Trip of Extremes and Dreams! Tons of Pics! 11/30 -12/10 Update Highlight to the End

[Nicole786]

my mom and I had just missed you guys (we arrived on the 11th) i remember from your last TR that we are from around the same place (south florida) im going to show my mom this tr i look forward to hearing more

 

[SkyGirl]

I love your EARLY morning update. You are so right about the excellent themes that Disney pulls off. I really think it was a good thing you ended up there so early...you got to see the opening! WOO HOO!

I might not make it back on before New Year's Eve...so HAVE A VERY SAFE AND VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hugs to you both! **and you too Barb, I know you will see this here**

We could have slept another thirty minutes and still made it with time to spare! Rotten kid!!

Thanks, Jay!!!! Happy New Year to you, too.

Happy New Year, Heidi, Figment & all the wonderful DIS'ers out there!

Barb

my mom and I had just missed you guys (we arrived on the 11th) i remember from your last TR that we are from around the same place (south florida) im going to show my mom this tr i look forward to hearing more

Hi Nicole! I'm so sorry we missed each other. It would have been great to meet!


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

 

[SkyGirl]

MAGIC KINGDOM continued!

I've read a few threads on the DIS where some people have said that Disney is pulling back on the Christmas decorations. I totally disagree! I didn't notice any less decorations from last year. It is just gorgeous! I did notice that the Christmas music wasn't played as often in any of the parks, but definitely all the decorations were up!

Looks like a big crowd but this was just at opening!

DD and an old friend

After enjoying Main Street and the gorgeous view of the castle, we made our way over Liberty Square Bridge so we could ride the Haunted Mansion first. We want to make this our new tradition -- riding one of our favorites (and DD's very favorite) first.

The park was very empty! We were loving it!

We went to Big Thunder Railroad and got Fast Passes, but went right on, there was no wait at all. This was my first time riding it in years. It always gave me a backache, but I really wanted to try it again. And it was super great!! I LOVED it!

We saw this on the way out and had to take it for Jay and her Little Prince. My nickname for him is Nugget!

We decided to wait until afternoon to ride Splash. It was just too cold for us right now.

Next was Adventure Land for Jungle Cruise. It is always so much fun and there was no wait. We had a great guide who told all the familiar corny jokes and had some of his own.

We spent a lot of time walking around Adventure Land and ran into this guy!

Then we saw Peter Pan. There were very short lines for character's this day (under five minutes) so we jumped right in.

Peter Pan was super great and spent time looking at DD's pins, which he called her "treasures".

Then he told her to look into the Pixie Finder.

We walked past the Hall of Presidents and knew it was down, but were surprised that President Elect Obama's name wasn't on their sign. When we were at Disney all those years ago, they had President's Bush's name on it, welcoming. We figured we were just early and it would go up after he was sworn in.

Then something just historic happened! (Historic for our family!!) We had our first ever pin trade. I traded my Rock n Roll Mickey for a Daisy Duck pin. It was so much fun. I can see how this can become addicting! We spent a lot of time talking with the CM's about how some of the only trade with kids and we laughed when two of the CM's traded with each other. None of them had seen the Rock n Roll Mickey before and were laughing at his hand going up and down the neck of the guitar.

Next was Tomorrowland. Also very empty.

DD did Astro Orbitor while I waited. I could never get in that tiny elevator. Ohhh, gives me shivers to think about it!! She loved it but said it would have been even more fun with kids.

Then we met Stitch. I realized this was the fake Stitch. Not the real one -- he was just no fun.

More to come!!!!!!!!

 

[Disney Wanderer]

Good character Pics . HA-HA I think i met stitch about 5 times . dont know why , he just didnt have a line a couple times and looked so lonely LOL .


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! by the way

 

[SkyGirl]

Next was lunch at Columbia Harbor House! We had been looking forward to this. We had never eaten here before. We were excited to find a table upstairs overlooking Fantasy Land.

DD had Lighthouse Sandwich - hummus with tomato & broccoli slaw. She liked it but definitely didn't love it.

I had the Chicken Nuggets and Fish platter. The nuggets were super icky but the fish was delicious. I would definitely have it again.

We both had the Apple Crisp for dessert and I can't stress enough how gross this was but how much potential it had. I don't know how long it was sitting out under a warmer (especially because we were there early) but had it been fresh, it probably would have been yummy. What a disappointment.

We decided to go to Splash Mountain, as it had heated up outside and had a blast. No wait at all. We rode Big Thunder again with our Fast Passes.

We decided to go and enjoy Main Street again and met Daisy Duck. She's so pretty!

Inside the Emporium we had fun browsing. We planned to shop later.

Next we went through the Castle. It had been closed when we first got there due to the Mickey Christmas show and it was nice to be able to go through. Fantasy Land was super crowded but we got onto Philharmagic without a wait, which was great, as always. We got Fast Passes for Peter Pan's Flight.

One thing I noticed that I've never heard before was the tone and amount of children screaming. Screaming at their parents, at other children, about toys, about anything. And the parents were screaming back. Not even yelling but screaming. It was happening all over the park and I found it really distressing.

It was time to get seats for the parade and we found great ones, facing the Castle. We waited about thirty minutes and really enjoyed watching the children hoola hooping and playing jump rope with really fun CM's.

And then it was time for the parade!

Castle Winners! A woman next to me complained to her husband about why they would even want to stay there since had only had boys. WHAT? People are so strange.

I love this one DD took with Flounder!

Big time fun!!!

 

[Figment's Friend]

The crowds were not terrible this day at all. It was fairly crowded, but it being a Monday I expected that and didn't mind. Main Street was beautiful with its holly

We had so much fun just wandering around Adventureland. We have some even more photos of all the great details in and around that land we'll share later! I enjoyed my time with Peter Pan, he was very talkative that morning We had fabulous interaction with Rafiki, very fun!

When we met Daisy Duck she pointed to my pin lanyard and then held her hands up confusingly, as if to yell at me for not having a pin of her! I promised her I would get one!

I'd say the lunch at Columbia Harbor House was....interesting Not terrible food, just alright. The view was better! (And I love the interior of this place, it's so well themed.)

I'd say we had THE BEST spot for the Dreams Come True Parade with the castle just towering right there. It made for excellent pictures, if I do say so myself! I also want to note how sitting across from the castle like that as the floats go by tricking your vision and made it look as if the castle was moving, too A little too much Disney fun there, I guess

 

[disneydusted]

Hey you two! We are down in NC at my parents and I am finally checking out trip reports. I think the pictures of Figment and Peter Pan are great! Looked like a very fun interaction! And tomorrowland was so empty.... I think that is my favorite part of MK except the castle! Your parade pictures are so CLOSE! You were in an awesome spot. Yes, I agree with you Figment, nice location with the castle in the background!

 

[SkyGirl]

Good character Pics . HA-HA I think i met stitch about 5 times . dont know why , he just didnt have a line a couple times and looked so lonely LOL .


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! by the way

See, that's cuz it wasn't the real Stitch!!

Hey you two! We are down in NC at my parents and I am finally checking out trip reports. I think the pictures of Figment and Peter Pan are great! Looked like a very fun interaction! And tomorrowland was so empty.... I think that is my favorite part of MK except the castle! Your parade pictures are so CLOSE! You were in an awesome spot. Yes, I agree with you Figment, nice location with the castle in the background!

Hi DisneyDusted!! I hope you are having a great time in NC!

I loved watching Peter and DD together!! It was so funny.

I hope everyone had a nice and safe NYE!! We had a very good time. We rarely celebrate that night because it is the anniversary of my Dad's death, but this year, I thought we should do things differently -- bring a change to the coming year! While DD worked, I went out and bought decorations and hats and glow sticks and noise makers and tons and tons of yummy food!! We had a little party and had a ton of fun.

I hope we all have a wonderful 2009!!!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Pity about the CHH food, I've only heard good things but I must admit that sandwich seemed a strange combination

Cute photo with Daisy Duck, we still haven't managed to find her and the girls so want too!

Lovely photos of the parade and I agree with your DD that the Castle loks so pretty in the background

 

[janloz]

It was pouring buckets of water, not raining!

Hi there,

Just found your TR, sorry we couldn't meet up at Le Cellier, we went on the Saturday night. We got stuck in MK that same day and ran from Small World to Tony's for lunch in that rain. We were soaked to the bone even with ponchos. Looks like we were a day ahead of you at MK. Great Pics.

 

[Figment's Friend]

Happy New Year, friends! Hope everyone had a great time celebrating with your family and friends and pets if you've got 'em! Updates might be a little slow while DM recovers some. She spent part of the day at the emergency room, not at Disney She was diagnosed with Chronic Bronchitis and might be a little out of it for a while. Maybe I'll get to write the next update?

Pity about the CHH food, I've only heard good things but I must admit that sandwich seemed a strange combination

Cute photo with Daisy Duck, we still haven't managed to find her and the girls so want too!

Lovely photos of the parade and I agree with your DD that the Castle loks so pretty in the background

That sandwich was a strange combination! One I don't want to experience again. Oh and you and the girls and David must get pictures with Daisy Duck next time, she's the best! Well....THAT Daisy Duck was fun!

Hi there,

Just found your TR, sorry we couldn't meet up at Le Cellier, we went on the Saturday night. We got stuck in MK that same day and ran from Small World to Tony's for lunch in that rain. We were soaked to the bone even with ponchos. Looks like we were a day ahead of you at MK. Great Pics.

Hey, there! I just discovered your TR from your signature! I'm already subscribed, but it might take me a few days to catch up! I bet that walk to Tony's felt VERY long in that monsoon weather!

Hey you two! We are down in NC at my parents and I am finally checking out trip reports. I think the pictures of Figment and Peter Pan are great! Looked like a very fun interaction! And tomorrowland was so empty.... I think that is my favorite part of MK except the castle! Your parade pictures are so CLOSE! You were in an awesome spot. Yes, I agree with you Figment, nice location with the castle in the background!

How was your Christmas/New Year? Hope you're having fun in North Carolina! MK was pretty empty this day until after the parade....but we lived to tell about it so it couldn't have been too crowded!

 

[momoftriplets]

Hi Figment!

Tell Heidi to rest up & feel better!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Barb

 

[disneydusted]

Heidi, what are you doing going to the hospital??!! You are supposed to be feeling well.... I hope you recover quickly and can think more Disney happy thoughts!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Hey ladies! Just stopping by to say hello, and I enjoyed your latest update. That is interesting that the castle appears to move along with the parade....how cool!

 

[SkyGirl]

Hi Figment!

Tell Heidi to rest up & feel better!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Barb

Hi Barb! Feeling better!!

Heidi, what are you doing going to the hospital??!! You are supposed to be feeling well.... I hope you recover quickly and can think more Disney happy thoughts!

What a way to spend New Year's Day! I was going to make all appetizers for dinner and had a whole menu prepared! I think I ended up with a bowl of soup!

Hey ladies! Just stopping by to say hello, and I enjoyed your latest update. That is interesting that the castle appears to move along with the parade....how cool!

Hi Alan! Thanks for stopping by! Those seats for the parade were amazing!

 

[SkyGirl]

MAGIC KINGDOM continued

After the parade, DD and I did the full tour around Magic Kingdom, including the secret path between Tomorrowland and Toon Town. I love that path and am always surprised that it is empty. I also love that I can drive like a drunken fool on Mater!!

This vacation became the "Take Weird Pictures of Myself by Accident". I don't know how this started but by the end of our trip, I had several pictures of myself that I don't know how they happened!

Soon it was time for dinner at Crystal Palace. We waited about twenty minutes for them to call us, while we people watched, which is always fun. This was one of our favorite restaurants although we've decided to skip it for a few years. Let all the anticipation come back.

When we were seated there were adults without children on either side of us, which was nice because they were totally into having their pictures taken, too.

Tigger was the first to our table. He's always so much fun.

Then came Piglet and Eyeore. Now, I don't like Eyeore very much -- he's much too much of a downer for me, but I have to admit, I liked him so much more this time!!

Then we had time to go and get our dinner. The food is okay here, not horrible and not very good either. Worth it for the character interaction, though.

First were the cold plates. They did have some good salads and their rolls are always warm and yummy.

The hot food was good. They did get rid of the prime rib, which was a disappointment, although they have the best horseradish on property in my opinion.

Dessert's were a bit disappointing and not at all imaginative. They even got rid of their cheese plates, which was really sad. We didn't take pictures of the cookies we had.

However, Pooh was next, and that was great!

While we were waiting for our check, they had Pooh's song and the napkins were waving and kids were on parade. It was completely adorable. When Tigger went by our table, he squeezed my shoulder. We had a moment!

One interesting thing we saw. A manager was walking around the restaurant with a smallish girl/adult. He was giving her hand signals. DD and I suddenly realized that she was a "character in training"!! That was sorta cool to watch.

After dinner we went to Tomorrowland and DD got two fast passes using both KTTW. While waiting for them, we went on Pirates. We discovered when two lines are open, the left side is faster to the boats but the right side has more to look at.

And then ... it was Dole Whip time for DD! She had been waiting for this for a whole year!

She loved it even though it was cold outside and people were giving her weird looks! I think she was one of the only people in the park eating anything cold that night. I'm not a Dole Whip fan, it gives me kissy lips from the citrus. I decided to skip a snack this night because I couldn't find anything that wasn't sweet. This would come to haunt me on the trip. I am always getting ripped off on my snacks!

We rode Haunted Mansion and skipped Splash because it was just way too cold!

Then it was time for Spectro. This was a total fiasco. They closed off the castle as always but also the ride side exit so everyone was forced to go left ... and everyone in the park decided to move to Main Street to watch. It was insane with people, a total nightmare. Everyone was pushing and shoving, getting freaked out by the crowds. It was crazy. We found a spot near the castle right behind an old man in a wheelchair. I was afraid he was going to be pushed off the curb, it was that nuts. People were bound and determined to be up front or to have their child up front no matter how they got them there. Kids were leaning on and playing on Mater as I sat in it. It was just unreal and almost wrecked our whole evening. I've never seen people act like that at Disney. It was a true mob mentality.

Kids can make things so much better, though, can't they? A little boy next to us told his father he had a cramp from sitting for so long and the crowd around us burst into laughter. His father told him he was too young to have a cramp!!

It took us twenty minutes to get from in front of the castle to Liberty Square Bridge! We decided to watch Wishes from there and discovered this is a fantastic spot!

After that beautiful show, we went back to Tomorrowland and DD rode Space Mountain twice while I waited in the shop. That ride terrifies me and I won't go on it! As I was sitting there, a family came out with two VIP guides and a body guard! I recognized the boy from the Disney Channel -- one of the twins from Zach and Cody. They were in a huge hurry, I suppose before he was recognized and mobbed by screaming tweens!

Then an incredibly creepy guy came into the store. I can't even describe his creepiness level -- he looked like he was out of prison on a job. Just ewww. Well, he whipped out a disposable camera and asked me if I was going to use the ATM. I told him I was just waiting for someone (and I wasn't anywhere near it ... very strange) and he took a ton of pictures of it. I glanced around to see if anyone else was watching him. A few people were watching -- he was just soooo strange. The CM's didn't seem disturbed by him, so I kept watching him, now truly curious by both his pictures and his creepiness. Then he cleaned the ATM. Okay, now I know what he's doing there! And then he took a dozen more pictures of it -- I supposed to prove he cleaned it. It was all so weird. LOL

And soon it was time to say goodnight to Magic Kingdom and make our way back to our resort and wonderfully comfortable beds!

 

[momoftriplets]

I also love that I can drive like a drunken fool on Mater!!

And how do we know the difference??

This vacation became the "Take Weird Pictures of Myself by Accident". I don't know how this started but by the end of our trip, I had several pictures of myself that I don't know how they happened!


I usually take pictures of the sky by accident. TG for digital. Now I can just delete them, rather than developing them.


However, Pooh was next, and that was great!

LOVE this picture!!! Print it & send it to me, k?


And then ... it was Dole Whip time for DD! She had been waiting for this for a whole year!

I hate to admit, I'm a Dole Whip Virgin. (Can I say that on the DIS boards? Guess we'll find out, huh?) It's definately on my "to-do list" for next time.


It was a true mob mentality.


That kind of stuff scares the daylights out of me.


Glad you're feeling better!

My responses are in red because you know I can't figure out how to multi-quote the same post.

 

[disneydusted]

You are feeling better!! You'll have to make your special dinner now... or maybe you already have.
Ok, you had me really laughing when I read "kissy lips from the citrus"!!! I never knew that Dole Whips did this! You are a riot!
I love the random Heidi shots, upside down! Your camera had a mind of its own!
The crowd for the Spectro sounded a bit scary! Not quite sure I'd want to be in that... but you did see a beautiful castle!! I wish I could see it all lit up with the "frosting"! So pretty!

 

[Figment's Friend]

I love that DM is getting every shot of me and the Dole Whip Float! That was one of two I got as snack credits on this trip.

Crystal Palace was fun (Tigger was rather playful! ) but I'm glad we won't be returning there for a while. It feels like we have done this restaurant over and over and over and over again.

The great thing about DM not riding Space Mountain is I always get to ride it twice in a row without a wait!

 

[SkyGirl]

I also love that I can drive like a drunken fool on Mater!!

And how do we know the difference??

This vacation became the "Take Weird Pictures of Myself by Accident". I don't know how this started but by the end of our trip, I had several pictures of myself that I don't know how they happened!


I usually take pictures of the sky by accident. TG for digital. Now I can just delete them, rather than developing them.


However, Pooh was next, and that was great!

LOVE this picture!!! Print it & send it to me, k?


And then ... it was Dole Whip time for DD! She had been waiting for this for a whole year!

I hate to admit, I'm a Dole Whip Virgin. (Can I say that on the DIS boards? Guess we'll find out, huh?) It's definately on my "to-do list" for next time.


It was a true mob mentality.


That kind of stuff scares the daylights out of me.


Glad you're feeling better!

My responses are in red because you know I can't figure out how to multi-quote the same post.

We had such a fun day and driving like a drunken fool only adds to that!

You are feeling better!! You'll have to make your special dinner now... or maybe you already have.
Ok, you had me really laughing when I read "kissy lips from the citrus"!!! I never knew that Dole Whips did this! You are a riot!
I love the random Heidi shots, upside down! Your camera had a mind of its own!
The crowd for the Spectro sounded a bit scary! Not quite sure I'd want to be in that... but you did see a beautiful castle!! I wish I could see it all lit up with the "frosting"! So pretty!

I was shocked at how many pictures there were of me, for no reason!! So silly! I guess I should have taken one of the kissy lips!!

The crowd really was scary. It didn't feel like Disney at all and some people were flipping out just a bit. I was so happy when it was over and we were able to move outta there!

Hey is anyone besides Barb and Disneydusted reading this??? I HOPE so!