Trip Report Mele Kalikimaka WDW Adventure 2015-COMPLETED

Aloha! My name is Len and this is my first trip report here in a forum. I've been an avid Disney park fan for most of my life, but have never visited any of the locations during the Christmas season. My wife and I, along with some friends, were finally able to rectify that this past year. Come along as you take the journey with us from Hawaii to far off Orlando. I'll be stopping off for a bit at Universal Studios first to take a look at the Harry Potter attractions. If you stick with me, I promise we'll get to Walt Disney World in good time. Before I begin, I wanted to share with you one of my first photos from the Magic Kingdom after closing...

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

We had reservations for the California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort at 7:30 pm. Our plan was to have a leisurely meal with our friends and then head to the terrace for the fireworks show. Since I had a little time, I took my camera around the grounds of AOA to take some photos of the huge character statues. You don't realize how big this resort is until you've walked around the grounds a bit. Due to time constraints and old age (haha), I only had a chance to shoot the Little Mermaid and Lion King grounds. Really wanted to see Little Nemo and Cars, but it wasn't meant to be...

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Lion King Grounds @ Art of Animation 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

The Little Mermaid area...

The Little Mermaid Grounds @ Art of Animation 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 12 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 10 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 11 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 13 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Art of Animation Little Mermaid 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Gabe1]

I've heard many people on the forums saying the exact same thing...they prefer the lobby prior to remodeling. I'll have to look for some pictures to see how it looked...I can imagine it was beautiful.

My opinions are really that of a noob! I think Hollywood Studios was great, although I know it's a shell of its former self. See what happens when you only visit WDW every 10 years or so...haha!

There is no better expert of the Poly than @tikiman He has been a member here for so many years and is well known for his inside information on all things Poly. The go to dude. He comes on when 'things' are a happening. He has his own website and has some amazing photos archived before the construction or destruction, which ever way you view it. It is a wonderful website.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/

 

[Gabe1]

I really liked the ambiance of the place, but even our ice cream was sub par...LOL! But very true @Jae99 , we could have just hit an off day. I enjoy a good Tomato Bisque, so I may give it a try if we ever get back there!

See, I think the hype of social media has made Beaches & Cream into something it really was never meant to be. It was intended to be a quick sit down for resort guests to grab a quick meal or ice cream in a more upscale fast arena. Now resort guests are hard pressed to eat there which is disappointing. I blame the dining plan, lol.

What a great shot!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

There is no better expert of the Poly than @tikiman He has been a member here for so many years and is well known for his inside information on all things Poly. The go to dude. He comes on when 'things' are a happening. He has his own website and has some amazing photos archived before the construction or destruction, which ever way you view it. It is a wonderful website.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/

Thanks for the link @Gabe1....very cool and informative!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

See, I think the hype of social media has made Beaches & Cream into something it really was never meant to be. It was intended to be a quick sit down for resort guests to grab a quick meal or ice cream in a more upscale fast arena. Now resort guests are hard pressed to eat there which is disappointing. I blame the dining plan, lol.

I was rather surprised how small the place was, so your comment makes a lot of sense!

 

[MinnieM123]

Thanks for the link @Gabe1....very cool and informative!

Tikiman's site is excellent; he's had it for many years now. Also, I believe he is a member of the WDW Magic forums as well.

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Tikiman's site is excellent; he's had it for many years now. Also, I believe he is a member of the WDW Magic forums as well.

Totally agree @MinnieM123! And this forum is the bomb!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After finishing up photographing the grounds, we heading to the Contemporary for our dinner reservations at the California Grill. We went a bit earlier so we could check out the hotel and shops. I had to get a close up look at the Mary Blair mural since she is one of my all time favorite Disney artists. Her mastery of colors and stylized approach always amazes me. I never realized for the longest time what an impact her art had on the Disney animated classics as well as the theme parks. There were some bakers/chefs working some tables around that area with various goodies for sale. I was tempted, but wanted to save my appetite for our meal. At the designated time, we headed to the restaurant for check-in at the reservation counter.

Netti @ Disney's Contemporary Resort 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 00 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Upon entering, I was blown away by the design and look of the restaurant. I had seen photos on the internet prior to our arrival, but experiencing it in person was even better. We were quickly seated and handed menus. Earlier at lunch, Sue and I split the meal of burger, fries, and shake, partly because we didn't want to feel stuffed prior to dinner. It's a practice we ended up sticking to for our entire stay at WDW! I normally prefer ordering my own dish (and not having to share), but it really worked out well for us. Besides saving on money, it left us leaving the restaurant feeling satisfied with maybe wanting just a little more (which is a good thing). By not stuffing myself to the hilt, I was able to indulge in the occasional snack or treat.

Disney's California Grill 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 0000 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Our friends Kelly & Colleen, along with their daughter Erin and her newlywed husband Jesse, joined us for dinner. Although we planned the trip together, we found out fairly early that it was nearly impossible for all six of us to stay together. Our philosophy was get together when possible, but be flexible so folks can do what they want without worrying about the others in the group. Meals and reserved shows were two of the times where we all were together, so it made these get moments even more special. Sue and I decided to split a Dragon Roll, a Caesar salad, and the Oak-fired Filet of Beef. The waiter was kind enough to split up our food on separate plates, so we didn't have to portion it out ourselves. Besides making it less messy, this kept the presentation classy and appealing! I had to laugh when our steak entree arrived. The portion was small to begin with, so cutting in half...well....I remember Kelly looking at it and saying "Is that all you're eating?". I took my first bite and could not believe how tender and moist the beef was...it literally melted in my mouth. This was the one time I wish we had not split our meals...LOL!

Kelly & Colleen @ Disney's California Grill by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Jesse & Erin @ Disney's California Grill by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue & Len @ Disney's California Grill by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

I'm not a big dessert guy, but I was so impressed with the food that I had to give their sweets a try! Sue ordered the Sundae Sampler, while I took a swing at the Chocolate Pudding Cake. We were 1 for 2 as the sampler was incredible, both in presentation and taste! All three items were great...not too sweet and very unique. My cake wasn't bad, but as a chocolate lover, it didn't do much for me. The meal ended with some coffee and small talk. I took this time to shoot a few photos of the restaurant before heading out to the balcony for the fireworks show.

Disney's California Grill 11 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Fireworks from the Terrace @ Disney's California Grill by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's California Grill 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After leaving the Contemporary, we all headed back to our respective hotels to get ready for our 1st full day at a Disney park. Magic Kingdom ended up being our destination, mainly because that was the day we were able to secure reservations for lunch at Be Our Guest. Fast passes were the order of the day as we got into the park, with the 1st two at Pirates and Splash Mountain. Our 3rd was for Seven Dwarves Mine Train, but that wasn't until 8:00 in the evening (the earliest would score online).

Walking though the turnstiles for the first day at a Disney park always strikes me as a bit surreal. It seems like you plan and wait for eons (in our case it was almost 16 months), and suddenly the moment comes when you're actually standing in theme park nirvana. This feeling is probably lost on annual pass holders and locals, but for a guy from Hawaii, it ranks right up there with buying your first car, turning 21, and sitting in a dark theater waiting for "The Avengers" to start...LOL! Sue had decided to sleep in a little late, so I entered into MK by myself, planning to meet her later in the morning.

While a lot of folks are scurrying to rides and attractions, I like to stroll through Main Street and peruse the shops. Along the way I'll grab a hot cup of coffee with a pastry and fine some out of the way area to sit down and soak in Disney. From there I'll head to Cinderella's castle and let fate (actually more like my fast passes) decide which land I'll journey to...

Cinderella's Castle-An Afternoon Peek 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Main Street Confectionary @ Disney's Magic Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Candy Treats Detail on Main Street USA by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Freshly Baked Goods on Main Street by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Horse & Trolley on Main Street USA by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Horse & Trolley on Main Street USA 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Wreath on Main Street USA by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr


Because we were in the Magic Kingdom, this meant trying one of those cinnamon waffles from Sleepy Hollow restaurant. So neither fate nor fast pass could override my stomach's directive to head to Liberty Square! The dessert was hot and crispy and dusted with a generous sprinkling of sugar cinnamon powder...maybe too generous! I was cleaning that stuff out of every crevice known to man.

Liberty Square-Frontierland Sign @ Disney's Magic Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Liberty Square Entrance @ Disney's Magic Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sleepy HollowFunnel Cake with Cinnamon by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Taking advantage of Liberty Square, I headed to a showing of The Hall of Presidents. The Lincoln show at Disneyland is one of my favorites (and no, I don't mean as a snooze break), so having all the head chiefs on one stage was nirvana. In the past, I had always wished I could snap a photo of this attraction, but when cast members would say "No flash photography", I had assumed it meant no photography period. This is because I didn't think it possible to take this picture without using a flash! After learning it was possible using "fast" glass and manual settings, I was like a hungry bear ready to attack a thick juicy steak!

The Hall of Presidents @ Liberty Square 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Hall of Presidents @ Liberty Square 07 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Hall of Presidents @ Liberty Square 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Hall of Presidents @ Liberty Square 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Gabe1]

Our friends Kelly & Colleen, along with their daughter Erin and her newlywed husband Jesse, joined us for dinner. Although we planned the trip t The portion was small to begin with, so cutting in half...well....I remember Kelly looking at it and saying "Is that all you're eating?". I took my first bite and could not believe how tender and moist the beef was...it literally melted in my mouth. This was the one time I wish we had not split our meals...LOL!

Oh dear. That little sliver of meat. Smaller than an appetizer. Good thing you ordered dessert.

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Oh dear. That little sliver of meat. Smaller than an appetizer. Good thing you ordered dessert.

I think you're being generous with the term 'sliver"...

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After the show, I moseyed on back to Main Street to meet Sue. I ran into the Main Street Trolley singers performing Christmas songs decked out in their holiday outfits. It's this attention to detail that makes Disney the undisputed king of theme parks.

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 10 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 12 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Performers @ Magic Kingdom 2015 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue snuck up me during the musical numbers. Wives are like ninja warriors sometimes, silent, swift, and sweet. After my heart attack had subsided, we went to redeem our fast pass for Pirates of the Caribbean. I always feel short changed on the WDW version. It's missing the whole Louisiana bayou queue which is a key element at the Disneyland attraction. The jump from present time to a past filled with pirates is very jarring and abrupt. Those early missing scenes are not there for window dressing. Everything Disney does has a specific purpose that contributes to a total immersive experience. This helps the audience except the transitioning in a smooth and natural manner. POC is such a key E-ticket ride that I cannot understand why it wasn't given the full blown treatment (space could not have been an issue). I feel the same when I ride Tower of Terror at DCA.

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 07 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 09 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pirates of the Caribbean @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[dukeaboy]

Wow...your pics are insane!!!

 

[joshsprincess921]

LOVED the Cali Grill pics!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Wow...your pics are insane!!!

Thanks @dukeaboy...I sometimes think I'm insane for taking so much pics!

LOVED the Cali Grill pics!

Mahalo @joshsprincess921! That food makes all pics look decent...

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

A little after noon, we made our way to Fantasyland and the Be Our Guest restaurant. The place was packed with people waiting for their names to be called. We had about a 15 minute wait which gave me the chance to check out the details at the entrance, as well as (of course) snap a few photos. After our number was up, we went inside to the self ordering podiums loaded with the menu. I ordered the carved roast beef sandwich and Sue went with the Braised Pork. Not sure what the others ordered but I know one of them had the turkey sandwich. Inside was even more amazing with the ballroom and its artistic ceilings the highlight of the restaurant. We were assigned a table in one of the side locations...the one with Beauty and the Beast figures dancing in the middle of the room. Much to my dismay, I had the wrong settings on my camera so failed to get any decent shots, other then a few grainy photos. Both my wife and my meals were surprisingly bland and mediocre. Not sure what it is that failed to hit the mark (maybe we were both still remembering last night's dinner at California Grill), but we were a surprising 1 of 3 in terms of a great meal (Beaches & Cream being the other disappointment). Not to worry, as this was the last time a Disney meal would leave us less than satisfied. Nonetheless, I still had a great time and I would go back again with no questions asked. The Imagineers really outdid themselves putting this restaurant together. The lighting, the design, the scope, the colors....no stone was left untouched.

Be Our Guest Restaurant Entrance Sign by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Entrance @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue & the Lion @ Be Our Guest Restaurant 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Megan @ Be Our Guest Restaurant 2 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Order Station @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Order Station @ Disney's Magic Kingdom 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Be Our Guest Restaurant Detail 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

After lunch, we wanted pictures in front of the Christmas tree. This one is of Jesse, Erin, Colleen, and Kelly. Unfortunately the one of Sue and I came out blurry (the focus was behind us). That's a common occurrence when handing off cameras sometimes...

The Shishido Clan @ Be Our Guest Restaurant Ballroom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

From there, we headed to Gaston's Tavern for some LeFou's brew (our dessert for lunch, so to speak)! On the way we passed Maurice's Popcorn cart which I dug because it reinforces that you're in Belle's world. Nobody does immersive theming like Disney (although Universal is giving them a run for their money with the Harry Potter areas). Gaston's turns out to be another winner. I love this little place almost as much as Be Our Guest. The fountain of LeFou and Gaston is to this eatery, like Cinderella castle is to Fantasyland, or the Tree of Life to Animal Kingdom. So iconic and eye catching...you are automatically drawn to this fountain. The line to meet Gaston was so long that we sadly passed. Looking back, I really regret that decision (so no pics of Gaston in person). Once we had LeFou's brews in hand, we found a table inside to sit down, relax, and enjoy the A/C. I like both this drink and the frosty Butter Beer at Hogsmeade, but I give the edge to LeFou's because it's slightly less sweet (mileage may vary). I took a few shots, but the dining area was very crowded. I did go back later that night to photograph the fountain at night. When I peeked into the tavern, it was totally empty except for a few workers cleaning up. I asked if it would be okay to set up my tripod and take some pics. The staff was totally cool with that and told me to have at it!

Maurice's Amazing Popping Machine by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Statue Detail 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Statue Detail 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Fountain by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Fisheye View by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Service Counter by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Cast Member Ready to Serve by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Dinning Area by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Gaston's Tavern Dinning Area 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After we had finished up at Gaston's, we made our way to Splash Mountain for our fast pass ride. For the first two days at Orlando, we were blessed to have beautiful weather. Sunny but breezy during the day and pleasantly cool in the evenings. I had packed a couple of jeans and long sleeved wear, but cargo shorts and t-shirts were my choice of dress for the majority of the trip. After stopping to take a photo of the exterior, we headed inside for one of my favorite rides.

Splash Mountain Exterior 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Our last fast pass was the much anticipated Seven Dwarves Mine Train. It's a fun ride, not on the level of Big Thunder Mountain, but enjoyable enough. The scenes of the dwarves are well done, although very short. I actually like the ending the best with a peek into Snow White's cottage. I was lucky enough to be in the front cart for two of the four times, so I had a chance to take some decent shots of the Old Hag.

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Ride Outside View by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Mine Scene 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Mine Scene 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train White Old Hag (Daytime) by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train White Old Hag (Nighttime) by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr