Day 6 - Part 2 - Pool and Party
Before we head to the beach and pool for the next part of the day, lets talk for a minute about costumes. Costumes are important. Costumes make the world go around. Or at least they make my world go around, and everyone elses world more colorful if they happen to be in my vicinity. When I realized that
MNSSHP would be happening while I was here, and that adults are allowed to wear costumes, it didnt take more than a nanosecond for me to decide to both attend the party and ship a costume ahead.
My primary excuse for having lots of costumes is that I play trombone in a circus band that tours with a vaudeville show and workshops to small towns that dont get a lot of touring entertainment and to places in need of laughter. In recent years weve been to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Mississippi and Louisiana. Last summer the tour went out on sailboats in the Salish Sea region of Washington. We always do a parade, and sometimes two or three, in every place that we visit, and I believe in having a show stopper costume for the parade. Show stopper often turns out to mean large and structural. One of my favorites is a hoop skirt cage with the tubular parts covered in very circusy red and yellow polka dot fabric that I wear as part of a parade ensemble. I adore this outfit, but its circumference eliminated it from the ship to Disney competition.
Another classic is my snake charmer outfit. This was inspired by a friend who was always building cool fool-the-eye costumes (like a genie floating on a magic carpet). I decided to have a body suit made out of leopard print fabric, and have a false right arm installed on one side. I even got a fake hand for the fake arm. Around my waist is coiled a stuffed but real enough looking snake. The snakes body extends around my back and then my right arm goes into the head and front part of the snake so it looks as though the snake is playing the trombone.
Heres a picture (and sneak preview of a hilarious moment from later in the week):
This costume also had the advantage of being light and easy to fit into a reasonably sized box. I shipped the box ahead with all the accessories to the costume and then was able to ship the box home (with the addition of some souvenirs) right from the desk at the Polynesian.
So as I headed out to find a hammock for some happy airborne time, I knew I had to get back to the room in time to shower, put on makeup and get dressed for Halloween fun. Before I left the room I got out the costume and accessories and patted the stuffed arm and snake parts back into shape after their compression in the shipping package. The weather reports had been quite threatening about rain tonight most of the time Id been here, and I couldnt wear the snake in the pouring rain due to the stuffed parts, so I was relieved it was still dry.
There was a nice selection of available hammocks, so I chose one a little ways out on the beach and settled in and looked at the castle while I was swaying. I stayed there for a half hour or so until I was too hot to not swim, and then headed over to the pool. Id only been here in January and December and had never gotten around to swimming in the cooler weather of those trips, so this was my first time in the pool and down the slide. The pool was busy but not excessively so, and I snagged a chair on the beach side. It was bliss to laze around in the water, and I went down the slide four or five times. Then it was time for a Dole Whip on the beach, some reading and more lazing around. I took one more swim to cool off, and then headed back to my room.
It was fun to get ready for a party and put on special occasion makeup. My Jiko leftovers were a perfect early dinner. I got my backpack all organized, as once I put on the costume my right hand is in the snakes head so I have less than usual mobility. I decided I would take the camera as always even if it was a little awkward. Dressed and ready, I headed off past the quiet pool to the GCH and the monorail. There were more clouds in the sky that had rolled in during the afternoon, but I was past the point of no return and was committed to wearing the costume no matter what. I was initially a little self conscious, but that faded as early crowd reaction to the costume was positive as I cruised through the GCH and up to the monorail station.
I was the only one in costume waiting for the monorail, but when the doors opened and I stepped into the car, there were more costumed guests than not inside. There was a whole dressed up family sitting on the seat across from me. Mom was a Grecian goddess, Dad was a doctor in scrubs and stethoscope and their two boys represented super-hero world as Spiderman and Batman. In the middle of the car, her stroller parked sideways to the rest of us, was their little girl wearing a Minnie Mouse outfit. She took one look at the snake and sucked back into the stroller, reached up and grabbed the retractable stroller hood and pulled it down over herself. As my DB said when I told him the story later, she was pretty sure that the stroller hood was snake proof. It was hilarious. She spent the rest of the trip peeking around the side of the stroller at me and got on to some pretty serious flirting by the time we arrived at the Magic Kingdom. Since I am usually playing the trombone when I wear this costume, it was fun to use the snake as an actual puppet and find out what looked cool.
I got my wristband and hung out for a little while at the entrance, talking with the CMs and watching the other costumed guests enter.
Then I headed in through the fog, picked up my trick or treat bag and made my way to the castle for some pictures.
The spooky ambient music set the mood even though it wasnt dark yet. Then I went to Tomorrowland to get some rides in before the first parade.
I started with Buzz Lightyear. The cast member at the far end of the load area shrieked when he saw the snake and wouldnt come near the car after that so I had to put down my own lap bar. There was hardly anyone on the ride, which made it really fun because I could easily track my own laser points and ended up with a super high score. The snake is apparently a better shot than I am.
The Astro Orbiters didnt have a wait so I flew through the sky above Tomorrowland in the gathering gloom, and then took one spin on Space Mountain. I stopped at some candy distribution points on the way to Fantasyland and then rode on Snow White, collecting kudos on my costume from the CMs on the way in. I guess because they work around a super scary witch they werent as intimidated by my snakiness as the Buzz Lightyear CM. Then it was time to go over to Main Street to get a spot for the parade. I sat next to a family whose little boys were totally decked out in pirate gear. One of them was a ghost pirate and was in love with his scary skeleton hand gloves. They had arrived without costumes but really wanted to dress up so their parents had shopped and gotten them changed in time for the parade. They were having a fabulous time inhabiting their new characters, practicing their Arrrrs and scary expressions.
While we were waiting, the sky darkened and the lights playing across the buildings of main street bathed us in images of ghosts and haunted moments. A masked tuba and banjo band came by and entertained the waiting crowd with their own renditions of Halloween favorites.
There was also a balloon animal artist making anything guests requested. There was no animal too large or complicated to be created in balloons and I saw him make not only dogs and swords but a giraffe and a very convincing elephant.
Anticipation built as the CMs cleared the street for the ride of the Headless Horseman, and then he appeared in a clattering of hooves and booming dramatic music, passing by on his endless dark quest. We settled in to wait for the parade, and soon were watching the characters dancing in their special costumes, ghosts, pirates and villains enjoying their night out and collecting chocolate from the cheerful candy cadre at the end of the parade.
I unwound myself from the sidewalk and decided to go to the Haunted Mansion.
It was extra spooky with fog and special lights outside and the presence of a ghostly character telling stories on the grounds near the hearse. After getting my share of ghostliness, I went to Pirates and then through Fantasyland to ride on all the dark rides again. I noticed in the HM that my eyes were super dark adapted and I was seeing more details than usual, so I wanted to see all the rides that way. I watched the fun at the dance party for a bit, and also stopped by for a photo op with Pooh and Eeyore.
This evening was the champion empty park time of the trip, so much so that I rode on a nearly deserted carousel.
By then fireworks time had rolled around, and I was ready to sit for a bit, so I went down to the Swan Boat docks and watched from there. The finale is particularly dramatic, with a ring of giant star bursts all around the park.
I took a turn on the TTA, then went back around to Adventureland to check out the candy stations on that side of the park. The Jungle Cruise area had party music playing and some giant balloon animals setting the mood. There were a couple of lonely CMs dancing away so I joined them for a few minutes of fun.
I passed through to Frontierland and found a small crowd waiting for the second parade. I stayed and watched from that vantage point, and then was ready to head out for a last ride on Space Mountain.
When I got there I found myself in a queue of one. It was so empty that I rode all by myself in my rocket and enjoyed the really different experience of riding in utter silence. There was no screaming, no laughter, no human sounds at all, just the rush of the rocket through the stars. It was so great I went back around and rode utterly alone again three more times, folding and unfolding my snaky self into the rocket to the amusement of the CMs.
I was partied out by then, with a happily stuffed treat bag and one tired snake on my hand. I took the monorail back to the Polynesian and was 100 yards from the entrance to my longhouse when the skies opened. I dashed the rest of the way home, happy that my timing was nearly perfect.
Tomorrow - Lunch with an Imagineer, Epcot and Kona Cafe
Sounds/looks like you had a great party night. I can't get over the lack of crowds!! And your timing with the rain was awesome!! Good job!!
Safe journeys, and I hope we can support you in your post Disney sad time by hearing all about your trip!
