Fisheyes and Fantasyland: A December 2012 TR

Hey everyone! I’m currently counting down the days until my next trip to WDW (11!!) and decided it was time that I cranked out another trip report!! You may remember me and my husband, @misterhowe, from our previous trip report, http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/first-trip-as-adults-and-were-hooked-a-dec-2011-tr.834141/ which was our first trip as adults!! After that trip, an addiction was born that seems to be unstoppable. I have to fess up to something though…. I’ve been back to the world three times since that first trip in December of 2011 and I haven’t written any more trip reports… until now!! You may remember that after our first Christmas trip, Austin surprised me with a spring trip, which I plan on going back and writing a trip report for as well. I also traveled to WDW in Sept/Oct with my sister for the Tower of Terror 10-miler and Epcot’s 30th!! But today, I’ll be sharing with you our second annual Christmas trip!!

Since our last trip report, Austin and I have swapped roles—he is now a full time student and I have to slave away at work every day so that we can feed this fabulous addiction. Sadly though, we are currently living 1400 miles apart!! Austin is attending UPenn in Philadelphia and I am still living in Louisiana due to work restraints. But this separation made our trip that much more magical! It is extremely tough living apart, but having Disney trips to look forward to help the time pass by more quickly. Plus, what’s better than being reunited with your favorite person and your favorite place at the same time?! Anyways, on with the trip report!!!

Details: Dec 19-23 at Kidani Village; ADRs at Jiko, Chefs de France, and Kona Café

Austin and I had been counting down the days until we would see each other again since Thanksgiving weekend. The holiday season is definitely the toughest time to be apart for us, because we LOVE everything about Christmas. In fact, while Austin was home for Thanksgiving, we decorated our first Disney themed tree… which I am quite proud of!! We made all of the Disney ornaments!!


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Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr

Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr

Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr

My last day of work before the trip, I even sported a Disney Christmas scrub top!


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So after a few lonely weeks it was time to go soak up as much holiday magic as we could in 5 short days. I flew in from Dallas and Austin from Philadelphia.


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Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr

The flights could not go by fast enough, but luckily, I ended up sitting next to two women who were also on their way to Disney! We chatted throughout the flight about our favorite resorts, restaurants, and parks. It was so much fun to talk with other Disney lovers in person! I love the boards, but there is something reassuring about meeting people in person who are as crazy about Disney as I am!


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I arrived at MCO with no problems and made my way to the Magic Express. Austin’s flight had arrived several hours before mine, so he checked us into our room and went to DTD for lunch at Earl of Sandwich. I texted him that I was on my way and he waited for me in the lobby.

 

[Howe]

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I got off the bus, practically ran in to the lobby, and saw my super handsome hubby sitting on a couch! Happiest moment ever!! I could’ve cried right there. But I was quickly distracted with how beautiful Kidani was and couldn’t wait to see our room!! Speaking of our room, this was our first time renting DVC points, which we did through David’s DVC request. We rented a Savannah view studio and had no problems at all! Austin took me to our room, which was literally about as far away from the lobby as you could get, but we didn’t mind too much. I walk so many miles a day at work that this didn’t bother me.



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I have to say, one very minor downside to staying DVC is that you only get one set of toiletries! I didn’t realize this, but luckily we had packed plenty of everything we needed. I love the H20 products though. I like to bring them home and take a whiff whenever I’m missing WDW!



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I seriously loved our room, it was beautiful. The savannah view was really nice, but we didn’t get that many animals out by our room. I’m not sure if it was the cold weather, or just that we didn’t spend a lot of time on the balcony. I still absolutely loved our room though!!


Next Austin and I exchanged our Christmas gifts! He got me this extremely awesome Erin Condren planner, with pictures we’ve taken at Disney on the front and back!



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Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr


He also got me another gift, but you’ll see that later in the report. I gave Austin his gift, a Rokinon fisheye lens, which is one of the namesakes of this trip report. Austin had really wanted this lens so he was very excited to get it!


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I purchased a olloclip before this trip so I had a fisheye lens too!


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[Howe]

After opening our gifts we walked over to Jambo House to get something to eat for me since Austin had already eaten. We went down to the The Mara, which seemed to have an incredibly confusing ordering process. You walk up the counter, but then someone in front of the counter writes down your order? I honestly didn’t ever understand it, even once they explained it to me. But that didn’t matter, because I had some delicious food!! I got the Chicken Flatbread , which was soooo good, and some zebra domes which I so graciously shared with Austin. Both were absolutely delicious.



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Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr


After I finished eating, we were headed to Epcot.

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We quickly arrived at Epcot to see the most glorious sight… SSE!! Austin quickly put his fisheye lens to work and barely gave it a break the whole trip… hence the name of the TR!

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The line for SSE was short-to-non-existent, so we hopped on.

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Fountain of Nations by misterhowe, on Flickr


After our ride through history, we went to Mexico. In fact, we had a very Mexican night! We started with a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour followed by an avocado margarita from La Cava del Tequila (YUM!),

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[Howe]

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Next we headed over to Norway to visit some trolls.

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It was getting kind of late, so we grabbed some nachos, churritos, and dos equis to split at La Cantina de San Angel. There were no tables available on the patio, I guess because Illuminations was starting soon, but we snagged a table by the Mexico Pavillion.



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We loooove these nachos and the churritos were fab too. I could definitely go for some of these right about now. After eating, it was about time for illuminations, so we grabbed some more drinks from the margarita stand and staked our spots.



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Untitled by misterhowe, on Flickr


Illuminations is a really emotional show for me! As we were watching, I was thinking about how approximately one year ago, I was watching this show for the very first time and falling in love with WDW! Now, here I was on my fourth trip in a year, and Illuminations stirs up the same emotions I had the very first time I saw it.
Since the past few months had been very different for Austin and I, the lyrics hit home even more. Making the decision to live apart was a very hard one, but it was necessary for us to reach our goals. Austin supported me through grad school as I dreamed of my educational goals and my career, and now I am supporting him as he does the same…
“We can see a new horizon
built on all that we have done
and our dreams begin another
thousand circles 'round the sun
We go on
to the joy and through the tears
We go on
to discover new frontiers..”
I am tearing up now just thinking about it! After spending a semester apart, we had made it through and were in our favorite place again—with each other. This song will forever hold a special place in my heart.

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Illuminations in Red by misterhowe, on Flickr
After the show we were both exhausted, so we waited out the crowds a bit and then headed back to Kidani!


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[disneysince71]

Thank you for sharing! Great pics

 

[Bethany M]

Loving it so far!

 

[Howe]

Thank you for sharing! Great pics

Thanks for following along! More to come soon

 

[Howe]

Loving it so far!

Thanks Bethany! Working on more now

 

[Howe]

Day Two: Magic Kingdom and New Fantasyland!
Today MK had morning EMH at 7am, so we were up very early and waiting at the bus stops all alone. I loved the Christmas decorations at Kidani… even at the bus stops!

We arrived at MK and took some time to soak in the magic.

Next we were on our way to New Fantasyland! We grabbed some FPs for Peter Pan, and then got in line for Little Mermaid. Since it was early there was virtually no line, so we didn’t get much of a chance to photograph the queue, but it was beautiful. The ride itself, not as good. I love the music from Little Mermaid, so that aspect was very enjoyable. The ride was by no means bad, just sort of a let down after the beautiful exterior!!

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[Howe]

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Next, we ducked into Gaston’s for breakfast! The area around Gaston’s really looks great, and the cinnamon and LeFou’s brew were delicious!! I know there has been some debate about LeFou’s Brew, but I really enjoyed it, and actually prefer it over butterbeer (which is also delicious).

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[disneysince71]

Great pics...

 

[Howe]

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We may have gone a bit overboard with the Gaston pictures, but what can I say, Gaston LOVES attention!


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Next we went and used our Peter Pan FPs. I love this ride, as Peter Pan is one of my all time favorite movies, but I wish it was at least twice as long!!

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[Howe]

After Peter Pan, we made our way towards my FAVORITE Disney attraction…. Haunted Mansion!!! I absolutely love this attraction, as do many of you. I could seriously ride it over and over and over. I may just do that on the first day of my next trip!!

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[Howe]

After Haunted Mansion, which no other attraction can live up to in my humble opinion, we hit a few other favorites, beginning with BTMRR. Austin got some fun in-ride photos on this one.

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[PolynesianPrincess]

Love the TR so far Courtney! A fisheye lens is next on my list!! They produce such unique and cool photos

Kidani is beautiful. We went there last May to go to Sanaa. AKL was actually one of the choices for our 3 nights after our cruise in Sept (we're renting points as well) but we actually went with Bay Lake Tower. Would love to stay at AKL eventually though. The lobby there is breathtaking.

I hear ya on the emotions that Illuminations stirs up. I never really liked it as a kid as much as I liked SpectroMagic, but over the years it has grown on me. I love the music and I ALWAYS tear up at the end during the big music when the globe opens. I even tear up when I'm listening to the music in my car... I'm such a loser!! lol

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[disneygirl1]

Loving your report so far! We are staying at Kidani for the 1st time in June!

 

[KappleB2]

Cute pics on BTMRR! I love pictures of life as its happening, not just posed

 

[LeCellier.Lover]

Absolutely LOVING this trip report! I'm mesmerized by all the pictures, they're so great!
Props to you guys for being able to be so far apart from each other. But don't worry, as a college student currently going to college in Philly as well, I can assure you that the city is probably treating you husband well, very nice city!
Can't wait to read more, you guys and your in-ride pictures are adorable!

 

[tiaragirl]

Love this TR so far! You're both so cute - it makes brings me joy that you A) have taken to Disney like a pro and B) are apart for school and work but still happy campers. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

 

[George]

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing.