Heeeeello there! Last we left off in August, I was unemployed and directionless post-graduation and fresh off of a solo trip for one day in Magic Kingdom. I also wasn't sure when I would be back to ~The World~ as everything was sort of up in the air. Well, I'm pleased to report that I have a full time job and received very good news about graduate school for next fall -- and I just got back from Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on the 16th. My grandparents wanted to take my sister and I for Christmas, and while I enjoyed myself... I do feel like I didn't have as much fun as I would have by myself (totally not what I was expecting!) It also went by so fast I feel like I didn't even go and kinda want to go back and refresh - BUT I must save money for grad school... So, prepare for a blink and you'll miss it trip report!
Also, none of my family (except for the back of heads I think) will be in this because I keep the Disney-obsessed aspect of my personality a dark secret!!!
There's a very bad picture that I got from the middle of the car to prove that we were approaching Disney at around 1pm. We had a lunch reservation for 1:40 and planned on walking into the park at 4. Where was our reservation, you wonder?
A big, dare I say Contemporary, hint for you... I was a bit anxious about this reservation, actually, because I've had hit-or-miss lunches here. One big miss was basically uncooked potato wedges as they were attempting to go through their trendy phase...
I liked the Christmas decorations! I love the Contemporary, I was very fortunate to stay there a few years back and felt very elegant... this time though, we'd be staying off property at a "Good Neighbor" hotel (recently just learned about that designation) right behind Old Town, and it was actually a nice place to stay. But back to lunch!
I must confess that I was so hungry at this point that when the food came out I totally forgot to take pictures til about midway through and then I was like "No one is going to want to see your half eaten hamburger..." That's right, folks, I ordered the $19 signature hamburger. Was it worth that? Honestly, not sure. It was a good hamburger, don't get me wrong -- and omg! the waffle fries that came with it were to die for... we've definitely improved beyond undercooked potato wedges. But, the bun of the burger was soggy when it came out, and the service at the Wave was slow. I'm about to stop giving it more chances!
After lunch, my grandparents decided they wanted to go to Epcot to get a particular jasmine blueberry iced tea from somewhere in the China pavilion. They are APs, so they can do whatever they want -- believe me, since getting this job I've almost bitten the bullet, but... must... save... money... So, they decided to go for it (can you imagine dealing with Epcot's security line just for iced tea...) while my sister and I wandered around the monorail resorts. I also wanted a drink (traveling with family will do that to you) and had a shopping mission...
For Christmas I had asked for the 2019 Attractions Calendar, and when my grandma went to buy it online -- they were sold out. With a maximum purchase of 10, you will be unsurprised to know that they are going on Ebay right now for upwards of $70. The ShopParks app showed it in stock at MGM and Animal Kingdom, which was going to be my last resort if I didn't find one hiding around gift stores at MK (unlikely...)
There's a gingerbread house to tamper my disappointment about not finding the calendar at the Contemporary. Really impressive stuff!
I had not been on a Monorail in several years, and was anxious about it after reading all the problems they had been experiencing in the past year -- which I know is silly as the odds of the doors not opening or whatever happening while I was on it were slim. Our voyage on this monorail (Teal? Sky Blue???) was not bad, aside from a ziplock baggie by the seat that I thought was filled with a soiled diaper but upon further inspection was a bunch of napkins with melted chocolate seeped into them from an ice cream -- and held up at the TTC for 10 minutes due to traffic.
I had never actually been inside the Polynesian before and WOW! It is gorgeous! Definitely on my list of places to stay, and I really loved these glass globes.
It was 3pm by the time we got to Tambu Lounge, and I ordered an Island Sunset (yum!) and being the loving sister that I am, bought my sister a mocktail so she didn't feel left out. She's a teenager (lol) so I imagine her street-cred went up exponentially with each Snapchat she sent of herself drinking what amounted to green colored Sprite. I digress, because we had fun chatting and by the time we were through it was time to get to MK.
Hurrah! We were here! Look at that massive crowd in the background waiting to get into the event entrance! Tonight's Christmas party was sold out, according to the signs, and I was worried as to what sort of experience we would have...
Also, none of my family (except for the back of heads I think) will be in this because I keep the Disney-obsessed aspect of my personality a dark secret!!!
There's a very bad picture that I got from the middle of the car to prove that we were approaching Disney at around 1pm. We had a lunch reservation for 1:40 and planned on walking into the park at 4. Where was our reservation, you wonder?
A big, dare I say Contemporary, hint for you... I was a bit anxious about this reservation, actually, because I've had hit-or-miss lunches here. One big miss was basically uncooked potato wedges as they were attempting to go through their trendy phase...
I liked the Christmas decorations! I love the Contemporary, I was very fortunate to stay there a few years back and felt very elegant... this time though, we'd be staying off property at a "Good Neighbor" hotel (recently just learned about that designation) right behind Old Town, and it was actually a nice place to stay. But back to lunch!
I must confess that I was so hungry at this point that when the food came out I totally forgot to take pictures til about midway through and then I was like "No one is going to want to see your half eaten hamburger..." That's right, folks, I ordered the $19 signature hamburger. Was it worth that? Honestly, not sure. It was a good hamburger, don't get me wrong -- and omg! the waffle fries that came with it were to die for... we've definitely improved beyond undercooked potato wedges. But, the bun of the burger was soggy when it came out, and the service at the Wave was slow. I'm about to stop giving it more chances!
After lunch, my grandparents decided they wanted to go to Epcot to get a particular jasmine blueberry iced tea from somewhere in the China pavilion. They are APs, so they can do whatever they want -- believe me, since getting this job I've almost bitten the bullet, but... must... save... money... So, they decided to go for it (can you imagine dealing with Epcot's security line just for iced tea...) while my sister and I wandered around the monorail resorts. I also wanted a drink (traveling with family will do that to you) and had a shopping mission...
For Christmas I had asked for the 2019 Attractions Calendar, and when my grandma went to buy it online -- they were sold out. With a maximum purchase of 10, you will be unsurprised to know that they are going on Ebay right now for upwards of $70. The ShopParks app showed it in stock at MGM and Animal Kingdom, which was going to be my last resort if I didn't find one hiding around gift stores at MK (unlikely...)
There's a gingerbread house to tamper my disappointment about not finding the calendar at the Contemporary. Really impressive stuff!
I had not been on a Monorail in several years, and was anxious about it after reading all the problems they had been experiencing in the past year -- which I know is silly as the odds of the doors not opening or whatever happening while I was on it were slim. Our voyage on this monorail (Teal? Sky Blue???) was not bad, aside from a ziplock baggie by the seat that I thought was filled with a soiled diaper but upon further inspection was a bunch of napkins with melted chocolate seeped into them from an ice cream -- and held up at the TTC for 10 minutes due to traffic.
I had never actually been inside the Polynesian before and WOW! It is gorgeous! Definitely on my list of places to stay, and I really loved these glass globes.
It was 3pm by the time we got to Tambu Lounge, and I ordered an Island Sunset (yum!) and being the loving sister that I am, bought my sister a mocktail so she didn't feel left out. She's a teenager (lol) so I imagine her street-cred went up exponentially with each Snapchat she sent of herself drinking what amounted to green colored Sprite. I digress, because we had fun chatting and by the time we were through it was time to get to MK.
Hurrah! We were here! Look at that massive crowd in the background waiting to get into the event entrance! Tonight's Christmas party was sold out, according to the signs, and I was worried as to what sort of experience we would have...
. After Haunted, since we were so close, we decided to nip down to Adventureland for our next ride -- I think the wait was posted at 30 minutes but it was probably closer to 15.
)
and wave to Sonny Eclipse for me the next time you go!