After his second ride-through of the Barnstormer, Buzz meets me over by the Castle. After he gets there, we spot SpectroMagic coming around the Hub and watch it for a little while. I feel like a bad Disney fan when I have to say I havent watched this parade all the way through in something like 15 years!
This was actually the first time Id ever seen the Genie in the parade (it was Roger Rabbit all those years ago). For some reason, we just dont seem that into the parades. After the first unit had passed and our view was beginning to get blocked by row after row of dads putting their children on their shoulders, we head into Fantasyland and hope the parade will cut some of the wait times at some of the attractions.
First stop- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
If you recall from the August trip report, Buzz and I had some bad luck on this ride then- stopping a bunch of times, all the lights getting turned on, effects not working, etc.- so we wanted to try again and see if we couldnt have a more fun experience this time around. Things went very smoothly until we reached the very last room. Literally, the moment after I thought, Wow! We actually managed to make it through the whole ride without stopping, our Hunny Pot came to a quick halt and the announcement came up telling everyone to remain in their seats. We only stopped for a moment and had a good laugh about it. Not quite a perfect ride through, but close enough!
Next, we headed for the Mad Tea Party. Buzz is a master at getting the tea cups to go incredibly fast. Most of the time I dont even try spinning the cups when Im riding with him; I just seem to slow things down.
Dizzy and laughing, we leave Wonderland to go further into the park. We debate trying Dumbo, but decide to try Big Thunder Mountain again. We missed it in August, we didnt get a chance to do this earlier today, so we were adamant about trying to get on the ride.
By the time we got back to Frontierland, it was only a few minutes before the park was scheduled to close. The crowds must have all been on Main Street getting ready to watch Wishes and leave the park because they certainly werent in Frontierland! There was absolutely no wait for Big Thunder. At last! The ride was fantastic- even better than I remembered! Theres even apparently a few added effects that they only do at night when its dark like shadows of dancers on the second floor of the saloon (I figured I had just forgot them, but Buzz checked online and apparently they do only do those effects after dark). At the end of the ride, Wishes began and the fireworks provided a perfect finale for the ride, as if they should always be there. I loved it! The whole experience made skipping it in August and earlier today completely worth it.
After getting off the ride, we watched the remaining portion of Wishes go off above Tom Sawyers Island.
After Wishes, the park officially closed, but tonights an Extra Magic Evening, so our visit isnt over yet!
First stop- Country Bear Jamboree. I attempted to get some pictures of some of the decorations in the lobby before going into the show, but pretty much as soon as we arrived, they were already letting people into the theater. I managed to get this one of Trixies portrait before heading in.
Big Al sings Blood in the Saddle over the shows big finale.
The main group on the stage. We managed to get front row seats. Yeah, were cool.
Teddi Beara swingin above the audience.
We wanted to get back to Pop Century to get some dinner and meet up with Mom and Dad, but I wanted to be sure to do one last ride- Peter Pans Flight. Its one of my favorites and we also didnt get a chance to do it in August. When we got there, the sign above the queue said that the wait was 20 minutes, but a CM at the entrance was telling everyone that the wait was over an hour!
When people asked why the time she was giving was so different from the wait-time sign, we explained that the ride was a little broken. Buzz and I took our chances and the wait ended up not even being 20 minutes. I could tell something was wrong. The music was off with the Neverland music playing in London and either the lights were too bright and were exposing some of the things that should be hidden or the ride needs some tlc. All in all, a nice ride through anyway.
I had heard that characters usually hang out in Fantasyland during Extra Magic Evenings, so before heading on, we checked to see who was around. I dont have too many pictures of Goofy, so I decided to meet him.
Even Buzz came along because hes a fan of Goofy and the line was short. I was hoping to find Mickey and Minnie, but their line was stretching all the way from the Wishing Well path all the way to Snow Whites Scary Adventures! Neither of us were interested in waiting that long, so we headed on through the Castle on our way to Main Street.
We were able to get a nice look at the mosaics in the Castle since it wasnt partly closed off due to Dream Along performances or filled with little princesses swarming to the Bibbidi Bobidi Boutique.
And dont forget Cinderellas mice friends. Mickeys not the only rodents hidden around here, you know.
Next chapter: The day ends, but not without one last look at the Dreamlights!
How can we have missed them?
Do your kids still drag you on it? 
Hopefully I'll be able to get a new one up later this week or maybe this weekend.
waiting.......
Buzz, Mom and Dad headed off to the Christmas store in Liberty Square while I made my way to my favorite land in the park to find some characters. I had heard that Scrooge McDuck had been showing up for the Holidays on the half-hour near the Teacups, so that would be my first stop. When I arrived, it wasnt quite time for Scrooge to come out and Donald was appearing. Knowing that he would likely be out soon, I hopped in Donalds line so Id be there when the switch happened. 
