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Tag Archives: Basin White
Capturing Disney in Pictures: 8th Day of Christmas Riding the WDW Monorail
Hop a WDW monorail for magical transportation.
Every photo has a story.
“Por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas. Ladies and Gentlemen, please collect your belongings and watch your head and step. Please assist small children by the hand.” If you’ve ever ridden on a Disney monorail, this simple exit speech is etched into your Disney memory forever.
Picture this…since the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World, the monorail system has carried more than one billion passengers. The WDW Resort Monorail System, the most heavily traveled passenger monorail system in the world, carries nearly 150,000 passengers every week day. Each year, the monorails transports more than 50 million people. If you are looking for a break from the theme park crowds this holiday season, hop a monorail and tour some of the breathtaking resorts along the monorail route.
Your first stop…the Contemporary Resort offers some shopping and a quick lunch at the Contempo Cafe. As you watch other monorails zip through the building, you’ll definitely want a Black Forrest Cupcake for dessert. A traditional Contemporary must-see is the floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural, created by artist and Disney legend Mary Blair, whimisically celebrating the beauty of the Grand Canyon and the southwest region. Need some quiet time to rest your achy feet? Take an escalator down one floor to the Convention Center area, where there are usually some fluffy couches available, and the bathrooms here are super clean, quiet, and roomy.
Next stop…the Polynesian Resort, where you’ll enter a South Pacific themed tropical paradise. Walk down to the lower level and gaze at the 70 species of plants found around the waterfall. Take a seat, so close you are within reaching distance of the flora, and feel your vacation tensions melt away to the sound of the peaceful falling waters. If you need a quick bite to eat, try Captain Cook’s or the Tambo Lounge. If you are here near nightfall, ask about the Polynesian Resort‘s torch-lighting ceremony, which includes a traditional fire-knife dance together with authentic drumming and chants.
Last stop… is the magnificent Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Labeled as the flagship hotel of the Walt Disney World Resorts, just standing in the five-story lobby is a journey into opulence and splendor. There are six restaurants to choose from and shopping at Basin White or M. Mouse Mercantile. Pull up a chair and listen to the frequent musical entertainment, which ranges from a pianist seated at a grand piano to a Disney big band. Because this holiday decoration will be gone after New Years, make a trip over to the Victorian era-style Grand Floridian gingerbread house before you make your way back upstairs for the monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom.
A modernistic transportation system to journey you to the Future, the South Seas, and the Victorian Era…all in a Disney holiday’s time.
Thanks for stopping by for a photographical Disney ride!
Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Visit my blog at mouzekateerz.com, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
Capturing Disney in Pictures: 3rd Day of Christmas at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian
Every photo has a story.
With theme park crowds at some of their highest levels during the Christmas Season, you may need a break from the long lines. Hop a monorail and head over to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for some holiday shopping in a fabulous resort themed in the style of America’s palace hotels. As you walk into the lobby from the monorail platform, you’ll feel as if you have entered an archetectural era of days gone by. Inspired by the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado, the five story lobby will take your breath away.
The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa decorates each holiday season with a can’t miss Victorian era inspired gingerbread house. Grab your camera and head to the right side of the lobby, where you’ll find a staircase frequently used for bridal portraits for weddings held at the resort. Snap your own photo here on the stairs, followed by a shot next to their astounding Christmas tree, and then make your way across the lobby to the gingerbread house taken straight from every child’s Christmas morning fantasy.
Picture this…the GF Gingerbread House is whipped up every year from scratch using 800 pounds of flour, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, 1,050 pounds of honey, and 180 pounds of apricot glaze. It takes about 400 hours to bake everything, and by everything, I mean the upwards of 10,000 pieces it takes to complete the mouth-watering 16-foot-tall piece of culinary architecture.
Want to learn some neat tips for creating your own holiday gingerbread masterpiece?
Grand Floridian Gingerbread House decorating demos are held Monday through Saturday right out in front of the Victorian Gingerbread House. You’ll need to bring your Disney Rewards Visa, because with all these sweet-treat options, you probably won’t walk away empty handed. There’s usually a classical pianist or a big band performing all your favorite Disney tunes in the lobby. Rest those feet for a while – enjoy your snack.
When you’ve had your fill of gingerbread, walk back upstairs to the monorail level and spend some time in Basin White. Basin White has a very simplistic décor that focuses all your attention on their specialty line of luxury bath and body care. With an amazing selection of bath bombs, salts, scrubs, and perfumes, they have a wide range of specialty soaps that you must smell to believe. You can preview some of their holiday soap bars right here. You’ll not soon forget the clean smells and the colorful soaps. Basin White is a great place to wash your hands with their sugar and salt scrubs before you resume your journey back to the Magic Kingdom. Don’t be surprised if you take some home for the holidays.
Gingerbread for the tummy and fabulous bath products for the body…what a excellent holiday combination.
Thanks for stopping by for a photographical Disney ride!
Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
