A December to Remember w/TONS OF PICS!!!

[Sandra32]

Loved the pictures! I am going this xmas and now can't wait.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Loved the pictures! I am going this xmas and now can't wait.

You are going to absolutely love it!!! It's an amazing time of year to go. I can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I'm sorry that I disappeared for a little while. My life got majorly busy, but I'm now on Spring Break (I'm a teacher for any newbies here.), so I have some time to get this TR back on track!

Since the last update, we changed resorts. (Joelp should not be surprised by this news! ) We are staying in a savannah view room at the AKL. As my DH likes to say, choosing the GF was a momentary lack of judgment on our parts. We've wanted to stay at AKL for quite some time now, and I even got a pin for my pin collection from there, knowing we'd go there next! So, we simply went with our original plan.

Next week, we'll be at the 90 day mark, and we can book our dining. We bought our plane tickets some time back, and this week, we picked our seats. Hopefully, I can finish this report soon, so I can begin one about the next trip.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

While I don't have many pics of HS, we definitely liked it better after this trip. Here are some pics from an old-fave, the "Beauty and the Beast" show:

Now, here's our new fave: Toy Story Mania!!! This attraction has easily become one of our all-time favorites out of all of WDW's attractions. The area leading up to the attraction really brings back memories, as you see super-sized toys and games. Then, the huge, talking Mr. Potato Head is hilarious! I loved how animated he was and how his eyes really seem to follow you. Then. . .the attraction itself is so much fun!!! You get to play a whole bunch of games that are a blast, and when it's over, you just want to get right back on and play again. There was always a huge line for this ride, so going on once in a day is a lot. We were thrilled when we got to go on twice in a row by going there first, on an EMH morning. However, we were completely shocked to see a line stretching from the Fastpass machines all the way up to the Little Mermaid building! It was ridiculous. We seriously think they have to get a better handle on controlling this attraction so more people can get on. I don't know if they've changed this since our trip there, but we didn't think it was fair that people could get all the Fastpasses before the first hour of the park's opening had even passed, let alone, before non-resort guests. We've seen at other attractions, around WDW, how they limit how many Fastpasses go out throughout the day, to avoid this. Apparently, they didn't try this method with Toy Story Mania, so unless we went to the park super early, we didn't get to ride it.

Here are some of our pics:

Unfortunately, we don't have any pics within the attraction, because you're so focused on playing the games. But, it is well worth going!!!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I don't know about any of you, but I have always loved the Epcot attraction "The Land". All of the innovative ways that Epcot has learned to grow various types of vegetation, food and even animals always amazes me! So, naturally, I've wanted to take the "Behind the Seeds" tour for some time, and on this trip, we did. I recommend going. It's not too long, and you get to see everything up close, as well as learn some amazing facts about all the things you get to see on the attraction. You even get to release ladybugs, which is a neat experience. Here is some of our tour:

This one plant is so huge that it is canopied across a huge expanse of area:

A Cinderella Coach Pumpkin!

Releasing the Ladybugs (they help the growth process of certain plants):

Baby alligators:

Talapia fish:

There's an area that has a Mickey head in the midst of the vegetation, but it's easier to see on the tour than on the ride. I had a hard time getting a good pic of it, so I took a pic of a pic:

Like I said. . .very cool tour!

 

[mmafan]

I love detailed pictures. I'm glad you're enjoying ours.

I can see how it might be terrifying if you have bad balance. With some of those tight corners and inclines, it could be difficult, unless your balance is decent. Having the tour to ourselves felt like we were getting some free wish! We also liked those neat pins they gave us for doing the tour where the little guy on the segway actually moves!!! Too cute.

the segways are great i did that in the first wek of DEC...for the first time and will do it everytime from now on......great pics

 

[mmafan]

Thanks for the info on the segways! I'll let you know if we decide to do it, but it really sounds great.

The parade pics were great. We saw it during MVMCP at night and it was neat to see the parade during the day. Thanks for sharing!!

dont forget you have to 16 or older for segway rides.......

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I decided to highlight this breakfast, because it's the only one where you can meet Lilo and Stitch, and you really feel like you're in a different place. It was hard to not believe you were in Hawaii. We loved the food, the character interaction and the great view outside our window:

This is the only place where we saw Pluto acting like a true dog, walking on all fours and moving like a pet dog:

I don't remember what they called their juice, but it was the same as the one at Boma's and Tusker House, and it's delicious!

My DH approved of the coffee:

Our view, from the table:

These were some of the edible scenes that some of the food staff had created for viewing. Very cool:

 

[wdwgirl03]

Happy spring break!

Toy Story Mania is one of our new favorites too. It is such a blast and I agree, once it's over you just want to keep riding. I am very excited about the TSM video game for the Wii that's supposed to be coming out in the fall.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Epcot's World Showcase really goes all out for the holidays!

Here we are as we started the day:

Canada's Santa Claus:

Here's a Hidden Mickey towards the top of one of Canada's totem poles. It was pointed out to us on our Segway Tour:

England has a theater group that puts on a hilarious and rather creative version of "A Christmas Carol" where guests are pulled in to be a part of the show:

In Morocco, they shared some of their music for this time of year:

Now, an almost unheard of event happened on this day. My DH noticed that Mickey was discreetly taking pics with those who happened to notice him in an out of the way area of the World Showcase. We have never gotten a pic like this before. It was like an unexpected Christmas present:

 

[njdisneyfreak]

the segways are great i did that in the first wek of DEC...for the first time and will do it everytime from now on......great pics

Have you ever done the one at the campgrounds? We would like to do that one, too, but not in the summer. So, we'll have to wait till another trip.

Happy spring break!

Toy Story Mania is one of our new favorites too. It is such a blast and I agree, once it's over you just want to keep riding. I am very excited about the TSM video game for the Wii that's supposed to be coming out in the fall.

Thanks! I'm enjoying the break so far, though I do have a stack of papers and tests I need to grade.

I noticed that posting about the Wii game yesterday! My DH and I can't wait to get it. I've been saying ever since we returned from our last trip that I hope they do that for Wii. It's a perfect system to mimic the experience.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Here is some more from HS from another day there.

Look who we saw trying to get in through the fire escape:

The new Block Party Parade. It was cute and entertaining, but I miss the old parade with all the characters:

 

[njdisneyfreak]

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Using Photopass is so worth it! You get as many pics as you want, you can add frames and other great effects, and you can get your pics put into specialized albums, videos and so much else. We really think it's worth the cost.

So here are some favorites from this trip:

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Just a few more:

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I really enjoyed sharing our trip experience with everyone. It was a fantastic vacation, and now, I need to begin planning what to call my PTR for our summer trip. Any ideas? We'll be celebrating our 10th anniversary. I hope you can join me there!

 

[KarBear]

Hi:
Can you tell me where you were able to take a pic with Mike and Sulley?
My DD loves them!
Thanks

Great reviews!

 

[dogodisney]

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I've enjoyed seeing all your pics. You got some really fantastic Photopass pics! They have helped get me even MORE excited about our December vacation.
You really had a magical vacation and I am so happy for you!

I'm looking forward to reading your PTR.

Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break. My girls are off this week too.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

Hi:
Can you tell me where you were able to take a pic with Mike and Sulley?
My DD loves them!
Thanks

Great reviews!

We got them at the Studios, but we can't remember the exact location. It was listed in the brochure you pick up at the park in the section with the character greeting spots. I hope you find them.

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I've enjoyed seeing all your pics. You got some really fantastic Photopass pics! They have helped get me even MORE excited about our December vacation.
You really had a magical vacation and I am so happy for you!

I'm looking forward to reading your PTR.

Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break. My girls are off this week too.

Thanks for the good wishes. You will love going in December. Photopass is absolutely awesome! I'm glad you'll be joining my PTR. Just come over when I post a link to it. I still have to come up with a name for it, first.

Enjoy your time with the girls.

 

[scottny]

great updates and pics.

the parade pics are very nice as are the photopass.