It's Been An Epic Christmas Charlie Brown

Naturally the holidays are a busy time, but the past few days with the folks visiting Orlando have been a whole lotta fun.

• One of the first days in town, the folks and I hit the Disney monorail resorts to see the Christmas decorations. If you've ever get the chance during a holiday trip, the different gingerbread creations are fun to hunt. The big gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian is a sight (and smell) to behold. We ended up having the seafood buffet at Cape May at the Beach resort. Some very good food (especially the clam chowder, something I've taken a shine to of late). Mussels in clam chowder are also very tasty if you've never tried it. Dad came up with that good idea. Yep, I had snow crab too. :)
• Christmas Eve day we went to the Magic Kingdom, teeming with people. We enjoyed an Angus Bacon Cheeseburger near Tomorrowland, road the Disney train, People Mover, Haunted Mansion, Small World, and saw Christmas parade and the Hall of Presidents. About 8 pm (after getting to the park about 2) we were most tired, and skipped the Christmas fireworks. Instead, we got a late dinner and Dole Whip at the Polynesian. It was Mom's first time having Dole Whip.
• Christmas day, were were all still dragging, but managed to make church about 10:30, and then have Christmas lunch at Black Angus. Second time in that place, and still great service and food. Yep, I had snow crab too. Afterward we opened gifts. Got Iron Man 2, a 500 gig hard drive for R4, Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark, Axe shampoo etc gift pack, a Mickey flip book animation ornament, and Ocean Water Yankee candles for the apartment. Hey, I could not have asked for better...except a nap. We were all dragging bad, so we called an early day to sleep. I watch Iron Man 2 back at the apartment and dozed the rest of the night.
• Sunday we went to Downtown Disney AMC Theatres in the dropping temps and heavy going home/sale traffic to see Tron Legacy. There are not enough words in all the known languages to convey the awesome of this movie, especially in 3D. Loved it is an understatement. OMFG man, OMFG. (But did they HAVE to kill the grey Siren with the top bun and platform shoes? Yowza.) We followed up with an equally excellent dinner at Fulton's Crab House. More clam chowder, more snow crab, and I even tried Scotch for the first time. Oh did we all enjoy that meal!
• Monday's plan is for Dad and I to see Kennedy Space Center while Mom has a wind down day, then all of us go to Joe's Crab Shack for, what else, MORE CRAB. (If you haven't guessed it by now, we're a family of seafood lovers with mad, ninja skills when it comes to crab cracking. Just saying...) I'm looking forward to the guy's day out tomorrow, since Dad and I both enjoy aerospace and tech, plus it'll be fun to compare and contrast Kennedy Space Center with the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Yes indeed, this has been an exciting and fast paced Christmas, on par with previous family Disney trips, and our 2008 Dollywood/Gatlinburg trip. Out of all the things I've enjoyed, the most has been being able to share with Mom and Dad all the neat things to do and see here in Orlando. Many times I've said on the phone "I wish you guys were here to share this with me. You'd love it." Well, now they've been twice, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yeah, without a doubt, this is one of the best Christmases on record for me.

I hope it's been a good Christmas and Holiday time for all of you as well. Thanks for reading :)