Thursday's Tip

As I've mentioned a time or two (or three or four or...), visiting Walt Disney World at Christmastime is on my Disney "bucket list." Gotta get there one of these days! As it turns out, my brother and his family are headed there next week, and in answering a few questions for him, I started thinking of a tip that is specific to visiting WDW during the holidays: plan a minimum of one day to tour the Resorts. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I actually think this is a great tip for ANY visit to WDW, but it's especially important during Christmas. Here are just a few things you can see--for free!--at Walt Disney World during the Christmas season:

• A giant gingerbread house is on display at the Grand Floridian Resort. Enough said.


• The Beach Club displays a child-sized gingerbread carousel, while the Yacht Club features an entire candy-coated village.


• At the Contemporary Resort, you can visit a chocolate and sugar toy shop!


• View an outdoor light display, courtesy of camping guests at the Ft. Wilderness Campground. Yes, the campers bring their own elaborate decorations, and I've heard it's nothing short of spectacular! (While you're at Ft. Wilderness, you can enjoy a genuine sleigh ride? They aren't free, but what a fun treat!)


• You can hang with Santa at Downtown Disney.


• And don't forget all the amazing trees at the Resorts, each decorated with ornaments representative of each specific Resort!

There's so much to see and do at WDW that doesn't cost anything but your time. If you're lucky enough to visit during the Christmas season, you'll definitely want to check out these fabulous displays!

Candlelight Processional Schedule Complete

If you've had the good fortune to visit Walt Disney World during the Christmas season, I hope you took advantage of the opportunity to see the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre in Epcot. This traditional show features music from a Cast Member choir, as well as readings from guest celebrity narrators. If you'll be hanging with Mickey and the gang for the Christmas holidays this year, be sure to check it out! The 2011 narrator schedule is as follows:

• Nov. 25–27: Mira Sorvino


• Nov. 28–Dec. 1: Michael W. Smith


• Dec. 2–3: Geena Davis


• Dec. 4–6: Edward James Olmos


• Dec. 7–9: Isabella Rossellini


• Dec. 10–12: Neil Patrick Harris


• Dec. 13–15: Lorraine Bracco


• Dec. 16–18: Chita Rivera


• Dec. 19–21: Trace Adkins


• Dec. 22–24: Susan Lucci


• Dec. 25–27: Blair Underwood


• Dec. 28–30: Marlee Matlin

Here's a pic of one of my favorite narrators from previous years, Steven Curtis Chapman. (He lives here in the Nashville area, and I actually taught his boys gymnastics when they were preschoolers.) And that's my Cast Member friend Conny, directly to his left, in the choir. So, yep, I was pretty excited when I found this photo, ©Disney.



Who's your favorite from the 2011 list?