Our 2008 grand, GRAND FLORIDIAN Christmas trip 12/6-12/14

[Lcaemom]

As we made our way to the parade route...we did some of the rides that had no waits. We had not done Mickey's Philharmagic before...ever. I was very glad we did!!! What a great attraction...too cute at the end when Donald flies into the back of the theatre. I love to take pictures of the girls with the crazy 3D glasses on.

I absolutely did NOT want to miss one second of the parade...that was one of the highest priorities on this trip. I was hoping that they hadn't made too many changes from 2007. They did not...I have it taped now on DVR...since Christmas Day. If they change it at this point...I will still have it. Once I am able to find it on a video or even just the music on a CD...my life will be complete! Kidding!?! I do love the music to this parade.
Anyways, we made our made to Liberty Square...seems to be where we watch every parade from...hmmmm...tradition maybe?!? Love establishing WDW traditions! LOL! We got our spots pretty early...maybe 45 minutes before it started. We waited for the second parade...supposed to less crowded...this night...NOT the case!!! On our way to Liberty Square, we found an abandoned stroller...Erin is 7 but, it was late, and she was exhausted...she NEEDED it. Thank goodness we found it...she fell asleep while we were waiting. We picked a spot right next to a popcorn vendor...made the passing of time easier...to snack on popcorn.
And then!!! I heard...the music...and THEN the announcer..."Ladies and Gentlemen..." I was so excited...it was STARTING!!! I had counted down 356 days...to hear this song again..."Once Upon a Christmastime at Christmas...." That was my big Disney moment...where my eyes filled with tears...and life was just perfect!!!

The floats are just beautiful...so much detail. I really wanted to just enjoy the parade...so, I snapped away...hoping I'd get something good. These are some of the good ones...Minnie and Mickey...

Pooh and Friends...This was one of most favorite floats...

The skater-girls...dressed in beautiful white, snowflake costumes...they were beautiful. I truly missed my calling in life...I was a skater growing up...a figure skater not, rollerskates...but, close enough. I should have come to Disney 20 years ago...to be a skater in this parade! What was I thinking?!? Do you think there is still hope?!? LOL

Next came Donald...look at the snowman...shaped like a duck! Is this Donald, though...I think it might be his uncle...what is his name?!?

More skaters...if I hadn't become I snowflake skater-girl...I would have taken this part. They had beautiful costumes too...and rollerblades much closer to iceskates.

The reason I am thinking that that was not Donald on the float...is because Donald and Daisy came by in this sled after the float...I'm thinking Donald had an uncle...I need to brush up on my Disney characters. I couldn't fit the horse and carriage into one picture so, I combined them...can you even tell?!? lol

Next Up: More MVMCP...I think I may have used up my allotment of images in this post...time to start a new one...

 

[SoonerGirl]

Woo Hoo! You're back!!!

You are correct - that is Uncle Scrooge on the first float

AND, I think you would make a great Disney skater girl! Think you could get the family to move to Orlando to indulge your dream???

 

[wide receiver]

Disney trivia...was it Uncle Scrooge McDuck?!!???


I don't think its every too late to have your dream....of skating in the parade!


Love the picture of your daughters!


Tell us more about MVMCP....we are thinking about doing this this year. Is it worth the bucks? Do you only really have time for shows? Do you have time for rides? And one more question if you were traveling between Christmas and New Years would you still say its worth it? Or too busy?

 

[Lcaemom]

Continuing on...Chip and Dale came next...they too had cute snowmen...chipmunk snowmen, of course! Many of the floats had wafts of smoke coming from their chimney...some smelled like a campfire...

Next, was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...

Then Cinderella...so, beautiful...her carriage was trimmed in ivory bows and roses...and white Christmas lights and silver glitter...no picture could capture the detail...well, none of mine anyways...

Following Cinderella was the Grand ball...with everyone dressed so beautifully in ballgowns and the men in costumes reflecting the same time period...so much detail to those as well...

And THEN...our coveted Sleeping Beauty...on a beautiful festive float...all decorated with garland and Christmas lights....our most favorite princess...

It appears as if the Fairy Godmother is yelling to us...What?!? Is she telling us to make a wish?!? I wish we could go back to DISNEY!!! LOL...Shhhh...don't tell...then my wish won't come true!!!

Goofy came next...riding this bike? train? It was making all kinds of popping noises...and smelled like candy....MMMMMM!!!!

These gingerbreadmen were the cutest!!! They had flat backs...because they were cooked on a cookiesheet...Right before the gingerbreadmen was a gingerbreadhouse float...my picture of that was blurry, sorry...but, it was blowing out gingerbread scented smoke from it's roof...so, the whole street smelled like gingerbread as they all went by. YUM!!!

OK...you will need excuse my lack of Disney knowledge today...on this absolute adorable float was a cow...I can't, for the life of me remember her name?!? But, the float was a candy shop...it smelled like candy canes...and was followed by lots of "elfy," candy-maker type characters...riding bikes, driving tiny cars...it was all so cute!

The toy soldiers came next...love them!!! A present float...and then....

Next Up: Who would be at the end of a Christmas parade?!? Hmmmmm....

 

[SoonerGirl]

Tell us more about MVMCP....we are thinking about doing this this year. Is it worth the bucks? Do you only really have time for shows? Do you have time for rides? And one more question if you were traveling between Christmas and New Years would you still say its worth it? Or too busy?

I can't answer specific questions about MVMCP, but I can tell you that, looking at your ticker, I don't think they will have any while you are there. The last one is on the 18th. BUT, the parade and shows that they do during the party, they do everyday during Christmas week with your normal admission - so you won't miss them

 

[Lcaemom]

Soonergirl Thanks for coming back!!! I think the fact that my family listens to me talk about Disney as much as I do is probably the most that they will ever indulge in any of my Disney dreams. LOL! I have already warned them that when I get to retirement age...that I will be moving to Orlando...to sell Christmas ornaments in Liberty Square...if Disney still needs skaters then...I will have to consider all of my options, at that point!

wide receiver I would definately do MVMCP...however, I would pick a non-discounted night...for sure!!! In 2007, we did all the shows, parades...AND tons of rides. In 2008, we could barely move to get from one thing to another...we did a discounted ticket night. NEVER AGAIN! I have not been between Christmas and NYs but, would do it if that was my only option...Christmastime at Disney is amazing!!! We go in between Thanksgiving and Christmas...supposed to be the least busy time of the year but, rumor has it that that is not true anymore...we did the same week in December, in 07 and 08...and found that 08 was much busier overall. We will not be going this year but, are planning for last few days of November into the first few days of December for 2010...hoping that that might be a little better. All in all...still completely amazing!!!

Thank you to both of you...for confirming Donald's uncle!!! Still not sure of his actual name...but, that's ok...I am willing to settle on knowing that it is NOT actually Donald.

 

[Lcaemom]

Oh my...could it be??? It is...it's Santa!!! Leading the way...his dancing reindeer!

I could have sung that song...all night long...while skipping through the park! Such a great parade!!! Erin, however had other ideas...sleep! She was a little too big for that stroller but, it certainly served it's purpose...for a little while. We were off to get something to eat...and then back to the castle for the Celebrate the Season show

We attended the last show of the night...so, this was a little less crowded...but, not much. It is a great show!

We had the best seat for that show!!! When it was over...the park was closing. I was sad but, it had been a long night...and a long day. We packed soooooo much into that day!!! But, it was worth every minute!!!
One last picture of the castle...

On our way out...the stores were still open...we did some shopping...which was the plan. Don't want to waste time shopping when you can do that at the end of the night! We made our way down Main St...going pretty slowly...I like to take it all in...there is so much to see...we had the stroller...why rush?!? It's nice to "stop and smell the roses..."

Of course, that doesn't always pay off...by the time we got back...Erin was wide awake! She had taken her hair apart before and this is what she left with! Do you know how long that took to comb out?!? Oh well...small price to pay for beauty!

Next up: After a day jam-packed with Disney fun...a day planned to do nothing at all....

 

[princess&her4princes]

Yay!! You're back!!!!!! I missed you and so glad they could reopen your TR so we can hear more from you!! And no worries, I completely understand about the lack of time....we'll just call your TR "Christmas in July" now!!

Uncle Scrooge and Claribel...right? You got some GREAT pics from MVMCP! Love the pic of Erin in the stroller all cuddled up! And her hair pic....oh my! That looks like a nightmare to get through!!!

Looking forward to hearing more......

 

[wide receiver]

Thanks for the info about MVMCP! Here I sit planning my trip thinking whether or not I should spend the money for MVMCP and its not even an option for the nights we will be there! HA! Well at least it frees up $200 that I can use for some other event!

Love your report on the parade! Sounds yummy!

 

[happenin2you]

i'm so glad to see that you're back in action! my question about MVMCP is if they do all this stuff during the day, why is it a must to come see it at night and pay extra? are there other things that aren't offered in the day?

 

[A's Princess]

Yea! Welcome back. Thanks for the great update!

 

[dpndka]

OMG, MVMCP sounds wonderful! I can just imagine the gingerbread frangrance during the parade.

I'm going to show these posts to DH to try and convince him to stick to our original plan for Dec. It turns out that we will have to cancel our Dec trip because DH needs to attend a conference that he cannot get out of. I guess that's what I get for planning a year in advance.

We can still go during the last week of Dec but I am scared of the crowds. With 2 young boys, I cannot handle a super crowded MK.

I have my fingers crossed that somehow DH's dates for first part of Dec will open up.

 

[pixleyyy]

I found your trip report and read the whole thing today. It's made me sooooo excited for our own trip this December. I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[khertz]

I'm glad you are back and updating! GREAT pictures of the Christmas parade. I think that is what I'm looking forward to seeing the most at Disney this year!

The picture of Erin sleeping in the stroller is adorable.

Look forward to reading more!

PS: Donald's uncle's name is Scrooge McDuck.

 

[WrightFamily06]

Great TR just joining in Love all your pictures , hoping to get some ideas about all the Christmas stuff from report . Trying decide if we want to go for Christmas 2010 or Halloween this would be our first time going in the fall winter season , we always normally go at Spring time Can't wait to read more

 

[julluvsdisney]

Love the TR! we are fom the south shore! I loved seeing the pictures of POR and GF at xmas time! We are planning a xmas trip in 2010 so i get so excited to hear about everything during that time of the year! Thanks for all the pics! i am so excited!!!

 

[thegreggersmom]

Yeah...you're back! Am subscribing this time so I don't miss a thing.

 

[cinderella73]

I just sat here and read through your whole report. You have a beautiful family .

We are planning our first Christmas trip around the same time. Would you say most things were walk on's or short waits??? I am used to going in September and I hear December is supposed to be as good or even better than September now.

Loved all your pictures. I do the same thing where I go crazy snapping away and everyone gripes about it at first. But when we get home we are all so happy to have them. No one complains then. lol