Your ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE to Disney World at Christmas Time! UPDATE x2 10/21

[JessicaFaye508]

So I haven't commented on this TR yet, but have read the whole thing! You have such a great family and I feel like I'm on the trip with you! Thanks for sharing your Disney and real life adventures with us. I hope my kids grow up to be as sweet and Disney-Obsessed as you!

Aww well I'm so glad you're here and enjoying! Thank you so much for the compliments! And you're so welcome - I'm glad you guys enjoy reading about them! And I'm sure they will! If you raise them on Disney, I'm sure they'll love it even when they're my age

Nice review - LOVE Kona! I will be thinking of you next month when we eat there and I have THE BREAD! Really looking forward to our meal there. This restaurant is so special to me. It was the Coral Isle Cafe when we had our honeymoon at Poly and we had breakfast there every morning. They had the best blueberry muffins! I am planning on having a specialty cake there for my sons birthday so we won't be getting any of the dessert.

The decorations, particularly around the waterfall were gorgeous!

Thank you! Mmm I hope you enjoy it! It really is a wonderful restaurant! Aww I didn't know that's what it was called before! That's very cool! And YAY for specialty cakes! That will be wonderful! I hope you guys have a magical time!

I agree - so pretty!

"Welcome home everybody!" Um. Yeah. Dying right now because of that picture... 83 days... BAH.

OMG YES! Joyful! I didn't get to see it this past December but we caught a little bit in 2010, and they were singing a song I had sung in my youth choir back in the day, "Hosanna." I was so excited! Love the video, Joyful really is so awesome!

I think you're trying to kill me in this update because these sunset pics omg.

So glad THE BREAD was back in your life. Are yall going there next week? (Do you know how jealous typing that sentence made me?? GOOD LORD.)

Nope, sorry. NO STACEY, NO STAY!!!! (I just made that up. I think it's pretty legit.)

83!? Ahh that's so soon! I'm so excited for you!

Aww I LOVE when I hear other music groups perform songs that I used to sing in chorus. It's always so exciting!

Haha I'm glad you like them!

ME TOO! And we don't have any plans to unfortunately! But I'm sure I'll get back to Kona sooner or later!

I KNOW, RIGHT?! (you just did some foreshadowing. . . )

Next time I go to Kona I am totally loading up on the bread, eating a small appetizers, and then indulging in a dessert. Last time I had an entree that was kinda bland, but still filling so I had no room left for dessert.

That's such a good plan! Except for me, I would make room for the dessert so I would be overeating (as usual ) You really only need an appetizer and dessert and BREAD!​

 

[__disneygirl]

AWW. The Poly was the first place we went on our trip (after checking in at our own resort, of course) and I remember walking in and seeing that tree with the orange ornaments on it like it was yesterday! It was so thrilling. AHH that is definitely one of my favorite resorts. I really hope I get to stay there one day!

YUUUM KONA! I still haven't tried it for any meal except breakfast, but I need to try THE BREAD. And I've wanted a Kona Kone forEVER! I know it's just an ice cream cone with cotton candy, but i just looks SO FUN that I need to try it!

OMG I love that Polynesian bag that your brother's pizza came in. I would so save that and use it in every day life.

No Stacey!?! Good God, what a nightmare! Seriously, I sometimes toss and turn in my sleep thinking of a world without her.

 

[kgoodb00]

First and foremost... NO STACEY?!?! that is awful and it should be illegal for a hotel to not show stacey when they are that close to Disney!! lol

I have never ate at Kona for dinner, but that bread seriously looks amazing....I will definitely have to go there on my next trip!!!!

Have fun on your upcoming trip!!! BTW I added you to twitter to see your live tweets from Disney! My name on there is the same as on here so you can follow me too if you would like!!

 

[therussells08]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS JESS!

I hope your day is perfect. SO close to Disney! Eep!​

 

[BobbleClank]

Happy Birthday FRUMPY.. Hope you have a Frumpliciously good day.

 

[princess_momma]

Happy birthday!!
I used your word today, told my boyfriend I didn't want to look frumpy! The look he gave me was priceless. What a fun word!

 

[SmallWorld71]

 

[katt789]

Gah! That steak looks amazing!! (but the trexidillas beat it for food of the day?!) Also, upside down pineapple cake!? Sounds GREAT! Ugh, Disney food, so delicious!! I love the Poly, so good!

 

[Reberella]

​

Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a great day!

 

[MarieTheCat24]

Sooooooooo you're totally going to be back in Disney soon. And I'm not jealous at all. Nope. Absolutely no jealousy here. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

OH MY GOSH I WANNA CRY I'M SO JEALOUS. I mean, I know my trip is less than 2 months away but that seems so far! Why can't I just go tomorrow? Waiting sucks.

My mom and I decided we're probably gonna go back to T-Rex in July. I'm beyond excited to embark on another prehistoric family adventure. I will be ordering the T-Rexadillas this time because of you. They look so yummy! And they're super fun to say!

I really think I could eat that entire tray of Mickey Rice Krispy Treats right now. HEAVEN.

Joyful looks like a lot of fun. I really hope they're still performing whenever I'm finally down there during the holiday season.

I LOVE the Christmas decorations in Living with the Land. So cute!

Disney sunsets are the absolute best.

Aw I wish I had known y'all would be driving to the Polynesian. I could have warned you ahead of time. As you found out, getting there can be a bit confusing.

I miss MY Polynesian so much! Your Kona meal looks AMAZING. And I've been craving one of the Captain Cook's flatbreads soooooo bad lately so this isn't helping.

No Stacey? I would've marched right down to the front desk and asked for a refund. I mean, that's a dealbreaker. No Stacey, No Kara. It's like my life motto.

Anyway, I can't wait for more! And I (obviously) cannot wait to hear all about your wacky adventures down in Disney soon! You're going to have so much fun! And so am I because I will be living vicariously through you. Thank god for Twitter.

 

[AimKo]

Hi Jess

My dd and I have been longtime lurkers...she's 10 and we've been reading your Frump reports in place of bedtime stories. I just wanted to introduce myself since we will be at SSR at the same time....and if you get rushed for an autograph by some blonde 10 year old girl, you'd know why...she's a big fan of your reports!!

Aim

 

[Kelliroo3]

I really liked Joyful too! So fun and interactive.

Kona bread looks delicious!! Is it the same at Ohana's? We'll be there in the summer and I've never eaten there before!

I'm so jealous you get to go soon. We just got home Monday night; my mom and I were at AKL. It was amazing but I'm so sad to be home. I always get a case of the Disney blues when I come home. Even though I know I'll be back in July I wish I could go sooner!!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

AWW. The Poly was the first place we went on our trip (after checking in at our own resort, of course) and I remember walking in and seeing that tree with the orange ornaments on it like it was yesterday! It was so thrilling. AHH that is definitely one of my favorite resorts. I really hope I get to stay there one day!

YUUUM KONA! I still haven't tried it for any meal except breakfast, but I need to try THE BREAD. And I've wanted a Kona Kone forEVER! I know it's just an ice cream cone with cotton candy, but i just looks SO FUN that I need to try it!

OMG I love that Polynesian bag that your brother's pizza came in. I would so save that and use it in every day life.

No Stacey!?! Good God, what a nightmare! Seriously, I sometimes toss and turn in my sleep thinking of a world without her.

The Poly is such a wonderful place to go right at the beginning of your trip! That tree was GORGEOUS!! And me too! When I get my Cast Member discount someday, the Poly is the first place I want to stay!

YUM! You NEED to try it for THE BREAD and the Kona Kone! Both of them are perfect!!

I know, right!? It's so cute!

I know!! I seriously hope they keep her once they enhance the show for the new Fantasyland! If they ever get rid of stacey there will be an outrage.

First and foremost... NO STACEY?!?! that is awful and it should be illegal for a hotel to not show stacey when they are that close to Disney!! lol

I have never ate at Kona for dinner, but that bread seriously looks amazing....I will definitely have to go there on my next trip!!!!

Have fun on your upcoming trip!!! BTW I added you to twitter to see your live tweets from Disney! My name on there is the same as on here so you can follow me too if you would like!!

I KNOW. I wanted to cry.

Put it on your list!! You will not be disppointed!

Thank you! And ahh okay I will follow you back! I hope you enjoy the disney tweets!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRINCESS JESS!

I hope your day is perfect. SO close to Disney! Eep!​

THANK YOU JONI! I had the most perfect birthday ever, and I'm planning on doing a little pre-trip update in my next trip report so I can tell you guys all about it! 2 days till Disney!!

Happy Birthday FRUMPY.. Hope you have a Frumpliciously good day.

Thank you!!

Happy birthday!!
I used your word today, told my boyfriend I didn't want to look frumpy! The look he gave me was priceless. What a fun word!

Thank you so much! HAHAHA don't you love introducing the word frumpy to people? Their first reaction is like... whaaaat? And then they LOVE it. It is now one of the most used words in my boyfriend's vocabulary.

Thank you!

Gah! That steak looks amazing!! (but the trexidillas beat it for food of the day?!) Also, upside down pineapple cake!? Sounds GREAT! Ugh, Disney food, so delicious!! I love the Poly, so good!

Yes, the T-Rexadillas were PHENOMENAL. (and I'm obsessed with quesadillas) But the steak was very close! And mmm that cake is SO good! I LOVE DISNEY FOOD!

​

Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a great day!

Thank you so much! My day was perfect!

Sooooooooo you're totally going to be back in Disney soon. And I'm not jealous at all. Nope. Absolutely no jealousy here. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Not even a little bit? ​

OH MY GOSH I WANNA CRY I'M SO JEALOUS. I mean, I know my trip is less than 2 months away but that seems so far! Why can't I just go tomorrow? Waiting sucks.

Awww Don't worry - your trip is going to be AMAZING! It's going to be so worth it once you get there! I'm so so soooo excited for you to go! I'll have to tide you over with my tweets until then!​

My mom and I decided we're probably gonna go back to T-Rex in July. I'm beyond excited to embark on another prehistoric family adventure. I will be ordering the T-Rexadillas this time because of you. They look so yummy! And they're super fun to say!

Good good! It's so delicious! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! I'm sure you will!​

I really think I could eat that entire tray of Mickey Rice Krispy Treats right now. HEAVEN.

ME TOO! Well, not right now. I just had more of my birthday cake. Round three I can't stop eating it!​

Joyful looks like a lot of fun. I really hope they're still performing whenever I'm finally down there during the holiday season.

I hope they will be too! Joyful is AWESOME!​

I LOVE the Christmas decorations in Living with the Land. So cute!

Disney sunsets are the absolute best.

I agree!​

Aw I wish I had known y'all would be driving to the Polynesian. I could have warned you ahead of time. As you found out, getting there can be a bit confusing.

I forgot that we were going to drive there! That would have been helpful I hope I remember that if there is a next time!​

I miss MY Polynesian so much! Your Kona meal looks AMAZING. And I've been craving one of the Captain Cook's flatbreads soooooo bad lately so this isn't helping.

It was SO GOOD! And mmm I have never eaten at Captain Cook's! It looks delicious!​

No Stacey? I would've marched right down to the front desk and asked for a refund. I mean, that's a dealbreaker. No Stacey, No Kara. It's like my life motto.

I know, right? It's unacceptable.​

Anyway, I can't wait for more! And I (obviously) cannot wait to hear all about your wacky adventures down in Disney soon! You're going to have so much fun! And so am I because I will be living vicariously through you. Thank god for Twitter.

Hooray! Thank you! I will be tweeting about it the whole time just for you guys! I'm glad you'll enjoy it!​

Hi Jess

My dd and I have been longtime lurkers...she's 10 and we've been reading your Frump reports in place of bedtime stories. I just wanted to introduce myself since we will be at SSR at the same time....and if you get rushed for an autograph by some blonde 10 year old girl, you'd know why...she's a big fan of your reports!!

Aim

Awww that's so cute! I'm SO glad you both like the trip reports so much! That's so great to hear! Hopefully we'll run into you guys! She sounds adorable! Thanks for reading and for the kind words - I really appreciate it!

I really liked Joyful too! So fun and interactive.

Kona bread looks delicious!! Is it the same at Ohana's? We'll be there in the summer and I've never eaten there before!

I'm so jealous you get to go soon. We just got home Monday night; my mom and I were at AKL. It was amazing but I'm so sad to be home. I always get a case of the Disney blues when I come home. Even though I know I'll be back in July I wish I could go sooner!!

I agree!

No Kona bread is different than Ohana's! Both of them are AMAZING but Kona is better in my opinion

Aww did you!? That was probably so fun! And lol I totally agree! But hey, you're going back SUPER soon! It'll be great!​

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I just wanted to thank all of you for the birthday wishes yesterday! You're all so sweet! This will probably be my last update before I go to Disney in 2 DAYS!!! So I hope you enjoy it!! I don't know if I'm going to start the next trip report right away when I get home because I'm basically still at the beginning of this one. But it will get written at some point - I promise! Once again, thank you all for reading! I really appreciate you guys being here! I hope you have a magical night!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 39: Good Morning Hollywood Studios!
December 22nd, 2011

First tweet of the day:
GOOOOOD MORNING! It is (almost) time to get up!! We have rope drop to get to!!

RT @wdwfacts: Good Morning! Make it a Magical Day!!! 3 Days Until Christmas!!!

OUR FIRST MORNING IN DISNEY! I was up around 6 something, but didn't get out of bed until 7. I took a shower and got ready! I wanted to go, go, go!!

Jonathan was sick with a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and he overall just didn't feel good. Him and Dad decided to stay behind today and relax.
My Dad drove us to Hollywood Studios, though! We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts on the way so he could get coffee (*sigh* taking up my disney time.) and then we arrived at the park! When he exited the parking lot, my Dad drove out through the "bus only" lane! Hahaha my Mom and I were like "umm we don't know that guy!"

We walked to the entrance and I saw the BEAUTIFUL Christmas tree! I had to take a picture!

We got to the park at 8:50 am and by the time we entered the park was open! The lady at the turnstiles LOVED my nails! It was great!

We moseyed on in and eventually ended up at Toy Story Mania. We grabbed fastpasses for 1:40 pm! Not too bad!

We walked through the Muppets area and had a little photo shoot - just because we love it there!

KERMIT!

I LOVE this fountain!

THE OLD MEN! Literally they're my favorite part of the show. I enjoy quoting them regularly.

"BEAN! BUNNY! Has anyone seen a bunny!?!"

Christmas decorations!

Muppet Vision THREEEEE-DEEEEE!

Waka-Waka!

So after taking a picture of every inch of the Muppet Vision area, we decided to go on Star Tours for our first ride of the day! We were all loaded and buckled in the ride vehicle... and then they made us get out and switch to another car!

I actually thought I saw that particular version of Star Tours before, or one that was very similar. However. I don't know enough about the movie to remember much of anything.

We left there and went to the Writer's Stop, but there wasn't really any good breakfast options. The good news is that I saw this sign on the wall near the outside of the restaurant! I REALLY need to catch up on that show. Hopefully I'll have some time over the summer!

We grabbed a few more pictures of the Christmas decorations! They were very pretty!

We made our way over to Starring Rolls to get some breakfast! That's always the best choice! I got a Light & Fit strawberry yogurt as well as a Cherry Turnover. That was AWESOME! It had lots of cherries and a great flavor!

Mom got a Multigrain Bagel:

and we got a Banana Split to share:

The Banana Split always intrigued me because I never knew what it was! But it was like a banana flavored mousse! It was really good! But next time I need to not get a ton of other food so I can actually finish it!

Here's the tray of all of our food:

We grabbed a bench near Brown Derby so we could sit and eat. We cancelled our Sanaa reservation since we were just there on our last trip. We made one at Coral Reef instead for a little bit later.

While we were sitting there, Dad called and told us to CALL DISNEY AND SWITCH TO AN ONSITE RESORT!!! The beds at Mystic Dunes were not comfortable at all. So I called Disney and got rates for French Quarter, Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, and Pop Century. We decided on French Quarter and got a great discount thanks to our Annual Pass! We got over $100 in savings! WOOHOO!

I can't even tell you how happy I am to have a family who loves staying on property. @disney_frump was right- switching to French quarter

Once we were all set we left Hollywood Studios and decided to WALK over to Epcot, which was a first for me!

Continued in Next Post​

 

[RooRach0906]

I love Once Upon A Time, it just keeps getting better!!!! That cherry turnover looks so goood!!!!!!! Yay to switching on property... hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

[marDgreen88]

Cute cute cute pics around Muppet Vision!

OMG YES. You NEED to catch up on Once Upon A Time. But you already knew that! But DANG girl it's getting goooooood.

So remember when you told me I just did a foreshadowing (or some similar word) on my comment?? Yeah I probably did it on purpose because remember, I follow you on twitter... hahaha sly. BUT YAY! Can't wait to see your French Quarter pictures! Of all the moderate resorts I want to try, (which is all of them because hello) French Quarter is the one I want to stay at the most!

 

[sjs314]

I just came across your TR and can not wait to read more (only read post 1 so far). We are going to WDW during the Cristmas Season for the 1st time this year!

 

[mike the canuck]

How long did it take to walk from DHS to Epcot?

 

[westgirl]

We left there and went to the Writer's Stop, but there wasn't really any good breakfast options. The good news is that I saw this sign on the wall near the outside of the restaurant! I REALLY need to catch up on that show. Hopefully I'll have some time over the summer!

Jess - you will love ONCE - it takes a bit of following but once you workout who is who it is fab - I think I live for it every week.

I'm loving your trippie - we don't go back until Novebmer and it seems like a lifetime away

Hope you had a fab Birthday looking forward to the trippie for your birthday trip xx

 

[macleod1979]

My girl is getting me into Once, its good