Friends and Family Holiday trip to WDW Dec 9 - 16, 2011 Update Post #156

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret! You get such nice nighttime pictures. We are usually so tired at night we don't make the evening shows.

It's nice to see your pictures of what we are missing.
TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret! You get such nice nighttime pictures. We are usually so tired at night we don't make the evening shows.

It's nice to see your pictures of what we are missing.
TK

Hey there TK and thank you for the comments on my pictures. I always want to enjoy the nighttime events at the Disney parks then the afternoon. As you know that I always like to be at the parks at night with the nighttime shows. You should try to take a break in the afternoon and then come back later during the nights to enjoy the parks. I am not like Deej who would stay at the park all the way until the park closes since I want to get to the park first thing in the morning.

Your welcome and I can't wait for you to start your DL TR.

I want to write up more of my TRs, but I am not home all the time since I have basketball season. But I will try to get it all done before my March trip to DL.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 1​

After a great day at IoA and MK that Monday, it was now time for another great day at the Disney parks. This time with everyone still sleeping at the resort, I took my car and head on over to DHS that Tuesday morning. The park opened at 9am so I head on out by myself. I was hoping that the girls wanted to go to the park that early morning, but they are late sleepers and I didn’t want to get them up early just to get on some rides.

I got to the park 20 minutes after DHS opened at 9am. The park didn’t seem that crowded that morning. It would always be nice if the park opened at 8am just like DL back home, but one hour difference is not that bad. When I was in the park, the only thing I did was just walked around the park and get some pictures of everything.

DHS turnstiles

I head on over towards the ToT side.

I am always so amazed at the first ToT ride at any Disney park. The DCA version and DHS are completely different on the outside, but I would always choose DHS version over DCA anytime when I compared both buildings. The wait time was around 20 minutes which is long. But I should know that DCA ToT doesn’t get a long wait time like DHS.

F! billboard sign which is right by the entrance.

Now heading on over to Rock “N” roller Coaster area

I left the Sunset Blvd and head back towards Hollywood Blvd entrance. The park crowd level started to pick up.

It was already 9:50am

More wreaths for the Wreath quest

One touch color with just red

After getting some pics around Hollywood Blvd, I walked down towards Commissary Lane which is the right on the back side of The American Idol Experience.

Now I was at the Streets of America which the Osborne Family Lights is located. You won’t see the SoA this empty until it is nighttime for the Osborne Lights.

A Golden Christmas tree

I walked on over towards TSMM. I would not be surprise to see the wait time at an hour that morning.

It was only 50 minute wait time which was not bad for TSMM. Every time I see the FP on TSMM, I am so glad that we don’t have one at DCA TSMM. It just causes more wait time when you are in the standby queue. 50 minutes at DCA is a very short wait time when you compare both DHS and DCA.

I left around Pixar Place area and now walking towards Mickey Ave. But I will get back to you later with more of my trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 2​

After walking around DHS that Tuesday morning and taking pictures at the buildings, I kept going around DHS and taking more pics.

I left off around TSMM which the queue was already at 50 minute wait. So I was still on the back side of DHS and looking around.

Now right next to Walt Disney One Man’s Dream building

Now approaching the Animation Courtyard

I didn’t go inside the Animation Courtyard and just left the area and was about to head on out of the park.

Now I am leaving DHS. But on the way out, I had to get some more pics for the Holiday quest.

DHS Christmas tree outside the turnstile

When I got outside the park, I decided to go to EPCOT that afternoon. Instead of taking my car out of DHS, I took the bus to EPCOT.

It almost took 30 minutes when I waited at the DHS bus stop all the way towards EPCOT. It was a long wait and it would have been easier if I would drive my car to EPCOT then taking the bus.

Out of all my days during my trip, I can’t believe I haven’t done EPCOT yet. But those other days it was for my group. So it was nice to go to EPCOT on a nice day.

When I entered the turnstile to EPCOT, the first thing I did was head on over to the Leave a Legacy stone which my DB and I did back in 2001. It is so easy for me to look for it since it is under the monorail track on the right hand side when you enter the park. Ever since I have come to EPCOT, this is the first thing I see when I enter the park.

Here is me and my DB on the Leave a Legacy

When I left the Leave a Legacy stone, I took some pics of the character topiaries. They were all nice with their Christmas decorations. The topiaries are nice, but they are nothing compared to the Flower and Garden Festival topiaries.

The park really was crowded that afternoon when there were a lot of people at the queue for Spaceship Earth. But that didn’t stop me for having a great time at the park.

Now just passing Spaceship Earth the wait time was already at 20 minutes.

That is it for now at EPCOT and I will be back with more from that day.

 

[skiingfast]

So complete or thier will be more of Epcot?

 

[tksbaskets]

I didn't realize you were in the Leave a Legacy. So cool! I love Space Ship Earth. Did you go on the ride too?

We are trying to decide what our next Disney trip will be. We may wait until Summer 2013 and go to DL for a visit to Cars Land or WDW for Star Wars Weekend.

Good thing you'll be taking more trips so I will get to visit through your TRs!

 

[mvf-m11c]

So complete or thier will be more of Epcot?

Their will be more on that day. I still have Wednesday and Thursday to go along with Tuesday. I have just been so busy and tired these last few weeks that I haven't been doing much on my TR. I will try to get it done for all of you so be patient.

I didn't realize you were in the Leave a Legacy. So cool! I love Space Ship Earth. Did you go on the ride too?

We are trying to decide what our next Disney trip will be. We may wait until Summer 2013 and go to DL for a visit to Cars Land or WDW for Star Wars Weekend.

Good thing you'll be taking more trips so I will get to visit through your TRs!

I have never mentioned it during my last two WDW TRs. I thought this time it would be nice to show you my Leave a Legacy picture of the stone at EPCOT. I did ride Spaceship Earth during my trip. I will tell you later on during my TR.

I would go to DL during the Summer of 2013 to see Cars Land and Buena Vista Street. I have never been to WDW during Star Wars Weekend and would like to try that one day.

Thanks TK. I have some trips planned for this year and can't wait to get them all set up.

 

[skiingfast]

Their will be more on that day. I still have Wednesday and Thursday to go along with Tuesday. I have just been so busy and tired these last few weeks that I haven't been doing much on my TR. I will try to get it done for all of you so be patient.

Ok just wondered when I noticed in your signature that it says "complete"

 

[mvf-m11c]

Ok just wondered when I noticed in your signature that it says "complete"

I always put complete on my signature during each of my trips which means that the trip is over and now I'm going to write up my TR. I'm sorry that I confused you Matt.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 3​

Now back to the TR after a few days away from my CPU. I have left off around Future World around Spaceship Earth. The park was about above average for crowd level that Tuesday. It was a little bit busy around Spaceship Earth with about a 20 minute wait in the afternoon. My goal is to take pictures of the Holiday decorations at EPCOT.

I only took a couple of pics around the center of Future World. Next I was on my way towards Test Track and see what the wait time was. Every time I looked at Test Track, it gets me all excited for Cars Land this summer.

The wait time for the regular queue was 30 minutes while the single passenger queue was 10 minutes. I didn’t ride it that afternoon so I just got myself a FP for me to collect.

After getting the Test Track FP, I now about to head on over to World Showcase and look for any Holiday decorations. But first, I went back to the middle of Future World to look for any Holiday decorations.

Monorail Yellow in the park

Around Future World garden walk area look so weird without the Flower and Garden Festival plants which is right by these walkways.

Now at the water fountain area which have the big stage. There were quite a number of trees in that area so it was a perfect area to get some pictures of the trees.

Before I head on over to World Showcase, I had to get the topiaries of Mickey, Minnie and Pluto.

At the center of World Showcase was the big Christmas tree with ornaments of the flags from each country.

I head on the left had side of World Showcase lagoon towards the Mexico pavilion. On the way, I looked at the Disney Showcase store on the left hand side which has a lot of Christmas decorations and pictures.

The boats were not running that morning since World Showcase doesn’t open until 11am.

Mexico pavilion

More pictures from World Showcase lagoon

Now at the Norway pavilion

It has a lot of Christmas decorations around the area

Maelstrom ride just has opened since it was 11am

The Puffin’s Roost store with a lot of Christmas decorations

Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe with some Christmas decorations

That’s it for this post and I will be back with more.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 4​

I have left off around Norway getting more pics of the Holiday decorations. As before I left Norway pavilion, I saw that they had the stage how Christmas is celebrated at Norway.

Now I was in China

World Showcase lagoon facing towards the American pavilion.

I kept walking up towards the back side of World Showcase

Now I was in Germany. I head on over to the small stage right by Germany which tells how Christmas is celebrated in Germany.

Germany pavilion have a lot of different Christmas decorations around the area

I head on out of Germany and going towards the next pavilion

The Italy pavilion

Ileft the Italy pavilion and now heading on over to the American pavilion

The Candlelight Processional was running that night and the guest speaker was Lorraine Bracco

The American Adventure show at the Liberty Theatre have a lot of wreaths and garlands in front of the building

Around the American pavilion was really quiet that afternoon with most of the guest at the World Showcase.

That is it for now on this post and I will be back with more from EPCOT.

 

[skiingfast]

What was the "Exclusive Showing" that America was having?

I can taste food as you circled the lagoon.

 

[tksbaskets]

What was the "Exclusive Showing" that America was having?

I can taste food as you circled the lagoon.

Me too. The restaurant in Italy was wonderful! It's fun to see the different ways Christmas is celebrated as you tour the world.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

What was the "Exclusive Showing" that America was having?

I can taste food as you circled the lagoon.

It was only the "American Adventure" show that is inside the American pavilion.

There was a lot of different places to eat around World Showcase, I was going crazy of where I should eat that day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 5​

I left off around the American pavilion looking for any Christmas decorations. There were quite a lot of Christmas decorations around the area just as Norway and Germany. So it was easy to look for them.

Christmas tree at the American pavilion

Shops that have a lot of Christmas merchandise

I left the American pavilion and heading on over to the Japan pavilion

Japan pavilion

When I got to the Japan pavilion, it was really quiet.

After getting some pics of the buildings at the Japan pavilion, I head on out and towards the next pavilion.

Just passing Morocco

Now entering the France pavilion

Les Chefs de France restaurant

When I got more inside France, Santa was already outside and entertaining the guest

The France Santa just finished the entertainment

Now I left the France pavilion, now heading on towards the United Kingdom pavilion

World Showcase Lagoon

I left United Kingdom and heading on over to the next pavilion which is the Canada. But that will be another post so I will be back with more.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 6​

After leaving the United Kingdom pavilion, I head on over to the next pavilion which was the Canada pavilion. The day was so great with just few clouds and around in the high 60s that afternoon. The park started to pick up around World Showcase, but earlier I was at the back and it was quiet. But when I got close back to the middle, the guests started to show up that afternoon.

The Canada pavilion

Le Cellier Steakhouse sign

I left the Canada pavilion and heading on back to the middle of World Showcase

After walking closer to the Christmas tree right by the stores, I went through the walkway towards Imagination! So I can head on over to the Land and get a FP for Soarin.

On the way over there, it was getting quite busy around Future World

Right by the Imagination! And Monorail Black is circling around Future World

I head on over to the Land and it was quite busy outside and I would expect the same thing when I went inside the building.

Inside the Land, it was already lunch and almost all the tables were filled

When I got to the bottom, I head on over to Soarin and saw that the wait time was already at 60 minutes. I knew that Soarin was going to be a long wait during anytime during the day. When I compare both EPCOT Soarin and DCA Soarin, DCA has a way shorter wait time then EPCOT. So I didn’t plan on Soarin during the whole trip.

The return time by getting the FP when I was there was till 7pm

I thought about going on Living with the Land since it was only a 15 minute wait, but I wanted to go around the park and get more different pics. So I head on out of the park.

Another Christmas tree right by the Garden Grill restaurant

After leaving the Land, I head on over to the Seas

Spaceship Earth from the Seas

I left the Seas and went back to the center of Future World to do some more photography. There was quite a number of people heading on over to the Land.

I went back to the other side of Future World where it was quite busy as well as the other side.

After looking around the other side of Future World, I head on back to the center.

That’s it for now and I will be back with more.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
You got some beautiful pictures around EPCOT this day. The weather looks nice too. Yes, Soarin' at EPCOT is always crowded and the fastpass is the only way to go. Since it is the exact same ride as DL I would have taken advantage of the nice day and take pictures too

Looking forward to more.
TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
You got some beautiful pictures around EPCOT this day. The weather looks nice too. Yes, Soarin' at EPCOT is always crowded and the fastpass is the only way to go. Since it is the exact same ride as DL I would have taken advantage of the nice day and take pictures too

Looking forward to more.
TK

Thank you TK. It was a great day to go to the parks. It would be very nice if the weather was like that at DL during the winter season. I'm glad that DCA Soarin is not that crowded like at EPCOT. It does make sense of not waiting in that queue since the rides are the same unless EPCOT changes it to something else. I was also curious if you have ridden Soarin at DCA during your trip to DL earlier this month.

The next part of the TR will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 7​

After taking some more pics around Future World, I was getting hungry so I decided where to eat around Future World. I thought about eating at the Land but it was just really busy with all those guest waiting for Soarin. So that was out of the question, the other decision was to choose the different quick service restaurants at World Showcase. So I looked on my smart phone and looked at all the quick counter restaurants at World Showcase to eat at. I had three choices which was Katsura Grill at the Japan pavilion, Lotus Blossom Café at the China pavilion or Yorkshire County Fish Shop at the United Kingdom pavilion. I decided to choose when I got closer to World Showcase.

In the mean time, I head on out of Future World and over to World Showcase.

Now I was right by the Christmas tree right in the middle of the stores at World Showcase lagoon and I have chosen to eat at Katsura Grill for lunch so I head on the right hand side towards the Japan pavilion.

Now back at Canada

Now United Kingdom

World Showcase Lagoon still looks nice during the day

Looking back towards United Kingdom from the bridge right by the France pavilion

I’m back at France and once again, Santa was out there entertaining the guests

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6753294383_47203000d9_z.jpg/img]

I just now passed Morocco pavilion
[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6753299647_9d32f34205_z.jpg

Now I am back at Japan and now to have lunch. It was quite busy around Japan.

I head on over towards the Katsura Grill and have lunch. I had the Teriyaki Chicken bowl for lunch. I could have easily chosen the Shogun Combo, but I was planning getting back to the resort and meet up with my group for lunch around Orlando.

After I finished lunch, I went on the other side of World Showcase to get any pics that I have missed.

American pavilion

The America Garden Theatre all ready for the CP that night

Now approaching the Italy pavilion

When I was at the Italy pavilion, the storyteller for the Italy pavilion for Christmas was going on so I checked on over there and see it. It was really neat to hear about how Christmas is celebrated in Italy.

After the storyteller at Italy, I head on out to do more picture taking. But the next part will be the next time.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 4 – December 13, 2011 – Part 8​

After leaving the storyteller at the Italy pavilion, I head on out of Italy and now going around World Showcase all the way back towards Future World. I decided to head on out of the park and go to the Contemporary hotel since I like to stop at that hotel. The Contemporary hotel is the first hotel that I have stayed at when I was at WDW back in 1996. So I thought it would be a good idea to take the EPCOT monorail all the way back towards the T&TC to the Contemporary resort.

The LGB train layout right by the Germany pavilion which is something I always like to look at since I am a big train fan.

Now passing by Germany

I kept walking along the walkway around World Showcase lagoon all the way and the next land on the pictures is China.

Now I passed Norway. It looked way busier then that morning.

Now I was about back to the center of World Showcase and heading back to Future World.

Duffy meet and greet area at EPCOT

I head on out of the park and to the monorail station. The park started to pick up with more and more guests around the area so it was a good time to leave the park.

Before I head on out of the park, I saw that Spaceship Earth had a short wait time and was a walk on. So I just went on it before I head on out of the park.

I videotaped the ride so here are some pics from Spaceship Earth.

After getting off Spaceship Earth, I head on out of the park and towards the monorail station.

I passed through the Holiday topiaries right by the Leave a Legacy stones on the left and right hand side.

One more close up pic of Goofy and Donald before I head on out of EPCOT.

When I just exited the park, one of the monorails was at the station so I walked really fast to the station and I was the last person to enter the monorail. So I head on over to the Transportation & Ticket Center so I can change monorails.

At the Transportation and Ticket Center, I head on over to the Monorail Resort line so I can get to the Contemporary Resort. When I just got off the monorail and saw Monorail Gold on the resort line, it started to get really cloudy with dark clouds. So I knew that it will rain but when. So it didn’t stop me from taking the monorail to the Contemporary resort.

Some of you are still wondering why I didn’t take the bus to the Contemporary from EPCOT. For people that follow my previous WDW trips and my DL TRs, I like to ride the monorail at DL or WDW since it is my favorite ride or transportation. I like to be up off the ground and see a lot of great scenery.

I didn’t take too many pics while I was on the monorail since I was holding on the bar and have taken pictures from the monorail. I was really disappointed when I got home and didn’t take too many pics from the monorail. I thought we would ride it more during the trip, but that wasn’t the case.

Just as I was about to enter the Resort Monorail line, my dad called me and it was time for lunch at an off site restaurant that my dad wanted to try since we got here to Orlando. I was really disappointed that I am not going to ride the monorail to the Contemporary, but I had to meet up with my group. So I went back over to the EPCOT line and tried to get back on Monorail Black, but it already left the station so I had to wait for the next one.

It was nice to see Monorail Coral back to its original colors after it was the TRONorail for a few years.

When I was at the station, I asked one of the CMs about which monorails were on the EPCOT line. He said that only Black and Yellow were on the line. Only two monorails were on the line which it should be three on average. But during my whole trip, I saw that all the monorail lines had at least three or less. I didn’t see four monorails on the line which I usually see. Maybe it was due to a non-busy week and didn’t need to run all four monorails on one line. I knew that Monorail Peach made its debut this year and glad to see that the WDW Monorail system have its full fleet of trains which is 12.

Monorail Yellow approaching the station

I rode Yellow all the way back to the EPCOT monorail station and the first thing I did was head on over to the EPCOT bus loading area so I can get back to DHS and get back to my car.

At the bus loading area, I had to wait about 10 minutes for the next bus to get back to DHS. Got on the bus and it took about 10 minutes to get to DHS. I got off the bus and head back to my car. Luckily, there weren’t quite a lot of people at the parking lot since a lot of the earlier guests have left the park and all the guests that were coming in were parking on the other side.

So I left DHS around 2:30pm and head on back to the resort and met up with my group. So we went to a Chinese restaurant off of International Drive. We went to this Chinese restaurant back during the 2010 trip during Spring Break where my dad went fishing and actually cooked our fish. He did not go fishing this time, but it was a nice place to have some Chinese food.

When we finished lunch, my dad friend was about to visit a old friend from college on the east side of Orlando and took my dads car. So I had to drive my dad and my brother to our next destination while the girls took their car. They wanted to go to DHS that day and ride ST. But my dad and my DB didn’t want to go to DHS, they wanted to go to EPCOT so I drove with them to EPCOT while the girls went to DHS.

That will be another time so stay tuned for that night.