bama_ed
It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2004
- Messages
- 13,730
Whew! Got in last night and wouldja believe I had to work today? I was tired so I waited till today to post some updates. My better half isn't home yet so I have a few minutes before I turn into one of Santa's Helpers for the night:
Made the drive pulling the pop-up in 9 hours from Birmingham on Tues 12/18. Took the Western Way into the Disney property-all very smooth. Got in about 130 Eastern and into the requested 900 loop (#913). Since I was solo for about 24 hours, it took all afternoon to set up but I took my time and also spent a few minutes coasting around on the bike. Nice weather-got supper from the Trail's End "to go" menu. The fried chicken and french fries for $6.99 - was fine. Went to the Winn Dixie on Apopka-Vineland out the back entrance and bought groceries too. Also caught Ms. Sundee doing the sing-along. Crowd was light-highlight was her version of "Let There Be Peace On Earth".
Stacktester came by Wednesday morning as I continued the set-up at the campsite (this time working on the Christmas lights and decorations). Nice to see him again. Later TiggerinBama came by too-she and the family are big into the site decoration contest (I'm curious to know who won the various categories). Stopped to chat with Ms. Sundee as she was coming down the bike path from the Outpost/Check-in area toward the Meadow and told her how much I appreciated her efforts at the sing-along over the years. She seemed a little dubious until I mentioned DisBoards and my "handle" and then she lit up with a smile! She said she likes doing the sing-alongs the week before Christmas alot. Got decorations done by 2pm and finally had some down time to read the paper and enjoy the peace and quiet. Caught Ms. Sundee and Chip & Dale at the sing-along and the highlight was the Conga line led by C&D around the wooden benches. Never seen that before! 
Picked up the family late at the airport so we were finally together. Also my brother and nephew came in and tented on our site as well.
Thursday 12/20 we hit the Disney outlet in the morning and then visited the church next door (Mary Queen of the Universe). Lovely windows and a large Nativity scene. We went swimming after lunch, rode bikes, and visited Downtown Disney (Lego store/World of Disney/Art & Animation are our favorite stores). Grilled some burgers for supper then hit the sing-a-long with Ms Sundee again-highlight was her version of a Peter, Paul, and Mary Christmas song which I had not heard before. Did marshmallows and s'mores. DW and kids stayed for the movie, I went back to the pop-up.
Friday morning after breakfast we took the boat over to the MK then hopped the monorail to the Grand Floridian to check out the gingerbread house in the lobby. Smelled wonderful! (looked good too). The kids wanted to boat all the way back to FW from the GF which took a while but was fine. After lunch we played putt-putt at Fantasia Gardens then swam some more. I caught up with AuburnJen92 and gave her a big ROLL TIDE which she loved (NOT!). We had ADR's for the 5 pm Hoop-Dee-Doo and scored a second row table-great show, good food.
Saturday we hit the MK (our only park day) before opening and rode the stuff that fills up or has long waits first. Saw/did all we wanted to see in that day but didn't do all. Weather was supposed to be the warmest of the trip but it was cloudy and chilly-I had worn only shorts and a tshirt expecting it to warm up. About 3pm the sun finally came out and it did warm up some but by then it was already going down in the sky. I was amazed at how peopled streamed into the MK all day. Got crowded in the afternoon but we utilized our FastPasses pretty well and filled in otherwise. Our dinner was at the Plaza Restaurant on Main Street and I was pleased with the experience (first time to eat there). Stayed to see the firework show then headed back to the safe confines of the fort.
Sunday 12/23 we checked out about 10am and got home in 9.5 hours.
We enjoyed our trip but I was a little disappointed in the experience. The Fort, while having some decorations, was sparsely done up with Christmas decor (although I did like the ladies choir doing Christmas carols at Pioneer Hall before the HDDR). It seems Disney is relying on guests decorating their sites to deliver the Christmas spirit so they don't have to. It's part of what others have referred to as "declining by degrees". Coupled with the new rate strategy, lack of pool upgrades (thanks for the new comfort stations, though), I do not have a "next visit" planned for the foreseeable future; normally I do. Having been 7 times in 7 years (we're not locals either) this represents a shift for us. I'm sure others will fill in behind us to keep the Fort packed and cash registers ringing. Don't count me as one of those crying about the cost or the value thereof; Disney can charge what they want and I will vote with my feet as will everyone else.
It's been a great run and I wish you all the best. I post most when there is a trip to WDW approaching and since there isn't one for now I will lurk for a while.
Roll Tide Roll!
Bama ED
Made the drive pulling the pop-up in 9 hours from Birmingham on Tues 12/18. Took the Western Way into the Disney property-all very smooth. Got in about 130 Eastern and into the requested 900 loop (#913). Since I was solo for about 24 hours, it took all afternoon to set up but I took my time and also spent a few minutes coasting around on the bike. Nice weather-got supper from the Trail's End "to go" menu. The fried chicken and french fries for $6.99 - was fine. Went to the Winn Dixie on Apopka-Vineland out the back entrance and bought groceries too. Also caught Ms. Sundee doing the sing-along. Crowd was light-highlight was her version of "Let There Be Peace On Earth". Stacktester came by Wednesday morning as I continued the set-up at the campsite (this time working on the Christmas lights and decorations). Nice to see him again. Later TiggerinBama came by too-she and the family are big into the site decoration contest (I'm curious to know who won the various categories). Stopped to chat with Ms. Sundee as she was coming down the bike path from the Outpost/Check-in area toward the Meadow and told her how much I appreciated her efforts at the sing-along over the years. She seemed a little dubious until I mentioned DisBoards and my "handle" and then she lit up with a smile! She said she likes doing the sing-alongs the week before Christmas alot. Got decorations done by 2pm and finally had some down time to read the paper and enjoy the peace and quiet. Caught Ms. Sundee and Chip & Dale at the sing-along and the highlight was the Conga line led by C&D around the wooden benches. Never seen that before! Picked up the family late at the airport so we were finally together. Also my brother and nephew came in and tented on our site as well. Thursday 12/20 we hit the Disney outlet in the morning and then visited the church next door (Mary Queen of the Universe). Lovely windows and a large Nativity scene. We went swimming after lunch, rode bikes, and visited Downtown Disney (Lego store/World of Disney/Art & Animation are our favorite stores). Grilled some burgers for supper then hit the sing-a-long with Ms Sundee again-highlight was her version of a Peter, Paul, and Mary Christmas song which I had not heard before. Did marshmallows and s'mores. DW and kids stayed for the movie, I went back to the pop-up. Friday morning after breakfast we took the boat over to the MK then hopped the monorail to the Grand Floridian to check out the gingerbread house in the lobby. Smelled wonderful! (looked good too). The kids wanted to boat all the way back to FW from the GF which took a while but was fine. After lunch we played putt-putt at Fantasia Gardens then swam some more. I caught up with AuburnJen92 and gave her a big ROLL TIDE which she loved (NOT!). We had ADR's for the 5 pm Hoop-Dee-Doo and scored a second row table-great show, good food. Saturday we hit the MK (our only park day) before opening and rode the stuff that fills up or has long waits first. Saw/did all we wanted to see in that day but didn't do all. Weather was supposed to be the warmest of the trip but it was cloudy and chilly-I had worn only shorts and a tshirt expecting it to warm up. About 3pm the sun finally came out and it did warm up some but by then it was already going down in the sky. I was amazed at how peopled streamed into the MK all day. Got crowded in the afternoon but we utilized our FastPasses pretty well and filled in otherwise. Our dinner was at the Plaza Restaurant on Main Street and I was pleased with the experience (first time to eat there). Stayed to see the firework show then headed back to the safe confines of the fort.Sunday 12/23 we checked out about 10am and got home in 9.5 hours.
We enjoyed our trip but I was a little disappointed in the experience. The Fort, while having some decorations, was sparsely done up with Christmas decor (although I did like the ladies choir doing Christmas carols at Pioneer Hall before the HDDR). It seems Disney is relying on guests decorating their sites to deliver the Christmas spirit so they don't have to. It's part of what others have referred to as "declining by degrees". Coupled with the new rate strategy, lack of pool upgrades (thanks for the new comfort stations, though), I do not have a "next visit" planned for the foreseeable future; normally I do. Having been 7 times in 7 years (we're not locals either) this represents a shift for us. I'm sure others will fill in behind us to keep the Fort packed and cash registers ringing. Don't count me as one of those crying about the cost or the value thereof; Disney can charge what they want and I will vote with my feet as will everyone else.
It's been a great run and I wish you all the best. I post most when there is a trip to WDW approaching and since there isn't one for now I will lurk for a while.
Roll Tide Roll!
Bama ED
