We had such a good time spending NY Eve at Disney last year we decided to do it again. We had a great time again this year. We drove over Friday 12/28 after I got off work and checked into the All Star Movies. We spent Friday night watching Zip A Dee Doo Daa and walking around the resort. This was our first stay at the Movies and the kids loved Andy's Room. We got up Saturday morning at the leisurely hour of 8am (our kids are 2 and 5) and took our time getting to the Magic Kingdom. We all picked one attraction - Haunted Mansion for me, Barnstormer for our son (5), Small World for our daughter (2), and the Christmas Parade for my wife. We enjoyed a great lunch at Diamond Horseshoe - actually around the corner from Diamond Horseshoe. The restaurant was sro becasue of the show so we snuck around the corner to Adventure Land where there are always empty tables. We had a nice relaxing lunch. After lunch we rode HM, SWprld, and then watched the parade. We then walked over to Toon Town for the Barnstormer and a visit with the princesses for our daughter. Snow White and Cinderella were in attendance. We ate dinner at Tony's and then rode Buzz Lightyear before departing just prior to the parade and in time for me to watch my Buccaneers defeat the Ravens on ABC. I have season tickets to the Bucs so I was torn, but decided to not drive over for the game and then back after it. Even though I missed a great game, I am glad that I did not have a long drive back at 12:30am. Sunday am we went to MGM and rode Star Tours, watched the Muppets 3D, and ate at Pizza Planet. We then took the bus to the TTC and transfered to Downtown Disney. After shopping for a while we returned to the Movies for some napping and TV. We realized that we had left our candy at Ghiradellies. We called and they were nice enough to have found it and saved it for us. We returned to MGM for the Osburne Festival of Lights and then went back to DTD to retrieve our candy. We got up early on Monday and went to Epcot. We thought it did not open until 9, so when we got there at 8:35 we thought we would be early. WRONG! My son and I went straight to Test Track, the line was already 90 minutes, so we got a Fast Pass. When we got in line for a Fast pass the return was 9-10. When we got our Fast Pass, the return was 10:30-11:30. We then waited in line to get the New Year's Eve pin. There were some really nice people in line with us. We rode Universe of Energy, then my son and I rode Test Track (which was up to a 120 minute wait). We met my wife and daughter and walked through Innovations (when we were done the sign outside stated a 180 minute wait for Test Track). We then went to the Land for our ps at the Garden Grille. What a great lunch - great food and service as always - but such a little oasis of quiet and peace in the middle of the "madness"! We then started through the World Showcase. We enjoyed the kidcot fun stops, until the parents all decided that their child "had to be first" and started accousting the poor showcase workers. We managed to get the Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Moracco, and UK stamps. We quit trying after the UK when my son was shoved to the side by one lady and another nearly knocked me down trying to shove her child's mask into the face of the worker. In spite of this we really enjoyed meeting the helpers. Norway, Mexico, and China were especially nice. Moracco was not at all busy and poor Germany and UK were soooo swamped they could not move. We enjoyed British Invasion and Woodpecker Cider in the UK before our 7pm seating at Rose and Crowne. We got outside seating near a heater for the 7:30 showing of Illumincations - FANTASTIC! After dinner we walked to the front of the park enjoying all the lights and caught a bus back to the resort. We got up early this am and drove home. As always we had a great weekend. When asked our highs for the weeked the were as follows: my son -"the fireworks at the Rose and Crown", my daughter - "When my brother found my Jasmine" (she had dropped her toy on the ground and our son searched and found it", my wife - "the Festival of Lights", and me - "lunch at the Garden Grille". We also made our Disney New Year's resolution - where we want to spend at least one night next year.....me - Beach Club (never stayed there), my wife - Polynesion (wants to stay there and see he show), my son - Contemporary (stayed there once, but he was little and he can't remember it), my daughter - the hotel (she really did not understand the assignment). HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!
