The Yuletide Hypothesis // Stuffed & Joyful! **NEW 10/16**

[Grumpy's Wife]

Loved all the pictures, especially the Osbourne Lights. They are amazing.

The spaghetti and meatball cupcake was adorable. I hadn't heard about that. Definitely will try it if I eat there in the future.

 

[annmarieda]

Mama Melrose is a must for us each trip... although we never seem to get good service. We do it for the fantasmic dp. The chicken you had is actually really really REALLY good with a substitution of alfredo sauce rather than red.

I really would have liked to have seen/stayed longer for the Osbourne lights. The crowds were just way too much for my dh to handle. If I ever go again... I need to be better prepared for that crowd level (both there and everywhere in the parks)

WL is so pretty a Christmas. I am glad we stayed there... I don't think I would want to if it were not christmas though... just too much like home.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Another great update! Love the pictures!!

Thank you!

Loved all the pictures, especially the Osbourne Lights. They are amazing.

The spaghetti and meatball cupcake was adorable. I hadn't heard about that. Definitely will try it if I eat there in the future.

Thank you so much for the kind thoughts on the photos.
Yes, you MUST try it! It's so yummy!!

Mama Melrose is a must for us each trip... although we never seem to get good service. We do it for the fantasmic dp. The chicken you had is actually really really REALLY good with a substitution of alfredo sauce rather than red.

I really would have liked to have seen/stayed longer for the Osbourne lights. The crowds were just way too much for my dh to handle. If I ever go again... I need to be better prepared for that crowd level (both there and everywhere in the parks)

WL is so pretty a Christmas. I am glad we stayed there... I don't think I would want to if it were not christmas though... just too much like home.

Ooooh! I'm gonna have to try that with the chicken, thanks for the idea! What about the alfredo WITH the red sauce? Hmmmm..definitely something to consider!

When we went back to the see the Lights later in the trip, we had a MUCH more laid back experience. Night & day compared to the crazy crowds we had on this night. I'm trying to speed up my posts so I can get to that point of the TR faster.

That makes sense about WL, we really enjoyed our stay there, but I agree. I don't think we'd stay there outside of Christmas time. It could maybe just use a few less antlers in the holiday decor.

 

[Disneysnel]

What great pics and if we weren't going this year I would be so sad - treats, lights, Christmas trees (especially the Daniel one- LOL)!!
I agree about the Wilderness Lodge decor - I so which they would do it more like a mountain/ski lodge. I just have to say - you see EVERYTHING - so much of what you have taken pics of in this trip report so far - I never saw and I was right there with you. I am going to look harder this time. Love the firework photos, too.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

What great pics and if we weren't going this year I would be so sad - treats, lights, Christmas trees (especially the Daniel one- LOL)!!
I agree about the Wilderness Lodge decor - I so which they would do it more like a mountain/ski lodge. I just have to say - you see EVERYTHING - so much of what you have taken pics of in this trip report so far - I never saw and I was right there with you. I am going to look harder this time. Love the firework photos, too.

Me too! I'm SO excited to be going back this year!!

Yes! A ski lodge theme would be perfect! Aww, thanks for the kind words on the photos. You're so funny! This time, I'll make sure you get to see it all!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

The plan for this day was to sleep in a bit, then head over to Epcot by 10am. My body, however, was begging for sleep to try and fight the ever-looming cold, so I did just that. We didn’t end up leaving our room until about 11:15, giving us just enough time to hoof it over to Le Cellier for our 12:10 ADR. Eek!

It’s well known that there are those who love Le Cellier and those who don’t. Profound, I know. We happen to fall into the sheep category, albeit I do understand those that feel it’s overrated. We’re just total suckers for all of the restaurant's staples: pretzel bread, cheddar cheese soup, pretzel bread, the mushroom filet with that amazing risotto, pretzel bread, mac & cheese, did I mention pretzel bread? Like Crystal Palace, this is one that we try to hit twice on our trips (later you’ll find out Beaches & Cream is another…how do we have time to try anything new?), and we always go for lunch.

Let’s get onto the good stuff, shall we? (Warning: the food photos are from my phone and are not great)

Mmmm…pretzel bread. We usually ask them to bring out a basket of nothing but pretzel bread, no need to bother with the other rolls offered. They’re all just filler, if you ask me.

That delicious looking drink in the upper right is a Niagara Refresher - a non-alcoholic smoothie with mango, cranberry, and a splash of Sprite. SO stinkin’ good, and only found here.

We ordered a bowl of cheddar cheese soup to share.
<The photo on my phone looks just awful, so just imagine a bowl of creamy bacony ™ goodness here. >
We each ordered the mushroom filet (aren’t we adventurous?), and we love the risotto so much that we ordered an extra side to share!

Not surprisingly, we were incredibly stuffed, so we skipped dessert and asked for the bill. As we stumbled back into World Showcase I heard some loud music coming from Future World. I knew exactly what it was and immediately made a beeline right for it. The gospel choir Joyful! was performing, and while neither one of us happen to be very religious, we both adore gospel music for whatever reason. Much like the Glee Club at DHS, and the Dapper Dans on Main St., USA, this was something I really wanted to see but didn’t actually pencil it into the itinerary. The timing just happened to work out perfectly, which is the best kind of Disney magic.

Almost as much fun as the group themselves was watching the crowd’s reaction to their performance. Some folks really got into the spirit, which just added to the experience.

Here’s a quick video of them that I shot with my phone. I just love their choreography.


Needless to say, I really hope they come back for Epcot’s holiday celebration this year.

After their set, we took a trip around Spaceship Earth, because really, who doesn’t love this attraction? I know some people feel very strongly against the interactive screens as you make your way down, but we always have good time with them:

We had big plans for that night and I still needed some rest (STUPID cold!!), so we made our way back out to the car. I did manage to nab some photos of the holiday topiaries at the park’s main entrance on our way out, though:

Meanwhile, back at Wilderness Lodge…

When we got to our room we found a new little visitor. Perry, maybe?

Now our snowman(?) had a little buddy to keep him company

In the ever exciting saga of eat-sleep, eat-sleep, we did just that. It was time for a quick nap before our date with a wizard later that evening.

 

[DISNEYDUET]

You poor thing! Nothing worse than a cold on vacation except maybe a cold at Disney!

 

[annmarieda]

I do so love that soup and bread at LC. I finally got dh to go there in december and the food was absolutely horrible. (like the dessert was rock hard and the steak was so salty it was inedible) I have had meals that were amazing there... and sadly, this had to be the time that dh went.

You meal though... looks yummy!

Lots of cool holiday epcot pics!!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

You poor thing! Nothing worse than a cold on vacation except maybe a cold at Disney!

So true - you want to go, go, GO! But you're body says no, no, NO!!

I do so love that soup and bread at LC. I finally got dh to go there in december and the food was absolutely horrible. (like the dessert was rock hard and the steak was so salty it was inedible) I have had meals that were amazing there... and sadly, this had to be the time that dh went.

You meal though... looks yummy!

Lots of cool holiday epcot pics!!

Oh man, what a bummer! The first time we went I ordered the ribeye and DH ordered the prime rib (something he always looooves). Neither were that impressive, but we loved the soup & pretzel bread so we went back. I didn't even consider ordering the filet that first time because it seems so teeny and we wanted some "real" meat! LOL

On our next trip we gave it a second chance and I made sure to order the filet that time, but DH ordered a strip steak or something cuz he didn't want a smaller cut. I gave him a bite of mine and he was totally hooked. Funny thing is that the filet is MORE than enough to fill us up. I hate to sound narrow-minded, but really, there's a reason it's so popular...it's the best thing on the menu!

So LONG story, maybe get your hubby to go back and try the filet. I know some aren't crazy about risotto, or about mushrooms, but I know they can make it without the 'shrooms, and I've heard of folks sub'ing the risotto for LC's yummy mashed potatoes or mac & cheese.

Oh gees, all I've eaten today is a yogurt and some Cheez-its. Now I'm making myself hungry.

 

[CarolynK]

I love risotto, and the steak looks really good!! However, with the exception of Blue Zoo (a must-do each trip!!), we don't eat out much at WDW anymore. We're DVC members and eat in our room A LOT. That way, we get to splurge on the really good restaurants at home (Chicago)!

I re-read your previous update, and I totally agree about Illuminations being slow! While I love the music and the fireworks, that whole middle section could go and I wouldn't miss it! Boring! We usually walk towards the exit during the "intermission". But, the music gets me every time! My kids have grown up at WDW (we started going back in 1999), and I tear up every time I hear "We Go On." Especially when my 17-year-old daughter sings along

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I love risotto, and the steak looks really good!! However, with the exception of Blue Zoo (a must-do each trip!!), we don't eat out much at WDW anymore. We're DVC members and eat in our room A LOT. That way, we get to splurge on the really good restaurants at home (Chicago)!

Our trips to WDW are almost completely based around where we're going to be eating. LOL! But that's what is so great about WDW, there are so many diverse options to fit just about anybody's vacation style. I would love to go to Chicago some time - my planes always seem to head southeast for some reason...

I re-read your previous update, and I totally agree about Illuminations being slow! While I love the music and the fireworks, that whole middle section could go and I wouldn't miss it! Boring! We usually walk towards the exit during the "intermission". But, the music gets me every time! My kids have grown up at WDW (we started going back in 1999), and I tear up every time I hear "We Go On." Especially when my 17-year-old daughter sings along

That's so sweet about your daughter! You're so right - the music for the show is pretty great, no denying that. Just as long as you can stay awake during the lull to get to the end.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I'm working on the next update and had to share - I just finished uploading the photos and narrowed it down from 199 to 85.

Needless to say, the next post is going to be VERY photo heavy.

 

[Disneysnel]