Trip Report A Jingle BAM Birthday! *COMPLETED*

*Sorry for the bump. This TR is from December 2016*

Let me begin by giving a shout out to all park commandos ~ those who arrive at the parks at opening and stay until closing ~ those who only use the hotel room to sleep and shower ~

We SALUTE you!!!!!

After a whirlwind 48 hours in the world, we have a new appreciation for the stamina of a park commando. We gave it our all and had a blast ~ though a third non-stop day would have likely killed us!

So do your warm-up stretches and prepare to join us on a quick jog through three parks as we celebrate the quarter-century of a wonderful gal named Em.

Cast: Tuvalu and TrolleyFollower91
Date: December 1-3, 2016
Resort: Coronado Springs

Ready, Set, GO!

 

[Tuvalu]

We like to get a countdown pic each time we're in MK during the holidays.

Plus, the wooden toy soldiers always make us smile!

Next we posed under the Christmas Tree. We love Wayne and Lanny!

We got Em's birthday button from the cart in front of the Emporium. Then we walked down Main Street drinking in the holiday spirit.

Which one of you Dapper Dans needs a lesson in excitement?

 

[Tuvalu]

If you have read any of my previous trip reports, you know that Em and I like to hit Fantasyland first. And since this was an EMH morning, we didn't have a lot of choices anyway. We walked through the castle (admiring the mosaic tiles of course!) to get here ~

 

[Tuvalu]

From Pan to Pooh (do you feel like you've read this itinerary before? )

We never noticed this excerpt before. Poohsticks, how fun is that??!!

And everyone gathered together to say.....

Hooray for Pooh too!

Naturally we had to look around the gift store and Em purchased this adorable Christmas gift for Tuvalette. Isn't she a great aunt?!

 

[Tuvalu]

From Pooh to Small World

From Small World to Tangled

Did you find this waterfall, @21stamps?

 

[blreinsel]

Forgive me, Brittany! Looks like we'll miss each other again. Em has a conference in early June so we aren't going until later in the month. (We'll miss you too, @TheMouseFan )

Noooooooo Although.. knowing you, you'll end up taking a (currently unplanned) trip at the beginning of the month too.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Forgive me, Brittany! Looks like we'll miss each other again. Em has a conference in early June so we aren't going until later in the month. (We'll miss you too, @TheMouseFan )

 

[Tuvalu]

It was now after 9 am so the rest of the park was open. We walked the short distance between the waterfall and our favorite mansion....

I was glad to see that the construction on the FP lane is complete and the merge point is back where it belongs (open doorway in center of picture).

The interactive MagicBand-based ending was not working, but the ghosts were still pranking doom buggy occupants.

Em and I discovered a couple of fun souvenirs in Memento Mori.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Neither Em nor I are big breakfast eaters and when you add in first-morning-at-Disney excitement, a muffin is all we need for nourishment. Can someone please invent a chocolate muffin chock full of fiber and vitamins (so it is healthy) that actually tastes good?!

Cause the double chocolate chip muffins we bought at Cafe Rix were sinfully good, which obviously means they were devoid of fiber and vitamins.

We got our muffins and coffee to go so we could eat while waiting at the bus stop. We sat down on this bench at 6:58 am. We should have no problem making the Welcome Show, right?

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We leisurely ate our muffins. We watched other guests arrive at the bus stop. We saw a Disney van drop off the bus stop intern. (No offense to the interns, but does anyone find them helpful? They seem to have no ability to route any of the buses.) We watched more guests arrive. We watched a bus for every park except MK pull up and stop. We got off the bench to find the monitor.

MK bus 7:35???!!!! WTH???!!!!

All the helpful intern could say to the large group of now-irate people was, "I don't know why the bus is taking so long. Maybe there was a scooter to load?"

Gee thanks, pal.

At 7:37, the bus arrived ~ standing room only, since stops 2,3 and 4 had loaded first. Only about 10 of us made it on, leaving a couple dozen guests in disbelief. Some had been waiting almost as long as we did.

And I don't recall seeing an ECV on the bus.

As our bus pulled into the MK station, Em and I could see the train with the characters stationary. Maybe we would get to see some of the show after all?

Our fast feet had us to bag check just as the music started. Made it through security and the turnstile as the character train arrived.

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See ya inside, Mickey!

Today's greeter was not the Mayor, Fire Chief or Scoop Sanderson. It was the most unenthusiastic Dapper Dan (sorry, @ajrwdwgirl). He had a quiet, monotone voice that seemed more appropriate for a library, not the Welcome Show! And the fireworks did not shoot off ~ are fireworks not used on EMH mornings?

Sorry about the unenthusiastic Dan, he must have been missing his pals. At least you got to see the show though, I don't think I've seen fireworks in a long time. Just the streamers from the performers. And I've seen the show on EMH and nonEMH.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sorry about the unenthusiastic Dan, he must have been missing his pals. At least you got to see the show though, I don't think I've seen fireworks in a long time. Just the streamers from the performers. And I've seen the show on EMH and nonEMH.

Woody and I saw fireworks in October. Em wondered if they weren't used now due to the drought.

 

[Tuvalu]

"Let's go to Pirates," said the Birthday Girl.

Happy to report we did not get wet!

 

[Tuvalu]

Em picked up a Times Guide to check on the Muppets "Great Moments in History (but mostly the American parts)." A show was starting soon, so we made our way to Liberty Square.

This morning the gang reenacted The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

IMO, Disney had underutilized the Muppets for years and these skits are entertaining, funny and creative. I hope Kermit and friends stick around for awhile.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I had accomplished a lot in just a couple hours. The crowds were starting to build and we were glad to bypass the 40 minute standby wait for Big Thunder Mountain with our FP.

The nice CM honored Birthday Girl's request to sit in the back of the train. All savvy BTM riders know that's where the real thrills are!

Great ride as always! We were disappointed the shaking boulders did not reappear after the refurb though.

 

[coachwnh]

The birthday is off to a great start! Plenty of smiles.

 

[Tuvalu]

Since BTM is so close to the Frontierland station for the MPB, climbing aboard to rest our feet was an excellent idea! Em's Fitbit was tracking our steps and while the "party on her wrist" had not yet occurred, we were getting close.

Sunshine, a cool breeze and riding the rails ~ one of life's perfect moments.

Birthday Girl wanted to visit Big Top Souvenirs, so in we went! How apropos are the popcorn ornaments on this tree?!

@MinnieM123, we found a holiday friend for you!

Bonus ~ she comes with an ornament!

 

[21stamps]

From Pooh to Small World

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From Small World to Tangled

View attachment 178634

Did you find this waterfall, @21stamps?

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Omg!! I forgot about the waterfall!!! . I knew I should have taken screenshots and made a list of everything. I think I missed a lot, once again.lol. Your pictures are fantastic!

 

[21stamps]

Oh and I just read the first page. You were there the same time as us!! Did you see a stressed out woman trying to get her son to take a "nice" photo with her, instead of dabbing or attempting to push her out of the picture? If so..that was me.

 

[MinnieM123]

This morning the gang reenacted The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

I want to see this!!!

@MinnieM123, we found a holiday friend for you!

Bonus ~ she comes with an ornament

Thank you! WANT!! WANT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I've always wanted to visit WDW around Christmas, but it never works out budget-wise for me, with holiday shopping, etc., that takes priority.) Glad you and Em can enjoy it, though.

 

[Tuvalu]

I want to see this!!! (I've always wanted to visit WDW around Christmas, but it never works out budget-wise for me, with holiday shopping, etc., that takes priority.) Glad you and Em can enjoy it, though.

We're happy to take one for the team!

 

[MinnieM123]

We're happy to take one for the team!

Yah, a real couple of sports, you are . . .

 

[Tuvalu]

Yah, a real couple of sports, you are . . .

Is it okay if I go back tomorrow?