I know, I know, that's the busiest time of year to go, but hear me out! Christmas sucks for us right about now! And we decided that instead of staying home and wallowing in our sorrow, we would go somewhere and try to keep ourselves busy. Christmas 2022 obviously sucked, but we were so numb at that point that it's all a blur. Then 2023 was horrific and felt like the first Christmas without Lily. Needless to say, I didn't feel like decorating nor celebrating, so we didn't do a whole lot that year. Last year, I still couldn't bring myself to decorate, but we tried to attend a few celebrations and ease back into things. My anniversary trip with Brian last year helped get me closer to remembering that I used to love Christmas and all the decorations, but I'm still not sure I would be able to decorate the house this year either, so now I won't have to worry about it too much! The boys don't necessarily want to go anywhere, but they grudgingly agreed to go with us when I promised we would make it as laid back and stress free as possible, which I know means we will miss seeing and doing a lot of things! As you can surmise from my picture, we are staying at Caribbean Beach again. I booked two (hopefully connecting) standard view 5th sleeper rooms. I am going to request to be in Trinidad again this year.
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Trip Report I May Have Done a Thing... (now the actual report)
- Thread starter TheMouseFan
- Start date
I know, I know, that's the busiest time of year to go, but hear me out! Christmas sucks for us right about now! And we decided that instead of staying home and wallowing in our sorrow, we would go somewhere and try to keep ourselves busy. Christmas 2022 obviously sucked, but we were so numb at that point that it's all a blur. Then 2023 was horrific and felt like the first Christmas without Lily. Needless to say, I didn't feel like decorating nor celebrating, so we didn't do a whole lot that year. Last year, I still couldn't bring myself to decorate, but we tried to attend a few celebrations and ease back into things. My anniversary trip with Brian last year helped get me closer to remembering that I used to love Christmas and all the decorations, but I'm still not sure I would be able to decorate the house this year either, so now I won't have to worry about it too much! The boys don't necessarily want to go anywhere, but they grudgingly agreed to go with us when I promised we would make it as laid back and stress free as possible, which I know means we will miss seeing and doing a lot of things! As you can surmise from my picture, we are staying at Caribbean Beach again. I booked two (hopefully connecting) standard view 5th sleeper rooms. I am going to request to be in Trinidad again this year.
Minnie1986
Well-Known Member
I see that your cat and my 50lb labrador have something in common
Thanks!
It surely is! I tried the slushie version as well. It was ok. I'll stick with the regular from now on.
We wanted to take a boat over to the Polynesian, but one was pulling away as we were getting in line. There is usually another one coming around the corner from the Polynesian shortly after one docks at the Grand Floridian, but we kept watching and nothing was coming and it was hurting me to stand there, so we chose to take the walking path.
We made it and I checked in online for our 'Ohana dinner. Our ADR was 3:30, so we had to wait a few for the restaurant to even open.
We were called in right at 3:30 and didn't have a table at the window, but still had a nice view.
It's no longer on the menu, but I asked if they could make me an Island Sunset and they obliged. It was delicious, as was all of the food!
Logan had a pineapple ale.
We were called in right at 3:30 and didn't have a table at the window, but still had a nice view.
It's no longer on the menu, but I asked if they could make me an Island Sunset and they obliged. It was delicious, as was all of the food!
Logan had a pineapple ale.
The boys decided they wanted to take the monorail back to Magic Kingdom. I held my umbrella way out in front of me, and they still made me be wanded and dug through my bag because the security guard wasn't watching his screen when I went through! I was so upset by this and we missed the next monorail because of it.
Anyhow, we arrived back at MK just in time for our next LL.
We did not nail the ride photos!!
Anyhow, we arrived back at MK just in time for our next LL.
We did not nail the ride photos!!
I had made a LL for it's a small world after we used our Pirates LL, so we headed there next.
Then we headed to Tomorrowland Terrace to get in line to check in for our dessert party. Last time Brian and I did this, we got there about 20 minutes before the official check in time and they had us wait in a line and started check in right at an hour before fireworks started. This time, we got there 15 minutes before check in time and they were already seating people. We jumped in line right away.
We were seated in the small isolated area just to the right of the check in desk near the stroller parking and the purple wall. At first, I thought the view would be ok, but boy was I wrong!!
Nobody else wanted anything despite the fact that I reminded them several times throughout lunch/dinner that we had the dessert party, so I headed up by myself to get some treats.
So here is why our view was so bad:
Most of the fireworks were behind this light fixture! I was and still am so angry about this. I chose not to talk to CS while I was there because I knew I would be emotional and start crying even though it didn't warrant that, and I didn't want to be that person. Needless to say, we won't be doing another dessert party for a long, long time!
Then we headed to Tomorrowland Terrace to get in line to check in for our dessert party. Last time Brian and I did this, we got there about 20 minutes before the official check in time and they had us wait in a line and started check in right at an hour before fireworks started. This time, we got there 15 minutes before check in time and they were already seating people. We jumped in line right away.
We were seated in the small isolated area just to the right of the check in desk near the stroller parking and the purple wall. At first, I thought the view would be ok, but boy was I wrong!!
Nobody else wanted anything despite the fact that I reminded them several times throughout lunch/dinner that we had the dessert party, so I headed up by myself to get some treats.
So here is why our view was so bad:
Most of the fireworks were behind this light fixture! I was and still am so angry about this. I chose not to talk to CS while I was there because I knew I would be emotional and start crying even though it didn't warrant that, and I didn't want to be that person. Needless to say, we won't be doing another dessert party for a long, long time!
Not sure what order these pics should be in because I was using my phone and my DSLR, so here are my fireworks pics in no particular order!
We did have a good view of Tink flying!
We did have a good view of Tink flying!
When the fireworks were done, we hung out at our table for awhile to let the crowds die down a little before we ventured back into Tomorrowland for our Space Mountain LL.
I just realized that we didn't get our ride pic! We did however see some of the BYU football players waiting in line with one of their injured players in a wheelchair. They appeared to be having a good time!
We then made our way over to Tron for our LL and I just realized I didn't get a picture of the canopy lit up with its red Aries lighting. Big fail on my part, but I was still upset about the dessert party and not thinking like I normally would.
We had fun and made our way to the front of the park using the bypass behind Main Street to avoid the parade.
Cute props on the Tomorrowland Speedway!
There was a bus waiting for us and we quickly returned to CBR for the night.
I forgot to mention in my last post that the three of us really enjoyed the Christmas overlay on Space Mountain. The Christmasy music was great and I personally liked that the flashing lights gave me a decent view of the track and I could anticipate where we were going most of the time which made for a much smoother ride!
Day 6 Thursday, December 25 Merry Christmas!! All 4 parks
Our only goal this day was to make it to all 4 parks and get our picture taken in front of the trees in each park. I chose to get LL at AK which was our first park partly because it was cheapest, and partly because I wasn't sure of exact timing for any of the other parks until we started to see how the day was progressing.
We were up relatively early. We weren't there for early entry, but well before our first LL expired at 9am.
The boys already received their Christmas presents before we left as they were bigger ticket items that they wanted ot use as soon as they arrived, but I did bring their stockings with us a put them out overnight. They chose to not open them in the morning so they could get a few more minutes of sleep!
I wanted us to get a selfie in front of each tree that I could post immediately, as well as PP pics. We chose to get the PP pic on the way out of the park here.
Day 6 Thursday, December 25 Merry Christmas!! All 4 parks
Our only goal this day was to make it to all 4 parks and get our picture taken in front of the trees in each park. I chose to get LL at AK which was our first park partly because it was cheapest, and partly because I wasn't sure of exact timing for any of the other parks until we started to see how the day was progressing.
We were up relatively early. We weren't there for early entry, but well before our first LL expired at 9am.
The boys already received their Christmas presents before we left as they were bigger ticket items that they wanted ot use as soon as they arrived, but I did bring their stockings with us a put them out overnight. They chose to not open them in the morning so they could get a few more minutes of sleep!
I wanted us to get a selfie in front of each tree that I could post immediately, as well as PP pics. We chose to get the PP pic on the way out of the park here.
We scanned in to our first LL at about 8:40. I was looking for something at MK for our next LL since that was our next park, but nothing was available that we wanted to do until much later in the day, so I got a Toy Story Mania one for the evening.
We were in the first row of a handicap accessible truck this time so Brian and I were in the very front 2 person seat and the boys were behind us in another 2 person seat, so we had a different perspective from our first one.
After our safari, the boys were needing breakfast, so they decided on Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery. Brian and I shared the egg and bacon croissant sandwich. I missed the part on the menu that said there was tomato-pepper relish on the sandwich, so Brian ate most of it and I had a few bites off the ends where there was no relish and most of the tots. Logan just got an order of the tots and Owen got a chocolate twist.
Nothing special, but it filled out bellies for awhile!
The on to our next LL in Pandora.
I normally get all turned around in Pandora, so I was proud of myself when I led everyone directly to Na'vi River Journey without getting lost!
Cute little ride, but I refuse to ride it without a LL! I was still unable to find any MK LL once we scanned in, so I got a RnRC for after dinner.
Then on to our last LL at AK which meant we needed to head to the other side of the park.
Cute little ride, but I refuse to ride it without a LL! I was still unable to find any MK LL once we scanned in, so I got a RnRC for after dinner.
Then on to our last LL at AK which meant we needed to head to the other side of the park.
After scanning in to EE, I looked again at MK with nothing available until evening, so I booked ToT for after dinner.
We decided we were done and needed to find a restroom before heading to the bus stop. I decided the ones by the Nemo show would probably be quiet, so we headed that way.
Not sure if they will get rid of all of the dinosaur theming or not, so I made sure to get a picture of this sign.
We decided we were done and needed to find a restroom before heading to the bus stop. I decided the ones by the Nemo show would probably be quiet, so we headed that way.
Not sure if they will get rid of all of the dinosaur theming or not, so I made sure to get a picture of this sign.
Lots of pics while we were waiting in the PP line!
Every single PP photographer in front of a tree had us do a group hug picture, and Brian really screwed this one up!!
He definitely improved as the day went on!