Christmas With P-Sha About This Page:

[disneydani]

I am not surprised that the former FP Queen is quickly working her way towards becoming the new FP+ Queen. . Awesome and productive arrival afternoon in Epcot!

Danielle

[lindawdw]

Always great to see another one of your TR posted Sharon! It's always nice when you're the first stop on the ME Bus! Looking forward to hearing about your stay at the AKL since my DH, DD and I will be staying there together for the first time with our new DVC Your red shirt looks adorable and it's the perfect color to wear during the Christmas season! I also love the WS decorations and all the Storytellers at Christmas. Glad you were able to cross off those two from your list. Can't wait for more.

[MMMD]

Excited for next installment

[PrincessSharon]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Wait... didn't we watch the Kwanzaa storyteller *together* a couple of years ago, or am I confusing my traveling companions. (No comments, Karen!)

I don't think so. I know I've never seen it all the way through.

Originally Posted by Caldercup

But this?



...some pastry chef needs to fix that tower.

It's Eileening.

I've been dying to use that smiley forever, so thank you. You are awesome, bad puns and all. Totally my favorite.

Originally Posted by lauriep

Great start! I agree that for days like this the FP+ is just great. I wonder, though, how you'll manage your multiple drops on ToT without the paper FP. I'm going to be paying close attention to how you use your FP+ because I know you'll get the most out of them. I'm always kind of surprised at how much I enjoy the storytellers at Epcot. They do these talks so well and they keep the attention of kids and adults. The Hannukah one used to be inside the lobby, kind of hidden off to the left. It's nice that she's now outside and I'm sure she gets bigger audiences.

Luckily for me, FP+ won't really change the way I do TOT. Most of my drops come from getting to the park at opening and riding multiple times before the lines build up. And oddly, TOT is one of those attractions that will suddenly be a walk on in the middle of the day. I can recall multiple instances where I felt like a sucker using my FP because there was nobody in the standby queue (and I have actually hopped over from FP to SB more than once). Also, TOT isn't in the top tier of attractions, so I can always get a FP+ as well as another for say, TSMM or RNRC. It's like they had me in mind.

Originally Posted by chezp

Great start!

Wow, those security lines! I love the gingerbread creations, especially of Aulani - that brought back great memories.

Interesting to see the photos of France, as I knew there'd be more Christmas stuff coming out. They had the giant baubles with the Arc de Triomphe in when we were there in mid November, but not the poinsettias. It looks so much better with those.

Those security lines are insane, right? Glad I wasn't heading out that morning. If I had to guess, I'd say the wait was an hour. I really loved the new decorations in France. Unique and festive!

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

Great start! You got to a lot of the Holiday stuff in Epcot I had missed, so it was great to see

Thanks! You will probably get to see most of the holiday stuff you missed if you keep reading. I did a lot!

Originally Posted by mpwife153

Great start to your trip! I, to layer tops like that especially since clothing makers have been skimping on the length of shirts lately. I've had 3 kids & nobody needs to see my baby belly!

Yeah, what's the deal with that? You can see how short the red t-shirt is, because there's like 2 inches of white t-shirt at the bottom!

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

Great start! I love your TRs! I am a teacher and we do a Christmas around the world unit. I have pulled up the Epcot Story tellers to show them on YouTube. I love it! They are really fascinating and I hope to catch them in person someday.

The storytellers aren't a big thing, but they add a lot to the WS experience!

Originally Posted by KMB733

Great start!! Wow that security line at the airport was crazy. Good thing you were coming in and not going out! Love the pictures of the gingerbread creations. Those were so cool. Sounds like FP+ was a blessing today.

I know I would've been freaking out a little if I had to wait in that security line! And FP+ was definitely a blessing that day!

Originally Posted by Cam22

FP+ definitely got you off to a fast start at Epcot. I'm liking all your pictures of the Christmas decorations there, too. I would never have known the red tee was ill-fitting because it looks great with the white tee under it.

And the layered look also helps it look unique - just in case someone else is wearing the same t-shirt!

Originally Posted by DrDolphin

Great start - I will be very interested on your take on FP+, since we all know you are the FP queen!

Spoiler: I think I like it more than most! But the real test will come with my family trips later this year. I may be changing my tune!

Originally Posted by Coop

Well, if it's a P-Sha TR then I'm in!

Originally Posted by mouseketeer1

Yay!!! Another P-Sha trip report! Woot woot! Glad to hear the upside of FP+. Can't wait to hear more! I'm with ya on the Magic Express video. I love the old cartoons of Donald getting all hing up in the chaise lounge chair; I'd be sad to see those go. Love the photos! Thanks for sharing the airport photo! Sheesh! What a line! Glad it didn't slow down entry to the World:-)

I guess I'll get used to the new DME video. I just miss Goofy, I think (and I used to love the cartoons at the end, too).

Originally Posted by lfredsbo

Great first day so far!!! Love that you were able to catch so many holiday festivities!!!

I'm just getting started! MUCH more holiday festivities to come!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Love that you can ride Soarin' in the afternoon on arrival day! That is one thing I'm looking forward to. I just wonder how it will affect everything else.
Looking forward to hearing about Whoopi.

FP+ definitely helps if you don't get to the park right at opening. The one thing I hate most about it is that you can only get 3 per day, and only in one park. They should definitely increase the number you can get!

Originally Posted by disneydani

I am not surprised that the former FP Queen is quickly working her way towards becoming the new FP+ Queen. . Awesome and productive arrival afternoon in Epcot!

Danielle

I'm figuring it out a little at a time. And it helps that my "tests" are when I'm solo - so even if I have to adjust it, I only need to do it for one person.

Originally Posted by lindawdw

Always great to see another one of your TR posted Sharon! It's always nice when you're the first stop on the ME Bus! Looking forward to hearing about your stay at the AKL since my DH, DD and I will be staying there together for the first time with our new DVC Your red shirt looks adorable and it's the perfect color to wear during the Christmas season! I also love the WS decorations and all the Storytellers at Christmas. Glad you were able to cross off those two from your list. Can't wait for more.

AKL is my fav! And thanks for the compliments! Red is my favorite color, so I especially love red Christmasy t-shirts.

Originally Posted by MMMD

Excited for next installment

Coming right up!

[PrincessSharon]

Day One, Part Two
Hanging with Whoopi’s family

I got my passport stamped in Italy and then enjoyed the holiday decorations there.





I noticed there was a huge crowd in the standby line for the Candlelight Processional. Whoopi Goldberg is a popular narrator. It made me very glad to have booked the dinner package!

While in Italy, I also enjoyed the storyteller, La Befana. I’ve seen her many times, probably more than any other storyteller.



I walked over to Germany to have a look at the little miniature village. I have a serious fascination with miniatures – I could look at the little details for hours!





















It was almost 4:45, my ADR time at Tutto Italia, so I headed back to Italy. I checked in and was seated immediately, at a table in that small room just off the lobby. I am never bothered by my table location, so it was perfectly fine with me. Shoot, I’ll sit in the kitchen if the food’s good.

I’d booked this as part of the CPDP, so I was able to get an appetizer, entrée and dessert, which is way too much food for me in one meal. And to make matters worse, they brought out olives and bread (which I have discovered I am physically incapable of resisting ).





Also, I hadn’t had very much to eat that day, so that helped. For my starter, I chose the prosciutto.


Prosciutto di Parma - ham with thin slices of seasonal melon

It wasn’t served with melon, but it came with some fried thing I can’t remember. Whatever it was, it was very good. I really had a hard time deciding on an entrée. Everything looked so good. Actually, I was really tempted by the spaghetti, but I decided against it because it was the cheapest item on the menu and I wanted to get my money’s worth. I was very pleased with my choice.


Gnocchetti - Cavatelli pasta, sweet sausage ragu, tomato, pecorino

Dessert = gelato.



My server was very nice and paced the meal well. There was another CM that would stop and chat with me on occasion as well. She let me know that Whoopi Goldberg’s family was eating at the table right next to me. That’s me – always hobnobbing with celebs.

I paid the check and got my sticker for the CP for the 8:15 performance. I’d forgotten how much the CPDP is, so I had a little case of sticker shock ($71.35 including tax), but after adding up the cost of what I had, I didn’t do too badly, value-wise. Let’s just not discuss that I think Tutto Italia is overpriced to begin with. And I would absolutely do it again, even knowing the price ahead of time.

After that meal, I was totally stuffed! I still had time before I needed to line up for the CP, so I spent the time seeing the holiday stuff and getting holiday stamps in my passport.



I saw the holiday storyteller in Japan. This is another one I’d never seen from start to finish before.





I wanted to go to Morocco to see the storyteller there and got caught up in a tremendous traffic jam. The Candlelight Processional had just let out and there was a literal wall of people walking through Morocco towards France. I don’t think people heading in the other direction could even make it through. I decided I wasn’t going to join the herd and found a bench for a few minutes until it cleared out. I think what caused the issue was the construction being done at the Spice Road Table. There were walls up and the path got pretty narrow in that spot.

I was still way early for the storyteller in Morocco, so I was able to get a comfortable seat to watch. Bonus! I’d seen this one before, but a long time ago. I even ended up being part of the show, sort of. I got some oil poured on my hands, and I also got to beat the drum a little. Woo!



Mo’Rockin was due out after the storyteller so I stayed put. I really enjoy Mo’Rockin – they are one of my favorite WS acts. But it seems like it’s an entirely new band from the old days. They still sound good, though.



And the belly dancer was amazing! She’s got a tiny belly, but boy can she make it move. I wonder how I’d do with my big ol’ belly. Nevermind. Nobody wants to see that!



Continued…

[PrincessSharon]

I didn’t have time to do much of anything before I needed to join the queue for CPDP. I’d seen a Cocoa Candy Cane in the passport, which sounded really good, so I walked over and got that. It was hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps. Unfortunately, it was such a warm night, I found myself not wanting to drink it. I had to force myself, because I learned from my BFF Jill that you don’t waste… chocolate.

I was in line right about where the drummers perform in Japan. It must’ve been a kind of slow night for dinner packages, because that was a pretty good spot considering the time I got in line. The people behind me were having a discussion and I was kind of eavesdropping. Then when one person was struggling to remember a basketball player’s name (Dwayne Wade, if you care), I did what I almost never do – I inserted myself into their conversation! Luckily, they didn’t get all huffy and position themselves with their backs to me.

We spent the rest of the time in line chatting about a variety of topics. One couple was from the Tampa area (recently relocated from up north) and the other two were from Miami (which is why they were talking about Dwayne Wade in the first place). It helped the time go by quickly and before you know it, we were being let into the theater. I would’ve sat with my new friends, but some rude person cut ahead of me into the row. Instead, I took the row in front. I then positioned myself directly in front of the rude person and put on the giant sombrero I’d purchased earlier that day in Mexico. Just kidding! But now I’m cracking up over that visual. No matter, it’s not like we were going to talk during the performance anyway!

I usually tend to sit further back from the stage because of advice I’d heard long ago (though now I’m not sure why that was the advice), but I’m happy I was closer this time! I really felt immersed in the music (maybe that’s why you’re not supposed to sit close – if that’s something you wouldn’t enjoy? ). Anyway, here’s my spot.



The CP is one of my favorite holiday events at WDW. I enjoyed it this year as much as ever.









I was excited to have Whoopi Goldberg as a narrator, particularly because I’d heard such great things about her performance as narrator. When they introduced her, they mentioned she’s one of the few people (11, according to Wikipedia) who’ve won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy. So of course, she did an excellent job. She brought some lightness to the narration, if that makes sense, and you could tell she was having fun with it, but still taking it seriously.


I was so happy with my pictures!

The only drawback to my location was that I couldn’t really see the sign language interpreter. I usually enjoy watching them.




You can see how much Whoopi is enjoying the show – oh, we’re totally on a first-name basis after my dinner with her family

After the show ended, I figured it was time to find a spot to watch Illuminations. Not wanting to be caught in a huge traffic jam like I’d seen before, I let the crowd thin out some and then headed in the other direction. I ended up finding a terrific spot in Germany.



This spot allowed me to get some great photos because I was able to steady my camera on a wall. I feel like these are the best photos I’ve ever gotten of Illuminations!




































The holiday tag at the end was just spectacular! I don’t always make time to see the nighttime shows, but I always need to see Illuminations during the Christmas season.

I let the crowd thin out a little ahead of me, then took my time walking to the park entrance, stopping occasionally for photos.











I’d hoped that most of the crowds would be gone by the time I reached the bus stop. In fact, the AKL bus stop was the only one that still had a long line. A bus pulled up shortly after I arrived, but I didn’t make it on. About 10 minutes later, another arrived and I grabbed a seat – it had been a long day (remember the 3:30 a.m. wakeup?). For some reason, I noted that we arrived at AKL at 11:02. Probably because I wanted to buy a drink in the gift shop and I just missed my chance!



I got my carryon bag from Bell Services and then went to my room. I was thirsty, so I went to the vending machine to buy a drink. I think it was $1.50 for a can of soda. Not having any coins, I put in 2 dollars and got back 10 nickels in change. I was so mad! I avoided that vending machine for the rest of the trip – to the point I ended up going to a different floor to buy a soda. Rassa-frassa nickels! I am still angry about it, even though I put those 10 nickels into the machine the next day. The fact that it took 14 minutes to buy a can of soda proves my anger is justified!

I was understandably tired after such a full day, so I just unpacked enough to get ready for bed and then went to sleep, knowing I’d be up early enough in the morning to unpack before leaving for the day. I had a breakfast ADR at Boma for 7:30, so I set an alarm to wake me up, just in case, so I’d have plenty of time to get ready.

Up Next: AK by day and by night

[lfredsbo]

Great evening of Holiday celebrations!!!! I absolutely LOVE Whoopi! (I had the surprise opportunity to see her guest perform in The Lion King on Broadway!!!), you got great pics of her!!!

[chezp]

My goodness, what a trooper you were - I'd forgotten what a long day this was!

You certainly packed a lot in at Epcot with the storytellers, the decorations, a great dinner and the Candlelight Processional - superb photos of Whoopi Goldberg. Isn't she an amazing narrator?

[xwewhisper]

Great end to the night! I would never have lasted that long with such an early wake up (in fact, I attempted a similar thing on our first night and we tuckered out EARLY!)

[travismom]

What a great first day!!!
Love all your pictures of the holiday decorations and the CP!!

[shazza]

Great photos at CP, and of Whoopi. Dinner looked good as well.

[KMB733]

Great time at Epcot!! Love the holiday decorations and great pictures of Whoopi performing at CP!

[disneydani]

Wow...what a great evening at Epcot....you sure managed to get quite a bit accomplished! Your dinner sounded delish and definitely a meal I would order at Tutto. Glad you enjoyed the CP...Whoopi sounds like she was a great narrator. Lastly, loving the Illuminations shots; they are spectacular!

Danielle

[Colexis Mom]

What a great night PSha! Dinner looked delish (with great company right next door ) and a great time at the CP! Fantastic pictures!

[Cam22]

I'm enjoying seeing the various Christmas storytellers in your pictures. We've not been there yet for these, and seeing them is on my must do list. Dinner looked so delicious. I used to want to see Gary Sinise for the Candlelight Processional, but he has not done it for awhile, so Whoopi is my next choice. You had a terrific spot for Illuminations!