A Splash Of Wonder & A Dash Of Christmas Cheer: A Trip Report With Pictures

[serendipity]

As always, a wonderful installment!

 

[Philadisney]

Philadisney....I will keep that in mind WHEN (not if) I get to use my floatie on Castaway Cay in October. I love the island & really hope I get to enjoy it to it's fullest this time. I might even try parasailing...I mean that sounds like a perfect adventure for a 40th birthday...what do ya'll think?

My cousin and I did this on Castaway Cay on our cruise. I LOVED it! Even though it was a little windy out so we didn't get to go as high as they normally go (it was still pretty high, and we had a lovely view of the island). A word of warning - if you go in a pair, they have one person sit in the back and one person sit kind of in their lap. I sat on top of my cousin and was totally comfortable, but she felt the seat digging into her legs and didn't enjoy the ride as much.

Now I'm off to read Day 7!

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Loving your trip report!

I'm at work this week - which I usually have off - because we were at Disney December 8 - 15 - needed something to perk me up and this was it!! I have read this whole thread this morning and am loving it! Your pics are wonderful! We just requested a quote for 10/20 7-night - and are ready to put down our deposit! We are also taking my parents (and DD who is 8). Looking forward to experiencing all of the things you have made me so excited about!

Thanks Melanie!

DisneyMissy

 

[mruhaak]

Melanie-
We were at Disney MGM a year ago next week, after our Disney Wonder cruise, so your report just took me back! Thanks!

They did not have the Pevensie coats there then. Very cool! The Osbourne family lights were really neat. But it was extra cold the night we were there and I was pregnant so I had to buy a HUGE Disney MGM sweatshirt that now I swim in!

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

Melanie-

Thanks so much for sharing your vacation with us! Please thank the rest of the family, too!

We leave in just a few days and I really enjoyed sharing your vacation before we go! It makes me all Disney sappy before we even leave!

Where can I get the special Potato Head? I teach kindergarten and I think my students would love the different outfits and all the special Disney touches! I'm taking an extra week away from them after winter break and I thought if I could copy your idea and dress Potato Head up in 1 outfit per day, I could share a little of my trip every day with them and not lose a whole day teaching them!

Thanks again for your wonderful trippie and pictures!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Welcome Tinawv...I can't believe I am almost at the end to write about our last full day...I am feeling almost like I did at the end of the the trip.

Thanks for the concern Lindsey. Mickey is all repaired & good as new. See...here he is post trip showing off Disney Cruise Line Potatohead.

Hey StitchIsOurHero you fellow East Tennessean you!!!! Where do you hail from? I am from Knoxville & living in Jefferson City now. It's nice to see a fellow Disney lover so close to home. Glad you likey my trippie & that you found me. .

Aww thanks Serendipity....:.

I think I will definetly have to try the parasailing Philadisney..solo probably cause I think my hubby & I would probably weigh too much together.

DisneyMissy318..so glad you found my report & that it helped your Disney blues. It has helped mine writing it.....boy do I miss it when I come home. I get a Jonesing (is that a word & do ya'll know what I mean?) for just a little bit of Disney magic. Awww...go on the Oct 27th cruise & then we can be cruise buddies.

Mruhaak..glad I could take you back...that is what my favorite reports have done for me & I am glad to know I have done that for somebody.

Tinkerbellmom1...you are most welcome. I always read trip reports right before I leave to help ease the anticipation of my trip. I bought a plain old Potato Head at Walmart & then got the accesories at the Once Upon a Toy store in Downtown Disney. You can get them lots of other places too....but I think this store might have the best selection. I am glad Mr P has inspired you to do fun things with your class...that is a great idea. I wish I had filled up 2 boxes instead of just one cause there were so many other cool parts I didn't get.

I will work on Day 8 this weekend & get it up I promise. We were so busy last weekend for Christmas that I have vowed to stay home all weekend & do nothing but rest....but DISing is resting right? I might work on getting started on scrapbooking the trip too. Would ya'll like to see pages once they are finished...if so I can always post them. I will do a Day 9 post as well.....a goodbye to Disney post & then probably a back at home wrap it up post too!!!! I don't think I want it to end. What a geek I am.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Hi again, Melanie! We (DH & I, 3 dogs, & 2 cats ) live in Maryville, so not too far from you at all! I also wanted to mention that I LOVE the Mr. Potato Head. We are going to WDW in March, and I told DH that we must get a Potato Head at Walmart or Target and then get him some accessories for our trip!!

Thanks again for such a great report!!

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

Thanks for the concern Lindsey. Mickey is all repaired & good as new. See...here he is post trip showing off Disney Cruise Line Potatohead.

I am so glad to see Mickey has recovered!

I know how you feel about ending a TR! It's the worst! I was just thinking about how mine will end soon too and I was not happy about it!

You know what the means though! Time to plan another trip!

 

[swankybeth]

Welcome Tinawv...I can't believe I am almost at the end to write about our last full day...I am feeling almost like I did at the end of the the trip.


I will work on Day 8 this weekend & get it up I promise. We were so busy last weekend for Christmas that I have vowed to stay home all weekend & do nothing but rest....but DISing is resting right? I might work on getting started on scrapbooking the trip too. Would ya'll like to see pages once they are finished...if so I can always post them. I will do a Day 9 post as well.....a goodbye to Disney post & then probably a back at home wrap it up post too!!!! I don't think I want it to end. What a geek I am.

I don't want your trippie to end either, I'm really enjoying it. I guess I'm a geek too!

 

[Jennifer48]

I don't want your trippie to end either! I've loved reading your Wonder/WDW vacation! Say it isn't so!!

Just keep showing us pictures of Mr. Potato Head with all his outfits, that will make me feel better!

I'm jonesin' for my cruise next September!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hey Stitch....Maryville is not far away at all. I grew up in South Knoxville so I know Maryville well. I love East Tennessee....I just wish we were closer to WDW & the ocean if we were it would be the perfect place to live.

I am so glad everyone likes Mr Potato Head.....I found out Walmart has little accesory kits too. I was going to be short a few Mr P pictures to wrap up the trip, but not anymore thanks to WallyWorld.

Lindsey....I already have my next ones in the works as you know. I have already talked DH into getting to WDW one day early before our Oct 27th sailing on the Magic to go the the Halloween party, I mean Halloween is my birthday after all & we sure do love MNSSHP!! I got a lotta planning to do.

Glad I am not a geek by myself Swankybeth.:

Jennifer48 you are jonesin' too!!!! I was just taking more Potato Head pictures tonight to finish up how funny that you said that.

I am uploading pictures & have to write Animal Kingdom day...I promise to get it posted sometime tomorrow.

Ya'll are the best.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Day 9….Animal Kingdom & Final Disney Dinner

Once again, we slept a bit later than usual this morning. The tiredness was catching up to us. DH was a saint & went to grab breakfast while I lounged around & flipped through Disney TV.

We headed out to Animal Kingdom & went straight to get a fast pass for Expedition Everest as we had not had the pleasure of riding this new Disney Mountain yet. Just 2 fast passes required as there was no way in heck that DMom would be riding anything that was going to go backwards in the dark. We stopped back by & watched It’s Tough to Be a Bug…which continues to be one of my favorites. I know it scares the bejebbies out of the little kids, but I love it. I especially love the bugs exiting the theatre before us. Woo wee!!
2 cute bugs getting ready for some fun

Here’s Flik dropping in to say hi…no flash guys

We had passed by the Theatre in the Wild on the way to Bug’s Life & found out the next Nemo show would be at 12:30 & we really wanted to see this, so we went to eat some lunch so we could then head back & get in line for the show.
We ate lunch at Flame tree BBQ & it was yummy as usual.
We sat in this neat area by a large pond & we made some new friends.
Here’s DMom with her new pals…I think they scared her a little bit & wanted some of our lunch.

We made our way back & got in the line for Nemo. It was SPECTACULAR. I am telling you this was so great. The puppetry & music were AMAZING. It was so colorful & involving. Puppets were out in the aisles & all around you at different points. It told the story so well. Dory was my favorite character…the actress that was playing her was spot on. Great new addition to the animal kingdom. Next time you are at Animal Kingdom…it is a MUST DO….just GO you will be glad you did.
Here are a few pictures which don’t do it justice…but you can see the colorfulness of the show.
Mr Ray & friends

In the tank

Crush & Marlin

We had our 2 week safari next. I never take pictures on Safari anymore as it is just too dang bumpy for my digital camera. We were in the very back of the jeep this time on the last row & it felt like we were riding a bucking broncho…it was outta control bumpy. My DMom was holding onto me for dear life thinking she was going to fly out of the jeep.
Next we walked & talked with the animals on the Pangani trail. The hippos were doing water ballet for us…I wish I had been able to capture a good picture because it was so cute.
Okapi’s are so cute

This is one of my favorite things too…because I LOVE gorillas. They fascinate me. I could watch them for hours.
Here’s a big guy trying to hide from us.

As we were walking along we saw this...

Next up we went to watch Mickey’s Jammin’ Jingle Parade. I love the parade in the Animal Kingdom & this was really festive with lots of cool Christmas touches.
Rafiki leads the way

Christmas details

Chip & Dale dancin'

Love the back of Donald's boat...there's even a stuck in the snow

Gotta love the music “and Bark, and Growl, and Screech, and Roar, and Stomp, and Jump, and Leap & Soar.”

After the parade it was time for us to finally ride Everest.

It was so awesome. I can’t believe how high up you are on that climb & how far across the World you can see. I felt like we were going so fast when we were going backwards in the dark….WOW. That Yeti is pretty scary too. I had seen several pictures posted of the Yeti, but now I just want to know how in the world people were able to take them. I didn’t even try. That is one AWESOME ride. I wish we had time for another spin, but it was getting time for the park to close & for us to head out.
How cute is this lamp...I love the details at Disney.

We had a great day at Animal Kingdom & really enjoyed the new additions to the park.
Here’s a picture in front of Animal Kingdom’s Christmas tree.

We headed back to Old Key West & rested a bit before getting ready to go to dinner at California Grill at the Contemporary. We took a bus to Magic Kingdom & once again encountered the horribly crowded monorail system. Good thing we left with plenty of time to make our 8pm reservations. One thing I don’t understand about the California Grill is………you check in downstairs in a nice lobby & then they take you up in the elevator where you then have to stand around & wait for your table. They say have a drink in the bar/lounge while you wait, but there is never any place to sit. I don’t understand why they don’t put some seating down in that lobby area & then when your table is ready, then they can take you up.

We had a great table by the window & a wonderful meal—the food here is wonderful. We had salads, scallops, filet of beef, apple cobbler, a banana dessert & warm Valrona chocolate cake.

We decided just to stay right at the table to watch Wishes because we had a wonderful unobstructed view. It was beautiful as usual & watching from up there gives you a unique perspective on just how huge the fireworks are over the Magic Kingdom. It was a great last dinner.
In the lobby of the Contemporary after dinner

We decided that we did not want to deal with the monorail again & decided to just pay & take a cab back to Old Key West. That was a great decision I think because we were all tired & didn’t feel like having to wait on a bus or get back on the monorail.

Once we got back to the resort, we got our bags all packed & then it was off to the dream land. We had another full but great day. We were sad to be leaving tomorrow, but had such a great trip that we couldn’t be too sad.

Here’s safari Potato Head in honor of our Animal Kingdom day.

Next up...Day 10 Do We Really Have to Leave???????

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Another awesome installment! I love Safari Potato Head! I cannot wait to see the Nemo show--thanks for the pics!!

 

[Beana9802]

Just joining, and only on page 2....but wanted to tell you I LOVE IT!! Great story, so far! Can't wait to come back to read...gatta check on the chickens! Nighty!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Another great day at WDW! Nemo and Everst will both be new for me and I've NEVER seen the AK parade either! All three are going on my must do list for next December.

Do you recall how much your taxi from the Contemporary to OKW was? I know I'll probably be using one a couple of times next December for resort to resort transportation.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Stitch....I found the safari get ups at Walmart. The Nemo show as GREAT. You will really like it.

Welcome along Beana...glad you joined us.

ibouncetoo.....You will love the new additions at Animal Kingdom & the parade is great. I love the music so much. Our cab ride from the Contemporary to Old Key West was around 13$ & it was well worth it!! I wish WDW would come up with a better way to get resort to resort, but I am not sure how they would do it.

I will work on the sad going home post later & get it posted sometime today or tomorrow.

Ya'll have been great & I am sad to see this trip report end.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE

 

[TiggersPal]

My lovely Dsis (ibouncetoo) hooked me up with your tr - and I am very glad she did. I enjoyed reading it very much. There were a couple of times my eyes swelled up with tears in memory of our trip. Dsis and I went on 11/11/06 Double Dip with many many wonderful Diser's! We got a tour of the Walt Suite (I know your favorite...!!!) it was also lovely to be invited by those Diser's to our Palo Brunch, and yes I agree if I had to go that early, dinner would be a better option, but if you can get a later ressie, brunch is superb! We did have an exceptional situation in that, we were blessed by Alisbarc (diser) and his wife to join them and two of our other Dis friends we met on the cruise and had a taste of every type of pizza and dinner they made, we just shared the portions... my favorite meal I must say. Not to mention the champagne and "Venetian Dream" cocktails! (The company was the best part even if I didn't make that clear).

We re-booked while on our cruise as well, but also were encouraged to dip again with our Dis friend next December. We are doing a surfnturf and I personally can't wait, because we'll be reunited with our crazy Dis friends AND... get a lifetime experience of staying in the Roy Suite!!!!! We have been truly blessed by the friends we've met and made on the DIS!!!!

I am looking forward to your last installment, even though I'll cry - because I too loved our cruise (it was my first) and I look forward to the SPA since I didn't have time for that last trip. I did get to swim with the dolphins and my sis parasailed (I had in 1979) so she went with Dis friends.

I will be looking forward to your Halloween trip and hearing all about that. Thanks again for taking the time to share and post - love the phots and I agree, your MOM looks young, and NO you don't look old. You guys look very delightful indeed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 

[tjeagle]

I am loving your report! I am getting the same "it's almost over" saddness reading your report that I get when our vacations are coming to an end!

 

[swankybeth]

Great installment! I loved seeing the pics of Nemo, I'm really looking forward to that show. Your mom looks terrifed in that picture, LOL. I totally feel her pain, a few years ago I had a terrifying experience at the Polynesian pool which involved seagulls chasing me with a tray of food and me falling on the ground spilling food and drinks everywhere!

 

[emememem]

Hi Melanie..enjoying your trip report! We're doing a 4 day cruise next December...cant wait. I'm glad you had a wonderful vacation.....