, and look for a Spirited email this week. :wave:

~GFC~

There were more pumpkins scattered throughout the park (the ones that caught my eye were in Liberty Square) and a lot more fall leaves added to the decor.

Yeah, perhaps even "fair" improvement was being generous.

 

[mickey2008.1]

There were more pumpkins scattered throughout the park (the ones that caught my eye were in Liberty Square) and a lot more fall leaves added to the decor.

Yeah, perhaps even "fair" improvement was being generous.

Thanks for clarifying, because we have been there in Sept a few times, and did not notice that much difference. Reviewed pics, and some things did change, but not added. Main Street is the same, and the rest of the park, nothing. Not doing Christmas this year because of last years weather. Maybe next year. It is awesome to see all the parks done up for the hollidays!

 

[etwtec]

I assume Celebrate The Season will Still be there Again this year?

 

[Cosmic Commando]

There were actually changes to the standard Magic Kingdom Halloween decorations this year that I would consider to be a fair improvement.

Also some fairly significant changes at MNSSHP due to the closure of Toontown. Overall, I'd consider the changes a net-gain.

I think the regular decorations were an improvement, but the party was definitely shortchanged. Without even getting into the things that are missing from past years, Disney sorta advertised the Splash trail as new and a replacement for the Toontown-Tomorrowland trail. There was a trail through the extended queue of Splash last year that I thought was better than what they had this year, in addition to the Toontown trail! I think it's worth the money just to see the parade twice and the fireworks, but you shouldn't be promoting things that aren't really new (Splash candy trail), aren't unique (come meet Duffy in his cute widdle pumpkin costume... just like he is at his regular spot at Epcot!), or are just restorations of recent cutbacks (Flynn Rider). Kinda like how at Food and Wine you get the NEW! Caribbean booth (that replaced Puerto Rico) and the NEW! Portugal booth (that replaced Spain).