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

[PracPerfPatricia]

Yummy...Wolfgang Puck...this is one of my family's favorite too...yummy real food, nice price point..., good selection...it's all good...

Sanaa became one of my favorite's too during our last trip...we had a lovely lunch there...everything was great...the service, attractive surroundings and really good food...Didn't you think it was more of a southeast asian fusion kind of thing ...than strict Indian per se? How ever you classify it-it was wonderful...

I'm definitely going to have to track down a Lost on Safari...first Jackie now you...just after EE...never before...

I really like AK"s parade...it is for lack of a better word...on the "arty" side...it's different than all the other ones...

Don't forget you can always celebrate Chinese New Year as well as Valentine's Day...we always do (not a drop of Chinese heritage here) it's colorful and festive...

 

[Happydog]

SO our next day was our first full day of fun with my DBIL and his friend Christine. She is his travel friend, gal pal, drinking buddy, etc. She has been to Italy with us a few years ago, and we were looking forward to visiting with her again. For whatever reason I don't have many photos of them, on Christmas Day I have quite a few though...

So that morning we met up at the turnstiles as planned at 8:30. We were in line waiting to get in, and as soon as we made it inside, I took everyone’s passes and became the designated “TSM fastpass” runner. :hyper Everyone else made their way with the sea of people all destined for the same place!

I had to stand in line of course, and as my group passed me and got in line to ride the ride, I moved through the FP line as well. The attendant pulled that trick, basically asking for the # of pases you needed and activating the machine by hand for that number. It kept the line moving. I noticed a few tricks like this during this trip that I hadn’t seen before -- mostly for egress with crowd control, etc. Just reminds me how Disney is equipped to deal with crowds and volume of guests.

So my group had been walking slowly and had just hit the chained-in lines for the TSM queue. I slid in as we started through that portion, and we slowly moved along. It was the first ride of the day, so no FP queue had started. Everytime we have ridden TSM this is how we have done it, FPs and ride at the same time. The wait has never been very long and it allows us to get two rides in for certain.

SO as we are in line I get one of a few texts from WigD that I got that day… she told me they were in the park. I told her where we were (we had already agreed to meet up before her lunch ADR at the Brown Derby. Well to my surprise just as we were going inside I hear my name “Jennifer!” And I turned around and there on the other side of the rope was ONE WIGD! I was so excited to see her in person , I squealed “ANITA!” and gave her a big hug. And then introduced her to my family. She was just saying hello, Marc was getting their crew FPs for TSM as well, and we agreed to see eachother at the already “scheduled time” so I could meet her family as well! It was so neat to see her, and let me say after spending a good time with her at Epcot later that week, she is really a hoot and a great person to DIS with online AND at Disney!!! I hope we get to tour together again.

SO here are our photos from TSM….
This one is uber blury, but it the whole group....

This cracks me up... don't they look like secret agents??!! Kim Possible here we come!

After TSM I volunteered to take DS4 and 7 to go and see the "Lights Motor Action!" Show (we were handed a FP to use) while the three adults went to ride TOT and RRRC. That was fine with me, because I didn’t mind hanging with the guys and DH loves these two rides. SO that worked out well. The boys had a quick snack, then we headed into the arena. I enjoyed this show much more because we had great seats. BUT waiting 30 minutes for the show to start was not how I wanted to spend my time, I just didn’t know we would be waiting that long. DS4 was a little restless waiting, of course, but once it started we were fine. I was surprised to see that even the “French” village on the set was decorated for the holidays!!! See the wreath and garlands!?

SO after our show it was practically time to go meet up with WigD, and I remember racing over there as it was, since I had to head from one end of the park to the other! BUT it was totally worth it. We got there as we saw Anita and we had a few minutes to chat before the rest of her family came with little Harper in the stroller. She did start to tell me all about the mayhem, but since they showed up she cut that description short… I know there will be lots of fun stories on her TR so I cant wait!
Here we are taking a quick snap! It was a warm day, the first of just a few we had, and I think we were both commenting about that!

Anyhow, my boys met Baylor, and we chatted for a little bit, they each had ADRs in different restaurants and I didn’t want them to be late for lunch! Anita gave us some of the infamous JELLY RINGS (they are sooo cool!!!) and the boys these cool tops, which they still have been using on the floor here at home!!! The are like flying saucers!

We agreed to catch up later in the week – ideally Christmas Eve or later. I was thrilled to have met everyone.

So I wheeled off with my boys to the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" play area, and I took these photos while the boys were running around. I took several, but here are a few of their antics.

About this time DH called me and they were headed to the “fueling station” for icy adult libations, and he came to rescue me and the boys out of the play area.

Now this next photo is highly scandalous. But I had to take a photo because it was a hoot. Nevermind the contraband that they brought into the park… SOME people's relatives I mean, seriously...

I DO NOT KNOW WHOSE HANDS THESE ARE BUT THEY ARE NOT MINE OR MY HUSBANDS...

What you are seeing are two drinks from the bar in DHS, however they are being doctored… the container is a faux “point and shoot camera”… I guess the drinks were not strong enough for my DBIL…

So needless to say we say there for a little bit enjoying our cocktail while the boys split some popcorn. After we had finished we headed back for our second ride of TSM, sufficiently impaired I will add! , and we decided on one more attraction: The Great Movie Ride. It was then that we all decided that something "lunchy" and the pool would be a great late afternoon treat, so we headed back to BCV.

I do have some great photos of SAB to share. But I have to get them off my old camera first. So they will come in the second installment, along with our dinner and evening at MK… California Grill and MK here we come!!! STAY TUNED!!!

 

[Happydog]

I am always sad when I have to pack up Christmas, too. Like you said, though, there is Valentine's Day fun, and for you, a cruise to look forward to! You'll get through it!

Oh yes I know! I had to have my moment of "silence" for the closing of the Jim Shore Santa box...

I agree it's so much more fun to take out the decorations than it is to put them away. Then there's always the one you forgot to put away. This year I found a pair of Christmas socks under my son's bed. I made the executive decision that the socks could stay in his drawer all year instead of dragging out the ladder to get to the storage in the garage to put them away.

HA! That is cute!! SO the Christmas spirit lives on in your sock drawer! nothing wrong with that!!!!

I took all the Christmas stuff out of our living room last weekend and most of it sat in the dining room all week. I just couldn't get motivated to put it all away. Finally this morning I packed most of it up. I have to find another box because somehow it didn't all fit.

Yes, I tend to think it grows on its own!!! I didn't get to do much after-christmas shopping this year, so mine didn't grow to much!!!

I hate putting all of the Christmas decorations away too. To ease my pain, I went to Party City and started buying some new Valentine's Day decorations. Chococate hearts definitely cure the post Xmas blues.

Can't wait for another update!

Oh I love it! I make Valentine's Day cookies, so we will get plenty festive here in a few weeks!!!

Oh, the dreaded taking down of the decorations. I hate it too.

Looking forward to an update though!

Well it is up! Hope you enjoy it!

 

[Happydog]

Yummy...Wolfgang Puck...this is one of my family's favorite too...yummy real food, nice price point..., good selection...it's all good...

Sanaa became one of my favorite's too during our last trip...we had a lovely lunch there...everything was great...the service, attractive surroundings and really good food...Didn't you think it was more of a southeast asian fusion kind of thing ...than strict Indian per se? How ever you classify it-it was wonderful...

I'm definitely going to have to track down a Lost on Safari...first Jackie now you...just after EE...never before...

I really like AK"s parade...it is for lack of a better word...on the "arty" side...it's different than all the other ones...

Don't forget you can always celebrate Chinese New Year as well as Valentine's Day...we always do (not a drop of Chinese heritage here) it's colorful and festive...

Oh yes Sanaa is one of our favorites, now three times we have eaten there and never a disappointment! It does remind me of Indian, but I agree there are some flavors that are not "traditional" Indian that I am used too and did frankly remind me of Thai... The Shrimp dish specifically. BUT as you say ALL scrumptious!!!! We ordered extra Na'an this time for the boys because they always eat our bread and we have all the wonderful sauce left over but no Na'an! They each got their own piece this time!

AND yes get yourself "lost"!!! the Parade is very Folk Art-esque, I agree. ANd all the more charming because of that I think. It has many unique elements...

Chinese New Year! Oh yes, students at my school celebrate every year, good idea!

 

[jenjolt]

Great Update Jennifer!!

LOL...wasn't it at TSM FP machine where you called out my name and now you had Anita calling out yours LOL!! Must be a very popular spot to be found LOL!!

Glad you had such a great DISmeet!!!!

LOL okay that is too funny...alcohol being poured out of the faux point and shoot cameras...never thought of that before LOL!!!

 

[eandesmom]

I have to have quiet to shop as well -- can't think if people are lurking.

Me either! I'm ok if it's just Kendall but boys...BLEH!

Okay, so I am a firm believer in putting away the Christmas decorations in a timely fashion, and I have always made my deadline of the FIRST weekend after New Year's, so I am here this weekend, dutifully putting it all away...

Can I JUST say....

And MORE

Oh, and YEAH,

Hmmmm.. Well then there is Valentine's Day cookie baking... and the promise of more snow days, and then of course a CRUISE in little over a month...

OKAY okay it isn't all THAT bad....

I had the same sadness today, it is all FINALLY put away, a weeklong process and I have decided I really really need some valentines decorations!

What...I don't know though. Cruise in a month.

Sigh. Lucky Dog!

I took all the Christmas stuff out of our living room last weekend and most of it sat in the dining room all week. I just couldn't get motivated to put it all away. Finally this morning I packed most of it up. I have to find another box because somehow it didn't all fit.

I had the same problem. 2 boxes were overfull and one under?

I hate putting all of the Christmas decorations away too. To ease my pain, I went to Party City and started buying some new Valentine's Day decorations. Chococate hearts definitely cure the post Xmas blues.

Can't wait for another update!

Are chocolate hearts decorations?

I'm definitely going to have to track down a Lost on Safari...first Jackie now you...just after EE...never before...

I need to have one of those myself! Dawa is on the list of must do's...

SO as we are in line I get one of a few texts from WigD that I got that day… she told me they were in the park. I told her where we were (we had already agreed to meet up before her lunch ADR at the Brown Derby. Well to my surprise just as we were going inside I hear my name “Jennifer!” And I turned around and there on the other side of the rope was ONE WIGD! I was so excited to see her in person , I squealed “ANITA!” and gave her a big hug. And then introduced her to my family. She was just saying hello, Marc was getting their crew FPs for TSM as well, and we agreed to see eachother at the already “scheduled time” so I could meet her family as well! It was so neat to see her, and let me say after spending a good time with her at Epcot later that week, she is really a hoot and a great person to DIS with online AND at Disney!!! I hope we get to tour together again.

SO after our show it was practically time to go meet up with WigD, and I remember racing over there as it was, since I had to head from one end of the park to the other! BUT it was totally worth it. We got there as we saw Anita and we had a few minutes to chat before the rest of her family came with little Harper in the stroller. She did start to tell me all about the mayhem, but since they showed up she cut that description short… I know there will be lots of fun stories on her TR so I cant wait!
Here we are taking a quick snap! It was a warm day, the first of just a few we had, and I think we were both commenting about that!

Anyhow, my boys met Baylor, and we chatted for a little bit, they each had ADRs in different restaurants and I didn’t want them to be late for lunch! Anita gave us some of the infamous JELLY RINGS (they are sooo cool!!!) and the boys these cool tops, which they still have been using on the floor here at home!!! The are like flying saucers!

Now this next photo is highly scandalous. But I had to take a photo because it was a hoot. Nevermind the contraband that they brought into the park… SOME people's relatives I mean, seriously...

I DO NOT KNOW WHOSE HANDS THESE ARE BUT THEY ARE NOT MINE OR MY HUSBANDS...

What you are seeing are two drinks from the bar in DHS, however they are being doctored… the container is a faux “point and shoot camera”… I guess the drinks were not strong enough for my DBIL…

So needless to say we say there for a little bit enjoying our cocktail while the boys split some popcorn. After we had finished we headed back for our second ride of TSM, sufficiently impaired I will add! , and we decided on one more attraction: The Great Movie Ride. It was then that we all decided that something "lunchy" and the pool would be a great late afternoon treat, so we headed back to BCV.

I do have some great photos of SAB to share. But I have to get them off my old camera first. So they will come in the second installment, along with our dinner and evening at MK… California Grill and MK here we come!!! STAY TUNED!!!

I love your meet up with Anita! How fun and what a cute pic of both of you

The "doctoring" is SOOOO funny! Jeff always complains about drinks not being strong enough, pretty much everywhere when we go out, so I try to make him stick to beer so I don't have to hear him complain about it While I don't think he'd actually do that....it's really really funny!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Looks like you had a good morning at DHS. We also went to TSMM first thing that morning, but we got there a bit late and weren't able to grab FPs and ride standby like I had planned. I gotta get moving on my TR, you're putting me to shame, already on Wednesday and I haven't even started Sunday yet!

Great picture of you and Anita, that's so great that you two got to meet!

I was cracking up at your highly scandalous photo - too funny!

 

[stace208]

Yay! Wonderful update! Gotta love that TSM dash first thing in the morning. I am cracking up over the *fake* cameras.

That's so great that you got to meet Anita and her family. I hope to be able to meet some folks on some of my upcoming trips too!

 

[stace208]

I forgot to ask: Where did you get your DS's Mr. Potato Head shirt??? I that and think my DS would get a hoot out of it. He's 9 but still likes that kind of stuff...for the moment anyways!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I've got to go back and read but Shocker started his PTR.....

 

[manntra]

Great update!! Gotta love that early morning walk/run to TSM!!

Cute picture of you and Anita and of your boys on the slide too!

Totally cracking up at the contraband photos!! Fake camera!! Too funny!!!!

Tracy

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Whew!
All caught up! Gosh I miss you guys! Such fun seeing the boys. Love the pictures of them playing the drums at AK...

I hope we get to meet up again!

 

[emmakatbaby]

Great trip report. I can't wait to hear how Santa visited.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Looks like you got a lot accomplished in a busy park.

I love how Disney plans for crowds as opposed to reacts to them. I haven't seen them do that with the fast passes but I'm not surprised.

Looking forward to hearing about the Cali Grill.

 

[Ellester]

Joining the party. Loving the report! Your sons on the HISTK playground brought back memories of my son playing on it on our trip last February (he was four, almost five then). He would have stayed there all day!

Those flasks are too funny! In college I had a friend who used to use an old contact solution bottle for her contraband. It's nice that technology has made leaps in that area!

Looking forward to the rest of the trip!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Just catching up after a hectic and cold (for us) first week back at work/school and a busy birthday weekend.

Great pics of the parade - I didn't notice the Happy New Year on the last float when we were there.

Lost on Safari....mmmm I will add that to my list of eating/drinking around the world next time. I swear we plan our vacation on what we're eating/drinking!

Kali River Rapids! We've been to AK only twice - once in Feb and once in Dec now and we've NEVER ridden it because I was afraid we'd end up soaked and cold and someone would end up with pnuemonia. I look forward to our next trip (hopefully in Oct '11) when it should be warmer so we can finally experience it!

We were at DHS Wednesday also. Going back to read your update!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Can you believe we were in the TSM line at the same time and didn't even know it! It was our first time and we LOVED it!

 

[shannn]

What a Great day!! Your boys are just so adorable.

I hate that we missed our meet-up on Sunday night. The picture of you & Anita is too cute!!

 

[Happydog]

Great Update Jennifer!!

LOL...wasn't it at TSM FP machine where you called out my name and now you had Anita calling out yours LOL!! Must be a very popular spot to be found LOL!!

Glad you had such a great DISmeet!!!!

LOL okay that is too funny...alcohol being poured out of the faux point and shoot cameras...never thought of that before LOL!!!

Gee, Thanks Jen!!! How is your painting, exam grading, and trip planning??!!! I still can't believe how you are multi-tasking all that but you go! YES the FP machines at DHS are great DIS pick-up locations!!!!

It was fun, but our morning visit at Epcot was great! We were able to hang out for a while and ride a few rides together.

I know! I love my DBIL, but he can be a wild Disney traveler sometimes!!!! If the man doesn't have a cocktail in his hand all day, he isn't on vacation...

I had the same sadness today, it is all FINALLY put away, a weeklong process and I have decided I really really need some valentines decorations!

What...I don't know though. Cruise in a month.

Sigh. Lucky Dog!

I know! IT is sad.... ah well you are right we get over it, but it is such a bleak time of year before those tulips and dafodils start to peep out!

I need to have one of those myself! Dawa is on the list of must do's...

I love your meet up with Anita! How fun and what a cute pic of both of you

The "doctoring" is SOOOO funny! Jeff always complains about drinks not being strong enough, pretty much everywhere when we go out, so I try to make him stick to beer so I don't have to hear him complain about it While I don't think he'd actually do that....it's really really funny!

We had a fun Dismeet but we met up again at the end of our trip and that was great!

RE the drinks, that LOST is way good. So is the African Margarita. Very tasty says DH.

RE the "doctoring" yeah, well my DBIL calls a Margarita "Ice, Tequila, and a squeeze of lime."

 

[Happydog]

Looks like you had a good morning at DHS. We also went to TSMM first thing that morning, but we got there a bit late and weren't able to grab FPs and ride standby like I had planned. I gotta get moving on my TR, you're putting me to shame, already on Wednesday and I haven't even started Sunday yet!

Great picture of you and Anita, that's so great that you two got to meet!

I was cracking up at your highly scandalous photo - too funny!

Isn't it funny there were lots of us there! I am sorry we missed eachother too, since we both seem to have boys within a few years of eachother.... next time! Re the TR, don't worry! I would take more time but I want to finish so I can start my new PTR for summer I am never very good with the TRs, I get sidetracked!!

It was rather scandalous, I thought!!!!

She has some more photos, and I do too, when we hang out for a bit at Epcot -- that was great fun.

Yay! Wonderful update! Gotta love that TSM dash first thing in the morning. I am cracking up over the *fake* cameras.

That's so great that you got to meet Anita and her family. I hope to be able to meet some folks on some of my upcoming trips too!

I know right??!! It is practically a warm up jog! And yes, it was great fun meeting the WIGD clan!

I forgot to ask: Where did you get your DS's Mr. Potato Head shirt??? I that and think my DS would get a hoot out of it. He's 9 but still likes that kind of stuff...for the moment anyways!

Well, at the open air shop right across from TSM! They had them in December. WigD wanted one for her to wear with her 2nd graders!

Great update!! Gotta love that early morning walk/run to TSM!!

Cute picture of you and Anita and of your boys on the slide too!

Totally cracking up at the contraband photos!! Fake camera!! Too funny!!!!

Tracy

I only worry they'll get caught some day!!!

And it is a walk/run that you are not supposed to do but we do....

The boys LOVE that play area. What kid doesn't?! I love the music they play, it is so appropriate for the space.

I've got to go back and read but Shocker started his PTR.....

OH YAY!!!! coming over! probably the 4th page by now!!!

Whew!
All caught up! Gosh I miss you guys! Such fun seeing the boys. Love the pictures of them playing the drums at AK...

I hope we get to meet up again!

It was great fun, and I am sure we will see eachother again!