Trip Report The Cold Never Bothered Us Anyway - December 2024

Happy New Year, WDW Magic Friends!

We have been back from our latest WDW for nearly a month, so it's high time I get started on our trip report, before I forget everything that happened.

The cast of characters:

Me, Katie - thirty-something mom, wife, and Disney trip planner extraordinaire

Jason - My husband of 11 years, fellow Disney adult, happy to be along for the ride

Lincoln - Our precocious three-year-old son, Jason's twin, lover of characters and roller coasters

Sunday, December 1st - Travel Day

I was up and at 'em shortly after 4:00 am, after a fitful nights' sleep. Between the excitement (we're going to Disney!) and the anxiety (what if all of our reservations randomly get canceled?), I can never sleep the night before a trip. I got J up around 4:30, and he and I quickly got ourselves ready to go and packed up last-minute items in our "go bag." We always get Lincoln out of bed last, hoping that he'll stay asleep while we transfer him to the car seat, but it never works out that way. The three of us were wide awake and pulling out of the driveway just after 5:00 am.

We made our first stop of the trip at Buc-ee's, where we all had a potty break and grabbed some breakfast.

I sat in the back with Lincoln for the next leg of the trip to try to keep the breakfast mess under control, and get him set up with a movie on his tablet.

Don't mind my disgusting car window - Lincoln has these little suction cup car toys that constantly fall off and get re-attached, thus the million little circle marks on the window.

We stopped again for gas and another potty break shortly after crossing over into Florida. And once we hit Gainesville, this was our view for the next hour and a half.

This was the second trip in a row that we ended up stuck in traffic for over an hour on the way down, and both times the traffic was not in Atlanta! This time around, I had considered booking a hotel room in Lake City for the night before our check-in day, so that we could drive most of the way down the night before and be on property before Noon. Plus, that would keep us from having to wake up so early to drive down. For our next trip, I'm definitely booking that hotel room for the night before.

Thankfully, Lincoln was a good sport, and kept himself entertained.

Finally, shortly after 1:30 pm, we passed through the magical gates, and all of our troubles disappeared.

Up next: Disney Springs

 

[k8einwdw]

This made me laugh! So, what time-sensitive vehicle repairs was Lincoln planning to do? (P.S.: Always good to have a competent mechanic in the family.)

Who knows with that kid He is constantly “fixing” things around the house (aka banging on them with a toy hammer). He loves pretending to fix his toy vehicles, and enjoys picking up sticks and pine cones out in the yard. That child enjoys manual labor more than anyone I know.

He BEGGED for this toy wheelbarrow and yard tool set from Costco.

Helping Grandpoppy (my dad) haul away some downed limbs on their property

 

[muddyrivers]

Who knows with that kid He is constantly “fixing” things around the house (aka banging on them with a toy hammer). He loves pretending to fix his toy vehicles, and enjoys picking up sticks and pine cones out in the yard. That child enjoys manual labor more than anyone I know.

He BEGGED for this toy wheelbarrow and yard tool set from Costco.

View attachment 842152

Helping Grandpoppy (my dad) haul away some downed limbs on their property

View attachment 842153

Remind him of these moments and show him these pictures in a few years when you're trying to get him to mow the lawn and he protests. Then again, he may tell you he got it all out of his system when he was younger

 

[k8einwdw]

Remind him of these moments and show him these pictures in a few years when you're trying to get him to mow the lawn and he protests. Then again, he may tell you he got it all out of his system when he was younger

We can only hope that he’ll still be as willing to help around the house when he’s older!

 

[k8einwdw]

Thursday, December 5th - Hollywood Studios Day - Continued

Once we were out of the Frozen sing-along, it was high time for Lincoln to take a nap. Thankfully, we were able to get him to fall asleep in the stroller, so J and I walked around the park while he was snoozing.

I have to admit, while Hollywood Studios is probably my least favorite park in WDW, they have some of my favorite holiday decorations.

We also walked back into Galaxy's Edge. We took one look at the single rider line for ROTR, said "NOPE!" and kept walking.

We had every intention of going back to the room for a break this day, but as we were walking around the park, we looked at the time and realized that it would make more sense to just stay in the park until Fantasmic. That's right folks, for the first time in YEARS, Hollywood Studios was not a half-day park for our family.

Eventually, L woke up for his nap and wanted OUT of the stroller, so we headed over to the last showing of the Disney Jr. Dance party. He had a blast!

Up next: Goodbye, Old Friend

 

[Spash007]

Who knows with that kid He is constantly “fixing” things around the house (aka banging on them with a toy hammer). He loves pretending to fix his toy vehicles, and enjoys picking up sticks and pine cones out in the yard. That child enjoys manual labor more than anyone I know.

He BEGGED for this toy wheelbarrow and yard tool set from Costco.

View attachment 842152

Helping Grandpoppy (my dad) haul away some downed limbs on their property

View attachment 842153

We have that same wheelbarrow set! Liam will sometimes help pick up sticks or garden with it, but usually he just fills it with dirt to leave in it until I finally notice

 

[k8einwdw]

We have that same wheelbarrow set! Liam will sometimes help pick up sticks or garden with it, but usually he just fills it with dirt to leave in it until I finally notice

Boys

 

[k8einwdw]

Thursday, December 5th - Hollywood Studios Day - Continued

The time had come for us to say goodbye to Muppets Courtyard. As longtime Disney parks fans, we're used to saying goodbye to older attractions/shows to make way for new experiences. We're excited for the new Monsters, Inc. land. The door coaster will be incredible, I'm sure. But man, this one hurts. The Animation Courtyard/Launch Bay area in HS is more or less dead space right now - why oh why did they have to take away Muppet*Vision 3D? I'm hesitant to get excited about the Muppet re-theme of RNRC. Everyone of any age and any ability can enjoy Muppet*Vision 3D. That's not the case for a roller coaster.

The Muppets have been so dear to me for as long as I can remember. The holiday season has not begun in our household until we've watched "The Muppets Christmas Carol." I have distinct memories of sitting in my mom's green Dodge Grand Caravan in the 90s with her John Denver and The Muppets "Christmas Together" cd, singing along to Miss Piggy's "Fiiiive Goooooold Riiiiiings! Ba-dum-bum-bum!"

As we were walking through Muppets Courtyard one last time, taking pictures and videos, this was the song playing in my head:



Goodbye, MuppetVison 3D. I hope we get to see you again one day.

Goodbye, Rat Pizza.

Goodbye, my beloved Miss Piggy Fountain.

Goodbye, Statler and Waldorf.

Goodbye, key under the mat.

While we were in the area, we took Lincoln to see Muppet*Vision 3D for the first (and hopefully not the last) time. He loved it, of course. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears looking around the theatre for the last time.

He also saw some Instagram girlies taking pictures by this tree, and insisted that he needed his picture taken as well.

"This looks familiar, vaguely familiar.
Almost unreal yet. It's too soon to feel yet.
Close to my soul, and yet so far away,
I'm going to go back there someday.

Sun rises, night falls. Sometimes, the sky calls.
Is that a song there, and do I belong there?
I've never been there, but I know the way.
I'm going to go back there someday.

Come and go with me, it's more fun to share.
We'll both be completely at home in midair.
We're flying, not walking, on featherless wings.
We can hold on to love like invisible strings.

There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met.
Part Heaven, part space, or have I found my place?
You can just visit, but I plan to stay.
I'm going to go back there someday.

I'm going to go back there someday."

Muppets Courtyard - 1991-2025

 

[Tuvalu]

Beautiful Muppets tribute!

And we too had a 90s green Dodge Caravan. But I bet yours didn’t have a big orange carpet stain in the trunk from a spilled gallon of Hi-C!

 

[Go.Nijntje]

My family watches the Muppet Christmas Carol each year as well. My oldest nephew moved in with his girlfriend and was shocked she'd never seen it. He took care of that real quick, can't be part of the family and not watch the Muppets.

And I like the term Insta Girlies, I'm going to steal it because I see way too many of them.

 

[cgersic]

Ok, this post definitely brought a tear to my eye.... Sooooo sad about it.

 

[k8einwdw]

Beautiful Muppets tribute!

And we too had a 90s green Dodge Caravan. But I bet yours didn’t have a big orange carpet stain in the trunk from a spilled gallon of Hi-C!

No Hi-C stain, but my little brother did ralph in one of the back row storage compartments one time, and didn’t confess to our mom for like a month.

My family watches the Muppet Christmas Carol each year as well. My oldest nephew moved in with his girlfriend and was shocked she'd never seen it. He took care of that real quick, can't be part of the family and not watch the Muppets.

And I like the term Insta Girlies, I'm going to steal it because I see way too many of them.

It’s not Christmas until we’ve sang along to…

I don’t mind the Instagram girlies so much as I mind the live streamers…

 

[Go.Nijntje]

No Hi-C stain, but my little brother did ralph in one of the back row storage compartments one time, and didn’t confess to our mom for like a month.

It’s not Christmas until we’ve sang along to…

I don’t mind the Instagram girlies so much as I mind the live streamers…

I often find the Insta girlies entertaining but also a bit sad. They seem so focused on getting the "perfect" picture, they forget to enjoy themselves and actually appreciate where they are. They can be a tad annoying when they do a whole photoshoot in a spot I just want to take a quick picture in.

 

[muddyrivers]

The Muppets Courtyard to me was one of the best remaining vestiges of the MGM park I grew up with. I remember walking down Commissary Lane singing along to the different theme songs, and going over to MuppetVision 3D and strolling into the Stage One Company Store to see all the Muppets scenes (including the beloved Muppet Babies nursery window) and then going into the Once Upon a Christmas shop. To see all of that taken away.... did someone spill some pepper?

 

[k8einwdw]

Ok, this post definitely brought a tear to my eye.... Sooooo sad about it.

The Muppets Courtyard to me was one of the best remaining vestiges of the MGM park I grew up with. I remember walking down Commissary Lane singing along to the different theme songs, and going over to MuppetVision 3D and strolling into the Stage One Company Store to see all the Muppets scenes (including the beloved Muppet Babies nursery window) and then going into the Once Upon a Christmas shop. To see all of that taken away.... did someone spill some pepper?

Agreed - I’m excited to see what comes next, but this lost just hits harder.

 

[Minnie1986]

Wednesday, December 4th - Resort Day - Continued

From the Wilderness Lodge, our next destination was the monorail loop. I reminded J that when we had stayed at Wilderness Lodge in 2015, there was a boat to Contemporary, and I seemed to remember that someone (@Tuvalu?) had said that this particular boat launch had finally re-opened somewhat recently. So, we headed to the boat launch to get to the Contemporary. On the boat, we made friends with another family with young kids that does Disney annually like we do, and we chatted about our trips so far. This particular boat route goes from Wilderness Lodge to Ft. Wilderness to Contemporary, so we stopped off at Ft. Wilderness first. A few people got off, and shortly after we pushed off for the Contemporary, a couple piped up and said that they were supposed to get off at Ft. Wilderness. Evidently they had been deep in conversation (or more likely, staring at their phones) when we had docked. Our boat captain was nicer than I would have been, and turned around to let them off. We and our new friends whisper-Booed them. Finally, we arrived at Contemporary and told our new friends that we'd look for them at Hollywood Studios the next day (we didn't see them).

Remember this jacket?

View attachment 840963

At some point while we were at the Poly for breakfast that morning, it had gone missing. I remember taking it off of Lincoln before heading into 'Ohana, and I thought I had left it sitting in his stroller, but it was not there when we left the Poly. We had had nice weather for most of the day, but it was starting to get chilly again, so while we had been resort-hopping, we had also been looking for a new jacket for L. We didn't spend much time at Contemporary since we had just been there the night before, but thankfully we were able to find a new jacket for L at the Fantasia Market. Jacket acquired, and $50 poorer, we started making our way around the monorail loop.

View attachment 840964

We got off at the Poly - yes, we had just been there that morning at 'Ohana. But you know what else is at the Poly? Captain Cooks, arguably our favorite resort QS on property. We had mobile-ordered some dinner while on the monorail - Pulled Pork Nachos for me and J, and a Mac and Cheese kids meal for L.

View attachment 840965

YUM.

View attachment 840966

While we were at the Poly, we checked with the front desk to see if L's jacket had been turned in to the lost and found. It had not, so they gave us a card with a QR code to put in a Lost and Found ticket online. Spoiler alert - we never got that jacket back. We ended up replacing it earlier this month.

After leaving the Poly, our last stop of the night was the Grand Floridian. L was enthralled by the giant gingerbread house! While it smelled heavenly, the line to buy treats was super long, so we passed.

View attachment 840967
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I'll be honest, I don't remember how we got back to Pop, and I didn't take notes. If I had to guess, knowing us, we took a bus from Grand Flo to HS, and transferred to the Skyliner.

After we had gotten back to Pop and got L bathed and put to bed, I decided to treat myself to half of my chocolate cake from Steakhouse 71 the night before. It was delicious, but unfortunately, I felt sick almost immediately after eating it. I don't know if it was because it had been out of the fridge during our time at Epcot, or if I was allergic to something in it (surely there's no shellfish in chocolate cake), but let's just say it wasn't so pleasant coming back up later. Thankfully, neither of the boys woke up while I was sick, and we were all able to sleep peacefully the rest of the night.

Step count for the day - 20,453 steps - 7.58 miles

Up next: Hooray for Hollywood!

So sorry that you got sick, but glad that you all had a wonderful rest of your day!

 

[rshell68]

Thursday, December 5th - Hollywood Studios Day - Continued

The time had come for us to say goodbye to Muppets Courtyard. As longtime Disney parks fans, we're used to saying goodbye to older attractions/shows to make way for new experiences. We're excited for the new Monsters, Inc. land. The door coaster will be incredible, I'm sure. But man, this one hurts. The Animation Courtyard/Launch Bay area in HS is more or less dead space right now - why oh why did they have to take away Muppet*Vision 3D? I'm hesitant to get excited about the Muppet re-theme of RNRC. Everyone of any age and any ability can enjoy Muppet*Vision 3D. That's not the case for a roller coaster.

The Muppets have been so dear to me for as long as I can remember. The holiday season has not begun in our household until we've watched "The Muppets Christmas Carol." I have distinct memories of sitting in my mom's green Dodge Grand Caravan in the 90s with her John Denver and The Muppets "Christmas Together" cd, singing along to Miss Piggy's "Fiiiive Goooooold Riiiiiings! Ba-dum-bum-bum!"

As we were walking through Muppets Courtyard one last time, taking pictures and videos, this was the song playing in my head:



Goodbye, MuppetVison 3D. I hope we get to see you again one day.

View attachment 842945

Goodbye, Rat Pizza.

View attachment 842946

Goodbye, my beloved Miss Piggy Fountain.

View attachment 842947

Goodbye, Statler and Waldorf.

View attachment 842950

Goodbye, key under the mat.

View attachment 842949

While we were in the area, we took Lincoln to see Muppet*Vision 3D for the first (and hopefully not the last) time. He loved it, of course. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears looking around the theatre for the last time.

View attachment 842951
View attachment 842952

He also saw some Instagram girlies taking pictures by this tree, and insisted that he needed his picture taken as well.

View attachment 842953

"This looks familiar, vaguely familiar.
Almost unreal yet. It's too soon to feel yet.
Close to my soul, and yet so far away,
I'm going to go back there someday.

Sun rises, night falls. Sometimes, the sky calls.
Is that a song there, and do I belong there?
I've never been there, but I know the way.
I'm going to go back there someday.

Come and go with me, it's more fun to share.
We'll both be completely at home in midair.
We're flying, not walking, on featherless wings.
We can hold on to love like invisible strings.

There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met.
Part Heaven, part space, or have I found my place?
You can just visit, but I plan to stay.
I'm going to go back there someday.

I'm going to go back there someday."

Muppets Courtyard - 1991-2025

Beautiful post!

 

[k8einwdw]

 

[k8einwdw]

Where was I? Oh yes...

Thursday, December 5th - Hollywood Studios Day - Continued

After our last visit to Muppets Courtyard (and a good cry), we headed over to ABC Commissary. One of my favorite Disney Parks podcast hosts raves about the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese sandwich, so I had to try it for myself. Jason got the same thing, and I believe Lincoln got the Grilled Ham and Cheese kids meal, which he picked at. Jason and I both agreed that the Buffalo Grilled Cheese was delicious, but if you're sensitive to dairy () just know you'll pay for it later.

After dinner, we made our way down Sunset Blvd toward the Fantasmic theater, stopping for a few minutes along the way to enjoy the projections on Tower of Terror.

We got to the theater about 30-40 minutes before showtime, and got pretty decent seats. L was a little restless waiting/sitting still for so long, but there was a family with a boy about L's age sitting in front of us, so the two entertained each other for part of the wait. Soon enough, it was showtime.

This was our first time seeing Fantasmic post-Covid, so we were excited to share it with L. I was really impressed with the new Moana and Frozen segments especially, and "Some Imagination, Huh?" still gets me every time.

L said that he liked the show, although he did cover his ears in a couple spots, and buried his face in my side during the snake part. We may need to remember to bring some ear protection for him for our trip this year. Overall, we were so happy to see Fantasmic again, and felt that the dining package was well worth it for the guaranteed seating.

Up Next: Epcot day

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[k8einwdw]