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

[jenseib]

I haven't been to Tom Sawyers Isalnd in 10-12 years. I think we may hav e to venture over there a bit next trip. One fear is that Claire will want to stay all day. LOL! I had taken Paige and Michael over there and they loved it as kids

 

[MyMuse]

The last I left off, I finished up with my exploration of Tom Sawyer Island and now off to wondering if I should go on Splash Mountain.

If I do, this will be my second time on it. I went on for the first time last May on the trip with my bro & niece. I'm not a big fan on the big drop.

I made a decision! I'm braving Splash Mountain!

Tip: I grabbed a bag from my MVMCP pin buying and used that to cover my bag from getting wet on Splash. Don’t need to bring anything into the park that way. Since I was the only one in my row, I sat in the middle and didn’t get wet at all, of which I was grateful. It wasn't as bad the second time around. Maybe I'm getting used to it.


survived splash mtn; it wasn't so bad the 2nd time i've been on it ever.
1:47 PM Dec 13th


My "redneck" photo: all kinda blurry

Some pics of the area outside Splash Mountain - so cute!

I have no idea if I used any of my D23 Fastpasses, since I didn’t make any mention of it in my journal. I do have quite a few still.

Next up was Hall of Presidents and no real wait. I took better pictures and video this time around.


decided to hang with the pres; wish i had more of them in my pocket. maybe haunted mansion next....
2:01 PM Dec 13th


I still tear up at the 9/11 footage. I actually started crying this time. It's been years, but it still affects me so very much.


from kttk tour-carpet belongs to the Secret Service not to Disney, on loan only

inside theater

lincoln

all the presidents

ronald reagan

washington

video of Obama's speech



Then Haunted Mansion, line was a little long. There were no funny butlers or maids this time around.


haunted mansion is 20 min. longest i've seen it....tiana showboat jubilee passing by.
2:32 PM Dec 13th

me & my hitchiker

Next....

 

[MyMuse]

I haven't been to Tom Sawyers Isalnd in 10-12 years. I think we may hav e to venture over there a bit next trip. One fear is that Claire will want to stay all day. LOL! I had taken Paige and Michael over there and they loved it as kids

It was kind of fun. It's more of a boy thing, I tihnk. But I did see a bunch of parents relaxing while the kids ran around, so it was a break for them too.

Are you thinking about a trip back to WDW?

 

[dawnbu40]

Nice update! We love HM and Splash Mtn so you covered two of our favorites in 1 post

The new Hall of Presidents is such an improvement! The film is very moving and the show as a whole is much more entertaining.

Looking forward to the castle tour!

 

[MyMuse]

Next was Peter Pan’s Flight and I did use one of my FPs, and even that line was a little long!

fp line for peter pan is quite long...
3:04 PM Dec 13th

I tired to get decent pics, but with my camera, it's just not going to happen. lol, but I tried.

this is the ornament I just bought the other day!

I still had a bit of time before the check-in at Sleepy Hollow for the Cinderella suite tour, so I went roaming (and a bathroom stop-lol!)

nice decor above the bathrooms, eh?

the now gone Ariel's Grotto

According to my notes, I did a PP at the back of the castle. However, if it the ones I'm looking at, it came out god-awful. So, I'm going to skip it.

Royal Table windows; the one to the right is where I sat

..and the rather chatty PP CM told me these were the windows in Cindy's Suite

I must have seen a portion of the parade as well, since i have these pics...

It's now check-in time at Sleepy Hollow for the Cinderella tour! Also at check-in, got new Disney Quest tickets, since the ones that gave us were incorrect. I didn’t end up using them (no time), but gave them to my BFF and my goddaughter to use.

And, WE CAN TAKE PHOTOS ON THE CINDERELLA SUITE TOUR!! YES!! My tour time was for 3:50pm.

Cinderella Suite Tour coming up! yayayay! CAN TAKE PHOTOS! WOOT!
3:46 PM Dec 13th

 

[MyMuse]

Nice update! We love HM and Splash Mtn so you covered two of our favorites in 1 post

The new Hall of Presidents is such an improvement! The film is very moving and the show as a whole is much more entertaining.

Looking forward to the castle tour!

I'm down with HM, but Splash...doesn't have me yet. I like the ride alot until the big 'ol drop. LOL!!

I don't remember the old Hall of Presidents, but I do like this one! I don't think Obama looks like Obama, but it's not like I can recreate him, either. LOL!

Castle tour upcoming!

 

[MyMuse]

So the Cindy tour begins with our VIP host coming to get us from Sleepy Hollow. This is located to the left of the Castle, by the Fantasyland walkway. We stay by the nook for awhile until she gets an all-clear to go into the castle.

Cindy windows

D23 escort-they haven't seen it either!

The entrance is a big door to the right as soon as you go under the archway. If you see this door, now you know it leads to the Cinderella suite!

As we wait, the mosaics tell the story (this section was roped off to others)

The Cindy Door!

We get let into a vestibule-type place while waiting for the elevator to arrive. It looks like a tny office, complete with a desk; there is all one of a kind tapestries. Everything here has a story, but I can’t even begin to remember it all.

We enter the elevator and even that is super cool!

the floor- none of us wanted to place our feet over the carriage!

We get to the 3rd floor and the Cindy Suite.......

 

[BippityBoo]

Oh no you did not I want to see the Cindy Suite SOOO badly!! I am dying for the pics

 

[dawnbu40]

We need more!
Love that glass slipper!

 

[MyMuse]

Oh no you did not I want to see the Cindy Suite SOOO badly!! I am dying for the pics

I did! I did!

We need more!
Love that glass slipper!

And that was in the elevator!

I am now back home from the gym, had dinner, so I am planning to do more updates!!!

 

[MyMuse]

We get to the 3rd floor and the Cindy Suite is super tiny. You walk into the bedroom (2 beds); there is an opulent bathroom to your direct left. Then you walk further into the bedroom and to your next left after the bathroom, also adjoining the bedroom, there is a sitting room. That’s it. 2 rooms and a bathroom. The suite takes up only a tiny corner of what is the 3rd floor. It is gorgeous, beautiful stained glass windows and has all the luxuries one can think of. The mirrors also double as TVs!

Those of you who watched the Disney Christmas special, there was no David Bromstead tree in the sitting room. It was only for show on television. I think we were allowed to stay until our time was up for the next group. I want to say, it was at least 20 minutes.

The pictures and videos will show more than I can ever write. This might take awhile since I took many many many many photos!

Bedroom


TV that doubles as a mirror opposite of beds

bed canopy

Sitting Room

books in sitting room

ceiling of sitting room

more coming.....

 

[MyMuse]

Cinderella Suite tour con'd....


back to the bedroom

TV/mirror

changing over

bed canopy

fireplace in front of bed, TV/mirror above it

pretty etched glass

entering bathroom - very fancy place!

definitely the "throne"!

vanity with me in mirror; check out the towel shape!

one heck of a shower

more to come!....

 

[MyMuse]

A continuance of the Cinderella Castle Suite tour...please realize I was walking back & forth taking pics of interesting things. Remember, it is very tiny, with just 2 rooms -bedroom and a sitting room - and a bathroom.

If you were following me on Twitter at this time, I sent out several pictures as well.

We also found out...for those of you that watched the HGTV Christmas special...

no such thing as the david bromstead tree; just for tv special.
4:47 PM Dec 13th

full shot of bed

close-up of item on nightstand - funny!

close-up of ceiling

books in sitting room

close-up in bathroom of towels - how cute!

back in elevator - full view of elevator floor

awww....

actual key to the kingdom!

Our tour was over - it was SPECTACULAR! Never in my dreams did I expect to ever see this suite.


Videos coming next!

 

[dawnbu40]

Abosolutely stunning! I am so happy for you that you got to do this (and jealous I didn't ) That was really a once in a lifetime experience!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[MyMuse]

Abosolutely stunning! I am so happy for you that you got to do this (and jealous I didn't ) That was really a once in a lifetime experience!

Thanks for sharing!

Thank you!!

It really was an excellent time in there. Cms were very nice and kept everything on time, but answered as many questions as they could about the Suite.

Videos up next!

Sorry for the lapse of time in posting. As it turns out, my ankle still did not heal from the fall I took on the hike a few weeks back. I finally gave in to The Ankle and went to my local ImmediCenter. The doc sent me to X-Ray (*groan*!), but they were closed.

I am hoping to make it to X-Ray tomorrow morning.

 

[MyMuse]

Without further ado, the videos...










and my peoples, the day is FAR from ending!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

HEY HEY HEY!!! Sorry about my brief MIA stint, but I am back and caught up! There was so much I wanted to comment on, but after seeing Cindy's Suite... I am drawing a blank!!! SOOOOOO exciting!!!

The other that sticks out is CJ -
How is that, any news from his mom or are the ties pretty much cut? Feel free to PM if you care to share, but not with the rest of the class. I know how special he was to you and your sister to have in your day-to-day life. I know how hard it is too to have someone ripped from your life (long story short - I fostered a baby for 15 months and the Dept of Child Srvc promised him to me... one day I go in to find out his new social worker and BOOM - "bring him here on Friday with all of his belongings, he's been adopted." I will never forget the exact words in that statement... that was on a Monday afternoon...)
Big hugs to your sister and to you. I will keep CJ in my thoughts for a positive future!

 

[Lisa75]

I came upon and read your trip report!! It was absolutely amazing! You look like you are having the best time. I have only two solo trips so far and the second was better than the first-I think I am getting more at ease with them. The first one I think I got freaked out and self conscious (especially with dining solo) and let it get the better of me. DH doesn't come with me because of our dogs, work, blah blah blah.

But you look like you know how to enjoy it. Thanks for the report and all of the great photos. It makes me excited to go back and especially around Christmas.

 

[jenseib]

The pics and videos are sooooo cool.
Did they sayy what the suite is being used for now?

 

[creativeamanda]

Okay--I want to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite! It is absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing. This is something not many have seen or had the chance to take pictures of.