Very Merry D23 Holidaze Dec 2009 TR - 7 magical park days! updt 7/1

[MyMuse]

Con'd from previous post:

I exited Club Cool and laughed a bit of the spraying mist area – why on earth it that open? It’s been off & off drizzling all day!

Area photos:

I must have taken a PP pic here as well. I finally did magic shots of Soarin’ image & the balloons image. Unfortunately, the balloons image never came through.

I thanked the PP CM and continued to take pics of the tree, but no Lights of Winter. I tried to take pics of the individual countries’ ornaments, just like Epcot's Holiday Tin Vinylmation!

Up Next: World Showcase and onto my Hidden Mickey hunt!

 

[ladybugmom]

Sounds like a wonderful morning in Epcot with minimal crowds!! That's wonderful!! Soarin' is my absolute favorite ride!! Yay for FPs!!!

 

[KatGarcia]

I am so jealous of your spiffy holiday Vinyl!!!! KC's has quite a few in his collection now! Do you have the monkey one? We have 2. I'm excited about the HM's!

 

[dawnbu40]

Aren't slow mornings like that the best?! Sounds like so much fun and I love the holiday vinylmation! Looking forward to more

 

[MyMuse]

Sounds like a wonderful morning in Epcot with minimal crowds!! That's wonderful!! Soarin' is my absolute favorite ride!! Yay for FPs!!!

Thank you! I want to say Epcot had EMH the night before, so that might have contributed to low-ish crowds or they were all at Soarin'. And, oh the rain, might have done it too.

I lurve Soarin'!!! I think it's fantastico.

I am so jealous of your spiffy holiday Vinyl!!!! KC's has quite a few in his collection now! Do you have the monkey one? We have 2. I'm excited about the HM's!

No, I don't think I have that one. I'm trying not to over-indulge myself, but the new ones coming out are mighty mighty tempting!! Do you see that WDW will have Vinylmation trading?!

Aren't slow mornings like that the best?! Sounds like so much fun and I love the holiday vinylmation! Looking forward to more

Thank you! It was quite neat to slow downa bit. I knew I had time later in the trip, so I wanted to feel the vibes.

Ok, I'm going to try to get another update done today!

 

[MyMuse]

After taking pics of the ornament on the Epcot tree, I then made my way into World Showcase and onto my Hidden Mickey hunt!

On my way into World Showcase, I was fascinated the country windows at Disney Traders! I also tried to find the survey marker on the Odyssey/Test Track walkway and could not find it!

Area photos from the entrance into WS:

I also got a little of the Animal Kingdom...

First country visited: MEXICO!

I rode the Gran Fiesta Tour ride since I think it’s just so darn cute. And I caught the Hidden Mickey (HM) from the smoke on the volcano! And got a pic of it! Score! So excited. I don’t think I waited at all on the ride. And again, got a whole row to thyself.

caught the hidden mickey on gran fiesta ride! woot!
12:49 PM Dec 5th

Gran Fiesta Ride

From the ride into the temple

HM!!

Love the "fireworks"..hmm..HM in the sky??

See you next time!

As I was milling around the pavilion, I caught the glass blowing exhibit at Carribas Brothers. I always miss this at Magic Kingdom, so I was really happy to see it. I also took pics of other glass pieces in the shop as well as various things in the pyramid. I really don’t spent a lot of time here in the past, so it was nice to mill around and soak it all.

Video of glass blowing

Inside pavilion

I saw goodbye to Mexico and onto Norway!

 

[dawnbu40]

I love the pics looking across at World Showcase but it's too bad you didn't have nice blue skies in the background! But it looks like you were having a great day regardless! I think the Gran Fiesta Tour is so cute! That's always a must do for us! Keep the updates coming

 

[KatGarcia]

No, I don't think I have that one. I'm trying not to over-indulge myself, but the new ones coming out are mighty mighty tempting!! Do you see that WDW will have Vinylmation trading?!

trading - neat! Did you know at the resorts in WDW that inside each wqatch case is one Vinyl and if you get one you wanna trade you can swap it with whatever is in the watch case?? We did it once when we were there, KC was very excited!

Remind me next time I see you to give u the double of ours!

 

[jenseib]

loving it. I envy the fact that you get to go alone and do whatever you darn well please

 

[ladybugmom]

WOW! I have never noticed that HM in the puff of smoke before--how cool!! I'll have to look for that on our next trip!!

 

[MyMuse]

I love the pics looking across at World Showcase but it's too bad you didn't have nice blue skies in the background! But it looks like you were having a great day regardless! I think the Gran Fiesta Tour is so cute! That's always a must do for us! Keep the updates coming

Thanks!

I guess now there is a reason to go next time! LOL

trading - neat! Did you know at the resorts in WDW that inside each watch case is one Vinyl and if you get one you wanna trade you can swap it with whatever is in the watch case?? We did it once when we were there, KC was very excited!

Remind me next time I see you to give u the double of ours!

Cool! We can have our own trading meet!

loving it. I envy the fact that you get to go alone and do whatever you darn well please

Going solo is quite cool

WOW! I have never noticed that HM in the puff of smoke before--how cool!! I'll have to look for that on our next trip!!

Neither did I. I had a HM book with me and looked for ones. Though, the book I had was from 2007. I have to get an updated one for any future trips.


I'm hoping to get aonother update in today!

 

[SoloFriendly]

Thanks so much for letting me know your trip report was up! I'm really enjoying reading this. I have to say, the bathroom at Westgate is WOW! Gorgeous.
So is the inside of Raglan Road. I have not been inside, but it's going on my list for next time. I'm glad you took advantage of the Photopass photogs--it's a great service for everyone, but especially solos!

Sorry to hear it was so wet upon your arrival, but sounds like you made the best of it.

 

[MyMuse]

Thanks so much for letting me know your trip report was up! I'm really enjoying reading this. I have to say, the bathroom at Westgate is WOW! Gorgeous.
So is the inside of Raglan Road. I have not been inside, but it's going on my list for next time. I'm glad you took advantage of the Photopass photogs--it's a great service for everyone, but especially solos!

Sorry to hear it was so wet upon your arrival, but sounds like you made the best of it.

Yes, the bathroom was definitely nice. But I did take my showers in the second bathroom. LOL!!!

Raglan Rd is awesome! I'm definitely hitting that place again. I don't think I want to eat anywhere else.

I do like the Photopass service, I wish it wa sa little less expensive though. I'm still awaiting my CD and the cards I made.

Next update should be soon!

 

[MyMuse]

After Mexico, I headed to Norway.

I went to visit Stave Church. Another place that I did not really spend time in the past. It is really nice in there, very informative, though small. I did try to get the HM on King Olaf, but I totally did not see it. Can you?

Can you see HM? *scratches head*
It's supposed to be in the embroidery

I realize that I don't have a pic of Stave church itself, but there is plenty in my previous TRs.

I went into Kringla Bakery, determined to find something to eat as I wanted to ‘snack around the world’ sort of. Nothing there hit me at all. I’m not into coconut or strawberries, but it did smell heavenly in there. While there, I did send out a ‘where am i?” tweet.

where am i now?
1:04 PM Dec 5th

I went on Maelstrom with no wait. Though, I got the “just 1?” funny look again. I was able to get the HMs on the mural! Yay!

HMs on the mural in the loading area

I visited the shops, resisted buying anything & took in all the holiday décor. Mexico really didn’t have a lot, but Norway did.

And royalty opened Norway pavilion! I never noticed this before

I also did a PP of front of their holiday storyteller area with a very nice CM named Becky. We talked for a bit and she was able to tell me where the other PPs are most likely. It was time to have time for CM talks.

Onto China!


Note: I still don't have my Photopass CD yet.

 

[MyMuse]

Onto China!

I have to say that I didn’t do much in China. I had visited this extensively in my March trip, so I sort of knew the place a bit. You might want to check back to that TR for more interesting notes.

Unfortunately, I could not find the HM listed in the book – it was mickey-shaped flowers on the base of several light posts on the outside front of the pavilion. I looked, but I did not find.

I did, however, take quite a few pictures.

Little bit more of the Animal Kingdom

I should have stopped for tea...list for next time.

Onto the land of my maternal peoples, Germany!

 

[dawnbu40]

Great update with lovely pics! I love Norway and I really think it's my favorite country in World Showcase.

 

[praisehisname]

Mmm...I need to eat there someday!

Loved your resort tour; everything was so pretty!

Love this!

We were there the week before you and were on a mission to get these parts for our granddaughter. But when we went to Once Upon a Toy, the parts were all picked over and there was nothing good. Bummer!

I'm loving following you on your tour through World Showcase! I have the hidden micky book, but forgot to take it with me this past trip. Next time for sure!

 

[MyMuse]

Next up was Germany. I spent a lot of time here. It’s just cool.

I just missed the Storyteller (boo! But I hope to see all/most of them during this trip), but took pics of them and Snow White who was nearby for my Miranda-panda.

I also got my HM and then sent a tweet out.

germany....i have found your hidden.....mickey! ah!
1:46 PM Dec 5th

HM is waaay up there

closer look

I then visited the shops, the general area and really had a ball photographing all the great stuff. And those prices! Whoa! No, wasn’t even going to *think* about it. LOL!

Great holiday window

Gingerbread tree!

How cute are these??

Cute! ...but $1500 cute? err...no.

Teddybear tree!

I saw the "singing Steins" on my March trip, never did catch them again...

The artist was there, but I didn't have $1200 handy! lol

Due to space limitations, con'd to next post....

 

[MyMuse]

Con'd from previous post...

After getting lost in the shops a bit, I then headed over to my fav attraction in Germany. The mini-train; I have a very unhealthy love for this. Really. I do. And with the Christmas décor, it was even cuter! Loved it! There was also a few HMs in here too. The details just enthrall me.

There was supposed to be HM above the entrance to the church, but I couldn't see any

How CUTE is this?

reindeer on the roof!

From the back

HM shrub!

There was supposed to be a full-figure colorful Mickey in one of the castle windows..

Onto the land of my paternal peoples, Italy!

 

[MyMuse]

Great update with lovely pics! I love Norway and I really think it's my favorite country in World Showcase.

It's so pretty. I would love to eat in Akerhaus again. Gorgeous inside.

Or maybe visit the real thing. LOL!

Mmm...I need to eat there someday!

Loved your resort tour; everything was so pretty!

Love this!

We were there the week before you and were on a mission to get these parts for our granddaughter. But when we went to Once Upon a Toy, the parts were all picked over and there was nothing good. Bummer!

I'm loving following you on your tour through World Showcase! I have the hidden micky book, but forgot to take it with me this past trip. Next time for sure!

Raglan Rd was just great. I'm definitely eating there again. It may be the only place I'll eat in DTD from now on. It was that good.

Resort touring was on my my things to do on this trip. I wanted to take full advantage of the car. It was super-easy to get around.

I need to take a better pic of the full David Doss. I need to get it hung up. It needs to be shown and admired. LOL!

Once Upon a Toy must have restocked! It was a bit picked over as well, but I was searching around. I also have a box from the NYC store from a few months back. So, I'm good on parts for awhile.

I'm going to have to pick up an updated version for any future trips. I got this one in May, but it was from 2007. Some of the HMs aren't really there anymore.

Thank you for following along!

I just updated with Germany! I'm trying to get these out faster! I have so many great things to show & experience with everyone!!