Visting the Big Apple and the Big Cheese, for the Holidays! December 2010

disneybarbie

Disney Princess
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Visiting the Big Apple and the Big Cheese for the Holidays! December 2010

Hi there!

Now that Christmas is out the way, I can finally make a start on a trip report of my latest trip to Walt Disney World.

The cast..

PPMVMCP.jpg


Me – Emma – 26 - huge Disney fan .. currently planning our wedding and Disney honeymoon (see link in my signature to PJ if you’re interested!)

DF – Steve – 26 - not quite as big a Disney fan as me, but he loves it once he’s there!


This trip to WDW was planned before we got engaged (Christmas day 2009!), and because of the wedding costs, I wasn’t sure if we’d still be able to go.. but we worked through the numbers, and decided it would still be possible!

The Itinerary…

December 8th to 11th …. New York City.. the Big Apple … neither of us had been there before and really wanted to go! So it seemed a good idea to combine a city break there with 6 days at Disney.

December 11th to 17th …. Disney World... home of the 'Big Cheese'... Mickey Mouse! … we booked a studio at the Boardwalk Villas (my family’s DVC home resort) for 6 nights; I’d been to WDW with my sister last December, and couldn’t wait to show DF the holiday decorations and events!


I hope the Disney fans here won’t mind me starting the TR with our stay in NYC… I’ll get to the WDW days soon!
 
Wednesday 8th December

The alarm woke us up bright and early at 4am.. it had finally arrived .. the first day of our vacation!
Quick showers & final packing, and my sister arrived at 5am to take us to the airport. Just one week before, the country had come to a standstill because of snow & ice.. and it had crossed my mind that we wouldn’t be able to go on this vacation if the weather continued! But luckily, the icy weather held off for a few days .. and we had no problems getting away (coming home will be a different story.. stay tuned!)
Got to London Heathrow airport just before 6am.. there were no queues at all to drop our bags.. and we were through security and in the departure lounge by 6.15am! :thumbsup2

After buying some new perfume for me, and a box of chocolates to give to the cabin crew on our flight.. we had some breakfast at (my favourite) Starbucks.

IMG_0018.jpg


We boarded the plane, took off a little late – and apart from a few ‘lumps and bumps’ as the captain put it :eek:, it was a nice, 7.5 hour, flight… and giving the cabin crew a box of chocolates was a great idea.. as they gave us two glasses of champagne to say thank you! :goodvibes

We arrived at JFK, got quickly through immigration & baggage claim.. and soon we were in a town car and driving through Queens, on our way to the city that never sleeps!! :woohoo:

IMG_0021.jpg
IMG_0022.jpg
IMG_0020.jpg
IMG_0023.jpg


We’d both been so excited to visit NYC.. after seeing it in so many movies & TV programmes, I couldn’t wait to actually be in the real place!

Our hotel was on 34th Street and 7th Avenue.. The New Yorker.

IMG_0081.jpg


IMG_0025.jpg


We checked in – it was just before 3pm so had to wait a few minutes for our room to be ready.

IMG_0024.jpg
IMG_0111.jpg


We made our way up to the room.. on the 33rd floor … I don’t think I’ve ever been that high up in a building before! :eek:


The room was small but well furnished & very clean... plus we had a fantastic view over to New Jersey!

IMG_0108.jpg


IMG_0026.jpg
IMG_0027.jpg
IMG_0028.jpg


Usually I’d unpack as soon as we get to a hotel; but we decided just to head out!

continued..
 
It wasn’t too cold (yet!), so we started to walk towards central park – and just happened to stumble upon Times Square on our way there!

IMG_0109-1.jpg
IMG_0110-1.jpg


Oh… and what’s that I see…. A Disney Store?!

IMG_0029.jpg


So in we went.

IMG_0031.jpg
IMG_0033.jpg
IMG_0034.jpg


I really liked the design of the shop, and the exclusive NYC merchandise! I got the Statue of Liberty Vinylmation.

IMG_0086.jpg


We continued our stroll towards the park, stopping at Rockefeller Plaza & Radio City..

IMG_0037.jpg
IMG_0038.jpg
IMG_0121-1.jpg


We made it to the park, just before the sun was setting…

IMG_0043.jpg
IMG_0126.jpg
IMG_0123-1.jpg
IMG_0122.jpg


I was excited to see the ice-skating!

IMG_0128.jpg
IMG_0132.jpg


Although neither of us can skate.. So we walked back towards 5th Avenue…

IMG_0045.jpg


WOW there were some amazing looking shops on this road! We didn’t go inside though.. I just window shopped! ;)

continued...
 
We wandered back to the Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree lit up..

IMG_0133.jpg


We cut back through to Times Square, by now.. it was feeling much much colder; so we decided to stop off at a bar… celebrate our first day in the city!

Steve had a corona ..

IMG_0048.jpg


And I had a Cosmopolitan (had to have the signature SATC cocktail!)

IMG_0047.jpg
IMG_0051.jpg


When Steve got another beer, someone opened the door to the bar… and his drink actually froze!! It was that cold! The barmaid said she’d never seen it happen before, and gave him another for free!

IMG_0055.jpg


.. I tried a ‘Times Square’ martini, it was passion-fruit flavoured, very pretty.

IMG_0054.jpg


It was a great place to sit & watch the world go by!

IMG_0053.jpg
IMG_0052.jpg


We got talking to a really nice group of Canadians who were sat next to us, they’d been working in NJ but had come over to Manhattan to go to the John Lennon Memorial that night (it was the 30th anniversary of his death).

We headed back to our hotel, stopping at a Ruby Tuesday’s for dinner.

IMG_0145.jpg
IMG_0139.jpg
IMG_0140.jpg



Once back at the hotel, despite being awake for almost 22 hours.. I somehow managed to unpack the suitcases before falling fast asleep (at 9pm)!

That was the end of our exciting first day.. stay tuned for more!


Emma princess: x
 


I'm here, Emma! :goodvibes Great start! I love NYC. I usually go up with my grandmother and cousin for a weekend of shopping every year but we haven't been in about 2 years now. I'm dying to go back!
 


Hi Emma, I'm here! Isn't NY the best? I love walking up and down 5th avenue! The stores are just gorgeous, especially at Christmas time! Seems like you guys had a great first day-- certainly saw and did a lot!
 
Visiting the Big Apple and the Big Cheese for the Holidays! December 2010

PPMVMCP.jpg



I am in! Love the Saints sweatshirt! :woohoo:

Thanks for the photos of NYC. I lived there for 4 years, and went to the old World of Disney, but the new one opened after I left and I haven't seen it yet!
 
I'm subbing Emma! Loving your NY adventure so far, amazing pics too! So did you get any other goodies at the Disney store?:goodvibes
 
Hi Emma,
Great start, I love NY at Christmas. We were in Disney the same time you were, I'll be reading along:goodvibes
 
We’d both been so excited to visit NYC.. after seeing it in so many movies & TV programmes, I couldn’t wait to actually be in the real place!


We made our way up to the room.. on the 33rd floor … I don’t think I’ve ever been that high up in a building before! :eek:

subbing!!! fantastic start, i went to NY for the first time in 2008 and i know what you mean about seeing it on tv and film, we were in the library taking pictures because of the SATC film, + also know what you mean about the hotel, when the receptionist said our floor i was like :scared1:!!
can't wait for more! popcorn::
 
Yay! You started. So glad you loved my home. You did a lot in one day! I am glad you enjoyed the Disney store. Honestly, I was so disappointed by it. The old one on 5th was bigger with more stuff. Oh well. What did I tell you about the stores on 5th? Awesome right? The city is the best at holiday time. What was your favorite thing? Can't wait to hear more!
 
Yay! You started. So glad you loved my home. You did a lot in one day! I am glad you enjoyed the Disney store. Honestly, I was so disappointed by it. The old one on 5th was bigger with more stuff. Oh well. What did I tell you about the stores on 5th? Awesome right? The city is the best at holiday time. What was your favorite thing? Can't wait to hear more!

Hi Stephie! Yup we absolutely loved NYC... possibly favourite city in the world now! :goodvibes

subbing!!! fantastic start, i went to NY for the first time in 2008 and i know what you mean about seeing it on tv and film, we were in the library taking pictures because of the SATC film, + also know what you mean about the hotel, when the receptionist said our floor i was like :scared1:!!
can't wait for more! popcorn::


Hi! Thanks for reading along so far... lol we were near the library at Bryant Park, I wanted to go in (because of SATC movie!) and DF was like "why do you want to go in a library?!" :laughing:


Hi Emma,
Great start, I love NY at Christmas. We were in Disney the same time you were, I'll be reading along:goodvibes


Welcome!



I'm subbing Emma! Loving your NY adventure so far, amazing pics too! So did you get any other goodies at the Disney store?:goodvibes


Hi! .. just the Vinylmation.. I wish now I'd bought a tshirt or sweater too - glad that I got the souvenir bag though.. it has the 'I Heart Mickey' logo on it! :goodvibes


I am in! Love the Saints sweatshirt! :woohoo:

Thanks for the photos of NYC. I lived there for 4 years, and went to the old World of Disney, but the new one opened after I left and I haven't seen it yet!


Hi! Thanks for reading so far.. my fiance is a big NFL & Saints fan! I bought him that sweatshirt & a tshirt ("Superbowl Champions 2010") from a football website.. he loves them! :thumbsup2 I also made him a tshirt with a Mickey in Saints outfit (that you have in your signature!) as an iron-transfer, surprise for this vacation :goodvibes



Hi Emma, I'm here! Isn't NY the best? I love walking up and down 5th avenue! The stores are just gorgeous, especially at Christmas time! Seems like you guys had a great first day-- certainly saw and did a lot!

Hi! Yup we both fell in love with the city.. :cloud9: ... we did do a lot that first day, I didn't realise how close everything would be, it was so easy to walk everywhere! But we were soo tired by 7/8pm (that would've been 12/1am on English time!), the jet lag caught up with us :laughing:

NYC and Disney, I am in, love both!

subbing! I LOVE New York! I am so jealous you got to see the new Disney store! Can't wait ti hear the rest of your adventures!

subbing! popcorn::

cant wait to read more! :goodvibes


welcome all! thanks for reading.. I hope to do regular updates :thumbsup2



I'm here, Emma! :goodvibes Great start! I love NYC. I usually go up with my grandmother and cousin for a weekend of shopping every year but we haven't been in about 2 years now. I'm dying to go back!


Hi Courtney! a girls' shopping trip would be really fun in NYC.. that was one thing, going with DF, he doesn't like to shop very much :confused3 hehe



Emma princess: x
 
I'm here! Great so far! The room you had is bigger than some apartments in the city so you lucked out:rotfl:! I've yet to see the Disney store in Times Square yet but that's what happens when you live here. I've lived in NY for my whole life (never more than an hour outside Manhattan) and I've still never been to the Statue of Liberty!
 
I'm in...great start!!! New York at christmas just seems to have the essence of christmas! ice skating, rockefeller tree...so cool!

And :thumbsup2 for finding the disney store on your first day! My Nana brought me home an I Heart NY shopper bag with mickey instead of a heart for my lunch!
 
Subbing! NYC is so much fun -- love your pics! And that I-mickey-NY bag is sooo cute. :) Looking forward to more!
 
I'm here! Great so far! The room you had is bigger than some apartments in the city so you lucked out:rotfl:! I've yet to see the Disney store in Times Square yet but that's what happens when you live here. I've lived in NY for my whole life (never more than an hour outside Manhattan) and I've still never been to the Statue of Liberty!

Hi! Thanks for reading :goodvibes I was prepared for a small hotel room at the New Yorker.. it was the only bad thing people seemed to write about it on Trip Advisor! :laughing:
We're the same with London.. I've lived within an hour of the city most of my life but there's so many places I've never visited! :rolleyes1


I'm in...great start!!! New York at christmas just seems to have the essence of christmas! ice skating, rockefeller tree...so cool!

And :thumbsup2 for finding the disney store on your first day! My Nana brought me home an I Heart NY shopper bag with mickey instead of a heart for my lunch!

Hi! It really was lovely to be there in December.. felt very festive everywhere!
I'm so pleased I got one of the 'I heart NY' Disney bags! :goodvibes



I'm in popcorn:

Going back to read :)

Hi Stefy! Thanks for joining in... update to come very soon!



Emma princess: x
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts


Top