1/11/25-1/25/25: 2 weeks, 5 people, a million “it’s cold”s: our freezing but amazing trip: COMPLETED

[disneydreamer1980]

Isn't it funny, a two week , a bunch of park days and still you feel sad when you realize it's the last of something?

Sorry you had such awful weather. The last few trips, we have done two week trips and sure you expect to get a couple of bad weather days, but not 60% of the trip.

Yeah, doesn’t matter how long you stay it’s always sad to leave. And boy, the weather was awful. I kept saying the whole trip, I can handle cold and I can handle rain, but cold rain really sucks lol, and that’s what we had much of our last week. Oh well, I’ll take a cold, wet day at Disney over a beautiful, sunny day at home any day. I was telling my family before the trip how great the weather is in January lol. In 2022 we went in May and it was SO hot. I told them before that trip how nice it would be too, lol. Clearly I need to read up on Orlando weather. We typically do late November/early December but we decided to try January this year. And I’m glad to see someone else takes two week trips, most people think we’re crazy for going for so long but I love the long trips, you don’t have to rush around and you can get so much done. Heck, I’d stay longer if we could!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

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Headed into World Showcase.



We passed the FARTS mural painting thing, but it had a really long line and we didn’t want to wait in a long line just to paint so we slipped it. Looked cool though!



Next we stopped at Pop Eats.




We all three got Grilled cheese with soup and DH hot his sandwich with the pimento, fried green tomato and bacon. I asked if I could have the same without the pimento cheese and they said no, the sandwiches are put together elsewhere and just cooked there. I don’t like pimento cheese but the rest of that sandwich looked really good.



DH insisted we keep the little paint cans the soup came in lol.

As we were walking, we came across the nitrous cake pops. I make cake pops as a part time job/business, so I wanted to check this one out. It was really cute but the nitrous effect wasn’t that great. The CM barely had it in the nitrous so it didn’t smoke at all, although I’ve seen other ones smoking, so I guess that was just ours. It was cute and tasty though!




If I remember correctly it was strawberry flavored. It was good.

At this point it started raining harder, so we ducked into the Canada movie.






We went past the waterfall and into the building. We haven’t done this show in years.



We actually enjoyed the show, it’s one of those 360 degrees movies that you stand through. It’s beautiful


DH watching the movie

It can make you a bit dizzy though turning your head to look at everything, so I just kind of look at one section. If it weren’t raining we probably wouldn’t have done this show, but I’m glad we did. It’s the only WS country movie we did this trip. Last year we did Chinas movie, so we didn’t do it this time. I wanted to do Frances but we never got to it. Maybe next trip!


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[disneydreamer1980]

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After Canada, we got some hot chocolate and headed to Uk.



Gabe wanted to go through the hedge maze but it was too wet.




interesting butterfly box. On my phone I can zoom in and read everything in my pictures but when I post them I can’t because they get blurry.



After Gabe got his fill of the gardens, we moved on.




We wandered the showcase and came across some interesting signs along the way



We just walked around, taking everything in.



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As we continued around the showcase, we stopped and spent a good bit of time exploring Japan. This area is absolutely beautiful.







I’ve been all over the world- all over western Europe, the Americas, the South Pacific, etc. but the one place I’ve always wanted to go to, my bucket list country, is Japan. I’ve always been so interested in the culture and the aesthetics of that country. It’s really cool to wander around Japan in Epcot and get a small dose of Japan. It’s so beautiful.





It’s my favorite country at Epcot I just love it.

After spending a decent chunk of time pretending we were in Japan, we moved on, headed towards something we had t yet done on this trip….The American Experience.



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[disneydreamer1980]

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We headed towards America.



Near the building there was one of those FARTS paintings you can get a picture taken in. The guys reenacted the original painting.



They tried to talk me into doing it too but they knew I’d say no. There’s literally no pictures of me anywhere, I just hate being in them. My family always jokes if I went missing or something the poster would have to have a stick figure on it because there’s no pictures of me to put on it lol.

After posing in the painting we went inside, checking out the museum areas while we waited for the show. They have some really cool Native American things in there


Gabe likes to listen to the Native stories these things tell.

After about a 15 minute wait we were let into the theater.



This is always a classic. Seen it a million times but it’s awesome each time. We never got around to doing Hall of presidents this trip, because it was only open at the start of the trip before they closed it to add Trump again, so I was insistent that we see this show. I didn’t want to miss both. So we waited, we saw it, and it was great as it always is.

After the show it was back to the WS.



We walked through Italy, stopping in the shops but not buying anything.

We kept walking, to Germany. We stopped a bit to check out the train village, because we hadn’t seen it yet this trip and I like the little festival banners they put in the town.




After checking out the cute village we headed to Sommerhaus to get some more of my favorite snack.



We ordered some amazing pretzel bread pudding and some drinks and hung out in the little area near the Sommerhaus (below) so we could stay dry while we ate our snack.



After eating those delicious pretzel bread puddings, we continued around the Showcase. We had a date with Olaf and the Royal sisters next!



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[disneydreamer1980]

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Next up was Norway.



We headed to Frozen.



Cute ride but it’s no Maelstrom.

Mexico was next. Earlier in the trip, I got this corn custard from Pecos Bills that was really good so when I saw a FARTS booth that had something similar, I had to get it.



It was really good, but the caramel popcorn was super stale.

As we were leaving the WS, we came across another painting. The guys pretended they were dancing, lol.



Space ship Earth had been down all day. I kept checking the app, because I wanted to get in one more ride before the end of the trip. It was still down, so we decided to head towards club cool.

The girls never like to go there because they don’t like any of the drinks, so since they weren’t here, we went.






The “Joy” from Korea is actually pretty good. It’s the only one I like. DH didn’t like any and Gabe liked a few.

They’re too smart to fall for Beverly lol. They’ve had it before. Gosh it’s awful!



After Club Cool we were trying to decide what to do before our GotG time was up. We saw Soarin was open so we headed there and used our LL from before when we had to get off without riding. This time we rode without incident.

By now it was time for the guys GotG ride.

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[disneydreamer1980]

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We headed towards GotG



We found a Moana painting thing on the way



They pretended to hula lol

Then it was on to GotG, where the guys rode while I sat out and froze to death lol. This ride takes forever! I waited in the shop after a while.



After their ride I noticed Spaceship Earth was finally back up! So we headed there, enjoying the Epcot scenery on the way.






We finally made it on the ride. Our last Epcot ride of the trip.


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When we were just about to get out, the ride stopped for a bit, and we were stuck in our car right by the exit.



Finally we were freed and we headed for the exit. When we walked up to the bus stop there was already a long line there.

Finally a bus pulled up and we all got on. Lots of people were putting bags, umbrellas and strollers on open seats near them, greatly reducing the bus’ seating capacity. We were luckily able to get a seat.



The bus stopped at FW first, then on to WL. We were on the elevator heading up to our room at 8:50.



We decided to mobile order food from Roaring Fork. So we ordered on the app, and headed into the main building.




I loved checking out all the little details. I thought this lamp was cool.



We continued across the lobby, over to the ramp that leads towards Roaring Fork.



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While we were waiting for our food we bought a bear claw and another bacon cinnamon roll for breakfast the next morning.



Finally our food was ready. They forgot DHs fries, so we told them and then had to wait for them. When they were ready, DH grabbed all the food.



We went back across the lobby, heading towards our building.


Beautiful lobby

We got up to our room and ate.

Emma and I got soup and grilled cheese. It was very good.

You have to buy the soup separately, it doesn’t come with the sandwich. The soup comes with a biscuit, which is pretty good.



DH got a burger and fries and Gabe got chicken tenders. We all ate, and then we started to straighten up, get things together and pack up a bit. This was our last normal night in Disney, because the next night was our last night there.

Stay tuned for our last (two) park day!

 

[jo-jo]

Yeah, doesn’t matter how long you stay it’s always sad to leave. And boy, the weather was awful. I kept saying the whole trip, I can handle cold and I can handle rain, but cold rain really sucks lol, and that’s what we had much of our last week. Oh well, I’ll take a cold, wet day at Disney over a beautiful, sunny day at home any day. I was telling my family before the trip how great the weather is in January lol. In 2022 we went in May and it was SO hot. I told them before that trip how nice it would be too, lol. Clearly I need to read up on Orlando weather. We typically do late November/early December but we decided to try January this year. And I’m glad to see someone else takes two week trips, most people think we’re crazy for going for so long but I love the long trips, you don’t have to rush around and you can get so much done. Heck, I’d stay longer if we could!

We had taken two week trips because DH needs rest days. Not that we sat in room all day, but left room to see Christmas decorations at another resort or stay in room all day but go into Epcot for Christmas processional.

Your experience with the dessert party is the same with buying party tickets three months in advance. I'd be soooooo afraid, spend hundreds of dollars for pouring rain, ride shut down and no parade. Dessert parties really should do a go box for cases like your's. Even if you each took 10 items (I understand they are like mini servings), Disney is still coming out ahead.

Edit to add.....your comment about staying longer.....Some years ago, a Dvc owner mentioned having X amount of points. They go to disney for a long time, maybe 6 weeks or so, during winter. Spent one week in a studio, eat out more, do parks more. One week 1 bedroom, cook in, do laundry, enjoy resort and repeat. Don't know if they did this, but I'd be making a few meals that reheat well to eat while staying in the studio stay. They would switch resorts so different experiences. I would LOVE this, but alas, only about 2 thousand points short. LOL

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We had taken two week trips because DH needs rest days. Not that we sat in room all day, but left room to see Christmas decorations at another resort or stay in room all day but go into Epcot for Christmas processional.

Your experience with the dessert party is the same with buying party tickets three months in advance. I'd be soooooo afraid, spend hundreds of dollars for pouring rain, ride shut down and no parade. Dessert parties really should do a go box for cases like your's. Even if you each took 10 items (I understand they are like mini servings), Disney is still coming out ahead.

Edit to add.....your comment about staying longer.....Some years ago, a Dvc owner mentioned having X amount of points. They go to disney for a long time, maybe 6 weeks or so, during winter. Spent one week in a studio, eat out more, do parks more. One week 1 bedroom, cook in, do laundry, enjoy resort and repeat. Don't know if they did this, but I'd be making a few meals that reheat well to eat while staying in the studio stay. They would switch resorts so different experiences. I would LOVE this, but alas, only about 2 thousand points short. LOL

I would love to do that one day, stay for several weeks! But yeah, the points needed for that would be insane lol. Imagine the dues! DH keeps saying we should move to Florida and we can “go to Disney all the time” but for some reason that would take away some of the appeal for me. I don’t know why, maybe because it’s not a real break I guess, but going for a few weeks at a time would be awesome.

 

[mommyk8]

But you're from the U.S.? I have heard a few people get them. I was too chicken to try. We used undercover tourist cause you can return tickets with a 5 or 10% restocking fee. We did the planning with our last trip, that cancelling could happen at any time due to health issues. Our previous two trips has some issues. One was cancelled two day prior and one was oked a week ahead.

You have to make sure you change to the Ireland or UK in the upper right corner and pay with a credit card that has no exchange fee. In used Ireland because it was less dollars to euros then dollars to pounds. Then you just attach them to MDE

 

[jo-jo]

I would love to do that one day, stay for several weeks! But yeah, the points needed for that would be insane lol. Imagine the dues! DH keeps saying we should move to Florida and we can “go to Disney all the time” but for some reason that would take away some of the appeal for me. I don’t know why, maybe because it’s not a real break I guess, but going for a few weeks at a time would be awesome.

One of my " what would you if you won the lottery" dreams. I'd go for months . Two weeks here and there. Why is it much nicer to read a book on the balcony at AKL than your own living room?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

One of my " what would you if you won the lottery" dreams. I'd go for months . Two weeks here and there. Why is it much nicer to read a book on the balcony at AKL than your own living room?

Yes, yes, yes! I always say this too, about the lottery. And I could sit on the balcony of whatever resort we’re at for hours. Especially AKL. I really wanted to stay there this trip but we wanted a studio this trip. I love AKL though.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

You have to make sure you change to the Ireland or UK in the upper right corner and pay with a credit card that has no exchange fee. In used Ireland because it was less dollars to euros then dollars to pounds. Then you just attach them to MDE

Yes, it was super easy. They also often have great sales, we got a really good sale this trip but I can’t remember how much off it was. You can also pay a small fee to have the ability to cancel or change tickets any time, with refund. You can also pay in installments. Plus the tickets include park hopping, water parks, and memory maker. You can tell I love this place lol

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Friday 1/24/25 Day 14/ full day 13


Our last full day. Woke up at 9, and started packing up. Such a sad thing to do, unpacking at the start of the trip seems like so much less of a chore. We wanted to get most of the packing done so we wouldn’t have to worry about it that night.


After packing, we got ready to head out for our last park day.

It was still a bit chilly out but the sun was shining, which it hadn’t done in days, and it just felt nicer out. Of course the weather would get better when our trips over lol.

I had originally planned on spending all of this day at MK, as we usually do on our last day. I even had Be our Guest booked for a late lunch. The kids begged me to go to DHS this day instead, because it’s their favorite park. Unfortunately it’s my least favorite park, so we compromised and agreed to do both, although the bulk of the day would be at DHS since we had so much MK time this trip. But that meant we had to cancel BoG, which I was the only one who really cared about eating there anyway. Oh well, saved us a lot of money!

We left the room at 12:58.


I was thinking how much I’d miss this resort, so I took some pics of the walk to the elevator lol



We continued on to the bus stop.

As we walked up to the bus stop a DHS bus was pulling away. It was 20 minutes until the next one according to the board.
Up until now we’d had mostly good luck with the busses. While we were waiting, a Cars wrapped bus heading to AK pulled up, and Gabe was wearing a Cars shirt, so he wanted to pose in front of the bus. Sometimes the littlest things make kids happy.



Finally our bus pulled up at 1:20.



It was a Moana wrapped bus!



We were weirdly excited about this because with the exception of one or two other busses, we’d had only plain “Disney Transport” busses the entire trip. It became a running joke, “oh look, another plain bus”

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We boarded the bus at 1:20 and stopped at the Contemporary at 1:29



Gabe was excited that we could see Moana through the window lol.

We arrived at DHS at 1:47.


On the way in we passed under the Skyliner. We haven’t rode it in years and Gabe was complaining about that. Next trip we’ll have to work a ride on them into our itinerary.



It always seems like a long walk from the busses at DHS to the entrance.




We scanned in, no one had an issue which was good. Our last walk into DHS of the trip





You can see it was a beautiful, sunny day. Was a little chilly but it was bearable.

We were hungry so we decided to eat before we did anything else.

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We headed into the park, trying to decide where to eat



We settled on Dockside Diner. Isabella got a Mac-n-cheese hot dog, Gabe got bacon Mac-n-cheese and a hot dog, I didn’t get anything, and Emma and DH both got regular hot dogs with chips. Gabe also got a hot chocolate, which was just hot water and a packet of hot chocolate powder. Up until now all of our hot chocolates we had bought were liquid, already mixed. A cup of water and a little packet of powder for almost $5 was crazy.




They didn’t like the chips, the mac-n-cheese was small for the price and everything else was just ok they said.

I wasn’t hungry so while they ate I shopped at some of the nearby little outdoor store stands. I got a few souvenirs for my little nephews, including a super cute chipmunks bubble toy that makes noise, lights up and does a bunch of stuff. I think it was like $45 which seemed like a lot but it’s Disney.

After eating, we headed towards MMRR. We stopped in a few shops on the way, but didn’t buy anything.

We arrived at the Chinese Theater



We checked out all the handprints out front. We’ve walked over them hundreds of times but never really stopped to look at them.



After checking out the imprints we got into the LL line for MMRR.





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We waited in line for MMRR.



The pre ride short movie is so cute and every time we watch it we’re still amazed when the screen opens up. It’s a really cool effect.



After the pre ride movie, we moved into the next phase of the line



Then it was time to board


I sat with DH and Gabe and the girls were in front of us



This is a cute ride, but I always mourn a little for The Great Movie Ride.



After the ride we headed out into the park. We did some shopping, and we all bought a bunch of stuff. One of the things I bought were these villain rice crispie treats for someone at home and when we got home I notice they had expired weeks ago. They were like $15 for 3 treats (Scar, Dr.Facilier and Jafar) and they were expired. Oh well.

After shopping we headed to our next ride, and one of my kids favorites…

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We had a date with Rockin Roller Coaster!
So we started heading that way.



They all rode while I sat out. This ride always gives me a headache.



They had a blast though. Gabe always looks miserable in his ride pics lol.

While they were riding, I got myself a snack from Fairfax Fare.



I got both of these things- the Belles cup of Enchantment, which was pretty much shimmery POG juice with juice filled bobas



You can’t really see in this pic but the drink had a really pretty shimmer to it

And the Enchanted Rose



The drink was really good-I love POG juice, and it’s fun to drink a pretty, shimmery drink. The rose however I did not like. The tiny blob of grey stuff next to it was good, but the rose itself was a really weird mix of fruity and chocolate, in a bad way. And the shortbread cookie it was sitting on was totally flavorless. I do not recommend this.

While I was snacking and they were getting on the ride, DH sent me a pic of the now closed Cars area that used to be there (he could see it from the RNRC queue) near the lightning McQueen academy. All the outside cars are still there behind the wall



You can zoom in and see all the cars stuff. Gabe used to love posing with these cars. It’s sad they’re gone.


Gabe just 2 years ago with one of them. He’s grown so fast! I don’t think we saw them last year and had we known that would be our last time getting to see them we would have.

When they got off the ride we realized we hadn’t seen Indiana Jones yet! That’s a must do for the kids and DH each trip. Me, I can take it or leave it, but they love it. So we saw a show was just about to start and we headed over there.



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