Dear Santa, I'd like a double-deluxe Disney Xmas!! Dec'12 PTR! Upd 1/20 TR & DR links

[PracPerfPatricia]

OMG... how did I miss these updates...

You were on an updating tear there...

So so close...

Your plans sound awesome... and I think spending Christmas Day in Epcot and doing the storytellers is a great plan...

(You will take lots of pictures of your tree right???)

Your movie nights all look great... I'm a big borrower so some of those may show up in our house...

There is no mail that trumps Mickey Mail...

 

[SAT887]

Love the jack skellington cupcakes!! So cute!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Love your plans.......spending Christmas at the parks is so exciting! Are your kids pretty excited about that??

Great Halloween costumes!!

I love all your Disney Movie Nights~~I don't do them as much as my kids would like me to.....but they really are a lot of fun!!

 

[khertz]

I think you have a great plan for Christmas! Focusing on the stuff that won't have a wait time sounds like exactly the right thing to do. I wish we could have seen more of the Storytellers on our December trip, but we only happened upon a couple of them as they were in the middle of or finishing up their story. Hearing about Christmas traditions all over the world sounds like an awesome way to spend Christmas Day in Epcot!

 

[1stvisit0909]

we will be doing storytellers at EPCOT Christmas day too. Maybe we will bump into each other wouldnt that be cool???!

I love the cupcakes!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

OMG... how did I miss these updates...

You were on an updating tear there...

So so close...

Your plans sound awesome... and I think spending Christmas Day in Epcot and doing the storytellers is a great plan...

(You will take lots of pictures of your tree right???)

Your movie nights all look great... I'm a big borrower so some of those may show up in our house...

There is no mail that trumps Mickey Mail...

I hope you are having an amazing time on your trip right now!

I will indeed take pics of our tree! We are still planning on buying an ornament each on our DTD day to decorate it with also.

Totally feel free to "borrow" any of the movie night ideas.

Love the jack skellington cupcakes!! So cute!

Thank you

Love your plans.......spending Christmas at the parks is so exciting! Are your kids pretty excited about that??

Great Halloween costumes!!

I love all your Disney Movie Nights~~I don't do them as much as my kids would like me to.....but they really are a lot of fun!!

My kids are super excited about the trip...and Christmas at WDW. Its ALL they talk about!

We still very much look forward to our movie nights. I may not always do a lot of decorating...or pictures, but we do enjoy them.

I think you have a great plan for Christmas! Focusing on the stuff that won't have a wait time sounds like exactly the right thing to do. I wish we could have seen more of the Storytellers on our December trip, but we only happened upon a couple of them as they were in the middle of or finishing up their story. Hearing about Christmas traditions all over the world sounds like an awesome way to spend Christmas Day in Epcot!

I really wanted to do something "Christmas-y" on Christmas, so I figured hearing the storytellers would be perfect. Hearing all the different traditions from other countries seemed perfect!

we will be doing storytellers at EPCOT Christmas day too. Maybe we will bump into each other wouldnt that be cool???!

I love the cupcakes!

I will be on the lookout for you! If I remember correctly, your LC ADR is an hour before ours too! Hopefully we can bump into each other, even if only for a quick hello

Thank you regarding the cupcakes

 

[1stvisit0909]

I hope you are having an amazing time on your trip right now!

I will indeed take pics of our tree! We are still planning on buying an ornament each on our DTD day to decorate it with also.

Totally feel free to "borrow" any of the movie night ideas.


Thank you

My kids are super excited about the trip...and Christmas at WDW. Its ALL they talk about!

We still very much look forward to our movie nights. I may not always do a lot of decorating...or pictures, but we do enjoy them.


I really wanted to do something "Christmas-y" on Christmas, so I figured hearing the storytellers would be perfect. Hearing all the different traditions from other countries seemed perfect!

I will be on the lookout for you! If I remember correctly, your LC ADR is an hour before ours too! Hopefully we can bump into each other, even if only for a quick hello

Thank you regarding the cupcakes

You are correct! Ours is at 1150. I need a LGMH!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Day 9 - December 26

Rest day

So, the trip will be nearing an end at this point (BOOOOOO!!), so I know the family will be worn out by this time. The plans for today are...

Heading out for early ADR at Ohana. We have never been here for breakfast, so I am looking forward to Mickey in his Hawaiian shirt.

After breakfast, we will either head to MK for a few hours, or head to Epcot. I am leaning more towards MK, but I will leave it up to the family (and my Touring Plans app!!)...and most importantly, what time we leave Ohana!

We have an early lunch ADR at Via Napoli. We will probably pay OOP for this one because I really dont know how hungry we will be at this point.

We will leave Epcot after lunch and head back over to BW. If its nice, we will swim a little bit, otherwise just enjoy the BW or perhaps CL.

Tonight we are headed back to Poly for the early Spirit of Aloha show. We saw this a few years ago when we were there, and my older kids requested to go back.

After SOA we will be heading to HS for PM EMH. We have never been to HS for PM EMH, so we want to take advantage so we can take the little boys to Disney Jr dance party. We dont have any firm plans on whether or not to do Fantasmic. I am ok with missing it, but I'm ok with seeing it. We will see how busy the 10p show looks I guess.

Once we are done with HS, we will walk or take the boat back to BW.





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[debrapagliasotti]

Soooo, I FINALLY decided it was time to order our Photopass + today. I mean, afterall, we are 18 days out and they require 14 days minimum, so, I figured today was the day I needed to get it done.

One less thing off my "to do" list (which by the way is probably a mile long )

I'm stressing over weather. Do I need to get some colder weather clothes...or dont I??!! We live an hour away from a big city, so I do most of my shopping online, so time constraints are going to become an issue. DH wants us to go ahead and get some stuff for colder weather just in case. He would rather we have it, than not have it and need it. DH is the type of guy who can go out in shorts when its snowing, but the kids and I are freezing 95% of the time.

I will try and get another update this weekend since there is only 1 full day and 1 half day left to give plans for.





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[debrapagliasotti]

You are correct! Ours is at 1150. I need a LGMH!

Ours is at 1pm. I need a LGMH too! I remember someone put some together on our FB page. Is there one on Dec roll call? I'm soooooo behind on that thread! Moves way too fast and I cant keep up with it.

Need to put LGMH on my "to do" list.

 

[1stvisit0909]

Ours is at 1pm. I need a LGMH too! I remember someone put some together on our FB page. Is there one on Dec roll call? I'm soooooo behind on that thread! Moves way too fast and I cant keep up with it.

Need to put LGMH on my "to do" list.

I think there is one on the thread---in one of the first few posts?

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I think there is one on the thread---in one of the first few posts?

Thats what I was thinking too Thanks!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Debra! Your Christmas Day plans at Epcot sound wonderful from breakfast at Akershus (one of my favorites) to hearing some of the storytellers - what a special Christmas day treat! But scoring a LC lunch - yipee!!!

Your Tutto Italia ADR made me go check their menu since we have not been there since they have refurb'd the restaurant. I wish they had the manicotti or candele pasta dishes but there are some other items that do look really awesome.

I'm of the mind of your DH to have the warmer clothes even if you don't need them rather than not have them and be freezing. I'm always on the cold side as well so I keep a sweater on me most of the time. (And I live in CA so what a light-weight am I?)

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Debra,

We just got back... and we had a chance to hear 4-5 of the storytellers in Epcot and they were awesome... I think that's a great way to spend Christmas Day... and Epcot will be less crazy than some of the other parks...(and Akershus will also be lovely...) Keep the Via Napoli... we just ate there for lunch...it's a really fun place and you don't have to eat tons... there are some lighter options... or you could do appetizers and split a pizza...


We just had temps of mid 70s for the five days we were there and lows of about 60... (it was really nice...also sun all 5 days...) It looked like the temps were going to go down a little bit as we were leaving...

you definitely want to be able to layer... in the day in the sun it will be warm but at night you'll probably want jackets... not arctic jackets... but something to keep the chill at bay...it won't be fun if your chilly...

Wow I wish I could sneak in your suit case and go back... you're going to have such a fabulous time

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Hi Debra! Your Christmas Day plans at Epcot sound wonderful from breakfast at Akershus (one of my favorites) to hearing some of the storytellers - what a special Christmas day treat! But scoring a LC lunch - yipee!!!

Your Tutto Italia ADR made me go check their menu since we have not been there since they have refurb'd the restaurant. I wish they had the manicotti or candele pasta dishes but there are some other items that do look really awesome.

I'm of the mind of your DH to have the warmer clothes even if you don't need them rather than not have them and be freezing. I'm always on the cold side as well so I keep a sweater on me most of the time. (And I live in CA so what a light-weight am I?)

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Very excited about Le Cellier Christmas lunch! We WILL NOT cancel this time...no way, no how!!

I am a light weight too as far as cooler weather. I would sleep with the heater on most nights if DH would let me!

Hey Debra,

We just got back... and we had a chance to hear 4-5 of the storytellers in Epcot and they were awesome... I think that's a great way to spend Christmas Day... and Epcot will be less crazy than some of the other parks...(and Akershus will also be lovely...) Keep the Via Napoli... we just ate there for lunch...it's a really fun place and you don't have to eat tons... there are some lighter options... or you could do appetizers and split a pizza...


We just had temps of mid 70s for the five days we were there and lows of about 60... (it was really nice...also sun all 5 days...) It looked like the temps were going to go down a little bit as we were leaving...

you definitely want to be able to layer... in the day in the sun it will be warm but at night you'll probably want jackets... not arctic jackets... but something to keep the chill at bay...it won't be fun if your chilly...

Wow I wish I could sneak in your suit case and go back... you're going to have such a fabulous time

We are definately looking forward to Via Napoli! I actually switched up and booked us for a dinner instead of that lunch, that way I knew we would be hungry. Now, I MUST STAY AWAY FROM THE ADR SITE!!!

We ordered some Polar Tech fleece jackets for the kids and DH & I have runners cold-gear jackets, so hopefully those will be good.

Looking forward to the storytellers. I think it will be a nice way to spend Christmas.

I got your PM about your TR, so I will head over there in just a second!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Day 10 - Dec 27

Animal Kingdom

Today will mark our last full day in the parks -- why do these trips have to always come to an end?

On this day we will be back at AK. We will start the morning by having breakfast at Tusker House. We have never done breakfast here, only lunch, so I am excited about trying a new meal here.

We will focus today on the kids favorites from this park. Another ride on Kilamanjaro Safari...another ride on EE, who knows what else.

Our lunch ADR today is Rainforest Cafe. Ugh, the things you do for your kids. I really dont care for RFC, but the kids have never been, so they really want to do this one.

Depending on what time we finish up at AK, we might head over to MK for a little bit before our dinner ADR at California Grill. Now, THIS is an ADR I am excited about! I cant wait to see Holiday Wishes from the observation area at the restraunt.

After dinner we will probably head back to the hotel (unless I can convince the family for one last stroll down Main Street )






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[debrapagliasotti]

Day 11 - Dec 28

Departure day /Epcot

This is the day I am absolutely dreading...departure day.

I dont have a breakfast ADR booked this morning so we can finish up packing -- a huge, daunting task among itself!!

We will probably grab something from the CL and eat in the room while getting everything together.

After we are finished up, we will drop our carryons at the Bell desk and take care of our checked luggage at airline check in and then head over to Epcot. We have booked at San Angel.

After lunch we will finish up any last minute shopping or spending of snack credits.

Magic Express will probably pick us up around 4pm, our flight is at 7pm.

Upon arrival back home we will be staying in the same hotel we did on the 17th. We are meeting up with my parents for an early lunch on the 29th and then driving a few short hours to "our vacation from our vacation" -- we will be staying in a lake cabin for 3nts. Some of DH family will be there for a reunion, but they are all leaving the morning of the 30th, whereas we are staying and not coming home until Jan 1. We stayed in a cabin here last year and really fell in love with the area.

After returning I will have to put all my focus on my TR, DR and plans for our Oct trip.

So there you have it folks, the plans for our Christmas trip. I still need to get up Nov & Dec movie nights as well as some shopping pics. Things will be crazy busy until the trip.






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[khertz]

Sounds like you have a great 2 days planned out to wrap up your trip! And then straight onto another mini vacation? What a great bonus! It will give you some time to relax after the craziness of WDW before going back to reality. I might need to convince DH we need something like that after our trips.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Sounds like you have a great 2 days planned out to wrap up your trip! And then straight onto another mini vacation? What a great bonus! It will give you some time to relax after the craziness of WDW before going back to reality. I might need to convince DH we need something like that after our trips.

It will be nice to have a "mini vacation" before heading back to the real world. DH really will need to get back home to do some work on his current Doctoral class as well as his teaching load for Spring, but he really wants to see his family, so...that is the reason for the "mini vacation".

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Some of the items purchased for the trip...

Harper & I will be doing "Pick a Pearl", so I purchased the Cinderella carriage cage necklace for each of us

Jaxon and his carryon (he wanted one for himself after seeing the older kids bags)

Evan and his carryon

Hoodies for Jaxon & Evan (Toy Story - Jaxon, Mickey - Evan)

Harper's hairbows

Harper's Christmas hat

Books for Hunter & Harper -- hidden Mickey book & daily journal

Sunglasses for Jaxon & Evan (they each have a pair of these)

My trip journal

Storage containers for leftovers or whatever

Continued in next post...






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