A Christmas Quickie...*COMPLETE PG 8*

[Happydog]

Gah!!! Christina! Those pics are so great of all the beautiful Christmas decorations that it makes me want to switch my dates.

DON'T DO IT!!!! (do it do it do it).... WELL, come on now, if you could go LAST summer and then sneak in a quick getaway in OCTOBER, why not do the same in December/November? ... JUST sayin'...

That is my plan, CP, not sure when, but that is my plan...

 

[Charleston Princess]

DON'T DO IT!!!! (do it do it do it).... WELL, come on now, if you could go LAST summer and then sneak in a quick getaway in OCTOBER, why not do the same in December/November? ... JUST sayin'...

That is my plan, CP, not sure when, but that is my plan...

I like your way of thinking. I do know that I want to do a Christmas trip in 2011. We will have a full week between school letting out and Christmas Eve, so it would work out beautifully.

What I am really grappling with is Grand Floridian versus Beach Club in July. I really think we would love Beach Club...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Oh yes I loved the prosecco! Have to add that to my shopping list! I have been on a lambic kick lately....It is a type of German beer that is very fermented and usually comes in flavors, raspberry, peach, apple, cherry...I favor the raspberry flavor It is so good...I had my sister in law try some and she never drinks beer. I told her after she drank her glass that it was beer. She loved it!

Tracy

Tracy, sorry to dissapoint you, it isn't German, it's Belgian! The Belgians aren't only good at chocolate, the also make this lovely beer! I had it for the first time in Brussels this summer and loved it! I hope my job sends me to Brussels a few more times - so I get another chance to buy chocolates and drink beer! I love the raspberry flavour, too, but cherry is very nice as well.

You would think that I would know that seeing that I have 4 bottles in my refrigerator! The cherry IS very good too ...the apple is a bit like hard cider and beer I bet the chocolate is very good with the raspberry flavor....the chocolate must bring out the flavor nicely!
First the pickles and now the lambic!

Tracy

I am glad you can see the funny side of it! I am not so sure about chocolate beer, that sounds strange to me... I guess a Belgian pavillion in the World Showcase might not be such a bad idea.

Christine, sorry for taking your TR OT, I promise no more talk about Belgium! (however, it would be worth noting that they invented the "french" fries...)

What? An alcoholic beverage with which I'm not familiar?! Will have to rectify this.

Great update Christine!

I am just adding to the chorus here, but I have to say that I also loved the additional tidbits from the Marty Sklar talk. Would have loved to have been there!

It really was SO cool!

Whaaaaaaaatttttt? Say it isn't so!

It is true. I, Christine, turned down a slushie b/c it was too cold.

Okay okay here I am! But I have an excuse for being so late ... I was at Disney.



Gee, I have some very similar photos... Looking forward to reading more!!!

That's a pretty good excuse, Jennifer!

Tracy, I just saw this and had to share. When I was in college, I went to Montana for the summer and there was a bar in the town I was at that had a local brewery's beer on tap. They had an AMAZING raspberry ale. I am not a huge beer drinker but I loved this one SO much, I wish I could find an equivalent!!

You too! Wow. I really must investigate this further!

Gah!!! Christina! Those pics are so great of all the beautiful Christmas decorations that it makes me want to switch my dates.

Oh dear, that wasn't the intent. But you could always squeeze in a "Christmas quickie." Bet Charles would be up for that.

Hi Christine! It's Missy!!! 2 excited 2 find you!!!

Loving the report, so many amazing memories and fun times! World Showcase and Epcot were my favorite this trip and it was so fun meeting up with you! Maybe we'll be there again at the same time some day!

Hi Missy! So happy to have you here. It was great meeting you too and I hope we are in the World at the same time again soon!

Hey C!!! I'm in! A little late, but in. Gotta take my time and go back and catch up! Especially because I glimpsed pics of WL Christmas decorations

The WL holiday decorations really are spectacular. That whole resort screams Christmas.

DON'T DO IT!!!! (do it do it do it).... WELL, come on now, if you could go LAST summer and then sneak in a quick getaway in OCTOBER, why not do the same in December/November? ... JUST sayin'...

That is my plan, CP, not sure when, but that is my plan...

Oooh a DIS plan... love it!

I like your way of thinking. I do know that I want to do a Christmas trip in 2011. We will have a full week between school letting out and Christmas Eve, so it would work out beautifully.

What I am really grappling with is Grand Floridian versus Beach Club in July. I really think we would love Beach Club...

And resortswitchitis has hit. You are barking up the wrong tree here as I will regale you with the wonders that are the Beach Club all the livelong day.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Anyone else fighting something fierce with photobucket? Ugh! It is driving me CRAZY.

So where did I leave you? Think I was heading over to France. Ah, my beloved France.

Inside the shop:

Have I mentioned it was cold? I was wearing jeans, sock & sneakers, a ¾ sleeve t-shirt and a fleece and was still cold. At this point I bid Heather and Missy adieu- they forged on in WS and I headed “home” to the Yacht & Beach Club to warm up in the lobbies.

God how I love it there. It just feels like home.

I went into the shop at Beach Club and found a heavy sweatshirt and also managed to snag the last pair of black gloves off the shelf. Whew! Those were life savers later in the day!

Adore Beach Club but there weren’t any available seats in the lobby… so over to Yacht Club I headed.

I never would have thought that sail boats were Christmasy…

I sat in the Yacht Club lobby for a while with a glass of wine and my book. I kept observing people coming in, shivering and with rain gear, which did nothing to propel me outside. But finally it was time to head back out with my new sweatshirt and gloves.

Some nighttime Epcot shots for you:

Window shopping in the UK:

American pavilion

I settled in Italy for Illuminations viewing:

 

[2xcited2sleep]

So… let’s see. Saturday. Saturday night was the big Toy Story Mania party but what to do in the meantime?

I had been hoping for some pool time. It was sunny but still on the cool side, as I recall. But I braved it nevertheless.

The infamous geyser

With a little sunshine time under my belt… what to do. Knew I needed to be in DHS for ~8:30pm so how about Epcot?

I can never bypass Mexico. And I may have had a margarita…

I think I had an early dinner at the new counter service in Mexico. Chicken tostadas. YUM.

Italy. I really never get tired of World Showcase. That is why Beach Club is perfect for me. I’m not sure I’ll ever stay anywhere else…

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I really want to try dinner here sometime

Time to think about walking over to DHS for TSM. And hoping to see the Osborne Lights beforehand.

According to my pictures, I stopped in at the Boardwalk.

Approaching DHS:

 

[Native NYer]

The WS just looks beautiful. And so does the YC and BWI.
Chefs de France is currently my favorite WS restaurant. I just LOVE it.

Are you booked at the BC for the next trip?

 

[MEK]

Wow Christine - You got some great pictures in this update. I have never been in the Yacht club. That is the only result I have not toured. I like that whole nautical theme. I know you probably hated to leave and go back to the WL, but you got some really nice nightime shots in the World showcase - very artsy!

I'm glad you finally woke up to some sunshine. The pool looks beautiful. Then back to Epcot for more fun. Again - you got some great shots of Le Chefs de France.

I am looking forward to reading about the TSM party!

 

[Charleston Princess]

The Boardwalk lobby is very pretty, too... (Okay, I am stopping now -- I refuse to give in to my illness. )

Beautiful pictures of World Showcase! Those chicken tostadas look delicious!!!

 

[Happydog]

Great photos Christine! Love the shots of the WS at dusk! AND it was very festive I agree!! I love that you just stopped at the YC and had a drink! So leisurely and fun. You and WigD have the market cornered at the BC!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Oh, I want to stay at Boardwalk so badly. I think that is my current dream resort.

You have got some great pictures in the last update. I just love seeing all the Christmas decoration.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

The WS just looks beautiful. And so does the YC and BWI.
Chefs de France is currently my favorite WS restaurant. I just LOVE it.

Are you booked at the BC for the next trip?

I really like Chefs too. And it's not all because of the waiters.

Yes, ma'am, booked at BC in October. Can't wait!!!

Wow Christine - You got some great pictures in this update. I have never been in the Yacht club. That is the only result I have not toured. I like that whole nautical theme. I know you probably hated to leave and go back to the WL, but you got some really nice nightime shots in the World showcase - very artsy!

I'm glad you finally woke up to some sunshine. The pool looks beautiful. Then back to Epcot for more fun. Again - you got some great shots of Le Chefs de France.

I am looking forward to reading about the TSM party!

You should check out Yacht Club. Yachtsman Steakhouse is good too!

I just World Showcase. I want to live there.

The Boardwalk lobby is very pretty, too... (Okay, I am stopping now -- I refuse to give in to my illness. )

Beautiful pictures of World Showcase! Those chicken tostadas look delicious!!!

Oh dear, another one?! That is going to be the true secret mission of your PTR-- to keep you from switching!

Great photos Christine! Love the shots of the WS at dusk! AND it was very festive I agree!! I love that you just stopped at the YC and had a drink! So leisurely and fun. You and WigD have the market cornered at the BC!!!

Does that mean you are not a BC convert after your trip? WS at dusk is just divine. And, yes, I can pretty much be counted upon to stop and have a drink just about any time. You'll see if you come in October

Oh, I want to stay at Boardwalk so badly. I think that is my current dream resort.

You have got some great pictures in the last update. I just love seeing all the Christmas decoration.

Really? Boardwalk is? Interesting. It's fun to have dream resorts, isn't it? I think I found mine. I'm not sure I'm interested in trying anything else.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I got over to DHS with what I hoped was enough time to get in and see the Osborne Lights and then get back outside the gates to the assigned meeting place at 8:30pm. It looked crowded but I was optimistic.

Happy Holidays, Bo!

I got to the back of the park and quickly realized that this was going to be a no go. From both a patience as well as a safety standpoint. There was literally a throng of people, packed in as tightly as sardines in a can (not that I’ve seen sardines in a can) and moving along practically involuntarily with the sea of the crowd. At this point we were nearing but could not even see the Streets of America or the lights. A couple of people asked people in the mob what they were doing and the answer was “hopefully going to the Osborne Lights.” They are without a doubt beautiful but I wasn’t into the mob scene.

The best tip ever, that Heather and I learned last year, is that the lights stay on for an hour after park close. THAT is the time to go visit when you can actually enjoy. But unfortunately the instructions for the TSM party stated very clearly that you must meet OUTSIDE the gates at a precise time and if you were late you were out of luck.

A little frustrated and with some time to kill…. Where should I go?

Believe it or not, I’d never been here and checking out the 50’s décor had been on my wish list. It was PACKED. It was cute. The menu doesn’t really appeal to me, nor does being scolded for my poor manners but I bet it would be fun to go in a big group.

Before too long it was time to gather for the party!

I could be wrong but I think I remember them saying they had ~700 ppl?!?
We were eventually let in through the gates but stopped at the base of the street.

Before too long we heard, “left, left, left, right, left.” It was the TSM green army men coming to lead us through the park back to the ride!! Sorry for the bad photos.

When we arrived in Pixar Place the DIS gang was waiting to receive their guests – kind of like a wedding, but cooler.

I think the first thing we did was rush over to ride the ride (did I mention that they reset the scoreboard for this party and the high scorer was winning a Disney cruise?!). I have a bazillion ride photos. I’ll try to be selective and will still probably share far more than you’re interested in seeing. But before I do, let me just say that the DIS team really knows how to plan an event. Clearly a lot of thought and effort went into planning this event and it really showed!

There were snack tables set up along Pixar Place with a variety of carnival food – cotton candy, popcorn, corn dogs, nachos, sausage with peppers & onion, funnel cake. There was also a cash bar for beverages.

The green army men stayed around to mingle and the character area was open across from the ride for photo ops!

cont'd in the next post

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Now on to the ride. I’m not sure how many times I went on. My high score was sad (133,000) and a good ~150,000+ from the high score!

I do not recall now why the UPC symbol struck me as so funny but I remember thinking I was going to make a great joke with it in my TR so I’ll have to settle for including the photo.

This made me laugh since I have to see lots of meeting agendas:

Heather & Missy having a good time

I think this is Janice and Bill

We stayed until after 12. Heather was generous enough to give us all a ride home so we were able to walk out through the empty park (so cool!)

This made me laugh too – I think maybe I was getting punchy!

We dropped Janice and Bill off at the Contemporary first and then Heather and Missy came in to see the WL lobby. So beautiful. Even at 1am or whatever time it was.

Sigh. Another fun Disney day!

 

[cdotla]

Awesome update Christine!!! That party sounded so fun.

Great that you had some Disfriends to join you, and of course, the lift home wasn't bad either! I heard the Dis arranged for bus transportation at the end of the event, but definitely not the same as driving. And of course, it must have been great being the last ones out!

 

[Native NYer]

The mob scene at DHS sounds scary! Is there a less crowded time to go see the lights?

TSM Party looks like it was so much fun! The theming in Pixar Place is just great.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sunday morning. Already. My last full day in Disney.

One thing I’ve not yet mentioned about the Wilderness Lodge. Turbo toilets. Yep, they have them too. Or at least it sounded that way. And people get up early at Disney!

So again I was hoping for some sun. It was very warm but very cloudy. The hour by hour weather report, however, said the sun would come out by 10. So I did a little hotel exploring outside and as it turns out, the weather report was right!!

 

[PopArtGal]

Here I am!

Now let's start at page 1 hehe

 

[PopArtGal]

I love how you take time to read at WDW!! I do too.

I never thought about going in a lobby though. Hum... I'll think about that next time!

 

[manntra]

Wow Christine! That was a lot packed in!! The TSM party looks like a blast! Good tip for the Osborne lights.....that many people would have probably given me hives!
I'm with you on WS...I never get tired of anything there....your tostadas looked very appetizing as did the guacamole
Thankfully your weather turned around!
Yes you must try the raspberry lambic beer. Especially if you don't like beer because it doesn't taste like it

Tracy