Disney.....that's all I need to say

Why is it that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas seem to fly by. You always have way more than you can do, and it seems less time to do it in. We came back to FL to warmth and Disney. I had a condo in Orlando for a week at the beginning of December. If you love Disney and you love Christmas, you MUST see them collide...it's amazing. My mother and 2 sisters, 1 niece and her son all piled into a 3br condo for 4 nights...it was wonderful. We went to EPCOT...Animal Kingdom and Sea World.....what a fantastic time. There is just no way to describe the decorations .....Disney does everything top notch.  We started at Downtown Disney...had some dinner and a little fun.

Aunt Shea-Shea and Quinton ride the carousel....

 

The next day was EPCOT.....we saw shows, rode everything we could and saw the fireworks that night, it was a wonderful day and evening. Some of the group went back to the condo for a mid-afternoon rest but Shea and I walked over to The Boardwalk, had some lunch and did a little shopping. We got some cool Christmas gifts and we finally went into the USA pavilion to see the show. It was wonderful...they had carolers for entertainment in the lobby, but the movie you go upstairs to see is wonderful. The animated people on stage looked so real, the way they moved and their expressions were so real. Disney is just amazing. The others rejoined us in the early evening and it was time for some dinner and French pastries. Oh my they were good. After the fireworks show, it was time for a shower and bed.

Sunday was Animal Kingdom....we had been told to go early and go straight to the Jungle ride because the animals are out in the mornings...so that's exactly what we did and the animals were out. Britt had never been to Animal Kingdom and she had about as much fun as Q.

Look Q...there's the rhino and giraffe.....cool

 

Next came the lions....and zebras....can you see the lion on top of the rock

 

We'd had a great start to a wonderful day. Britt was dying to go ride Mt. Everest...so off we went. The others took Q to a petting zoo area...we had a blast and screamed like kids. We met the others in an area that has kid rides where Q could ride some things. Then it was time for a bird show....was pretty amazing.

 

The birds were beautiful and very well trained. After a bit more walking we decided to call it a day. We went back to Downtown Disney and had dinner at T-Rex....very cool. It's a lot like The Rainforest, but it's all about dinosaurs....very cool. Dinner was great....then we walked a bit...and no trip to Downtown Disney is complete without a stop at Ghiradeli for some ice cream....YUM-OH!!  Tomorrow Sea World....time for a shower and bed....

 

It had been many years since I'd been to Sea World so I was very anxious. The highlight for me was feeding the dolphins...I bought 5 fish and got to feed them...it was waaay cool. I've always wanted to swim the dolphins, now I'm sold...I will do that one day very soon. The first show we saw was the seal and walrus....they were great.

 It was a really good show. By today it was getting really warm, we were sorry we had to sit in the sun for the show, but it was still well worth it.  Next was some walking and just looking. They too were well decorated for Christmas....very nice. Britt and Shea and I rode the log ride...aka the ride where you get really wet...and we did. It was fun, but we did get wet. This is when you are glad it's hot. We stopped a few times to eat and drink...was a nice slow day.
The penguin ride and viewing was fantastic...

The crowd was small so we had a really nice day. Mom and Shea and I went to see The Polar Express ride....well done....and as you leave this ride you get to see white Buluga Whales....he was playing with a ball....

 

Our last stop was the Shamu Show....amazing...there were 5 or 6 whales and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time.

 

My pictures are not very good, but the show was amazing. We headed for home and were really happy to order pizza. Britt, Deb and Q left the next day and Mom and Shea and I had a slow day. We did some shopping and had a really nice lunch. Then they left and I was alone for 1 night....Denny came the next day and we had 2 nights. Wed night we met Denny's grandson Joseph and his girlfriend Courtney for dinner, it was a lovely evening and was very nice to meet Courtney. The next day we took it slow....got some breakfast and then made our way over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sometimes you can see the animals up close and I wanted to see the lodge all decorated. Well....nothing disappointed....the lodge was gorgeous and we got some great pictures of a giraffe. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Talk about limber!!!!

 

Now it was time to ride the Monorail and see the hotels decorations...so we parked and The Polynesian and jumped on the monorail.....The Grand Floridian is wonderful. They not only have the 2-story Ginger bread house, they have a jazz band playing all the time....it's just wonderful and very festive......

After buying, and eating some gingerbread "shingles"....we headed for The Contemporary....it was not as decorated as the others...but I loved this HUGE set of lit up mouse ears on the big glass window/wall....

 

 

Now it was time to go get some dinner and head home...but it had been a wonderful day. Not far from the condo was a Brazilian steak restaurant...we'd never been so we decided to give it a try.....not bad.

Tomorrow we have to head back home, but what a great week.

We came home by way of Solomon's Castle....a very unique place. One mane turned his hobbies into a home....a must see if you are in the area....

 

What a great way to get in the Christmas spirit.....Christmas at Disney.....as Q would say...

AMAHHHHHHZING!!!!