I'll be home for Christmas - Trip Report - UPDATED 1/5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'll be home for Christmas - Trip Report - UPDATED 1/5
I picked this name for my title for a couple of reasons. Last year was my first year visiting Walt Disney World during the Christmas holidays. I did go in 2002 in the first part of January but they were in the process of taking down all the decorations. We had a fantastic time last December, but it was a very short trip. This trip will be longer and have more opportunity to really get into the Holiday mood.
Cast of Characters: Myself – Mary – Disney freak, loves everything Walt Disney World, would go back in a heartbeat, and hopes to live in Orlando in the future.
Jim – friend – Also likes Disney but probably not as much as I do. Rather a shy guy who doesn’t talk much.
Various Friends - I'll be meeting up with some friends during this trip, my good friends who live in the Orlando area, and another couple visiting from AZ.
Dates: December 2 - 8, 2009
Resort: Disney's All-Star Music - first time at the All-Stars
How this trip came to come into being:
Jim & I went to Disney World back in April 2008, we had a good time and he approached me wondering if I would be interested in going back sometime this year. Jim was looking at December. I told him that I had a trip upcoming in June and would have to see what I could do. I knew that it was probably doable, but I would have to check first with my boss to get the time off and then of course come up with the cash.
I got a card in the mail with a code for Free Dining; it was for the time that we were going so that would be perfect for the 2 of us. I kept that card on hand so when the time came I could book that for us.
Jim wanted to go back and stay at the All-Stars this trip. We stayed at Pop Century last time, and while yes he liked the resort, he wanted to go back to All-Stars. He has stayed there I believe at least twice in the past. I was more than happy to stay at the All-Stars as I’ve only visited the resort once. This way I could wander around and check out the resorts a little further.
I came home from our June trip, which we had a fabulous time by the way, and finally got the chance to ask about taking some time off in December. My only issue would be if my boss would be going on vacation on those days. Good news he wasn’t so I was all set. We decided to go during Christmas time since Jim has never seen the decoration. Plus he's not a hot weather person. We are going from December 2nd to 8th.
In August I sent off an email to my travel agent with the dates provided with my free dining code and we are all set for 2 rooms at All-Star Music. We wouldn’t have to wait too long to make our dining reservations. We met at Arby’s for lunch to discuss where we would like to eat.
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
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When Jim and I met at Arby's for lunch we decided on where we wanted to eat. Our last trip we only ate at Biergarten, Garden Grill and Boma. Jim really enjoys Boma, as a matter a fact, when ever he goes down to Disney it's a tradition. So that was a given. Now we just had to figure out where we wanted to eat, then I'd figure out which days.
We came up with the following: Boma, LeCellier, if not LeCellier then Teppan Edo, this would be for Candlelight Processional, Tusker House & Chef Mickey's.
Our 90 day window was fast approaching, like with in a week and I got down to business and tried to figure out where we wanted to eat when.
I also called right away and got us both tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Sunday, December 6th. I was treating Jim as he is paying for the rental car.
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I got online right at 7am on my 90 day mark and proceeded to make my reservations. I didn't get LeCellier which I had a feeling that I wouldn't but that's okay. I actually had to call to get Candlelight Processional at 8am and got Teppan Edo, which was our second choice. So here is our game plan:
Wednesday, December 2nd, we fly from Michigan at 7am and arrive in MCO at 9:30am. Jim rented a car from National so we will pick up our luggage and make our way to National Emerald Isle. We will then be off for our adventure
Arrive at All-Star Music and check in, hopefully our room will be available as I'm going to do online check in 10 day prior. If not we will go with the flow. I have to pick up our tickets for the Christmas party at the Concierge desk as I used my AP for a discount rate. Then we are off to Animal Kingdom. We have a late lunch reservation at Tusker House at 1:30pm. I want to stay and watch the parade as I have never seen the parade at Animal Kingdom and this being the Christmas parade is just icing on the cake. From there we will go over to Epcot to see the Lights of Winter and also take in our first showing of Holiday Illuminations.
Thursday, December 3rd, has us going to Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours. Now I found out that the taping for the Christmas parade is going to start today. We shall see what happens. I'm going with an open mind. We have lunch reservations at Crystal Palace. So maybe after our lunch we will head out. We will then head over to Epcot where we will spend the rest of the day. No dinner plans tonight.
Friday, December 4th, today starts us out at the Studios. I want to get Jim on Toy Story Mania as he hasn't seen that yet. We will get a FP and then ride stand by. From there we will wander around the Studios until it's time to go over to Epcot. We have a late dinner reservation for Teppan Edo and our Candlelight Processional starts at the 6:45pm show. I'm really anxiously awaiting seeing the show, last year we were behind the band and couldn't see the narrator at all. I'm hoping for a better spot. We then have VIP spots for Holiday Illuminations somewhere which is included in our Candlelight Processional.
Saturday, December 5th, we are back at the Studios for EMH this morning, again going over to Toy Story Mania and then check out of course more of the Studios. We will have counter service some place for lunch. Then tonight we will go over the Animal Kingdom Lodge for or dinner at Boma.
Sunday, December 6th, today is Epcot during the day, I want to see the Santa's in World Showcase and just take in World Showcase in all it's Christmas spender. We didn't get to see a lot of the Christmas decorations last year, so it's going to happen this year. Tonight is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. We are doing the Wishes Dessert Party as well tonight. I haven't told Jim as this will be a secret.
Monday, December 7th, our last full day. We start the day at Animal Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours where we will take a ride on Everest I'm sure. Jim hasn't seen Finding Nemo so hopefully we will be able to squeeze that in there somewhere. We might go over to Epcot later in the afternoon. Tonight we have dinner reservations at Chef Mickey's. We want to then afterward take the monorail over to the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian to see the decorations. From there we will will wind up at the Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours.
Tuesday, December 8th, we have to leave tonight. We have most of the day as our flight doesn't leave until 8pm. We will start our day at Epcot and just do anything that comes to mind. I think that we will end up over at Downtown Disney and have a late lunch early dinner at Wolf Gang Puck Express before heading off to the airport.
So there you have it, our trip in a nut shell. I'm excited and really need a vacation pretty bad right now. Work is well work as most people know. Plus some other issues going on in my life I just need to relax and not worry so much.
33 more days and I'll be Orlando & at Disney World!
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From there we will go over to Epcot to see the Lights of Winter and also take in our first showing of Holiday Illuminations.
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