May Vacay - Let's celebrate the end of the school year. But why is it surface of the sun hot? (Updated 6/30)

[Noreen411]

Day 1, Part 2
The Queen makes a crown
​

We left off finishing breakfast. It was about 9am now, park was open to all, and I had about 15 minutes until my first FP$$ for Space Mountain. I had gotten lucky when I booked LLs for the day -
9:15-10:15 - Space
10:30-11:30 - Haunted Mansion
11:30-12:30 - Pirates
That was without modifying in any way. So I was getting organized to head to Tomorrowland when I realized I couldn't find my sunglasses. I knew I had them on when I went to order and I remember taking them off while I was ordering. They weren't in my bag (where I usually put them), they weren't on my head because - ears, they weren't on the tray. What the heck did I do with them? I walked back toward the ordering area where one of the previously dancing CMs approached me. I explained that I had lost my sunglasses and I thought maybe I left them on the counter when I ordered. She popped in to look, but no sunglasses. Oh well, I had wanted to buy a new pair anyway so I started to turn away. She asked - did you check your pockets? I said - oh, I don't have pock...wait a minute. I have my jumpsuit on this morning. And sure enough, sunglasses in pocket. Thank you nice CM!!! (Spoiler alert - I was still going to buy new sunglasses!!)

I started toward Tomorrowland and Space mountain. As I got close to Pooh, it only had a 5 minute wait posted. I could see the whole que and there was no one in line. Well, I'm always up to bounce with Tigger so I made a quick detour to bounce along (and avoid those Huffalumps.) Weirdly, even though there was almost no one around, they put another person in the honey pot with me. Just me in the front row, her in the back row, and no one in the 2 honey pots behind us. I certainly don't care and don't expect to get my own honey pot but it felt like weird loading.

Once off Pooh, I headed to Space and still had to wait a couple of minutes before I could scan in. There was almost no wait in the LL line at that time so I walked right up to the CM's that split you to one side or the other. I went to the right. There were maybe 20 or so people in line in front of me so no big deal. One of the loading CM's came down the line, looking for a party of 2. There was what looked like a mother/daughter party a few people in front of me so they jumped out of line and went with the CM. He put them in their loading spots, they stood there for like 30 seconds, then turned around and came back to the line where they pushed their way back to their original spots by saying "He told us we could go back to our place. Let us through." Ok, no problem with going back to your spot but you could be a bit more polite about the whole thing. And also, why did you come back?? Because when it came time to load them again, they got the exact same spots. I got almost to the front of the line when the CM came by and asked for parties of 1 or 2. Pick me friend!!! And soon, I was soaring through space.
View attachment 977498

After I managed to crawl my way out of the space rocket (why can that never be graceful??), I realized I had some time to kill before heading to Haunted Mansion. Hello People Mover (wasn't it Castoney that called it the Pooper??). When I got over there, the CM at the bottom was letting people know that the moving ramps to go up and come back down were not working. Well, there was a workout I wasn't expecting that morning. But up I went anyway and soon, it was time for the iconic peoplemover picture.
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As we entered the pass beneath Space Mountain, the people mover came to a stop and then went backward. That was new. We were then stalled there for a few minutes - mostly in the dark (and the cool.) I closed my eyes and took a little siesta. In a little bit, we were back moving through Tomorrowland and shortly back to the station. I do have to say, walking DOWN that ramp was almost worse than walking up it. I'll be feeling that in my legs for a bit.

I still had a bit of time before Haunted Mansion so I walked toward Buzz (already at 30 minutes and that que is HOT). But the Laugh Factory was posted as 10. I haven't done Laugh Factory since I took my nephew right after the parks reopened so why not. It was a short wait in the lobby learning about Monstropolis and then in for the show. I know the jokes are a bit cheezy but gosh I love it.

As I was coming out, I saw that I had missed a text from Scotty. He had gotten to the park for work early and wondered where I was. I texted him back my location and that I would wait on a bench in front of the old Stitch ride. When he hadn't gotten a response from me, he had looked at my LL's and headed to Haunted Mansion to try to catch me. But he turned around and headed my way. We walked back toward HM together, I bought another bottle of water to put in my bottle, and we sat in the Tangled area for a little bit until he had to go clock in and I could head to my next LL - Haunted Mansion.

The ghosts and I had a great trip through - View attachment 977501

And then I stopped for a couple of photo pass pictures before moving on.
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Why am I going the wrong way???

I also took a second to see about another LL. Jungle cruise had one for 1:45-2:45. I wasn't sure I wanted to still be in the park at that time, but I picked it up anyway, just in case. I then headed toward Pirates. As I passed Country Bears, I noticed there was NO ONE in the lobby waiting. I had time to waste yet so I went in and grabbed a bench to wait. If anyone had told me even last year that I would be voluntarily waiting for the Bears, I would have laughed in your face. But the update is very cute so why not?
View attachment 977506View attachment 977507

I do love my girls in pink.

After the show, I headed straight over to Pirates. There was no line in the LL lane and not a very long wait in the standby either. At this point, I was a bit surprised at the low wait times. Today was Memorial Day and I expected more people. Oh well, let's get on that boat and go find the treasure. Oops, guess I didn't get a picture from that.

As I got to the Jungle Cruise/flying carpet area, I realized that I was a bit snackish AND that I was by Aloha Isle. I haven't had a Dole whip in Magic Kingdom in forever!!! It was time to get my snack on!!

And, of course, now I have to run to do a reference call for one of the hiring committees. This vacation is going really well (insert sarcastic eye roll). I'll hopefully finish up the day soon!

Up next - I really did build that tiara. I promise!

OMG - too funny. I am always hitchhiking with the ghosts with the wrong hand too

 

[Stacybaeasm]

OMG - too funny. I am always hitchhiking with the ghosts with the wrong hand too

They should at least tell you which direction to go. Oh well, maybe the ghosts and I are going different places.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Day One, Part Three
Time to get my crown on​

When we left off, I was headed up to Aloha Isle to get a Dole Whip. I haven't had just a "regular" Dole Whip in years (just the one with Rum at AK at Thanksgiving.) It was a short wait in line and then I walked away with Pineapple and Vanilla swirl in a cup. There was no shade up in this area so I just found a spot on the low wall/bench by Aladin's carpets and sat down to enjoy. (No picture because it was melting WAY too fast.) I was sitting by a family that looked to be 2 girls in their early tweens, boy about 8, and mom. (Dad came by later. Not sure where he was.) Anyway, part way through eating, the little boy walked up to his mom COVERED in Dole Whip. He hands the dish to her and says "I'm not eating the rest of this. This is a DISASTER!!" I burst into laughter. His mom looked at me and rolled her eyes at the kid. I commented "Poor guy. It is such a disaster to get to go to Disney and get ice cream." His mom responded "Yeah. He will probably be in therapy for years." I know it probably wasn't nice to laugh because it was HOT and that makes everyone cranky but just the way he said disaster. I might be giggling as I remember it.
Dole Whip finished (ok, not really because that is a LOT of ice cream but finished as in I couldn't eat anymore), I decided it was time to head up to Main Street. I didn't feel like waiting around until my Jungle Cruise FP$$ at 2:15 because I didn't want to get stuck by parade traffic. Plus, I could hear the cool water of the pool calling to me. But, before I left, I had 1 more thing on my "must do today" list - make your own tiara.
When I first heard about this new "craft" in early spring, I couldn't WAIT to get down there and do it. In fact, when my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year (yes, I still get birthday presents from my parents at the tender age of 27/27), I asked for a gift card to go toward the tiara. Mom came through! In fact, she got me 2 gift cards - one for my birthday and one for getting a "promotion" at work (really a new contract but it was a hard fight). So, with a spring in my step, I headed into Arribas Crystal Arts to make myself a new tiara.
If you ever want to do this, it is at the back of the store by the glass blowing. That was actually the only thing about the experience I didn't love. I mean, it's already 10,000 degrees outside and standing in front of the glass blowing fire for 20 minutes was not comfortable. Anyway, the first thing you do is pick out your base tiara. When I first heard about this, they had 9 to choose from - 3 different styles each available in silver, gold, and rose gold. When I got there, they only had 6 - 3 styles each available in silver or rose gold. This was fine because I wanted the rose gold (pink is my signature color!) They then show you to the template for your tiara and all the jewels. You get to pick out the jewels and lay them out in the template just the way you want. The CM then takes a special tool and puts the jewels right in to the tiara while you watch. I know it sounds like something for kids but it was so much fun. And the finished product:


I will be wearing this on the first day of classes in the fall. It joins my collection of tiaras that I randomly wear to school whenever I need to remind people who they are dealing with (LOL). I was able to use my annual pass discount for this so with everything, it came to about $81. Honestly, cheaper than a spirit jersey at this point.

As I was walking to the front of the park, I also swung through the Main Street Jewelers. Because I now have also developed an obsession with Disney jewelry. I found a couple of things I might want, but decided to wait since it was only day 1. I then headed across the street to The Emporium because, even though I had found my sunglasses, I was still determined to buy a new pair. I really wanted the glasses that have the Mickey heads for both eyes. Umm... these


Unfortunately, they didn't have them. I did find a nice black pair with gold Mickey's in the corners. I also found a random set of key chains that were crowns in various colors for the princesses - good for myself and for little presents for the folx back home. I also grabbed a bottle of water to refill my bottle and headed to the buses to head back to Pop.

Once back, I quickly put on my swimsuit and got my pool stuff together - book, sunscreen, snacks, extra water, etc - and headed to the Bowling Pin pool. It was CROWDED. It took me a bit of searching to find a completely empty chair. Because, there were empty chairs scattered around that just had towels on them. I guessed that some of them had been "reserved" by people not at the pool, but how can you tell? Luckily, I found 1 loan chair squeezed in between 2 occupied chairs that I could use. And that brings up a gripe I have with Disney pools - why do the chairs have to be so close together?? I mean, I'm sure it is to get as many chairs at the pool as possible but when there isn't even enough distance between for a person to walk next to it? I hate having to get on at the foot of the chair and crawl/scoot up to the top. I look like a whale beaching itself to get comfortable.

Anyway, I spent close to 2 hours there, reading and floating in the pool. As I was leaving, I see a CM walking around to chairs and taking towels off. She would ask people around "Is this your chair" and if no one answered, she took the towels. She must have opened up about 50 chairs. People - I get it. We all want chairs when we go to the pool but if you aren't there, don't "reserve" a spot, especially the spots under the umbrellas.

I went back up to the room to shower and make a plan for the evening. However, the storms started to roll in about 5pm. I looked at the radar/weather report and the storms were expected to last until 8:30/9pm. No thanks. Instead, I ran over to the Pop food court and grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza (I was on a pizza kick for most of this trip. You'll see.), a Mickey shaped brownie, and a diet coke. I took it all back to the room and settled in for the night. The storms let up about 9:30 so I planned right that evening. It was early bed because I was doing Animal Kingdom in the morning.

So - how did I do with my plans? Original plans for the day - early entry to ride Peter Pan; initial LLs for Space, Haunted Mansion, Pirates; make your own tiara at Arribas Brothers; lunch at Casey's or Cosmic Rays; pool time; back to MK for the evening and Happily Ever After

Accomplished - early entry, Peter Pan, all of my initial LL's, make your own tiara, and pool time
Not Accomplished - lunch at Casey's or Cosmic Rays, evening in MK, Happily Ever After

All in, not bad at all.

Up next - it's Magic Animals Time!!

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

Can I just say that I love that you have a tiara collection, and that you wear them to work?!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Can I just say that I love that you have a tiara collection, and that you wear them to work?!

Thanks! The best part - no one even bats an eye when I do it. Students and faculty alike are just like "Yep. We don't expect anything less."