Well this is my first trip report. So, please bear with me.
The cast is short:
Me a thirty something male who has been to Disney World many a time
GF a thirty something female who has never been to Disney World
This was the GFs first time heading to Disney World and we arrived at the Grand Floridian on December 15th and checked out on the 19th.
We flew out of Newark Airport on December 15th and arrived at the Orlando Airport at 2:30 pm. I used Tiffany Towncar to take us to our hotel, The Grand Floridian. After our grocery stop, we only picked up a 12 pack of water and some toiletries since we did not want to check our luggage. We arrived at the GF at 3:30 pm and after waiting in line to check in we walked into our room at 4:00 pm. I did not ask for an upgrade and our room was wonderful. We were placed in Boca Chica on the 2nd floor and had a view of Space Mountain. Narcoossees blocked most of the view of the Magic Kingdom, but we could still see the top of it and the fireworks at night.
Night 1
I made reservations for us at the 50s Prime Time Café for 4:50 pm since I knew we would both be starving. We made our way to the buses and after a short wait we were off to MGM. We arrived about 5 minutes late for our reservations but they still sat us immediately. Our server at the 50s Prime Time Café took it easy on us. GF had the Pot Roast and I had the Fried Chicken (Im a sucker for fried chicken). Oh, and we had Onion Rings to start.
After the meal we made our way over to The Muppets 3-D show and then to check out The Osborne Lights. After Osborne Lights we watched Fantasmic and then headed to Beaches N Cream for milkshakes. I also wanted to show my GF the Beach Club since my father is a DVC member there. We checked out the gingerbread carousal in the lobby, then caught the bus back to the Magic Kingdom, and then took the monorail back to the GF. When we entered our rooms they had turn down the bed and placed chocolates on the pillows, which they did all of our nights. What a nice touch .
Day 2
The next morning we were off to Animal Kingdom where we watched Its Tough to be a Bug and did the Kilmanjaro Safari, Discovery Island Trail, Habitat Habit, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Pangani Forest Trail and that was all. I know, I know. No, we did not do the Dinosaur ride or Expedition Everest. The GF is not much of a thrill seeker or roller coaster rider. No biggie to me.
Anyway, next we were off to Downtown Disney for some shopping. They should really offer a bus to downtown Disney from all the parks. We had to catch the bus back to our hotel and then take the bus to Downtown Disney. We were pretty hungry so we had sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich. I had the BLT and the GF had the All-American. Great sandwiches!!!!! We shopped and bought a couple of Christmas gifts and then headed back to our hotel for a little nap.
After freshening up we were off to The Wildness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon. Ive always wanted to try it and I was not disappointed it. I had the all you can eat skillet and the GF had the meatloaf. I thought Whispering Canyon was going to be a little more crazy then what it was. It was actually pretty quiet and our server again took it easy on us. Beautiful tree and decorations in the lobby at the WL too.
Our last stop was the Magic Kingdom as they did not close until 11pm. We walked in at 8:55, just in time for Wishes, and stood on Main Street and watched the fireworks. After they ended we walked into Mickeys PhilharMagic, which had no wait. I have to admit that the rest of the evening we walked around the park. It was still crowded and many of the rides had at least thirty-minute waits. So we headed back to the GF at around 10pm.
Day 3
We boarded the monorail for Epcot the next morning and went to get our fast passes for Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space. Then went to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Living with the Land.
Next was lunch at one of the fast food places, Electric Umbrella. The GF had the chicken strips and I had a cheeseburger. After wards we made our way over to taste all the different types of Coke-Cola drinks.
It was time for us to start using our fast passes and first up was Mission Space. We did the more difficult one with all the twist and turns, and had a blast. Next was Soarin, which we both thought was amazing and finally Test Track. You know Test Track is still a great attraction.
We watched Mickey and Friends light the Christmas Tree at the International Gateway and then took the boat to the other side of the lake.
We were having dinner at Alfredos in Italy. Boy was that place packed. Had a reservation but still waited close to forty minutes before they sat us. I started with the tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad and then had the fettuccine. I cannot remember the name of the dish the GF had, but it was ziti with plum tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, black olives, and basil. For dessert I had a cannoli and the GF had the tiramisu This was my favorite meal of our short trip. We made our way around the countries and caught the French and Canadian Santas speaking about their origins.
By this time we were exhausted, we had been at Epcot since 10:00am and it was now 8:30pm. As much as I wanted to see Illuminations I could not do it. Caught the monorail back to the GF and we were both asleep before 10pm. Ha!
Day 4
We headed back to MGM this morning to catch a couple of things I wanted to see. The Great Movie Ride and Lights, Motor, Action were great, a little cheesy, but that is half the fun. Yes, I know we skipped Tower of Terror and Rock n Roll Coaster. Not for us, but I will say MGM is the place to catch character meetings. They were out the whole time we were there.
Next, caught the boat to the Beach Club and had lunch at Beaches N Cream. GF had a cheeseburger and I had a hot dog.
Caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom were we will did Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion and we did a little more shopping on main street. Magic Kingdom was packed. Thirty minute wait for the Haunted Mansion, which really surprised me. Back to the GF for naps.
We had dinner at the Grand Floridan Café. I had the pan-roasted salmon and the GF had the roast chicken breast. Our last stop on our little trip was Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Caught the monorail over and waited to get inside the park for a good thirty minutes. The park closed at 7pm but reopened at 7pm for the Christmas Party. Mayhem!
We had a blast at Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Watched both parades and the fireworks. Had our picture taken with Mickey and Minnie in their holiday finest in toontown. Photopass was offering a 50% discount on all pictures. We bought three 5x7s on our way out of toontown. The only ride we did was the Winnie the Pooh one. Ha! After the last parade we headed back to the GF and walked into our room at 11:55 pm.
Day 5
Our last morning we had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and meet Tiffany Towncar at 9:50 am and headed back to the airport. We were back at Newark airport at 2:30pm.
Overall a great trip. I would have liked to spend more time exploring the countries at Epcot and seeing Illuminations. The Grand Floridian was grand and it lived up to our expectations. Of course the Grand Floridian looked beautiful and the there was always a line at the gingerbread house. We also saw five brides in four days getting their pictures taken in the lobby and grand staircase. So, now the GF wants to go back and were already looking into booking again at the Grand Floridian for seven nights next December.
Let me know if you have any questions and Ill try to answer them.
The cast is short:
Me a thirty something male who has been to Disney World many a time
GF a thirty something female who has never been to Disney World
This was the GFs first time heading to Disney World and we arrived at the Grand Floridian on December 15th and checked out on the 19th.
We flew out of Newark Airport on December 15th and arrived at the Orlando Airport at 2:30 pm. I used Tiffany Towncar to take us to our hotel, The Grand Floridian. After our grocery stop, we only picked up a 12 pack of water and some toiletries since we did not want to check our luggage. We arrived at the GF at 3:30 pm and after waiting in line to check in we walked into our room at 4:00 pm. I did not ask for an upgrade and our room was wonderful. We were placed in Boca Chica on the 2nd floor and had a view of Space Mountain. Narcoossees blocked most of the view of the Magic Kingdom, but we could still see the top of it and the fireworks at night.
Night 1
I made reservations for us at the 50s Prime Time Café for 4:50 pm since I knew we would both be starving. We made our way to the buses and after a short wait we were off to MGM. We arrived about 5 minutes late for our reservations but they still sat us immediately. Our server at the 50s Prime Time Café took it easy on us. GF had the Pot Roast and I had the Fried Chicken (Im a sucker for fried chicken). Oh, and we had Onion Rings to start.
After the meal we made our way over to The Muppets 3-D show and then to check out The Osborne Lights. After Osborne Lights we watched Fantasmic and then headed to Beaches N Cream for milkshakes. I also wanted to show my GF the Beach Club since my father is a DVC member there. We checked out the gingerbread carousal in the lobby, then caught the bus back to the Magic Kingdom, and then took the monorail back to the GF. When we entered our rooms they had turn down the bed and placed chocolates on the pillows, which they did all of our nights. What a nice touch .
Day 2
The next morning we were off to Animal Kingdom where we watched Its Tough to be a Bug and did the Kilmanjaro Safari, Discovery Island Trail, Habitat Habit, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Pangani Forest Trail and that was all. I know, I know. No, we did not do the Dinosaur ride or Expedition Everest. The GF is not much of a thrill seeker or roller coaster rider. No biggie to me.
Anyway, next we were off to Downtown Disney for some shopping. They should really offer a bus to downtown Disney from all the parks. We had to catch the bus back to our hotel and then take the bus to Downtown Disney. We were pretty hungry so we had sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich. I had the BLT and the GF had the All-American. Great sandwiches!!!!! We shopped and bought a couple of Christmas gifts and then headed back to our hotel for a little nap.
After freshening up we were off to The Wildness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon. Ive always wanted to try it and I was not disappointed it. I had the all you can eat skillet and the GF had the meatloaf. I thought Whispering Canyon was going to be a little more crazy then what it was. It was actually pretty quiet and our server again took it easy on us. Beautiful tree and decorations in the lobby at the WL too.
Our last stop was the Magic Kingdom as they did not close until 11pm. We walked in at 8:55, just in time for Wishes, and stood on Main Street and watched the fireworks. After they ended we walked into Mickeys PhilharMagic, which had no wait. I have to admit that the rest of the evening we walked around the park. It was still crowded and many of the rides had at least thirty-minute waits. So we headed back to the GF at around 10pm.
Day 3
We boarded the monorail for Epcot the next morning and went to get our fast passes for Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space. Then went to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Living with the Land.
Next was lunch at one of the fast food places, Electric Umbrella. The GF had the chicken strips and I had a cheeseburger. After wards we made our way over to taste all the different types of Coke-Cola drinks.
It was time for us to start using our fast passes and first up was Mission Space. We did the more difficult one with all the twist and turns, and had a blast. Next was Soarin, which we both thought was amazing and finally Test Track. You know Test Track is still a great attraction.
We watched Mickey and Friends light the Christmas Tree at the International Gateway and then took the boat to the other side of the lake.
We were having dinner at Alfredos in Italy. Boy was that place packed. Had a reservation but still waited close to forty minutes before they sat us. I started with the tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad and then had the fettuccine. I cannot remember the name of the dish the GF had, but it was ziti with plum tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, black olives, and basil. For dessert I had a cannoli and the GF had the tiramisu This was my favorite meal of our short trip. We made our way around the countries and caught the French and Canadian Santas speaking about their origins.
By this time we were exhausted, we had been at Epcot since 10:00am and it was now 8:30pm. As much as I wanted to see Illuminations I could not do it. Caught the monorail back to the GF and we were both asleep before 10pm. Ha!
Day 4
We headed back to MGM this morning to catch a couple of things I wanted to see. The Great Movie Ride and Lights, Motor, Action were great, a little cheesy, but that is half the fun. Yes, I know we skipped Tower of Terror and Rock n Roll Coaster. Not for us, but I will say MGM is the place to catch character meetings. They were out the whole time we were there.
Next, caught the boat to the Beach Club and had lunch at Beaches N Cream. GF had a cheeseburger and I had a hot dog.
Caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom were we will did Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion and we did a little more shopping on main street. Magic Kingdom was packed. Thirty minute wait for the Haunted Mansion, which really surprised me. Back to the GF for naps.
We had dinner at the Grand Floridan Café. I had the pan-roasted salmon and the GF had the roast chicken breast. Our last stop on our little trip was Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Caught the monorail over and waited to get inside the park for a good thirty minutes. The park closed at 7pm but reopened at 7pm for the Christmas Party. Mayhem!
We had a blast at Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Watched both parades and the fireworks. Had our picture taken with Mickey and Minnie in their holiday finest in toontown. Photopass was offering a 50% discount on all pictures. We bought three 5x7s on our way out of toontown. The only ride we did was the Winnie the Pooh one. Ha! After the last parade we headed back to the GF and walked into our room at 11:55 pm.
Day 5
Our last morning we had breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and meet Tiffany Towncar at 9:50 am and headed back to the airport. We were back at Newark airport at 2:30pm.
Overall a great trip. I would have liked to spend more time exploring the countries at Epcot and seeing Illuminations. The Grand Floridian was grand and it lived up to our expectations. Of course the Grand Floridian looked beautiful and the there was always a line at the gingerbread house. We also saw five brides in four days getting their pictures taken in the lobby and grand staircase. So, now the GF wants to go back and were already looking into booking again at the Grand Floridian for seven nights next December.
Let me know if you have any questions and Ill try to answer them.
