As we proceed to make up for misplaced time after not touring in any respect as a household final 12 months, we arrive on the journey I’m most wanting ahead to: Child Bricker’s first Christmas at Walt Disney World. We’ve been extremely lucky to do some superb issues in her first year-plus, however WDW remains to be the place we name “house” and the vacation season is our favourite time of the 12 months in Florida.
We’ve got so many recollections collectively as a pair at Christmas from the final almost two-decades and now we can’t wait to include Child Bricker (Megatron) into these, creating contemporary traditions and forming new nostalgia that we’ll cherish for years to return. It’s additionally a little bit of a homecoming for us, as Sarah and I’ve not been capable of take our conventional Christmas journey to Walt Disney World collectively for the final two consecutive years–and we beforehand had not missed a 12 months since 2007!
Suffice to say, I’m past able to be executed with the solo vacation season journeys and attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering as a household. To see Candlelight Processional collectively (in all probability from outdoors the amphitheater, nevertheless it nonetheless counts). To look at the Vacation Storytellers at EPCOT and Beacons of Magic. Even to attend Jollywood Nights–I’m actually curious to listen to Sarah’s opinion of the brand new occasion. Actually, this checklist could possibly be totally Christmas entries as a result of there are that many, however I’m going to combine it as much as maintain issues attention-grabbing. Let’s dig in!
Wilderness Lodge at Christmas – We’re massive on household traditions. We’re additionally massive on Christmas. So it in all probability checks out that we’re greatest of all on Christmas household traditions. We’ve began quite a lot of these over the past couple years, absolutely realizing that not all of them will “stick” and that we’ll slim our focus to those that really grow to be significant.
The Christmas custom we might’ve favored to start out was staying Previous Trustworthy Membership Degree at Wilderness Lodge yearly. Then we priced that out and, ahem, wow. Even for a break up keep or one evening, it was greater than we may abdomen. Suffice to say, we determined to downgrade…not simply to a typical room at Wilderness Lodge, however to Port Orleans French Quarter. It’s been an costly journey season for us and there’s “analysis” to be executed on the brand new rooms at POFQ, so it simply made sense.
In consequence, the Christmas custom we’ll truly be beginning is a dinner at Wilderness Lodge adopted by a household photoshoot (by me, not any professionals) throughout our favourite spots at Wilderness Lodge. Enjoyable photographs, and likewise ones we are able to repeat on every Christmas-time journey as an instance how a lot Megatron has grown. (There are literally quite a lot of areas round Wilderness Lodge which might be excellent for charting top!)
Breakfast at Crystal Palace – Winnie the Pooh is within the operating as certainly one of Megatron’s favourite characters. Perhaps certainly one of her favourite folks, interval. She sees Pooh & Pals typically at Disneyland as a result of they’re low stakes characters, has a Pooh plush that she likes to boop on the nostril, and reads their books.
Most of it is because I actually like Winnie the Pooh, which is one thing I “found” comparatively lately (pre-Megatron by a number of years). Turning into a fan of Pooh, a vastly well-liked character who has been round some time, as an grownup can be an odd factor to shout from the rooftops, so I’ve solely talked about it in passing a number of occasions. However I actually do love Pooh’s humor, perspective and attraction–his complete “deal.” To the extent one thing that’s extremely rated can nonetheless be underrated, I believe Pooh is.
Anyway, Megatron agrees. Probably for various causes. However however, she loves seeing Winnie the Pooh and different characters from the Hundred Acre Wooden. She even loves booping Pooh on the nostril all through the pages scattering the queue in Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. (A line she likes greater than most rides!) Between her fondness for Winnie the Pooh and character meals, we are able to’t wait to see how she reacts to Crystal Palace.
Merry Menagerie (and Perhaps Actual Animals?!) – You’ve in all probability seen our effusive reward for Merry Menagerie at Animal Kingdom, which is arguably the spotlight of the vacation season at Walt Disney World. In case not, Merry Menagerie is animal puppets which might be majestic and awe-inspiring. These are some sturdy phrases for what you could possibly dismiss as seen people transferring round animals. It’s actually not.
The Merry Menagerie puppeteers emote as they management the animals, and the road between performer and critter is blurs, as every takes on the character and feelings of the opposite. It’s actually outstanding how efficient that is, and the way straightforward it’s for friends to droop disbelief. It’s a type of ‘little issues’ at Walt Disney World we’ve been speaking about lately that’s the place the magic actually lives.
All of that’s true with adults. Unsurprisingly, it’s even simpler to get children to droop disbelief. Typically I can accomplish that with a Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh plush and actually horrible voice over work. Level being, Megatron loves animals and loves puppets, so this must be an absolute slam dunk. I’m additionally hoping we get a correct do-over with DAK, and he or she takes an curiosity in animals different than simply random squirrels and such.
Nation Bear Musical Jamboree – This will likely be Megatron’s third model of Nation Bear Jamboree, and first that’s completely in English. Not that the language half actually issues…I believe she’s in it only for the cute cats. (In our home, these bears are cats.)
I additionally don’t actually count on the extra acquainted Disney songbook at Nation Bear Musical Jamboree to maneuver the needle a technique or one other. Principally as a result of none of those songs are acquainted to her. The one Disney songs she actually is aware of and loves are “Grim Grinning Ghosts” (dad’s model) and “it’s a small world.”
Nonetheless, we love the Nation Bears and can take each alternative to indoctrinate her into the Bear Band’s ways in which we get.
Experience the Rail, Sky & Water – One factor we’ve already discovered is that lots of Megatron’s favourite sights are literally transportation rides. (Yep, she’s our daughter!) She likes to experience them and wave at folks from them, or wave at them.
Nowhere has as many modes of transportation as Walt Disney World. The railroad, monorail, and varied boats will definitely be enjoyable–however I’m most wanting ahead to taking her on the Skyliner. It didn’t actually register along with her the final time we did it, however loads has modified since then and her fondness for transportation has actually blossomed in the previous few months.
Snow on Fundamental Road – There’s one thing magical about seeing blizzard. That’s true whether or not it’s the primary time ever or first snow of the season. Whilst a local Michigander who lived within the snow belt and frequently acquired dumped on by the lake impact snow machine, it nonetheless will get me.
Heck, even the pretend stuff will get me within the parks. There’s one thing equally magical about experiencing a simulated snowfall on Fundamental Road–it truly is like being transported 1000’s of miles away to a different time and place within the Midwest.
Megatron has but to expertise snow, actual or pretend, so we’re curious as to how she’ll react to it. Or if she’s going to in any respect! Both manner, it’ll be memorable for her mother and father to witness her watching her first-ever snoapfall!
4 Steps in 4 Parks in 1 Day – Megatron’s sleep schedule is now on Japanese Time, identical to mine! This could make Child’s First Early Entry and Rope Drop at Walt Disney World a definite chance. I really like the concept of heading to EPCOT very first thing, and having her stroll by means of World Showcase (and past) as we get pictures of her in our favourite place with out different friends round.
Then the wheels began turning. Why cease there? If we’re out the door by 7:30 am, we may simply knock out EPCOT by 10:30 am, take the Skyliner over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, boat again to Seaside Membership to see the Mickey’s Christmas Carol Carousel, bus to Animal Kingdom to see Merry Menagerie, and bus to Magic Kingdom to shut out the park! Kill like a half-dozen birds with one stone.
Whilst I kind this, I understand it’s overly formidable and the wheels are sure to fall off by, like, step 3. Perhaps properly earlier than that if we aren’t capable of make it out the door of our lodge room on-time, as is commonly the case these days. (It looks as if we’re perpetually in tardy mode.) So possibly the purpose ought to simply be “Child’s First Rope Drop.” Even that could be overly optimistic as soon as the sensible realities come into play. Nah, let’s swing for the fences.
Say Goodbye to Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island – After I was initially developing with this checklist, it was simply Rivers of America. It didn’t seem to be we’d have an opportunity or have to say goodbye to Tom Sawyer Island, not less than as a household.
Wow how rapidly issues change with children. Megatron went from barely having the ability to stand with help to capably operating round and eager to discover on her personal, rejecting our fingers, within the blink of an eye fixed. (I suppose she’s not likely Child Bricker anymore!) Now, we’re actually excited to take her over to the island, let her discover, and see how she reacts to all the little nooks and crannies of Tom Sawyer Island. And take heaps and many pictures, clearly.
Talking of pictures, Sarah and I’ve beloved the peaceable promenade alongside the Rivers of America and have made a degree of savoring this late at evening for the final ~15 years. We’ve got tons of pictures of us as a pair over time (…which could make you surprise why I selected essentially the most awkward pose–it’s the oldest one I may discover, from 2008!) and we’d love so as to add a brand new household photograph Megatron. Hopefully one with a pure pose, however that’s not likely our fashion.
Say Goodbye to the Boneyard – First we should always in all probability say hey to it, I suppose. Whereas we’ve paid cursory visits to the Boneyard over time “for analysis,” we’ve by no means absolutely explored or appreciated it. In contrast to Tom Sawyer Island, it feels much less conducive to adults-only visits, and we haven’t wished to be the awkward Childless Disney Millennials goofing round in a playground.
A part of me wonders if spending time within the Boneyard is a mistake. If that is one state of affairs the place ignorance is bliss, and I’m higher off with my present “good riddance” perspective in direction of Dino-Rama (technically that is a part of Dinoland USA, and the entire of the world is best than simply Dino-Rama).
Anyway, a number of of our associates with children love the Boneyard and rank it amongst Disney’s finest play areas in all the world. If this weblog abruptly begins a grassroots marketing campaign to save lots of Dinoland USA in early 2025, I suppose you’ll know the place we stand on it. Even with out spending in depth time there, I already assume it’s odd Disney isn’t retheming this to Indiana Jones. It’s a workable theme and the parks want extra areas for youths to discover, not fewer.
Figment Assembly Figment – That is far and away #1. As talked about in What Went Incorrect Throughout Child Bricker’s First Journey to Walt Disney World, we failed to fulfill Figment. On our subsequent, shorter household go to, we purposefully opted towards assembly him, saving it for Christmas.
Now, the celebrities have aligned and Megatron matches into her Figment costume and can, fingers crossed, get to put on that whereas strolling to fulfill Figment for the primary time. I’ve needed to remind myself to not get too excited or construct anticipation an excessive amount of, to keep away from a state of affairs the place the expectations and actuality don’t fairly match. As a result of though Megatron loves assembly characters, there are particular ones she loves greater than others.
The potential “downside” with Figment is that he’s extra of an unknown. Whereas she’s properly acquainted with Mickey Mouse & Pals or Winnie the Pooh’s Posse, her solely familiarly with Figment is as soon as on the experience (which she beloved, however that was months in the past) and the large ‘statue’ of him subsequent to her crib (which she additionally loves). Fingers crossed that the statue quadrupling in dimension is thrilling as an alternative of terrifying!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider our checklist of issues we are able to’t wait to do with Megatron this Christmas at Walt Disney World? Some other future household traditions, photograph ops, significant milestones, or issues we should always have her expertise earlier than they go away? What would your picks be for your loved ones’s model of this checklist? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
