After the block party bash, we headed back to the Pop and took it easy for about an hour or so, and then took off for the Magic Kingdom. It was Spectro night, and I was very excited to get to experience the double header that Stacy never really talks about. Forget Space and Splash, the Yeti and the Yak, and Mission and Soarin if you can catch Spectro and Wishes on the same night its a good night.
The plan was to hit a couple of rides until it got dark, then find us a prime viewing spot and hunker down for Spectro. After Spectro, we would move towards the hub and try to snag our usual fireworks viewing spot. As soon as the fireworks were over, we were supposed to head to the Pop for a Dis meet. We were planning to show up fashionably late.
So we managed to hop on a couple of rides. I want to say it was Pirates and Haunted Mansion then we made our way to Frontier Land for the parade. It wasnt long before the crap carts made their way onto the streets.
We heard a collective gasp from all of the parents who discovered the price of the Mickey Mouse spinny light up toy their kid couldnt live without
, that is surely in the bottom of their toy box by now never to be seen again.
It wasnt long before the lights were dimmed and the music started.
I just love this parade. However, I think I will try to catch it towards the front of the park from now on. Unlike most parades, which start in Frontier Land and move towards the hub, Spectro starts by the hub and moves backwards. By the time it got to us, I think the performers were a little tired.
As soon as the parade cleared, we started to move towards the front of the park to grab a spot for Wishes. This is the moment we discovered exactly how crowded the Magic Kingdom was that night.
WOW. We were packed in like sardines moving at a snails pace being herded like cattle.
I have to imagine that scenes like that give much needed comedic relief to the cast members working at the MK.
(Much like moving unsuspecting parents strollers to an undisclosed location.) To add to that comedic relief, I decided to let out a big enthusiastic Moooooooo as we moved towards Adventure Land.
When we were crossing the bridge from Adventure Land to the hub, I saw something that I really need someone to help me understand. There was a large group of people (maybe 15) who decided to sit on the bridge blocking at least half of it causing traffic to bottleneck at that point.
Not only were they sitting, but the adults seemed to be on the inside of the group, while the children were on the outside closest to the traffic. This is what really gets me
.they chose to sit with their hands resting on the ground behind them for maximum comfort, and as a result increased the amount of space they were taking up. Not only is this dangerous because their hands might get stepped on, but on a hot Florida night with tired adults, this is fighting material.
I just knew someone was going to get stepped on and there was going to be an all out Daddy war.
After getting through the bottleneck, I was ready to find the closest spot, and stand. It was so crowded cast members were telling people that the hub area was closed, and to make their way down main street. I have NEVER seen that before. We were able to sneak around to the right side of the hub and grab a small spot there next to a nice couple from Bristol, TN.
I tried to snap some pics using the fireworks setting on my camera. Finally, I came to this conclusion: I am not, nor will I ever be, a photographer.
Once the fireworks concluded, we smiled and waved at the happy masses that made a mad rush for the exit. There was NO WAY I was running with the bulls again. We decided to stand back and let the crowds thin a little bit before even attempting to leave. So did our new friends from TN.
They were down for a week, and while it wasnt their first trip, we could tell they were Disney noobs. So thats how our conversation started
.all about Disney. However, the conversation turned took on a life of its own as it progressed to Dollywood, gas prices, and muscle cars.
Soon, we found ourselves standing on an almost empty main street.
We said goodbye to our new friends, and headed towards the exit. To the right, the line for the monorail was still backed up three quarters of the way down the ramp, so we headed towards the ferry boat. As we walked up, a boat was just pulling away from the launch that was so full it was busting at the seams.
When we entered the launch queue, I looked at my watch and let out a little scream. It was 10:00. This scenario actually posed two problems. #1 my Dis friends. Will any of them still be there? OMG!?!?!?!? #2 On the way in, we were told that the last tram would leave for the parking lot at 10:30. We were going to be pushing it.
The ferry returned soon enough and we boarded about 10:10. I was trying my best to mentally will the boat to move. I DID NOT want to have to walk from the TTC drop off point to our car parked in no mans land. All of a sudden, the freakin water parade shows up out of nowhere. Normally, I would have been thrilled to see this, but I was kind of in a hurry so I let out a little grumble. And of course, took pictures.
Karma, being the butterfly that she is, decided to repay me for my grumpiness by dispatching some type of bug to bite me on my rear. Now, I have no idea what bit me, but the rash that was in place by the time I got to the hotel looked very similar to poison ivy and was very, very itchy.
FINALLY, we were on the move and as we pulled away, they actually turned off the lights we were on the very last boat of the night. We got to the loading zone at exactly 10:30, and I simply could not believe the number of people waiting to board. I just knew we were going to have to ride the hush puppy highway to our car. We picked the shortest queue and a tram pulled up, and filled up very quickly.
I didnt hear the attendant announce anything about them being the last tram, so I held on to hope. Soon, another tram came roaring around the corner, followed closely by another, and another.
Good ol Disney wasnt going to make anyone walk after all.
Once in the car, Mark put the petal to the metal as we zoomed off towards Pop. In the car, we both realized we were starving, as we hadnt eaten since lunch. When we arrived at Pop, we headed straight for the food court to pick up some grub. Some of the stations were already closed, but we were able to pick up a couple of pizzas. Mark took the tray and headed towards the room, and I went towards the pool in search of any remaining Disers.
As I entered the pool area, I spotted an umbrella with glowsticks hanging from it, and I knew immediately where to go. I walked up to the people sitting there, and just kind of smiled for a minute. Beans started talking first, are you
. And then Cheri piped up with
that sure is! and it was all hugs and smiles from that point forward. I just love meeting new people when it feels like youve known them forever.
I missed a couple other visitors, but I was so glad to meet Beana and Cheri. I really wanted to stay longer, but I was so hungry and tired, plus my rear was really itchy from the bug bite. We snapped a couple of pics, and called it a night.
To Cheri and Beans: Thank you so much for waiting on me, and Im sorry to make you wait. It was so awesome meeting you guys, and I hope to have the opportunity to see you again in the future.
omg those pictures of Mark at Ohana remind me of something Chris would totally do/has done at disney when he was sick of getting his picture taken.
love your descriptions of food girl. You crack me up!!
Ah - well - we'll go back. 
A server has such influence over how you view your meal, sorry yours wasn't up to the job.
your report. Awesome everything.
This day we were able to walk on in under 10 minutes and we were able to ride with a family of 4 and a single rider. We absolutely love watching peoples expressions as they exit this ride. When the adults are soaked, they tend to look a little peeved at their run of bad luck. 
