Trip Report Another Jolly Holiday ~ JOY From the World ! *COMPLETED*

At the conclusion of my last trip report
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/a-jingle-bam-birthday-completed.922901/
I ended with To be continued....

Well, here's the continuation. Though to be fair, the trips were totally different and not connected in any way except they both included Me (yep, a humble one I am!) And for the second time in a year, I left WDW only to return a week later. I am very grateful that I can visit my favorite place as often as I do and am honored that y'all follow along.

I booked this trip on a bounce back offer while vacationing last year:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/its-a-jolly-holiday-completed.909445/

And this year I may have booked a bounce back offer for December 2017. Okay, I did book. But my love/hate relationship with traveling in December and a few unknowns for the fall may cause me to cancel. Time will tell.

Ready to read about our latest adventures? There's DRAMA . And ELEVATOR COOKIES . And maybe even a RED CARD .

Dates: December 10-15, 2016
Resort: Disney's Wilderness Lodge (duh....it's Christmas!)
Cast: Tuvalu and Woody

Who's in?

 

[Scoppin]

I'm not sure. I can't imagine Em and I wouldn't have noticed it the week before. Em was shocked when I texted her that picture. But if we did miss it, I know for a fact the fountain had water during my October visit.

I can ensure you there was water in the fountain in September. So, what did they do with Fuzzy Bear and Gunzo?

 

[disneyfirstLJ]

Really fun trip report. Loving it!!

 

[Tuvalu]

So, I am catched up! Thanks for sharing, a more than great report!!

Good to see you back, @FlaggNL!

Late to the party but great so far

No one is ever late...welcome!!

Really fun trip report. Loving it!!

Thanks for reading, @disneyfirstLJ!

 

[Tuvalu]

Love your foggy pictures! Especially the boat dock!

It was a little creepy, like things had vanished! Perhaps the 999 happy haunts had gotten loose!

I can ensure you there was water in the fountain in September. So, what did they do with Fuzzy Bear and Gunzo?

Hopefully Fozzie and Gonzo are safely stored until the water returns!

 

[amjt660]

It was a little creepy, like things had vanished! Perhaps the 999 happy haunts had gotten loose!


Hopefully Fozzie and Gonzo are safely stored until the water returns!

Not sure if this was discussed but they probably had to drain the water because of the Streets of America de-construction
A water supply pipe is either being re-routed or temp shutoff.

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Not sure if this was discussed but they probably had to drain the water because of the Streets of America de-construction
A water supply pipe is either being re-routed or temp shutoff.

Max

I wondered if this might be the case.

 

[Tuvalu]

Wednesday (con't)

About a month prior to our trip, I read of a new Prix Fixe lunch offering at one of our "old" favorite restaurants. It had been a long time since our last visit and the menu sounded good, so I searched for an ADR. Today was the only day with availability so I booked it.

This shot of Woody should give you a clue as to which park we went to after we left MK.

And the following pics will clue you in as to which restaurant:

Each country in World Showcase is beautiful in its own way. Canada wins the landscaping award hands-down. I cannot imagine how magnificent the real Victoria Gardens must be if this is a miniaturized version. We always stop by to admire, as the plantings change with the seasons. Christmas is certainly elegant, but spring (during Flower and Garden Festival) is the ultimate!

I want to inhabit the stone cottage!!

Look at all the colors and textures!

Shall we go inside?

The next artsy photo is courtesy of Woody.

 

[Tuvalu]

Le Cellier was a staple in our dining rotation.........until the restaurant went signature. (Though tempted to launch into a diatribe of how the DDP ruined Disney dining, I'll refrain.) We usually went for lunch as there were several reasonably-priced and delicious choices ~ the Montreal Chicken sandwich, the steak salad, the French dip, the burger with Black Diamond cheddar....thick-cut fries....a cup (not bowl) of cheese soup....oh how I miss them! Even when word leaked out about Le Cellier being a hidden gem and ADRs became impossible to get I always managed to snag one.

But going signature meant good-bye to the lunch menu and doubling prices. So it was good-bye Le Cellier for the Tuvalu family.

Until today.

Woody really likes the intimate ambiance and the architectural details.

We were seated at a private booth in the corner. I can't remember which "section" of Canada we were supposed to be in.

Here's a look at the special Prix Fixe menu.

At $49/per person (plus tax and gratuity) it was the most expensive lunch Woody and I have ever eaten. But considering that an a la carte steak is $49, this was a good value in comparison.

And it was worth EVERY LAST CENT (or should I say dollar)!!!!!!!!! By far, this was our most favorite meal of our vacation. The food was phenomenal and the service top-notch.

What better way to begin a meal than with pretzel bread?!!!

Oh yeah, there's sourdough and a whole grain thingy too....but what's the point?

What's better than pretzel bread? Pretzel bread dipped in CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP!

This soup ranks #2 behind Chicken Corn Chowder for me. I have the recipe for this soup and have made it many times ~ and it tastes like the original.

Both of us ordered the beef tenderloin as our entree. The steak cut "like butta".

It should come as no surprise that we also chose the same dessert ~ Chocolate Mousse Maple Leaf

DECADENT!

There aren't enough superlatives to describe our meal. I HOPE HOPE HOPE this Prix Fixe menu stays around awhile!

 

[MinnieM123]

That meal looked awesome! And there's nothing wrong with eating "dinner" at lunchtime. Everything you had sure looked like a dinner to me, so I don't really think of the $49 + as a lunch. To me, that would have been my main meal of the day. (I don't spend much on food when I'm at WDW anyway, but you two often eat at the nicer TS restaurants--so in that situation, the $49 isn't all that high.)

 

[Tuvalu]

Our afternoon was another opportunity to just "be." We listened to the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs.

We wandered through the U.K. We were moving slowly and I was lost in the moment when I was suddenly startled by a proper "Excuse me, miss!" I turned to discover a very quick-walking Mary Poppins (and her handler) on her way backstage.

"You scared me Mary!" I practically shouted.
"I didn't mean to frighten you, but I am in a bit of a hurry," she replied.
"I'm sorry I was in your way," I responded.
"Have a jolly day!" she chirped.
And then she was gone.

As we approached the International Gateway, we decided a relaxing boat ride would be fun.

Perfect outdoor seats!

Wonder why there's a giant crane behind the Beach Club?

Exterior painting on the Boardwalk.

Guests got off but we stayed on. If not for the Chocolate Mousse, we might have paid a visit to Ample Hills!

Lots of work on the Villas.

 

[Tuvalu]

That meal looked awesome! And there's nothing wrong with eating "dinner" at lunchtime. Everything you had sure looked like a dinner to me, so I don't really think of the $49 + as a lunch. To me, that would have been my main meal of the day. (I don't spend much on food when I'm at WDW anyway, but you two often eat at the nicer TS restaurants--so in that situation, the $49 isn't all that high.)

You are absolutely right! And it was our main meal of the day.....sorta .

 

[Sillysidewalker]

Oh my that meal looks good. I need to break the character meal chains on our trip in December. I'll just stick the kids in the corner with a vat of that cheese soup. That would keep them quiet

 

[Tuvalu]

We planned to catch the WL bus from the Studios. As we neared the tree, we saw a lonely Photopass photographer.

We put her to work.

A magic shot with actual magic!

The bus was waiting for us ~ we've had great fortune with (non-monorail) transportation this week!

Back at the lodge, not only was the elevator STILL BROKEN, but there weren't any CMs around.....and even worse, NO ELEVATOR COOKIES!!

Then I did something at Disney which I have not done in a long time.
I took a nap.
A long nap.
And it was glorious!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Naps are a regular part of our Disney routine. We like to put on the resort tv with the instrumental music. My husband calls it the nap channel.

 

[Tuvalu]

Naps are a regular part of our Disney routine. We like to put on the resort tv with the instrumental music. My husband calls it the nap channel.

The nap channel, I love it!!

 

[LadyBelle]

I love Woody's shirt! "The Place to Chill" indeed.

 

[DisneyJeff]

Wonder why there's a giant crane behind the Beach Club?

In Disney, a crane could mean one of two things:
1) They are putting up / taking down Christmas lights.
or
2) More DVC!!!

 

[amjt660]

In Disney, a crane could mean one of two things:
1) They are putting up / taking down Christmas lights.
or
2) More DVC!!!

Stayed at the Yacht Club from Dec 23-30
We thought the room renovations would have already started but were happy to hear they were starting in 2017
Might have something to do with the crane

Max

 

[Scoppin]

Must - show - restraint - can't -give -in - to - the - urge - to -comment ..........

Max

Just a question, and sure will receive comments as you, but who is the naughty one: the one who posted the picture causing some to have naughty thoughts or the one who stated what most may have been thinking???

Just throwing it out there.

 

[amjt660]

Just a question, and sure will receive comments as you, but who is the naughty one: the one who posted the picture causing some to have naughty thoughts or the one who stated what most may have been thinking???

Just throwing it out there.

Yeah, Yeah , what he said.

It was entrapment if you ask me!!!

Max