Your ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE to Disney World at Christmas Time! UPDATE x2 10/21

[cocofifi]

I've missed so much because I've been on vacay. Love your updates as usual. It so sweet that your family has fun together. BLT looks wonderful. Can't wait to hear more about your plans to DLR! We just bought our plane tickets for October! Let us rejoice together - we're going to the motherland!!

 

[dreamerchic33]

as always, great update!
so sorry about the contempo cafe- whwn hubby and I were on our disneymoon, we stopped up there for something to drink and they were also SO SLOW!
LOVING this tour!!! Adding it onto my 2013 Disney trip list! Thank you!!!!
xo

 

[midwesternbelle]

AMAZING TR! I am heading to the world this christmas! SO REDICULOUSLY EXCITED CANNOT WAIT!

I subbed and i cannot wait for your next update!
Ariel

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I've missed so much because I've been on vacay. Love your updates as usual. It so sweet that your family has fun together. BLT looks wonderful. Can't wait to hear more about your plans to DLR! We just bought our plane tickets for October! Let us rejoice together - we're going to the motherland!!

That's alright! Welcome back! We have a great time! BLT was absolutely HEAVENLY! Awww did you!?! I hope you have a wonderful trip! We're finally making the pilgrimage - how exciting!

as always, great update!
so sorry about the contempo cafe- whwn hubby and I were on our disneymoon, we stopped up there for something to drink and they were also SO SLOW!
LOVING this tour!!! Adding it onto my 2013 Disney trip list! Thank you!!!!
xo

Thank you!
Haha it's okay. I'm glad I'm not the only one who had a slow experience!
YAY I'm so glad!! You won't regret it, it was SO wonderful!

AMAZING TR! I am heading to the world this christmas! SO REDICULOUSLY EXCITED CANNOT WAIT!

I subbed and i cannot wait for your next update!
Ariel

Thank you so much! Aww I'm excited for you!! I hope you have a fantastic trip!
Woohoo thanks for being here! ​

 

[JessicaFaye508]

Chapter 69: Yuletide Fantasy Tour Part 2 - Magic Kingdom/Grand Floridian
December 26th, 2011

After our little lesson, we got back on the bus and drove over to the Magic Kingdom!

We went in a back entrance to Main Street USA! There are hedges on wheels in that back area, so when the park reaches full capacity, they can make a pathway out of the hedges for the people to exit to the parking lot. Ahh so many cool little secrets.

We went into the Magic Kingdom, had a bathroom break, then met back up.

James explained to us how the Christmas Parade (the one on TV!) used to be filmed. They used to do it ON Christmas and they would have to make a 30 minute parade last for 2 hours! So they would literally film it, then freeze the parade, cut to commercial, cut over to Disneyland's parade, then come back and film more of the WDW parade! It was a LIVE taping and it was crazy!

In the late 90's they started pre-taping the parade in early December. It takes two days and they only have Cast Members and their families on film. Anyone you see on TV is NOT a guest - they signed up to be there!

They will move the parade forward, film it, then move it back and film it again! They want to have multiple recordings to make sure the quality is really good.

They put the host of the parade where the giant Main Street USA Christmas tree goes, so they don't put the tree up until after the parade filming!

The tree is actually divided into 6 pieces! By looking at the popcorn strands, you can tell where each section ends! (Besides the the top piece which has two strands)

James also asked us what we thought the largest Christmas wreath on property was? That's pretty easy...

THE MICKEY WREATH AT THE CONTEMPORARY! My favorite one!

Then we started walking through the stores and down Main Street USA. James started doing the Celebrate Today Parade Dance. "Hey, get up, get loud, start pumping up the party now!" I swear, EVERY cast member knows that dance. Every time I am with a cast member and this parade is on, they just break out in the dance moves. It's awesome. I really should learn it myself.

We went in that little back alley near the caricature stand to escape the crowds. James told us some really cute Christmas stories.

For example, when children would meet Santa at the mall way back in the day, he would hand out gifts to them. A lot of times he gave away books such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. That story was specifically written and published at Montgomery Ward. The story was written in 1939 by Robert May, and a lot of times it was handed out in coloring book form. The money that May received from the rights of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer paid for his wife's medical bills since she had cancer. She ended up passing away, but May remarried and his new brother-in-law wrote the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer song!

(Image borrowed from Google)

After that, it was back on the bus for us! James had a really cool story to share about the making of Miracle on 34th Street! When they had the idea for the movie, they hired Natalie Wood, who was 8 years old. They also hired Maureen O'hara. She was supposed to go home for Christmas in Ireland, but she had to stay behind and film the movie. They filmed during the ACTUAL Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade! They couldn't stop the parade so everything that was filmed was live.

They also filmed in the Macy's Department store during the night since they had to go on location. They used Macy's and Gimbal's names before even asking for the rights. So they sat down with the two major companies after the movie was produced and they showed them the film. Thankfully the corporations agreed that they were allowed to use the names or else they would have had to re-film a lot of the movie!

The movie was released in July and it was not advertised as a Christmas movie. They said that it was a love story! It was only supposed to run for a week or two, but it ended up running from July until Christmas!

The guy who played Santa, Edmund Gwenn, was one of the best Santas of all time. Natalie Wood, being 8 years old, was almost convinced that he was the real Santa! He was truly amazing.

(Image Borrowed from Google)

The Grand Floridian was our next stop. They gave us 15 minutes to look around because they wanted to offer us a chance to check out the decorations.

DEER!

James gave us an AWESOME tip.

Christmas Tip #32: To get the best picture of the Grand Floridian Christmas tree, you have to lay down on the pink circle in the rug and take the picture.

Yes, this one.

And I'm not kidding - YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO THIS! Of course, since the idea was in my head, I had to try it out! Here is photo evidence:

A few other people did it too! James showed us the pictures on his phone of the tree, and that's how he convinced us to actually LAY DOWN ON THE RUG IN THE GRAND FLORIDIAN.

Seriously, I love Disney so much.

Here are the photo results!

These next two are my favorites:

SO PRETTY!

We went into the gift shop for a little bit, and then it was time to go! They promised us a "sweet treat" as incentive to meet back up with the group on time at 11:45 am. And what was this treat? CHRISTMAS MICKEY RICE KRISPIES!

I posted on twitter:
THE TOUR PROVIDED US WITH MICKEY RICE KRISPIES!!!!! This is a GREAT day

We said goodbye to the Grand Floridian and continued on our way. DEER!

Continued in Next Post​

 

[therussells08]

Aww wow all of those Christmas stories are so great! I had heard that Rudolph was created that way, but I didn't know it was to pay for his wife's treatments!

Good call on lying on the pink rug, James! Those pictures are amazing!

YAY for food incentives! I wish someone would offer me a Mickey rice krispie treat every time I get somewhere on time. I'd be a lot more motivated that way!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Awesome Post! I love Mickey Krispies!!

 

[petals]

I love this Christmas tour more and more as you go along!

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I love the photography tip! I am going to lay myself on that pink rug, and yes, my family will look at me like I am nuts, and then will walk away like they don't know me! LOL!
BUT, I will have an awesome pic of the GF tree to put in my scrapbook!

 

[Reberella]

That tour looks really really cool! I would definitely want to try it out some day!
My mom LOVES the original Miracle on 34th Street! She used to tell me that that actor was the real Santa Claus! Hahaha yay for Mickey treats!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Just read both of your December trip reports. Great photos!!! And great storytelling. Looking forward to more!!!

 

[Caretames1]

Now I really hope that the tree is up when we go because I am SOOOO laying on the floor to take that picture! I may not get back up because my knee is bad, but it'll be worth it!


What an amazing tour! I hope someday that when Kadence get older we can do some of the tours.

 

[mermaid764]

Wow I don't even know which story I love best of all the ones you've shared....I had no idea that Rudolph was written for that purpose, or that Miracle on 34th Street was filmed live during the Macy's parade...too cool!

I love your shots of the GF Christmas tree...his advice obviously worked!

 

[Missyrose]

Dinner at Cali Grill looked amazing, as usual. We LOVED our meal there. And I am soooooo bummed we won't have the chance to eat there again before it's shut down for its big refurb.

The Christmas tour looks like so much fun! Lots of neat stories and a chance to really get to see all the amazing decorations. Thanks for taking us along! Way off on the horizon is a possible Disney trip around Christmastime (probably 2014). I can't seem to decide between going the second week in November (so we catch the end of Food and Wine and the start of the Christmas parties and Osbourne Lights), or going in early December (when all the resort decorations will definitely be up). I'm so torn! Food and Wine is literally my favorite time to be at Disney, but I'm worried we won't get the full Christmas effect. At least I have more than a year to decide before I have to make my DVC reservation!

 

[pirateprincess1976]

That tour sounds like so much fun! I love Christmas and I love Disney, sounds like it's right up my alley Love all the interesting facts. I had always thought the Christmas parade was taped on Christmas day until my sister and I had the opportunity to go to Disney in the beginning of December in 2001 and walked into the Magic Kingdom on our first park day to a big sign saying they were taping the Christmas parade at 9 and 11. Regis and Kelly were there, my sis grabbed pics of them. Coolest Disney experience I've had

 

[Disney Bubbles]

Wow, that tour looks like so much fun!

I love that you actually did lay down on the floor to take the picture. (great picture by the way, haha) I'd probably be to embarrassed

I actually watched the Disney parade this past Christmas for the first time. On Christmas morning!!! It was super magical

 

[beachphotog]

Great update, can't wait to hear about the conclusion of the tour!
Love the tip about laying on the pink carpet, I'll have to try that when I'm there in November!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

Aww wow all of those Christmas stories are so great! I had heard that Rudolph was created that way, but I didn't know it was to pay for his wife's treatments!

Good call on lying on the pink rug, James! Those pictures are amazing!

YAY for food incentives! I wish someone would offer me a Mickey rice krispie treat every time I get somewhere on time. I'd be a lot more motivated that way!

I'm glad you like them! Aww I know, that was so sad!
Haha thank you! I know, he's brilliant.
Seriously, right!?! I would get so much more accomplished!

Awesome Post! I love Mickey Krispies!!

Thank you! Me too!

I love this Christmas tour more and more as you go along!

I'm so glad! The last update of the tour is the coolest one - stay tuned!

I love the photography tip! I am going to lay myself on that pink rug, and yes, my family will look at me like I am nuts, and then will walk away like they don't know me! LOL!
BUT, I will have an awesome pic of the GF tree to put in my scrapbook!

I'm glad you like it! Haha go right ahead! You only live once, right!? It's so worth it for the picture!

That tour looks really really cool! I would definitely want to try it out some day!
My mom LOVES the original Miracle on 34th Street! She used to tell me that that actor was the real Santa Claus! Hahaha yay for Mickey treats!

You should! It was wonderful!
Aww that's adorable! And seriously - he seems like the real santa!

Just read both of your December trip reports. Great photos!!! And great storytelling. Looking forward to more!!!

Wow, thank you so much! I'm glad you have enjoyed them!

Now I really hope that the tree is up when we go because I am SOOOO laying on the floor to take that picture! I may not get back up because my knee is bad, but it'll be worth it!


What an amazing tour! I hope someday that when Kadence get older we can do some of the tours.

Hahaha you definitely should! I'm sure someone would help you up! And if not... it's fine because you could just chill out in the Grand Floridian. Not a bad place to be stuck, am I right?

Aww I hope you get to, too! They are amazing experiences!

Wow I don't even know which story I love best of all the ones you've shared....I had no idea that Rudolph was written for that purpose, or that Miracle on 34th Street was filmed live during the Macy's parade...too cool!

I love your shots of the GF Christmas tree...his advice obviously worked!

Aww I'm glad you liked them! I was LOVING all of the information! I'm so glad I wrote it all down!

Thank you! I'm glad!

Dinner at Cali Grill looked amazing, as usual. We LOVED our meal there. And I am soooooo bummed we won't have the chance to eat there again before it's shut down for its big refurb.

The Christmas tour looks like so much fun! Lots of neat stories and a chance to really get to see all the amazing decorations. Thanks for taking us along! Way off on the horizon is a possible Disney trip around Christmastime (probably 2014). I can't seem to decide between going the second week in November (so we catch the end of Food and Wine and the start of the Christmas parties and Osbourne Lights), or going in early December (when all the resort decorations will definitely be up). I'm so torn! Food and Wine is literally my favorite time to be at Disney, but I'm worried we won't get the full Christmas effect. At least I have more than a year to decide before I have to make my DVC reservation!

Aww I know! I didn't even know it was getting a huge refurb! Ah well.. I'm sure it'll be great after it's all fixed up!

It was AMAZING! I'm glad you enjoyed hearing about it! Hmmm I wouldn't know what to do in that case because both times are so great and so not crowded! I guess it depends on your priorities - food and wine or christmas decor!

That tour sounds like so much fun! I love Christmas and I love Disney, sounds like it's right up my alley Love all the interesting facts. I had always thought the Christmas parade was taped on Christmas day until my sister and I had the opportunity to go to Disney in the beginning of December in 2001 and walked into the Magic Kingdom on our first park day to a big sign saying they were taping the Christmas parade at 9 and 11. Regis and Kelly were there, my sis grabbed pics of them. Coolest Disney experience I've had

It was! I'm sure you would really enjoy it! Aww oh my gosh that's SUCH a cool story! How lucky - I LOVE Regis and Kelly!

Wow, that tour looks like so much fun!

I love that you actually did lay down on the floor to take the picture. (great picture by the way, haha) I'd probably be to embarrassed

I actually watched the Disney parade this past Christmas for the first time. On Christmas morning!!! It was super magical

It was amazing!

Hahaha I was a little hesitant but James kept telling me to do it... so I did. I'm glad my Mom took a picture of me so the moment was documented!

Did you? That's so cute! I have never actually watched it, isn't that terrible!? I really need to do that next year since I won't be in Disney.

Great update, can't wait to hear about the conclusion of the tour!
Love the tip about laying on the pink carpet, I'll have to try that when I'm there in November!

I can't wait to tell about it - it's really awesome!

Thank you! You definitely should!​

 

[katt789]

This tour's sounding like a ton of fun! I like the idea of it! Baha! I won't lie, the move it shake it celebrate it is something that *I* know the choreo too I think it might have something to do with the amount of times it runs during the day. I've definitely seen a lot of CM's doing it.

 

[JessicaFaye508]

This tour's sounding like a ton of fun! I like the idea of it! Baha! I won't lie, the move it shake it celebrate it is something that *I* know the choreo too I think it might have something to do with the amount of times it runs during the day. I've definitely seen a lot of CM's doing it.

It was AWESOME! I definitely recommend it. Haha do you? Well, you're a dancer, right? So I am glad that you picked up on it All of the CM's know it... it's hilarious!​