Hey Who Cares... I'm Going to Disney - Day 2 Part III The Sharks & Jets Reenactment

[Valentine]

Finally.... after the realization hit me that I COULD actually go to Disney on my own... here I am!!!

Cast of Characters:

Me - Kathy, Single 39 (OMG!!!)
Pal Mickey - My constant sidekick throughout this trip (thought I killed him one night.. but more on that later)


Okay..soooooo... I decide that I should get out of the MK and head over to the Much less crowded EPCOT... However.. due to my unplanned Hasty Retreat from my hotel room this morning.. I decide that I should stop off at the hotel first and regroup... I had visions of getting locked out of EPCOT due to crowds.. however.. I was a bit tired from my earlier marathon to the MK.. so I figured I would rest up for a bit by the pool and head on over to EPCOT refreshed and ready for a long night.. and if I couldn't get in.. then I would spend my time at the Boardwalk... okay.. decisions made.. I make my way over to the bus stop.. and chat with a lovely girl who has the same idea as I... she however is travelling with 18 other people... OMG!!! I told her I was alone.. and I think I saw her actually drool with the thought of it!!! I got that reaction from alot of people... curious about travelling alone..and envious that I was actually doing it... I only hope I inspired some other people to take the plunge!!! The wait for the Swan Bus was minimal.. made even shorter by the great conversation... and before I knew it I was back in my room changing into the bathing suit I swore i wouldn't even need!! But there I was heading on down to the pool... I stayed at the quiet pool at the swan.. I brought down my own refreshments.. and my book.. and I was perfectly content to just relax... I did swim a bit.. and when I got out of the pool there was an open hammock which I grabbed .... I don't know how long i lay there.. but it was great!! I should have stayed longer.. and would have.. had I known what was in store for me...... but no.. I got up and went to my room to shower and change for the NYE festivities.... I headed off to Epcot via the Boardwalk.. and strolled through World Showcase.. bypassing all of the countries.....thinking I would do them later this evening as I drank around the world to ring in the new year!!! So.. I headed on over the Future World and Mission Space... There were to be 2 showings of Illuminations that evening .. an early and a Midnight one...I was planning to be at the later one.. so.. I figured I would do Future world.. and then head over to World Showcase during the first fireworks and start seeing the worlds while everyone was standing still... I arrive at Mission Space and.. Wait.. was I reading that right.. 190 minute wait??? WHAT??? I looked for the single rider line and that was 120 min wait.. I grabbed a single rider ticket and got in line.... after 10 min of standing in the same exact spot and not moving even one inch.. I hopped off the line and moved on... I went over to The Wonders of Life Pavillion and walked onto Body Wars... I love this ride.. I can't believe it is in danger of going the way of Horizons and World of Motion....The whole pavillion is so underrated...that was a pet peeve of mine this trip.. seeing so many people intent on the destination and NOT the journey... that is what Disney is about.. the WHOLE experience.. not just the actual ride... I wish more people would get it... Too bad!... I then head on over to Universe of Energy.. and have some flashbacks to my nightmare... but I perservere and head on in.... this ride is still a classic to me.. and I never tire of it either... when I exit the ride there are horns being blown everywhere..... apparently they have started to distribute the NYE hats and horns.. WHY????? it's just sooo noisy... OMG!!!!!!.. hey.. but it's NYE... just 6 hours early!! I stroll on over to watch the fountains and people watch... and I decide to also check out Spaceship Earth.. and the line is tremendous....I decide to try Mission Space again.. and I see that the wait time for the Single Rider line has shortened a bit.. it is now ONLY 100 min....But hey.. I have time to kill anyway.... so I hop on the line and it actually moves this time.. Lucky for me I have Great Line Buddies.. and I while away the time chatting with these nice people.. the wait is about 1 hour.. and when we reach the loading zone.. we say our goodbye's as each of us is admitted into a pod.. well.. as I enter mine I realize that 2 of my line buddies have now been seperated in my pod.. and I know that the one who got left behind was terrified about riding alone.. so I quickly hop out of my spot to give it to her... she is sooooo grateful.. and I wait for the next pod... I end up with some great teens who are a lot of fun!! More fun than the ride actually... Maybe it's me.. but I just don't get this ride... it's too short.. to uncomfortabel.. and just not what it's hyped up to be... Just my opinion.... it is about this time that I realize that once again.. I have shorted myself in the food area and I am starving.. so I decide to head on over to the World Showcase and start my journey through the worlds... Well.. I get there as the fireworks are going off.. and I smell a Philly Cheese Steak stand that catches my attention... there are about 15 people on line ahead of me.. and the line does not seem to be moving at all... Hmmmmm.... the fireworks have now ended and I figure everyone is going to be headed back into Future world so I think I should get off of this line and head over to Mexico... swim upstream.. and get a table there to wait out the crowds... well.. swimming upstream was not an option.. as soon as I turned around there was a wall of people headed in my direction...... okay rethink this situation... I decide that maybe I should leave Epcot alltogether.. until closer to midnight... perhaps head over to the boardwalk or Beaches & Cream for some food as this is becoming a necessity now... okay.. go for it...so I head on over to the exit near England.... I am making great time by cutting through the 2 gift shops... until I get to Canada.. and BAM!! Wall of People... Noone is moving... in either direction... this is weird??? Hmmmm.... I think.. must be a show or something stopping us.. so I wait it out with the other 50000 people... 15 min later and I am getting REAL cranky... Now.. all of this would have been much better handled had I been properly fed... and if I had a drink in my hand.. but I had neither and I was NOT happy Okay... so... back to the Philly Steak stand I decide.. I walk all the way back.. and I swear the same 15 people were still on that line!!!! Okay... what about Future world.. I can go back there and grab something.. yeah.. that's what I will do... Oh wait.. That's closed now... and not to mention the 6 gazillion people heading in that direction as well... okay... think.. think..... I COULD walk ALL the way around the world showcase to get to the exit.. but that seemed awfully long...but okay.. I'll try it... I get just outside of Mexico and BAM!! Same Wall of People as in Canada.... What is going on???? I am beginning to feel a bit like a stupid rat in a maze.... I just can't find the cheese.. and I keep hitting the dead ends.... Okay.. so.. back to Canada.. maybe that traffic jam has cleared up.... Back through the shops.. dodging the tourists.... I get near Canada... and Bam!! There's that wall again.. I just can't believe it....this is going on 40 minutes now... easy.. Where is Disney security??????.... I stood in the crowd just long enough to get myself trapped.. I can no longer go forward.. or Back where I came from... It's a bit scary..... I start to hear the strains of "When You're A jet" From West Side Story begin in my head... as tempers are rising... apparently what has happened is that a wall of people are going clockwise from the direction of England.. and a Wall of People are coming counterclockwise from the direction of Canada.. with noone staying to the right and noone wanting to give an inch.. which resulted in 2 walls of people at a standstill......all of sudden from behind I get pushed quite roughly aside.. I turn ready to fight and come face to face with a Reedy Creek Fireman... WOW.. never saw one of them before.... There are several of them.. accompanied by a stretcher and they are barrelling their way through the crowd.... Well.. being a True New Yorker.. I see my window of oportunity and jump in right behind them... I follow them through the crowd.. weaving and dodging... sort of like a ride on the Belt Parkway...I am an expert at this!! It works until they reach their destination which is still within this bottlenecked crowd... so.. once again... I am stuck... then like a beacon... from Canada comes Disney Security... followed by I think EVERY CM from Canada and neighboring countries.... single file holding tightly to one another and carrying light sabres... I see my opportunity looming once again.. and make friends with a CM.. he even offers me his sandwich as I express how hungry I am... It was sort of like a canadian Conga Line.... They pulled me in with them.. and off we went trying to divide the sharks and jets .. yelling Stay to the Right.. Stay to the Right..... people started to "GET IT" and we started moving.... Whew.... but I had now had it... I got out of there as fast as my feet could carry me.. and headed over to Beaches and Cream.... there was a family that was also escaping through the back exit even though their car was at the front of the park.. they said that exit was just as bad.. and they were going to take a bus from one of the resorts back to the front of Epcot....I helped them with their very sleepy kids.. and broken carriage.. which was no longer broken by the time we were done with it.. and they thanked me and were on their way.... I got to Beaches and Cream.. and Thankfully there was no wait for the counter... I sat down and had a beer.. a burger and then a milkshake to go.... I was thrilled... I still thought I might catch the midnight fireworks... but when i was done eating it was only 10 and I was EXHAUSTED!! I decided to go back to my room and call it a night.. which I did... I watched a bit of television.. dozed off in my heavenly bed... but at Midnight I was awoken by the fireworks at MGM.. I stepped out onto my balcony and watched the fireworks... I said Happy New Year to my fellow Balcony Buddies.. and went back to sleep.... I did not regret leaving Epcot at all... I think this whole day did not go as planned.. but I still had fun anyway!! Tune in for the Next Installment of "Hey.. Who Cares.. I'm IN Disney...Hey.. Where Did Everyone Go????

 

[Liz]

I think its great you were able to have fun in spite of things not going exactly as planned. And you've convinced me I don't want to be in the NYE's crowds at Disney - ever!!!

We love Beaches & Cream too. I'm anxiously awaiting your next installment! Thanks!

 

[DeDixie]

Keep them coming, I am really enjoying your reports!

 

[IloveDMB]

Like a good New Yorker, you eventually found your way out. Sounds like my dad, who was born and raised in Brooklyn. He could find his way out of any tight spot! I think it's a trait bestowed upon people who live in NY.

Anyways, another great part. Glad you got out of the scary situation and get yourself that much needed beer.

 

[Sinderella]

I too, think it's great how you had what anyone could consider a bad time of it, and yet you have a sunny disposition! Some people have one tiny little thing go wrong and their whole day is ruined. Good for you!

 

[Minniespal]

Wonderful report ~ Thanx for sharing.