Christmas at Disney World

Thursday, December 6, 2018 - I am riding back from my 2018 Christmas Trip to Disney World so this is a great time for me to blog about this five day trip. This Disney World trip included Kevin, Kevin's Mom (Carolyn), Maureen and me. Sharon and Beth and Mike were all supposed to go, but Sharon is recovering from a horrendous dog attack (two of her dogs attacked her one night last month in her front yard and she had to have surgery and is in no condition to travel), Beth was going to travel with Sharon so that didn't work out and Mike had to help with his grandson in New Orleans. We missed them and hope they can all join us for another trip to Disney World soon. These next several pages cover our trip. We had a great time and are already planning the next trip. Just to mention a few of the high points, we saw the new hotel tower at Coronado Springs, joined Mickey at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, saw Neil Patrick Harris as he narrated the Christmas Story at Epcot...

Sunday December 2nd 2018 , I rode with Kevin and Carolyn to Disney World. I've been to Disney World with Kevin many trips these past few years. This was the first time I've been to Disney World with Carolyn and its been about forty something years since Carolyn has been to Disney World. She says Kevin was only two years old when she went last! I never went when I was a kid. My first trip was in my late 30's, but I do love my little mid-life crisis. This next screenshot shows our route in blue. We covered 474 + miles over 7 + hours, including 2 time zones and a couple of toll booths. We got an early start on the drive, but it was not as early as we had planned. A strong storm system blew across Pensacola before the sun came up and we waited for it to pass before we started loading up the car. The storm was actually moving to the northeast so we had to drive through some really intense rain and thunder storms east of Crestview. We also drove through the area on ...

Sunday December 2nd 2018  Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's, Disney Springs Christmas Trail, Ginger Bread at the Grand Floridian and Fireworks at the Contemporary Hotel We did a lot that first night at Disney.  All four of us went to dinner in Disney Springs at Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant. Maureen, who had flown in and arrived at about the same time we arrived at our hotel, met us at the restaurant. Very good food. Very good service. Very nice restaurant. True to Wolfgang's slew of restaurants, this one featured pizza with unique toppings like salmon. We liked the wide open seating and clean/subdued decor. Here are a few pics from the restaurant and around Disney Springs. Kevin, Noah, Carolyn Disney Springs Christmas Tree Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Receipt Book Dining Room with Eyelash Chandelier Carolyn, Noah, Kevin, Maureen In front of Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill We all look younger in black & white and the dark. After Wolfgang Puck...

Sunday December 2nd 2018 A Minnie Van, the Grand Floridian, a Ride on the Monorail into the Contemporary Hotel and Fireworks! After leaving the Christmas Tree Trail,  we took a Minnie Van to the Grand Floridian  to see the giant gingerbread house and Christmas decorations and a couple of drinks at Mizner's Lounge. The Minnie Van rides are like Uber or Lyft rides except they are specific to Disney World properties and are driven by Disney World employees. While our experiences with other ride operators have been iffy, the Minnie Van rides have been very nice. Get the app. Enjoy the ride.  The gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian is always impressive. It is a Christmas tradition with the Grand Floridian and it takes them months to plan, prepare and build their Christmas gingerbread house each year. In the picture above, you can see the roof of the gingerbread house over Kevin's shoulder. They really put a great deal of thought and effort into this house. Add it...