Trip Report (FINISHED) The Neato, Don't Go, Is She Crying Again Trip Report!

So, this report is a little late but to be fair, I had every intention of writing it during my winter break and just couldn't find time! But now that I'm back being a full time student, doing observations, and working, I seem to have plenty of time!

When: December 12-19

Where: Wilderness Lodge

The Cast: I'm Anastasia (the lost Disney Princess) I jádore all things Disney, especially Beauty and the Beast! Next, we have my older brother, Artie, who enjoys meeting the face characters (primarily the women). Finally, there is my dad who listens to my mom, and my mom who plans EVERYTHING!

Without further ado , let's begin!

The trip began not so bright and early. For the first time ever, we left after the crack of dawn, around 9ish or so with our flight leaving around 10:30. Goodbye New Jersey, hello Florida!

waiting at the airport


This picture reminds me! Just take a look at all of that magical leg room in front of me! Don't ask how it happened, but we got placed in this magical row at random and definitely lucked out!


In just two short hours we were landing in Sunny Orlando! The car service we always hire to pick us up arrived a few minutes after us, but soon we were on our way! Upon checking in, I realized the guy at the desk went to college at Montclair University, where one of my best friend's goes! It's a small world after all. We lucked out and our room was all ready for us. We were on the side of the hotel closest to the boat and on the second floor. The only downside to our room was our lovely view of a murky swamp that bubbled (pictures later).

checking in!




After checking in and settling into our room we were all ready to eat. I honestly don't remember what I ate but I do know that I had a s'mores cupcake (arguably the best snack in all of Disney). The only issue we had here was upon receiving our refillable cups. My dad's never got activated properly so we had to go back and fix it, but no big deal!



Fun Fact: my dad can't smile and take a selfie at the same time


Before heading out to MGM...um, I mean Hollywood Studio's, we went back to the room to change into warmer clothes. Upon returning to the room we realized my brother's "magic" band was never activated, so back down to the front desk!



It wasn't long until we were on a bus and on our way. I do have to say, the buses this trip were boiling! I'm talking sickenly hot temperatures. It was awful. But soon enough were arrived to our destination!

Up Next: A Perfect Evening

 

[party like it's 99]

Definitely following along. Great TR so far. It's great knowing there are people around my age with the same Disney obsession as me!

Where did you get your ears from? They're super cute

Thanks! I got them last January in Disney actually, but I didn't see them anywhere during this trip

 

[party like it's 99]

Great report so far!!

I'm friends with that friend of Elsa, she's amazing, stunning, and most of all amazing.

She's gorgeous! And she was so natural in her reactions, tell her we appreciate her being so kind and patient during her late night shift!

 

[DisneyFreakEst1994]

Thanks! I got them last January in Disney actually, but I didn't see them anywhere during this trip

Oh gotcha! They looked really similar to this pair I got custom made by someone off Etsy that's why I asked! haha

 

[party like it's 99]

Day 3!

Following our late night adventures we stumbled out of bed around 10:30, but that's why it's a vacation! We passed on breakfast and made our way over to Magic Kingdom for some lunch at the Harbor House! This is our favorite counter service to eat at in Magic Kingdom. The top floor is a welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets below.





Because we can't just walk anywhere without taking a picture (by this point I was hangry, and having no part in these pictures)


After lunch me and mom did a little window shopping in the stores behind the castle while the guys rode the TTA again. Then everyone wanted to leave...after sleeping in until 10:30...and being in the park a little over an hour...yeah, i know. Which is why I stayed behind alone! I"m not gonna lie, I was a little mad no one offered to stay with me, but whatever, their loss! The first thing I did on my solo adventure was, nothing. I sat an people watched for about a half an hour, which was actually great! Then I decided to make my way back to the Beauty and the Beast area to look around. It was in my slightly agitated window shopping spree that I impulse bought my new Chip mug (which I"m drinking tea from as I type). Sure it was expensive and the paint is already chipping off, but I don't regret it!

Then I somehow made my way behind Splash Mountain, because I think I forgot nothing was actually back there. It was here that I stumbled upon Jessie! When my brother and I were little we dressed up like Jessie and Woody for Halloween and saw Toy Story 2 in theaters multiple times, so I seized the opportunity! Right before my turn Woody came out!

This was probably my favorite character experience in a long time! They were just so nice to me, the lonely twenty year old who waiting alone in line to meet them. I just felt like they were so genuine and Jessie gave me the longest nicest hug, it was wonderful.







Then I noticed it was almost time for The Festival of Fantasy Parade! I ended up with a front row spot right on Main Street! I'll spare you from the millions of pictures I took, but I can honestly say I smiled the entire time. The floats and costumes were just so perfect! I loved everything about it! Not to mention, it's only right that Belle and the Beast lead the parade!

Thus concluded my first solo adventure in Disney.

Up Next - A Fantasmic Night!

 

[party like it's 99]

Day 3 - Continued

I made it back to the room just in time to leave again for Hollywood Studios around 4ish. We had a dinner reservation at Hollywood and Vine waiting for us at 5:45. Until then, we explored the main stretch and made our way to The Great American Movie Ride!



Let me just say, no one told me my ears were backwards until later than night when I discovered it after looking at pictures in the room.





I love this hat!






Our ride through the movies was good, nothing spectacular from our guide, but good. However, at the end during the movie montage I unexpectedly cried when "Good Morning Vietnam" appeared on the screen. It just caught me off guard.

After an emotional ending to our ride, we began to make our way over to dinner.





Dinner was good as usual (we love a buffet!).



After dinner, we made our way over to the street leading to Fantasmic and hit the stores along the way. After we walked through the shops, Artie and dad headed back to the room for the Eagles game (lame!). Since I was not at all prepared for it to be quite so frigid, my mom made Artie let me borrow his sweatshirt for the rest of the night.

 

[party like it's 99]

I have to say, Fantasmic is my favorite show in Disney, hands down, no competition. That being said, I took no pictures but took the moment in and enjoyed the show. Every time I see it I swear it's better than the last!

After we all filed out of the stadium my mom and I decided to take one last walk through the Osbourne Lights. We kept saying that we would leave after the next song, but then we started finding hidden Mickey's and other such stuff for the first time. We actually ended up staying there until the park closed! It was so so much fun dancing around and being silly with my mom! We always have little moments on every trip where we separate from the guys and make priceless memories (this was one of those nights). The nights where you don't take a lot of pictures because you're too caught up in the moment.

(I just took this same picture in Central Park the other day)


My last time seeing the hat at night, ever





On our way out we were desperately trying to look for something to drink but couldn't find anywhere to go! A cast member saw us and invited us into her closed store so we could buy a beverage for the road!

When we got dropped off at our hotel we went to the gift shop and bought some chips for the room and I bought a postcard to send to the daycare I work out.

All in all it was a super great day!

Up Next - Uh oh, mom's mad.

 

[Sudcaro- Sudcaro]

Love your report!

 

[party like it's 99]

Day 4

We started off our day with the great plan of going to Be Our Guest of lunch. On our past two trips we have eaten there so we understood up front that there was going to be a line, but we were ready! Once we arrive to the line we are hear some commotion around us, but pick our spot in line anyway. After a few minutes a cast member tells us that they are not accepting walk ins for lunch, only fastpass guests. Now, to my understanding, fastpasses are not meant to make any type of attraction an exclusive event. If they are going to do this, they may as well just open Be Our Guest for lunch reservations only, instead of pretending it's open to everyone.
WARNING: this is a long ranting story!
At this point, my mom tells us to wait in line while she goes to talk to someone (this was my mom's must do on this trip). She goes to talk to a cast member who tells her they will open the line shortly, no problem we'll wait! As she returns to line she begins talking to people behind us who talked to a different cast member who said the line will not be opening. Lovely. Now both my mom and the mom behind us are talking to another cast member, Drew, who said there was a list they could have been put on before our vacation to notify us when a fastpass was available. Fun fact: we were on that list, and every time we got the notification, the app was down so we could not grab it.

Now my mom is on the phone with costumer service to let them know that there was a mile long line of people who were extremely upset. The cast member on the phone said we could go first thing in the morning to get a fastpass; when my mom tells this to Drew, he denies it and says they never do that. Now, the lady on the phone tells my mom "ask for the manager of fantasyland" which I"m pretty sure is not a thing. So she asks Drew for the restaurant manager. Ten minutes later, Drew has not contacted anyone. Here enters Jessica, another cast member who offers to get the manager. At this point, everyone is done and we all leave.

The big issue about this wasn't that we couldn't get into the restaurant (which was an issue, just not a huge one), it was the attitude we received from the workers and the miscommunication amongst everyone we talked to. We should not have gotten different answers from literally every cast member. At this point, my mom is over the whole fastpass plus system and the workers who do not know how to handle it.

My mom and I ended up eating at Casey's for the first time ever (I know), I got the pulled pork dog and my mom got the chili cheese dog! We brought our food to Sleepy Hollow's where Artie and dad got waffle sandwiches. Next, we rode on Buzz (I beat my dad, which is a big deal!) and rode the TTA!





From here, mom and dad went back to relax by the pool while me and Artie to stay behind to watch the parade. Until then, we explored Magic Kingdom, caught the train in Toon Town, and got off at Main Street.



I love how they went right around this little guy







Before the parade we called my mom to ask if the emergency money she gave us would apply to buying ice cream. We got her blessing!





After the parade, we made our way back to the room to freshen up for dinner!

Up Next: my heart breaks

 

[Philhar-Fanatic]

I'm loving this report!

 

[party like it's 99]

After freshening up in our room, it was time to leave for our reservation at Ohana! It's important to know that for the first eleven trips with my family, up until last January, we have always stayed at the Polynesian, it's like home. Now, I had heard about the construction and was upset by some of the news but held out hope because, hey, it's Disney and they know what they're doing. Well one step off of the boat and we were all shocked. The beach is gone, the hill I was supposed to get married on is gone, and those ugly pavilions block the view for the rest of us.

In addition, if I spent all that money to stay there now I would be ed. Everything's torn up and there is literally construction everywhere; it's depressing. Can you imagine going there without knowing about the construction and showing up to that?! With all of this confusion, the check in area for Ohana was a mess! We eventually got seated at our table though, and all was well.





I present to you, the BEST picture ever!!! It just makes me laugh!


Somewhere along the line my brother asked the wrong waiter for a refill.


As usual, everything about the meal was delicious, and I can't wait to return!

Some of the lobby construction. We stuck the camera through the curtain (rebels!) and it just looks bare and boring.




Next, we rode the monorail to The Grand Floridian to look at the decorations. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: The Grand Floridian is gorgeous but I would never stay there. It reminds me of The Plaza minus NYC, which is strange to me.







We ended up buying some gingerbread shingles, and I bought a gluten free gingerbread for my boyfriend (who dumped me three days after Christmas, but I'm not bitter).

Once we were finished exploring we made our way back to Magic Kingdom for the night!

Up Next: The Most Magical Moment

 

[party like it's 99]

I don't have any notes about what rides we went on tonight, but that's because I was too excited to write about our experience (as though I could forget it!). We had planned on watching Wishes tonight, but ended up watching it behind Cinderella's castle; little did we know, this was the best decision we could have made.

So Jiminy's voice fills the air and the first firework blasts off. As each firework goes off there is a janitor cast member pretending to conduct the firework show with his hands. He clearly memorized the show and knew when to turn, which way to face, and where to point without missing a beat! While he was doing this, a girl with down syndrome (who was probably my age) was conducting it with him (clearly I started happy crying, because that's what I do)! They were both so into it, and he made sure to tell her when to turn and where to point before each firework, so she felt like she was really conducting the show. Afterwards, everyone around us (who had obviously been watching them) burst into applause! He then thanked her for putting on the show for everyone and went back to his job like nothing happened! My mom then went up to the girl and thanked her for putting on such a perfect show.

After the events earlier in the day, it was so refreshing and magical to see that there are cast members who truly love their job, even the janitors.

Before heading back to the room for the night we stopped at Sleepy Hollow's for a snack! I got an iced coffee float and oh my gosh, it was the greatest thing ever! However, I must say, service was very slow because the one cast member was too busy flirting with the customer in front of us.





That's all for tonight (I still have a chapter of social cognitive psych to read for tomorrow!). But here's a random picture from the room that night!

 

[party like it's 99]

I'm loving this report!

Thanks for reading!

 

[party like it's 99]

Love your report!

Thanks for following along!

 

[party like it's 99]

(I just took this same picture in Central Park the other day)

 

[Sudcaro- Sudcaro]

Still enjoying this report! Love the pictures.

 

[mrdrift]

The family seems to be having a wonderful time both in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studious. There is always a smile on everyone in the pictures. Just love the umbrella pictures with the lights in the back ground. The Grand Floridian is always beautiful during Christmas time. Following along.

 

[party like it's 99]

The family seems to be having a wonderful time both in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studious. There is always a smile on everyone in the pictures. Just love the umbrella pictures with the lights in the back ground. The Grand Floridian is always beautiful during Christmas time. Following along.

We definitely had a wonderful time! Thanks for reading!

 

[FlaggNL]

Thanks again! Love the Central Park pic in comparison to the Disney pic!

 

[party like it's 99]

Thanks again! Love the Central Park pic in comparison to the Disney pic!

Thanks, if you can't be in Disney they next best place is the city!

 

[party like it's 99]

Day 5

Okay before we went to bed the night before, we decided we weren't going to head out the next day until 4ish and just relax by the pool during the day. Well I took this as an invitation to sleep in and take my time starting the day. WRONG! So I wake up and mom and dad are no where to be seen. Out of curiosity I called them to see where they were and it turns out they were just eating breakfast outside by the pool. Feeling a little hungry myself, I put my bathing suit on and head down to meet them (it's like 11:30ish). Here they tell me they decided to leave around 2 instead, because they've already sat by the pool for a couple hours already! Welp, there goes two hours of my pool day (but really 2.5 hours because I need time to get ready). I ended up sitting by the pool by myself because everyone else was sitting around chatting at a table somewhere else.

Okay! Now that it's two o'clock we hopped on a bus and were on our way to Epcot! I forgot to write this, but up until last night Artie's "magic" band had not been admitting him into the park. It got to the point where it was almost comical because the cast member would raise there hand for help, along with every other cast member in line.

We went to Sunshine Seasons to split some meals to hold us over until dinner. Then we went off to the Epcot Ball, Soarin, and Living With the Land (random, but that was the order of our fastpasses). Also, after we rode the Epcot Ball we went to the art store nearby because Artie was looking to buy a print, but ended up not seeing anything.

Can we just pay mind to Artie's face






We had reservation at Germany that night, so we made sure to leave time to walk some countries along the way! First stop, Mexico!


As usual, exploring this pavilion was super fun! However, a robot on the ride was smoking up (but don't worry, we told someone!).

We were on our way but were stopped to make way for illuminations prep.




Once it passed we were on our way!



When we made it all the way to Germany, the line for check in was past the start of the pavilion. After twenty minutes or so to wait to put our name in, they ended up not being able to find us in their system. Since no one in our family has a smart phone, I was lucky to be carrying my ipod so I could look on our app for the reservation number. After another 15minute wait we were on our way in!





The people we sat with were really nice and fun, which is always good! Also, I didn't know "Silent Night" came from Germany, so I guess you could say it was an educational experience.





Once dinner was done we were on our way to explore the rest of the world! But let me just say, something I ate there was not meant to be.