And now for a change of plans-A Dec '18 Solo TR - COMPLETED 9/19

[vamassey1]

I really liked the meal and think I will definitely go back for a proper lunch or dinner one day.

Everything looks really good. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Some of the displays in front of the Lego Store were under construction, so I loved the way they showed that!

This is too cute.

I admired some of the lobby decorations – simpler than the Yacht or Beach Club, but it works! And so much detail! I loved all the little Christmas trees in front of each building!

Loving the decorations.

Then I also decided I couldn’t deal with those sleeves anymore…so I just cut them off! And I also put some shorts on! So much better!

Very creative!

 

[Lesley Wake]

How strange of that person to come in and take photos but not eat! Too bad you havent found the review yet, would be interesting to see if they claimed to have tried anything! lol

I know - it was very weird!

Sounds like a nice brunch! The chocolate fountain looks awesome!

Anything with a chocolate fountain is usually a win for me! There's a fancy hotel nearish my house (it used to be a Ritz Carlton) where on Sundays they have Chocolate Tea, including a chocolate fountain! Yum!

Wow it looks absolutely beautiful


Oh boo! Sorry to hear you got sick!


Oh. My. GOODNESS. That food looks sooo good!


Love the travel theme.


Ha this is adorable!!


Oh wow I didn't realize they made a gingerbread model of pretty much the whole Boardwalk! So cute!

Yeah, getting sick sucks! At least it wasn't a once in a lifetime trip!

You are so lucky!!!! Def let me know which you like!


Ha! I should do this. I really want to finish the Feb trip before our August trip, but I don't know if that is going to happen. I have to get moving.

Yeah - I've already messed up that schedule!

Oh no! Hope the cold didn't hinder too much of your park fun!



I've never seen or heard of this place! I love honey, I'll have to stop by when my family visits this year!!



Wait... this is too funny. I know EXACTLY which blogger(s) you're talking about with this reputation! They're in desperate need of a name change



The food looked really great, M&E Brunch is def. on my fam bucket list!



Oooh, how savvy! We LOVE a fashion designer!!!



I love this trip report AND John Stamos! Can't wait for this update!

I really ended up missing the most in Magic Kingdom. Though I prioritized what I could.

The honey store is a couple doors down from the Ganachery. They have some awesome flavors and free samples too!

I think I heard about one incident where the food blog person actually tried to get the waiters to let them take a photo of someone else's food without even ordering it! I don't trust their reviews.

Oh! Not many people I know, have.
mmm... sounds good.

It was!

Really? That's... just not right.

Yeah - very much cheating the system!

This is ridiculous! I want to know that reviewers are actually trying the food. The brunch looks really nice, haven't heard much about it!

Yeah - I pretty much trust Disney tourist blog, easywdw, and the website that won't be named on the Dis anymore. I know those guys will actually try the food they review!

This is the cutest construction display ever!

Wasn't it! So adorable!

This brunch looks awesome! Is it better than Brunch at the Top????

I liked it more. And it was 1/3 the cost!

I've never had a gingerbread pretzel, but the other cookies look good.

Love you decoration pictures. I can't wait to see them in person.

Me too. I'm looking forward to this too.

Good to hear I'm not the only one. I rode it in 1999 on my first trip to MGM. Didn't ride it again for about 6 years and haven't ridden it since then. It messes with my equilibrium.

Another thing I'm looking forward to seeing.

Once again great pictures of the decorations. So much to see.

We ate here for our 30th wedding anniversary. It was good but not something I'll go back for again and again.

Everything looks really good. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

This is too cute.

Loving the decorations.

Very creative!

I'm sure you guys are going to have so much fun seeing all the Christmas stuff! It's all sooo gorgeous! I'm going to try and see what I can during my NYE trip!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Day 3, Part 2 - John Stamos is a treasure!

After a nice break at the resort, I made my way over to Epcot. It’s crazy to look at these photos and see the progress made on the Ratatouille area 6 months later!

First, I headed right up to America to meet with Zach, who was in his usual spot watching the Voices of Liberty! Love them, unfortunately this was the only time I saw them this trip.

At some point this afternoon I stopped for a photopass, who made a nice effect without even any magicshots!

Then I headed over to listen to the Hannukah storyteller (who is located between Morocco and France). Another very good performance.

Then, it was time for Japan. It was weird – that one doesn’t have a specific stage, so there was a lady in a wheelchair right at the base of the stairs and the CM had to keep getting her (and me) to step further back to clear space for the storyteller. Probably would be easier with tape on the ground or a stage (the storyteller does have a big rope she puts down before starting). The actual performance was interesting – a bit too corny though!

Then I went over to Morocco to catch the Sahara Beats group (this was the only day they were going to perform when I was visiting Epcot). I had initially hoped to see every storyteller/entertainment, but unfortunately my cold changed up that plan. So I wish I would have gone to a different pavilion instead… oh well!

While I was waiting I realized the Rams game had started! I was so ashamed… but they were winning! Woohoo! (I didn’t pull up video, instead the NFL app.)

The performance was…good. Not my style. And something sort of annoying was there was a girl who wanted a photo in front while they were performing. So she ran up and sat on the edge of the stage step. The band laughed and posed for it. That encouraged her friends who each came up and did that, and the band each time goofed around. I dunno, maybe I’m just a square, but it annoyed me a bit as it was like they spent all this time and attention for a couple entitled people, rather than performing for everyone.

After that, it was time for dinner. I was meeting Zach again and we had a Candlelight Processional dining package at Tokyo Dining. We were seated pretty quickly.

We had a table at the very front, so a lovely view of the World Showcase

After we were seated the Rams officially won! Yay! Which meant they clinched their division and were guaranteed a home playoff game! Very exciting! (If you didn’t follow NFL this year, the Rams did end up going all the way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately we lost to the Patriots, but hopefully we’ll come back strong this year and make a return journey!)

Back to dinner – partial menu photos (with the CP package, you get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert)

I think I must have gotten the Cassava Flour and Panko Crusted Shrimp for my appetizer

And a Bento Box for dinner (Shrimp and vegetable tempura, NY sirloin steak with garlic ginger sauce, chicken teriyaki, Tuna and salmon poke salad with sesame-ginger dressing, tuna, salmon, shrimp nigiri and vegetable roll)

Dessert was some sort of cake, I think chocolate and ginger? It was ok, nothing great.

Overall I wasn’t too impressed with Tokyo Dining. The food wasn’t totally amazing – not worth the package price. I didn’t hate the service, but I didn’t love it; I don't need to be fawned over at all, but the server weren't super attentive. I dunno, I probably won’t be back anytime soon. I wish I had chosen a different restaurant where I really wanted the appetizers, entrees, and desserts. For Tokyo Dining I think I would have been happier with just an entrée with my TiW discount (there are no discounts on candlelight packages). We ended up both getting our desserts to go, since we wanted to go out and get in line. (That was another iffy thing about the restaurant. Our view was pretty great…if you weren’t able to see the line for the Candlelight Processional you were going to get in get progressively longer and longer!

We ended up getting a place in the second row, about 1/3-1/2 down row from the center. I hoped it would be a good spot, but once the band came out the view was a bit obstructed by one of the musicians. Though if I sat up straight, I could see the narrator. And it was cool being that close and being really surrounded by the music (band and trumpeters).

We had John Stamos as a narrator, and well, he was amazing! Like seriously, wow! He was so emotional and seemed to enjoy it sooo much! Everytime he talked about an infant child, he would get choked up (he and his wife just had a baby boy and this was the baby's first WDW trip). You could seem him dancing along and just so happy to be there! At the end, he gave a little speech about trying to come together and have peace, not division, which I really appreciated. I don’t have any videos, but when I post Day 4, I’ll include a video Zach put together of the CPs.

On his way out, he also noticed a young man with Down Syndrome, who happened to be standing in the row in front and slightly to the side of us. So, he made a special thing to come over and hug him, which really made that man’s day (like he was jumping up and down and his mom was in tears).

If you followed in a previous TR, you may remember I visited Disneyland and saw the Candlelight Processional there in 2017 (with Chris Hemsworth as a narrator). The CP there is a totally different animal! It only happens over 1 weekend, with 2 performances per night. And it happens in Town Square, on stands built in front of the train station. You can’t buy dining packages or tickets for it – they are reserved for Club 33 members and special invited guests. It’s treated as a private event that happens in the middle of a theme park… People get there at Rope drop to be able and claim their curb spot, and they literally stay there all day long. When I did it, I showed up at noon, and was very very fortunate to find a curb spot when someone left (I guess they thought it was seating for a parade?)! That is actually where I first met Zach, when he visited Disneyland, mostly to be able to see the CP. It truly is an amazing production, with the choir proceeding down main street, the trumpeters on top of the train station, and just thousands of people singing!

Most people are of the opinion that the version at Disneyland version is far superior to the Epcot version. And I agree the production value is there. But for me, I preferred the experience of Epcot. It felt like we were “within” the music, because we were so close, while at Disneyland, it felt we were outsiders looking in. Also, the annoyance of having to wait all day for the show and being really crushed in there (I had a bad experience with some jerks who tried to crowd in on us at the curb, then got mad at me when I reminded them the CMs said it was 1 row of people at curbs until closer to the performance…) I would much rather do a dining package at a restaurant I like and wait 1 hour for a proper seat (not having to stand the whole time). Also it helped that my first Epcot experience was with John Stamos!​

 

[Lesley Wake]

Anyways, after the CP, Zach and I had planned to stick together most of the night. We had a FP for Frozen Ever After. We haven’t had the best luck with boat rides, with noisy and rude guests behind us both on Gran Fiesta Tour and Pirates of the Caribbean (that even caused me to turn around and yell at the boat behind us), so were a bit apprehensive! But overall, nothing to worry about – a normal Frozen ride! I think if I have to choose, FEA is my favorite ride at Epcot (that or Living with the Land), though I would prefer most of the rides at Animal Kingdom over that!

Some of the Epcot decorations at night, plus a photopass stop.

After Frozen, we headed to our next FP at Spaceship Earth. Fairly typical ride, until the end…

Apparently the system saw “Joy” on my shirt and thought that was my face, so it looked like Zach was in the future with my chest! We both just doubled over laughing!

After this, the original plan was for both of us to head over to the Contemporary, grab dessert at California Grill, and watch Holiday Wishes from the roof. But for some reason, I just wasn’t feeling it. I decided I wanted to stay in Epcot for the evening, so bid Zach a farewell (well, temporary farewell – he would stop by the Boardwalk to pick up the various merchandise I had ferried from California!)

First, I grabbed another “throwaway” FP at Nemo, which I quickly tapped and ran. Through constant refreshing I was then able to grab an Illuminations FP for that night! Woohoo!

I also stopped in to visit Joy and Sadness (the line wasn’t short but also not long, but I went ahead and waited). They both liked my shirt. I apologized to Sadness, and we ended up agreeing that Blue Christmas would be an appropriate shirt/song for her! I guess I need one of those for my next holiday trip!

I headed up to the Illuminations viewing area, first checking a bit of the fountain of nations, which was timed to the Christmas music playing. I loved it and wished I had taken more video, but I literally went into the viewing area with about 5 minutes to go!

A couple stops for photopass!

I was able to get a spot in the center, back row, which worked out nicely. I have only every seen Illuminations once before, which was 2 nights before Hurricane Irma, so I was looking forward to seeing if I would like it more now. And I did like it, but still isn’t my absolute favorite. I don’t have that emotional connection to it (and doesn’t look like I’ll ever have time for that). I was really looking forward to the Holiday tag, which was fine, but not spectacular. I would later find out the pyro was really reduced on the tag that night, so I didn’t get to see the whole thing.

​

 

[Lesley Wake]

Anyways, after Illuminations the park was closed. Rather than head toward the International Gateway via Canada, I decided to take the long route around, hoping for an almost empty Epcot. (I basically followed the Frozen Ever After dessert party people for a bit.) And I did get to see a lot of empty areas, which was nice.

Another nice thing was around Germany I ran into the Brickers from Disney Tourist Blog! I have talked to Tom via email and ran into Sarah at Disneyland in November. Tom and I tried to coordinate later during my WDW visit, but with my cold and then their schedules it just didn’t work out right. Anyways, we are hoping to get together properly on another Disneyworld trip. (Postscript – I ended up running into them unexpectedly at SWGE! We compared notes on lightsabers and droids; hopefully I’ll get to see them again on my NYE trip!)

Anyways, after I said hi and we visited a bit (he was taking some fancy photos, so I didn’t want to disturb too much), we headed our separate ways. I continued my walk around and eventually made it to the International Gateway around 10:28. And I know that time because as I walked thru the IG, I overheard security telling another security guy that the IG closes 1 hr after park closure! So if I had delayed much longer I would have been stuck going all the way to the front of Epcot and having to take a bus to the Boardwalk! So, if you are staying at a Crescent Lake resort, make sure to leave Epcot within 1 hr of park close.

After I headed out, I made a pit stop at Ample Hills Creamery, where I got the Oogey Butter Cake Ice Cream. It was good, but I think the scoop I got didn’t have enough cake in it, so it was more melty ice cream! But I snacked a bit and Zach stopped by to pick up his merch (pins, sippers, etc), before heading to bed!

​

A check over my plans:
10:30 – Brunch, Maria & Enzos - check

-Typhoon Lagoon – ended up cutting this due to timing (didn’t want to be rushed), though it would have been a perfect day for it!​

4:00 – Tokyo Dining dinner - check
6:45 – Candlelight Processional - check
7:30 – Frozen Ever After FP - check
8:00 – Spaceship Earth FP - check
9:00 – California Grill dessert, Holiday Wishes fireworks from CG patio (10) – Instead Illuminations w/FP.

​

Coming up - Another Candlelight Processional and a Dessert Party in a rainstorm...

 

[disneyAndi14]

I loved CP and we didn’t even have a well known celebrity at ours! I would do it again for sure!

I love all your pictures in Epcot, your Joy shirt looks really cute with short sleeves!

Funny pictures on SE, haha!

 

[tundra1]

OMG! Get out of town!!! I would LOVE that!

Giraffe's are my favorite. I already have a huge collection! We feed the giraffes every chance we get when we visit various zoos...

 

[paradesintherain]

Love them, unfortunately this was the only time I saw them this trip.

I've still never seen them! and everyone raves about them!

That's an amazing view!

Everytime he talked about an infant child, he would get choked up (he and his wife just had a baby boy and this was the baby's first WDW trip)

Awww so sweet

Adorable!!

 

[pkondz]

First, I headed right up to America to meet with Zach, who was in his usual spot watching the Voices of Liberty! Love them, unfortunately this was the only time I saw them this trip.

I've finally seen them... but not their entire act.

Then I headed over to listen to the Hannukah storyteller (who is located between Morocco and France). Another very good performance.

Never heard of that!

Then, it was time for Japan. It was weird – that one doesn’t have a specific stage, so there was a lady in a wheelchair right at the base of the stairs and the CM had to keep getting her (and me) to step further back to clear space for the storyteller. Probably would be easier with tape on the ground or a stage (the storyteller does have a big rope she puts down before starting). The actual performance was interesting – a bit too corny though!

That is weird. What happened to the rope she put down?

While I was waiting I realized the Rams game had started! I was so ashamed…

And you call yourself a fan.

And something sort of annoying was there was a girl who wanted a photo in front while they were performing. So she ran up and sat on the edge of the stage step. The band laughed and posed for it. That encouraged her friends who each came up and did that, and the band each time goofed around. I dunno, maybe I’m just a square, but it annoyed me a bit as it was like they spent all this time and attention for a couple entitled people, rather than performing for everyone.

Hmmm... Think I'd have to be there to make a judgement. But... I see that as Disney instructing people to make sure people have "magical moments"... Dunno.

Overall I wasn’t too impressed with Tokyo Dining. The food wasn’t totally amazing – not worth the package price. I didn’t hate the service, but I didn’t love it; I don't need to be fawned over at all, but the server weren't super attentive. I dunno, I probably won’t be back anytime soon.

Hmmm... you're not exactly selling the place. It's not been on my radar. Moving even lower now.

We had John Stamos as a narrator, and well, he was amazing! Like seriously, wow!

Glad you enjoyed him so much!


Um... that sounded naughty.

Everytime he talked about an infant child, he would get choked up (he and his wife just had a baby boy and this was the baby's first WDW trip).

Awwww...

You could seem him dancing along and just so happy to be there!

On his way out, he also noticed a young man with Down Syndrome, who happened to be standing in the row in front and slightly to the side of us. So, he made a special thing to come over and hug him, which really made that man’s day (like he was jumping up and down and his mom was in tears).

That's really great!

Apparently the system saw “Joy” on my shirt and thought that was my face, so it looked like Zach was in the future with my chest! We both just doubled over laughing!

 

[buzzrelly]

Here's a fun fact: You can highlight a whole bunch of stuff to quote, then realize you're running super late for work so you have to exit away from The DIS, put your computer to sleep, and then come back the next morning and go to quote something else and find all your quotes there still from the day before

I had gotten so far behind in this but yesterday morning I read all the way up until the CP and had to leave for work. I called it a loss and figured I would come back today to catch up but I wouldn't have all my quotes. To my surprise, they are still there!

Anyway, your report really makes me want to go back to WDW at Christmastime

I did like all the lights in Africa at night! It was pretty gorgeous!

So pretty

Finally I ended up heading up to The Edison, where I planned on meeting with @Raeven for dessert, drinks, and dancing. I like the theming inside, and the tree was super cute! If you checked Raeven’s TR and DTR, you would know she did get a bit delayed arriving, but it worked out just fine. We ended up getting a table looking over the dance floor, which was cool. Though I think a better table is still down on the same level of the dance floor!

That looks like a really fun place!

That night there were 3 sets, but we only stayed for 2. Also it was weird, because it’s supposed to be 21+, but if there were kids in the place before 10, they could stay. Most families with younger kids left at least after the first set, but there were some teenagers I could see that stayed much later.

I could see my 15 year-old daughter wanting to stay and watch this. She loves dancing and shows like this

Christmas Tree Trail

I decided to include this photos at the end, since I seem to not be able to choose between them, so I'm posting a whole bunch!

Just perfect

Before leaving AKL I did make one stop to find the Hippo Mail box, which I had seen on twitter. Adorable!

Cute! Where is that in AKL?

But I don’t feel a need to do the show again! Just a bit too corny with the Up characters.

I totally agree. I love UP and I used to love Flights of Wonder, but together I just just don't even like the show anymore

In the end, I recognized, it still is too intense for me (and I had requested Row 1 which I think is supposed to be less rough). So, I don’t feel a real need to do it in the future!

Ugh…same. I don't ever do that unless my kids make me and even then I am reluctant

I tried taking some stalker photos of Woody and Jessie as they were leaving their photo set (I didn’t want to wait in that line), and I liked their holiday clothes!

We had John Stamos as a narrator, and well, he was amazing! Like seriously, wow! He was so emotional and seemed to enjoy it sooo much! Everytime he talked about an infant child, he would get choked up (he and his wife just had a baby boy and this was the baby's first WDW trip). You could seem him dancing along and just so happy to be there! At the end, he gave a little speech about trying to come together and have peace, not division, which I really appreciated.

I've loved John Stamos since he was Blackie on General Hospital I'm sure you are MUCH too young to remember that! Sounds like he was an amazing narrator. The one and only time I've seen the CP, I had Merideth Viera. She was okay, but I wasn't blown away by her performance. The choir was definitely the star of that show.

If you followed in a previous TR, you may remember I visited Disneyland and saw the Candlelight Processional there in 2017 (with Chris Hemsworth as a narrator). The CP there is a totally different animal! It only happens over 1 weekend, with 2 performances per night. And it happens in Town Square, on stands built in front of the train station. You can’t buy dining packages or tickets for it – they are reserved for Club 33 members and special invited guests. It’s treated as a private event that happens in the middle of a theme park… People get there at Rope drop to be able and claim their curb spot, and they literally stay there all day long. When I did it, I showed up at noon, and was very very fortunate to find a curb spot when someone left (I guess they thought it was seating for a parade?)! That is actually where I first met Zach, when he visited Disneyland, mostly to be able to see the CP. It truly is an amazing production, with the choir proceeding down main street, the trumpeters on top of the train station, and just thousands of people singing!

Most people are of the opinion that the version at Disneyland version is far superior to the Epcot version. And I agree the production value is there. But for me, I preferred the experience of Epcot.

Good to know. I still think the DL version sounds amazing, but the likelihood of me ever getting to see it is very slim

Apparently the system saw “Joy” on my shirt and thought that was my face, so it looked like Zach was in the future with my chest! We both just doubled over laughing!

OMG!

And I know that time because as I walked thru the IG, I overheard security telling another security guy that the IG closes 1 hr after park closure! So if I had delayed much longer I would have been stuck going all the way to the front of Epcot and having to take a bus to the Boardwalk! So, if you are staying at a Crescent Lake resort, make sure to leave Epcot within 1 hr of park close.

Yikes! That seems a little harsh and would make for such a loooooonnnnnnngggg walk!

 

[missangelalexis]

Seeing John Stamos do the CP must have been really cool!

Adorable pics with Joy & Sadness!

Great pics around Epcot after Illuminations! Sounds like a great day!

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I had completely forgotten about the wonderful future I would have with Joy! That was probably my favorite moment I have ever had on Spaceship Earth. Super funny!

 

[Lesley Wake]

I loved CP and we didn’t even have a well known celebrity at ours! I would do it again for sure!

I love all your pictures in Epcot, your Joy shirt looks really cute with short sleeves!

Funny pictures on SE, haha!

Yeah the shirt turned out well! I'm sort of hoping there isn't a good narrator in the very end of December because then I won't need to schedule it in around my already existing reservations!

Giraffe's are my favorite. I already have a huge collection! We feed the giraffes every chance we get when we visit various zoos...

I think it turns out they have a pseudo-giraffe tour! It's only a couple days a week and is at AKL in the early morning (includes Boma breakfast and getting to feed the Okapi and Giraffes). I'm hoping to do it in February!

Awww so sweet

He was so sweet! Really just enjoying the whole experience just as much as the guests!

Never heard of that!

I don't know if they've always done a Hannukah storyteller, but that's who we had!

That is weird. What happened to the rope she put down?

She basically put it at our feet. It just felt like they could have put it down before a crowd gathered?

Hmmm... you're not exactly selling the place. It's not been on my radar. Moving even lower now.

I think I've heard the lunchtime food is at a better price point. I just wouldn't bother with a package thru them.

Glad you enjoyed him so much!


Um... that sounded naughty.

I wish it was naughty!

Here's a fun fact: You can highlight a whole bunch of stuff to quote, then realize you're running super late for work so you have to exit away from The DIS, put your computer to sleep, and then come back the next morning and go to quote something else and find all your quotes there still from the day before

Yup! Sometimes I'll quote things and then forget to actually reply, but still have them quoted. I have to be careful in any other replies that I don't accidentally insert a quote from someone else!

Cute! Where is that in AKL?

At the savanna end of the lobby, if you go down the left hallway, it's in an alcove just inside the hallway. It's where the ATM is!

I could see my 15 year-old daughter wanting to stay and watch this. She loves dancing and shows like this

Yeah, I could see that!

Good to know. I still think the DL version sounds amazing, but the likelihood of me ever getting to see it is very slim

Oh definitely very slim! And I probably wouldn't recommend it anyways as it takes up so much time to be able to watch it.

Yikes! That seems a little harsh and would make for such a loooooonnnnnnngggg walk!

I know! My mom and I made sure to keep track of time when we left Epcot one night to make sure we didn't get stuck with a locked exit.

Seeing John Stamos do the CP must have been really cool!

Definitely a highlight!

I had completely forgotten about the wonderful future I would have with Joy! That was probably my favorite moment I have ever had on Spaceship Earth. Super funny!

Thankfully it was Joy! It wouldn't have been so great if it was Sadness on my shirt!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Day 4 – December 3​

Pre-trip plans
10:00 – 11:30 Morning rides (some w/FPs, some otherwise) – Journey into Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, Undersea Nemo
11:30 – Test Track
12:00 – Frozen Ever After
-Epcot storytellers
1:15 – Chefs de France lunch
-Storytellers and World Showcase entertainment
5:00 – Candlelight Processional
6:30 – Slinky Dog Dash
7:00 – Jingle Bell Jingle bam Dessert Party
10:00 – Late dinner at Crescent Lake lounge

Part 1 - Avoiding rainstorms in Epcot!

Breakfast today was probably some sort of cookies. (I know I ate my Amorettes gingerbread goofy one day, either this day or the day before. But it was not good – way too much dye and frosting – I think it’s better as an actual ornament, not snacking cookie)

I headed out relatively early, I think just because I was awake! I know I got a hot cocoa on the way, and I think I must have also taken a boat.

I tried using my snack food magicband at the entrance but that didn’t work – luckily I had another MB in my backpack. I then remembered I kept getting errors when I tried to link it online, so I eventually made a Guest Services stop for them to do it for me. (Which, btw – is so annoying when you have a long line at GS and its mostly full of people not understanding FP or making dining reservations. Literally the people on either side of me were just having their trips scheduled for them. I hope the new Magic Kingdom guest experience teams help that, but doubt it.)

Some photos of almost empty Epcot (it had only recently opened up that day).

And my first stop, plus my first Fastpass – Journey into Imagination with Figment! Yup, I had a 9am FP for this. But the main reason why I used it was to make it able to get another Tier 1 FP earlier. I actually like this ride. The imagination world reveal at the end is fun and surprising!

Next was Nemo. No FP for this one though, but it was a complete walk-on. This ride is fine for me. Pretty much a cheaper version of the actual submarine version at Disneyland. Don’t think I’ll bother much in future (exception is with my mom).

Next, Living with the Land. I requested Row 1 and got it, along with a snowbird couple who also requested Row 1. I liked the Christmas version, with all the little details and wreaths!

I finished up in Future World East (I typically skip Soarin, since we have the same ride in DCA). I headed up to the front of Epcot to see the topiaries up there. Cute!

Also stopped for a photopass, though I wish they had more of the photographers in the very front, not just at the sides.

​

 

[Lesley Wake]

And a short stop into Mousegears. I don’t think I bought anything, though I noticed they started selling USB cables, which could come in handy if I forget one or broke it! I wish I had room/money for these nutcrackers!

Then it was time for Test Track. And in the line I ended up trying to explain FP to 2 different groups! I seriously felt this happened daily! But I guess it certainly is complicated.

I unfortunately got shuffled into the last station in a row, behind a bunch of slowpokes, so ended up being the last person into the queue from my design room.

I designed this weirdo! Which did as well as it should have… Oops!

Checked out more decorations and the Epcot tree.

And I headed up to France, where I first grabbed some snacks from the food booth. (Even though I had a big lunch upcoming, I still was hungry then).

I got the Bouchee a la Reine Traditionnelle (Turkey and Mushrooms in a veloute cream sause served in a light puff pastry). I don’t have my notes but I think I liked this one. It’s most things I like, so I’d imagine I would like it!

And the Buche de Noel au Chocolat “Christmas Log” (Chocolate cake with Dark Chocolate Caramel Ganache). This one actually had flavors I liked (I’m too picky for most of the other Buche de Noel's offered during the festival), though the cake was very dense.

Some photos of the French Pavilion

And photopass stops. Oh and this was another shirt with the sleeves cut off! Though I don't think it works as well as the Joy shirt, but at least it was cooler!

After eating, it was getting close to time for Pere Noel, so I sat down to get a front row. He came out and was very sweet and lovable. Then, midway through the show (as he starts to read the letter), it started to sprinkle a bit. And then, as we all realized what was happening, the skies just opened up! Wow, it was crazy! Everyone running for cover, including Belle and Pere Noel!

I ended up in the Impressions de France lobby. Aurora also ended up there! The rain was crazy for about 15 minutes but then went away. (This would be the theme of this day.)

Eventually it was safe to leave. I didn’t want to stray too far, so I decided to try out Agent P adventure in France. And it was so much fun! (Think the wand effects in the Wizarding World of HP, just with your phone instead; oh and did you know there is a camera on top of the Eiffel Tower? It’s not good quality, but it’s there.) There was another kid doing the same thing so we worked together to make sure we both got to see the effects (but I used my phone so I couldn’t take photos too). I want to try out more of the countries missions and I think they are going to switch to Ducktales, which I love, so I can’t wait for that!

Coming up: Lunch and a show! Also, would NPH be better or worse than John Stamos?​

 

[pkondz]

I don't know if they've always done a Hannukah storyteller, but that's who we had!

Pretty cool.

She basically put it at our feet. It just felt like they could have put it down before a crowd gathered?

Oh, okay. I was thinking that people were just stepping over the rope. Maybe they were?

I think I've heard the lunchtime food is at a better price point. I just wouldn't bother with a package thru them.

Yeah... think I'll pass.

I wish it was naughty!

 

[pkondz]

I know I ate my Amorettes gingerbread goofy one day, either this day or the day before. But it was not good – way too much dye and frosting

Not exactly a glowing recommendation.
Actually... if it was glowing, it would make a better ornament.

I hope the new Magic Kingdom guest experience teams help that, but doubt it.

What is this?

And my first stop, plus my first Fastpass – Journey into Imagination with Figment! Yup, I had a 9am FP for this. But the main reason why I used it was to make it able to get another Tier 1 FP earlier.

I've done the same. I want to see if I can get a Tier 1 fp later, so... get something to throw away first.
Oh, and thanks for making me do that, Disney.

The imagination world reveal at the end is fun and surprising!

Glad you liked it. I can take it or leave it. Mostly leave it.

Next was Nemo. No FP for this one though, but it was a complete walk-on.

that queue, along with Little Mermaid in MK, were both overestimated.

Next, Living with the Land. I requested Row 1 and got it, along with a snowbird couple who also requested Row 1. I liked the Christmas version, with all the little details and wreaths!

Didn't know they did that.

(I typically skip Soarin, since we have the same ride in DCA).

Makes sense.

And a short stop into Mousegears. I don’t think I bought anything, though I noticed they started selling USB cables, which could come in handy if I forget one or broke it!

Oh! good to know. Thanks for the tip.

I wish I had room/money for these nutcrackers!

This too sounds a little naughty.

Then it was time for Test Track. And in the line I ended up trying to explain FP to 2 different groups! I seriously felt this happened daily! But I guess it certainly is complicated.

I've done that too. I've found myself explaining the Tier systems to people who know about FPs!

I got the Bouchee a la Reine Traditionnelle (Turkey and Mushrooms in a veloute cream sause served in a light puff pastry).

mmm... sounds good.

And the Buche de Noel

Love Buche de Noel... or as I call it "Christmas B*tch".
My mom makes two different kinds. Both sooooo good. I need to get her to show me before it's too late. (She's in her late 80s now.)

Wow, it was crazy! Everyone running for cover, including Belle and Pere Noel!

Wow!
And I presume the video shows some of that?
I'll take a look when I'm not at work.

I decided to try out Agent P adventure in France. And it was so much fun!

Glad it worked for you.
It was really glitchy when we tried it.
Were you using park wifi or data?

oh and did you know there is a camera on top of the Eiffel Tower?

No! Had no idea.

 

[missangelalexis]

Sounds like a good morning in Epcot so far! I'm sorry Pere Noel cut got short by the rain!

 

[pkondz]

Got to see the video now.
Gee Pere Noel... way to dash that child's dreams!



<father pulls out gun... "Who are you?"... "I'm Santa! Santa!!!">

 

[dolewhipdreams]

(Which, btw – is so annoying when you have a long line at GS and its mostly full of people not understanding FP or making dining reservations. Literally the people on either side of me were just having their trips scheduled for them. I hope the new Magic Kingdom guest experience teams help that, but doubt it.)

Uggghhh I don't know why you wouldn't just do this online!

Some photos of almost empty Epcot (it had only recently opened up that day).

Wow awesome photos. I'm so used to the crush of people, especially in the UK.

I finished up in Future World East (I typically skip Soarin, since we have the same ride in DCA)

Have you been able to ride Soarin' Over CA since it reopened??

I wish I had room/money for these nutcrackers!

So cute!

And photopass stops. Oh and this was another shirt with the sleeves cut off! Though I don't think it works as well as the Joy shirt, but at least it was cooler!

Hahah the trip of DIY fashion. I love it!

Eventually it was safe to leave. I didn’t want to stray too far, so I decided to try out Agent P adventure in France. And it was so much fun! (Think the wand effects in the Wizarding World of HP, just with your phone instead; oh and did you know there is a camera on top of the Eiffel Tower? It’s not good quality, but it’s there.) There was another kid doing the same thing so we worked together to make sure we both got to see the effects (but I used my phone so I couldn’t take photos too). I want to try out more of the countries missions and I think they are going to switch to Ducktales, which I love, so I can’t wait for that!

Okay I've never done this but it sounds so cool! May have to give it a try next time. I think my DH would really like it.