HoliDisney Adventures

Prior to Christmas our good friends and Disney insiders Jamie and TJ (who tearfully moved to Pittsburgh recently) returned to O-Town for a weekend and took us on a tour of the Disney hotel holiday decorations. It was something we have wanted to do as long as we have lived here in Orlando and it did not disappoint. In fact, it was AWESOME.

Behold, the lobby of the Grand Floridian in all it's Christmas splendor:



Regularly, the Grand Floridian is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been in, but the Victorian themed hotel is even more stunning when decorated for the holidays with garlands, lights, a giant xmas tree and a life-size gingerbread house. Our happy friends and us:



Yes, we bought a gingerbread shingle from the gingerbread house and it was glorious.



After touring the Grand Floridian, stopping for a drink at the bar, listening to the live band and of course, enjoying our gingerbread we headed outside to watch fireworks over the boat dock that takes hotel guests to the theme parks. I'm pretty proud of this photo if I'm being honest with you:


Cuties:


Next stop was the rustic and cozy Wilderness Lodge with one of the most ginormous trees I have ever seen.



There may have been more Disney bars and more drinking, but mostly there were good friends and conversation. COME BACK FRIENDS!!!





Another Disney trip J and I took pre-Christmas was our romp to Celebration, Florida: Disney's planned community. We went last year as well to cruise around looking at the super duper over the top festive light displays that homeowners put up. But beyond the lights, they also make it snow in Celebration. Out of the sky. In Florida. Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:


Yes, it's really soap but it is pretty fun too. They play music, have fake ice skating, horse drawn carriages and a train that circles the town for the kiddies as well. Of course we had to get our obligatory shot with the Christmas tree!


While it might not get cold enough to bundle up and build snowmen, Orlando still has some pretty fantastic Christmas fun to be had if you know where to look. Living near Disney has been a pretty great perk to living here. More on our Christmas adventures to come soon!