Can My Family Survive Christmas at WDW?? Need suggestions.

[Stitch4Prez]

First I would like to say this is my first TR and I am only 11 so please bear with me :goodvibes

The Cast

Me: (Zack, handsome, athletic, and brillant :lmao: )
DM: (Mom, the DisneyWorld planner :idea: )
DD: (Dad, is starting to catch on to our Disney addiction :cool2: )
DB: (Collin, my little Bro, I won't even go there :rotfl: )

We just went to Disney in March, then my mom got married in June to my new stepdad :love2: and went on their Honeymoon to Disney without us :sad1: and we had to stay with my grandparents :scared: :scared1: :eek: :sad: but it really wasn't so bad, but not Disney! Mom and Dad ended up feeling a bit guilty for not bringing us along so decided to take a Christmas trip :santa:

We decided to go from December 24th to Jan. 2nd and I will be staying at POP for the 4th time. Because of the rising airfare prices :sad2: we decided to drive. From CT to WDW its about a 18 hour drive but for the Mouse its worth it. We will only stop for the potty and gas, hopefully we will leave our house at 1pm on Christmas Eve and arrive at WDW on Christmas morning. By the time we arrive after that long car ride, I will be sick of hearing my mom sing Disney Christmas Music!!!:rotfl2:

Coming up Next: The Theme Park Plan

[2BusyPlanning]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all about it!
party:

[The Three Cabs]

Don't worry, I won't just sing Disney Christmas Music the whole way, I will sing all kinds of Disney music, there's no where to hide! :stir:

Good start Zack!

[Stitch4Prez]

I'm in! Can't wait to hear all about it!
party:

Thanks for reading. I'll be reading yours too:thumbsup2

[Stitch4Prez]

Are We There Yet????
It will be Christmas Eve, there may be some snow outside but I'll be heading for Palm Trees! :cool1: That morning I will try to sleep in so that I am rested up for the trip. My dad gets home from work at 1:00, the car will be packed and we will be heading for the Sunburn State. :beach: I'll be armed with only a DVD player, my DS, earplugs, and enough Vitamin Water to keep asking my mom "Can we pleeeasssse stop in every state!" :scared:

Between holiday drivers and my singing mother :music: I might survive the car ride. We will be driving thru the night (well they will, I will be sleeping) and hopefully arrive by 8:00am Christmas morning. This will probably be the best Christmas yet because I am spending it with my new family at the Happiest Place on Earth.

We will be heading straight to the AK because our room at POP probably won't be ready. Even though we will have been up a whole day and night, we probably won't be grumpy because you can't be grumpy on Christmas at Disney!

Next up: Our First Full Day December 25th :santa:

[The Three Cabs]

I hope you mean How are you going to survive the Christmas crowds! :confused3 Not how are you going to survive with your family, as your mother :rolleyes1 I'm sure that is what you meant. And I really hope there isn't snow outside on Christmas Eve.

[Stitch4Prez]

Here's something I meant to do in the beginning, give an itinerary.

Day 1: AK.:woohoo: (Not including the drive.)
Go to ADR at Donald's Safari Breakfast. 9:05
Grab some fastpasses and hit the AK attractions KS, DINOSAUR, KRR, ITTBAB, FOTLK, we would do EE but this is what my DDAD does :scared1: . So we will make sure to hit this later in the week when we can get on first thing.
Next we go to POP and check in, and chill :happytv: and have burgers for Christmas dinner. Then the long awaited rest for the next morning at EPCOT.

Day 2: EPCOT, Lunch at Chefs de France, Candlelight Processional

Day 3: AK, hopefully catch the Christmas Parade

Day 4: MK, Plaza Restaurant for my Birthday :cake: lunch!!! Watch
Christmas Parade
EPCOT, Dinner at Garden Grill, stay for Illuminations

Day 5: DHS, Beaches and Cream or The Fountain for lunch
Pizza Planet for supper, Osborne lights thingie

Day 6: MK, counterservice lunch
Downtown Disney, Wolfgang Puck Express

Day 7: MK, Whispering Canyon Cafe
DHS for Fireworks and Fantasmic

Day 8: Sleep in, Lunch at POP foodcourt not sure yet gotta see what
TGM suggests for the rest of this day

Day 9 Time to go home :sad1: and start planning our May trip on the
car :car: ride home!!!

[The Three Cabs]

So far looking good Zack :banana: :banana: :banana: we gotta start working on those counterservice choices.

[Stitch4Prez]

Sorry about the name change didn't really work for me.;) . Now back to the pre-trip report.

Alright this is my 13 trip (I know I've been to Disney more times than the years I've been alive.) But we would like the DISers to help us out with our counterservice meals we usually eat at the same places so we would like to try some new places.

Here's the places we usually eat:

MK:

Pecos Bills :love:
Columbia Harbor House :love:
Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe :love:

EPCOT:

Electric Umbrella
Cantina de San Angel

DHS:

Pizza Planet:love:

AK:

Flame Tree BBQ:love:
Pizzafaria

:love: : Zack's Favorites

Please post some ideas.

Zack.

[julezdisney]

Aww! You are a good write! I'm all ears! ::MinnieMo

[Stitch4Prez]

Aww! You are a good write! I'm all ears! ::MinnieMo

Thanks, now I've got two readers, not including my mom.:woohoo:

[The Three Cabs]

Zack I was thinking of changing our last full "Disney day" to EPCOT in the morning, probably counter service again. I don't think we have enough time scheduled there considering its a homeschool learning trip too. AK for the evening, probably Flame Tree BBQ for supper. Ribs from Flame Tree yummy, a GREAT way to celebrate New Years!!! :cool1: I'm so happy about that I think it deserves a dancing banana and a flying strawberry ka-chow!!! :banana: :duck: and wouldn't EE be the best way to end our trip...well not according to dad.

[The Three Cabs]

Trying to get ADR for T-REX for December 30th, they still aren't taking ressies but I will keep trying. :yay:

[2BusyPlanning]

Now that we know your favorite places to eat (which is super important!) ....

What are your favorite rides and attractions in each park?

[Stitch4Prez]

Now that we know your favorite places to eat (which is super important!) ....

What are your favorite rides and attractions in each park?

MK:

The 3 mountains
POTC
Jungle Cruise
Mickey's philharmagic :3dglasses
Haunted Mansion
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

EPCOT:
Test Track
Mission Space (Orange side)
Spaceship Earth
Maelstrom
Soarin
THE WHOLE NEMO PAVILION :woohoo:

DHS:
TOT
RRC
Muppets 3-D :3dglasses
LMA
Fantasmic
INDY
Toy Story Mania? :confused3 (Never been on it)

AK:
EE
KS
KRR
Dinosaur

Got any counter service ideas?

[2BusyPlanning]

MK:

The 3 mountains
POTC
Jungle Cruise
Mickey's philharmagic :3dglasses
Haunted Mansion :thumbsup2
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

EPCOT:
Test Track
Mission Space (Orange side)
Spaceship Earth
Maelstrom
Soarin :thumbsup2
THE WHOLE NEMO PAVILION :woohoo:

DHS:
TOT :thumbsup2
RRC :thumbsup2
Muppets 3-D :3dglasses
LMA
Fantasmic
INDY
Toy Story Mania? :confused3 (Never been on it)

AK:
EE :thumbsup2
KS
KRR
Dinosaur

Got any counter service ideas?

You named all of my favorite counter service places.
Pecos Bills / Columbia Harbor House
Cantina San Angel
Pizza Planet
Flame Tree BBQ

I don't think you can wrong at your favorites!

[momof2dizkids]

Sorry about the name change didn't really work for me.;) . Now back to the pre-trip report.

Alright this is my 13 trip (I know I've been to Disney more times than the years I've been alive.) But we would like the DISers to help us out with our counterservice meals we usually eat at the same places so we would like to try some new places.

Here's the places we usually eat:

MK:

Pecos Bills :love: :thumbsup2
Columbia Harbor House :love:
Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe :love::thumbsup2

EPCOT:

Electric Umbrella:thumbsup2
Cantina de San Angel

DHS:

Pizza Planet:love: :thumbsup2

AK:

Flame Tree BBQ:love: :thumbsup2
Pizzafaria

:love: : Zack's Favorites

Please post some ideas.

Zack.

You can't go wrong with your favorites!!!!

[momof2dizkids]

MK:

The 3 mountains:thumbsup2
POTC:thumbsup2
Jungle Cruise:thumbsup2
Mickey's philharmagic :3dglasses :thumbsup2
Haunted Mansion:thumbsup2
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin:thumbsup2

EPCOT:
Test Track:thumbsup2
Mission Space (Orange side):thumbsup2
Spaceship Earth
Maelstrom
Soarin:thumbsup2
THE WHOLE NEMO PAVILION :woohoo::thumbsup2

DHS:
TOT:thumbsup2
RRC:thumbsup2
Muppets 3-D :3dglasses:thumbsup2
LMA
Fantasmic
INDY
Toy Story Mania? :confused3 (Never been on it):thumbsup2

AK:
EE:thumbsup2
KS:thumbsup2
KRR:thumbsup2
Dinosaur:thumbsup2

Got any counter service ideas?

Good ride choices!

[Stitch4Prez]

Day 2 EPCOT: Can we make it to rope drop?

First I want to say me and my family making it to rope is not an easy task my dad is always the last one up , where my mom is more of a early bird (only at Disney), I'm sort of in the middle. With all these different wake up times it's a problem but at the same time an advantage, the problem is now we've got to do this quickly and do that quickly and everyone going crazy, but it's an advantage because now while one persons getting up the one can do whatever he/she has to do. If we make it to rope drop we'll probally go straight to get a fastpass for either Test Track or Soarin, then ride the other one. Then it's time for a pavillion dedicated to we all know him we all love him give it up for Nemo home to TTWC, that clam ride (I can't remember the name of it) and the seagulls. now we'll be able to grab another Fastpass for either Test Track or Soarin which either we feel like doing again, use the Fastpass we got before. Then will be heading to France for our reservation at 2:00 for Chefs De France as part of our CandleLight Processinal package. We have never seen this before, so we are really looking forward to it. After lunch we are going to take in some of the Christmas decorations around World Showcase until it is time to get in line for the Christmas Processional, I think it starts around 5:00? When its over we will go use our mystery fastpass and maybe see Spaceship Earth if we have time before finding a spot for Illuminations in our secret spot (well its not a secret but its a great spot!) We will probably grab a snack and get comfy for our wait. Then its the worst part of the day fighting the crowds to get out!!!

[The Three Cabs]

I can't wait for Chefs de France, I love :lovestruc the mac and cheese :lovestruc

Hopefully we will make it to ropedrop at least on this morning if we want fastpasses for Soarin or TT, I can't imagine what the wait times will be if we don't:scared:

[Stitch4Prez]

Day 3: AK

First will see if we can make it to rope drop first will go get a fastpass for either EE, KS, or , then go ride the other one. Then to Dino U.S.A for Dinosaur, Primevil whirl, and Triceritop spin, and maybe a game or two. Then get a fastpass for KRR then use our fastpass. Then get something to eat see ITTBAB then use our fastpass for Kali.:cool1: :banana: :cool1: Then will go get a spot for the Christmas Parade. Then will go to Camp Mickey for some Charaters and FOTLK. Then maybe do a few things twice eat dinner then go back to POP to get rested up for MK.:banana: :banana: :banana:

[The Three Cabs]

hopefully it won't be too cold to ride Kali a bunch of times like we always do. Maybe we can eat at Pizzafari. I want to save Flame Tree for New Year's Day. I would like to make a ressie for Yak and Yeti again I really like that place. I think I have some pictures around Zack if you want to post some pictures of food from your :love: let me know.

[Stitch4Prez]

Day 4: MK,EPCOT, and B-day.

DEC 28 the day we celebrate my Birthday :cake: at MK. Will start the day trying to make it to Rope drop (the only place we haven't made rope drop), grab a fastpass for BTMRR, go ride SM (if we can convince dad to join us), POTC, and HM. Then we get another Fastpass for Peter's Pan Flight or Buzz then use our fastpass for BTMRR, alot of strange things have happened to me on Big Thunder, for instance once during the part that is susposed to be a earthqauke I was thinking what if the ride shut down right here and sure enough it shut down. It was cool we just sorta sat in the dark waiting, waiting, and waiting for them to start moving us agian. By now it should be time to get to my birthday lunch at The Plaza, (who in my opinion has the best philly cheese steak :love: ). We had my brothers birthday there last year and they had confetti all over the table and brought him an ice cream after and the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday, he was so embarrassed, of coarse I thought it was soooo funny :rotfl2: it may not be as funny if it happens to me! Before we leave for EPCOT we have to ride TTA and take a picture of our feet on the ride, we have dozens of feet pictures...yeah my mom is weird! :rolleyes1

Time to board the monorail for EPCOT, we got to sit in the front once last year. We call it our Dream (we have never offically one won, but this was awesome) We will probably do Turtle Talk again because its my dad's favorite. He loves Crush. We are having dinner at the Garden Grill. We have eaten there almost every trip we have ever taken. I love it there, but I hope they bring back the apple cobbler that was awesome! After dinner we will probably just wander around the lagoon since all the fast passes will probably be gone. I have to spend some time in Japan and China. My brother and I are homeschooled and this year we are doing an Unit Study on Asia since we can't actually go to Asia this year, my mom thought it would be fun to pay closer attention to these two pavilions and see if we can learn something new about these two countries or try a new food, something we can write in our learning journals.

We may stay for Illuminations, depending on how we feel. We did get up early and didn't take a break. I guess you'll have to wait for the real trip report to find out!!!

[The Three Cabs]

I made sure to tell them it was your birthday when I made the ADR. If your too embarassed to eat your ice cream, I will be glad to have it for you.

[2BusyPlanning]

Before we leave for EPCOT we have to ride TTA and take a picture of our feet on the ride, we have dozens of feet pictures...yeah my mom is weird! :rolleyes1

Ha! We do that, too!
(all mom's must be weird...) :confused3

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/lydiabrock/WDW2007/Magic%20Kingdom/Resting.jpg

[Stitch4Prez]

Day 5: DHS

DHS, the place of showbiz, some of my faviorite rides, and the Osborne Family Lights. We'll start off the day with getting to rope drop (this is our faviorite rope drop) and head over to get a fastpass for Toy Story Mania. Then will head over to muppet vision 3-D :3dglasses then ride Star Tours. Usally we would go ride TOT and RRC, but my dad would scream like a 5 year old girl :scared1:. Now we get Fast Passes for TOT for me, DMom, and DB (not my dad) but no RRC. Now were gonna step out of DHS get on a boat and go have lunch at Beachs and Cream. After eating we'll go back to DHS and ride Toy Story Mania for the first time (for me and my brother at least) Next we'll find out show times for LMA, and Indi then get a spot for Block Party Bash. Now we'll do The Backlot Tour, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, then head over to TOT :cool1: . By now it will be time for dinner at Pizza Planet :love:. Now it will be that time of the day, time to do certain rides again. After thats done we'll go for a nighttime Christmas special, Osborne Family Lights. Then we go back to POP for a good nights rest (not including the two hour wait trying to get back to our car).

[The Three Cabs]

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo69/jennypennys7/TTA.jpg

TTA is exciting!!! The funny looking kid in the goofy ears is Zack!

[The Three Cabs]

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo69/jennypennys7/feet.jpg

Still looking for a TTA foot picture. I know I have LOTS, I will find them, this one from the Speedway will have to do for now.

[The Three Cabs]

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo69/jennypennys7/TTAfeet.jpg[/I]

I still can't find them, but I do have this one from my honeymoon, gotta take the foot picture even when you aren't with us Zack. Normally I don't wear socks and crocs but I had a VERY bad blister on my foot. I couldn't walk without them. But at least the socks had Mickey's on them!

[2BusyPlanning]

LOVE the feet pics! :woohoo:

[Stitch4Prez]

Next Tuesday I am leaving for Universal Studios and I plan to write a trip report for it. It should be interesting because I am going with my grandmother, because my mom and my grandma don't always get along so well :hug:

I am depressed because MNSSHP will be going on while we are there but my grandmother won't let us go. :sad1: I love the parade and fireworks, we've been listening to the Halloween Party CD and I miss it. Thankfully we will get to see the Christmas shows this year.

[The Three Cabs]

We will be leaving for Orlando to go to Universal and SeaWorld on Tuesday so we will miss our 100 days to DisneyWorld countdown today, so I guess we need to happy dance now!!!

:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

Universal is fun but we can't wait for our Disney trip!:thumbsup2