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

[rentayenta]

Glad I found this. Going to catch up.

 

[franandaj]

With our current plans, it looks like we won't be back to WDW at Christmas until 2014, we were planning 2012, but with the postponement of our 2011 trip and the DIS gamers meet in 2013 during October, we'll have to look towards 2014 for a Christmas trip. The Osborne lights look so cool. I can't wait to see them in person!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Two TRs at once. Don't forget anything.

Yup two TR at once and it is crazy to try and remember everything. So I will do the DL first before I get more into the WDW TR.

Glad I found this. Going to catch up.

Glad that you are here. I need to check your DL TR which is almost being done so I will stop by.

With our current plans, it looks like we won't be back to WDW at Christmas until 2014, we were planning 2012, but with the postponement of our 2011 trip and the DIS gamers meet in 2013 during October, we'll have to look towards 2014 for a Christmas trip. The Osborne lights look so cool. I can't wait to see them in person!

At least the new Fantasyland expansion should be done and I would guess that it will be decorated during the Holiday season which will be great. You got to see the Osborne Family lights in person and see how amazing it is. It is not the same when you see it on video and in person.

The first installment of my WDW TR is coming up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

On that Friday morning the 9th, my dad, my DB and I left our house to Sacramento International Airport at 5am. I don’t like getting up really early in the morning, but this was a requirement so we can get to Orlando early that night. Our first flight is to LAX where we will meet up with my dads friend.

We left Sacramento around 7am and on our way to LAX.

We got to LAX around 8am and we met up with my dad’s friend family and we took the same flight together to Orlando. But first we had to go to Denver first and then to Orlando. It was a pain to fly three times that day, but it didn’t bother me at all.

The time we got to Orlando International Airport was around 6pm eastern time which was great from flying three times that day. The first thing we did was to get our luggage and get our cars. My dad accidentally got two cars instead on one because he forgot to cancel one of the dealerships when the trip was coming closer. So I was able to get a car for myself and it did made a big difference. But I will talk about that later on.

My family had two cars while my dad’s friend family had one car so in total we had three cars to use during this trip. We left the airport and we were on our way to the Sheraton Vistana Resort. I have stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort last year and it was great resort. I hope that my family and my dad’s friend family will like the place. But I can tell that they will like it a lot.

We got to the Sheraton Vistana Resort around 7pm and we got to check-in. This time we will be staying at the Cascade area while my DA and I stayed at the Spa area last year. I maybe need to get a map of where it was, but I will try to show it later on. The good thing is that my dad’s friend family was right next to us so we could walk on over to the room.

We head on over to the room and they were all impressed with the room. This time the room was completely different from the last one. It did have a master bedroom, two double bedroom, living room, a kitchen, washer & dryer, plus the two bathroom which was a master and standard bathroom. The design was way different from the one that I stayed last year. I am sorry that I didn’t have any pics until we left that day. So I might have to show them on the website.

When we got settled in, we need some supplies so we head on out of the resort and went to Wal Mart. It was nice to go to a store and get some supplies for our trip.

After getting our supplies at Wal Mart, we went to dinner and we decided to eat at Steak N’ Shake. It is a fast food restaurant that is only on the east side so I was happy to have lunch there as well as my dad. They really enjoyed the food at Steak N’ Shake and it was getting late so we head on back to the Sheraton Vistana Resort.

We got back to the resort and we decided to call it for the night. It was a long day of transferring flights and getting supplies that night. But it was good to have those products during the trip since we were hungry or thirsty while we were waiting at the room.

Day 1 – December 10, 2011 – Part 1​

That Saturday morning everyone was still sleeping and I told my dad that I was going to the parks that morning. But my dad and my DB decided to go shopping that morning and my dad’s friend family was planning on going to Universal Orlando to see the Wizardy World of Harry Potter since they have a three day ticket. This is where the extra car comes into play since I can drive to the parks without using the other car.

So I head on out of the Sheraton Vistana Resort and I chose to go to the MK as the first park that day. I knew that going to the MK that day will be really busy when I first checked it out on Touring Plans and said to be a 9/10. So the first few hours will have to be really quick before the crowds come in.

I got to the Transportation and Ticket parking lot around 7:45am that morning and was close to ticket center. At least there weren’t too many people but I knew that I wouldn’t make the rope drop.

I went on the express monorail since it goes straight towards the MK instead of the resort line which goes to the hotels. I always like going on the resort line since I like to stop and go in the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian.

Monorail Teal on the Resort line

It took awhile for the next monorail on the express line to show up so I waited until another monorail showed up on the resort line.

This was not Monorail Orange since it doesn’t have the white deltas. It was actually Monorail Coral since I used the new one touch picture and you can see from the background that it was grey.

I got on the express monorail line which was Silver. Now I was back at the MK after a year long wait and was great to be outside the turnstiles.

Now at the front of the MS station and finding all the Christmas decorations around MS. The front entrance of MS at the MK and DL are completely different and the MK station is more decorated then DL MS station.

I head on inside MS on the left hand side which is where City Hall is located.

Inside the park, it was not that crowded that morning which is a good sign since I can get some pics of the Holiday decorations.

The Chamber of Commerce building

Now the wreaths on the building

MS Town Square

Candy Cane Garden which is also a meet and greet area for Santa

City Hall with its decorations

It was already 8:15am that morning

The Christmas tree at Town Square

Engine Co. 71 Firehouse with the decorations

I just kept going around Town Square to get a lot of pics and I will head on over to the Hub.

That’s it for this post since I am out of posts. I will get back to the post until I finish my DL TR from last month.

 

[tksbaskets]

Great pictures Bret! The MK doesn't look too crowded this day. How was the temperature while you were there?

TK

 

[Sherry E]

I had to get myself subscribed here because these TR's are next to impossible to find on the WDW side of the board when there are so many of them happening at one time and moving down the forum page at lightning speed!

Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to move a thread from one forum to another on the WDW side of town but, if I am not mistaken, I think you have to send a PM to the moderator of this Pre-TR forum and ask him/her to move your thread or close a thread.

OR, since they have very specific forums for Pre-TR's, active TR's and completed TR's on this side, you could also just copy and paste all the actual TR stuff you have posted here into a new TR thread in the main TR section. In other words, ask them to close this Pre-TR thread out and then start the actual active TR in their designated TR section with the pictures, etc., you have already posted here.

I am always fascinated to see the WDW decorations since I am so familiar with DLR and its holiday celebration. I always come to the same conclusion - there are specific things or items at WDW that are better, and then there are certain things I like better at DLR. I like the wreaths on Main Street at the MK in WDW, for example. But some of the actual Christmas trees I prefer at DLR. I like the topiaries at WDW. I actually kind of like the look of our DLR Winter Castle at night better than the one at WDW (I just like the 'glow and sparkle' factor better on our Castle - don't kill me, WDW veterans!).

Anyway, thanks for putting in a plug for the Christmas Superthread, Bret, and for the Tree Quest and Wreath Quest. Between all of the hotels at WDW, as well as the 4 parks and the shops, restaurants, etc., a Tree Quest and Wreath Quest around WDW would be absolutely exhausting and daunting. It's tiring enough to take on at DLR! But if I ever get to go to WDW for the holidays, I will surely attempt the Quests even if I pass out in the process!

 

[rentayenta]

Love your photos. They are making me very excited to return to WDW next October. We haven't been since May 2009. Keep them coming.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great pictures Bret! The MK doesn't look too crowded this day. How was the temperature while you were there?

TK

Thank you TK. The MK didn't look crowded that morning, but later on it was crazy. I will tell you about that later on during the TR. The weather was so great that morning. It was close to the mid 60s that morning. I wish I was still back in Florida since it is really cold here in Cal.

I had to get myself subscribed here because these TR's are next to impossible to find on the WDW side of the board when there are so many of them happening at one time and moving down the forum page at lightning speed!

Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to move a thread from one forum to another on the WDW side of town but, if I am not mistaken, I think you have to send a PM to the moderator of this Pre-TR forum and ask him/her to move your thread or close a thread.

OR, since they have very specific forums for Pre-TR's, active TR's and completed TR's on this side, you could also just copy and paste all the actual TR stuff you have posted here into a new TR thread in the main TR section. In other words, ask them to close this Pre-TR thread out and then start the actual active TR in their designated TR section with the pictures, etc., you have already posted here.

I am always fascinated to see the WDW decorations since I am so familiar with DLR and its holiday celebration. I always come to the same conclusion - there are specific things or items at WDW that are better, and then there are certain things I like better at DLR. I like the wreaths on Main Street at the MK in WDW, for example. But some of the actual Christmas trees I prefer at DLR. I like the topiaries at WDW. I actually kind of like the look of our DLR Winter Castle at night better than the one at WDW (I just like the 'glow and sparkle' factor better on our Castle - don't kill me, WDW veterans!).

Anyway, thanks for putting in a plug for the Christmas Superthread, Bret, and for the Tree Quest and Wreath Quest. Between all of the hotels at WDW, as well as the 4 parks and the shops, restaurants, etc., a Tree Quest and Wreath Quest around WDW would be absolutely exhausting and daunting. It's tiring enough to take on at DLR! But if I ever get to go to WDW for the holidays, I will surely attempt the Quests even if I pass out in the process!

No kidding Sherry that these TRs on the WDW side are so hard to find if no one posts after a few days then the ones on the DL side. Luckily I have my WDW thread on my signature below so I could go to it and don't have to look for it.

I did send a pm to the moderators on the WDW side and ask them to move my pre-TR to the TR threads.

You are correct about that Sherry about the Holiday decorations at the DLR and WDW. There are a lot of different Holiday decorations that are different compare to DL and WDW. I compare DL and the MK at WDW is that the wreaths on the lamp posts at the MK are very nice compare to our DL which you can see a Mickey shape wreath. The trees are very nice at DL compare to WDW. The topiaries are so amazing. I will have topiaries up shortly on my TR. And for the castle which is the best is still SB Castle with all those different Holiday decorations then Cinderella Castle. Cinderella Castle is great with the icicles at night. SB Castle have the wreath, garlands and icicles of course. But I also like the snow on the turrets of the castle which is a great picture to take during the daytime.

You are welcome for putting a link to the DLR Christmas Superthread. The DLR is so amazing during the Holiday season as well as WDW. It would be almost impossible to get every tree and wreath at WDW. DL is a lot and it was fun to find as many trees and wreaths during my TR. So stay tune for more trees and wreaths at WDW.

Love your photos. They are making me very excited to return to WDW next October. We haven't been since May 2009. Keep them coming.

Thank you. I hope that you and your family have a great trip to WDW next month at WDW during the Halloween season. That is the next time I want to go back to WDW and see the Halloween decorations.

I will have the next update up tonight before I head to bed.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – December 10, 2011 – Part 2​

I left off at MS Town Square getting some pictures of the Christmas decorations and now I am about to head on over to the Hub. But before I do that I had to get the Holiday decorations on the MS buildings. Luckily, the park wasn’t that crowded that morning, but I knew that it will be really busy with all these people later that afternoon. So I had to go through the MK as fast as I can before more people come in the park.

Now let’s get back to the TR. While I was taking pictures of MS Town Square, the Emporium store which is the main store just like DL have some great window display of Scrooge. One of the window displays was blocked that day but I did get it later on during my trip which will be another time.

After getting the window displays at the Emporium, now it was time to get all those buildings down on MS which are very nice to look. There were a lot of wreaths down MS.

The garlands on MS are very nice with the candle in the center of the wreath.

The Mickey shape wreaths are very nice on the lamp posts

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor with a large wreath on the sign

There was a mini show going right by the horse drawn trolley

Now was around the Hub. The Hub at the MK is way bigger then DL and doesn’t have too many trees which is a good thing to see Cinderella castle.

Some plants and trees with nice Christmas red colors

Here is one of the new one touch color pictures that is feature on my Nikon camera which is amazing to get one color and the rest grey.

Partners statue is always something I like to look at every time I am at the MK

Cinderella Castle

Cinderella Castle with only blue color

After getting some pictures around the Hub, I went on over to Tomorrowland. On the way, there were a Mickey and Minnie topiary which is a great picture.

That’s it for this post and I will get back to my adventures.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Wow .. loving all the great pics !!

Love the fact that there was NO crowd at MK ! The Christmas decorations are amazing too .. just beautiful !

Thankyou so much for sharing your vacation with us !

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
I'm glad you got pictures when it wasn't super crowded. LOVED the pictures of Mickey's Christmas Carol displays. I've never seen them.

Your camera color feature is really fun! WDW will keep you busy with your wreath and tree quest that's for sure!

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Wow .. loving all the great pics !!

Love the fact that there was NO crowd at MK ! The Christmas decorations are amazing too .. just beautiful !

Thankyou so much for sharing your vacation with us !

Thank you Michelle.

It was nice to see the MK not that crowded that morning.

Your welcome. Glad that you are enjoying all the pictures.

Hi Bret,
I'm glad you got pictures when it wasn't super crowded. LOVED the pictures of Mickey's Christmas Carol displays. I've never seen them.

Your camera color feature is really fun! WDW will keep you busy with your wreath and tree quest that's for sure!

TK

It was nice to get some pictures when it wasn't crowded. The Mickey's Christmas Carol window displays were amazing. The characters in the display also moved a little bit. So it made it even more amazing.

WDW will definitely keep me busy all week for looking wreaths and trees during the trip.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – December 10, 2011 – Part 3​

After taking a lot of pics around the Hub, it was time to head on over to TL and get some Christmas decorations. TL at the MK is so amazing with all that land where DL TL is so all packed in. I was really looking forward to riding the Peoplemover the most at TL.

On the way over to TL, I had to get another great pic of Cinderella Castle.

At least TL wasn’t that crowded that morning and was an easy walk

I wish the Astro Orbiter at DL is back at the top where it used to be

I head on over to SM and see what the wait time was

Space Mountain wait time was only 10 minutes which is short that morning. I didn’t go in since I was looking around the park.

Here is another camera feature with green in the picture

After looking at Space Mountain, I wanted to see the construction site of the new FL so I head on over there while I was on the back side of TL.

TL stage with trees and wreaths. Do I see Stitch hugging Chip over there

When I was about to pass Had Hatter Tea Cups, I saw that the old entrance to Mickey’s Toontown Fair was closed off for the FLE. It was weird to see it closed off. But I was really excited when the new land is completed in a few years.

Now I was in FL and see that the construction was still going on that morning.

Beast Castle looks very nice

Eric’s castle is still under construction

Be Our Guests Restaurant sign talking about the restaurant.

New FL Expansion billboard which we see a lot

That’s it for now and I will get back to more of my adventures on the first day at WDW.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 1 – December 10, 2011 – Part 4​

After getting pictures of the construction site at the new Fantasyland, I went around FL to find any Christmas decorations. At least the back side of FL was nice and quiet as well as short wait times for the rides.

Right by Dumbo is the billboard for Belle’s house

PP and IASW were short wait times

When I left FL I saw that the old building for the former Skyway was gone. It was now just a stroller parking area right by PP and IASW. There were some Christmas wreaths around the area.

Now in Liberty Square

It was also quiet at LS

HM at the MK

The Liberty Tree Tavern restaurant

Liberty Belle at the dock

Now in Frontierland which was quiet that morning. Froniterland has a better theme then DL.

The Frontier Trading Post store is still open but the outside is under construction

It was nice to see the Country Bear Jamboree at the MK. I didn’t go inside, but was planning on seeing it during my trip. I was not going to ride it that morning. I do miss the CBJ at DL which is the Winnie the Pooh ride at DL.

I was now in the area by BTMRR, Frontierland RR station and Splash Mountain. BTMRR wait time was around 10 minutes which was short that morning and Splash was a walk on.

I head on over to Adventureland but that will be another post. That’s it for tonight and will be back tomorrow.

 

[tksbaskets]

Hi Bret,
I still think your camera color feature ROCKS! Liberty Tree Tavern is one of our favorite places to dine at MK. We eat there each time we visit. It used to host a character meal with the characters dressed in colonial garb. They don't have that any more. Here is a flashback photo:

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi Bret,
I still think your camera color feature ROCKS! Liberty Tree Tavern is one of our favorite places to dine at MK. We eat there each time we visit. It used to host a character meal with the characters dressed in colonial garb. They don't have that any more. Here is a flashback photo:

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

TK

Thank you TK. I have never eaten at the Liberty Tree Tavern and have been interested over the years. But we just barely eat at any of the restaurants on the property.

That is a very nice photo at the LTT and thank you for telling me about your experience at the restaurant.

Day 1 – December 10, 2011 – Part 5​

After getting some pics around Frontierland, I now on my way towards Adventureland. It was really quiet at Frontierland and it was nice to go on some rides without waiting in the long lines.

POTC is a great ride, but it is no where near DL where you have the Blue Bayou restaurant. It was already 9am and I knew that the crowd level at the MK was starting to pick up.

Swiss Family Treehouse. I miss the old Swiss Family Treehouse at DL which is Tarzan’s Treehouse

Now leaving Adventureland and now back in Liberty Square and looking at the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe which has a lot of great Christmas merchandise from ornaments, hats, etc. There were a lot of wreaths and garlands for the wreath quest.

After getting pics around Liberty Square, I head on back to the Hub.

At least it wasn’t that crowded at the Hub around 9am.

One touch with red color of the flowers at the Hub

I head on back down to MS and get some more pictures of the Christmas decorations. But on the way back to Town Square, the park started to pick up with more and more people coming in the park. So that nice quiet morning is almost over.

Another one touch with blue on MS

One touch color with red right by the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

That’s it for tonight and I will be back tomorrow with more pics from MS.

 

[the_princess]

 

[tksbaskets]

So fun!! Camera envy here....

 

[Moodyzblu]

More amazing photos !
The new castle looks so cool .. it's been fun watching it "grow" .. can't wait until it all finished !

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thank you Stephanie for coming along.

So fun!! Camera envy here....

Thanks TK

More amazing photos !
The new castle looks so cool .. it's been fun watching it "grow" .. can't wait until it all finished !

Thank you Michelle.

The next installment should be up shortly. So stay tune.