Here in Disney... with Pics!!!

[never_enough_pooh]

Okay... so... you have all seen the first part of our "day", as we stayed at the hotel until 12:00 pm! But, we got those great giraffe pics (ha ha)!

So, we head over to MK around 12:30 ish. Look at the bus!

The crowds seem rather light today!!

We see the sign for the Christmas party... yeah!!!!

We stop and take our traditional photo with Goofy!

We head into the Camera Shop, as DH needs CDR's (which, we didn't find).

But, look what we found in the back of the shop, where the "movie theater" is! When did they put this in??? I actually got DH to pose on a few photos, as no one was around to see it!! (of course, DH didn't upload those photos for me... imagine that!)

We then admire the tree, and taken advantage of another photo opportunity!

We then head over to the first showing of Cinderellabration... I have never seen this yet..... it was very nice!

We then head to Adventure land.. anyone know the first stop???

Dole Whip!

Then..of to POTC!
Where are the crowds???

Now, I had read on another post before that POTC was "haunted", and if you said the name George on the ride, the ride would stop, as there is a ghost named George. Well, I can let you know, that isn't true, and I apologize for anyone on our boat for MIL!!! (she kept asking the pirates if they were George... she really is just like a kid!!)

Then... off to Splash Mountain!! My favorite ride at MK! Now, keep in mind the high temp was only 65 degrees..... The hopping fish were not working, but that was all I noticed.

Wait time prior to riding:

Wait time when we got off!

So, if you were me... wouldn't you go on again??!!! Plus, we kept seeing empty logs go down the drop!!

Yep!

We get in line (well, if you really want to call it a line) again, and practically walk right onto the ride! A lot of people are wearing ponchos, and/or avoiding the front row. The first ride, DH and I got the very last row, and
MIL and FIL the 2nd to last row. Well, this time, MIL decided she wanted to sit the ride out and video tape our plunge instead. FIL came with us.

Well, we get assigned rows 1 and 2. To be funny, I jump into row 1.
DH decides to jump into row 2, so FIL has to choose between sharing row 1 with me, or row 2 with DH. He chooses to ride in the front (we decide we will duck when we go down so DH gets wet just for backing out of row 1!!)

Well, we then forget (prior to the plunge), that we can't duck, as MIL is filming our drop!! We get SOAKED!!!!! Not once, but twice!

DH knows I am not happy....!!!

Notice how DH is dry!!

Well, I showed him! I then proceed to go buy a cute Pooh jacket.. $60.00 later!! Hey, I had to keep warm!

We then grab a bite to eat at Peco Bills (sorry forgot to take pics!), then off to BTMR... sign says 20 minutes... more like 10 minutes!!

By this time.. it is time to grab our wrist bands for MVMCP!!!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

So, we grab our wrist bands and itinerary for the evening.. looks like a lot of shows!!


Some more photos I forgot on my other post:

We get shuttled over to Liberty Square while they usher those w/o a ticket out of the park.

We hop onto HM (no wait).

Then, we head over to Tomorrowland to catch the first show of the evening for "Twas the night before Christmas, Mickey Style". It was standing room only!!! We decide to catch the next show, and hop to Stiches great escape instead. I have never been on this yet, but I did read/hear all the bad reviews.
It really was terrible!!! Can I have my 5 minutes back now????

We then ride the tomorrow land transit authority.. always a nice relaxing ride!

We then grab our free hot cocoa and cookie, and then grab a seat for the next Twas the night before Christmas show. It was great!! I didn't take pics, as I didn't know if I could use a flash (turns out everyone else was... oh well!)

We then ride Space Mountain (no wait!!), and then head over to Fantasy Land to ride MIL's favorite ride... .IASW!!! The boat kept stopping in the ride, and so, we were stuck on IASW for 15 minutes!!! MIL said..."Gee, I think they lengthened the ride to 15 minutes.. how nice!!". Of course, we were thinking... get me off!!!!

We then see Philharmagic (yummy smells with the cherry pie)... then off to the special Wishes!

Let's not forget the special christmas parade!

I then hop on my favorite ride.... (5 minute wait!)

By this point, it was midnight... we closed the park down!

Some pics on the way out... there is snow on main street, but you probably can't see it...

It felt so cold out there... I almost believed it was real snow!!!

We really liked MVMCP! We had never been before, and actually didn't buy tickets until we got here... I'm glad I did it! There was so many special shows and events. Plus, less crowds! There were quite a bit of people at the party, but not enough to impact wait times for rides. The later it got, the lighter the crowds got!

Today (12/7/05), we are going to tour the hotels to take pics of how the hotels decorate for the holidays! I'll post them later!!!

 

[frndshpcptn]

Great photos! Thanks for posting

 

[maccalovah]

These are awesome! I can believe the light crowds- lucky!

 

[nhpooh]

Thanks again, maybe someday I will get to see the party too. I have be down after Thanksgiving but not to any of the Christmas partys.

 

[Disneyholics5]

for the reply as to the kind of camera you are using. obviously it works very well but I am sure the photographer has a lot to do with it !!!- the photos are terrific I look at them over and over and can't wait for more to come. I did not get a chance to go to the hotels and take photos with the Christmas decorations so I am anxiously awaiting your postings. makes me feel like I am still there having fun. thanks for the report and photos and please keep them coming. and before I forget a Very Merry Christmas to you, your DH and your DMIL and DFIL.

 

[alabamagirl]

I am loving this! Thanks again!

Your MIL and FIL are so cute. I wish my family enjoyed Disney as much as I do (DH included).

 

[blewits]

Thanks so much for posting. I'm leaving this Saturday for Tha World and it's great to hear about ride times and crowd levels. Love the pix too. You have now convinced me that I must go over and check out the AKL! DIdn't really have too much interest in until I saw your pictures. I'm so glad you got to see the baby giraffe.

Have a great trip.
Wendy

 

[kathmzh]

Love this thread! You all look like you're having a wonderful time. Isn't AKL great? We had a magical stay there earlier this year. Enjoy the rest of your trip and thanks for posting!

 

[Tink215]

i have 18 days, and I cant wait, all your pics are wonderful, thank you so much for sharing!!!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Thanks so much for posting. I'm leaving this Saturday for Tha World and it's great to hear about ride times and crowd levels. Love the pix too. You have now convinced me that I must go over and check out the AKL! DIdn't really have too much interest in until I saw your pictures. I'm so glad you got to see the baby giraffe.

Have a great trip.
Wendy

It really is a great resort!!! It's truly amazing to see the animals so close!!!

 

[AUTUMN SUN]

Posting to subscribe to this thread so I wont lose it again!

 

[Queen_freckles]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Leaving for our trip this time next year(so it helps me with what the weather can be like in December--though we will be coming from Alaska so anything will be better than freezing and snow). Thanks for putting that little bit of info in your report. Have fun!

 

[Kristina]

Just subscribing..what a wonderful thread! I haven't time to read it all but I will be back efter work tonight! This is my favorite type of reporting, thank you so much !!!

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks so much for taking the time during your holiday to post a live trip report! I enjoyed reading it, and Lord willing I'll be there too... tomorrow!

 

[disgram]

Guess I am going to have to consider the AKL for our next trip!!!! The animals that you have outside your room have convinced me!!!! Have to start saving now for 2007!!!!! Thanks so much for the pics. and the report!!! Feels like we are there with you!!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Hi All!

So, this morning I woke up and guess what??? Rain!!! Yuck!!!

Anyways, yesterday we took it kind of easy, and decided to tour some of the area hotels to see what they do for the holiday season.

One of my very first posts on this thread shows the All Stars and Coranodo.

Our first stop was Pop Century. On a side note, it looks like they are still building away! It's funny to see what the hotel looks like without any of the paint/decorations!

Here are some photos of POP!

Tree in Gift Shop:

When was the last time you saw prices like this??

Next, we headed over to Old Key West. I have never seen this hotel before.... I loved the pastel colors!

Tree in the lobby:

Tree by the restaurant:

We then headed over to SSR. Again, lots of construction going on! Disney is building away! I really liked the layout and feel of this resort. I didn't think I was going to, but I was greatly suprised! It really has a cozy feel.

Heading into the lobby...

Tree in the lobby....

[

More of the lobby...

We then headed over to CBR.....

Next, we headed over to the EPCOT area to view the Swan and Dolphin and Yacht and Beach Club. Our first stop... the Swan!

I thought the Swan (and Dolphin) were absolutely gorgeous, but the lobby and hallways were full of people on a business trip (brief cases, business suits and name tags). It really didn't have a disney family feel to it!

Here is the entrance from the Swan to the Dolphin..

The entrance...

The enormous 45 foot tree!!! Absolutely beautiful.... a must see for all in the area!!!

The train under the tree..

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Okay.... had to break this into 2 posts, as I had to many pics!!

Next, we walked over the the Yacht club. Again, a lot of business people in the lobby!

On our way to the Beach club.. look at the sign I encountered... I was sooooo bummed!!

Don't worry... if anyone is heading down soon, we were told it will be open on 12/14/05.

Lastly, we headed over to the Beach club.. I think one of my new favorites so far! This one also felt more like a family resort than the Yacht club (less business like)

So, tonight we have reservations at Teppanyaki (one of my fav's), so I'll certainly have pics of that! I'm not sure where we will go today, due to the rain, but we will go somewhere! I'd rather have rain than my local forcast back home:

Another winter storm is on the way and this one means business. There is a potential for 6 inches of snow, perhaps more. That's why the National Weather Service has issued all of the above alerts. Snow will develop around 3am tomorrow morning. It'll be well underway by the Friday morning commute. That means we can expect many delays and cancellations. The snow is expected to fall heavily at times throughout the morning then it will taper off and end around noon. Inland Connecticut can expect 5-8 inches while the shoreline totals will be a little lighter because of some rain mixing in. This will be a very fast moving storm.


Glad I won't be there to enjoy it!!!!!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Hi!

I was asked by someone on this post to post of pic of the rum runner recipe in DTD...

Here it is!!! Enjoy!!!

 

[jenjen212]

we are leaving next week to go there...

have you seen the Grand Floridian & the ginger bread house yet?

Can't wait! with all of your pics and stories, i am getting anxious and super excited! i wish i was there now...

thanks for your postings! sounds like your having fun!

jen