History.

It's New Year's Eve and 2011 will be history soon. Like the dinosaurs and others before us, we've left our mark on this planet. Here is Sock Monkey at Downtown Disney in front of the T-Rex Prehistoric Family Adventure restaurant. He's trying real hard not to become T-Rex's next meal. Speaking of next meal, we're preparing for our last meal of the year and getting ready to ring in the New Year. With open arms, we welcome 2012. Have a happy new year to all!!!

Wishing well.

We're coming to the end of 2011 and can't believe another year has gone by so quickly. We don't have set plans to go back to Disney World yet, but hopefully that'll change soon. Sock Monkey is by the wishing well of a famous Disney princess. It's the wishing well she's seen singing at in the beginning of the movie. Can you guess who it is? The princess hangs around with woodland creatures and seven little men. There's a poisonous apple and a wicked witch of a stepmother involved in the fairy tale. You got it, Snow White. This picture is at the Germany Pavilion, the country of origin where this story was collected by the Brothers Grimm. Our princess' wish came true when her prince arrived. What's your new year wish? Mine... wish we were back in Walt Disney World.

Fortune.

At the China Pavilion in Epcot, Sock Monkey met up with his animal friends at the House of Good Fortune. The China Pavilion is always a fun place to stop by, whether it's for the yummy Chinese food at the Nine Dragons Restaurant or the Lotus Blossom Cafe or the shopping of Asian goods. Sock Monkey may seem a little out of place here in the goods box, but I think he adds value to what's being sold, silk purses, foldable tote bags (panda & monkey), and slippers. Xie xie ni!

Apprenticeship.

In Downtown Disney, along with many of the other favorite Disney characters, Sock Monkey found a life size version of his role model, Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey Mouse. Having watched Fantasia as a kid and learning to appreciate classical music, Mickey made it cool to love it. He's a troublemaker in this short piece when he decides he's going to magically get things done versus completing his task the right way. This gets him into a wet sticky situation and as bad as it may seem, there's always someone around to help, even if he caused it. As many already know, Mickey's Sorcerer hat is the icon for Disney's Hollywood Studios and the center piece of the hub. I always want to wear it just to see what it'll do for me. Think Sock Monkey has what it takes to learn from Mickey, the Sorcerer's Apprentice himself? What does the crystal ball say? Let the magic begin...

Mine! Mine! Mine!

It's what those darn seagulls say when you go by The Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" Some may find it annoying, but we find it amusing. It's one of the funniest irritating things I've ever heard. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" If you are looking for memorabilia on these guys, I recall seeing some at the International Gateway shop between France and the United Kingdom. They've got T-shirts, mugs, and posters of the seagulls and their quarrelsomeness. "Mine! Mine! Mine!" I think Sock Monkey and his mischief like personality would fit in perfectly with these gulls. "Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Shoe box.

See monkey in a box. See monkey in a barrel. See monkey in a Mr. Potato Head? Sock Monkey spent a lot of time playing at the Once Upon a Toy store in Downtown Disney at the Marketplace. Here he is exploring Mr. Potato Head's trunk space. I wonder how many pairs of shoes can we fit? The Star Wars pieces are pretty cool, and the Toy Story parts too. I like the Minnie shoes best. Can you find the hidden Mickey? Just check out those sandals. Disney always knows how to make ordinary things special.

One horse.

"Dashing through the snow. In a one horse open sleigh. O'er the fields we go. Laughing all the way. Bells on bob tails ring. Making spirits bright. What fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight. Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh." We're getting closer to the big day. Christmas is less than a week away. Sock Monkey is having fun riding on a one horse open sleigh on Main Street, USA.

Friday.

Sock Monkey is all set for the weekend. It's Friday and he's ready for a night out of town. Here he is getting off the monorail at Magic Kingdom waiting to make magical memories. I'm not sure about the rest of the Disney guest, but it feels most magical at night versus the day. The park has a different feeling, such as when you're on the Jungle Cruise and see the hippos pop out from the dark abyss, or when you're on Main Street, USA and see the lights outline the buildings, and of course the amazing Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show, it just takes it to a whole different level of fun. Magic Kingdom may just be Sock Monkey's favorite theme park ever!

Mele Kalikimaka.

"Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day. That's the island greeting that we send to you. From the land where palm trees sway. Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright. The sun shine by day and all the stars at night. Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say 'Merry Christmas to you.'" Sock Monkey is on It's a Small World at Magic Kingdom by his Hawaiian friends. Happy Holidays!

Tick Tock.

Tick tock, and not the diner, but The Crocodile and the time that's passing by this year. We have less than a month left in 2011, and ten days left to shop till Christmas day. Have you finished your holiday shopping? No. If you're in Orlando I'd recommend going to Downtown Disney Marketplace. I hear it's an excellent area to go shopping at, especially the World of Disney Store! Knowing The Crocodile has already tasted Captain Hook's hand, Sock Monkey carefully placed himself into his hands anticipating that he may want to sample him too. Let's hope the alarm doesn't go off now.

Summer wonderland.

Gone are the days of Summer and the official start of Winter right around the corner. Sock Monkey is enjoying himself on the beach of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. As a matter of fact, he is sunbathing in this photo. He would've loved to have been on the swing or even better the hammock. Unfortunately one was too hot to sit on and the other was occupied. How we wish this was our winter wonderland instead of the cold weather we've been experiencing. We sure do miss those hot days, and of course Disney World too.

Tapestry.

After walking around the main building of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, I've come to the conclusion that we've never really fully explored these grounds as much as the other deluxe resorts. The family traditionally stays at Polynesian and occasionally Contemporary/BLT. My recollection is that we've only been at this resort once or maybe twice at most. I've made it a point that on our next trip we will have to spend some time at the Grand Floridian and discover its hidden treasures. Sock Monkey was being silly here. He thought by trussing himself to the drapes he could join the Tapestry of Nations parade. For those who never got a chance to see this procession during the celebration of the new millennium, it was a narration of unity and time, accompanied by colorful giant puppets and enormous rotating drums. It was quite dramatic in size and inspirational in music.

Moving on up.

Sock Monkey is moving up in the world. We're almost to the top. As we walked around the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa on the first floor, we thought about going up to the second floor to see what else we could find. But we got distracted and never made it up there. Located on the second level is the monorail station, shopping, Citricos, and Victoria & Albert's restaurants. And back to getting to the top. Monkeys are a popular topic as is the Mouse. Tonight is the VGA (Video Game Awards) and I see the Vecktor Monkey handed out as the award and Deadmau5 deejaying the event. (Look up images of deadmau5 and you'll understand.) Who knew there was another Monkey Mouse duo out there. Told you we were moving on up!

Victorian Era.

Headline: Prized mythical creature is captured and on display in a decorative vintage birdcage at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. After getting off the monorail, (which on this day in 1989 Monorail Blue became the first operational Mark VI monorail train at WDW Resort), Sock Monkey was whisked away by a zealous collector and held captive. He hoped to escape, but may stay put after he learned that he may be moved to the construction location of the new DVC villas at Grand Floridian. Hmmm... curious to see what they're building.

Just right.

Once upon a time there was a Sock Monkey that vacationed in Orlando, Florida. He visited various theme parks in the area. The first was too hot, the second was too cold, and when he visited the third park, Walt Disney World, it was just right. At WDW he stayed at three different resorts. The first was too big, the second was too small, and when he got to the third, Grand Floridian, it was just right. After all that travelling, Sock Monkey was tired and wanted to sit. So he went into the lobby and sat on the first chair and it was too hard. Then he sat in the second chair and it was too soft. Finally he sat in the last chair and it was just right. Ahhhh. Home away from home.

Treasure hunt.

Where are those gifts hidden? In the attic, in the basement? In the linen or pantry closet? Or maybe in the garage somewhere. X marks the spot. Sock Monkey is on a journey to find the holiday gifts. He's mapping out his plan to find out now what he got and can't wait for Christmas morning. If you're wondering where he is in this photo, it's only the largest Disney shop ever, the World of Disney Store located in Downtown Disney at the Marketplace. Can you find the holiday treasures?

Tis the Season.

From the International Flower & Garden Festival in the Spring to the International Food & Wine Festival of the Fall, the seasons bring us now to the Holidays Around the World - Candlelight Processional at Epcot. Though it has been years since we have gone to Walt Disney World during Christmas, I can still remember the festivities and decorations from the holidays, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and my favorite the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. We took this picture over nine months ago during the Flower and Garden Festival, and it seems like it was just yesterday. This photo of Sock Monkey brings out the memory that with the changes of the seasons brings with it the changes of life. Oh my how time flies when you're having fun!

Troll troubles.

Back in the Age of the Vikings, like any ages from long long ago, electricity had not been invented and the only night light you had was candlelight, in this case a candelabra. As we headed into the Maelstrom attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot, and sailed through the troll infested swamp toward the North Sea, Sock Monkey wanted to bring this in with him so that he can fright away the trolls. And as if the trolls weren't scary enough, there's a backward plummet on this ride too. The good thing is after the drop you're brought back to modern day Norway, which at this point, Sock Monkey was ready to forget his troll troubles and get some school bread from the Kringla bakeri to lighten up his mood.

Greenhouse effect.

Another part of The Land Pavilion which we don't have photos of, is the attraction Circle of Life which features Simba, Timon, and Pumba. It's a 20 minute film about the environment and how we each play a role in conservation of our planet. For example, one clip emphasizes that blocking a waterfall to create your own waterpark, as Timon had done, has an effect on other animals that depend on this resource. It also highlights the effects of our carbon footprint, such as the bottle water example, and recommends how we can help reduce excess waste. In this photo we are at Living with the Land in one of the greenhouse sections. We try our best to be environmentally conscious and Sock Monkey has made an effort to leave a very small footprint on Earth.