25 Days of Christmas – Day 7: Christmas by the Numb3rs

My great friend Tony Caselnova from DisneyByTheNumb3rs.com join me to talk about all the amazing facts and figures that goes in the Christmas season at Walt Disney World. We’ve also got a special time lapse video of the construction of the Christmas Tree in the lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Don’t miss it!

Hope you enjoy today’s videos and Tony’s great article, be sure to leave a comment!

Rick Howard
ricksig100

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Links mentioned on today’s episode:

Walt Disney World Christmas By The Numb3rs

The most magical time of the year for me is the holidays in the park.  The parks really shine with all the decorations and the Christmas music.  There is nothing more festive then walking down the middle of main street with all the shops decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas ornaments and holiday decoration every where.

Lets start with the Walt Disney World Resorts

 

Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower

  • 17-foot gingerbread tree decorated with chocolate ornaments and candy canes is located at the Contemporary Resort
  • 4,939 shingles are used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 1,050 pounds of honey were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 800 pounds of flour were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 600 pounds of powdered sugar were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 35 pounds of spices were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 600 pounds of chocolate were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 180 pounds of apricot glaze were used to create the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 50 eggs were used to make the 17 feet tall ginger bread tree at the Contemporary resort
  • 1,200 hours of labor are needed gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 25 bakers were needed to create the 17 foot tall gingerbread tree
  • 3 days are needed to construct the gingerbread Christmas tree at the contemporary resort
  • 6 feet wide is the width of the new gingerbread tree at the Contemporary Resort
  • 75 pounds of icing were used to make the 17 feet tall gingerbread tree at the Contemporary resort

Contemporary Resort Christmas Tree

Christmas at the Grand Floridian

  • 40 foot tree is erected in the lobby with more than 45,000 lights. This tree is erected all in one night.
  • 16 foot high by 17 foot wide gingerbread house is erected each year in the lobby of the Grand Floridian.
  • 200 square feet of lobby space is used for the gingerbread house.
  • 10 men and 6 days will be used to create the wood frame for the gingerbread house.
  • 60 sheets of plywood and 40 windows will be on the gingerbread house.
  • 1,000 board feet of trim will be added to the gingerbread house.

 

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort

  • 5 chefs worked 400 hours to build the Boardwalk replica each year.
  • 80 pounds of chocolate are used to create the Boardwalk replica.
  • 40 chocolate planks are recreated for the replica.
  • 8 foot high roller coaster is created for the replica
  • 5 foot high ferries wheel is created for the replica boardwalk.
  • 6 ginger bread buildings are used along with 30 chocolate people

BoardWalk Christmas Tree

Disney’s Beach Club Christmas Carousel

  • 2,000 cookies are used to create the carousel
  • 50 pounds of chocolate are used for each carousel.
  • 1,200 gingerbread shingles are used to cover the carousel.
  • 44 Mickey flags from around the globe are used to trim the carousel.
  • 10 “hidden Mickeys,” were placed on the carousel in 2009, 1 for each year since the gingerbread carousel is celebrating its 10 year anniversary
  • 36 pounds of honey were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 96 pounds of bread flour were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 100 pints of eggs were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 10 pounds of spices were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 10 quarts of simple syrup were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 100 pounds of icing were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 50 pounds of dark chocolate were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 10 quarts of egg whites were used to create the gingerbread carousel
  • 100 pounds of confectioner sugar were used to create the gingerbread carousel

 

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

50 foot tree is placed in the lobby of this resort each Christmas season.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge Christmas Tree

Now lets move on the Parks

 

Magic Kingdom Holidays

Cinderella’s Castle Holidays

  • 200,000 LED Dream lights adorn the castle which made their debuted in 2007
  • 500 strobes are used to help create the sparkling lighting effect
  • 32,000 square feet of fish netting was used to help hang the LED lights on the Castle
  • 15 miles of cable were used to hang all the lights

Cinderella Castle Dream Lights

Very Merry Christmas Party

  • 300,000 cookies are consumed each night of the party.
  • 1,200 gallons of hot coco are drunk each night of the Christmas party.
  • 5500 lights are hung on each icon Christmas tree in each park or resort for the holidays.

Epcot

Liberty Inn Gingerbread House

  • 820 pounds of sugar is used to create the life size Gingerbread house
  • 135 pounds of butter is used to create the life size Gingerbread house
  • 1040 pounds of eggs is used to create the life size Gingerbread house
  • 150 pounds of chocolate chip is used to create the life size Gingerbread house
  • 470 pounds of flour is used to create the life size Gingerbread house
  • 2 pounds of baking soda is used to create the life size Gingerbread house

 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

  • 1995 was the first year of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 3.5 million lights were used in the Original family display of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 5 million plus lights are use in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display.
  • 500,000 strands of lights are used
  • 100 bulbs are on each strand used
  • 80,000 lights are on the 70 foot tree with 3 layers of color
  • 33 snow machines use 100 gallons of snow fluid each night
  • 40 hidden Mickey’s are used in the display
  • 100 lights are in each strand used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 35 miles of electrical wiring is used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 4 moving trucks originally used to move all the family lights and displays to Walt Disney World
  • 25 to 35 hidden Mickey’s are in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 70 foot Christmas tree is used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 30 technicians work to setup the lights from August thru mid November for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
  • 10 miles of rope light is used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
  • 21,000 hours and 10 weeks of setup are needed to install the 5 million lights at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios.
  • 350 miles of Christmas lights wrap around the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display. Don’t forget the 71 miles of extension cables, either!!!
  • 1 million and more tie wraps are used to setup the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
  • 800,000 watts of electricity are needed to light the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display.
  • 32.2 miles of extension cords are used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display.
  • 150 angels are used in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights display.
  • 5 christmas songs are used in the dancing light show
  • 2009 the light show went completely LED, using now ½ the power consumption

Disney's Hollywood Studios Osborne Lights

Animal Kingdom

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade

  • 2001 is the year Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 15 minutes is the approximate length of the Jingle Jungle parade
  • 5 character-based safari vehicles
  • 4 drum sculptures are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 3 rickshaw taxis are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 8 animal puppets are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 16 Disney characters are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 10 Party Animal stilt walkers are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 10 Party Patrols are used in Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
  • 8 abstract animal puppets were designed by Michael Curry Designs in Portland, Ore., which created the puppets for “The Lion King” on Broadway.
  • 60 cast members including performers, drivers and coordinators participate in the parade.
  • 25 spectators will be selected daily to ride in the opening unit, 3 guest rickshaws and the finale unit. Guests will be given Kodak disposable cameras so they can capture the special moment aboard the parade.

For more Christmas by the Numb3rs go visit – http://disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/christmasinwdw.html