Once I’d had my fill of picture taking (and enjoyed the lack of crowds that results from word not yet being out that the gingerbread house was complete), I hopped back on the monorail. Time for some Christmas partying.
It should come as no surprise that I was once again selected for the metal detector going through security. I really have no issue with this, but the one problem with random selections is that you’re not prepared at all. It was a rush of pulling stuff (charger, cell phone…) out of pockets, when it was clear that they were trying to make this as painless as possible by making the walk through the metal detector just that, a quick walk through the metal detector. But, as with MOST Disney security I’ve encountered over the years, they were very pleasant, even as I was slowing down the process.
I entered the park through the “event” entrance without issue (it was just after 4) and got to work on my first order of business: taking pictures of holiday decorations.
Main Street was a zoo. The flag retreat was due to start in about 20 minutes, and the parade would be starting in 50. They were filming the concerts that week for the holiday specials, so they’d moved the 3 o’clock parade to 5, confusing all of the “What time is the 3 o’clock parade” guests, I’m sure. And it was clear that there were a lot of extra guests for the flag retreat.
Once my picture taking was done, I found an area to be present for the flag retreat. I wouldn’t really be able to see anything but the flag, but at least I would be present.
There was a lot of extra pomp and circumstance for this one, in light of the holiday. The band played from both levels of the train station. The CM group of veterans marched. And, the veteran in the spotlight was one who had just surprised his parents, in the Magic Kingdom, having returned from Afghanistan. I was glad I was able to watch the ceremony.
As the long line of veterans marched down Main Street, I booked it to my dinner reservation at Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen. When I arrived, I was informed that they were running a little behind, so it’d be about 15 minutes. Ok, no problem.
After about 15 minutes, I saw one of the CMs circling around with a single menu, clearly looking for someone, but not actually calling a name out. Since I’d seen the people who’d checked in immediately ahead of me be seated, I decided it was time to go to the desk to “check the status” of my wait. The poor CM looked so confused as he checked his computer and told me “I think they’re looking for you now”. He went and found the CM that was looking for me, and I was seated shortly thereafter.
The CM who seated me was a bit more interactive than the one who wasn’t bothering to call out my name, and carried over the Jungle Cruise concept perfectly. It was a fun interaction, and she clearly wasn’t expecting my sarcastic response to her comment on my being from NH (“I hear there are mountains in NH. That must be cool”. Me: “Cold, actually”), but she covered as best as she could while she tried to come up with her next line. Meanwhile, I was attempting to take in the atmosphere at the same time.
I was seated along a wall about midway through the main room, as usual, right next to a door. Seriously...solo guests are always seated in the worst locations!
Overall, dinner was good. The server was visibly stretched a little thin, but the food (“Tastes like Chicken, Because it is” and the bread) was very good, and the atmosphere was incredible. That restaurant was COLD though. Seriously...bring a sweatshirt. And this after waking up to 25 degree temps a few days before I went to Disney.
By the time dinner was over, it was getting dark. I made my way toward Main Street, and found a spot to take some castle pictures. Knowing that A Frozen Holiday Wish would be starting soon, I decided to just stay put.
As overdone as Frozen has become, the graphics they projected on the castle of the ice castle were phenomenal, and were a perfect segway into the lighting of the castle. I’m a huge fan of the castle lights (even though it means I’ve had a lot of trips with the crane present), so it was cool to finally see the lighting from near the castle (instead of while on a monorail or a boat…). And, let’s face it, all of these decorations and lights are super picture worthy (even though I’m pretty sure they’re using those damn LED lights on the castle now which are MUCH harder to get a good picture of!).
Main Street was super crowded with all of the day guests being ushered out, and the party guests taking pictures (in their PJs?!), so I headed for Tomorrowland, for a spin on the TTA. It felt REALLY good to put my foot up (which was noticeably more swollen than it had been earlier in the day).
Following my spin on the TTA, I decided to head for Storyland Circus to pick up a party shirt. It was very interesting getting over there. The wristband checkers were out in full force, to the point where I kind of wanted to walk around with my hand up above my head. But I was very appreciative that they were checking.
Once I’d acquired my new long sleeve shirt, I headed for Pete’s Silly Sideshow for my first “free” treat of the night. This year they changed from offering only one kind of cookie throughout the park to offering different treats at each location. At this one, I received sugar cookies (in the shape of snowmen) and hot apple cider. I was very impressed to receive not one, but 3 of the little cookies. And the cider tasted surprisingly good.
From here, I wandered a bit, and ended up over at Gaston’s Tavern for one of the specialty treats of the night: a Christmas Tree cupcake. You’ll have to google it; it was far too dark to take a picture. But it was supposed to be a spice cupcake with frosting that looked like a Christmas tree. The frosting part was right. The cupcake was more like a funfetti cake. I’d have been cool with that if it wasn’t clear the cupcake had been in its plastic container in a cooler for FAR too long. Moisture had built up on and in the wrapper so it was a sticky, soggy mess. FAIL.
Time for another “free” treat. Off to Tomorrowland for the peppermint bark cookies, by way of the castle for pictures.
Now about those cookies. Think chocolate chip cookies with peppermint bark instead of chocolate chips. These were full size cookies, and 2 were handed out. Here I regretted forgetting my plastic baggies in the hotel room so I could bring one back to Nick. But then I realized that’s what that decent sized napkin the cookies were handed to me in is for.
Cookie enjoyed (and the 2nd tucked away for later), I decided to check out the acapella group that was performing nearby, VoicePlay. They were no Rockapella, but they were alright.
About this time, I realized I’d lost the super crucial party times guide (Heather FAIL). The party maps were down near the train station. When I got the map, I noticed a reasonable spot for the parade (2nd row) that was starting in just a few minutes. Given how much my foot was really aching, the idea of camping out for the 11 pm parade, after standing for the fireworks at 10 was going to need to be thrown out the window. This seemed like a reasonable compromise. Only had to wait about 15 minutes, and between texting with Nick, who was finding his way onto a DME bus and needed reminders of what resort we were at, and whether or not he needed to visit the front desk, and chatting with the lady next to me, the time passed quickly.
This is the 2nd time I’ve seen the Christmas parade in person. I love it, having grown up watching it on TV every year. The last time I saw it, it was 85* outside on December 20, and it was the 3 o’clock parade. I loved it then (especially seeing those soldiers march!), but I REALLY loved it this time. Something about seeing it after dark, with all of the Christmas lights and the “snow” on Main Street just spiked that Christmas magic astronomically. Even now, a few years after my final Christmas in retail, it can take some effort to get into the Christmas spirit. No effort was needed tonight! I took a couple pictures, but mostly focused on video. Yes, I was that person juggling a point and shoot camera, a dSLR, and a cell phone.
Following the parade, I did...what else...more picture taking.
There was probably some wandering through stores that happened too. During this time, I found out for sure that Alexandra (our cruise dinner mate from Miami) would be in Epcot the next day.
Shortly before 10, I found a spot near the hub for the fireworks. This is where I really noticed just how much the crowds had thinned. I had no problem finding a patch of curb to sit and wait, pretty much exactly where I felt like waiting.
Confession time. By this point in the evening, this New Englander was cold. I was still in shorts and a pretty lightweight t-shirt. Temps had dropped to 56*. So I threw on the long sleeve shirt I’d tucked in my backpack this morning, and all was right again.
Warmed up just in time for fireworks, I got the camera ready to video. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough space left on my card for a full video so it ended up being two...one on my camera and one on my phone.
Then it was time for one more ride on the TTA. I’d been thinking Buzz Lightyear, but it was down, so...TTA it is!
Once I’d been welcomed back to Tomorrowland, I decided it was time to get going. So I limped toward the exit, taking more pictures, and bopping my head to the Christmas music along the way. It was like a blizzard on Main Street, but no shoveling was required!
As I exited, singing along to N’SYNC (still the best Christmas CD I own, BTW…), one of the security guys started in with “you’re not cold?!” (remember...flip flops, shorts, long sleeve shirt...52* at that point). My response? “It was 25* at home a couple days ago”. Him? “I figured you were from the north. The shorts kinda blew your cover”.
We chatted real winter for a few minutes, and then I made my way to the bus stop, surprisingly making it onto a waiting bus. The bus took that lovely shortcut over to POFQ, so I really was “home soon”, and I was back in my room, waking Nick up shortly after 11. He greeted me with “Can we always stay at this hotel", we chatted for a few minutes and then I crashed hard. It’d been a really long but really fun day.
Would I do MVMCP again? In a heartbeat. So much entertainment, such great atmosphere, just awesome. In my quest to get pictures of every holiday decoration possible, I caught bits and pieces of most of the entertainment (though, I made sure to catch the important stuff), but really didn’t scratch the surface. It’s looking like I get a surprise long weekend the same weekend next school year (and from googling it seems that less of the country will have a long weekend this time around), and mom, my sister and I are planning a ladies food and wine weekend for then. If MVMCP happens to fall on a night we’re there, I’m totally dragging them.
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