When will Christmas Decorations be out in parks??

swissamy

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I think I remember reading somewhere that this year the Christmas season begins on Nov.8 at the parks ( Osbourne and Gingerbread houses in hotels are later) but I will be there with overseas family from Halloween through the 7th and I wondered if you all think/or know from experience if the transition will be an overnight affair from the 7th to the 8th or as soon as Halloween decorations come down, do they start installing Christmas? I was so hoping the kids from France could see even a portion of the Christmas Magic!
 

luv

Well-Known Member
They have already started putting Christmas merchandise in the stores. There will be tons more, but it has already started. No tiny Mickey tree-in-a-tube things yet, but I'm waiting. I'm mailing those out this year, lol.

They begin putting up Christmas stuff in the MK immediately following the last MNSSHP. If you are here until the 7th, you will see some some Christmas stuff is some places. The hotels will play Christmas music. Christmas at Disney will be in the beginning stages.

I don't know if they'll get as much up as you might hope for, but they'll have some.
 

ninjaprincesst

Well-Known Member
Last year when we arrived on 11/16 it was pretty much done so depending on your length of stay I would think it would be pretty much done during your stay. I have always wanted to be there when they do one of those overnight hotel lobby transformations.
 

swissamy

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We are so hoping that the family can see some of them. Does anyone know which park is typically decorated first and which is last? The same questions goes for the order that hotels are decorated. If anyone has any experiences to share, I would so appreciate it! Merci!!
 

wdwfan4ver

Well-Known Member
The Christmas Tree at the Magic Kingdom will be the thing thing Decoration to be put on in the parks. The tree will be out once the Christmas Parade is over.
 

rct247

Well-Known Member
Between November 3rd - November 9th. One of the first hotels I tend to notice is The Contemporary. The first park to get Christmas decorations tends to be Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Magic Kingdom takes the longest because it will take 2-3 days to take down Halloween after the last party on November 2nd, and it will take 2-3 days to put up Christmas. The big Christmas tree won't appear on Main Street until after the first weekend in December probably around the grand opening celebration of New Fantasyland. Christmas will be here at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom for sure by that next week complete with music. Epcot usually is the last to switch over as most of their Christmas celebration stuff starts after Thanksgiving.
 

Tip Top Club

Well-Known Member
The Holidays at Walt Disney World Begins November 9th this year. Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade starts on this date, so you can expect Animal Kingdom's Decorations to be up at this time or a few days before. The Osborne Lights start November 9th as well, so you can expect DHS' holiday decorations up on or before that date. And finally that's also the first date for the Christmas Parties, so you can expect Magic Kingdom's Decorations to be us as well (Except the tree as has been mentioned which won't be up until after the parade taping)

Epcot is the last park to begin celebrating, their Holiday celebration doesn't start until Black Friday, but they might start decorating before then.
 

Cosmic Commando

Well-Known Member
We did a trip that ended on 11/7 in 2010, and I think we got a good dose of the Christmas decorations. Certainly not everything: I don't think the big tree goes up in MK until the parade tapes in early December, but there was a big tree outside of DHS, decorations on Hollywood Blvd, and decorations on/in Main St and Town Square at MK. Here's some pics of the changeover:
The last MNSSHP was on 11/1 in 2010, I believe. They probably don't do much on the actual night of the last party since the park doesn't close until 12 and probably isn't actually cleared out until a couple hours later.

Here's Town Square the afternoon of 11/3/2010:
DSC03967.jpg



And here's Town Square at 8:15 AM 11/4/2010:
SDC12987.jpg


Not only are scarecrows swapped out for the toy soldiers and candy canes, but all the flowers are changed and the Mickey wreaths are up on the lamp posts.

So if the last MNSSHP is on the 2nd, I would expect to see a decent chunk of Christmas decorations up on the 5th. In 2010, we left on the 7th, and I remember seeing decorations on Hollywood Blvd, the big Christmas tree in front of DHS, and the garland over Main St before we left.
Edit: I think the only major thing you'll be missing out on is the castle lights. I don't think they turn them on until the parties start or the middle of Nov. for non-party nights.
 

SMS55

Well-Known Member
Went were there Veterans Day Weekend last year. The parks were already decorated for Christmas and the Osbourne display had opened like the 9th or so. The hotels weren't decorated though. Atleast POP which is where we stayed.
 

riverscu0m0

Active Member
the boardwalk sets up the tree, and other decorations on thanksgiving day, or the day after i can't remember because we always wake up the morning of and watch them set up the tree
 

steveford

Member
Hi we were last year on out last day was 3rd November and Hollywood Studios was transformed right into Christmas and heard that MK was on 5th especially along mainstreet. We go this thursday (1st Nov) to POR for 2 weeks and Disney Dream, so really getting hyper, glad Sandy had decided to get out of the way. Just hope you guys in the North West stay OK
 

Goofnut1980

Well-Known Member
Has anyone heard if they will extend a little christmas magic into FLE and Storybook Circus??? I always thought it was strange how they only decorate half the park.
 

luv

Well-Known Member
I think they said on the Disney blog that the FLE won't have Cristmas decorations this year, but will next year. I don't know if that still holds.
 

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