Turning 30 with the Mouse - 05/12/09 update

[Disneyfan71]

I'm sorry you couldn't get your funnel cake..I love those things. And I hate you dropped your banana. But I've had them at other places and they're too overrated if you ask me

Looks like you had a wonderful time other than the headache. I've seen Illuminations (was it called that in 1995?) once and really enjoyed it!!

 

[heaven2dc]

Christmas Day has arrived.


I quickly dressed and raced down to the Boardwalk Bakery to grab orange juice, a cheese Danish ….. and a Mickey cake.

That Mickey cake looks SO delicious! I would have eaten it all for breakfast too!

Finished, I walk over to the international gateway at EPCOT and arrive an hour before opening. I find a bench and plop down to wait. And wait some more. And some more. Finally a few families begin to arrive and find benches of their own to sit on for the wait.

It’s getting closer to time.

I walk up to a Security CM to ask if they’re going to let us inside for any type of rope drop. Question answered with an "I don't know", I turn around and find all of those families, that had been sitting back and waiting, to have formed a long line at the turnstiles. I guess my walking up signaled some sort of unspoken cue that I didn’t realize I was sending.

This exact same thing happened to me in December!! I was sitting on a bench with about 6 other people and gradually others started coming in from Boardwalk area. I went up to ask a CM if I could take the monorail from Epcot to Grand Floridian and back again (I was picking up a borrowed double stroller) and when I turned around, all the people who had been sitting on the benches were up at the turnstiles. I originally was going to go up to a CM at the turnstile and ask my question because I wanted for once in my life to be first in the park (I know - I'm weird ) but the CM walked away so that's when I walked over to one standing over to the side. Needless to say I had to get in line behind about 15 other people I sure learned my lesson!

I really am loving your TR!

 

[onelilspark]

I get migraines too. And I'm stubborn with them. I know how you feel.

Sounds like a pretty decent Christmas Day though!!!

 

[wardfamily1]

Lovin' this trip report!


Dolce, if you aren't a professional writer already, you should be!!!! It takes a lot to get me to read anything over a couple of lines long and your report has me sucked in!!!

 

[Dolce27]

I'm so enjoying this report! I turn 29 on Saturday and I'm hoping to celebrate 30 1/2 next year in WDW. I'm excited about turning 30. I'm a strong believer in you are only as old as you feel.

I believe that also. That's why I'm boycotting mirrors. I feel like I'm twenty.... until I look in the mirror. I've now decided that mirrors are evil.

Thank you so much for making some of your pics bigger just for me! . I love how you have them interspersed with your story. I love frozen bananas!!! But, will only get them at Animal Kingdom. It's tradition. I can't have them in any other park.

One of my other favorite Disney food items is the fish and chips in the UK, so I'm glad to hear you enjoyed them.

Now, one other thing, and this is the mom coming out in me, "what were you thinking not eating anything but carbs all day missy???" Didn't you realize you would come crashing down and then feel like crap for the rest of the day? On Christmas day no less. Dolce, Dolce, Dolce, you silly girl. Just kidding, but here's a hug for not feeling well and not being able to enjoy Illuminations.

I'm sorry you couldn't get your funnel cake..I love those things. And I hate you dropped your banana. But I've had them at other places and they're too overrated if you ask me

Looks like you had a wonderful time other than the headache. I've seen Illuminations (was it called that in 1995?) once and really enjoyed it!!

I don't know when the original Illuminations began. I know for a fact that the current show is a different show than what you would have seen in 1995. I'm not certain that the 1995 show was even called Illuminations.

I know Illuminations:ROE was the show before this one….

.. but that's the extent of my EPCOT nighttime shows trivia.

That Mickey cake looks SO delicious! I would have eaten it all for breakfast too!

psst! Hey! Teresa! Someone on here gets it!

This exact same thing happened to me in December!! I was sitting on a bench with about 6 other people and gradually others started coming in from Boardwalk area. I went up to ask a CM if I could take the monorail from Epcot to Grand Floridian and back again (I was picking up a borrowed double stroller) and when I turned around, all the people who had been sitting on the benches were up at the turnstiles. I originally was going to go up to a CM at the turnstile and ask my question because I wanted for once in my life to be first in the park (I know - I'm weird ) but the CM walked away so that's when I walked over to one standing over to the side. Needless to say I had to get in line behind about 15 other people I sure learned my lesson!

I really am loving your TR!

Yeah, I always want to be up at the front also - even if there is a rope drop after. I guess that I'm just impatient to get into the park. Where I was standing, to speak with the security CM, wasn't in front of the turnstiles - it was just off to the side. So, the line formed without me in it.

Don't worry. I put myself in it. Up at the front. No cutter's guilt whatsoever. I was the first one there that morning and I deserved to be towards the front of the line. No one seemed to care when I wiggled into the spot that I wanted, they all knew. Besides, I would have given them the glare of death had they questioned me and then I would have asked them where they were one hour before when I was sitting on a bench in front of this very turnstile.

Yeah, I can be mean like that.



Thanks for liking my TR!

I get migraines too. And I'm stubborn with them. I know how you feel.

Sounds like a pretty decent Christmas Day though!!!

Can't beat Christmas at Disney.

Lovin' this trip report!


Dolce, if you aren't a professional writer already, you should be!!!! It takes a lot to get me to read anything over a couple of lines long and your report has me sucked in!!!

Hey Ward! Thanks! (I'm working on that second part... need to work harder)

 

[Disneyfan71]

I remember that big ball in the middle of the lagoon...And there were laser lights throughout the countries!!!

As for Impressions De France--I actually like it. Saw it for the first time in 1983...didn't know anything about it--went in and enjoyed it. Of course back then I didn't know much about Epcot and what was there!!

 

[tink25]

Okay...couple questions...
1. Did you or did you not have a diabetes explosion after this day?
2. How did you like Breaking Dawn? It is my favorite! I cried at the end....because it was over! (I know...I need help!)

 

[Dolce27]

Okay...couple questions...
1. Did you or did you not have a diabetes explosion after this day?
2. How did you like Breaking Dawn? It is my favorite! I cried at the end....because it was over! (I know...I need help!)

1. Come on, it was one day. Or was it......
2. LOVED IT! I'm just happy those two did end up together. I did not read an entire section of New Moon. Skipped right over it. Don't want to know. I had to skip to the part with those two. I hope that she finishes Midnight Sun .. and then does the other three from Edward's point-of-view. Since the other books were from Bella's point-of-view (with a couple of exceptions), it's an entire new book to hear Edward's.

 

[cf1]

No this can't be the last page without being the last page!

Keep it comming! Great TR so far!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I know it's a little late but I saw the minnie hat on ebay item # 300277732834

 

[Dolce27]

No this can't be the last page without being the last page!

Keep it comming! Great TR so far!

Please don't kill your computer; I'll have an update tomorrow! I have all of my pictures downloaded into photobucket - just need to resize. I hate the size default for photobucket.

I know it's a little late but I saw the minnie hat on ebay item # 300277732834

Hey, thanks!

 

[tink25]

1. Come on, it was one day. Or was it......
2. LOVED IT! I'm just happy those two did end up together. I did not read an entire section of New Moon. Skipped right over it. Don't want to know. I had to skip to the part with those two. I hope that she finishes Midnight Sun .. and then does the other three from Edward's point-of-view. Since the other books were from Bella's point-of-view (with a couple of exceptions), it's an entire new book to hear Edward's.

I am right there with you...I was miserable in New Moon to a certain point...and yes, I love Midnight Sun so far, she really needs to finish.
And I was happy with the end of Breaking Dawn but still cried a little cause it was over....I know,again, I need help!

 

[Dolce27]

I am right there with you...I was miserable in New Moon to a certain point...and yes, I love Midnight Sun so far, she really needs to finish.
And I was happy with the end of Breaking Dawn but still cried a little cause it was over....I know,again, I need help!

I know what you mean. That's why she needs to write all of the books from Edward's pov. Then we have more to read!


Alright, I thought that there would be an update tonight... but it won't be until tomorrow. Expect an update of Day 4 tomorrow night for sure - and possibly Day 5 as there aren't many pic's for that day.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I know what you mean. That's why she needs to write all of the books from Edward's pov. Then we have more to read!


Alright, I thought that there would be an update tonight... but it won't be until tomorrow. Expect an update of Day 4 tomorrow night for sure - and possibly Day 5 as there aren't many pic's for that day.

Okay. I'm waiting patiently. Well, not really, but since I have no other choice...

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I know what you mean. That's why she needs to write all of the books from Edward's pov. Then we have more to read!


Alright, I thought that there would be an update tonight... but it won't be until tomorrow. Expect an update of Day 4 tomorrow night for sure - and possibly Day 5 as there aren't many pic's for that day.

Fine, I'll wait

 

[penguingirlie]

Oh no the end! Usually I never stick with a trip report but I absolutely love yours. I turn 30 this year and wish that I could take a trip alone. Here's hoping there is more carbs and fun to come.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm trying to be patient

 

[Disneyfan71]

You know I'm looking forward to your TR

 

[Dolce27]

Okay. I'm waiting patiently. Well, not really, but since I have no other choice...

Fine, I'll wait

Oh no the end! Usually I never stick with a trip report but I absolutely love yours. I turn 30 this year and wish that I could take a trip alone. Here's hoping there is more carbs and fun to come.

I'm trying to be patient

You know I'm looking forward to your TR

I'm here! I'm here! I'm trying to post some right now
(Plese ignore the fact that I will not be posting as much tonight as I previously thought that I would)

 

[Dolce27]

I’d popped an Advil before climbing into bed the night before and was fine when I awoke the next morning. Carbs? They wear off. All good.

It was Animal Kingdom day

… my least favorite theme park. My game plan for the day was as follows:

Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest
Primevil Whirl (for some crazy reason, I like that one)
Expedition Everest

Got it?

Good.

Extra Magic hours were this morning… it would have been nice had I paid attention to what time those were exactly. It was 7:00am – not 8:00.

I arrive at 7:30 thinking I’m early……

Yeah.

Oh well, crowds aren’t too bad yet.

I had needed the sleep. I’d gotten up at 6:00am and ran to the bakery for a blueberry muffin – no cake this morning! (Ummm...ignore the fact that a blueberry muffin is nothing but carbs – 'K? But hey! It has fruit in it! Sort of.)

I ran (yes, literally) to the bus stop and found the AK bus already sitting there. See? There was a reason for running. I have pretty good intuition for when I need to be someplace … except for Animal Kingdom at the start of EMH, apparently.

*sigh*

I quickly entered the park and passed by a Photopass Photographer that wanted me to stop for a picture. Later… no time this morning. Expedition Everest waits.

Oh-my-gosh the fog!

(Who can spot Expedition Everest?)

Yes, this is real fog and not Disney created fog.


I grabbed a FP for EE and hopped in line. There were two very excited pre-teen girls behind me. I had to smile at their enthusiasm. I walk fast but they, in their eagerness, were walking faster. I tried to pick up my pace so that I wouldn’t slow them down. They were determined to see how many times they could ride this in a row. They were currently going for #2. I told them that on my 2006 trip I rode the Rock n’ Rollercoaster ten times in a row before I became bored with it. They were impressed with that and asked if I had to get off each time. I admitted that most of the time I had to get off and go back around but there was a CM that was flirting with me a bit and he let me cut thru from unload to load a few times to by-pass the line and the pre-show.

Now they were even more impressed. Gotta love pre-teen girls.

Now, for all of you chickens that have never been on EE before, get ready to ride:

(Obviously, picture taken at a different time of day – hence the lack of fog. No, Disney didn’t turn off the fog machine for my picture.)

(View from the front)

(View from the side)

(And…..)

(… here we go again!)



What? You didn’t think that it was over yet – did ya?

(Uhhh… why are we stopped? What happened to the tracks? I don’t think that this is going to bode well…..)

After that is a lot of backwards, spinning, darkness – oh, and there’s also a Yetti. I had to put the camera up by this point – however, my next trip’s goal is to get an adequate picture of the Yetti. Somehow.