Author's note: Okay, so I'm like a month late in posting this after Day 8. My bad.
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
Up and at em pal! Oh boy, are we glad youre here. Big doings going on, so lets get started. See you real soon ha ha!
Cut to me, holding the receiver and pouting. This is the saddest wakeup call ever. It isnt our last day here, but it is our last day of Mickey. While I appreciate his perkiness, I find it difficult to mirror the enthusiasm. I wearily replace the handset back on the phone and wake up Dan. Its going to be an aggressive day, with two priority seatings, three parks, one spectacular evening performance to cap the end of our vacation and maybe some fireworks back at the resort. Wink wink. So we best be getting up.
We dress and head to the Poly for our last-minute PS with Mickey and the Hawaiian gang. Its been over 15 years since the last time I visited this resort and it was my very first taste of WDW, back when I was nine. So the smell of the lobby fills me with overwhelming nostalgia and puts me in a quietly pleasant mood.
The host sits us against the window and informs us that this is a family-style meal. Jason, our waiter, is a boy who misplaced his personality some months back and lacked the will to search for it. He was the one who would fill our juice glasses and bring hot griddles of food, as needed.
Ah, the first konga dance of the morning. All the characters in their grass skirts are leading the children around the restaurant, shaking their Hawaiian maracas and singing an unfamiliar song. Wait, since when are maracas Hawaiian?
Wow. What a fabulous time we had at OHanas. The food was decent (family style instead of buffet), but character interaction was outstanding, perhaps that was because we had an early PS and the restaurant wasnt full. Dan and I had so much fun with them. Goofy came over first. Did I mention he wouldnt leave? Well, he wouldnt leave. He posed for pictures and hung around for several minutes before Chip showed up. When Chip walked over, Goofy acted a bit possessive about his table, and he tried to distract Chip from mingling with us. Chip wouldnt leave, so the two of them suddenly became very interested in our food and started grabbing our plates. I couldnt believe how long they were at our table, I was half expecting a manager to come over and tell them to keep moving. Not that I was complaining. We were having so much fun with this tomfoolery.
Goof and Chip eventually decide to spend time with the other children. Dale makes an appearance a little later and snap, snap, we get some pictures and off he goes.
The highlight, however, was definitely Mickey. He walks over and sees Pal Mickey sitting in his own chair. He grabs the doll and presses his belly, but Pal Mickey was silent. Oh sorry, Mickey, I said. he isnt turned on yet. Mickey shakes his head at me. Were not in the parks, I justified. and he tells bad jokes! Mickey puts his hands on his hips to show his displeasure. Then Dan saves the day.
Can I take your picture? Mickey poses and temporarily forgets that I just offended him.
When the pictures are done, I turn to him. Mickey, youre our favorite. Embarrassed, he steps back and does an aw shucks motion with his arm. I laugh and tell him that we loved him in Fantasmic so much that we were seeing it again tonight for the second time. Mickey waves his arms in a flawless Fantasmic gesture. Dan is so overcome in the presence of The Mouse that he gushes that he wants a picture with Mickey, too.
First park of the day: Animal Kingdom. As were entering the park we are assaulted by a talking palm tree who has taken a liking to Dans facial hair and is following him into the park. Okay, this is weird. Anyway, were here to see the Lion King; this is the first performance after a month hiatus since they renovated the attraction into a covered venue. Dan and I are going to experience the very first air-conditioned Lion King show. (Before the show began Dan and I noticed that the man in front of us had a tattoo of his late grandmother on his arm. Im talking gray hair, glasses, mole, and everything. But I digress.) I bawled throughout the show, but let me explain why I was so emotional: 1) Lion King is my favorite Disney movie, 2) Im in Disney World with my favorite guy, 3) this show rocks, and 4) were leaving the next day.
We cannot leave AK without riding Dinosaur again because that would be, like, all illegal and immoral and stuff. So, in order to please my oversized child, we ride Dinosaur again, take one very silly photo, then head out to leave the park. We dont leave just yet, however, because an impromptu street performance of Splat, Smear, and Dip just rolled in. I make Dan stand there and watch it with me. You just gotta love Disney and all of its surprises. You just never know what youre going to discover around the place.
Second park of the day: my favorite, Epcot. Were here for only two reasons: Mission:Space and Test Track. Bad news, its a half-hour wait for M:S. Good news, the Singles line gets us right on. Bad news for Test Track: its an hour wait. Good news, Dan and I are suddenly single again!
Third park of the day: MGM. This is going to be our last park of the day. After seeing Fantasmic the first time and loving it so much, we thought it was a perfect way to cap the last night of this amazing vacation. And since we loved Mama Melrose so darn much the first time, we went with the Fantasmic dinner package again. Before dinner we see the Magic of Animation. I an emotional mess during this attraction. Then we hit the Rock N Roller Coaster again, per Dans wishes. Today, for some unknown reason, there is a very long wait. People this is September! We came in September for a reason the lack of lines. Or so I thought. The other weird thing about our trip: no rain. September is historically the rainy season in Florida, but this trip was hot, humid, and dry. We had some cloudy days, and did miss a rain shower during our icky Mexican meal, but otherwise weve had nothing but gorgeous Florida sunshine.
Cut to me, standing in line buying rain ponchos at the Rock N Roller Coaster gift shop during the one and only downpour of our trip. Dan and I waited it out (were talking maybe 15 minutes, max) before shedding the ponchos and moving on to Mama Melrose.
This is the last day of the trip that Dan gets recognized for his brilliant and unforgettable performance in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular from five days ago.
Kevin, our amazing waiter from Day 4, was not working today. So we get Allison instead. She tells me that Brian the Chef is working and he clearly remembers the unbelievably yummy dish he whipped up for me 5 days earlier. Good news for me! Now why he doesnt add it to the menu is beyond me. So once again Dan and I enjoy one fabulous dinner. Mmmmm
Finally its time for Fantasmic so we give the gatekeeper the secret password and handshake at the secret entrance, and then tiptoe in through the back. We take our seats and play with Pal Mickey until the show begins.
The show is spectacular just like last time, with one teeny tiny additional detail: near the end this big dragon guy shows up to fight Mickey. Thats great, except I dont remember the dragon from the first show. How could I have missed this big honking dragon before? Obviously its an important part of the show, so why did I forget this one major detail?
The performance ends, Im in tears (emotional day, you understand), and as we get up to leave I turn to Dan. I dont know if I fell asleep or if Im not as detail-oriented as I thought, but for some reason I didnt remember the dragon. Am I an idiot?
Uh I wasnt going to say anything to you, Dan says. but I was going to check the digital camera tonight to see if I took any pictures of the dragon the last time because I dont remember seeing him either.
Okay, so Im not an idiot. Isnt he sort of a major character? How could they have omitted him the last time? I thought about it and added, Ive been wondering about those billboards with Mickey fighting a dragon and Ive been wondering why there wasnt one in the show.
We scratch our heads and join the thousands of exiting guests out of the park.
Before we get back to our room, we stop at the Contemporary gift shops for last-minute gifts. Suddenly Dan becomes interested in the whole pin thing (or flair he calls it like the movie Office Space) and buys a lanyard and like 10 pins. This is after 9 days of making fun of the whole pin-trading thing. Then he buys a huge Mickey doll and doesnt even care how hes going to fit that bad boy in his suitcase because he suddenly has to have one.
Then, by accident, we discover the 4th floor lookout. Well, isnt this a fine time to discover it.
But wait, the evening isnt over I do believe its time for the Electrical Water Parade, which we discover by accident on the way back to our room. Dan and I park ourselves on the picnic table next to the bay and snuggle as we watch our favorite synthesized musical water pageant. Im getting emotional all over again. To top it off, Dan says in the middle of the parade, I dont want to go home yet. Whoa! Is this the same boy who said he misses work in the middle of vacation? Oh great, do I detect fresh tears and a lump in my throat?
Back to the room, indoor fireworks signify the end of a magical vacation.
And earplugs do wonders when the traveling circus practices its routine upstairs around midnight.
Stay tuned...Day 10...the final end of my trip report. We come home and nothing exciting happens...or does it?
Me: 33, fifth WDW trip
DH Dan: 36, first-timer
Up and at em pal! Oh boy, are we glad youre here. Big doings going on, so lets get started. See you real soon ha ha!
Cut to me, holding the receiver and pouting. This is the saddest wakeup call ever. It isnt our last day here, but it is our last day of Mickey. While I appreciate his perkiness, I find it difficult to mirror the enthusiasm. I wearily replace the handset back on the phone and wake up Dan. Its going to be an aggressive day, with two priority seatings, three parks, one spectacular evening performance to cap the end of our vacation and maybe some fireworks back at the resort. Wink wink. So we best be getting up.
We dress and head to the Poly for our last-minute PS with Mickey and the Hawaiian gang. Its been over 15 years since the last time I visited this resort and it was my very first taste of WDW, back when I was nine. So the smell of the lobby fills me with overwhelming nostalgia and puts me in a quietly pleasant mood.
The host sits us against the window and informs us that this is a family-style meal. Jason, our waiter, is a boy who misplaced his personality some months back and lacked the will to search for it. He was the one who would fill our juice glasses and bring hot griddles of food, as needed.
Ah, the first konga dance of the morning. All the characters in their grass skirts are leading the children around the restaurant, shaking their Hawaiian maracas and singing an unfamiliar song. Wait, since when are maracas Hawaiian?
Wow. What a fabulous time we had at OHanas. The food was decent (family style instead of buffet), but character interaction was outstanding, perhaps that was because we had an early PS and the restaurant wasnt full. Dan and I had so much fun with them. Goofy came over first. Did I mention he wouldnt leave? Well, he wouldnt leave. He posed for pictures and hung around for several minutes before Chip showed up. When Chip walked over, Goofy acted a bit possessive about his table, and he tried to distract Chip from mingling with us. Chip wouldnt leave, so the two of them suddenly became very interested in our food and started grabbing our plates. I couldnt believe how long they were at our table, I was half expecting a manager to come over and tell them to keep moving. Not that I was complaining. We were having so much fun with this tomfoolery.
Goof and Chip eventually decide to spend time with the other children. Dale makes an appearance a little later and snap, snap, we get some pictures and off he goes.
The highlight, however, was definitely Mickey. He walks over and sees Pal Mickey sitting in his own chair. He grabs the doll and presses his belly, but Pal Mickey was silent. Oh sorry, Mickey, I said. he isnt turned on yet. Mickey shakes his head at me. Were not in the parks, I justified. and he tells bad jokes! Mickey puts his hands on his hips to show his displeasure. Then Dan saves the day.
Can I take your picture? Mickey poses and temporarily forgets that I just offended him.
When the pictures are done, I turn to him. Mickey, youre our favorite. Embarrassed, he steps back and does an aw shucks motion with his arm. I laugh and tell him that we loved him in Fantasmic so much that we were seeing it again tonight for the second time. Mickey waves his arms in a flawless Fantasmic gesture. Dan is so overcome in the presence of The Mouse that he gushes that he wants a picture with Mickey, too.
First park of the day: Animal Kingdom. As were entering the park we are assaulted by a talking palm tree who has taken a liking to Dans facial hair and is following him into the park. Okay, this is weird. Anyway, were here to see the Lion King; this is the first performance after a month hiatus since they renovated the attraction into a covered venue. Dan and I are going to experience the very first air-conditioned Lion King show. (Before the show began Dan and I noticed that the man in front of us had a tattoo of his late grandmother on his arm. Im talking gray hair, glasses, mole, and everything. But I digress.) I bawled throughout the show, but let me explain why I was so emotional: 1) Lion King is my favorite Disney movie, 2) Im in Disney World with my favorite guy, 3) this show rocks, and 4) were leaving the next day.
We cannot leave AK without riding Dinosaur again because that would be, like, all illegal and immoral and stuff. So, in order to please my oversized child, we ride Dinosaur again, take one very silly photo, then head out to leave the park. We dont leave just yet, however, because an impromptu street performance of Splat, Smear, and Dip just rolled in. I make Dan stand there and watch it with me. You just gotta love Disney and all of its surprises. You just never know what youre going to discover around the place.
Second park of the day: my favorite, Epcot. Were here for only two reasons: Mission:Space and Test Track. Bad news, its a half-hour wait for M:S. Good news, the Singles line gets us right on. Bad news for Test Track: its an hour wait. Good news, Dan and I are suddenly single again!
Third park of the day: MGM. This is going to be our last park of the day. After seeing Fantasmic the first time and loving it so much, we thought it was a perfect way to cap the last night of this amazing vacation. And since we loved Mama Melrose so darn much the first time, we went with the Fantasmic dinner package again. Before dinner we see the Magic of Animation. I an emotional mess during this attraction. Then we hit the Rock N Roller Coaster again, per Dans wishes. Today, for some unknown reason, there is a very long wait. People this is September! We came in September for a reason the lack of lines. Or so I thought. The other weird thing about our trip: no rain. September is historically the rainy season in Florida, but this trip was hot, humid, and dry. We had some cloudy days, and did miss a rain shower during our icky Mexican meal, but otherwise weve had nothing but gorgeous Florida sunshine.
Cut to me, standing in line buying rain ponchos at the Rock N Roller Coaster gift shop during the one and only downpour of our trip. Dan and I waited it out (were talking maybe 15 minutes, max) before shedding the ponchos and moving on to Mama Melrose.
This is the last day of the trip that Dan gets recognized for his brilliant and unforgettable performance in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular from five days ago.
Kevin, our amazing waiter from Day 4, was not working today. So we get Allison instead. She tells me that Brian the Chef is working and he clearly remembers the unbelievably yummy dish he whipped up for me 5 days earlier. Good news for me! Now why he doesnt add it to the menu is beyond me. So once again Dan and I enjoy one fabulous dinner. Mmmmm
Finally its time for Fantasmic so we give the gatekeeper the secret password and handshake at the secret entrance, and then tiptoe in through the back. We take our seats and play with Pal Mickey until the show begins.
The show is spectacular just like last time, with one teeny tiny additional detail: near the end this big dragon guy shows up to fight Mickey. Thats great, except I dont remember the dragon from the first show. How could I have missed this big honking dragon before? Obviously its an important part of the show, so why did I forget this one major detail?
The performance ends, Im in tears (emotional day, you understand), and as we get up to leave I turn to Dan. I dont know if I fell asleep or if Im not as detail-oriented as I thought, but for some reason I didnt remember the dragon. Am I an idiot?
Uh I wasnt going to say anything to you, Dan says. but I was going to check the digital camera tonight to see if I took any pictures of the dragon the last time because I dont remember seeing him either.
Okay, so Im not an idiot. Isnt he sort of a major character? How could they have omitted him the last time? I thought about it and added, Ive been wondering about those billboards with Mickey fighting a dragon and Ive been wondering why there wasnt one in the show.
We scratch our heads and join the thousands of exiting guests out of the park.
Before we get back to our room, we stop at the Contemporary gift shops for last-minute gifts. Suddenly Dan becomes interested in the whole pin thing (or flair he calls it like the movie Office Space) and buys a lanyard and like 10 pins. This is after 9 days of making fun of the whole pin-trading thing. Then he buys a huge Mickey doll and doesnt even care how hes going to fit that bad boy in his suitcase because he suddenly has to have one.
Then, by accident, we discover the 4th floor lookout. Well, isnt this a fine time to discover it.
But wait, the evening isnt over I do believe its time for the Electrical Water Parade, which we discover by accident on the way back to our room. Dan and I park ourselves on the picnic table next to the bay and snuggle as we watch our favorite synthesized musical water pageant. Im getting emotional all over again. To top it off, Dan says in the middle of the parade, I dont want to go home yet. Whoa! Is this the same boy who said he misses work in the middle of vacation? Oh great, do I detect fresh tears and a lump in my throat?
Back to the room, indoor fireworks signify the end of a magical vacation.
And earplugs do wonders when the traveling circus practices its routine upstairs around midnight.
Stay tuned...Day 10...the final end of my trip report. We come home and nothing exciting happens...or does it?
Anyway, THANK YOU again for your trip reports. You're the best!
