Two for the Road 9/27 - 10/9 2003 About This Page:

[wdwlovers]

Woohoo! Awesome TR so far! Can't wait to read more!

[luvnwdwgal]

Another couple of great installments Barb! Sounds like you two are having a lot of fun!! Sorry your report is coming to an end though.

[tikibird]

Another couple of great installments - and I'm quite jealous of those pink flashing mouse ears!

Can't wait for more, and detail on MNSSHP!

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple"> Barb, your trip sounds great! Another terrific installment! </font>

[Grammy Grumpy]

Sunday, 10/5/03

We awoke at 6:30. This is our last full day at WDW and we had lots to do. It was hot and humid this morning and we hoped for some clouds to help cut the brilliance. We had 8 am PS at the Crystal Palace. We had NEVER been inside this building. Another FIRST! We got there early and awaited our call to breakfast. We were seated very quickly and took a tour around to see what food was on the buffet tables. I wanted to get some pictures of the restaurant and the Hundred Acre Wood characters and I captured some great pictures of the “Chef of the Day” ceremony. The young man selected was having a great time and Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger were very attentive. He got a special pancake, chef’s hat, and pictures with the crew.

We filled our plates with lots of great dishes and all the characters visited us at our table. Some great pictures here too. I am still amazed that DH took this all in stride. He never got upset with any of the character meals I had planned, and, in fact, sort of arranged for another without my knowing about it (coming up later this day!).

After breakfast we headed over to Tomorrowland. For whatever reason we had missed this part of the Kingdom the last two trips. We did Buzz Lightyear again because DH said I beat him last time because I controlled the spin! So, I let him have control and guess who won this round??? Me of course!! LOL. Neither one of us scored in the hundred thousands, but I beat him both times by several one thousands.

We walked over to Mickey’s ToonTown Fair and I got DH up on the Barnstormer. He HATED it. I told you that we are not thrill ride people, but this was fun for me. Still did not get him on Splash Mountain, hope I have enough guts next June. I’m sure I can get some member of my family to go with me. LOL

My notes don’t tell me what else we might have done there in the morning but I know we headed for Blizzard Beach about noon. ANOTHER FIRST! We did Teamboat Springs (I bought a tshirt to commemorate the event!), Downhill Double Dipper (DH was in front and when we hit the water at the bottom his glasses were ripped off his face! I had mine on (we are quite sight impaired without them ;^}) and was able to stand over them while he dove down to retrieve them which was a trick with so many coming down behind us!), Runoff Rapids (I thought I’d crook dragging that tube up those steps. Did I mention it was HOT? However, the view from the top was magnificent!!), Melt Away Bay, and Cross Country Creek. I have to admit that although I really don’t care for the water too much, and I am not all that comfortable in a bathing suit, I had fun (Don’t tell DH!!). I did manage to get a bit sunburned today also. Probably standing in the sun on the trip to the top to do the Runoff Rapids.

We had tickets for MNSSHP that evening so we left buying a few souvenirs. One tip, if you rent a locker take the mug they offer instead of the $2.00 refund. It can’t be used to get drinks on site, but is a great conversation item to have when you go back to work!

Okay, back to POR to get cleaned up and into our costumes for the PARTY! I had several ideas for dressing up, but as amazing as DH was and had been prior to the trip he wasn’t interested in doing anything elaborate. It was probably a good thing because it was HOT. Before we left I found Mouseketeer Tshirts at the Disney Store and bought two. I was going to keep them as a surprise, but thought I’d better tell him or we wouldn’t be going as anything special. He thought it was a great idea and even agreed to Mouse Ears with our names on them to add to the effect. I also bought Guest pins with our names on them. So, we got dressed and headed back to MK. It was about 4:30 when we got there and they were already handing out wristbands and treat bags. We hadn’t made any PS for this evening and we had no lunch so we were in search of food after we entered the gates. This is where DH pulled off a great coup. We knew the park would close at 6 and that people would be lead out that didn’t have tickets for the party. He got me to go back into Liberty Square where he told me that, although he had NOT made a PS at the Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner, we should try and see if we could get in. Well, fate was on our side and the Hostess told us to wait in the anteroom and she would see if they could accommodate us. All CM were dressed up as ghouls and ghosts. They looked great!! After the opening ceremony (they selected several families to go with the characters to welcome everyone to dinner. After about 15 minutes we were escorted to a table for two. The menu was served family style rather than buffet. Our server was very good but I forget what he was dressed as. Minnie, Chip, Dale, and Goofy were there also. We were able to visit with each one. Dale was up to his usual antics and while visiting the table next to us had taken one little girls red slipper (She was Dorothy). He hid it behind his back and backed up to our table. I took it from him and that really confused the little girl! She was laughing so much I thought she’d fall over. I got the shoe back to Dale who made it reappear to her amazement. He then gave me a special hug.

After dinner we headed back over to Tomorrowland. We had heard this morning that there would be special MNSSHP pins and merchandise available that evening in one of the gift shops in that section. When we got there we found they had closed the shop and were moving the merchandise around. We decided to take a seat and wait. They reopened in about a ½ hour. We got 2 special pins, small plush figures of Mickey and Pluto just for MNSSHP and Tshirts. The Tshirts are purple and are dated which is great. I REALLY wanted one of the CM shirts, they were orange and really cute.

One more shot at Buzz Lightyear, TTA, then on to check out the band at the soundstage. We wandered around a bit and took advantage of having our complimentary picture taken in Tomorrowland. While waiting in line the CMs were handing out trading cards for Brother Bear. We managed to secure 7 different ones. I’ll save them for my youngest grandson to play with when he’s a bit older. CoP was down and we never did get back to see if it was working. I was sad, but we did get a chance to see it last November and hopefully it will be up next summer when we hope to return.

After 7pm we went out to check out the rest of the park. We rode on Peter Pan’s Flight, Got a great picture with my mentor Grumpy outside SWSA, Jungle Cruise (with special narration for the event), PotC, and Haunted Mansion. HM was the most disappointing. They crammed too many people in and the doors for the elevator did not close nor did the narration happen. The ride itself was good, but the line to the Doom Buggies was hot and claustrophobic. I think that ride took 1.5 hours! When we got out the fireworks were going off. We didn’t have that great a view but they were great. I wanted to go on the Riverboat. It was decked out with special things, but we just happened to catch the storyteller doing story about Icabod Crane and the Headless Horseman so we found a good spot and stayed. It was very cool. Then the Halloween Parade came right by where we had staked out a seat for the story.

After the parade we headed back to the front of MK. Stopped for some treats along the way. I had seen a Halloween pin of Mickey in a sheet as a ghost and everywhere I had been the past couple of days they had JUST sold out. So, I thought it would be a good time to do some last bit of shopping and went on my quest. Again, no pin anywhere. I thought perhaps I could find one on a CM and trade. I found Tammy outside Emporium with some Characters for pictures. She knew of the pin and told me to go over to City Hall to find Heather as she had one earlier that day. Heather did NOT have the pin and so it was back to Tammy with Heather to discuss the situation. Tammy then took me, personally, to each store that MIGHT have the pin. So luck. In one place the last one had been sold within the last 15 minutes. RATS!! Tammy was so great though. She told me that they would restock and I should try later. When I told her that we were leaving in the AM she gave me her email address and told me she would get one later if I didn’t get one before I left or couldn’t find it on Ebay. She was some helpful and so much fun I didn’t mind running all over the place on the quest. It was a great end to a great day at the end of a great trip.

Back to POR after midnight to crash and get ready to leave in the morning.

Coming up – Last day, trip back home through Georgia (did you know there is a Kangaroo Conservation Park in northern GA???), and arriving home.

[Colexis Mom]

Sounds like a great day with lots of "firsts" and a great time at MNSSHP (except for HM of course ) Sorry your trip has to come to an end

[luvnwdwgal]

Another great installment Barb! What a wonderful CM you met!