All I Want For Christmas Is an Okapi, a Dinosaur, a Herd of Elephants and ...

[Megablocks]

I absolutely LOVE Living with the Land! Definitely one of my favorites, I never get tired of it. I'm not sure what it is...it's just such a nice, relaxing ride!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I like how they put Christmas decorations in Living with the Land! It is a cool ride. When we were there for spring break in March 2011 there was actually a long (20 minutes) wait for it! I'd never seen that before. But it was a nice way to relax.

However, I have a question. That 9 pound lemon is almost always there. It seems I see it every time we go and a picture of it on everyone's TR. Do you suppose it gets replaced when it goes bad sitting there? Or is that a fossilized 9 pound lemon? Just wondering.

 

[thedonduck]

That is my DS(2)'s favorite ride. He doesn't talk yet, but as we pass all of the fruit and veggies he says yum! It's quite cute!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Woo hoo! you took a picture of the nine pound lemon. I think the lemons hanging from the tree might weigh a tad more though!

I was with you on having a crush on Ricky Nelson. He was sooooo cute!

 

[Poolrat]

We were criss crossing the World that day.

Love that Italian burro.

Bella and her "flag"

Always enjoy Living with the Land.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I love that those princesses of yours seem to have so many special interacts with the other princesses and characters!

It is a trade off at BCV to use the buses to the parks, but that back entrance is sooo wonderful!

Yay! You are finally without students... this week of workshops should pass quickly for you!

This is my final week with students. Five more to go, then one day more and I will be crusing to Port Canaveral.

I really did consider hitting MK since I have the AP, but my mom wouldn't enjoy it as much as a trip to the beach, and I'd have to pay for her. Since I will head to WDW only a few weeks later, I figured I'd manage.

 

[IheartDDuck]

We were at Epcot on New Year's Day also. I wonder if we crossed paths along the way.

Bella looks absolutely adorable raising her Duffy flag.

 

[DisMomAmy]

All caught up again!

Wow, it was busy on New Year's Eve!! But those fireworks were gorgeous!

Your BC/POR trip sounds fantastic! What wonderful friends you have!

And I thought of a bunch of other things I wanted to say as I was reading... but now I've already forgotten! Time to turn off the computer!

 

[pollyanna30]

I have returned from my 10 day trip to Pop Century. Sadly, it is back to the real world of work tomorrow. We had a great trip, but definitely saw more rain than we would like. Lots of rain in theme parks with many people is a lot like swimming upstream, which can wear you out fast! Most of the rain was from a tropical storm. We also had a brush fire too close for comfort to Pop, and our last morning while waiting for the opening show at the Magic Kingdom some bugs started swarming us, and my sister declared that the locusts had finally arrived! Oh, and we were "evacuated" off of Pirates of the Caribbean due to an issue with the ride which was an adventure within itself! It involved a worker in waders and a rope! All those things do make Disney memories.

We again enjoyed our stay at your favorite resort. We were on the ground floor in the Mickey Phone 70s building and loved our location. We got to watch Art of Animation go from boarded off to Pop guests to magically being accessible the morning of opening. Not only is the Generation Gap bridge open, but the sidewalk that goes all the way around the lake from the 80s/90s Pop Side to the Cars side of AoA is open also. We walked across the bridge and along the path and both were enjoyable. When the Little Mermaid rooms are finished, that side will be opened too. The resort looks fantastic and the Cars area is amazing (even though we were still looking through some fencing). The life size cars are incredible and the headlights on them even light up in the evening. We ate in the food court the first night the resort was open and my sister and I had the chicken burgers, which we thought were great. I also had a smoothie which they needed more practice on . There were very few people eating there with us. I know when more rooms are opened it will be quite the lively place. The only thing I was a little surprised by was The Little Mermaid buildings. I guess I didn't realize they were leaving the buildings that were originally built as the other half of Pop (that have sat there for years) and are finishing them for AoA. They really stand out as different and not as special as the rest of the resort. It also makes them seem like they are far away from everything, when really they are a mirror image of Pop so cannot be any farther away from the main building than the furthest buildings there. It will be interesting to see what else they do to them before opening. I will try to post a picture or two in the next few days to get you even more excited for your trip!

As a side note, I love your pictures of the boat ride in the Land decorated for Christmas. We rode that three times this trip as it is one of my nephew's favorites. I never thought about it being decorated for the holidays!

 

[disneyfan61]

Ah Living with the Land. Jeff & I rode that in April while the boys were off doing something else.

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Living with the Land. It is a family favorite and we usually ride it at least twice. I can remember it when I was a kid going with my parents.

Love Bella and her flag. Simply adorable.

Cute picture fo the girls with Snow White.

 

[MHTeacher]

Whew! I think I am finally caught up after returning from my trip.

Watching the fireworks from the Poly beach is a great thing---We happened to sit out there last Sunday night and do the same thing. But the NYE fireworks are so amazing, especially the finale, when the perimeter fireworks go off! Love it!

I enjoyed "walking" around DTD, Beach Club, and Epcot, with you New Years Day!

 

[micandminforever]

Add me to the Ricky Nelson fan club. I enjoyed the ride throught Living with the Land.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I have never, ever done Living with the Land. It must go on the list! Looks interesting!

 

[MeMom]

I love love love Living with the Land and NEVER get tired of it!!! One of my fave experiences!!!!

It's a nice, peaceful ride. Jill and I are hoping to do the Behind the Seeds tour on this trip, too.

GREAT pictures from Living with the Land...I love that ride! It's fun to look for changes in what is being grown, each time I ride!

Yes, and it always makes me want to grow a garden of my own.

That never actually happens, though.

I love seeing all the Living with the Land pictures! I see that as a very underrated ride. A lot of people seem to think that looking at plants on their vacation would be boring. It's so much more fun than it looks! That being said, I'd never complain about the short waits to ride it.

It's usually either a walk-on or maybe a five minute wait, which is nice. I don't think it is boring at all. I don't like seeing the fish in the crowded tanks, but I just look away from that part and enjoy the rest of it.

I absolutely LOVE Living with the Land! Definitely one of my favorites, I never get tired of it. I'm not sure what it is...it's just such a nice, relaxing ride!

And it has a whole different feel at night, in case you have never ridden it after the sun goes down.

I like how they put Christmas decorations in Living with the Land! It is a cool ride. When we were there for spring break in March 2011 there was actually a long (20 minutes) wait for it! I'd never seen that before. But it was a nice way to relax.

However, I have a question. That 9 pound lemon is almost always there. It seems I see it every time we go and a picture of it on everyone's TR. Do you suppose it gets replaced when it goes bad sitting there? Or is that a fossilized 9 pound lemon? Just wondering.

Maybe we can ask about the nine pound lemons if we get to take the tour.

That is my DS(2)'s favorite ride. He doesn't talk yet, but as we pass all of the fruit and veggies he says yum! It's quite cute!

I don't say yum, but I am thinking yum!

Woo hoo! you took a picture of the nine pound lemon. I think the lemons hanging from the tree might weigh a tad more though!

I was with you on having a crush on Ricky Nelson. He was sooooo cute!

I keep hoping I can catch Ricky Nelson's sons when they are playing one of the events down at Disney World, but my dates never match up with theirs. He was definitely a cutie!

We were criss crossing the World that day.

Love that Italian burro.

Bella and her "flag"

Always enjoy Living with the Land.

I was showing a friend of Trent's the Epcot pictures. She has never been, and she was amazed that that was just one section of one park!

I love that those princesses of yours seem to have so many special interacts with the other princesses and characters!

It is a trade off at BCV to use the buses to the parks, but that back entrance is sooo wonderful!

Yay! You are finally without students... this week of workshops should pass quickly for you!

This is my final week with students. Five more to go, then one day more and I will be crusing to Port Canaveral.

I really did consider hitting MK since I have the AP, but my mom wouldn't enjoy it as much as a trip to the beach, and I'd have to pay for her. Since I will head to WDW only a few weeks later, I figured I'd manage.

Today's workshop was long and boring, and it reminded us of the added load we will have again as they implement even more programs - all with cute little acronyms - in about eight weeks. I am glad I am off tomorrow so that I can recuperate from today's news.

I agree about the back entrance and being able to easily walk back and forth to BC. So nice!

Enjoy your trip! It's great that you get to spend time with your mom.

We were at Epcot on New Year's Day also. I wonder if we crossed paths along the way.

Bella looks absolutely adorable raising her Duffy flag.

We might have. Why did we not meet?
I so often forget who is going to be there and when, and then I am sorry when we miss meeting face to face.

All caught up again!

Wow, it was busy on New Year's Eve!! But those fireworks were gorgeous!

Your BC/POR trip sounds fantastic! What wonderful friends you have!

And I thought of a bunch of other things I wanted to say as I was reading... but now I've already forgotten! Time to turn off the computer!

The beach itself had a lot of guests, but up in the yard where we were, it was not bad at all.

I am already looking forward to the spring break trip, but it's a long way away still.

I have returned from my 10 day trip to Pop Century. Sadly, it is back to the real world of work tomorrow. We had a great trip, but definitely saw more rain than we would like. Lots of rain in theme parks with many people is a lot like swimming upstream, which can wear you out fast! Most of the rain was from a tropical storm. We also had a brush fire too close for comfort to Pop, and our last morning while waiting for the opening show at the Magic Kingdom some bugs started swarming us, and my sister declared that the locusts had finally arrived! Oh, and we were "evacuated" off of Pirates of the Caribbean due to an issue with the ride which was an adventure within itself! It involved a worker in waders and a rope! All those things do make Disney memories.

We again enjoyed our stay at your favorite resort. We were on the ground floor in the Mickey Phone 70s building and loved our location. We got to watch Art of Animation go from boarded off to Pop guests to magically being accessible the morning of opening. Not only is the Generation Gap bridge open, but the sidewalk that goes all the way around the lake from the 80s/90s Pop Side to the Cars side of AoA is open also. We walked across the bridge and along the path and both were enjoyable. When the Little Mermaid rooms are finished, that side will be opened too. The resort looks fantastic and the Cars area is amazing (even though we were still looking through some fencing). The life size cars are incredible and the headlights on them even light up in the evening. We ate in the food court the first night the resort was open and my sister and I had the chicken burgers, which we thought were great. I also had a smoothie which they needed more practice on . There were very few people eating there with us. I know when more rooms are opened it will be quite the lively place. The only thing I was a little surprised by was The Little Mermaid buildings. I guess I didn't realize they were leaving the buildings that were originally built as the other half of Pop (that have sat there for years) and are finishing them for AoA. They really stand out as different and not as special as the rest of the resort. It also makes them seem like they are far away from everything, when really they are a mirror image of Pop so cannot be any farther away from the main building than the furthest buildings there. It will be interesting to see what else they do to them before opening. I will try to post a picture or two in the next few days to get you even more excited for your trip!

As a side note, I love your pictures of the boat ride in the Land decorated for Christmas. We rode that three times this trip as it is one of my nephew's favorites. I never thought about it being decorated for the holidays!

Sounds like your had some adventure on Pirates, for sure!

So sorry about the rain. We can't control the weather, so we just take what we get and do our best with it.

We will enjoy seeing your pictures.

Ah Living with the Land. Jeff & I rode that in April while the boys were off doing something else.

Yes, it is a great 'filler' ride, especially when you have an adult waiting with a little one. And being indoors helps when you need to do something on a rainy day, too.

Living with the Land. It is a family favorite and we usually ride it at least twice. I can remember it when I was a kid going with my parents.

Love Bella and her flag. Simply adorable.

Cute picture of the girls with Snow White.

That's fun that you have a fond memory of it. I remember the first time I saw the inside of that building. It was set up differently, but I remember the boat ride and restaurants very well. That was an amazing thing for back in those days.

Whew! I think I am finally caught up after returning from my trip.

Watching the fireworks from the Poly beach is a great thing---We happened to sit out there last Sunday night and do the same thing. But the NYE fireworks are so amazing, especially the finale, when the perimeter fireworks go off! Love it!

I enjoyed "walking" around DTD, Beach Club, and Epcot, with you New Years Day!

We look forward to seeing all of your fun in pictures!

Add me to the Ricky Nelson fan club. I enjoyed the ride throught Living with the Land.

I kind of lost track of what Rick Nelson did as an adult, so I don't know how much I would have liked his grown-up stuff, but as a teenager and young man, he was a doll! I was at the hospital as my dad was dying when I heard the news of his plane crash.

I have never, ever done Living with the Land. It must go on the list! Looks interesting!

Yes, you need to give it a try!

 

[MeMom]

Now it is time to say goodbye to Epcot for this trip.

There is a story behind this mosaic. I need to find it and read it again.

My official goodbye to this park is usually a shot like this.

Cute little fella.

From the other side of the geodesic sphere.

Our favorite best kept secret.

Will we ever join that club?

Back at Pop, we began to do our pre-packing, as this was our last night.

The family usually expands on Disney trips, and this one was no exception. Except maybe it was an exceptionally large expansion.

I understand that Dino went to school with the girls today, actually.

I took the girls to walk around the resort and then go play on the playground while Jill and John did their packing.

When they were finished, we were ready to head out for our last evening at Magic Kingdom.

A nice ending to a classic tale.

Then on to Haunted Mansion.

You can't tell much from these, but you are familiar with this ride, so use your ghoulish imagination.

I know a lot of people are crazy about Haunted Mansion. It's not my favorite. It's cool enough, but I don't like the dark, stuffy feeling i get while I am on it. I do like the backward part, because it feels good to my back.

 

[Megablocks]

And it has a whole different feel at night, in case you have never ridden it after the sun goes down.

I'll definitely have to try it at night sometime! Usually, I'm walking around WS with my mom at night, but we'll have to go over there sometime, too.

I love the picture of Mickey's Christmas Carol. Those were awesome to see when I was there; I had no idea they were out! I grew up watching it every Christmas and still love it and watch it every year.

 

[sunny_stace]

I am another one who loves Living With The Land! I usually have to go on it alone though...I'm looking forawrd to riding it with my neice and nephew this fall. They are growing a little vegetable garden this year so I bet they will love it! Its so peaceful I think!

It looks like a nice big family Brooklynn and Bella have going! I love Bella's big grin by the dino (and the hidden Brooklynn!).

On a side note, Jill's doppleganger who used to come in to my store all the time was in tonight. I hadn't seen her in quite a while and now I know why - she had a baby! A little girl...named Brooklyn! Too weird! I wish I could sneak a picture of her somehow! I wonder if she's a Disney fan too!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I love The Land mosaic. I remember from the story of it that the creator hid his two children's birthstone colors in the design.

I love the Haunted Mansion...but I hate the going backwards part!

 

[disneyfan61]

I am with you about Haunted Mansion. It's just ok for me. I like the music.

Love the pic with the palm tree & Epcot ball.