Christmas - Done Differently

[lovethattink]

Index:

Introductions and Index

Friday

Day after Thanksgiving - Coral Reef

Epcot - Christmas Tree - Duffy

Epcot - Topiaries

Saturday

You forgot what?! Pop Century

Epcot - Santa Claus and Holiday Illuminations

Sunday

Birthday Party and Disney Quest
Monday

Showcase rehearsal - AoA Tree - Tree between EoS and Once Upon a Toy

Monorail Mixup - DIS meet - Wishes

Saturday Dec 22

Part 1 - Magic Kingdom - Santa & Crystal Palace

Part 2 - Christmas Parade - Tomorrowland Christmas Stage Show - Main St.

Part 3 - New RFID Turnstiles - Walkway to Contemporary - Contemporary Decorations

Christmas Eve

Part 1 - Christmas Eve Day - Epcot/Beaches & Cream

Gingerbread Display

Complimentary Cider/Sunset/Epcot




Hey Ya'll. If you've been following me, you know we "do" Disney differently. Christmas is my favorite time of year at Disney. I love walking into the parks and hearing the Christmas music, seeing the decorations, eating the holiday treats, etc. Just as we do Disney differently, we also enjoy the Christmas- time festivities at Disney differently too. Disney, Star Wars, fishing, theater, food, Star Wars crafts, and homeschooling have become an integral part of our lives. So if you like the Christmas season and any of those things listed, you came to the right TR!

The we:

Me: Disney enthusiast, Star Wars fan, Tink Fan, SAHM, teacher, chauffer, laundry lady, etc.

DH aka Goofy: Disney enthusiast, collector (bordering hoarder) of all kinds of things, Star Wars Fan, fisherman, etc.

DS aka Grumpy: College student, fisherman, future chef, Star Wars fan

DS aka Anakin: Huge Star Wars fan, loves legos, loves Star Wars. Did I mention he is a huge Star Wars fan? He eats, breaths, and sleeps Star Wars. He recently discovered theater and singing, though it all comes back around eventually to Star Wars.

What makes this TR different? We don't really plan, we mostly wing it. What we get to see, we see. What we get to do, we do. We have to be totally flexible. We dont know how much time well get to stay in a park on any given day. A typical park day for us is averages two or three hours. Maybe four or five hours if its a cool day. Why? Anakin has a medical condition that causes him to have seizures, sensory issues, impulsiveness and severe anxiety. Weve learned to live in the moment, handle issues as the come up, and savor the positive.

Updates will come frequently and with lots of pictures. We live close to the action so I hope to update as we visit the parks. For now, we will back track to Thanksgiving week and the Christmas festivities that emerge the day after Thanksgiving. Here we go!

 

[pooh'smate]

Joining in. We homeschool too. We have a trip planned for next Dec, and I am so excited. My dh and dd have no idea. They will be so surprised.

 

[lovethattink]

My in-laws were visiting us for the week. They are not Disney fans. We were lucky enough to have a friend who was willing to get them passes for the park for free. My FIL declined because he said he'd just sit on a bench the whole time. My MIL was happy to go to see the Christmas decor. Grumpy had to work, it was Black Friday and he now has his first job, in retail. Our holiday adventure began the day after Thanksgiving with my MIL, myself, Anakin and Goofy at Epcot.

There's got to be something sacreligous about turning down free admission to a park! Right?! I am very appreciative to our friend who took time from her busy day to meet us and get my MIL into the park. I was hoping she'd stay once she got her in the gate, but she and her husband had other plans. He told her he'd wait for her at the coffee stand. This is important, because Anakin sees the world only in black and white. When we exited the park, he insisted we had to go to the coffee stand. He thought they would be there waiting for us the whole time.

I made reservations for us at The Coral Reef Restaurant that very morning. I was surprised, but very happy there was an opening. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Our reservations were for shortly after 11AM. We met at the gate at 10:30am. Needless to say, our first stop was at The Coral Reef.

For over a year, I have been getting the same thing to eat, Potato and Vegetable Streudel. It doesn't look very pretty, especially without the sauce, but it is out of this world.

When I saw the menu, I noticed this was no longer on it. I didn't have a back up entree. I was going to have to try something...new. New to me, not necesarily new to the menu. I got the Seared Chicken. My MIL said she wasn't really hungry and didn't know what to get. I suggested we share my chicken so we can get dessert. She liked that idea. Neither of us are big eaters, and I'm on Weight Watchers.

This was my half of the meal.

My taste buds really liked this dish. The flavors of chicken, apple, and bacon made it savory. The broth kept it from getting dry. The spaetzle was cooked perfectly. I hope they keep this on the menu for a long time to come!

Dh ordered his usual dish, the Mahi Mahi.

Anakin ordered his usual dish too, the kid's grilled chicken

Anakin use to love the kid's dessert. It was a build your own sundae.

Months ago, the kid's dessert changed. It's now a brownie with icecream.

I asked our server what the Blood Orange Cheesecake was. She said it was cheesecake with a blood orange sauce on the side. That description did not do it justice.

The cheesecake had a very light texture to it, much like the Bavarian Cheesecake at the Biergarten. Instead of powdered sugar on top, it had an orange gel. Instead of graham cracker crust like a "normal" cheesecake, or a light cake like the Bavarian Cheesecake, it had an orange cake bottom. Biting into it was heavenly. I could have easily downed three of these, even though they were quite large. Maybe that was because everyone at the table tried a bite of the cake? That's ok, made it less points!

This is how it was handed to me by the server.

This is how it was suppose to look.

To make sure you could see each layer, I cut into it.

Everyone at the table agreed that it was a hit!​

Dh got the Chocolate Lava Cake to split with his mom. Last time we ate there before this, we were told this dessert is a gluten free option!

With bellies satisfied, we were off to see the Christmas decorations.

 

[lovethattink]

Joining in. We homeschool too. We have a trip planned for next Dec, and I am so excited. My dh and dd have no idea. They will be so surprised.

Welcome! Always great to meet another homeschool family.

Depending when in December, it can be very busy at Disney, but it's such a beautiful time.

Have you thought about your reveal?

 

[lovethattink]

My MIL had never been on Nemo, so we went there next. She loved the ride. It's one of the few newer Disney movies she has seen. Anakin was more impressed with the bone display. He asked the cm a zillion and one questions. He will never turn down the opportunity to ask a question if someone asks are there any questions.

The cm was impressed with his questions. As they moved on to the manatee exhibit, the cm told me he asked some very intelligent questions, that surprised him coming from a child so young. I told him about the Marine Biology book that we have been reading just for fun. It's written at a level that is beyond my knowledge and when Anakin asks me questions I don't have all the answers. He has been studying currents and underwater volcanoes.

Next up on our journey was Living with the Land. They had a cute fall display. I bet now they have a Christmas one?

Then Journey Into Imagination. When did they remove the pictures of the musical instruments from the floor blocks?

With Grandma

To get wet or not to get wet? Check out the lady's expression in the backround. It was kind of cool that day. Only his hat got wet, but I bet she thought he got more wet.

Out to World Showcase to see the Christmas Tree.

I always thought it was a real tree for some reason. But Anakin burst my bubble by announcing it was a fake tree. Imagine putting that one together.

Love the giant ornaments, especially the balls with the different country's flags.

La Hacienda decorations

The storyteller areas were set up, but neither the storytellers nor the candlelight processional had started yet.

For those of you who know my son, he loves Duffy the Bear. His bears have been a comfort for him through numerous doctor appointments and procedures. He can't quite differentiate between real and Disney magic. So meeting Duffy the Bear was very exciting to him.

All of us

 

[lovethattink]

Lunch, two attractions and a M&G were the extent of what our little guy could handle for the day. It was time to head out of the park. I pushed it a little by stopping for pictures on the way out. Leaving this soon wasn't that hard. We had the hope of going tomorrow. My in-laws plane left the next day. DH had to have them at the airport by 4:30am. A few hours after that we would be checking into Pop Century for a 3 night, 4 day vacation!

 

[jedijill]

I'm in! I love the Christmas decorations at Disney.

Jill in CO

 

[lovethattink]

I'm in! I love the Christmas decorations at Disney.

Jill in CO

Welcome!

I see you are a Star Wars fan too?

 

[jedijill]

Welcome!

I see you are a Star Wars fan too?

I am although probably not on the level of your family.

Jill in CO

 

[pooh'smate]

Welcome! Always great to meet another homeschool family.

Depending when in December, it can be very busy at Disney, but it's such a beautiful time.

Have you thought about your reveal?

We are planning on arriving the Sunday after Thanksgiving and staying for at least 10 days. I haven't thought of a reveal yet.

 

[kaoden39]

I love it so far. Your cheesecake looks so good! I think Anakin looks so cute with Duffy!

 

[lovethattink]

You forgot what?!​

Awake before the crack of dawn, 3:30am, I drag myself out of bed to go wake up the in-laws. They were already awake and sitting at the kitchen table waiting to go. You know the expression, quiet as a mouse? Well, they are quieter than a mouse.

Dh could not get out of bed. I tried a few times to wake him up. If he had gotten up right away, I probably would have fallen right back to sleep. But I started getting frustrated that he couldn't wake up. He eventually got up, threw on a hat and a jacket and headed out the door with his parents.

Since I couldn't fall back to sleep, I began to pack for our weekend. I didn't want to pack while my in-laws were here, I thought it would be rude. I was done packing by the time dh got back from the airport. He hopped back into bed and fell right back to sleep. I could not fall back to sleep. I was ready to head to POP.

By the time dh woke up, it was lunch time. I heated up left over turkey and fixings. While I got things ready dh packed the car. He was suprised at how light I packed.

We got in the car. Anakin sported the R2-D2 hat that my MIL taught me how to make while she was here.

I got to the on-line check in counter, and there was no line. The same cm who checked me in the last time was who checked me in this time. Our room was ready! I got our request, 50's and first floor.

Rather than trying to find the room with hands full of luggage, we went to the room first. Our room was 3139. It was a very quiet location, but just a hop, skip and jump away from the 60's.

View from the window

The room

While DH went to the car to get the luggage, ds and I went to the play area out front. He played with a little girl waiting for Disney's Magical Express bus.

We went back to the room. Dh asked where his one shirt was. I told him it was in the hanging clothes bag. He says, "hanging clothes bag?...the one that was on the bedroom door?" Me, "yes". Him, "uh oh."

So all of his shirts, my shirts and pants, and ds's shirts were at home. I said we could go to the Millenial Mall shopping. He didn't want to shop. Instead he drove back home. Anakin had school work to do, so we worked on some of that, then went out to the 3:00pm Dance Party at the pool.

He learned two line dances and the chicken dance.

Came back to the room and he finished that day's school work.

 

[lovethattink]

I am although probably not on the level of your family.

Jill in CO

A fan is a fan.

We are planning on arriving the Sunday after Thanksgiving and staying for at least 10 days. I haven't thought of a reveal yet.

The weekend of Thanksgiving was very busy this year. But the crowds thinned out as the days went on. Tuesday when World Showcase opened we had the story tellers all to ourself. Around 2pm, people started lining up in the stand-by line to hear Neil Patrick Harris narrate the processional.

I love it so far. Your cheesecake looks so good! I think Anakin looks so cute with Duffy!

Welcome! I could go for some right now! Thanks, I know you are a Duffy fan too.

 

[mommy2mrb]

I'm here Tink!

happy your MIL got to share a little bit of Disney with you all! lunch looks yummy! can't wait to see the decorations next year...thanks for sharing them, love the countries ornaments!

Anakin's hat turned out cute & he's got some dance moves!! nice view from your room! lucky you don't live too far away, bet Goofy won't forget to double check again

 

[blessedmom4]

I am here! Thanks for the heads up. I will be back to read!

 

[lovethattink]

I'm here Tink!

happy your MIL got to share a little bit of Disney with you all! lunch looks yummy! can't wait to see the decorations next year...thanks for sharing them, love the countries ornaments!

Anakin's hat turned out cute & he's got some dance moves!! nice view from your room! lucky you don't live too far away, bet Goofy won't forget to double check again

Welcome!

We're glad we got to share some time with her at Epcot. Last year we took her to Epcot. The year before to MK.

He loved dancing. Took him a little longer to catch on, but by the end of the song he had it!

I'm sure neither of us will forget luggage again!

I am here! Thanks for the heads up. I will be back to read!

Welcome!

 

[blessedmom4]

Good Morning to you. I DID come back and read all of the fun, great start! Hope you have a great day!

 

[lovethattink]

Good Morning to you. I DID come back and read all of the fun, great start! Hope you have a great day!

Good morning!

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Thanks, this morning is starting out very good!

I tried a couple times yesterday to sit down and crank out more updates, but it just didn't happen.

Tomorrow Anakin goes for more dental work then has play practice every night this week, leading up to the big performance on Friday.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Great start! I think that taking a relaxed approach is the way to go, especially if it is easier on your son. Much more fun that way. Looks like you got a nice room at Pop, it seems so private and quiet with that view! Looking forward to reading more

 

[blessedmom4]

Returning the favor Tink, here is the post to where Lisa is famous!

The link to the page it is posted on is here:
Lisa is FINALLY FAMOUS Post 3198 to 3204!