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.

 

[MissViv]

Monday, December 23

DHS was not the only park to open at 7am during our trip. Today began the 7am EMH Christmas week openings for MK and Em and I wanted to get ahead of the crowds. I woke in the 5 o’clock hour and was out the door at 6am to pick up breakfast in the food court.

@lindawdw, it was POURING. I ended up walking alongside different buildings to minimize my time in the rain. I was so thankful it wasn’t raining that hard yesterday morning when we were waiting to enter DHS....we would have been drowned rats for sure!

Curious as to what the food court looks like guest-free?

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You’re welcome!

I filled Em’s mug with coffee and picked out two muffins, which were still warm. (That’s one benefit to being in the food court while everyone else is still asleep!) I took the convoluted walk back to our room in an effort to remain as dry as possible.

Meanwhile Em was up and ready to start our day!

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I bought the Christmas Spirit Jersey Em is wearing when we were there in Nov. Love all the gingerbread mickeys on it!! Em needs the gingerbread ears!!

 

[lindawdw]

Aww, it's too bad that it was raining again this morning but hoping that it cleared up some by the time you reached Main Street! Your chocolate Muffins looks scrumptious! I love Em's holiday sweatshirt.

 

[Doc Disney]

(And her new ornament kept her smiling all Christmas season!)

That is my favorite decoration too and I also got the ornament this year Well - I got a lot of ornaments after the very strong cocktail I had at the Christmas Tree Trail! I like the "We Couldn't Resist the Resistance"

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Em and I took that same convoluted walk to the bus stop as it was still raining hard.

The intensity of the drops had lessened (but hadn’t stopped) by the time we got through the gate. @lindawdw I wrote in my notes: Bipolar weather day. If you keep reading you’ll soon see why.

Em proclaiming a rainy day in the MK is still better than a day at home!

We decided to cut through the Emporium to avoid the standing water on Main Street.

Evidence that no one spends precious EMH time shopping!

There’s the sight we’d been waiting for!

 

[Tuvalu]

As we approached the hub this caught my eye ~

@brifraz ‘s daughter got better pictures of the rainbow than I did. (Sorry we didn’t see each other!) And unlike in the days of Noah, this rainbow did not signal the end of the rain.

Arty Pooh.
“And the rain rain rain
came down down down....”

Look at all the Sleeping Poohs that had arrived since my visit with Woody!

 

[Tuvalu]

Pooh was the only attraction we were able to do before EMH ended. As we wandered into “newer” Fantasyland, we had the place to ourselves.

It’s so nice to see some decorations beyond Main Street!

#ShirleyStatus

 

[Tuvalu]

When we exited Mermaid it was raining with a vengeance! Though we tried to avoid puddles, our sneakers and socks were quickly soaked through. (Remember what I’d said about wet feet?)

We attempted Buzz Lightyear but noticed folks getting out of line (ride must have gone down) so we diverted to the Peoplemover. Notice how wet Em is!

The car we were assigned was wet too. The roof above was leaking.

Em was just glad to be out of the downpour.

The final MVMCP was the night prior, so many of the party enhancements ~ special music and lighting for both the Speedway and Space Mountain, Christmas parade and fireworks ~ were now available for all guests. As we zoomed past the TRON construction we could hear Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Wizards in Winter being blasted from speakers located along the Speedway.

Which prompted Em to “play along.”

However this was her facial expression after riding through the anxiety-inducing Christmas overlay of Space Mountain.

Needless to say, there’d be no riding Space Mountain for us this trip!

 

[Tuvalu]

Buzz had reopened. And for the moment the rain had stopped.

Both Em and I were Planetary Pilots. Not our finest efforts.

 

[Tuvalu]

It was sprinkling again so we decided to browse Star Traders. Browsing became buying. Em picked up a new cap, I succumbed to the Castle leggings I’d admired for awhile, and we splurged on matching Spirit jerseys. Merry Christmas to us!!

Em wanted to ride the Speedway with the special lighting. A dark, gray morning would be perfect for experiencing the colorful effects.

But as luck(?) would have it, the sun came out as we entered the queue.

Em and I shared a car. She’s wearing her new hat.

She had to practice her international driving skills, as the driver’s seat was on the right and she had to press the gas pedal with her left foot. Combined with the wet track and our inability to really see the special lightning (the whole reason for going on this attraction) we could only laugh as we put-putted along.

A different view of the TRON construction.

Weird sun!

It wasn’t the ride we thought we’d have but we still had fun!

 

[Tuvalu]

How we spent the next hour.

#1

The back of Em’s new cap. Proof that WDW is the most Magical (not “Happiest”) Place on Earth.

At the end of the ride, my name was on 2 of the 4 screens.

#2

#3

@Longers we remembered to Look Left! Look Right! & NOT YET!

 

[Tuvalu]

Crowds were really picking up and we wondered if the early rains had delayed their arrival. As we navigated our way back through the narrow corridor between Peter Pan and IASW (which was now nearly shoulder-to-shoulder people) we overheard a woman pushing a stroller say: “See, Mom? Peter Pan only has a 7 minute wait.”

Obviously she’d missed the 0 after the 7!!

We joined the FP queue for Haunted Mansion. I noticed the wreath on the front door (sorry the pic isn’t better) and wondered if it is always there or was special for the holiday season. Help, @tonystark?

In the mirror scene at the end, Ezra the skeleton ghost removed his top hat and bats flew out! We’d never seen that happen before and loved it!

The Muppets Great Moments in History had returned with special presentations during the busy holiday season. Em and I made sure to catch the 11:05am show. Sam Eagle told the story of Paul Revere’s ride.

Flying streamers!

It’s sad that this show got slashed in a budget-cutting move and only “operates seasonally.”

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Sorry about a rainy day, but Em is right. A Rainy day at MK beats a Rainy Day at home!!

How we spent the next hour.

I didn't look closely and thought you spent a whole HOUR on IASW!!!

Glad YOU didn't wait in the 70 minute line for PAN!

It’s sad that this show got slashed in a budget-cutting move and only “operates seasonally

What a bummer!

Very cool about the wreath on the front door of HM! And I'll be on the lookout for BATS!

 

[Tuvalu]

A quick walk on the newly-widened path next to the Castle led us back to Fantasyland.

We had a lunch appointment in another castle.

The check-in kiosk at Be Our Guest was empty like last month and a CM on the bridge was scanning bands to confirm ADRs. Since we had pre-ordered our food we were sent down the left side of the bridge and into the foyer to the registers.

A CM at the register reviewed our order aloud and asked if we wanted to make any changes.

“I’d like to add a strawberry cupcake,” said Em.

“We no longer have strawberry cupcakes,” the CM replied. “They’re lemon meringue.”

I saw the dejection on Em’s face. (Can you relate @Mickey Waffles?) In protest I cancel the Master’s cupcake I’d pre-ordered.

In happier news, Em found us a table near the Christmas tree.

And we were close enough to watch the snow fall.

While we waited for our food to be delivered we checked wait times on the app.

No denying that the Christmas crowds had arrived!

We shared the turkey sammie as usual. It was very good.

But Em was still bummed about the loss of the !

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody and I had missed the Christmas parade the night we attended MVMCP and now I had the opportunity to watch it in the daytime. The parade route began in Frontierland so Em and I hustled to Town Square in order to see it all!

We stood near the rope handlers. They controlled when guests could cross the street without endangering performers.

Once Upon A Christmastime is a delightful parade!

 

[Tuvalu]

Do I Remember the Magic?
Yes, yes I do.
This float is over 20 years old!

This one isn’t.

Forky!

Prepare for an onslaught of Toy Soldier and Reindeer pics! ❤ them!

The big man himself concluded the parade.

 

[Tuvalu]

Next Em and I went into Town Square Theater to the PhotoPass Service Center, where a very patient CM located several pictures that never showed up in my MDE account.

To reward Em for her patience, I bought her a Mickey M&M Rice Krispie treat from the Confectionery, which she enjoyed while people-watching atop the train station.

The weather was (temporarily) gorgeous, and we soaked in the sunshine and Christmas ambiance.

A bipolar weather day indeed!

We ventured back to Fantasyland for the umpteenth time to use our final FP.

Last car on Mine Train! And we weren’t pelted by rain!

To save our sanity, it was time to say goodbye.
Christmas crowds 1.
Tuvalu and Em 0.

 

[Mickey Waffles]

“I’d like to add a strawberry cupcake,” said Em.

“We no longer have strawberry cupcakes,” the CM replied. “They’re lemon meringue.”

I saw the dejection on Em’s face. (Can you relate @Mickey Waffles?) In protest I cancel the Master’s cupcake I’d pre-ordered.

[/QUOTE]

Ohhhh, noooo!!!! My fear has been confirmed- that is terrible news. I’m so so sad. I can totally relate to Em being bummed over the loss of the !! It was one of my favorite Disney treats. (I will hold out hope though that one day it will make a triumphant return! )

 

[tonystark]

We joined the FP queue for Haunted Mansion. I noticed the wreath on the front door (sorry the pic isn’t better) and wondered if it is always there or was special for the holiday season. Help, @tonystark?

I just scrolled through my frankly embarrassing number of pics of HM searching for one of that exact angle. No dice. However. I did zoom in on a few pics to find these - which look perhaps wreath-like, and they were taken on August 30th 2018.

 

[MinnieM123]

That Christmas parade looked so cute!!

 

[Tuvalu]

I just scrolled through my frankly embarrassing number of pics of HM searching for one of that exact angle. No dice. However. I did zoom in on a few pics to find these - which look perhaps wreath-like, and they were taken on August 30th 2018.
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Thank you! And after seeing your pics, I remembered why I took mine ~ the wreath looked “new” (as opposed to decaying) and had gold and silver accents (holiday-ish). I need to pay more attention on my next visits!

That Christmas parade looked so cute!!

I was thinking of you when I saw Minnie (not kidding).