Annual Taylor Family DISNEY World Christmas

[TamiTaylor]

We arrived today. We have my inlaws and my mom along with us. I think I’m more concerned keeping track of the olds as opposed to the soon to be 7 year old.

We woke up at 2:30 for 6am flight out. It has been a long day. We sailed right through MCO/Magical Express. Landed, got our backs (we don’t have ME pick them up) and walked right through ME Checkin and straight into the bus. We are staying at Yacht Club again.

We exited the plane at MCO at 9:30 and were in the hotel lobby at 10:40.

Went to Disney Spring for a snacky lunch and J wanted to go to the Lego store to build his own Lego figure. Pro tip: ask for a return time to build the figure because the wait was over an hour. We got a return time then went to World of Disney and got some poutine for lunch. We returned about 30 minutes prior to are actual time and they let us right in.

So far, it seems busier here this year as opposed to last year. I am waiting to see how it feels in the park this year vs last year. I definitely think GE is having a huge effect.

Tomorrow we will hit EPCOT. Garden Grill is my favorite breakfast. We have the Candlelight Processional tomorrow too.

[raangoli]

We just got back yday and the crowds were manageable except Saturday which was crazy crowded at AK.

Enjoy the trip!

[TamiTaylor]

Epcot: Christmas Eve
We had a PPO for Garden Grill breakfast which is our favorite. Bob our server was amazing. We rode Soarin before the park opened.

Rides/attractions:
1. Soarin
2. Living with the Land
3. Spaceship Earth FP #1
4. Mission Space
5. Figment FP#2
6. 3 Callaberos
7. American Adventure
8. Test Track FP #3 -had this as a later FP so my inlaws could go back and rest and come back before Candlelight Processional.

We also did the holiday cookie stroll and the Chip & Dale scavenger hunt in World Showcase. The longest wait that we had was for 3 Callaberos which was like 15 minutes.

We did the Candlelight Processional (had the dining package) and had dinner at Via Napoli. We at Epcot from before park opening to 9pm; parked closed at 9:30 unless you were onsite for EMH which was until 11.

We ate and drank, shopped, pin traded, and walked around World Showcase.

The only rides we didn’t do were by choice and were Frozen and Nemo.

[TamiTaylor]

Magic Kingdom: Christmas Day

We arrived early prior to 6am.

Rides/attractions:
1. 7DMT
2. Peter Pan
3. Small World
4. Haunted Mansion
5. Big Thunder
6. Splash Mountain
7. Pirates of Caribbean
8. Jungle/Jingle Cruise FP #1
Breakfast at 8 at Be Our Guest
9.Buzz Lightyear FP #2
10. Carousel of Progress
11. People Mover
12. Space Mountain FP #3
13. Little Mermaid FP #4
Stopped at Gaston’s Tavern for a Lefou’s Brew
14. Hall of Presidents

We waited in zero lines.

We arrived about 5:30 and left at 12:30. I came back to the hotel and napped. Eric and J napped a little bit and then went swimming in the pool. We had dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse in the hotel.

[nicolewi]

TamiTaylor, it is amazing how much stuff you did on Christmas Day!!!

[TamiTaylor]

Jan 3, 2020 10:55:36 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

TamiTaylor, it is amazing how much stuff you did on Christmas Day!!!

We could have done a lot more but my inlaws were pretty much done for the day so we left. There were definitely fast passes to pick up the day of.

[Deleted]

That really is impressive how much you did in such a short time.

Did you guys see the pictures of the traffic and crowds on NYE?

[TamiTaylor]

Jan 3, 2020 14:43:45 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

That really is impressive how much you did in such a short time.

Did you guys see the pictures of the traffic and crowds on NYE?

Going early has always paid off for us. Also for 2 years in a row, the time disney showed as the park opening time was different on the TVs in the hotel rooms vs on the actual app. The tv showed MK opening at 7am vs 6am on the app. We always go with what the app says. I think that helped keep crowds really low early in the morning.

[cincodemayo]

You did more Christmas Day than I do on a September day, lol! Definitely proves that having a plan and going early works.

[curbsideprophet]

Sounds like you had a great Christmas morning!

Did you attempt ROTR?

[TamiTaylor]

Day 3: Hollywood Studios

Took at Minnie Van over time HS and arrived at 5:20ish for 6am PPO. Scanned through the turnstiles about 5:40-45. Grabbed boarding groups for ROTR. We had some turmoil because half of our group was showing as in the park and half of the group wasn’t. We booked it to the nearest guest services cast member who saved the day.

Rides/attractions:
Slinky Dog
Toy Story Mania
Aliens Saucers
*breakfast at Woodys*
Toy Story Mania round 2 FP #1
Tower of Terror
Rock n Rollercoaster *my mom sat out with this and TOT with J*
Chewbacca meet and greet
BB8 meet and greet
Muppet Vision
Lunch
Star Tours FP #2
Indiana Jones Show FP #3
Boarding group called at 2pm for ROTR
Built a droid at Droid Depot
Eric and I did the single rider line for Smugglers Run; we got in the same group
Skyliner back to hotel

Thoughts on ROTR:
This is the most amazing ride. I don’t really do standby line waits past 30mins for rides and I would wait in a stand by line. This is so immersive and it is an experience. I could ride this over and over again.

Droid Depot:
Definitely get a reservation time to build the droid otherwise you could end up waiting in a long line.

[TamiTaylor]

Jan 8, 2020 20:38:21 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Sounds like you had a great Christmas morning!

Did you attempt ROTR?

Yes. It was amazing. I

[TamiTaylor]

Day 4 Magic Kingdom
We took it easy this day. We just did our 3 fast passes and the. Lin traded and played Sorcerers of the Kingdom. Came back to the hotel and swam in the pool. Dinner at Ohana and then went and walked around the GF.

Departure Day:
Slept in and went to Disney Springs for brunch at Homecomin. This meal was my favorite meal I have ever had at Disney and possibly anywhere. Did some shopping.

[pinkpeony08]

Jan 12, 2020 18:26:56 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

Day 4 Magic Kingdom
We took it easy this day. We just did our 3 fast passes and the. Lin traded and played Sorcerers of the Kingdom. Came back to the hotel and swam in the pool. Dinner at Ohana and then went and walked around the GF.

Departure Day:
Slept in and went to Disney Springs for brunch at Homecomin. This meal was my favorite meal I have ever had at Disney and possibly anywhere. Did some shopping.

Sounds like you had a great trip!  

I ate at Homecomin last spring when I was in Orlando for a conference.  It was amazing all around- great service despite us having a huge group and one or two of the people drinking too much and being really obnoxious (getting up, not listening to wait staff).  The food was wonderful.  And by chance, someone in our group is obsessed with the chef (he didn't even know it was Art Smith's restaurant) and Art Smith was there when we were there!  He came over and took photos us.  I would totally go back, though for our trip this spring I think we won't make it to Disney Springs.