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

[Dolce27]

After the first trip, I rode EE two more times in the stand-by line and then did a 3rd time via the singles line. The fog did clear:

People still rode Everest:

But I made my way over to a very deserted Primeval Whirl.

For some crazy reason; I like the signage in this area:

The CM’s over there were in a very good mood. One requested that I take a pic of him – so I did.

Then he wanted to take a pic of me – so he did.

I was flipping thru the pic’s I had on my camera, just quickly reviewing what I had, I was still, slowly, moving thru the load area (hadn’t made it to the actual ride part yet) when the other CM, an older man, asked me if I was deleting the picture of the first cast member. I told him no, I was thinking of making it into a Wanted poster. I was informed that they didn’t want him. Oh, well then, how about a Free Give Away poster?

The CM was fine with that idea.

I spun my way thru extension…

but somehow survived it and made it back to unload. Time to get off and go elsewhere

Yeah, good luck with that hitchhiking, boys.

I began to walk around, aimlessly. I hate Dinosaur, so skipped that. Wasn’t interested in the Nemo musical, so skipped that. Would be seeing It’s a Bug’s Life and Festival of the Lion King (which I’ve never seen before) with family, so skipped that. The Safari would also be with family and didn’t have any interest in seeing that more than once –so skipped that.

See why I don’t like this park? I’m bored with it quickly.

I walked over to Camp Minnie Mickey....

It was nicely decorated for Christmas

But deserted except for these guys:

As I was walking the path back up I discovered that I’m not so alone after all. I spot Riffiki standing alone, looking quite lonely actually. There was a family with Meeko nearby but Riffiki just stood there.

“All alone?” I called out. He gave me a sad little wave. That was all it took, I decided to join the line. I figured it best to start at the beginning. First up was Meeko.

How I know his name (I do know his name – right?), I'll never know. I’ve never seen Pocahontas. I guess that it’s just one of those things.

There wasn’t a photopass photographer so I had to take mercy on the character attendant to take the photo.

Meeko wanted food, the demanding little raccoon that he was. I informed him, as he attempted to get into my bag, that I didn’t have any food but I had money. Nope, he didn’t want money – he wanted food. He grabbed my arm and began to lead me into Pizzafari so that I could purchase food for him. We had to pass Timone, who at this time was alone as the family in front of me had moved on, in order to reach the door. I finally managed to drag the raccoon to a halt and tell him that I can’t go into Pizzafari but must take a picture with Timone instead.

Yes, Timone, I know you’re hot stuff but I want a picture with you – not of you. I’m not planning to hang your photo on my bedroom wall or anything.

As the character attendant seemed busy elsewhere … I ask Meeko if he would be kind enough to take our photo and hand him the camera.

How was I supposed to know that raccoons don’t know how to take photos?????

Geeze, I never had a raccoon 101 class or anything in college. Funny enough, while the lens was directed towards me and Timone he couldn’t figure out how it worked but as soon and the camera was turned around, facing him, I suddenly wind up with photos of this:

And this:

And this:

Didn’t know how to work the camera – huh? Then why did I wind up with three self photos??

Figures.

By this point, the character attendant (maybe with some encouragement from Timone as Timone was shaking his head over Meeko’s inability to take a picture of anything but himself) made her way over to us.

Meeko, after finishing up his own photo shoot, almost dropped the camera; which he was scolded for. At that point I honestly didn’t care if he did or not … I was too busy laughing at one very contrite looking raccoon and he slunk off back to his photo spot.

Unfortunately I was laughing too hard to get a decent photo taken with Timone.

No, Timone, I ‘m still not going to hang your photo on my bedroom wall.

Orlando Bloom currently has that coveted spot.

What?



Last up was Raffiki – who once again was standing by himself. Poor guy. The character handler didn’t follow me over but was paying attention to a new family that stood over with Meeko. I decided to see if I could pull off a decent self photo with him.

Doubtful this was going to turn out, but Raffiki tried to work out a pose with me for the camera lens at the end of my extended arm.
Fortunately, Timone was paying attention to me and he managed to get the character handler’s attention so I did wind up with a half-way decent – not self photo – of me with Raffiki.

I called out thanks to Timone and was off.

As I walked back by the front of the park I decided to stop for a photopass photo. It was a nice older (there I go with ‘nice’ and ‘older’ again) man. His English didn’t seem so good and I was having some difficulty understanding what all he was saying to me, but I did understand him when he said that he recognized me from when I entered the park earlier. He must have been the one requesting my picture that morning while I rushed to Everest.

I really didn’t know what to make of that. But, I did get the ‘Simba’ shot.

With a smile and thanks for the photo, I walked off and looked around for a spot to sit down at for a moment and wound up in a store instead. I really was a bit restless; I’d already done everything on my list of ‘to dos’ for the park and still had a FP for Everest in my pocket.

Shopping was better than doing nothing. Besides, there wasn’t anything dry outside to sit on. Wondering into the nearest store I discovered, to my delight, that it was one of the stores that sold the nicer Disney figurines. I was looking for something Alice in Wonderland. I wanted to purchase a gift for my friend, Julie, as she was the one who drove me to the airport at 5:45 am and was feeding my cat – the one that I didn’t board at the vet (long story behind that). I own two cats. No more. I will not become the cat lady regardless of how cute kittens are. Two is my maximum limit. That’s it.

This cat, the one Julie was feeding, bites people. She thinks she’s a puppy – a guard puppy at that. She doesn’t like any human except for me and I was afraid of what she’d do to the people at the vet so I had Julie feed her instead.

Nice friend – aren’t I?

Hey… I’m trying to find a nice ‘Thank you’ gift for her… back off.

Anyways – back in October I found out that despite not being a big Walt Disney World fan (Gasp! Shock! faint -- can't put the fainting smiley as there are too many photos in this post as is - but pretend that it's there.) she liked Alice in Wonderland so I considered purchasing the nice Alice figurine for her ….except that this store was sold out. (And I later find out every store on Disney property is sold out. Apparently everyone likes the nice Alice figurine).

I’m in the store for awhile, nothing else to do really, chatting with a very nice CM. At one point I happened to mention that Dale is my favorite character. A few minutes later the CM disappears into the back of the store. As I continue browsing, trying to decide if there was anything that I wanted to purchase for myself, she reappears and walks over to where I’m standing.

“You said Dale is your favorite character?”

At the nod of my head she hands me a pin.

That was very nice of her. I don’t collect the pins, but I thought that was very sweet of her and I happily pinned it onto my bag to carry around with me. I thanked her on my way out; she was busy with another guest.

 

[Dolce27]

Still wondering a bit aimlessly around the park, nothing in particular that I want to do, I hop the train out to Conversation Station. I probably hadn’t been there since 1999. My goal (the entire purpose for going out there) was to take a picture with Jiminy Cricket. If I was going to do the whole character picture thing this trip – I wanted one with Jiminy.

Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out so well.

OK, let’s put it this way; here’s what I took a picture of while there:

So, what did I not take a picture of?

Any guesses?






A LIFE SIZED CRICKET!

Oh, and yes – Jiminy was there. Actually, he was all alone when I found him; no one else in sight. I happily walked over to him when I met “The Problem”

“The Problem” was one young male CM that looked quite sullen and wasn’t very nice at all. Of course, Photopass wasn’t there for a photo op so I walked over to “The Problem” and sweetly ask him to take the photo.

The kid barely even looked at me. He just frowned and glared, yes glared, at me while snatching the camera from my hands.

*sigh*

I walk over to a happy looking Jiminy and begin to pose when …wait…

Why does “The Problem” have the lens pointing at our feet? I’m looking at him in confusion – does he know how to work the camera? – when he walks back to me and hands the camera over before he grumpily sulks back to his previous spot next to the wall and I realize that the photo had been taken.

He took the photo?

Of our feet?

I thank Jiminy and quickly review the photo. Actually, it wasn’t of our feet – he did get all of us – but I’m looking totally confused, no hint of a smile on my face, and he didn’t even offer to retake a photo when the first one turned out so crappy.

*sigh*

I deleted the pic on the spot but wasn’t about to approach “The Problem” to request another picture. I move on instead. Jiminy will be on my list for next trip.

I decided that it’s time to use my fast pass for Expedition Everest and then leave the park. I take the train back to the main part of the park and discover that it was becoming quite crowded and with Animal Kingdom’s narrow pathways – it doesn’t take much to feel crowded.

I spot a performance in Africa on my way

and a very long line for Flights of Wonder. Note to self: Show up early for the show Sunday as it appears to be a popular show.

Finally I reached EE and took (what I thought to be) my last ride on this trip. After one last train ride through the Himalayas, and that Yetti was still there – didn’t he have anything better to do? – I left the park.

… OK, ok, I will admit to getting a bit lost in the bird area towards the entrance/exit… I always get lost trying to escape that place.

Finally, I escape! and I hopped the bus for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I’d eaten at Boma (loved it!) on my 2006 trip so this wasn’t my first time to the resort. In fact, it was my original plan to book at this resort instead of my beloved Boardwalk Inn. (This one’s a little bit cheaper.) Upon my arrival, I looked around a bit at the impressive tree

and then went down to grab a lunch at The Mara. I wanted to give the zebra domes another try; that was my mission. I wasn’t too impressed with them at my dinner at Boma in ’06.. but my expectations may have been a bit too high after reading all of the drooling posts on this message board.

I grabbed a chicken pita and fries (I know, I know… I should have gone with the couscous but I’m on vacation! French fries are allowed on vacations!) The zebra domes only came in a pack of five.

(Yes, both me and my stomach are well aware that there is one missing in this photo)

No, I didn’t eat all of my pita or fries… but I couldn’t throw away the zebra domes and I wasn’t going directly back to my hotel so there was one thing left to do:

Eat them. Eat them all.

And I did.

And I was officially stuffed afterwards.

But the good news is that I liked them much better this trip. The bad new was that I was so stuffed I could barely move.

*sigh* No wonder I gained 10lbs from this trip.

I went out to the bus stop to wait for a bus to the Magic Kingdom and called my aunt while waiting. It was chaos at her house. She was trying to pack as she was to arrive at WDW the next day (the next day! Already! It was so soon! My trip is about half way over and I just got here … I think I’m going to cry) but she was also trying to pack the kids for their arrival on the 29th. I got off the phone so that she could finish running around the place like a crazy person. Don’t take me wrong, I love my aunt and I was happy that family would be joining me the next day …. but my trip was half way over!

Depressing thoughts begone! I went back over to the Magic Kingdom, via a bus trip.

Do you remember that Christmas parade that I don’t want to see? That one that I was forced to catch glimpses of because Big Thunder Railroad Mountain just had to chose the most inconvenient time to break down?… oh wait! It was only the fast pass side that broke down.

Yeah, that parade. And it was determined for me to watch it as it was in full swing as I entered the park.

Stupid parade.

I cut through the gift shops – as my purpose for being over here on this day was to purchase something. Ha! I still don’t have to watch you!

Stupid parade.

On my one day at the MK in October Julie had been with me (despite not liking WDW – isn’t she a great friend? I have to say that… I send her the links to my TR’s to read. See? Isn’t she a great friend? She reads my trip reports even though she doesn’t care much for WDW.)

Back to primary purpose of being at the MK … Julie had spotted a glass slipper that had birthstones in them that she wanted to buy in one of the shops. By the time we finally got around to returning to the store that night, for her to make the purchase, the store had closed.

So, I found the store, took a pic of the glass slippers and quickly e-mailed her and verified the month of her birth…

….I’m a bad friend, I know – we established that earlier, remember? I wasn’t 100% certain on her birthdate – but I was 99.9% and I proved to be correct. Fortunately, the girl is glued to her e-mail so she received my e-mail and had responded in moments. I quickly made the purchase and then began working my way down Main Street – the dumb parade finally over!

This was the point of the trip that I decided to see if there was anything that I wanted to purchase at the Mickey Philiharmagic gift shop – I really didn’t have the opportunity to explore it on the 24th. Well, what the heck – if I’m going to the gift shop I should also see the show – right?

There was a line and a posted wait time of 20 minutes. I approach the CM, a nice older man …(yeah, yeah, I know; everyone’s a nice, older…- except for “The Problem” over at Animal Kingdom - but they were! I promise!)

.. back to the nice, older man. I ask him if it really was a 20 minute wait or if it was less. He looked at me for a moment and then said “Twenty minutes but less if you go in this line.”

I looked in confusion towards the line of which he pointed at and said, “But that’s the fast pass line and I don’t have a fast pass.”

He just shrugged a little and said “but it’s an open line…”

Hesitantly I walked into the fast pass line – minus one fast pass. I half expected to be turned away at the other end since I wasn’t holding the coveted slip of paper. Nope, no turning away for me; the CM smiled at me.

“One?” She asked. I assume that the guy up front let her know that I was coming.

So, that was really nice of the man.

The waiting area to the show was packed. There appeared to be a good size crowd at the Magic Kingdom on this day. Standing in the waiting area, I actually was able to squeeze close to one of the doors. Gotta love that solo perk. As it opened everyone rushed to get in. The trick is; if you want a middle of the row seat you can do one of two things:

1) Annoy the crap out of everyone by walking to the middle of a deserted row and plopping you and your family down, right there, causing everyone else to trip on you as they attempt to squeeze past you to the seats that you should be sitting in.

2) Stand back. Eye a row and judge how many people need to enter it before you join that line.

I almost ended up dead center. The problem: A couple with the exact same game plan as me; eyeing the exact same row as me; beat me in line. They got center. Oh well. All seats are pretty good… I was just trying for dead center for the fun of it.

The show ended (I love the flying through Morocco scene) and I quickly found nothing that I wanted in the gift shop.

*sigh*

I went to see if the CM was still out front so I could thank him for letting me in the FP line; but he was no longer there. I thought to slip over to Liberty Square to see if I could get onto the Haunted Mansion “just in case” it wasn’t that busy.

It looked busy and I didn’t even have to get all that close to the attraction to see that.

Darn.

Oh well, time to leave. A show, that I ignore, is in performance on at the Castle stage as I walk back over to Main Street. I noticed a bit of a congregation across from Casey’s – and not of the human kind.

Birds stood around, waiting impatiently for someone to throw a bit of food to them.

And some one did.

A small french fry went flying through the air; the ducks and birds all lunged forward and a small duck walked, or rather, ran away the victor. One of the birds wasn’t thrilled with the outcome and began chasing the duck, which still held the treat in its mouth.

The duck took off with the fry.

The white bird took off after the duck.

I took off after white bird.

Eh, had nothing better to do.

The bird chased the duck all the way down to the Crystal Palace where the duck flew over the walk way to escape the bird and finally ate the fry in peace.

That’s his ‘Ha! I got the french fry’ look he gave the camera as he smugly walked off.


I laughed as I walked back, only to pass the same scenario repeat itself. Another fry goes flying, this time it is one of the birds that comes out the victor of winning that little morsel.... and the chase begins.

 

[Dolce27]

To be continued on Wednesday....

 

[onelilspark]

I love the pictures of AK with the fog. It looks rather like it was created by Disney!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Yer killing me! You can't stop now! I still have 3 1/2 hrs of work to blow! J/K. You TR is great! The only one I've read this far into without just skimming through the pictures. Keep up the good work . We'll be checking in tomorrow for sure!

 

[Bethmsu]

Hello! Stumbled upon your trip report today and read the whole thing! I am intrigued by solo trips. How did you like your solo time in comparison with your family time?

Also did I miss it? What was your job when you were a cast member?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

 

[Dolce27]

Not happening tonight. Sorry.

Stupid pictures.

I've learned my lesson - if I ever do another do another TR; I will spend the two weeks straight that it will take to download and resize pictures before I ever begin. It's a full time job - and I already have one of those. I won't be home tomorrow night so it will be at least Friday night before I can update.

I guess that I could do one without the pic’s – but when I read other people’s TR’s I like to see their pictures.

 

[Disneyfan71]

you know me i've enjoyed your TR and pictures too

 

[Dolce27]

Hello! Stumbled upon your trip report today and read the whole thing! I am intrigued by solo trips. How did you like your solo time in comparison with your family time?

Also did I miss it? What was your job when you were a cast member?

Hi! Solo vs family.. hmmmmmm....

There are perks for both.

Solo - can do what you want, whenever you want. Easier to move thru crowds during busy season, can change/adjust plans on a whim, don't have to worry about everyone else having fun, can skip out on attractions that you have no interest in seeing

Family - have someone to talk to and share your experience with

I didn't post on here what my CM job had been – I extinguished smoking trashcans, stood out in the hot, blistering sun and battled the humidity, removed trash from the top of the trashcans (where people put it) to the inside of the trashcans, banged up guest’s arms with a large, heavy grey cart – without them ever noticing – since they never paid any attention to where they were walking, watched guests argue with CM’s outside of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show accusing said CM’s of lying about there not being an actual Indiana Jones ride at the Studios, watched guests get upset with CM’s outside of Star Tours when they asked where the Back to the Future ride was and the CM gave them directions down I-4 (hey!! They asked!), when people threw-up - showed up with the “magic powder” hoping no one attempted to clean it up themselves as that made my life more difficult, argued with guests wanting to cross last minute before parade time, befriended everyone in attractions, got to know only a couple of people in merchandise and outdoor foods (as they had heavy rotations through-out the park), chatted with guests and learned that there are times when the English outnumbered the Americans in the park, sighed over the number of people who couldn’t learn how to flush a toilet or throw a paper towel inside the trash bin vs. outside the trash bin, when having the park radio to know what was going on – hid from both management and the FL heat and humidity…

… oh, wait. Should I have admitted to the last one…

In other words – I did custodial.

A very thankless job.

But I still enjoyed my time there.

 

[Disneyfan71]

I can imagine someone asking for the Back To the Future Ride When I worked for the airlines, we were two counters down from Airtran..and passengers would come up to us and say "Yes, are you Airtran?" Then I would say, "Two counters down." My favorite one was Northwest who was right next to us. Passengers would get in OUR line and hand us a Northwest ticket

 

[Dolce27]

I can imagine someone asking for the Back To the Future Ride When I worked for the airlines, we were two counters down from Airtran..and passengers would come up to us and say "Yes, are you Airtran?" Then I would say, "Two counters down." My favorite one was Northwest who was right next to us. Passengers would get in OUR line and hand us a Northwest ticket

That was a pretty common question for them, at least back then. Now that BTTF is closed at Universal - maybe the questions have slacked off some. Then again, someone who doesn't realize that the ride is at, not only a different theme park, but the park of one of Disney's top competitors, probably doesn't know that the ride has been closed.

I haven’t had a chance to really check out your pre-TR yet; but I just glanced over to see where you’re at.

Yay for getting booked

for

50’s Prime Time Café
Ohana
LeCellier

All excellent choices.

San Angel Inn is one I’ll probably never try … but I’m from Texas. I’m picky on my Mexican food.. it has to either be Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican food. For some reason, FL , WDW and authentic Mexican food just doesn’t seem to mesh with me. I love my Mexican food.

 

[Disneyfan71]

That was a pretty common question for them, at least back then. Now that BTTF is closed at Universal - maybe the questions have slacked off some. Then again, someone who doesn't realize that the ride is at, not only a different theme park, but the park of one of Disney's top competitors, probably doesn't know that the ride has been closed.

I haven’t had a chance to really check out your pre-TR yet; but I just glanced over to see where you’re at.

Yay for getting booked

for

50’s Prime Time Café
Ohana
LeCellier

All excellent choices.

San Angel Inn is one I’ll probably never try … but I’m from Texas. I’m picky on my Mexican food.. it has to either be Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican food. For some reason, FL , WDW and authentic Mexican food just doesn’t seem to mesh with me. I love my Mexican food.

Thanks...last week we booked Now once we get the money, we can finish paying for the trip!!! Oh and we've decided to drive. Mainly for if we have ADR's at say Chef Mickey, we can drive to the Contemporary instead of waiting all day for buses

San Angel Inn was one of the places my DW wants to eat!! She loves authentic Mexican..well Mexican for that matter. But who knows, we may decide to eat somewhere completely different...I'd like to try the Luau again..went to it in 1980

 

[Disneyfan71]

Sorry for the double post!!!

 

[Bethmsu]

Wow! Good thoughts Solo V. Family. Looks like I am just going to have to do some of both!

And as for your castmember job...you are so right! I can imagine just how thankless that job is. But I am glad to hear you still enjoyed (and can joke about) your time and don't have horrible trash-related flashbacks that prevent you from visiting the parks. My sister an I often talk about "If we worked for disney" but we always decide that it might be better not to spoil it!

I can't wait to hear more about your trip !

 

[Mamiamjo]

I'm enjoying your trip report. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Not happening tonight. Sorry.

Stupid pictures.

I've learned my lesson - if I ever do another do another TR; I will spend the two weeks straight that it will take to download and resize pictures before I ever begin. It's a full time job - and I already have one of those. I won't be home tomorrow night so it will be at least Friday night before I can update.

I guess that I could do one without the pic’s – but when I read other people’s TR’s I like to see their pictures.

 

[Dolce27]

Posting now... promise!!!

 

[Dolce27]

Glass slipper? Check
Watch Mickey’s Philihar Magic? Check

Ok..ok.. that wasn’t on the original list… but it was now.

Check!

Fun Donald Duck merchandise?

…. Nope.

I just chased a real duck around instead.

The Magic Kingdom looks a little too busy for my taste, so I’m out of there. Off to the resort monorail I walk. To the Grand Floridian I ride.

The Grand Floridian is a beautiful resort. The attention to detail is amazing. Everything is so beautiful and elegant.

But…..It’s not my resort – I’m a Boardwalk. I find it charming. I love my balcony to sit on and people watch. I love hearing the laughter drift up to me from below and the music drifting in through the door. I love to see the lights glitter on the lake at night while I stare across at the Yacht and Beach Club.

My aunt is a Grand Floridian. She loves quiet and elegance. She love the Sugar Loaf Building so much that she’s been (unsuccessfully) trying to persuade me to apply for a job. In concierge. At the Grand Floridian. In the Sugar Loaf building. Actually, she has something against the main building – it has the be the Sugar Loaf building.

“Tamera, you don’t start off at the concierge level”

But she doesn’t listen to me. She thinks I could, I know I won’t. Besides a 16 month internship with an architecture firm that designed four -five star hotels and resorts; I have zero experience in the hotel industry. And unless Disney wants me to design a floor plan for a hotel that already has a floor plan – they’re not going to hire me for one.

But, I have zero intentions to apply to Disney for a hotel job and every intention of checking out the beautiful Christmas decorations at the beautiful resort. Oh… and make a purchase or two at the Gingerbread House.

This little guy greets me as I step out of the monorail train and walk to the doors

And, as expected, the lobby is gorgeous.

There are many people milling around the lobby, more than I expected for the middle of the day. I stop by the Gingerbread House to select my purchases. They’re almost sold out of gingerbread. I was uncertain that I wanted to buy a gingerbread shingle; I read (on here, of course) that those don’t really taste good. Of course, that was the only type of gingerbread that they had left. Of course, the CM didn’t seem to care much at all for me saying that I’d heard the shingles didn’t taste all that great.

She offers a sample to me. Did you know they offered samples? I’d also been inquiring about the gingerbread spiced sugar cookie, but the CM only presents a sample of the shingle to me.

She’s probably trying to convince me that I’m wrong and should buy a shingle.

Another woman has come up beside me and is interested in the gingerbread spiced sugar cookie. I am too. The CM offers her a sample of the cookie. Hey! Where’s mine?

Humph.
I ask for one also. The CM glares at me as she stomps off to grabs a sample for me. Can’t help it that I’m not caring too much for this gingerbread shingle over here.

The woman beside me wants to sample the gingerbread, but had only been presented with the spiced cookie. The CM had handed two sample pieces to me, one of which I hadn’t touched at all, so I offer it to the grateful woman as by this time the CM is glaring at both of us. I don’t think she liked giving us free samples; yet she was the one who offered them.

Finally, with a continued glare, she hands over the coveted sugar cookie sample to me and guess what? I like it. I really like it. So much better than the gingerbread shingle. I buy one of those and one of the Mickey head shaped chocolates with sprinkles on top. The exchange of money for items still doesn’t bring a smile to her glaring face. Oh well, some people are just destined to frown.

I ignoring the glaring frown, exit the lobby and leave the building. I’ve been to the Grand Floridian before, but have never seriously looked around. Out back I find a few more of these guys

As I said before, it really is a very beautiful resort and it was such a beautiful day out. I pretty much had perfect weather the entire trip; my only complaint was that it was a little too warm at times. I’m packed for winter and 80 degrees is not winter. I’d been hoping for highs of 73 – 74. That would have been perfect. Of course those perfect 70 degree days came the week after I was there.

Of course.

But, despite it being a bit warm, the day was gorgeous with blue skies and bright sunshine. The pool showed to be a very popular choice for that afternoon as both kids and adults alike splashed around.

No destination in mind, I began walking the path from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian resort.

I passed the wedding pavilion; just beautiful.

While I have no intention of applying to Disney to work in their hotels, I will admit to secretly coveting a job as one of Disney’s Wedding Coordinators. I think that would be a great fit for me, but the job posting for that is never there. I haven’t a clue how one winds up with that position. I must also admit to being an occasional lurker in the wedding forum on the DIS, I love to read their trip reports. Disney has several beautiful locations for a ceremony and so many different and amazing things they could do for a wedding.

I was half tempted to barge into Franc’s and demand to know how to obtain a job, but figured that wasn’t the wisest choice to go about it. So, I continued on.

 

[Dolce27]

The Grand Floridian drifted further away while the Polynesians drew near.

White dusty sand surrounded me in the tropical surroundings. I was on a mission as I waded through it, sand filling my shoes. I wanted to spend my last night (still days away) at Disney sitting on the Poly beach, watching Wishes. Possibly drinking something with alcohol in it.

I began to explore the grounds in attempts to figure out where to go (on that night) in order to view Whishes.

I see a sandy beach…

I see hammocks…

I see palm trees….

I see…..

I see ducks….

I see…

Hang on! What was that?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm………….











Five minutes later I’m tearing around the Seven Seas Lagoon without a clue as to what I’m doing.

They told me that the bigger boats had right of way. No problem! If I spot one of those moving towards my direction; I’m outta there! I’m not stupid…

OK. Only sometimes.

Just sometimes.


But I am a dork who’s trying to race around at 15 mph (according to the posted speed limit on the boat – I honestly don’t know how fast I was going for sure) on bumpy water (stupid waves!) trying to take pictures.

(One again…. Disney’s The Grand Floridian. This time, via water)

(Helllloooo Magic Kingdom)

(Look Mom! I’m on a rail!

I had great fun annoying my parents by constantly saying that, at aged 15, while at Disney. After the 100th time, they really weren’t finding it so humerous)

Back to the Poly I went. I still hadn’t a clue as to what I was doing. I never even made it over to Bay Lake – didn’t even realize that I could go there. Sure, they show you a map before you hop in the boat.. but seriously? like two seconds looking at a drawing of water I’m going to know what’s where?

I finally pulled the boat in; still not knowing what the heck I was doing as it was made obvious when I began to go to the wrong dock.

“Over here!” The CM frantically waved from the other direction.

Oh.

Back on land, I find a swing on the beach and sit down to call my mother. I guess that I really should speak to her every now and then – huh? I called to see if she’d made it home from my sister’s house in Austin. I was having trouble getting a hold of my sister; she was refusing to answer her phone. Today should have been my dad’s 60th birthday and my sister is still having a lot trouble with his death, I mean, I do also… but my sister is still having a really tough time dealing with it. He died in 2006, not quite three years ago, rather unexpectedly.

My parents had been divorced for 10 years before he died, so my mother didn’t have trouble with it, I mean some – obviously – but she had already had a lot of emotional detachment from him by that point. I don’t know what I would have been doing on this day were he alive; I wouldn’t be at Disney World – that’s for sure. I would have wanted to be home for Christmas and I was going to plan something big for his 60th.

I’m a huge planner – I plan in advance. It’s hard when my visions don’t come true. By the time of his death at age 57, I was already trying to come up with a 60th birthday celebration but much like my vision of him leaving ICU and moving into a regular hospital room to begin full recovery – like he was expected to – I never got to complete the vision of his 60th birthday celebration. I sometimes become so focused on my plans for how things should go that when I’m delt with a blow such as that, it’s surreal. I can’t believe that it didn’t happen the way I expected it to.

So, sister out of touch for the day, I called my mother to check on her. She was at home, briefly, taking care of last minute stuff and then on to my grandmother’s to spend the night as they had an early flight out the next morning. My grandmother was a bit concerned – tornadic (is that a word?) storm systems were expected to move through the DFW metroplex the next morning. My grandmother was concerned for flight delays. My mother didn’t seem to share her concern, so – hey? What do I know? It’s beautiful and sunny here in Florida.

… which I had no problem, whatsoever, bragging to my mother about. I took pictures and e-mailed them to her via my I-phone; taunting her of the beautiful day I was having.

I’m so mean.

I swing. I feel the breeze. I bask in the shade and watch the sun glare off the water.

I watch kids taunt ducks.

Poor ducks.

They did their best to hide – to no avail. They didn’t realize that they were wider than the tree. The kids quickly found them and chased them on.

I come to the realization

that Florida doesn’t lack on the bird population. They’re everywhere!

Finally, enough of sand and beach. I make my way inside of the hotel and look around.

Suddenly, my feet are moving in one direction – straight for

Here’s the deal with the Tambu Lounge. Last October I had a dining reservation at Ohana’s. I wanted a Lapu Lapu but I’m not much of a drinker and I’m really not much of a rum drinker. At all. If I drink, I normally do vodka or wine; mainly wine. No beer. Yuck. (Come on, admit it. Beer is gross.) After speaking to the bartender, I chickened out and got another drink. No Lapu Lapu in October.

… but I still wanted a try soooooooooooo…………

I told all of this to the current bartender that stood before me, as I don’t really know how I wound up there – really I don’t. It’s a mystery. I just recall seeing the sign to the lounge and *poof* I’m at the bar, and the bartender said he’d make a weak one. Fine by me. I finally get my Lapu Lapu .

I like it!

I don’t like that price.

At *ahem* $12.00*ahem* there is a reason the price isn’t listed in the book. That’s your warning – take heed.

I drink pretty much all of it, I enjoyed it so much, and then off I go to the monorail. It’s time to go home. I take the monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the EPCOT monorail.