Mickey's Very Merry Thanksgiving Birthday Party

Hi all!

For those of you who may have forgotten, and for those who never knew in the first place (haha), I am Nicole; NJ School Counselor and Disney obsesser. I use to frequent these boards daily but since this trip was MIA for some time, although that seems to be the case with a few of us on here.

The Cast:
My boyfriend (Ryan) and I. We traveled to WDW together for the first time in February 2010 for our 1 year anniversary and have been back more than twice a year since than! This pic is from our last trip (August 2012) for Ryan's birthday!



The When and Where:
This trip had been booked almost a year in advance (thanks to the wonderful Jessica at Kingdom Konsultants!) to celebrate my birthday. I was born on Thanksgiving and always celebrate it on that day with my family but I wanted to start off my last year of my 20's with something special and what better place than WDW!

Our dates were November 21-26 2012 and we were staying in the newly opened Little Mermaid section at Art of Animation. Being a 90s girl I was beyond excited to be staying under the sea with Ariel!!

This TR is sure to be FILLED with pics! I took a few thousand (LOL) and had such a hard time trying to narrow it down enough for all of you! I promise to do my best to not take months to get this done, after all I have a February report to write and I leave in 2 weeks to go back!

So, with that being said....here we go!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Yes!! Count me in! Glad you're back! You were missed!!!!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Day 1 - November 21, 2012

We had an early evening flight out of Newark and we figured since it was the busiest travel day of the year we better give ourselves plenty of time to get through security. We arrived to find a nearly empty airport and we breezed right through security. Was this possible? Our flight left on time and we ended up arriving in Orlando about 25 min ahead of schedule. Considering ourselves pros at this point we scurried across the airport and down the stairs to ME where there was a bus already waiting. Before I knew it, I was standing here..


Disney's Art of Animation Resort!

We always use the online check in service so we went right to the desk for our Keys to the World. Along with the keys I was giving this beauty..

Even the girl at the desk knew...and I wasn't even wearing my tiara!

We were staying in the newly opened Little Mermaid section and 6 year old Nicole was beyond excited! The building is a decent ways away from Animation Hall but it was nice to walk through the other sections. The attention to is fabulous, the entire resort pulls you in!

MK was still open so of coarse I wanted to get to the parks, we dropped our stuff off and flew out, APs in hand. But, not before snapping a few shots of my clam bed!


By the time we arrived it was just about time for Wishes and trying to find a spot on Main Street was not an option. We headed through the Tomorrowland Terrece stoping in a little spot we found. It wasn't the best but we knew this was only the first night. After Wishes our tummies were growling like crazy so we decided to try a first for us


My main reason for wanting to come here was the one, the only...


We got a table right up front because it was late and the park wasn't too busy. We both had burgers and split some fries. It was what you expect....burgers, but it was more about the atmosphere for us. After we finished up we spent some time walking around and than headed out but not before taking this


No picture will EVER do the Dream Lights justice. In person, it is absolutely beautiful, I'm tearing up just thinking about it, geez, what a baby huh?!?

Arriving back at AoA I snapped a pic of the tree in Animation Hall before calling it a night. There is plenty more excitement ahead including Thanksgiving, meeting the Mayor of MK, my birthday, and MVMCP so stay tuned lovies!

 

[Zman-ks]

In!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Day 2 - November 22, 2012
Today was Thanksgiving and I was in no hurry to get to any park (craziness, I know) because I knew the hoards would be upon us. Since it was dark when we arrived the night before we decided to take a look around AoA. First, I had to shower though


REALLY!?!?! How am I supposed to shower in here when all I keep doing is :::singing::: Look at this stuff, isn't it neat....6 year old Nicole was freaking out again!

Our room was right on the water connecting us to one of our favorite resorts, Pop! I loved opening my door every morning to bright sunshine, and this


Walking around the other side of the building was a much grander site


Sebastian!


His royal highness...King Triton!


All of Ariel's treasures were scattered about, including the statue of Eric


Ryan blowing the Snarfblatt!


Dinglehopper!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Now, off to the Savannah. I felt so small in here, especially with Scar looking down at me


Elephant bone yard playground, complete with hyenas!


Hakuna Matata my friends


Up on the pride!


Rafiki greets you on your way into the area...asante sanaa squashbanana

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Moving along we entered the Big Blue World and the Big Blue Pool, which is enormous. It was a little to chilly for swimming although I would have loved to hear the underwater sounds


Nemo and Marlin Reef


Righteous...Crush and Dory dude..grab a fin!


Squirts playground


Climb aboard explorers


The Nemo section was adorable with lots of bright bright colors. Wish I would have seen the rooms, maybe one day when I have my own little fishies!

The last section and probably my favorite was..Radiator Springs


The detailing in this area is unlike anything, I am really hoping they make the decision to bring Carsland to Hollywood Studios but for now, this will suffice. A look down Route 66


The life size models of all the characters were awesome.

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Chilling with the star himself, Lightening McQueen




After our stroll around our resort we decided to take the bus over to MK, we had a Thanksgiving Day reservation at Liberty Tree tavern but still wanted to do some exploring before hand. While waiting for ME I snapped these pictures of the sketches outside





We arrived at MK and headed straight for the resort monorail. Since it was late November all, if not most, of the Christmas decorations were out. Now, I am NOT a Christmas person, I repeat, I am NOT a Christmas person but of coarse Disney sucked me into that too. The decorations worldwide were just beautiful and it is something everyone should experience once if they can. We headed over to the Grand Floridian to check out the famous gingerbread houses.




The resort is gorgeous with amazing attention to detail but it is just not for me. Too ritzy, I felt po', and it just didn't give me that "Disney feel".

We grabbed a cookie at the gingerbread house to snack on and headed over to MK for Thanksgiving dinner (well, lunch really). It was a gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky, but I remember it being kinda windy at times.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Great report...love the pics and HOW could you not sing in that shower, first pic I've seen of the shower. Good job on Ryan, he's a cutie.

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Great report...love the pics and HOW could you not sing in that shower, first pic I've seen of the shower. Good job on Ryan, he's a cutie.

Thank you, I guess he is alright haha

 

[disneyfan1995]

Awesome report so far! Can't wait to read more. AOA seems like a really cool place to stay.

 

[fractal]

Alright, you started!

I enjoyed seeing the photos of AoA. Looks pretty cool.

 

[WDW_Princess24]

There was still time for us to kill before dining so we decided to give Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom a try. It was pretty cool although the map was a bit confusing, a few of the portals are located close to one another and it was sometimes difficult to distinguish which symbol belongs to which portal. Ryan was loving it!


Our reservation for Thanksgiving Dinner was at another first (geez there were a lot of firsts on this trip apparently)


We figured this was the next best thing to being home for Thanksgiving dinner, apparently so did everyone else, the place was a ZOO! We checked in about 15-20 minutes early for our dining reservation and the CM was unable to locate it at first. Luckily I had the reservation number with me and after a few good ole college tries, she found it! We took a seat and waited....and waited.....and waited! Several families there were telling us how they were still waiting 30-45 minutes after their reservation time had past, I was hoping because we are only a party of 2 this wouldn't be the case for us; alas, it was...womp womp!

By the time we were seated it was about 40 minutes after our reservation time but the food made up for it. We were served an absolute feast and everything was family style. They start you off with bread and salad in a strawberry vinegrette dressing...so yummy! Next came the carved turkey with gravy, pork, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and stuffing...geez! Everything was good,except the pork because I don't eat red meat haha. Just when you thought you couldn't take another bite they bring you out the craisin cake with ice cream which was also delish. My only gripe would have to be the size of the table LOL I know it's only the two of us but there were so many bowls and plates on the table there was absolutely no room! With our bellies full we decided to go back to AoA, rest, bundle up and get ready for, you guessed it, another first...The Osborne Family Spectical of Dancing Lights!

I gotta tell ya, I wish they kept this up year round, it's amazing! To think someone had all these lights on their actual property! Can't imagine what his electric bill was like. As I said earlier I am not a huge Christmas person, I don't like the commercialism of it but Disney put me in the spirit. To hear everyone gasping, "Ooooing and Aaahhhing" when the music would come on and the lights would dance was just such a great experience...and than, came the snow!!! So magical!!



The streets of San Fransisco was one of my favorite areas, I loved being surrounded by the canopy of lights, wish I had this at home!


Not so hidden Mickey!





So cute!!



After our fill we headed back over to MK to end the night. Takes my breath away!


They had the new addition of The Magic The Memories and You (before it ended) that included Wreck it Ralph...I'M GONNA WRECK IT!!


We had a much better view of Wishes tonight!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Awesome report so far! Can't wait to read more. AOA seems like a really cool place to stay.

It was awesome! Especially if you are a giant kid at heart!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

After wishes there was only one place I wanted to head...back over to New Fantasyland and I must tell you, yes, I did cry when I seen it for the first time. I had been waiting so long for the expansion to open, as a couple Ryan and I watched this developed on our trips over the last few years and to see it finally done was just amazing. It was not officially open yet but we were able to get in and I can't tell you the joy that fills me when I step into this




I think we rode this 7 times on this trip and each time I wanted to belt it out in my clam shell!


The Ursula audioanimatronic is unlike anything I have ever seen, she is massive but moves with fluidity so effortlessly


I was SOOO happy to be at Prince Eric's castle


It was getting pretty nippy and we wanted to warm up so what better place than Gaston's!


Ryan waited on line to get himself a Lefou's Brew while I looked around and snapped some shots!


There's my man, brew in hand!



It was time to call it a night, it had been a long and exhausting Thanksgiving and I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend it in WDW. A cast member offered to take our pic outside the tavern, she did, and than we skipped out hand in hand anxious for another day in our world!

 

[disneyfan1995]

It was awesome! Especially if you are a giant kid at heart!

I definitely am! Hoping to stay there soon!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Day 3-November 23, 2013

We were up and out early this morning, we know if we want to ride TSMM we must get to the park at opening and make a mad dash. Here is a pic of the Christmas tree outside DHS


We stopped a snagged a shot in front of the hat


We didn't grab breakfast before we left and Ryan acts like he is a refugee who hasn't been fed in years if you don't feed him in the morning, pfftt men! So needless to say, I had to feed him! Starring Rolls it was, I had a coffee roll and Ry had the chocolate crossaint, both were good.

We decided to head over to the animation building to meet Ralph. The movie had come out about a month before and we had taken my little cousins from Ireland to see it so we were excited! As you can tell Ryan was a little more than excited running into the big mans arms!


This picture is so awkward, not sure why everyone was so far apart.


Afterwards we were heading towards TSMM to use our fast passes and they had a soft opening of the new Jack Sparrow attraction so we decided to give it a whirl. The effects were really cool and it took me a little to figure out if their was an actor on the ship or a hologram but I don't like that you just basically stand around. It is however a much needed and much welcomed alternative to the horror show that was Narnia. We took a lap through One Man's Dream, checked in at ToT and than decided to go ahead with another first. We left the park and took the friendship boats over to the Boardwalk, we wanted to complete our gingerbread quest. Now, I know that this is supposed to be themed after Atlantic City and such but as a Jersey Girl I assure you, this is no AC, it was much more beautiful and clean.






We continued to walk the boardwalk, grabbing a Mickey pretzel to snack on as we made our way to the Yacht Club




Since we were oh so close we decided to make the walk to Epcot and take the monorail to MK for our dining reservation. It was a beautiful day outside and we enjoyed the stroll, it be nice to one day stay at one of the Epcot area resorts and just make the walk to International Gateway.


We were literally in and out of Epcot, I think we just took the walk to the front of the park to grab the monorail, than we switched to the resort monorail and got off at the Poly. On our August trip we were lucky enough to get an Ohana reservation and we have been hooked ever since!

Christmas tree at the Poly



We checked in and took a seat at the bar in the Tambu lounge while we waited. I had a blue glowtini which is my favorite Disney drink, On the past three trips I have accumulated 9 glow cubes from these drinks LOL I even got the recipe to make it at home! Ohana was it's usual deliciousness, I have to prepare myself the entire day for this meal, it is SO much food and I absolutely refuse to not eat that dessert, I don't care if my stomach is about to burst! We finished up, had another drink (uh oh) than jumped the monorail back to Epcot. Tonight we were going to see Illuminations!

 

[mousefreak]

Great start to your TR. I'm in for the ride. Looking forward to more.

 

[Jose]

:O
This TR is amazing! I can't stop reading! Please, continue, and yes, with more photos

 

[TheMouseFan]

I'm in! I also was born on Thanksgiving. Last year my birthday fell onThanksgiving again and I sure wish I had been in WDW!! I love your picture of the castle with its purple lights. I can't wait to stay at AoA. As much as I would like to stay in the Little Mermaid section, there are 5 of us, so I guess I'll settle for the Cars section! Shame on you for not having a cupcake for breakfast at Starring Rolls! Can't wait to read more!