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...

 

[fractal]

Great job with the shots of DeVine and Festival of LK!

 

[blreinsel]

I cannot get enough of your TR! Your pictures, as everyone else has said, are phenomenal! I need you to make regular trips to Disney so we can have regular TR's.

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Great job with the shots of DeVine and Festival of LK!

Thanks @fractal for your always kind words!

I cannot get enough of your TR! Your pictures, as everyone else has said, are phenomenal! I need you to make regular trips to Disney so we can have regular TR's.

Thank you @blgauger! I'm glad you're enjoying the TR. I'm hoping to get back to WDW when Avatar and Star Wars are finished. I would love to shoot more of AK and Epcot at night. I am heading to Disneyland in July, but this is a WDW forum only, right?

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

It was late afternoon by the time we headed to the bus depot. I'm not sure if I took this pic here, but I love how even the soda machines are appropriately themed to the resort/park. The graphic design is simple and eye catching, but it reinforces the immersive experience.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Beverage Dispenser by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue and I checked out of AOA and moved on to our next resort...The Cabins at Fort Wilderness. I wouldn't advise booking this place, unless you have children or are sharing the room with another couple. Being as it was only Sue and I, it turned out to be an expensive one night stay. Regardless of the cost, it's a place I wanted to experience at least once in my life...LOL! The bus ride was fine...it was when we got dropped off that the confusion began. We had a hard time finding the front desk office and had to ask several resort guests which direction to head (the sun had set, so it was getting dark). We had a sleigh ride booked in less than an hour after arriving to the campgrounds, so we needed to get settled fairly quick. When we called the operator for information, she said we needed to take another bus to get to the sleigh ride! I could not believe it and asked to speak to a supervisor. Short story long, we eventually found the check in counter. The cast member, assigned to drive us to our cabin, kindly waited while we dropped off our bags so she could drive us to the sleigh ride location! Sue and I waited a few minutes until our driver pulled up in the sleigh. From there, our personable guide drove us around the property where we got to see the Christmas decorations put up by the various campers. Being from an island, the ideal of driving cross country and spending the holidays at a campground is almost surreal. But also totally cool...I would jump at the chance to do it one day. Unfortunately, I have no photos of us in the sleigh as the person taking the photos did not focus (not his fault, my camera's focus button is on the back, not on the top). I took some of the campers' decorations, but nothing that came out half way decent. My reading audience (if any) will have to make due with photos of the restaurant and surrounding areas. Oh yeah, we got a "free" commemorative pin which I had to sign for...so at least I can post a pic of it.

Tri-Circle-D Ranch @ Disney's Fort Wilderness 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Tri-Circle-D Ranch @ Disney's Fort Wilderness 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Crockett's Tavern by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Meadow Trading Post @ DIsney's Fort Wilderness Resort by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Holiday Sleigh Rides Signage by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Holiday Sleigh Ride 2015 Pin @ Disneys's Tri-Circle-D Ranch by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Here is another of those perfectly themed soda vending machines throughout WDW. Disney's attention to detail is legendary and these coin gobblers prove that point perfectly. Check out the graphics on this machine at Fort Wilderness:

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Cold Beverage Dispenser by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

I took a couple of more, but I wish I had been more serious about photographing all the different designs throughout the parks.

After the sleigh ride, we picked up some grub from the Trail's End restaurant which was mediocre at best. The cast member at the register was a bit gruff taking our orders, so that didn't help. Back at the cabin, we ate our late dinner and unwound by watching...the Disney channel..LOL! While I would never stay here again (due to the cost and there being only two of us), I have to say the cabin room was fantastic! Tons of room, kitchen, living room, and that rustic touch that's dear to my heart!

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Interior 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Interior 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Interior 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

In the morning, we did our obligatory exterior photos and passed on breakfast, wanting to save our appetites for Epcot!

Good Morning from Sue @ The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr


Check Out Morning @ The Cabins @ Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

As the sun slowly rose, coloring the morning sky in hues of orange and yellow, we began our hike through wooded mountains and deep, blue lakes...anxious to make our way to the magical land know as Epcot. Okay, not really, we hopped onto a bus like a million other guests and daydreamed about coffee and a pastry.

Epcot! My wife's favorite park (although surprisingly, Hollywood Studios gave it a run for its money), and quite possibly, mine too. Buyer beware, we spent almost zero time in the lands, and pretty much hung out in World Showcase. Nothing against the other areas, but we love everything about WS and the assorted countries. Time is again the culprit, not enough of it. The first thing we did was head straight to Starbucks for our fix of caffeine and to also pick up one of the park exclusive mugs. We already have two Butter Beer and two Cabana Bay Resort mugs, so hey, gotta add to our illogical cup collection. Although I must admit, the purchasing of the four Starbucks mugs was my idea. Sue is great, a total non-collector. Me? I've had collector issues since I was a child. My Olszewski Disneyland collection is a small testament to my craziness...

Olszewski Disneyland Main Street Collection 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Olszewski Disneyland Main Street Collection 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

And for the record, here is the Epcot mug...

Epcot Coffee Mug from Starbucks "You Are Here" Collection by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

AKL is gorgeous, and I agree that AKL and WL are the two most beautiful resorts now at WDW. Haven't stayed at either one for about 5 years (due to price), but they are my top two dream resorts. Your interior photos are incredible!

You're so right about the prices @MinnieM123! I don't think I would stay at these deluxe resorts if I was able to visit WDW more than once every 7 years or so. I try to rationalize that it's worth the money since we don't come often, but it doesn't help ease the sting of the check out bill!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Our fast passes for the day included Test Track, Spaceship Earth, and a Meet Disney Pals Character Spot thingamagigee. I guess you can guess the last one wasn't a big fave of mine. Nothing against Mickey and pals, but not a real big fan of those characters (I do have a soft spot for Donald Duck, but you hardly ever seen the dude around). Turns out that the photo op (here and at the other parks) with Mickey ends up being one of the best things we did...LOL! The process is handled smoothly by CMs and I really dug the studio backgrounds.

Sue & Len @ Epcot's Spaceship Earth 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Thumper & Flower in Disney's Epcot Gardens 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue, Mickey, & Len @ Epcot Character Spot 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Test Track was fun as always! Although I do miss the crash test dummies scene, I can see why the "Design Your Car" queue would be real popular with the young crowd.

I love Spaceship Earth and was looking forward to photographing those dark interior scenes. Have to say, the ride is looking a bit aged and is in need of some updates. I don't want them messing with the overall educational emphasis, but I imagine it's a snoozer for a lot of the younger crowds....haha!

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 00 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 09 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spaceship Earth @ Disney's Epcot 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

We interrupt this trip report for our Sunday comic strip from Len & Dennis...

Lil' Keiki #3 Inside Front Cover by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

As mentioned in the Universal portion of this TR, Sue always gets a kick out of trying on hats. Now, she hasn't ever actually purchased one (and probably never will), but for that one brief moment in the shop, my wife is the Mad Hatter supreme! I'm actually quite reluctant to try on hats nowadays since someone told me about the high possibility of catching head lice. In Hawaii, we call these little buggers "ukus". I told Sue that story and she's thinking about bringing a shower cap to Disneyland in July...LOL! I told her if she's gutsy enough to put the cap on in shop, I'll buy her a dozen hats! Being that WDW is massive, Sue found quite a bit of head wear to model on her head. I even created a special Flickr album called "The Mad Suehatter".
We're already planning what stores to hit in Anaheim so we can add pics to her album collection. These particular Star Wars hats were found at one of the shops near the beginning of World Showcase...

The Mad SueHatter 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Mad SueHatter 09 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Mad SueHatter 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Mad SueHatter 11 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Mad SueHatter 13 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Who says you can't have some FREE fun at Disney...LOL! Of course, lice treatment can be expensive, so scratch my prior comment.

I wanted to head to good old USA to watch The American Adventure and listen to the Voices of Liberty perform holiday carols. That building always takes my breath away when entering and regret not using my fish eye lens to take some shots, but that was about par for the course. Once the audience had settled in, Voices of Liberty gave an amazing performance that brought tears to my eyes. Okay, maybe I'm being melodramatic, but their singing was sensational!

The American Adventure Stage @ Epcot by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 07 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Voices of Liberty @ EPCOT's World Showcase 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Once the performance finished, everyone made their way into the theater for "The American Adventure". The inside of the theater falls in line with the rest of the building...an impeccable combination of architectural design and creative energy! I think I might be more fascinated with the statues representing the qualities of what made America great. The show itself is both informative and visually amazing, but I wonder how much longer these types of attractions will continue to reside at Disney parks. Shows like this, Lincoln, and Carousel of Progress are becoming increasingly archaic and uninteresting to today's generation raised up on video games, blockbuster movies, and the internet. Smart phones seem to get more attention in the few minutes before the start of the show than the attraction itself. Change is inevitable, and Walt Disney embraced this fact of life, but I wonder if he would have been a little sad at the passing of these type of shows.

Show Entrance @ Epcot's The American Adventure by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure Theater @ Epcot by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure Theater @ Epcot 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure @ EPCOT's World Showcase 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Revolutionary Soldiers @ Epcot's The American Adventure by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure @ EPCOT's World Showcase 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure @ EPCOT's World Showcase 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure @ EPCOT's World Showcase 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure @ EPCOT's World Showcase 09 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

I really regret not taking photos of all the Spirit statues. I also should have included the bases with the corresponding descriptions. Another bone headed mistake that came back to bite me!

Spirit of Individualism @ Epcot's The American Adventure by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spirit of Heritage @ Epcot's The American Adventure by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Spirit of Independence @ Epcot's The American Adventure by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The American Adventure Theater @ Epco2 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[MinnieM123]

Wow. More outstanding photos! And I really like the beautiful costumes on the singers. I've only been to WDW in the spring, and I think the singers wear a bit lighter costumes (yet, still the old-fashioned, traditional style). The costumes you photographed seem to have more of a "winter" weight to them; they're just gorgeous.

 

[Jae99]

Excellent pictures once again. My daughter must be not the average tween Disney fan. While she loves all the more thrilling rides, two of her favourite attractions are Spaceship Earth and Carousel of Progress. It was one of my proudest moments when we walked out of COP after her first time watching and my daughter gushed over how much she loved it.

 

[fractal]

Great SSE and AA pics!

I love Voices of Liberty.

 

[blreinsel]

Thank you @blgauger! I'm glad you're enjoying the TR. I'm hoping to get back to WDW when Avatar and Star Wars are finished. I would love to shoot more of AK and Epcot at night. I am heading to Disneyland in July, but this is a WDW forum only, right?

We look forward to that. This may be a WDW forum, but we certainly appreciate good DLR reports, too! Or at least I do! I like to get ideas of the "must dos" for when I eventually visit !

 

[ShookieJones]

Dude...let me just point out what is already obvious:
Pics are ridic! Wow!

What makes them even better is that @fractal now thinks he needs to step up his game! What does that mean? Even more great pics from another BA photographer for us to view. Competition is great for everyone.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Drooling over your AKL pictures. One day, I will stay at that resort! Mark my words! So beautiful!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Wow. More outstanding photos! And I really like the beautiful costumes on the singers. I've only been to WDW in the spring, and I think the singers wear a bit lighter costumes (yet, still the old-fashioned, traditional style). The costumes you photographed seem to have more of a "winter" weight to them; they're just gorgeous.

Thank you @MinnieM123 ! Yes, the costumes of the singers were impressive. It just goes to show how meticulous Disney is when it comes to the details.

Excellent pictures once again. My daughter must be not the average tween Disney fan. While she loves all the more thrilling rides, two of her favourite attractions are Spaceship Earth and Carousel of Progress. It was one of my proudest moments when we walked out of COP after her first time watching and my daughter gushed over how much she loved it.

You know @Jae99, not having any children, my perceptions are very limited and probably tunnel vision at times. I'm glad that your daughter loves both those attractions. Looking back at my post, I really sound like that grumpy old man who is cynical and condescending...GULP! My apologies to everyone...

Great SSE and AA pics!

Thanks as always for your support @fractal!

I love Voices of Liberty.

Me too!

We look forward to that. This may be a WDW forum, but we certainly appreciate good DLR reports, too! Or at least I do! I like to get ideas of the "must dos" for when I eventually visit !

I hope to do one for Disneyland. Have you been there before @blgauger? I imagine getting to DL for east coast folks is just as challenging as west coasters getting out to Florida. Heck, being in Hawaii, getting anywhere is a challenge!

Dude...let me just point out what is already obvious:
Pics are ridic! Wow!

What makes them even better is that @fractal now thinks he needs to step up his game! What does that mean? Even more great pics from another BA photographer for us to view. Competition is great for everyone.

Big Mahalos @ShookieJones! @fractal is being a gentleman, his photos are on a different level!

Drooling over your AKL pictures. One day, I will stay at that resort! Mark my words! So beautiful!

I hope you get to experience AKL soon @prfctlyximprct! I would love to hear your feedback on that amazing resort.

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After the American Adventure, we made our way to the Land pavilion to do the "Living with the Land" boat ride. You know how there's always one scene from a ride that stays with you for years and years? An image that somehow embedded into your very psyche? For me, it's that farm scene with the golden sunrise bathing the land in hues of golden yellow. If I could live in one scene from a ride, this would be it (although the boat scene at the end of Splash Mountain is a close second). Looking back at that statement, my love of Disney maybe getting serious... :laugh:

Living with the Land @ EPCOT 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Living with the Land @ EPCOT 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr


Living with the Land Farmhouse Sunrise @ EPCOT 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

We headed back to World Showcase where we found ourselves 90% of the time while in Epcot. Even with that, I wasn't able to visit half the countries represented there. We stopped off first at Mexico where Sue wanted to try a Mango Margarita. While the brain freeze was painful, my wife said the drink was delicious and told me to give it a try. Now, alcohol isn't my thing and the strongest thing you'll see me drinking is a diet Coke. But in the spirit of togetherness, I took a sip...and WOW! The margarita tasted like a slurp on steroids. I ended up drinking half the glass and we had to go back and get another. If I end up becoming an alcoholic, let it be known that it started at Epcot.

Epcot's Mexico Pavillion 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Epcot's Mexico Pavillion Interior 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Faces of EPCOT-Mexico 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue gives the Thumbs Up for the Mango Margarita from Epcot's Mexico Pavillion by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

From there we shuffled over to Norway...pretty much my favorite country along with Germany We shared a Troll Horn at Kringla Bakeri and sat a while to take in the ambience. Sue wanted to check out the shops, so I had a chance to check out the various troll merchandise. In Hawaii, the troll equivalent is menehune....a little man that runs around possessing magical powers. Sort of like a leprechaun from Ireland or Yoda from Dagobah (just testing to see if anyone is reading this stuff...LOL).

Viking Statue @ Epcot's Norway 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Viking Statue @ Epcot's Norway 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Faces of EPCOT-Karoline of Norway 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Faces of EPCOT-Lars-Erik of Norway by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue & Len @ Epcot's Norway 02 by
Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Fjording @ Epcot's Norway 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Fjording @ Epcot's Norway 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Fjording @ Epcot's Norway 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Troll Statue at The Fjording @ Epcot's Norway 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Troll Statue at The Fjording @ Epcot's Norway 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

There was a special room dedicated to (surprise) Frozen which included various costumes, props, and cultural artifacts. Sue found a pretty cool Viking helmet so she did the Mad Suehatter thing. She may even have some Viking blood, so I'm hoping she'll bake me some Troll Horns one day...

Frozen Display @ Epcot's Norway 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Frozen Display @ Epcot's Norway 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Mad SueHatter 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

From Norway, it was a hop, skip, and a jump to Germany. I love this pavilion which I think has the best looking courtyard ever. The colors and architectural design never fails to catch my eye.

Epcot's German Pavillion 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Epcot's German Pavillion 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Faces of EPCOT-Vanessa of Germany by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Karamell-Kuche @ Epcot's Germany Pavillion 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

It was off to Japan in the late afternoon for dinner at Tokyo Dining. I had never eaten at this pavilion on my two prior trips just because I can get a great Japanese meal right in my own backyard. However Kelly and Colleen had good things to say about this restaurant, so we chose it for our Candlelight Processional dinner package. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised how good the food tasted. I apologize for the smart phone pictures of food, but my mind (and stomach) seem to shift into automatic 'grind" mode once the entrees arrive. Sue always has to remind me to take some pics of the meals, and wanting to get it out of the way, I default to the ease of my Samsung Galaxy Note! I ordered the steak combo with shrimp tempura while my wife went with steak and sushi. I'm getting hunger pangs just typing this...

Sue & Len @ Epcot's Japan Pavillion 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Dinner @ Epcot's Tokyo Dining 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Dinner @ Epcot's Tokyo Dining 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

After a sumptuous dinner, we had about an hour and a half before the start of the Candlelight Processional. We were told by our server to get there 45 minutes before the start of the show to ensure a good seat. I decided to check it out earlier while the others were having dessert. I saw this massively long line that was already passed Morocco and some guests in line confirmed it was for the show. I had wrongly assumed there was a separate line/entrance for dinner package guests so I didn't jump into that human chain link. By the time the others joined me, I was told the line was indeed for both regular viewers and dinner package guests. It seems the only thing the dining option guarantees is a seat in the auditorium. It could be the a chair out in Timbucktoo, but Disney would still considers its obligation fulfilled. Basically, you're better off eating early and getting in line 2-3 hours prior to showtime. That pretty much threw me off my game as I realized we weren't going to get a prime viewing area. By the time we got in, we were forced to sit at the far right of the stage behind a pillar. Of all the dining packages, and we did a bunch, this was the one major disappointment and a complete bust.

Neil Patrick Harris was the host and he did an excellent job. The choir was outstanding and props goes to the stage lighting and overall presentation. I tried to get some decent shots, but the angle and blocked views made it tough. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the show more if not for that whole dining fiasco, but as it is, I probably wouldn't do Candlelight again.

Candlelight Processional with host Neil Patrick Harris 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Candlelight Processional with host Neil Patrick Harris 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Candlelight Processional with host Neil Patrick Harris 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Candlelight Processional w: host Neil Patrick Harris 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Candlelight Processional w: host Neil Patrick Harris 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr