Well it's that time of year again when lots of us get excited about enjoying Christmas. I've been lucky enough to have had two holidays during the Christmas period at Disney in the past and usually think back to hem at this time of year.
I remember my first ever Disney Christmas back in 1999 very fondly. I'd come to Orlando by myself to spend 3 weeks on my own at Christmas and new year. A lot of people seem to think this sounds really sad but it's really not. I was single at the time, still living at home and I fancied having a Disney Christmas. I wasn't trying to get away from anybody, it's just I was the only one who wanted to go. I've always been very comfortable in my own company and the prospect of being on my own wasn't an issue.
Anyhow I'd arrived a week before Christmas and had been doing the parks most days but hadn't yet felt that magical 'Christmas feeling'. Don't get me wrong I'd enjoyed myself immensely, however it hadn't yet felt like Christmas for me. Maybe the hot weather was to blame, maybe it was American tv didn't feel like English Christmas tv does (no offence), but I'd not yet had that special Christmas moment.
Well Christmas Eve I set out for an afternoon and evening at Disney MGM Studios. It was still light as I headed into Muppets 3D to enjoy the show. As I came out of it it had gone dark and I headed up New York St. Then it happened, the Christmas music was playing and it began to snow. Not real snow obviously, but the 'soap suds' snow from the rooftops. All of a sudden Christmas hit me and it was a complete surprise that it was 'snowing' at Disney World.
As I walked enjoying the Osborne family lights with the special 3D glasses (anyone remember those?) feeling all warm and glowing a family nearby starting to talk to me. They asked where I was from and where and who I was staying with etc. When I said I was on my own for Christmas the little girl from the family looked rather confused and asked "But who will say Happy Christmas to you in the morning". I explained that I'd be phoning my mum and also going to the Magic Kingdom where I'm sure Mickey would wish me Merry Christmas and told her not to worry. Then the next thing I know this young child puts her arms around me and hugged me saying "Happy Christmas, I hope you have a great day and meet Mickey". She then handed me a wrapped Mickey lollipop her parents had obviously bought her in the park and said "I'd like to have this as a Christmas present". I'd not expected it at all and it just felt absolutely wonderful, all the usual feelings for that special time came flooding back and all was well with the world. I had a lump in my throat as I thanked her and eventually said goodbye to this lovely family. It was a truly great Christmas memory that I didn't expect and will never forget
I remember my first ever Disney Christmas back in 1999 very fondly. I'd come to Orlando by myself to spend 3 weeks on my own at Christmas and new year. A lot of people seem to think this sounds really sad but it's really not. I was single at the time, still living at home and I fancied having a Disney Christmas. I wasn't trying to get away from anybody, it's just I was the only one who wanted to go. I've always been very comfortable in my own company and the prospect of being on my own wasn't an issue.
Anyhow I'd arrived a week before Christmas and had been doing the parks most days but hadn't yet felt that magical 'Christmas feeling'. Don't get me wrong I'd enjoyed myself immensely, however it hadn't yet felt like Christmas for me. Maybe the hot weather was to blame, maybe it was American tv didn't feel like English Christmas tv does (no offence), but I'd not yet had that special Christmas moment.
Well Christmas Eve I set out for an afternoon and evening at Disney MGM Studios. It was still light as I headed into Muppets 3D to enjoy the show. As I came out of it it had gone dark and I headed up New York St. Then it happened, the Christmas music was playing and it began to snow. Not real snow obviously, but the 'soap suds' snow from the rooftops. All of a sudden Christmas hit me and it was a complete surprise that it was 'snowing' at Disney World.
As I walked enjoying the Osborne family lights with the special 3D glasses (anyone remember those?) feeling all warm and glowing a family nearby starting to talk to me. They asked where I was from and where and who I was staying with etc. When I said I was on my own for Christmas the little girl from the family looked rather confused and asked "But who will say Happy Christmas to you in the morning". I explained that I'd be phoning my mum and also going to the Magic Kingdom where I'm sure Mickey would wish me Merry Christmas and told her not to worry. Then the next thing I know this young child puts her arms around me and hugged me saying "Happy Christmas, I hope you have a great day and meet Mickey". She then handed me a wrapped Mickey lollipop her parents had obviously bought her in the park and said "I'd like to have this as a Christmas present". I'd not expected it at all and it just felt absolutely wonderful, all the usual feelings for that special time came flooding back and all was well with the world. I had a lump in my throat as I thanked her and eventually said goodbye to this lovely family. It was a truly great Christmas memory that I didn't expect and will never forget