Parks and Pop Century *And* A Park and Pop Century Christmas! *Plus* Downtown Disney

[Lady Lallie]

Merry Christmas!

 

[meeko_33785]

Hey everyone. Hope you all had a great Christmas. Sorry I've been slow with getting the next chapter up. I may not be able to get it done until the new year, but I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about the report. It will be updated.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hey everyone. Hope you all had a great Christmas. Sorry I've been slow with getting the next chapter up. I may not be able to get it done until the new year, but I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about the report. It will be updated.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - I'm having the same problem with my TR!

Di x

 

[meeko_33785]

Happy New Year! Finally, here’s a new installment as promised. It's so Christmas-heavy that I wish I could have gotten it out in time for Christmas, but hopfully it's enjoyable.


After getting off Space Ranger Spin, I noticed Stitch doing meet-and-greets nearby. It's been a few years since I'd gotten his picture so I figured I'd try to see him. Unfortunately, his line was closed and wouldn’t be back for an hour. I was hoping to head to Fantasyland to check if any characters were out there (especially Scrooge McDuck or Cinderella’s Stepfamily), but the rest of the family didn’t seem to think we had enough time to see characters before getting to the Grand Floridian for out lunch reservation. Hopefully there’ll be time to check later in the day.

Reaching The Hub, Mom noticed the trolley and wanted to check if we could take a ride down Main Street on our way out of the park. It turns out that it wasn’t taking riders and was waiting for the Main Street dancers for the Trolley show. We ended up just getting some pictures of the trolley standing still. Behind the trolley was the double decker omnibus. I remembered from over the summer that the Omnibus follows the trolley show which stops three or so times along Main Street. Mom tried to convince us to get on the Omnibus, but I was confused that we didn’t have time to even check for characters, but did have time to sit in the Omnibus behind three run-throughs of the trolley show. We seemed to compromise by just watching the Trolley show once before heading on.

“I'm walkin’ right down the middle of Main Street USA!”

“I tiped my hat and took a seat”

“Clang Clang Clang went the trolley!”

There weren’t as many crowds blocking the Christmas decorations like there were in the morning, so we got some more on the way out.

These giant nutcrackers use to be up in EPCOT's Germany pavilion years ago at Christmas. It was a tradition for us to see them, but we hadn’t seen them for quite some time. It was nice to see them again.

A look down where we just came from.

Soldiers from Toyland.

The train station all decked out for Christmas. I was impressed with the amount of Christmas decorations on Main Street. It seemed just as decorated (if not more so) than I remember from past years.

We left the park and headed for the monorail. One had just pulled in and we were able to get right on.

A view of the Magic Kingdom from the monorail.

Space Mountain.

Bay Lake Tower- the new addition to the Contemporary- under construction.



Next chapter: Visiting the Grand Floridian

 

[Lady Lallie]

Those are some great photos of the parade. Great action shots, those are so hard to get sometimes.

I can't wait to see your Grand Floridian pictures.

 

[RachelNinja]

I have to admit that I'd probably be quite terrified if I saw those nutcrackers in real life! I think I had a bad dream about them after seeing The Nutcracker ballet ...

Hope you have a great 2009!

 

[meeko_33785]

Those are some great photos of the parade. Great action shots, those are so hard to get sometimes.

I can't wait to see your Grand Floridian pictures.

Thanks. Those action shots were a little tricky. There were a few more shots I wish I'd gotten, but it's not easy to get my camera to focus when there's so much motion. I was really pleased that these turned out so nicely though.

I have to admit that I'd probably be quite terrified if I saw those nutcrackers in real life! I think I had a bad dream about them after seeing The Nutcracker ballet ...

Hope you have a great 2009!

Aww... If you ever get to see them, I hope you won't be scared. I can assure you they're not mean at all. Happy 2009 to you!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Meeko,
Happy New Year!
Enjoying the update and the photos! I have problems with 'action' photos, but unlike you, my efforts can't be allowed out for public viewing! Mind you, if I'd actually figured out how to use the settings on my camera, that would've helped!
Did you go for dinner to GF? Can't wait to hear about it!
Di x

 

[meeko_33785]

Hi Meeko,
Happy New Year!
Enjoying the update and the photos! I have problems with 'action' photos, but unlike you, my efforts can't be allowed out for public viewing! Mind you, if I'd actually figured out how to use the settings on my camera, that would've helped!
Did you go for dinner to GF? Can't wait to hear about it!
Di x

Hey Di. We actually took a mid-day break and had a late lunch at GF. The day's not even half over yet.

 

[meeko_33785]

The monorail dropped us off at our next destination- the Grand Floridian. We had decided to take an afternoon break here to get some lunch at the Grand Floridian Café (which we’d never been to before) and also to check out all the Christmas decorations.

The Grand Floridian never disappoints when it comes to decorations! The tree was remarkable.

Even the smaller trees in the lobby were very nicely adorned.

When we arrived, one of the resort’s pastry chefs was doing a presentation near the giant gingerbread house, talking about the history of the display and how they accomplish it every year. At the end of the presentation, she even had free samples of the type of gingerbread they used. For anyone who’s ever wondered, it’s delicious!

The gingerbread house itself.

2008 marked the 10th anniversary of the gingerbread display at the Grand Floridian.

The chandelier in the lobby and some of the Christmas garland on the railings behind it.

I’d noticed these reindeer near the entrance of the resort from the monorail station and knew I had to go down and get some pictures.

After looking around the lobby area we headed off to find the restaurant (I don’t know if any of us knew exactly where it was). We found it tucked off the lobby and checked it. While we waited for our table, we took some time to explore the hotel grounds and gardens.

The clouds are really trying to let some of the blue sky through by now.

More reindeer were on this side of the resort as well.


After a while, we headed back into the lobby outside the restaurant to wait until our table was ready.

The restaurant was nicely decorated. In generable, it’s pretty comparable to the Plaza Restaurant where we ate during the August trip but a little airier and Floridian.

An empty table (not ours).

All of us really enjoyed the food here. I had the Grand Sandwich. I’m not usually one to take pictures of food in restaurants, but I thought that the presentation looked so nice I decided to take one. It tasted incredible too. I was a little concerned about taking time from our theme park day to leave and eat at a resort, but I really did enjoy the meal, so I guess it was worth it.

After lunch, we took another look around the lobby before heading back to Magic Kingdom. Here’s the dome in the ceiling near the center of the lobby.

A close up of some of the ornaments on the giant tree.

And what trip to the Grand Floridian would be complete without visiting Mary Poppins?

From this angle, it almost looks like she’s flying away.



Next chapter: Returning to Tom Sawyer’s Island

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've been thinking about trying GFC, did anyone in your party have the Grand Floridian burger with the lobster on it? I really want to try that it! Yum.

It really looks beautiful inside. I also love your shots of Mary Poppins, it really does look like she is flying away in that last picture.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

OMG!!!!! My mouth is watering looking at that sandwich!!!!!! And the gingerbread house!!!!!

The GF always looks so lovely - and delicious!!

Di x

 

[meeko_33785]

I've been thinking about trying GFC, did anyone in your party have the Grand Floridian burger with the lobster on it? I really want to try that it! Yum.

It really looks beautiful inside. I also love your shots of Mary Poppins, it really does look like she is flying away in that last picture.

Not sure if anybody had the burger. Buzz had the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger but there's no lobster on that. Dad might have had the Grand Floridian Burger but I can't remember. I'll have to check with him and get back to you on that.

OMG!!!!! My mouth is watering looking at that sandwich!!!!!! And the gingerbread house!!!!!

The GF always looks so lovely - and delicious!!

Di x

If you can believe it, both taste even better than they look!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Not sure if anybody had the burger. Buzz had the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger but there's no lobster on that. Dad might have had the Grand Floridian Burger but I can't remember. I'll have to check with him and get back to you on that.

Thanks! I should my husband the picture of your sandwich and he decided that we should have lunch there instead of dinner because the sandwich isn't on the menu for dinner.

 

[meeko_33785]

Thanks! I should my husband the picture of your sandwich and he decided that we should have lunch there instead of dinner because the sandwich isn't on the menu for dinner.

 

[meeko_33785]

After a short monorail ride, we arrive back at the Magic Kingdom. The 3 o’clock parade was about to start, but we decided against seeing it and hopped on the train at the Main Street Station to head to Frontierland. First stop- back to Big Thunder Mountain to check on FastPasses again. By now, the time for the Castle Dream Lights show was right in the middle of the FastPass time. We pass on it again and figure that we’ll just try to see if there is short line later in the evening during Extra Magic Hours.

Next stop- the rafts to Tom Sawyer’s Island. The Island is somewhat of an overlooked attraction for all of us to say the least. Just to put things in perspective, the last time I remember going to the Island before this past trip was when Splash Mountain was still being built. I’ve meant to try to get us back there for a couple of years and we finally decided to do it this trip.

Our raft trip to the Island was delayed for a few minutes while the Liberty Belle Riverboat passed us by.

Usually the only perspective of the Rivers of America we get are from the Riverboat, so it was neat to get a new perspective.

Tom and Huck have a “Welcum” on the Island for us.

Our first stop was this windmill. It had a bit of an observation tower for us. This was followed by one of the caves.

One of my favorite spots as a kid on the Island- Harper’s Mill. The inside has a few scenes reminiscent of the old Silly Symphony The Old Mill

Tom’s partially whitewashed fence. In the old days there was a little restaurant here with picnic sandwiches and snacks. It’s now been reduced to a couple of coke machines.

A few of the Haunted Mansion from start of the barrel bridge. I wasn’t really planning on doing this while we were here, but everyone else convinced me that as long as we’re here we should do it. I’m glad they did; it was fun.

A look at some of the natural setting of the Island.

I loved this view of Liberty Square with the Castle poking over it. It just seems like something out of a storybook.

We took the long bridge to the other side of the Island to what was my favorite part of the Island as a kid- and might still be my favorite- the Fort. When I was a kid is was called Fort Sam Clemens, now it’s Fort Langhorn (apparently a tie in with the Tom and Huck movie from the 1990s).

The animatronic displays inside the fort always fascinated me. Here are song blacksmiths…

who are making shoes for the horses nearby.

I seemed to remember there being more chickens, but there was only one here.

A little blurry, but here’s an attempted artsy shot.

The sleeping guard in the Guardhouse.


When we had seen everything in the Fort, we took the Escape Tunnel out. It was a bit of a tight fit, but the four us all managed to make it through.

A few of Big Thunder from the Island. We will make it on it this trip, I promise!


The last part of the Island we explored was Injun Joe’s Cave. It was a little spooky but fun. Dad seemed to remember there being a bottomless pit here, but we never found it. After that, we headed back for the raft dock and returned to the “mainland” of the park.



Next chapter: Fantasyland and Toontown

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a nice tour of Tom Sawyer Island. I have never been over there and I didn't realize there was so many things to look at. Thanks for the information!

 

[meeko_33785]

What a nice tour of Tom Sawyer Island. I have never been over there and I didn't realize there was so many things to look at. Thanks for the information!

It really seemed like there was more to do there than I remembered. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[RachelNinja]

Great pics of Tom Sawyer's Island! I never went there as a kid and really only recently knew what it was all about. I've been wanting to go for the past couple of years, but because it requires energy, it usually gets bumped off the list of things to do. But I absolutely love the book since reading it in 5th grade, and I feel it's only right for me to see it for myself!

I didn't know there were animatronics on the island! I'm glad I know now so I won't be entirely surprised. Haha, sometimes animatronics scare me ... don't know if they're going to come alive (like in Disney's Kingdom Keepers).

Ooo, and I agree with you about the picture of Liberty Square and the castle. It just seems so picturesque! It's a good picture to take because we normally don't see it from that perspective.

 

[meeko_33785]

Great pics of Tom Sawyer's Island! I never went there as a kid and really only recently knew what it was all about. I've been wanting to go for the past couple of years, but because it requires energy, it usually gets bumped off the list of things to do. But I absolutely love the book since reading it in 5th grade, and I feel it's only right for me to see it for myself!

I didn't know there were animatronics on the island! I'm glad I know now so I won't be entirely surprised. Haha, sometimes animatronics scare me ... don't know if they're going to come alive (like in Disney's Kingdom Keepers).

Ooo, and I agree with you about the picture of Liberty Square and the castle. It just seems so picturesque! It's a good picture to take because we normally don't see it from that perspective.

Hi! You should defiantly try to see the Island sometime. It's worth the energy. If you want to avoid the animatronics though, most of them are in the Fort. You look through the windows in some of the buildings to see them. They're easily avoidable.