Ho! Ho! Ho! Away we go - A Disney Christmas - 2/15 Dec TR final thoughts and FEB TR!

[jenjolt]

I'm learning more and more each trip to enjoy what AK has to offer!! It has some great details that are just nice to walk and really enjoy!! Have to love the Mickeys in the brick...that is too cool!

Flights of Wonder something I have never seen, but it looks quite fascinating!! Glad DS7 got to participate!

Poor lonely cookie...although it does look quite yummy LOL!!!!

 

[aprilisis]

I really love your AK photos! That Bald Eagle was HUGE!!!!! I like the AK tree, too.

 

[dddisrunner]

What a great finish to your Christmas day!! Your meal at Flying Fish seemed great! We ate there last summer and LOVED it! You can't beat staying so close to where you are going to eat!!

 

[manntra]

Awesome updates!! Going back one to DHS...love all of your Osborne pictures! Especially the bikes and the dogs! So cute!
Dinner at FF sounds delish...I only ate there once but it was yummy...I have never seen scallops so big!
Awww one last little lonely cookie. He looks so sad!
I might check out Flights of Wonder in May....trying to do things I have never done before
Yay for your Mickey Mail and your documents for the cruise!
Can't wait for your Samantha Brown sleigh ride!

Tracy

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sniff. Sniff. I am so sad you are out of Christmas cookies AND on your last full day at Disney!

How cool for DS7 that he got to throw the grape for the bird!!! (I would have been afraid Connor's aim would be off, too. )

The day after Christmas is always a lazy day for us even at home, so I am not surprised you were dragging a bit at Disney. Lunch and a nap sounds like the perfect way to rejuvenate so you were ready for your sleigh ride!

 

[Happydog]

So after a little R & R at the BCV , we headed over to the HDDR for our 5:00 seating. We originally were going to park at the WLodge then boat over, but time got away from us and we drove to the Fort instead. Once parked, we took a bus to the Pioneer Hall area, where the HDDR is held. We checked in, stood in line, and were seated shortly there after. The space was great for the review. We used two dining plan credits for the HDDR, since it seemed a fair trade for them, and included beverages (beer, wine, sangria) and tip. The seating locations were either balcony or in the back on the floor. We chose the seating that was on the main floor towards the back, and it worked out perfectly. They have tables towards the back on bar stools at a table, so you are seated higher than other tables in front of you. We felt we had fine seats for the show.

The entertainment was great fun. The show is lively, well choreographed, and funny. During different intervals the actors come out and visit, and we got these nice photos after a chat with one of the characters – I can’t recall her name! But she came by during dinner.

Now dinner. Well… let me say going to the HDDR is not for the food… the BBQ is better at Whispering Canyon Café, the food in general is better there than at the HDDR. The potatoes at WCC – great! The potatoes at HDDR – not so much. The food overall was not appetizing, fried chicken, good, salad, fine, corn bread, good (but how can you mess that up?) and everything else, mediocre. I was not disappointed as much as sort of surprised, but then again I really sense you go there for the show, not the food, and that has to be the mentality you take with you into the hall, or you will be disappointed. I don’t know the BBQ they serve at Mickey’s BBQ (the outside event in the summer) but if it is the same as WCC then that would be an enjoyable event… if it is the same as HDDR, not worth it, IMO.

I am GLAD we went, I am glad the boys saw the show, they were definitely in stitches for a good part of it, and got some great laughs out of it all around - so we did enjoy it, but you will all have to keep an open mind about the food – again in my opinion – if you try it. The entertainment is really top notch.

So after having an enjoyable evening of entertainment, we then left Pioneer hall just a few minutes to 7pm, when we had our Sleigh Ride… the boys didn’t know we were doing this, and they were very excited! Here is The Fort’s Christmas Tree, which was outside in the main loop by the restaurants…

We got into the sleigh, and settled in.

The driver took a few photos of us. I wish DS7 had leaned in on these, but they are almost perfect !!!

Once in the sleigh, he got us going and we were off! Here are the boys…being boys!

Now the rest of these photos Lights. Lights like I have never seen! You will see that he was in motion the whoe time, really, and so some are blury. But it still is fun to see the amazing set ups that we saw out there! The Fort was a great event on our last night in Disney. That 30 minute ride was so much fun, and just really enjoyable -- there was Christmas music playing in the sleigh, and it was very special.

One sight he took us to was a Mini Cinderella's Castle with all the lights, and totally synchronized light show to the Wishes music… played on a DVD player with speakers set up in RV spot. It was amazing. I couldn't believe I was watching it!!! Check it out in the next post!

 

[Happydog]

The Castle.. Crazy!!!

The rest of these are just random shots along the way -- keep in mind we are in a moving "sleigh"!!! SO some are blury... check these out. Amazing that people come to camp and put up elaborate displays and crazy festive lights!!!! It was sureal. My DH didn't even know what to describe -- he thought it was crazy!

So after a really nice time on the sleigh ride, we headed back to the car and went over to the Wlodge, because I really wanted to see that lobby and tree... I got a few photos, but it was a massive tree! Very festive of course!

More coming this weekend ... my solo venture into the MK that night!!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

A sleigh ride at Ft. Wilderness is on my list for sure whenever I get to Disney in December! Simply amazing!

I love the pictures of you all in the sleigh, so cute.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great update! The sleigh ride looks amazing - The campers really go all out! Can't wait to hear about your solo adventure!

 

[IluvXU]

Oh my... that sleighride sounds fantastic. For sure something I hope we experience someday!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Fear of the food at HDDR is what has kept me from booking it in the past - I'm sure the show is entertaining, but I'm not sure it would be enough for us to get past the meal!

I loved looking at your pics from the sleigh ride! We took one too, but it was at dusk, not dark yet so a lot of the lights weren't turned on. And we totally missed the castle set up, the guy was getting it ready when we went by - it sounds so cool!

 

[stace208]

Great update! What a wonderful last full day at Disney!

Looks like you had many of the same actors as we did last June in HDDR. We loved that show and for the most part, actually liked the food. We thought the fried chicken was good, potatoes, salad and bread pretty good too. They brought mac-n-cheese for my picky girl child. Only thing we didn't like was the ribs. I don't like them for the most part and DH thought these were just plain icky. But, we got a refill bucket of chicken and she brought us all breasts and legs like we asked. Did you try the sangria?? I loved that it was included!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Next year, the sleigh ride for sure! Not missing it!
It's snowing like crazy here tonight, I don't dare hope....

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

I am so glad you guys did the sleigh ride!!! Great pix!

 

[ladybugmom]

Sorry that the food at HDDR was less than desirable--that's a shame. Glad that you enjoyed the show, though!

Oh wow! The sleigh ride looks like fun!! We're staying at the WL on our Nov/Dec trip and we cannot wait! I need to put the sleigh ride on our list!! How much do they charge?

 

[eandesmom]

Oh I love the sleigh ride pictures! I have heard about how the Fort goes all out and would just love to see it.

Blurry and all they are fun to see and you guys are adorable in the sleigh.

For me, the sheer fun the kids had at HDDR outweighed the food. I didn't think it was bad mind you, it was...fine. Nothing spectacular but nothing bad either. But to me the 4 kids enjoyed the show so much that it was worth the 2 credits.

The kids liked the food quite a bit but I would agree, it was...adequate. I will say it met my expectations so I was ok with it, I wasn't expecting it to be fabulous and so I wasn't disappointed at all.

I am glad you enjoyed the show!

 

[aprilisis]

I love the sleigh ride photos. I want one of those Cinderella Castle miniatures, too!

 

[heaven2dc]

The Christmas decorations were amazing! I think it's so great that people share their love of Disney and Christmas with all of us at FW.

 

[DisneyMom14]

Love the pic of the LAST Christmas cookie

It's so special when our kids get to participate like that. Your son looks like he had a great time.

The picture of the blue bridge - I'm not sure it's a bridge. It looks like the place we sat to eat. Beautiful view of Everest!

Can't wait to hear about HDD and the sleigh ride!
I really wish we had booked one!

 

[MeMom]

We walked around the campers at Fort Wilderness on our Christmas trip. Some of those guys really do it big. At home, that would be deemed 'gaudy', but it is fun and it works there. It's just fun to do it for the kids... and for big kids who like to see people in the holiday spirit, too. We talked to one lady there, and she said they stay down there about 7 months of the year!