The 5 trips of My "Disney Free Year" - A Mermaid, A Buzz, A Boat and A Steak - 7/8

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Next up… Constructionland. The all crowds, no attractions experience.

I figured I’d head over to tomorrow land and ride the TTA and collect my thoughts.

The line was massive, yep. Like 30 minutes. For the TTA. I was just going to give up, go back to the hotel and look up flights home. I just wasn’t having a good time.

Then I had one of those moments, where the devil and the angel popped up on my shoulder. But it was more like Joanna with a scowl and Joanna with Mickey ears on. Scowl was saying "go back, no one loves you, you're hot and tired just give up" Mickey was saying "Who cares if Chris isn't here, you're in Disney Dumbo! Have fun!"

I'm pretty sure that the Mickey-ear Joanna somehow drugged me or something, because suddenly I was the owner of a FP for Space Mountain. Last time I rode Space Mountain was in 2004, and I could barely walk afterwards, it jostled me so much. I really haven’t had any desire to go on since…but, apparently being independent means that you aren’t particularly attached to your spine.

This is an aside from the actual TR, and more of a PSA. This happened a lot on this trip on various rides, the standby time for Space Mountain was 70 minutes. The Fast Pass time was less than 40 minutes from that time. This is a no brainer people, it’s called looking up. I’m just saying this for your own good!

So anyway, back to me. I had gone completely insane and now the clock was ticking. I had feeling in my legs for 40 more minutes. This meant I needed a purse stat!

I am lurking in the background to steal the feeling in your legs Muhahahaha.

So I wandered into Mickey’s Star Traders.

Of course, the 1 option they had, was the vynlmation bag I saw like 2 hrs ago in frontierland

Ugh. I was still convinced I could do better so I headed back to Constructionland.

It was YOU!

Since I was in Constructionland I threw on some opery glasses and caught a show of PhilharMagic.

At the PhilharMagic shop, and I found this shirt. I didn’t buy it, and I’m still kicking myself. It is so cute and I could totally wear it under a jacket.

Then I headed back to tomorrowland. I was really lost with no clear direction. I was just wandering and not really in the right mindset.

The massive crowds really weren’t helping.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Wow I don’t even know what I was doing because these pictures make no sense.

Apparently I went to the castle?

And then to mainstreet (why would I have gone back around the castle to get there? That make no sense!), I went to main street to ooggle my bag. But I still couldn’t swallow the $250. So I was still bagless.

This one is cute, but the straps are all wrong and no zipper.

I watched the glass blower for a while.

Then apparently, I ran into the parade.

So I cut over back to tomrrowland.

I’m happy to say I didn’t look for plane tickets at all after that, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and started actually having fun!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

While I was walking by they were making last calls to the Monster’s Inc. show.

Yay air conditioning!

I was sitting in the back. My feet didn’t touch the ground. How do little kids sit here?

The show was cute as always. They did this geography bit that I hadn’t seen before, it was very cute and funny.

At this point I just gave up and went to Mickey’s Star Traders. I bought the vynlmation bag.

I was still feeling sorry for myself and very conscious of being alone and I’ll admit I was looking up flights home while in line. So maybe it was a death march over to Space Mountain. Maybe I was secretly hoping that it would sever my spine and I would HAVE to go home. Honestly, I don’t know.

I hopped in line, only about 30% sure I wouldn’t chicken out. We got near the front and they were looking for a party of 3, so I told the people in front of me, that I was alone, and we could be a party of 3, so we got to skip a bit – YAY!

We got in the rocket and I was in the way back. Oh great. I’m from the school of thought that the back is the “best” place to be on a roller coaster because you get the wildest ride. I wasn’t really looking for a wild ride, I was just looking to keep my spine!

So we took off and yes the ride was jerky, but somewhere in the dark and the jerky-ness, I was having fun. Genuinely having fun, and I could still feel my legs.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi

I have no clue how I missed this thread but guess how I am spending the rest of my weekend?

Oooh, I can't wait to see what I missed. I just love your TR's!

 

[Princess_K]

Yay for lots of updates!

I've never done the Tiki Room...but it looks nice and colorful. We may have to add it to the list for the next trip!

I'm glad you found a bag....even if you didn't love it, at least that was one mission accomplished.

Woo hoo for surviving Space Mountain I'm so glad you started to have fun!

 

[Caretames1]

I'm so sorry that I'm laughing so hard at you. I'm just imagining you walking around, looking dejected, arms hanging low, and sighing deeply.

It's nice to know that the CM's did make you happy! You did get some awesome rides in and that your spinal cord didn't snap, is a plus!

How did you end up liking your new bag?

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

First off, thank you for getting the Tiki's stuck in my head. "I sing so beautiful, I should sing solo!" "Yes, so low we can't hear you!"

Okay, that joke doesn't translate to text well. But I'm not backspacing!!

At that point (okay, well before that point) I would have just caved and gotten the Dooney. Does that make me a bad influence? Oh, and that shirt really was cute! Disneystore.com? It's my best friend for souvenir regret!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Man, that search for a purse was intense, wasn't it?

I'm glad that you started feeling better little by little. I can understand the internal struggle that you would have had regarding what to do. Stay, go?

That's so weird that POC and the Peoplemover had such long lines. That's seriously unheard of!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Finally all caught up.

We just got back from POFQ and I swear, the room that you were in looked exactly like ours. I mean, exactly. Yeah, I know that they are all the same but I can usually spot something a bit different. We were in 3115, ground floor, king room. Any chance you were in the same one?

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Hi

I have no clue how I missed this thread but guess how I am spending the rest of my weekend?

Oooh, I can't wait to see what I missed. I just love your TR's!

Hi! At least you have a good excuse. Off to go read your TR

Yay for lots of updates!

I've never done the Tiki Room...but it looks nice and colorful. We may have to add it to the list for the next trip!

I'm glad you found a bag....even if you didn't love it, at least that was one mission accomplished.

Woo hoo for surviving Space Mountain I'm so glad you started to have fun!

Haha. See what happens when I cant sleep!

You've never done the Tiki Room?? It's definitely worth a peek. It's very old school, but you can just feel Walt looking over your shoulder. His touch is all over the attraction, which just adds to the awesomeness. Its not an every-tripper for me, but it is fun.

I do like it. It worked PERFECTLY for what I needed it for, and I even got a few comments on it while there. But as I expected, since I've been back, it has sat in my purse drawer.

I have to say, I'm shocked that I enjoyed Space Mountain as much as I did, but it really was like "well if I can do this, I can do anything!"

I'm so sorry that I'm laughing so hard at you. I'm just imagining you walking around, looking dejected, arms hanging low, and sighing deeply.

It's nice to know that the CM's did make you happy! You did get some awesome rides in and that your spinal cord didn't snap, is a plus!

How did you end up liking your new bag?

It's okay. That's a pretty accurate picture, thought you forgot to mention the eyeore-like rain cloud hanging over me, and the fact that my tail kept falling off

I promise that I get in a better mood, keeping my spine is just what I needed!

The purse was great while there. It was the perfect size, it had a spot for everything, and it was even sort of water resistant. Unfortunately, it's a little wild for my every-day style, so it has been in my drawer since. But it served its purpose nicely.

First off, thank you for getting the Tiki's stuck in my head. "I sing so beautiful, I should sing solo!" "Yes, so low we can't hear you!"

Okay, that joke doesn't translate to text well. But I'm not backspacing!!

At that point (okay, well before that point) I would have just caved and gotten the Dooney. Does that make me a bad influence? Oh, and that shirt really was cute! Disneystore.com? It's my best friend for souvenir regret!

okay that one took me a minute... You're right... it doesn't translate to text

You know, if I hadn't had a $250 spa-day at the begining of the trip, I wouldn't have even blinked about the D&B bag. But... I had been counting on Chris to come so I only had a finite amount of $ with me, and I did want to eat for the rest of the trip And honestly, I needed a cross-body bag, so I knew the D&B bag wouldn't have exactly fit the bill. But I still really want it!

I did look at Disneystore.com, and I can't find it. I even looked at WOD on the last day and no dice. Boo! Hopefully it's still around in January.

Man, that search for a purse was intense, wasn't it?

I'm glad that you started feeling better little by little. I can understand the internal struggle that you would have had regarding what to do. Stay, go?

That's so weird that POC and the Peoplemover had such long lines. That's seriously unheard of!

It really was! I was very focused (very unlike me) I think because I was in such a bad mood, I was very one-track minded. I couldn't go forward until I found the right bag. "Special"

In the end, I'm really glad I stayed and decided to have fun. And I'm kind of bummed I wasted basically a day and 3/4 being down in the dumps.

It was really crowded. Like worse when we were there for Christmas! But you know, last year Labor Day we didn't have bad crowds but there was still a 30+ minute line for the TTA. Apparently Labor Day is also the annual "loose your mind and stand in line for a ride that by design should always be walk-on" celebration.

Finally all caught up.

We just got back from POFQ and I swear, the room that you were in looked exactly like ours. I mean, exactly. Yeah, I know that they are all the same but I can usually spot something a bit different. We were in 3115, ground floor, king room. Any chance you were in the same one?

No, I was on the 3rd floor. I can't remember my room number I want to say 3136 But we were close!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

In the back of my head I heard the “old” Stacey yelling TRIPPLE MOUNTIAN WHAMMY!

So, back through constructionland I went.

On my way over to frontierland, I decided to stop for an air conditioned break at PhilharMagic (again) I just love this little movie, it just doesn’t get old.

It was really crowded. Like uncomfortable crowded at the MK that day. Like I ACTUALLY waited in a considerable (outside) line for PhilharMagic. But people must not have really been going on rides because none of the waits or FP times were outrageous. But it seemed that the cast members were particularly crabby. I encountered several less-than-magical moments.

One was in PhilharMagic where people of course were not moving all the way down and the cast member was just SCREAMING at the top of her lungs at people. It was kind of uncomfortable and “beneath” Disney. Yeah, people are stupid, whatchagonnado?

Anyway, “Mickey’s” (I mean really, how can Mickey be mad that Donald stole the hat – HE stole it himself!) hat safe back on his head, I headed to conquer the wildest ride in the WILDerness.

I grabbed a Splash Mountain fast pass first.

Then I hopped in the Big Thunder line.

It always says 20 minutes, but I’d never waited more than 5. Um yep, it was busy. I waited like 35. No biggie though. I actually got some line shots! Usually I'm getting tackled from behind by anxious people!

I tried to get some on-ride shots.

But all I got were a bunch of shots of the back of the head of the guy in front of me. So I give you a series I call... "hey mister, you've got a pretty nice noggin"

I know I've said it before, but I'm not a fan of riding Big Thunder by myself. The ride is so jerky – which is what makes it fun, but when you're alone, you get tossed around and slide all over the place. It could add to the experience for some people, but I just have visions of getting thrown out and impaled on the mountain.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Wow, that guy really did have a nice noggin.... So round and so bright...

 

[jecskc]

Wow, that guy really did have a nice noggin.... So round and so bright...

He did !! I sooo laughed out loud at that !!!

 

[Caretames1]

It was Mr. Clean on Vaca!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Well, that guy does have a very nice head. Did he realize you took 17 pictures of it?

 

[jecskc]

Well, that guy does have a very nice head. Did he realize you took 17 pictures of it?

Now that's funny .....

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Wow, that guy really did have a nice noggin.... So round and so bright...

He did !! I sooo laughed out loud at that !!!

Indeed... it just wouldn't have been the same if he had a lumpy head or lots of dark hair.

It was Mr. Clean on Vaca!

Is Mr. Clean like Waldo where you get a prize if you spot him??

Well, that guy does have a very nice head. Did he realize you took 17 pictures of it?

Now that's funny .....

HAHAHAHA! Well when you say it like that it sounds all creepy and stalkerish. But no he didn't, I was hiding up in the trees using my night vision goggles

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After BTM I realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I wasn't exactly hungry, but I was hot, so I decided to get a mickey ice cream!

Munch!

I took a seat and had my ice cream and read my nook for a bit. Then it was time for my Splash FP.

What was I thinking? I don't go on Splash Mountain, I HATE being wet in the parks.

But nevertheless, soon I was boarding my log. And I was in the very back. Fantastic. I just knew I was going to get soaked.

Sorry lady, your head isn’t as pretty as the last guy’s there’s only one picture of it.

As I was riding this ride, I was thinking how must better it would be if it was based on a movie that you know, we were allowed to SEE! This would be a great “The Rescuers” ride! I mean the movie takes place in a swamp…The fall could be after you’re dropped by Wilber, and the logs could be turned to leaves and “powered” by evinrude.

Like maybe this means something… I wouldn’t know…

Watch out birdie, the robots are going to ATTACK!

The blur makes this portion of the ride look much more thrilling than it actually is…

I'm always jealous of other people's "top of the ride" pictures. Mine suck!

Splash

Shockingly, I didn't get wet. YAY.

 

[RachelNinja]

Back to catch up! I graded a test and a big assignment this morning, so I deserve a break! Wow, what pre-vacation drama! Despite the extra fees, at least Chris will be there with you!

I'd totally pack my lunch too if the airport food wasn't good. Why spend money on it? Might as well spend that money at DISNEY! And yum, now I'm craving a salty snack because of your Stax.

Haha, for some reason, I think I'd be against eating My Little Pony fruit snacks for fear that they'd taste like little ponies.

I agree with you with that creepiness factor. I would NEVER stay there. I'd be crying the entire time especially with all my strange fears! I hate those heads in the food court even in pictures!

AGHHHHHH, I can't believe he overslept and missed the plane despite your constant phone calls!!!

Oh yum, your drink when you had lunch in China looks so delish. The chicken looks good too! I'm just not a fan of white rice probably because we eat it way too often at home.

I definitely have not appreciated the queue for Star Tours. I'll have to stop to do that especially since Howard will understand more of it. I like the luggage! Same goes for the Muppets queue! Love all the newer movie posters.

OH MAN, I was not expecting that Chris wasn't going to go at all!!! I'm really crossing my fingers that you were able to enjoy your unplanned solo trip!

I'd get nervous with solo eating too, but like you, I'd bring along some reading material! But yum, that lobster eggs benedict looks DELICIOUS. I've never had eggs benedict before, and I've seen that one on the menu. I want to make a trip for that now!

I love that you took us with you on your bag hunt! I have to have big bags too because I either carry my nook with me or a regular book. I also carry a reusable water bottle with me and a little notebook as well. Zippers are super important! Aww that you couldn't find the exact bag you wanted. I know years ago, they had a bag just like that Vinylmation crossbody that had Mickey heads on it. I remember seeing it and wanting it, but I had already bought my Lesportsac crossbody.

Haha, I love those back-of-the-head pictures! What a great series of photographs for them!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

HAHAHAHA! Well when you say it like that it sounds all creepy and stalkerish. But no he didn't, I was hiding up in the trees using my night vision goggles

Now I have a visual of you perched on the rocks of BTM with really obvious huge night vision goggles taking pictures of the back of the guy's head with like a 5 foot lens.

After BTM I realized I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I wasn't exactly hungry, but I was hot, so I decided to get a mickey ice cream!

Munch!
[/IMG]

Breakfast of champions!

Oh but I love the Song of the South theme for Splash Mountain! Can that movie ever be released? The Rescuers would be cute though!