Inching My Way Closer to the Castle Final thoughts/future trips 4/2p90 The End 4/4p92

[SoonerGirl]

Love the Boo to You Parade, I think it may be my favorite Disney parade ever

The Queen of Hearts was the first villian my youngest ever met, we were at MNSSHP and he had just turned 6, she made him so nervous he refused to meet any more the rest of the night!

 

[MEK]

That is SO something I would do.

In fact I've panicked TWICE in 2 weeks about new cards that didn't come, getting them canceled in my attmept to say "hey you losers, you didn't send it to me" only to then find them. And of course I can't activate them as they canceled them thinking they were lost.

OK - since I am telling you all my DOH stories, I would like to mention that I once lost my Costco card within 2 minutes of entering the store. Yeah - that's right. Locked my wallet and pocket book in the car and just went in with my AE card to buy cookies and creamer. Stopped to look at some plants and literally could not find the card by the time I picked up the cookies. Went and cancelled it right then and there and they called me like 20 mins later to say they found it.


For the record - Leslie is just very tall. She has to be like 5'10". But that means Jenjolt is pretty tall, too because I have seen them in pictures together and Jen doesn't look short like me.

Kitchen pictures?

I am so sorry I haven't posted kitchen pics yet. I keep wanting to take them during the day and I had places to go all four of the days I was off from work. I really want to take day pics. I promise - soon. Of course, at this rate I might need another remodel.

From the looks of it, we went to the HM after the parade.

This is my favorite. Turned out great!

Love the Boo to You Parade, I think it may be my favorite Disney parade ever

The Queen of Hearts was the first villian my youngest ever met, we were at MNSSHP and he had just turned 6, she made him so nervous he refused to meet any more the rest of the night!

Its definitely my favorite parade. Great, great costumes and theming.

Jen loves that Queen of Hearts. I agree, she looks a little scary.

 

[MEK]

After we said goodbye to LL and Marc, we found ourself out at the hub. It was dangerously close to parade time There was a spot on the curb and it was surprisingly free of people. So we set up shop there. We had been there all of 2 minutes when the headless horseman went speeding by.....

......and there he goes. Byyyyyyeeeeeeee!

I didn't realize it at the time, but I think its more difficult to take pictures for the hub. We were on a curve and it was hard to see what was coming next. So its not surprisingly that neither of us got a good pictures of the headless guy!

A couple castle shots while we were waiting.....

And finally - the start of the parade.....

Disclaimer....My pictures are not that great. I was still fooling around with the automatic settings and I should have changed the lens. But, here's what I got:

This kid (I mean Aladdin) looks just like one of Nick's friends. Weird, considering they are 15.

Daffy is pretty blurry here, but in a surreal way. I like it. sort - of!

Again, blurry in a surreal sort of way!

I think they look like ghosts. woooooohhhhhhhhhhh! WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!

Highly edited!

Continued......

 

[MEK]

Will I be flamed for saying that this next picture is reminiscent of Brokeback Mountain?

Sorry Jen - She's big, but she moves fast!

What a fun job!

And that's a rap folks.....

Next Update....a few final pics from MNSSHP and a recap of the day! Then.......drum roll please.......a special visit to the wedding chapel.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Brokeback mountain!!! No flames from me!

That looks like a really fun parade!! Someday I will get to see it!

 

[jenjolt]

LOL!! I would not consider myself tall at all...I'm only 5'4, maybe 5'5 on a good day, but no taller than that LOL!!!!

I love the parade pictures!! I fell in love with MNSSHP last fall and I can't wait to get back there again, there is something about that parade that calls to me....maybe its all the shout outs to HM!!!!

Loved your spooky pic of HM!! Great shot!!!!!

 

[MEK]

After we watched the parade we headed over to HM. And look who was outside......

I think she is so totally cool. Last year, when Denny and I attended the party, we didn't see her, but we could hear her very well. I wonder were she was hiding?

I can't wait to ride HM with Jenjolt in May. It will be like getting a personal tour. I know all 5 of us will want to be in the same car as jen so she can point out hidden mickeys and other cool stuff.

I must have put the camera away for awhile because I remember the next thing we did was ride Dumbo. And then we went to Philarmagic. Love that show, although I find it a tad loud, especially at night.

I tried to get a few nighttime pictures of the side of the castle as we were leaving:

I really wanted a picture of the castle AND its reflection. Looks like its NOT GONNA happen.

Here's something I didn't see last year - a ghost in the window along Main street. Nice touch!

We said good-bye to the pumpkin heads!

I loved the ghosts on the sidewalk, but I couldn't seem to get one picture without someone's feet in it.

And with that we started our walk back to BLT. Then opening ceremony, Kona, GF, and Wedding Chapel

 

[jenjolt]

I say in May we ride HM like 4 times WOOT WOOT!!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE me that ride!!!!!!! I can't wait to ride it with you too!!

 

[eandesmom]

Seriously great pictures! And yes, a bit surreal at times

Brokeback mountain

OK - since I am telling you all my DOH stories, I would like to mention that I once lost my Costco card within 2 minutes of entering the store. Yeah - that's right. Locked my wallet and pocket book in the car and just went in with my AE card to buy cookies and creamer. Stopped to look at some plants and literally could not find the card by the time I picked up the cookies. Went and cancelled it right then and there and they called me like 20 mins later to say they found it.

Almost as good as locking your keys in the car at Costco AFTER you've loaded your goodies, and chasing your sisters car down in the parking lot to give you a ride home to get your spare set.

Completely random that we were there at the same time, happened to spot each other in the store and the minute I realized what I'd done I scanned that lot like no ones business. Good thing we have the same (previously unknown) standard parking area habits!

Yes I looked like a maniac trying to flag her down. Thank heavens it worked!

For the record - Leslie is just very tall. She has to be like 5'10". But that means Jenjolt is pretty tall, too because I have seen them in pictures together and Jen doesn't look short like me.

LOL!! I would not consider myself tall at all...I'm only 5'4, maybe 5'5 on a good day, but no taller than that LOL!!!!

I love the parade pictures!! I fell in love with MNSSHP last fall and I can't wait to get back there again, there is something about that parade that calls to me....maybe its all the shout outs to HM!!!!

Loved your spooky pic of HM!! Great shot!!!!!

I say in May we ride HM like 4 times WOOT WOOT!!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE me that ride!!!!!!! I can't wait to ride it with you too!!

Ok that IS wierd as in the pics you and Leslie look the same height, if you are only 5'4, we will be the ones looking tall.



4 times huh.... I love that ride but I think you guys love it WAY more than I do.

 

[dawnbu40]

I love all the party pictures! We were so bummed that the start date for MNSSHP was later and we didn't get to go. Looks like you had a really fun night

 

[manntra]

Love your ghost commentary!!!!!!! Wooooooooooo wooooooooooo!
I laughed right out loud!!
My niece and I were watching the Boo to You parade last weekend on youtube on my tv and we were like seriously why are there cowboys in the parade? Brokeback mountain
I do like your black and white picture of the dancers from the HM......they look so cool!! Cute one of Dopey and his "mask" too!!!

Oh and for the record I am around 5'2...maybe 5'2 and a half

Tracy

 

[MEK]

Brokeback mountain!!! No flames from me!

That looks like a really fun parade!! Someday I will get to see it!

I couldn't help it. I mean, those guys look a little light on their feet, literally and figuratively (not that there's anything wrong with that - as Seinfield would say).

Oh - you definitely need to see it. The girls would love it!

LOL!! I would not consider myself tall at all...I'm only 5'4, maybe 5'5 on a good day, but no taller than that LOL!!!!

I love the parade pictures!! I fell in love with MNSSHP last fall and I can't wait to get back there again, there is something about that parade that calls to me....maybe its all the shout outs to HM!!!!

Loved your spooky pic of HM!! Great shot!!!!!

Well if you are only 5'4" then I must be shrinking. I probably am and I really don't want to know it!

MNSSHP is the best. It is a huge shout out to HM. I could see all those grove diggers and ghost head right into the HM when its done and disappear into the night. How cool would that be? They go exit out the secret exit for VIPs.

I say in May we ride HM like 4 times WOOT WOOT!!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE me that ride!!!!!!! I can't wait to ride it with you too!!

Cool. We'll have to draw straws to see who gets to ride with you first. I mean, come on...you are the guru....the HM master!

Seriously great pictures! And yes, a bit surreal at times

Thanks!

Brokeback mountain

It was the first thing that came to my mind.

Almost as good as locking your keys in the car at Costco AFTER you've loaded your goodies, and chasing your sisters car down in the parking lot to give you a ride home to get your spare set.

Completely random that we were there at the same time, happened to spot each other in the store and the minute I realized what I'd done I scanned that lot like no ones business. Good thing we have the same (previously unknown) standard parking area habits!

Yes I looked like a maniac trying to flag her down. Thank heavens it worked!

Oh NO! That's too funny! Good, darn thing she WAS there. I hope it wasn't summer and everything was roasting in the car. What a pain!

Ok that IS wierd as in the pics you and Leslie look the same height, if you are only 5'4, we will be the ones looking tall.

The only thing I can figure is that I am totally shrinking and I need to start Fosamax.

4 times huh.... I love that ride but I think you guys love it WAY more than I do.

I am usually good for two rides, but I know Jen knows where all the hidden stuff is and I want to use her eyes to see things.

I love all the party pictures! We were so bummed that the start date for MNSSHP was later and we didn't get to go. Looks like you had a really fun night

I didn't realize you guys went right before it started. For some reason I though it started right after Labor Day. Have you seen it before? I can't remember. If not, def put it on your list. I guess its hard because Caitlin is back in school once the parties start.

Love your ghost commentary!!!!!!! Wooooooooooo wooooooooooo!
I laughed right out loud!!

I didn't know my sound effects were so authentic!

My niece and I were watching the Boo to You parade last weekend on youtube on my tv and we were like seriously why are there cowboys in the parade? Brokeback mountain

Really? Why ARE there cowboys in that parade? It just seems so out of place. So wrong!

I do like your black and white picture of the dancers from the HM......they look so cool!! Cute one of Dopey and his "mask" too!!!

Thanks. Yeah - I tried to make them look like ghosts....getting into the spirit!

Oh and for the record I am around 5'2...maybe 5'2 and a half

Tracy

Well just never stand next to LL then!

 

[Nermel9]

Great updates! I can't wait to finally go to the Halloween party, and your updates made me so much more excited to go! If only October would hurry up and get here!

The gravediggers look so cool, and so does the Headless Horseman!

Love those pumpkin heads, so cute! And the entrance to MK is so creepy, with all the mist, great pics!

 

[MEK]

Great updates! I can't wait to finally go to the Halloween party, and your updates made me so much more excited to go! If only October would hurry up and get here!

You will love the Halloween party and the decorations. They are so cool. IMHO its better than Christmas because the park totally changes at night. And I think there were more details this year compared to last yr.

The gravediggers look so cool, and so does the Headless Horseman!

Love those pumpkin heads, so cute! And the entrance to MK is so creepy, with all the mist, great pics!

I love the pumpkin heads too. they have carved pumpkins all over main street and they are all so cool. My fav were by the fire station.

 

[MEK]

OK - So who else started a diet for New Years? I am patiently sitting here waiting for something I put in the oven to finish. I am starved and the salad and rice cakes just aren't cutting it. So what better to do then give a Day 4 synopsis. I feel I owe it to you because I have been so inconsistent with this TR and I've lost some readers along the way. But I promise to plow ahead and be timely in my future updates.

So here ya go.....Day 4 in Review:

We started the day by being too cavalier to set an alarm. My last words were, "I'll get us up. I'm always up." But I overslept and we had to make a made dash for our Segway Tour at Epcot.

Showoff......

From there we headed over to the Land to grab some breakfast, take a ride on Soarin, and NOT go on living with the land as I originally imagined.

We sped over to a DIS favorite to stop for a little refreshment

I was having fun photographing all the displays when a Cast member admonished me for taking pictures. It was then that I met created our companion....Flat Mickey!

With flat Mickey in tow, we set off to the World Showcase where we saw many signs for the not-yet-opened F&W festival.

Mickey (or was it Jen) insisted that we ride

But I was much more interested in visiting here

Unfortunately it wasn't opened yet, but Flat Mickey managed to sneak in through the unlocked door. After a few pics a CM came and escorted us out with a remind that service began at 1200.

But we had other plans. We had a date with a girl named

After we helped Kim save this country

we set out to lunch at another DIS favorite

After some super scrumptious food

we set off to a new country

After saving our second country for the day we caught the monorail back to BLT. Along the way we caught a glimpse of my personal running path

We stopped for a few pictures from the contemporary

We went back to the room for a power nap and a quick change before we returned to MK where we

met up with a new old friend

got all wet

ran to catch the fireworks

viewed some crazy grave diggers

and chatted with an old favorite

and before long it was time to say....

So that was day 4, in nutshell, sans the missing camera battery. Up Next...an Opening ceremony we can walk to!

 

[Nermel9]

Thanks for the recap, wow, I can't believe the Segway tour and the Kim Possible mission were in the same day as the Halloween party!

Oh and to answer your diet question, I haven't started one yet...I want to join Weight Watchers and I like to go to meetings on Fridays after work, so I was going to join tomorrow...but now they're saying it's gonna snow really bad here in CT so I'm guessing it will be closed by 5:00 tomorrow, so I might not get to join til next week. Good luck on your diet!

 

[All7OfUs]

That was a busy day, Chickie!! Murphey's Law says that the minute you don't set your alarm, you will sleep in. But, so glad you made in time for your tour! You look VERY stylish, by the way, on that!

Your lily picture is great! I have a similar one, but your composition is better. I may steal it for my wallpaper, if that's okay.

What are those 3 yellow mound-ish looking things from R&C?? Those look fabulous!

Awesome shots of the halloween party stuff too!! That portrait of that lady (don't know her name) could almost be used as a Disney brochure!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Thanks for the recap, wow, I can't believe the Segway tour and the Kim Possible mission were in the same day as the Halloween party!

I was thinking the same thing! Every day felt like a whirlwind but it was awesome. We accomplished so much but did it in a fairly organized fashion so it didn't feel rushed, it was relaxing.

That was a busy day, Chickie!! Murphey's Law says that the minute you don't set your alarm, you will sleep in. But, so glad you made in time for your tour! You look VERY stylish, by the way, on that!

Your lily picture is great! I have a similar one, but your composition is better. I may steal it for my wallpaper, if that's okay.

What are those 3 yellow mound-ish looking things from R&C?? Those look fabulous!

Awesome shots of the halloween party stuff too!! That portrait of that lady (don't know her name) could almost be used as a Disney brochure!

I try really hard not to bring Murphy on vacation, but he always shows up! It was amazing when we told the bellhop at BLT that we needed a cab. He walked into the driveway, waved his hand, and one appeared! Not the way I want to travel in WDW when there's a whole lot of free transportation, but when you need to get somewhere in a hustle, it's a great thing.

The yellow mound-ish things were yummy lump crab cakes and sweet corn custards from LC; quite nice.

They are so cool. IMHO its better than Christmas because the park totally changes at night.

I tell people all the time that the Halloween party is way better than Christmas in WDW. During Halloween, only the MK changes its decor, instead of every park and resort. And then for the party it is completely transformed; spooky lights, fog, and music. For Christmas, all the parks are decorated, and the resorts so it's not that "special" to go to MVMCP, IMHO.

Of course, I much prefer Halloween over Christmas anyway, so I'm biased.

D4D

 

[MEK]

Oh and to answer your diet question, I haven't started one yet...I want to join Weight Watchers and I like to go to meetings on Fridays after work, so I was going to join tomorrow...but now they're saying it's gonna snow really bad here in CT so I'm guessing it will be closed by 5:00 tomorrow, so I might not get to join til next week. Good luck on your diet!

That's what I am trying to do - Weight Watchers. Day 5, but I am going to a party to watch the Delaware game tonight. I have to try REALLY, REALLY hard not to blow it. YIKES!

That was a busy day, Chickie!! Murphey's Law says that the minute you don't set your alarm, you will sleep in. But, so glad you made in time for your tour! You look VERY stylish, by the way, on that!

We did have a busy day so we sought some relaxation the next day! We deserved it!

Your lily picture is great! I have a similar one, but your composition is better. I may steal it for my wallpaper, if that's okay.

By all means - help yourself!

What are those 3 yellow mound-ish looking things from R&C?? Those look fabulous!

I believe they were some crab and corn type thing that Jen ordered. Hopefully she answered your question above.

Awesome shots of the halloween party stuff too!! That portrait of that lady (don't know her name) could almost be used as a Disney brochure!

Thanks. I love how that pic turned out!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Awesome updates ladies! I love each and every one of the party/parade pictures.

Brokeback Mountain!