Before I get started - I ordered my photopass CD, an ornament and calendar on 1/1. The ornament and calendar came yesterday - LOVE!
The photopass CD shipped yesterday, so I should get it soon and then look out!!
I also remembered that I have an 8x8 shutterfly book for free from buying my ipad at best buy - oh boy!
Ok so back to the trip. I left off with the girls in the pool Christmas day, with us having Candlelight Processional stickers for 5pm. I got the kids out of the pool about 3, and we got back to the bus stop at 330. I figured that would give us PLENTY of time to get to EPCOT, and take the boat over near America and get in line by 430. Best laid plans.... queue creepy music - duh- duh duuuuuh....
So we make the bus stop at 330. I had been watching the lines app all day, and I could tell that EPCOT was crowded. Rumor had it that MK had reached phase 2 closure at 11 am, and I think phase 3 sometime afternoon.
We didn't wait very long for the bus, and it only took 15 mins to get to EPCOT, but the place was SLAMMED. We had "smartly" decided not to take a bag back with us, so it was just us, our lanyards and my camera with the long lens for the processional. we made it through the gates at about 4. I never realized how BIG the WS is until I was on one side, needing to get exactly half way around in 30 mins, in a sea of humanity. We went to the boat launch....
but I bet there were 2, maybe THREE boat fulls of people waiting to get on the next one. Here is a picture of where we walked through the line - people were lined up all the way to the next break in the pathway.
I looked at DH, he looked at me, we looked across the lake and checked the time, and decided we better just hoof it. AND we went left. I thought I read the line was to the left of the CP.... DUH DUH DUUUUUHHHH....
And away we went, in a single file line with me in the front, the kids behind and hubby bringing up the rear, holding hands. We channeled our college days of navigating New Orleans. Oh MY GOSH. I have never seen so many people in one place in my LIFE (up until that point *foreshadowing*)
And we squeezed, cajoled, darted, practically half jogged our way around the WS. Poor DD11 was taking pictures as we went - talk about "drive by WS photography" here are a few.
FINALLY we saw the line...and guess what? it was 427, and it was the end of the standby line.
drat. We went the wrong way! (and that SB long was HUGE) so we kept hoofing it. FINALLY at 435 we saw this
And I asked a CM pointed us to keep going around the WS to the end of the CP line.
FINALLY at 440 we found the end, which was starting to move b/c they were loading the theater. So, bad news is we were out of breath from walking nearly 3/4 of the way around the WS, but the good news is we didnt have to stand in line.
I was catching my breath, so DD11 snapped a few pictures as we were walking back toward the CP theater.
We loaded in the theater and set down next to a couple, near the middle, who had empty seats on the far side. We were settled and relaxing, when the guy in front of my DH put up a video camera on an tripod. The couple told us that the seats on the other side weren't saved so we moved over to the other side of that couple. I was NOT going to watch through a video camera! He had the tripod sitting ON the bench! People kept trying to get him to take it down but he ignored everyone behind him. DD7 laid down on and put her head in my lap and her legs in her dad's, and was out cold in about 2 mins. She slept the 15 mins before the show. I cant remember the last time she took a nap, so she must have been TIRED!
So they were loading the theater, and scrunching us, and we ended up directly in the center.
and CM came over and told the man he could video, but only if he held it in his hand, he couldnt block the view of others.
He took it down, but as soon as she walked away he went to put it back up on the bench, and this guy behind him about 3x rows back, said I DONT THINK SO BUDDY! And the whole section started clapping. Needless to day, dude kept is video camera down after that. I got tickled, but I was glad "peer pressure" worked. About 10 rows of standby got in for our show. And it was TIME! I had looked forward to this ever since I booked our trip and scored the CP package at Le Cellier. It was a beautiful mild evening, and the music was gorgeous! We had great seats. Gary Sinse did great job, it was perfect!
I only took a few pictures, because I wanted to be 'in the moment' and I didnt want to have my camera up the whole time so people didnt have to look at it. here are a few:
It was so beautiful. A perfect way to spend Christmas evening. I loved every second of it. So did my family. I would TOTALLY do it again (but I'd plan better so we didnt have to walk so fast).
After it was over, we decided since we were coming back on Sunday to just stop by Germany and get some treats, and head to the resort since the crowded just kept getting bigger and bigger! We waited nearly 30 mins for treats in Germany, and they had probably 8 people working the counter?! Nuts! We got a caramel apple, a chocolate apple, and some caramel popcorn. The apples arent snack credits, but the popcorn was. We got them to slice the apples for us and package it all up to go.
We did our single file line again and made it around to the exit - and only got clipped by one stroller in the process.
Stopped for a photopass shot outside, this one is on DD11s camera (I had my long lens on, so no good for mine). The photopass CD has a few more I'll add later.
After a long, but beautiful, fun Christmas, we headed back to POFQ. We spent two CS credits on a pizza package - which is a good expense of credits, if you need to stretch them. And the pizza wasnt bad either. We got water and fruit as the drink and snacks, and nibbled on our snacks from Germany to close out the evening. Everyone got a shower, and it was lights out early, because -12/26 is our MK day, and the EMH was at 7. DH had agreed to "rope drop" but he never actually ASKED what time that was...
Would I be able to get my krewe up and to the bus stop? Would crowds crush us at MK? Stay tuned!
Love the shirts. I am glad DH agreed to wear one. I remember when that "battle" was being waged.
(go team!) 
