WDW Decor VS. DL Decor

[ChristianG]

There was a thread like this before a few weeks ago comparing the garlands that stretch across Main Street. I thought that we should look at some more decor and compare them. Just a fun little... activity?

Anyway, first round, the Christmas Tree.

Disneyland (Day):

Magic Kingdom (Day):

Disneyland (Night):

Magic Kingdom (Night):

____________

My opinions, Disneyland definitely has the better ornaments, but I don't like the shape of it. It sort of curves at the top.

The Magic Kingdom definitely has the better lights at night (I think the lights at DL are a bit too powerful). But I don't like how the tree cuts off at the bottom. It looks a bit cheap.

So what are your opinions?
​

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Day:

DL wins.



Night:

MK wins hands down! :sohappy:

 

[PyroKinesis]

Day AND night; Disneyland.

 

[ScoutN]

I saw some photos of the DL Castle lights at night; I wanted to gag. That style of lights does not work on that castle as it does in FL. All you read about is Dl is best this and better that but they are not claiming the better castle. I cannot believe they would let it look like that over there.

Florida:

California:

 

[C&D]

Disneyland - wins day
WDW - wins night

 

[surfsupdon]

Disneyland's tree looks so much better at night--love the over saturation of lights, lol. FLA tree almost looks bare. compared to DL's.


Cinderella Castle is an easy win.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

The DL tree definitely wins during the day, but at night, the WDW tree takes it (pretty convincingly). You can't even tell you're looking at a tree at night at DL.

As for the castle lights, that one isn't even close- it's WDW in a landslide.

 

[TRIFORCE89]

I like... World's tree during the day, Land's tree at night, and World's castle at night based on Scoutn757's picture (which looks like it is made of ice, instead of Land's which looks like it is covered in ice)

 

[ScoutN]

I like... World's tree during the day, Land's tree at night, and World's castle at night based on Scoutn757's picture

I searched for photographs that are not over the top with processing. Post exposure processing could easily make or break one but amateur point and shoot, not so much.

 

[ChristianG]

Here's another round.

MK Main Street Essentials - Lamps:

DL Main Street Essentials - Lamps:

 

[PyroKinesis]

Disneyland, again. It's like WDW isn't even trying with their decorations.

 

[ChristianG]

I actually like the lamps better at MK.
The ones at DL look nice, but MK's seem more special to me.

 

[MissM]

The DL tree definitely wins during the day, but at night, the WDW tree takes it (pretty convincingly). You can't even tell you're looking at a tree at night at DL.

As for the castle lights, that one isn't even close- it's WDW in a landslide.

Agree with this entirely.

 

[sponono88]

The Magic Kingdom definitely has the better lights at night (I think the lights at DL are a bit too powerful). But I don't like how the tree cuts off at the bottom. It looks a bit cheap.

So what are your opinions?

The DL tree looks like that after the light show, where it lights up in thousands of LED lights that they first added in 2008

This is what the tree normally looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andycastro/3128117692/

Then it lights up with snow during the Wintertime Enchantment moment

[youtube]z5wBtGkU2iY[/youtube]

A closer look:

[youtube]Ki5m4Jv58gw[/youtube]

 

[ChristianG]

Oh, well it still has too much lights on it for me.. It def. looks nicer than the Wintertime Enchantment version though.

 

[TP2000]

The DL tree looks like that after the light show, where it lights up in thousands of LED lights that they first added in 2008

This is what the tree normally looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andycastro/3128117692/

Thank you sponono88. I was chuckling here at the thought that folks who had never been to Disneyland assumed the Christmas Tree was always on full blast like that once the sun went down. :lol:

The full white lighting is just a look it has for a few moments at the end of the "Wintertime Enchantment" shows that happen on Main Street a few times per night after dark.

Before everyone gets too down on the WDW trees though, I think it's important to realize there are two very different climates the WDW and Disneyland decorators are working with. The Disneyland theme park tree and decorations doesn't have to contend with the more brutal Florida climate, and so the decorations and tree itself can be more finely detailed and lavish.

You can kind of get the feel for it from this pic, with the smaller decorations like the nutcracker and old-fashioned dolls and toys set on the branches amongst the traditional decorations. It's a very Victorian feel as you get up close to the tree, but it's stuff that wouldn't last through one afternoon thunderstorm in Orlando.

Disneyland Christmas Tree decorations

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Thank you sponono88. I was chuckling here at the thought that folks who had never been to Disneyland assumed the Christmas Tree was always on full blast like that once the sun went down. :lol:

The full white lighting is just a look it has for a few moments at the end of the "Wintertime Enchantment" shows that happen on Main Street a few times per night after dark.

Before everyone gets too down on the WDW trees though, I think it's important to realize there are two very different climates the WDW and Disneyland decorators are working with. The Disneyland theme park tree and decorations doesn't have to contend with the more brutal Florida climate, and so the decorations and tree itself can be more finely detailed and lavish.

You can kind of get the feel for it from this pic, with the smaller decorations like the nutcracker and old-fashioned dolls and toys set on the branches amongst the traditional decorations. It's a very Victorian feel as you get up close to the tree, but it's stuff that wouldn't last through one afternoon thunderstorm in Orlando.

Disneyland Christmas Tree decorations

I'm happy to see you not knocking WDW, but I don't think climate really has all that much to do with things here. The afternoon thunderstorm situation doesn't really apply during this time of year with lower humidity and moderate temperatures nearly every day. The past two weeks here (about 90 minutes north of the mouse) have seen daytime temps in the 60s and 70s with rain once.

 

[PyroKinesis]

I think the reason why I like the Disneyland decorations more than the Disney World decorations (aside from the castle), is because the Disneyland decorations actually look like Christmas decorations. Disney World has fruit and Mickeys and stuff.

 

[rct247]

Tree - Disneyland wins day & night.
Castle - WDW wins however I really like how their spires are snow capped during the day at Disneyland.
Lampposts - Disneyland. I know the fruit is more accurate with the time period, but it doesn't seem Christmas-y.
Garland (above street) - WDW. Disneyland's seems too small and stretched while WDW is more fitting.

Disneyland's decor is more abundant and is higher in quality. They are not afraid to use ornaments that's for sure, but I like that. The other thing to compare is Frontierland and Liberty Square/New Orleans Square. I feel Disneyland would win this by a landslide.

I do wish Tomorrowland and Adventureland saw more decorations in both parks though.

 

[TP2000]

I'm happy to see you not knocking WDW, but I don't think climate really has all that much to do with things here.

Hmm. I had always assumed the climate was why decorations and exterior treatments at any time of year, in any of the WDW parks, generally look of a different quality than the Disneyland decorations. If not climate, then what? Surely climate has to have part of the responsibility here, we can't just blame TDO for everything.

Disneyland's decor is more abundant and is higher in quality. They are not afraid to use ornaments that's for sure, but I like that. The other thing to compare is Frontierland and Liberty Square/New Orleans Square. I feel Disneyland would win this by a landslide.

Over on the Disneyland section last Christmas, we had a New Orleans Square photo thread just to celebrate the decorations in that one corner of the park. Much has been said about New Orleans Square's design brilliance, but at Christmastime it really shines even brighter. And yet there's a very good reason why you don't see that level of decor in WDW's Magic Kingdom.

I took these photos about two weeks ago, once all the Christmas stuff had gone up in the area. I was really focusing on the lampposts, as the few dozen lampposts around New Orleans Square get individual and unique decorations on them for Christmas. The balconies up on the second and third floors above the alleyways also get wonderful treatments too. Take a look at these pics and see if you don't agree than the Disneyland decorators really outdo themselves when they get to New Orleans Square.


DLR November 2011 453 by TP1985, on Flickr

DLR November 2011 498 by TP1985, on Flickr


DLR November 2011 506 by TP1985, on Flickr

But here's the thing.... I just don't know that WDW decorators could attempt this sort of thing in good conscience, knowing that all it would take is one good afternoon thunderstorm to ruin most of it. Pictures can't really capture it all, but here's a picture I took of a little decoration hanging off a garland up on the second floor above a doorway in a back alley of New Orleans Square.

Look at this little guy, about 12 inches tall in a satin suit with a glittery palm frond in his little hands, strung into the jewel-toned garland hanging off a balcony.

DLR November 2011 495 by TP1985, on Flickr

There's just stuff that can happen at Disneyland that can't happen at WDW, and vice versa. I'm convinced the climate and environment at Disneyland is more conducive to lavish and finely detailed exterior decorations in the theme parks. That simply has to be part of the reason here.