2 Haunted Mansions, 1 Day: Grand Finale & Link to Pre-Trip Report for Feb. Trip!

[lurkyloo]

OK, as you know, Day 3 was so jammy packed with excitement that it took 3 installments to describe. Well, Day 4 looks downright boring in comparison, so I think it will have to be more of a pictorial tour than thrilling saga...

Today was a full-on Magic Kingdom Day! We took the bus cuz they say it’s the fastest route, but it took every ounce of my strength to resist the urge to flee the long line at Pop and just get in our car. While we were waiting, a fellow DISer managed to spot the Lime Green Mickey Head Jenn sent us, which was pretty well concealed in the mesh pocket on our backpack strap (we never could figure out how to display it properly). It was nice to chat with her to pass the time, and she filled us in on the fabulous DIS boards invention known as the Stroller Swap – what a great idea!

Once again, we ambled into a park around 10am instead of getting up in time for rope-drop, and the crowds were still so light! DH had to take a picture of City Hall because it was behind tarps on our last visit.

We started with rides on Big Thunder and Splash Mountain. The latter was down for rehab in February, so we were eager to try it.

We don’t have this guy in our Splash Mountain...

We were on a mission to take pix of Donald for our pal Wazzo...expect many, many more shots (that duck really gets around!)

After that we did Pirates and Haunted Mansion, then headed up by the former Skyway. So pretty!

At lunch we returned to our fave counter service place in the MK – Columbia Harbor House (more for the atmosphere than the food).

Fish & Chips, meat-filled Salad, Apple Crisp-thingy, and Chocolate Cake

We started joking about how we were being forced to eat desserts beyond our appetite and stomach capacity simply because they were free on the Dining Plan. When I pulled a face like a sobbing child being forced to gag down dessert, DH started laughing so hard he could barely breathe. It was one of those “had to be there” moments but boy were we entertaining ourselves snapping pix of our various faces....

Must...finish... free dessert...

On our way to Tomorrowland, I made DH snap a pic of this pretty spot on the path to the castle – I never even knew about it until it started popping up in people’s Magic Kingdom Bridal Shoot pix.

We cut through Cosmic Ray’s, where DH stopped a moment to rock out with Sonny Eclipse...

Our first stop was Space Mountain, which we were going to give a second try on the advice of some DISers who suggested our underwhelming honeymoon ride was due to selecting the right-hand queue. So this time we were sure to bear left....

Hmmm... it wasn’t as jerky as the right side, but we were still underwhelmed... We followed it with a far more exciting ride: the Peoplemover!!

Still haven’t managed a decent shot of Progress City (aka, The Epcot That Never Was)...

When we passed through Space Mountain, the work lights were on – whohoo!

It started raining while we were on the Peoplemover (OK, OK – Tomorrowland Transit Authority – there! Are you happy?!), and by the time we got to the ground floor, it was pouring. We made a dash for the Carousel of Progress.

Fun! I enjoyed it much more this time because I was awake. The sky had cleared by the time we were done, so we went back to Fantasyland for Mickey’s Philharmagic. It also is much more enjoyable when one is awake. And we got another opportunity to get a pic of Donald for Wazzo in the gift shop....

LOVE the loading area for Snow White – it’s so much more detailed than ours...

 

[lurkyloo]

And now, a not-quite-comprehensive photo tour of Small World. Think of it as a way to enjoy the ride without the song!

DH is obsessed by the amount of money to be found in Disney ride waterways...

When we got off the ride, I realized I’d left my umbrella hanging on the arm of my seat in Carousel of Progress... Back to Tomorrowland!

Apparently the retrieval of my umbrella was not so urgent that we couldn’t stop to snap this pic

The umbrella was not at the ride operator station’s lost and found. So I asked if I could search each auditorium as it circled back around (cuz I couldn’t remember the number of the one we were in – TIP: Always make a note of the number of your Co’P auditorium if you plan to lose something there!)

That took 30 minutes of waiting for each auditorium, searching, and waiting. I looked in them all, but my umbrella was nowhere to be found. Booo! Who would steal someone’s umbrella? Next time you’re in MK and see someone with a pink umbrella, you’ll know – that person is a low-down dirty THEIF!!!

The Co’P cast member suggested the umbrella might have been taken to Buzz Lightyear’s lost and found, but the CMs over there laughed and shook their heads at that theory. So we rode Buzz....

I can’t believe they let that guy run the equipment!

...And I got a consolation hug from this guy...

He’s not as cuddly as he appears...

After that we decided to mosey out to the hub.

I wanted DH to get a pic of the Swan Boat Landing for my Weddings & Honeymoon Board buddies – it’s the only place you can have a wedding in the Magic Kingdom.

Just $25,000 gets you a wedding ceremony in this glamorous former boat dock!

More Donald for Wazzo...

One of my favorite vistas in the MK!

OMG! It’s a bunny and a duck hanging out together!!

The duck kept trying to chase the bunny away. He looks pretty P.O.ed about the whole situation...

 

[lurkyloo]

Pretty Main Street!

I wanted a treat and nothing at the Main Street Bakery sounded like what I wanted, so I invented the S’mores Brownie a la mode. I was told that it would only count as one snack credit if the cashier rang it up as an ice cream sandwich! But then he rang it up wrong and we woulda had to wait for a manager, so we just took the 2-credit hit....

Not worth it!

DH had the classic Dole Whip float

We rode Jungle Cruise and decided to cash in our Big Thunder FastPasses.

Then it was Back to Main Street to kill time before dinner at Tony’s.

Wall o’ Mickeys!

Candy shop treats for the folks on the DIS “food porn” thread!

Overpriced AND off-model!

Pssst... can I interest you in a wooden nickel?

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was about to begin, and the CMs were sporting their scariest costumes.

DH dragged me to the end of Main Street to see... Dream Along With Mickey, I think it’s called? Because the suit characters have moving mouths. We tried to figure out if the actors were operating the mouths themselves or someone else was doing it remotely (later we were told they do it themselves – wow!).

Donald for Wazzo

 

[lurkyloo]

A little before 7pm, we checked in at Tony’s Town Square and asked for a 6-inch celebration cake, since MK restaurants are about the only ones that serve the Sara Lee version.

I guess because I picked TOny’s for the atmosphere (and cuz we weren’t paying) I made DH take a TON of pix...

We decided this was the worst table-service meal of our trip. The service wasn’t bad, as I’d heard, but perfunctory is about the nicest word I can come up with. The food was greasy, with low-quality ingredients.

Spaghetti and meatballs (you kinda have to get it at Tony’s!) $16.99

Catch of the Day (yeah, right! It was salmon) with Orzo Pasta tossed with Pancetta, Roasted Garlic and Seasonal Vegetables topped with Balsamic Maple Glaze $21.99

Once again, we got dessert just because it was free – even though we had an entire 6-inch cake on the way. But my ice cream bombe was so bland I pushed it away after a few bites. DH ate all the green out of his spumoni.

Ice Cream Bomb - chocolate and vanilla ice cream covered in rich chocolate sauce $5.99

Spumoni - layers of ice cream with pistachio nuts and cherries $4.99

The server brought our cake out in a box so we could eat it later. Then we decided to see how long we could stay in the MK for MNSSHP without wristbands!

We didn’t last very long – we kinda chickened out. But it did pique my previously non-existent interest in MNSSHP. It’s never been on my radar cuz I’m not a fan of parades and it sounds like the candy and extras get fewer and farther between every year while the price keeps going up. But it would be kinda fun to go into the MK in costume, I must admit...

So instead we caught the bus back to Pop, grabbed our car, and went to the beach at the Poly to view the MNSSHP fireworks! The plan was also to *finally* get to see the Electrical Water Pageant, but when we got to the beach I discovered my iPhone was missing and pretty much had a meltdown. We ran back to the car, where DH found it buried under some stuff – hooray DH! But we missed the EP once again!

Fireworks from Poly beach

When we got back to the room, I discovered one square inch of space in my tummy with which I could try the Sara Lee podium cake.

It was WAAAY better than the WDW-made podium cake we got at Coral Reef! It was also twice as high and had real buttercream frosting, not whipped cream. And it just looked better. Sure, it tasted like a supermarket cake, but some of us like supermarket cake.

I officially declare Sara Lee readymade cakes the victor over WDW bakery-made cakes!

Then I fell into a sugar coma until... DAY 5!!!! Coming up next!

 

[Wazzo]

We were on a mission to take pix of Donald for our pal Wazzo...expect many, many more shots (that duck really gets around!)

And we got another opportunity to get a pic of Donald for Wazzo in the gift shop....

More Donald for Wazzo...

Hooray!! I loves me Donald!

You're the bestest pal a girl could have! I can't wait to meet you guys at DL or WDW someday!!!

I can't believe someone stole your umbrella!! That's just silly.

 

[inkedupmomma]

awesome update and pics as always! I am still undecided about how I feel about Tony's. John said he likes it.. not bad for what it was. His dessert was also way awesome as was mine.. I ouwld never order a chocolate bomb or spumoni unless it was from a real italian rest.... reason for you to visit me maybe?? Come to my bosses resturaunt and have some of that dessert loving! Ton'ys wasn't terrible. But it def is not a must do next time..oh wait the tomato and mozzerla app was yummy as well.. lol. So when you COME next September, we will have to do MNSSHP together :> and OMG at 25 k for a wedding at that lousy mk spot!! oof.

fyi- your the best

 

[LaurenMic]

Your DH's Spumoni looks like the clay my kindergarten class plays with...hope you at least enjoyed the atmosphere at Tony's!

Great update, your pics are wonderful!

 

[NotSoEvilStepmother]

Once again, great update. Too bad about Tony's and chickening out at MNSSHP. I wonder how long one could last...
Poor you...having to eat FREE dessert.

 

[romymichelle21]

I can't believe Patrick willingly went on Small World!

Granted, he may be totally for it, but I think it would have to be my dying wish in order to get Will on that thing!

Oh, WDW, how I miss you so...

 

[Disneygrl36]

I'm so that PI is being turned into a mall. Boo on that decision.

Your pictures are awesome.

I so love watching fireworks from the poly beach.........gives you a whole different perspective.

You have to go back & go to MNSSHP. I it. It's so much Halloweeny fun. I have tried in vain to capture the Headless Horseman in a photo or video 3x & still no luck. Just gives me reasons to keep planning to go again.

 

[rpmdfw]

poor you...having to eat FREE dessert.

I laughed out loud at this! Carrie, weren't you the one who was going to be wearing her "bride" ears every trip for the rest of your life because it was a "free dessert magnet"?

 

[2BoysMom]

You have to go back & go to MNSSHP. I it. It's so much Halloweeny fun. I have tried in vain to capture the Headless Horseman in a photo or video 3x & still no luck. Just gives me reasons to keep planning to go again.

I wanted to chime in and reiterate this statement. We just got back from our MNSSHP this past weekend. We have been to WDW several times, but had never done that party before. It was great!! Even my DH, who doesn't get my Disney-LOVE, had a great time and thanked me for arranging it. I think it is so worth it! We never stood in a long line, we wore COSTUMES, and had a great, great time.

As soon as I download the pics off of my camera I will do a short TR.

And heck, it can always be the "next" reason to plan a Halloween trip for next year.....

 

[29apr00]

well, maybe if our expectations for Tony's are really really really low, we won't be disappointed. We're going to dinner next year, obviously for the themeing and atmosphere.

Boo for someone stealing your umbrella! how rude!!

Yeah for Dh finding your Iphone!! Couldn't imagine loosing that!!

Boo for chickening out on MNSSHP!! I think you probably couldn't have wandered around and never got caught, unless you tried to get on a ride!! NOT that i recommend doing that at all!

Hmmm....that cake does look pretty good. that Coral Reef one was hideous!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Hooray!! I loves me Donald!
You're the bestest pal a girl could have! I can't wait to meet you guys at DL or WDW someday!!!

That would be FUN! If you come to Disneyland, I'll give you a personalized tour! ("And this is where DH proposed... and this is where DH said something funny one time... And this is where we stood in line...")

awesome update and pics as always! I am still undecided about how I feel about Tony's. John said he likes it.. not bad for what it was. His dessert was also way awesome as was mine.. I ouwld never order a chocolate bomb or spumoni unless it was from a real italian rest.... reason for you to visit me maybe?? Come to my bosses resturaunt and have some of that dessert loving! Ton'ys wasn't terrible. But it def is not a must do next time..oh wait the tomato and mozzerla app was yummy as well.. lol. So when you COME next September, we will have to do MNSSHP together :> and OMG at 25 k for a wedding at that lousy mk spot!! oof.

Hmmm... OK, but if I go back in Sept. I'm going to have to be able to afford Deluxe Dining b/c I never want to eat most of the places we went again!!

Your DH's Spumoni looks like the clay my kindergarten class plays with...hope you at least enjoyed the atmosphere at Tony's!

Great update, your pics are wonderful!

Yeah, I think it prolly tasted like clay too! I'll pass your compliment along to DH. He takes all the pix (except the hazy, blitzed-out ones - those come from my iPhone).

Once again, great update. Too bad about Tony's and chickening out at MNSSHP. I wonder how long one could last...

Boo for chickening out on MNSSHP!! I think you probably couldn't have wandered around and never got caught, unless you tried to get on a ride!! NOT that i recommend doing that at all!

Yeah, I don't know why we chickened out.... you're right, we prolly coulda gone quite a while before being spotted. But it wouldn't have been as fun with a guilty conscience the whole time maybe...

I can't believe Patrick willingly went on Small World!

I think he may love it more than I do! One of the perks of being married to a puppeteer.... well, that and free puppet shows any time of day or night!

You have to go back & go to MNSSHP. I it. It's so much Halloweeny fun. I have tried in vain to capture the Headless Horseman in a photo or video 3x & still no luck. Just gives me reasons to keep planning to go again.

I wanted to chime in and reiterate this statement. We just got back from our MNSSHP this past weekend. We have been to WDW several times, but had never done that party before. It was great!! Even my DH, who doesn't get my Disney-LOVE, had a great time and thanked me for arranging it. I think it is so worth it! We never stood in a long line, we wore COSTUMES, and had a great, great time.

As soon as I download the pics off of my camera I will do a short TR.

And heck, it can always be the "next" reason to plan a Halloween trip for next year.....

Okee dokee! I'm sold! It really did look like fun. Now I just have to think of a good costume.... how about "Disney Bride"?

I laughed out loud at this! Carrie, weren't you the one who was going to be wearing her "bride" ears every trip for the rest of your life because it was a "free dessert magnet"?

Ahem.... yes.... I think we got our comeuppance for all that free-dessert-mongering we did on our honeymoon.

 

[travelmel]

Was that a real bird next to the Mark Twain????? If so (or even if not) that is my new FAVORITE PIC! What a great shot!

BTW, as I was scrolling through your fantastic update ... the scrolling got me. It was the pic right before you started talking about if the parade people moved their mouths or something.. but there are two CM's dressed in lime green costumes and at first, cursory glance, I thought it was your DH and I thought to myself, MAN... he is SERIOUS about retro.



Then I started busting up as I quickly realized it was indeed, NOT your DH.

Loving it!

I'm only now able to look at WDW TR's with my new "I'm not going there EVER" eyes and your comedic talents and great pics are really helping heal the wounds.

Thanks!

 

[Disneygrl36]

HI!!!!
I just have to tell you that I have read some of your wedding & planning journal posts now & I plan to go back & read all of your wedding thread because you are so darn entertaining. Your pictues are gorgeous!!!!!

Funny thing.....when you were talking about where to have your wedding there was a big picture of Jim Henson's studios & you talked about your hubby working there. We will be going there in December with our Backstage Magic ABD & I got so excited thinking hey maybe I will see LurkyLoo's DH. We DISer's are silly huh?

Do you mind if I pm you with some questions that a local can help me out with in my planning?

And I love this trippie too so that I am not too off topic.

 

[romymichelle21]

Hey, um, Carrie? I totally have a DL question for you that is not related to this thread in any way, shape, or form - so please forgive me!

You know the owl & squirrel statues in front of the castle?

Are they from Sleeping Beauty, or Sword In The Stone?? I thought the latter, but Will swears they're from Sleeping Beauty.

Thought perhaps you or Patrick might know!

 

[lurkyloo]

Was that a real bird next to the Mark Twain????? If so (or even if not) that is my new FAVORITE PIC! What a great shot!

I know - at Disney you never can tell. It is indeed a real bird. Apparently they're the Florida equivalent of pigeons...? I mean, they are so tame, and they are everywhere!!

BTW, as I was scrolling through your fantastic update ... the scrolling got me. It was the pic right before you started talking about if the parade people moved their mouths or something.. but there are two CM's dressed in lime green costumes and at first, cursory glance, I thought it was your DH and I thought to myself, MAN... he is SERIOUS about retro.

HIGH-larious! I would love it if he had one of those costumes, but he'd never wear it. He won't even wear an Indy costume, and he loves Indiana Jones!

I'm only now able to look at WDW TR's with my new "I'm not going there EVER" eyes and your comedic talents and great pics are really helping heal the wounds.

Thanks!

Wait - why do you have "I'm not going there EVER" eyes? Can you have your eyes adjusted?!

Funny thing.....when you were talking about where to have your wedding there was a big picture of Jim Henson's studios & you talked about your hubby working there. We will be going there in December with our Backstage Magic ABD & I got so excited thinking hey maybe I will see LurkyLoo's DH. We DISer's are silly huh?

Do you mind if I pm you with some questions that a local can help me out with in my planning?

Sure - ask away! You might wanna include your email addy so I can send you an epic-length reply!

And I can guarantee you will see DH at Henson Studios in December, but you won't even know it - he puppeteered on the film they show Adventures By Disney groups. He did arm-rod assisting for Brian Henson's character, the main guy, so you can look the character's right arm and think "I know that guy!"

Hey, um, Carrie? I totally have a DL question for you that is not related to this thread in any way, shape, or form - so please forgive me!

You know the owl & squirrel statues in front of the castle?

Are they from Sleeping Beauty, or Sword In The Stone?? I thought the latter, but Will swears they're from Sleeping Beauty.

Geez, I always just assumed they were from Sleeping Beauty b/c it's Sleeping Beauty's castle. However, I think you are BOTH right, because a lot of character designs for "Sword in the Stone" look recycled from other Disney movies.

 

[Disneygrl36]

I will be sure to be looking for your DH's work on the film.
PM on the way to you shortly........thanks.
Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wasabi girl]

So glad I found this TR! I read your wedding TR and loved it, thought your wedding was sooo beautiful. Thanks for writing! I know what you mean about taking time to get into vacation mode...I discovered these lovely little things called Grand Marnier slushes at the France Pavillion in Epcot...well, after that my vacation got much more relaxed!