May Vacay - Let's celebrate the end of the school year. But why is it surface of the sun hot? (Update 11/19)

[Stacybaeasm]

Now this sounds like a much more enjoyable and stress free time!! How fun to be able to see your friend perform in Fantasmic! I have a CM friend who has had many roles, but my favorite is to see him perform in the Candlelight Processional. Hoping to catch him at least once on our Christmas trip.

Watching friends perform is so wonderful! I hope you get in to see your friend in Candlelight. One of my former students who is down there auditioned for the choir but I haven't heard from her about when she might be performing.

 

[amazingact21]

I'm happy to hear dinner and your evening in DHS was a nice, relaxing time. I admit, I also "wheee" on the spinning parts of TSMM, too.
How sweet your former student thought she saw you, and you KNEW that's what she was thinking. The thought definitely counts, though!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Upcoming Trip Update
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Just wanted to drop by with a couple of updates for the Thanksgiving trip. (I promise to find time to finish this report this week before I leave!!!)

Saturday was FP$$ day. I started with Thanksgiving Day since I figured that would be the hardest. And, that turned out to be the easiest. Sunday was actually the hardest and I ended up just not buying multi-pass for that day. But here is what I ended up with:
Sunday - nothing (MK day) But Beak and Barrel at 11:55. I was super excited about this but after some reviews, I'm not sure. Oh well, everything is worth trying once. Given the state of my knees these days, I plan to ask for a seat there and I'm fine waiting if needed.
Monday - (Studios) 10:25-11:25 Tower of Terror; 1:55-2:55 Toy Story Midway Mania; 5:15-6:15 Slinky Dog. I also have Hollywood and Vine at 2:55pm for Fantasmic Dining so I am pretty set for that day. Just hope to try to get a Mickey and Minnie's Railroad after Tower but I can always stand in that line. I know Studios closes early this day for Jollywood.
Tuesday - MVMCP - nothing
Wednesday - (Animal Kingdom to start) 8:00-9:00 Dinosaur; 9:00-10:00 Everest; 10:00-11:00 Safari. I hope to grab a Lion King after Dinosaur. Then, after time at the pool that afternoon, I'm heading into Epcot for dinner and I grab a fancy ride for Guardians at 6:40-7:40pm. (Plus a grand mariner slushie at some point LOL).
Thursday - (MK - yes again!) 8:00-9:00 Pirates; 9:00-10:00 Haunted Mansion; 10:00-11:00 Space Mountain. I'm hoping to grab anything really after scanning in. I still have not done Tiana but I also don't want to get wet so.... I have dining at Crystal Palace at 1:15 and hoping Caroline (DisneyAndi14) can join!!
Friday - (Epcot) the focus was going to be Festival of the Holidays but...I also did both FP$$ and fancy ride. 9:10-10:10 Guardians; 10:10-11:10 - Soarin'; 11:10-12:10 - Living with the Land; 12:10-1:10 Ratatouille.

Then, I got super exciting news. I reached out to an old friend/former intern who is now an SM for Cirque Drawn to Life, because I haven't seen him the last couple of trips. He said "Hey - do you want to see the show??" Umm...YES PLEASE!! Then he said "If you come to the late show on Thursday, I can also do a backstage tour if you are interested." Umm...YES PLEASE!!! So, I get to see Cirque and get a backstage tour on Thanksgiving. I'm so excited!!!

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

"Hey - do you want to see the show??" Umm...YES PLEASE!! Then he said "If you come to the late show on Thursday, I can also do a backstage tour if you are interested." Umm...YES PLEASE!!! So, I get to see Cirque and get a backstage tour on Thanksgiving. I'm so excited!!!

This is so exciting! What a fun and unique Thanksgiving you'll have!

All your plans sound great- can't wait to hear all about it

 

[disneyAndi14]

I’m planning to have lunch with you on Thanksgiving Day, I’m looking forward to it!
I think you should check out Beak and Barrel at least once. It is a cool experience I just detest the standing and 45 minute time limit except when standing it is good to get out of there, haha

 

[missjackiemcg]

The plans sound great! How exciting to see Drawn to Life, but even more so to have a backstage tour!! My trip is still 34 days away, and it feels like it will never get here!! Enjoy every minute!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Day Six
Epcot
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Only 3 more sleeps until I leave for the Thanksgiving trip. Time to finish this report!!

Saturday was Epcot for Flower and Garden. Before the trip, I had made a whole list of things to eat and drink - lemon tart, orange lemon smoothie, fried cinnamon roll bites, fruit cereal shake, Dragon Dynasty Drink, potato pancakes, toasted pretzel bread with ham and cheese, spiced rum cocktail, chocolate cake, and beignet caramelise. I had also planned to take 2 days to do this but we know how our first Epcot day went so... I was still hoping to hit the high points and realized I wouldn't get to it all.

I headed in early but not early entry. I had a fancy ride for Guardians at 9:10. It was pouring rain as I made my way into Epcot. And it was supposed to rain for most of the day. It was also entirely too hot to wear a poncho all day. Luckily, I keep umbrellas in my car so I grabbed the smallest one I had and set out for the day. No way was I letting the ever present rain on this trip keep me from my last day in the parks.

I got to Guardians and quickly got through the pre-show rooms. As I was waiting to board, the person I was riding with mentioned they were really excited we had been assigned row 9. I was like . It was then I learned that apparently, row 9 is the BEST row. I'm still not sure why but it was fun. And I got September. I think I have now had every song. Woo hoo.

I still don't know where the photo is actually taken so I am never looking in the right place.

When I came out, it was still pouring rain. I headed to Connections to hang out for a bit. The smell of the pizza as they were making it was making my mouth water. Right, forget the snack booths. I will be coming back here for lunch.

After awhile, I headed into Creations to do my last bit of shopping. And I went a little crazy. I ended up with the necklace to match the bracelet I bought early in the trip, 2 pairs of earrings, 2 pairs of Mickey socks, and because I had spent the right amount of money - the 4 parks cups. And I told myself I should be done shopping. Sigh...best laid plans.

By this time, it was 11am and Connections eatery should be open so I headed back in and got pizza. Let me just say, for me, this is the best fast pizza in the parks. The blend of sauce and cheese and the cornmeal crust...yum. I might be drooling a little thinking about it right now. (And I will be eating it again on Wednesday night!!)


After eating, I texted Eli to find out where she was stationed and headed over to one of the blue umbrella locations to say good bye to her. I'm such a proud mama bear, seeing all my former students at work! We talked for a few minutes, but I didn't want to get her in trouble or anything so we hugged and I headed into World Showcase for some booths.

I'm going to be fully honest here, by this point, my body was tired and it was so hot. I was kind of feeling like "I might be done." I stopped on a bench to people watch and figure out what booth I really wanted to go to. While sitting, I started a conversation with this lovely family who were brand new to being annual pass holders. They weren't even sure what the benefits were of having an annual pass. I talked them through hotel, merch, and food discounts, explained where to go get their free magnet, and also mentioned the passholder lounge up in Morocco. They were very appreciative and set off to get their magnets. I headed up to Germany, thinking I might get the pretzel bun with ham and cheese or the potato pancakes. But both lines were long and I really wasn't hungry. I stopped on another bench to have a firm conversation with myself, trying to figure out what the plan was. This time, I had a great conversation with a woman who does Run Disney events. We discovered that we both ran the Princess Half the same year!

I moved on again and headed for the passholder lounge in Morocco. I've never been able to take advantage of this before so I wanted to see it. I waited in a short line and then was inside with snacks and some water and the button for passholders. It was nice to sit in the AC for a bit but it was very busy and I didn't want to take up the chair for too long when others were waiting.

Back outside, I realized I was fully out of energy. I just didn't want to go to any booths, I wasn't hungry, I was tired, and did I mention it was hot??? I headed up to France because I wanted to look at those 2 Belle t-shirts one last time and grab a baguette for later. Of course, first I had to get a grand mariner slushie! I always have room for that. Plus, a nice cold slushie on a hot day sounded lovely. I quickly got my drink and sat by the fountain for a bit and then headed into the shop and Les Halles. After looking at both t-shirts for an inordinate amount of time, I decided I needed both. Yep, remember when I said I should be done shopping?? Well, clearly that didn't apply to Belle shirts. Purchase in hand, I turned around to head to the bakery and realized the line was all the way out the door. Yeah, even this fluffy girl doesn't like bread THAT much.

I headed back out to the Skyliner and back to Pop. I quickly changed and headed out to the pool for the last time. After relaxing, reading, and swimming for a couple of hours, I headed back up to the room and packed. I ran to bell services and borrowed a cart and got the majority of my stuff loaded into the car. I must have done something for dinner but I don't seem to have any notes about that. I'm sure it was the food court but I have no idea what I had. Then it was early bed because there was a 12 hour drive the next day.

Up next: Trip wrap up

 

[missjackiemcg]

I hate the last day of the trip, but at least you got a little Epcot fun in despite the rain. Best laid plans on that "done shopping" thing, ha! Better to splurge a little than be kicking yourself that you didn't get something you really wanted. I have done that too many times!!

Ugh to a 12 hour drive, but it does sound better than the almost 20 to get back to Chicago from Orlando! We had to do that in 2022 when Southwest canceled our flight and stranded us. Two days later we got canceled again and had to bite the bullet, rent a car and drive all the way home. We are both teachers and couldn't keep missing days of school!

YAY for your very short countdown to getting back to WDW!! Have the most magical time!