2015 ... Disney, Another Christmas Adventure Journal!
2015 ... Disney, Another Christmas Adventure Journal!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
2015 ... Disney, Another Christmas Adventure Journal!
Friday December 4th, 2015
331PM Friday and everything is wrapped up with business. Last orders delivered, last minute items for the trip and the pre-party. Now to pack and then wait till around 6:00PM to officially start our 32nd visit in 29 years to Disney World, and only the 2nd Christmas visit. Kirstie is coming over tonight although she is not flying out of Milwaukee until Wednesday.Holly will also be flying out Wednesday but from Dallas. They both will be staying in our room at Pop Century. Kirstie is bring a friend along tonight named Britney. Scott my neighbor might pop in for some beer also. We’ll see. Gonna try something different when we arrive. After checkin we will take a bus to Downtown Disney for lunch somewhere. Then we are going to call a Uber for a lift a short distance away to get brew, booze, and snacks for the room. I have heard many good things about Uber especially the low cost and that there is no cash transactions. It’s all done through the Uber server on your credit card. This may free us up to stop at some other things we have been meaning to see but never wanted to drive or rent a car to in the Orlando area. One thing in particular is Universal Studios Orlando where we have had four 2 Day Park Hopper Passes that we have been sitting on since 2006 when we ended up not using them. Maybe Harry Potter finally and a revisit of The Hulk among many other attractions there?
Up at 6:50AM finishing packing and getting ready for Kirstie pickup at 7:00AMish. Kirstie arrives and we are out the door at around 7:30AM. Baggage check in goes without a hitch and only takes about 5 minutes. We are off to Gate C23 where we board at 8:30AM and promptly take off at exactly 9:00AM. Our boarding checkin had us at C2 and C3 which should have got us not so good of seats. As we entered the plane it was almost full. We start moving towards the back when a guy sitting on the aisle looks at us and says two? He is in the A section and for some reason no one has taken these seats. So we do. Shelly reads one of her dirty books on her Kindle and I watch Predator on my Amazon Fire. We arrive at Orlando 12:20PM. Once we get to Magical Express it is packed. Packed more than I have ever seen it. Oh Oh, is this going to be like Easter 1995? We wait around 15 minutes but then are quickly on a bus and on our way to Pop Century at around 1:15PM. The bus we are on is a Mears yellow lame bus which makes me think that Disney maybe really is packed as they are using backup busses instead of Magical Express busses. There is no movie in the bus for the first 10 minutes but then a movie starts that is not the usual Magical Express movie. It is a scaled down movie that is shorter and not as good. The interesting thing for me is who is narrating the audio and actually appears in the movie. We Klipfels have had a kind of ongoing discussion on who is the better Disney cast member on the in room Disney Park promo channel. I say Carissa who hasn’t been there for at least 10 years. The rest of our family as I recall finds her voice annoying. I’m judging her strictly my male pig standards of who’s hotter.The rest of the Klipfels like Stacy, the current cast member. Did you guess it. Yes, Carissa is back. At least on this bus she was. We first stop at Art Of Animation to drop off guests. While waiting for all the guests to depart the bus I look out the window to see two parents standing there waiting for their luggage to come out from under the bus while their idiot 7ish year old son is running through the hotel foliage and garden area. They both are oblivious to what this little dweeb is doing. As if neither one of them wants to admit that this boob is their son. Entertainment every way you turn. We are shortly at Pop where we quickly check in and are on our way to our room 2206 in the 50s section overlooking the Bowling Pin Pool to drop off our carry ons and head out for Downtown Disney, oops Disney Springs. We exit the bus and have a delicious meal at The Earl Of Sandwich. Shelly has the Hawaiian Barbecue and I have the Holiday Turkey. After eating we make our way over the new pedestrian walkway that goes over the road where we have been advised that the Sun Trust Bank parking lot is where the cabs are. We are not taking a cab. We are trying Uber. I pull up the Uber app on my phone and request a ride. Almost immediately I have a driver that says he is on is way in a Scion automobile. His names is Maurice. The screen on my phone now shows our GPS location and his as he makes his way to pick us up. The app has a picture of him and what kind of car is coming plus his phone number if you need to text or talk to him. We watch as he is 3 minutes away and approaching us. Well, there is so much construction going on down there that he appears to be lost. I text him and tell him we are in The Sun Trust Bank parking lot and he very soon appears. Very nice guy in a very clean late model car. Good conversation as he takes us in to Kissimmee to ABC Liquor and Winn Dixie Grocery Store. The cost, $6.14 for the both of us. We get our booze, beer, soda, and snacks and put in another request for a car. Again almost immediately we are contacted by Juan who is on his way 4 minutes out. He picks us up at the liquor store and takes us right to the front entrance to Pop Century. The cost $10.20. This Uber is fantastic if you want to get out of Disney at a very reasonable rate. Back at Pop we go to our room with out party treats only to find that Shelly’s luggage is here and mine is not. We go down to bell services and find out that, yeah, we have your piece of luggage, it’s right in the back. They say would you like it now or would you like us to put it in your room. Later as we are on the bus I say, I should have told them they can keep it there, but I might need them to bring me up a pair of under wear later in the evening. Duh! On the bus to MK where after entering we have to go to have our vouchers turned into active media. There is a 15 minute line for that which we weren’t expecting. We enter MK at 6:40PM and turn right into something Shelly has been telling me about. MIckey apparently talks to you while performing card tricks. We wait a good 25 minutes to get in only to find he just greets me, shakes my hand, and asks me a few questions like, “So how did you get here, did your drive or did you fly” I reply I flew. Mickey retorts that my arms must be really tired after that. He doesn’t do any of the things Shelly says he did for her last trip, but the technology is amazing. His eyes move, he appears to actually be having a conversation with the guests as he physically interacts with them for pictures etc. After Mickey Shelly wants to see Elsa and Anna turn the castle into ice so we wait 25 minutes at the hub for that. It is beautiful. We now have a fast pass for Haunted Mansion at 7:05PM. We exit mansion and go to eat at Columbia Harbour House. Shelly has the Fish Platter with Coleslaw and Fries while I have the Anchors Aweigh Tuna with chips. After eating we go to the front of Hall of Presidents for The Main Street Electrical Light Parade. When the parade is over we head back over to the hub to find Dave and Brenda who are set up for The Magic, The Memories, & You. We quickly find them and enjoy that show and Wishes shortly after. While setting up for Wishes we notice that there are two strollers just to the left of us with giant Mickey balloons that have lights in them. Brenda and I for sure notice that this may be a potential problem. As the fireworks start and people start jostling for position we are in a spot that these two fucking balloons are floating and drifting periodically in front of Brenda and my view. Brenda looks back at me, I look and snicker at her. After a couple of acknowledgements of the assholes in front of us Brenda takes charge and grabs a hold of the balloon string and holds the balloons down so they are not blocking our view. God only knows the dumb fucking parents wouldn’t do that:) The Christmas additions they add for this time of year are amazing. When that show is over we both have fast pass for The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This ride is amazing with its attention to detail for the queue and the smooth rapid roller coaster moves. Off the Mine Train we go to the ice cream stand across from Dwarfs. I never remember the name but I think it’s Storybook Treats. Nick and I always went there for the coldest ice cream in the park. Total brain freeze. After a short bathroom break we go on Pooh just because it’s there. Then we do the Cinderella Carousel followed by People Mover, Buzz LIghtyear and then one more turn in Haunted Mansion at 3 minutes before 12:00 midnight closing. Make our way out of the park but stop at Casey’s for a soda. We stand at the end of Main Street and listen to the closing audio as the castle changes colors and Mickey wishes us all a goodnight and thanks for coming. Exit to the Pop Century bus which takes off rather quickly as it’s one of the new double busses with large capacity. Back at Pop around 12:40AM and as I’m exiting the bus I notice a little kid sleeping on a seat and no one seems to be claiming the kid. sure enough as we are about 100 feet away from the bus the driver is yelling has anyone forgot there kid.A father takes responsibility as he walks back to the buss. I am relieved that my luggage is now there in the room. Start sorting through everything and setting up the room. Computer station, bar area, dirty laundry drop. Dave and Brenda don’t stay up at all. Shelly and I take showers and have cocktails. She is on Facebook while I document the day for posterity. On my 5th beer and it’s 3:27AM. I anticipate another hour before bed. Tomorrow it’s Epcot as it’s the last day of Captain EO. Can’t wait to see Kirstie, Nick’s, and my favorite night show,llluminations, Reflections Of Earth. First day is fantastic and looking forward to the two more of our crew that will be arriving Wednesday. Nite:)
Sunday December 6th, 2015
Got to bed around 4:00AM last night. Up at 11:30AM today. Last night was almost snore free from hooter, until she pulled her mask off in the morning and started snoring. She is getting water droplets in the mask making it uncomfortable. I made some adjustments to the settings this mornings that I think will solve it. Going to Epcot today as this is the last day to see Captain EO before it’s bye bye forever. We have fast passes for 2:50 to The Seas With Nemo & Friends (Shellys Favorites) Captain EO at 4:10PM and Soarin at 5:25PM, plus anything else that’s mixed in.We’re up at 11:30AM Sunday and off to Epcot at 12:35PM. Arrive at Epcot at 12:50PM and get in line for Spaceship Earth. The wait is about 10 minutes. Next it’s time to eat at The Electric Umbrella. We sit on the second level overlooking Mouse Gear and The Fountain Of Nations. We have Bacon Double Cheeseburgers with fries. After eating we go in Mouse Gear to shop. I get a new zippered sweatshirt and Shelly gets two new Christmas shirts. She pays for all and says it’s a gift from Dennis. Next we go for our first fast pass on Finding Nemo and Friends. We sit outside the entrance to The Land next and eat a Mickey Premium Bar. After our ice cream we go in to The Land and see The Circle of Life and Living With The Land. Next it’s over to Imagination followed by our final viewing of Captain EO as this is the last day for it at Epcot. It’s a good crowd for this viewing and everyone cheers at the beginning and the conclusion. Now we take the boat across World Showcase to Morocco and then the boat from Epcot Gateway to Disney Hollywood Studios for the 7:00PM Fantasmic show. Shelly enters and gets seats in Malificent section Row S while I go get beers, nachos, and a hot dog. The show is great but before the show there is a group of five men behind us talking arabic which is making me nervous, and it carries through the show for me. It is a little cool at Fantasmic so after exiting the first show we go and get another sweatshirt for me. While I’m waiting in line to pay I have Shelly leave and get us seats for the second 8:30PM show. While waiting I notice a Annual Passholder getting something from behind the counter from a cast member, so I ask what is that? It is a passholder tee-shirt in red that says “That’s A Wrap, 2015 Osbourne Spectacle Of LIghts” This seems like a real cool commemorative of something that is going to be gone for good after this month ends. I buy it for a surprise present for Shelly. I get back to Fantasmic and pick up two more beers and some candied almonds for the show. She texts me and says we are almost in the same spot for show two. When the show ends we go on The Great Movie Ride. The new narration by AMC Channel Robert Osbourne really gives the pre-show movie a much needed lift. During the ride he also narrates about the scenes you are going through, much better than most cast members would. The cast members still throw a few comments in but Osbourne does most of the speaking. We have a very good male cast member on our vehicle but unfortunately a crappy girl who gets the handoff for the gangster sequence. Why do they keep doing this. Horrible Brooklyn accent and not at all believable. The end movie has been redone too and is very good. Better quality and much more clips of other movies along with the great ones they had in the old movie. There is a new theme song medley that goes with the movie also. After TGMR we get an unexpected surprise. We go into the newly opened Star Wars Launch Bay which occupies the former animation tour including the small movie theatre plus the hallways leading to character meat and greet and the old animation school area. This attraction is going to be a huge hit with especially little dudes. The experience starts with a fantastic movie featuring the back story on Star Wars past and present. They have interviews with JJ Abrams along with many other key production people on the project. Very interesting lead in to the viewing of all the design work and model pieces you see on your way to the Star Wars meet and greet area. When we arrive to that area no one is there as it’s 10 minutes before closing. A cast member asks us if we would like to meet Chewbacca. We say well, ok. We are led into a room where there he stands, about 7ft tall with the most detailed costume I have ever seen. He looks at me and makes that sound that Chewbacca makes. I can’t mimic it but you know it when you hear it. I am truly overwhelmed by the site of this character. We shake hands, get a hug, and just generally have us in awe of the presence of this character. We get some pictures and exit. After exiting another cast member asks if we would like to meet Darth Vador. Of course we do. He is just if not more impressive. I am told to stand in a area about four feet from him. As I stand there he is breathing that heavy breathing sound that any one who ever has seen a Star Wars movie knows. He slowly moves towards me leaning down to me and says in James Earl Jones voice, “You have been listening to the rebel alliance. It’s not a good idea to do that, you should come over to the dark side with me” His presence combined with that voice is really cool and a little intimidating. Also, One Mans Dream is still intact and operating. I had my facts wrong that the attraction might be gone because of Star Wars. We leave Studios and have a good 30 minute wait at the bus stop. After about three busses load up it’s our turn and we get back to the hotel a little after 11:00PM. Shelly goes for pizza while I go back to the room to get ice and start documenting. We hang out in Dave and Brendas room for an hour before they go to bed. It’s 1:25AM now and I’m wrapping up todays journal entry while finishing my 4th beer. Tomorrow it’s a full day at Epcot including a 12:20PM reservation for two at Beaches & Cream. Can’t wait to see Illuminations for the first time this trip.Our fast passes for tomorrow are Turtle Talk, Soarin, and Mission Space. Anticipated bed time 3:00AM
Monday December 7th, 2015
Up at 11:00AM. Out of the room and at the bus stop for DHS at 11:35AM. Arrive DHS at 11:43AM. It’s going to be tight to make our 12:20PM reservation for Beaches & Cream. We are at the boat dock at DHS a little before 12 Noon as a boat has just left. Next boat arrives at 12:15PM. We know we are going to be late for sure now. We finally arrive at Beaches at 12:37PM. We sit for maybe 5 minutes before they seat us. No lost reservation thank god. I have a Reuben sandwich and fries while Shelly has a Grilled Cheese sandwich with tomato bisque. After that 1500 calorie apiece load we finish it off with a strawberry sundae for me and Brownie Ala mode for Shelly. She can hardly finish it and I’m not going to help as I am packed. We leave Beaches at 2:12PM and take the boat across to The Boardwalk to go to ESPN Zone to check out how we can watch the Packers game next Sunday. We just have to show up early enough and get a seat where that game is on, or get a VIP seat for $40 apiece which guarantees us our own table with the game of our choice on. I think I will just bring a laptop into one of the parks on Sunday and watch for free on the computer for 3 hours. I celebrate my new found information at ESPN Zone by taking a big Beaches And Cream Shit in there bathroom:) We exit ESPN and walk the promenade over to Epcot’s World Showcase Entrance to go to our first fast pass Turtle Talk. On the way we stop and catch The American Musical Machine vocal group show at The Epcot Fountain. They are similar to Four For A Dollar only doing Christmas songs. When they finish we start again towards Turtle Talk but stop at Soda Flavors From Around The World and chug a bunch of soda samples. Back on the way again until Shelly gets sidetracked by character meet and greet inside the building we are walking through to get there. After 25 minutes in there we finally get to Turtle Talk. It is very good with lots of laughs as usual. We exit Turtle Talk and make our way through Innoventions East and West to get to Ellen’s Energy Adventure. It’s amazing how there is literally nothing inside Innoventions of much interest. They really have to do something with that area. Ellen is fantastic as usual. I really am going to miss that someday when it’s gone. After Ellen it’s back to the other side at The Land to our first viewing of Soarin. Awesome as usual. We exit Soarin at 5:40PM and head across again for Mission Space, (The Pussy Version). It’s the only way Shelly will ride it and I don’t want to have a stroke on the real version. After Mission Space we walk over to The UK for a couple of Bass Ales while watching The Brittish Invasion. Brenda and Dave are already there. They open with The Who- We Won’t Get Fooled Again and then Queen- Another One Bites The Dust, David Bowie- Let’s Dance, Simple Minds- Don’t You, Forget About Me, The Beatles- She Was Just Seventeen, Elton John- Crocodile Rock, The Clash- Should I Stay Or Should I Go, and Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody. Now we make our way over to watch The American Adventure movie. When the movie ends we grab some brews and setup at our spot by Italy, not out on the peninsula, as there is a private party out there, but right next to it. Illuminations is perfect with a good audience that is quiet and respectful of this fantastic show. The Christmas finale that follows it will blow Kirstie away when she gets here. It is beyond an explanation in print. You have to experience it. We slowly exit Epcot and drive back to the hotel with Dave and Brenda in their car. At the hotel Shelly goes to the gift shop to pickup our stuff from Sunday while I get ice for her alchohol in the room. It’s only 11:32PM right now so I’m way ahead of myself with the journal. Hanging out eating snacks, pizza, and adult beverages. Tomorrow is Animal Kingdom until around 6:00PM when we will leave for Magic Kingdom and MIckeys Very Merry Christmas Party. Shelly’s cpap machine is working perfect now after I tweeked the settings. No snoring at all as far as I know. One more full day before the girls get here. Can’t wait:) Probable bedtime tonight 2:00AM.
Tuesday December 8th, 2015
Up at 11:30AM. Shelly was up multiple times earlier with a morning headache plus she says everyone was making noise. Doors slamming, toilets flushing, etc. Waaaaa. She falls back asleep after reading her book for two hours and is only getting in the shower at 12:00 Noon. We exit the room for the bus a 12:30PM. At 12:45PM we’re on the bus for Animal KIngdom. We first go to Flame Tree Barbecue to eat. We sit on the perimeter of the lagoon overlooking Expedition Everest. The construction is moving along nicely for the seating of the new night time show that is coming to Animal Kingdom in spring 2016. I have the Pulled Pork Sandwich with beans and Shelly has the 1/2 Chicken with cornbread and beans. We both split a order of onion rings. After eating we go to Expedition Everest where I ride while Shelly waits. Next it’s off to Finding Nemo for the 3:00PM show. We arrive for the 2:30-2:50PM Fast Pass window. Of all the shows I have seen there since 2006, the cast today was the best of all performers I have ever seen. Every singer was projecting like never before. Every performer had body language and facial expressions that perfectly fit the character. The three guys that played the sharks could have been a barbershop quartet minus one. Really incredible. Almost like they got some kind of kick in the ass or great direction to get this show back to the way it could be. I’ve seen some stinker parts over the years and this had none of that. When Nemo ends we have a Killamanjaro Safari next that we can go right over for. But instead we duck in to Flights Of Wonder first. Always entertaining for me. Because yes, the usual gay guy (or gay acting guy) is on stage getting all the laughs of the show. We now go on Killamanjaro and have a good female guide. Not a lot of animals are out but both the male and the female lions are lounging out on the rocks and four Cheeta are also out walking around. After the Safari we sit and watch the band in Harambe Village while eating that traditional African culture snack, The Mickey Premium Bar. On the way out we do It’s Tough To Be A Bug and then head over to the bus at 5:45PM. Our bus arrives at 6:00PM to go to Magic Kingdom as tonight is Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party. We all go to Pinnochios where I have Pepperoni Flatbread Pizza and Fries while Shelly has Chicken Alfredo. Next it’s over to the front of the castle for Celebrate The Season stage show. It’s identical to the one we saw in 2006. Nothing has changed. Shortly after the show Elsa and Anna from Frozen light the castle with ice. About 20 minutes after that The Mainstreet Christmas Parade begins. It has many things from the 2006 parade but also some new floats and characters from current movies. All the time we are seeing these castle events we have not moved from where we started. It’s pretty tiring. By the end of all the things going on there we have been standing there for nearly 3 hours. When the parade ends Dave goes and gets all of us some cookies and hot cocoa to eat and drink until its time for The Magic The Memories and You with a special Christmas twist at the end of it. This is the same show that is every night at MK even if it’s not Mickeys Christmas Party. Shortly after that ends it’s time for Christmas Wishes. This is identical to the one we saw in 2006. Afterwards Dave, Brenda, and I leave for another show over in Tomorrowland while Shelly wants to stay and watch the Christmas Parade again because she didn’t have a good location and couldn’t see very well. I’m glad I left because as we arrived at Tomorrowland the new show there A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas was already in progress. It’s basically Buzz Lightyear and later Stitch doing some dancing and singing Christmas songs along with a very good dance show of Disney talent. What came next was what the big surprise was. A five man group called Voice Play comes out and just blows me away. All five are very talented but the baritone and the lead tenor are just fantastic. A must see if you go to the Christmas Party. Similar to Four For A Dollar now gone from DHS these guys are really tight. We go to People Mover and find that as of today its boarded off and closed for refurb. Pfff, Bummer. We walk over to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and on the way have some more cookies and hot cocoa. Once off the Mine Train we go on Ariels Undersea Adventure, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It’s now after 12 midnight so the park is closing. As we make our way to the front we run into Shelly who is taking pictures along Main Street. We go in the shops where she buys another shirt. Out the store and on to the street for more pictures.When we eventually leave we ride back with Dave and Brenda who parked in The Contemporary parking lot. Back at the room Dave, Brenda, and Shelly are immediately off to bed at around 1:20AM. It’s 1:56AM now and I am finishing up and on my first beer. Tomorrow Kirstie and Holly arrive. Whoo hoo! My estimated bedtime tonight is 3:00AM.
Wednesday December 9th, 2015
Up at 12:00. Shelly is already on the way to DHS to catch the 12:00PM Beauty & The Beast Show. I get to the bus stop at 12:37PM arrive at DHS a little before 1:00PM. My first stop is Rockin Roller Coaster as I have a Fast Pass. Front row as usual and it is excellent. Off of RRC Shelly texts me that she has seats in B&TB and the show is15 minutes away from start. Fantastic Belle, great voice Gaston, but a little feminine. After Beauty & The Beast we have a fast pass ready for Tower Of Terror. Guess what? It’s awesome, duh. After the TOT we take a leisurely stroll through One Man’s Dream and watch the movie at the end too. When we exit the theatre I suggest we go in Disney Junior, an attraction I remember going in years ago. All the parents with their toddlers through 8 years roughly are a real treat to see. It’s like they are at a rock concert for toddlers. I only hope I get to do it some day with grand kids. It will be magical. When we exit the show Shelly wants to get a photo op with Sophia and Jake from Disney Junior. The kids at the daycare will get a kick out of Mrs. Shelly having a pic with these superstars. Next we go in the old American Idol stage where The Frozen Sing A Long now resides. Eight months ago when it was brand new it was in the old Hunchback Of Notre Dame stage. It is a fantastic show for anyone that loves Frozen. The two MC’s that front the show are hilarious. Next we have our last 5:30PM fast pass of the day at Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. This was a must see for me because it will probably not be here next time as this whole area is being leveled for the new Star Wars area. We have a lot of fond memories at this show with Kirstie as a baby, toddler, along with Grandma Barb. It’s been there that long. I guess it’s time for a change. When we exit Indy the park is closed for a special event, Pop Warner Football. No Fantasmic tonight so we take the boat from DHS over to Epcot for Illuminations. Upon arrival we go to the UK for Fish & Chips plus Bass Ale for me. We hope to watch the British Invasion while eating but they are not playing tonight. We make our way over to Italy to The Spot to setup for Illuminations. I hold the area while Shelly goes looking for a place to replace her lights that are failing. Ten minutes later she is back and finds a closer spot than I am in for Illuminations. Dave and Brenda show up shortly and we all wait for the 9:30PM showing of Illuminations with the Christmas Special finale. If I didn’t say it before I’ll say it now. It is like touching the creative hand of god. My jaw was dropped more than an average day at the site of this fireworks display. We make our way around World Showcase to the exit and for a nostalgic change we ride the Tram to get to Daves car. In the early years this was how we always left the park. Me pushing Barb in the wheel chair until we got to the tram, Shelly holding KIrstie while I loaded and held the stroller on the tram after loading Barb in. And then the sometimes chilly ride through the parking lot back to our rental car. Back at the hotel a little before 11:00PM and Kirstie’s and Holly’s luggage are here. They are at Magic Kingdom for their first night as it is open till 1:00AM tonight. It’s 11:33PM now and everyone is still up. I’m only on my first beer in the room (plus 2 I had at Epcot) Finish up the journal and hang out annoying everyone on my thoughts on everything in Dave and Brenda’s room. I for one will be up when the girls arrive probably around 2:00AM. The girls arrive and are up till around 3:00AM talking about their days. Kirstie passes out first and Holly shortly after. I get to bed around 4:00AM
Thursday December 10th, 2015
Kirstie and Holly are up around 8:30AM getting ready to leave for DAK around 10:00AM. They will hang out there for most of the day and then go to Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Shelly does laundry in the morning and hangs out by the pool. We exit the room around 12:15PM and are waiting quite a long time for the DHS bus. We arrive at DHS at 1:10PM and go to the Commissary for lunch. I have the 1/3# Angus Burger with fries and Shelly has the Chicken Sandwich with fries. Next we have a fast pass for Voyage Of The Little Mermaid. After Little Mermaid we have a Mickey Bar outside The Great Movie Ride. Next we have a fast pass for The Muppets. After The Muppets we have a soda at Pizza Planet where Shelly gets a cup Melissa asked her to pick up for her. We take a walk over and enter the Honey I Shrunk The Kids Play Area. It’s getting near 5:45PM so we go to The Streets Of America where The Osbourne Spectacle Of Lights will be lighting up for maybe our last time unless we go to Studios again before next tuesday. At the end of December they will be no more as this whole area will be leveled for one of two new lands in Hollywood Studios.We have a beer while waiting 30 minutes for the 5:45PM light up time. I stay at the lights for about 20 minutes and then leave to go to show one of Fantasmic at 7:00PM. Shelly stays at the lights with Dave and Brenda. Brenda wasn’t feeling good today. Hope she is better for our big dinner at The German Biergarten tomorrow. I am in Malificent Row N. I have a hot dog and some nachos. After the show I notice the people next to me left a pair of sunglasses in a case, so I make my way to lost and found to turn them in. On the way out I see Shelly waiting at the fast pass entrance for show two. Her phone is out of juice so I give her my charger and she goes in to get our seats for show 2. After dropping off the glasses I stop at Rosie’s for Chicken Nuggets and Fries. Just when I am finishing I get a text that Shelly is in and has seats in Mickey Row U. We leave Studios and wait quite a while for the bus to Pop. Back at 10:30PM where Shelly goes for something to eat at the food court and I clean up and have a beer. It’s only 11:00PM. Kirstie and Holly will be at MK till after 12:00 midnight. Tomorrow is The German Biergarten Dinner at 5:20PM followed by The Candlelight Processional at The American Gardens Theatre. All six of us are on board for the event at Epcot.
Friday December 11th, 2015
Up at 10:15AM. The girls are out the door at 11:30AM on the way to Epcot. They go to eat at The Land. After eating they go into Imagination and then Nemo and Friends. I get out to the bus at 12:10PM. Arrive at Epcot 12:20PM. I go on Spaceship Earth and then Universe Of Energy. Now it’s time to meet up with Shelly for 2:05PM Soarin. After Soarin Kirstie, Holly, Shelly, and I go to Mexico because Kirstie and Holly want to go in the tequila bar inside Mexico. First we each start off with a specialty tequila drink. Then Holly asks if we want to do shots of Patron. We all say no, and minutes later she is back with shots, chasers, salt, and limes for all. Needless to say we are all feeling it pretty good, especially Kirstie. We leave the bar and ride The River Of Time. As we exit Shelly realizes she left her bag in the bar. We go back to get it and Kirstie says let’s have another drink even though we only have 20 minutes till we are supposed to be at Germany. Holly says no, she doesn’t think that would be a good idea. I attempt to tell Holly that I am disappointed in her like she was telling me at Betsy’s wedding. But before I can get the words out of my mouth she turns and walks back into the bar as she is saying ok as if she was reading my mind and knew what I was going to say, so we have another one. Kirstie and Holly have switched personalities. Kirstie is trying to get drunker and Holly is being the sensible one. Anyway, we dropped around $150.00 on the drinks in about and hour and a half. Once we are finally outside Mexico we get two more Margaritas to split amongst us. The dinner at Germany is delicious. Kirstie and I go out and polka or some kind of drunkards dance. After Germany we go and get in line for the Candlelight Processional. It is just as moving as I remember. Kirstie loves it too. We setup at Italy after the show for Illuminations and have a beer. After the fireworks we head out for the bus which is packed again. Out fairly quickly though. Back at the room at 11:00PM. Having drinks and watching tv. Dave and Brenda are leaving for their drive home tomorrow morning. Everyone seems pretty beat and probably will go to bed soon. I think I’ll be up till at least 2:00AM. Tomorrow we are all going to Hollywood Studios for the day.
Saturday December 12th, 2015
Kirstie and Holly beat us out the door again by 11:00AM and are on the way to DHS. Although she said this morning that 100% energy at the beginning of each day decreases to more like 75% and less as these days go on. Disney has a way of wearing you out. We don’t get to DHS till 1:30PM. Our first fast pass is The Muppets at 2:05PM. As we exit we run into Kirstie and Holly. We all wait 35 minutes for The Great Movie Ride. Next Shelly and I do our next fast pass on TOT. Kirstie and Holly join us because Holly has gotten a pass from one of her buddies here at Studios that allows them to ride everything unlimited fast pass style. Luckyyyyy. We split up now as we are going to The Sci Fi Diner. They bail on their reservation with us because of their new found pass so it’s just me and Shelly. I have the Reuben and fries and Shelly has the Turkey Sandwich and fries. We split an order of onion rings together. I am going to be one fat fuck after this trip. I’ll have my work cut out for me before KIrsties wedding. Next we wait in standby for Toy Story Mania. It says 100 minutes but it ends up being 55 including riding the ride. On the way to Fantasmic we pop in to One Mans Dream to see the movie at the end. In to the first show of Fantasmic with fast pass and we’re still way over in Malificent section. All of sudden we notice someone waving at us from a better section over. It’s the girls and they have saved us a spot. When we exit I decide to head back to the room instead of viewing show 2. Shelly goes with Kirstie and Holly to Disney Springs to shop and eat. The bus for Pop has a high school cheer squad along with the regular huge line like I have never seen it before. So I decide to hop on Art Of Animation bus instead. I am on my way relatively quick. I go in Animation food court to see what Dave was talking about. He is right, this food is way better than Pop. When I say better I just mean the selection. The quality is about the same. I have the Patty Melt on toast with chips. After eating I wonder first down to Radiator Springs and than up along Hour Glass Lake back to Finding Nemo area around The Big Blue Pool. I know now why this hotel costs more. In my opinion it is at worst a moderate hotel or maybe a deluxe if you are around The Big Blue Pool. The detail and artwork on and around the buildings is stunning. I still wouldn’t pay for it, but I understand why others would. I walk over the bridge back to Pop Ghetto and take a shower and mix my first drink. The maid never came in so we haven’t any fresh towels. I just use the one I used last night. I’m such trailer trash:) Good news on the Packers, we won’t have to huddle around my computer to watch the game as it is on one of the two nationally televised games and Orlando is carrying The Packers/Cowboys. Now we can watch in the room or down at Petals Pool Bar. I don’t know which. It’s only 11:07PM so the night is young and there are drinks to be had.
Sunday December 12th, 2015
Didn’t get to bed last night till 3:30AM. Up today at 11:30AM. Kirstie and Holly are out of the room already at 10:00AM. Just laying around lounging until 1:30PM when we go across to Art Of Animation so Shelly can check it out. We walk through all areas and then eat at their food court. I go to Build A Burger and have a 1/3# Angus Burger with pepperjack cheese, bacon, chipotle dressing, tomato, lettuce, and onions with fries. Shelly has the Pasta Alfredo. Back at the room around 2:45PM watching the 1:00PM game waiting for the Packers at 4:25PM. Watch the whole game and I have a few drinks in the fourth quarter. When the game ends we go to the bus stop and head out for Epcot. Once on the bus we realize we forgot to bring our two Disney umbrellas and/or rain parkas. The one day it rains a bit we forget our shit. Duh! We arrive at Epcot around 7:40PM and make our way around World Showcase to Italy. The area that juts out into the lagoon doesn’t have a party tonight so we setup there for Illuminations. I go get a couple of beers from America and by the time I’m back it is drizzling. It’s just enough to soak the blanket and everything else. Shelly decides she is going back to the room. I stay and go get another beer and find temporary cover. Kirstie texts me and says she is hiding out in Italy while Holly is going over to Canada to get a glass of her 10.2% ABV beer that she has been waiting to drink. I taste it and it definitely tastes like gasoline I have had before. The rain stops at 9:15PM and Illuminations comes off without a hitch. After we make our way back to the bus where there is next to no wait. Everyone must have had the same idea Shelly had. Back at the hotel we go in the gift shop as Kirstie still hasn’t gotten a gift for Steve. No luck, so they head over the bridge to Art Of Animation gift shop while I go back to our room. Shelly orders a pizza and I take a shower before starting todays journal while watching Toy Story 3 on ABC Family Channel. The girls get back a half hour later from Animation. I decide to put The Good Dinosaur on but Kirstie and Holly aren’t watching so instead I put on 1 episode of Difficult People which goes no where. But then I start episode one of Casual from Hulu Plus and Shelly for one is hooked. We end up watching the first 3 episodes before going to bed around 3:00AM.
Monday December 14th, 2015
Holly is up first getting packed up as her flight leaves a few hours before KIrsties. They are down checking Holly’s luggage at baggage services and sitting by the pool till Holly’s Magical Express time comes up. It’s 11:53AM and we still aren’t dressed yet. Don’t know where we’ll be going tonight. We’ll probably keep Kirstie company till her Magical Express bus arrives. Nope, they are at Disney Springs so we take off at 12:35PM for DAK. Arrive at 12:54PM and head over to Kilimanjaro Safari fast pass. We enter at 1:26PM and are off at 1:53PM. Haven’t eaten yet so we go over to The Yak & Yeti. I have 2 egg rolls and Spicy Chicken Fried Rice and Shelly does too. The spicy chicken is so spicy that even though we are in the shade we are both sweating profusely. Next we have a fast pass for Dinosaur. We get on at 2:50PM and are off at 3:08PM. Shelly shops in the Dino Store to kill some time before 4:00PM Nemo show. The Nemo show is good but the only one from the super cast from days ago is Dory. She is the best ever. We exit DAK at 4:57PM and take the bus to DHS. Once inside we first use one of two left over passes Holly left us that they didn’t use to go on Toy Story Mania. Then we go over to Rockin Roller Coaster with the other pass that is for 5 people. We pick two people at random near the fast pass area and ask if they would like to ride. Duh, they of course say yes. When we entered the park we went up to a kiosk and got a fast pass for the first Fantasmic show. They won’t let you do it on your phone app if you’ve already used fast pass in another park. After RRC we use the fast pass for Fantasmic. We are in Malificent Row S Aisle. Perfect show except the snake doesn’t move:( Exit Fantasmic and go to the bus stop for Magic Kingdom. We arrive at MK at 7:56PM. We go right over to Pecos Bill to try the new mexican fare. Shelly gets the Beef Fajitas and I get The Beef Burrito. I load up the burrito with so much stuff from the fixins bar I can hardly hold it in my hand. Shelly doesn’t use the three fajita soft shells she gets with the meal. She instead eats the stuff to make the fajitas with a fork. After finishing my burrito I take the soft shells and make some fajitas with stuff from the fixins bar. We make our way to The Hall Of Presidents but it doesn’t start in time so we watch part of Main Street Electrical Parade instead before going over for Celebrate The Magic and Wishes. There are the usual idiots around us. Talking, taking pictures and videos with the light on, etc. When the show is over we go on Haunted Mansion, Jingle Cruise, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and then Pirates a second time. The park is closed now as it’s 12:05AM. We exit the park and get the bus back to Pop. Arrive at Pop around 12:45AM. Packing up to leave the room by 11:00AM tomorrow morning. Finishing up my last four beers and watching Law & Order. Estimated bedtime 2:30AM.
Tuesday December 15th, 2015
Up at 10:00AM. Get all the last minute details together before laying in bed till 11:00AM watching tv. Out of the room and down to airline to check our bags. Drop our carry ons at baggage services and take the bus for Epcot. We arrive at Epcot at 11:45AM. Walk around World Showcase to China. I have the Shrimp Fried Rice with Egg Roll and Shelly has the same. After eating we go listen to the Voices Of Liberty. I prefer the traditional songs over Christmas. We then go in to watch The American Adventure again. We next take the boat from Germany over to World Showcase Entrance. We exit the boat and go on Ellen’s Energy Adventure followed by Spaceship Earth. It’s 3:05PM now so we head over to the bus stop where a Pop bus is just leaving. We arrive at Pop at 3:32PM and wait for Magical Express 3:55PM bus. Laurie Hartman comes up behind me and puts her arms around my shoulders. I grab them and pull them away as I am saying stop, I’m to hot. I find out when I recognize her voice that it’s her. I thought it was Shelly. We arrive at the airport around 4:45PM. Security check point is jammed. It takes a good half hour to get through. Tram across to our terminal we find that all of our favorite eating spots are not open due to construction. We eat at au bon pain instead. Turkey Club, chips, and a soda, boringg. Waiting at gate 109 for our 6:55PM flight. We are B50-51 in line.