Post by disnifiedmarge on Dec 30, 2012 19:24:11 GMT -5
Sunday 12/23/12 Day 3
Started our day with coffee in the room, then walked up to the hospitality house for breakfast from Goods Food to Go. Ate our eggs at a picnic table overlooking the small marina area at OKW. The weather was perfect. Sunny but cool. I could get used to this kind of Disney weather. I do not miss the sweltering July temps at all!
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/FDBCA223-3DFF-4A51-94E9-6ED52152F859-213-000000255E6AAE9B.jpg"][/IMG]
We browsed in Conch Flats and then got the bus to Epcot. Spaceship Earth must have been down earlier this morning because the line was ridiculous. So we walked on by, knowing we will have many evenings in this park as the trip unfolds. Listened to holiday music and watched the fountain as we headed back to Test Track.
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/1E761B72-D2CF-4780-87D5-B9B3452450AD-259-00000026A1D6D983.jpg"][/IMG]
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/D0339081-4017-4C7E-8BF8-5E74204A0C05-259-000000268EF6B251.jpg"][/IMG]
We were excited to see the new Chevrolet version of one of our favorite rides. Single rider was only 40 minutes so we got in line. I thought I had turned my autism magnet off, but NO, within moments we were chatting with a delightful young man who knew EVERYTHING about Test Track. The time passed quickly as he amused & informed us about many Test Track historical and technical facts. He was amazing! I learned that my magnet has no international barriers, because he was from Canada. When he cupped his hand and said CHINA like he was telling me a secret when I asked where his Candlelight Processional dinner would be, it was so autism-typical that Mickey & I almost lost it. Of course he & I ended up in the same car, & he was delighted when I let him sit in the front. What a great kid! Mick & I did not do the design a car feature this time, but will take time to do it next time we go on Test Track. The cars seem to ride more smoothly and the inside design is altogether different, with just a few reminders of old TT. Mickey bought a very cool Corvette T-shirt in the gift shop & we had it sent back to the room. I forgot what a convenient feature that is in Disney, especially early in the trip. Next we browsed in Mouse Gear. I would love to buy green sparkly ears with the red Minnie bow, but it seems they sold out a month ago. Oh well. they are really cool though, I may have to get a friend to send me a pair next Fall. We wandered a little more in Future World, enjoying a frozen coke and the beautiful Epcot gardens & landscaping.
Headed out via monorail to explore the deluxe resorts over by the Seven Seas Lagoon. We knew they would be dressed in their holiday finery, with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, garland and lights. They did not disappoint. Our first stop was at the Polynesian. Mele Kilekimaka was the theme, and the decorations were fun and appropriately themed. We shopped in the mercantile & looked at Wylands paintings. I feel very nostalgic at Poly, as it was the scene of our 1st family vacation to Disney as kids. it still looks, smells, and feels the same to me! We ate a light lunch at Captain Cooks (turkey sandwich, Caesar salad) before heading off to Grand Floridian. I took note that you can get a Dole Whip at Capt. Cook's. Good to know you don't have to be in Magic Kingdom to get one of those treats!
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/C69E554B-8CC3-419B-8A8A-A4D6536F2FD9-213-0000002592267F1A.jpg"][/IMG]
The Grand Floridian's decorations were... Well.... GRAND! What a beautifully themed hotel. It is very tempting to buy DVC points here! We listened to the piano player playing Christmas songs & took pictures. We found a nice outside deck facing the sunshine, so we went outside to relax, have something cold to drink, and take in the sights. Kids were in the pool and we could see the DVC wing being built. That's gonna be fantastic! Chatted with some locals who came in to enjoy the holiday decorations too. Their seasonal passes are blacked out during Christmas but they were having fun anyway.
Next we caught the monorail to the Contemporary, which really feels like going home now that we own our DVC points there. I found my favorite Disney decoration of all there, a gigantic garland Mickey head above the monorail entrance to the atrium. It lights up at night and looks so magical! We shopped at Fantasia and BVG. We got our picture taken with the toy soldiers who were guarding the beautiful gingerbread house. There was also a really cool gingerbread tree in front of a toy land scene. Very festive in there!
By now it was late afternoon and we wanted to get over to the Magic Kingdom to shop at the Emporium before heading off to dinner. Got a cute picture of Mickey trying to grab one of the giant presents under the 70 foot tall tree on Main Street. I love seeing all the decorations, especially the Mickey head garlands on the lamp posts.
Next we boarded a boat launch to Wilderness Lodge. . Amazing lobby. Mickey found the hidden Mickey in fireplace stone. We loved hanging out in the Wilderness Lodge lobby. It was beautifully decorated, we could hear the carrying on fromWhispering Canyon, and they have big comfy chairs where you can just relax and unwind. It would be great to stay here sometime! We had an amazing dinner at WL's signature restaurant Artist Point. We started with Washington Apples and fresh pork confit over crab corn salad. It was pretty much one bite of food, but a very delicious bite. For dinner I ordered roasted buffalo strip steak, paired with some kind of amber craft beer. Mickey had cedar plank wild king salmon paired with Umbria Chardonnay . Both of our meals tasted like they were prepared by iron chefs. Fantastic!
After dinner we needed to move, so we headed back for nighttime at the Magic Kingdom. It think I love MK the best at night. So magical! We got some sweets at the Confectionery. Then we made our way down to the Haunted Mansion. There was a bit of a wait right at the front door. After that we had a great ride, spooky and enjoyable as ever. By now the crowd had really thinned out. Jungle Cruise was a walk on, and there were only 4 other people on our boat. Our tour guide Lisa was silly and funny. That might be the first time I ever rode JC at night. Pirates was also a walk on. Coming down for a few days before the actual holiday is working out nicely. We went down in front of Town Hall to watch Celebrate the Magic and then Holiday Wishes, which were both fabulous. Exhausted sore happy. We were home by 11 pm.
Started our day with coffee in the room, then walked up to the hospitality house for breakfast from Goods Food to Go. Ate our eggs at a picnic table overlooking the small marina area at OKW. The weather was perfect. Sunny but cool. I could get used to this kind of Disney weather. I do not miss the sweltering July temps at all!
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/FDBCA223-3DFF-4A51-94E9-6ED52152F859-213-000000255E6AAE9B.jpg"][/IMG]
We browsed in Conch Flats and then got the bus to Epcot. Spaceship Earth must have been down earlier this morning because the line was ridiculous. So we walked on by, knowing we will have many evenings in this park as the trip unfolds. Listened to holiday music and watched the fountain as we headed back to Test Track.
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/1E761B72-D2CF-4780-87D5-B9B3452450AD-259-00000026A1D6D983.jpg"][/IMG]
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/D0339081-4017-4C7E-8BF8-5E74204A0C05-259-000000268EF6B251.jpg"][/IMG]
We were excited to see the new Chevrolet version of one of our favorite rides. Single rider was only 40 minutes so we got in line. I thought I had turned my autism magnet off, but NO, within moments we were chatting with a delightful young man who knew EVERYTHING about Test Track. The time passed quickly as he amused & informed us about many Test Track historical and technical facts. He was amazing! I learned that my magnet has no international barriers, because he was from Canada. When he cupped his hand and said CHINA like he was telling me a secret when I asked where his Candlelight Processional dinner would be, it was so autism-typical that Mickey & I almost lost it. Of course he & I ended up in the same car, & he was delighted when I let him sit in the front. What a great kid! Mick & I did not do the design a car feature this time, but will take time to do it next time we go on Test Track. The cars seem to ride more smoothly and the inside design is altogether different, with just a few reminders of old TT. Mickey bought a very cool Corvette T-shirt in the gift shop & we had it sent back to the room. I forgot what a convenient feature that is in Disney, especially early in the trip. Next we browsed in Mouse Gear. I would love to buy green sparkly ears with the red Minnie bow, but it seems they sold out a month ago. Oh well. they are really cool though, I may have to get a friend to send me a pair next Fall. We wandered a little more in Future World, enjoying a frozen coke and the beautiful Epcot gardens & landscaping.
Headed out via monorail to explore the deluxe resorts over by the Seven Seas Lagoon. We knew they would be dressed in their holiday finery, with Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, garland and lights. They did not disappoint. Our first stop was at the Polynesian. Mele Kilekimaka was the theme, and the decorations were fun and appropriately themed. We shopped in the mercantile & looked at Wylands paintings. I feel very nostalgic at Poly, as it was the scene of our 1st family vacation to Disney as kids. it still looks, smells, and feels the same to me! We ate a light lunch at Captain Cooks (turkey sandwich, Caesar salad) before heading off to Grand Floridian. I took note that you can get a Dole Whip at Capt. Cook's. Good to know you don't have to be in Magic Kingdom to get one of those treats!
[img src="http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/C69E554B-8CC3-419B-8A8A-A4D6536F2FD9-213-0000002592267F1A.jpg"][/IMG]
The Grand Floridian's decorations were... Well.... GRAND! What a beautifully themed hotel. It is very tempting to buy DVC points here! We listened to the piano player playing Christmas songs & took pictures. We found a nice outside deck facing the sunshine, so we went outside to relax, have something cold to drink, and take in the sights. Kids were in the pool and we could see the DVC wing being built. That's gonna be fantastic! Chatted with some locals who came in to enjoy the holiday decorations too. Their seasonal passes are blacked out during Christmas but they were having fun anyway.
Next we caught the monorail to the Contemporary, which really feels like going home now that we own our DVC points there. I found my favorite Disney decoration of all there, a gigantic garland Mickey head above the monorail entrance to the atrium. It lights up at night and looks so magical! We shopped at Fantasia and BVG. We got our picture taken with the toy soldiers who were guarding the beautiful gingerbread house. There was also a really cool gingerbread tree in front of a toy land scene. Very festive in there!
By now it was late afternoon and we wanted to get over to the Magic Kingdom to shop at the Emporium before heading off to dinner. Got a cute picture of Mickey trying to grab one of the giant presents under the 70 foot tall tree on Main Street. I love seeing all the decorations, especially the Mickey head garlands on the lamp posts.
Next we boarded a boat launch to Wilderness Lodge. . Amazing lobby. Mickey found the hidden Mickey in fireplace stone. We loved hanging out in the Wilderness Lodge lobby. It was beautifully decorated, we could hear the carrying on fromWhispering Canyon, and they have big comfy chairs where you can just relax and unwind. It would be great to stay here sometime! We had an amazing dinner at WL's signature restaurant Artist Point. We started with Washington Apples and fresh pork confit over crab corn salad. It was pretty much one bite of food, but a very delicious bite. For dinner I ordered roasted buffalo strip steak, paired with some kind of amber craft beer. Mickey had cedar plank wild king salmon paired with Umbria Chardonnay . Both of our meals tasted like they were prepared by iron chefs. Fantastic!
After dinner we needed to move, so we headed back for nighttime at the Magic Kingdom. It think I love MK the best at night. So magical! We got some sweets at the Confectionery. Then we made our way down to the Haunted Mansion. There was a bit of a wait right at the front door. After that we had a great ride, spooky and enjoyable as ever. By now the crowd had really thinned out. Jungle Cruise was a walk on, and there were only 4 other people on our boat. Our tour guide Lisa was silly and funny. That might be the first time I ever rode JC at night. Pirates was also a walk on. Coming down for a few days before the actual holiday is working out nicely. We went down in front of Town Hall to watch Celebrate the Magic and then Holiday Wishes, which were both fabulous. Exhausted sore happy. We were home by 11 pm.