RocklandRVers Christmas: Read About 12/20 w/Chezp&Statelady01 About This Page:

[mom2my4dwarfs]

What a wonderful Christmas Eve!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great Christmas Eve day We saw lines for the CP like that the day we left, and were glad we did it earlier in the week when the parks weren’t so crowded! Your meal sounds delicious

Hurry back with more

[RocklandRVers]

DAY 8 (Saturday, December 25) MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here we are at Disney and its Christmas morning and its….RAINING. Not real heavy but wet. The plan was to board the boat to MK and stay until after the 1:00 Christmas parade, but the light rain held us back from going. So instead we figured we would wait until later and just go for the parade in hopes the rain would quit. No such luck! The rain continued. At around 11:30 it did slow down just a bit and a vote was taken. OK lets drive over. We parked and got to TTC when the raindrops got heavier and steadier. OH NO! Where is DS’s backpack with the ponchos? Forgot to put them in the van! Oh well! DS runs inside the gift shop to join the line for Mickey ponchos. While I remain outside, I ask a security CM if she had heard a forecast and if the parade would be cancelled. She said she heard that it supposed to be like this all day and into this evening and that yes the parade would be cancelled unless the rain stopped and they got things dried up.

So what does one do in the rain? MOVIES!!! YEAH! We head over to AMC movies. Parking was a nightmare, but we finally got one fairly close after circling and following people to their cars like we were buzzards. As we rounded the corner at AMC we stopped in our tracks….a huge line of people at the box office with the same idea! Forget this! We run for shelter under the Planet Hollywood tent and wait. I am really aggravated. I am soaked, all my Christmas plans are messed up and now my plan B has gone into the drain pipe. YUCK! OH NO what about the Fantasmic! Dinner Package? Will the show cancel? Do we want to even go if its raining like this? While we wait for a little break in the now torrential rain, I take out the cell and call Disney dining and talk them into canceling for tonight without assessing me the usual cancellation fee. WHEW! OK that’s at least a small victory. Now how about rescheduling? Nothing available at any restaurant any of the remaining days of our visit. Oh well! Next time I guess.

I was really bummed out. DS suggested the family boating plan. “Son there is no way Disney will let a family of nuts take boats out in this weather!”, I said. “Good try though!”, I chimed in, trying not to sound too negative. Hey I got it! Lets go to Super Target and see if we can get the new “Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again” DVD. We head for the van and get another drenching shower. We get to the new Super Target in Kissimmee and DS runs in with DW while I hang out up front so they don’t have to get another bath. In no time, I see DS grinning as he heads out the door. Yep Mom was paying for it. Now back to camp and watch Jeff Foxworthy and the boys.

The DVD was good. I love all the guys’ comedy routines particularly Larry the Cable Guy. My ribs hurt from laughing so hard at this guy. I swear I know somebody just like him!

The DVD is over too soon and it still raining, just not as heavy. So what do we do. Hey its dark and dreary take a nap. After all vacation is for resting. We really didn’t sleep that much. I jotted down a few notes for this trip report and we called home to see how the family was doing. Now all that was left was to find an alternative for dinner. DS wanted Olive Garden since we had never been to one. We headed over past DD onto Apopka- Vineland Road near the Crossroads Shopping Center. CLOSED! Lots of folks who were there just as amazed too! No problem, lets go to Route 192. Again most everything closed and the few places open were PACKED! Wow did we screw up. You know what, Trail’s End had put out a flyer that they had a special menu for tonight and were open til 10. Lets go back. Its about 6:00 when we get the Gem and zip up there. DW runs inside to find a 1 ½ hour wait! OH MY! Crocketts Tavern was also full. Can’t cook out in the rain. Now what? Back to the site and into the minivan and we head off toward 536 again. I saw a Chinese buffet with over there. Why not try that. When we get there its chaos! A line outside and down the sidewalk. Now we’re hungry and getting desparate. My last suggestion was to try the Waffle House but DS frowned. I said its not just waffles, and he said he would pass. Next to the Chinese place was a convenience mart. Heck with it lets go take a look. Hey frozen pizza, hot wings, TV dinners, drinks. We’re getting desperate now. Off we go with our plastic bags of gourmet Christmas fare and head back to camp to fire up the microwave and watch the Christmas specials on TV. We get there just in time for “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Ain’t it the truth! We all laugh as we relive what craziness this day had been. It was not what we had planned, but you know what? We had fun and we were together on Christmas at Disney. It is a wonderful life.

Coming Up: Day 9 Will the rain go away and Pleasure Island

[Jillybean]

Oh no!

If any family can find a silver lining on a cloud, then it's yours. Despite the rain and the craziness, you guys actually managed to have a great Christmas Day (and I bet that you'll never forget it . . . remember that Christmas when our dinner came from 7-11?)

Jill

[Tara O'Hara]

What a wacky Christmas Day!! But you guys sure made the best of it!! Hope you enjoyed your 'gourmet' Christmas fare!!

[RobinKay6573]

I just caught up with your report. I hear you about MK and the rain. We waited two hours in our spot for the parade at MK on Christmas Day and it was canceled as were most of the shows going on that day! Real bummer!

[Colexis Mom]

I'm sorry all your Christmas plans got rained on It sounds like you made the best of it though

Hurry back with more

[mom2my4dwarfs]

Yikes! Sorry it was such a and soggy day. Can't wait to read some more.

[luvnwdwgal]

Too bad your Christmas was so soggy and CRAZY!! Glad you were all able to make the best of it and have a wonderful time together though!

[LizardCop]

Mother Nature give you rain and you guys made chicken soup!!!

[chezp]

I've just got caught up again - and wow what a crazy Christmas Day you had! I'm glad you got sorted out with your Christmas dinner in the end though!

As I read that installment, I couldn't help but think about how similar in places your day was to ours - waiting for the rain to ease, then giving up and going out anyway. And I couldn't agree more - never mind the rain, it's Christmas and you're at Disney and still having a great time despite everything!

More please.

[Nala]

Wow. Your attitude inspires me. You not only found the silver lining in the cloud, you embrassed it and made the best of it. Can't wait for more.

[rebecca c.]

I am glad you and your family made lemonade out of all the lemons you went through on Christmas Day! Thanks for sharing such a great trip report.

[jakenjess]

I'm so sorry you had such a rainy Christmas Day! It sounds like you made the best of it, and I can't think of a better way to end Christmas Day than to watch "It's a Wonderful Life"! That movie always gets to me. I hope the weather improves for you. Looking forward to more!

[RocklandRVers]

DAY 9 (Sunday, December 26)

After making the best of Christmas Day’s deluge, we have a decision to make. Do we make today the day we do the things we had planned for yesterday or not. We sat during breakfast discussing our strategy. We had one more day and one plus on our park hoppers and one plus on our park hoppers from last December. DS said he was satisfied with our theme park experience this trip having seen and done almost everything we has planned. He really hoped we would get warm enough weather for
Blizzard Beach, but today was not the day for that.

We went on to talk about the rest of our last few days and what we wanted and needed to do. We wanted to see a movie at AMC, go to Pleasure Island, and shop at Downtown Disney. We needed to take down the decorations, do some laundry and get things packed up for the ride home. Since the weather forecast was for cooler weather today and a warming trend coming, the decision was to make today a workday.

DS and I got busy taking down the decorations and packing them away. They sure do come down faster than they went up! It was kind of sad doing this so soon, but if it was going to be warm during our last few days we wanted to take full advantage so getting this out of the way made sense. DW was busy gathering up laundry. Since we had quite a bit to do, we decided a trip into Kissimmee was faster and cheaper than using the smaller laundry at the comfort station. Besides, we noticed that it was already being used that morning meaning we would be there all day.

We head down Route 192 and come to our regular place discovered on previous trips. The place is packed! Sunday must be laundry day. We drove further nearly into the heart of Kissimmee when DS spotted a laundry on the left side behind a Walgreen’s. I made a u-turn and found this place was not as busy and the best thing was that it was much larger. We split the load into 4 large capacity machines to get it all done at once. DW insisted on sitting with the clothes. We reminded her that this is not NY and that nobody would want to steal our stuff. No matter, she was staying. DS and I went outside and sat in the van listening to music and talking. Sure beat sitting inside a stuffy Laundromat with all those noisy machines. We went in to check on her after about 15 minutes. She already had the stuff in the dryers! She was in get it done mode today! It took about another 20 minutes for the first stuff to dry and we all chipped in folding. I am folding impaired so DW usually handles the crucial stuff that might wrinkle, while I do the not so hard stuff like towels and socks. Our teamwork pays off and we are finished without too much wasted time.

On the way we stop at Arby’s for lunch. DS loves this place for some reason…maybe because we don’t have one close by. He always gets their curly fries. DW and I like their deli sandwiches, which are a welcome change from burgers and fries.

Once back at camp, we unload the laundry and put away what we will need for the rest of the week. The other stuff is put in the trailer for the trip home.

DS says he wants to swim. I think its too cold, but there are folks braving it so we let him go for it.

We are all just hanging out being lazy most of the afternoon. I tried sitting in my camp chair reading a book, but I just kept getting sleepy so I gave that up. DW had given Shamrock a very nice long walk since a lot of our fellow settlers were checking out today and a lot of sites were empty.

DS was back in about an hour and said it was nice in the pool. I said “yeah but its not so nice out is it?”. He was trying to be as macho as possible and replied that it wasn’t bad at all. He heads for the comfort station for a hot shower and to get changed for dinner.

Tonight we were not having 7-11 convenience food; we are heading for Olive Garden. We have never been to one since there is not one around where we live, but have heard that they have good food. When we arrive the place is busy and we are told we have about a 30-minute wait. Now normally I would pass, but our Christmas dinner experience taught me to be patient. We get a pager and are told we can wait in the bar area. We see that there is not a seat to be had, so we head to the van. We bring along a menu to look it over while we wait.

Our wait was a bit longer than we thought, but we were not in a hurry. We get a nice table and our server was an older woman with a clearly NY accent. I ask her if she is from NY and she says the Bronx. We pass on adult beverages and order our entrees. This is definitely not a fast food joint. As an old friend in the restaurant business used to say, “good food takes time” and Olive Garden has good food.

The plan for this evening is to finally use one of our plusses at Pleasure Island. This was our first visit to this famous Disney nightspot. Unlike previous visits, the gate is open and the policy has changed. You use your plusses when you go inside a club. In the first one your pass is swiped. Then you get a hand stamp and a wristband to allow admission to any other clubs you wish that night. It gives you a chance to explore a bit and enjoy the Island’s fun stuff besides the clubs. Once on the island we come to a huge screen where a music video is rocking. We stop and check it out for a while. DS is now having a good time. We are trying to decide between the Adventurer’s Club & Comedy Club. The CC show is not for a while so we head over to AC where the CM says they are free until 9:00 pm. COOL! Once inside we go downstairs and join the other Adventurers and find a seat. A family, who are semi regulars are searching for a hidden Mickey, which is supposed to be in plain view in the lobby area by the bar. DS and DW are sitting there wondering what this place is all about. I tell them that from what I have read the fun sort of unfolds around you. A waitress stops over and asks if we would like something. DS and DW pass, but I recall the AC is famous for the drink named Kungaloosh and order one. DW takes a sip. We agree it’s not bad but she still passes on one for herself. DS wanted one but it has rum in it so it’s out of the question.

As we sit and people trickle in and out, a butler comes in from behind the scenes and walks around. He then starts removing brass nameplates from some of the holders on the walls of the various rooms. The regulars ask him what he is doing. He responds in character that he is randomly removing and replacing nameplates as he wipes them clean with his white gloves.

A few moments later the bawdy and loud Pamelia Perkins, Club President makes her entrance and flits around shaking hands. She then takes the “stage” and announces that the club is seeking new members. We are all invited to join. Now DS is getting interested as the silliness is beginning to really evolve. I won’t spoil it much further except to say that characters come and go more frequently as the night continues. You learn a secret club member greeting and are expected to use this during the rest of your stay. The first of several shows began in the Mask Room. The next is in the Library where a broken down player piano joins in the adlibs with the characters. Its not for young kids, but DS was getting right into it after I chimed in and sang over the microphone during the library show.

We decided not to stay for the 9:00 opening and instead headed upstairs and outside to the Comedy Warehouse. The next show was in about 20 minutes and people were lining up. We joined them enjoyed the loud music that the island’s DJ was playing. It was a real party atmosphere here and I could see DW and I having a great adult only time here. Unfortunately most of the clubs are not teen friendly.

We are finally let in after swiping our passes and getting wristbands. Because we are in the front of the line we are led way down front right in front of the stage. A waitress took our drink orders and the show begins. This is a fantastic group of ad libbers that could easily compete with the stars of Drew Carey’s old show “Whose Line Is It Anyway”. The show begins with a phone call to some lucky person in the audience chosen at random. The guest is asked a bunch of questions about their personal life and then the ad libbers each take turns creating lyrics to a song. Great stuff! In another skit, one of the team is sent outside while the audience thinks of a strange saying. It is then up to the team to ad lib clues to get the one who went outside to repeat the saying. It was sidesplitting stuff. Finally he got it after an agonizingly funny period of time. You have to come to this place and join in the fun.

Once outside we wander around the island a bit and head for home. We will definitely be back next trip.


Next Up Day 10: Downtown Disney & Celebration