Originally Posted By jazzfan4 13th arrived and checked into the Pop Century, rode the bus to EPCOT, Monorails to Grand Floridian to see the ginger bread house and decorations. Very nice with the orchestra and elegant decorations but I don’t want to stay there. Back to the front gate of MK and took the boat to Wilderness Lodge. This is more my kind of resort, I have always liked the totem Poles and the rustic Christmas decorations matched very well. No way to get into Whispering Canyon so it back on the busses to DTD and then back to the Pop, grab a bite and hit the sack. Bags had arrived from the Magic express and we unpacked to stay a while. The busses are not as convenient as a car but I did not want to drive or pay for a rental. 14th First Park ANIMAL KINGDOM. Thrilled by Everest, wowed by Nemo, enjoyed lunch at Tusker House, Safaried, Lion Kinged and Bugged for a good day. Missed the Dino carnival, Planet watch and some of the walk through exhibits trying to save our feet. Left just after 4:00 to rest at the POP before the Christmas Party. Torrential rains occurred between 5:30 and 6:30 and then there is light rain much of the evening dampening the Christmas party. The Magic Kingdom seemed quite crowded to me. We ate where the dance party was going on the went over to the Christmas show but had to wait until the second show so we zapped Zurg on Buzz and visited the Mistake. The Christmas show was cute, I am glad I did not have little kids or they would have been whining about the view. Watched the fireworks after the show and found a dry place for the wife to sit and sip Tea and watch the second parade. The party may have been more fun if it had not been raining but I’m not sure I got all I paid for this time. 15th EPCOT There is so much to do in EPCOT that we planned for two days and still missed a few things. This is the first time that the Wonders of life Exhibit was open when I have had enough time to visit and it may be the last so we went on Body Wars and Cranium Command and some of the other stations. I won’t have to go back but it was interesting. We had lunch at the Biergarten, shopped at China, well we shopped lots of places but actually bought something in China. Finally attended the Candlelight Processional, and we enjoyed it. 16th EPCOT Spent a lot of time in Future World at the Seas, the Land, Test Track, and Mission Space (green for my wife). Had lunch at the Teppanyaki in the Japanese pavilion. We stayed for the tree lighting ceremony and the lights of winter but left before the fire works to avoid the bus crush. 17th Magic Kingdom Got the mountains out of the way early and enjoyed a leisurely day on the attraction that are different at DL Lunch at Columbia house, dinner at Liberty Tree caught the second SM parade in town square waited for the bus crush to pass and went back to crash. 18th Disney Studios We got my son fast passes for the Rockin’ Roller Coaster (2) and tower of terror (1) and went to the movies and Narnia then lunch. Joe used his fast passes then we all went the motor stunt show. Which started late making it impossible to get to some of the other shows. We did go to the second showing of fantasmic, had better seats that when we did dinner and enjoyed the show except for the lack of Columbia and Mark Twain. Before we left I had to go back to the Osborne lights. This is the only Christmas decorations that were jaw dropping, and it was late enough that the crowds were pretty much gone. My wife was ready to leave with out me. 19th departure WE got the Okay to checkout late and so I ran up to the MK to ride the train one more time and buy a couple of trinkets without my wife around. Pick up my hat at lost and found and get back to the POP to checkout and catch the bus back to MCO. Conclusion WE had never been to WDW before Christmas and I was disappointed with the decorations. I guess I’m spoiled by DL and all they do there. Decoration grading: Grand Floridian A Wilderness Lodge B+ Pop Century B- DTD A- MK Main Street A- everywhere else F Animal Kingdom C I know they don’t decorate much because of the animals. EPCOT- future world C EPCOT Lights of Winter B+ EPCOT –World Showcase Overall B Germany and American Adventure A Studios – Front Street B Osborne lights A+ Crowds were not bad but growing the last few days.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Glad you had a good time. Disneyland does truly spoil you at Christmas. But as you say, the Osborne Lights are jaw dropping, as is the Candlelight Processional.
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 One of these years I'll get to DL for the Procesional. Like fantasmic I'm sure the seating is much better at WDW but I need to see the DL version for comparison. I did enjoy the whole world show case Christmas.
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 Well maybe the first weekend in DEC. 2007 we'll go to DL. I can drive down in a long day, but it's not my favorite drive.
Originally Posted By avromark BTW doesn't nature just get in the way sometimes? Who would have thought rain in Florida, must have made you feel special
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 The Rain I didn't mind except it was constant. It could of been worse, It could have rained like it it did in Palm Beach the same Day (8+ inches). That would have been real bad.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo WDW one is destined to always be wet - either rain, sweat or water rides!
Originally Posted By nats30 Next time you go don't take the bus from the airport. We take Florida town car. They pick us up at the airport and take us directly to our hotel. They will give us a shopping stop if we request it at the time we make reservations. They only charge for the car where the bus charges each individual person. If you have 3 adults then you will find that the fare is comparable. We have used them on many occasions. They pick us up in a Lincoln Continental. The drivers make the trip enjoyable.
Originally Posted By mickeymad Great trip report. Did you do the Candelight Processional dinner package OR did you do it on it's own???
