Our 2014 Christmas Trip Report - Final installment and thoughts (updated 5/22) - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Yea, I knew she'd be like that, and that's why I didn't make her pay up. Can't fault someone crying at their first site of the castle or when they make it to WDW, whether in a car or DME as I did the same thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great time at MK you had! Love the pictures!
When we went on our first trip in April 2013, we only visited MK one day. So, we made it a point to visit it on multiple days this trip. We actually were in the park for part of 4 days, so there's lots more MK magic to come.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jackid2
Love the pictures!! Your DGD is so cute and what a great graduation gift
Some of the cuter pictures are still to come. She grabbed DW's cell phone one day and just started taking selfies.
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Thanks. I told DGD that the rest of the week couldn't match the first with a visit with Tinker Bell and a ride on Peter Pan. She was just in awe the whole week, but nothing matched the 1st day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojjo
Sounds like a great first day for everyone. Love the pics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
What a great first day! I just love that DGD loved everything. Very awesome gift.
Fantastic first day. What a great graduation gift. I can understand the tears this first timer was shedding. Seeing the castle and meeting Tink and the princesses was the best way to start the vacation adventure.
Sorry for the delay in the TR. But here's our 2nd day. It was the first full day at WDW for us.
Dec. 14-Epcot
I had decided to schedule all of FPs for early in the day to see how things would work. They did work. We had used all 3 before lunch and were ready to get more. That being said, there aren't a ton of rides at this park, so that philosophy might work better at MK or somewhere else.
We had our first FP for 9:15, so were up and out of the resort by 8:30 a.m. We didn't eat breakfast (this was the case all week) and took snacks and bottled water in our backpack to the park.
We got to the park and had our first FP (Soarin'). Didn't have a wait. Afterward, we rode the boat ride through the vegetable thing (as my DGD called it).
We talked about getting a bite to eat as we didn't have any lunch plans and were scheduled for dinner a little after 5.
We decided it would be better to snack for now and keep riding stuff. Our next stop was another FP (mine, mine, mine) Nemo. We all loved that ride. Got a cute little picture out in front as we went in.
We caught the end of a Dolphin show as we were leaving Nemo. We hadn't seen dolphins in our lives, so this was really neat.
It was cool to see how they responded to the lady's commands. They'd dance when the crowd clapped, etc.
Here's a shot of the dolphins:
Next stop: A FP for Spaceship Earth. We didn't ride this on the first trip and loved it. In fact, I will probably make that my first stop when we go back.
We decided we'd have enough snacking and it was time for lunch. We decided on mexican food. Last time we went to WDW we didn't eat mexican, and the first place we stopped after getting off the plane in Dallas was a mexican food joint.
This time we had decided it was going to be 7-8 days between mexican food meals - we usually eat it about 3-4 times a week - and decided to eat at La Cantina Restaurant on the water front in Mexico.
DW had Empanadas, which are fried flour tortillas with cheese, and Mexican cole slaw. DGD and I had the nachos with just meat and cheese.
For dessert, DW and DGD had churros and I had a coconut paleta, which is a popsicle. It had chunks of real coconut in it, and was really good.
We sat at a table right on the lagoon and had ducks floating right by where we were eating. It was about 60 degrees out that day, so it was really nice.
After lunch, we decided to walk around the showcase, starting in Mexico.
We met Donald — Mexican Donald as my DGD pointed out.
We went into a shop in Norway, and DGD found everyone's favorite snowman. This one was a hat that pulled down around the neck. She had to try it on.
Afterward, we ventured into China. This country has a special place in our heart. Here's the side story as to why:
Our best friends, who we have known for many, many years, who we hang out with, go to church with, tail gate with for the local football games and who is our disney planner and guide (they've been to Disney many times and she works for Kingdom Magic as a travel agent) was in the process of adopting a little girl from China.
The adoption process started in April 2013 and was scheduled to wrap up with their travel to get her in early December. They were supposed to be on this trip with us. However because of a mess up in paperwork, the travel dates were moved back to January, and they picked her up this week.
Here they are with their new daughter:
Sorry for the side story. I'm getting back on track.
We were able to meet Mulan in China and Snow White in German.
We walked back to Via Napoli because we had eaten there on our first trip in 2013.
When we walked in to the American Adventure, the group was signing its Christmas program and then we saw the American Adventure show. I love this because of my history background.
Once out of AA, we decided it was time for a snack.
DW had a gingerbread man and some type of coffee drink. DGD had peppermint brownies or something like that and a hot cider. I had a peanut butter cookie and a slush.
We continued on to Japan and then Morocco. DW and DGD got these cool looking tattoos. It was painted on their arms, then shiny stuff was put on. The stuff was supposed to stay on for 7-10 days once the shiny stuff peeled off. It lasted about a week.
DGD has always loved France and wanted to go to Paris. We went into a store and she was waited on a by a person from Paris. The lady spoke French and DGD was very excited. She bought a few things (a necklace, a replica of the tower and a postcard).
We found a PP guy and had our pictures made with the tower in the background. We got another and then it was off to meet characters again.
First we all met Belle as Beaty and the Beast is one of my favorites movies because of the musical score. I saved a spot in Mary Poppins line while DGD and DW met Alice. They then met up with Mary Poppins.
It was now time for dinner, and we had ADRs for Coral Reef.
I went in to check us in and we were not in the computer. This happened the night before at Liberty Tree Tavern and we would experience the same thing at every single TS ADR. We would simply pull up the MDE in DW's phone and show them our confirmation #. They'd then put us on the list and we'd have to wait a few minutes.
We finally got seated after about a 15 minute wait. It was bad that they messed up our ADRs, but it was nice that it usually only took about 15-20 minutes to be seated anyway. So, we're grateful for that.
DW had a New York strip steak, DGD had lobster and shrimp orecchiette Pasta and I had oven roasted chicken. DW cleaned the plate (with a little help from me), and DGD loved her lobster as it's the first time she'd ever had it. Mine wasn't to my liking at all. I am very picky with what I eat and I don't eat meat on the bone at all. I didn't realize the chicken plate was on the bone. So I ate about 2 bites of the sweet corn pancake and then a few bites of DW's steak.
We each got dessert. I had the Bailey's and Jack Daniel's mousse, DGD had vanilla panna cotta tart, which is like a key lime pie, and DW had the chocolate wave. As a bonus, our waiter brought us a cheesecake.
DW's steak
My chicken:
DGD lobster
desserts
We were all stuffed beyond stuffed.
After dinner, we decided to go to the character spot and meet Mickey, Goofy and Minnie. I had a FP for Mickey at MK, but we were running behind and got off schedule. So, I let the ladies keep there's and didn't do mine knowing I could see Mickey the next day.
DGD got a laugh from Mickey concerning her shirt. I got a nice picture with Minnie and DW loved every bit of it.
The two of them then bought things they could put onto the magic bands. DGD got Tinkerbell and DW got Cinderella. Go figure.
We hadn't done Test Track on the trip and that's my favorite ride. We didn't have a FP for it, so had to wait in the regular line. It said 45 minutes, but I know we waited 30-35, so it wasn't bad.
I bought a few things for my truck (a license plate cover, an antenna ball and a sticker for my back window) when we got out of Test Track.
We let our DGD design the truck. Wasn't surprised at all by what she designed. After all, she is a cowgirl who loves trucks and horses.
We had a few more pictures made in front of the ball and in front of the tall tree. We watched illuminations then headed back to the resort for the night.
We weren't used to being in the eastern time zone, so got back in time to watch the second half of the Dallas Cowboys game. DGD was out within about 5 minutes of getting back into the room. DW checked Facebook and a few emails, and I watched the end of the Cowboys game with Philadelphia. I then crashed about midnight.
Next up: Animal Kingdom where they lose our ADR again, I chicken out on a certain roller coaster and we watch a show for the first time.
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I am LOVING this TR!!!! I got choked up reading about your DGD reaction to the castle. Your pics are amazing (I swear everyone on this board except for myself have magical cameras that take breathtaking pics! LOL) and the food looks delicious!
Awesome day at Epcot! Great picture of the dolphins. Luke and I love Mexican food, too. Dinner looked delicious, but sorry that yours was not what you expected.