Post by disnifiedmarge on Dec 30, 2012 19:47:45 GMT -5
Tuesday 12/25/12 Christmas - Day 5
We had breakfast reservations for Olivia's on Christmas morning at 10:00; but we slept until 9:45 so that didn't happen. We finally wandered over to Olivia's around 1:30 pm and had a nice lunch to start our day. Mickey had a Cobb Salad which included crab salad and shrimp along with all the other usual Cobb salad ingredients. I had Conch Fritters with a plain Caesar Salad. Everything tasted fresh and good. [img src="http://![]()
i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/316CB4C1-A29E-4CBE-A5CE-EF0F182014FD-192-000000181ECE63D2.jpg"][/IMG]
We posed for photos while waiting for the Epcot bus. I was wearing my Christmas "vest" t-shirt that I wore to Jingle Bonkk, my family's annual progressive Christmas dinner celebration. Mick was wearing her Merry Christmas long sleeved tee with the lights and her lights necklace. We were very festive and got compliments throughout the day on our holiday outfits. I still wish I could've found those sparkly green Minnie ears with the red bow. I looked in every park and cast members all said they sold out of those a month ago. Im going to look online. I must have them for next year!
Caught the Epcot bus at the Hospitality House bus stop and got to the park around 3 pm. I wanted a picture with the Ball behind me. Mick waited (fairly) patiently, at my request, to get the monorail in the shot. I love that picture!
[img src="http://![]()
i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/9B5017C0-CF4D-4E1B-BE42-3AEED9E2D42F-143-0000000D0CB57695.jpg"][/IMG]
We got in the standby line for Spaceship Earth right away, even though it was posted as 45 minutes. I could tell by the way it was moving that even though it was crowded, it would only be about 15 minutes and that's just what it was. We had fun in there. Rome is still burning FYI. Took silly pics of our " building your future" selections!
After The Ball, we wandered in The Art of Disney store. I thought Mom would love the Castle piece. It's $400 though, and I'm thinking her cats Kona and Kenya would think it was their Castle and then it would be Castle ruins. I have to think about that some more.
When we left the store, we heard gospel Christmas music being sung down toward Mouse Gear. JOYFUL! - A GOSPEL CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON was playing on a stage. We watched and sang for awhile before heading back to the countries. They were awesome, so full of spirit and really talented!
We headed to World Showcase after the performance. We stopped in Italy and found a table right in the piazza where the juggler was performing. Mickey got us a couple of Italian Margaritas ( the limoncello makes them really good) and we sipped and enjoyed the show and the people watching. We walked down toward the American pavilion for the 5 pm Candlelight Processional. We didn't want to sit down, because we had 6:10 dinner reservations and needed to be mobile quickly, so we stood at the rail and enjoyed the show from there. I loved watching the hundreds of choir members, each with their candles lit, heading through World Showcase and down the aisles of the American Gardens theater, orchestra playing hymns, Gary Sinise narrating the Christmas story. He has a wonderful speaking voice. We watched & listened until it was time to go check in at Le Cellier for our Christmas dinner. They were running a half hour behind, so we played Disney trivia in the waiting area with the other guests, and gave all of our "correct answer" Mickey stickers to a little boy who was on a mission to cover his entire shirt with stickers before dinnertime. His mom seemed grateful that he was being entertained and distracted from the fact that he was really hungry and really tired. Dinner was so good, well worth getting up at 6 am on 6/25/12 to book online. We both ordered Moosehead beer and shared the cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread to start. That soup is so deliciously rich and flavorful. Loved it! I wiped up every last drop with the pretzel bread. Mickey ordered Le Cellier's signature dish, Filet Mignon with mushroom risotto. It was perfectly cooked and cut like butter, just melting in your mouth. I had the Kurobata Pork with fried macaroni & cheese (yes, as in battered and deep fried) and spinach greens with mushrooms. It was fantastic. the pork was tender and juicy, and the Mac & cheese was a great combo of creamy & crunchy. I ordered the chocolate trio for dessert and it was a nice sweet ending to the meal.
When we finished dinner we were ready for some excitement, so we headed over to Test Track for another ride on the new version. This time we took a few moments to design a car which would compete with the sim car we would ride in. It was fun and my car, designed around Responsiveness, did pretty well. I think I like Test Track at night best of all. there is just something about busting through those doors and out onto the speedway that is so invigorating at night. I have to say the cool weather helps too. that is making this one of the best Disney trips ever. I do not miss the heat one little bit!
After Test Track we were feeling nostalgic for some Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. Filmed in his hey day (and ours), this a great showcase for his amazing dance moves and flights of whimsy. No one can dance like Michael.
[img src="http://![]()
i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff331/DisnifiedMarge/BD993057-769B-44E0-A23B-CE7CA7339BEA-259-0000002824A51E2D.jpg"][/IMG]
When we returned to 2012 and dropped off our 3-D glasses, Illuminations was in its finale. We had minutes to dash over to Soarin to see if we could beat the crowds who would head there for Extra Magic hours. SCORE!!!! We had a 10 minute wait. We got in Row 1, which means you're the highest and in the front, so you have a clear view with no feet dangling in your vision. We absolutely love that ride and rode it joyfully and gratefully, realizing how lucky we were to ride it on Christmas Day with no fast pass. When we came out of Soarin we saw that the standby line was back up to 55 minutes. Perfect timing again!
Living with the Land was a walk-on during EMH, so on we went. Their were only 4 of us in the boat. I am always amazed at how Epcot is on the cutting edge of sustainable farming with both plants and fish.
To wrap up our glorious Christmas Day in Epcot, we took one more ride on Spaceship Earth. We said goodnight to The Ball and headed back to OKW on the bus.
We had breakfast reservations for Olivia's on Christmas morning at 10:00; but we slept until 9:45 so that didn't happen. We finally wandered over to Olivia's around 1:30 pm and had a nice lunch to start our day. Mickey had a Cobb Salad which included crab salad and shrimp along with all the other usual Cobb salad ingredients. I had Conch Fritters with a plain Caesar Salad. Everything tasted fresh and good. [img src="http://
We posed for photos while waiting for the Epcot bus. I was wearing my Christmas "vest" t-shirt that I wore to Jingle Bonkk, my family's annual progressive Christmas dinner celebration. Mick was wearing her Merry Christmas long sleeved tee with the lights and her lights necklace. We were very festive and got compliments throughout the day on our holiday outfits. I still wish I could've found those sparkly green Minnie ears with the red bow. I looked in every park and cast members all said they sold out of those a month ago. Im going to look online. I must have them for next year!
Caught the Epcot bus at the Hospitality House bus stop and got to the park around 3 pm. I wanted a picture with the Ball behind me. Mick waited (fairly) patiently, at my request, to get the monorail in the shot. I love that picture!
[img src="http://
We got in the standby line for Spaceship Earth right away, even though it was posted as 45 minutes. I could tell by the way it was moving that even though it was crowded, it would only be about 15 minutes and that's just what it was. We had fun in there. Rome is still burning FYI. Took silly pics of our " building your future" selections!
After The Ball, we wandered in The Art of Disney store. I thought Mom would love the Castle piece. It's $400 though, and I'm thinking her cats Kona and Kenya would think it was their Castle and then it would be Castle ruins. I have to think about that some more.
When we left the store, we heard gospel Christmas music being sung down toward Mouse Gear. JOYFUL! - A GOSPEL CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON was playing on a stage. We watched and sang for awhile before heading back to the countries. They were awesome, so full of spirit and really talented!
We headed to World Showcase after the performance. We stopped in Italy and found a table right in the piazza where the juggler was performing. Mickey got us a couple of Italian Margaritas ( the limoncello makes them really good) and we sipped and enjoyed the show and the people watching. We walked down toward the American pavilion for the 5 pm Candlelight Processional. We didn't want to sit down, because we had 6:10 dinner reservations and needed to be mobile quickly, so we stood at the rail and enjoyed the show from there. I loved watching the hundreds of choir members, each with their candles lit, heading through World Showcase and down the aisles of the American Gardens theater, orchestra playing hymns, Gary Sinise narrating the Christmas story. He has a wonderful speaking voice. We watched & listened until it was time to go check in at Le Cellier for our Christmas dinner. They were running a half hour behind, so we played Disney trivia in the waiting area with the other guests, and gave all of our "correct answer" Mickey stickers to a little boy who was on a mission to cover his entire shirt with stickers before dinnertime. His mom seemed grateful that he was being entertained and distracted from the fact that he was really hungry and really tired. Dinner was so good, well worth getting up at 6 am on 6/25/12 to book online. We both ordered Moosehead beer and shared the cheddar cheese soup and pretzel bread to start. That soup is so deliciously rich and flavorful. Loved it! I wiped up every last drop with the pretzel bread. Mickey ordered Le Cellier's signature dish, Filet Mignon with mushroom risotto. It was perfectly cooked and cut like butter, just melting in your mouth. I had the Kurobata Pork with fried macaroni & cheese (yes, as in battered and deep fried) and spinach greens with mushrooms. It was fantastic. the pork was tender and juicy, and the Mac & cheese was a great combo of creamy & crunchy. I ordered the chocolate trio for dessert and it was a nice sweet ending to the meal.
When we finished dinner we were ready for some excitement, so we headed over to Test Track for another ride on the new version. This time we took a few moments to design a car which would compete with the sim car we would ride in. It was fun and my car, designed around Responsiveness, did pretty well. I think I like Test Track at night best of all. there is just something about busting through those doors and out onto the speedway that is so invigorating at night. I have to say the cool weather helps too. that is making this one of the best Disney trips ever. I do not miss the heat one little bit!
After Test Track we were feeling nostalgic for some Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. Filmed in his hey day (and ours), this a great showcase for his amazing dance moves and flights of whimsy. No one can dance like Michael.
[img src="http://
When we returned to 2012 and dropped off our 3-D glasses, Illuminations was in its finale. We had minutes to dash over to Soarin to see if we could beat the crowds who would head there for Extra Magic hours. SCORE!!!! We had a 10 minute wait. We got in Row 1, which means you're the highest and in the front, so you have a clear view with no feet dangling in your vision. We absolutely love that ride and rode it joyfully and gratefully, realizing how lucky we were to ride it on Christmas Day with no fast pass. When we came out of Soarin we saw that the standby line was back up to 55 minutes. Perfect timing again!
Living with the Land was a walk-on during EMH, so on we went. Their were only 4 of us in the boat. I am always amazed at how Epcot is on the cutting edge of sustainable farming with both plants and fish.
To wrap up our glorious Christmas Day in Epcot, we took one more ride on Spaceship Earth. We said goodnight to The Ball and headed back to OKW on the bus.
