I'll be home for Christmas - Trip Report - UPDATED 1/5 About This Page:

[KMB733]

Hope you had a Magical trip! Can't wait to read all about it!

[Bert & Sully]

Where's the Trip Report?

[Mauimouse]

Originally Posted by KMB733

Hope you had a Magical trip! Can't wait to read all about it!

Originally Posted by Bert & Sully

Where's the Trip Report?

Been uploading pictures for the past couples days, so I should be able to start the trip report soon. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I'll have some time to start. Stay tuned.

[Mauimouse]

December 2, 2009
We took off on time from Michigan super early in the morning. While I like getting to Florida at 9:30am, I don't like getting up at 3:30am to get to the airport.

But when we did arrived I saw this on the monorail going to the main terminal at MCO.

Made me smile. I remember from one of Princess Sharon's trip reports that these clings were on the trams for Halloween and was hoping we'd see them too. We were renting a car so we made our way down to Baggage Claim. Our luggage didn't take too long to appear and we were off. I also took a couple pictures in the baggage claim area.





We picked up our car from National Car Rental an HHR and took off toward Disney. We paid our tolls this time around. Last time we had to blow a toll because we both didn't have change, just bills, and the last toll booth isn't manned and was 50 cents. But this time I was prepared.

We arrived at Disney's All-Star Music before 11:00am, went directly to the on-line check in area. Our rooms were ready, we were in building #6 Country Fair. I believe we were the furthest away from the Lobby area that you can get. Our rooms were right on the end. Eek! Thank goodness for a rental car. I found out how long of a walk it really is to the Food Court later in the coming days.



Up Next: Off to Animal Kingdom

[disneydreamer33]

Great start.
Can't wait for more.

[Colexis Mom]

Great start!

[B.M.]

Great Start!

[rhinohunter]

Nice start Now looking for more.

[Mauimouse]

We quickly dropped off our luggage and changed into something a little lighter as it's nice and warm here in Florida. Then we are off. I drive from this point on, as I'm a good navigator when it comes to WDW. If I've been there once I can get back with no problems. Driving at Walt Disney World is like second nature to me. We arrive at Animal Kingdom before noon, we have a lunch reservation at Tusker House at 1:30pm. I usually take a picture of the row where we park so we know where the car is located on the way out, it really helps a lot.


We parked this time in Dinosaur 31, while it's a little hard to read, it does help in the long run. We take the tram to the front of the park and see this beautiful Christmas tree just waiting for us.


We make our way over to Expedition Everest as I looked at the tip board and the wait time was minimal.


Love this lady and all her arms.


I love the theming in the queue at Everest and sometimes you just pass by so quickly you don't get to appreciate all that it offers. One of these days I'd love to just take my time and check out each area just a little bit longer. We arrive at the loading platform and assign a seat. We are off in no time. I can never get a good picture of our ride photo, they seem to always come off blurry, so hence no picture of us. We make our way over to Africa so see if we could get in early at our ADRs for Tusker House. Along the way we see Baloo from afar.


We arrive at Tusker House and I ask if we can be seated early the answer is no, come back 20 minutes before our reservation. So what to do? I ask Jim and we finally decide to walk over to Camp Mickey Minnie. There are a lot of beautiful Christmas decorations here and I'm snapping pictures left and right at all the decorations. Love all the themed trees. Plus some Character Meet and Greets too.
Chip & Dale's Christmas Tree Pluto's Christmas Tree Nemo's Christmas Tree
Miss Bunny doing some Meets and Greets We sat for a while and just took in the atmosphere and watched Miss Bunny interact with the kids and their families. When we thought we were close enough to our ADRs we wandered back and checked in for our reservations at Tusker House. We still had a little time before we could check in, so I found a table near the bar area off to the right of the check in area and just people watched for a while. I really enjoy eating at Tusker House and will eat there again definitely. We went up to the buffet at least twice for the both of and left full. Next Up: On our 2 week Safari

[B.M.]

Sounds like a great time at Animal Kingdom!

[disneydreamer33]

Great start to your first day.
Not all of your pics are showing up for me. The ones I can see are beautiful. I love christmas trees.

[lazanya]

Great start to your first day!

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures and a great time at AK!

[Bert & Sully]

Yay you started!! Didn't you LOVE Tusker House? That couscous in particular was wonderful. DH was in total lust with the pork loin and how moist it was especially for being on a buffet line.

That one picture where you refer to the character as Miss Bunny looks like she might be from Bambi? She's adorable just the same.

[PrincessSharon]

Great start, Mary! Sorry your room at the All Stars is so far away, but at least you have a car. And I love your picture of the Goofy window cling. I didn't take a picture when I arrived because I figured I'd get it on the way home, but I didn't have my camera with me on the way home, so I'm glad to see a picture of it. (That was the longest, most convoluted sentence ever ).