HO HO HO, we are LIVE from WDW and the WILDERNESS LODGE 12/19-12/26!!!

[BlueSkies]

Erika Looks like you are having lots of fun!

Loving all of the beautiful pics....

We too thought MVMCP was very crowded earlier in the evening on the nite that we went....thankfully it thinned out as the night wore on....As for peeps with children on their shoulders during a show viewing... Just plain rude...They can easily be held at parents eye level so that others behind them.. especially other children of not inconsiderate folks can see....

Hope that you continue to have lots of fun..and wonderful warms temps....

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Another jam packed day of holiday fun! After our afternoon break we headed back to Epcot to walk around the World Showcase and have dinner at Teppan Edo. The food was great as always, our chef was awesome and super funny. I love the change to the rice they give now, much tastier!

It rained tonight which really emptied out the park. By the time we finished dinner and came outside for the tail end of Illuminations the park seemed really dead. We walked over to the YC and BC to see the decorations. So beautiful!!!

A little wet and tired

We took a taxi back to the WL after walking around to see the decorations. I think I've completely worn my Mom out these last two days. It's hard for the kids and I to remember she's not quite up to our fast walking high speed touring ways.

Tomorrow is MK! BOG lunch, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, lots of good stuff!

 

[jwwi]

Love all the resort decorations. Too bad about the rain, have fun at MK tomorrow.

 

[Sandy321]

Oh what fun!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey everyone We've been busy having another fun day! As you can probably tell by now we like to sleep late and we don't really ride a ton of rides. This is my 6th trip down here this year so my main goal was to experience all the holiday things. We had a fastpass for BOG lunch which was an interesting experience. We had done this before back in the summer and had no issue, but this time was a bit different. When we arrived to the front of the restaurant there were about 6 castmembers forming a human chain across the entrance to the podium area. They were trying to check everyone before they approached the podium to see if they had a fastpass. The standby line was already reaching back towards Gaston's. I informed her we had a fastpass and she let us go. When I got to the podium they asked for my name and couldn't find it listed anywhere on their list of names. The guy basically said, sorry you don't have a fastpass today goodbye. But I knew I had one so I logged into my account on the BOG website and showed it to him. He said Ok and let us go ahead. I'm not sure why it wasn't showing up on his system.

After lunch we did our 3 fastpasses for SDMT, Haunted Mansion, and the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. I've got TONS of pictures uploading now so I will share those in a bit. You can use that link to my photobucket too.

We just hit the lounge for appetizers and tonight they have boneless wings and shepard's pie. Very yummy! We don't have much time to rest because we have tickets to the Fork & Screen to see Night at the Museum 3.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Erika,
Your pictures are great! Your trip sounds wonderful.
I love the picture of the float with Mickey & Minnie centered in front of the castle in its holiday lights. While you may have felt pushed and shoved and jostled, your pictures are so good, you can't tell at all.
I am supposed to be there now too, but got pneumonia, so am home and weak and enjoying your pictures and trip report.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I am SO enjoying your pictures.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Erika,
Your pictures are great! Your trip sounds wonderful.
I love the picture of the float with Mickey & Minnie centered in front of the castle in its holiday lights. While you may have felt pushed and shoved and jostled, your pictures are so good, you can't tell at all.
I am supposed to be there now too, but got pneumonia, so am home and weak and enjoying your pictures and trip report.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I am SO enjoying your pictures.

Thank you We were able to see the parade again today in the FP viewing area and it was such a better experience.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey everyone! Just back from our fun night at DTD! Boy the "Springs" is really starting to take shape. I was surprised to see such an industrial vibe, lots of brick, concrete, metal, and they've added a lot of trees. It will be great once it's all done. The Boathouse looks amazing!

We are becoming regulars at the AMC Dine-in Theater. Food and service were great, and we enjoyed Night at the Museum 3. The only bus stop still in operation is the Marketplace stop, so we had quite a long walk through a soupy crowd, but we were able to make it on time.

Pics from today are all uploaded!

A group of ladies next to me were cat-calling Christoph LOL

 

[buckeev]

Great pics E!
We are here now too! WL for another 3. Days! Sounds like y'all have almost mirrored our parks...MK, DTD...
Doing Epcot Tuesday and back to HS Weds....already exhausted as y'all are!
These WL decorations are beautiful!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Great pics E!
We are here now too! WL for another 3. Days! Sounds like y'all have almost mirrored our parks...MK, DTD...
Doing Epcot Tuesday and back to HS Weds....already exhausted as y'all are!
These WL decorations are beautiful!

We were scheduled to be back to Epcot tomorrow but decided tonight to switch things to go back to MK again. Kids want more rides over there. We have dinner tomorrow night at Biergarten and then Illuminations. The week is going by too fast!!!

 

[DisneyBoy14]

Wow! I'm new to the boards, but love how you are posting pics of your trip!!

Have a great trip!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Oh my goodness we have had a magical Disney pixie dusted morning!!! The cast member has asked me not to tell anyone, but I still have to say how excited we are!!!!!!!!! No place on this earth would treat guests the way they do here at Walt Disney World.

Best Christmas ever!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JnKinVA]

Oh my goodness we have had a magical Disney pixie dusted morning!!! The cast member has asked me not to tell anyone, but I still have to say how excited we are!!!!!!!!! No place on this earth would treat guests the way they do here at Walt Disney World. Best Christmas ever!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what kind of pixie dust you got but I'm excited for you!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I don't know what kind of pixie dust you got but I'm excited for you!

I will give the full story when I get home

 

[JulieODC]

Following along --- great trip so far!

We arrive at WL on Jan 7th -- hope the weather Gods cooperate for us like they have for you!!

 

[dmoore718]

LOVE your TR and Yay for Christmas Pixie Dust!!!! We will be there on Jan 3!!! CAN NOT WAIT!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm so surprised how low the crowds are this year compared to last year. It's still crowded, don't get me wrong, but last year I felt like we couldn't even walk. Today we spent the afternoon at MK and the evening at Epcot. The whole time I felt like the crowds were fairly standard to what they always seem to be during busier times of the year. Maybe it doesn't get worse until the better discounts on rooms start back up. I think today was the last day for free dining. Tomorrow should be a big checking out day.

Tonight at Biergarten I witnessed my first major park guest meltdown. The restaurant was backed up, when we checked in they said they were running 15 minutes behind. To me this really isn't something to freak out over. But you could tell the tension was palpable all around the podium. A crazy man decided to lose his mind on one of the hostesses because they had been waiting too long. I felt really bad for her, I hate it when people lose their cool. To me there is really nothing to ever get upset about... I don't like being around people who complain or can never be satisfied. I'm always just happy to be here and I know sometimes you have to wait. That's just part of coming to WDW. Especially if you're going to come two days before Christmas. When we were seating and the waitress came to take our order she said "Thank you for smiling, you're the first person to smile at me today". That is just insane when you think about it!

Moral of the story... SMILE everyone!!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Took some pics around the WL today!

All the construction seems close to being done. The front still has some scaffolding and painting going on. The red trim looks so much better with the fresh paint!

Inside the lobby they have potted trees blocking off the view, then upstairs in the club lounge if you sit along the side wall of windows you are looking right at the scaffolding that runs across. Most of the courtyard view rooms near the lobby side are affected. A necessary update of course but something to keep in mind when making room requests.

We walked around to check out the new splash area...

Of course both of my kids are waaaaayyy over 48 inches, but I think we all secretly wished we could play in there.

The Wilderness Lodge has such a Christmasy feel as you walk through the lobby and hallways, but I was surprised no outside decorations. Nothing around the front or back. I noticed over at the YC/BC they wrapped poles in lights and garland all along the outside walkways. I think the WL needs to add some garland and lights around the front entrance area, and out back as you walk to the boat dock. Add that to the suggestion box.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Almost forgot to mention dinner! The buffet was quite good, the food was fresh and well stocked. I'm not a fan of buffets in general, but the German band was awesome! They played some cool music, including several Christmas songs. I was sad when the show was over!

We had a side view, but it was still great!

The chicken was really good, and the sausages. I loved the warm potato salad and the spaetzle.

I can't believe we only have TWO days left!!! Then I put the boys on a plane to go see their Dad. I'm going to miss them so much!!! But my Mom and I are going to stay down here in Florida another week and check out some retirement places for her. We are doing a big tour at The Villages. That should be very interesting!

Tomorrow we are back to Epcot and our Candlelight Processional Dinner Package. Goodnight all!

 

[Princess Michele]

I am enjoying reading your live trip report. I am glad you are having such a wonderful trip. One of my dreams is to stay at the Wilderness Lodge. I hope your last days are just as magical.