So, here we go again- back to Walt Disney World!
But we are switching it up a bit.
It’s only 4 of my family of 5 going as my oldest daughter will be knee deep in college finals and moving out of her dorm for winter break- so she is staying back home (don’t cry for her- she is going in January, when the rest of us are working and in school).
We are headed down for 5 nights in December (well, I am- everyone else is leaving a day earlier as the kids need to be back for school), starting in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, in a room in the main building with a view of Bay Lake from our balcony and the monorail outside our door…
Ironically, on October 1, 1971, the Walt Disney World Resort officially opened, including Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Why is that ironic you ask? Well, our last few nights are spent celebrating the Grand Opening of Disney’s newest resort- Disney’s Riviera Resort!
Our One Bedroom Villa will have a separate bedroom for Mike and I, with the kids in trundle and Murphy beds in the living room. We will have a sleek, fully equipped kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and a washer and dryer PLUS a soothing bubble-jet bathtub – which I might need after days long meetings as we are visiting as park of the Earmarked Program Owner’s Summit. The main reason we are heading down to Walt Disney World.
On our first day, we have planned to check in and head to Disney Springs- which is something we almost never do, and always kind of regret. Mike and Mikey are heading to The Void for a Star Wars Experience Mikey has been asking to do for as long as it opened: https://www.thevoid.com/dimensions/star-wars-vr/
Katie and I decided to check out the Christmas Tree Trail and Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt. We absolutely want to check out Amorette’s Patisserie, the Ganachery, and head to D-Luxe Burger for dinner (We can mobile order dinner AND they have a secret menu only available when you mobile order!) with Mike and Mikey. We will also be hunting for a Holiday Mickey pretzel and maybe even some holiday flavored cotton candy (last year they offered Gingerbread Man, Candy Cane, and Egg Nog).
The next day, we take the monorail over to Epcot for our lunch reservation at Via Napoli’s Candlelight Processional Dining Package. We have lunch at 1pm with our Candlelight Processional seating at 5pm with Gary Sinese. We have plans to take the Epcot Holiday Cookie Stroll and will wander World Showcase and explore Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays. Most of Future World is under renovation- but we have our favorites I am sure we will try to visit as well. We also have a late dinner reservation in La Hacienda de Angel to watch Epcot Forever from the comfort of their restaurant.
The next day, we check out of The Contemporary and head to Hollywood Studios. We have reservations at Oga’s Cantina, followed by building a droid, ending with building lightsabers! Somehow we need to add in the Star Wars; Galaxy’s Edge attractions too. I will need to be at the Riviera Resort to check into the Summit, attend a tradeshow, and a Welcome Reception by 4pm. There is Skyliner service from Hollywood Studios to The Riviera Resort- so that is likely how we will get there.
While I am attending meetings during the next day, Mike and the kids will explore the parks until we get to meet up again that night at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that night. I am so excited to see Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, which is new this year, and I am sure we will be all over the park checking out the festive snacks while riding our favorite attractions. I absolutely LOVE the parade as well, and if I can make it- I will likely take the time to watch too…
The next day, I have an agenda full of meetings from breakfast through dinner.
The kids will pack up after spending a few hours in the parks and head home on an early evening flight. I head home the next day, in time for Katie’s Christmas concert that night! Tis the season!
Do you have a Holiday Disney Destination trip planned?
So excited for my Disney December trip! I’m glad you’re going to take some time at Disney Springs, there are SO many cool things there now. We’re planning a lot of time there in January when I’m doing the Dopey Challenge – we can take the boat from Old Key West and I’m hoping it will be a little less walking intensive than the theme parks all day 😉