Trip Report The Holiday Humdinger *COMPLETED*

I can't believe the Summer of @Tuvalu is over! Is there going to be a holiday humdinger trip report?!!

I couldn’t disappoint a very expectant mama-to-be, now could I? Especially one who was kind enough to provide the title for this trip report!

So here you go, @krisri18......and anyone else who’d like to follow along on yet another Tuvalu WDW adventure, HOLIDAY STYLE.

I plan on posting live updates and will write an expanded report (“Part Tu” @Tony the Tigger ) once I return home. After all, what else will I have to do in December?

Who: Tuvalu and Woody

When: November 27 - December 3, 2018
Where: I shouldn’t even have to tell you. My go-to.

So be on the lookout for us, @DisneyShe, @slipperalwaysfits @mcstensrud. We’ve packed our sweaters and jeans for the chilly weekdays (highs only near 60, lows in the 40s ~ WTH??) and our shorts and tees for the unseasonably warm weekend (highs in the 80s). Yeah, that 30 degree temperature swing isn’t going to help the colds Woody and I are starting with.....

But we’re going to DISNEY WORLD!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

This is absurd. Did they think it was a pyjama party??

YES!!!!

To all the uninformed (like I was) ~
Apparently MVMCP IS a pajama party! Similar to wearing a costume at MNSSHP, wearing pajamas (with slippers, mind you) is de rigueur at MVMCP. And it’s not just for the kiddos! Young and old and anyone in-between are free to dress in nightgowns, one-piece footies, button-downs with matching pants and/or bathrobes.

I wish I was kidding.

Sigh.

 

[DisneyGigi]

YES!!!!

To all the uninformed (like I was) ~
Apparently MVMCP IS a pajama party! Similar to wearing a costume at MNSSHP, wearing pajamas (with slippers, mind you) is de rigueur at MVMCP. And it’s not just for the kiddos! Young and old and anyone in-between are free to dress in nightgowns, one-piece footies, button-downs with matching pants and/or bathrobes.

I wish I was kidding.

Sigh.

I had no idea this was a thing. Different.

On the band issue, I have quite a few floating active. I just ordered the Walt Railroad one wondering if I should deactivate some or leave well enough alone. :-/ All of mine are active I think.

Glad you are feeling better. We had a horrid cold that eased up at Disney and then came back. My mom caught it from me before we left and is still sick. Rough stuff!

 

[93boomer]

YES!!!!

To all the uninformed (like I was) ~
Apparently MVMCP IS a pajama party! Similar to wearing a costume at MNSSHP, wearing pajamas (with slippers, mind you) is de rigueur at MVMCP. And it’s not just for the kiddos! Young and old and anyone in-between are free to dress in nightgowns, one-piece footies, button-downs with matching pants and/or bathrobes.

I wish I was kidding.

Sigh.

I have no words....

 

[Swissmiss]

So these « slipper/shoes » are a thing where I live ... I may have accidentally hit the camera button on my phone one morning as I was getting on the bus

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Last Christmas we were told by a WL concierge

An interesting choice of apparel and footwear distracted me as we continued to wait.....

Here is a re-enactment of my reactions, in order:

 

[MinnieM123]

So these « slipper/shoes » are a thing where I live ... I may have accidentally hit the camera button on my phone one morning as I was getting on the bus View attachment 333104

The black lace stockings really pull the ensemble together.

 

[Tuvalu]

View attachment 333131

It’s @TrolleyFollower91 ’s FAVORITE song!!!

 

[LadyBelle]

Um, she was behind me.

In my exhausted ness, I equated behind as being next to . Christmas break cannot come soon enough.

 

[MickeyCB]

Our original plan was to grab some lunch once we arrived at Wilderness Lodge. However since we’d landed late, we knew we (specifically me) would be hangry if we waited much longer.

This was our airport food strategy, @Back!Elbow!Shoulders!

View attachment 332824

We shared a medium Hook and Ladder ~ smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham and melted Monterey Jack. Firehouse makes a good sub and we’re partial to Miss Vickie’s kettle chips.

View attachment 332825

It was just enough to satisfy us. Next stop, Disney’s Magical Express!

View attachment 332826

Yikes.
View attachment 332827

Good call to eat first. Can’t imagine navigating this on an empty stomach.

Are we on vacation yet?
View attachment 332829

Why yes, and we even have #ShirleyStatus!
View attachment 332828

Only we did not have a private coach for long. We sat on the bus for 25 long minutes as other guests boarded. The bright spot during our wait was the Happily Ever After promo video.

View attachment 332830

View attachment 332831

Yes, I did sing along. Every word. No shame.

(But not loud enough to disturb anyone. Not even Woody. )

Reading along, loved part one, and looking forward to part Tu! And can I just say holy long line Batman! I don't think I've ever seen the magic bus line that long!
And, I agree that is not cool to use nail polish (or any other strong chemical in an enclosed space). Yuck.

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

It’s @TrolleyFollower91 ’s FAVORITE song!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Woody and I had missed two of our FPs and were well into the window of our third. It wasn’t a huge deal, since we’d be able to ride attractions during the party with less waiting. I was just so happy to finally be in the park!

(Not our Emily )

I told Woody I wanted to enter via the special MVMCP entrance. (Em and I had bypassed this entrance last year, since Elsa was about to light Cinderella Castle and we wanted to watch.)

At this moment I received a text from K saying she was coming through the turnstile so Woody and I waited for her.

Her hubby would be joining us later. We decided to take advantage of the special photo op....

....and picked up our first complimentary cookie, a sugar Santa Mickey.

Except this tasted nothing like a sugar cookie! Woody took one bite and proclaimed, “This cookie tastes like popcorn!”

It did taste like popcorn! Was it supposed to? If so, we will not be investing in popcorn-flavored cookies.

 

[RememberWhen]

Tuesday, con’t

Woody and I had missed two of our FPs and were well into the window of our third. It wasn’t a huge deal, since we’d be able to ride attractions during the party with less waiting. I was just so happy to finally be in the park!

(Not our Emily )
View attachment 333394

I told Woody I wanted to enter via the special MVMCP entrance. (Em and I had bypassed this entrance last year, since Elsa was about to light Cinderella Castle and we wanted to watch.)

View attachment 333391

At this moment I received a text from K saying she was coming through the turnstile so Woody and I waited for her.

View attachment 333392

Her hubby would be joining us later. We decided to take advantage of the special photo op....

View attachment 333395

....and picked up our first complimentary cookie, a sugar Santa Mickey.

View attachment 333393

Except this tasted nothing like a sugar cookie! Woody took one bite and proclaimed, “This cookie tastes like popcorn!”

It did taste like popcorn! Was it supposed to? If so, we will not be investing in popcorn-flavored cookies.

Popcorn flavored cookes sound like something my DS would love. I hope they still have them at the last party!

 

[Tuvalu]

In order to avoid wasting party time by eating dinner, we decided on an early meal. After discussing our options, we landed here ~

I was going to mobile order but the entree K wanted was not on the mobile order menu(?) However the line moved fairly quickly.

Now here’s a great outfit for MVMCP!

(I did double-take as this guy strongly resembled Brad from “The Middle”.)

All of us went the cluck route.

Just as we were finishing the castle-lighting ceremony began. We got to “ooohhh” a few moments later....

 

[Tuvalu]

It’s often the little things that bring me glee.

Snowflake lighting on walkways is one of them.

I have always enjoyed being in the MK at night. It just seems more magical ~ even outdoor attractions have a different vibe.

But it’s hard to get “nighttime” in the park anymore. Most of my vacations are during daylight savings time when dusk doesn’t start until 8 pm and the park closes at 9 pm. (9 pm!! In the SUMMER!) Sure there’s one night a week with EMH.....that every other resort guest is also taking advantage of.

Party season presents another challenge. Of our 6 nights, 4 of them were party nights. And just like EMH nights, non-party nights are SLAMMED. If I want “dark in the park” I have to pay for it.

Disney bean counters.

Thus tonight I wanted to make sure we experienced those rides that are better when it’s dark.

First up:

We’d made it inside Space Mountain when this happened:

No evac, but we were stopped for several minutes.

 

[Tuvalu]

Snowflakes on Dwarf Mountain!

Our next attraction isn’t necessarily better in the dark, though I think that colors in “dark rides” are more vibrant when viewed through dilated pupils.

(I also suspected Little Mermaid would be a walk on. It was.)

 

[Tuvalu]

Stopped to take a pic of Gaston’s Tavern but did not venture inside. It now occurred to me that we never made it back to Gaston’s this vacation and I cannot confirm if Gaston’s chair is in its rightful spot!

We did, however, venture inside Rapunzel’s restroom.

(That’s K, holding up the lamp post! )

Haunted Mansion is best when experienced at night.

 

[Tuvalu]

While on our way to my FAVORITE attraction to ride at night, the announcement and music for MVMCP began, indicating it was now 7 pm.

PARTY TIME!

Snowflakes on Tom Sawyer Island!

#Thunderbacks @surfsupdon

The only thing better than one wild ride through wilderness darkness is TWO!

You’ll have to trust that I am holding #19. K was sitting in a different car and this was the best pic she could get.
I did not want to be selfish by requesting the back of the train so we just went where we were told to go.

K’s hubby M was waiting for us at the exit. He immediately suggested BTMRR again! While normally I would have jumped at the chance, I sensed Woody wasn’t keen on a third go round and K mentioned she was ready to check out some party snacks.

Tortuga Tavern was closest and we each got a pretzel snowman. Mine was soft and chewy, much better than last year.

We all passed on the blue raspberry snowcone. It was simply too cold to enjoy it. For the same reason we passed on riding Splash Mountain.....it was much too cold to get wet!

 

[RememberWhen]

While on our way to my FAVORITE attraction to ride at night, the announcement and music for MVMCP began, indicating it was now 7 pm.

PARTY TIME!

Snowflakes on Tom Sawyer Island!
View attachment 333436

#Thunderbacks @surfsupdon
View attachment 333435

The only thing better than one wild ride through wilderness darkness is TWO!

View attachment 333437

You’ll have to trust that I am holding #19. K was sitting in a different car and this was the best pic she could get.
I did not want to be selfish by requesting the back of the train so we just went where we were told to go.

K’s hubby M was waiting for us at the exit. He immediately suggested BTMRR again! While normally I would have jumped at the chance, I sensed Woody wasn’t keen on a third go round and K mentioned she was ready to check out some party snacks.

Tortuga Tavern was closest and we each got a pretzel snowman. Mine was soft and chewy, much better than last year.

View attachment 333440

We all passed on the blue raspberry snowcone. It was simply too cold to enjoy it. For the same reason we passed on riding Splash Mountain.....it was much too cold to get wet!

That pretzel snowman looks delicious! Maybe my family will bring me one from the party.

 

[Tuvalu]

Yo Ho, Yo Ho....it’s off to Pirates we go!

One of us was ready to strike a pose.

Snowflakes on the fort!

 

[Tuvalu]

Since Jungle Cruise is one of those attractions that is better at night, can you even imagine how festively funny it is as Jingle Cruise? M&K were about to find out!

Not Santa baby. Santa buoy!

More proof it was cold.....check out the hat!

Skipper Shannon was great and we had quite a few chuckles.

As our boat neared Schweitzer Falls for the first time, Shannon cried out loudly: “PIVOT! ....PIVOT! ....PIVOT!”

When we passed the “rear half” of the downed plane: “They flew in the plane from Casablanca. Hope they don’t take this attraction away like they did that other....” (Ooooh, nice burn!)

As we approached the cave exit: “And if you look to your left, you’ll see the Golden Girls.”

Okay, so none of the jokes I shared were Christmas themed. Skipper Shannon had plenty though and M&K were amused.

This light guided us back to the paradox.