Trip Report Merry Birthday To All... And To One, A New Pair Of Crocs??? Dec 23

Day 1… December 9,2023

We were all beyond excited to visit Disney World during Christmas time. We had decided to make it a triple birthday celebration. Hope‘s birthday being December 22, mine December 28 and Ross is January 3. It was the perfect celebration. Although it was strange not to be accompanied by Julia. My sweet gorl had too much school work to do and could not get away to come with us.

I’ll be honest, I took zero notes on this trip. I don’t know what I was thinking… so I’m going directly from memory.

I helped out with Ross the morning we were leaving. We had a late flight out. I was hoping we could make it on an earlier one. We managed to get to the airport and switch to the earlier flight. I was happy because that meant we could head to downtown Disney and have some Blaze Pizza. Oops sorry… Disney Springs.

At the airport, we ended up having a couple of hours before our flight and we were starving, so (after a quick stop at the Lego Store) we stopped and got something to eat at Flavortown - Guy Fieri‘s kitchen and bar. I’ll be honest, the food was really good, but it was so expensive!

 

[Figment Forever]

As I was recovering, trying to realize the embarrassment of losing my shoe, we decided to visit Ariel since we were right there. Of course, we managed to get stuck on her ride, but I was happy to rest for a few minutes..

After that, it was around 3 PM so we were just in time to settle on over to Liberty Square to watch the 3 PM FoF parade- I do love this parade

 

[Figment Forever]

We took a spin on Haunted Mansion…

and went on over to the wildest ride in the wilderness.

And then we got called to enter the grid over Tron!

 

[Figment Forever]

 

[Figment Forever]

 

[Figment Forever]

Then it was time for us to do something new that we had never done before! And that was to go on a Jingle Cruise. Hope and I were very excited. It was fun. I love how they got to change things up and decorate. But I have to admit, I have lost my love for Jungle Cruise or Jingle Cruise. Isn’t that horrifying? I can’t believe I’m saying that because I really did love the ride. But I don’t know, it just doesn’t do it for me these days. Not even with the pretty decorations.

One thing that did not disappoint was I finally got to try those cheeseburger spring rolls! Oh my goodness… Yum! Ross was not completely impressed. He enjoyed the cream cheese pretzel more. But I was completely hooked.

And I may have gotten my trip reports a little mixed up. I may have said that I tried these on our past September trip, but I didn’t. This was something new to me today.

After our Jingle Cruise, we went to see the Tiki Birds and had some ice cream. I mean… How can you not have a Dole Whip when you’re in Adventure Land? Then we settled into see the Bears and then it was time for HEA.

It was too cold to take any pictures. I was freezing! We huddled together to stay warm. Which isn’t too much of a stretch when you’re watching HEA or fireworks at Disney World in general.

When the show ended, we still had a couple of hours of park time, but it was honestly too chilly to hang around. Hope did manage to convince us to watch the monsters one more time, so we did, but then headed back to ASMovies.

And I realize that I had to think and put together a better plan for warm clothes at night at Disney World.

 

[TheMouseFan]

At least you had put socks on and not decided to go barefoot in your sandals!! Brian had the same thing happen to him with his flip flop falling off, but his was on Jungle Cruise and he reflexively reached into the water and grabbed his shoe before the CMs could stop him. They were not happy with him!! And I agree with you that those crocs are pretty hideous! I hate that they've started adding on all of the extra crap and making them so bright and gaudy. I have the plain white Mickey ones that I wear occasionally for short periods of time, but I don't think I could wear them all day long in the park!

 

[Adventure]

Day 3 – December 11, 2023

As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I managed to snag a boarding group for Tron - Group 86. Not too shabby I thought!

We woke up today happy to see the sun shining and the rain had gone. However, my sneakers were a sad casualty of the torrential downpours the night before. They were absolutely saturated.

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I hadn’t brought a spare pair of sneakers, and I didn’t want to be “that” person who put her sneakers in the dryer in the laundromat, so I had to make a decision… Either I wear Hope’s sneakers that she had brought which were a half a size too small for my feet, or I wear my flip-flops that I had brought, which given the cooler temperatures, I didn’t really want cold feet. Ross made the suggestion that I go with the flip-flops because he said my feet would not feel so good after a couple of hours walking in shoes that were a half a size too small. I had to agree with him, so my resolution was to put on a nice pair of my cozy socks along with my flip-flops. And although I had hated the fashion statement I was making, my feet were comfortable and semi-warm.

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As soon as we managed to get ready and grab some coffee from the food court – and snapped a few pics from the box picture taker…

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we were off to Magic Kingdom!

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Same thing happened to my sneakers last week at Universal. Sneakers were completely soaked and they do not dry overnight in the Caribbean Beach rooms. I learned a trick on these boards a few years ago. If you bring newspaper with you and stuff it in your shoes overnight it pulls the moisture out by morning. I used it and my friend used it and we were able to wear our favorite sneakers all week. She did say who gets a newspaper anymore these days!

 

[Swissmiss]

I’m glad you only lost your sandal (but I am not glad you lost your sandal ) because the way you described what was happening gave me flashbacks to an accident I had nearly 3 months ago when I broke 3 toes! I found myself holding my breath as I read because I was afraid you were going to say you lost your balance and face planted . (I quite liked your sandals so I hope the missing one was eventually fished out of the water).

 

[Bullseye1967]

I am happy to say that they all got new homes. I was pretty impressed that people came and only took one, not hogging them all. A couple of moms even sent pictures of their daughters wearing the dresses. It was pretty cool. And it was a good feeling to spread a little pixie dust around.

What a great idea! Kudos to you!!

 

[cgersic]

Oh my, those Crocs definitely stand out in your photos! And sorry to others, but I completely agree with you on Jungle Cruise. Just hits different these days for me, which is fine since the wait time is always so long!

 

[riverside]

I’m so sorry that happened to you but I have to admit I was laughing pretty good at your story!! Especially about the Crocs!!

 

[luvinthemajik]

I’m so sorry that happened to you but I have to admit I was laughing pretty good at your story!! Especially about the Crocs!!

You just have that Oh well, it is what it is attitude, taking it all in stride, the Crocs story was hysterical, and I thought your Crocs were festive and unique !!

 

[erstwo]

It’s the moment you had to watch the shoe float away in the current for me. . I can just imagine the sense of ‘nooooo’ I would be feeling!

 

[dizfan917]

I thought maybe Ross would have tried to concoct some contraption out of an old popcorn box and a merchandise bag, some STAPLES and maybe some old balloon string as a substitute for your missing shoe. ha!

Glad you got some replacements... ugly as they may be... hee hee.

 

[Figment Forever]

At least you had put socks on and not decided to go barefoot in your sandals!! Brian had the same thing happen to him with his flip flop falling off, but his was on Jungle Cruise and he reflexively reached into the water and grabbed his shoe before the CMs could stop him. They were not happy with him!! And I agree with you that those crocs are pretty hideous! I hate that they've started adding on all of the extra crap and making them so bright and gaudy. I have the plain white Mickey ones that I wear occasionally for short periods of time, but I don't think I could wear them all day long in the park!

Yes, I was very glad I had my cozy socks on. I honestly don't know how Hope can wear her Crocs ALL the time and with NO socks. She would wear them in the ice and snow if let her.

I sort of wish I had tried to grab my flip-flop, but it was nowhere in sight. It must have sunk immediately. I'm glad Brian was able to get his sandal back, even if he was scolded! lol

Same thing happened to my sneakers last week at Universal. Sneakers were completely soaked and they do not dry overnight in the Caribbean Beach rooms. I learned a trick on these boards a few years ago. If you bring newspaper with you and stuff it in your shoes overnight it pulls the moisture out by morning. I used it and my friend used it and we were able to wear our favorite sneakers all week. She did say who gets a newspaper anymore these days!

Thanks!!! I will have to remember that for next time! I HATE the feeling of my feet being wet in soaking wet sneakers!

I’m glad you only lost your sandal (but I am not glad you lost your sandal ) because the way you described what was happening gave me flashbacks to an accident I had nearly 3 months ago when I broke 3 toes! I found myself holding my breath as I read because I was afraid you were going to say you lost your balance and face planted . (I quite liked your sandals so I hope the missing one was eventually fished out of the water).

Oh my! So sorry to hear that!!! That sounds so painful!! No - they made it very clear I would not be getting my shoe back.

What a great idea! Kudos to you!!

Thank you! It was fun. I sort of wish Hope had more dresses so I could do it again! lol

Oh my, those Crocs definitely stand out in your photos! And sorry to others, but I completely agree with you on Jungle Cruise. Just hits different these days for me, which is fine since the wait time is always so long!

Glad to have someone side with me about JC.. I feel like I'm such a traitor! lol My Crocs got a new home when I returned home... Julia adopted them and wore them to an "Ugly" Christmas Sweater Party.

I’m so sorry that happened to you but I have to admit I was laughing pretty good at your story!! Especially about the Crocs!!

I have now decided that our family has a foot calamity issue when we go away. lol

You just have that Oh well, it is what it is attitude, taking it all in stride, the Crocs story was hysterical, and I thought your Crocs were festive and unique !!

Thank you!! I try to live by, "It is was it is". I just believe that when things go wrong, you have to find something to lighten it up.

It’s the moment you had to watch the shoe float away in the current for me. . I can just imagine the sense of ‘nooooo’ I would be feeling!

That was exactly it... lol

I thought maybe Ross would have tried to concoct some contraption out of an old popcorn box and a merchandise bag, some STAPLES and maybe some old balloon string as a substitute for your missing shoe. ha!

Glad you got some replacements... ugly as they may be... hee hee.

HaHa - You're right! Good thing Disney gave me a replacement or Ross would have had to come up with something like that!!!