There's a First Time for Everything! A Christmas In November TR

[sjs314]

Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful pictures and story of your vacation, I could not stop reading and am now more excited than ever about our trip in November, have my fingers crossed that they will do the Very Merry Christmas Parade and Osborne Lights in early November like last year as I have booked our trip for the 8th to the 13th and have been wanting to see the Christmas decoration for a long time now. Your little girl is precious, I so wish I had small children still but alas they are grown now

 

[jenbear123]

Between Ron Stoppable at World Showcase, the monorail debacle, and Pinky at the pool, I was really starting to loose faith in humanity.

Girl, I lost my faith in humanity a LONG time ago due to a few things. Many of which I wouldn't dare mention on these boards for fear of my head being chopped off Nothing Disney related of course

EDIT: Thanks for the very detailed coverage of Mickey's Backyard BBQ. I'm glad you told me it had a lot of country music. Can't stand it. Too bad because it looks like a lot of fun! Plus, bottomless Mickey Bars?! Who can resist that!?

Almost caught up!

EDIT: I got shivers when you finally saw those Osbourne Lights. Aren't they wonderful? I didn't want to leave that spot when I was there in November. So sad your TR is almost over I was just getting into it!

 

[englishrose47]

Those lights are awesome !! So let's add enother gotta do to Rosies list !!!Osborne Lights , F&W Fest are prolly the top 2 !!! Soooo sweet of the CM to give you an extra day!!!!

 

[micandminforever]

The Osborne Light pictures were beautiful. I have never noticed the snowman in the phone booth before how cute. Your DD was adorable trying to catch the know in her month.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I just read through your entire report and all I have to say is WOW! What a magical vacation you had!!!!!! I had tears in my eyes countless times...with Hook, dancing at Ohana , Tink, the free park tickets....!!! Love it!!

And, beautiful, beautiful pictures, you have a great eye for photography! Despite it being your last bit at WDW, I'm still looking forward to reading all about it!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I had tears in my eyes reading that. What a magical last night. I am so happy you got to see the lights. I was hoping for a Dec Disney trip this year so I can see them, but we may have to switch to Oct. I will just be happy to get to go back, but after reading this, I really, really, really want to try for December!

Go for December girl! Really, you will not regret it. I am so in love with WDW at Christmas that I have a hard time imagining myself going at any other time. There are soooooooo many "extras" at that time of year. But I agree with you, I'd take another trip whenever I could get one!

Sounds like a great last night w/lots of magic! Love the pics of the Osbourne lights!

How cool to get an extra day added to your tickets.....awesome!!

Don't you love CMs like that who make things special for you. It wasn't his vault or Disney's that I hadn't been able to see the lights yet, but it was so nice of them to do that! Love it!! Stuff like that is why we all keep going back!

That was so so nice of the CM to upgrade your tickets for you and I'm so happy that you finally got to see your lights. It sounds as though they lived up to your expectations

It was so very nice!

The lights were even better than I had imagined. I had watched videos of them on youtube, but that doesn't do them justice!

I was behind. Fun day at DTD-food looks yummy! Sorry about the throw. So happy you FINALLY got to see the lights. Beautiful pics!! Grea CM moment!! Also think it was great you got the pixie dust!!

WP food is YUMMY!!!!

I'll get that throw somehow............. ebay, another trip.......!

Loved the free ticket CM and the pixie dust! I'll ask for it myself next time!

Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful pictures and story of your vacation, I could not stop reading and am now more excited than ever about our trip in November, have my fingers crossed that they will do the Very Merry Christmas Parade and Osborne Lights in early November like last year as I have booked our trip for the 8th to the 13th and have been wanting to see the Christmas decoration for a long time now. Your little girl is precious, I so wish I had small children still but alas they are grown now

Oh, you lucky duck!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are in for such a treat. That is such an awesome week to go. I'm pretty sure they will be doing the MVMCP. Keep your fingers crossed on the OL. They did them in early November in '06 and '07 then again in '09, so maybe pushing them back to after Thanksgiving was just a fluke thing in '08. I hope they will be up for you. You will have a terrific time that week, kids or no kids! I surely plan on going back when my DD is grown.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Girl, I lost my faith in humanity a LONG time ago due to a few things. Many of which I wouldn't dare mention on these boards for fear of my head being chopped off Nothing Disney related of course

Yes, I've seen some head chopping in my days here on the DIS. I say everyone is entitled to their opinion and as long as you are respectful in your comments, then just let you speak your mind without chastising.

EDIT: Thanks for the very detailed coverage of Mickey's Backyard BBQ. I'm glad you told me it had a lot of country music. Can't stand it. Too bad because it looks like a lot of fun! Plus, bottomless Mickey Bars?! Who can resist that!?

That's too bad that you hate country music b/c the BBQ is so much fun. They did sing a few noncountry songs, but it is a hoe down for sure. Maybe you could do a dance party at MVMCP or the MNSSHP. I think that would be the closest thing to the character experience at the BBQ.

Almost caught up!

EDIT: I got shivers when you finally saw those Osbourne Lights. Aren't they wonderful? I didn't want to leave that spot when I was there in November. So sad your TR is almost over I was just getting into it!

YES, they are wonderful! I loved it! I hate that the TR is almost over too. It's been great fun!

replies in purple

Those lights are awesome !! So let's add enother gotta do to Rosies list !!!Osborne Lights , F&W Fest are prolly the top 2 !!! Soooo sweet of the CM to give you an extra day!!!!

Yes!!!!! You must add OL to your must do list!! You will be so glad you did.

I loved that CM........... such a sweetie!

The Osborne Light pictures were beautiful. I have never noticed the snowman in the phone booth before how cute. Your DD was adorable trying to catch the know in her month.

Wasn't he cute! I had never seen him in pictures before either. I wonder who he was calling?

DD had the best time in that "snow". I'm so glad she never actually caught any. I think that would have broken her heart to taste soap. She thinks everything at Disney is so magical and I'd like it to stay that way.

I just read through your entire report and all I have to say is WOW! What a magical vacation you had!!!!!! I had tears in my eyes countless times...with Hook, dancing at Ohana , Tink, the free park tickets....!!! Love it!!

We did have some big time magic and pixie dust on this trip. It was so great, which made leaving even harder. Disney makes it very easy to fall in love! I just don't know how we got so lucky with the weather, crowds, good character moments, free tickets.......... it was almost too good to be true!

And, beautiful, beautiful pictures, you have a great eye for photography! Despite it being your last bit at WDW, I'm still looking forward to reading all about it!

Thank you so much! I love taking pictures and would love to learn a lot more about photography. I have taken one class, but I need many, many more. There is just so much to learn. But boy is it an expensive hobby. I just don't have the money right now to invest in the really good equipment. If you check out the photography board here on the DIS, you'd be blown away by the beautiful pictures that people take with the high quality equipment.

Stick around though, it's not over just yet!

Oh and I almost forgot.....

replies in purple

 

[Lovemy3babes]

You stinker!!! I totally thought you missed the lights again. Shame on you. LOL!!! Aren't they just the best? I'm so happy you got to experience them.

I am also not a Star Tours fan. I get really severe motion sickness and this was the worst for me! Your dh is right, RnRC is awesome!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

YAY for finally getting to see those awesome Osborne Lights!! They are a wonderful sight to see!

 

[VAisforDisneyLvrs]

I am so glad that it worked out for you to get back to DHS for the lights. Not only worked out schedule wise, but with an added dose of pixie dust for good measure!

I am so sorry that this is your last night. Next time, could your trip last a little longer please?

 

[praisehisname]

I asked him if it was possible for us to add another park day to our tickets so that we could return to Hollywood Studios and give it one more try. He said, "Absolutely, and it's on the house!"

What a great CM!

There they were! Again, it said "Peace on Earth", and again, I was FEELIN' IT!!!!!

Yay for seeing the lights!!!

Firsts tally: 78 (Rockin' Roller Coaster)

Doesn't seeing the Osborne Lights count as a first?

Denise

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Well friends, as the old saying goes, "all good things must come to an end." Unfortunately, that applies to our Disney vacations as well. So this was it. Time to say goodbye. My heart ached, but I knew I had no choice but to pack up and go. Our flight was already booked and our nine glorious nights at Pop century were now history.

We crammed all our belongings back into our suitcases and took them downstairs to the airline check-in desk just outside of the main entrance to Pop.

Only at Disney do they roll out the red carpet for your arrival AND your departure.

That red carpet had looked so inviting to me last Saturday, but I wasn't lovin' it anymore!

DD entertained herself with these while we checked our luggage.

We went back in and used the last of our snack credits to get some breakfast at the food court. Then we browsed a while in the gift shop and picked up a few last minute things for some special people. DD brought back stickers for all her classmates and Mickey chocolate bars for her teachers. I also bought a 2009 Christmas ornament that I later put our picture in. I bought a 2008 ornament the previous year, so I thought I would continue the tradition.

We started to hear a loud sound in the distance................... "bong..........bong.............bong!" That's right, the clock had struck midnight at 8:30 a.m. and the fairytale was over. This CM greeted us as we walked down the long, red carpet of doom.

He directed us to our waiting area and it took about 10 minutes for ME to arrive.

Why does that bus look like a glorious magic carpet when it picks you up at the airport, yet it looks like a hearse when it's taking you back?

DD begged us to stay. Poor thing, she kept saying, "Can't we just add on three more days?" I guess she figured if the CM could add another park day to our tickets with the touch of a button, then he could just add three more days to our vacation as well.

She mustered up a bit of a fake smile for me after we took our seats.

And this is where my anxiety kicked in. I really hadn't thought about our flight back home all week. I was having such a good time, that I just blocked it out. However, my fun was now over and all I had to think about was having to get back on that plane. It was a long ride to the airport for me.

When we finally arrived at our gate, I took this shot to remember the time and flight. It was almost 10:00.

We had two hours to burn before our flight! Next time, we may take a cab so we don't have to leave so early. DH passed the time by reading the newspaper, and DD colored in her Tiana coloring book with her fancy new crayons.

Amazingly, up walked DD's classmate that we had crossed paths with at the Lights, Motor, Action show earlier in the week! We hadn't known a thing about one another's vacation plans, but somehow we had booked the same flight! Unbelievable!

DD was very happy to have a friend to play with while we waited.

Finally, it was boarding time. Our flight was packed full so we didn't get to sit with our friends. DD took the window seat this time and was mesmerized by all the things below us for the entire ride.

It was a gorgeous day but we had some turbulence on the flight home. It really freaked me out and I told DH that, if good Lord willing, my feet ever got on the ground, I would NEVER fly again. That was said in the heat of the moment when the airplane felt like it was going to rupture into a million tiny pieces while we plummeted to our deaths. After we got home and my nerves calmed down, I took those words back and said I would think about it. I have to say that I still don't like flying, but getting to Orlando in an hour and 20 minutes is pretty awesome. So I won't say that I'll never fly again. I'll just say "maybe" and leave it at that for now.

So did I accomplish the goal that I started over a month ago? You remember! I wanted to see just how many new experiences we had on our trip to prove all our naysayers wrong. Well, our grand total was 78 "firsts" for our 2009 trip! Not bad! Now I have concrete evidence of why we chose Disney World two years in a row. There is always something new to experience, and the old stuff is worth doing again and again!

This trip was an amazing roller coaster of emotions and experiences. We made some fantastic memories that, hopefully, none of us will ever forget. I wouldn't change a thing about our trip and I cannot wait until we can do it again.

Since I am not very good at goodbyes, I decided that I would extend this trip report so we can procrastinate for a bit on parting ways. It has been so wonderful reliving our November 2009 trip that I thought it would be fun to do a flashback of our best moments from our 2008 trip as well. So if you'd like to come along for the ride, jump on board!

Continued in next post.........................

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Our 2008 vacation was from November 8th through the 18th (same week as our '09 trip). It was the first time that all of us had gone to Disney World and we were excited beyond words! Everything on that trip was a "first"! Again, we had a fantastic week with beautiful weather and low crowds. It really is a perfect time of year to visit.

I took about 4,000 pictures on that trip. I am not kidding. It was all fresh and new and I had to have pictures of everything. But don't worry, I'll keep it short and sweet and only post the highlights from each day. I hope you will stay with me a little longer because I have very much enjoyed your company!

So let's begin!

No flying for us on the first trip. We decorated the car and hit the road!

Our first sign!

After a very long drive, we finally arrived and headed straight for MK! We met our first character!

Just look at that blue sky!

We had a BBB appointment as soon as we arrived! Remember I told you that I like to plan something special for the first day of our trips. This year it was BBB followed by lunch at CRT.

We walked down to Exposition Hall and had the free portrait session done.

Continued in next post.......................

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Our first meeting with Tinker Bell.

Time for a special lunch with Cinderella and friends

Some window shopping

Our first ride was ...........

Spectromagic

And Wishes

A worn out princess at the end of her first day at Disney!

I hope you will stick around for more flashbacks soon to come!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I can't believe it's over!


I'm loving all the flashback pics though!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

You stinker!!! I totally thought you missed the lights again. Shame on you. LOL!!! Aren't they just the best? I'm so happy you got to experience them.

Sorry! I know that was really shameful but I just couldn't resist! They were so awesome!!! I'd love to be standing there on the Streets of America right now watching them!

I am also not a Star Tours fan. I get really severe motion sickness and this was the worst for me! Your dh is right, RnRC is awesome!!

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one. It gave me the motion sickness too. It is basically the same concept as Soarin' but for some reason it is much much worse.

Maybe I'll ride RnRC next time!

replies in green

YAY for finally getting to see those awesome Osborne Lights!! They are a wonderful sight to see!

Yes they are! I'd love to go back and see them again! I want to take my Mom b/c she loves Christmas as much as I do.

I am so glad that it worked out for you to get back to DHS for the lights. Not only worked out schedule wise, but with an added dose of pixie dust for good measure!

I am so sorry that this is your last night. Next time, could your trip last a little longer please?

I wish! I would like to go for about a month at a time! And do that about 12 times a year!

What a great CM!

Don't you love it when you run across a CM like that!!

Yay for seeing the lights!!!



Doesn't seeing the Osborne Lights count as a first?

Yes. I counted them on the first night that we went to see them since I did technically see them for about 10 seconds!

Denise

replies in green

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I can't believe it's over!


I'm loving all the flashback pics though!

It is sad. I feel just like I felt that morning that we left! I'm hoping the flashbacks will help with that a little bit!

I'm still reading on your report. You are really making me want to stay at POR!! Your pictures are just beautiful!

 

[MeMom]

Isn't it funny to think that our girls have swung around in those same hoops, just at different times?

The leaving is no fun. No fun at all.
I always picture the people getting on buses to go to the parks looking out at us waiting for the UnMagical Express with pity.

Your first trip pictures are awesome! I'd say do all the first trip pitures you want and then start a pre-trip report.

P.S. We decorate our cars, too. A few summers ago, our caravan said Disney Bound, Disney Bound Two, and Disney Bound, Too!

 

[stace208]

Yikerooni!! I am so horribly behind! Curse real life!!!!
Ok, let's see:
DTD-we love WPE too! Yummo and a great deal for the DDP for sure!
Woohoo for the super nice CM to add on to your tickets. That's what makes Disney so magical!!
I just KNEW you had to get back to see those lights. Your pictures were great! I can't wait to see that for myself.

Loved looking at your flashback pictures

This has been a fantastic trip report!! You're very talented at both writing and photography

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Rinky, just caught up...
Your snow picture is beautiful!
Love it that you got to see your Osbourne Lights!
That's why we love our Disney!

Enjoying your flash back pictures too!

If you want, I can look for that throw for you when we go next month!