CHRISTMAS AT DISNEY—Well, Sort of

Christmas at Disney--Well, Sort of

It was a cold and wintry day.  All the topiaries were wearing their winter coats and covered nicely with a good warm blanket of special material.  Even so, they may still have been shivering under them.  Lots of the more delicate greenery and outdoor flowers also were blanketed.  This was true all over WDW.  It was COLD!  And terribly windy.

A couple of years ago, Lynne, John, Steve and I spent a day checking out the Christmas trees and ornaments at the resorts—Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, and Grand Floridian.  We decided that we would repeat this adventure by going to some of the other resorts which we had not previously visited.  None of the four of us would EVER go to one of the parks during the days near Christmas.  Many of the Orlando attractions had to stop allowing people through their gates during the last week or so due to being “filled.”  Actually, that is a misnomer, as they were filled well beyond capacity.  Waiting lines were long and horrendous.  We heard by TV that some of the “rides”/ attractions had lines that lasted more than two hours.    

Both Lynne and I had called to find out how long the Christmas decorations would be up.  Lynne’s information was January 3; mine, January 7.  In either case, we thought we would be able to see some beautiful decorations.  As it were, neither was totally correct.    John had only Tuesday off from his job.  So, we made arrangements to meet at the Swan near EPCOT.  

Steve and I missed a turn and had to back-track.  When we finally got to the place we should have been to begin with, we discovered Lynne and John were in the car two ahead of us.  God had to have had a hand in that, because when we got to the gate house for the Swan, we discovered that one needs to swipe the room card in order to park there.  Since we were not registered, we needed to back up and go to Plan B (we did not know we had one, but apparently, we did).  If we had not arrived at the same time, one or both cars would have had a certain amount of confusion.  But, of course, I suppose, we could have used the cell phones (as much as I hate them, I HAVE to use one occasionally), 

They decided to follow us (wherever we were going to go). 

Steve and I decided to go to the Wilderness Lodge.  I love breakfast there.  Anyway, they followed us.  Their decorations were still up.  As with everything Disney, every detail is perfection.  The decorations at the Wilderness are themed to the Wild West.  Some of the lights are behind giant tepees.  Other ornaments (besides regular large round Christmas tree bulbs) include canoes, ornaments with printed deer, bison, etc. and lots of lights.  The tree is approximately six stories tall and is in the lobby/atrium.  A star tops the tree which is decorated  all the way up. 

The heat from the resorts, buses and monorail would come to feel ever so nice and warming. Outside walking was just not too much fun. Yet, the parks were jammed with people. 

The weather seemed to keep the train empty

After breakfast, we hopped a bus to the Magic Kingdom.  No, not to go to the park, but to take the monorail to the three resorts around the “Seven Seas Lagoon”...Contemporary,  Polynesian and The Grand Floridian.  We wandered through the Contemporary, finding their tree in the new Towers building.  Turquoise and gold.  Not bad.  We crossed the walking bridge.  It was very cold and windy.  When we went back to catch the monorail, we walked on ground level…much easier to travel.  The buildings protected us from the wind.  The setting for the Contemporary is beautiful, right on one of the many Disney lakes.  The building itself really wowed me the first time I saw it many years ago (1973).  Can you imagine a monorail traveling and stopping right inside the building? I guess the novelty has sort of worn off, but it still gives me a thrill.  The building has very sleek lines (I’m more of a Wilderness Lodge or Grand Floridian type…old themes).  The colors are earth tones.

Hopping back on the monorail, our next stop was the Polynesian.  A few poinsettias here and there, but not much other Christmassy looks.  We did find a tree in one of the restaurants that was well-themed.  The Polynesian (along with the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness Campground) are the three original resorts at WDW.  The Polynesian is the smallest of all the resorts.  Surprisingly, this is the first time we actually walked through it.  Even though there was not much “Christmas,” it was really cool to see.

 

Back on the monorail, we then stopped at the Grand Floridian.  To our sad disappointment, not one fragment of Christmas availed.  Its gorgeous huge tree…gone.  Its full-sized ginger bread house gone.  Its gilded bird cages totally de-decorated.  We might as well have been there in the middle of summer, Talked to a young man named Javier and asked about the decorations.  He said, “Christmas has passed.”  I am a strong believer in the twelve days of Christmas which ends on January 6.  Many cultures celebrate the main part of this very special holiday on January 6—Epiphany, Three Kings’ Day, the Twelfth Day of Christmas, or any of the other names under which it may be.    He did agree with me, but apparently, Disney does not.  We wandered around, nonetheless, as even without the Christmas decorations, the Grand Floridian is a beautiful highly decorated themed resort.  As with any Grand Victorian, the resort offers "high" tea.  We did not get the details, but Lynne and I (who love tea rooms and high tea) would like to go without the guys some day.

Back to the monorail--one last time--to catch a Disney bus.  We decided that we would not traverse to any other resort this year as we had been disappointed with the de-decorating.  But, next year we will go earlier and enjoy the themed beauty in each resort that we have missed.

We further decided to go to Downtown Disney.  It turns out that there is not a direct bus connection from the Magic Kingdom to Downtown Disney.  One can only get to Downtown Disney from one of the zillion resorts.  But the wonderful Disney employee who helps people at the bus depot suggested that we take the bus to “Sarasota Springs,” which is the closest resort to Downtown.  We waited almost no time, when our bus showed.  As we pulled in Sarasota Springs, the Downtown bus pulled in right behind us.  So, with no wait time, we hopped the bus to “Downtown” Disney.

We poked in several of the shops.  Downtown Disney still understood that Christmas had not yet gone away.  Christmas decor abounded.  Everything from the cast (plastic, plaster or whatever?)characters--wearing their winter garb--to Christmas trees, wreaths and peppermint bark samples at Ghirardelli's.   

http://ghirardelli.com/

Then, we decided to go to lunch.   On another trip to Disney some time ago, we had dined at the Earl of Sandwich…which is a quick, large portions, good lunch time fare, good value (not cheap…nothing at Disney is cheap these days…unlike days of yore).  It is cafeteria style and the food is quite good with seasonal offerings (hot turkey with stuffing and cranberry was really good...it seems to be a special between Thanksgiving and shortly after Christmas).  All sandwiches are on hogie-style fresh baked bread.  Salads and soups add to the menu. Wraps.  Beverages. Potato or Pasta Salads.  Fruit Cups Chips, etc. Cookies. Cookie Sandwiches.  Bread or Chocolate Puddin'.  Breakfast sandwiches.  The portions are fairly true to the pictures on the web-site.  The Sandwich was named after the Fourth Earl of Sandwich; the current restaurant chain is run by the Eleventh Earl.  Not just a registered trademark, but probably the absolute truth! The World's Greatest Hot Sandwich®    

http://www.earlofsandwichusa.com/about-us/

Don'tcha love the bar stools?

But given all that hype, we decided to go for sit-down and be waited upon. John had a recent birthday and Steve and I had not been “out” to eat for some time.  So, we bypassed the sandwich for a trip to the Rainforest Café.  Steve and I had poked our heads into one a couple of times.  It looked like fun.  But the prices were higher than we like to pay.  This, however, was kind of a special day.  So, the four of us decided to go for broke and dine there.  It was a bit pricey, but a whole lot of fun.  The food was very good, the service was super and fun (except when paying…it took a long time to get our change and Lynne’s credit card).  The portion sizes good-sized (except John's steak...although he was happy).  Steve had pot roast.  He did not like the veggies (he likes very few veggies and those need to be over cooked—not al dente).  John had a “Primal” steak dinner, which he enjoyed.  Lynne, who had a gastric bypass a zillion years ago, still does not have much of an appetite.  She chose a "side" salad, which turned out to be bigger than she expected and could not finish it.  And, I had Rasta Pasta…penne with a basil Alfredo cream sauce with all kinds of goodies…red bell pepper, spinach, broccoli.  It was yummy.  The café is a really fun place.  From time to time, the lights flash on and off and simulates a thunder storm.  There are all kinds of animals…animated monkeys swinging from overhead trees, apes of various sizes making appropriate noises along with chest pounding.  There are large parrots of plaster or plastic flying overhead.  An elephant blaring its trunk trumpet.  Rain.  Tropical fish (these are real).  It was soooooo much fun.  Due to the prices, I probably will not repeat this experience, but it is a memory which I certainly will relish and remember forever.  Much too full to dine on dessert… they looked out of this world yummy.

http://www.rainforestcafe.com/

After moseying a bit more, we boarded a bus for the Wilderness Lodge and left for home.  A good day with special friends.  For the cost of gas, tolls, lunch (and one always has to eat) and parking, we had a wonderful day.