Mum and moi take Orlando: the never-ending trip report (aka we are nuts) NEW 5/20 x4!!!

December 25th (part 1): I like balls that taste good

Christmas day, people! Seems like forever ago.

Because it was.

We got to Epcot and traffic wasn't horrible. It wasn't great, but we ain't talkin' TTC here. Like, I don’t know what drugs people are on because everyone and their mother was trying to go to MK. Like do you people not see the traffic backed up for miles?

Turnstiles were better than 2013 when we went to Epcot for Christmas. The park itself wasn't too crowded either. Now, this is Epcot we are talking about and it can hold a ton of people, but still. I never felt like punching someone because PERSONAL SPACE PEOPLE so that is a shocker.

Flower welcomed us.


We headed into WS and we had a little time to kill before our ADR, so we went to go see Father Christmas in the UK.









After hearing Father Christmas ring his bell and count to god knows what number, we strolled on over to Italy where we checked in at Via Napoli!

But first can we talk about the amount of people trying to do walk ups because it was absolutely ridiculous. IT IS CHRISTMAS DAY YOU TURDS.

Anyways



We were seated towards the front of the restaurant and got down to business aka eat some food.

Of course I got the arancini because for one, balls are my favorite, and two, I like balls that taste good so there's that.


Mum got the calamari because that stuff is off da chainz.


For my entrée, I decided to try something new. Usually I just go for the pizza because it is out of this world, but hey, why not!

I settled on the lasagna verde. It is a white lasagna (as you can see) and it had a ton of spinach in it and a very thick white sauce. The flavors were great and I enjoyed it a lot, but dear god, I was about to have a food baby. I was SO full. This puppy ain't even that big but it was ridiculous how full I felt.


Mum got the paccheri alla creme con pollo (yeah I had to look that name up...) which is some pasta with chicken thing. I don't really know. She loves it though.


For dessert because WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS AND THEY TAKE ZEPPOLES OFF THE MENU ?!?!?!?!?! we had to get something else.

Mum got the tiramusu.


I got the gelato frizzante which is fantastic. It is very light and refreshing. Even though zeppoles always take the cake, the gelato frizzante is very yummy.


We paid, received our candlelight stickers, and then went on over to Germany.

I love these ornaments way too much.






Mum bought an ornament in there and some fragrance thing. It is like a little house and you light this thing and the smoke comes out of the chimney. It is pretty cute.

We were scheduled for the 5:00 candlelight so we got in the line and we were semi towards the front. We ended up with good seats so that's all that matters.



MERRY CHRISTMAS FOLKS!

December 25th (part 2): In which I am a photopass CM

We were on the left side of the theater in the third row I think.







Isabella Rossellini was our narrator and she was really good. I don't think you can have a bad narrator for CP. I mean, we have seen 4 narrators overall and they have all been fantastic.



















Shockingly, only one person passed out on this night so I think that is some kind of new record.

Like always, it was beautiful. Can’t get much better than CP on Christmas Day.

After it got over, we were figuring out what we wanted to do. I wanted to shoot Illuminations but Mum had to go to work the next day. But YOLO back to the car we went to get my tripod.

We still had time to kill before I needed to set up for Illuminations so we walked around Norway and Mexico.





Now, I had seen pictures of Illuminations with the Epcot tree in the foreground. I thought it looked amazing and that's where I wanted to shoot from. Long story short, that didn’t turn out as planned but we will get to that in a moment.

I set up my tripod a little ways back from the tree which was just a bad idea. Everyone and their mother thought I was photopass. By the third time I got asked if I could take a family's picture, I thought they were joking. I was wearing jeans, first of all, with a plaid shirt. Didn’t know that was the new photopass costume but ok.

Gotta love tree bokeh


So it was almost time for Illuminations to start and I was ready. I thought they would leave the tree lights on and I would be all set.

But we can’t have nice things.

They turn the lights off and I remembered back to the pictures I saw and the tree did look a little photoshopped in.

I was a little mad, but what are you gonna do about it?

I really like(d) the fireworks I got so I ended up photoshopping the tree in from a previous picture. What a struggle.







So there's that.
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December 31st: The ex mother in law is back

So this chapter (and the next one....) will be featuring one of my favorite people ever. If you read my second TR way back in the day (aka like 2012), you will remember my grandmother (aka Mum's ex mother in law)! She was down visiting during my winter break and we spent a little time at Disney. It wasn't that bad at disney since we didn’t go to the parks with her, so yeah.

We picked her up at the airport, dropped her stuff off at our house, and then drove on down to the Wilderness Lodge to end 2014.

Yay.

Anyways

We checked in a little early for our 7:45ish ADR.

dat bokeh tho.


We were seated and we didn’t even need a menu of course




Our sever was not that memorable because I don't remember one funny thing that happened. Refund, por favor.

We got our salad and it was delicious. Love that dressing and those nuts cause nuts are my fave


CORNBREAD CORNBREAD CORNBREAD


FOOD FOOD FOOD


After we finished dinner, grandmother used the bathroom, and I sprawled out on my house floor to take some pictures.





Once Grandmother returned, we looked around in the gift shop, and then strolled on down to the villas. I wanted to look at the Christmas decorations down there cause I had never seen them before??????





Selfie






My tripod was in the car and I didn’t feel like walking all the way to the parking lot to get it, but I wanted to do some long exposure. So what did I do?

I made a "tripod" with my phone and my autograph book. Basically, I just needed something to keep my camera at an angle and keep it still. AND IT WORKED SO BOOM I SHOULD BE AN INVENTOR OR SOMETHING IDK





I joined Grandmother and Mum by the one of 200 fireplaces for a little bit.

Eventually, we headed back to the car and can we talk about how we could hear MK's dance partay from there? Yeah it was that loud.

We drove to the TTC because I wanted to shoot Fantasy in the Sky.

I found a spot right against the railing with a dead on view of my kingdom. I was all set.

Until one of the boats that goes from MK to WL and the Fort parked right there in front of yours truly.

First of all, why?

Second of all, on all nights you do this it has to be this one?

And third of all, WHYYYYY WERE YOU THERE?!?!?

I tried to go father back but it was not happening. So many people were there and I had WAY too many heads in my shot.

So yeah. No firework pictures.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!

….....

Yeah, yeah, yeah, happy 2015, whatever.

I was pretty upset, but it is whatever now. There was a lot of smoke anyways.

We took the tram back to the car, and with a big frown on my face, we headed back home.

2015 was off to a fantastic start.​

January 1st (part 1): Why didn't I bring my nanny?

So we wanted to take Grandmother to the four seasons lol no I just needed to see the Christmas decorations. Let’s be real now.

We valeted of course since you have no choice and strolled on into my palace. Seriously, it is my palace and everyone knows it.

BUT BUT BUT






But can we talk about the hot chocolate they had out FOR FREEEE?! I COULDN'T DEAL. MY PALACE IS SO PERF.




Like, who does that?!?!? Oh wait. The Four Seasons. Duh.

They had a cute gingerbread display off the lobby.




Palace details




I took a few of these soft puppies home...


We stopped in Lickety Split for a minute to drool at the gelato (foreshadowing).


I looked at all of the desserts while I was at it and they lifted up the tops of the cupcake cases so I could take pictures. THANK YOU KIND PERSON.


Now, so we didn’t have to pay an outrageous amount for valet, we went to PB&G (Pool Bar and Grill....).


How cute can we get


We were seated right away next to a very interesting table. Let's just say you know you are the Four Seasons when you bring your nanny on vacation with you.

Anyways

Our waiter came over and he was very nice, duh. The peeps at my palace are my fave.

January 1st (part 2): Lawd, food heaven

We decided to split a few appetizers and then go all out on dessert because that's how we roll.

First app we got were the wings. It only came with four, which is fine, and they were really good anyways. The sauce on them was great.


And then we got the loaded waffle fries which had pulled pork on them and jalapeños and I was in HEAVEN. Lawd.


For dessert, we got two pieces of carrot cake. Now, I have never been a big fan of carrot cake and I usually won't eat it, but this was downright amazing. Best carrot cake I have ever had, hands down.


I know they changed some stuff on the menu since we went and they have a ton of stuff I want to try, but for some reason, they don't have the carrot cake on the menu anymore. I know for a fact they have it at Lickety Split since Grandmother bought two pieces of it. #poohsized

After we (aka Grandmother) paid, we walked around because you can't go to the four seasons without exploring and dying over the grounds!



We looked around in the Hideout for a few. I love it in there.








But really. My life in a picture




We went back to Lickety Split because I needed some gelato. DUH.

And more desserts.

And a lickety split t-shirt.

Anyways

I got egg nog and oh my god that stuff was delicious. And if you aren't sure what you want, they will let you sample them!


Till next time my love ♥

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January 6th: When will my reflection show who I am inside?

After we went dropped my grandmother off at the airport to head back to good ol' Massachusetts, we went to the Magic Kingdom because duh. Skip school to go to MK. What else is new.

We found a spot for FoF. It wasn't the most amazing spot but it would work.

The Philharmonic >>>




5ever obsessed with this costume


Hey bae




Love these guys. Their Newsies inspired costumes are amazing the end.




Blurry picture but this is me IRL


Dale!




After FoF ended, we had a FP to use for Peter Pan so we strolled on over to Fantasyland.

FINALLLLLLLY, I got a good picture in this attraction dear god.


I totally forgot we had made an ADR for the Plaza randomly because that is what we do. #yolodisney

When will my reflection show who I am inside?
(so deep)


This is like the worst review ever because we got our usuals aka a burger and the Plaza club. Like, no one should be surprised by this. They are always both pretty solid meals.




AND THEN ICE CREAMMMMM DUH.


After we paid and ate and stuff, we headed to the Haunted Mansion.

Heaven on Earth.


Actually never mind. THIS is heaven on earth.








We headed back to Main St because by this point, it was almost time for the first castle lighting, and we wanted to get out of the Hub cause OMG ANNA AND ELSA LIKE I CAN'T EVEN.

Gotta love the Christmas details/displays.








Last time seeing this beautiful thing for the season.

January 17th: But where are the Japanese tour groups

I needed AoA. It is seriously one of my "Disney drugs." #AoA5everandalways



Even though my Landscape of Flavors staple is the world famous chicken burger, I decided to go for the turkey sandwich on a multi-grain croissant with their amazing chips. I thought this was good. It is definitely a good option for QS, as is everything at LoF. The only thing I didn't like about it was the sauce on it and I don’t remember what it was. I just didn’t like it, so take my word for it. I looked on allears to see what is was but this is nowhere to be seen on there. Oh well.


Mum got some pasta.
*insert mental picture of pasta here*

We walked around outside in the Nemo section after we chowed down.





Next stop: ANIMAL KINGDOM!

We looked around in the Oasis. Gotta say hi to the animals everyone walks past, ya know?


DETAILS GAHHH


We went on the Pangani Trek and looked at the meerkats. They were being fed and it was so cute.






Y u so cute


ZEBRA SPOTTING


Next stop was Asia cause EE duhhhh

My love ♥




This park kills me




One of my favorite views ever




So when I had looked at MDE earlier in the day, there had been no FPs left for Kilimanjaro. Well let's just say Mum was not happy cause she "wanted to see her animals." There was only a 20 minute wait at the time in the day so why not!

Why we got in line at the time with the giant tour group, I don't know.

If you follow me on Twitter (@lifedis if you don't!), you may remember the (at least) 50 tweets I had about this obnoxious foreign tour group.

The real question is why we can't have Japanese tour groups that obsess over Duffy and don't chant, but we can't have nice things.

We all know what a Brazilian tour group is. I don't think I need to go into detail about the nightmare they are.

So I don't know how we did it, but we managed to cut the group of like 100 (including the girl with the giant pink octopus hat) whackos and the flag holder.

I should have been thrilled, but then we got on our truck with another tour group.

I sat there and rolled my eyes the whole time, because ya know, let's not say anything when two girls are standing up taking selfies, but that's none of my business......

Anyways





And then my day got even better because we went to DTD!!!!!!!1!!! LIKE YAYYYYY

But I got to say hi to my tsum tsums sooooo




We got some dinner at Splitsville and jammed out to some live music to end the night.


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