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.
MickeyCB
Well-Known Member
This is an example of why I enjoy your photos so much. I have never seen this gate/wall before!
I'm assuming I have walked by it in the past.
Tiki Traveler
Well-Known Member
All caught up! Wow, all the trip reporters have done an excellent job capturing the various aspects of DW Christmas. It’s almost like being there (without the snacks).
It is on the path between Africa and Pandora that goes by the Lion King theater.
You're so welcome!All caught up! Wow, all the trip reporters have done an excellent job capturing the various aspects of DW Christmas. It’s almost like being there (without the snacks).
littleroo
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all pictures of the decorations. I, especially, enjoyed the Animal Kingdom Christmas decorations. I love how different they are compared to our traditional style.
I, too, would have been disappointed paying for the dessert fireworks package and ending up with that view. I am glad you still managed to get some great shots of the fireworks especially Tink!
I, too, would have been disappointed paying for the dessert fireworks package and ending up with that view. I am glad you still managed to get some great shots of the fireworks especially Tink!
You're welcome, and thank you! I absolutely love the AK decorations! I still get upset when I think about that dang dessert party, but I'll eventually get over it!
We then took a bus to Magic Kingdom.
We took our selfie right before getting in line for the PP pic. We probably should have chosen a different spot where we weren't looking directly into the sun!!
The line was long, so I had lots of time to take pics of the tree!
We took our selfie right before getting in line for the PP pic. We probably should have chosen a different spot where we weren't looking directly into the sun!!
The line was long, so I had lots of time to take pics of the tree!
There were several large groups in front of us and my worry was that they would all want to take pics with every single different configuration of the families that they could think of. Some of them did, but luckily, the largest group just wanted one group shot of everyone!
Next up was lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. I was really looking forward to this as we haven't eaten here in quite some time. I checked in a few minutes early on the app and we were seated quickly.
We were seated right in the middle of a room at a 4 top that was barely big enough to hold our plates and drinks, let alone all of the food, but we managed.
Everything was good, but the mac and cheese was way too bland and not a hit at all. We were pretty much deserted by our server at this point and not sure what was going on. Apparently, there was a very large party spread across 3 tables near us that all wanted to leave very quickly. Our server apologized profusely and brought out extra of the best part of lunch!
There was nothing else the boys wanted to do and the crowds were horrible, so we started making our way to the front of the park.
We were seated right in the middle of a room at a 4 top that was barely big enough to hold our plates and drinks, let alone all of the food, but we managed.
Everything was good, but the mac and cheese was way too bland and not a hit at all. We were pretty much deserted by our server at this point and not sure what was going on. Apparently, there was a very large party spread across 3 tables near us that all wanted to leave very quickly. Our server apologized profusely and brought out extra of the best part of lunch!
There was nothing else the boys wanted to do and the crowds were horrible, so we started making our way to the front of the park.
I would also love an apartment up there!
You may have noticed that there were quite a few fewer photos from MK than there were from AK. That trend continued this whole day as my leg was really bothering me and I started not feeling well by dinner time. Also, we did the most at AK and it happens to be my favorite overall park.
The monorail trip over was quick and we decided to head to the tree first to get our picture taking over with before our LL for GotG.
The monorail trip over was quick and we decided to head to the tree first to get our picture taking over with before our LL for GotG.
Attachments
We actually had a decent amount of time before our LL, so we decided to go to Germany to get caramel popcorn which I neglected to get a picture of and Japan to try the slushie violet sake. I got the slushie version and Logan bought the regular version for himself and Owen. The slushie was ok, but I'll stick with the regular from now on!
We took a quick trip through the Scentsy display on our way to the front of the park.
We took a quick trip through the Scentsy display on our way to the front of the park.
The boys wanted to ride SSE and the wait was listed at 20 minutes. I could tell that was a lie by looking at the line, but we entered anyway. This was pure torture for me to stand still for this long. I don't know exactly how long we waited, but it was definitely more than 20 minutes and I have never been so happy to sit my butt down in one of those cars!
No pics on the way over to GotG, so you know I was hurting!
One l
We got September again! One last chance to get a different song the next day.
As we were leaving, I read on Facebook that Santa Stitch was meeting in MK instead of the regular Santa. I was a little bummed that I didn't know that before we left the park, but also not that bummed because I knew the boys wouldn't have wanted to get a pic with me.
Then we made our way to the International Gateway where we were going to catch a boat to DHS, but we watched one pull away, so decided to take the Skyliner instead.
We didn't have a lot of time to get to our Toy Story Mania LL, so we went directly there.
I came in last again like normal! I'm pretty sure Logan was ahead of Brian, but Owen was below him. Regardless, it was fun!
We had a little time before dinner, so we headed over to the tree for our pics.
No pics on the way over to GotG, so you know I was hurting!
One l
We got September again! One last chance to get a different song the next day.
As we were leaving, I read on Facebook that Santa Stitch was meeting in MK instead of the regular Santa. I was a little bummed that I didn't know that before we left the park, but also not that bummed because I knew the boys wouldn't have wanted to get a pic with me.
Then we made our way to the International Gateway where we were going to catch a boat to DHS, but we watched one pull away, so decided to take the Skyliner instead.
We didn't have a lot of time to get to our Toy Story Mania LL, so we went directly there.
I came in last again like normal! I'm pretty sure Logan was ahead of Brian, but Owen was below him. Regardless, it was fun!
We had a little time before dinner, so we headed over to the tree for our pics.
We had a few more before we could check in, so we found a table over by the Frozen theater and just relaxed. I have had a chronic cough for going on 12 years now that no one can tell me what causes it or how to treat it. I happened to have a little coughing fit while we were sitting there and it was a bad one. These generally make me almost gag and then I get a little queasy. Not the ideal situation before dinner, but whatever.
Once we checked in, we waited what seemed like forever before we were called in.
Once we were called in, I was so pleased to see that Santa Goofy was there! I honestly had no idea that he would be. I practically begged the boys to get a picture with me. Logan didn't really protest, and Owen finally agreed. We had a bit of time to go to the buffet before the characters would get to us. I got a little bit of pasta salad and a roll and then was pleased to see chicken noodle soup. I was hoping it would help me feel better. Let me tell you, this was the blandest chicken noodle soup I think I have ever eaten! There literally was no flavor to it, so it didn't really help anything, but at least I was able to eat something. Soon enough, Goofy was at our table. I do hate that they don't have character attendants and the lighting sucks, but we made it work.
Logan talked Owen into getting pics with all of the characters for me! I saw that Mickey wasn't that far behind Goofy, so I put my camera over in front of him so he would be ready to get our pic. I found these later!
No respect, I tell ya! No respect!
Mickey!!
There was a huge break between these two and Minnie and Pluto. We had just been discussing that we could leave without seeing Minnie and Pluto because Santa Goofy and Mickey were the more important two of the four for me. Just then the server came over to see if we had seen all 4 and rushed them over when we said no. The table next to us had two little girls and had asked Brian to take a family picture of them when Mickey came around, so they offered to take ours for Minnie and Pluto.
Once we checked in, we waited what seemed like forever before we were called in.
Once we were called in, I was so pleased to see that Santa Goofy was there! I honestly had no idea that he would be. I practically begged the boys to get a picture with me. Logan didn't really protest, and Owen finally agreed. We had a bit of time to go to the buffet before the characters would get to us. I got a little bit of pasta salad and a roll and then was pleased to see chicken noodle soup. I was hoping it would help me feel better. Let me tell you, this was the blandest chicken noodle soup I think I have ever eaten! There literally was no flavor to it, so it didn't really help anything, but at least I was able to eat something. Soon enough, Goofy was at our table. I do hate that they don't have character attendants and the lighting sucks, but we made it work.
Logan talked Owen into getting pics with all of the characters for me! I saw that Mickey wasn't that far behind Goofy, so I put my camera over in front of him so he would be ready to get our pic. I found these later!
No respect, I tell ya! No respect!
Mickey!!
There was a huge break between these two and Minnie and Pluto. We had just been discussing that we could leave without seeing Minnie and Pluto because Santa Goofy and Mickey were the more important two of the four for me. Just then the server came over to see if we had seen all 4 and rushed them over when we said no. The table next to us had two little girls and had asked Brian to take a family picture of them when Mickey came around, so they offered to take ours for Minnie and Pluto.
Our ToT LL was up next, so we headed that way. We caught some of the projection show on the way.
We had the best drop sequence this time!
Then the boys wanted to ride RnRC one last time. Brian and I decided to sit it out this time and instead found a table and watched the projection show.
Then the boys wanted to ride RnRC one last time. Brian and I decided to sit it out this time and instead found a table and watched the projection show.
The boys found us and we made our way back to the Skyliner and back to CBR.
It was a fantastic Christmas day and we made it to all 4 parks!
Tiggertoo56
Well-Known Member
Brilliant to have been able to visit all 4 parks, including rides and photos by the trees in all of them (especially with you being in pain!). I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this report and seeing the different aspects from your pictures.
