Dec. 23, short live report.

[Jeff]

We drove from Michigan this year - the first time since 1984. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. We left Michigan in a near blizzard on the 19th and arrived safe and sound in beautiful sunny Florida on the 20th. Stopped outside of Atlanta the first night.

The parks were not as busy as Christmas weeks in the past during our first 3 days.

Saturday evening at Epcot we were amazed at the light crowd.

Sunday we went to Epcot, the Studios, Target (had to get a small Christmas and some lights for the window) and then to Downtown Disney. By far the heaviest crowds were at Downtown. Yikes!!! Last minute Christmas shoppers everywhere.

Monday we spent the morning at the Studios and the evening at the Magic Kingdom. The crowds were noticeably heavier but still not "Christmas week huge" as we have seen in the past. We were, of course, at the park for the opening, I got a fast pass for Toy Story Mania first thing while my wife and daughter rode the Tower and R&R Coaster (I can do without those two motion sickness activators). This seemed a great plan as wife and daughter had ridden both of the big two in well under 30 minutes. We then had some breakfast from Staring Rolls, saw the Movie Ride and the Little Mermaid then used our FP for Toy Story. This is a very fun ride and all in my family loved it. Somewhere in there we watched the High School Musical 3 street show too.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon over at Wilderness Lodge. The menu has changed a bit and the food didn't seem as good. Dinner was at the Boardwalk to Go kiosk and, unfortunately, their chili dogs and corn dogs are now just run of the mill dogs. Ordinary buns from a grocery store bag and cheese whiz on top. The corn dog wasn't as good as the frozen "State Fair" brand you can buy at any Super Walmart! Big fail (as my daughter would say)!!

In the evening the MK crowds looked big on Main Street, but then it's always crowded there. We actually never went into the park beyond the Train Station as we were there just to see the parade and Holiday Wishes. I'm not sure how things were in the rest of the park.

Today, Tuesday the 23rd. We started the day at MK. At park opening, Jimmny Cricket and Daisy Duck were near the Christmas tree to siphon off those with little children and the lack of a plan. We went right to Space Mt. and got FP, rode Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, over to Splash and Big Thunder at 9am when that part of the park opened. Then to Pirates (still a walk on) then back to FP on Space, Monster Inc, TTA, COP, Buzz again (with FP). My daughter maxed out at 999,999 this time just when I was feeling all big and bad with 948,000. Wouldn't you know it! When I do my best she maxes the thing out! So now, back in our room at the Swan as I type this I am thinking of waking my daughter up from her nap just to get some revenge for the Buzz beating!!!!!!!!!!!

Crowds up today but still not crazy as years past. Also, park hours are cut back from past years.
MK only open from 9am till midnight (not counting magic hours) This is certainly later than last few years.

Studios, open from 9am till 8pm. this is a later opening and earlier closing than the past.

I guess that shows that the Disney powers that be are expecting lighter crowds as well.

I probably won't post again while I'm here as the Swan charges $13 for 24 hours of internet access. I'll pay that for a plate of nachos and a drink over in Epcot this evening and not think anything of it - but for something many hotels (not here at WDW of course) have as a "free" service it seems a bit much! Oh, well - no complaints, I'm at WDW with my family for Christmas!

Wishing you all a great Christmas!

[CanadianWDWFan]

Glad you had a safe drive down. You did choose to drive on one of the worst days!

Thanks for sharing your reports with us, Can't wait to hear the rest.

[mouseketeer mom]

Nothing like driving from a blizzard into the Florida sun!!
Some score your DD got!!!
Thanks for the report, and Happy Holidays!

[MauiMouse]

Jeff, I commend you on the drive out of Michigan on the 19th. There is no way you would have seen me on the roads that day, you are so right a blizzard going on.

Sounds like you are having a great time at Disney. Thanks for the report.

[faline]

From someone who had never had a healthy score on Buzz, I commend your daughter!

Best wishes and happy Disney holidays!

[ElenitaB]

Jeff, your score on Buzz was pretty darn respectable in and of itself! I'm impressed. BTW, how did you do on TSM???

[SandmanGStefani24]

major props for that long drive! That's what I call dedication! Also glad to see the crowds weren't a killer! Great to read about...thanks!

[Jeff]

Jeff, your score on Buzz was pretty darn respectable in and of itself! I'm impressed. BTW, how did you do on TSM???

Only 102,000 on Mania. Hannah got 104,000. Darn - lost again. It wasn't until the last room I figured out you could just keep pulling on the firing cord to launch objects very fast!!! Next time I WILL WIN!!!!!!

Just back from Epcot this evening. Again, crowds not "Christmas heavy" yet. We had a "snack around the world" night. Man am I full but that was fun. Love the stuff from the bake shops in Norway and in France!!!! Fish and chips were pretty good too. Standing room in the back to watch Steven Curtis Chapman in the Candle Light Processional. We are scheduled to actually have a seat, because of the dinner package, on Christmas Day.

Shared between the three of us:
England - 1 Fish and Chips
Canada - nothing, I never knew Popcorn was a Canadian specialty! I do miss Beaver Tails.
Mexico - Nachos
Norway - lafse (sp?)
China - some "slushy tea" stuff - excellent
Germany - nothing, no offense to Germans!
Italy - some frozen ice cream like thing.
America - Bud Winter Ale (no sharing here)
Japan - nothing. Not a big seaweed eating family.
Morocco - Baklava
France - cookie and moose.
From there we waddled back to the Swan from the International Gateway.

One other thing of note - there does not seem to be as much "background music" playing as in the past. I remember Christmas music everywhere. It is playing here and there but not everywhere - maybe I am misremembering this but it seems lacking. For example, sitting "in France" and eating there was no background music at all. It just "felt" different, like something missing.

Lastly, I think I look great in my Mickey Santa hat; my wife and daughter are not convinced!

[mudpuppysmom]

Glad you made it out of the frozen north!! (We're back now and it is not very nice up here, so enjoy the weather there!!!)

Props on the effort on Buzz!! We were there last Saturday and somehow I managed to rack up 999,999 myself!!! And we were not even 2/3 thru?!!?!? I don't know how it happened, but I'm not going to complain about it!! Usually I'm lucky to get 150,000 by the end! You'll have to go back and try again!

Again, enjoy the weather and what seems to be lighter crowds!

[pdrlkr]

Thanks for the Report!