Trip Report It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas! *COMPLETED*

The soothing croon of Michael Bublé kept reverberating in my mind as I pondered starting yet another trip report. Like summer, the Christmas season makes me happy. Going to WDW during the Christmas season makes me VERY HAPPY. The joy of sharing my trips with my WDWMAGIC friends makes me happier still. Thank you for the encouragement to keep on writing!

Holiday Vacation #1
When: November 16-23, 2019
Where: Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Who: Tuvalu and Woody

Looky! I finally got a Magic Shot!

Okay, so it’s a bit creepy. But it leaves no doubt that this was a CHRISTMAS trip.

In mid-November.

But hey, we had Halloween in August!

And yours truly was very excited to experience Christmas decor at the resorts and in 3 of the 4 parks. (Epcot was still in full “Food and Wine” mode.) It wasn’t always this festive in November. We’ve been this same week in the past and outside of MK, there was very little decorating completed. I was so disappointed the year we stayed at WL (very close to turkey day) and missed out on the holiday stuff. I was worried the same thing would happen again. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Woody, on the other hand, is a “Let’s celebrate Thanksgiving before shifting our focus to Christmas” kind of guy. Growing up, his family did not put up their tree until CHRISTMAS EVE. (Can you imagine?!!) Over the years he has mellowed, thanks to my influence, and better tolerates the Christmas creep. Yet I was concerned that his inner Scrooge might reveal itself during this vacation.

I needn’t have worried. But I’m getting ahead of myself again.

Our week consisted of some new experiences and old experiences....some frustrations....some drama (of course!)....and a very magical meet.

Stay tuned.

 

[Tuvalu]

End of April by chance?

Not when your travel buddy can only go Easter week....

First week of May, by any chance?
Yes? Maybe?

Maybe.

HOW. HAVE. I. MISSED. THIS??? I have A LOT of catching up to do!
Nothing brings holiday cheer like a Tuvalu TR!

Happy Holidays!!

 

[MissViv]

Love Your Trip Reports!!!!

 

[MissingDisney]

Not when your travel buddy can only go Easter week....


Maybe.


Happy Holidays!!

I shall be on the lookout!
We were there at the same time last spring break, too, but your park schedule seemed to be one day behind ours. I kept looking for you to score a coveted card!
We’ll need to synchronize our schedules this time!

 

[Tuvalu]

I shall be on the lookout!
We were there at the same time last spring break, too, but your park schedule seemed to be one day behind ours. I kept looking for you to score a coveted card!
We’ll need to synchronize our schedules this time!

Feel free to PM me.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

I finally made it through security and met up with Woody.

What a marvelous sight! So festive!

Can’t claim #ShirleyStatus here. Woody just managed to get me solo.

When I’d planned the itinerary for our trip I did not know today was someone’s birthday.

CMs were passing out celebratory buttons to guests. Did we see the Big Cheese on his special day? Keep reading.

We had missed our first scheduled FP but I’d managed to modify it while on the bus. We had some time until FP #2 and decided to wait standby for something up @tonystark ‘s alley.

But first....

❤❤❤

 

[Loco_driver]

My older brother shares a birthday with Mickey Mouse! He doesn’t find it nearly as interesting as I do though!

 

[Swissmiss]

I love your Tiki bird top.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I love your Tiki bird top.

I was thinking the same thing!!

 

[Gabe1]

And always glad to see you!


My observation of IKEA resemblance in the room was more about style, functionality and storage, not quality.

I agree. The values are just that, motel 8. Serves a purpose but bare bones. I can often stay at Bonnet Creek or Swan with same privileges of Disney owned resorts for less than the cost of Disney Value resorts. I needed to add a day due to weather in September and booked Pop. Upon checking in they moved us to the Coronado on Disney. They escorted us by their WDW van. Relief. We just are home from Disney FQ and we were upgraded.

Not a closer room to main building. Some bonuses to being frequent flyers.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

After two days of gray, dreary sky it was great to see some Florida blue! Although a foreboding sky might be more appropriate for a picture of the Haunted Mansion, I like the contrast here.

I also liked the absence of a line. We moved quickly through the queue.

Does a mysterious stranger place a daily rose on Master Gracey’s tombstone?

Woody and I were turned away from entering the foyer with the group ahead of us, so we were first to enter when the doors opened again.

When you are one of the first to enter you get to watch the aging portrait of Master Gracey over the fireplace in its entirety, which is very cool.

Our ride photo never showed up (and I promise we did nothing inappropriate!) Those playful spooks must have made it disappear.

We stopped to look at the pet cemetery and noticed Mr. Toad had been moved to the center.

I received a notification that FP #2 attraction was down and we’d received a multiple experience pass. Hoping to ride FP #2 later, I decided to hang onto the ME for now. The park was definitely busy, so I suggested we standby a people-eater. We made our way towards Pirates.

 

[Loco_driver]

Our ride photo never showed up (and I promise we did nothing inappropriate!)

Blame it on the playful spooks!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I booked a bounce back offer for spring

I hope you aren't repeating the Spring Break drama of earlier this year!

Woody and I climbed aboard our private bus. It had that “new bus smell.” We were marveling at the new features (like charging ports) and as I started to take a picture the driver offered to take one of us. He was excited to have passengers!

Very cool that you ended up on your own bus! Sweet of the driver to take your picture! I'm not sure I've ever been on a completely empty bus before! Smart of you to take the bus then transfer! A lot of not so experienced Disney peeps wouldn't know to do that!

Does a mysterious stranger place a daily rose on Master Gracey’s tombstone?

Cool! I've never noticed!! But I'll have to look for it!

 

[Tuvalu]

Blame it on the playful spooks!

Well we do live in a time of “It’s not my fault.” Someone else must take the blame!

I hope you aren't repeating the Spring Break drama of earlier this year!

But what would a good trip report be without a little drama?

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

When we got to Pirates the line was queued outside the attraction door but we tapped in anyway since we figured we could handle a 30 minute wait. I mobile ordered lunch to pass the time.

Fifteen minutes into our wait we had not moved at all. There weren’t many people bypassing us in the FP lane so it’s possible there were ride issues inside. But we were tired of standing still so we bailed in favor of an early lunch.

I pressed I’m Here as we exited because we did not have far to go.

Pecos Bill Chicken Rice Bowl BT (before toppings)

Woody ordered the same and was off getting his toppings when I snapped the pic.

We sat in our usual location. The lunch rush hadn’t yet begun and we liked the extra space around us. It was quieter too.

We really enjoy the rice bowls here....even with having to pay extra for the . (And those of you who disdain it can save a little .)

I checked the app after lunch and discovered the attraction we held our ME pass for had reopened.

Yikes! 90 minutes! Good thing we have a FP!

Except this was the FP line.

But BTMRR is worth it, amiright @Longers?

I was happy to see the cave water effect was working again!

Woody may not be my ultimate BTMRR companion, but we had a fun ride!

 

[lindawdw]

YAY...I was so happy to see that you posted another TR!!! We just got back from a 5 night stay at Pop Century and had a wonderful stay there with no noisy neighbors around us, although as you rightly said, that can happen at any of the resorts! I can't get over how crowded the parks seem to be this time of year during your stay. We were very lucky last week with low crowds for the most part. We really enjoyed taking advantage of the Skyliner to Epcot and DHS too. Even with the park crowds, you always seem to make the most of your trips to Disney and just enjoy being around the magic.

 

[Tuvalu]

YAY...I was so happy to see that you posted another TR!!! We just got back from a 5 night stay at Pop Century and had a wonderful stay there with no noisy neighbors around us, although as you rightly said, that can happen at any of the resorts! I can't get over how crowded the parks seem to be this time of year during your stay. We were very lucky last week with low crowds for the most part. We really enjoyed taking advantage of the Skyliner to Epcot and DHS too. Even with the park crowds, you always seem to make the most of your trips to Disney and just enjoy being around the magic.

Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed your stay at Pop and had low crowds at the parks.

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody and I criss-crossed the park a lot today which is atypical for us. After BTMRR, we made our way over to Fantasyland....

.....for this sentimental favorite....

....where confusion reigned at the FP entrance.

We waited a long time. No question MK was busy today! Then I remembered it wasn’t a party night, so those without park hoppers were taking advantage of the longer park hours.

The screens weren’t magically personal at the end.

Our tootsies got a little break as we merely walked across the way to our next attraction.

Of course we had to fight the madness to get there!!

Off to Neverland!

 

[Disstevefan1]

Irreverent to what the Disney number crunchers say about attendance, this year at least for the days I have been at WDW parks, it’s felt the most crowded in all the years I have been going.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

But what would a good trip report be without a little drama

Those do make for the best adventures and reports!!!

Woody may not be my ultimate BTMRR companion, but we had a fun ride!

WHAT???????????? He doesn't love BTMRR as much as you and Em?


Eating at off-peak hours is the only way to survive the parks!

 

[Tuvalu]

Irreverent to what the Disney number crunchers say about attendance, this year at least for the days I have been at WDW parks, it’s felt the most crowded in all the years I have been going.

Agree.

WHAT???????????? He doesn't love BTMRR as much as you and Em?

My ultimate BTMRR companion is @Longers.