Our Christmas Disneymoon 20th December-30th December 2011

Hi everyone.

I have been meaning to start this all week to cheer myself up- however I haven't been very well and then had an horrific time at my dentist yesterday which has delayed things further.

I am still in lots of pain, but want to start this tonight!

Ok so please see the link below for my pre-trip information:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=823613

Me and my now husband James (still feels strange to say husband) got married on Saturday 17th December at 12noon in our little town Blackpool which is in the North West of England. We got married in church and had a lovely reception.

Here are some pictures (not official ones)

Saying our vows

You may kiss the bride

Love the above picture- very clever shot taken by one of my work colleagues.

Me and James with all our bridal party...


and finally.. my mum and dad bought me and james this from Florida for our wedding especially...

Sooo lovely!!

Anyway hope you like...

 

[sam_disney]

Ok so I am a little late, but how amazing does your honeymoon look! I am loving it. Thank you for sharing.

I am so glad you did the sleigh ride, I would love to do that one of these years and its great that you did. Looks so fun,

Finding Nemo is so classic. My sister cried her eyes out at the thing and to this day listens to that soundtrack. Hoping to take my son one of these days to see it.

And I love the shadow picture!

I didn't realize they closed Jaws, I have never been to Universal but have always thought that the ride to be one of their staples. Oh how times change I guess.

Looking forward to reading more!

Congrats on your marriage! May you and your hubby have many more years of happiness to come.

Thank you very much- lovely comment!!

We had a brilliant time and wonderful wedding.. its lovely to be able to share it with you.

And indeed with Jaws- I thought the same, i'm gutted its gone!

Sleigh ride was great fun- def worth it in my opinion, was such a lovely thing to do on our honeymoon.

And Nemo... awww I can see why! I get emotional listening to any of the soundtracks from disney world to be honest! lol

 

[sam_disney]

Ok, Christmas Eve morning we were up and our early again!

Here we are ready to get to Hollywood Studios...

The bus seemed to take forever this morning- every other bus apart from ours came and went... Finally it arrived...

Nearing to Hollywood Studios .. I took a picture of the date and time on the bus...

I had to take a picture of the christmas tree as we walked up to the park...

We also made use of the photopass again..

And then we were in...

I took a picture of this- showing that Drew Carey was closed ( AS USUAL!) lol

It was another glorious morning in Florida.. it was hot hot hot!

We headed straight to Toy Story to grab some fastpassess.. On the way I was snapping away...

 

[sam_disney]

We walked speedily to Toy Story..

After we grabbed them we headed back towards One Man's Dream and found some Toy Story soldiers...

I love One Man's Dream

Its such a great tribute to Walt... and there are some very interesting things in there.

I loved this look at how Peter Pan's flight works...

I saw this and I find it so intersting to see what it was like when MK was being built..

I don't know about anyone else but I always feel soppy when I watch the movie at the end of One Man's dream, its so lovely!

Anyway, we then went over to the animation court yard and ran in to this guy...

Thats right.. the man himself!!

Here are the photopasses..

 

[sam_disney]

We came out after playing with all the interactive games and took a picture here..

We then spotted the photopass again...

I then took a picture of the famous hat...

I personally dont like the hat that much! I prefered it when it was the water tower that was the main symbol of mgm! I hate that water tower isn't part of it anymore! I also miss looking down hollywood bvd and not seeing the chinese theatre at the end.. but thats just me!

Anyway..

we headed next to the great movie ride...

Here's the chinese theatre..

Heres Mary Poppins horse..

I love the great movie ride, we got through and straight on the ride. We were actually say right at the front, next to the tour guide!
I only wish that they would update the great movie ride now! Its a shame it can't be extended to include more movies!

 

[enchanted_belle]

Ahh interesting... did you sit at the back of the car on the simpsons?

I was in the second row... but the girls in the first row had the same problem as I did too. In fact, one of them somehow managed to hit their head on the top. It was unpleasant, though following it with E.T. was helpful for all of us.

I love the great movie ride, we got through and straight on the ride. We were actually say right at the front, next to the tour guide!
I only wish that they would update the great movie ride now! Its a shame it can't be extended to include more movies!

That has got to be my FAVORITE ride from when I was younger... I love ToT, but there's a huge place in my heart for GMR. I keep trying to explain it all to Dan, but it's come to the point that I just go "you'll understand when you get there."

 

[sam_disney]

I was in the second row... but the girls in the first row had the same problem as I did too. In fact, one of them somehow managed to hit their head on the top. It was unpleasant, though following it with E.T. was helpful for all of us.

Oooo really? I've had problems in the back before but never the front! But I can see why you found it unpleasant! lol

That has got to be my FAVORITE ride from when I was younger... I love ToT, but there's a huge place in my heart for GMR. I keep trying to explain it all to Dan, but it's come to the point that I just go "you'll understand when you get there."

Aww yes he will understand!! I loved Great Move Ride when I was younger- but the Alien scene used to terrify me!! lol

 

[enchanted_belle]

Aww yes he will understand!! I loved Great Move Ride when I was younger- but the Alien scene used to terrify me!! lol

Are you kidding... that thing STILL scares me! haha.

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

So sad to see Jaws go, and this sign too My town won't be famous anymore in Universal sadly
Rumor has it a Harry Potter expansion will be going there so crossing fingers!

And I have to agree with you about TREX! I loved that Restaurant!

That must have been so awesome having the park basically all to yourselves!!!

And I agree with the Great Movie Ride..that is always a classic not to be missed! But I too wish they could add a few movies or something..or they should at least update the film they show at the end..

 

[mr_braver23]

We came out after playing with all the interactive games and took a picture here..

We then spotted the photopass again...

I then took a picture of the famous hat...

I personally dont like the hat that much! I prefered it when it was the water tower that was the main symbol of mgm! I hate that water tower isn't part of it anymore! I also miss looking down hollywood bvd and not seeing the chinese theatre at the end.. but thats just me!

Anyway..

we headed next to the great movie ride...

Here's the chinese theatre..

Heres Mary Poppins horse..

I love the great movie ride, we got through and straight on the ride. We were actually say right at the front, next to the tour guide!
I only wish that they would update the great movie ride now! Its a shame it can't be extended to include more movies!

Our favorite ride at DHS!! Love the report!!

 

[sam_disney]

so after the great movie ride we headed to :

The wait time was 30 minutes so we decided to grab fastpasses and then headed on to the ride...

I was very fond of the original star tours ride, so I was interested to see how this new version would compare...

Here we are ready to go...

I am happy to say I loved the updated ride! It was very good

So we headed to have our picture here..

We then headed for a muffin at the writers stop and found a bench in the sun in the new york area...

I enjoyed sitting there..catching the rays...

 

[sam_disney]

We then headed towards the backlot tour... as you can see it wasn't that busy..

We got to the backlot tour..

We went through to the special effects area:

This was very odd! They ran through all the effects but without the usual participants? It was very strange! Our family have had been chosen twice to be participants in this show! I once became 'CAPTAIN SAM' with my mum, family friend and brother. A few years later my other half James and my brother went up there as ship mates. So it was very strange to see it that way...

Anyway we moved on to the trolley.. passing this from the Hannah Montana film apparently...

Now another one of my moans is how the backlot tour is now a voice over! I hate that they've changed this instead of having a presenter! Its rubbish!

Anyway.. here's the famous water tower...

Another moan of mine is the Motor show.. i dont particularly enjoy it and I miss the original backlot that had the george of the jungle tree house and the golden girls house... the backlot seems to be rather poor these days.

Off to catastrophe canyon!!

 

[sam_disney]

We then headed back towards Star Tours to use our fastpasses that we had got earlier..

Back down New york street..

and towards Star Tours..

Yep time to use them...

When we queued up this time we saw the robot that used to be the star of the star tours ride...

He had malfunctioned lol! I love that he was still in the queue area- was a very nice touch!

We next headed to Indiana Jones..

I love this show, i love the movies!!

 

[sam_disney]

It was nearly time for our dining reservation at the 50's prime time (somewhere I had never eaten before). So we decided to sit on a bench near to it and I rang my mum and dad...

Then it was time for our reservation:

When we entered I loved it! The inside was so clever...

We were told to wait in the bar area until we heard our names be called.

We waited about 10 minutes and then suddenly 'Saaaaaam, Jaaaaamess dinner is ready!!' I couldnt stop laughing, it was brilliant!

We got led to our 50s kitchen and were told our cousin would be with us shortly .

Behind James on the above picture you might be able to see the coca cola thermometer? I actually bought the same one in EPCOT when I was 11! I bought it and my mum was like why do u want that? I said.. It will be for my kitchen when I'm older.. and now I'm in my new home.. it is ready to be put up! lol

Anyway.. Our cousin arrived and we ordered! She kept picking on James, it was brilliant!

James had ANOTHER strawberry milkshake..

We ordered the onian rings to start..

For me.. they were a little too sweet tasting..

James had the chicken pot pie..

I ordered the Fried Chicken..

Now.. being completely honest- I didnt like it that much! It was ok... thats all I can say. I probably would go back to 50's for the setting and atmosphere! But for the food I would give it a miss!

However the pudding was good...

Here we are in our kitchen.. !

 

[disneygirl1]

Great update!! We are big fans of Trex too! Such a cool atmosphere! WOW, I am surprised at the lack of crowds on Christmas eve at DHS, I thought that it would have been a lot more busier.

 

[enchanted_belle]

I'm not gonna lie, Backlot is another one of my favorite rides (which will be in refurb while I'm down... ), but I can't believe they switched it to voice-overs! That takes the magic out of it!

 

[TheMouseFan]

I'm just joining in and I'm loving it! Congratulations on your wedding. I am so jealous you got to go in December and see all of the Christmas decorations! Our anniversary is in December and I want to go so badly, but my husband works in retail and is not allowed to have leave between the first of November and the middle of January. I can't wait to read more!

 

[foreverbelle]

Yea Christmas Eve!!! One of these years I keep telling myself we will spend the holidays down in the world, no matter how crowded it may be.

You have me wanting to check out the new Star Tours, which I didn't get to do the last go around, will dif have to check it out come July, when we head back down.

I hear you on the 50's Prime time, it has never been my favorite meal but we go there for the atmosphere and the good times that we have. Its dif one of those places that you enjoy the theme and the atmosphere more than the food. Although my husband loved the dessert there...

 

[sam_disney]

Great update!! We are big fans of Trex too! Such a cool atmosphere! WOW, I am surprised at the lack of crowds on Christmas eve at DHS, I thought that it would have been a lot more busier.

It got busier throughout the day but nothing major- it was like normal day in any other month to be honest. After Boxing day... it got manic everywhere!!

 

[sam_disney]

I'm just joining in and I'm loving it! Congratulations on your wedding. I am so jealous you got to go in December and see all of the Christmas decorations! Our anniversary is in December and I want to go so badly, but my husband works in retail and is not allowed to have leave between the first of November and the middle of January. I can't wait to read more!

I completely understand this! I used to work in retail myself and had the same problem.

I now have a job in education, so I'm stuck going at the most busiest and expenive times.. not sure which was worse..? lol

Thank you for joining in my report-hope to finish christmas eve by tomorrow.. and start christmas day!!

 

[sam_disney]

Yea Christmas Eve!!! One of these years I keep telling myself we will spend the holidays down in the world, no matter how crowded it may be.

You have me wanting to check out the new Star Tours, which I didn't get to do the last go around, will dif have to check it out come July, when we head back down.

I hear you on the 50's Prime time, it has never been my favorite meal but we go there for the atmosphere and the good times that we have. Its dif one of those places that you enjoy the theme and the atmosphere more than the food. Although my husband loved the dessert there...

If I could choose I would go up till Boxing Day then head home.. ( that would be advice to you, if you go in the holidays).

Star Tours was fab= the more you go on it though, the more you want the ride to be a little different to what you have already seen lol!

I agree with your husband on the dessert it was yummy!!

Thanks for reading !!! xxx