meeko_33785
<font color=teal>Surrounded by characters<br><font
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2000
- Messages
- 5,491
After a full day of fun at the Magic Kingdom, only a morning was left for this visit to the World. Even though I knew the trip was down to its last few hours, I was still excited. For the first time in a decade, I was going to a character meal. As if that wasnt enough, it was going to be at a resort that I had never been to before- the Grand Floridian. On my way, I stopped by the Contemporary lobby to see the gingerbread Toy Shop again. I was still looking for Hidden Mickeys, but still not finding too many. After a while, it was up to the monorail station and off to the Grand Floridian.
I knew that the Grand Floridian was elaborate and ornate, but I think that it exceeded my expectations for it. The lobby was enormous and beautifully decorated. This has to be the largest and most elaborate lobby in all of Walt Disney World. I can imagine that it is beautiful at any time of year, but at Christmas it was amazing. The tree was incredible. Out of every resort Ive seen, I think only the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge can compare to how amazingly decorate it was.
As unbelievable as the tree and decorations were, the giant Gingerbread house was something else. I literally dont know what to say about it. It was really impressive. I looked at it for a little while before heading over to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.
After checking in, I spotted Mary Poppins greeting guests in the restaurants lobby in her nanny outfit. I have always seen her in the parks wearing the white gown from the Jolly Holiday scene in the movie, so it was exciting to see her wearing something different. I waited in a short line, and then got a few photos. Mary was very charming, and even asked to shake my hand before I left. Its good luck, you know, she told me. Guess she thought I was a sweep. By the time I had met Mary, the table was ready. Breakfast was wonderful. The restaurant was smaller than I had imagined, but I liked it that way. It made it more intimate, and it made the lines and the buffet extremely manageable. The food was actually very good, and there was of selection. The one thing I knew I had to get was the Strawberry Soup. I had heard so many good things about it that I had to see what all the fuss was about. It was sweet and delicious, but I felt like it didnt live up to the expectations that had been built up. Its very good, but its not the most amazing thing Ive eaten at Disney World. Of course, the characters were wonderful too. Pooh came by first for photos and hugs, and Alice made an appearance not too long afterward. The next character was quite a surprise. The waitress had said at the beginning of the meal that Alice, the Mad Hatter, Pooh, and Eeyore would be making appearances that day, but instead of Eeyore, Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh came out. Rabbit is usually an extremely rare character and one that I had never seen before in the parks. In the films, Rabbit always struck me as sort of a fussbudget, but he must have been having a good day because he was as nice and friendly as could be. The last character was the Mad Hatter. Upon finding out this would be my last day, he inquired why I was going home. He didnt seem to like my response that I had to. He pointed out that I really didnt have to and that I could stay another week if I wanted. I like his logic.
All in all, it was a great meal- my favorite of the trip. After looking around the shops in the lobby for a few last purchases, it was back on the monorail and off to the Contemporary.
Back at the Contemporary, it was time for a last look around the Concourse. Since this was my first time there when there was enough daylight to take photos around the Concourse, I made sure to get some. Finally, I could get a nice view of the murals along the wall. I tried looking for the five-legged goat that I had heard so much about, but couldnt find it. It wasnt until after I got back when I found out I was looking in the wrong side of the mural. Oh well. What I saw of it was still very impressive. I guess from all the photos I had seen of the Concourse, it always reminded me of an airport, so I wasnt expecting much from it. Looks like I was wrong. It was actually pretty cool. After looking around a little, I went downstairs and took one more look for Hidden Mickeys at the gingerbread display and to see a few less subtle salutes to the Mouse in topiary and sculpture form outside.
It was hard to believe, but the trip was over already. Still, I thought it was a great one. I managed to do a number of classic attractions, do an number of things for the first time (Stay at the Contemporary, see the Share A Dream Come True Parade and tree lighting at MK, visit the Grand Floridian and eat at 1900 Park), do some things I hadnt done in quite a while, and see quite a number of characters- including a number of hard-to-find ones. It was a short trip, but sweet (and merry too). I hope that you enjoyed reading these reports and seeing my photos. Thank you to everyone who read and responded to them. I really appreciate what you have to say.
Here are links to the other three parts of the report:
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part One
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part Two
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part Three
I knew that the Grand Floridian was elaborate and ornate, but I think that it exceeded my expectations for it. The lobby was enormous and beautifully decorated. This has to be the largest and most elaborate lobby in all of Walt Disney World. I can imagine that it is beautiful at any time of year, but at Christmas it was amazing. The tree was incredible. Out of every resort Ive seen, I think only the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge can compare to how amazingly decorate it was.
As unbelievable as the tree and decorations were, the giant Gingerbread house was something else. I literally dont know what to say about it. It was really impressive. I looked at it for a little while before heading over to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast.
After checking in, I spotted Mary Poppins greeting guests in the restaurants lobby in her nanny outfit. I have always seen her in the parks wearing the white gown from the Jolly Holiday scene in the movie, so it was exciting to see her wearing something different. I waited in a short line, and then got a few photos. Mary was very charming, and even asked to shake my hand before I left. Its good luck, you know, she told me. Guess she thought I was a sweep. By the time I had met Mary, the table was ready. Breakfast was wonderful. The restaurant was smaller than I had imagined, but I liked it that way. It made it more intimate, and it made the lines and the buffet extremely manageable. The food was actually very good, and there was of selection. The one thing I knew I had to get was the Strawberry Soup. I had heard so many good things about it that I had to see what all the fuss was about. It was sweet and delicious, but I felt like it didnt live up to the expectations that had been built up. Its very good, but its not the most amazing thing Ive eaten at Disney World. Of course, the characters were wonderful too. Pooh came by first for photos and hugs, and Alice made an appearance not too long afterward. The next character was quite a surprise. The waitress had said at the beginning of the meal that Alice, the Mad Hatter, Pooh, and Eeyore would be making appearances that day, but instead of Eeyore, Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh came out. Rabbit is usually an extremely rare character and one that I had never seen before in the parks. In the films, Rabbit always struck me as sort of a fussbudget, but he must have been having a good day because he was as nice and friendly as could be. The last character was the Mad Hatter. Upon finding out this would be my last day, he inquired why I was going home. He didnt seem to like my response that I had to. He pointed out that I really didnt have to and that I could stay another week if I wanted. I like his logic.
All in all, it was a great meal- my favorite of the trip. After looking around the shops in the lobby for a few last purchases, it was back on the monorail and off to the Contemporary.
Back at the Contemporary, it was time for a last look around the Concourse. Since this was my first time there when there was enough daylight to take photos around the Concourse, I made sure to get some. Finally, I could get a nice view of the murals along the wall. I tried looking for the five-legged goat that I had heard so much about, but couldnt find it. It wasnt until after I got back when I found out I was looking in the wrong side of the mural. Oh well. What I saw of it was still very impressive. I guess from all the photos I had seen of the Concourse, it always reminded me of an airport, so I wasnt expecting much from it. Looks like I was wrong. It was actually pretty cool. After looking around a little, I went downstairs and took one more look for Hidden Mickeys at the gingerbread display and to see a few less subtle salutes to the Mouse in topiary and sculpture form outside.
It was hard to believe, but the trip was over already. Still, I thought it was a great one. I managed to do a number of classic attractions, do an number of things for the first time (Stay at the Contemporary, see the Share A Dream Come True Parade and tree lighting at MK, visit the Grand Floridian and eat at 1900 Park), do some things I hadnt done in quite a while, and see quite a number of characters- including a number of hard-to-find ones. It was a short trip, but sweet (and merry too). I hope that you enjoyed reading these reports and seeing my photos. Thank you to everyone who read and responded to them. I really appreciate what you have to say.
Here are links to the other three parts of the report:
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part One
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part Two
Meeko's December 2005 Photo Trip Report- Part Three
