Twas the Night Before ... Christmas 09?! - 12/30 New TR! Please come join me!

[MomofCKJ]

Here! We went the week before Christmas in 2006 and it was so wonderful! The decorations were great, you must go to the various deluxe resorts to check them out. Just the whole atmosphere was extra magical! I would love to return at that time of year again someday!


Allyson

 

[annnewjerz]

Hi there!

Just found this PTR and read your intro and it sounds exactly like me at Christmas. The cookies, the shopping, the music, the WRAPPING (I've got to admit, that's my favorite part ).

Can't wait to read more. We'll be in The World from December 12-18, so I won't be able to give you a full TR of what to expect for your trip in terms of crowds, decorations and whatnot---but I do plan on live blogging while I'm there, so you should check it out!

 

[Happydog]

The first resort we stayed at, with this dining package, is called The Parker. We stayed for one night three years ago. The one night we were there, the guests were kinda obnoxious, but I was willing to give it another try. I am SOO glad we did. It was really deserted!

Here are some photos. Keep in mind it was 103-105 every day, but it was the desert, so it cooled off as soon as the sun set. We had a great time, of course! While I didn’t take food pictures, I did get the restaurant that is at the resort. It is a wild place, very 60s “Mod”. For some reason my indoor photos were a tad grainy -- I think I didn't change the setting on my camera to be honest!

This is the restaurant, we were the last couple there one night, notice no one around!!??

This is how they bring your "bill" ...

We also stayed at another resort called the Riviera. The resort was very famous back in the day (something about Elvis – I can’t remember) but it was closed and reopened with the past year. It too is very “mid-century” and a little fanciful… notice all the mirrored tiles!!!! I took lots of light fixture photos for Lady Lallie, so I hope she is reading this!!!!

Anyway, the settings were fun, and I felt like an old movie star!! They are high-end resorts, and we practically had them to ourselves… I was thrilled! They were not filled with the young L.A. crowd, and we could relax. It was great fun. I especially loved the “dining” package/plan!!!! Oink Oink!!! We ate, drank and sunbathed all day, lounging at the pool reading etc. It was divine!

So, that was my two weeks out west! I came back incredibly relaxed, to be thrown into the thick of it with school starting again. However, I am now excited to start my December planning with FULL Force!!! The December PARK HOURS just came out! So this weekend I will be plotting and scheming, and will post all about it!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this little mini-TR. Now back to DISNEY!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

It looks like you ALL had a great trip! The boys looked so happy just being outside and having the freedom to play in a fabulous place.

Your resort looked divine, some time relaxing sounds like heaven!

 

[Happydog]

I agree about the first week of school. I'm in my third week and I'm just now getting to where I don't feel like I want to fall directly into bed at 3:15 when school is over!!

I can't wait to see the castle at Christmas either. I've got a couple of choices for our itinerary that I'm debating over on my PTR. I've never planned an adult/surprise vacation so I'm completely confused about how to plan it!

You are telling me! EXHAUSTING!!! Now, let me hop over to see what you are scheming!!! I don't know about my itinerary either!!!

YAY for Christmas!

I don't do the shopping or the baking, but all other Christmas stuff I love! The carols, the lights, general atomsphere.... it all!

I'm completely to be doing a Disney Christmas!

Can't wait to check out your report

Wow!!! Me too! I hope I can make it all work! Dec Hours are up so now the real planning starts!!

I'm in excited to hear about your planning.

Stephanie

Well Hello, and THANKYOU!! Glad you joined up! I hope you'll enjoy the read!

I am SO in! I Christmas!

Oh I know! There are a lot of Christmas junkies!!!

I am the nerd who orders it through the school fundraiser every year even though I don't really need new paper.

OH me too!!! what is that called? Sally something, right? They have great paper!!! I buy it every year!!!! Glad you are gonna join me here!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I love Sally Foster wrapping paper, it's the best! I can't wait for the brochure to be sent home!

 

[Happydog]

Christmas at Disney......it's lovely-we were there a couple of years ago from about 12/14-12/21 so we weren't there on the Day itself but it was lovely...

Everything is decorated...

If you like this kind of thing...there are the Santas from all over the world in Epcot telling stories in the individual countries...(in addition to all the other various activities all over the parks...)

Can't wait to see the PS photos...

That's right-we're back to 180 day ADRS...good luck with that...

Well the ADRs are still 90 for my trip.... Which is highly annoying!!!

But yes, thanks for the Santa tip -- I am really looking forward to the different Santas!!! I did know about that and I am excited!

I don't know what to expect, but I want to make it a memorable experience for the kids, so I have some plans I am trying to work through!

WOOHOO another PTR to follow along on.

Oh YAY!!! So glad you came back!!!!

Here! We went the week before Christmas in 2006 and it was so wonderful! The decorations were great, you must go to the various deluxe resorts to check them out. Just the whole atmosphere was extra magical! I would love to return at that time of year again someday!

Allyson

That is sooo cool! Your tips are great!!! YES I can't wait to see all the decorations. That is what I am most excited for!!! GINGERBREAD!!

Hi there!

Just found this PTR and read your intro and it sounds exactly like me at Christmas. The cookies, the shopping, the music, the WRAPPING (I've got to admit, that's my favorite part ).

Can't wait to read more. We'll be in The World from December 12-18, so I won't be able to give you a full TR of what to expect for your trip in terms of crowds, decorations and whatnot---but I do plan on live blogging while I'm there, so you should check it out!

Gee!!! Hello! Thanks for this info, and yes!!!! I will check it out, b/c you are right it will help me plan and pack! Thanks!!


I love WRAPPING TOO!!!! it is fun!
I will definitely be interested in the crowds and the weather!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a wonderful trip! Sounds like you had a great time.

I would LOVE to stay in those resorts. Sounds very glamorous! Love the lights too! Thanks!

 

[Happydog]

I love Sally Foster wrapping paper, it's the best! I can't wait for the brochure to be sent home!

YAY WigD that is it!!!! ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so nice!!! Expensive a little, but it is a good cause, afterall, so I always get several rolls, I love their "candy cane" pattern that they have in some form or another each year, and I love the double sided paper!!! SO much fun

 

[Happydog]

It looks like you ALL had a great trip! The boys looked so happy just being outside and having the freedom to play in a fabulous place.

Your resort looked divine, some time relaxing sounds like heaven!

Oh we all did absolutely!!! I realize that I didn't take many photos of my DH and I, I just didn't load those for Photobucket, just of where we were... but yes, it was great to get away and it was relaxing!

 

[Happydog]

What a wonderful trip! Sounds like you had a great time.

I would LOVE to stay in those resorts. Sounds very glamorous! Love the lights too! Thanks!

Hi there!!! It was really! They were fun places. The Parker in particular, because it was such a serene relaxing place.. fun. they had a croquet lawn, and several hammocks around for lounging in! I have another light fixture photo I must share, I will go back and get it posted tomorrow, it was from one of the resort, you'll like it! Hope you are feeling well!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Oh WOW! So gorgeous and peaceful. Hammocks are just heaven.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Wow! Oregon looks beautiful!

Your getaway sounded absolutely delightful! RELAXING??? What is that?! I'll have to give it a whirl one of these days!

 

[IluvXU]

This is crazy. I know I subbed the other day. Palm Springs looked fun, and the outdoor pics in Oregon were fantastic....

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your pictures from Oregon and Palm Springs are gorgeous! What a relaxing vacation to end your summer!

 

[shordiebecka]

Love your mini trip report! I've traveled to over half of the states in the US but never the northwestern corner of the country. I've always wanted to go to Oregon and Washington state just to check it out and see how the culture is different from here in the northeast!

 

[jenjolt]

What a great trip!! The boys looked like they were having a blast in the creek and just enjoying the time helping out!!!!

Your pictures of the resorts you stayed at are amazing...it does look like relaxation can be found there!!! Love the look of the resorts very nice!!! I would love to visit CA some day!!!

YAY for park hours...this means you can really plan...really really plan LOL!!!! Can't wait for you to reveal your itinerary...so excited!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Your Oregon pictures are charming-what a great place for the kids to be spending time...

Palm Springs looks like it would make a great couple's getaway-what a lovely setting-with the lush landscaping of the resort with the desert behind it...
California has such a wealth of nature beauty from Muir Woods & the Bay-down thorough Big Sur, the Pacific and the beaches down at La Jolla-so sad about the fires... outside of LA...

Oh-you got caught in the inbetween time for ressies...I can see how you would be annoyed...but it will all be okay...

Looking forward to seeing your itinerary...

 

[Happydog]

Oh WOW! So gorgeous and peaceful. Hammocks are just heaven.

It really was!!! There was a meteor shower that week we were there, and we were able to see some of it out on those hammocks! I took a ton of photos, it is hard to pick which to share, but the the two resort were very different but both really nice!

Wow! Oregon looks beautiful!

Your getaway sounded absolutely delightful! RELAXING??? What is that?! I'll have to give it a whirl one of these days!

Central Oregon really is a nice place in the summer. Beautiful and so much to do outside! Yeah, no kids helps with the relaxing part!!!

This is crazy. I know I subbed the other day. Palm Springs looked fun, and the outdoor pics in Oregon were fantastic....

OH!!! You did!!! I know it!! Did I miss your original post? I'll go see, but now I am glad you are here!

Your pictures from Oregon and Palm Springs are gorgeous! What a relaxing vacation to end your summer!

Oregon really is nice, I can't say it enough -- the kids playing at the river was fun, b.c they had a picnic table in the water (which is not deep at all in that area) and there are tube rafters floating by -- perfect to beat the 90 heat that was there that week! Then it is sweatshirt cool in the evenings. Perfect. And Palm Springs was FUN. We didn't do much, too hot to do more than lounge pool side during the day!!! But I go so much reading in!!!

Love your mini trip report! I've traveled to over half of the states in the US but never the northwestern corner of the country. I've always wanted to go to Oregon and Washington state just to check it out and see how the culture is different from here in the northeast!

That is a great corner!!! Washington state, too! Lots to see, beautiful area in the summer, honestly, b/c on the east coast we don't see much else but hot and humid unless you live in Maine!!

 

[Happydog]

What a great trip!! The boys looked like they were having a blast in the creek and just enjoying the time helping out!!!!

Your pictures of the resorts you stayed at are amazing...it does look like relaxation can be found there!!! Love the look of the resorts very nice!!! I would love to visit CA some day!!!

YAY for park hours...this means you can really plan...really really plan LOL!!!! Can't wait for you to reveal your itinerary...so excited!!

CA is a great vacation stop! Disneyland, and everything in between!

And yes my boys had great great fun. They always do... dirty, smiling, tired, boys. Perfect. They fell into bed everynight exhausted and happy; that is what summer is all about!

Oh don't worry I am doing a lot of planning this weekend!!! Just gearing up with park hours and such... BIG ADR day is the 21st!

Your Oregon pictures are charming-what a great place for the kids to be spending time...

Palm Springs looks like it would make a great couple's getaway-what a lovely setting-with the lush landscaping of the resort with the desert behind it...
California has such a wealth of nature beauty from Muir Woods & the Bay-down thorough Big Sur, the Pacific and the beaches down at La Jolla-so sad about the fires... outside of LA...

Oh-you got caught in the inbetween time for ressies...I can see how you would be annoyed...but it will all be okay...

Looking forward to seeing your itinerary...

Yup, BAD BAD ADR window!!!! OH well, it will work out I hope.

Re CA, yes all that is gorgeous. I went to school in the bay area, so I know it well. And I do travel periodically for work to LA, so I have made many mini-trips out there... Palm Springs is a fun destination for us, I think we plan to go back again, if not this coming summer, the following. Hopefully we will be headed to Scotland again this coming summer for the Fringe Festival.