Resorts, Relatives & Restaurants - and a 3 day cruise!

[Northern Disney Girl]

WOW!!! Amazing pictures!! I very much hope that I will be able to be at WDW during the Christmas season some year - it looks SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Glad you enjoyed your dinner at Crystal Palace! We are sad that it will be closed during our trip but we are excited to try LTT!

I can't believe you forgot to take a picture of you and Shawna! I hope you remembered to take one at your next meeting!

I am very excited to see your Photopass pictures!

 

[manntra]

What an awesome picture packed update!
Love Tigger at CP...he is so funny....he really took a liking to both of my nieces there are some funny pictures on my FB..he was stalking both of them each time I took them!!
Love your pictures of the parade and the Castle is just stunning!

Tracy

 

[crzyred]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures!!! You have me convinced that I need to go to Disney for the holidays!

 

[Pluto_fan]

I was just going to write exactly what crzyred wrote!
Love all the photos and the details!

 

[JoBird]

MVMCP looks fantastic!! The floats were so elaborate in the parade. Hum..... I'm thinking I need to to see it all in person.

Glad you had a fabulous time with your family and dinner turned out well. We've never eaten there, so it's fun to see the characters' interaction with
the guests.

Thanks for the great update!

Jo

 

[Lovemy3babes]

We were in MK on the exact same night! We skipped the party though. It looks like it was a lot of fun! The parade pictures were just what I needed to see this morning. It's definitely been "one of those" days. Great job getting such good photos!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Another great update!!

Crystal Palace is always such a great time. I would have been a little mad if I had to wait that far after my ADR time to be seated though! Glad things turned around for you and you ended up having a great night.

LOVE the parade pictures. Makes me wish we would have gone to the MVMCP. I was worried about the crowds though. We don't do well in crowds. I don't know how crowded the party would have actually been in mid November though.

Sounds like the girls hit the jackpot with gifts from Auntie Donna!

I am going to guess that you did not make it to rope drop the next morning. I know we sure wouldn't have after a day like that!

I think the earlier parties are not as crowded, especially during the week. It was a lot of fun and Oh, that parade. Those floats were really amazing. Oh, the girls love their Auntie Donna!
You'll have to see how we do with rope drop...

I am having so much fun reading your TR! I think it was very brave of you to drive down from Minnesota but it didn't seem to take as long as I would have expected. I loved that you surprised the girls with the stay at AKL - watching the giraffes at dinner was priceless. We have yet to attend MVMCP but hope to this year - there will be 9 of us going so will see what everyone plans to do. Your pics of the castle all lit up are beautiful! I saw it for the first time in December 2008 and it really brings a tear to your eye

Thanks!! I think it was more crazy than brave - but my DH doesn't mind driving at night. I was a bit concerned we'd have weather problems. But nothing really until rain in Georgia. AKL was pretty darn awesome! I hope you go to MVMCP and enjoy it. A lot of people say do it at least once. I'd probably do it again if I wasn't able to go later in Dec. and see the parade and Holiday Wishes otherwise. I love that castle with the icicle lights. Wait until you see my photopass pictures.

WOW... I am so excited for next December. Your update and pictures are great!

Thanks... I needed that today

Any way I can help get you through the day!!

I would have been DYING with the monorail stop!!! I hate being late for anything!

Tigger with the Santa hat is too funny! He is such a fun guy!

Your castle pics are so pretty! That's one of the main reasons I want to make a Christmas trip is to see the castle like that!

Were the cookies and hot chocolate for the party yummy?

Kudos to DH for getting all the MVMCP pins! Do we get to see pictures of them later on?

Yeah - being late is a pet peeve of mine. I was raised that you are late unless you're 10 minutes early. I've eased up a bit since having kids, but I still hate being late. I was trying so hard not to be a Disney nazi!
The castle is worth the trip alone!!
The cookies were okay - a bit more crispy - kind of typical store cookies. I wouldn't call them phenomenal by any stretch. The hot chocolate was decent - not gourmet creamy. They sure weren't reason to go to the party, but it was nice not to have to shell out $3 for cocoa if you were cold.

You will see pin pictures. I'm making sure I have all my souvenirs pictures to post.

I just love your trip report!

Thanks! and welcome!

6 types of MVMCP pins When we went in 04 there was only one type of pin and they sold out fast. I had to end up buying one on ebay when I got home!!!


Crystal Palace is my favorite place to eat Sadly, it's going to be closed during my trip this year

Can't wait to read more, and I had to go and read your intro again because I forgot who everyone was

Yeah, Dave went crazy with the pins! Disney knows how they can stick it to us! Make it so hard to decide, we buy them all! Ha!
CP was good. It's so pretty in there too. Sorry you'll miss it this time.
There are a lot of us!! Sometimes my kids get everyone mixed up too. Too many aunties!!

WOW!!! Amazing pictures!! I very much hope that I will be able to be at WDW during the Christmas season some year - it looks SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Glad you enjoyed your dinner at Crystal Palace! We are sad that it will be closed during our trip but we are excited to try LTT!

I can't believe you forgot to take a picture of you and Shawna! I hope you remembered to take one at your next meeting!

I am very excited to see your Photopass pictures!

Thanks!! I think everyone should experience Christmas time at WDW!! It truly felt magical to me! You'll have to let me know how LTT is. I've never eaten there.
Yes, I'm getting good at forgetting to take pictures. It seems funny considering how I was so camera happy! We remedied it the next day.
I'm too tired to load the photpass pictures now, but will do it tomorrow.

What an awesome picture packed update!
Love Tigger at CP...he is so funny....he really took a liking to both of my nieces there are some funny pictures on my FB..he was stalking both of them each time I took them!!
Love your pictures of the parade and the Castle is just stunning!

Tracy

Yeah, if it had anything to do with Christmas, I was taking pictures of it! I didn't want to miss a thing! Plus I had planned on doing this TR, and knew people would love to see the pictures. Tigger was a hoot! I'll have to check your FB pics out!
That castle - oh - it renders me speechless.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures!!! You have me convinced that I need to go to Disney for the holidays!

I was just going to write exactly what crzyred wrote!
Love all the photos and the details!

Thank you! That was my goal. To make everyone wish they were there too! I hope you all get a chance to experience it. It was wonderful!

MVMCP looks fantastic!! The floats were so elaborate in the parade. Hum..... I'm thinking I need to to see it all in person.

Glad you had a fabulous time with your family and dinner turned out well. We've never eaten there, so it's fun to see the characters' interaction with
the guests.

Thanks for the great update!

Jo

Those floats were really something - very beautiful and detailed. I couldn't believe it. That was the best parade I have ever seen, anywhere. Hands down! As I mentioned - everyone should see it.

Dinner with the family turned out well. Of course I was sitting on the end not really near any of them! HA! Actually I was just glad that we all got to where we were supposed to be at the almost right time! I thought the characters were great! CP has a great reputation and has good food and service.

We were in MK on the exact same night! We skipped the party though. It looks like it was a lot of fun! The parade pictures were just what I needed to see this morning. It's definitely been "one of those" days. Great job getting such good photos!

I wondered if we would have been at the same place at all!! I'm glad my pictures helped you have a better day!! Any time I can help...
In the past my parade pictures never turned out. I think having a better camera and figuring out some settings helped a lot this time!

Well friends - I spent the whole day NOT on the DIS today!! (until now) I volunteered at school, hit Target and grocery shopped and then spent the afternoon "cleaning" the girls' rooms. I basically took out all their toys, junk, papers...Moved all the toys but a few things to storage. They can still get to them and play with them, but they can't leave them in their rooms. Too much stuff!!! Putting a lot aside for a spring garage sale.
We will see how long they stay neat. Then made some chili and went to school for a Bingo fundraiser! I'm beat! Still planning to go through clothes with the girls tomorrow. Sarah's pants are all getting too small! I think Monday we'll go shopping - once we know what we need.
So - maybe tomorrow will be my day to upload Photopass pictures and do some more updating!! Thanks for hanging in there!

 

[ladybugmom]

What an incredible day!! We LOVE dinner at CP!! Last May our table had the BEST view of the castle!! It was wonderful! We have dinner booked at CP again this May! MVMCP looks like sooo much fun--I can't wait to do this in December!! The parade looks so magical!! Can't wait to hear more!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey!! I am back!! Love the update! those crowds were wild like that most of the day...how funny... I was reading along, scrolling down, and there's my name big as Dallas!! ha!!!!!! Poor Sheree... I knew she was gonna be late for that ADR because we had been texting that day....she was frazzled and I was tired of the crowds by then! But, the evening got better...and she got to see the parade! It was wonderful just walking back to the CR after a day's worth of craziness. And remember allllll these great Christmas photos she is taking when you read my TR...i will just refer you back to hers when i need a picture!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Jeez Shawna - is my clock right? Were you posting at 1 in the morning???
I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing your name! It was so much fun texting with you and meeting up!!

We really enjoyed CP and MVMCP - even though I think I could have "done it better" planning and scheduling it a bit. But I let it go and just had fun rather than worry about if I was getting my money's worth or whatever. We did what we really wanted to do. As much as I love the girls' pictures with the characters, I have quite a few so I really didn't mind missing that. Plus on the cruise Belle was wearing her Christmas gown!! Oh, yes, we stood in line for that. Heck, we were on a cruise, what else would we do but eat!?! More on that later on.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Ha!! Yeah..I was up...couldn't sleep...but my DIS clock isn't right...it is an hour ahead...do you know how to adjust that?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Ha!! Yeah..I was up...couldn't sleep...but my DIS clock isn't right...it is an hour ahead...do you know how to adjust that?

Maybe on your profile page there's some kind of setting so it reads the time zone you want. I know I did it once but don't remember exactly. Hope you aren't too tired today! Oh and feel free to steal or reference any of my pictures! That's what friends are for!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Here's our photopass pic from MVMCP night

My husband, who reads my TR, but doesn't do any posting, reviewed my last update and informed me that I had my MK days mixed up. First, while we did ride POTC on Sunday during the MVMCP, it wasn't the night we ran to get a ride in before fireworks. Second, we didn't watch Holiday Wishes from the fence by the castle, but over in front of Crystal Palace, near the bathrooms down on the little pathway toward Casey's. So I stand corrected. But, in my defense, we did watch both fireworks from that general area. Third, we did not run to get our picture taken the night of MVMCP, but on our other day at MK. So now you know what we did part of our other MK day!! HA!
No harm no foul, right? I blame it all on the fact that my journal was STILL IN THE CAR!!! I couldn't keep detailed notes on my phone or on the two pieces of paper in my planning binder. Yes, I was too lazy and too busy to go to the car and get the dang thing!!

So, that's the only photopass pic from MVMCP night!! I promise there will be more as the days go on!

Day 2 at DHS and where else??? coming soon...

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hi Sheree! I'm so far behind on your trip report but am getting caught up. Now on page 8. Just have to stop and comment.
You and the girls are adorable!
The Swan looks amazing and I love the looks of those beds!
Thanks for the tour of the resorts! We did get to step through "my" beach club briefly this Christmas but aren't staying there again until summer...
So fun that you had a night at AKL!
Going back to read.....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Bustin the bath bomb!
Glad you aren't still looking for the car....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Very crafty girls! Nice job girls! The lodge looked very festive didn't it? We sure thought so! You guys got so much done!
Going back to read page 11.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Wow I agree, the studio at BLT does look a little lacking for space, I noticed how close the love seat is to the bed. You did however luck out on your view. We can only hope to get so lucky in July. Still waiting on on those two dates as well....
The Christmas party looked like a blast as well, your parade pictures were awesome!
I think I'm almost caught up!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Sorry about all the posts, I am caught up....I'll try to keep up now!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Loved the PP picture!! Adorable! So glad you enjoyed the party. The fireworks really are fantastic. When they go off all around the park it is just amazing. I'm betting there is no rope drop for you the next day. We wouldn't have made it, that's for sure.

 

[ladybugmom]

What a sweet PP pic!!! I love it!! Can't wait to hear more!