Christmas Town 2021

[Icer]

Was walking over the bridge yesterday and noticed Orion's belt above the Peace on Earth sign.



Oh and this photo was cool purely because I love how light impacts the Pixel camera sometimes. It can overwhelm in a way that's almost mystical.

 

[K8theGr8]

So... I'm afraid to ask, but how's the food situation? Has it improved at all since preview?
And is there ANY Christmas food anywhere except for the Turkey Dinner in Festhaus? (And NO, the stupid salad does not count.)

 

[WDWRLD]

So went tonight, for the first time of this years event......usually by now I have a dozen visits but whatever. In Ftance they invested quite a bit in new bulbs to replace all the pink blue and clear lights and ice cycles with color changing bulbs. Well they should have bought the faster versions. The ones they have transition so slowly unless your a lighting nerd you probably wont notice and just think the lights are a odd bunch of colors. I would almost bet this is not the effect they were going for. They get a A for trying at least. I do like the new red and cool white lights in Germany but Germany the colored lights just always fit well. I also like the change over at the park entrance from Green/red/blue/white to red/green/yellow/white......looks good.

So... I'm afraid to ask, but how's the food situation? Has it improved at all since preview?
And is there ANY Christmas food anywhere except for the Turkey Dinner in Festhaus? (And NO, the stupid salad does not count.)

We ate at Festhaus tonight at 7pm. The lines to checkout backed up into the food serving lines. I guess with two entrees they can crank out the plates faster. Also serving size was way smaller. Two small slices or turkey, a decent scoop of potatoes and about 10 green beens abd 2 pieces of carrots. I used my dining plan on that and was still hungry so I went back and got a pizza. Thats horrible when a entree is that pittyful. I understand its not a buffet but honestly ive had equal size servings at F&W for alot less.

 

[Coasternerd]

So... I'm afraid to ask, but how's the food situation? Has it improved at all since preview?
And is there ANY Christmas food anywhere except for the Turkey Dinner in Festhaus? (And NO, the stupid salad does not count.)

Last I checked Marco Polo has been open on weekends. Haven’t had a chance to eat over there for a bit though, so that may have changed. Like I said though, last time I checked Marco Polo is open (granted it weekends but it’s better than nothing). They have also had food trucks again on Saturdays this year.

 

[finalcloud]

12:25 on Saturday and we are on the overpass. Here is the line on 60.

 

[finalcloud]

Mariah is explaining to us what she wants for Christmas before we reach the gate....

 

[WDWRLD]

Thats because they have to ask to see your ID, they they say they cant see it and have to hold it far away and squint, then match up one letter at a time that your pass matches your ID, then they have to explain the 6 reasons preferred is sold out already, then explain every detail of how to drive up the hill to the right and tell you to put your blinkers on 6 diffrent times. Then print you a paper reciept for the free parking included with your membership (remember their comittment to the enviroment) and hand you that and another slip of paper then go into detail about tonights event before reminding you again to turn on you already blinking blinkers for when you go up the hill......can you tell in ineffichency of the BGW parking process bothers me.

 

[K8theGr8]

uggh. That food situation sounds depressing.

@WDWRLD , I have had that experience, too. But I’ve also had times where they rush me through at lightning speed, barely even taking time to say a word to me. (Which I don’t mind.) And they definitely didn’t ask for ID. I think it just depends on the person you get. But YMMV.

it was asked twice earlier on this thread, but I didn’t see a reply... so I’m gonna try again. Does anyone know where the hot cocoa is this year?

 

[vacoasterfanatic]

Its in festa italia. roman frieze building. thats where i got mine at least

 

[Coasternerd]

uggh. That food situation sounds depressing.

@WDWRLD , I have had that experience, too. But I’ve also had times where they rush me through at lightning speed, barely even taking time to say a word to me. (Which I don’t mind.) And they definitely didn’t ask for ID. I think it just depends on the person you get. But YMMV.

it was asked twice earlier on this thread, but I didn’t see a reply... so I’m gonna try again. Does anyone know where the hot cocoa is this year?

Roman Frieze in Festa, Silk Road Bar next to Marco Polo, there’s a pop up stand next to Santa’s workshop, Three Rivers and Cobblestone Ale in England.

 

[super7]

I am attending Monday Dec 13. The SEAS budget cuts live on!

The lights this year are pitiful. Significantly less trees. KD blows them out of the water (when the lights at KD actually work)

Most food locations are closed. Festhaus and Smoke House have 1 line open. Pretzel place is open. Some snack locations open. That’s it!

Show quality is good overall this year. The shows are rewatchable and Busch always has strong performers.

 

[WDWRLD]

I am attending Monday Dec 13. The SEAS budget cuts live on!

The lights this year are pitiful. Significantly less trees. KD blows them out of the water (when the lights ar KD actually work)

Most food locations are closed. Festhaus and Smoke House have 1 line open. Pretzel place is open. Some snack locations open. That’s it!

Show quality is good overall this year. The shows are rewatchable and Busch always has strong performers.

When we were there Friday Pretzel World was closed. But I agree KD blows them away, even the shows and the number of preformances each night not to mention the parade....that is a huge addition this year!

 

[warfelg]

While I get the sentiment going on:
~WF is only in it's 2nd year of operation. It should have many more things that are working properly and should look better.
~KD has a ready made promenade for a parade. Using that as a "knock" against BGW is unfair to me. Where would they do it to ensure enough space for guests?
~I was at Winterfest this year, and I think what I can say in a positive is they 'hide' their staffing shortage better than BGW. BGW seemingly just "blocks" areas where nothing will be open while KD just 'randomly' has things closed between open things to give the illusion of more things going well.

Yes, do I hope that BGW execs would see these things and feel the need to improve CT? Absolutely. Am I going to 'trash' them for things that are 'out of their control'....no. I think, especially from BGW's side, what makes the opening of WF particularly tough was it's 'bigger' in scope and their feedback on CT was there wasn't enough to do. So they expanded offerings (The train, new Santa meet and greets, new walk throughs, keeping shows open). If their feedback was more on the quality of what you have isn't as good as what WF has, they would be more inclined to update what they do have.

Personally I've stated a few times what I think BGW needs to do to 'catch up' and surpass WF. But to refresh on some of those ideas:
~Take the projection mapping to Pompeii. Ditch the lights on there. Take the coverings off the queue, build a "stage" in the water areas, let people walk onto all of that. Then on the hour had a 10-15 minute show that plays out on the facade of Pompeii.
~Take a year or two off from the light-o-rama show outside of Festhaus to revamp the entire show while working on improving the lights.
~Through just the village of Germany, I would just simply get bigger bulb string lights and line every building, have carolers singing over at the alcove by Alpie.
~On the River Would do some lights along the banks and do a boat trip to show them. I know boats in the cold is seen as "risky" but I would easily do it. It's a new experience. If WF is going to get to have the parade as a unique thing, then CT should make use of the river to do something unique.
~I would take the old Glenn area and move the reindeer meet and greet there if possible. Heck I think doing an "animals of the north" whole theme would be great. See if a local aquarium would bring in penguins for weekend nights. Have the wolves out. Again something that CT could do that WF really can't.

 

[Jonesta6]

Love the idea of animal ambassadors being included for more than a petting zoo... Though petting a penguin and a wolf would be dope.

 

[warfelg]

Love the idea of animal ambassadors being included for more than a petting zoo... Though petting a penguin and a wolf would be dope.

I wouldn’t do a petting zoo. Rather make it more fun for the kids about heres various animals that would live at the North Pole with Santa type thing.

 

[Nicole]

Y'all know they used to have penguins?

Theyhad both a walk through exhibit (which was repurposed to Rudolph) and penguin encounters.

 

[Jonesta6]

Y'all know they used to have penguins?

Theyhad both a walk through exhibit (which was repurposed to Rudolph) and penguin encounters.

Yeah, wasn't that in the RPT stage area?

But seeing animals <> touching them. I guarantee you kids (and some adults too) would much rather have direct interactions by touching the animals over just seeing them.

 

[super7]

While I get the sentiment going on:
~WF is only in it's 2nd year of operation. It should have many more things that are working properly and should look better.
~KD has a ready made promenade for a parade. Using that as a "knock" against BGW is unfair to me. Where would they do it to ensure enough space for guests?
~I was at Winterfest this year, and I think what I can say in a positive is they 'hide' their staffing shortage better than BGW. BGW seemingly just "blocks" areas where nothing will be open while KD just 'randomly' has things closed between open things to give the illusion of more things going well.

Yes, do I hope that BGW execs would see these things and feel the need to improve CT? Absolutely. Am I going to 'trash' them for things that are 'out of their control'....no. I think, especially from BGW's side, what makes the opening of WF particularly tough was it's 'bigger' in scope and their feedback on CT was there wasn't enough to do. So they expanded offerings (The train, new Santa meet and greets, new walk throughs, keeping shows open). If their feedback was more on the quality of what you have isn't as good as what WF has, they would be more inclined to update what they do

it’s actually the third year for Winterfest. The first year was 2018.

BG and KD are in virtually the same market. Winterfest has 0 cutbacks and actually improvements. Christmastown looks like it’s lost it way this year.

Christmastown still has better attractions (the coasters are better and BG has a family train and skyway). I also think the entertainment quality is still better at Busch. I also like that Christmastown uses a full range of colors in their lighting and has a different color scheme and music track in each section.

BG needs to ficus in lighting improvements. KD makes you gasp looking at the lights all around you and high in the trees. Especially at the entrance. This year at BG the lack of effort on the lights is obvious.

I hope BG NEVER has a parade. The midways are miserably narrow. I hate walking around BG when crowded. That’s another advantage KD has. Wide
midways and the hub design.

 

[Jonesta6]

I can see a short Germany parade almost, except it has nowhere to go outside of in front of Das Festhaus - even less space with the bar and food stands

 

[Nicole]

Yeah, wasn't that in the RPT stage area?

But seeing animals <> touching them. I guarantee you kids (and some adults too) would much rather have direct interactions by touching the animals over just seeing them.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding your point?

The penguin encounters, like most other SEAS animal encounters, involved direct interaction with the penguins, including petting them.

Here is the thread:
Thread 'Ice Palace: A Penguin Paradise'
https://parkfans.net/threads/ice-palace-a-penguin-paradise.2328/