Trip Report A Christmas in November, Food & Wine, Girls Trip!

Hi everyone! I had such a fun time posting my first trip report in May, (http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/completed-24-disney-hours-may-2015-trip-report.901428/)
that I’ve been looking forward to getting the time to post this one!

This time, my sister and I were joined by our cousin and my best friend!
From left to right...
Alyssa- Sister
Sam (me)
Emily- Best Friend
Michelle- Cousin


Alyssa has been wanting to visit for Food and Wine for a while but it hadn't worked out for her yet. Last year Emily and I did a VERY last minute F&W weekend and she loved it and couldn’t wait to go back. After months of working out our schedules we finally settled it around the first weekend of November. When talking to my cousin about it, she wanted to come to!

I was pushing for it to be this weekend so we’d get to see all the MK Christmas decorations and say our final farewell to the Osborne lights. The timing was perfect for everything!


THURSDAY-November 5th

Since it took a lot of rearranging of our schedules to make this trip happen and we’re coming from different places (NJ, PA, VA), we all ended up getting to Disney at different times.
I was up first though, which worked out since everything had to be in my name for my cast discount!

I arrived around 4pm, quickly picked up our rental car and was on my way!


Soon enough I made it to Coronado Springs, checked in, and dropped off my stuff.


View from our room:


I didn’t have to pick up my sister or cousin for a while so I ran off to Magic Kingdom! I couldn’t just sit there for hours waiting to go back to the airport while I could be looking at the castle dream lights!

When I got to MK, A Frozen Holiday Wish was just starting. I LOVED watching it last year so stood back on MK to watch the castle light up!
After the show ended while everyone headed away from the castle stage, I made my up there so I could get a good spot to watch and take pictures of my favorite…Dream Along With Mickey!













After DAWM, I had some time before Wishes and the next Frozen Holiday Wish, so I wandered over to make my customized magicband.

Purple is my FAVORITE color and I’ve collected every other color magicband so when I saw they had just opened and released these customizable magicbands and they came in PURPLE, I was sold! I also found it to be way more comfortable and flexible than the regular magicbands (which I never thought were uncomfortable until putting this purple one on)

 

[samantha788]

TUESDAY – NOVEMBER 10

Our last day

We didn’t sleep too late since we had to finish packing all of our stuff. We also headed up to the Kilimanjaro club for some light breakfast snacks and coffee from my favorite machine. I don’t know what it is about that nespresso they have there, but I get so excited for that coffee and especially espresso!

We only had a few hours this morning before having to get to the airport so decided we would go to Animal Kingdom. Emily has never been and Alyssa and I love the safari and Expedition Everest. We had a couple of fp+, starting with Expedition Everest!




A necessary breakfast





Then safari time!! Emily was really excited to see this for the first time and today was a great one!



We had to stop several times before we even got to the giraffes because they were blocking the cars ahead of us. They were ALL over! I was SO happy.
Now for giraffe picture overload




No pictures please







Favorite selfie ever

 

[samantha788]

The elephants were so playful today too!




SO CUTE!





After the safari we slowly headed out of the park and to our car to drive to the airport.






In the end, we had so much fun! It was such a different trip having my cousin and best friend, but everyone fit so well together. I wish we had more Osborne lights time especially knowing there won’t be another opportunity but am thankful for the time we did had. It worked our so well that our trip overlapped and gave use the chance to see them one last time. Also getting to see the MK Christmas decorations was another plus, I love nothing more than my castle draped in the dream lights. We really lucked out with perfect weather and crowds too. Even around Food and Wine, the half marathon, and the sandwich of Halloween and Christmas in MK we didn’t have any issues.




It’s never easy to leave, but Emily loved food and wine so much that her and her fiancé want to go next year with a few of their friends.

Alyssa got over her Disney blues real fast by booking (and just returning from) a trip over New Years Weekend with her boyfriend.

And for me, I’m in the middle of planning a Disney World bachelorette party for my closest Disney loving friend! We’ve talked about going since we’ve known each other for many many years but now that is finally happening and for her bachelorette weekend!

We’ve booked a 2 BR villa at Old Key West for 9 of us and are going the last weekend of April.
So far we are planning dinner at O’hana on Friday night once everyone gets there.
Saturday is a late Akershus breakfast. Then drinks around the world and 8:30 Hoop Dee Doo!! (SO excited for that)
Sunday is Magic Kingdom so my friend can have all she’s dreamt of…wearing her Minnie bride ears walking down main street and meeting as many princesses as she can We also have lunch reservations for BOG and dinner at the Plaza.

I cannot wait for this trip, it’s been so different for me planning for not only 9 people, but most of them I don’t really know. Want everyone to be happy, but most importantly- the bride!

Also working on a short Disneyland trip to soak up all the diamond celebration entertainment around a work trip the end of February/early March. Wishful thinking (but not expecting) for another 24 hour day on leap day since I’ll be in town then


Thank you all for reading!! Means a lot to be able to share my pictures and experiences with everyone that appreciates them.