PHOTOS: Disneyland Cast Members Celebrate the Season With First Christmas Tree Lighting

Shannen Ace

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PHOTOS: Disneyland Cast Members Celebrate the Season With First Christmas Tree Lighting

As we shared earlier this week, Disneyland Resort Cast Members gathered in the early morning hours of November 8 to participate in the first “unofficial” Christmas tree lighting of the season. Disney has now shared more photos of the celebration and quotes from the Cast Members present.

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The Christmas tree was installed overnight on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park so guests could enjoy it the next day.

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Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock and Vice President Kris Theiler helped the Resort Enhancement team place the star on top of the Christmas tree.

“This is a very special tradition at Disneyland park that’s been taking place since 1955, the year our very first Christmas tree was installed,” Potrock said. “Thank you to the amazing talents and efforts of our cast behind the merry and magical transformation of our resort.”

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Kyle Enos of the Resort Enhancement team (second from left in the above photo) said, “Hundreds of Cast Members put this all together, and seeing the tree light up means something special.”

Roxanne Arana from Custodial said, “Seeing the tree light up [for the first time] in over two years brings a sense of joy and wonder that was lost over the last year … Seeing everything come back to life is beautiful.”

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After the tree lighting ceremony, Potrock then placed a menorah in the window of Disney Clothiers, Ltd., which includes other traditional Hanukkah items, such as latkes and sufganiyot. Erin Doyle from Resort Enhancement (above) said, “This makes my job [feel] so important and meaningful when other people feel special.”

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Bill Eagleman of Security (above) reminisced about last year, saying, “I was here when no one else was here during Christmas, when the only tree we had was in Walt’s apartment. So, to see this go in today, to see it all week long, the culmination of everybody’s work to light that tree up is super special to me… You can’t put it all into words what you’re feeling inside, but the smiles on everybody’s faces and enjoyment they’re feeling right now speaks volumes.”

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