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Cast of Characters
Me (33), DF Becky (46), DF Jenny (46), DF Dave (45)
Day 1
Thursday, December 12
2a.m. finished packing and taking care of the cats & went to bed. 3:30 a.m. got up and helped my roommate finish packing and headed to the airport for our 6:15 flight. We made it in plenty of time and met up with DFJ & DFD at the gate. We rented our National car and they did ask for the coupon from the DC website. Thanks to whoever said to print it out!
We went to Perkins to eat breakfast and then headed on to the GF to check in. On the way, we discovered
none of us had over three hours sleep the night before. We were hoping our room would be ready at 10 and
it was...and we got the building and view I requested. We took a nap and then headed out on the monorail to look at the Contemporary and Polynesian. Of course it was raining but we figured it would be done by the time of mvmcp. The four of us went to Tea and then DFB and I watched the 6 pm fireworks from the GF boat dock. The music is piped into the restaurant there, so it was very cool. Then we headed to the party. Rain rain rain and more rain. We walked onto Space Mountain six times in a row. Rode Buzz with no wait. Then the sky dropped out and we headed to get food. We waited nearly an hour and the rain never let up so we headed for Fantasyland, rode Pooh, and decided to call it a night. We dubbed the night, Mickey's Very Scary Christmas Puddle. Problems at the GF with mousekeeping, but that was in an earlier post. (side note: if you're soaking wet and need to change, don't do it on the room balcony at the GF. The boats going to the Polynesian pass right by and can see you even when you duck down!)
Day 2, Friday, December 13
More rain. We went to 1900 Fare Place. We were one of the last sittings. I think we had about six characters come by, including the Pooh characters, two Alice characters and Mary Poppins. She was delightful! We then took off to DTD to see a movie. We had planned on Epcot for Friday, but with the rain and the Christmas Puddle the night before, none of us were up to it. We saw Nemisis, which DFD and I both fell asleep in the first half. My friends dropped me off at the hotel and they went to supper at Fishbones and then to PI. I stayed back and ordered in, then took the boats and busses to the different resorts and DTD to shop.
Day 3, Saturday, December 14
DFD & DFJ got up early and headed to Epcot. DFB and I slept in, had a wonderful inroom breakfast, went to the boardwalk and met up with our
friends in the late afternoon. We walked the countries, rode Norway, saw the parade and Illuminations. Better than the show I saw two years ago. We stopped in Boardwalk Lobby on the way out and saw the incredible edible amusement park.
Day 4, Sunday, December 15
DFD & DFJ went to IoA early. DFB got that stomach virus going around so we hung close to the resort. We visited AKL at one point in the day but she didn't feel well long, so back to GF we went. That night we saw Cirque. Not as good as others, but I guess it needs to appeal to kids too. And the children in the audience were definitely enjoying the silly clowns.
Day 5, Monday, December 16
DFD & DFJ left at 7:30 for the airport. DFB, feeling much better, drove them while I packed up the room. We ate breakfast at Perkins, then scurried to Epcot to ride some things we had missed. Took the boat to MGM. Slow but very very relaxing. Saw the car show, road RnR two times, walk on. TOT two times, 5 minute wait, then to the GMR which was the longest wait of the entire weekend...about 30 minutes. We wandered around and made it back to the Osborne lights right at 6pm. I don't know. I guess I was expecting something more. I was a bit disappointed. We headed back to Epcot to see if the line for the Candlelight Processional was as long as it had been on Saturday....longer - go figure. So we headed to the airport, returned our car and checked in at the Hyatt.
Day 6, Tuesday, December 17
Now THIS is the best hint I can give anyone. If you can manage the $99 rate for a night, being in the airport (the hotel is part of the airport) and
simply having to wake up and go downstairs to check in for your flight, is the BEST idea I've ever had on a trip. Absolutely no stress. What a
wonderful way to end a magical trip.
We didn't do all we had planned, but I have never laughed as much as this trip. Good friends brighten up even the lousiest weather. We're already planning our next trip in October when we'll do a reall dollarless trip. And of course, I have the group trip I host every first full weekend in June. And in 68 days, DFB and I are headed to DL & Vegas for my birthday. Yeah!
Thanks to you all for helping plan this wonderful trip!!!!!
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