HobNobbing with Nobby (A Gnome's 1st Trip to the World) FINAL Upt: 9/23 (P.48)

[MAGGIED]

Sorry for the delay guys I was diagnosed with a severe sinus infection and found out last night strep throat to boot so I'm out of commission. I took tomorrow off from work so I will definitely do some updating then!! Please forgive me and I wish you all the best weekend possible!!

Two things... first I hope you are feeling better soon!!!!
Second.... I type as I think... which is NEVER in complete sentences... and the scary thing is last week I was a sub for an English teacher... oh well... you will rarely see proper grammar on anything I type

 

[Charleston Princess]

I hope the doctor gave you some magical medications and you start to feel better soon!

 

[LISAMWDW]

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[MEK]

I so owe you this picture..........

I hope she was worth the wait!

 

[MEK]

p.s.

Jen..... Hope you feel better soon! My DS 14 is very sick, too. In fact, I have been home with him today. That's how sick he is. Only highlight of the day was making my ADR's for my June trip! Today is my 90 day! It took 1 1/2 hours to complete the ADR process, but I got a Le Cellier dinner and a Fantasmic dinner pckg. So, I guess it was worth the wait. Listened to the sound track of HM about 3 times while on hold!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Hope you feel better soon We've all been sick sick sick around here too. Both my boys had double ear infections and the flu. not fun. Get lots of rest and drink lots of fluids

 

[jenjolt]

I'm feeling back to normal so my update will be up tomorrow no later I promise LOL!!!!! Thanks for all your well wishes and patience with me LOL!

MEK I LOVE THAT PICTURE LOL!! THANK you for Sharing it with me!!

 

[MEK]

I'm feeling back to normal so my update will be up tomorrow no later I promise LOL!!!!! Thanks for all your well wishes and patience with me LOL!

MEK I LOVE THAT PICTURE LOL!! THANK you for Sharing it with me!!

So glad you like it! And, so glad you are feeling better! Yeah! Can't wait for that update!

 

[faerieprincess]

Glad to hear you're feeling better, Jen!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

What's that? Today is going to be an update day?

Glad you're feeling better.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm feeling back to normal so my update will be up tomorrow no later I promise LOL!!!!! Thanks for all your well wishes and patience with me LOL!

MEK I LOVE THAT PICTURE LOL!! THANK you for Sharing it with me!!

So glad you are feeling better!

And very much looking forward to an update!!

 

[jenjolt]

Sigh!! Well another week and only one update, this is becoming a pattern that I do not like LOL!!! Although this week I had a really good reason, I was diagnosed with a severe sinus infection, it was not pretty. However at this point I’m feeling much better, still fighting the cough and stuffy nose, but I will take that over the other things I dealt with early this week. So without further ado….I figured it was Friday the 13th…I mean could I possibly pass that up…nope I couldn’t LOL!!! Part 2 of the Haunted Mansion chapter 13 posted on Friday the 13th LOL!!!! Someone somewhere loves that I love the Haunted Mansion!

The last time we had been suddenly detained by ghosts that were up to no good as we had FINALLY boarded the doombuggy. I’d like to kindly remind you that on this journey I need you to keep your hands and your feet inside the doombuggy at all times and “please no flash photography, our ghosts are sensitive to bright lights.”

As the doombuggy creeps along the “Ghost” host gladly begins to tell us about the grand tour we are about to embark on. Our first scenes of the Haunted Mansion are a dark and creepy hallway with beautiful works of art hung on the wall with care. It’s only in the middle of a thunderstorm when lightning strikes that you realize there is more to these pictures than meets the eye. I’m not sure which picture I enjoy the most, the horseman or the Lady Medusa; I really think the Medusa one would look great in my office at home.

Then we are quietly, shhh don’t wake the spirits yet, escorted into a library. Upon first inspection all seems normal, until we notice books that move by themselves. We are told from our “Ghost” host that the library is filled with classics all by ghost writers of course. At this point, Nobby interjected carefully, he didn’t want to scare me out of my reverie and asked if I felt like I was being watched. Well I had to be honest, for some reason I always feel like I’m being watched while in the library, it’s quite odd. Do any of you ever get that feeling???

While it would be amazing for the ride to stop at that point and let me off to explore the library a little more, it wasn’t meant to be and we must continue on with our tour. Turns out the spirits are a bit restless this evening so there will be no time for us to stop and gawk on this trip. As we glide through the darkness you can hear the faint sounds of a piano playing in the background, it keeps getting louder and louder, until you are in the middle of a music parlor, but there’s no one at the piano and yet it’s being played. How is this possible? I whispered to Nobby to look down at the ground for a surprise, and sure enough Nobby figured out exactly how that piano was playing LOL!!! I have to tell you one of the things I enjoy most about this ride is the attention to detail, have you ever taken the time to really look at the back scene behind that piano??? If you haven’t you should, I’m always amazed how even the outside of the mansion looks from the inside. Now after the music parlor, we enter into a new part of the mansion that I had yet to see the mysterious staircases. However I have to be carefully listening or I’ll miss my cue, you see at this time right before you enter the staircases, our “Ghost” host as a very important question to which I always answer. He advertises that this sanctuary for the immortal souls now has 999 residents, but there’s room for 1000, any volunteers?? Well no matter what is going on around me, I make sure to make it very clear to the “Ghost” host that I AM the 1000th volunteer and that I get first dibs, that’s right people that spot is taken and its taken by me. Nobby was a bit miffed by this because he wanted to volunteer too, but I told him Gnome Ghosts go stay at “It’s a Small World,” I’m not sure whether the look he gave me was of pure pleasure or the look of dastardly deeds being plotted to help me along my way to becoming the 1,000 volunteer a little sooner. I really liked the addition of the staircases I thought it was well done, maybe a bit Hogwartsy but I was okay with that.

Okay so the joke is if they really need to find me a spot at the Haunted Mansion they are more than welcome to do so right next to the guy who apparently doesn’t want in his coffin anymore. I don’t blame him I would be a bit claustrophobic too. Well this place has a name it is the Conservatory and the thing I like the most about this is the crow. The crow has a lot of symbolism in the Haunted Mansion, he shows up again during the séance scene. However I’d be willing to find a nice spot in the conservatory for my body. Passing through the conservatory I make sure Nobby and I wave to crow and then we’re on to the freakiest part of the Haunted Mansion to me….the Corridor of Doors. This hallway is just scary, first of all the walls stare at me…literally they stare at me, that is just absurd and I get the chills. Then the doors shake and rattle and I’m always convinced there is something behind the doors that is going to come out to get me. Then the never-ending hallway with the floating candelabra and the Ghostly knight all gets me right where horror should. Not to mention the 13th hour clock…okay anyone else notice the huge hand that is coming out of the shadows towards you as you go by that clock…if you haven’t next time you go by it take a look…its going to get you LOL!!!

Finally the “Ghost” host takes to a chilly room, Nobby looked at me kind of strange and then the look changed to one of horror when he heard the voice. Oh yes the amazingly haunting voice of Madame Leota who is having a ghostly séance of her own. She calls out to the darkness and the spirits around her to give her a sound. Okay so you want to know what I find the creepiest of this scene, it’s the Madame herself. Next time you ride, listen yes my friends listen very closely and see where you have heard that voice before, because if you are a true Disney fan then yes you have heard that voice before. Okay well I’m going to put you out of your misery (LOL Pun #2), it’s the voice of Maleficent…yes that’s right they have a Sleeping Beauty reference in my all time favorite ride, does it get any better than that. As far as I am concerned you don’t get scarier or meanier that Maleficent she is evil incarnate and she’s in the Haunted Mansion and that just terrifies me. Madame Leota is channeling her inner demon and she sounds like Maleficent yeah I’m not sure I want to go and further at this point in the ride. Then the real fun begins….

The “Ghost” host takes his leave of us and we are invited to a haunted celebration. You have to love the ballroom scene. There is so much to notice and I don’t even know if I have even seen it all, but I do try. Some special ghost is celebrating a birthday, while Julius Caesar attends, and another ghost is passed out under the table. Dancers twirl in and out in a dance that lasts for all time and if you’re lucky you might find a few ghosts hanging out on the chandeliers. Although my favorite ghosts have to be the dueling ones, watch for them in their portraits the next time you ride. The music of this scene is probably its most notable feature. The organ, an exact replica of Capt. Nemo’s from the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (You have to love the way Disney makes sure to honor its past) is the centerpiece of the ballroom and gives it the eerie feel.

From the “Grand Hall” we are introduced to another new part of the Haunted Mansion. Well technically its not new, the attic scene has always been there, but not like this. I have always been memorized by the attic scene and all the lore behind it. I mean once upon a time you could see a light go by the window in the attic and the lore was it was the ghost bride waiting for her groom. So many stories have come from the attic alone, and now Disney had given that bride a name, Constance. I was really really excited to get my first glimpse of the newly done attic scene. If there was a place that I wish the ride would pause and allow me to you know get off and explore it would be that new attic scene. It was completely delightful and I love the attention to detail…anyone else notice the difference between each wedding portrait, well besides the new husband involved in each one LOL!!!! I was greatly impressed with the attic scene and would love just 30 minutes to explore in there someday!

The last part of the ride is the “descent” into the graveyard. I just love the grave keeper and his dog they are classics in my book. The popping up ghosts doesn’t scare me and I simply adore the singing busts. Talk about a song you don’t mind getting stuck in your head. I could listen to that song all day!! I also enjoy finding the hidden Mickey in the graveyard…if you’d like to know where to look let me know I’ll give you a hint LOL!!! It’s a great find!!!! I think my favorite ghost in the graveyard is the opera singer being hung by her hair, which is just great!!!

Well like all good things, even the Haunted Mansion must come to an end. As we exit the graveyard, our “ghost” host returns and we are informed that we would be going home with a guest until our next trip there. I love this part it’s always a great time to find out which hitchhiking ghost you are going home with. Nobby loved this part he thought it was great and wanted to know how he could become a hitchhiking ghost LOL!! I told him to stick to being a traveling gnome for now he could change life paths one someone else’s trip LOL!!

Then of course Nobby and I had to wave to Little Leota has we left and her wonderful rendition of “Hurry Back, Hurry Back” and “Next time don’t forget to bring your “death” certificate. LOL!! Great lines I really enjoy them!!! And all too soon our ride was done and we were exiting the ride back into the sunshine, boy was it bright outside. I love the end of the line area for this ride also. You all know how much I love a great pun so nothing beats the mausoleums.

And of course I must pay my respects to the dear wives of Blackbeard, even if the last one did do him in.

And wouldn’t you know it that in my Haunted Mansion stupor that once again I forgot to take a picture of the pet cemetery…but it was okay at the time because I would definitely be back. And that is my adventure at the Haunted Mansion. I hope you have found a new appreciation for this ride if you didn't already love it as much as I do!! I just love love love this ride and the magic it represents.

At this point it was starting to get a bit crowded for my taste at the Magic Kingdom so I was ready to make my hop over to DHS.

So next time my friends, we will discuss my afternoon at DHS and a loverly lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby.

 

[JPFamilyMom]

GREAT GREAT GREAT episode..... you know the part with the doors and the clock and the hand, well when I was a pre-teen I went to Disneyland with two of my cousins, and one of the "ghosts (cast members)" did reach out and touch us, we never screamed so loud, I think he grabbed my cousins hand or something, so creepy fun.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Wow!!! You've really taught me a whole new appreciation for HM. I really need to pay more attention next time!!!!


As a thank you....here's a little treat!

 

[Jennifer48]

awesome update! I felt like I was on the ride with you!!

P.S A little help where that Hidden Mickey is please!

 

[scottny]

great update.

hope you feel better soon

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Hi Jenny! Your wonderfully detailed report makes me so sad that I was only able to visit the "Mansion" once on our trip! For some reason, my wee ones just weren't up to doing it again! Oh well, there is always a next time! Until then, I shall live vicariously through your lovely report!

 

[smidgen21]

Hea Jen, Great update! I loved reading your HM chapters on Friday the 13th! A perfect touch.

On a side note, did you know Nobby has a tavern in St. Augustine? Your gnome has a side job. I hope he's giving you a cut.

for those interested the address is: 10 Anastasia Blvd
Saint Augustine, FL 32080

 

[MEK]

Wow!!! You've really taught me a whole new appreciation for HM. I really need to pay more attention next time!!!!


As a thank you....here's a little treat!

I LOVE this picture! I want one! Now I am going to Youtube HM so I can try to watch the ride and see what you saw!

 

[pamouselover]

Thanks for the ride Jen!