Still Here - Some Holiday Observations

[Niagara2]

We arrived at OKW on the 22nd. Fun to be here for the Holiday! Xmas Am had a bag of goodies at the door from DVC. Then CarolA and I touched base while here and the wonderful DIS tree was at bellstand for us. (Thanks Carol!) It had green and red icicle type lights. We have it with seashell garland and surrounded with Disney Xmas Beanies. The topper is a santa Mickey with a laturn that moves up and down. We have lights on the porch rail and in the room with garland and our door decoration.
The resort is beautiful. Santa was here Xmas Eve and Mickey in their holiday dress also was in lobby with hot cidar and cookies provided.
The crowds are big! Parks open and close all day due to crowds. Today I saw all signs for Animal Kingdom have the arrow covered by a full sign. We have been doing resort things or offsite stuff during day and going to parks at end of day. Just as good as early entry. We were at MK and home at 1am yesterday and the coolest thing tonight at MGM. - we were the last family to ride the Great Movie ride and were alone. The CM did his part as if 100 people were there instead of us 4. It was really cool.
There was also a DJ on the big stage set up for NYE at MGM tonight also. Alot of dancing going on.
We checked out Saratoga models. They are really nice. Seem very elegant. Looking forward to these rooms soon. We also checked out Pop Centry. Enjoyed the lobby. Big displays of Memoriabilia from each decade.
The resorts are filled. Busses running all over the place. I have never seen so many busses.
Weather is great - high 70's rest of week. We took sweatshirts tonight and it was too warm for them
Still deciding on what park to do for NYE. We know to get there and stay put. I think Epcot would suit us better. More to do than rides and can only imagine MK that day.
One highlight was last night as we left MK at clolsing - it was snowing on Main Street!! We never did the special party and was almost going to buy tickets just to see the snow but not for $175 and well, we got to see the snow. It was so pretty and the castle was lit with snowflakes.
Many little special touches due to holidays that we have never experienced before. The CM's are wonderful and it is so busy but they have kept up and smile and help you. Some of the guests are another story. Many pushy people!!
Let me know if you have any questions.
Also - security is tight. Many helicopters are circling the skys at all times. ID is asked for at all resorts. Alot of uniformed security and I imagine even more undercover. Many cameras everywhere, even in the bushes, my son found one. A bus driver told us ALOT going on behind the scenes and we are safe here. I feel safe. We were here for the milleniun NYE and they prepared each room with flashlights and had tons of generators and lighting set up. Will be interesting to see if they do any of that this year.
We wish you and yours a Very Safe, Fun, Prosperous and Happy New Year!!!!

 

[jaysue]

Thanks for the update

Cheers
jaysue

 

[Cinderelli]

Thanks for the info. We're leaving in 3.5 hours (still have to pack....eeeek!). I have seen other posts about the crowds this year. We have PS at Concourse Steahouse at noon for lunch today. We're hoping to get into MK after to see the final afternoon showing of the parade at 4:00. We're hoping if it closes earlier, it may re-open around 2 or 3 (just in time). We'll be at Epcot tomorrow, so maybe we'll bump into you. Enjoy the remainder of your vacation and thanks for posting.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the report.

I am going to reccomend Epcot for NYE. We did that for the Millennium, and it was great fun! Each country celebrates NYE and the countdown at the time it will be midnight in that country.

 

[MJTinNH]

Great update! Thank you for posting!

 

[PamOKW]

Great post! Thanks for taking time out from your vacation. Havea wonderful time NYE! The downside to good weather is it brings in the crowds -- but that just makes for a bigger party.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing!! Glad you are having a good time!! Have a great New Years!!!

Allison an associate

 

[lenshanem]

Interesting. We were there a couple nighst right before Christmas and I thought security was too lax. Never were we asked to show resort ID and as far as checking our bags I thought it was a joke. I think soemthing is really up. Hubby watches a lot of FOX and I'm worried. I wonder if WDW was alerted to tighten thinsg up since we left last week. I was also there for New years 1999/2000 and I remember the generators and falshlights in the rooms. We were at Coronado. I also don't recall helicopters last week either, but when we wnet to WDW shortly after 9/11 we saw lots of them.
I wodul opt for Epcot. That is where we wnet 1999/2000 New Years. It is so big and spacey even with the crowds. I woudl think MK woudl be a human soup.
Have fun whatever you do!

 

[Cruelladeville]

I just got back home last night but we had a wonderful time, and the weather was lovely! We arrived on the 21st, and we also noticed all the red! helicopters flying around. I didn't find any problems at all with security, everyone was very friendly and polite. I agree with your assessment on the guests, though--very pushy and rude. Also messy--putting your garbage right next to a refuse container is just over the top in rudeness, and I saw that several times. I also noticed several Orlando-area families at SAB. They left towels and junk on the tables when they left the pool area. Several mentioned that for the price of their room the staff could do the clean-up. Most were staying 3-4 nights. Many of them seemed to know each other, and they always asked "who else is here?" It didn't seem organized, though.

I can't wait to go back. You are going to have a nice week, even better than last week's weather.