70 to Freezing in 7 hours. A Nov/Dec 2011 trip report. Updated 4/28

[petals]

Just found out my friend from college is still going to be working in Disneyland Paris when I'm there

I also worked out a little schedule!!

Day 1: fly over.. I've an early flight so none of this pretending to try to sleep the night before malarcky! I should get to hotel by about 11.30 so will dump bags and then head to Paris hopefully!
Day 2: The Studios are open til 7 this day so will go there first and then Mickey's Bonfire night is on in Disney Village that night.
Day 3: Disneyland Park normal day.
Day 4: Disneyland Park start of Christmas season
Day 5: Disney Village and possible check out some of the hotels. Fly home that evening

Then the 14th of November is graduation day!

 

[petals]

Day 14, part 9:

So we had just left the Polynesian Resort on the monorail and our next stop was the Grand Floridian. HOLY MOLY much! First thing we saw when we got off the monorail was this:

And we both stopped dead where we were just going WOW! Momma found her voice first and went when I win the lotto I’m going to take you here for a month… I just laughed and went I hope you win the lotto soon so! I took a bazillion more pictures of the floor, the decorations, anything in the line of my camera:

We eventually wandered into a shop before going down the stairs to check out the monster Christmas tree and Gingerbread House:

The ingredients just in case you want to try it at home:

We wandered around for another while just taking in everything we could see. I found a penny machine and we asked at reception for change to get pressed pennies:

One last Christmas tree pic:

Then we headed for the monorail. I spotted these on the way:

We went back to the Magic Kingdom bus stops to get the bus back to POP and while we were waiting for the bus Momma started crying because she was so cold…When we got back to POP we went for food:
Momma had a burger:

And I had a hot dog:

We headed back towards the room then. I spotted this on the way. I’m loving the squirrel TV thing:

In the room I was disappointed to find no towel animal. Plus they didn’t even put Angel in some funny way watching TV. I think Momma had disturbed them when they were cleaning though because Angel was stuffed in a case where I had left him on the bed deliberately to see what they would do with him lol. Big child much!
Anyways so ends out last full day in Disney for 2011, but stay tuned because I still have loads of pictures to share from our last day before we fly home!

Next up: Retail therapy to help the last day blues!

 

[vleeth]

It must have been really cold, if it was cold enough to make your Mom cry!

 

[petals]

It must have been really cold, if it was cold enough to make your Mom cry!

It was Ireland cold. After the rain earlier in the day it stayed cold and then obviously got colder when it got darker. I was ok because I had taken a long tracksuit bottoms and hoodie with me and changed in Epcot but Momma was still in a light summer pants and didn't have the heaviest jumper with her either.

 

[MEK]

I think visiting the Poly and the GF on your last night was a wonderful idea. I love how the GF is decorated for Christmas and that Gingerbread house is awesome. I would love to stay there someday and I hope I get the chance when the open the DVC villas.

Poor momma crying from the cold. That is the worst. Brrrrrr......

How cool that your college friend will be working at DLP while you are visiting. That's awesome. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

Looking forward to your last day's pictures!

 

[Caretames1]

Isn't the GF just breathtaking!?! I hope the Christmas decor is out while we are there!

I'm sorry you Momma cries because she was cold

And no Angel pose! Once in a while you get a CM who just doesn't do it. I know Kadence always looks for that the second we open to door!

Going home! NOoooooooo

Nice Paris plans!

 

[petals]

I think visiting the Poly and the GF on your last night was a wonderful idea. I love how the GF is decorated for Christmas and that Gingerbread house is awesome. I would love to stay there someday and I hope I get the chance when the open the DVC villas.

It was something I always wanted to do but again because we don't normally stay on property we never had time. When I saw the Gingerbread house though I knew I had to make time on that trip to see it.

Poor momma crying from the cold. That is the worst. Brrrrrr......

I know. The cold and Florida just don't go together for me.

How cool that your college friend will be working at DLP while you are visiting. That's awesome. I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

I know I can't wait. At the moment until we find out when she's working or when she's off our only plan is for me to go along to the restaurant she works in and find her but I'm sure closer to the day she'll know when she's off and we'll meet for a bit. Haven't seen her for ages so will be cool to meet up.

Looking forward to your last day's pictures!

I have a tonne of them but have to get them onto photobucket because they on disk at the mo.

Isn't the GF just breathtaking!?! I hope the Christmas decor is out while we are there!

It was fab. Like so posh and yet so casual like I didn't really feel underdressed in my tracksuit, hoodie and crocs

I'm sorry you Momma cries because she was cold

I actually think something else might have been bothering her because she was in a funny humour the last few days. Maybe she was missing home or something. Eitherway I just cuddled her to give her some of my body heat until the bus came.

And no Angel pose! Once in a while you get a CM who just doesn't do it. I know Kadence always looks for that the second we open to door!

Momma had actually thrown him in the case because she thought I forgot to. She didn't get the point that I left him there on purpose to see if the cleaners did anything with him. Although when there was no towel animal I doubt they would have. The child in my was disappointed by that. Next time on the request bit I'll put I like towel animals

Going home! NOoooooooo

I know! Worse day ever!!!

Nice Paris plans!

Thanks.. They might change a little here or there but we'll see what happens. It depends on if there's any more closures for the Christmas season starting.

 

[petals]

I would also like to point out that I'm now in my 30's.. 39 days til Paris that is... Michael Buble is there at the moment.. why couldn't he wait until I went that would have been pretty!

I also love when you're watching your holiday video back and there's stuff on it you totally forgot happened. At MVMCP at the dance party in Tomorrowland, Pluto and Goofy were walking off to swap with Chip and Dale and I was standing along the way they were walking and taping them coming towards me. Pluto spotted me and totally played up to the camera and made a heart in the air before he went off. I love you to Pluto

 

[petals]

I should be on the way out to a Ballet Class now but I’m not feeling the love for anything other than sitting in pjs on the couch right now! I am now able to say I am going to Disneyland NEXT month and I am graduating next month. I should be excited about this. Right now meh! I will also have a video and possibly some extra pics from day 14 when I get the footage onto the computer. Have a trip update!

Day 15, part 1:

Thursday 8th of December, 2011:

It’s the beginning of the end! Today was the day they would force me onto a plane and make me go back to Ireland! I was not happy! We got up early and finished packing… We were allowed one suitcase and one carry-on bag. I had two suitcases and three carry on bags!
So we left the room at 8.30 saying farewell to my Disney bedroom and its cute Disney touches:

And we went out in our shorts and t-shirts to face another lovely warm sunny Florida day… except we opened the door and it was FREEZING! I’m sure I saw ice! We went straight back in and got into our clothes we had in our hand luggage for Ireland! So then we left the room and went to reception. Momma went to check out (boo hiss) and I took pictures:

Momma took ages checking out so I went and got breakfast I needed one last Mickey waffle none of this POP century waffles for adults give me the kids Mickey head:

Just outside the door to POP century’s reception area is the bag check area where you can leave your luggage and go off and do fun stuff for the day and not think about going home. They also have a very useful weighing scales to check the weight of your luggage so before we went anywhere we decided to check the weight of the luggage much to our amazement the suitcases were under weight so we were able to condense the luggage down to two carry-ons and the one suitcase and Shamu. Remember Santa Shamu yeah he wouldn’t fit in any bag so he had to be carried and we still had weight left over so to the shops!
We went to wait by the bus stops:

And soon enough we were on our wayto Downtown Disney. I spotted this on the way and needed a pic:

So then it was straight to World of Disney to get rid of the last dollars and vouchers we had and we went mental! We both did the same as last time to save time separate and meet back at the skeletons when we’re done. I took many pics along the way:

I really wanted this but it just didn’t feel right on:

So instead I kept a promise I’d made to Tigger earlier in the trip and got a Tigger hoodie (which may have been from the mens section but I really didn’t care.)

Again Momma and I met at the check-outs where we were served by possibly the most miserable CM I’ve ever met. She wasn’t smiley and happy like the rest of them and Momma was trying to chat with her about the fact we were going home today and how I’d love to stay in Florida and work in Disney. She was like no you wouldn’t there’s no holidays and you have to work every weekend. I just went yeah but you get to see Mickey Mouse every day in some shape or form. Momma wished her well and said she hoped to see her next year and yer one barely cracked a smile! On the plus side I saved 35 dollars on my purchases with Disney's 20% off vouchers. We left World of Disney and Momma wanted to check her receipt before we left so I told her to stay on the wall and NOT MOVE! I was going to run to the lego store to take pics of the lego features and would be back so off I went:

I went back and Momma was gone!

Next up: Where’s Momma and touring POP

 

[afwdwfan]

Your Paris plans look like a lot of fun. It will be here soon!

I really like the gingerbread house at GF too, but man, that place is way too classy for my taste.

I'm still trying to do the math in my head... you have two carry on bags, but are allowed one and you're still buying more souvenirs???

 

[petals]

Your Paris plans look like a lot of fun. It will be here soon!

Yeah I need the break.. The only thing that's bothering me is the fact that I'm missing a dance class or two

I really like the gingerbread house at GF too, but man, that place is way too classy for my taste.

GF is amazing. It's kind of funny because even though it seemed like somewhere that I should feel underdressed in tracksuit and crocs I didn't. It just felt like posh disney but I was still welcome if that makes sense!

I'm still trying to do the math in my head... you have two carry on bags, but are allowed one and you're still buying more souvenirs???

Yup.. Our cases were still underweight. I still had two carry on bags because the things in them wouldn't fit into the case but we had a plan if necessary... Stay tuned to see what happened at the airport!

 

[lovethattink]

Love the Poly and GF pics!

Right now with all the construction the GF doesn't even look half as magical. I really feel for the people paying top $ to stay there.

That's a shame you didn't get any towel animals. I find that tipping daily instead of at the end of the trip seems to help things along a bit. Not all the time though.

Anakin loved that squirrel game, but it wasn't there this last time we were there.

 

[petals]

Love the Poly and GF pics!

Thanks

Right now with all the construction the GF doesn't even look half as magical. I really feel for the people paying top $ to stay there.

Construction really ruins the look but with Disney it tends to be worth it

That's a shame you didn't get any towel animals. I find that tipping daily instead of at the end of the trip seems to help things along a bit. Not all the time though.

I reckon if Momma had of left Angel and Fredrick (the other towel animal) the way I put them they might have done something but because there was no toys as such lying around they just went adults not into towel animals!

Anakin loved that squirrel game, but it wasn't there this last time we were there.

I just thought it looked cute.

 

[lovethattink]

You snuck an update in on me!

Gotta love shopping, especially with a discount! And after you told me how much all these things cost in the UK!

Uh oh, Momma didn't stay put.

 

[petals]

Dublin Disney store got a new window display:

I really wish the CM's at the counter would stop trying to tempt me though. I went up to pay for two Vinyls I was getting as traders for Paris and they have a speil where they go would you like to buy a bag this one this one and this one are 2 euro and this one is 3 euro. NO! And because you spent more than 15 euro you can avail of this offer which today was a Brave notebook down from 10 euro to 4.90 because I spent more than 15. NO. Did you see the Villians dolls they're upstairs. NO NO NO NO NO I'm pretty sure I should have been wearing my not a people person t-shirt today. I mean it's great that's they're so CM friendly and all that but I wasn't feeling it today Dancing lifted the mood alot though

 

[Caretames1]

We always try to hit DTD before we go to, got spend the last 2 pennies!

Where in the world did Momma go!?!? You may need a string around her wrist!

Too bad about the CM, hopfully you had a great one before you left!

 

[petals]

We always try to hit DTD before we go to, got spend the last 2 pennies!

I know we would have to convert the dollars back to euro and would lose money so it was important that I spend every last dollar before leaving America... well that's my excuse

Where in the world did Momma go!?!? You may need a string around her wrist!

That story is coming up but yes I think this would be useful esp since she has a poor sense of direction as it is!

Too bad about the CM, hopfully you had a great one before you left!

I couldn't believe how miserable she seemed like. YOU WORK IN DISNEY IN FLORIDA where it's mostly warm SMILE!

 

[petals]

I should be doing something completely different right now but I have the concentration of a goldfish. Without boring you all with details life is swear words right now!

Day 15, part 2:

So when I left you I had left Momma sitting on a wall outside World of Disney with orders not to move while I went to take pics of the lego figures. I went back to where I left her and she was gone. Ok maybe I didn’t walk far enough so I walked to the end of the wall nope she wasn’t there. WTH! She has the worse sense of direction ever so if she wandered off chances are she would get lost. I waited for a few minutes to see if she would show up again and after about five minutes I decided maybe she had gone to get herself tea there was what looked like a coffee shop straight ahead of where she had been sitting so I went to try there.. It was Ghirardelli’s and they were giving out free samples of chocolate. She wasn’t in there but I did get some free yummies. I went back to where she had been sitting because if I moved to far away and she came back we might miss each other. There was a nice man sitting on the wall watching me in my confused flustered state and asked what was wrong. I told him about my no sense of direction Momma being missing and he helped look for her. After about 15 minutes she came wandering out of World of Disney. I asked her why she hadn’t text or anything to say she was going back in in case you know I might be looking for her she was like well I was checking my receipt and the grumpy CM over-charged me for two tea-towels so I went back in to get my money back! I had been planning on going over to the Vinylmation store on the far side of Downtown Disney but it took that long for Momma to get her tea-towels sorted we didn’t have time so I went back to World of Disney to get one last pin with the discount voucher and I took more pics while I was there.
There were pretty I thought:

It pays to look up sometimes because I was in one of the little side rooms paying and these were on the ceiling:

Cute piggy banks:

After that we decided to head back to POP to sort out of luggage (again.) The POP bus was about to leave as we were getting to the stops and we started running and the super cute bus driver saw us and waited for us. Once back at POP we went for food. I had my not a people person Grumpy t-shirt on and the CM at the counter was like “Sorry” I was like for what? And he was like that you’re not a people person. I was like oh no I’m not a leave Disney person. Then gave us both free drinks for no other reason than it was our day to go home and he was being sympathetic. Food wise we both got our favourite chicken alfredo and Momma decided to try one of the cupcakes:

I got this cupcake:

I only ate a little bit and the rest came to the airport with me. I also picked up a few Disney snacks to bring home. Then I went into the shop because they had a pin board out so I did pin trading and took pics of some of the cuties for sale in the shop:

After that we decided to wander around POP and see what the resort is like. First off this is why POP is so perfect for me besides the giant Disney characters their pool bar is named after me lol:

Spot Angel:

I loved looking at the way people had their windows decorated:

There’s Art of Animation:

Best year WDW was built. Thank you Mr. Disney:

Next up: Continuing our tour of POP.

 

[momabaarjo]

So glad you found mama (and snuck in a few chocolates)! I hate going home day...lucky for me ours was way bright and early so I did not have to wander around all day depressed!

 

[petals]

So glad you found mama (and snuck in a few chocolates)!

I was searching very hard in between the chocolate eating!

I hate going home day...lucky for me ours was way bright and early so I did not have to wander around all day depressed!

It's the worse day ever. I begged everyone I saw to keep me