Trip Report ‘Tis The Season For More Disney! *COMPLETED*

Fa la la la la
la la la LA


But let’s be honest.
Which season isn’t the season for more Disney?
In 2017 I have been fortunate to experience winter, spring and summer in the world.
And now the holidays!
Since December is such a festive time of year at the parks, I think two trips are in order....don’t you?

Trip #1
Cast:
Tuvalu and Em
When: December 1-4, 2017
Where: Port Orleans Riverside
Why: A Jingle BAM Birthday 2.0

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Join us as we attend our first MVMCP, wander around World Showcase like a couple of newbies, meet a forum friend and intentionally watch LOTS of fireworks....did we get to Illuminations this year?

You’ll have to wait and see.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
We’d decided in advance not to break our necks for Happy Hour tonight. Not being seafood people the offerings did not appeal to us.

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Instead, after a brief respite in the room, we returned to MK. I love the early darkness that winter brings since MK is just so magical at night! (Of course the holiday lighting is icing on the cake. :inlove:)

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Sadly the park was not any less crowded than when we’d left.
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While I was a little disappointed we did not get to ride Pooh earlier (especially since I was wearing my Pooh shirt!), the “anytime” fastpass we received enabled us to bypass a very long line and ride my fave BTMRR in the dark. :happy:

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Mobile ordering had worked well for us at Pinocchio’s Village Haus so we decided to give it a try at Pecos Bills.

Pecos Bills is notoriously slow. The longest wait is always upon reaching the counter to collect food. I’m not sure why.

Unfortunately, mobile ordering does not speed up this process.

The restaurant was pure chaos.....lines to order stretched out the door.....and while we skipped the order line we still waited over 20 minutes to collect our food.

And then the fun started.

We walked around the entire high-capacity restaurant three times and could not find an open table. We even checked for tables outside. Most of the tables were occupied by lingering guests, either those finished eating or those saving tables. In the past, during high volume periods, cast members prevented guests from holding tables and offered to take away trash from those who were done (to discreetly signal it’s time to leave.) There were no cast members in any of the dining rooms!

Eventually Woody spied a table in the back room. It had no chairs. We wiped it down and began eating while standing. A nice couple a few tables over noticed our predicament and offered us two chairs they were not using.

Woody attempted the toppings bar and couldn’t get near it. No fixins = very plain food.
And my tacos were not the kind I ordered.
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(Someone else’s guac container in my pic, just noticed it. :hungover:)

The whole dining experience was utterly disappointing and took way longer than it should have. We missed our Little Mermaid FP. Trying to salvage our evening, I suggested a ride on the TTA Peoplemover, another fave at night.

Plus we’d get to see this beauty on the way.
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We intentionally stopped and gazed at the castle for several minutes.....embedding the sight deep in our minds....making a Christmas memory.

Then we attempted to cross the hub.

Walking towards Tomorrowland was nearly impossible. Groups of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Even worse were the people who were sitting down, claiming their spot for Happily Ever After (which was still 90 minutes from starting.) As Woody and I attempted to pass, a jerk intentionally stretched out his leg to trip me and then did it again as Woody went by. We were aghast! (If Woody were a violent man the jerk would not have been chuckling at us.)

Only a few steps into Tomorrowland we realized a TTA ride wasn’t going to happen. We were done with crowds. I grabbed a quick selfie at the purple wall and we took the alternate exit down Main Street.

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Goodbye, MK. I sure wish our last night had ended on a happier note.
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Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Back at the Lodge, we spent some time in the lobby trying to get our holiday cheer back.

Loved this chocolate display.
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There were small lobby trees in addition to the giant tree.
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Perfectly themed, of course!

It was a little past 8 pm when we rode the elevator up to the lounge. Desserts would be out and we both were craving something sweet.

We were too late.

No cookies. No cupcakes. No cheesecake. No mousse. Just empty plates except for one with a few small macaroons.

Seriously? The desserts were only put out a few minutes ago!

“I’m going down to Roaring Fork. Meet you in the room,” I announced to Woody.

I bought two giant cookies for us to enjoy. And though I had hoped to watch HEA in the park, watching from our balcony sufficed. 😉

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Songbird76

Well-Known Member
Just read the purple lady poem! I think that's my new list of goals for life.
I love this poem. Before my mom died, it was her favorite, so when she was diagnosed with cancer, she started wearing purple. Every year on the anniversary of her death, I buy purple flowers (and yellow, her favorite color) to put on her piano, next to her picture. I discovered after she died that there is actually a sort of sorority called the Red Hat Society. https://www.redhatsociety.com/
 

Songbird76

Well-Known Member
I'll give it a shot

Newest ride at WDW - straight from the heart of Imagineering

We proud to present.....

The Exit Stairwell

Line ups are big on opening day - FP+ to be introduced next week - Child swap available!!!

Max
Huh....I just thought maybe it was amusing that the sign has an arrow pointing to the right for the exit, but the exit is on the left?
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Aw...I'm so sad I missed your birthday! Happy really belated birthday!
Thank you, @Songbird76!

I think people like that need to be escorted out of the park by security. It's a safety hazard, as well as just being a HORRIBLE and immature thing to do. Was this a grown man?
He was an adult but definitely not a “grown up.” 🙄
 

Pirate Magic

Well-Known Member
Thank you, @Songbird76!


He was an adult but definitely not a “grown up.” 🙄[/QU


I would have had to let my "New York State of Mind" come out. I try to leave that behind when I come to Florida and do the Disney way. But sometime the New York thing just has to come out. I do believe that would have been it. You are a better person than I. That idiot could have hurt someone very seriously.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Sunday, December 17

There is no way we could have predicted today’s turn of events.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

We began with breakfast overlooking the magnificent lobby.
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Is it possible to get tired of this view? Nah.
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Earlier I posted a picture of the club level “gate” from the outside.
Here’s a pic from the inside ~
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We returned to our room to pack. But clearly I wasn’t ready to leave as I spent several minutes on the balcony, drinking in the sights, sounds and smells. (Did I mention our room was near the smokehouse?)

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I spy a boat on its way to MK!
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Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
BUM BUM BUM
The time had come.
Goodbye, room! :cry:

Woody and I trudged down to the Resort Airline check in desk and dropped off his suitcase. Then we stowed my carry-on with Bell Services. Since Woody had not yet seen the new Boulder Ridge pool, I asked if he wanted to check it out.

He said yes.
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Ahh, memories of pool time here with Em last summer.....:inlove:
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Remember we watched the tree cutter?
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Here is said tree now.
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Another boat on its way!
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I ❤️ this.
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