Day 8: Hubby’s 45th Birthday / H&H@TP 2017
Home » Travel »Day 8 of Hibiscus & Holly At The Poly 2017, the latest of my Disney Trip Reports, is here! Today we celebrated my husband’s birthday, and so, he got to decide exactly what we would do for the day! That included a visit to Disney Springs for a spot of lunch, and to see the Christmas Tree Trail. Then in the evening, we watched fireworks from the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
The Hibiscus & Holly at The Poly 2017 Trip Report Index tells you a bit about the planning of this trip, as well as some info about me and my family (the Cast Members!) In short you have me, Michelle; Steve, my husband; and Liam, my son. It also, of course, has the full list of days for the trip.
Day 8: Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail
Lunch at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ / Dole Whips from Pineapple Lanai / Christmas Wishes from Poly
December 14, 2017
You will be able to find all of the images from Hibiscus & Holly At The Poly 2017 in my Flickr Collection of albums from this trip. To see just today’s photos, you can view this Flickr Album.
Hibiscus & Holly At The Poly: Trip Report Index | Pre-Trip Report
Part of the reason for booking this trip to Walt Disney World was to celebrate my husband Steve’s 45th birthday. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do a month-long vacation like we did for my 40th (read: WDW-40, 2016), but we were able to be in our favourite place in the whole world!
Before we even stepped foot on the aeroplane, I asked Steve what he wanted to do for his special day – after all, I chose everything on my birthday! He said he wasn’t really fussed, as long as we were there with him, which is so typical of him!
I had booked an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) for California Grill in the evening, and in the days leading up to it, was trying desperately to organise a Disney Cake for him, but to no avail. I wasn’t able to get through on the phone and kept being passed from pillar to post, so in the end, I gave up and apologised to Steve for lack of a birthday cake. But again, in true Steve fashion, he wasn’t overly fussed, and as it happens, we ended up moving and cancelling our Cali Grill ADR (you have to give 24 hours notice, hence the move and cancel) because we were stuffed from lunch!
With that all explained, let’s get on with today’s trip report!
We drove down to Disney Springs around midday and parked up in the Lime Garage, which I guess is the most central of all the parking areas at Disney Springs. For reference, it’s not too far from the huge World of Disney store.
We headed in the direction of Earl of Sandwich as the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail starts nearby. You can’t miss it as there is a big old sign! It is open Monday to Thursday 12am – 10pm, and Friday to Sunday it is 10am – 10pm.
We were a bit early (it was a Thursday) so just hung around the general vicinity until it opened. I took some pictures of the Christmas Tree that was very near to the trail entrance. It was bright and colourful with an 8 pointed star on top, baubles, and bells, gingerbread men ornaments, stockings, wreaths, and bows, and wrapped with a garland made with huge cotton reels, balls of yarn, and buttons.
As well as the Christmas Tree Trail, you can also meet Santa. I think you had to book to do this… or maybe you had to wait in line? I can’t remember now!
There were 25 themed Christmas trees on the 2017 trail, up from 15 in 2016 – but I have 27 different sets of pictures, so I think that also includes some generic trees in the vicinity. There were a few more in 2018, and quite probably even more in 2019, and beyond!
Each of the trees had a Disney Character or Disney Movie theme, and I definitely had my favourites!
Each tree also had a themed backdrop, a wooden sign with the character or movie name on it, as well as a lantern that had a special ornament inside. These contained ornaments could be found in the Disney Days of Christmas Store, which is not far (if I recall correctly!) from the exit of the trail – handy that! Oh, and one more thing, each tree was also flanked by two un-decorated trees – which were lit up at night (judging by pics I’ve seen online – we didn’t actually visit at night).
Righ, let’s get on with the photos of the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail, shall we?
Disney Springs Establishment’s Christmas Tree
I don’t know if this actually counts as one of the 25 (I suspect not), but it was covered in red bows and tons of tags from the different stores at Disney Springs. I call it the advertising tree!
Mickey & Minnie Christmas Tree
Mickey & Minnie’s tree was topped with a red and white polka dot bow, as well as red, and yellow baubles – some in the shape of Mickey Ears. There were additional red velvet bows with yellow spots which are a nod to Mickey’s shorts.
Inside the lantern was a Mickey & Minnie ornament dressed in Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus outfits. I can’t quite tell if it was a single ornament or a set of two. The wooden sign was blue, with Mickey ♥ Minnie on it – cute!
Pluto Christmas Tree
Pluto’s tree was topped with a red dog collar, and there was doggie stuff hung on the branches too – dog bowls, leashes, collars, and tiny wooden kennels.
There were also Mickey Waffles, Mickey Ears, and I think Mickey’s shoes too. As well as some red, and green baubles and red bows. His wooden sign was red, with a white bone and his name written on top.
I can’t make out what is the lantern – it looks like a car ornament
The Princess & The Frog Christmas Tree
Naturally, The Princess & The Frog’s tree had a Mardi Gras theme to it, with purple, green, and gold baubles, masks, and flowers. And of course, there were frog ornaments too! It can’t make out what it was topped with, but it looks like beads or tinsel to me.
The yellow sign had Princess & The Frog written on in purple, and masks and confetti decorations painted around it. Inside the lantern was a Princess Tiana ornament in which she is wearing her beautiful green dress.
The Little Mermaid Tree
The two trees that sat next to The Little Mermaid tree where white, instead of green, which suited this themed tree well. I do love a white Christmas tree (I have one at home!)
King Triton’s Trident topped the tree, and there were woozits and whatzits galore covering the rest of it! The baubles were white and shades of aquamarine, which I thought looked like bubbles, and there was a treasure chest nestled into the branches, that was filled with jewels and beads.
Other decorations included seashells, coral, fish, rope, and I spied a dinglehopper too! The sign was painted blue to compliment the theme, and inside the lantern was an Ariel (as a human) ornament.
Sleeping Beauty Christmas Tree
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favourite Disney movies of all time, so of course, I loved this tree. Although to be fair, I don’t think there were many trees that I didn’t like. I’m just gutted that it’s a bit of a rubbish, wonky photo (a running theme on this holiday, that’s for sure!)
The Sleeping Beauty Tree was covered in lots of white, yellow, and pink flowers, as well as balls of yarn. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather’s pointed hats adorned the tree, as did Maleficent’s green orb staff, which was poking out of the top.
It wouldn’t be Sleeping Beauty’s tree without a spinning wheel, and that was tucked into the branches, with a blue banner draped across it saying “True Love’s Kiss”.
An ornament of Princess Aurora was inside the lantern, and her sign was painted gold with jewels attached – very ornate!
Beauty & The Beast Christmas Tree
At first glance, you might think that this tree is on the plain side, but it’s full of so many hidden gems that are not immediately obvious! I do wish I had taken more time with each tree for more close up photos for you, but alas, I did not. Another time, I’m sure!
Red roses were scattered all over the tree, and a huge red and white bow was at the top. The wooden sign was painted yellow, with an image of Lumiere on one side, and the bell jar with the red rose, on the other. A Beauty & The Beast ornament hung inside the lantern.
Now onto those hidden gems that this tree is full of. As well as [faux] roses, there were also roses painted onto some of the ornaments, and there were several timepieces, including a pocket watch too. Books (of course) were balanced on branches, and there were candles, candelabras, and chandeliers too.
My favourite was the stained glass ornaments – I spied Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, and Lumiere.
Frozen Christmas Tree
A very cold looking tree, as you might imagine! Lots of blue and white decorations – snowflakes, flowers, twigs, and berries. There were sparkly and glittery decorations, as well as several different ice skate ornaments, as well as a reindeer (representing Sven no doubt) and a couple of carrots – for Olaf?! I guess he melted in the Floridian sun!
An Elsa ornament sat inside the lantern, and the wooden sign was white and blue.
Snow White Christmas Tree
It took me a moment to figure out that the star at the top of the tree was a trio of pickaxes, which was clever, but I do think looks a bit out of place considering how bright and colourful the rest of the tree is.
This was another tree filled with flowers, as well as lots of forest critters like deer, raccoons, and birds. Poison Apples also hung from the tree (I’ve got one of those at home on my tree), and as did huge sparkling gemstones. A couple of handheld mirrors were tucked into the branches too.
The white wooden sign was decorated with Snow White, a Poison Apple, and the Magic Mirror; and an ornament of Snow White was encased in the lantern.
Cinderella Christmas Tree
I loved this tree… mainly because of all the pumpkins!
Cinderella’s lost Glass Slipper sat on a cushion at the very top of the tree, and just below that was the first of several pumpkin ornaments. There we clock, and key ornaments, and pumpkin carriage ornaments. A huge swan sat in the branches, and Cinderella’s sign was blue, to match her dress. And of course, she was the ornament featured inside the lantern.