Trip Report Grandma Joins The Resistance ... Dec 9-12, 2019

This trip report will cover our brief visit to Walt Disney World for the Christmas Festivities. For background .. my husband, Lou, and I are DVC members and previously made several trips a year to WDW. But we hadn’t enjoyed a good visit for a few years - both of us had health issues which affected our mobility, and we relocated our full time residence from Florida to Maine - which meant travel to WDW takes more planning!. We are both retired.

While still not 100% on the fitness scale, we wanted to get back into the Disney Bubble, and Christmas time is the perfect time. I planned this trip as a gentle re-introduction for us; just a few days, a few nice dinner ADRs, and the Candlelight Processional. This would be a ride-free trip - or would it? I was nervous about the trip, but started reading trip reports here in the forum, and that helped get me excited about our upcoming adventure.

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We arrived at about 3:30 pm on Monday, December 9th. We spent the previous night at the Embassy Suites in Portland, ME, and caught a 7:30 am flight. Our flights were good, and transportation from the airport was with Quicksilver Transportation. Our room was ready when we arrived and I was happy - my only request was a room close to the elevator. We scored 3009! Perfect ... oops, the Boardwalk numbers rooms from the END of the corridor. So we were the fourth room from the end of a very long corridor on the third floor. After a helpful discussion at the front desk, I learned that almost all of the one bedroom units are at the end of the building. How did I forget that? Oh well, we made the trek, had a lovely room, and it worked out fine.

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I forgot to take photos of the room, but we had a nice view of the Beach Club and the Yacht Club. Fair warning here ... one of the things I like to do at Disney is take photos, so this will be a photo heavy report.

Our first ADR was at Yachtsman’s Steakhouse, so we soon headed over to the Yacht Club. The silver lining for our room location - we were an Easy walk from the Swan and Dolphin, and Yacht Club if we skipped the elevator and just popped down the stairs to the outside walkway. We saw the start of a nice sunset when we stepped outside:

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We stopped to enjoy the views, and I have to say, we were enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.

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... continued in the next post
 

ELeigh

Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing, I am blown away by your photography it’s truly amazing. So glad you got to experience Rise of the Resistance it sounds like you had a great trip.
 

SharonD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Your TR has been a joy to follow along with. Thanks for sharing! :) And your photography skills are incredible!
Thank you for the nice words!
Loved your report, and photos. Looking forward to the next one
Thank you - can’t wait to go in the next trip. And, I am eagerly awaiting the rest of your report to read about your cruise.
 

SharonD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Absolutely loved your report! Beautiful photos and your touring style sounds so relaxing and fun. I tell my husband all the time that we could totally go to Disney and have a blast without riding any rides (or maybe just one or two). It's just a fun place to be no matter what you do!

Out of curiosity, do you have a favorite lens to use for your park photos? I've mainly been taking my very light-weight 28mm, and I'm wanting to branch out and try some different lenses. I tend to pack my 85mm, but don't take it into the park with me much.
Thank you. Our touring style has evolved over the years ... some by necessity. But we still manage to have a good time.

My favorite lens for this trip was the Sony FE 35mm f/1.8. So focal length not all that different from your 28mm. I also used my 24-105 mm some, but not as much as I expected. I will take a longer telephoto next trip for AK.
 

SharonD

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just reporting we are still on track for our 6 day trip to WDW at the end of April. Can’t wait.

Also wanted to mention a couple positive things in real life that were definitely influenced by this trip to WDW. First, I came back with a renewed commitment to improving my fitness level - I want to be able to walk more during a park day, and this trip showed me I can. No excuses for being a couch potato at home if I can walk 5-6 miles at Disney.

Second, I’ve recommitted to eating healthier, and have cut out lots of snacks and processed foods. I am even learning to cook so I can make healthier versions of the food my husband has been cooking for years. Of course, I might have jumpstarted my cooking lessons with these cupcakes (note, these are mostly sugar free):

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And finally, I am working on improving my photography and learning my new camera. I love taking photos at Disney, and missed a few years before this trip. So I am taking an online food photography course, and trying to get outside more to capture Maine in the winter.

Thanks for indulging me as I shared a few ways a Disney Trip has influenced life in the real world. I will leave you with one of my recent favorites - Stitch enjoying new snow!

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oufpat

Member
From one Grandma to another, thanks for sharing, and good for you on your success with Rise of the Resistance! We plan on attempting this in May when we visit with our son and daughter-in-law and August with our daughters and grand-kids. We love our DVC!!!
 

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