Solo day and family trip... two, two, two reports in ONE!

[bumbershoot]

Wow, this'll be my post number 10,002.



After leaving the Fantasyland hat shop, I noticed the Matterhorn. And I thought "where are these two entrances I've read about?" I walked over, and I realized that the two boarding areas are in the same area, but you get to them in separate ways. Is that right, Matterhorn experts?

I do know that I approached it from the Alice/Tea Party area, walked in, turned right-ish, and was seated almost immediately.

When I left, I noticed that the left side of the structure had another line, and that line continued (the people were walking, not stopped, but still it was more of a line than what I had been in) all the way around the mountain down to Nemo.

Anyway, I rode the Matterhorn, and it was great fun.


From Matterhorn, as you might have figured out, I walked around towards Nemo. Very short line and I should have gone on because I enjoy the ride, but I decided not to because I also have to fight a bit of claustrophobia. Have to look up towards the top of the water every so often, especially when "submerging" and "emerging" from the depths of the ride.


I like walking around in Tomorrowland. It's all so open. I like watching the kids play with that big water ball thing.

I noticed that Innoventions has the wall turning now, and the way we got up there when we went in there was now just the exit.


But that would wait for later, b/c Space Mountain was calling! I went up the ramp and the CM thought I was crazy for heading to the FP machines. I told him I was getting one for later and was also going to ride, since it was a FIVE minute wait. He said I probably wouldn't need it, but that it would be good for a souvenir. I agreed.

I told the seater CM that I did NOT want to be in front. He put me towards the back. I didn't have the same decapitation fears as I did the last time I rode, thank goodness. But my right speaker was cutting in and out, so my experience wasn't as intense as it should have been.

I enjoyed that ride, too.


Then I found the way into Innoventions. Um....boring. The things they have in there are either silly (I do NOT need a computer to put my window blinds up!) or already exist (digital photo frames). And the touch screens already exist, it's just that they are either $$$, and they would get nasty-dirty and no one who was actually in charge of cleaning the house would WANT one, and that there's just little point to them. Fun, but no strong purpose, at least in my house.


On the other hand, my son would go nuts if he could have this bed!!!!!

On the other other hand, eventually he would grow tired of it and would want a land speeder bed and then he'd change from that, etc.


Throughout the lower floor, they have televisions that you can play with. I noticed some channels on that I might not enjoy having on, if I ran Disneyland. This one cracked me up. Can you see what show it is?

As you can see by the time on that screen, the park had only been open a bit over 2 hours and I had nearly done all I wanted to do in Disneyland! Woohoo~

 

[bumbershoot]

Although I didn't want to wait for the showtime for Asimo, I went upstairs just to see if anything had changed.

They don't have Guitar Hero like they did last December, but they still have tons of videogames in cool surroundings.


They had this funky sort of techno-treehouse hanging in the middle of things.

This was above it; sort of like a tree canopy but made of motherboards.

Zooma zoom on the entrance to the treehouse.

Lanterns hanging down from the treehouse. Took the pic b/c I like lanterns, and these were our wedding colors.

I'd had enough of Innoventions, so I went out. And there was Monorail Red waiting at the station. It was so pretty!

Then Monorail Blue (or maybe Green? sunshine kept hitting it differently and I couldn't really tell) came by, and you can see the front or back end towards the left of this pic.

 

[bumbershoot]

OK, my naughty friend just emailed, asking how Disneyland was and if I wanted to go to Vegas to see Madonna again. For "only" 175 per ticket, and we'd drive there in a minivan.

Could she have blacked out the whole weekend?


**********************

I left Innoventions and went to the Star Wars themed gift shop (aka Star Tours "dump" shop). I needed to read the battery info on light saber keychains, to see what kind of battery to buy. We need batteries for all three keychains. Nine batteries. Twitch twitch. They are AG 13, 1.5 volt, batteries, for the record.

I decided that I needed lunch and I wanted to buy some souvenirs for my guys.

As I left Tomorrowland, I saw the Pixie/Fairy line, but it was long (so that's where the crowds were!?!).

Closeup of the grass.

Faraway grass with lots of people in line!

As I walked, there was a family with two sons joking with the older one about meeting princesses. Said that Ariel was over there, and didn't he want to go? I was simply forced to tell them that it wasn't Ariel, but Tinkerbell now, and that got an even bigger reaction from the boys who were in the "ew, girls" phase.


I saw Plaza Inn and decided that I needed to eat there. Later I wondered why I didn't have veggie gumbo or chili, but really, the penne and salad I had was absolutely perfect.

Kid's penne pasta meal and a side salad.

While I ate, I sat outside on the porch. And I got to hear a very intense woman on her phone, having a phone-in business meeting, asking people if they had a chance to read the "treatment" or check out the budget. Dude, a movie making lady! Then she said something about a scene where they would shoot Elijah. Dude, Elijah? Like....Wood? Gol, can I sit with you, high powered movie lady?

Nah, I just sat there, taking pictures of cute chirpy birdies.

Oh how I love the Plaza's ranch dressing.



After my yummy lunch, and after cleaning the kid's meal Mickey plate to take home for DS, I went shopping.

I decided that the big shop on Main Street would be good; I wanted a pirate Mickey for Eamon. Alas, all they had were Mickey and Minnie pirates that looked more like Will and Elizabeth, rather than the Jack Sparrow Mickey.

I asked a CM (they never really think you'll ask a question when they say "are you finding everything OK?" so I love it when I'm NOT actually finding everything) and he said it was getting hard to find those Mickey/Jack plushes. I would love to get the Mickey-as-Indy doll, but DS hasn't seen Indiana Jones yet and I don't want to fuel his desire to see it.

The CM suggested Pieces of Eight. I decided that was a good bet, so I went on back!

Although I hadn't wanted to ride POTC, I decided that I really had to, even though in reality I didn't "have to" in order to get to the shop.

I rode, I was in the front by myself, it was a nice time. Though awfully long!

Then I went to the shop, found Mickey. Hubby called while I was there, so I made sure with him that that would be good for DS, and asked if he wanted anything. He did, something Nightmare related. Okey dokey!

On my way to the register I found a Yule present for E, a green and orange, clear plastic, "flintlock" that makes a noise AND puts a skull and crossbones light wherever you point. He will LOVE it.


Then I went over to Le Bat en Rouge and found, not a pin, but another lanyard pouch with Jack Skellington on it. That way hubby has a pirate-themed pouch for his pirate themed lanyard, and a Jack themed pouch for his Nightmare themed lanyard.

And that was enough of the shopping, off to DCA!!!!!

 

[kaoden39]

It kind of hurts when friends make unwise decisions like that. It's sounds like maybe Disneyland was able to take some of the bitter taste from your mouth?

 

[bumbershoot]

Yep and yep.


*******

Woah, before hopping, I have more story~

As I left Le Bat en Rouge, I noticed another knot of people with Dream Ears. Not again! I congratulated a couple with Dream Ears when we were trying to take pix of the same things, and they said they had just gotten them as they got off of POTC. You know, the ride I was on not even 10 minutes before?

Disappointment was gotten over, Molly was just happy to be there, and she walked with a smile on her face back down Main Street.

Hop hop hop!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Sounds like you had a leisurely relaxing day in the parks. That's always fun. Sometimes we can be in such a hurry to get things done that we don't take time to simply soak up the park atmosphere.

Sorry to hear about your friends misbehavior. I don't think people fully think about how much sorrow and heartache they're creating in their own lives with behavior like that.

 

[bumbershoot]

As I entered DCA, I smiled even more. I do so love DCA.

First thing on my list? Monsters, Inc. Why? That's a ride more Eamon's speed, and I had been avoiding faves like Star Tours b/c I didn't want to go on them without him. So why Monsters?

Well, because I wanted to re-verify something. The ginger smell when you enter the sushi restaurant in the ride. I knew it was there, but I wanted to make sure. Again.

That was literally a walk on, and I can verify, yet again, that as you enter the sushi restaurant and look at the octopus chef, they are pumping out the smell of pickled ginger. YUM-MO. I don't eat sushi as in fish or fish eggs etc, but I do eat the veggie sushi-type rolls, and I love love love pickled ginger!

I didn't have my Pooh ears on during this trip (in the days leading up to the trip, I put them out and Eamon found them and has hidden one of them) so Roz didn't comment on me, but she told the guy behind me to stop making goo goo eyes at her, that she's not that kind of girrrrrrrl.



So that was done, and I people-watched my way over to TOT. I walked right in and was sent to the outer room to wait, and shortly we were watching the Twilight Zone intro. There were two sets of one-parent-with-one-kid-that-wanted-to-be-held, and I felt like letting them know that the kids would likely be measured again, but I didn't. Thank goodness I didn't, b/c both parents put down their kid before getting to the last CM, and neither kid was re-measured.

I was put next to 3 tall, young men. I thought "oh great, they'll be total bores, acting all cool and I won't have fun". Oh My Gosh I was so wrong.

We were in the front row and I was on the aisle seat. I tried to tighten my seat belt as much as I could, and I held my shopping bag and purse (camera was in purse) because I didn't want anything floating up like they did last time!

All thoughts of my fellow passengers quieted as the ride started; as usual I thought "omg what am I doing I hate this I hate this I hate this (I like this)". they showed us turning blue and disappearing (that's the part my son hates, he doesn't even talk about the drops scaring him, just the disappearing part). Then we sat there, waiting.

Someone on the elevator had obviously been on it, oh, a few times before, and she started counting down. "3, 2, 1"...pause. And then she SCREAMED and I mean screamed. Just at the millisecond that we all were dealing with her screaming (by starting to scream ourselves), the ride really started, and we ALL shrieked.

Yes, even the cool young men next to me. Screamed like little girls, they did, with nervous laughs at the end of each up and down. Oh it was hilarious.

And this time I was able to scream! Sometimes I want to, when I'm scared, but it just doesn't come out right. I must sound like a weird frog with tonsillitis sometimes on those rides, b/c I just sort of croak. But this time I was screaming my head off in fun and true dread (even though I actually feel *extremely* safe on this ride).

Despite having cinched myself in, I could not believe the "air" I was catching. My bum was totally off the seat probably 3 times! It felt funny to be clutching my bag and purse while floating up off my seat.


The ride ended and as we exited, I told the guy next to me that he and his friends had made my ride. That I didn't think they were going to scream, but when they did it was most excellent. He smiled and laughed and shook his head, saying it was their first time on the ride and they just didn't expect the drops to be like that!

They stopped long enough at the pictures that I figured they were getting a copy (poor people having me in their picture), and I left with an even bigger smile on my face.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like you had a leisurely relaxing day in the parks. That's always fun. Sometimes we can be in such a hurry to get things done that we don't take time to simply soak up the park atmosphere.

Sorry to hear about your friends misbehavior. I don't think people fully think about how much sorrow and heartache they're creating in their own lives with behavior like that.

It was indeed relaxing!

And yes, I agree about people not thinking. From your username and tag it seems you're a romantic, and I can't imagine you ever doing naughty things with people once committed, nor would you want your darling doing those things to you. It's good to be around moral people! (and I'm not JUST singling out SK, I do mean all of you)

 

[avalon451]

Great TR, can't wait to hear more!

You are really making me wonder what a solo trip would be like for me. I think I would like to try with DH first, sans kids. Right now, due to budget restraints, he's not making any business trips down to the Long Beach Boeing plant (he's got a group of guys down there he's in charge of) and it doesn't look like that will change in the near future. But the next time it comes up... maybe next year? I'm so going to talk him into staying over the weekend while I fly down to meet him!

I can't believe your friends' behavior. Well, I can, actually; for a couple of years I went to an online gaming convention with friends, back when I was addicted to a certain MMORPG for 8 years, and I did see a lot of similar behavior. But I never could understand how they justified it to themselves. I can see your need to get out of there and get to more innocent and wholesome pursuits! What a breath of fresh air Disneyland must have been!

Yikes, $191 for tickets! I am so ... man, I hate to say it... middle aged... Cause I remember going to concerts in the 80's and thinking $30 was a lot for Chicago and Billy Joel! I'm glad the show was good, but wish you could've had a nicer experience with fellow concert-goers.

Kinda fun, though, that you had some good interaction with the guys on the street! I know, regardless of my own thoughts and opinions, it was exciting just to see friends so excited about the possibilities that now seem open. One of my kindergarteners' mom is from Ethiopia. (her dad is from Redmond ). She came to school so excited on Wednesday... somebody who is of African descent, like her, is now in place to be one of the most influential people on the planet. Her eyes looked like whole universes were opening up to her, as she sat at "circle time" and talked about it. It was cool to see her excitement!

I love your writing style and your descriptions! More, please!

 

[bumbershoot]

OK, I'm having some issues with my computer. Not sure what's up. Gotta figure it out, and since I don't want to have to go back to edit pictures in, I'll take a break from my story.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yikes, $191 for tickets! I am so ... man I hate to say it... middle aged... Cause I remember going to concerts in the 80's and thinking $30 was a lot for Chicago and Billy Joel!

Kinda fun, though, that you had some good interaction with the guys on the street! I know, regardless of my own thoughts and opinions, it was exciting just to see friends so excited about the possibilities that now seem open.

Even though I paid it, I'm not happy about it, don't get me wrong. When I was in sanctuary (aka my brother's place) I saw a bunch of his concert tickets (he and his wife are going to lots of concerts when they can) and I saw 32, 38, even 19 bucks on his stubs. Ugh.

The interactions were fun. I honestly didn't think that he would win; I thought the country was still too racist for him, though I thought we were too sexist for SP to be VP... Since I didn't expect him to win (one friend had news coverage on while we were getting ready, and I guess they were showing a state-by-state count but I thought that was the national votes-at-the-time breakdown, and that state had McC winning so I was TRULY surprised along with just thinking that most of the country wasn't ready) I had a delight thing going on that I was so wrong about the country's racism and I guess that showed.


I think you would love a solo. Instead of trying it out with hubby, you should try it out with a group of women. Not that that's a solo trip, but it's a non-family trip.

Now if only one of those were scheduled, say, in a matter of months....if only......

 

[bumbershoot]

I hope my sentences are being understood correctly, and that I'm not accidentally mis-speaking and making people think I'm an awful person.

***********

Hey, it looks like the computer issues are resolved (without my doing anything).


I just love taking pix of this train.

Hmm, I think my pix are a little out of order (or maybe my brain is?) b/c now we see Stitch walking alone. I remember that moment was actually when I was going to Monsters, so I guess I have the order floopy!

Well, after finishing with Hollywood, I meandered over towards Soarin'. The line was crazy-short, and I asked the CM "would single rider get me anything today?" and he said no, so I got into the stand-by line. The guy in front of me was having some strange issue, perhaps with a FP. As we waited, two young women (girls, really) came down the FP line and stopped to talk with him, so I think that maybe his FP wasn't for the right time, or wasn't actually a FP or something. Anyway, it was NO big deal b/c they all got on at the exact same time.

And even though I wasn't in the SR line, they took me out when they found out I was a single rider, and I got on a different "flight" than those in front of me.

I was at the end of the row next to the mother of a 4 year old boy. He was SO cute. When we boarded, I discovered that I was in the top row! First time, woohoo!

Though I'll admit I was a little nervous. I've gotten a bit woozy on Soarin' before, and I was able to snap out of it by looking at the feet dangling above me. Without those feet to ground me, what would I do?

I was about to find out....and the answer is....I didn't get woozy! I felt soooo high up though. But that wasn't a bad feeling, just a little different than the lower rows.

The little boy was adorable. My 4 year old won't go near Soarin', but this 4 year old was a tour guide! He was squealing with delight with each new scene, wiggling his feet (which barely went over the edge of the seat) and smiling...oh man he was cute.


So that was a good flight.


On my way out I took a picture of something hubby thinks is funny. We went to a wedding in New Jersey, and our mapquest directions stated "bear right" and "bear left" repeatedly. He had never heard this phrase before, and it was not something he enjoyed. "Follow the road right or left" was fine with him, or turn right or left, but not "bear" right or left. Just made no sense to him!

After Soarin', and knowing which way I was heading, I'm sure the fact that I next went on Grizzly is not a surprise to many of you!

What *was* a surprise was that I hadn't even *thought* about bringing my poncho. Whoopsie!!!!

I went on anyway. I was seated with an Australian dad and his 4 year old son (I seemed to have been surrounded by 4 year old boys that day). The 4 year old looked *tiny*. I was behind them in line so I *saw* the boy measured, I know that he hit the mark! But still he just looked itsy bitsy. The father told me that on their last time through (he and his son were both a bit damp already) the CMs actually took them off the raft after being loaded to remeasure the boy, so he was going to ask the CMs to just measure him *before* being loaded this time.

The others we were seated with were a group of 3 younger people who were funny.

I just love how they fill the rafts! It's surprising to some, to have a random person in with their family, but the communal fun is so much better than if you were alone. I love watching people react to the spinning, to the surprise soakings. And you'll generally have someone who has been on it before, so they can warn the newbies.

My strategy was to keep my face and torso dry, so I curled up every time I thought a soaking was on its way. Only the 4 year old got soaked. He was cute about it...his mouth was chattering, his hand was shaking, but when asked "are you cold?" he would say "no". His dad saw through that, though, and didn't allow another go-round as far as I saw.

Oh, and of course I made use of the free lockers for my ride, b/c I didn't want my purse (with camera) or my shopping bag to get wet!


I thought about a second trip on GRR but decided that once was enough. Our raft had successfully avoided the geysers that cause me so much enjoyment when they are hitting other people, and I didn't want to push my luck!

So I retrieved my stuff from the locker (I could have left them for 2 full hours but felt kinda naked without my purse and shopping bag and of course camera) and moved on.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm trying to be slow (what, you can't tell?) but it's not in my nature to drag things out.


I was having such a good day. I was smiling like crazy and I'm sure people thought I was odd. I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, right when I wanted to do it (so glad it was a slow day!)...so nice.


After GRR I went through the San Francisco area and towards the Pier.

I just love these plants; I think they are called something like celosia. I bought some from my local farmer's market this summer, but they died fairly quickly. They were in a bridesmaid's bouquet I once got to carry, and I loved them.

I walked over the bridge, past Ariel's (Cove Bar was calling me, but I really did NOT want to drink more booze after the weekend...not that I drank heavily, but I did have more than normal and I was feeling a bit sluggish b/c of it). I noticed that the McDonald's billboard was gone, which IMO was nice.


Next, and almost last, on my agenda? Screamin', of course!

Although there was a small line at the Single Rider area, the standby line was so short that it felt silly to do SR. Plus I had never gone through the normal line, and I was curious! So I waited standby behind a silly family with silly children.

While waiting, I noticed that they did the same thing with the SR line (that I would have been in) that they did when hubby was in the SR line. I guess that line got so relatively long that they had the people get in the elevator, go over the tracks, and down the other elevator, to be held in a holding pen and then put on the vehicles like they had waited in the normal line. I guess I understand why they do this, but I sure didn't like it when it happened to hubby, and I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I had been in that line.


Soon enough I was assigned a seat, and I "got" a single rider.

Fun fun fun fun fun fun ride. Fun! Just like with TOT I could scream this time, which was fun (I still can't understand screaming in the stretching/waiting room at HM or TOT).

For some reason, the take-off didn't crush my chest this time. I know that I very specifically and on purpose breathed during the take off; both an inhale and an exhale. I'm not sure I've done that before; I might have held my breath.

Or maybe I was just healthier than I was on previous Screamin' rides, and my lungs were better? I don't know, but it was nice to not have a scary crushed feeling in my ribs. Allowed me to enjoy the ride more without worrying about myself.


After the fun fun fun fun ride, I chatted with a woman who felt concussed like I usually do. I did this time as well, but it was still fun.



And from there? Toy Story Midway Mania!!!!! I actually almost forgot about this ride, but I'm so glad I remembered. This was the longest line I experienced that day. The sign stated 20 minutes, but I think it was longer. They sure do have the "snaking" thing down pat with that line, don't they? Back, forth, back, forth.... I asked about the Single Rider line, but it wasn't open that day.

The place where you get your glasses cracked me up. Reminded me of the dishwashing conveyor belt at my college cafeteria. For those who haven't been on, once you get close to the entrance to the building (much of the line is outside), there's an area with an opening in the wall. There are curtains, and in front of the curtains there are bins with nicely arranged 3D glasses. While I was waiting to get mine, I saw the lower half of a female CM as she opened the curtain and pulled the half empty bin out, and raised a nice and pretty and full bin up for us to grab glasses from. I guess neat and tidy glasses bins are very important! Then she closed the curtain and I grabbed my glasses and continued on in the line.

My time had come at last. If they had had a SR line, someone would have sat next to me and it would have been more fun. Alas I had to ride alone.

What a fun ride! It's quite a bit zippier than Buzz, and I adore the "action" of the shooter things. My hands get tired of the Buzz blasters, but not with the TSMM shooters. It was really neat how the 3D things can be aimed at, and how they make it seem like things really do explode with extra effects. I enjoyed the different games, too.

I got 56,700 points which I thought was passable, considering it was my first time through and I'm really really bad at Buzz.


Oh, and when people talk about how you "miss" Mr Potato Head when you use the Single Rider line...um....you can walk right by the line and interact with MPH if you'd like. He's *right there*! From the descriptions of missing him I thought it was somewhere well inside the line.

Next up (let's be honest, I'm sure I'll be back with the next post in a couple minutes, LOL)? Three things I've never done at Disneyland Resort.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

First off, thanks for your kind words. As you mentioned, it's great to know that there are many, many others who take their marital vows and promises seriously. Sometimes we may not think that's the case with all the infidelity we see.

Now back to Disneyland. To those thinking of traveling solo, it's tremendous fun. bumbershoot, I'm glad you didn't forget about TSMM. It's one of my favorite attraction in the DLR now. Interestingly enough, of the 4 times I rode it, I think I was only by myself once. I don't remember it being all that different, but you can score more points with a riding buddy because sometimes they unlock special targets that help you (and vice versa).

 

[bumbershoot]

SK, hi! Glad you're still reading and commenting!



Let's see, I was on TSMM and really enjoyed it. Decided not to ride again b/c the line was longer than I liked. And frankly I was getting tired, and a bit dizzy from all the jarring rides I'd been on. BTMRR, Space, Screamin', TOT, Grizzly etc...that was a lot between 10am and 3pm'ish!

Right at that moment I remembered Mickey Bars. Since they have corn syrup, Eamon can't have them. Since they are "sweets", hubby can't really have them anymore. Since I was sans guys on this day, I decided to go for it.

Went to the ice cream vendor between TSMM and Screamin'. Waited. Ordered. Augh, no Mickey Bars, despite it being clearly indicated on his sign! Drat. He said that there would surely be another vendor along the midway area. Alright, I said, and walked that way. Walk walk walk....ew icky Maliboomer, why would people play the midway games at DLR (I don't really "get" midway games' appeal anyway), oh I should have gotten my face painted at the beginning of the day, how much fun would that have been??!!!??? (definitely a plan for a future solo trip) Wonder why the sunglasses shop is closed, where on earth is another vendor of Mickey Bars, ew no Mulholland Madness (just doesn't appeal), yay McD's is gone, ew Pizza Oom Mow Mow....


This isn't a pretty picture of the Orange Stinger, but I like the snapshot anyway for some reason.

At long, long last, all the way over near the now defunct Golden Dreams theater, there was a vendor. Yes I could have gone the *other* way, back past Screamin', past Ariel's, and over the bridge. But no, the vendor pointed me through the midway, dagnabbit.

I finally was able to try a Mickey Bar. Quite good! Wish they'd use regular sugar syrup instead of the too-sweet corn syrup in their chocolate, but the vanilla ice cream was *quite* good.

I almost never think about what's outside the parks when I'm in them, but when I saw this picture (of Ariel's) I really noticed the CA sky.

So I wandered with my ice cream and realized that I was dreadfully thirsty. So I stopped at my handy Pacific Wharf Cafe for a big, free cup of ice water. Ahhhh, nice.


My second never-before-done thing was a sudden decision to see It's Tough To Be A Bug! I've heard quite a bit about it and I trust what I've heard, but just to be sure, since I was alone, I decided to go. Just like catching the Amtrak train that I wasn't planning on, as I walked down the line (which I was surprised by...I didn't realize the show was actually underground) they announced that "anyone" in line (aka ME, since I was the only one) should hurry up to see the showing that was about to start, otherwise it would be another 9 minutes. So I hurried and I got in just as the doors closed (though I kind of wish I hadn't hurried and had just looked at the elements of the line b/c it was cute). Especially the inside theater, I wish I hadn't rushed, it looked like fun in there.

And...yeah, people are right. Not a show for my son yet. Heck, not a show for ME yet! When Hopper gets angry and calls for the "black widow spiders", do you know what I did? I literally whimpered, put my head down, and hunched over with my head in my hands. I did peek up just enough to see that the effect isn't just on a screen, that things do actually drop down, and then I closed my eyes and whimpered again. I do NOT like arachnids, not even plastic ones.

Since I was sitting forward, if there was a sting-in-the-spine at some point, I missed it. And at the end, when they tell you to let the bugs exit, everyone reacted like there was a feeling going on (like in Honey I Shrunk The Audience), but I didn't feel it (like in HISTA).

If DS wants to see it, we'll sit near the exit and know the procedure for leaving early. And we'll spend some time in the queue and the theater waiting area.

 

[bumbershoot]

And the last thing I did that I had never done before?

I left early! I realized while leaving ITTBAB that I was done. I had done everything I wanted to do, I wasn't hungry (I had wanted to try the portobello philly dog at Award Weiners but I wasn't going to stuff myself), I didn't have more shopping...it felt like any more time, any more things to do, would just be gilding the lily.

Which is funny, because when I read avalon's report and she discussed how she and her daughter left happily, feeling that their trip was just perfect and they didn't need or want more time, I, um, thought they were suffering from heatstroke! But there I was, happy to leave. I didn't even have to run over to DL to say goodbye. I was just happy to go!

But wait, it wasn't even 5! My flight was at 10:30. Well, maybe I could catch the standby earlier flight, but no matter what, I was ready.


I made my way out of DCA and over to the picnic area. I spent quite a bit of time rearranging my stuff. A CM sweeping the area looked at me funny, since I had my suitcase open, changing shoes, moving things here and there...oh well! At least I had ample time to make sure I had nothing in my carryon that shouldn't be there.


Once that was finished, I put my bags on my back and started the trudge back to DLH! Oh wait, had to pull my camera back out to catch this. I started with a picture of the spiky lightballs, I needed to end with them.

I walked through DTD, went into DLH. Had some misinformation from the Bell Services, but ultimately sat myself down in a comfy chair in the check-in area. Saw a family checking in who were told that they would be *tomorrow's* DLH family of the day, and they were shown up to a special suite by a special Dreams CM. Lucky ducks. Have you ever noticed that the people you see being Dreamed are Nowhere Near As Excited as you would be? They just don't know what they're getting and how lucky they are, it seems.

Sat listening to the mp3 player, reading my mystery novel. I set my cellphone's alarm so I would go out at the right time. Went out.

Had a bit of a scare b/c I guess there was another Disneyland Express bus that had come through, so it seemed they had come early and I had missed it...but as I was walking back to flip out on the Bell Services guys (who could see me where I was sitting inside and KNEW I was there and what I was waiting for) I heard another bus come by. Whew. I don't know what was up with the other bus, but I was glad that the correct bus came through.

It was a very pleasant journey (I pretty much grew upon coaches like that, since my dad was a Greyhound driver, and it's like home in a way) with only 3 other people on board. We got there in good time.

I went to the Alaska counter and asked about standby, and I was the first one put on the list for the 8:30 flight. Yay!

They have a funky setup there, where they don't take your bags to check? You have to take them over to the checked bag people, you hand it over, it goes through xray and off to the plane. I haven't experienced that as far as I can remember, so it felt strange!

During my whole trip the TSA agents were kind, polite, and very smiley. Even for my flight down, when the xray machine had fits over the shape of my MP3 player and it took about 10 minutes for them to run it again and search through, they were kind and smiling. So I guess their pretty new outfits are working, and their morale is up!

I found the starbucks, got some decaf and a snack (great, NOW I got hungry), checked in with the gate agent when she showed up, got my seat. Got on the flight, nothing horribly ironic happened (my superstitious nature kicked in as I got on a flight I wasn't "supposed to" be on), it was a good flight. Hubby and son were inside Seatac (son was passed out in the stroller, but when he heard my voice he opened his eyes and smiled each time) which I wasn't expecting, the trip home was uneventful!

We were home and going to sleep by the time I would have been just landing in Seattle, if I had forced myself to stay and had caught the "right" flight.

As of today all my frequent flyer points are in the proper accounts (Elevate with Virgin America and whatever Alaska's program is called), and there was nothing to pay off from my trip! Excellent!


Thanks for reading!!!!!!

 

[BillyFan]

Molly, it sounds like you had a great trip! While I've never had a solo trip, I have enjoyed some stolen moments alone in the park, and I have enjoyed it.

 

[Sherry E]

I am glad you brought up ITTBAB. I not only think it could be too scary for little ones, but I found it very alarming, and I am 41 years old!! There was a lot going on, with the smell and the mist spraying on us and the 3-D and the spiders dropping down (HATED that part). I know if I had seen that as a kid, the spider part would have given me nightmares for years and I would not have been able to see it again for a long time! I don't know if I want to do it again on the next trip. I am not one of those types that 'enjoys' feeling unsettled and alarmed, and I know a lot of people LOVE that feeling and thrive on it! I got bored with HISTA early on. After a couple of times of seeing it, it bored me to tears, except for the end when the imaginary mice scurry past our feet. So when my friend wanted to see it on this last trip, I nixed it simply because I didn't want to be bored. But if she suggests ITTBAB again, I might reject it because I don't want to be creeped out!

How about the Muppets? Isn't that a nice little 3-D show? I haven't seen it yet, but maybe we can do that next time. I doubt they have any horrible spiders coming out of the ceiling or wherever.

Also, you mentioned the end of ITTBAB, where everyone reacts as though the same sort of thing is happening when the mice 'scurry' past your feet at the end of HISTA. I was confused by this too. Of course, I lifted my feet off the ground in ITTBAB - I am no fool; those could have been hissing Madagascar cockroaches, for all I know - so I didn't feel any critters moving past me, but I heard everyone else reacting. Bloodcurdling screams from the audience. I also heard - and tell me if you did, too, Bumbershoot - the sound of what seemed to be little trap doors opening up under the seats. I KNOW I heard that sound of something opening, and I think I noticed a sliding panel or some such thing under someone else's seat, but I already had my feet off the ground at that point so I didn't feel any menacing insects running over me. I wondered if maybe Disney has it rigged so that only SOME of the people in the audience are 'lucky' enough to sit in certain seats with the sensation of scampering bugs emerging, while others are in the 'safe' seats? Do you think that is what they do? Or is that sound of a panel opening just put in to psychologically torture us?

 

[bumbershoot]

Sherry, you have obviously thought about these shows.

Come to think about it, I do think I heard noises like that. I was just confused so I'm not totally sure, thought.

Muppets is very very cute. There might be an alarming part with something coming straight at you, but NO spiders whatsoever. I liked Muppets. HISTA was OK (Eamon hasn't been to it, it's something that hubby and I each did during, as BillyFan called it, stolen moments), but Muppets is my fave.

re: lifting up the feet. Ever since I saw The Ghost and the Silence (or something like that...the story about lions in Africa in the 1800s that was made in the mid 90s) in a theater basically by myself, I have been freaked the heck out by having my feet where "things" might "get" them. What's funny is that although I didn't know hubby then, he saw it by himself as well, and the theater he was in had Surround Sound like the one I saw it in, and he was so alarmed by the surrounded sound of lions all through the theater that he spend half the movie with his feet up on the chair in front of him, just like I did when I saw it!

Anyway, since then I get really nervous about my poor feet (actually the lion movie stuff just built on stuff from the book Pet Sematary by S. King), so I really hate the idea of scurrying feelings in HISTA and ITTBAB.


Glad you two were both reading!

 

[Sherry E]

Are you talking about The Ghost and the Darkness, with Michael Douglas and, I think, Val Kilmer? I remember that one. That was scary. So was Pet Semetary, but, then again, most Stephen King novels made into movies (even the made for TV ones) are scary.

I could really take or leave the 3-D shows, believe it or not. I might see the Muppets once just to see it, but that kind of stuff doesn't thrill me that much - even the ones without horrible arachnids dangling or mice scurrying! I was sick of Captain EO early on, too. The purpose they serve to me is just giving us something to do when it is hot outside and we need to rest but still feel like we are doing something! Now I DO think it would cool if Star Tours had some 3-D effects or if Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters did (like TSMM does), but the shows I could skip and not feel too bad about missing them.

I am still curious to find out if some of the audience members in ITTBAB actually DO feel critters scampering by their feet in certain seats, or if it is all just a mind game!

By the way I actually think that the trees in DTD have some of those lights/colored balls year-round. I think I saw them in early October.

Do you ever ride the Orange Stinger? That looks like a death-mobile to me, so I will skip it!