Oh Come All Ye Faithful... DIS TR Addicts... UPDATE 4/19

[wdwgirl03]

The castle lights are amazing. I love them so much! When we were coming home I was talking to the guy next to me and he said he took about 150 pictures of just the castle. But it is stunning!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I popped on earlier while you were writing your post before I went out and ran my errands and now that I am home, you are finished and I can comment!

Candlelight Processional looks so pretty. I think it something that I will have to experience on my Future December Trip.

MK looks just amazing for MVMCP. I will get there someday! I will, I will!!

I really can't wait to hear about Yuletide Fantasy and Jiko!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Um, hon?

You walked by Pirates and DID NOT GO ON????

Ah well.

Hey, this looks like a great evening! Beautiful lights, good food, fun times. You got some great shots of the castle. I have to say, seeing the castle all light up like that...it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Magical.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautiful photos from Epcot -- that corridor of lights is breathtaking!!! I don't blame you for skipping POTC by yourself -- when we rode it during the Pirate and Princess Party all by ourselves it was kind of creepy -- and there were four of us in the boat. Pecos Bill's is always a must -- whether you or hungry or not. The castle is just so beautiful with the lights on it -- I hope to see it one day!!!

Did you get a discount on your party ticket with your AP or is that DVC members?

 

[29apr00]

the castle christmas lights are simply beautiful!! Can't wait to see them!

 

[Circusgirl]

The Christmas lights and decorations are so worth the trip! Prior to a few years ago I hadn't been during the holiday season for many years but now I want to go every year. As much as I looked at pictures of the ice lights and thought I knew how spectacular they were going to be, the in person Castle seemed bigger than life and was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen when it was all sparkled up.
I recommend the Christmas party too. The parade is fantastic and if the crowds are low on your party night you can enjoy most of the rides and still do the special events. I love the Toy Soldiers and Santa's goofy reindeer so much that I usually watch both parades...I am such a Disney dork!

 

[nts4wdw]

What a wonderful update! You captured all the things I love, the castle with lights, the lights of winter at EPCOT, all the beautful feelings from being there at Christmastime. Thank you for sharing.

 

[kschafer]

*SIGH*

Do you think it is too soon for me to make a ticker for Dec 2011? Your pics make me so anxious!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

He is a star from Broadway. To be honest, I had to post a question when the schedule came out to find out who he & the person that you saw were.


I'm gald that you liked MVMCP. I really enjoyed it also. I will probably do it again this year but will maybe take my tripod with me so that I can get some better night time shots.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who had to google the narrators!

What a beautiful Christmas filled update C!! I loved it!! Really made my spirits soar! One day I'm going to make it there to see it all for myself!! Thank you for sharing this all with us!!

Pescos Bill's was down for refurb when I went and I was so disappointed...I hear they make a great cheeseburger LOL!!!!

You're welcome! Pecos Bills is a must -do on your cheeseburger quest.

this was sunday, december 14th, right? we were at that party too!!!! that was also our last night. wasn't the party great? not crowded at all. and the castle it just GORGEOUS! i got to see the lighting that night (barely) and it was just beautiful. when you were in frontierland during the first parade me and ray were just down a little ways in the christmas shop buying christmas ornaments. funny how we were so close!

How funny! So close and yet so far. Next time!

The castle lights are amazing. I love them so much! When we were coming home I was talking to the guy next to me and he said he took about 150 pictures of just the castle. But it is stunning!

They are SO amazing. I could have taken pictures of just the castle all night!

I popped on earlier while you were writing your post before I went out and ran my errands and now that I am home, you are finished and I can comment!

Candlelight Processional looks so pretty. I think it something that I will have to experience on my Future December Trip.

MK looks just amazing for MVMCP. I will get there someday! I will, I will!!

I really can't wait to hear about Yuletide Fantasy and Jiko!!

You will get there someday! I'm excited for your future Dec trip. I can't wait to tell you about the Yuletide tour and Jiko!

Um, hon?

You walked by Pirates and DID NOT GO ON????

Ah well.

Hey, this looks like a great evening! Beautiful lights, good food, fun times. You got some great shots of the castle. I have to say, seeing the castle all light up like that...it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Magical.

I know. I'm a chicken.

Beautiful photos from Epcot -- that corridor of lights is breathtaking!!! I don't blame you for skipping POTC by yourself -- when we rode it during the Pirate and Princess Party all by ourselves it was kind of creepy -- and there were four of us in the boat. Pecos Bill's is always a must -- whether you or hungry or not. The castle is just so beautiful with the lights on it -- I hope to see it one day!!!

Did you get a discount on your party ticket with your AP or is that DVC members?

Thanks. Glad I'm not the only one who gets creeped out! Pecos Bills. No discount... think those are only for certain nights and this wasn't one of them.

the castle christmas lights are simply beautiful!! Can't wait to see them!

You are in for a treat when you do see them in person!

The Christmas lights and decorations are so worth the trip! Prior to a few years ago I hadn't been during the holiday season for many years but now I want to go every year. As much as I looked at pictures of the ice lights and thought I knew how spectacular they were going to be, the in person Castle seemed bigger than life and was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen when it was all sparkled up.
I recommend the Christmas party too. The parade is fantastic and if the crowds are low on your party night you can enjoy most of the rides and still do the special events. I love the Toy Soldiers and Santa's goofy reindeer so much that I usually watch both parades...I am such a Disney dork!

Nothing wrong with being a Disney dork. You're in good company here!

What a wonderful update! You captured all the things I love, the castle with lights, the lights of winter at EPCOT, all the beautful feelings from being there at Christmastime. Thank you for sharing.

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed. It's truly an amazing time of year to visit.

*SIGH*

Do you think it is too soon for me to make a ticker for Dec 2011? Your pics make me so anxious!!

NEVER too early for a ticker!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Guess who finally made it to the party?!? Me. The good news is that I read the whole thing today....thanks for the links.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Loved hearing your version of MVMCP, you and I felt the same way about it, it was just magical!!! The castle was breathtaking, wasn't it? And the parade and main street with the snow....it was just wonderful!!! AHH....to be there now....sniff, sniff!! Thanks for sharing your pics, you got some great ones!!!!

 

[sunny_stace]

Oh your castle photos gave me goosebumps! I mean, the castle is gorgeous at the best of times but those diamond lights....oh just breathtaking! MVMCP is just so good for the spirit. I walked around with a hot chocolate just taking it all in! Looks like you had a great Christmasy night!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Guess who finally made it to the party?!? Me. The good news is that I read the whole thing today....thanks for the links.

Well thanks for joining the party, MaryP! I cannot believe your ticker... only 55 days to go? Oh my goodness time flies!!

Loved hearing your version of MVMCP, you and I felt the same way about it, it was just magical!!! The castle was breathtaking, wasn't it? And the parade and main street with the snow....it was just wonderful!!! AHH....to be there now....sniff, sniff!! Thanks for sharing your pics, you got some great ones!!!!

Thanks. Wouldn't you just love to be there now? Although, I will say, I'm about ready for spring. We had a glorious weekend of 60 degree weather in CT followed by SNOW today. It didn't stick but I am ready for spring/summer!

Oh your castle photos gave me goosebumps! I mean, the castle is gorgeous at the best of times but those diamond lights....oh just breathtaking! MVMCP is just so good for the spirit. I walked around with a hot chocolate just taking it all in! Looks like you had a great Christmasy night!

Thanks Stacy! The castle does give you goosebumps, doesn't it! I cannot wait to see it again!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

What a fantastic update!!!!!! All your pictures are beautiful...sigh...I cannot wait to go back in December and see Main Street all dressed up and the CASTLE! Aren't those lights just amazing?

MVMCP looks like a lot of fun - I'm thinking I might fork over the extra bucks to go this year...we'll see...

The CP sounds so cool-that is kinda funny that they don't give you a choice of dinner before or after the show though. All well-sounds like it's still worth it to miss the nutty lines!

The lights at Epcot are so cool-we just saw the tree, which by itself is amazing, but with the arches and all-so pretty!

And AKL lobby...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

What a fantastic update!!!!!! All your pictures are beautiful...sigh...I cannot wait to go back in December and see Main Street all dressed up and the CASTLE! Aren't those lights just amazing?

MVMCP looks like a lot of fun - I'm thinking I might fork over the extra bucks to go this year...we'll see...

The CP sounds so cool-that is kinda funny that they don't give you a choice of dinner before or after the show though. All well-sounds like it's still worth it to miss the nutty lines!

The lights at Epcot are so cool-we just saw the tree, which by itself is amazing, but with the arches and all-so pretty!

And AKL lobby...

Isn't holiday time just extra magical at Disney? I highly recommend MVMCP... I think you guys would enjoy it!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

A few updates ago I had some pictures of the empty skyway station and was reminiscing about how much I liked the ride as a kid. Which prompted me to get out some of the family vintage photos...

The above picture also makes me think about how cool the speedway seemed as a kid. No so much as an adult who spends TOO much time in the car commuting.

View from Skyway car

I miss the skyway but I REALLY miss 20,000 Leagues!

Hope you enjoyed the brief trip back in time. I'll do a regular update over the weekend!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Those pictures are amazing!! I loved the Skyway. I understand why it's closed but it was a great ride and an awesome way to see Magic Kingdom.

I miss 20,000 leagues too! It was the best.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Skyway pics! Skyway pics! Skyway with 20,000 Leagues underneath it!

 

[Circusgirl]

You're so right, Christine, that the pictures capture the magical qualities of Disney when we were kids! It was a fantastical but true world of available wonders.
It's great to see a picture of 20,000 Leagues. I'll never forget the thrill of the first underwater adventure. As hokey as it was it was still real.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sorry for the extended absence. Work has been super busy and I did manage to squeeze in a non-Disney vacation.

Back to the December trip…

Monday. My last full day in Disney. How quickly it always flies by. Today was the day of the Yuletide Fantasy Tour, which I’d really been looking forward to. The tour was scheduled from 9am-12:30pm and we were to meet in Epcot by the guest services desk. Unfortunately this was the morning where my bus mojo disappeared. I got down to the bus stop and there was a crowd waiting for the Epcot bus that included 4—yes, FOUR!—scooters. Oy vey!

But somehow I made it relatively on time – think I was just a few minutes late and found a few different tour groups forming. I checked in, got my Christmas themed name tag and got my little ear piece. There were ~40 people… mostly couples. Think I was the only solo person.

We headed out to the parking lot and got on our waiting bus. Not a Disney themed bus – just a regular motorcoach. On the bus they were playing Christmas carols. We had two tour guides- they introduced themselves and talked a little about their Disney careers. Our first stop was Epcot World Showcase where we’d be talking about different holiday traditions so the guides asked us what traditions we used during the holidays. The “bus banter” was always themed to our next destination. We drove around via the backstage area. We were told very clearly that there was to be no photography backstage. We saw the Illuminations barges parked away waiting for the nightly show.

It was quite odd entering World Showcase a) from backstage and b) when it was EMPTY!

First stop: Germany. We were split into two groups of 20 and our group stopped in the center of the pavilion and talked a bit. We talked about the bright red and green colors (that we’ve adopted in the US), that their decorating prominently featured apples and also the “hide the pickle” tradition where they hide a pickle somewhere in the tree and the first person to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat!

Next stop: Italy. Here we talked about how the colors and materials used to decorate are very different. I can’t remember why for the life of me… sorry! We also talked about La Befana, the “good witch” who delivers gifts for children.

Light fixture love!

In “America” we actually went inside the pavilion where we talked a bit about Hanukah; there was a display inside. We then came back outside and looked at the tree. Our guide noted how American Christmas decorations at the time the pavilion is themed featured magnolias prominently. We also talked a bit about Kwanzaa and there was a small display to the side of the pavilion about this holiday.

In Japan we talked not so much about Christmas traditions but about New Years traditions.

We learned about the daruma doll or as our guide called it, a “wish doll.” As soon as I heard “wish” I knew I had to have one. So I did buy a little one. Here’s how it works… on New Year’s Eve I made my wish and colored in the right eye. My little guy is out on a table and every time I see him I think of my wish. If/when my wish comes true, I will color in his other eye. So far no luck, but it’s only April. I’m optimistic. And no, I can’t tell you what my wish is otherwise it might not come true!

Hanging this rope of straw over the front door is another New Year’s tradition. I believe they said it welcomes the god of the new year into your home.

That was it for the first stop on the tour. We headed back to the buses – again exiting through a backstage area- and headed over to Hollywood Studios. The bus banter/conversation during our drive was around what holiday movies we liked. Here again we entered the park via a backstage area. I like feeling like a VIP! At any park where we entered through the backstage area, we had to stop at a security station and a guard came onboard to look at our IDs and check our bags. We did this at Epcot, DHS and MK. I’m not complaining – whatever they need to do for security is ok with me!

We gathered around the big Coke bottle and then – again in our two separate groups of 20- headed over to the Streets of America and the Osborne Lights. We probably only spent ~15 minutes in this park in total. We heard the story of how the Osborne Lights came to Florida. Back in the 80’s in Arkansas, Mr. Osborne asked his daughter what her Christmas wish was and she wanted the house all lit up for Christmas. That year they had maybe 100 lights or something like that and then it kept growing year after year until they had purchased the houses on either side of their own so as to be able to have the space to display their growing light collection. Neighbors were none too happy with the resulting traffic and took legal action to make them stop. The law suit succeeded and then Disney swept in and offered to continue the tradition. We talked about the infamous purple cat and our guide showed us where it was hidden this year – I was looking but had not found it when I was there on Saturday. For any who might not know the story, the first year Disney put up the Osborne lights they just unpacked everything and hung it up. When the Osbornes came to “inspect” they said “why do you have a purple cat in there?” Disney answered “because it was in your boxes” and the Osbornes laughed and said that the Halloween decoration must have been put in the wrong box! So now it’s a tradition for Disney to hide the purple cat somewhere in the display each year. Our guide showed us some hidden mickeys and talked about the size of the crew and # of hours it took to set the lights up. I’m afraid my memory is failing but I think it is a crew of >20 working full time starting in perhaps August!

Interestingly, every year they just throw the lights away or recycle them. They don’t try to store them for next year. Probably a good thing since I get frustrated enough untangling the lights for my one tree… could you imagine untangling those???

cont'd in the next post