Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

It's great during the holidays - everyone is happy and busy, and there are always lots going on. Walt Disney World is usually a very busy place, but even more so during the holiday season! Christmas is happening all around the World.

In Fort Wilderness the tree is up.

And the Contemporary resort is also in the Christmas spirit, with a special gingerbread tree...

And a real one outside.

The House of Bread

It wouldn't be the holidays in Walt Disney World without some gingerbread houses!

Take a look at last year's Gingerbread house from the Grand Floridian, famed for also 'housing' a shop where you can buy pieces of gingerbread! Perfect.

Christmas In The Grand

The Grand Floridian is a beautiful  hotel, and during the Holiday season this statement is no exception. It is a beautifully decorated hotel, as you can see from the entryway alone!

Look at those garlands, aren't they fitting with the overall theme of the Resort?

And take a look at the poinsetta-themed trees around the area.

And of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without some beautiful snow-like animal decor!

Enjoying the Holidays!

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays season, wherever you are and whoever you with. And if you are at a Disney Park somewhere across the world, well, the Royal Family is very jealous!

Because this is a time for being with family and friends, relaxing and taking some time-out, things are going to be quiet here at DF'82 for the next week or so. But we are not going to leave you empty-handed! Oh no, instead, we are going to head over to Tokyo DisneySea and have a look at their very special way of decorating for the Christmas Season. They introduce a Christmas Tree for each 'land' in TDS.

Mysterious Island

Mermaid Lagoon

Arabian Coast

Lost River Delta

Port Discovery

American Waterfront

Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!

Eggtastic

Although Halloween is quickly approaching, here on DF'82 we are going to head over to Tokyo Disneyland during their Easter Wonderland. Specifically to Toontown and to Goofy's House!
Along with the fantastic Parades and shows that are held in Disneyland during their Easter celebration, there are activities for children and families to take part in. Like the Egg Hunt that you can take part in.Eggs are hidden all over the Tokyo Disneyland resort, and children are given a map to find all the locations and to tick them off. Let's have a look at some of the eggs!

Happy 4th of July

Even though DF'82 lives in the UK, with all my close American connections I wanted to wish all our American friends a very happy 4th of July.

I hope you all have your own set of Illuminations' style fireworks and don't eat and drink too much! I will have a listen to Illuminations at 9pm and imagine that there is the special Holiday Fireworks spectacular at the end...

12 Days of Christmas... Day Three

On the Third Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... 3 Stars a-Hanging

12 Days of Christmas... Day Two

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Two Mice a-Skating

Twelve Days of Christmas... Day One

As I will be away until the New Year, I thought it would be fun to do the 12 Days of Christmas - DF'82 style!

Please join us every day to see what each day will hold...

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Father Christmas in a big sleigh!

Belle's Christmas Village

A small area in Fantasyland, over in Disneyland Parc, is taken over by Belle during the Holiday Season. Similar to the style of many European markets (for example, the popular German Markets), Le Village de Noel de Belle, or the Belle's Christmas Village, is a beautiful little walk-through. There are little stalls, selling different type of Christmas gifts - all Disney related, of course! But as spending time in Disney Parks tends to leave us hungry, there are also some small food stalls, selling some French delicacies.

Princess Lights

Following on from Saturday's post on the Princess Baubles in Disneyland Paris, those pesky but pretty Princesses have taken over Main Street as well!

As you can see, throughout Main Street USA, the lamps have been replaced with Princess Lamps, each one showing the Disney Princesses. And at night time - during the Tree Lighting Ceremony - you see them lit up in all their wonder!

Hanging Up The Baubles

When I was lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris during the Christmas celebrations of 2006, the 'hub' in front of the Castle was decorated in a very special way. Each point of the hub had a special Princess related decoration - a massive bauble dedicated to different Princesses.

There were only four in total, each one beautifully and intricately decorated. Can you spot which bauble belongs to Princess Aurora, Princess Belle, Snow White and Cinderella?

Happy Holidays!

As most of you know, I just love how the parks are 'dressed' up for the Holidays. And it's not just the Magic Kingdom parks that are dressed up - oh no!

Over in the Disneyland Paris Resort, the Sorcerer Mickey at the entrance to Walt Disney Studio's also gets a little festive make-over.

O, Christmas Tree

Ryan over at Main Street Gazette has written an excellent article about the 22 different Christmas Trees from the Camp Minnie-Mickey area of Animal Kingdom.

This inspired me to show you the beautiful Christmas Tree from over at Disneyland Paris. This is the tree they had last year in Town Square, at the bottom of Main Street USA. Can you spot any Hidden Mickeys?

Funnily enough, this wasn't the only tree they had in Main Street USA. Minnie had her own special tree too!

Edit: Everyone is mad about trees today! 5 Kingdoms also has this great post on trees from the different Disney Parks around the world.

Shall We Skate?

Hotel New York in Disneyland Paris also enjoys 'dressing up' for the Holidays. The area in front of the hotel turns into a beautiful ice-rink, where guests can enjoy skating with some music playing and a beautiful Christmas tree to enjoy.

Holidays All Around

As long-time readers of this blog will know, I do love the Disney Theme Park Resorts. Back in my days as a Cast Member, one of my favourite things to do was Resort Hop. It was cheap, cheerful and usually an adventure (especially when Walt Disney World Resort Buses came into the equation).

And, as you know, the holidays are not forgotten in the Disney Resorts, no matter where you are in the world! So, for the next few days, I thought we could do some Resort hopping of our own - what do you think? Disneyland Paris, especially, brightens up their Resorts even more with Christmas trees, tinsel, baubles and decorations galore!

Whilst being one of my favourite Resorts in the Paris Resort area, the Disneyland Paris Hotel is brilliantly decorated during the Holidays. Just have a look at some of these pictures of the lobby - which really don't do it justice!

And don't you like it when not only do you get presents under your tree, but you also get suitcases, filled with wonder? I know I do!

Winter in Florida?

In honour of all those lucky people heading to MouseFest for this weekend, I thought it would be nice to have a little look at Walt Disney World in the holiday season. And where better to start at than Main Street USA? For all of you who have ever wondered whether it snows in Florida, have a look at this picture...

Of course, during my brief period living in Florida for the winter, one day there was actual real snow - but it only lasted a minute or two! And this snow happens in the Magic Kingdom during the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parties, and the week before Christmas itself. A magical time of year in the parks, with the decorations everywhere.

Oh, I just love Magic Kingdom Holidays! With the magical music in the air, I just love standing in front of the train station looking up at the Christmas tree.

During the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, however, there is plenty of things to do! You can have a look at the party decorations, catch a parade or a show, or watch the spectacular Holiday Wishes Fireworks display. Me? I love to do all that - and meet a character, or have some hot chocolate too (doesn't it always come back to food?)!