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**TDLFAN** · 11-21-2009, 09:51 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Thank you for sharing those lovely videos.. I am so mad and disappointed I am not going to HKDL this xmas..

**Kuhio** · 11-21-2009, 12:03 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

By the way, did you have the chance to experience Small World Holiday? I'm curious as to how extensive the seasonal changes are.

**HKDLFAN** · 11-21-2009, 06:21 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by Kuhio View Post

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

By the way, did you have the chance to experience Small World Holiday? I'm curious as to how extensive the seasonal changes are.

These aren't my videos but I have gone to HKDL during Christmas. I'm not too sure how to judge the Xmas overlay because I haven't been to the IASW holiday of other DL parks but I will say that there are small minor decorations littered throughout the ride. The finale is the only part of the ride with a complete overhaul but everything else is the same.

**TDLFAN** · 11-21-2009, 06:29 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

THere are various photos of the holiday overlay from Tokyo and Anaheim here. I believe Paris did the overlay as well but not sure if they still do. It is not meant to be extensive but in Tokyo, it's really nice for what it is. The pictures I have seen from Anaheim make it look nice as well. HKDL exceeded my expectations because considering IASW is relatively still a new ride, they have gone on to do the overlay. At WDW... there are no such nice holiday treats in any attraction this year, so HK!! rejoice!! YOu have no idea how good this park is doing with seasonal entertainment.

**HKDLFAN** · 11-22-2009, 04:54 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by TDLFAN View Post

At WDW... there are no such nice holiday treats in any attraction this year, so HK!! rejoice!! YOu have no idea how good this park is doing with seasonal entertainment.

Well that's reassuring, thanks. I haven't had the privilege to visit any of the American or Paris parks for at least 6-7 years, I've been lucky enough to go to TDR every year and treat that as really something.

**ImagineerWaryur** · 11-22-2009, 06:10 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Anaheim's decorations are great as always.

I would love to see WDW get more X-Mas theming or at least bring back that Christmas overlay for the Country Bears, that was a nice touch.

ImagineerWarrior

**TDLFAN** · 11-22-2009, 06:20 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

We have the Country Bears Xmas show at TDL.. so you can always check it out there, along with Nightmare overlay at the HM and Holiday IASW as well. TDL has it all, plus great decor. So does DL which as the original park, continues to offer a much higher level of quality over WDW, hands down.
And hkdlfan... yes, going to TDR "IS" really "SOMETHING". Does not get better than that in fact. But my comment was made because the poor unfortunate souls who are stuck with WDW's inferior Xmas offerings are boo-hooing the loss of their antiquated Lights of Winter display at EPCOT Center this year... so for once, I am glad to see another park is getting a similar show for the holidays, simply because EPCOT is doing nothing to replace their old (and I mean OLD) display. Which helps me further my point of view about inferior quality at WDW.

**1FoolishMortal** · 11-22-2009, 12:44 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

This year's show, IMO, is a step back from last year's. I really liked that they had an actual full-blown castle show. Not nearly as complex as Tokyo's, but also not as small as WDW's. It was really nice how they wove the castle lights into the show, too. The snowflake lights for this year aren't that complex at all, at least not compared to the similar lights at DLP.

**TDLFAN** · 11-22-2009, 12:55 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Considering HKDL's trials and tribulations with attendance, at least I appreciate they are trying to do something special. Unlike at WDW, where they make you pay extra money to see Xmas events in november and early december, because they are not included in regular attendance tickets. Plus, when they take something away, like they did with EPCOT's Lights of Winter, they replace it with nothing. So again.. rejoice HK!! You still have a nicer holiday alternative than what the WDW guests are getting.

**tasman** · 11-22-2009, 04:36 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by TDLFAN View Post

Considering HKDL's trials and tribulations with attendance, at least I appreciate they are trying to do something special. Unlike at WDW...

Well, poor attendance is probably a significant driver behind the elaborate seasonal offerings at HKDL. WDW doesn't have that particular dilemma...though sadly, of course, this guaranteed attendance is a reason for some of the "decline by degrees" (although I certainly don't count the MK's current holiday castle decorations as one of those "declines"). The real test for HKDL is whether these offerings persist when ride count and attendance are comparable to the other Magic Kingdoms. I hope they stick around.

**1FoolishMortal** · 11-22-2009, 10:55 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by TDLFAN View Post

Considering HKDL's trials and tribulations with attendance, at least I appreciate they are trying to do something special. Unlike at WDW, where they make you pay extra money to see Xmas events in november and early december, because they are not included in regular attendance tickets. Plus, when they take something away, like they did with EPCOT's Lights of Winter, they replace it with nothing. So again.. rejoice HK!! You still have a nicer holiday alternative than what the WDW guests are getting.

Why the constant need to bash WDW no matter the resort it's up against? If anything, HKDL's offerings this year are a step down from last year's. IMO, the castle lighting is a big step backward (no elaborate stage show) and the IASW Christmas isn't anything special (just a redecorated first and last rooms and mostly untouched rest of the ride). It's not like HKDL is all gumdrops and candy canes here.

**gurgi** · 11-23-2009, 06:35 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Are those snowflake lights actually held by CM's? At the end of the first video, it looks like they are being carried around. That's odd...I'm surprised they wouldn't attach them to the lampposts. I do like that the tree in town square gets in on the light show too. I hope Disneyland does the same thing with theirs.

**1FoolishMortal** · 11-23-2009, 09:47 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Yep, the snowflakes are held by CM's. They also disappear right at the end of the lighting, which I also thought was very odd. There isn't really an opportunity to appreciate everything. They light it all up and then that's it.

If you're talking about DL in CA, their tree gets in on the act, too, but it's much more elaborate than the HKDL tree.

**Ice101** · 11-23-2009, 03:21 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by 1FoolishMortal View Post

Why the constant need to bash WDW no matter the resort it's up against? If anything, HKDL's offerings this year are a step down from last year's. IMO, the castle lighting is a big step backward (no elaborate stage show) and the IASW Christmas isn't anything special (just a redecorated first and last rooms and mostly untouched rest of the ride). It's not like HKDL is all gumdrops and candy canes here.

Eh, but the Small World overlay isn't cheap on it's first year. That is why they did a 'downgrade' from last year's castle show. And even with that, Lights of Winter is absolutely beautiful.

**Kuhio** · 11-23-2009, 08:20 PM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

I found a YouTube link to a ride-through video of Small World Christmas on another site, and I liked what I saw. The changes are relatively modest, but I think it makes sense for the context. Many guests to HKDL have probably never been on iasw before, and I think it would be a bit odd and possibly off-putting to be experiencing iasw for the first time with an extensive Christmas overlay on the entire attraction, including a soundtrack that consists entirely of Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls. Doing it this way definitely lends a holiday feel to the ride as a whole, but preserves the essence of the primary show scenes in their original form. If this overlay proves popular, HKDL can always add more changes in future years (and also benefit by being able to advertise the subsequent additions as being "even more Christmas cheer than before," or something similar).

Here's what I noticed...
Entry room: A few stylized Christmas trees.
North Pole room: Jingle Bells music; Santa Claus.
Main portion of the ride: Only the 38 Disney characters and their immediate surroundings have been changed, with the addition of various Christmas-related props -- generally Santa hats, Christmas trees, wreaths, and/or seasonal lights.
Finale room: Jingle Bells music; extensive and substantial changes throughout, including "snow" on the ground, snowflakes in the air, and costume/prop alterations to many of the dolls.
Farewell room: The farewell messages have been changed to read "Merry Christmas" in the various languages.

**josh_kslow** · 11-24-2009, 12:02 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Kuhio, can you post the YouTube link up on the forum to share with us?

**TDLFAN** · 11-24-2009, 01:01 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by 1FoolishMortal View Post

Why the constant need to bash WDW no matter the resort it's up against? If anything, HKDL's offerings this year are a step down from last year's. IMO, the castle lighting is a big step backward (no elaborate stage show) and the IASW Christmas isn't anything special (just a redecorated first and last rooms and mostly untouched rest of the ride). It's not like HKDL is all gumdrops and candy canes here.

Neither is the MK, and they did nothing to replace the lights of winter at epcot, there is no holiday at IASW and, sadly weare seeing the same stuff that has been done for ...of so many years already. Even my CM friends tell me not to spend the money onthe MK Xmas party, so what does that tell you?
HKDL's offerings may be a step down, but still a nice elegant and BRAND NEW show is being put on. That I appreciate quite a lot. I would love to be able to go and see HKDL's lineup this year but can't. Stuck in Orlando at the moment.
One more thing.. since my comments bug you so much, then they are totally worth writting!! Hahahaha!!!

**Kuhio** · 11-24-2009, 04:56 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by josh_kslow View Post

Kuhio, can you post the YouTube link up on the forum to share with us?

Here it is:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3if1qhG1-3I]YouTube - ?????????????????????????[/ame]

**gurgi** · 11-24-2009, 08:01 AM

Re: Lights of Winter 2009

Originally posted by 1FoolishMortal View Post

Yep, the snowflakes are held by CM's. They also disappear right at the end of the lighting, which I also thought was very odd. There isn't really an opportunity to appreciate everything. They light it all up and then that's it.

If you're talking about DL in CA, their tree gets in on the act, too, but it's much more elaborate than the HKDL tree.

Oh, the DL tree thing must be semi-new then! I'll have to check for videos of that. You say it's more elaborate than HKDL's? Disneyland continues to add things each year, I love that.

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