For some strange reason, packing to leave Walt Disney World just doesn’t have that feeling of anticipation, excitement, and boost of adrenaline like you get when packing to go to Walt Disney World. Surely there was or is a scientific study on the matter. I willingly volunteer as a participant for such a noble cause. Until the call comes in, allow me to recap the last :sigh: day :sigh: of our Labor Day weekend :sigh: vacation.
I got my tushy up early in order to throw all my dirty clothes into my suitcase and meticulously pack the presents I bought while making sure neither my suitcase or carry-on were too heavy. Whatever food we didn’t finish or couldn’t inhale before flying was left behind for the housekeeper. I hope she enjoyed the cheese, grapes, bagels, cream cheese, rotisserie chicken, seafood medley, water, cereal, potatoes au gratin, and antacids. Also, and I type this while giggling, that she wholeheartedly enjoyed the tip envelopes I left each day. Two of them were cutesy and one had some art depicting select heroic figures in carefully lit uniforms.
The car was packed and off we went, leaving behind our free upgrade to a Pirates of the Caribbean room and into Old Port Royale. Technically we drove into the parking lot. I can’t afford to convert the gift shop and food court into a drive-thru. Terri picked up a package she had had delivered to the resort. We pounded down some breakfast. By the way, you can pay for your food at any register. I tried to take photos of the pool but my lens fogged up repeatedly, and I found an AllEars fan working the Disney Vacation Club booth.
Shiver me timbers, the fog has rolled in.
The last :sigh: park for our last day of :sigh: vacation was Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It was the one place Terri and I had separate agendas that slowly became the same. First matter of business was to obtain Toy Story Mania FastPasses. Done. Next…get out of the heat! One Man’s Dream was the perfect choice. I desperately want to see the Disney Studios in Burbank and not just through the metal gate with Mickey heads atop posts. Been there, done that, got the photos.
The Great Movie Ride had one of the shortest lines I’ve ever seen. We practically walked on. If I could change one script at Studios as I nicknamed it, it would be The Great Movie Ride. I’m thirty-something and haven’t seen a Busby Berkeley movie and I’m supposed to believe the 20-something year old Cast Members love them? Not! The only Cast Member whose word I’ll take is the older fellow who is totally awesome and I rarely ever see. Horror is my favorite movie genre. Really? Dang, you guys must spend the entire day at work talking zombies and killer tomatoes but I digress.
Line!
I think our next stop was Muppets 3D. I love The Muppets. Fozzie Bear is my favorite comedian. I wish he would perform in one of our local clubs or elementary schools. Quiz time! Do you know what the interior of Stage 1 Company Store is modeled after? The answer is at the end of this blog. DO NOT SCROLL DOWN! You can wait.
Lunch time approached and our tummies made me check-in early at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. I have a request. Could “Peggy” from 1900 Park Fare please retrain “Kelly” at Mama Melrose’s? If it wasn’t for the chef taking my order personally, I would have been very worried that my dietary restrictions and allergies wouldn’t have been taken seriously. I also think she forced Terri into ordering double the portions she wanted.
Today I learned where they film the American Idol Experience fans.
We split up after lunch. I wanted to try the new Star Tours but the line was outside and the humidity was too much for me. I walked around, hit a few shops in search of a gold Minnie Mouse charm my mom wanted to give her best friend. I couldn’t fine one the entire trip. Seems that I’m very bad at locating jewelry because I tried here and there during the course of the trip. Thankfully, my mommy did not ground me when I got home but she did take away my TV privileges for a day. Too bad she can’t work the remote without me. Yeaaah. I won!
Terri was taking drawing lessons in the Animation building. I can’t even draw a straight line with a ruler so it was best for her to have some fun while I continued milling around. I caught part of a streetmosphere act and later caught most of another act featuring Melvin Macheezmo and my favorite cop, Officer Percival Peabody in a psuedo Dating Game episode. It was a riot.
By the mid-afternoon I was too far gone to take any more photos. The sun poisoning never fully went away and my eyes stung off and on. I probably shot less photos on this trip than on any other. Perhaps I’ll have to take a make up trip. Do you suppose the crowds will be low December 23rd – 26th? I made a funny.
I had just sat down for another viewing of One Man’s Dream when Terri called to say she finished drawing. We used our FastPasses for Toy Story Mania. My aim still stinks. Terri’s stunk as well. We pretty much called it a day at this point even though we still had time before rushing to the airport. Sad as it was, our timing was top notch. A split second after we got in the car, the skies opened up and a huge downpour descended.
There were still Disney Dining Plan credits to spend so we decided to visit Pop Century and make use of their food court. Everything was packaged to go so we could eat at the airport or during our flights. I seem to recall having a salad, a side of watermon chunks, and a Vitamin Water to make up for the one Terri stole from me back in the room. Yeah, it was actually a funny story. One of my bottles was sitting on the night stand yet I didn’t recall putting it there. I made some comment about it and Terri said she’d been drinking it not even realizing she hadn’t bought any Vitamin Waters. Her reaction was hilarious and I got to poke fun at her about it for days. Between that and the pirate lagoon, the laughs just kept on coming.
Sure as we’d arrived, it was time to head home. No problems returning the car or checking in but security was kind of slow because they were looking for a suspect. How do I know? I saw the sheet TSA staffers were passing around.
Come back next Wed for a recap of how we spent our Disney Dining Plan credits and other fun facts.
The answer to the question, Do you know what the interior of Stage 1 Company Store is modeled after? is The Happiness Hotel. See for yourselves.
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That was the last entry in the vacation blog? :sigh: 🙁
BTW I am bummed that I missed you by one day. We left before the weekend. Maybe next time. Keep on writing! Your writing is as good as your pictures!
Lisa responds: Thanks. Actually there’s on more, an overall review which is actually going to be late as my friend, from whom I need info, is sick. Plus I’ve been out of commission over the weekend. But hold tight, we’ll get to it.