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!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Well played!

 

[Pirate Magic]

Congratulations on your son's engagement!!! Sorry I have been out of the loop. You know with the holidays... You have so much to celebrate. Maybe another visit soon??

 

[Tuvalu]

Congratulations on your son's engagement!!! Sorry I have been out of the loop. You know with the holidays... You have so much to celebrate. Maybe another visit soon??

82 days......

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday (con't)

Re-riding the MPB 2.0 was not an option due to the lengthy line, so we scooted across to the Carousel of Progress. The CM expected a full theater and we were instructed to move all the way down the row. Being compliant citizens, Em and I did.

However, I do have a little rebellious streak in me. In a previous trip report I mentioned that Em had read that no photography at all (with or without flash) was allowed in CoP. This was news to me ~ and I was overcome with desire to snap one surreptitious picture. Which I did.

Today I was all out BAD!

Guess what ~ I was not arrested by the CoP photo police. My phone was not taken away from me. Could I have debunked the "no pictures allowed" claim? Doesn't there have to be bunk in order to debunk? What the heck is bunk anyway? Inquiring minds want to know!

I did the research for you (you can thank me later). According to vocabulary.com, the verb debunk was first used by American writer William Woodward in 1923 "to take the bunk out of something." Bunk means "nonsense."

The more you know.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em really wanted to see the Gingerbread House at the GF before venturing on to park #2. She took this pretty shot as we cut through the Tomorrowland Terrace on our way towards Main Street.

Festival of Fantasy was just finishing up and we were able to wave goodbye to Minnie.

 

[BWK05]

I told my daughter that Em got to spend her birthday at Disney....She informed me that that her birthday(also on 12/2) will be on a Saturday in 2017 and that would be an awesome place to turn 18

 

[Tuvalu]

I told my daughter that Em got to spend her birthday at Disney....She informed me that that her birthday(also on 12/2) will be on a Saturday in 2017 and that would be an awesome place to turn 18

And you would be THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD if you make it happen!

 

[Tuvalu]

Our monorail arrives. We hoped to have seat to rest our weary feet but it was SRO.

 

[Tuvalu]

Hello, majestic tree! You make a beautiful lobby even more stunning!

What's this? A gingerbread house with real smoke puffing out of the chimney!! Can you smell the yumminess?!

Garland makes the stairwell extra Grand.

A closer look.

My brother and sister-in-law love the chocolate dipped gingerbread shingles. When I texted him that one shingle now costs $9, he replied: "That's ridiculous. Pass. ****ed." Guess I won't be surprising him with a shingle or two after all.

 

[HakunaMatata89]

congrats, the gingerbread house looks awesome. Been there during the pop warner event before, everything was swamped

 

[Tuvalu]

You can probably guess park #2 from the title of this report. During the holidays, Disney's Hollywood Studios was Em's favorite park thanks to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. She LOVED the lights. She saw them every year from 2009-2015, with the exception of 2014 ~ that year I FaceTimed them to her.

We'd make sure to be on the Streets of America before the official flip of the switch, because the moment the lights were illuminated always took our breath away. Tears would well up in our eyes and we became Weeping Wandas. We savored the sight and sound and took our time exploring every nook and cranny that sparkled with light. It was the highlight of every Christmas trip. To this day, each time we hear Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 we are immediately transported back to the middle of New York Street.

We were heartbroken that last year was the final year for Osborne. Em didn't even want to visit DHS as we planned out our itinerary. For her birthday eve, she decided on Epcot for Illuminations. (MK was not an option due to MVMCP ~ and we have seen the Christmas parade and Holiday Wishes many times.)

But then the news of Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! appeared ~ and there was a dessert party! Though I've never seen the value of a dessert party, I thought this one would make for a nice birthday surprise. So the moment the phone lines opened, I spent 45 minutes on hold waiting to secure our spots. Would Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! become a new favorite? We couldn't wait to find out.

We had a private bus ride from the GF to the Studios.

The Studios tree is Em's favorite park tree.

 

[Tuvalu]

Our first stop once inside the park was Guest Relations. I needed to purchase a new Tables in Wonderland card and Em needed to pick up her Passholder Discount card.

I debated whether or not to purchase TiW again, since the price has increased and my AP alone now gives a 20% discount at many restaurants. But Woody encouraged me to go ahead, figuring that at worst we would break even.

Now the separate Passholder Discount card really irks me. First, if you purchase/renew an AP online shouldn't the card be mailed to you? Why make the AP holder suffer the inconvenience of waiting in line at a Guest Relations location? Second, why the need for a card at all? A simple tap of a MagicBand reveals AP status. You must show ID with each purchase to prove eligibility anyway.

Cards finally in hand, we discussed what to do next. We had a little time before check-in for Jingle Bell Jingle BAM!, but not enough time to wait in an attraction standby line. (My attempt to book a 4th FP at DHS was unsuccessful.) Then we thought.....PizzeRizzo!!

Em is not ashamed of her fondness for the pizza served at Pizza Planet. And she was happy to learn that PizzeRizzo would offer the same pizza she knew and loved. While we didn't want to partake of pizza before the dessert party (since we did not know what sweet and savory treats awaited us), we definitely wanted to check out the recently re-imagined restaurant.

The first thing we noticed was the larger ordering area.....which no longer has a high open ceiling.

There are fun details all over the restaurant ~ take time to notice! This display case is on the back wall of the ordering room.

Do kids meals come with these cups? If so, I may have to be a child on my next visit!

Are these T-shirts for sale? Em needs one!!!!

What cool surprises await at the top of the illumined staircase? The lights are in the stairs!!

 

[Tiggerish]

Now the separate Passholder Discount card really irks me. First, if you purchase/renew an AP online shouldn't the card be mailed to you? Why make the AP holder suffer the inconvenience of waiting in line at a Guest Relations location? Second, why the need for a card at all? A simple tap of a MagicBand reveals AP status. You must show ID with each purchase to prove eligibility anyway.

I find this irksome as well.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Now the separate Passholder Discount card really irks me. First, if you purchase/renew an AP online shouldn't the card be mailed to you? Why make the AP holder suffer the inconvenience of waiting in line at a Guest Relations location? Second, why the need for a card at all? A simple tap of a MagicBand reveals AP status. You must show ID with each purchase to prove eligibility anyway.

Completely agree, and posted something similar somewhere recently.

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Em is not ashamed of her fondness for the pizza served at Pizza Planet

Nope. Not in the least. That pizza is delicious! Don't give me that "flatbread" stuff! I want the greasy, doughy goodness!

 

[Tuvalu]

There is a mix of tables and booths in the large dining area upstairs. (Notice the checkered "tablecloths! ) The new design makes it easier to maneuver around when carrying a large tray full of food. There is additional seating outdoors on both the upper and lower levels. Clearly PizzeRizzo was designed to handle lots of guests!!

Is the cheerleader Rizzette? (Or is Rizzo embracing his feminine side?)

PizzeRizzo's nod to the Brown Derby, perhaps?

The notices in this case are hilarious! Enlarge the pic if you want a laugh.

I have saved the best for last. The reason the ordering area no longer has a two-story ceiling is that there is a new dining room on the second floor....Rizzo's Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall. And it is delightfully tacky!!

How can you not love the chandeliers, drapes and mirrored Disco Ball??!!!! I recently read an article about a small company in Louisville that makes 90% of all Disco mirror balls. One lady has been painstakingly gluing tiny pieces of mirror on different size balls for the last 40 years!!!! (And she loves her work!) Is it safe to assume that it is her creation hanging in Rizzo's Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall??

You can bet Em and I will be dining in the Banquet Hall in April!!!!

(@prfctlyximprct I know you were disappointed PizzeRizzo wasn't open on your last visit so I hope you enjoy the pictures in these two posts!)

 

[Tuvalu]

An interesting tidbit ~ while the upstairs restrooms at PizzeRizzo are just as tiny as they were when the restaurant was Pizza Planet, the downstairs restrooms are HUGE. And while you can enter/exit from inside the restaurant, you can also exit here:

Yep, it's a combo restroom!

 

[LadyBelle]

I love those charicatures on the wall. I'd totally buy one and hang in my office.

Adding Pizzerizzo to my list for next time.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

There is a mix of tables and booths in the large dining area upstairs. (Notice the checkered "tablecloths! ) The new design makes it easier to maneuver around when carrying a large tray full of food. There is additional seating outdoors on both the upper and lower levels. Clearly PizzeRizzo was designed to handle lots of guests!!
View attachment 183776

Is the cheerleader Rizzette? (Or is Rizzo embracing his feminine side?)
View attachment 183774

PizzeRizzo's nod to the Brown Derby, perhaps?
View attachment 183775

The notices in this case are hilarious! Enlarge the pic if you want a laugh.
View attachment 183773

I have saved the best for last. The reason the ordering area no longer has a two-story ceiling is that there is a new dining room on the second floor....Rizzo's Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall. And it is delightfully tacky!!

View attachment 183778

View attachment 183779

View attachment 183780

How can you not love the chandeliers, drapes and mirrored Disco Ball??!!!! I recently read an article about a small company in Louisville that makes 90% of all Disco mirror balls. One lady has been painstakingly gluing tiny pieces of mirror on different size balls for the last 40 years!!!! (And she loves her work!) Is it safe to assume that it is her creation hanging in Rizzo's Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall??

You can bet Em and I will be dining in the Banquet Hall in April!!!!

(@prfctlyximprct I know you were disappointed PizzeRizzo wasn't open on your last visit so I hope you enjoy the pictures in these two posts!)

Phil, Bill, Gil and Jill!!

Hmmm...

( start one minute in and watch for 30 seconds )

 

[Tuvalu]

Check-in for the dessert party began at 5:30 pm. Naturally there were earlybirds in line ahead of us! We were given our party wristbands

and our 3-D goggles

and watched the earlybirds rush in to claim their tables. Though you cannot tell by this picture, the area filled up very quickly.

Em and I worried that we would end up standing (and our tootsies really needed a rest!) Thankfully I spied an empty table in a corner and we staked our claim.

I sent the professional off to take pictures.