Our "Totally Tinsel" Christmas vacation! UPDATES Page 14 - two!!

[KathyRN137]

Sometimes it is best to divide and conquer!!

An hour wait for Dumbo! Yikes! Justin was a good boy!

You made good use of your FastPasses... wonder which rides you'll do next?!


Kathy

 

[lexmas]

Subbing! I don't have time to read now but I'll be back to read! I can't wait to read all about it!

 

[DWGal210]

Ugh, seas of humanity make me twitch. I am surprised about the rides with small wait times. I would have thought that every ride would be packed on NYE.

You know, it was very surprising; I forgot we did have that Fast Pass for the Pooh ride but it seemed that the "little kid" rides weren't that much of a wait.

 

[DWGal210]

Just have to chime in that we were in MK on the day you're referring to (Dec. 30) and yes, the park had a level 3 closure. I have a picture on my trip report of TomorrowLand around 1 p.m.

I can only imagine that if you stayed at MK all day during NYE, you saw worse crowds.

Can't wait to read more!

Hey there!!

Oh my, you were there on the 30th!? I bet it was just NUTS!!!

I can't remember at what point, but when I was going into Hollywood Studios, maybe the evening of the O Lights with Jill and the girls, they were just opening back up - taking the covers off the turnstiles. They said all four parks had been closed that day!

I want to have a Hunny Pot ride at Bella's birthday party!!!

Yes, a Hunny Pot ride would be just wonderous!!!

Whew! You were a busy updating DISer today!

Thanks!! I just feel bad for slacking on this TR and so I am trying to do big updates.

Sometimes it is best to divide and conquer!!

An hour wait for Dumbo! Yikes! Justin was a good boy!

You made good use of your FastPasses... wonder which rides you'll do next?!


Kathy

Hey Kathy! Yes, sometimes it is better to split up; it was fine when Justin was younger, but now that he knows there are rides for young kids his age, he is less inclined to sit there while everyone else gets to do the fun stuff.

Subbing! I don't have time to read now but I'll be back to read! I can't wait to read all about it!

Welcome!! Thanks for reading!!

 

[AlohaAnnie]

WE'RE GOING ON THE DREAM IN FEBRUARY 2011!!! :dance3

I would love to read a TR for the Dream! hint! hint! We are also going on the Dream December 2011! I hope you do a Trippie!

 

[DWGal210]

I would love to read a TR for the Dream! hint! hint! We are also going on the Dream December 2011! I hope you do a Trippie!

Oh, I will FOR SURE be doing a report for that trip!!!

 

[DWGal210]

So after we again parted ways, my aunt, Justin and I went on the WDW Railroad. This is again another thing I had never done before, so it was very fun!! And Justin LOVES trains, so of course he had a great time!!

On our way up the stairs to the train station stop near Splash Mountain, I took these pictures - this was NYE around Noon.

Wowza!! It was definitely crowded in there!

Very soon, our train pulled up!

We then looped our way around the Magic Kingdom - this was such a nice and relaxing way to be in MK, but not be struggling with the NYE crowds. We actually rode around twice, waiting for the other part of our group to call us and say they were ready to go. So next we have some random train ride pictures...

The boys called and said they were just getting on Space Mountain, so we excited the train at the Main Street station and decided to go and do some shopping. But just as we were getting ready to go in the store...

(continued next post)

 

[DWGal210]

Just as we were about to blow some more vacation money, we caught the "Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It" parade!!

Hi Donald!

And there's Minnie and Goofy! Minnie blew me a kiss, I wish I would have had my camera ready to catch that!!

Bye, guys! See you another time!

We ended up having enough time to buy a few things before we met the rest of our group. I got some Mickey measuring spoons and measuring cups for my kitchen and a pair of scrapbook stickers that make little Mickeys along the edge of your paper. Super cute!!

The boys and my sister found us, and we headed out of MK. We then made our way to Saratoga Springs!!!

 

[DWGal210]

We arrived at Saratoga...AHHH....

Now don't get me wrong. We really really like AKL, but Saratoga just seems more like "home" to us, if that makes any sense. We just love this resort!!

We grabbed an easy and quick lunch at the Artist's Palette and were on our way!

We had packed the kid's swimsuits with us and so they were able to change and go in the pool until our room was ready. Soon enough, we got the text that our room was ready!!

And we had a GREAT view!! This was the view from the hallway/balcony area right outside our door!! We were in the Grandstand section, where we had requested!!

And we were here!!

And the view out our patio / balcony...

So after getting settled, we decided we would go to DTD to grab some dinner. My sister also said she would accompany me to the DIS meet at the Poly for NYE fireworks!!

COMING NEXT....The DIS meet at the Poly!!

 

[heaven2dc]

SSR is so pretty! I visited it when I went on the DVC tour and I thought I would feel overwhelmed by the size of the resort but didn't (although I haven't stayed there and had to walk to the lobby or pools from a room.)

Wowza - boy MK sure was crowded on NE!! My youngest 2 boys are visiting WDW for the first time this year and if they had entered the park and had to deal with a crowd that size, I never would be able to convert them Sounds like you had a really good time in spite of the crowd levels (don't you just love that train ride around MK )

 

[lexmas]

Whew, all caught up! I had designated today's naptime as time to read your trip report in my mind, and then DD took an early nap, so she woke up when DS was falling asleep!

Lucky for me, I willed her to go back to sleep (I bet you didn't know that worked!) and got all caught up!

You seem like such a doting aunt and cousin! They're so lucky to have you in their lives!

The AKL and Saratoga Springs are so beautiful. Some day, I will stay at a deluxe. Or, some day I will visit a deluxe and practice my "I belong here" demeanor while wandering the hallways until they throw me out. Most likely the second one, but hopefully the first!

I can not believe those crowds. I always say, "I could go during peak!" but now I know that is a bold faced lie. No way. That's crazy. Too many people. 45 minutes for counter service? I would have gotten a pop at a near by cart and called it a day. That's the diet I need...the "I'm too impatient to wait in these damn lines" disney diet. Think of all the money I would save on food!

I'm just waiting for DS to get a little older (and a little less allergic to dairy) until I can do the kitchen sink. It looks so amazing. What was up with the boys not wanting any? Aren't boys usually eaters? All the boys I know are!

The "move it, shake it, celebrate it" parade looks like fun! I love the parades and somehow I missed pretty much all of them on my last trip!

Isn't it just great to relax in the park and ride the railroad or something similar? On one of our DL trips we just sat in the hub and ate pretzels and talked and soaked in the moment. It was wonderful!

Anyway, I'm loving your report! Can't wait to read more!

 

[DWGal210]

SSR is so pretty! I visited it when I went on the DVC tour and I thought I would feel overwhelmed by the size of the resort but didn't (although I haven't stayed there and had to walk to the lobby or pools from a room.)

Wowza - boy MK sure was crowded on NE!! My youngest 2 boys are visiting WDW for the first time this year and if they had entered the park and had to deal with a crowd that size, I never would be able to convert them Sounds like you had a really good time in spite of the crowd levels (don't you just love that train ride around MK )

Thanks! We think it's pretty, too. I just seems so peaceful to me...what I wouldn't give to be there now, adult beverage in hand, relaxing on the balcony.

It was crowded!! We hadn't originally planned to go to any parks on NYE, but the kids wanted to brave it so we did. I don't usually care for the crowds, but we knew the time of year we were going was busy and so we just planned accordingly. If at any time people were feeling tired or too crowded, we just left and went to the hotel. It was a nice way to tour!

And I DID love that train ride!! I'd never done that before and it was very nice to have a leisurely ride around MK!!

 

[DWGal210]

Whew, all caught up! I had designated today's naptime as time to read your trip report in my mind, and then DD took an early nap, so she woke up when DS was falling asleep!

Lucky for me, I willed her to go back to sleep (I bet you didn't know that worked!) and got all caught up!

You seem like such a doting aunt and cousin! They're so lucky to have you in their lives!

The AKL and Saratoga Springs are so beautiful. Some day, I will stay at a deluxe. Or, some day I will visit a deluxe and practice my "I belong here" demeanor while wandering the hallways until they throw me out. Most likely the second one, but hopefully the first!

I can not believe those crowds. I always say, "I could go during peak!" but now I know that is a bold faced lie. No way. That's crazy. Too many people. 45 minutes for counter service? I would have gotten a pop at a near by cart and called it a day. That's the diet I need...the "I'm too impatient to wait in these damn lines" disney diet. Think of all the money I would save on food!

I'm just waiting for DS to get a little older (and a little less allergic to dairy) until I can do the kitchen sink. It looks so amazing. What was up with the boys not wanting any? Aren't boys usually eaters? All the boys I know are!

The "move it, shake it, celebrate it" parade looks like fun! I love the parades and somehow I missed pretty much all of them on my last trip!

Isn't it just great to relax in the park and ride the railroad or something similar? On one of our DL trips we just sat in the hub and ate pretzels and talked and soaked in the moment. It was wonderful!

Anyway, I'm loving your report! Can't wait to read more!

First of all, welcome!!! I'm glad your kids gave you a break to let you read!

Aww, thanks for the nice compliment! I don't have any kids of my own yet, and so I love being with them and seeing the magic through their eyes.

I LOVE that diet plan!!! That would work, for sure!! And we wouldn't have stayed in line, but it was one of those things were EVERYWHERE was busy and so we would have been in line somewhere else. I wonder if it's because Epcot serves alcohol and people were getting ready for NYE.

I'm so glad you're here and enjoying it!!! Take care!!

 

[MHTeacher]

- this was NYE around Noon.

Believe it or not , I think I saw all those folks at MK on Dec 30, too!

 

[MeMom]

We arrived at Saratoga...AHHH....

Now don't get me wrong. We really really like AKL, but Saratoga just seems more like "home" to us, if that makes any sense. We just love this resort!!


My sister also said she would accompany me to the DIS meet at the Poly for NYE fireworks!!

COMING NEXT....The DIS meet at the Poly!!

Everybody has a resort or more than one that just feels right for them. We like Pop, and it will always be our Disney home, but we fell in love with Wilderness Lodge, as well, and I know we will be staying there again in the future. We want to try them all out. What may be unappealing to one is a great fit for another.

New Year's Eve at Poly beach? That must have been interesting!

 

[lmillercrew]

Holy cow!!! Those crowds are ridiculous!!! I thought crowds were crazy in June, but DANG! That might make me not want to be in the park at all on that day.
Saratoga's color scheme is very appealing to me, for some reason. I LOVE the location too. We have stayed at POFQ and POR and love them because of the closeness to DTD. It would be nice to be able to stay at Saratoga and get to walk over to DTD.

 

[that's nice]

Sorry, I'm still following but haven't posted in a while. I know what you are thinking. BAD DISer!


Loved your view from SS!!! The room looks great!

I cannot believe the amount of ppl at MK (well I guess I could) but I wouldn't want to be in that crowd!

A DIS Poly fireworks meet.... sounds intriguing!

 

[DWGal210]

Everybody has a resort or more than one that just feels right for them. We like Pop, and it will always be our Disney home, but we fell in love with Wilderness Lodge, as well, and I know we will be staying there again in the future. We want to try them all out. What may be unappealing to one is a great fit for another.

New Year's Eve at Poly beach? That must have been interesting!

That's a great perspective on the resorts - and so true. I think it's great we don't all like the same place - can you imagine trying to get reservations if everyone only wanted to stay at one place? It would be distastrous!

And NYE WAS interesting, stay tuned for that.......

 

[DWGal210]

Holy cow!!! Those crowds are ridiculous!!! I thought crowds were crazy in June, but DANG! That might make me not want to be in the park at all on that day.
Saratoga's color scheme is very appealing to me, for some reason. I LOVE the location too. We have stayed at POFQ and POR and love them because of the closeness to DTD. It would be nice to be able to stay at Saratoga and get to walk over to DTD.

I do love that location, that's so true. It was very nice to be able to just mosy over to DTD, and it's also nice since had some older kids with us - we didn't feel bad about them just walking back to Saratoga or taking the ferry if they were bored and wanted to go back. Just going that short distance seems very easy.

Sorry, I'm still following but haven't posted in a while. I know what you are thinking. BAD DISer!


Loved your view from SS!!! The room looks great!

I cannot believe the amount of ppl at MK (well I guess I could) but I wouldn't want to be in that crowd!

A DIS Poly fireworks meet.... sounds intriguing!

No, not bad DISer!!! Just glad you're back!

We DID love our view - and the nicest thing was that if we wanted the kids out of the pool and to come upstairs, all you had to do was open the front door and holler out! It worked out great!

The DIS meet was so much fun!! More on that to come.....

 

[Charleston Princess]

This was me when I saw the pictures of the crowds: I don't think I would do too good on a day like that!

Sarasota is very pretty! I love all the colors. Do you ever feel like you are forever away from the main buildings?