TRIP REPORT – Sunday to Thursday (myself and my 6-year old son):
Arrived at POFQ on Sunday at about 11. It was our first time staying at this resort and it was just beautiful! The check-in took about 45 minutes (it was really busy for some reason); our room was ready and I was really pleased and surprised… although I had reserved a standard view room to save money, we received not only a courtyard view, but a corner room -- which has 2 windows which I loved! During our entire stay the resort was quiet (except for the few times we ran into either the cheerleaders or players from Pop Warner), the food court nearly empty, the pool uncrowded and the grounds, buildings and rooms themselves just lovely. We will most definitely be back! It would be really tough to go back to the All-Stars after this, unless I’m really broke! :animwink:
After we unpacked we headed over to Epcot. After getting a FP for TT, we rode Spaceship Earth (or, as my son calls it, “The Big Ball”), Figment, HISTA and went through all of the Living Seas. All of the Nemo theming was there and was a welcome addition to all the other attractions. The Crush encounter was INCREDIBLE and my 6-year old was thrilled that Crush spoke to him! I laughed as much as the kids – it was really, really cool and so much fun!
We rode TT twice and then headed over to World Showcase. I had hoped to see Jim Caviezel at the Candlelight Processional, but he was SO popular that for three days people were lining up 2+ hours in advance and the dinner packages were mostly all sold out, so I didn’t get to see him, except from a distance. Did some browsing in Germany and headed back to the resort (so I could watch the Jaguars lose to the Steelers!
)
MONDAY
Started the day at AK – it was EE day, but we got a late start and didn’t get there until about 8:45. I just love their Christmas Tree!! Went directly to Safari ride and rode it standby with about a 15 minute wait. Afterward we walked the Pangani Trail as my son wanted to see the gorilla family again. We then went to It’s Tough To Be A Bug: it was our first time (my son had gotten freaked out by the interior of the tree a couple of years ago, and had avoided it ever since) -- we really enjoyed it. Went to Dinoland and my son is now tall enough for Primeval Whirl – big mistake for me! I don’t do simulators or spinning rides for a reason! I didn’t feel well for about 6 hours afterwards! He rode it by himself 2 more times, then Triceratops Spin. I won him a great big stuffed dinosaur (NOBODY, child or adult, beats me at Whack A Mole!!). Had a quick lunch at Tusker House and then back to the hotel to drop off “Spike” the dinosaur. My son spent a couple of hours at the pool enjoying the dragon slide before we headed out again.
We caught the bus to MGM and went on my son’s two favorites, “Star Tours” (twice… and I sit that out too, believe me!) and Muppets 3-D and then Indiana Jones. By then it was dark, so we walked through Osbourne Lights (so glad it’s back!). We then took the boat over to Epcot. Saw American Adventure. We decided to have dinner, but everything was really crowded due to the Candlelight Processional. Ended up in Norway and got a table in about 15 minutes. Dinner was wonderful and our server, Johan, was just great! We got finished just in time to see Illuminations which was fantastic as usual and included the extra 5 minute Christmas show. And that was Monday!
TUESDAY
My son was just exhausted when we got in Monday night, so I let him sleep in. We had tickets to the Christmas Party that night, so I knew he’d want to stay to the end! We arrived at MK about noon. The Christmas decorations were beautiful as usual! We got to meet Robin Hood for the first time ever! Crowds were light so we got to ride SM and BTMRR several times each. Did HM, Goofy, Buzz, Philharmagic and Space Mountain twice before the park closed at 6. Got our wristbands early, so we stayed in the park and had dinner with our buddy, Sonny Eclipse! The Christmas Party was fabulous, we rode everything, saw lots of characters, had hot chocolate, watched Wishes while riding Thunder Mountain, and saw the FANTASTIC Christmas Parade!! I highly recommend this event if you’re going to WDW in December!! We were at MK for 12 hours, and didn’t get back to the hotel until 1 AM, but it was definitely worth it!! :xmas:
WEDNESDAY
Slept in until almost noon and then off to Epcot so my son could ride TT again. Lunch at Electric Umbrella, Christmas shopping at Mouse Gears and then took the Monorail to MK (after a quick detour to Grand Floridian because my son wanted to see the life-sized gingerbread house). Rode SM and BTMRR & saw the Spectromagic parade (great as always). Watched Wishes on our way out of the park. Waited about 30 minutes for the bus, which was the longest wait of the trip. Had dinner in our room and then to bed.
THURSDAY
Packed up the car and took the boat to Downtown Disney to have lunch at Rainforest Café. Did a bit more Christmas shopping (Once Upon A Toy is awesome!) and then back to the resort and regretfully waved goodbye to French Quarter. Until next time… :sohappy:
Arrived at POFQ on Sunday at about 11. It was our first time staying at this resort and it was just beautiful! The check-in took about 45 minutes (it was really busy for some reason); our room was ready and I was really pleased and surprised… although I had reserved a standard view room to save money, we received not only a courtyard view, but a corner room -- which has 2 windows which I loved! During our entire stay the resort was quiet (except for the few times we ran into either the cheerleaders or players from Pop Warner), the food court nearly empty, the pool uncrowded and the grounds, buildings and rooms themselves just lovely. We will most definitely be back! It would be really tough to go back to the All-Stars after this, unless I’m really broke! :animwink:
After we unpacked we headed over to Epcot. After getting a FP for TT, we rode Spaceship Earth (or, as my son calls it, “The Big Ball”), Figment, HISTA and went through all of the Living Seas. All of the Nemo theming was there and was a welcome addition to all the other attractions. The Crush encounter was INCREDIBLE and my 6-year old was thrilled that Crush spoke to him! I laughed as much as the kids – it was really, really cool and so much fun!
We rode TT twice and then headed over to World Showcase. I had hoped to see Jim Caviezel at the Candlelight Processional, but he was SO popular that for three days people were lining up 2+ hours in advance and the dinner packages were mostly all sold out, so I didn’t get to see him, except from a distance. Did some browsing in Germany and headed back to the resort (so I could watch the Jaguars lose to the Steelers!
)MONDAY
Started the day at AK – it was EE day, but we got a late start and didn’t get there until about 8:45. I just love their Christmas Tree!! Went directly to Safari ride and rode it standby with about a 15 minute wait. Afterward we walked the Pangani Trail as my son wanted to see the gorilla family again. We then went to It’s Tough To Be A Bug: it was our first time (my son had gotten freaked out by the interior of the tree a couple of years ago, and had avoided it ever since) -- we really enjoyed it. Went to Dinoland and my son is now tall enough for Primeval Whirl – big mistake for me! I don’t do simulators or spinning rides for a reason! I didn’t feel well for about 6 hours afterwards! He rode it by himself 2 more times, then Triceratops Spin. I won him a great big stuffed dinosaur (NOBODY, child or adult, beats me at Whack A Mole!!). Had a quick lunch at Tusker House and then back to the hotel to drop off “Spike” the dinosaur. My son spent a couple of hours at the pool enjoying the dragon slide before we headed out again.
We caught the bus to MGM and went on my son’s two favorites, “Star Tours” (twice… and I sit that out too, believe me!) and Muppets 3-D and then Indiana Jones. By then it was dark, so we walked through Osbourne Lights (so glad it’s back!). We then took the boat over to Epcot. Saw American Adventure. We decided to have dinner, but everything was really crowded due to the Candlelight Processional. Ended up in Norway and got a table in about 15 minutes. Dinner was wonderful and our server, Johan, was just great! We got finished just in time to see Illuminations which was fantastic as usual and included the extra 5 minute Christmas show. And that was Monday!
TUESDAY
My son was just exhausted when we got in Monday night, so I let him sleep in. We had tickets to the Christmas Party that night, so I knew he’d want to stay to the end! We arrived at MK about noon. The Christmas decorations were beautiful as usual! We got to meet Robin Hood for the first time ever! Crowds were light so we got to ride SM and BTMRR several times each. Did HM, Goofy, Buzz, Philharmagic and Space Mountain twice before the park closed at 6. Got our wristbands early, so we stayed in the park and had dinner with our buddy, Sonny Eclipse! The Christmas Party was fabulous, we rode everything, saw lots of characters, had hot chocolate, watched Wishes while riding Thunder Mountain, and saw the FANTASTIC Christmas Parade!! I highly recommend this event if you’re going to WDW in December!! We were at MK for 12 hours, and didn’t get back to the hotel until 1 AM, but it was definitely worth it!! :xmas:
WEDNESDAY
Slept in until almost noon and then off to Epcot so my son could ride TT again. Lunch at Electric Umbrella, Christmas shopping at Mouse Gears and then took the Monorail to MK (after a quick detour to Grand Floridian because my son wanted to see the life-sized gingerbread house). Rode SM and BTMRR & saw the Spectromagic parade (great as always). Watched Wishes on our way out of the park. Waited about 30 minutes for the bus, which was the longest wait of the trip. Had dinner in our room and then to bed.
THURSDAY
Packed up the car and took the boat to Downtown Disney to have lunch at Rainforest Café. Did a bit more Christmas shopping (Once Upon A Toy is awesome!) and then back to the resort and regretfully waved goodbye to French Quarter. Until next time… :sohappy:
