Snow to 80 in 8 days–A spoonful of Holiday Cheer (2/5 update Ch 36 - Final Thoughts)

[KatMark]

Oh BTW, just ignore all the lunatics (wait, that might not leave anything for you to read) around here and enjoy the Christmas updates!

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

[KatMark]

Hey, sweetie. Just checking in with you after the bad weather again yesterday to be sure all is well.

 

[englishrose47]

Hope all is well Marv !!!

Kathy I know he wasn't referring to me as a lunatic as he always names me specifically!!!

 

[marvali]

I caught up with the boys in front of Space Mountain, where Matthew had already gotten us a second set of Fastpasses. We noticed the standby wait time wasn’t that long (10 or 20 minutes I think) as we entered the FP return line but we didn’t believe it was that short at this time of the day. As we walked along we didn’t see anyone in the Standby line as we walked along. We were confused at what was going on as we got closer to the loading area. We finally asked someone and they told us the ride had been down for a while and had just reopened. If we had known in time we could have just saved our FPs and rode Standby, but we were already too far along the line to change then. We finally got loaded and headed out into deep, dark space! I noticed some of the changes to the ride, and I thought it was a little better because it did seem darker, but some of my favorite Disney rides were still ahead.

We exited Space Mountain and decided it was time to eat before the restaurants got too full. I hadn’t heard from Alison yet, so I gave her a call to see where she was but didn’t get an answer so we headed off to

as we had planned. Trying to make sure we got the most out of the DDP, we got three orders of the Chicken and Ribs combo plate and I shared one with Andrew since it was more than enough food. Cosmic Ray’s was already starting to get very crowded, but we got our food quickly and managed to find a table overlooking Sonny Eclipse, which was the first time we had actually sat in that area and listened to the “entertainment.” It was very crowded around us and a lot of people squeezing by, so I didn’t bother to try and take pictures of our food. Andrew and I shared the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which Jonathan also had. Matthew got the Carrot Cake. We were all really hungry and it was a lot of food for all of us. We all thought it was pretty good, although the cake is not all that great being premade in a container, but still we all left satisfied. Unfortunately as it turned out, it wasn’t necessarily the wisest choice for lunch on this particular day.

We got done and headed back out to see what we wanted to do next. About that time Alison called and said she was on the bus and was just getting to the parking lot. Since we had a little time before we would meet her we decided we would ride Buzz Lightyear and told her to meet us there. When we got there, the wait time for Standby was 60 minutes. We decided there was no way we wanted to stand in line that long and just hung out across from the entrance and waited on Alison.

When she finally found us I asked her if she had eaten and she said no, and really needed to get something soon. We walked back towards the castle and noticed a lot of people gathering in front and realized it was time for the Celebrate the Season Stage show. The family stopped to watch the show, and I headed off to find Alison something to eat. She didn’t want anything like a hot dog (so much for Casey’s) or anything really greasy, so I walked along trying to figure out where a good place would be to find her something she would like. I ended up walking all the way to Pecos Bill’s where I ended up getting her a Chicken wrap and water to drink. This turned out to be a good choice and she thought it was really good. I made it back to see the very end of the show.

While I was gone, Andrew and Jonathan took pictures of the show. They must have taken about 60 pictures between them.

The fireworks at the Grand Finale.

When the show ended, the boys wanted to head off and catch some more of the rides. We planned to head back to the room soon and agreed upon a time to meet again as they headed off towards Adventureland. While Alison finished her food, I walked around and took a few more pictures of the holiday decorations.

After Alison finished her food, we decided to head off a do a little shopping. It was Christmas and we were at Disney, so what would be more appropriate than heading to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. While we were in there we saw the perfect gift for my twin Great Nephews, who had just celebrated their first Christmas. Having twins that were born premature has been really tough on my Nephew and his wife, and she was upset they really couldn’t do a whole lot to commemorate their first Christmas. We can’t wait to give them these next year with pictures from this Christmas in them.

We also found these to decorate our tree next year.

We got this ornament for Andrew (enjoy it quickly as I will probably take it down soon before he sees it and it spoils his Christmas surprise next year…..)

After filling out the information to have the three ornaments decorated with their names, we checked out and told them to send all of the ornaments back to our room when they were done. We headed out and called the boys to see where they were. Alison wasn’t feeling that great and we were ready to head back to the room. The boys were headed our way and they were ready to go too. When the boys arrived they had managed to get another set of FPs for BTMRR.

That was about all they were able to accomplish as the lines were too long at PotC, Splash and BTMRR to ride again, so they just walked around and “checked everything out.” We headed towards the exit. But on the way we ran into the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! parade and decided to stop and watch.

As the parade ended you could fall in line behind it and be “part” of the parade. Andrew and Matthew fell in line and were really enjoying walking through the crowd and waving like they were really in the parade. I got them to shoot me a salute for Jen and Bubba so I could get the picture.

After we exited the park we decided to stop and get a couple of pictures.

Coming Up - Chapter 18 Wilderness Lodge and Dinner at WCC

 

[marvali]

I just caught up! YAY!

By the way, what were the dates that you were there? And was it cold? And did it feel extremely crowded?

We were there from the Tuesday following Christmas (28th) until January 3rd. It was very cold when we arrived, but it slowly got warmer as the days went by. By the final couple of days I was wearing shorts with a jacket in the morning, but then it was warm enough in the afternoon to just be in a shirt.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

No way I was talking about you!!!

Hey, sweetie. Just checking in with you after the bad weather again yesterday to be sure all is well.

Hope all is well Marv !!!

Kathy I know he wasn't referring to me as a lunatic as he always names me specifically!!!

Yeah, we survived okay, although I had to deal with a leak that developed in the roof around one of the vents.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Great update Marvie! Though I can tell I did horribly in the contest. Poo!

I love the pics the boys took of the castle show! Gorgeous!

Aww, how sweet are you to go foraging for food for Ali! Maybe you're not such a bad guy after all.

Those Mickey baby ornaments are too precious! I'm sure your nephew and his wife will love them for their babies. What a sweet thought.

Nice stash of FP's too!

Hey, I didn't know your boys were in the parade!

This shot is awesome! I love it!

 

[KatMark]

Coming Up - Chapter 18 Wilderness Lodge and Dinner at WCC[/COLOR][/SIZE]

Great update, Marv. I love the pictures that Andrew and Jonathan took while you were off getting Alison something to eat (they did a GREAT job). The Mickey ornaments are too darn cute.

Nice wrestling sweatshirt.

I love this last photo.

I may skip your next update...you know my feelings on WL and WCC.

 

[englishrose47]

Great update Marv ,the pix are really colorful and sharp!!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

What? Or should I say whut?

I know for a fact Marv won't see this until tomorrow as they turned off computers, etc., because of the storm. But Dan...you made my night!

now that is a cool pic.

and great mid air face.


mmm WCC hope you got the skillet.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

wonder if you could have hopped over to the stand by line even though you were in the FP line, since you were still before the FP spot where they take your ticket.

 

[jenbear123]

Love the thumbs up salute!!! Thanks Marv!

Argh I haven't been able to post much on here lately. I've been more of a lurker. I'm all caught up now! Sounds like a busy day at MK. Don't think I ever saw that Celebrate the Season show. Looks pretty cool. I miss all the Christmas decorations. Hopefully I can get a trip planned for November this year!

 

[vamassey1]

That really was sweet of you to go get Ali something to eat.

Loved the picture of you sons after the parade and the action shot in front of the train station.

You're doing really good with the holiday decoration pictures too.

Great purchases in the Christmas store. Stopping in here in a must for me.

 

[All7OfUs]

After an almost week long hiatus from the Boards, I am back. Contain yourself.

And looky, just in time for an update! Woot!

Good call on the 3 dinners! Except, I think you're going to regret it as a repeat a little later as far as the fare goes. But you're right... LOTS of food on those suckers.

DOH! on the empty Stand by line! That would have been irritating. Efficient touring is good touring.

Well, I should have known you'd shop in the Christmas shoppe, with an "e", but I did guess that you had your packages sent.

Good on the boys for taking up photo duties. YOu've taught them well.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

D'oh! on the Space Mountain standby line. Oh well. Not riding it would have been worse.

So you walked all the way to Pecos Bill's, ordered and received food, and walked all the way back to the castle before show finished? Does this mean you're a fast walker or the show is too long?

Glad to see the boys getting in the spirit of the pictures!

 

[KatMark]

No way I was talking about you!!!

Liar, liar...pants on fire.

 

[PirateKate]

I didn't know they did the Celebrate the Season show in the daylight. I've only ever seen it late at night during MVMCP. Was it snowing on Main Street, too?

Love the Christmas ornaments!

 

[Poolrat]

We were there from the Tuesday following Christmas (28th) until January 3rd. It was very cold when we arrived, but it slowly got warmer as the days went by. By the final couple of days I was wearing shorts with a jacket in the morning, but then it was warm enough in the afternoon to just be in a shirt.

Did you pull a Donald Duck?!?!?!

 

[KatMark]

Did you pull a Donald Duck?!?!?!

Oh, Pat, that was a really good one.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Did you pull a Donald Duck?!?!?!

Oh dear, I hope not! No offense Marv...

 

[glennbo123]

We finally asked someone and they told us the ride had been down for a while and had just reopened. If we had known in time we could have just saved our FPs and rode Standby, but we were already too far along the line to change then.

Bummer.

It was very crowded around us and a lot of people squeezing by, so I didn’t bother to try and take pictures of our food.

In other words, you chickened out.

Andrew and I shared the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which Jonathan also had. Matthew got the Carrot Cake. We were all really hungry and it was a lot of food for all of us. We all thought it was pretty good, although the cake is not all that great being premade in a container, but still we all left satisfied.

I thought that the chocolate cake, premade in a container, at DHS was surprisingly good. After my school bread letdown, maybe it's all about expectations!

I ended up walking all the way to Pecos Bill’s where I ended up getting her a Chicken wrap and water to drink. This turned out to be a good choice and she thought it was really good.

Aw, good job Marv. I'm glad Allison caught up with you guys.