How Disneyland Is Decorated "Overnight" and More Secrets From Disney's Holiday Decorator

POPSUGAR: Can you tell me a little bit about what makes this year's decor unique?

Cathy Carson: The theme on Main Street, U.S.A., is always Victorian, which is reflective of Walt Disney's upbringing in his hometown of Marceline, MO. But the tree is brand new this year, so we have all brand-new ornaments.

PS: How long has it been since there's been a new tree?

CC: Since 2007. So we are so excited about having a new one. The branches are molded differently, so it looks more natural, and there are fewer branches, fewer ornaments. So there are about 1,500 ornaments and 3,500 lights.

PS: How about the height? Is that the same?

CC: It's 60 feet. It's actually the same base as the old, but we just had brand-new branches manufactured.

PS: Can you tell me a little more about the ornaments?

CC: We had a cast member who really had a vision for what he wanted, and he wanted to get back more to the Victorian theme. The ornaments [were] researched and were all custom molded. These are just a sample of what we have, but we've got the mercury glass look this year. And all the ornaments are, of course, in three sizes, starting with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on the top, which creates that forced perspective.

PS: Can you tell me a little bit about these ornaments?

CC: These are reminiscent of Victorian greeting cards. We also have these in three sizes on the tree. And we hand-glittered them all.

PS: You have a little glitter on your face right now. Do you have glitter on your face year-round?

CC: [Laughs] Yeah, we can't help it.

PS: What's the biggest challenge for decorating for the holidays at Disneyland?

CC: The biggest challenge is just getting it all put up overnight, basically. We are just very well organized, like when we go to Main Street, everyone breaks into their own little team and everybody has a job, and we get that job done, and at the end of the night it's done. We just work one land at a time. We do New Orleans, then we move on to Frontierland, Toontown, etc. We are very methodical.

PS: What's your favorite thing about the job?

CC: We have a wonderful team. We all work together really well, and so we have great teamwork. I love the tree, but I also love New Orleans 'cause it's fun. It's colorful, and each balcony has its own theme and we can do a little bit of a different theme, whereas Main Street has to stick to Victorian. We can have fun in New Orleans.

PS: Is there something you think people would be surprised to hear about your job or the whole setup?

CC: That there are only 10 people full-time in our department!

PS: You've had variations of the decorations over the years, so do you have a year that really stood out to you as a favorite?

CC: There's always been a warm spot in my heart for the Main Street tree. I've worked on it every year, and I just love it. We changed it up when we did it for the 60th anniversary, and that was a lot of fun to have it all blue and silver.

PS: When do you start planning for the next year?

CC: As soon as we take down the year before. As soon as Christmas is over, we'll take down in January. We will clean up the warehouse a little bit, put things away, and in February, we start planning for next year.

PS: Do you have a tip that you would give other people decorating for the holidays?

CC: Just plan ahead, don't just grab. Have an idea, a vision of what you want. Go to the art store or the fabric store and pick what you need and then put it together, don't just start throwing things together.

Travel and expenses for the author were provided by Disney for the purpose of writing this story.