Joy in the World, A Christmastime TR of sorts. Lots of pics.

[disneydusted]

You've got some really clear parade pictures! I love the expression on the close up of the dancer in green!

 

[morgtroy]

You've got some really clear parade pictures! I love the expression on the close up of the dancer in green!

Love that she was really into it.

 

[morgtroy]

Ok, I got my problems with the pics fixed. If I ever do another TR, I'll try to resize them as I upload them.

The rest of the parade.
I love the festive outfits

Then, my man, Goofy and his candy float.

And the gingerbread men, how cute are they?

This little guy was funny. They stopped to let more people exit the park and he slid the car in sideways and was like, "hurry up people, I got to go." It was funny.

Continued next post.

 

[scottny]

gorgeous pics.

Mine came out so dark.

 

[morgtroy]

We also loved the toy soldiers, they were really neat.

These guys were cute, they did a dance with their banners.

Then came the reindeer "pulling the sleigh", how cute?

Then, other than the big cheese, Mickey, I guess this guy is 2nd cheese in Disney World at Christmas.

It was a SUPER parade, loved all the details. Look back at the candy in Goofy's coat pocket and all the details on Santa's float. Disney you Rock!
There was probably another 30-40 minutes of time left before the party ended, but we had done good to make it that long, it was so cold, so back to the room we went.
Our last night.

Glad we did MVMCP, don't think I'll pay extra to do it again. (Also glad I used $ earned on credit card points to buy these tickets) I learned from the Halloween party to just go for the special things and don't try to ride the rides, unless you get there early and do that before the party officially begins. I left feeling the party was oversold and was just too crowded to enjoy, that and it was so cold that night. Was it better than it would have been on Sunday night in the rain. In my opinion yes, but I'm sure it wasn't as crowded on Sunday night, but I'm not sure if they got to do the fireworks because of the rain. (maybe that's why it was so crowded Tues night, people like me that switched, but I just assumed Disney would only let you switch if they still had tickets available? I don't know what the policy is?)
Note to anyone going in Dec...you may be in shorts one day and need a hat, mittens and heavy coat the next night. So pack accordingly.
I still feel MVMCP was too crowded, but I was looking back at the map/events guide as I was doing this trip report, and of all the special things that night, the only thing we didn't do was "Belle's enchanted storytime." So I guess we did pretty well. Just know it won't be a leisurely event, unless you get lucky and it's a really low crowd night. The fireworks and parade were the highlights for sure.

Up next our photopass pics and my final thoughts.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great parade pictures! It is such a fun parade. I love the gingerbread men and the wooden soldiers too.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hi! I've been here a while but just haven't posted. I have really enjoyed your report. We went the week before Thanksgiving and did most of the Christmas stuff in your report. I've enjoyed reliving it!

I have to agree with you on MVMCP. We went on Nov. 16th (also a Sunday night) and it was VERY crowded. It wasn't crowded during our entire trip except that night. I asked a CM and they told me that no more than 20,000 something people are allowed in for parties. Well the problem is that ALL of those people are at the few party events. I was dissapointed at the crowd level. The shows were good and the parade was too, but for what we paid, I felt it was way too crowded. I would not go again either and we also went on cc points (but I still sort of felt like I wasted my money). We had several people that were very rude to us that night also and that NEVER happened a single other time during our 12 day trip. People seemed irritated that they had paid all that money and then had to deal with a mob. I think the people who only went for the rides probably had a lot more fun, but I wanted to go for the party. I have to say that MVMCP was my only dissapointment during our trip.

I really think that Disney should include the Christmas events (parade, stage show, fireworks...) in their regular park admission during the holidays like they do in the other parks. We saw the Christmas parade at AK for free and we would have seen the OL at HS for free if they had started that early. All the Christmas events at Epcot are also free. The P&P party and the Fall party seem more reasonable to me but they should let Christmas be open to everyone. I just don't get it

Anyway, can't wait to read more!

 

[disneydusted]

Once again, great pictures!! I can't believe how clear so many of them are! Good job!

 

[morgtroy]

gorgeous pics.

Mine came out so dark.

Thank you, I take tons of pics, I did have some blurry ones in the group that I didn't post. Shooting lighted, moving floats at night time with street lights around has got to be some of the hardest scenes to shoot. And I was shivering from the cold. All in all, I was very pleased. I switched between a night snapshot setting and sports mode. Both of those have fast shutter speeds, but give a little different results.

Great parade pictures! It is such a fun parade. I love the gingerbread men and the wooden soldiers too.

Aren't they so stinking cute.

Hi! I've been here a while but just haven't posted. I have really enjoyed your report. We went the week before Thanksgiving and did most of the Christmas stuff in your report. I've enjoyed reliving it!

I have to agree with you on MVMCP. We went on Nov. 16th (also a Sunday night) and it was VERY crowded. It wasn't crowded during our entire trip except that night. I asked a CM and they told me that no more than 20,000 something people are allowed in for parties. Well the problem is that ALL of those people are at the few party events. I was dissapointed at the crowd level. The shows were good and the parade was too, but for what we paid, I felt it was way too crowded. I would not go again either and we also went on cc points (but I still sort of felt like I wasted my money). We had several people that were very rude to us that night also and that NEVER happened a single other time during our 12 day trip. People seemed irritated that they had paid all that money and then had to deal with a mob. I think the people who only went for the rides probably had a lot more fun, but I wanted to go for the party. I have to say that MVMCP was my only dissapointment during our trip.

I really think that Disney should include the Christmas events (parade, stage show, fireworks...) in their regular park admission during the holidays like they do in the other parks. We saw the Christmas parade at AK for free and we would have seen the OL at HS for free if they had started that early. All the Christmas events at Epcot are also free. The P&P party and the Fall party seem more reasonable to me but they should let Christmas be open to everyone. I just don't get it

Anyway, can't wait to read more!

Hey, welcome out of lurkdom. I saw your post on TimandLesley's. I love their TR's, they are so fun to read. They are probably the reason I'm hooked on the Dis. Nice family pic you posted there. Did you guys do the photoshoot, or did you have someone take the pic for you?

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that felt that way about MVMCP. Yes, there were some ill people there. I'm sure they were a little disappointed too and something about wall to wall people does make you a little ill. Or in my case a little scarey trying to hold on to my DS's hand. Could you imagine loosing your child in that Yes, spending the cc points for tickets helps some, but you still think I could have spent it on something else. You are right, it may be limited, but all those people are in 2 or 3 areas that are pretty close to each other instead of spread out in the park. I wonder what max attendance is for MK.
Again, we did most of the party stuff and we had some fun there, I'm glad we did it one time. I have some good memories of it. I just don't know that I'd do it again, only because of the crowds. All the events were nice, we enjoyed those, just so hard to get to them/in them.

Once again, great pictures!! I can't believe how clear so many of them are! Good job!

Thank you for the sweet comments. I so enjoy taking pics (I took, 2,000 something on this 5 night trip) I take pics in stride while walking. I was a little worried about my canon camera. I've only had it since June and it's a little intimidating because it has a lot of features that I still don't know how to correctly use. You know you have to get to know your camera and I just didnt' feel like we were close friends yet. I've had kodaks the last couple of camera's and the menu system is all different
It's funny, I had read someone's TR before I went and they had a SLR that took some great pics. I told my hubby about it, in passing, how good their Christmas light pics were and that I hoped I got some good ones on our trip. I was testing taking pics of our Christmas tree before the trip. Then we went on our trip. Well a couple weeks before Christmas he said, "I want you to look at something, and showed me where he had looked up that SLR camera, I mentioned. He was actually going to get me that for Christmas, but said he wanted me to look at it and make sure it was the right model and included everything I needed. I wouldn't let him spend that much on me, and I told him that after I saw the pics I took with the canon, I was very, very pleased with it, a SLR could wait.
But my hubby scored major points for just the intention of getting the other camera, and majorly for actually hearing what I said, even the model. Can you beleive that... He doesn't have those moments often but I'm blown away when he does. He is a super dad and husband.

 

[scottny]

I used sports setting and can say my pics came out BAD. But I had a good spot till some people pushed there way in front. So I blame them.

 

[morgtroy]

Oh that's always bad to have a good spot for viewing and getting crowded out. You're right though, being close enough is important. I'd love to know much more about photography. We were lucky, it wasn't crowded watching the parades in front of the train station. Which, I've always thought that it would be there so people could make their dashes to the bus stops as soon as it's over.
On our first trip we got seats up top at the train station. It became more crowded as parade time neared, but this time we were down on the sidewalk and it wasn't crowded.
From the few times I've been, it's always most crowded in the hub area around the castle. We watched Specto last trip over in Frontierland around Country Bears and it was a good spot, but this spot/trip was much closer to the parade.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

My responses are in red

Hey, welcome out of lurkdom. I saw your post on TimandLesley's. I love their TR's, they are so fun to read. They are probably the reason I'm hooked on the Dis. I totally agree! I love reading their reports and they absolutely got me hooked on the DIS!

Nice family pic you posted there. Did you guys do the photoshoot, or did you have someone take the pic for you? We did the Grand Floridian photo session and we got it for only $25! That was my souviner to myself. I hate to have my picture made, but I am soooo glad that I got over it and did it anyway. I did a VERY mini trip report of sorts when we got back and there are more pictures from the photo session posted there if you would like to see what kind of shots are included (maybe for your next trip). We were VERY pleased and I wouldn't take a million dollars for those pictures. I would highly recommend it to everyone. Here's the link to my old thread if you're interested: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015534&page=1&highlight=

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that felt that way about MVMCP. Yes, there were some ill people there. I'm sure they were a little disappointed too and something about wall to wall people does make you a little ill. Yeah, we had a guy turn around and bite my head off during the stage show and tell me not to park my stoller behind him because he could step back and fall over it????? Hello....... we were all packed in like sardines.......you can't claim the whole curb????? I just told the guy "Merry Christmas to you too!" and I DIDN'T move b/c there was nowhere to go!! There wasn't much Christmas cheer that night . And there were others who were very rude, and like I said, that never happened at any other time.

Or in my case a little scarey trying to hold on to my DS's hand. Could you imagine loosing your child in that Yes, that was my fear while we were there too. That is why we chose to go to WDW during a slow time. I am frantic over my child and I cannot stand having her in a crowd. I actually made her stay in the stroller most of the night b/c it was just crazy! Not much fun for her, but my nerves could not handle it.

Yes, spending the cc points for tickets helps some, but you still think I could have spent it on something else. You are right, it may be limited, but all those people are in 2 or 3 areas that are pretty close to each other instead of spread out in the park. I wonder what max attendance is for MK.That same CM told me that max attendance is in the 80,000 range I cannot imagine!!!! If that was 20,000 at the party (and ours wasn't even sold out) then 80,000 would be a nightmare!

Again, we did most of the party stuff and we had some fun there, I'm glad we did it one time. I have some good memories of it. I just don't know that I'd do it again, only because of the crowds. All the events were nice, we enjoyed those, just so hard to get to them/in them.
I agree. I am glad we did it once, even though it wasn't perfect, but I wouldn't go again. But my dissapointment over MVMCP is a minor memory and my trip overall was wonderful and such a blessing!

 

[lyndrajo3]

Yes Morgtroy,

I took my middle DD age 8 to "make your own ears store." La Chapeaux it is just inside the gates at MK. across the street from Tony's Restaraunt. My DD spent $27 on her original ears. The hat part=$6, name=$3, 2 patches=$4 each, pink furry ears= $5 each. So much to choose from there. Many many many diff ears, patches etc to choose from. I think I'm gonna get me my own when I go down there in May this year.

 

[lyndrajo3]

How can I post a pic from my computer to posts oon these treads? I can do it on the HGTV site but I am having difficulties with this site.

I right click and select 'go to my photos' and choose the one I want but it will not poat. What is the trick? I have HP with Vista and photomaker program.

Thanks ahead of time for the help.

 

[morgtroy]

My responses are in red

Hey, welcome out of lurkdom. I saw your post on TimandLesley's. I love their TR's, they are so fun to read. They are probably the reason I'm hooked on the Dis. I totally agree! I love reading their reports and they absolutely got me hooked on the DIS!

Nice family pic you posted there. Did you guys do the photoshoot, or did you have someone take the pic for you? We did the Grand Floridian photo session and we got it for only $25! That was my souviner to myself. I hate to have my picture made, but I am soooo glad that I got over it and did it anyway. I did a VERY mini trip report of sorts when we got back and there are more pictures from the photo session posted there if you would like to see what kind of shots are included (maybe for your next trip). We were VERY pleased and I wouldn't take a million dollars for those pictures. I would highly recommend it to everyone. Here's the link to my old thread if you're interested: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015534&page=1&highlight=

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that felt that way about MVMCP. Yes, there were some ill people there. I'm sure they were a little disappointed too and something about wall to wall people does make you a little ill. Yeah, we had a guy turn around and bite my head off during the stage show and tell me not to park my stoller behind him because he could step back and fall over it????? Hello....... we were all packed in like sardines.......you can't claim the whole curb????? I just told the guy "Merry Christmas to you too!" and I DIDN'T move b/c there was nowhere to go!! There wasn't much Christmas cheer that night . And there were others who were very rude, and like I said, that never happened at any other time.

Or in my case a little scarey trying to hold on to my DS's hand. Could you imagine loosing your child in that Yes, that was my fear while we were there too. That is why we chose to go to WDW during a slow time. I am frantic over my child and I cannot stand having her in a crowd. I actually made her stay in the stroller most of the night b/c it was just crazy! Not much fun for her, but my nerves could not handle it.

Yes, spending the cc points for tickets helps some, but you still think I could have spent it on something else. You are right, it may be limited, but all those people are in 2 or 3 areas that are pretty close to each other instead of spread out in the park. I wonder what max attendance is for MK.That same CM told me that max attendance is in the 80,000 range I cannot imagine!!!! If that was 20,000 at the party (and ours wasn't even sold out) then 80,000 would be a nightmare!

Again, we did most of the party stuff and we had some fun there, I'm glad we did it one time. I have some good memories of it. I just don't know that I'd do it again, only because of the crowds. All the events were nice, we enjoyed those, just so hard to get to them/in them.
I agree. I am glad we did it once, even though it wasn't perfect, but I wouldn't go again. But my dissapointment over MVMCP is a minor memory and my trip overall was wonderful and such a blessing!

Thanks for the link, I just checked it out and posted there. Great pics and sounded like a wonderful trip. Thanks for posting.

 

[morgtroy]

I'm pretty new to all this, but the way I do it is with photobucket. You set up a free account with photobucket.com, then upload your pics. Once they're uploaded, go down to the image. Below each image a pop up will come up that will have the link in different computer codes. I just copy the IMG code, (the text that's in that block), to my copy when I'm posting on the DIS. You pretty much have to give the image a link on the web that it will go to each time. A place to "live" on the web, at least that's the way I understand it and I'm by far, no computer expert. I'm sure you could use other's services, instead of photobucket. I hope that's helpful?

Thanks for the comment on the ear's store. We found it on our Dec trip, but there were not any make your own in a Christmas style, so DD just bought a sequined Minnie headband there. Look at the link to my TR, I have some pics posted there.
Thanks for subbing. And have a great time on your May Trip.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hey! I replied to you in my old thread

I meant to tell you I really enjoyed your SIL's trip report also. You need to take her with you next time b/c she was GOOD at sniffing out the dream team. Oh darn..........they aren't doing that anymore. I hadn't thought about that with the new promo.

 

[morgtroy]

Yes, my SIL's TR was very good. I told her what we should do is ditch the kids and have a girls only trip, but I think we'd both never get past the guilt of being in Disney without the kids.
They did sniff out the dream team well last trip. There's a guy on the Dis that did a video of his family stalking the Dream Team. Called them code named "blueberries" and "blueberries with icing" when they had on their white vests. It is hilarious. If you haven't seen it, search for it. I don't have the link any more.
My SIL had a great trip and I love their pic with all the characters at Character connection.
Yes, I hate the YOMD promotion is over. It was fun. I hope they will continue to do little surprises.

I have a new appreciation for all these DIS'ers that do the trip reports It does take some time and effort. I have enjoyed reading so many of them.

 

[morgtroy]

So we rested well after MVMCP. Got up and packed up to head home.
We made good time and our drive went really well. My kids had been practicing for our church Christmas program which had a lot of music in it. The last hour of the drive they serenaded us with all the songs.
We had a great trip, and we were tired.

Here are some random photopass pics. If I've posted any of these earlier, forgive me.

Ok, I know this has nothing to do with the fairies, but they have some really cute fairy borders on the photopass, and I liked them so I put this one on our AK pic

 

[morgtroy]

This was the tree at GF. Horrible pic of me...

Love my MIL's expression on this one.

This is one of my favorites

Here's my DD's Captain Hook pic, remember, my DS's pic was missing from my photopass

I'll post my final thoughts in next post, and I will be finished. One of my new year's resolutions done. Now if only the other resolutions were that easy.