Let's see...if I continue to post twice a year or so, how long will it take me to finish this darn thing?
Seriously, though, this time it's gonna happen. I'm bound and determined. I see you all rolling your eyes, saying, "Whatever, Nory, we know better! You'll tease us with a post or two, then disappear for months!"
What makes this time any different? Well, something major -- IT'S ALL DONE. This whole TR. It's completely written, the pictures are all processed and uploaded, it's divided in a Word doc into handy chapters. So now I have no excuse! (Plus, it took me months to finish, and I don't want all that work to go to waste!) Thanks to little Simba (10 months old already!) I probably can't guarantee daily updates, or anything, but I can guarantee at least twice a week (on my babysitter days). Scout's honor. If I disappear again, I owe each of you a Dole Whip.
To get you all feeling charitable about my long and predictable absence, here is a picture of Simba, showing off his single tooth:
And of Simba's first trip to WDW, this past May (and his dad's first trip, too). Almost unbelievably, I've been on NINE Disney trips since the one featured in this TR.
And now, let's get back to this trip from 3 years ago! To sum up: I went to WDW in October 2000 to research a young readers' fantasy novel I'm writing that's set in the Magic Kingdom. I decided to write the TR in the third person, as practice. I got pregnant, had a baby boy, and disappeared from the DIS for a long, long time.
This chapter is the very end of my third day; there are one and a half days left to go.
The novel, for the record, is 3/4 done. Proudly maintaining the same glacial pace for all writing projects!
***
It was already after 8:00 when she completed her second journey through space, so Nory decided shed better get a snack and find a spot to watch Hallowishes, the special Halloween fireworks. Shed heard so much about the corn dog nuggets from Caseys on Main Street, she thought theyd make the perfect pre-fireworks snack.
Soon enough, she was forced to consider Americas favorite pastime as she stood in a non-moving line at the restaurant.
Only a few people stood in front of her, but it still took twenty minutes before she could place her order. In her entire trip, this was the longest line she stood in. And when she finally got her coveted nuggets, they were disgusting. Shes inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, and to believe that they are good, typically. But in this case, they tasted like theyd been sitting under a heat lamp for far too long.
She ate a few on her way to her Wishes-viewing spot, then threw the rest away. What a waste!
Though Nory stood against some railing, on the path between Tomorrowland and Main Street, she decided not to bother setting up her gorillapod and camera for the fireworks. Shed save that for tomorrow. Tonight, shed just enjoy the show.
Soon the lights dimmed and the narration began. For the next ten minutes, Nory was mesmerized by the stunning, multicolored fireworks and the recognizable Disney-villain songs. And the finaleoh, the finale!when fireworks went off in a complete circle around the park, and the sky was light as daymade Nory hold her breath in amazement. She joined the rest of the park in enthusiastic applause when it was over, thrilled that she would be able to watch it all over again the next night.
Now, with only an hour until the late parade would begin, Nory made a shocking decision: to skip it entirely. It had been a wonderful day, and she didnt want to push it. Better to go to bed early tonight, and then stay as late as she wanted tomorrow. She leisurely poked through some of the shops on Main Street, hoping to find a good Halloween Party pin, but they didnt have any outapparently theyd moved them to the pin shop in Frontierland that yearand she wasnt crazy about this years crop of Halloween T-shirts, either.
So it didnt take long before Nory was once again saying farewell to the pumpkinheads, and heading back to her Polynesian home.
She vaguely remembered reading that she could walk from the Transportation and Ticket Centerthe destination of the Express Monorailto the Poly, so when she saw that the Express Monorail line was far shorter than the Resort Monorail one, she decided to take her chances. She hadnt been to the TTC in years, since back in the 80s, when theyd drive from the Vacation Villasa Disney resort that no longer existsto the TTC on their way to the Magic Kingdom. So she was a bit confused when she climbed down from the monorail into a vast land of concrete.
She had no idea where she was going. And the place was pretty deserted. Like a big empty parking lot. At night.
Luckily, she spied a CM speeding around on a Segway near the bus stops. She walked up to him and hollered, Excuse me?
He did a nifty little spin, then stopped right in front of her. Show-off, she thought.
How can I help you? he asked.
Am I right in thinking I can walk to the Poly from here? she asked. Man, I sure hope I was right about this!
Yep, the paths right over there, he said, and pointed off into the distance.
Nory thanked him, and walked away. Thank goodness I asked! she thought. She never would have found the path, otherwise.
Soon she was walking along an empty path through the velvety night, surrounded by the Florida foliage, with only the occasional light to guide her. She could still hear the Halloween music from the Magic Kingdom, in the distance. And even when she entered the Poly grounds proper, there wasnt another human in sight.
A few people swam in the volcano pool, but other than that, it was a quiet and contemplative walk back to her amazing room.
She poured herself a glass of wine and sat on her patio, watching the castle change colors in the distance. She had planned to think some more about the prophecy. But instead she just sat there, feeling perfectly content.
Then she went to bed. Tomorrow was her last full day, and she wanted to make the most of it.
***