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

[MelissaFromRI]

Hello ,
Stumbled upon your trip report and loving it so far
We went right after you - December 13 - 19 and stayed at the GF as well

Looking forward to more...

 

[heatherlynn444]

just caught up! we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the RPC in the main building in sept. so I TOTALLY inderstand your excitement upon hearing you got a free upgrade!

glad your DD is feeling better! I am really enjoying your report!

 

[princess&her4princes]

 

[Lcaemom]

I know, I know, I know...I have been a very bad DISer. I'm sorry!!!

These girls of mine, have been too busy...bball ended...then they went into post season bball...at the same time pre season soccer started...we have had three weekends in a row with crack of dawn until after dark tournaments. I finally had some time this weekend to continue and the boards were down. I'm looking so forward to continuing...I just can't seem to get to here. BUT, The last of the tournaments ended about an hour ago...no more coming up in the near future...so, I promise I'll get back here to continue soon!!! Hope all is well...with everyone and all the plans. I have been having HUGE Disney withdrawls...I need to find myself a PIN or a code so, that I can make some of my own new plans.

 

[Plumeria]

Hi!

I am loving your report so far! You are so lucky to have stayed at the Grand Floridian!

Maybe someday for me!

 

[Lcaemom]

OK...so, now that basketball season has ended...maybe NOW I can get back to my beloved TR...I'm hoping I haven't lost all of you?!?

So, we left off at the Osborne Lights...so, beautiful.

We leisurely made our way out of the park...taking in all of the decorations...it was a beautiful night and we were in no rush. We had planned to take the bus back to the GF...go for a night swim and try to make it in time for the Electric Water Parade...

Some of the decorations we passed...

We arrived back to the GF and the staff was just setting up for Cordials and desserts in the lobby...so, we went and changed...me into flannel pants and a sweatshirt...the girls into bathing suits and their white bathrobes...
When we entered our room we noticed another towel animal...a Rudolph, holding all of our toothbrushes...so, cute!!!

Before we walked out to the pool, we stopped for to partake in the cordials...this was amazing...remember we had no idea that we were going to be upgraded...or what that even entailed...this was the cordial and dessert display for that night...and there was NO ONE there but, us...imagine?!?

So, I made a cappuccino...with Bailey's and Kahlua...and a splash of vanilla...and topped it was some cinnamon/sugar...just one of the many deliscious concoctions I dreamt up for myself that week...and missed soooooo much upon returning home...YUMMO!!!

We had almost the whole pool to ourselves...it was so quiet and peaceful...all of a sudden the music for the Electric Water Parade started...so, we ran down to the boatdock...because we had no idea where the parade was or where it was coming from...once we were down on the dock, we realized that we had the perfect view...

We made our way back inside for some Stacy...on tv...and we were just plain exhausted...

Next up: A free morning...with no plans...lunch at the Castle...and then the MVMCP!!! Have I mentioned that my youngest DD commented on EVERY little girl we passed, who had been to the Bippity Boppity Boutique?!? Can I pull that off...last minute...do I even want to?!?

 

[Lcaemom]

Hi!

I am loving your report so far! You are so lucky to have stayed at the Grand Floridian!

Maybe someday for me!

Thanks Plumeria for joining us!!! I do feel so lucky to have been able to stay at the GF...I hope that comes across here! Loved every minute of it!!! I hope you can get there, too!!!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Yeah! You are back! I would love to see the Osborne Lights!

 

[tigger1972]

Wow!!!! What a great TR! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one, because I'm thinking of going for the same week in 2009!

I had just about made up my mind to book the week starting Dec 5th, 2009, and then came across some posts about Pop Warner being that week. DH is concerned about loud groups of teenagers during Wishes or Illuminations. Did you ever notice anything like this?

I also noticed the MK xmas tree wasn't up yet when you went. Did they put it up in time for your MVMCP?

I'm now trying to decide between the week of the 5th, the week before (would drive down right after Thanksgiving), or the week after (would mean that DS would be out of school 3 wks in a row b/c xmas break would start right after we got home.

In retrospect, would you choose the same week again, or would you choose the week before or week after for a future trip?

Thanks!!
-April

 

[princess&her4princes]

Yay!! You're back!!! I'm so happy to hear from you and relive your trip since mine is done...although, trying to find the time to start up my PTR for my September trip now! Praying and hoping for FD tomorrow morning..wish me luck!! Hope to hear more from you soon!!!! And hope things are well with you and the family!!

 

[MushuGirl06]

I just read your TR, can you tell i was bored? lol
but i LOVE it, cant wait til you update again!

i am really trying to convince my family to go at christmas sometime
its so prettyyyyy

 

[whogirl'smom]

Your family pics at the Osbourne lights turned out great! The concoctions you made in the lounge sound quite yummy.

Glad to see an update! I hope your spring slows down a little.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hey Leighan!
Just wanted to let you know, I started my PTR today..come check it out, when you can!!!!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2134752

 

[shebaxric]

Subbing! Loving the report so far! I have always wanted to stay at the GF but have never had the opportunity. Keep up the good work!

 

[scottny]

Hi,
Just found your tr and read it. Great tr.

Sorry she wasn't feeling well but seems like she bounced back quickly.

GF, very nice.

Looking forward to more

 

[iluvuwdw]

Whew ... I am caught up I really am enjoying your trip report , sorry to hear about your teenager getting sick . We had the same thing happen to us but both kids were down. I will have to do up a TR soon too

Can't wait to read more ...

 

[MelissaFromRI]

All caught up !!!
Great TR , so glad your DD felt better and you guys had a nice day at MGM. Yes , I still call it MGM , get over it...lol...

Can't wait for more , I return to the GF in 45 days

 

[Lcaemom]

Good morning to you all!!! Thank you for all your kind words!

Tigger1972 We went in 07 and 08, the same week in December...the first year, didn't notice them at all...and we stayed at POR. This past year we noticed them much more so, but, they certainly didn't interfere with anything that we noticed.
The tree was not up on the 7th...when we went to MK...that was the day after the taping of the Christmas parade. It was up however, on Tuesday, the 9th, for the MVMCP...which is where it stayed for the rest of the seaon. I thought this week in 07, was perfect!! In 08, it was much busier...I would most definately pick this week again...except for our daughters play basketball and their season starts the first weekend in December and they hated to miss that. So, we are throwing around the week before for this year...but, I don't want to miss too much of Christmas decor...which apparently isn't completely finished until that first full week of Dec. We're planning for 2010...12/26-1/3...only because my brother doesn't want his kids to miss any school...working on changing his mind on that, though!!!

Kristen Yeah for you...with the FD!!! How exciting!!! Hope your trip planning is going well! Looking forward to catching up on all of your details!

Looking forward to updating tonight...I have spent 5 very long days...getting all of the photos in order...my camera and my daughter's camera have the wrong times...I started to realize this when I kept going back to my files to update this TR and found pics I had missed. So, all 1000+ pictures had to be put in order one by one... But, we are finished...I have uploaded some more to photobucket and will try to come back tonight, to continue on. I bought a new candle, that smells EXACTLY like the lobby at the GF...to put me in the mood!!!

Also, just wanted to let you all know...I am going to get a Disney fix in...16 days!!!! I am so excited!!! We will be driving to FL...I know...CRAZY!!!...to see my parents, who live 3 hours from Disney. They are too far away from WDW to make a day trip worth it, while we're with them. But, we are planning to time things so that we can hit Typhoon Lagoon, on the way down...and DTD...and my favorite Earl of Sandwich, on the way home. It's not a full-fledged Disney vacation but, it's something...and I'm so excited that it will work out!!!

Be back tonight!!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Oooh, you're getting a bit of a fix, yay for you!!!!!!! That will be SO nice!!!!! I'm happy for you.

Can't wait to hear more on your TR tonight!!!!!

 

[Lcaemom]

We woke up to a warm...kind of cloudy but, almost 80 degree day...we were going to start late today, because we had the MVMCP that night. The plan was to sleep in...and then have lunch at the castle and then come back to the hotel...and hang around...just to have a chance to take it all in. Everyone says "what does it matter where you stay at Disney??? you spend all your time in the parks...you just need a room to sleep in." To a point, I agree...last year when we stayed at POR...we did spend most of our time in the parks and did use the room primarily for sleeping. When I booked the GF for this trip...I really wanted to aim for a longer stay so, that we would have plenty of time to spend at the resort. So, we had a plan...to have no plan. I got up early...which is the usual...no matter how late I go to bed. I grabbed my book and went down to the lobby for breakfast. I ended up having the same thing from the lobby almost every day...a cappuccino, cranberry juice, ham and cheese slices in a mini croissant...and whatever pastry happened to be served that day...healthy I know...but, it was a vacation. I took it all out to the pool...and sat...and read. Heaven!!! The rest of the family eventually woke up and joined me.

My youngest DD continued expressing interest in the Bippity Boppity Boutique...from this point on the BBB. I have to say that I was honestly not a fan of this. I could not see spending all that money. I did my older girls' hair for their communions...and it came out beautiful. I was NOT going to spend all that money, on her hair...just so that she could attend the MVMCP. Well, she got all teary...and told me that she "just wanted to be beautiful" when she had lunch with Sleeping Beauty. I of course, reasoned that she would be...she'd wear her gown, we'd curl her hair...I'd let her wear lipstick...etc. She said that that was the only thing she wanted...blah blah blah...I fell for it!!! So, not only was I going against what I thought was how things should be...I was now on a mission!!! We didn't have an appt...it was only three hours til our reservation. We decided that I would take my DD and at least try to get her in...and the rest of the family would meet us at the castle in time for our reservation. So, we ran into our building and concierge called over to the BBB...they said they had nothing but, the woman at the desk said that sometimes if you just show up they really do have room. So, we ran up to the room, my DD threw on her Sleeping Beauty gown...and off we went. We stopped first at the hotel beauty salon to see how much it would be for an updo...if we couldn't get her in at the BBB. And then if worst came to worst...we do it ourselves. So, off we went...loved being at the GF...can jump on the monorail and be at the MK in five minutes...through the gates and into the BBB within 10 minutes...we were holding our breath that they would tell us there was room...and that the price wasn't going to be outrageous!?!

GUESS WHAT??? They had room!!! Our wait would be about 10 minutes...my DD was so excited...more so, than I had ever seen her!!! She was really excited to have her hair done! This really sweet woman came around and showed her the brochure so, that she could pick out which hairstyle. My DD lit up...when I saw how excited she was...it brought tears to my eyes. I of course, got out the camera and started snapping away...this is only the beginning!!

We must have been the most excited people in the waiting room...we took tons of pictures of my DD in the waiting room...little did I know about our photo opportunities that lay ahead. This was another highlight of our trip. My DD will NEVER forget this experience...it was worth every penny!!!

NEXT UP: The highlights of the BBB...and after all of our great luck...we almost miss our ressie at CRT...the ressie that our entire trip was planned around...