Ok, first of all, I am back, safe and sound.
Sunday, 12/10, was a long day at Magic Kingdom. DH & I got to the park around 10:00 am and shopped a bit. Then we went to VMK Central, where we were supposed to meet with some other DISers. My PalMickey had died (stomach no longer worked), and they were tending to him. He needed replacing but since it was so old, it took a call to PalMickey Central to get approval to replace him. They did it, but told me that next time, I would need a receipt. (I didn't point out that if I didn't have the receipt to begin with, it would be difficult to have one at a future time)
I was helping someone with a VMK question, when I hear my name called out. A group of people were standing around, motioning me over. There was Disaeryn, FlyingPegasus, Melkiriob, and a few others. In wanders ElectricLime, with Holiday Quest forms in hand. I had already turned in my quests (boo hiss to Jacques at VMK Central for not letting me use my expired passes - he's such a bummer!) except for the Holiday one, so ElectricLime and I go outside to do that quest. Finished it up, then ran our answers by the group for verification. Got my measly two sets of cards and off we went.
I don't remember the exact order we did things in, but I know we had lunch first. Columbia somethingorother in Liberty Square. Recommended by the group as being a quick, easy place to grab a lunch. Well, not this day! Took bloody well forever to get through. Paying was easy, but getting our food is where the time went. Of course, "This never happens!" was uttered by all. Well, it sure does when Dara's around, now doesn't it!?!
We went to the Mansion, which had a little line, but we made it through, all three cars in a row. Disaeryn made sure to show me one hidden mickey, almost scaring the you-know-what out of me by touching my shoulder to get my attention! On our way out, where we intended to do Riverboat, we saw a Dreams cast member. So, on the excuse of trading pins, we started talking to him. His shtick was that you have to answer a Disney movie trivia question to trade with him. ElectricLime was wearing one the cast member liked, and so, Electric challenged him to a trivia question.
Which three animated movies did not have a single human in them? Guy gets a look like deer in the headlights! Had not a clue. DH pipes up kind of off hand to the guy, "Cars", at which time ElectricLime turns around and says, "Cars! I forgot about that one. So it's four." Still the guy didn't know, so Fly says, "Bambi". OK, he now has one, plus the new addition. Finally, the group gets him the other two, ElectricLime gets the trade complete.
At this point, we missed the Riverboat. DH & I decided to wait for it, while the rest of the gang "ran over" to Frontierland to the pin store. Needless to say, DH & I rode it by ourselves! After the ride, via cell phone, we found everyone else in Adventureland, learning how to be a pirate from Jack Sparrow.
We decided to get into line for POTC, whereupon we found Melkiriob, her DD11 and DH. They waited for us to catch up, and the whole group of eight (pieces of eight, get it?) rode together. Fly pointed out another hidden Mickey to me (the lock on the jail where the dog has the TWO keys on a ring in his mouth), and I realize that this hidden Mickey stuff is a whole other 'thing" I will wind up getting addicted to.
After POTC, we decide to go our separate ways. DH and I take the train back to Main Street and go back to Old Key West for a quick nap. Well, of course, the way our luck goes, the bus driver GOT LOST GETTING BACK TO OLD KEY WEST! It was so sad it was hilarious! How do you get lost as a bus driver?
But, our bus adventure isn't over yet. After my nap (DH doesn't do naps well, so he started the packing), we head back to MK. We got to the bus stop at 6:00, figuring that's plenty of time to get into the park for 6:40 reservations at the Plaza Restaurant. 50 mins later, a bus that comes every 20 minutes shows up! We don't get to MK until 7:30ish. Mind you, the park was closing at 8:00 that night, and we had missed our dinner reservations. I was not pleased.
I went to Town Hall, walked up to a poor unsuspecting CM and say, "I am a p o'd mamma!" Bottom line is Stephen, the CM, gets us into Liberty Square Tavern, and gives us four generic fast passes! Way to go Stephen!
Dining Tip: Liberty Square Tavern is a hidden gem, in my opinion. It is a character dining experience, but only uses one table service coupon on the dining plan! Food is served family style, with salad, roast beef, roast pork, roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes (to die for), chicken gravy (also to die for), macaroni and cheese, and garlic green beans. Dessert was an apple cobbler a la mode. Yum!
We rode Space Mountain, and puttered around. Didn't need the fast passes that night bc of extra magic hours, so we figured we'd use them our last day, Monday. Left the park around 11:30 or so and got back no hassles!
Our last day was Monday. DH finished the packing while I pouted. I really hate leaving! We checked our bags with the front desk and headed back to MK hoping to turn in more quests, but, alas, Jacques was there again so we didn't bother. Had a last minute "request" from DD9 for Tink hat and gloves, which turned into a challenge. The rides were empty again so we didn't need our fast passes. Found some ppl to give them to who would be there all day as the lines grew. Rode Splash mountain. Found a young girl with the pirate quest in her hand and asked her about VMK. She had never even heard of it, so I loaded her up with all the completed quests that Jacques wouldn't let me turn in (take that, Jacques! raspberries to you!), and checked her pirate quest, which she had wrong. That stuff made us feel good, even though we had to leave.
Left the park around 1:00, got on Disney Magical Express around 1:50, to the airport and checked in by 3:00, on the plane by 4:30, back in Baltimore by 6:50 and home around 9:30. Got tackled by the kids, whose first words were, "What did you get me?" Of course, their second words were, "That's all? All I get is one thing?" Ungrateful little rats!
And now, the planning for next year's full hot order extravaganza begins, for me, DH, DS20, DS13, DD9, DS6, MIL68, SIL38, and Nephew14...
Grumpy, you are such a funny little gnome. Be careful you don't get squashed by Ursula!
