The Search For My Wits (or, "Toy Story 1-1/8"): a May solo PTR - Page 7 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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love all your pictures. i had the butterfinger cheesecake at the land and loved it too. as for dining solo, i think that they might be used to it a bit, but when i was at DLP, i found it uncomfortable, i think may be they are not used to see people eating solo
Hello loyal readers! Hey y'all, I haven't abandoned this little TR!! Life is getting in the way of the real important stuff, like finishing this report!
Anyway, it's a big chapter and I want to do it right and I want to do it well, so hang in there, it's coming!! I promise!!!
I love all the comments! Thanks to everyone for dropping by!
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Just wandered by this TR and I am hooked! Back to the (almost) beginning for me - I left off after reading about your planned food adventures - made me hungry!!
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Stacey
Why do these kids look so pathetic?
Find out in: A New Grade, A New House, and A Surprise!Final Thoughts 01/30
No no!....just kidding. But I'll tell ya, I'm having a hard time figuring out the writing of this installment. The day WAS perfect and it was, indeed, the best Mother's Day ever (birth of children aside, of course....). It's hard to put something like this into words. It was experienced....lived.... Some things just don't have the right words. It was--
Magical.....
I was up early and on my coffee walk by 6:30am. POFQ is particularly wonderful at that hour. So quiet and peaceful. I filled my mug and returned to my room to get ready for the day. I had decided ahead of time that this was the day I would wear my “Do Not Disturb – Mom on Vacation” t-shirt. Seemed appropriate. I stopped by the food court for another fill-up on my way out, and was at the bus stop at 7:30, where the Disney magic once again came through and I hopped on the Animal Kingdom bus that was just pulling up.
* sigh *...
I arrived at AK right about 8:00am. It was SO empty at the front gate! Just a few families trickling in for their breakfast ADRs. There was a CM with a big basket of flowers and he immediately approached me with a big smile and "Happy Mother's Day!" I chose a white carnation from the basket and sat and enjoyed the first of many special moments that day.
Around 8:30 people were starting to gather around the turnstyles, so I made my way up to one of them and got right up front - first in line!
What a beautiful view!.....lol!
As the CMs began to gather on the other side of the turnstyles, they interacted with each other and the crowd and it was so fun to be there and be involved. I could fully immerse myself in this without having to entertain kids or worry that everyone was together. It was Just. ME.
Heavenly.
When the green light was given to enter the park, I scanned my ticket and my finger and proceeded to the right and again got a front row - for Rope Drop!!
There was a brief little opening ceremony with Mickey and friends on their safari jeep. It was cute.
At exactly 9:00am, the CMs at each end of the rope began the fast walk to the major attractions: EE to the right, Safari to the left. I was headed to the safari (and it is a looooong walk!!), determined to be on the first trip of the day. And that I did.....and I got the very last row!! Which I thought was great because there was only one couple there with me, and as the vehicle is moving past things, you can turn around and have a wide open clear shot for photographing animals!
I took this pic while waiting for the trip to begin.....I'd never noticed it before and thought it was kind of funny....
Finally under way!
I took far more pictures than what's posted here. I'm limited in my posting space and I might put up an "installment" at the end that's just all the miscellaneous photos that got left out. Anyway...
The plan after my safari ride was to head to Asia and ride Expedition Everest while it was still early. I like the walkway from Africa to Asia - it's quiet and peaceful and usually not very crowded. This morning it was practically empty. I was ambling along, enjoying the atmosphere, when what should catch my eye but FLIK!!.....with NO line! I'm almost embarrassed to say how excited I got over this. I turned hard right and down to the meet-n-greet area. I got a fabulous Photopass pic here and this has quickly become one of my all-time favorite Disney photos....
Notice how Flik and I are color-coordinated?!....I knew it was the right day to wear that shirt!!..
And if that weren't enough, just around the corner up on the other side of the walkway I spied Baloo and King Louie!!....took advantage of no line there, either (although I have to tell you that in both character spots here, the people who were coming and going for photos were ALL adults!....so I felt right at home!).
Still beaming over my luck with the characters, I made my way to EE, hopped in the Single Rider Line and discovered that this was, indeed, a true Single Rider Line.
And I got the last row!! Which, for roller-coaster fans, we all know is the best and fastest ride. The teenage girl that I was seated with rode the entire thing without so much as a whimper!.....meanwhile I was screaming like a banshee!! I love that ride, I really do. The drop that curves and banks at the bottom is SO freakin' fantastic. As the "Unofficial Guide" used to say, Warning: This Ride Will Muss Your 'Do! The ups-and-downs in the dark are great. The reverse spiral......well, I'll reserve judgment on that. Freaks me out. Every time. I did see the Yeti, thanks to actually keeping my eyes open. But it's still not moving.. I thought I read somewhere that it's too heavy for its hydraulics and that's why it's always broken down. Still pretty fearsome, though.
Next on my AK "to do" list was lunch at Flame Tree BBQ, but I had plenty of time to kill before they opened, so I decided to cross Discovery Island, take in a few shops, and head over to Camp Minnie Mickey.
I have always wanted to get this shot!....
There were several characters out for meet-n-greets, but long lines and I didn't want to stand around that long. I noticed this well and then noticed that it's a cleverly-placed water fountain! How cool is that....
On my way back to Discovery Island I stopped at an ice cream cart for a Mickey Premium ice cream bar. I sat on a bench in the shade and just enjoyed "being" in Disney. Watching people, listening to the BGM...just taking in the little details. I really could have sat there for hours and been perfectly content, but lunch time was drawing near and I had a hot date to keep.....
I arrived back at Flame Tree with a few minutes to spare before opening, and just about that time The Village Beatniks started to play. They are tons of fun and if you're a shy person, I recommend you watch from a distance!! I sat on a bench behind the bushes where I could see, but not be seen.
At 11:00am I was in line at Flame Tree BBQ, and by 11:05 I had my order (BBQ pork sandwich, Key Lime mousse, and lg. Diet Coke!) and was on my way down to the lower seating area. The music that I love and am oh-so-familiar with was being piped in through the tropical setting.....I found a seat in the shade and closed my eyes and just listened.....these are the moments that are going to take me back in the long months before I get back to The World.....the little moments that give you goosebumps and where you can remember EVERY thing -- the sounds, the smells, the feel of the breeze...My Happy Place.
I have spent the last several hours (at work ) reading your TR from beginning to now! I love me an excited, funny woman, and you've been so fun to read !Things I just love about your TR: *Toy Story quotes (make me smile--love those movies) *The picture of the "breakfast" tray, which is actually a collection of desserts (my kinda way to start the day!) *Top 5 lists (hope you accomplish each and every one!
Thing I'm not so thrilled about: I caught up, More Please .
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
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Leaving Animal Kingdom, I stopped at The Outpost gift shop to have a look around. I quickly found a neat AK-themed scrap book layout kit, and apparently also purchased something else that I can't remember, nor can I decipher the receipt!! It reads: "TS WDW VL BLU YM." Hmm...something blue and yummy??! A table service?!....what's a "VL?"! Oh well, no matter I guess....whatever it is, I trust it's serving its purpose!
I was giving myself some down time this afternoon, before my Afternoon Tea and late night at the Magic Kingdom. I took some photos around POFQ and browsed around Jackson Square Gifts....
My building....
Courtyard looking towards the lobby....
Then, despite it being the heat of the day and quite warm, I went to the hot tub for a soak. It had been very crowded the night before. It still felt quite good, but I just didn't linger too long. Decided after that to have a swim in the pool, and that was refreshing!
There was still quite a while before I had to be at the Grand Floridian Tea Room, but after my swim I was ready to venture out again so I set off for MK, stopping at Sassagoula to fill up on Diet Coke on my way out. I was early enough that I decided to go into the MK for a bit, and as I entered the park I just caught the end of this parade:
I love Sweetums!!
Heading to Tomorrowland, I went for the WEDway and got a front row seat!! I could ride this all day, I swear I could....
After a spin on the WEDway, I snapped that pic of my favorite little aliens and then bought a frozen Coke at the nearby Lunching Pad. I did a lot of just poking around Main Street, looking at this and that, listening to BGM..... When I determined it was time to head to the GF, I hopped on the monorail and enjoyed the trip around Bay Lake.
I was still a bit early but headed in to find the Tea Room and at least check in. I had never been in the GF before and it was quite stunning. It's not my style, and not someplace I ever aspire to stay at, but it is beautifully done. Realizing I was on the 2nd floor and needed to be on the lower level, I followed the signs for the stairs....as I came around the corner and started to descend, the staircase blew me away -- all I could think of was This is the flippin' Titanic on land!!! Dude.....that staircase is HUGE! I guess when you think about it, the period is roughly the same as the Titanic, so there were plenty of details in the GF to remind you of it.
Anyway, the Tea Room was just to the right at the bottom of the stairs, so I gave my name and sat in a big comfy chair to wait. And wait. And wait. I was 20 minutes early, and the Tea Room was FULL....so I ended up waiting probably close to 40 minutes before I got seated. Maybe more, I'm not sure. But it was SO WORTH IT!! I was given another flower for Mother's Day, and didn't feel at all out of place being here alone. I ordered the Sally Lunn tea, only it turns out they had just run out of Sally Lunn bread! But my lovely server offered me two scones instead, which was fine with me and they were delicious. For dessert I was supposed to have a choice of strawberries & cream or the trifle, but I was also offered my choice of two pastries, which I accepted with delight! These pastries are part dessert, part art form! SO delicate, and served on this fancy silver tiered tray! I got a fruit tart and a chocolate eclair. For tea I got the Floral Jasmine Green......and I nearly finished the entire pot!! OMG it was sooooooo yummy. Very light, and just sweet enough.
I lingered over my tea and morsels just long enough, and then it was high time to return to the MK and get some fun on! It was EMH that night and I planned to stay and play for as long as I could keep my eyelids propped open!
Before it even got dark I managed to take in Big Thunder Mt. RR twice, Pirates, the WEDway again, Buzz Lightyear and Philharmagic. MK is SO awesome after dark! I took this photo on the back of the castle....I had never noticed those windows before!! I also like the giant peeking in at the back of Sir Mickey's.
Just before EMH officially started, I decided to ride the Jungle Cruise. It's not a "must-do" for me but there was no line at all (matter of fact I'm pretty certain I was on the last boat of the night). It ended up being a good decision because we had a GREAT skipper! One of the funniest moments of this day was when we were about to go through the little tunnel formed by the Asian "ruins", and he said, in his best Gene Wilder Willy Wonka voice -- "There's no way of really knowing....." ALL the adults on that boat just roared!!! It was SO funny and SO appropriate....
By the end of that ride I was feeling some hungry, so I hopped over to Casey's Corner for my favorite meal of a Casey's dog with cheese fries.....At this point everyone was vying for position outside for Wishes, so I had no problem pulling up a corner table in the back. I think Casey's is the only place in world that I actually enjoy a simple hotdog, that much. Yum - O.
I spent the rest of the evening running around from this attraction to the next.....took in the Haunted Mansion at night! Also BTMRR.....fantastic at night!! I had a Fastpass for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and a great CM who let me wait for a front row! I caught the end of Wishes from Fantasyland right after that....it was cool to be practically right underneath it all!
I think I finally called it night somewhere around 11:30pm, and headed back to POFQ and my comfy, fluffy bed.....
And THAT, was just about the BEST Mother's Day EVER.
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Up Next: I Will Finish this TR If It Kills Me!!!!!!!
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Can't wait for more!
) reading your TR from beginning to now! I love me an excited, funny woman, and you've been so fun to read 
!Things I just love about your TR: *Toy Story quotes (make me smile--love those movies) *The picture of the "breakfast" tray, which is actually a collection of desserts (my kinda way to start the day!) *Top 5 lists (hope you accomplish each and every one!
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
PassPorter Guide Author
Susan
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