Christmas in Walt Disney World 2013

Wow it has been a rough December! I was sick the first few days, then we went to Walt Diseny World (ok that was not rough!) then a day after we came back, both Jeff and I got really sick - most likely the flu. A week and a half later, and I am finally feeling human again (see what i did there?). Thankfully the kiddo did not get it. Now we are off on vacation again to go visit my parents for Christmas.

 I did want to post some pictures from the trip. We crammed in as much Disney Christmas spirit as we could in only 4 days! It was amazing :D

Bay Lake Tower/Contemporary lighted wreath

Gingerbread tree at Contemporary

 We stayed at Bay Lake Tower, of course. Love how close it is to the Magic Kingdom, and that is the park we went to most. I loved hoe decorated the Contemporary was - love being surrounded by Christmas!

Eager to get to the Magic Kingdom!

 We started in the Magic Kingdom then went to the studios. Had to see the Osbourne lights! A-maz-ing!!!!

centerpiece

love this one - Santa pulling the reindeer!

 Before heading back to the hotel, we checked out the Christmas decor in the Grand Floridian.

Life size gingerbread house!

 Day 2, we went to EPCOT. Had lunch at Via Napoli - so delicious!!! Then we went to Candlelight. Whoopi Goldberg was the narrator. The shoe was spectacular. So moving.

Very cool gingerbread WDW setup, complete with a train

had to meet Mickey!

Just so amazing.

 Day 3 was the Magic Kingdom. We went to Micky's Very Merry Christmas party. Well worth the money. Free cookies and cocoa, tons of characters and short lines for rides. Plus there was a special fireworks show, Christmas parade and castle show!

Breakfast at Gaston's tavern. YUM.

ready for the party!

he got to dance with Pluto!

fireworks!

such a great show

The princes were in the parade! Cinderella in the pumpkin carriage, pulled by real horses

love love love those toy soldiers

Mickey doing the nutcracker dance

so many characters

GORGEOUS!!!

 Last day :( The parade was taped while we were there, so this was the first time we saw the tree. We were able to run over to EPCOT to go to the DVC party, luckily. We just ducked in and ducked out, though, since we had to catch the Magical Express.

great tree, and I love all of the stuff under it

he finally got to meet Pluto!

big hugs

Mickey and Minnie at the party in their winter gear

We had such a great trip. It was a whirlwind, but that is what happens! I strongly suggest going to WDW during the Christmas season.

Menu Plan Monday - Weeks of 8/13/12 and 8/20/12

FINALLY vacation has arrived!!! It starts this week and leaks into next week so I have planned some quick and easy meals before - when I will be packing like crazy making sure we have all of the 16 month old's stuff and after - when I will be exhausted!

Meals include:
quiche
pigs n blankets
pasta n sauce
chicken pasta from the freezer

Applebees
Sonic

At WDW we will be eating at Chef Mickey's (E's first character meal) and the Wave (for Jeff's parent birthdays). I can't wait! The new item I am most excited about trying is the waffle sandwiches from Sleepy hollow. And of course to get an Orange bird sipper cup!

V, W, X, Y and Z

Without further ado, what you have all been waiting for lol

V is for Villas at Grand Californian

It is so miuch prettier than this pic, I swear

The Grand California hotel in Disneyland is one of the prettiest hotels in the entire portfolio, and Jeff and I are lucky enough to own  a share in the vacation club there. As you can kinda tell by the picture, it is just gorgeous, and being able to get to DCA literally without leaving your hotel, and having Disneyland steps away is such a perk!

W is for Woody's Fabulous Belt

close up it is sooo sparkly and gaudy and FAAABULOUS

I am so bummed that I cannot find my close up of this, but trust me, it IS fabulous!! Several years ago, Disneyland changed It's a Small World, adding in some Disney characters and mostly getting rid of the wonderful rainforest section. It was replaced by cardboard cutouts and paper mache Jessie, Woody and Bullseye... perhaps the best part being what a friend coined Woody's Fabulous Belt, bedazzled and all.

X is for X Atencio

X Atencio

 I do feel a bit remiss about not featuring any Imaingeer, so here you go, courtesy of Disney Wiki. 

Francis Xavier "X" Atencio  is a former Imagineer, writer, lyricist and animator. He joined Disney in 1938 as an animator. In 1965, he became an Imagineer. He wrote the scripts for several Disney theme park attractions, most notably Adventure Thru Inner Space, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Haunted Mansion, as well as the lyrics to the theme songs of the latter two, Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me! and Grim Grinning Ghosts, respectively. His voice can be heard as the Talking Skull at the beginning of the Pirates of a Caribbean attraction, and in a safety spiel for the Haunted Mansion attraction.

Y is for yellow Mickey balloon

Mickey balloons at Disneyland... so pretty

Perhaps cheating a bit, thanks to my friend Wendy, but the Mickey head balloons are iconic. And they are still in the parks, in a bit of an altered form, but it is still nice to see something last for so long.

Z is for Zero

Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington's loyal sidekick, he is kinda cute for a sheet!!


Hope you all enjoyed reading my Disney A to Z! It was a challenge for sure but lots of fun :)

National Princess Week - Free Printables

Target is celebrating National Princess Week with a FREE printable Princess Activity Kit! You can download a FREE Kit filled with 20 pages of fun activities like Disney Paper Dolls, a Royal Crown Cut-Out you decorate yourself, Coloring & Puzzle pages, and lots of Princess Games and Activity ideas. [Download]
http://www.target.com/c/brand-shop-National-Princess-Week/-/N-56g3t?
(thanks to the freebies lj!)

U is for...

U is for Up!

up up and away!

Up is such a wonderful, heartwrenching but funny movie. Grumpy old man Carl Fredricksen goes on the adventure he has been waiting his entire life for, not knowing he has a little stowaway, Russell. Together, they explore South America, meet an awesome bird named Kevin and a funny dog who can talk! This film really surprised me. Based on the trailers, I did not think that I would like it, but it is actually one of my favorites!

Carl, Russell, Kevin and Dug!

T is for...

T is for Tinker Bell

Finally got to meet Tinker Bell in 2009!

Bet some of you coulda guessed that ;) Tinker Bell is another character that I have loved forever! She is like all of my other favorite characters into one! She is love lorn like Ariel but stubborn as Miss Piggy (who is a bit lovelorn herself!). She is also sassy and stands up for herself... like me! And she has a cute sense of style ;) I love that she is so popular now!

Tinker Bell laughing!

S is for...

S is for Soarin' (Over California or Not)

Sorta kinda like riding Soarin'

 Soarin' Over California (renamed just Soarin' at WDW) is one of the coolest rides ever. The ride vehicle is like a huge hang glider, and once your eat belt is tightened and the roof comes down, the thrill begins!! You are lifted up into the sky and a HUGE screen in front of you comes to life! Suddenly you are among the clouds and the Golden Gate appears! And you are in for a wild ride. Not to be missed!

Soarin' sign in WDW

 

R is For...

R is for Rapunzel

from disneypicture.net - love this Rapunzel pic

Ariel might be my favorite old school princess, but Rapunzel might just win my favorite overall... I was not expecting much from the movie Tangled, based on the previews. But I was surprised at just how funny it was and just how great the characters were. And let's not forget it has one of my most favorite Disney songs ever. 

 Rapunzel herself is well rounded for someone locked in a tower - she has spent her time studying, cooking, painting, singing, cleaning... all that you and I do. She has a great sense of humor, and even though she is scared, her determination leads her out of the tower and on her way to live her dream. She has guts! Rapunzel is well rounded and not a damsel in distress (although she does have a male partner of course!)

Rapunzel, Flynn, Pascal and Maximus - loved them all, even the horse!

 

Q is for...

Q is for Quality

Yes, I did not post Q yesterday because I could not think of any character, song movie, ride, etc that I liked enough to write about. But rocking the baby to sleep in the middle of the night last night, I thought of my Q. I have mentioned this in passing, but I thought it deserved a whole post - Disney is quality. Not just in the movies - storylines, characters, music - or in the dedication and love of the company that so many of its employees have,  from the guys in charge down to the CM sweeping up the parks. It is also shown in the little details of the parks, the "plussing" that makes the Disney parks stand out form their competitors. What follows is a few pictures to demonstrate.

animals made out of washcloths and towels are a cute surprise

The Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom is just amazing. Search for pics of the whole thing if you've never seen it!

Even the Disneyland parking garage levels get themed seasonally!