We WEREN'T the "Castle Family", we DIDN'T get to be GRAND MARSHALLS,...

[tubachick]

did any one take a nap during the xbox break???

 

[kimmar067]

did any one take a nap during the xbox break???

...I wouldn't doubt it if my DH did.....if you look at the pic above, it certainly doesn't look as if my DS and his friend were sleepy.....'youth' certainly IS wasted on the 'young'....

 

[tubachick]

still young at heart!!!

 

[canwegosoon]

Kim...At this speed I can barely keep up!!! That was a shame about Fantasmic and the eggs, but everything else seems ok!! Good Job getting so much written and the fantastic photos...brings back memories!!!

 

[kimmar067]

".....Si-i-i-i-lent night, Ho-o-o-o-oly night, all is calm, all is bright...."

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We couldn't ask for a more pleasant day after such a spectacular sleep.....although I was still bothered by the fact that this would be the first year in, I can't even remember, that we did not attend Christmas Day mass. My DS pleaded with me to go to MK to spend the day there, but I was not 'caving'! One of the set-backs (if you can really call it that!) was that the glorious weather brought out all the 'locals' - the Floridians who, otherwise would have been 'sleeping in', preparing their Christmas meals, or spending time with family members, decided to celebrate Christmas at WDW. Of course, the most likely choice of park WOULD be MK - most people are still unaware that the Christmas Day parade down Main Street is actually fimed weeks prior....well, I, for one, was NOT about to get a dose of what it must feel like to be stuck in a sardine can! Our ADR's were for Tutto Italia later that day, as part of the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package, so, off we were in the direction of EPCOT...

Of course, once again, we set sail on a 'friendship', passing BW..

...the BC/YC...

...and, of course, ESPN...

....entering through the 'International' entrance, we spied some novices attempting to traverse those segways over the bridge towards France...

...as we raced towards one of our faves, Mission Space:

...I thought to myself, although rather prematurely, that it wasn't too crowded at Epcot - therefore, I had definitely made the right choice of park. It was not util after we left the World of Energy...

...that this was NOT the case. Continuing along on our merry (no pun intended! ) way, we managed to ride Test Track and Innoventions East AND West, before finally deciding to experience the new and improved attraction, SSE, another hot topic of controversy....

[....as you can plainly see, they were 'packin' em' in NOW... !! ]

...believe it or not, this is the location of our first 'near-miss' on getting anything 'Year-of-A-Million-Dreams'-ish...the folks directly behind us got Fastpasses for their entire group of 10! It looked sorta like a gym teacher's whistle on a lanyard, but with a big blue card at the end of it....this kept happening to us throughout the ENTIRE trip - it was either the people IN FRONT of us, the people NEXT TO us, the people BEHIND us, or the people who just took the spot that we had been in (like a specific seat on a ride, bus, or friendship).....if I didn't know any better it was like one of the Tag Fairies had gone on vaca and was taunting us. In fact, it was similar to having everyone on any particular thread being bestowed a new tag or two EXCEPT YOU! (Pitiful, I tell you, simply pitiful....)

We were quite hungry by now and, since our ADR's weren't until 4:30, we decided to have a light lunch at the Electric Umbrella. Apparently, so did everyone else, because the lines were ridiculously LONG. However, when one's stomach is growling uncontrollably, one does what one must to satisfy 'the beast'....at least we had a table outside, with a view of the crowd strolling by, a view of the fountain, a view of the announcement board letting folks know the wait times for the more popular attractions, and this:

[..don't ask - I have NO IDEA why I took this pic...]

I remembered that there was always such a fuss about the 'Beverly', so we decided to wander towards the Coca-Cola kiosk to check it out. I vaguely remember tasting said 'Beverly' and not caring for it, so I did the only humane possible thing to do - let my DS and his friend, David have a sip......[serves them right for bugging me about playing X-Box.... ]

We continued towards World Showcase, not intending to leave the park today, since we were afraid that we might not be able to re-enter ANY park...

...and we managed to take in some of the beautiful Christmas decorations before meandering towards Mexico...

...notice how the rain clouds began to head our way - foul weather meant foul disposition for my son, as he REFUSED to have his pic taken:

...here is ANOTHER 'first' for me (no, not my DS not wanting his picture taken!)....we had never been on the Rio del Tiempo ride, so, with the pretense that my DS's friend was of Mexican heritage, we decided to enter the giant Aztec pyramid, or rather, I 'persuaded' my family to enter (I scared my DH into thinking that I'd wish for him to get another episode of "Montezuma's Revenge", but that's a "whole 'nuther story"..... )...

[...next installment - Post #227]

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

Looks like I read about the bad Dolphin breakfast just in time! We are headed there tomorrow!!

 

[pooksma]

See those pics are what scare me about going at Christmas.
But I think I have to experience it once just to say I did.

 

[SingingMom]

Looks like I read about the bad Dolphin breakfast just in time! We are headed there tomorrow!!

Fresh is good for breakfast at the Dolphin, if you have time to spare. Otherwise, head to the parks for a muffin and cup of coffee!

 

[mdrob214]

Those crowds scare me. I so want to go at Christmas or even the 4th of July week, but this is what keeps me away. That, and I will never go to MK on President's Day weekend again.

Did you get there at park opening?

 

[Mouseteacher]

Kim~your trip report is simply the best (humming like Tina Turner)!

I have experienced WDW at Christmas a few years ago. We went from 12/26-1/1. It is something to see at least once but the crowds are unbearable. We did have a fun New Years Eve in MGM.

Patiently waiting for your next installment...

 

[CJsMom]

Great pictures! Those crowds are scary though!

Oh, and on the XBox topic - we bring the Playstation camping so I can totally relate. Before I get flamed for that...they only play when it rains!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Whoa! Crazy crowds!!!! Still probably better than MK though!

 

[kimmar067]

Whoa! Crazy crowds!!!! Still probably better than MK though!

...ABSOLUTELY!

 

[tubachick]

 

[kimmar067]

...tsk, tsk, tsk, you and your popcorn.....

[...update on Post #165...]

 

[trappednabox]

Yay more updates!! Great job so far Kim

























See told ya I'm reading it!

 

[kimmar067]

Yay more updates!! Great job so far Kim



See told ya I'm reading it!

[ ]

 

[brookelizabeth]

....entering through the 'International' entrance, we spied some novices attempting to traverse those segways over the bridge towards France...

That was me in 2006! It was awesome!

I 'persuaded' my family to enter (I scared my DH into thinking that I'd wish for him to get another episode of "Montezuma's Revenge", but that's a "whole 'nuther story"..... )...

you are mean!

 

[dismorgh]

Great updates, Kim!

One of the set-backs (if you can really call it that!) was that the glorious weather brought out all the 'locals' - the Floridians who, otherwise would have been 'sleeping in', preparing their Christmas meals, or spending time with family members, decided to celebrate Christmas at WDW.

We hope to be one of those "locals" one day, or maybe even CMs!!

Our ADR's were for Tutto Italia later that day, as part of the Candlelight Proceessional Dinner Package, so, off we were in the direction of EPCOT...

I guess you'll be letting us know how it was??

...I thought to myself, although rather prematurely, that it wasn't too crowded at Epcot - therefore, I had definitely made the right choice of park. It was not util after we left the World of Energy...

We thought that as well.

before finally deciding to experience the new and improved attraction, SSE, another hot topic of controversy....

We really loved the updates. Some of the new animatronics are very lifelike.

[....as you can plainly see, they were 'packin' em' in NOW... !! ]

It looked just like that when we were there on Tuesday. The CM said the wait was 40 minutes, but actually ended up being only 24! Our longest wait the entire trip!

...believe it or not, this is the location of our first 'near-miss' on getting anything 'Year-of-A-Million-Dreams'-ish...the folks directly behind us got Fastpasses for their entire group of 10! It looked sorta like a gym teacher's whistle on a lanyard, but with a big blue card at the end of it....this kept happening to us throughout the ENTIRE trip - it was either the people IN FRONT of us, the people NEXT TO us, the people BEHIND us, or the people who just took the spot that we had been in (like a specific seat on a ride, bus, or friendship).....if I didn't know any better it was like one of the Tag Fairies had gone on vaca and was taunting us. In fact, it was similar to having everyone on any particular thread being bestowed a new tag or two EXCEPT YOU! (Pitiful, I tell you, simply pitiful....)

You know, I don't even remember SEEING the Dream Team anywhere, much less getting one. Of course we saw people with hats and fastpasses, but no team members. We didn't go there expecting to either. We had our own dreams and memories that will last a lifetime!!

I remembered that there was always such a fuss about the 'Beverly', so we decided to wander towards the Coca-Cola kiosk to check it out. I vaguely remember tasting said 'Beverly' and not caring for it, so I did the only humane possible thing to do - let my DS and his friend, David have a sip......[serves them right for bugging me about playing X-Box.... ]

I had DS17 try it, and such a face!!! I didn't get the camera ready in time, though. Darn it. It was priceless! He threw the cup away in an instant!

...notice how the rain clouds began to head our way - foul weather meant foul disposition for my son, as he REFUSED to have his pic taken:

We were lucky with the weather. Our DS15 sometimes has issues with getting his picture taken as well.

...here is ANOTHER 'first' for me (no, not my DS not wanting his picture taken!)....we had never been on the Rio del Tiempo ride, so, with the pretense that my DS's friend was of Mexican heritage, we decided to enter the giant Aztec pyramid, or rather, I 'persuaded' my family to enter (I scared my DH into thinking that I'd wish for him to get another episode of "Montezuma's Revenge", but that's a "whole 'nuther story"..... )...

I don't know if I even want to know.

Kim, great pics!!! Keep 'em coming!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Can ya tell WHO didn't want his photo taken for my DSis families Christmas Card Photo

She used the second photo because we all said "Well it's Bailey at 5."

Yet another intresting photo a few minutes later over at MVMCP.

Now get busy Kimmar we are reading and waiting.....

Beckie