[Cinderellafifi]

Well, we have been home for a week and a day but this is the first chance I have had to post my report because our computer was down.

Arrival: Saturday, December 28th. We drove up to Disney in the morning and got there around noon. It was quite chilly - in the low 60's with a strong wind so it felt even colder. We checked in to the Hotel Royal Plaza at Downtown Disney. The lobby was nicely decorated for the holidays. We were told to come back for check-in around 4. So, off to Downtown Disney we were.

It was still decorated for the holidays even though officially the celebration was supposed to have endeed at DWND on the 24th. We had a nice lunch at Rainforest, although I found the food to be less than average. Then we shopped and went back to the hotel at 3:30. Our room still was not ready. At four, not ready. At 4:30, I was annoyed. My DD was asleep in the lobby, my mom was sore from sitting in her wheelchair, the baby needed to be nursed, etc. :hmmm

Finally, at almost 5:00 our room was ready. The suite was very nice but the sofa bed had no linens on it and there were no extra in the room. (So, very late at night we had to call for linens and blankets (it was cold!) and make the bed ourselves. )

That night we went to MGM to see the lights. It was soooo cold out!! EVERYONE was bundled up! The sweatshirts and jackets were flying off the shelves! :laugh The weather just added to the specialness of the night. The "snow" falling and the beautiful lights all around - ahhhh. I just love Disney!:love: So, after we could not take the cold any longer, we went back to Royal Plaza and had dinner at the restaurant there. Food was not bad and the prices were good - kids eat free!

Sunday: Got up early to check in to our other hotel, Marriott's Royal Palm Villas. Of course we knew we could not get into the room but wanted to drop off our luggage. Then we were off to EPCOT.

Okay, we made a rookie mistake and I was mad at myself. We didn't buy my mom's entrance ticket at the Royal Plaza so we had to wait in line - 30 minutes!!!!! :devil There was one family at the head of the line who had to find the person who was paying. She then had to find her money. Then they didn't have enough cash.... Why people? Why do this?

So, knowing our hotel would be ready "soon" we went straight to the countries to eat. We had lunch in England, pastry in France, Lamb in Morocco, and an eggrolll in Japan. Yes, all that food, one country after the other. :weird: Then we left to get to our villa.

The Royal Palm Villas are absolutely gorgeous!!! Huge 2 bedrooms, 2 bath with screened patio overlooking the golf course. Jacuzzi tub in the master. Washer/dryer - everything!! You could not hear anybody else above, below, or next to us and they were booked solid. I highly recommned this hotel to anyone who not only needs the room but wants to be as close as possible to Disney. (It is located on route 536 which turns into a Disney highway. It was so easy and fast going to and from the parks to the hotel.) Our AAA rate was $158.00 a night. Granted, I booked in July.

Monday: Off to MK. Too many people. Didn't do much but did get on the Jungle Cruise which I hadn't been on in 10 years. It was fun. Got stuck in the parade crowds when we were trying to leave. Yuck.

That night, we had a wonderful dinner at the California Grille. I will post separately about it because it was so good.

Tuesday: (New Year's Eve) No parks - learned our lesson last year. Went to Universal to eat at Hard Rock. The weather was blustery as we were told torrential rains were coming. Lunch was good - spent too much on merchandise. Well, hubby did, not me. :devil

New Year's Eve: Torrential rain at 8:00 sharp! Could not even see the roads! Taxis were running pretty promptly, however. But, another boo boo on my part - I forgot our tickets to Pleasure Island at HOME. Nice people at the ticket booths took 30 minutes to find our records to give us duplicates. By the time we got our tickets, we were soaked to our undies. No joke.

In line at PI to get in, they handed out Mickey ponchos for free. We went straight to 8 Trax and had a great time! They did set of fireworks but we didn't bother to go out to see them. It was still a magical Disney new year!

Wednesday: An important and valuable tip that I got from Disney Central: go to MK January 1st. It was beautiful! No people (relatively), no waiting, and beautiful weather. We had a great day! That night we went to EPCOT and saw Figment, rode Spaceship Earth and finished up the countries.

Then, I was became extremely depressed as we were leaving EPCOT knowing we had to leave the next day. I was really sad to go.

Well, that's it in a nutshell. Had a very good time. Can't wait to go back!!!!

[mickey]

Cinderellafifi, thanks for the trip report. We stayed at Royal Palms before joining DVC. It was nice, in a good location if you have a car (their "shuttle" is almost non-existant) and you get to use the pool at the Marriott World Center, which is only a 2 or 3 minute walk. I really liked it, much more than any other place we have stayed off property.

Glad you had a good time, despite the rain.

[dab]

Thanks for the trip report. We had tossed around the idea of staying at Hotel Royal Plaza vs Port Orleans Riverside and have decided on POR. It sounds like we made a wise decision considering your bad experience there. I guess you weren't there long enough to see if they could redeem themselves. Would you stay there again? Sorry your Rainforest experince wasn't too great... it is one of our favorites!!

[yesdisneyfool]

Welcome back. Christmas in Disney was great for us too.

[Cinderellafifi]

We had tossed around the idea of staying at Hotel Royal Plaza vs Port Orleans Riverside and have decided on POR. It sounds like we made a wise decision considering your bad experience there. I guess you weren't there long enough to see if they could redeem themselves. Would you stay there again?

Yes, I would certainly stay there again. I think that the hotel is very nice and the service is quite good, all things considered. Plus, I have stayed there before and never had a problem.

I had left my comforter in our room and when I went back the next day to get it, they had it bagged for me and waiting. That I appreciated.

As for the Rainforest, I just love that restaurant. I will go again and just order something different! :)

[trishb]

Do you have one particularly memorable experience to share? Loved your report on the California Grill!

[BDavis932]

FiFi! Welcome back! Thanks for the trip report. Too bad about the rain. But as I always say "I'd rather be at Disney in a downpour, than at home in the sunshine!"

I'm so jealous! I want to live in Florida. I WILL retire there someday. I'm already rearching the state for that "perfect" place!

Glad you had fun! Time to plan your next trip!

[belle]

Welcome back, sounds like you had a wonderful trip!

The California Grill report was excellent. We've never gotten a chance to eat there yet, but by the sounds of your report we'll have to give it a try!

[wdwjeff]

I've been waiting for your report, Fifi. Sorry your computer crashed. Sounds like you had a great time!!:D :)