JULY 8TH PART ONE: 1900 Park Fare
We all woke up bright and early on our last morning in the World. We had to check out, finish packing, load up the car, and make it over to the Grand Floridian by 8:15 for our ADR at 1900 Park Fare. It was hectic, to say the least.
Last mornings usually make me really sad. Like, sobbing hysterically in the shower kind of sad. But this time I was really just over it. You have no idea how much I hate saying that because one should never be
over Disney, but I was.
I was all out of fake positivity and ready to sit in a dark room and sulk. Which I totally did once we got to my grandmothers house in Tampa. And, frankly, its what Ive been doing for the better part of a year. But thats not important right now.
Anyway, we did all those things I listed above without a single tear being shed and it was super weird. I mean, you know somethings gone wrong when youre not crying about leaving the most magical place on earth.
When we got to the Grand Floridian, Dad dropped us off at the entrance and went to park the car. We were running a bit late for our ADR, so we sprinted inside to check in. It wasnt a very
grand entrance, but we were in a hurry. Thankfully, 1900 Park Fare is right off the lobby.
Our table was ready and the wait staff was rather pushy about seating us at that very moment even though the restaurant was half-empty, so I sent everyone in while I waited forever for Dad to get back from guest parking. Which is 80000 miles away, by the way. Clearly, theyre trying to get people to pay for valet. The cheapos like us have to hike.
Once Dad finally arrived, he came bearing tales of broken pipes and flooded roads. So not only did he have to traverse 80000 miles, he had to loop around a million times until someone gave him an alternate route. How grand.
When we got to the table, there was some sort of special juice waiting for us. I thought it tasted weird and ordered an orange juice. Everyone else enjoyed it, though, I think.
The rest of the gang waited for Dad and me to arrive before eating, so we all headed up to the buffet together. If you like breakfast foods, this place is heaven. There were so many delicious-looking choices. My food-loving mind was blown. Then I found a stack of Mickey plates that were going completely unused by my fellow diners and what was left of my mind blew again. WHO FORGOES USING A MICKEY PLATE IN FAVOR OF A REGULAR ONE? SERIOUSLY WHO DOES THAT? I was depressed as heck and even I wanted to eat off a Mickey plate. Jeez.
I was really bad about taking pictures during the meal, but I made sure to snap a shot of my plate before diving in.
Hashbrowns, French Toast, bacon, and a HUGE made-to-order omelet. Everything was delicious. Disney really needs to open an all-day breakfast location so I dont have to choose between near empty parks with no waits and some of my favorite foods.
The 1900 Park Fare breakfast is a character meal, so we were visited by Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mary Poppins, Alice, and the Mad Hatter. When the Mad Hatter came to our table, he said hello and I nodded back because I had food in my mouth at the time. Well, apparently, he wasnt pleased with this because he yelled at me for being impolite!
Im sorry, Mr. Hatter, but some of us prefer food to character meet and greets. I loves me some Alice in Wonderland, but not as much as I love food (or, more specifically, omelets). I took another big bite and deliberately didnt swallow so that Id have food in my mouth for the picture. I dont entirely know what that accomplished other than that theres a picture of me with food in my mouth in existence (which I am totally not sharing with yall), but I felt like a rebel at the time so whatever.
Take that, Hat Man.
After our meal, we headed upstairs to catch the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.
I took some pics of the pretty lobby from the second floor:
It smells like rich people and classiness in there, with a faint hint of John Stamos.
And heres the monorail:
Little did I know, that brief trip to the Magic Kingdom would be my last ever in-person experience with the love of my life, Monorail Voice Guy.
If you havent yet heard, they replaced him earlier this year with a super boring guy who is terrible and listening to him is basically like doing the worst thing you can think of. Its tragic. Monorail rides will never be the same.
When Boring McBoringvoice asks me to please move across [the car] to make room for everyone, Im staying put just to spite him.
Anyway, we gathered our personal belongings, watched our head n step, and took small children (me) by the hand as we exited at the Magic Kingdom. Theres just something so perfectly wonderful about stepping out onto the red brick and funneling down the ramp with the 30000 other smelly people you just shared a monorail with. It gives me the warm fuzzies every time.
The Train Station! With bonus random people posing for pictures! Purple Shirt Kid (I bet his name is Luke
or maybe Brian) is lookin spiffy. Also, when the Girls of the DIS trip happens, you best bet were all hopping up there and throwing our arms around each other like those two girls. Actually, I think we should all stand up there and do the dance from the little opening show. *chugs arms*
Casey Juniors coming down the track
I also took a close-up to avoid the randoms.
No strangers here.
The Dapper Dans were just chillin on the trolley. WHY CANT I WALK BY THIS KIND OF THING EVERY DAY?
The Caaaaastleeeeee
Again, WHY CANT I WALK BY THIS KIND OF THING EVERY DAY?
Katie and Wade headed off to ride something, but Mom and I (and Dad who tagged along) had something really important to do in Liberty Square: a trip to the fantastically named, Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. Its one of those places that must always be referred to by its full name because its so much fun to say. The Christmas Store just wont cut it.
Here are some pictures of this fabulous place:
If you have a horse to hitch, Im assuming you hitch him there.
The name in all its old-timey glory.
Pinocchio! Who knew he would grow up to be a motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing, handsomely scruffy author? Hopefully yall have seen Once Upon a Time, otherwise I just spoiled the heck out of it. Although, I guessed that he was Pinocchio super early on, so it wasnt really that big of a reveal. Fingers crossed he gets de-puppeted next season for some more father/son tinkering moments that make me cry.
We picked out a few ornaments to give to my cousins. When we were checking out, an older CM was training a new CM how to properly wrap the ornaments and it was absolutely hilarious. She was awful, but he was so patient with her. Mom and I just stood there trying not to laugh hysterically. I think he felt bad that it was taking so long, but we couldve watched them all day. Disney should really think about putting those two out in front of Test Track during its refurb. Watching him train her to do different things would be way more entertaining than an a cappella group singing Car Wash and banging on hubcaps.
Which, in case youre not up on the latest in WDW entertainment, is a thing thats currently happening.
But dont worry if you cant get to WDW between now and whenever Test Track reopens, folks, because my next trip report will certainly include footage of this mess. Im the kind of person who loves to watch a good train wreck.
UP NEXT: ADVENTURELAND! SCRATCHY, SCRATCHY!
) and I'm still excited! The season is still young! This year is our year! etc. etc...right?
I had something similar happen when I rode Alein Encounter back in the day. *shudder* Everyone's got that one ride that they find terrifying!
Although the thought of the characters holding umbrellas does give me the warm fuzzies.
If every word I said could make you laugh, i'd talk forever...whoooaaaohhhhohhh
She is standing literally centimeters away from the back of the trolley, and appears to be staring up at them, transfixed. Are they serenading her? Is she stalking them? Is she pushing the trolley down the street? I can't quite figure it out.
And I think I'm slowly getting drawn to Coronado, the Gelato... mmmmm...
If I'm remembering correctly, that woman was just standing there talking to them. I wasn't close enough to listen in on their conversation, but it seemed like they knew her and she wasn't just a crazy Dapper Dan fan. 
Le sigh. So jealous. But so happy for you!
