They promised colder weather and they were right - it was chilly today when we popped out. None of the white stuff though. I would seriously like to see some snow. I know, I get the disruption, the danger etc. But I haven't seen snow in a long while.
I have been scrapping today. It was my turn to set the monthlyc hallenge on UKS and this was a colour challenge
This was what I used for the colour challenge - based on a photo I had taken on this year's trip at Wilderness Lodge.
I figured since I had set the challenge I ought to do it too, so I decided, int he end, to scrap two pages and one of them was usingt he photo I used for the colour palette.
Wilderness Lodge is a gorgeous resort - the only deluxe we would ever consider staying in. The other resorts were all decorated for Christmas but Wilderness Lodge was MADE for Christmas. The wood, the rustic feel, the warmth, the cosiness. It just exuded Christmas.
The photo was just a table display - their attention to detail is superb.
and this is the companion page I also ended up making as it explain how we loved the resort at Christmas
Perhpas, blog readers, you would like to take my colour challenge too and share what you come up with for the challenge palette.
Today I am thankful for
- the joy of startingt o plan another adventure
- lunch by the ocean
- central heating
Tuesday 5th December 2017
Start time 10.00
Start miles 17310
End time midnight
End miles 17330
Today was a day I had looked forward to for months – a chance to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. We had never been to a party before and so were not sure what to expect – as became patently obvious later. We knew we would be in the park until very very late and so we planned not to go in too early.
We put the washing in the laundry – so simple to use – on the way to breakfast – and dried it when we came out. It was a brilliant system. We were literally just a few steps from the pool and laundry room and they even have an app that shows which machines are in use and how long they have left to run. It felt good to have done all of that laundry – less to do when we returned home.
Washing completed we headed off to see the Boardwalk and how it was decorated for Christmas as we had heard it had a gingerbread display too. It did but not as nice at the Grand Floridian or as the American Adventure.
It is not a hotel I feel great affinity for (though I prefer it to the Yachy and Beach resorts) but we did have a pleasant walk round before finally – with excitement building by the minute – head off to the Magic Kingdom.
We took the ferry over this time and, as always, enjoyed the ride. We wandered round Main Street and then we got a frap and sat and people watched in a quiet spot and even saw the end of the Move It Shake It parade. We were singing Vamos! for ages … we still are … often! We caught a little of the Castle Show again and then headed into Tomorrowland where we did the Laugh in Floor and the People Mover (always a firm favourite) and then Nigel did Space Mountain which is not a ride I like.
Today was extremely hot and quite humid so we paced ourselves. We had a big rucksack as we had warm clothes everyone said we would need late into the night – we never did.
We found a great place for the parade, opposite the castle, and we enjoyed seeing it again. It is a super parade and watching it never gets old.
We had been looking for Christmas things and finally settled on what we wanted from the Christmas store in Liberty Square. Whilst I paid Nigel went outside and caught the whole Muppet’s show. I was, however, served by a lovely lady who took great pride in her job. She was very very chatty and took exceedingly great care of the wrapping as I was having it shipped to the resort. The things were put in huge boxes and then … well have you ever seen Love Actually and the scene with Rowan Atkinson wrapping the present. She had clearly taught him and was even more meticulous than he was! Eventually, three gifts wrapped and I was able to catch the end of the muppets show too.
We had time to kill and nothing much we wanted to do so we soaked up the atmosphere and caught the Country Bear Jamboree.
By then it was 4.00 and so we ambled back to Main Street to collect our party bands. We were then directed through the ‘back way’ an area you don’t usually see, through to the party area. We had pictures taken and our first santa cookie and I caved and bought the official Christmas shirt to take home. Thankfully every single thing we bought (an expensive Christmas t shirt, the party shirt, a globe, another globe, a Christmas dish, a pepper mill, an egg cup, a phonebag, peppermint bark in a tin … all free with our free gift card that was part of the package)
We went for dinner at Cosmic Ray’s which was very quiet. I am a sucker for Sonny Eclipse and they have a nice toppings bar too. Then we did the people mover and the party stops opened.
Now we had read up on the party – clearly not enough as it transpired. We were not interested in doing rides, we didn’t want the meet and greets and were not even really interested in the treat stops. We wanted to see the shows and parades. And we got it wrong. We went to two treat stops in Tomorrow Land where we had coockies and hot chocolate and Nigel had a snow cone that turned his entire mouth blue. We abandoned treat stops in Storybook Circus and ended in Pinocchios Village Haus before going to take our place, an hour ahead of time, for the castle show.
Big mistake
Huge
We headed towards the hub and the area in front of the stage was quite quiet. There were people there but they were sitting down and there were spaces. So we went in there. We were quite close to the back, but could see perfectly, and it meant when the parade started we would turn round and be almost at the kerb for that too. It turned out to be the event from hell and so frightening and upsetting. More and more people came into the area and you were pushed and jostled. We were very lucky that we were by three other groups. One group was a young lad and two ladies who were both in EVCs , one group was a family with two dads, two moms and three kids, two of them in strolers, and one was a man and lady with a therapy dog. Thank goodness for these people. They formed a barrier around our backs meaning we couldn’t get pushed too far as there were EVCs and strollers in our way. When the castle stage show started everyone stood up. We couldn’t see a thing – just the occasional glimpse. If everyone had stayed sitting down everyone would have been able to see. There were no cast members in evidence and now ay of enforcing this but for goodness sake, they do this every night. You would think they had a system, but clearly not. It was followed by the castle lighting show which we also couldn’t see well. But then the real issues started. The road had been full of people too but cast members now had to clear everyone out of the road in readiness for the parade. There was nowhere for these people to go so they tried to come into the area where we were. There were arguments, pushing and at one point we were convinced it was going to come to blows with very heated words exchanged. The family with the strollers had been there since 5pm securing heir sport and they secured it ‘with authority and conviction’. I saw people shoved, and it was hot and packed in like sardines. I suffer with anxiety in crowds. I always need to know how to get out. In a restaurant I will always sit facing he door. I will always select and aisle seat. The firs thing I do in any building is make sure I know where exits are and how to get out. It was beyond scary. I wanted to leave. I was shaking and starting to cry and the people around us saw my distress and were ‘no, you stay’ ‘don’t move’ ‘they can’t get by if we stand together’. I just wanted out. If there had been a medical emergency no one would have been able to get out quickly and no one would be able to get in to help. There were no cast members around, no evacuation route. It was really dangerous and I hated it. I said to Nigel we really did have to leave and was crying quietly when the lady with the therapy dog popped him in my arms. I am more of a cat person than a dog person but love every animal, and this patient little dog just lay in my arms, snuggled up into me and, therapy dog or no, he calmed me down. The lady was called Ardis and we chatted and I have photos of her and we have e mailed a couple of times since. Thanks to her kindness, and to her gorgeous dog, I stayed. We couldn’t see the parade well but we saw it. I have to say, something I have longed to see for years turned out to be the least magical experience of my Disney experiences in 34 years of visiting Disney parks. Would I ever go to a party again. I don’t think so. Was I stupid being in that area. Yes, but then again I don’t feel there should be any area that is unsafe and this truly was
The very kinds Ardis
We headed down Main Steet and looked in some of the stores and then decided to try again to see the parade (though we never did manage to try again and see the castle show – it was too soon for us ever to expose ourselves to that area again) We sat on Main Street and didn’t move. We just sat for over two hours. We saw the fireworks and we saw the parade and then we left. The parade was lovely – though almost impossible to take pictures of at night. It was lovely that it snowed the whole time on Main Street and I loved the music. The fireworks were lovely, though I would love to have been closer to see the castle projections but that was also too scary to try. I THINK I was glad I went. I THINK it was worth it but I am not entirely sure.
Oh, my goodness, Karen! What a terrible experience. I think the thing that keeps me from going to Disney is the crowds. I usually don't get too nervous in crowds--but I've really never been in a packed area with unruly folks. My son has crowd anxiety. He doesn't even like going to shopping malls--too many people and too much activity going on at once.
Steve is just like YOU! He has to know the exits and he is constantly "scanning" for the way out, too. He tries to stay aware of folks that loiter around too close or seem to follow us. He is always ready for escape. So I completely understand your needs.
I agree with you about the drinking that goes on now at DisneyWorld. The place is supposed to be family oriented. I don't like the idea of people roaming and drinking around children. And the nasty exchanges and near-fighting is far from my idea of a Disney experience. It sounds as though you were more than likely at a hockey game!
I do commend you for being open to try new experiences and fulfilling your dreams of activities you have thought about for so long. I'm sorry your expectations were dashed. Thankfully, you have been to Disney often enough to know it's not always like that and there are better things to occupy your time. :-)
Thanks for being so truthful and open about how it all came down.
Posted by: Barb inAK | January 06, 2018 at 07:24 PM