It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – an offsite, non-Disney, Christmas TR

Oh that's terrible about the money. I don't doubt it for a second though. I learned the hard way to not leave expensive sunglasses on the top of my luggage . They walked away too. What scares me about your brothers scenario is it's not like he left it in checked luggage, he pretty much stayed with it as long as he was allowed and it should have only been out of sight for a second. What else is someone supposed to do to? Sigh. That will leave a sour taste in his mouth when he thinks of that trip I am sure.

On to the happier portion of your review, those fries at Red Robin look like my perfect french fry!! I have added Red Robin to the list for May based on those pictures. I have some American friends who like it a lot and mention it often as well.

Funny about the second fun spot being so full when the other was dead. Clearly more people in Kissimmee that day! Good call by the bo-bina family to hit the other one.

And Yay for Pirates cove. We all went to one in Lake Placid last time the extended family was there. They are cute. I've been tempted by the one on IDrive a few times as we drove past but haven't stopped yet.

I'm mopey that your trip report is coming to an end but looking forward to jump into the pre tip planning with you for May!

That just reminded me of a programme on Miami airport where it was common for other passengers to steal items coming through the security scanners while the owners were still coming through from the other side. Most of it was caught on security cameras so it's a shame they couldn't do anything more to help your brother.

Seaworld looked fantastic we went ealy December before DD was school age and it was lovely with all the xmas decorations.

You had a very active boxing day. Mine was the more traditional lounge around the house and eat leftovers.

ArwenMarie said:

Bummer on the cash. I think that's pretty common unfortunately, or more common than it should be (TSA stealing stuff). That's a lot of money to lose though and just being stolen from, ugh.

Great day though, you guys are still going and making the most of it!

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I felt so awful for him....especially since it was his first trip to Florida. He hasn't made a big deal of it (he's a pretty low-key guy, and not generally one to complain), but I'm certain its affected his overall opinion of his vacation.

It's certainly a good reminder to the rest of us, though, to be super careful when travelling with large amounts of cash .

pigletto said:

Oh that's terrible about the money. I don't doubt it for a second though. I learned the hard way to not leave expensive sunglasses on the top of my luggage . They walked away too. What scares me about your brothers scenario is it's not like he left it in checked luggage, he pretty much stayed with it as long as he was allowed and it should have only been out of sight for a second. What else is someone supposed to do to? Sigh. That will leave a sour taste in his mouth when he thinks of that trip I am sure.

On to the happier portion of your review, those fries at Red Robin look like my perfect french fry!! I have added Red Robin to the list for May based on those pictures. I have some American friends who like it a lot and mention it often as well.

Funny about the second fun spot being so full when the other was dead. Clearly more people in Kissimmee that day! Good call by the bo-bina family to hit the other one.

And Yay for Pirates cove. We all went to one in Lake Placid last time the extended family was there. They are cute. I've been tempted by the one on IDrive a few times as we drove past but haven't stopped yet.

I'm mopey that your trip report is coming to an end but looking forward to jump into the pre tip planning with you for May!

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As much as Red Robin was certainly pricer than places like Steak & Shake, we didn't find it to be crazy unreasonable. Our entrees were all around the $10 mark, which is pretty decent when the fries are bottomless and the burgers were quite large. Definitely good value and much, much better quality than your average burger joint! Be sure to get those onion rings.....yummmmmmm!

I'm sad that this report is drawing to a close, too. I think I'll probably start a PTR for April/May as soon as I wrap this one up completely. There's so much planning going on lately!! I just bought our October flights yesterday (well, one half of them.....we could only buy the way there until Steve confirms how many holidays he can take at one time, which he hopes to have verified by Wednesday or so this week. We're trying to make this one a two-week vacation on our shoestring budget....dang that Canadian dollar!! ). Hopefully I'll have our October flights home purchased by the end of this week, at the latest. We're trying to put the finishing touches on the April/May itinerary too, since its sneaking up quick. Only 75 days to go!!!

Mrs Doubtfire said:

That just reminded me of a programme on Miami airport where it was common for other passengers to steal items coming through the security scanners while the owners were still coming through from the other side. Most of it was caught on security cameras so it's a shame they couldn't do anything more to help your brother.

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That's what he was hoping, too....but no luck. They didn't even seem to want to try . I guess they probably become immune to the complaints....they probably get a ridiculous amount of people claiming similar losses (justified or not).

dixonsontour said:

Seaworld looked fantastic we went ealy December before DD was school age and it was lovely with all the xmas decorations.

You had a very active boxing day. Mine was the more traditional lounge around the house and eat leftovers.

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SeaWorld at Christmas is just spectacular....simply my favourite place to spend the holidays!

I must drop over to the Uni board and catch up on your report. I know I am a bit behind on your updates!!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:

We're trying to put the finishing touches on the April/May itinerary too, since its sneaking up quick. Only 75 days to go!!!

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I would have reported it to the police. The TSA screening area is heavily recorded on security camera. They could have likely caught on video the thief. Not sure if they could have tracked him down, but if it was internal by the TSA... Terrible way to end a vacation!

When are you going in May,?

Callie said:

I would have reported it to the police. The TSA screening area is heavily recorded on security camera. They could have likely caught on video the thief. Not sure if they could have tracked him down, but if it was internal by the TSA... Terrible way to end a vacation!

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I wish I had known more about how security works at the airport....I would have been able to advise him so much better.

Callie said:

When are you going in May,?

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Our spring dates are April 24th to May 3rd. We're squeezing one last Universal trip in before our AP's expire on May 1st, and getting some extra mileage from our Seaworld and Aquatica AP's .

Yet another DISer coming out of lurkdom here...!

Gina, chiming in with the masses to say how great your trip reports are! Very well-written with the perfect mix of humor and honesty, and lots of excellent tips for those planning trips. You are great to respond to everyone's comments and provide thoughtful feedback. The banter between other posters is great fun and I've really enjoyed reading along. Thank you for all the time and energy you put into creating these!

Also wanted to mention that Groupon Orlando currently has a deal on Fun Spot America! Regular price of $51.95 marked down to $38 for all-day admission plus entry to Gator Spot. Hope some of you who were looking for this can grab it!

Going back a bit, I love the idea of a Niagara Dismeet this summer! Seriously, can someone get the ball rolling on planning this? I probably am not the best since I do not know the area, but would be happy to help if I could. We live in upstate NY and have been meaning to get our girls to Niagara Falls for years. This could be the summer we actually do it!

Also, if there are any plans for Dismeet during Gina's April trip, please let me know as it would be fun to meet up even briefly. I will be there April 24th through 29th. We're staying at the Poly DVC and I'm taking my soon-to-be-16-year-old as a birthday celebration and we'll be traveling without her sisters. I do feel a tad guilty about this and also a little worried I'm setting precedent that they will each get to go for their Sweet 16's but am ignoring that for now in favor of relishing the anticipation of an upcoming trip.

I'll be watching for an April pre-TR!

KSL said:

Yet another DISer coming out of lurkdom here...!

Gina, chiming in with the masses to say how great your trip reports are! Very well-written with the perfect mix of humor and honesty, and lots of excellent tips for those planning trips. You are great to respond to everyone's comments and provide thoughtful feedback. The banter between other posters is great fun and I've really enjoyed reading along. Thank you for all the time and energy you put into creating these!

Also wanted to mention that Groupon Orlando currently has a deal on Fun Spot America! Regular price of $51.95 marked down to $38 for all-day admission plus entry to Gator Spot. Hope some of you who were looking for this can grab it!

Going back a bit, I love the idea of a Niagara Dismeet this summer! Seriously, can someone get the ball rolling on planning this? I probably am not the best since I do not know the area, but would be happy to help if I could. We live in upstate NY and have been meaning to get our girls to Niagara Falls for years. This could be the summer we actually do it!

Also, if there are any plans for Dismeet during Gina's April trip, please let me know as it would be fun to meet up even briefly. I will be there April 24th through 29th. We're staying at the Poly DVC and I'm taking my soon-to-be-16-year-old as a birthday celebration and we'll be traveling without her sisters. I do feel a tad guilty about this and also a little worried I'm setting precedent that they will each get to go for their Sweet 16's but am ignoring that for now in favor of relishing the anticipation of an upcoming trip.

I'll be watching for an April pre-TR!

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KSL! So glad to have you along!

I agree that we should soon try and set a potential date for a Dismeet in the summer. I know I have to find out how many holidays Steve has left after our April and October trips are factored in before I can commit to anything firm. I wonder what is best for most folks? Late June? Or July/August? This is definitely a good summer for American visitors, as you'll be visiting Canada at one significant discount. A low Canadian dollar is good new for US guests!!

I am totally up for a Dismeet in April . I hope to start a PTR soon....maybe even later this week....after I finalize a few things on my tentative itinerary. Were you thinking of meeting up during the day, or for drinks somewhere in the evening? I am sure could lure Steve to the Poly if he knows there's a Dole Whip in it for him .

I will be sure to post the link to the PTR here once it gets started!

All good things come to an end….and usually it happens much sooner than you want them to.


After we wrapped up our golf game, we still had another 45 minutes or so before we had to make our way to the airport. Since we already had passes to Fun Spot that we could use (if we wanted), I asked the attendants at the Pirates Cove store if we could leave our vehicle where it was currently sitting in their lot while we blew what little time we had left a Fun Spot. They knew we had paid for our round of golf, and immediately assured us that it was no problem at all. So, as the sky grew more cloudy with each passing minute, we strolled across the street.





We really didn’t do much here…..the reality of “it’s over” started to hit us all, I think, and we just wanted nothing more than to stroll around and soak up the atmosphere.


Our vacation was ending, but we had enjoyed an incredible week together. Christmas had passed, but we had made so many happy memories and had such a ton of fun. By later that night, we’d be back to our cold Canadian winter climate, but we had enjoyed more warmth, sunshine and pleasant weather over the past seven days than we could have ever hoped we would be blessed with on a winter trip. It was all a little bittersweet .





They had many of the same rides at the Kissimmee location as we had seen earlier in the day on I-Drive, but there were a few differences as well. One of the most unique features of the Kissimmee park was a mechanical bull. I believe this was an extra cost over and above the all-day wristbands, and I know that participants had to sign a waiver before riding. Neither of my guys felt any burning desire to give it a try (Steve’s first comment was “Well, isn’t that just a vacation ruiner right there! I would throw my back out in the first 15 seconds!) but we did enjoy watching other people give it a whirl…..except for the family who thought it was okay to let a little fellow (who was all of six years old) give it a go. As soon as that bull started bucking, he was in tears . My heart broke for the little guy as his eyes widened in panic as the speed and intensity increased.





We checked out the arcade and Jake tried his hand at the three point hoops game, but eventually it was time to hit the washrooms and return to the Equinox. Knowing we would have traffic to the airport to contend with, it was time to leave.


Following the GPS directions to the airport via the I4, we soon found ourselves in a traffic snarl where we were barely moving and we started to fear that continuing on this route would potentially make us late for our flight…..crowds were supposed to be substantial at MCO and we knew we’d need more time than the customary 90-minute-before-your-flight arrival. The backlog continued as far as the eye could see, so we made the split decision to get off the highway at the next exit and go the roundabout way to the airport, utilizing the wonderful and amazing Daryl Carter Parkway that had been a lifesaver so many times on this trip. A genius move, it was clear sailing the remainder of the way. We dropped off the rental to Budget, collected our luggage from the trunk, and checked our baggage at the Jetblue counter. We considered grabbing some dinner in the food court before security (which is our normal custom) but something seemed to tell us that perhaps dinner should wait. What a good decision that was…..





Oh. My. Gosh . Thousands of people in a whirlwind of complete and utter chaos. TSA workers were herding travellers into lines and trying desperately to clear a walking path, but despite their best efforts it was just a mess. Our hearts broke for the families with small children, all of whom were restless and tired and growing more impatient during the endless wait. Several folks were visibly distraught as they feared they may not make it to their gate in time for boarding. We thought of the traffic jam on the I4, and wondered how many folks would arrive late to begin with, only to be hit by yet another delay at security. We reminisced about our favourite trip moments as we inched our way closer to the TSA staff, and happily remarked that we really did okay to not to be plagued by crowds or traffic until this final afternoon and early evening. After what seemed like forever, we had our passports scanned and our boarding passes stamped, then it was round two through the endless lines to the baggage and people scanners. We heaved a sigh of relief as we put our shoes and belts back on and collected our carry-ons and personal items from the conveyor belt.


We caught the tram to the other terminal and as we zipped down the track, we noticed it was raining. That made me a little sad, but was strangely appropriate. It was as if Orlando was having the little cry that I wanted to indulge in right at that moment .


Once we were settled in at our gate, Steve and Jake went in search of dinner. We would be served unlimited snacks on the plane, but we weren’t scheduled to land until nearly 11 pm and we knew we didn’t want to be searching for any major food items at that hour. Pickings were reasonably slim in that section of the airport, so our last meal in Orlando was from Burger King : 3 combos (2 chicken and one Whopper) came to $27.34 with tax. Nothing was photo-worthy, so the camera stayed put. We all ate our burgers but tossed the bulk of our fries…..not that they weren’t good, we just weren’t feelin’ it.


We had the awesome opportunity for another Dismeet at our gate, as @greenclan67 and her family happened to be on the same flight back to Buffalo as we were . It was great to finally put a face to a name and online personality, and we had a wonderful time swapping stories about our respective Christmas vacations. We got to see the infamous man-o-war sting up close and in person , and Jake renewed his personal vow to never step foot in the ocean ever again (now he didn't just have sharks to fear, he also had jellyfish to worry about!!). The conversation was entertaining and a great mood lifter, and before we knew it, it was time to board.


It was a dark, smooth, quiet flight home. Jetblue gave everyone free movies, which was a nice gesture. We were all sleepy as we heard the announcement that the pilots were preparing for our final descent. It was POURING rain as we landed.


Collecting our luggage was quick and painless (one of the reasons I love, love, LOVE flying from tiny airports like Buffalo and Syracuse ) and we shared the shuttle back to the hotel with the greenclan67 family. Arriving back at the hotel, I stopped at the front desk to wrap up a loose end or two (they had failed to process the refund to my credit card, as promised at check out, following our disastrous pot-smoking park-and-fly stay a week prior) while Jake and Steve collected the Journey from the secure lot and loaded up our luggage. We purchased beverages and bagels at Tim Hortons next to the hotel, and made the short drive back to Niagara Falls. It was after midnight by this point, so the Duty Free was closed (boo…..no cheap alcohol for us ) but the border crossing was virtually deserted . A few quick questions and we were on our way to the Country Inn & Suites.





We had stayed at this property before (on multiple occasions) so we knew exactly what to expect. It has always been spotlessly clean and reasonably quite, despite being very close to the Rainbow Bridge and the Clifton Hill tourist district. We were exhausted as we walked into the foyer, and I’m sure it showed. The front desk attendant was marvellous at getting us into our room as quickly as possible, and we literally dropped everything and went straight to bed . The hotel was mercifully silent and we slept like rocks.





In the morning, we roused ourselves as early as we could muster, showered, and enjoyed a great hot breakfast from the included buffet which was offered on the main level of the hotel. We were feeling reflective and anti-social so we brought trays back to our room and enjoyed our morning meal in the privacy of our one bedroom suite. After checking out, we picked up coffees through the nearest Tim Hortons drive thru (okay, so maybe there was ONE good thing about being home!) and headed to Steve’s cousin’s home in Scarborough where a Christmas feast and a selection of wonderful family members were anxiously waiting to welcome us home and celebrate the festive season. By late afternoon, with doggie bags full of leftovers in tow (which was much appreciated, as our fridge at home was completely empty!!), we completed the final leg of our journey. We were home by early evening……and the countdown to the next trip was officially declared underway.





We’re not quite done yet…..the final total of all this Christmas fun is next! (I’m not sure I want to know!! )

Wow that security line. We fly out of Newark, which you would think would be horrendous in terms of security lines. But it's not that bad. MCO is way way way way worse. I also get claustrophobic in that line, the way you can't see where you are headed. Ugh. There are a lot of nice things about MCO (the car rental set up is awesome) but security is not one of them.

I guess we got very lucky. Not as big a line when we went to Christmas in Orlando and even in San Diego. I hope this luck continues this Christmas trip.

Never heard of Tim Horton's until we were in NF. It was in the casino across the street from the Sheraton we stayed at, and well, since breakfast was not included with our stay, we quickly made a trip to the casino every morning. It's one of the few places that my DD will drink the hot chocolate.

Great ending to a great trip. So funny to be on the same plane as another Diser. It always passes the time better when you get to talk to others.

Oh well, it's snowing now, so I am bundling up, as it's just about freezing in temperature too..

Carry on....

ArwenMarie said:

Wow that security line. We fly out of Newark, which you would think would be horrendous in terms of security lines. But it's not that bad. MCO is way way way way worse. I also get claustrophobic in that line, the way you can't see where you are headed. Ugh. There are a lot of nice things about MCO (the car rental set up is awesome) but security is not one of them.

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Except for the TSA screeners. I have hit three different screeners at MCO who were very pleasant, one who was a complete hoot; had the whole line in stitches. And I bet that is one of the best ways to spot the bad guys - special screening for the guy who won't crack a smile...

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:

Sure enough, I was right on the mark. While they had arrived back in Buffalo from Tampa safe and sound (and had made their way across the border and were now enroute to home), it wasn’t without issues. Apparently they had a significant sum of unspent US cash in his fiance’s purse, which made its way through the security scanner and was picked up on the other side. Their actual security line, however, was not immediately adjacent to the scanner (which baffled me….but I’ve never flown from Tampa so perhaps their set-up is different than the ones we have experienced in the past) so they couldn’t actually monitor or see the purse as it was spit out on the other side of the TSA scanning belt. When they passed through security and went to collect their carry-ons and personal belongings, the purse was open and the envelope of money was gone (more than $600). He spoke with a TSA staff member at the airport, who basically told him it sucks to be you. He wanted to know if I thought there was any use of him reporting it to the police, and I told him no….he was very discouraged, but I honestly felt it was going to be a waste of his time. How could he prove he had any specific amount of cash with him?

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This makes me angry for your brother and his fiance. How did someone know there was money in the purse? Why didn't someone see someone take an envelope out of a purse and then put the purse back? I call BS and my spidey sense says the TSA agents in Tampa are thieves. One saw the envelope of money in her purse on the scanner and another lifted it while she was personally scanned and the last one discouraged calling the police. There are video cameras EVERYWHERE in security. EVERYWHERE. The thief would have been certainly been caught on tape. If I lost $600 in cash between putting a bag on a TSA scanner and picking it up at the other end you bet your butt I would have called the police even if it meant I would have missed my flight.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:

Which reminds me.....we haven't checked our Lotto 649 numbers from last night!

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So did you check that ticket yet? I had all the numbers on my Lotto Max....unfortunately on two different tickets.

Bummer on your brothers stolen money. He should have made more of a fuss over it. Things get stolen all the time and they can look at the security video and then find the thief at the gates. Stealing or being in possession of stolen good is a serious thing in the state of FL. You can go to jail for just finding something and not turning it in.

I thought we had a crazy long line at security in Dec. but you are the winner for sure. I think we waited in line for about 30 minutes total. Just a little tip....always arrive at MCO no less than 2 hours before your flight. 90 minutes is not a good idea at that airport.

robinb said:

This makes me angry for your brother and his fiance. How did someone know there was money in the purse? Why didn't someone see someone take an envelope out of a purse and then put the purse back? I call BS and my spidey sense says the TSA agents in Tampa are thieves. One saw the envelope of money in her purse on the scanner and another lifted it while she was personally scanned and the last one discouraged calling the police. There are video cameras EVERYWHERE in security. EVERYWHERE. The thief would have been certainly been caught on tape. If I lost $600 in cash between putting a bag on a TSA scanner and picking it up at the other end you bet your butt I would have called the police even if it meant I would have missed my flight.

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That makes a whole lot of sense. You could be right on with that theory.

It was great to finally meet Gina and family. I wasn't sure we were going to make the flight as we approached that line. Thankfully we did, with a little time to spare, and chat.
I am sorry I gave Jake the heebie jeepies for the ocean, personally I share that with him after my man o war sting. 6 weeks later and I still have a scar! Tells a better story than any tat
Hope to be able too meet up again. Great trip report. 30 days til deperature day for us, looking forward to it, but dreading the coming home blahs afterwards!!

Another great trip report! Have you ever thought about a career as a writer? Your writing style is incredible, quite a gift. Can't wait for the next trip, I get nervous when you don't have a trip planned, that's how much I love your reports!

Oohhh Noooooooo, can't believe it's (nearly) over, I have so enjoyed your Christmas report. It is always special to us as we went for our Honeymoon for Christmas and have been a few times since at that time of year.

So the final total is next ( I try not to think of that, bite size chunks are better!)