Today at Disney California Adventure: First Christmas on Buena Vista Street
The Christmas season at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure officially begins tomorrow, November 12th, but the parks were fully decorated this weekend. We had a wonderful time today experiencing our first look at California Adventure dressed for the holidays.
While I usually don't like Christmas to rush in too early, it's a little different at the Disney parks, where early decorating allows everyone, including us, ample time to take in all the holiday experiences.
This year is extra special at California Adventure, thanks to the brand-new Buena Vista Street and Cars Land, which both have wonderful Christmas decorating schemes. Whereas California Adventure used to have just a few token nods to the season here and there, including a tree in the San Francisco Street area of the park, now there are very elaborate decorations in the new lands which really make it feel like Christmas. It's obvious that a lot of thought went into special decorations appropriate for each land.
I was especially impressed with Buena Vista Street, which manages to have a distinctly different holiday look from Disneyland's Main Street.
Carolers in late '20s period costume outside the Five and Dime:
The tree next to Elias & Co. Department store is wonderful:
Some of the tree ornaments:
Next to Donald underneath the tree there's a locomotive with steam coming out and a model of Walt's Carolwood Barn:
Carthay Circle Theater:
The tree and Carthay Circle at night:
Elias & Co. even has an old-fashioned department store Santa children can visit!
Here's Elias & Co. by night...
...and some of the department store's wonderful picture windows, dressed for the holidays:
Across the street at Trolley Treats:
Till next time!
This year the Christmas season in the parks will run through Epiphany, January 6, 2013, and will include a celebration of Three Kings Day at Disneyland January 4th through 6th.
I'll be sharing photos of Christmas in Cars Land in the near future! (Update: Please visit: Last Weekend at Disney California Adventure: Christmas in Cars Land.)
Monday Update: Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland column at MiceAge provides the info that the Elias & Co. windows are based on the 1932 Silly Symphony SANTA'S WORKSHOP (1932). It's part of the Disney Treasures DVD set More Silly Symphonies.
posted by Laura @ 8:43 PM
2 Comments:
I went to both Disneyland (and took in Jingle Jangle Jamboree at Big Thunder Ranch) and DCA on Friday. I agree that they have done an outstanding job with Buena Vista Street and Carsland. I really loved the caroling/handbell playing group on BV Street. And there was no one in line for Santa on Friday so I had some great one on one non rush time with him. Same at Big Thunder. I think Christmas at the Parks is going to be a lot of fun this year. Sure hope they don't make a lot of things a pay to enjoy next year as Al on MiceAge has suggested!
So glad you were able to enjoy DCA already! It was all so beautiful...I especially love what they've done with Elias & Co. They've really captured the period -- looking at the department store windows while Bing sings "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" on the park's new Christmas music loop is perfection.
We've calendared the Three Kings celebration, that sounds neat too, even a special menu at Rancho del Zocalo.
Enjoy the season!
Best wishes,
Laura
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