"You Guys Are Cast Members... Right?" - A December 2011 TR

[danimaroo]

Okay, I am finally replying to your last update. Am I late? YUP. But that's okay because I'm here now and finally commenting!

Anywho, totally with you on getting lost at HS! I know we already talked about this but jeezy pete, that park is very confusing. I basically know how to get to ToT and RnRC, and TSMM, and then I guess Star Tours, but that's it! Everything else I get lost trying to find. The end.

I have never been to Pizza Planet before! I have wanted to go but then I have to kind of be in the mood for pizza and I'm usually not feelin' it when we're in HS. BUT I totally get why you'd want to eat there!

I love the comment about the Osborne Lights gasp. That must've actually been pretty neat.

Sorry, I'm laughing at your random order. Are you sure they didn't give you the wrong order? Hahaha. Oh well.

I bet the lights are so neeeat! One year we'll maybe go... though Matt is pretty set in his ways when it comes to Christmas at our house. We go all out decorations-wise and he likes being able to enjoy it for that month that they're up. That and he went to Disney for Christmas one year and hated every second of it. I think that's the only time he's ever been to Disney and had a not amazing time. Granted, he also went ON Christmas, and he was in college 3000 miles away from home, so I can understand him not wanting to be in FL vs. being back home in Seattle. Anyway, sorry for the mini tangent, but yes, the lights are beautiful!

YES to Star Tours!! But oh no on the seat belt! I had that problem the first time I rode Star Tours, except I just was a dork and didn't look hard enough. OMG and then the first time I rode Test Track and literally couldn't find the buckle and my CAR WAS MOVING. I was terrified but quickly found it, haha.

OMG YOU WERE THE REBEL SPY! I am dying right now. Between your incident and mine, I am DEFINITELY 100% convinced it's not a random choice. Hahaha AMAZING! I had a feeling you were the rebel spy at some point, but not because of this! I love how the photo they take of you is always so ridiculous! But in this case it must've been hilarious.

 

[msmandapanda]

This is completely off topic but, I just saw an advertisement for Mach Tower on here. How weird is that?!

 

[MEK]

So I think I am finally caught up on your TR. I had been reading just bits and pieces, but finally seemed to get the flow of December 15th. I realized that we were both in MK that morning. Wasn't it a great day? Perfect weather.

I am pretty impressed with all our touring - 3 parks in a day and lots of rides, too. Plus you saw FOLTK and Nemo! Nice! I have to say that Nemo is one of my favorite attractions. So fun!

Love the Osbourne light pics!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Oh my gosh, your seat buckle story is hilarious. I was outloud!

 

[marDgreen88]

Okay, I am finally replying to your last update. Am I late? YUP. But that's okay because I'm here now and finally commenting!

Girl don't even worry about it. I was like what, three updates behind on yours? I don't even know how it happened TBH. I was all like "huh, what's disboards?" for a few days there. UNHEARD OF. But I'm better now.

Anywho, totally with you on getting lost at HS! I know we already talked about this but jeezy pete, that park is very confusing. I basically know how to get to ToT and RnRC, and TSMM, and then I guess Star Tours, but that's it! Everything else I get lost trying to find. The end.

We did but it's okay because it's something I will never understand. I mean seriously. Why is Hollywood so confusing? I'm not gonna lie, you'd have to steer me towards Star Tours before I could remember where it was. So pathetic! Ugh Hollywood.

I have never been to Pizza Planet before! I have wanted to go but then I have to kind of be in the mood for pizza and I'm usually not feelin' it when we're in HS. BUT I totally get why you'd want to eat there!

Hollywood doesn't put you in the pizza mood ay? Hahah that's understandable! It's a lot of fun though, you should go sometime!

I love the comment about the Osborne Lights gasp. That must've actually been pretty neat.

Sorry, I'm laughing at your random order. Are you sure they didn't give you the wrong order? Hahaha. Oh well.

It was so funny. It was like "Oh, I guess they turned the lights on."

UM, you know what? They did! You're totally right. Actually it was a combination of things. I had accidentally ordered the meal combo instead of just the pizza, and then they accidentally gave me vegetable instead of cheese, but then they gave me the right pizza after I asked about it. I have no idea why I didn't say this in the update? What the heck? Hahha!

I bet the lights are so neeeat! One year we'll maybe go... though Matt is pretty set in his ways when it comes to Christmas at our house. We go all out decorations-wise and he likes being able to enjoy it for that month that they're up. That and he went to Disney for Christmas one year and hated every second of it. I think that's the only time he's ever been to Disney and had a not amazing time. Granted, he also went ON Christmas, and he was in college 3000 miles away from home, so I can understand him not wanting to be in FL vs. being back home in Seattle. Anyway, sorry for the mini tangent, but yes, the lights are beautiful!

The lights are AMAZING. My pictures are terrible and don't even come close to giving you an idea of how awesome the lights are! You know, I understand wanting to enjoy your Christmas decorations... but maybe one year maybe you could take a shorter trip in December? OR MAYBE you could go in late November before you put up your decorations?

YES to Star Tours!! But oh no on the seat belt! I had that problem the first time I rode Star Tours, except I just was a dork and didn't look hard enough. OMG and then the first time I rode Test Track and literally couldn't find the buckle and my CAR WAS MOVING. I was terrified but quickly found it, haha.

HECK YES to Star Tours! SUCH fun it is. Hahha the buckle was honest to goodness hidden under the cover. It was so ridiculous! Oh my gosh that's scary! Sometimes I feel like they whip you away too fast before you have time to situate yourself! Like on Space Mountain! Once when we rode I was trying to situate my big bulky park bag and they're like OKAY SEE YA and I'm like but wait yall, I don't want to lose all my belongings! Hahha goodness.

OMG YOU WERE THE REBEL SPY! I am dying right now. Between your incident and mine, I am DEFINITELY 100% convinced it's not a random choice. Hahaha AMAZING! I had a feeling you were the rebel spy at some point, but not because of this! I love how the photo they take of you is always so ridiculous! But in this case it must've been hilarious.

Hahaha yes! I swear it was the funniest thing ever. Oh no, it's not a random choice at all! Like there's literally no way. That makes it so much more fun!

This is completely off topic but, I just saw an advertisement for Mach Tower on here. How weird is that?!

AHHH ew! Why? Ugh I will never ever ride that, I'm not a fan of those dropping rides where your feet are dangling, like Drop Zone at KD. Nightmare. UGH.

So I think I am finally caught up on your TR. I had been reading just bits and pieces, but finally seemed to get the flow of December 15th. I realized that we were both in MK that morning. Wasn't it a great day? Perfect weather.

Yay! We were! Oh my gosh, yes. The weather was perfect that morning! It was unbelievable. I wish it stayed that way, but I'm just thankful we didn't get any rain!

I am pretty impressed with all our touring - 3 parks in a day and lots of rides, too. Plus you saw FOLTK and Nemo! Nice! I have to say that Nemo is one of my favorite attractions. So fun!

Oh thank you! Hahah we're not done yet either! Nemo is awesome! I love it. It's so pretty and colorful, and the songs are great too!

Love the Osbourne light pics!

Haha well thanks! They're not nearly as great as yours but at least they're something!

Oh my gosh, your seat buckle story is hilarious. I was outloud!

Thank you! I'm glad you thought it was funny. It was definitely funny to me too! Only me, I swear!

 

[marDgreen88]

The One Where We Use Our IMAGINATIONS!

December 15, 2011​

After I had officially become the most famous person on Star Tours, we were on a new mission! This mission did not involve one of us ending up as the rebel spy though, thank GOODNESS.

We headed across the park to Sunset Boulevard and got in line for FANTASMIC! There were two showings that night, and we were going to the later one, which started at 8:00. Incidentally, the park also closed at 8:00 that night, (darn those early winter closing times!) so we got to stay AFTER closing time. Clearly we live above the law.

We actually had to stand in line for a few minutes before we could go in, which was a first for me, but it wasn’t bad at all. I feel like we were only in line for a few minutes! HOW GRAND! We weren’t even close to the front of the line, but DANG, we got awesome seats! We were literally front and center. We weren’t in the very front (aka the splash zone) but we were in the fourth row. Amazing!!!

(Sidenote: I have seen this show every time I’ve gone to Disney. I mean, I know that’s only three times, but I feel like I’ve seen it many more times than that. Why? My brother is literally OBSESSED with Fantasmic. He just loves it! He listens to the soundtrack all the time, and therefore I basically have it memorized. I love it too, but I was willing to part ways with it for a while. HOWEVER, Sally and Ryan had never seen it, so it was a must!)

While we were waiting for the show to start, the family in front of us was taking photos, so I amused myself (and Sally) by cheesing and posing for their photos. What a nice surprise they must have gotten when they were reviewing them!

Surprisingly enough, nobody started the wave this time! Hmm. BUT can I just say that they were playing 90’s Christmas music, INCLUDING “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by *NSYNC??? GLORIOUS!

OKAY. (I swear, I have a rambling problem yall.) SO THE SHOW STARTED. It was good. Then it ended. I kid.

Here's what REALLY happened:





First, Mickey appeared as if from nowhere, and a chorus sang to us and told us to “USE OUR IMAGINATIOOOOOOOONS.” Luckily, EVERYONE in the audience imagined the exact same scenario: Mickey had the ability to shoot fireworks from his BARE HANDS! Wonder and excitement ensued.

Somewhere along the way, Mickey fell asleep. I mean, I don’t blame him. I imagine creating fireworks from nothing can be quite tiring! Unfortunately, he had some bizarre dreams because next thing I knew, we were hanging out in 1607 and Governor Ratcliffe was shouting, “I WILL BE AVENGED!!!!!,” or something to that affect. As a general rule, he needs to simmer down.

Sidenote: As a proud Virginian, I would just like to convey the following message to the Native Americans:


Dear Native Americans,

I personally am very sorry about the whole land invasion thing. If it had been up to me, I probably wouldn't have, ya know, STOLEN your country. My ancestors, they’re sly ones! I probably would have been happy in England. They have cool accents over there. That being said, I really do enjoy living here.

Sincerely,
It Wasn’t My Fault.


ANOTHER SIDENOTE: It really bothers me that Pocahontas is so underrated. It has always been one of my favorites! My eighth birthday party was Pocahontas themed, for crying out loud! I also have a really fond memory of seeing it in theaters with my Grandma. PLUS, HELLO, it has one of THE BEST Disney soundtracks out there! Come on, all of the songs are GOLDEN. (See what I did there?) So basically, all we are saying (sway with me now) is give Pocahontas a chance! All we are saying is give Pocahontas a chance!


So, good news: Pocahontas and John Smith looked meaningfully at each other from their prospective rocks, and they lived happily ever. (The hopeless romantic in me always likes to believe that they do anyway. They do in Mickey’s dream, at least!)

Then, the happiest moment of MY day occurred, because I got to see ERIC. I fawned over him just a little bit, which you will hear about in the video to follow in the next couple of days. (Eric is my love, if you couldn’t tell. In fact, he was my first ever crush. It never occurred to me that he would never jump out of the cartoon and ditch Ariel to be with me. )

Oh yeah, and these guys were there too (some in blurry form!):

Here’s where things got a little sticky. Allow this sequence of photos to tell you the rest of the story. IT’S A DOOZY OF A TALE.

She was angry! “Ugh, I’m like, NEVER the prettiest one anymore. Even the mouse is cuter than me.”

Jafar managed to escape the Cave of Wonders to turn into a snake and scare Mickey for a little while. Rude much?

Then Maleficent just HAD to show up and wreak her havoc all over the place. She turned into a dragon and was all "MY BREATH COULD MELT YOU, BEAT THAT." Will she ever learn to leave well enough alone?

Mickey decided to don a very ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’-esque outfit and FIGHT BACK. After all, it was HIS DREAM!

Obviously Mickey won. THE GOOD GUY ALWAYS WINS! Hear that villains? YOU LOSE!

So after that, Mickey and his friends decided to celebrate their epic win by having a yacht party. It’s Disney, you have to LIVE IT UP while you can, you know?

Look, they even prepared a special scarf dance for us! Aren’t we the lucky ones today? I guess they knew that their party would have an audience. They’re celebs, they’re used to it.

Then, RIGHT when the scarf dance was getting good, Sorcerer Mickey showed up! Everyone cheered! He made more fireworks happen! (That time he didn’t use his bare hands, I think it stung a little bit before.)

I never manage to get pictures at the end because I always tear up. The end of the show just makes the entire show for me, it's amazing!

"Some imagination, huh? HAHA!" That Mickey. *applause*

After the show, we had to head out of the park. It was closed, remember? I swear though, I wish they would create some type of exit closer to Fantasmic. It would be so much easier to exit in an orderly fashion. We walked for about a mile before we even hit Sunset Boulevard, and the whole time we were pretty much walking further away from the bus stops!

We exited Hollywood for the evening, but we would be back!

We decided to get in the line for the friendship boat. However, that line was SUPER long. It was closing time, after all! Luckily for us, there was a bus waiting to take us exactly where we needed to go!

And if you think we were going to call it a night, well, you’d be mistaken.

Continued in Next Update
​

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I have gotten lost in the Streets of America SO many times. There's just something about that back area of Hollywood Studios that is so complicated!

I was never there for the lighting of the lights... but I bet that the "gasp" sound is absolutely priceless. Oh my God I'm sad I missed that.

The pizzas come with salads there, so that's why you got one. They just messed up the type of pizza you ordered apparently.

LOL my Dad CONSTANTLY said "why do people bother taking pictures of this?! You can't even capture it!" Which I agree with... but at the same time I CAN'T STOP TAKING PICTURES OF IT! It's captivating.

HAHAHAHAHA That is SUCH a wonderful way of you being picked as the rebel spy. Oh my God. That's just perfect!!

We went to the later showing of Fantasmic in August and they didn't do the wave either! I don't think they do it during the later shows or something.

Fantastic Fantasmic Commentary. Bravo.

 

[amandaw]

This may be your funniest update yet! Okay, where to start....

First, I love that you photobombed the family in front of y'all at Fantasmic!

Your letter to the Native Americans is just.....splendid! I love it & I concur. I would've stayed in Englad as well....I just love their accents! I told my husband that if I were ridiculously rich, I would pay for a British person to sit with me all day & just talk.

Your commentary on Fantasmic was grand....had me chuckling the whole time. I can't laugh out loud because I'm in bed & don't want to wake my husband. In all seriousness, I'm really glad you talked about the entire Fantasmic show. It is my favorite show but I haven't seen it on our last two trips since our son is little. Well, I was thinking of taking him this year. But, seeing the pictures of some of the things that go on the show has me rethinking that. My son will be 4 1/2 when we go and he can spook easily So, I may wait a little longer.

Okay, I figured y'all weren't calling it a night just yet. So, I'm going to guess that y'all are going to Epcot (maybe they had EMH's.).

 

[MeMom]

I can't help but smile really BIG when that big white boat filled with good guys rounds the bend. The music, the characters, the whole finale makes a wonderful ending to a Disney day.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'll admit, I am not a huge Fantasmic fan (I'm sorry!), HOWEVER, I was thoroughly amused by your recap of the show! Fireworks shooting from your hands MUST be painful!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays is one of the greatest holiday songs ever. Love it!

So my favorite picture is the one of Mickey with the sword. Awesome! I am laughing at the comments about the yacht party and scarf dance. Too funny.

 

[dara00]

great commentary! it was like I was at the show!

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Hooray for photobombing the unsuspecting! Imagine their surprise (and delight of course!).

I loved your Fantasmic breakdown...so funny and so good! Poor Mickey and his singed hands!

 

[emma212010]

I love your commentary on Fantasmic! That made me laugh so much!! Oooh, I can't wait to hear where you are off to next!!

 

[Nermel9]

Haha, love the letter to the Native Americans! I wouldn't have minded living in England either, but just think-no America, no Disney World! What would we all be doing if there were NO DISNEY WORLD???

Moving on from that horrifying thought, I loved the Fantasmic update! I like it, but it's not something I need to do on every trip. I love the Pochahontas part, though, it's my favorite part of the whole show! I agree, it's such an underrated movie, why don't more people like it? And the soundtrack is amazing, there is not one bad song on there!

 

[Caretames1]

What a hilarious update! Thank-you!


We've only seen Fantasmic once, but loved it as well. I agree with yo about the walk out from there, it seems to take FOR- EVER!

 

[MEK]

I read your update early this morning before I left for work and then I forgot to comment. Hate when that happens.

Your narration of Fantasmic was hysterical. Thank you for making it so entertainment. I haven't seen it in several years and I must admit I am thinking about adding it to the June itinerary.

Fun pictures too from your great front row seats.

 

[therussells08]

HAHAHA This update is killing me. I have been rolling around laughing for the last fifteen minutes, and John officially thinks I'm nuts.

You're Fantasmic commentary is priceless! Absolutely perfect.

HAHAHA omg your letter is hilarious. Okay so here's a funny fact, my mom's dad was a Cherokee Indian (He was pretty legit. Born on the reservation and stuff.) So she's half Native American or whatever, and you would not BELIEVE the Native American stuff she's got, like a crazy collection of stuff. Anyway, when Pocahontas came out all of her family was like, "Blah blah blah, historically innaccurate." And my mom was all, "I don't even care." So she took me to see it like three times. It was awesome! I love that movie, and I totally agree that it's underrated! Meeko is precious, Pocahontas is amazing, and the music is AWESOME!

Seriously, brilliant update! Absolutely brilliant! Bravo!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Hahaha, "my breath could melt you, beat that!"

Okay, you are so right. Pocahontas is so underated. It was the movie that I watched daily for quite a while. I just love it. And you're right, the soundtrack is the best ever. Go Pocahontas! Give her some love people.

 

[Merida]

Yay! Only 3 pages behind this time!

Pizza Planet is amazing. I love everything (minus the finding a table because that's way too hard). It does feel like they kind of slapped some stuff together for the real-life-CS-version because, thinking back, it really isn't themed the way a lot of the other restaurants are.

Then again, there are usually hordes of starving tourists blocking all the views, so I guess any more stuff in there wouldn't be viewable and in the way.

That light canopy was the best part! Like the light room at the end of Spaceship Earth but it changes colors. I would've stood under there for ages but we were both grumpy and ready for dinner, so I had to leave.

DID YOU WATCH THE PREQUELS. If no -> never ever ever do. If yes -> forget they exist and watch the original trilogy 50 million times. EWOKS 4 LIFE. (But seriously, the prequels are a waste and completely wreck all of the narrative integrity of the original trilogy. ALSO Han Solo is a dork whose best plan of attack includes tapping a guy on the shoulder and running the other way. aka, the best strategist ever. That is a summary of my feelings on Star Wars).

YAY REBEL SPY.

Sometimes I wish the villains could win just once because a lot of them had valid complaints! And Maleficent is objectively the coolest person in that show. She deserves her chance to ~shine.