When: 12/26/11-12/30/11
Where: Shades of Green
Starring: Myself, grandparents, and cousin Andrew
After our Christmas festivities were over, Andrew and I spent the night at my grandparents house, so we’d all be able to get up early for our flight the next morning. We flew Jet Blue (my favorite, along with Southwest) and we arrived in Orlando around 10:00 AM.
Upon arrival at the Shades of Green lobby we saw the huge (and beautiful) Christmas tree, and this, which I thought was adorable:
Shades of Green is iffy for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful hotel, but to me it doesn’t feel like Disney. The only Disney décor in the hotel is the statue and the lobby, though there were a few hidden Mickeys in the tree and wreaths for the holiday season. Shades of Green is great because of the rates obviously, as well as the close proximity to the Magic Kingdom and Polynesian. But like I said the hotel, and the room is beautiful and great for the price. Heres the view of the golf course from our room:
Random tidbit about Shades of Green… This was my first time staying here since 2006, so maybe things have changed since then, but I always thought the busses went to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This past week the busses that picked us up at the hotel either went to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or the Transportation and Ticket Center. I mean, I love riding the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, it just seemed like it took more time than necessary especially during a busy holiday week. We wanted to make rope drop at the Magic Kingdom one morning, so we got the first Shades of Green bus at 6:30, and when we got to the Transportation and Ticket Center only the resort monorail line was running, eventually we made it to the Magic Kingdom, with about two seconds of the opening show left as we were going through the turnstiles. It really wasn’t a big deal because we’ve seen it before, it was just slightly aggravating because I feel like if there was a bus for the Magic Kingdom at 6:30 in the first place we would have made it for the whole thing. Oh well, just a thought.
Anyways, after getting settled in our room, our first stop was Epcot. We got to Epcot around 1:00 and it was already very crowded. We grabbed fast passes for Test Track and started walking towards Canada for our lunch reservation at Le Cellier. This was our first time eating at Le Cellier, and to be honest I was a little worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype, not that I didn’t think it would be good, its just when something is hyped up that much sometimes you have to wonder. But it was amazing, the best filet mignon I’ve ever had, and I don’t think I could go there again without getting the cheddar cheese soup either. Unfortunately I didn’t take any food pictures this trip, so you’ll have to use your imagination, food pictures on my next trip though!
When we finished lunch, we made our way back towards Future World and got right in line for Spaceship Earth. This is probably my favorite ride in Epcot. I love Test Track too, but Spaceship Earth will always be my absolute favorite. I wish the old ending was still there, but my grandparents and Andrew thought the cartoon was cute. I’m sure its fine for the average visitor, but it makes me a little sad to see one of my favorite rides without the ending I think it needs.
Our next stop was the Seas with Nemo and Friends, my first time being here, ever. Even when it was the Living Seas I have never been. I think its one of those things, that when I was younger my family would do the same things every trip because they knew everyone liked them, and the Living Seas was just not one of those things I guess. So this trips had a lot of firsts, I was pretty determined to try new things that my less Disney obsessed family either didn’t know about or wouldn’t think to do. I thought the ride was very cute, and the exhibits were interesting and actually somewhat reminded me of our aquarium at home. Weird, I know, that doesn’t make any sense, but it did in my head haha.
Figment was next, and I don’t really know what to think of it. I’ve done it when I was younger because its one of my grandma’s favorites, but I honestly don’t get it. Its not a bad ride, its just not my thing. It also seemed different than I remember it, but again I haven’t ridden it since I was much younger so I may be wrong.
Then it was time to ride Test Track! Usually we ride Test Track a couple of times each trip, but this turned out to be the only one. I knew this week was going to be insanely crowded when we booked it, and I warned everyone else but this was the only week during the holiday season we could all go, thus resulting in riding Test Track only once. Every time we were in Epcot (except this first day) the wait time for Test Track was at least 140 minutes and the fast passes were already gone. Oh well, there’s always next time.
When we got off Test Track we decided to walk around World Showcase. One of the reasons why I wish we had more time during this trip was for World Showcase. We kind of breezed through some of the countries, and I wish we could have spent more time in them. Everything was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and I wish I could have spent more time walking around just to look at the decorations. For dinner in World Showcase, Andrew wanted chicken fingers. I think my grandparents didn’t really care what they ate, so they hung around the America pavilion so Andrew could get his chicken fingers. I love all different kinds of food and was by no means going to have chicken fingers in World Showcase, so I snuck off to Japan for some Udon noodles (which were delicious) and met everyone back in time for the American Adventure show. I LOVE this show. Maybe its because I’m a History major, but I just love it. And the Hall of Presidents, they’re both great.
After the show we watched some of the Candlelight Processional, another show I’ve never seen before. We only caught part of it before the group decided to move on, we were standing in the back behind a huge crowd anyways, but from what I saw it was beautiful,
Next we sort of breezed through the rest of the countries, before staking out a spot near England for Illuminations. The holiday version of Illuminations is one of the best fireworks shows I’ve ever seen. The whole “Peace on Earth” bit was great, I can’t wait to go to Disney in (EARLY, so it isn't so crowded) December again just to see this show.
After Illuminations, Epcot was closing for the night, and I was so planning on going to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours. But my grandparents weren’t up for it, and they didn’t want Andrew and I to go by ourselves. (I really wish I could have went, but they took me on the trip, so I wasn’t going to argue with it).
Day 2 will be up tomorrow, thanks for reading. J
Where: Shades of Green
Starring: Myself, grandparents, and cousin Andrew
After our Christmas festivities were over, Andrew and I spent the night at my grandparents house, so we’d all be able to get up early for our flight the next morning. We flew Jet Blue (my favorite, along with Southwest) and we arrived in Orlando around 10:00 AM.
Upon arrival at the Shades of Green lobby we saw the huge (and beautiful) Christmas tree, and this, which I thought was adorable:
Shades of Green is iffy for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful hotel, but to me it doesn’t feel like Disney. The only Disney décor in the hotel is the statue and the lobby, though there were a few hidden Mickeys in the tree and wreaths for the holiday season. Shades of Green is great because of the rates obviously, as well as the close proximity to the Magic Kingdom and Polynesian. But like I said the hotel, and the room is beautiful and great for the price. Heres the view of the golf course from our room:
Random tidbit about Shades of Green… This was my first time staying here since 2006, so maybe things have changed since then, but I always thought the busses went to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This past week the busses that picked us up at the hotel either went to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or the Transportation and Ticket Center. I mean, I love riding the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, it just seemed like it took more time than necessary especially during a busy holiday week. We wanted to make rope drop at the Magic Kingdom one morning, so we got the first Shades of Green bus at 6:30, and when we got to the Transportation and Ticket Center only the resort monorail line was running, eventually we made it to the Magic Kingdom, with about two seconds of the opening show left as we were going through the turnstiles. It really wasn’t a big deal because we’ve seen it before, it was just slightly aggravating because I feel like if there was a bus for the Magic Kingdom at 6:30 in the first place we would have made it for the whole thing. Oh well, just a thought.
Anyways, after getting settled in our room, our first stop was Epcot. We got to Epcot around 1:00 and it was already very crowded. We grabbed fast passes for Test Track and started walking towards Canada for our lunch reservation at Le Cellier. This was our first time eating at Le Cellier, and to be honest I was a little worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype, not that I didn’t think it would be good, its just when something is hyped up that much sometimes you have to wonder. But it was amazing, the best filet mignon I’ve ever had, and I don’t think I could go there again without getting the cheddar cheese soup either. Unfortunately I didn’t take any food pictures this trip, so you’ll have to use your imagination, food pictures on my next trip though!
When we finished lunch, we made our way back towards Future World and got right in line for Spaceship Earth. This is probably my favorite ride in Epcot. I love Test Track too, but Spaceship Earth will always be my absolute favorite. I wish the old ending was still there, but my grandparents and Andrew thought the cartoon was cute. I’m sure its fine for the average visitor, but it makes me a little sad to see one of my favorite rides without the ending I think it needs.
Our next stop was the Seas with Nemo and Friends, my first time being here, ever. Even when it was the Living Seas I have never been. I think its one of those things, that when I was younger my family would do the same things every trip because they knew everyone liked them, and the Living Seas was just not one of those things I guess. So this trips had a lot of firsts, I was pretty determined to try new things that my less Disney obsessed family either didn’t know about or wouldn’t think to do. I thought the ride was very cute, and the exhibits were interesting and actually somewhat reminded me of our aquarium at home. Weird, I know, that doesn’t make any sense, but it did in my head haha.
Figment was next, and I don’t really know what to think of it. I’ve done it when I was younger because its one of my grandma’s favorites, but I honestly don’t get it. Its not a bad ride, its just not my thing. It also seemed different than I remember it, but again I haven’t ridden it since I was much younger so I may be wrong.
Then it was time to ride Test Track! Usually we ride Test Track a couple of times each trip, but this turned out to be the only one. I knew this week was going to be insanely crowded when we booked it, and I warned everyone else but this was the only week during the holiday season we could all go, thus resulting in riding Test Track only once. Every time we were in Epcot (except this first day) the wait time for Test Track was at least 140 minutes and the fast passes were already gone. Oh well, there’s always next time.
When we got off Test Track we decided to walk around World Showcase. One of the reasons why I wish we had more time during this trip was for World Showcase. We kind of breezed through some of the countries, and I wish we could have spent more time in them. Everything was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and I wish I could have spent more time walking around just to look at the decorations. For dinner in World Showcase, Andrew wanted chicken fingers. I think my grandparents didn’t really care what they ate, so they hung around the America pavilion so Andrew could get his chicken fingers. I love all different kinds of food and was by no means going to have chicken fingers in World Showcase, so I snuck off to Japan for some Udon noodles (which were delicious) and met everyone back in time for the American Adventure show. I LOVE this show. Maybe its because I’m a History major, but I just love it. And the Hall of Presidents, they’re both great.
After the show we watched some of the Candlelight Processional, another show I’ve never seen before. We only caught part of it before the group decided to move on, we were standing in the back behind a huge crowd anyways, but from what I saw it was beautiful,
Next we sort of breezed through the rest of the countries, before staking out a spot near England for Illuminations. The holiday version of Illuminations is one of the best fireworks shows I’ve ever seen. The whole “Peace on Earth” bit was great, I can’t wait to go to Disney in (EARLY, so it isn't so crowded) December again just to see this show.
After Illuminations, Epcot was closing for the night, and I was so planning on going to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours. But my grandparents weren’t up for it, and they didn’t want Andrew and I to go by ourselves. (I really wish I could have went, but they took me on the trip, so I wasn’t going to argue with it).
Day 2 will be up tomorrow, thanks for reading. J
