Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy, Disney-filled New Year!
Yeah, Thanksgiving weekend can be oppressive. Early in the day it's not too bad, but later on the crowds continue to grow. It doesn't tend to taper off until about Tuesday or Wednesday the following week.
I LOVE taking pictures directly into light, because they always turn out the coolest. I love the ones you took!
I don't think they were anticipating that Anna and Elsa would become so popular so fast.
"Lietenant Dan.......ice cream....."
I'm totally with you on the spicy front. I can't take any spice at all. I get made fun of constantly because of it.
Wow, awesome! Illegal bread pudding! That's some Disney magic there.
Yeah, I found that out!
I mean, I knew there would be crowds, and when I planned this trip, I figured I didn't care, I just wanted to go...but now I realized I can't deal with crowds so I won't be going after Thanksgiving for a while!
Thanks, I like taking pictures like that too! You can't see anything at the time you take the picture, but once you look at it, it usually looks awesome!
Yeah, Anna and Elsa are really popular...it's crazy! I'm guessing eventually they will get their own little spot like Rapunzel and become permanent! It's nice that they are in Norway now, but that area can't really handle those crowds!
Haha, Lieutenant Dan!
Yeah I get made fun of for not being able to handle spice either...it's ridiculous. I try to be tough but I just can't take it!
I KNOW! I can't believe it, we actually got bread pudding from 'Ohana!
I'm here and loving the start of the TR! All the pictures of Epcot were beautiful and there's nothing better than just wandering the WS!
Um, score on the smuggled bread pudding. I am so envious! I'm eating at 'Ohana during the solo part of my May trip and I'm thinking of requesting I get the courses backward because I never have room for more than a few bites of the dessert.
The Grand looks gorgeous at Christmas. We're booking our early December trip in a few weeks and I cannot wait to see all the decorations myself. And your pictures of the fountain in the villas building were great. We have our first trip "home" to VGF planned for August and I cannot wait. We were lucky enough to get a pre-opening preview of the building in October and we can't wait to spend some real time there?
Yay, glad you're here!
Haha, I can't believe we actually got bread pudding, it was so cool! I know what you mean about 'Ohana, I try to pace myself because I want room for bread pudding at the end...I wonder if they would give that to you first?
I LOVE the Grand!
Ahh, you actually own DVC at the Grand? I'm so jealous, that's where I would buy if I could but that won't happen for years...someday, unless I actually move to Florida! I just really want to stay there someday...as much as I am hoping to go to Disney this year, I'm seriously thinking of just skipping it this year and waiting until next May for our 5 year anniversary and staying at the Grand but I don't know...I don't know if I can go a whole year with no Disney!
OK, Illegal Bread Pudding!? How freaking cool is that!? Definitely worth a GREAT tip! I can't believe you didn't take any pics at The Poly! I know how it is though...so hungry you can't think about anything but eating and then something exciting happens and you just totally don't even think about it! It happens!
The Grand looks really pretty but I'm still just "eh" about it! Your pics are great, BTW! Although we will probably stay there on DVC points... Lumar loves penguins so that fountain basically cemented that plan!
I know, I am still amazed that it even happened!!
I know, I can't believe it either, but we were just focused on figuring out where to eat. It's pretty there but there's no big focus point like the other deluxes.
I am obsessed with the Grand, I need to stay there! I might try to rent points for it too, it will probably be much cheaper than staying at the actual resort. Maybe I'll do a split stay or something, between that and AKL or something. Who knows. As of now, I'm not going back to Disney anytime soon so it's nothing I have to really worry about yet.
Is Kona Island where they sell coffee at during the day? I think that's what it is. OMG! I love the bread pudding story. I probably would have ran outside for fear of getting the server in trouble. Thanks for the laugh tonight! I still think WL is the prettiest at Christmas, sorry.
So back to my
DCL/Clearwater trip, have you been to Clearwater? I have never been but we were trying to think of where to go after the cruise and we have already been to Cocoa Beach twice. Apparently Clearwater is 3 hours from the cruise port, not too happy about that, but it will be nice to be somewhere different for a change.
Yep that's the same Kona Island! Haha, I wasn't worried about getting him in trouble, I was worried about us getting in trouble! Which is ridiculous...but it just felt like we were doing something wrong!
No, I haven't been to Clearwater, but I've looked at pictures and it looks AMAZING! I want to spend a day there sometime, when I can tear myself away from Disney, but it hasn't happened yet. How do you like Cocoa Beach? It looks nice, but I've read the beaches on the Gulf are much nicer than the Atlantic. Which is why I'm kind of obsessed with Clearwater! You are going to have a great time!
Oops, I guess I forgot to comment on the previous update!
So glad that you had a migraine-free trip!
I always feel so bad for you when you have to deal with one.
Also, I wish your Epcot post had been up before our trip, as I had no idea there were new bathrooms or vodka on the ice cream and probably would have checked out both of them!
I agree on the Poly lack of big decorations. There's no big "must see" thing like the rest of the resorts. It's just pretty and pleasant, in general.
That's an awesome story about the bread pudding. Only at Disney!
Nice pictures of the gingerbread house. And cool fountain at the Villas!
Aww, thanks!
It's awful when I get a migraine in Disney, but luckily I managed to escape that this time! It was so nice not having to really worry about it this trip! Maybe because it wasn't that hot, I don't know, but I'll take it!
Haha, I figured everyone knew about the new bathrooms in America! They are SO nice. It's a little ridiculous how nice they are, actually!
And the ice cream drinks are so cool, it's in the old France bakery, I kind of regret not getting one now, but next time!
I think the Poly looks beautiful for Christmas but it needs something like the other resorts have! Maybe a big gingerbread Stitch?
I'm so happy we got to have our bread pudding! I had an ADR for 'Ohana but I ended up canceling so I'm glad we got to at least have something from there!
I literally cannot eat it often enough
I was thinking of going at the end of the month, when Food and Wine starts, which will bring in the crowds too, but at least I know how to handle those crowds, since I've done crazy Food and Wine weekends before!
I mean, it tasted ok, but the bread was so soggy, and I kept it in the over much longer than it said to! I ended up throwing it away, the top was fine, and it tasted good, but the inside of the bread was just soaked! Do you alter the recipe at all? I was thinking of not using so much milk next time...
Or gingerbread men! AHHH! I wish I knew, I would have looked! Oh well, guess I have to go back again! 
It's just perfect, and I always contemplate buying one of the gingerbread shingles that they sell there, but...I'm not really a fan of gingerbread! I like the way it smells, but the taste isn't that great! Maybe Disney gingerbread is good though, I've never actually tried it!
