Wintertime Enchantement CONFIRMED (Photographic Evidence!)

[BrerGnat]

That rendering is so very cool. My DD and I are going down for Nov. 16-20 on our annual Disney Trip. What are the chances of the castle being ready by then? Anyone have any ideas on that? Hopefully it will be up since it will only be the two of us and dd and I will be able to really enjoy the show and get into the full Disney spirit.

I believe you will be RIGHT on time for the Holiday festivities. It starts on either the 9th or 16th of November (it's always a Friday for the big "kick off"), I just can't remember which one right now, but I would say *if* they are going to be doing this, it should be in place for your trip! Lucky you!

[Carol]

Originally Posted by poohmom787
That rendering is so very cool. My DD and I are going down for Nov. 16-20 on our annual Disney Trip. What are the chances of the castle being ready by then?

I was there last year, the week leading up to Veteran's Day. Decorating was done every night during the week and completed by that weekend. The holiday festivities were in full swing by Veteran's Day.

[poohmom787]

Thank you so much for the information Natalie and Carol. I really appreciate it. This is the first time that it will be just DD and I. I am looking forward to a very special experience with her. She is 13 and I am amazed that she wants to spend some alone time with Mom. Luckily we are both Disney Fanatics. She is even planning out what rides she wants to go on first. What a sweetheart. Anyway, thank you for the info. If they do the castle, it will just be icing on the cake for the both of us.

[JustDuckie]

I know! Now I am even MORE excited for my December trip!

All I gotta say is WOW
I'll be there in December too this year (first time back home for Christmas in over 10 years) so I'm pretty excited as it is, now this! I do hope it comes to fruition.

[pluto 77]

I really hope they do this too! We will be going to DL for the first time Dec. 1st and it was hard to make the choice not to go to Florida this year. But the castle looks so amazing in that pic , if they do decorate the castle i wlll be so excited

[NotaGeek]

I just posted a press release in Accomodations about the upcoming Holiday Disneyland happenings, and amidst the information there is this peculiar paragraph:

The legendary fireworks spectacular, “Believe…In Holiday Magic,” will return with new surprises. The highlight of the evening, this enchanting show will take guests on a magical journey of sights and sounds of the season that will feature a new musical score, special effects, a series of dazzling snowfall sequences and the park’s signature Sleeping Beauty Castle glistening with a blanket of freshly-fallen snow. The nighttime spectacular will end with a touching rendition of “White Christmas” and one of the park’s most beloved holiday traditions: a climatic snowfall that swirls down on Main Street, U.S.A., small world mall and New Orleans Square.

[MegaDisney]

I cannot wait!

Just a few more weeks and we are Disneyland bound!

[raevnzno]

I'm sooooooo looking forward to this. Am going to be there for my DD's 24th b-day.
She's not as 'sappy' as mom and doesnt cry at the drop of a hat, ( llike I do) but the snow on main street always gets her going, but I think it has more to do with the awe in the little ones eyes than the actual 'snow'

Is it December yet???

[Aisling]

Ooooooh, pretty! I really hope they do this and it looks fantastic. I do miss the crowns on all the turrets (any idea if they will be back???)

Does anyone know if they are planning to make the rendering into posters or - perhaps! - Holiday cards? Those would be very cool indeed.

Thanks!!

[NotaGeek]

Ooooooh, pretty! I really hope they do this and it looks fantastic. I do miss the crowns on all the turrets (any idea if they will be back???)

Does anyone know if they are planning to make the rendering into posters or - perhaps! - Holiday cards? Those would be very cool indeed.

Thanks!!

to INTERCOT!

The crowns on the turrets were for the 50th only and have been gone for over a year, so pretty much no chance since they don't really go with the present on-going (and seemingly never ending) Year(s) of a Million Dreams.

The holiday cards are already done and out, so probably no chance of getting cards made with the rendering since lots of the holiday merchandise is already for sale at DLR.

[Aisling]

Thanks! I still love the crowns, even if they were only for the 50th.
I'm going up on Monday, I'll have to see if I can get any inside scoop on the castle for the holidays - and check out this years cards.
Thanks again!

[DoomBuggyDude]

The top of the castle was covered in snow
last night.

[NotaGeek]

The top of the castle was covered in snow
last night.

WOO HOO! Everyone loves some insider information!

[BrerGnat]

I can confirm snow appearing on the rooftops of the castle. It has been rather chilly at night here lately...

I was at DL yesterday and I COMPLETELY forgot to bring my camera, or I could have gotten some great pictures for you all! I wanted to hit myself over the head when I realized.

Anyway, upon close inspection, the snow appears "pockmarked" in a regular pattern, which is where I am assuming there will be LED, Fiber Optic, or strobe lights shining through once it turns nighttime. I am SO excited for this. I may make a special trip on the 16th just for the fireworks show that night.

For those of you familiar with Blizzard Beach, the snow on the castle looks very similar to the "snow" over there, except that it's very clean.

What I am dying to know is, how soon BEFORE the fireworks show does the castle start with it's "enchanting holiday sequence" of music and lighting special effects? It's very unclear in the Disney literature. I am wondering if it starts happening at nightfall and then continues until the fireworks, or if it's just right before the fireworks. I would LOVE for my toddlers to see this, but their bedtime is 7pm, and they are NOT flexible on that. We can't keep them at DL much past 6:45 or they fall asleep on us over there. Neither of them would like fireworks yet (both are scared of loud noises), but my 3 year old, especially, LOVES all things Christmas, and seeing the castle all sparkly and surrounded by trees and snowfall would seriously flip his lid!

I'll be returning to DL in the next few days, and I WILL bring my camera to keep up with the progress of the castle.

[NotaGeek]

Ok, further to our insider information ... here's a picture we have all been waiting for... it's the beginning of something cool!

[Melanie]

Wow! Very cool, Michael. Thanks for the insider pics.

[drevlo]

Cannot wait to see the finished product!
20 days and counting!!

[DonnaT103]

I really hope they do this too! We will be going to DL for the first time Dec. 1st and it was hard to make the choice not to go to Florida this year. But the castle looks so amazing in that pic , if they do decorate the castle i wlll be so excited

We had the same problem. DH still grumbles once in a while about not going to Florida, but I really want to go to California this year, probally for our last time. Florida will always be there next year.

24 days to go!! Can't wait!!!

[Carol]

Here is the official press release;

Snow Blankets Sleeping Beauty Castle, Creating New Look For The Holidays At Disneyland Resort

ANAHEIM, Calif. – New enchantment arrives in Disneyland as the holiday season finds “Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle” covered in freshly fallen snow. With its exciting new look, the Castle will serve as a shimmering centerpiece for a daytime holiday celebration, and as a snow-capped stage for the new music, lighting and special effects that will precede the legendary “Believe ... in Holiday Magic” nighttime fireworks spectacular.


The Castle will create a magical sense of wintertime enchantment throughout the holidays at Disneyland, adding to the many delights that traditionally welcome guests when Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks are transformed into dazzling holiday wonderlands.


By day, “Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle” will be a sparkling Disneyland landmark and photo location for holiday visitors from around the world. As evening arrives, the Castle will undergo a transformation as special lighting effects and a new musical score take guests on a journey that dramatizes a young child’s dream for snow!


This magical spell will build to the highlight of the evening: the fireworks spectacular, “Believe ... in Holiday Magic,” which will take guests on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and will end with a touching rendition of “White Christmas” and one of Disneyland’s most beloved holiday traditions: a climactic snowfall that swirls down on Main Street, U.S.A., small world mall and New Orleans Square. To top it all off, the beautiful blanket of snow on the Castle will begin to shimmer like never before!

Such holiday magic may be found throughout the day in both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure during the holiday season. Themed entertainment, sparkling decorations, tasty treats and the annual holiday transformations of “it’s a small world” and the Haunted Mansion will add festive seasonal fun and warmth to Disneyland Resort visits from November 16 through January 6. The transformation at the Resort will come during Disney Parks’ ongoing Year of a Million Dreams celebration where guests’ dreams, large and small, are coming true through the Disney Dreams Giveaway.

Upon entering Main Street, U.S.A, in Disneyland, holiday guests will find the traditional 60-foot-tall evergreen Disneyland Christmas tree that is grandly decorated with 10,000 ornaments and holiday lights.

“Santa’s Reindeer Round-up” will return to Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, with the ranch transformed into a “West Pole” getaway where Santa can unwind with Mrs. Claus and his team of reindeer. Kids and their families can chat with St. Nick, see real reindeer grazing in a corral, play some reindeer games, create take-home Yuletide souvenirs and join in holiday line dances with music from a Western trio.

The Resort’s annual holiday parade, “A Christmas Fantasy,” will be presented November 16 through January 6 on Main Street, U.S.A. This ever-popular procession depicts an enchanting collection of holiday scenes, music and a cast of Disney characters and performers in Yuletide vignettes. Toy soldiers march in cadence, friendly snowmen dance and Santa waves from a soaring sleigh as his reindeer prance below.

Haunted Mansion Holiday returns with a madcap celebration where the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide. The ghoulish but well-meaning Jack Skellington from the film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas has come to the Haunted Mansion to transform it with his skewed vision of the holidays.

In Fantasyland, the classic “it’s a small world” again will become “it’s a small world Holiday” with a popular seasonal overlay that transforms this classic Disneyland attraction into a holiday trip around the world. More than 300,000 glittery lights will adorn the attraction’s façade.

Disney’s California Adventure will celebrate the season with fanciful park-wide decorations and lively entertainment. Guests approaching the park will immediately get in the holiday mood as the iconic entrance-way letters that spell “CALIFORNIA” will be transformed to appear as swirling red and white peppermint sticks.

Inside “a bug’s land,” Flik and his bug buddies will spread giant Christmas lights, oversized ornaments and towering candy canes throughout their realm. Alongside Paradise Bay, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree will provide a dazzling sight as other nearby trees sparkle with hundreds of lights and the lampposts are decorated with seasonal wreathes.

Sunshine Plaza becomes “Santa’s Beach Blast,” where the Disney characters playfully blend classic holiday images with the California beach lifestyle. Santa the Surfer greets guests near a Woody wagon sleigh, and the area is filled with seaside-style holiday decorations.

During the holidays, the fun will be extended with expanded park hours for both Disneyland Resort theme parks for much of the season. Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will join in the merriment with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining.

Also contributing to the holiday fun will be the continuation of the Disney Dreams Giveaway and the immersive entertainment experiences of the Year of a Million Dreams at Disney Parks. At Disneyland, guests can meet and interact with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, with Jedi Knights at the Jedi Training Academy and with Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. At Disney’s California Adventure, guests young and old will be dancing to the beat of the new High School Musical 2: School’s Out! street show, inspired by the megahit Disney Channel original movie.

[disneydrmr]

The top of the castle was covered in snow
last night.

I can confirm snow appearing on the rooftops of the castle. It has been rather chilly at night here lately...

Hey- I was there the same time you guys were! And I too can confirm the appearance of the snow AND the rather chilly temps! The Castle was so beautiful!