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I finally saw it - Disney all dressed up for Christmas. I absolutely loved seeing Disney Christmas-fied and I'm so happy we did it, but I will never, ever do it again. The crowds were outrageous and it took 478 years to get from park to park. I much prefer the off season of September right after everyone goes back to school!
Friday morning we disembarked from
our fabulous cruise and were on the road from Miami to Orlando by 8 a.m. and in Magic Kingdom just before 3 p.m.
Friday we did Magic Kingdom 3 - 7, then EPCOT until around 9:30. Saturday we did EPCOT from 11:30 - 4:30, Hollywood Studios from 5 - 8:15, and Magic Kingdom from just before 10 to 11. Jill and Frank stayed a little longer than me and MFD took advantage of the extended Magic Hours and ran around Magic Kingdom until 3 a.m. I could not because I was so ill and drug myself around three parks as it was. He had a grand time. If you do go to Disney, take advantage of the Magic Hours!
We stayed at Coronado Springs. It was a nice hotel. We didn't get to use the pool though. Building 3 is a good location for both the first bus stop and also access to the main restaurant area and one of the pools.
I know, shut up lady and get to the pictures. Sorry for any dupes I put up on
the facespace or
Instagram.
Magic Kingdom - I freaking loved Main Street all decked out with the iced up castle at the end. Simply amazing.
EPCOT - My favorite park, and you guys, it did me dirty. I was not feeling well at all and couldn't even eat or drink my way around the world like I like to do. We had lunch in France and it was good but it sent me over the edge. I did do Soarin' on Friday night, always a favorite. It's so weird to see poinsettias planted in the ground. It looked amazing. But my favorite was the poinsettia tree in Italy (first pic below). I also adored the EPCOT tree which I didn't get a photo of unfortunately. We were lucky to run into old family friends on MFD's side and spend some time with them while we were there on Saturday.
Hollywood Studios - I managed to do Tower of Terror and the Star Wars Ride although that totally fucked me up with the jostling and 3D. But the highlight by a mile of Hollywood Studios and Disney in general was the Osborne Family Lights Spectacular. It was...spectacular. I am extremely happy I experienced that. It was freaking magic. The insane lights, the music, the fake snow. I loved every second of it. Totally the peak of the trip for me. Jill always asks us to do Pit and Peak of the trip on the last day and I didn't even have to think twice about my Disney parks peak. This was it.
Have you been to Disney at Christmas? Thoughts? Favorites?
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it is on my wishlist! i want to see the osbourne lights and the MK all decked out. but i went to epcot once like in 1988 and just wasn't a fan. maybe i need to revisit as an adult? booked my annual trip for feb!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks amazing! I've been wanting to go check it out but everyone keeps telling me the crowds are insane. I have fast passes set up for right after New Years and am hoping it'll still be decorated and the crowds will be better. I'm sorry you weren't feeling well, I can't imagine how awful that was :(
ReplyDeleteIt looks so beautiful all ligt up. So sorry you weren't feeling well that is a bummer. The off season sounds like a much better time to see it all.
ReplyDeleteI bet Disney is beautiful that time! I wouldn't go just because you mentioned the crazy crowds. Our Au pair is headed down there right before Christmas. I'm sure she's going to enjoy it, crowds & all!
ReplyDeleteDisney parks at 3am? That sounds like the best and worst thing ever. Cannot choose. I love Epcot though... So sad you were under the weather!! :(
ReplyDeleteIt sounds magical! I'm sorry you weren't feeling good!
ReplyDeleteIllness bitch slapped you again and Epcot took the blow!! Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe first year Jason and I were dating, we went to Disney around Christmas and I loved it! I haven't been back since around the holidays. I think next year, we'll need to change that. Looks like you had an awesome time!
ReplyDeleteWhen I did my internship at Disney, I was there for Christmas and I just loved it! Some of my roommates were SO homesick because it was Christmas but not me... I couldn't have been happier to spend my Christmas there! <3
ReplyDeleteThat castle is just so amazing!! Sorry to hear you weren't feeling well, but at least you still made it to the parks!! xo, Biana - BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI got to go with my husband's family our first Christmas together, when my stepsons were 5 and 7, at Christmastime. The trip had been planned forever and ever and when I came along, they generously included me. It was ten years ago and still stands as my favorite vacation ever. The light parade is absolute magic. Sorry you were sick! :(
ReplyDeleteThat's so beautiful! I haven't been to Disney period yet.. So it's on my life's goals to go there at least once. :) The decorations are stunning they really go ALL out! Thanks for sharing and take care Stephanie! -Iva
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to take Little K to Disney, it will by Tyson's and my first time as well. We're thinking 2016 or 2017 will be the perfect age for her and us!
ReplyDeletewell now I'm convinced I must go to disney at christmas! this is amazing! i just want to see all the lights like that! what a great trip!
ReplyDeleteEpcot is my favorite park too although I love them all. I definitely prefer to go the times when children aren't as all over the place!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to do this one day. It's on my bucket list... looks amazing. Beautiful pics!!!
ReplyDeleteThat poinsettia tree is amazing!! I saw purple ones at the grocery store this week that were gorgeous, but I was too cheap to spend $10 on one when the other store had other ones for $4.99.
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I love your pictures so much and now I'm jealous. We go to Disneyland every two years either in November (no crowds, still Christmassy) or February. I've only been once in the summer and it was a nightmare. And too hot. Ha! I can't believe how much you guys hopped around! We did one park per day when we were there and were totally exhausted. Was it less crowded during magic hours? When we went to DLand last November there were SO MANY PEOPLE coming in as we were leaving around 5:00. We didn't take advantage of it because our kids were beat, but it seemed like it was going to be busier than the day.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Disney period, it would be a dream to see it at Christmas! How fun!! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a fun and magical last leg of your trip. Epcot is always our favorite!
ReplyDeletexx 365hangers
Gorgeous!! I love that photo of the castle at night. Unfortunately we didn't get to see MK lights at night nor any of the parades but we'll be back again soon.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go every year for Christmas when I was a kid. Year after year. Cool to see once, but I got over it quick. You know me, I'm a winter girl. Giving up my snowy cold Chicago christmas for sunny warm days and crowds was not appealing, even when I was 8. Definitely prefer the off season! Last time I went was after I passed the bar, mid-October. It was great.
ReplyDeleteDisney for Christmas time is seriously my favorite time to go there! Everything all lit up and sparkly! My parents always go for the Christmas readings every year at Epcot. It helps you get in the holiday spirit down here :-)
ReplyDeleteAww I'm sorry you weren't feeling well. Isn't Disney at Christmas just the best though?! The crowds are nuts but you really do have to see it once. I just loved the Christmas parade and all of the details all over the parks!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to go to Disney during the holidays. One day. We are going in March though. I cannot wait. I love eating in the France portion. I go to that one bakery and load up. When we were there last I loaded up with snack credits: a baguette, a croissant sandwich, a Neapolitan treat, and something else. I ate it all.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, i love this so much.
ReplyDeleteok i totally want to go one year for christmas (or around there) but i don't love crowds (like crazy crazy crowds) so maybe i shouldn't. is the food and wine festival in 'off season' in september? because that's when i have been, both times. I'm not so good with knowing when people go back to school, even though KC is a teacher lol.
oh i just LOVE the photo of you and MFD at the entrance - perfect, no one else in the picture! thats amazing and should be framed.
So sorry to hear you weren't feeling well in EPCOT. I haven't eaten in France but we did eat in Germany and it was AMAZING like seriously amazing. We ate fish and chips in england as well, and i always get something from the australia cart they have up for the festival (ok i might go back 2 or 3 times because i can't help it) and I always stock up on overpriced chocolates and lollies in the english store because they are the same as home.
That totally sucks that you were sick...not very good timing, but at least you got to see and do sooooo much. I have only been to Disneyland with my kids, but went to Disney World as a child...never at Christmas though. As magical as it seems I think I would have an anxiety attack with all the people and lines. Ha! You got some great pics and almost made me feel that I was there with you! :)
ReplyDeleteI HEART Disney ... never been at Christmas though. My brother works at Downtown Disney - he's worked at other locations in other parks - most notable a bellhop at tower of terror. He's getting married in March in Orlando - so Disney here I come!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at college in Florida, my parents came down and we did Disney for Thanksgiving. It actually wasn't very crowded and they had Christmas stuff going already, so we got the best of both worlds!
ReplyDeleteI love Disney and am really trying to get to Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival next year. I already have a ton of other trips planned, so I hope Disney actually happens...
I loved this so much. Disney at christmas just seems so magical. My friends and I have finally been talking about going to Disney next year and man if I do go Ill be a kid! So sorry you werent well at EPCOT!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer that you weren't feeling well. :( Epcot is my favorite park, too! Although I think I'd like to see the Magic Kingdom most this time of year! I'm with you on going during the off season though. Damn kids running around like a bunch of wild animals. DISNEY IS FOR GROWN UPS!
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason I love Disney! I can't wait to go back this summer. It's one of my favorite places in the entire world!
ReplyDeleteI want to go to Disney at Christmas time!! Maybe one day... love all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous!! I am so going one day!!
ReplyDeleteAll of these pictures make me so jealous!!!! I really want to go to Disney, but going around Christmas is even more magical!!!!!
ReplyDelete