Trip Number 9 ~ It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~ Christmastime at the GF & Poly

[Vasili]

Having not been in a long time - how did you find the crowds that time of year? I'm guessing they were less after about 1/3?
Wifi seems spotty in the resorts from what I've heard.

DVC - Best thing we ever did! Wish I could have afforded to do it sooner!! Be sure to consider buying resale as well as direct from Disney. It's cheaper, but limited in some ways.

Yep, the first few days were quite crowded. Many lines. After that, it thinned out considerably. From what we heard, the week before was unbearable. The Toy Story line at DHS was up to three hours long. . Glad we missed that. Loved the ride though when we did it on the 7th.

I called the wifi support people and they fixed it for one night. I was told that the wifi modems were planted in every other room (ours didn't have one). The next few days the wifi was inadequate. I called them back but they told me there was no record of my first call. Anyway, that was the only downside of the trip...other than my older sister (60 years old) complaining of all the walking we did.

One day we logged 12 miles according to my wife's "Up" wristband.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Love the link to the Epcot music!

I hope that guy's pictures all turned out blurry

Isn't it awesome?

I'm pretty sure he got lots of pics of me giving him dirty looks!!

We got to Disney on 1/1 and stayed until 1/8. Awesome trip.

First one for my wife and ten year old daughter. First for me in twenty years.

My only complaint was poor wifi in our room at the Caribbean Beach hotel. Other than that, it was great. We are considering to join the DVC.

Welcome to the DIS! So glad to hear you had a nice trip!!

I think Wifi is not the greatest in most or all of the WDW resorts. It has not been great for us at the BC and the Poly. Even by the pools it is spotty.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

When I left off DS13 and I had just gotten done on EE and we had met up with the rest of the family and were headed to the safari. Wait time was 20 minutes. Not bad!

We hadn't done the safari in several years. It is a bit different now, without Little Red and the whole poaching thing.

After we were done there we headed towards Camp Minnie Mickey. We had some time to kill before we needed to find a spot for Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade, which was the main reason I wanted to go to AK.

So we stopped and looked at the fish for a few minutes.

Got over to Camp Minnie Mickey and most of the character lines were pretty long. Poor Donald had the shortest line, so we hopped in. Waited about 15 minutes or so.

When we were done there we noticed a little line forming for Pocahontas. DS13 was all over that!!

Meanwhile DS11 was making some pin trades!

Continued in next post.....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Camp MM had the cutest little Christmas trees ever!

When we were done there we grabbed some ice cream cones for the kids. And while in line some woman cut right in front of me & the kids and took the cones I had ordered and paid for!! She didn't understand that you ordered at one window and picked up at another. She just went up and the CM asked what she had ordered and she said 2 swirls and he gave her ours! I was trying to tell her and so were some other people, but she apparently didn't speak English either. So then she had to go back to the other window and pay. What a mess. And the service there was so very super slow to begin with!!

But eventually the kids got their cones and all was well with the world again.

Then we headed over and got a spot for the parade and made a few calls home to let everyone know we had made it to Florida and were already off enjoying the parks!

While we were waiting I got a text from WDW saying our room was ready. Room 6315. I thought that sounded somewhat familiar....I texted Jodi to tell her our room number and asked if that was near their room and she said YES RIGHT NEXT DOOR!!!

And pretty soon the parade got started!

Continued in next post.....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Up Next: Evening at the GF

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Oh my word! That exact same ice cream incident happened to us at Magic Kingdom once. A foreign family started taking ice cream that did not belong to them. It's so rude!

I have never sat and watched the AK parade. It looks really cute Shelly! That Pocahontas is very pretty.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Oh my word! That exact same ice cream incident happened to us at Magic Kingdom once. A foreign family started taking ice cream that did not belong to them. It's so rude!

I have never sat and watched the AK parade. It looks really cute Shelly! That Pocahontas is very pretty.

Isn't that crazy??? People were really irritating me at AK that day!

We had seen the AK parade once before. It's pretty nice, but definitely not a must-do each time. We wanted to see it this time since they change it up a bit for Christmas.

Oh yes, DS13 thought Pocahontas was very pretty!

 

[T*Bird]

To quote Stephanie Tanner......"How RUDE!!" What is it with people? And I just don't know how much you can excuse people for the sole reason that they are foreigners. I think some of them may use that to get away with stuff like that. Do I sound a little cynical?

I've never seen the AK parade either. You got some really good pics! It looked cute, but I agree that it wouldn't be on my list every trip.

Such a cute pic of your DS with Pocahontas! She was very pretty and Pocahontassy.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

To quote Stephanie Tanner......"How RUDE!!" What is it with people? And I just don't know how much you can excuse people for the sole reason that they are foreigners. I think some of them may use that to get away with stuff like that. Do I sound a little cynical?

I've never seen the AK parade either. You got some really good pics! It looked cute, but I agree that it wouldn't be on my list every trip.

Such a cute pic of your DS with Pocahontas! She was very pretty and Pocahontassy.

Well there's a new word - Pocahontassy!!

I know what you mean, you have to wonder how much of it is a language barrier and how much of it is just plain being rude!! We came across more rude people this trip than ever before I think. People just have no sense of personal space.

Yeah, the parade was cute. But I'm good now for about 5 years.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

So glad I found your TR! We stayed at GF late August for our first (and last ) time...it was so wonderful! But we got an amazing deal. Can't wait to see more of your room and views and grounds.

I saw you have gone in Nov. before....which week? We are deciding between the middle...week before Thanksgiving...or week after which would actually be the first week of December. Thoughts?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

So glad I found your TR! We stayed at GF late August for our first (and last ) time...it was so wonderful! But we got an amazing deal. Can't wait to see more of your room and views and grounds.

I saw you have gone in Nov. before....which week? We are deciding between the middle...week before Thanksgiving...or week after which would actually be the first week of December. Thoughts?

Hi!! So glad you are here!

Lots of GF pics coming up!

We have gone in November twice, the second week both times. The first time it was warm and not too crowded. The following year the same week it was cold and a lot more crowded, but not terrible. I have a friend who was there the following week (week before Thanksgiving) and said it wasn't crowded at all until towards the end of her week, closer to the weekend.

Hope that helps some!

 

[JoBird]

I'm here! I'm here! I'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhere!












Sorry.


Okay well first things first--- Love those Christmas trees! They are so CUUUTE!

ANd Pocohontas was indeed Pocohantass-y!! She might be the prettiest character I've seen in a long time. I'm sure your son was allllllllllllllllllll over that line.

You got lots of good parade pics. Never have seen it at all. It looks fun. I'll have to try to schedule it in maybe next trip? IDK.

I laughed so hard when I saw that text from you saying you were next door to me. It was really coincidental!

sigh.

Memory.... all aloooooooone in the mooooooooooonlight....I can smile at the old days...... I was beeeeeuteeeful then.....



Do I sing badly? Sorry.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I have never seen the parade at AK either. I could never my DS is take a pic with Pocahontas LOL!!! To funny.

Those trees are so cute. The decorations are unbelievable.

Some people are just so ignorant!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I'm here! I'm here! I'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhereI'mhere!












Sorry.


Okay well first things first--- Love those Christmas trees! They are so CUUUTE!

ANd Pocohontas was indeed Pocohantass-y!! She might be the prettiest character I've seen in a long time. I'm sure your son was allllllllllllllllllll over that line.

You got lots of good parade pics. Never have seen it at all. It looks fun. I'll have to try to schedule it in maybe next trip? IDK.

I laughed so hard when I saw that text from you saying you were next door to me. It was really coincidental!

sigh.

Memory.... all aloooooooone in the mooooooooooonlight....I can smile at the old days...... I was beeeeeuteeeful then.....



Do I sing badly? Sorry.

YAY you're here!!

I know, those trees were just adorable!

Oh yes, DS was all over that!! He couldn't wait to share that picture with his friends!

Yeah, the parade is worth seeing once. The kids might enjoy it!

Love your song!! I remember saying out loud -- OMG our room is right next to Jodi's! And DS13 was like -- did she ask them to do that???

I have never seen the parade at AK either. I could never my DS is take a pic with Pocahontas LOL!!! To funny.

Those trees are so cute. The decorations are unbelievable.

Some people are just so ignorant!!!!

Wow no one has seen the AK parade!!

DS did the picture to be funny because apparently Pocahontas is "hot"! He really wanted one with Jasmine, but we never found her this trip. Maybe next time!


Yes, lots of ignorant people this trip.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Fun AK morning! My biggest Disney pet peeve is FLASH pictures on dark rides! So annoying!!!

Funny/crazy ice cream story!

I wish we had seen that parade when we were there in Nov 2011. They announced the dates after we'd made all of our plans so we were at AK the day before it started. Could have rearranged but it would have messed some things up. Oh well... maybe another time.

 

[lala3291]

Hi Shelly! Finally had time to catch up with your TR!

I can't stand when people take flash photography on rides...that guy on Dinosaur sounds ridiculous! The ice cream incident sounds crazy too...we actually had a similar incident on our last trip. I was standing in a long line (gotta love Christmas week!) just to get a Diet Coke at a stand in HS. A woman literally cut right in front of me as I was about to order. The CM noticed, and she looked at me, as if to say "sorry" and told the woman who cut in front where the line was. Well, that woman was very rude and said all she wanted was a Mickey Bar. Which is what half of the line of people were waiting for. She clearly didn't get the concept of a line! Anyways, the CM profusely apologized to me (it really wasn't that big of a deal) and gave me a Diet Coke and a water for free. It was greatly appreciated by me and was a very nice gesture.

We have never seen the AK parade either! We are always at AK in the morning and are gone by 1:00 or 2:00, so we always miss it. It looks cute though!

 

[TinkyCheeks]

Great update!

So weird that that woman just came up and took your ice cream. I think I would have been speechless!

 

[monica23535]

Hmm...I'm thinking that is a great way to save on snack credits - just pretend I don't speak English at every snack cart and just take everyone else's! Only kidding, of course

I have actually seen the parade at AK once a few years ago, DH doesn't care for it at all and we always seem to ready to leave AK around 2pm, in fact I don't think we have ever done a full day there.

I love your DS's interest in Pochahontas, I seem to remember that exact same one catching my husbands eye last trip!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Well Shelly.....DH had his interview yesterday. He said it went well. He was there from 8:30-5:00!!!! With breaks in between but My God!!! That would be to stressful for me.

Unfortunately we don't really know much more than we did before. Very frustrating!

He went to Fulton's Crab House for dinner last night and shopping in DTD. I was so jealous!!! He better have gotten me something GOOD!!! LOL

He'll be home tonight. He's having lunch with the boss today so maybe he'll get some more info. Like the timeframe of when the decision will be made. That would be nice to know.... ya think???!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Fun AK morning! My biggest Disney pet peeve is FLASH pictures on dark rides! So annoying!!!

Funny/crazy ice cream story!

I wish we had seen that parade when we were there in Nov 2011. They announced the dates after we'd made all of our plans so we were at AK the day before it started. Could have rearranged but it would have messed some things up. Oh well... maybe another time.

It was a nice day at AK! Well, except for annoying & rude people!!

It's a nice parade, but nothing worth rearranging your plans for. So don't worry! You'll catch it someday!

Hi Shelly! Finally had time to catch up with your TR!

I can't stand when people take flash photography on rides...that guy on Dinosaur sounds ridiculous! The ice cream incident sounds crazy too...we actually had a similar incident on our last trip. I was standing in a long line (gotta love Christmas week!) just to get a Diet Coke at a stand in HS. A woman literally cut right in front of me as I was about to order. The CM noticed, and she looked at me, as if to say "sorry" and told the woman who cut in front where the line was. Well, that woman was very rude and said all she wanted was a Mickey Bar. Which is what half of the line of people were waiting for. She clearly didn't get the concept of a line! Anyways, the CM profusely apologized to me (it really wasn't that big of a deal) and gave me a Diet Coke and a water for free. It was greatly appreciated by me and was a very nice gesture.

We have never seen the AK parade either! We are always at AK in the morning and are gone by 1:00 or 2:00, so we always miss it. It looks cute though!

Hi Lauren!

Oh that guy on dinosaur was beyond ridiculous. It was one picture after another after another....It never ended!! I should have told a CM after the ride and asked to ride again!!!

Well that was super nice of that CM to do that for you. I'm sure they see these kinds of things on a daily basis, unfortunately.

Wow I can't believe how many people have never seen the AK parade!! We usually go to AK at rope drop too and are done by lunchtime. That must be the case for a lot of people.

Great update!

So weird that that woman just came up and took your ice cream. I think I would have been speechless!

Thanks Kelly!

I think I was speechless at first. I kind of just stood there and then I looked over at DH (who wasn't in line with us, but still within a short distance and could see what was going on) and said -- DID THAT JUST HAPPEN???