#tbt 2019 Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail

Today, we're continuing our Christmas in July week with another walk down memory lane.  I never posted much about our Disney trips back in 2019 since Eliot and I were traveling for 6 weeks from the end of November through mid-January.  Things were insane and after we got home, I was really sick and then the pandemic started.

I thought it would be fun to look back on one of our experiences during our trip to Walt Disney World in the days before we left for our back-to-back Very Merrytime Christmas Cruises on the Disney Cruise Line.  Eliot and I went to Florida a few days before our cruise.  Even though we had literally just been at Walt Disney World with his family for Thanksgiving, we wanted to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and check out a few other holiday offerings in the area.  (I'll write more about those later this year...)

For our throwback today, I thought we'd take a peek at Eliot's and my trip to Disney Springs to see the 2019 Christmas Tree Trail!  So let's close our eyes and picture a warm, festive Florida evening in early December of 2019...  

I was so excited to do this since we'd never done it before.  As Eliot and I approached the entrance to the Christmas Tree Trail I was elated at what was in store for us!  It was pretty crowded, but we slowly made our way inside.  As soon as we walked into the fenced in area, we were greeted with trees.  I won't write about each of the trees on display, but I've collected images of all of them in the order Eliot and I saw them.

1- Walt Disney World Christmas Tree

2- Mickey and Minnie Christmas Tree

3- Beauty and the Beast Christmas Tree

4- Sleeping Beauty Christmas Tree

5- Princess and the Frog Christmas Tree

6- Little Mermaid Christmas Tree

7- Aladdin Christmas Tree

8- Frozen Christmas Tree

9- Mulan Christmas Tree

10- Snow White Christmas Tree

11- Toy Story Christmas Tree

12- Haunted Mansion Christmas Tree

13- Pinocchio Christmas Tree

14- Villains Christmas Tree

15- Cinderella Christmas Tree

16- Dumbo Christmas Tree

17- Star Wars Christmas Tree

18- Peter Pan Christmas Tree

19- Tangled Christmas Tree

20- Lion King Christmas Tree

21- Mary Poppins Christmas Tree

22- Fantasia Christmas Tree

At the end of the Christmas Tree Trail, there was a booth with some merchandise and snacks.  Eliot saw cotton candy... so naturally we got one.  I was able to get it away from him long enough to take this photo.  Let's just say that it didn't last too long.

We poked around the store, but I wish they had more stuff that said Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail on it.  On the way out, we admired the toy soldiers on display.

I really enjoyed the painted fence on the way out of the trail and back to the shops.

Along the fence, they had a few ads for Noelle on Disney+ since it came out that year.

Of course, there was also some unofficial advertising throughout the trail... Disney is good at that.  On each of the Christmas Trees, Disney had lanterns with ornaments that were on sale.  The lanterns all had stickers stating that "Ornament Inside Available at Disney's Days of Christmas" in Disney Springs.

I absolutely loved checking out all of the trees on the Christmas Tree Trail.  I'm totally into holiday decorating anyways... but it was the details that impressed me.  Some trees were better than others, but they all were put together well.  My favorite was the Tangled tree.  I'd like to have a Tangled tree in my office someday, and this gave me great ideas.  I loved the flowers, braided hair, purple and pink ornaments, paint brushes and palettes, the frying pan and the glowing lanterns!

I'm so glad that Eliot and I made time to go to Disney Springs to check this out!  It was so much fun and a great family activity to do on a quiet night if you need a break from the theme parks.  I hope Disney continues to have this every year since there are so many different movies and attractions that they could make Christmas trees for!

Wasn't that fun?  Eliot and I both loved the Christmas Tree Trail and seeing all of the Christmas tree designs for each of the movies.  It definitely inspired me to decorate more of my own themed trees (even if they're only small ones) for our house!  °o° 

KeyCon 2014 Trip: Day #2

The second day of my trip, I wanted to make the most out of being at Disney by myself. My new friend Wanda had a tour at the Magic Kingdom in the morning so I was on my own.  I slept in a little so I'd be recharged for the day.  When I got up, I decided that my first Walt Disney World Solo Mission would be Blizzard Beach!!!

Blizzard Beach is one of my favorite parts of Walt Disney World.  It's surprising to me how many people don't take advantage of the water parks.  The first time I went to Blizzard Beach, we were at Walt Disney World when I was 12 for Christmas.  I got a huge chuckle out of the "fake" snow when our friends and family back home in Maine had the real deal.  I'll never forget listening to Christmas carols while walking around in my bathing suit.  I make it a point to go there every trip to WDW- as long at it's open. 

I knew Blizzard Beach was going to be closed when we return in January, so I decided I'd get my fill this trip.  I started my water park day the same way I always do, with a trip around Cross Country Creek.  (I had promised my friends and family that I'd do a few trips around the lazy river in their honor.)  While everyone back home was dealing with the seasonal temperature changes, I was floating along in the warm waters the lazy river. As I looked up at the sun shining through the trees, I felt nothing but contentment and relaxation.  I went around three times before getting off near the Purple Slope.

Eliot loves the Toboggan Racers so I had to go down them at least once for him.  I had a blast and I even came in second of the eight riders!  Although, I was up against a bunch of kids, so maybe that's not really a big win.  After my ride, I decided to head over to Melt-Away Bay to enjoy the wave pool.  I grabbed a tube and floated along.  The waves turned on and a bobbed up and down near the wave maker for a while.  Eventually, I made my way back to the lazy river for two more trips around the park before calling it a day.  To my excitement, the cast member at the locker return offered me an Olaf bag instead of my $5.  I had to get the Olaf bag; Eliot would have disowned me otherwise!

After an enjoyable morning and afternoon, I headed back to Pop Century to take a shower and rest a little.  I stopped by Concierge to purchase my Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets for that evening, and was completely shocked when the cast member told me they were sold out!?!?  I should have known Columbus Day weekend would be busy.  However, I've never bought MNSSHP tickets in advance except for Halloween night in 2010.  I was pretty bummed out that I wouldn't be meeting more up with more of the Key to the World crew.  Thankfully, I had a little bit of a surprise waiting for me at my room.  I had a KeyCon welcome goody bag waiting for me on my extra bed. Eeyore, Duffy and Olaf were left curled up on my bed by Mousekeeping.

I sent Wanda a text to let her know I wouldn't be meeting up with her at MNSSHP.  Then I showered and ended up taking a nap.  When I woke up, I decided I'd go get dinner and head over to Downtown Disney to poke around for a few hours.  I left Eeyore, Olaf and Duffy in bed on my pillows.  Eating dinner at Pop Century alone was the first time I felt a little bit lonely all day.  Everyone else was sitting with their families enjoying dinner and I had a booth all to myself.  My delicious burger was well worth it though.

Walking around Downtown Disney alone was actually a lot of fun.  I took the opportunity to poke around stores I've never been in before.  I started in the scrapbook store and made my way into the art store.  I love admiring the Disney art. They even had a few new Thomas Kincade items!  I made my way from the Marketplace over towards the West Side.  Eliot wanted me to check out D Street for a few Vinylmations.  Along the way I stopped to admire the Lego sculptures and the Characters in Flight hot air balloon.

I didn't find the Vinylmations Eliot wanted, but I did enjoy looking at the candy apples in the candy store.  I wandered back towards the Marketplace and stopped to relax on a bench for a few minutes to watch the hot air balloon.  I continued along through the construction route.  It was a little crazy with all of the walls put up, but I'm excited to see how it'll look when Downtown Disney becomes Disney Springs.

I spent a while wandering around the World of Disney store.   It's always one of my favorite places to shop for park merchandise!  I found a few things that I made a mental note of.  I was very proud of myself when I left without purchasing anything!  I continued on and decided to look in a few places I never have.  Basin was at the top of my list.  I spent a while in there admiring the soaps and bath bombs.  I took a few photos of the Mickey soaps to show Eliot.

I continued on my quest and walked through the Arribas Brothers store.  I loved all of the glass work.  There was a cute Olaf necklace and new Frozen inspired vases and bowls. I continued on over to Tren-D where I found some awesome Harvey's seat belt bags. Next up was a quick peek around the pin store.  Then, I made my way over to Once Upon a Toy.  I love that place.  Eventually, I ended up at my weakness: Disney's Days of Christmas.  I took a lot of photos, but for once, I left the store without buying anything.  I was very proud of myself and my will power.

Of course, after having such a great display of willpower, I decided that I'd treat myself. My final stop was Goofy's Candy Co where I admired all of the candy apples.  I really wanted an Olaf apple, but I decided that since it was Halloween time, I would get a Minnie Mouse Witch candy apple instead.  I was supposed to be over at MMSSHP after all. This seemed like a pretty good consolation prize for missing out.

After I purchased my candy apple, I made my way back to the buses and headed to Pop Century.  I worked on my "top secret" KeyCon project for a little while and went to bed to prepare for another busy day!  °o°

Flashback Friday- Tigger VS Eeyore

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Eliot's and my second wedding anniversary!  Time really flies!  In honor of the occasion, I thought that I'd do a special Flashback Friday.

A few nights before our wedding, Eliot and I had our Bachelor and Bachelortte Night in Downtown Disney.  Katie, Ryan and BJ created a Photo Scavenger Hunt for our wedding party and friends to do together after dinner!  They dubbed it Team Tigger (the ladies) vs Team Eeyore (the guys).  It was so much fun.  I'm so glad we have the photos from the scavenger hunt to remember all of the fun we had!

We had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, so the scavenger hunt started there and went throughout all of Downtown Disney.  Here's a look at the fun:

Find a stranger with Mickey ears on and get a group photo with him/her.

Find a stranger with Mickey ears on and get a group photo with him/her.

Go to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique and get sprinkled! Take a photo of your sparkly hair.

Take a picture of your whole group modeling different variations of Mickey Ears.

Take a picture of your whole group modeling different variations of Mickey Ears.

Aaargh! Find ye a pirate and sail his ship. Don’t forget to snap a shot!

To infinity and beyond! Find Buzz, let him grab your butt!

To infinity and beyond! Find Buzz, let him grab your butt!

Have a member dress in Disney's trendiest fashion and give a little catwalk (hint: TrenD)

Go up to a cast member and ask for a Disney sticker, stick it on the bride or groom and take a picture of the bride or groom with the cast member.

Take a photo of three group members running away from or encountering a T-Rex, rawr!

Take a photo of three group members running away from or encountering a T-Rex, rawr!

Go to Rainforest Cafe and try to camouflage into the gift shop, take a picture to prove it.

Go to Rainforest Cafe and try to camouflage into the gift shop, take a picture to prove it.

Take a picture of a group member riding The Harley.

Take a picture of a group member riding The Harley.

Take a family photo, try to blend in with the blocks.

Carol with your Disney Friends. Group shot!

In the end, it was quite the race to the finish.  Team Tigger ended up winning by one photo!  As Team Tigger's captain, I ended up winning a $25 Disney Gift Card, so that was pretty awesome!  (I wasn't expecting a prize!)

This is a great activity to do for wedding parties, but it would also be a lot of fun for a family reunion.  If you're interested in doing the Downtown Disney Photo Scavenger Hunt for yourself, I've created a PDF version of the rules we used.  You can download it here.

It was so much fun!  I'm hoping that we can do it again someday!  °o°