Ho! Ho! Ho! Away we go - A Disney Christmas - 2/15 Dec TR final thoughts and FEB TR!

[Happydog]

Sounds heavenly!!


I think that's my new word for all things Happy Dog!





Really though, sounds like a great start to your trip. at walking with your little guy and seeing it through his eyes. Gotta love that.


Can't wait to read more!

Ha! Thank you!!!! It was really magical being there with the kids. They really were in awe at certain events this trip, more so than other trips. It was great fun!

Your boys look so cozy in bed.
I agree with you about the Swan and Dolphin. I'd feel like I was missing out on the magic.

The tree at the BC is very striking. There's something very beautiful about it.

Can't wait to read more!

Yes I thought so too! The evening we arrived it was lit up and amazing. VERY large, and I loved the train around the base. I thought the Dolphin was quite nice all in all, and I know it is a preference for some people. The location is hard to beat.

Your family is just so darn cute!! Hurrah for a great first full day. Sounds like you packed quite a bit in there. Happy to hear a good review of Kouzzina... although that fish head would have done me in (my dinner can't arrive on the plate resembling its live form!). I take it your son liked the ice cream?

Looks like the crowds weren't too bad for you at Osborne Lights. I've seen it so packed with people it is scary so glad you were able to enjoy it!

Looking forward to more!

Awww thanks Christine!!!! It was a great first full day, and the BC is definitely a fab resort!!! Funny we didn't do too much at the parks this first day but we did enjoy everything about the day and the resort!

What a wonderful easy first day you had!! I love how casual you were able to be after that drive. I've never been to the Boardwalk and it is high on my list for next trip!

I hate that y'all were right there at DHS and we were too. We met up with Dawn (dizneydawn) and family, rode TSMM, rode TOT, and had dinner at the Brown Derby! I wish we had exchanged information, but oh well! next time for sure, right?

YES! That was a drag, we missed eachother... but I am glad that you still had a meet up! Next time for sure.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Jumping in to follow the Christmas fun.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great update to enjoy with my coffee this morning!

I had to laugh at your understatement involving the number of benches and your DS stopping at each one.

Did you have a studio or a one-bedroom at the Beach Club?

Kouzzina's sounds interesting -- we love Greek food -- but I don't think it is going to make the cut on this trip.

The Osborne Lights are so cool! Did you not get one of the special Christmas drinks for sale before you explored??? That's one of the reasons I want to go at Christmastime.

 

[SoonerGirl]

WE got to DHS at 7:30 I think... after TSM, we were walking around about 8pm, so that MIGHT have been why it wasn't so crowded....it was just as the park closed, and things were still going for a good 30 minutes I'd say.

I had written down that the best time to go back and see them was just as the park was closing, but we had been there all day and it was a busy day, we were all just pooped and ready to go. We headed over shortly after they turned them on - probably not a good idea

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

HD-I thought that was a very positive, fair review of the Dolphin...

I too would desperately miss the immersion experience of staying at a Disney hotel...however...your photos show a very attractive room and a lobby-I think that 'tree" and train are really quite fun...(I'm also all about the comfy beds...)

but the location and prices at the Swan and Dolphin...along with some lovely dining choices...make it a really nice option especially for a shorter trip and/or if you want to be near the Studios and Epcot...I think I remember reading somewhere that they have a really nice spa too...

I'm glad you had a good experience at Kouzzina...it's sort of all over the place on the dining thread...I think that it's really good for Disney to try new things though and I'm glad the food and drinks were good...(& how many places can you get a great photo of your guys with a fish head...

Your photos of the Osbourne lights are really great-they look spectacular-the boys really look like they are having so much fun...

Looking forward to more...

 

[aprilisis]

What a great first day! Your view from the Dolphin was awesome. I'm happy that you were able to get FPs to TSM. I love 50's prime time, too. You have some great photos, too! I can't wait to read more.

 

[kschafer]

I lurked a bit on your other TR's but thought since I found this early into the report, I should say Hi and let you know I am here!

Sounds like a tricky exit to the world but a nice start to day 1! Can't wait for more!

 

[Happydog]

Our Second day was scheduled for the Magic Kingdom!!! I was waiting with great anticipation for this day, especially seeing the Main street decorations. We also had a few fun events scheduled for this day. Brunch with Alice and friends at the GF 1900 Park Fare, and the Pirate's League...

I am sometimes really bad at taking photos... I get caught up in what I am visually taking in and forget about it! We got to the MK about 8:45 or so, in time for the 9am opening. I finally got my camera out once we were in the park, and DH and I did our split -- DH and DS7 took off for Space Mtn, to ride and get FPs and DS4 and I spent a while in Fantasy land. Well, we spent our time in Pooh's Hunny Pots actually... riding it FOUR times The boy knows what he likes, what can I say ! And then we played in the 100 Acre Wood park/play area, and then we rode the Tomorrowland Speedway. With those rides under our belt, we met up with DH and we headed over to the Grand Floridian for BRUNCH!

As we made our way out of the park we came upon the Main Street trolley -- I took a few bad photos then got better ones when we came back into the park after breakfast! I think a flake of snow landed on my Camera lens at the Osbourne lights!!!

The GF was our next stop for 1900 Park Faire Character Breakfast. I recommend this one hands down to EVERYBODY! The food selection was great, the character interaction fabulous!!! It was pretty funny b/c DS4 wanted NOTHING to do with the "human" characters and DS7 (for whatever the reason) decided to hide from the "animal" characters -- tigger and pooh... it was funny because the human characters totally got down and ducked their head under the table to chat with my DS4.... Alice called him a "door mouse" and Mary Poppins asked him about tea UNDER the table since she had only had in ON a table... it was cute. Mary Poppins was gracious and very pretty -- compared to the Mary Poppins we saw at Epcot a few days later (NOT so much...) And Alice was as CUTE as can be. She really surprised us, and spent easily 10 minutes at our table. I was really surprised. She talked about all sorts of things with my DS7 -- it was amazing. How he was missing something in his mouth (teeth) and how she had met a Griffin herself, once before, not anything like him, however (his name is Griffin) and then she went on about the door mouse "under the table" and this and that... it was so fun. That was definitely the highlight!!! Here are our Character interaction photos, and DS4 came out for a few as you can see!

I got this shot of the Mary Poppin’s Topiary. I thought it was lovely with the red poinsettias…

Now when I scheduled my ADRs I made an effort to visit each resort, so I could see all the decorations. Here is the GF lobby tree and the Gingerbread House! It was really cool! I was describing the house to my boys, how it was all made of Gingerbread, etc., and as I was talking to them I noticed DS4 was “missing” I went around to the other side of the house and I saw him bent over at the waist with his mouth on the white wooden “trim” on the gingerbread house fence… I grabbed him up and I said "Oh my goodness what are you doing??” And he said "You said it was gingerbread -- we can eat it? I want to taste it.” Of course he didn’t realize that the whole house was not gingerbread, never mind the velvet “no” ropes all around suggesting that he was not to be where he was (on the other side of them!!!) but leave it to MY son to test it out!!! Thankfully it WASN’T gingerbread or the doormouse would have been another kind of mouse entirely! I BOUGHT him a shingle of Gbread to try (Snack Credit!!! $4.00) And we all tried it. Very tasty! So here are some pictures of the construction..

Hidden MICKEY!!!!

Here are some shots of the tree and decor as we headed up to the monorail...

The décor was beautiful and the tree stunning and so very tall. We loved our visit here, and will probably have breakfast here again. I hope to schedule the Pirate's Cruise (since we got rained out last trip! )and we would need to be over here while they cruise... though DH and I might be in the frame of mind for a mimosa, so the GF Cafe might be the choice instead!

NEXT UP.... THE PIRATE'S LEAGUE and 'OHANAS ...

 

[Native NYer]

MK is such a great way to start the day.
1900 Park Fare is one of our favorites too. The characters never seem rushed and the food is good. The photos of your boys are just too cute!

So cute that your son wanted to taste the gingerbread.

Can't wait to hear about the Pirate's League.

 

[Happydog]

Jumping in to follow the Christmas fun.

Hiya! WELCOME!!! It was a lot of fun, so JUMP on IN!!

Great update to enjoy with my coffee this morning!

SOOO glad!!! What mug are you using??!!

I had to laugh at your understatement involving the number of benches and your DS stopping at each one.

Did you have a studio or a one-bedroom at the Beach Club?

Yeah, I know it was comical, but you know at that moment I was on vacation, and the sun was out, and we were not stuck in the snow on 95, so if it took an additional 15 minutes... so be it!

We had a one bedroom villa. We are going to be in such shock with a studio come this summer ... still holding out for a last minute deal on a 1 bedroom for the second part of our trip, but that is the stuff a NEW PTR is made of.... YOU know all about those, don't you??!! HA!

Kouzzina's sounds interesting -- we love Greek food -- but I don't think it is going to make the cut on this trip.

I am sure it will keep! I am not sure we won't go again, since our summer trip is a little longer.

The Osborne Lights are so cool! Did you not get one of the special Christmas drinks for sale before you explored??? That's one of the reasons I want to go at Christmastime.

I saw the offerings! BUT frankly, I wasn't jazzed by them... something about a chocolate Martini special at Kouzzina's kept me warm enough LOL!!!!
And don't forget I brought my own eggnog!!!!

I had written down that the best time to go back and see them was just as the park was closing, but we had been there all day and it was a busy day, we were all just pooped and ready to go. We headed over shortly after they turned them on - probably not a good idea

Yes I can see that the moment they turn them on would be crowded, but also a neat sight I am sure! We just planned to be there after dinner, a boat ride away from the Boardwalk/Beach Club, so the time worked out that way...

 

[shannn]

I think I'm going to be obsessively scanning your pictures for views of myself through this whole TR. Once I get mine started you can do the same!

I really want to go to 1900 PF. I think it might be on our list for our next trip.

 

[Happydog]

HD-I thought that was a very positive, fair review of the Dolphin...

I too would desperately miss the immersion experience of staying at a Disney hotel...however...your photos show a very attractive room and a lobby-I think that 'tree" and train are really quite fun...(I'm also all about the comfy beds...)

but the location and prices at the Swan and Dolphin...along with some lovely dining choices...make it a really nice option especially for a shorter trip and/or if you want to be near the Studios and Epcot...I think I remember reading somewhere that they have a really nice spa too...

Truly, I agree! Really the location is hard to beat, and the Blue Zoo... we had thought about that for Xmas Dinner... It was a nice modern style room, great bed, again a nice business class hotel. They have exercise facilities, and yes, for something like a get away, I think it is a competitive spot. For F & W most definitely.

I'm glad you had a good experience at Kouzzina...it's sort of all over the place on the dining thread...I think that it's really good for Disney to try new things though and I'm glad the food and drinks were good...(& how many places can you get a great photo of your guys with a fish head...

Your photos of the Osbourne lights are really great-they look spectacular-the boys really look like they are having so much fun...

Looking forward to more...

HA! Yes, the fish head, we had to laugh, it was just a silly picture! The dessert was amazing... Galaktoboureko... it was a custard wrapped in phyllo with a fab honey vanilla ice cream on the side... DIVINE. The Saganaki appetizer was truly good too!

The Osbourne Lights was a great start to our festive week

 

[SoonerGirl]

This was Monday morning right? We were @ MK too, and probably walked right with your DH to Space Mountain. It was crazy - I think 90% of the people who went through the gates went straight to SM that morning!

Love your review of 1900, we may have to give that one a try sometime.

 

[Happydog]

What a great first day! Your view from the Dolphin was awesome. I'm happy that you were able to get FPs to TSM. I love 50's prime time, too. You have some great photos, too! I can't wait to read more.

Thanks! Yes it was a nice surprise and fun to have the view since we didn't go to a park that night. We were very happy we got that TSM ride in

I lurked a bit on your other TR's but thought since I found this early into the report, I should say Hi and let you know I am here!

Sounds like a tricky exit to the world but a nice start to day 1! Can't wait for more!

Oh! Hey! Thanks! I know it is hard to get into a TR if you are trying to catch up from the get go! So welcome!!! And thanks for coming over! I see you a lot over at CP and WigD's place.....

MK is such a great way to start the day.
1900 Park Fare is one of our favorites too. The characters never seem rushed and the food is good. The photos of your boys are just too cute!

So cute that your son wanted to taste the gingerbread.

Can't wait to hear about the Pirate's League.

It was a great morning and wonderful brunch.... It was pretty funny that he was there with his mouth on the trim... I was horrified then I had to laugh, a la Hansel or Augustus from Willie Wonka (however that is spelled!!!)

The Pirate's League was one of the best experiences on this trip hands down. SO cool!!!!

I think I'm going to be obsessively scanning your pictures for views of myself through this whole TR. Once I get mine started you can do the same!

I really want to go to 1900 PF. I think it might be on our list for our next trip.

HA HA!!! That is funny. Okay, I will too.....

I highly recommend 1900 PF!!!!

This was Monday morning right? We were @ MK too, and probably walked right with your DH to Space Mountain. It was crazy - I think 90% of the people who went through the gates went straight to SM that morning!

Love your review of 1900, we may have to give that one a try sometime.

HOW funny!!!!! Yes, we were waiting big time for this ride. Funny but we got our best rides in on Christmas day! NO line NO wait, NO problem that first hour!!!!! MK at 7:00 park opening was crazy in its own right, but man that walk on again and again for Space was worth the rain and the crazy morning hour!!! We still have to take turns b/c DS4 is one inch short.... Thank goodness we are returning this summer!

 

[DisMomAmy]

You guys are off to a great start... now that the snow is long gone!

We walked from the Dolphin the the International Gateway at Epcot on our first Disney day last year. It was such a nice walk! (We were dropping our rental car.)

The Osbourne lights look amazing (along with all the other Christmas decorations). I would love to see them sometime - I'm sure the pictures and even the Behind the Scenes special that was on tv don't do the display justice!

Can't wait to hear about the Pirate's League!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

OMG... he tried to eat the gingerbread house?! That is TOO cute for words!

Brunch looks super fun. What great time you got with the characters!

Can't wait to hear about Pirates League.

And to hear the tale of your new PTR!

 

[manntra]

Ahhh hahahaha! That is so funny about the gingerbread house!
Your pictures are great! Especially the Osborne lights...I think you really got the hang of your new camera!
Cute character pictures....I didn't know Tigger and Pooh were there too? Maybe he wandered over from the CP?

Tracy

 

[gellybean]

OmGosh! He tried to eat the house?!

That is sooooooooooo something my boys would do!! I think my soon to be 2 year old would eat about anything!!!!!!

He'll even eat my cookin'!





Great update!

Can't wait to hear about the Pirate League. I've debated adding it for DS6. The only day we could schedule it would be MLK day and I'm scared the park is gonna be scary busy... and hesitate to schedule that big of a block of time away from zipping around for FPs. I'd love to know about how long it took y'all, if you remember! Thanks!

 

[Lcaemom]

Just read your entire report...so great!!! Your departure was so descriptive...I was on the edge of my seat!!! Amazing that you fit in all that you did...AND remembered it all! Loving all your pics...your family is beautiful!!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[eandesmom]

arrgh! Page 7

off to catch up!