This is the dawning of the rest of our lives... AT DISNEY WORLD!!!! COMPLETED 1/6!!!!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I do see why Disney started doing the $10 ADR cancellation thing, but I agree, it totally cramps a slightly-relaxed touring style!!

That was nice of the CM's to not kick you out of AK! It really is a beautiful park!

 

[LifeIsDis]

I agree. I wish Animal Kingdom had EMHs at night more often. I would love to explore Animal Kingdom when there is no one around. I don’t know why, but I’ve gotten a lot more appreciation for Animal Kingdom on my last trip. I think the detail in the whole park is just incredible and a lot of people don’t notice that.

Anyways, I’m sitting here drooling over your steak. I NEED to go to T Rex. The atmosphere and the food look incredible!!

 

[__disneygirl]

I do see why Disney started doing the $10 ADR cancellation thing, but I agree, it totally cramps a slightly-relaxed touring style!!

That was nice of the CM's to not kick you out of AK! It really is a beautiful park!

Yeah, I know they have to control people who make tons of unnecessary ADRs somehow. Luckily we go during lower crowd times so I think we won't even make reservations some nights just so we have that freedom and don't have to worry about being charged.

I agree!

I agree. I wish Animal Kingdom had EMHs at night more often. I would love to explore Animal Kingdom when there is no one around. I don’t know why, but I’ve gotten a lot more appreciation for Animal Kingdom on my last trip. I think the detail in the whole park is just incredible and a lot of people don’t notice that.

Anyways, I’m sitting here drooling over your steak. I NEED to go to T Rex. The atmosphere and the food look incredible!!

Definitely! I feel the same way, ever since our 2010 trip, I've had a bigger appreciation for Animal Kingdom. I always loved it, but that was the time that everything REALLY clicked and ever since we've had a blast there every day we've gone.

Yes, you should absolutely try it! It exceeded our expectations. I know it's not the first place people think of when they want a good steak at Disney, but it's a great alternative if you can't get into Le Cellier or don't want to pay Signature Dining prices. You may have to eat next to a giant mastadon, but hey, it's Disney. LOL.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

HA I actually didn't know Rafiki was a mandrill either until I Wikipedia'd it as I was commenting. So, really, he might not even be one of those.

Ahhhh I miss Florida monsoons. Ohio rain just isn't the same.

I'm glad you liked T-Rex. It's such a cool restaurant. I mean, the fact that not every bar has a giant octopus hanging above it is a downright shame. Get with it, bars of the world. And I agree about the menu. So many delicious-sounding dishes. That steak looks amazing. Why am I not at Disney World right now? SIGH.

 

[__disneygirl]

HA I actually didn't know Rafiki was a mandrill either until I Wikipedia'd it as I was commenting. So, really, he might not even be one of those.

Ahhhh I miss Florida monsoons. Ohio rain just isn't the same.

I'm glad you liked T-Rex. It's such a cool restaurant. I mean, the fact that not every bar has a giant octopus hanging above it is a downright shame. Get with it, bars of the world. And I agree about the menu. So many delicious-sounding dishes. That steak looks amazing. Why am I not at Disney World right now? SIGH.

hahahaha... the world may never know.

Ugh NOTHING outside of Disney is the same as outside of Disney. Everything is just annoying.

I don't know why we both aren't there right now sitting under the giant octopus eating steak!!! Why is life so cruel? At least I'm going soon and you're most likely going soon though.

 

[__disneygirl]

DECEMBER 12, 2011
Day 7, Part 7 In Which I Just Can't Get Flynn Rider's Name Right

After our terrifically Triassic dining experience at T-Rex, we went straight to the bus stop. It was time for EMH in Hollywood, baby! AAAaAAAaAWW YEAH.

If I remember correctly, we took a bus to Port Orleans and transferred from there. I wish we could have stayed and explored a bit (we've never been there before and I REALLY want to stay there), but we had Hollywood to conquer, and it was dark out anyway.

As we walked into the park, a CM said to me "Hello, Beauty!"

Well HELLO!

It was such a surprising and lovely thing to be called. God, I love Disney! He then said, "YOU get some Mickey stickers!" and ripped off a couple from the roll he had.

It was very reminiscent of Oprah's famous "YOU get a car! and YOU get a car!"

But obviously better, because they were Mickey stickers.

STICKERS OF MICKEY MOUSE > CARS.

I repeat: AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWW YEAH! EMH was off to a fantastic start!

We headed straight down Sunset for our legendary tradition of marathoning Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster

No one does this quite better than us. We run back and forth with vigor, laughing maniacally and singing Aerosmith songs.

We started this the first time we rode both of these, when I was 10 years old. That was really the trip that Disney became about more than just having fun and seeing Mickey for me. It was my third time there, I was a little bit mature for my age, and I really started to appreciate all the incredible details. I did a ton of research, I was just more aware of everything, and I have such fond memories of that trip.

One of them was the fact that we waited on line for Rock n Roller Coaster twice before I actually did it. The first time we waited like 45 minutes and by the time we got to the loading area my mom and I freaked watching it take off, so we went out the Chicken Exit. The second time, I actually got sick right before we were about to go on, and again we went out the Chicken Exit and I headed straight for the bathroom. THAT was fun.

However, I did not let these mishaps deter me. I was ready to finally combine my very intense love of Aerosmith with my probably not as intense but also very exciting love of rollercoasters. And when we finally did it, we became addicts.

I was really scared for ToT as well, but in a different way. I was scared the way you are when you watch a horror movie, not the way you are before riding something. The atmosphere and all-out show that Tower of Terror puts on for you before you even enter the elevator is extremely effective. I've written about this at length before, so I won't elaborate, but if you've read this TR and my last one, you know how obsessed I am with this ride. So yes, this trip where I rode Rock N Rollercoaster and finally the Tower of Terror was quite life changing.

The first night we marathoned them back in 2000, there were no lines! Which had to be a miracle because we went in August that year. I guess it was near closing and so we got lucky. Or maybe it was just destiny!

We went back and forth, over and over. ToT, RnR, ToT, RnR, on and on and on. I don't remember how many times it ended up being, probably like 8 in all, but it is definitely one of my favorite Disney memories ever.

I posted on Twitter (prepare for a lot of tweets. I was VERY Twitter happy this evening!):

There's nothing better than looking up at the tower, seeing it glow, and hearing the screams...

AH YES. I remember that moment of walking through the RnR line, seeing the Tower from that angle, watching people drop, hearing them scream. It feels very much like a 1940's horror movie scene. AHH I LOVE IT.

Oh look, Aerosmith's recording studio! And what do you know... AEROSMITH!

Well, it's not every day you stumble upon them. Unless you're friends with a lot of legendary rockstars like I am, in which you probably see them at least weekly.

I posted on Twitter:
The best part of any Disney pre-show is when Illeana Douglas says "I hate all of you" to Aerosmith.

and again:
Is there anything better in LIFE than screaming Aerosmith songs while on the best rollercoaster in the world? JUST GIMME A KISS.

Ahh, I love Twitter. Brings back the memories and feelings of those moments so clearly! I remember being on RnR and hearing the Aerosmith tunes blasting in my ear, feeling the incredible sensation of being on the coaster, loving life. It is rare that I am as happy as in those moments!

Seriously, that's one of my biggest experiences of bliss in life, is being on that ride. Ahhhhhhhhhhh I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I CAN'T BELIEVE I WILL BE THERE IN LESS THAN A MONTH. OMG.

Two more tweets...
I never have enough time to check out the library at the Hollywood Tower Hotel before the lights go out. #obsesseddisneyfangirlproblems

The Tower of Terror is basically the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Ah, my favorite hotel. I'm home.

I honestly don't remember how many times we went on each ride. I want to say it was about six rides all together but who knows? When you are so forcefully pulled in so many different directions over and over, your brain isn't exactly at it's best place for counting.

The park was going to close soon, so started rushing over to my latest addiction: Toy Story Midway Mania. On the way, we passed Mulch, Sweat, and Shears playing on the main stage.

I posted on Twitter:
I just got such a girl boner listening to the lead singer of shears belt it out. They rock. #rockandroll

Um... YEAH. The lead singer of that band rocks. He was growling in that perfect way that rockers do and I stopped dead in my tracks.

I have this thing for musicians. And by "thing", I mean an all-consuming devotion to every man who can play an instrument. Music is just magic. So I was pretty lost in rock and roll Heaven there for a hot minute. Usually, if a band is playing at Disney I don't pay too much attention b/c... you know... it's Disney World, there are other things going on. But Shears is so good! However, we couldn't stay long because I was itching for the MANIA and the park was about to close!!!

I started shaking as we approached. It's like crack. CRACK I TELL YOU!!! Or better... meth. And the only reason I say that meth is better is because it is, yo.

I don't know this from experience. But Jesse Pinkman does.

Congratulations Aaron Paul on your second Emmy win. I love you, and I love how much you love reading this trip report, so I wanted to make sure I mentioned that.
But my Trip Report can't be all about you, so let's move on. Call me later!

My mom didn't go on Toy Story Mania. I KNOW, IT'S CRAZY. She was tired or something? So I soloed that one, and as usual, I was the Queen of my ride vehicle. Bow to me.

(I just like that waving smiley.)

As we made our way out of the park, there was a lot of delirium going on. As usual. Duh.

So we get in line for the bus, and something odd happened.

I instantly posted about it on Twitter:
Oh my God, I just heard a person say "too long didn't read lol" in real life.

IT WAS SO WEIRD. It's always off putting when you hear someone say an internet thing in real life. I was cracking up. I tried to explain it to my mom but she wasn't really getting it.

We were back in one of our common states of extreme fatigue and so we started acting crazy again. I don't know if you are a fan of the Real Housewives, but oh boy, my mom and I are. My favorite is New York City (Ramooootional), and I actually only really watch that and New Jersey since it's filmed a few towns over from me, but I am very familiar with an Atlanta housewife named NeNe.

She does this thing where she calls basically everyone haters. She then talks about all the money she makes. And then calls them haters again.

It's wonderful.

Like I said at the beginning of this Trip Report... if you don't like TV references interrupting TRs... good luck with this thread. Haters!

I posted on Twitter:
My mom and I are so delirious that we are now talking like NeNe and calling everyone haters.

I... don't even know. I just remember standing there waiting for the bus being oh so tired and saying "HAAAATERS!" while looking around. Oh, us.

I posted on Twitter:
One potato, two potato, three potato, four. Five potato, six potato, YOURE GONNA SCORE! #stuckinmyheadfortherestofmylife

YES. It's really quite a problem how much I sing that song. TRUST ME, I'M A HOT POTATO!

Eventually, we stopped calling everyone haters, got back to Pop, and crashed. But not before, you guessed it I posted one last tweet:

I hope I find my Eugene Fitzpatrick one day. <3 #hellostranger

Um... FitzPATRICK?!? Yeah, THAT's how tired I was that I would get my flawless prince's name wrong. It's Eugene FITZHERBERT. Duh Lia. Come on.

Up next: Crazy moment at Animal Kingdom. CRAZY.​

 

[JessicaFaye508]

All I can say is that I really want to go on TOT now. And RnR. And TOY STORY MANIA. Holy crapola I'm gonna be there in 10 FREAAAAKIN' DAYS. I can't even. YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And LOL fitzpatrick. I would totally do something like that.

 

[princess_momma]

That was so kind of the AK people to let you wait out the rain. The kindness of Disney folk astounds me every day. I love them.

YUM! T-Rex! I have always wanted to try there. That filet looks yum!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Hollywood! My fav!! Another one of your marathons sounds so fun! I really, really, really love ToT as well. As you know. But it's always worth mentioning. BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO GREAT HOW CAN YOU NOT?!

Lol I'm always calling people haters. It's just so fun. I have to use it a lot to describe my friends who just don't get my Disney lovin' life!

 

[__disneygirl]

All I can say is that I really want to go on TOT now. And RnR. And TOY STORY MANIA. Holy crapola I'm gonna be there in 10 FREAAAAKIN' DAYS. I can't even. YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And LOL fitzpatrick. I would totally do something like that.

Ahhh, it's so soon! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait! And then I will be going a couple weeks later!!! I can't believe it. I'm so excited about our lives. hahahaha.

Yes you would totally do something like that due to your Frump nature. We're wired the same, us frumps.

That was so kind of the AK people to let you wait out the rain. The kindness of Disney folk astounds me every day. I love them.

YUM! T-Rex! I have always wanted to try there. That filet looks yum!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH Hollywood! My fav!! Another one of your marathons sounds so fun! I really, really, really love ToT as well. As you know. But it's always worth mentioning. BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO GREAT HOW CAN YOU NOT?!

Lol I'm always calling people haters. It's just so fun. I have to use it a lot to describe my friends who just don't get my Disney lovin' life!

Wasn't it? Even though it meant them getting out of work later. I mean I'm sure they have to, it's policy, but still, they were very nice about it.

You should try T-Rex. Honestly, I'd recommend it to everyone. We loved it so much!

Haha yes I'm familiar with your fellow ToT love! And you are 100% the inspiration behind me wanting to go on this ride wearing the bathrobe!

I've been calling people haters quite a lot myself lately. People who don't understand our Disney devotion deserve it T B H.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

STICKERS OF MICKEY MOUSE > CARS

This is very true.

I love your ride marathons. They sound much more fun than normal marathons because ICK physical activity. Someday when you're running back and forth between the two rides, I'm just going to pop out of the bushes with a little paper cup of water though just so you know.

You're absolutely right about NYC being the best of the Real Housewives. Those women light up my life with their crazy. I'm so bummed that the season finale is next week, but I'm sure they'll be like a 10 part reunion so thank god for that. Though if one hour isn't dedicated solely to Sonja's toaster oven business, I'm gonna be upset.

 

[awdwnut]

Ahhh, it's so soon! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait! And then I will be going a couple weeks later!!! I can't believe it. I'm so excited about our lives. hahahaha.

Yes you would totally do something like that due to your Frump nature. We're wired the same, us frumps.



Wasn't it? Even though it meant them getting out of work later. I mean I'm sure they have to, it's policy, but still, they were very nice about it.

You should try T-Rex. Honestly, I'd recommend it to everyone. We loved it so much!

Haha yes I'm familiar with your fellow ToT love! And you are 100% the inspiration behind me wanting to go on this ride wearing the bath robe!

I've been calling people haters quite a lot myself lately. People who don't understand our Disney devotion deserve it T B H.

Hey Lia,

It has been a while since I have checked in on your latest award winning TR, but we just returned from 15 days at POP!! And since we know and share your love for TOT, I just have to share a story and yes, brag a little (Please do not be a "hater"). Earlier this year I was researching the Dining with a Imagineer experience when I came across a name that was very familiar to me. As crazy as it sounds, an old friend /roommate of mine has been an Imagineer for over 10 years now!! Not only is he an Imagineer, he has done A LOT of work on the TOT attractions in WDW, DL, & DLP!! So, to make a long story short, we re-connected months ago and my family and I were able to meet up with him in Epcot!! It is just so bizarre that I had turned into such a Disney geek in all the years since we had seen each other, and there I was talking to an old friend of mine who just happens to have done so much work on TOT. IT REALLY WAS LIKE AN EPISODE OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!!

awdwnut

 

[__disneygirl]

STICKERS OF MICKEY MOUSE > CARS

This is very true.

I love your ride marathons. They sound much more fun than normal marathons because ICK physical activity. Someday when you're running back and forth between the two rides, I'm just going to pop out of the bushes with a little paper cup of water though just so you know.

You're absolutely right about NYC being the best of the Real Housewives. Those women light up my life with their crazy. I'm so bummed that the season finale is next week, but I'm sure they'll be like a 10 part reunion so thank god for that. Though if one hour isn't dedicated solely to Sonja's toaster oven business, I'm gonna be upset.

You win. That is the most hilarious thing I've heard all day. PLEASE do this. Not only would I find it amusing and just in general I'd like to be in Disney the same time as you, but we desperately need refreshments during our marathons.

I hope so. I love Sonja. I'm really behind on the latest season though. But still. Her toaster oven business > any other Real Housewives venture. Look out Bethenny. I don't even have a toaster oven but I hear Sonja's recipes will transform my kitchen, body, and life really so I'll have to head over to Bed, Bath, & Beyond ASAP.

Hey Lia,

It has been a while since I have checked in on your latest award winning TR, but we just returned from 15 days at POP!! And since we know and share your love for TOT, I just have to share a story and yes, brag a little (Please do not be a "hater"). Earlier this year I was researching the Dining with a Imagineer experience when I came across a name that was very familiar to me. As crazy as it sounds, an old friend /roommate of mine has been an Imagineer for over 10 years now!! Not only is he an Imagineer, he has done A LOT of work on the TOT attractions in WDW, DL, & DLP!! So, to make a long story short, we re-connected months ago and my family and I were able to meet up with him in Epcot!! It is just so bizarre that I had turned into such a Disney geek in all the years since we had seen each other, and there I was talking to an old friend of mine who just happens to have done so much work on TOT. IT REALLY WAS LIKE AN EPISODE OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE!!!!

awdwnut

15 DAYS AT POP?! OH WHAT BLISS! Welcome back! I hope you had a magical beyond magical trip!

AHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THAT. I would just bow in the presence of someone who has worked on ToT. Disney Royalty. Did he fill you in on all kinds of amazing Disney facts that my brain can't even handle?!! Because if so, bring 'em on!!!!

 

[beachphotog]

"duh, lia. Come on." love! Eugene is perfect. Except I seriously dislike how all his merchandise calls him Flynn. So not his name. Not even Rapunzel calls him that when she learns the truth...

 

[awdwnut]

15 DAYS AT POP?! OH WHAT BLISS! Welcome back! I hope you had a magical beyond magical trip!

AHHH I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THAT. I would just bow in the presence of someone who has worked on ToT. Disney Royalty. Did he fill you in on all kinds of amazing Disney facts that my brain can't even handle?!! Because if so, bring 'em on!!!!

Two weeks at POP was awesome!!! This is our second two week trip and it still kills me how &#147;non-believers&#148; just don&#146;t get it. So many friends and family said the exact same thing that they did last year &#147;didn&#146;t you get bored being there for so long?&#148; Bored, hmmmm&#133; THEY DON&#146;T HAVE A FREAKING CLUE!!

Even though I re-connected with my old friend over six months ago and we just had lunch with him less than two weeks ago, I still cannot believe it!! I was a bit intimidated at the thought of seeing him again after learning how much he has accomplished, but my wonderful wife helped me keep everything in perspective. &#147;Wife: This is an old buddy of yours right?, Me: Yes, Wife: You two used to work and room together, right?, Me: Yes, Wife: Isn&#146;t this the same dude that helped you to throw a toga party at that dive where you two were living?, Me: Yup!, Wife: Ha, Ha, Ha, I am sure he still puts his toga on one leg at a time&#133;&#148;

As for all the Imagineering inside information, I am afraid that I did not get much out of him. All he would say about what he is currently working on is that there are a couple of REALLY BIG projects in progress and that this stuff would blow the minds of Disney junkies like us. The time frame he gave for the rolling out of these &#147;mind-blowers&#148; was in two to three years. Not much I know, but it still got us pretty excited. He did have a great story about testing the random drop sequence on TOT when they were working on re-profiling the attraction&#133;. Imagine three hours straight of doing each of the different fall sequences one after the other.

One funny note was that I bought his lunch at Katsura Grill in World Showcase (using a plethora of extra dining credits that we had) and he was asking me questions on how the dining plan worked. That cracked me up, but working for a very large company myself, I know how departmental and bureaucratic big companies can be. I am sure that the dining plan is something that he has not spent much time thinking about.

awdwnut

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

Is it wrong to say I am totally hooked on your trip report considering I've never ever been to WDW? Yup, big DLR citizen here, closest I've ever got to WDW was looking at my comp tickets and seeing that it says good for WDW and any Disney park and thinking, 'thats helpful but....nah too far! ' Pretty keen to take on the world after reading your report though!! Looks like you had such a brilliant trip!

DECEMBER 12, 2011
Day 7, Part 7 In Which I Just Can't Get Flynn Rider's Name Right


The Tower of Terror is basically the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Ah, my favorite hotel. I'm home.

.

I'm totally with you on this one, there's something about the details on that ride that just blow my mind!!! Beyond awesome!

Cant wait to read more!

 

[__disneygirl]

"duh, lia. Come on." love! Eugene is perfect. Except I seriously dislike how all his merchandise calls him Flynn. So not his name. Not even Rapunzel calls him that when she learns the truth...

I don't like that either! His name is Eugene! Sheesh. Though I know that they do it for young children who may not understand, and remember him as being called Flynn Rider throughout the movie, that it makes more sense for them. It's the same with Aladdin being in his pre-royalty clothes all the time even though he's a prince now, and the Beast walking around as a Beast and not as a human prince, and Rapunzel having long blonde hair.

Two weeks at POP was awesome!!! This is our second two week trip and it still kills me how “non-believers” just don’t get it. So many friends and family said the exact same thing that they did last year “didn’t you get bored being there for so long?” Bored, hmmmm… THEY DON’T HAVE A FREAKING CLUE!!

Even though I re-connected with my old friend over six months ago and we just had lunch with him less than two weeks ago, I still cannot believe it!! I was a bit intimidated at the thought of seeing him again after learning how much he has accomplished, but my wonderful wife helped me keep everything in perspective. “Wife: This is an old buddy of yours right?, Me: Yes, Wife: You two used to work and room together, right?, Me: Yes, Wife: Isn’t this the same dude that helped you to throw a toga party at that dive where you two were living?, Me: Yup!, Wife: Ha, Ha, Ha, I am sure he still puts his toga on one leg at a time…”

As for all the Imagineering inside information, I am afraid that I did not get much out of him. All he would say about what he is currently working on is that there are a couple of REALLY BIG projects in progress and that this stuff would blow the minds of Disney junkies like us. The time frame he gave for the rolling out of these “mind-blowers” was in two to three years. Not much I know, but it still got us pretty excited. He did have a great story about testing the random drop sequence on TOT when they were working on re-profiling the attraction…. Imagine three hours straight of doing each of the different fall sequences one after the other.

One funny note was that I bought his lunch at Katsura Grill in World Showcase (using a plethora of extra dining credits that we had) and he was asking me questions on how the dining plan worked. That cracked me up, but working for a very large company myself, I know how departmental and bureaucratic big companies can be. I am sure that the dining plan is something that he has not spent much time thinking about.

awdwnut

That's great!!! My dream is to go on a two week long trip. I seriously wouldn't get bored in Disney if my stay lasted two MONTHS, nevermind two weeks. People just don't get it.

glad you have your wife there to remind you of the old times! But I would totally be intimidated too, I mean Imagineers are some of the most creative people in the world, so I understand how you were feeling!

All he would say about what he is currently working on is that there are a couple of REALLY BIG projects in progress and that this stuff would blow the minds of Disney junkies like us.

OH...MY GOD. That is SO exciting! I can't even imagine what they have in store for us!!! Wow!!!

Haha, that's funny about the dining plan. I guess when you have to spend your time riding Tower of Terror endlessly all night, you don't have much time to read up on the dining plan!

Thanks for the info!! It sounds like you had a great visit. Ahh I can not WAIT to see what's in store for the next few years!

Is it wrong to say I am totally hooked on your trip report considering I've never ever been to WDW? Yup, big DLR citizen here, closest I've ever got to WDW was looking at my comp tickets and seeing that it says good for WDW and any Disney park and thinking, 'thats helpful but....nah too far! ' Pretty keen to take on the world after reading your report though!! Looks like you had such a brilliant trip!

I'm totally with you on this one, there's something about the details on that ride that just blow my mind!!! Beyond awesome!

Cant wait to read more!

Thank you so much and !!!! Oh my God... you HAVE to go to Disney World! I'm sure you'd tell me the same thing about Disneyland... I've never been there! But I'm really gonna try and go next year. Thanks for reading, I'm glad you're enjoying the TR and being enlightened on the brilliance of Walt Disney World!!!

 

[__disneygirl]

DECEMBER 12, 2011
Day 8, Part 1 In Which No One Shows Up To Animal Kingdom (Again)

The phone rang and I nearly fell out of bed picking it up. How could this be that the phone was already ringing?! I felt like I had just gone to bed!

GOD WAS I TIRED.

But I had to get up. Not just because Stitch was screaming at me, and not just because there is no sleeping in Disney, but because it was DAY 8!!!!!!

The 2nd to last full day of our trip. Which meant I was starting to become depressed about leaving. So I had to SQUEEZE EVERY LAST DROP OF DISNEY OUT OF THE TRIP!!!!!!

Therefore, I woke up bright and early.

Well, early. It wasn't so bright. It was pretty gloomy and drizzly out.

Which was foreshadowing to how the day was going to go. Dun dun duuuuuuun.

BUT I didn't know that at the time. I wasn't going to let anything stop me from being at the parks all day! Since my mom is normal, she doesn't get anxiety about leaving Disney. She also sleeps. So she wanted to sleep a little longer. I didn't mind. I understand not everyone is an energizer bunny. I mean, I never am in real life. Disney is another story though.

So I solo'd it on over to Animal Kingdom! I hadn't planned this, it was just that I missed the gorillas. Dearly.

It's really nice being in Disney World. For many reasons. One of which is that if you are missing gorillas, you can just go see them. There are not a lot of places you can be and decide you'd like to see gorillas and then be standing in front of them less than an hour later.

So I quickly got ready, left my mom in her slumber and headed out to the bus. Soon I was standing in front of this:

I just love the colorful motif of Discovery Island so much. This is at Island Mercantile.

The first thing I did once I got into the park was head into Island Mercantile, since I needed a new memory card and I had one of those lovely 20% off before noon coupons. I selected a 2 GB card....and a poncho.

Yes, I finally gave in and bought an official Disney $7 poncho cause the rain was starting to come down pretty hard.

Who remembers the old school yellow ponchos with Mickey on the back? We used to have those, but I have no idea what happened to them. So I guess it was about time I caved and bought a new "Disney Parks" one. I mean, if I got on the Croc train in 2010, this poncho thing was inevitable.

The CM working at the register didn't think the memory card was even covered under the 20% discount, but it ended up being fine! Woohoo! So buy your camera equipment(?) at Island Mercantile before noon! Or, if you really want to save $$... get it before your trip on Ebay. Cause I still overpaid. Heh heh.

This trip report is probably getting boring since we just keep doing the same thing, but uh, as a writer I must represent the truth. So obviously, after my camera and dryness issues were settled, I went over to Asia for a journey to the Forbidden Mountain. Yes, again. I swear, I went on EE like 500 times this trip.

I love these monkeys.

Some of my favorite details at AK are all the art/posters/ads/random shiz on the walls of the shops and bathrooms.

BEFORE YOU REPORT A YETI MAKE SURE YOU HAVEN'T MISTAKEN IT FOR ONE OF THESE ANIMALS COMMON IN THIS AREA!

I wish they sold this... I would love to hang it in my house! It's so beautiful!

Hmm... looks like some backpackers are parked here for the day:

So, on our 1st and 2nd Animal Kingdom days, we headed to Expedition Everest first thing, like any smart Disser would. Of course, we wanted to get on with little wait and get fastpasses. Well, both times it was so empty that this was completely unnecessary.

I wanted the crowds to be low again so I could go on an EE riding spree, but I kept in mind that as it got later in December, it would get more crowded, so I was prepared to take the single rider line.

But I didn't.

You guys. I have never seen Disney more empty in my life.

I entered the queue, expecting to... you know... see some human beings. Standing in line. Waiting to ride the most popular attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I thought I would wait at least a few minutes.

I walked and walked, through the long and amazingly detailed queue... waiting for some signs of life. Nothing.

It was awesome. I had time to explore and take a lot of pictures!

OK, if you look REALLY closely, you can see a real live human being in this photo. Just one, but it was something.

LOOK!! Another person!! This kid and his dad came up behind me, and I let them pass me so I could continue to take pictures. They were literally the only people I saw until I got up to the loading area.

This queue is a masterpiece, by the way, if you couldn't already tell.

Stop. Slow down. Look around. Read things. Ask questions. LOOK UP. Always look up at Disney World. As I have said MANY times, Disney is in the details. And if you do not look up and down and stop and stare, you are missing it. You don't know what IT is yet, but trust me, you're missing IT. However, if you love Disney so much that you have found the DIS, the TR board, my trip report, and gotten this far through it... you know what IT is. So I should stop rambling.

At that point, I saw something I thought I would NEVER see in the morning at Disney World.

They were sending out trains that WEREN'T EVEN FULL. About an hour after opening. At the most popular attraction in the park! I've honestly only seen that happen at like 2am during Magic Kingdom EMH.

GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN EARLY DECEMBER!!!!!! I just can't say it enough times.

I'm so spoiled by low crowds, I'd probably have a heart attack if I went during a peak crowd time at this point. I mean, THERE WERE LIKE FIVE PEOPLE RIDING EXPEDITION EVEREST! It's just so lovely to not have to worry about rushing around and fitting everything in and getting fastpasses and all of that. It is so much less exhausting to just be able to flit around the park at your leisure.

When I saw that train leave without even being full, something inside of me just snapped.

I suddenly felt like a child who had been let loose in a toy store with a $1,000 gift certificate. The excitement was overwhelming.

How many times did I ride Expedition Everest?

I lost count. Literally.

OH GOD IT WAS SO FUN. I would get off and then run from the store back through the queue and on again.

The CMs were quite amused by me. I can't remember what they were saying because my brain was turning to goo but it was hilarious.

I've never been on a rollercoaster that many times in a row. Not even when I worked on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore and we would ride the rides non-stop. It was ridiculous.

The reason I lost count is not because I am terrible at math, which I am.

It's because I started to become physically affected by riding so many times, which NEVER EVER happens to me. Ever.

I have never gotten sick or even a little woozy from a rollercoaster before.

But I just kept going on and on and on. I think I lost count around 4 or 5 times, because I couldn't remember if it has been 4 or 5 or 6 times that I had been on. Which sounds really stupid, I mean these are not big numbers that I was trying to remember here. But my brain was resembling Nickelodeon Gak at this point.

I remember getting off the ride and walking through the store and it looked like part of the store was sideways. So I blinked a bit and it went straight but I was seeing spots. So I just kept walking, which was obviously the best decision. I then steadied myself on one of the shelves of Yeti toys, walked outside... and got back on.

I'm just one of those people who has that "MORE MORE MORE" gene inside of them. I couldn't stop.

I'm thankful that Toy Story Mania is always so busy. The most I could ride that was 5 times in a row one morning. If it was as empty as Expedition Everest, I would go on so many times that I would be mentally ruined.

Everything in my brain would be wiped and replaced with broken plates and words like "partner" and "tarnation".

So that was my last rip-roarin', yeti-clawin', "there doesn't seem to be any track!"-in' ride on Expedition Everest for 2011.

I didn't want my thoughts and ideas to be replaced by visions of the Yeti so it was time to stop.

Plus, the line was getting up to like FIVE MINUTES by that point. I mean, they were actually filling up the trains! It was anarchy!

Up Next: Major ANGRY gorilla realness.​

 

[beachphotog]

You've discovered my early December secret! Isn't it fabulous??

Go to Disney in early November and early December! Or actually, don't...

Let's keep it a secret, like forever!!

 

[flyergrad09]

Early December is AMAZING! I've gone in early December every year since 2009 and while I've never had quite the same experience as you did on EE, I've always had crazy short lines on almost everything else. When I went in May this year, it was a bit of a shock to see lines!

Unfortunately, every time I've been to AK, it's always been really crowded, and I feel bad when I stop to take pictures in the EE queue and I try to let people pass me, but then there's always that one awkward person who tries to be polite and let me go ahead of them and I'm standing there waving them on while they're waving me on, and it's just not good.

 

[__disneygirl]

You've discovered my early December secret! Isn't it fabulous??

Go to Disney in early November and early December! Or actually, don't...

Let's keep it a secret, like forever!!

Haha. Ooops. Yes. Maybe we should keep it a secret! Um... everyone, I lied. It was mobbed in early December. MOBBED I TELL YOU!

Early December is AMAZING! I've gone in early December every year since 2009 and while I've never had quite the same experience as you did on EE, I've always had crazy short lines on almost everything else. When I went in May this year, it was a bit of a shock to see lines!

Unfortunately, every time I've been to AK, it's always been really crowded, and I feel bad when I stop to take pictures in the EE queue and I try to let people pass me, but then there's always that one awkward person who tries to be polite and let me go ahead of them and I'm standing there waving them on while they're waving me on, and it's just not good.

Yeah, I can totally imagine being shocked over seeing lines after this latest trip. I usually go during low crowd times anyway, but this was just ridiculous, I mean it was SO empty.

I hope you get to experience a less crowded AK because it's such a great experience! I hate when people in line won't pass me. Me being so obsessed with seeing every little Disney detail, that often happens to me.