The Disney Grump & Family Take on the World-Our '09 Christmas w/ the Mouse, COMPLETE

[klacey1]

Hi, Michelle! I'm just joining in, but I've caught myself up completely! Your family is too cute-- your boys are adorable! I'm really looking forward to the rest

 

[SoonerGirl]

Italy was next on our list, but we got held up

The bridge was raised to bring in the globe and stuff for Illuminations. You really don’t realize how huge this globe is until you see it up close.

After the bridge was finally lowered we looked across and saw a huge mass of people on the other side, just like on our side. Some people started saying it reminded them of Braveheart and the two sides facing each other about to go into battle. So people on our side started yelling “charge” and “for freedom!” (if you haven’t seen the movie, that makes absolutely no sense to you!) but the fuddy duddies on the other side just looked at us like we were crazy and didn’t play along.

We still made it to Italy in plenty of time to see La Befana. She was another favorite - she told a beautiful and at times sad story.

Next was Japan and the Daruma Doll vendor. Justin and I both thought she was a bit hard to understand and couldn’t quite follow her story. I did get that you are supposed to paint a wish into one of the eyes of the Daruma Doll at the beginning of the New Year, and if that wish comes true then the other eye can be painted – at least I think that’s what she was saying…

A few pictures I took while we waited

And a couple of her

Germany was next on our list, but we had some time to kill, so we stopped in America for a funnel cake.

Justin was so excited, he told me he had never had one before! Seriously??? How did I let my kid get to be 13 ½ years old and never buy him a funnel cake? Bad mom, bad!! While we were eating our treat, I finally got a text from Don. They were on their way. I told them just to meet us by the German Storyteller. After finishing our funnel cake, I took a quick pic of the beautiful tree and we walked over to Germany.

We stopped to see the trains. I love how even the tiny village was decorated for the holidays - such attention to detail!

Don & Jared met us and we waited a few minutes for Helga to come out. Jared started off recording the story

But soon he was enthralled

I thought it was pretty cute! I think he asked to go back to the hotel earlier because he thought the Storytellers would be boring (although, he wouldn’t admit that), and here he was, loving it!

Helga told the story of the first Christmas tree, the Advent Calendar and the Nutcracker.

All the kids especially loved when the life sized Nutcracker came walking out at the end of the story!

Coming Up: A couple more Storytellers & our dinner at Teppan Edo

 

[MHTeacher]

NO WAY!!! I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go!

After I've had time to process this bizarre situation, I will go back to read and look at your pictures better.

 

[flafan]

I am loving your report, can not wait for more. Thank you for sharing your adventure with all of us

 

[Happydog]

WOW!!! Okay crazy story about the boy. NUTS, but at least it wasn't on the monorail, I agree.

I LOVE LOVE that you saw all of the storytellers!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA so Jealous!!! We only saw a few. BUT, that is my "next trip at Christmas time" goal! So I will live through your World Showcase stories, and I will share my Christmas Parade in the MK with you, Deal??

 

[Spartangirl]

Great update!

The "pee-pee" story......... At least it wasn't on the floor!!!

I love the storytellers.........Norway and Italy are two of my favorites too!

 

[MaryAz]

Oh goodness, I may have done the same thing... My DD had only been potty trained for 2 months when we went. She did tinkle in the rain by the pool at SS...
What fun the storytellers are! My girls would love that!

 

[stace208]

That is so funny about the "pee pee" incident! When my DS was little we always tried to keep some sort of drink/water bottle handy. But, I guess the bag was better than the floor!

The storytellers looked so wonderful! Do you know if they are there the week after Christmas as well?

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hi, Michelle! I'm just joining in, but I've caught myself up completely! Your family is too cute-- your boys are adorable! I'm really looking forward to the rest

Hi there Kylie and Thanks for the comment about my boys!

NO WAY!!! I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go!

After I've had time to process this bizarre situation, I will go back to read and look at your pictures better.

It was so funny and so odd! He was obviously just potty trained and it was also obvious that there was no way he was going to be able to hold it and make it to a bathroom, she had to do something!

I am loving your report, can not wait for more. Thank you for sharing your adventure with all of us

Thanks so much! I'm having a good time reliving the trip.

WOW!!! Okay crazy story about the boy. NUTS, but at least it wasn't on the monorail, I agree.

I LOVE LOVE that you saw all of the storytellers!!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA so Jealous!!! We only saw a few. BUT, that is my "next trip at Christmas time" goal! So I will live through your World Showcase stories, and I will share my Christmas Parade in the MK with you, Deal??

Deal!! Missing something just gives us a reason to go back, right?

Great update!

The "pee-pee" story......... At least it wasn't on the floor!!!

I love the storytellers.........Norway and Italy are two of my favorites too!

The storytellers were great - they really put you in that Christmas spirit!

Oh goodness, I may have done the same thing... My DD had only been potty trained for 2 months when we went. She did tinkle in the rain by the pool at SS...
What fun the storytellers are! My girls would love that!

Well, there is just no way you can tell a little one that they have to hold it! The lady had to do something. I was really afraid that I was going to see that little guy pee all over the monorail

 

[SoonerGirl]

That is so funny about the "pee pee" incident! When my DS was little we always tried to keep some sort of drink/water bottle handy. But, I guess the bag was better than the floor!

The storytellers looked so wonderful! Do you know if they are there the week after Christmas as well?

My boys went in water bottles a few times when they were little and we were on a long drive and a potty wasn't readily available. You gotta do what you gotta do right?

I don't know how long the storytellers are there after Christmas, but we did see one on the 26th.

 

[RachelNinja]

Wow! That's such a different kind of monorail experience! But then again, I guess it's not as gross as someone throwing up on the monorail. I say that only because the stomach virus is starting to make its way through my school. Blech.

Those are crazy wait times! My co-worker who went during Christmas/New Year's said that they couldn't even get on any rides on certain days. I was appalled at the wait times! But I guess it really makes you go explore what World Showcase has to offer and really gives you the chance to listen to the Storytellers.

The pictures of the globe and the bridge are great as well! That's not something that everyone gets to see.

Um ... I'm 25 and have never had funnel cake ...

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think I am in shock over the whole monorail pee pee incident! Quick thinking on the mom's part. I don't know if I would have been so quick off the mark.

Those are some CRAZY INSANE wait times for Soarin' and Test Track!

Those World Showcase storytellers are so neat! We didn't see them in 2004 -- I think we were on a mission to do masks or something -- so I definitely would like to catch them on an upcoming Christmas trip.

That picture of Jared enthralled with the storyteller is so cute!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi Michelle!

I'm tagging along... better late than never!

I'm still on arrival day. Love, love, love POFQ... we've stayed there twice!


Kathy

ETA: All caught up now, thanks to the links (aren't they handy?!)
Your report is beginning to make me re-think my "I will never go to WDW during Christmas vacation" mantra!
(My kids are 11 and 13.)

Ah, for the good old days when we could pull them out of school whenever....

Looking forward to more!


Kathy

 

[kschafer]

How did I miss these updates?!

I love the costumes of the characters at the MK opening ceremony. Mickey looks especially dashing!

PeePee on the monorail?! I guess as a parent you kind of have to understand the predicament! My youngest was "in-training" when we went in 2008. Originally I had hoped to have him finished when we went but in the end, I was kind of happy he was in pull-ups at the time. We didn't really ever have to do diaper stops but I knew it was there if an emergency came up!

I haven't ever been terribly interested in the Epcot storytellers but you make them sound so interesting I may have to change my mind. I'm hoping for a christmastime trip in 2011 to ease the pain of turning the big 4-0

 

[SoonerGirl]

Wow! That's such a different kind of monorail experience! But then again, I guess it's not as gross as someone throwing up on the monorail. I say that only because the stomach virus is starting to make its way through my school. Blech.

I'm sure it's happened before - that would be so nasty though!

Those are crazy wait times! My co-worker who went during Christmas/New Year's said that they couldn't even get on any rides on certain days. I was appalled at the wait times! But I guess it really makes you go explore what World Showcase has to offer and really gives you the chance to listen to the Storytellers.

Well, from what I understand the week between Christmas and New Year's is busier than the week leading up to Christmas, but we found the crowds to be manageable. You HAVE to get there at rope drop though, arriving at the park early is key to being able to get onto the big rides or at least get FPs. Then you can fill in with the lesser attractions and with things like the Storytellers when the crowds rush in mid-morning.

Um ... I'm 25 and have never had funnel cake ...

You must have a funnel cake! They are so good. I've seen them with all kinds of different toppings, but I prefer just plain old powdered sugar.

I think I am in shock over the whole monorail pee pee incident! Quick thinking on the mom's part. I don't know if I would have been so quick off the mark.

Those are some CRAZY INSANE wait times for Soarin' and Test Track!

Those World Showcase storytellers are so neat! We didn't see them in 2004 -- I think we were on a mission to do masks or something -- so I definitely would like to catch them on an upcoming Christmas trip.

That picture of Jared enthralled with the storyteller is so cute!

I'm not so sure I would have thought to grab the bag either, it's been a long time since I had a newly potty trained child, but I can see me panicking in that situation!

I enjoyed the Storytellers, I made them my mission. I was surprised how much the boys liked them - Justin was just as into figuring out which one to see next as I was. And it's rare that Jared sits so still and quiet, so I know he enjoyed them too

Hi Michelle!

I'm tagging along... better late than never!

I'm still on arrival day. Love, love, love POFQ... we've stayed there twice!


Kathy

ETA: All caught up now, thanks to the links (aren't they handy?!)
Your report is beginning to make me re-think my "I will never go to WDW during Christmas vacation" mantra!
(My kids are 11 and 13.)

Ah, for the good old days when we could pull them out of school whenever....

Looking forward to more!


Kathy

Hi Kathy! Welcome and thanks for coming over!

I never would have thought to put links in a report until I saw other people doing it - they are so handy when you come into a report late (or when it's completed, which I have done several times....)

I never thought I would brave the Christmas crowds either, but I really, really wanted to be there during the holiday season, and like you said, it's just too hard to pull your older kids out of school, they just miss too much. Christmas week is definitely doable, but you have to go into it with the right mindset, and you have to get to the parks early!

How did I miss these updates?!

I love the costumes of the characters at the MK opening ceremony. Mickey looks especially dashing!

PeePee on the monorail?! I guess as a parent you kind of have to understand the predicament! My youngest was "in-training" when we went in 2008. Originally I had hoped to have him finished when we went but in the end, I was kind of happy he was in pull-ups at the time. We didn't really ever have to do diaper stops but I knew it was there if an emergency came up!

I haven't ever been terribly interested in the Epcot storytellers but you make them sound so interesting I may have to change my mind. I'm hoping for a christmastime trip in 2011 to ease the pain of turning the big 4-0

I was actually rather impressed with the mom's ingenuity, I'm not sure I would have thought to use a plastic bag - my luck the bag would have had a hole in it

The Storytellers were a great way to get into the spirit of Christmas, many of them told wonderful stories!

And I hear ya about turning 40 - ugggg!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yay!! I finally received my photopass CD, so I'll post all those that I've missed up until now.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh my. The "pee pee incident" had me laughing out loud! I had to read Joe the story and he was laughing along with me and suggested that Mom should carry Tupperware instead....

The storytellers sound so interesting! I wish we had taken the time to do that - it was so hard to determine sometimes what to do...the "extra" stuff that the parks offered due to the season, or the normal things since it was all new to my in-laws. I guess we'll just have to go back.

You made me laugh out loud again with your "Bad Mom, bad!" comment! What a place to have your first funnel cake though! YUM!


Someone wants to say hello.......

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[brookelizabeth]

Great Photopass pictures! They turned out so nice!

 

[MHTeacher]

Your photopass pictures are great! Every year we visit, I vow to utilize this more, but it seems like I get home, and I only had a few made at one or two locations.

I will do better in May.....!!!

 

[disneydusted]

Hummmm, the mom, the boy, the bag.... yea, I would have been trying really hard not to laugh
LOVE your photopass pictures! Aren't they so much fun to get? We enjoyed getting lots of pictures from them.
The storytellers are a nice way to get people into the countries, that is on my someday list for Disney!
Funnel cake... the first time our son had funnel cake with powered sugar he was so excited to dive right in that he took a big breath right before biting into it and inhaled the powered sugar! It's funny now thinking back on it but at the time he couldn't stop coughing! He's more careful now!