The Best (Re)Laid Plans December TR - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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There are other changes as well.
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We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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All caught up I always love reading your TR. It makes me feel like I'm right there with you
Sandy, just another day-and-a-half to my story before YOU enter the picture. And the day after THAT is when Sheri enters the picture. So hang in there, kiddos!
Tuesday was a beautiful, warm day -- so I didn't drag my heavy jackets etc. with me. Took my light weatherproof jacket, but I think it stayed in my backpack all day -- even the evening was comfortable without putting it on.
Woke up on my own at 5:30am – earlier than I’d hoped, but oh well. I felt pretty rested. Love breakfast at Roaring Fork – oatmeal with raisins and sugared pecans, milk & orange juice, and a banana. (I feel so virtuous after eating a healthy breakfast – and then I enjoy a guilt-free day of pigging out. This became my morning ritual throughout my stay.)
Took the boat to the MK again -- love doing that. And then it was time for some Photo Pass pics, because dahlings the photographers INSIST on getting of me -- and who can blame them?
Look at that sky -- perfect!
I was at the gate before rope-drop. Felt in the mood for Fantasyland, so I stepped onto Peter Pan, It’s a Small World, and the Haunted Mansion, all before 10:30.
Stopped at Liberty Tree Tavern to inquire about a table for one & got an 11:30 ressie. When they asked for my name, I said, “What do the Disney nuts call Cinderella’s Castle?” The ladies were mystified until I informed them, “We call it ‘Cindy’s Castle,’ and I’m the Cindy it was named after.” I told them I’m the same age as Disneyland, and one of the ladies (named DD) informed me that she’s got me beat by 3 years, and I think she said her father had worked for the California realtor who’d helped Walt acquire the Anaheim property – and while she doesn’t remember meeting Walt, she has a photo of herself at the age of 3, sitting on Walt’s lap!!!!!! How is that???
It’s a good thing I’ve managed to work past my innate shyness -– you hear some fascinating stories if you talk to strangers. And there are no “strangers” at Disney World anyway – we’re all sharing the wonderful world of Walt.
After making the lunch ressie, I rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain (walked right up to it), Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and enjoyed Monsters Incorporated’s Laugh Factory. And stopped a few more times, because the photographers were so insistent.
And yes, I will autograph these photos for you if you insist, dahlings!
Had to pay my respects to Walt & Mickey, of course.
Oh, and let's not forget my favorite holiday decoration. This is always a welcome sight on Main Street in December.
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the photopass photos Cindy! I hope there is a close-up of that scarf too b/c I am eyeballing it
Heather, I think you'll get a better glimpse of it later in the day, at my fabulous dinner at the Brown Derby. I bought that scarf in Italy in 2009 -- doesn't that sound DIVINE? It wasn't expensive at all -- now I'm wishing I'd purchased even more of them.
And now, back to our story. Heading back to LTT for lunch, I ran right into my favorite guy who was leading a merry dance down Main Street.
Then I walked into LTT and right up to DD, handing my camera to another Cast Member. “I’ve got to get my photo with the 3-year-old who got to sit on Walt’s lap,” I informed them. And here we are!
Two celebrities in one picture!
LTT was getting crowded. As the hostess seated me, I mentioned that I’d hoped to dine here with my good friend Judy, but she’d gotten ill and had to stay at home. The hostess said, “There’s another single lady hoping for a table, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to accommodate her.”
What do you think I said? “Please ask her to join me.” (Working on that innate shyness a bit more, you see )
Pam lives on Maui and had just arrived a few hours before. She would be meeting up with her son & daughter-in-law later – they were at Universal that day.
We hit it off (surprise ), so I invited her to join me on Pirates of the Caribbean. First, however, we had to stop because there was a band playing in our honor (of course).
Then we saw my favorite guy AGAIN, in pirate costume. Isn't he a dashing fellow? And so dear, to pose with children like that.
OMG, I forgot to show you a couple photos from Haunted Mansion. It was my first time seeing the new outdoor area, which is a hoot-and-a-half!
Pam's son had still not called her, so we wandered down to the castle for some amazing photo opps. We exchanged phone numbers, and if I'm ever in Maui I'm to call her. How is THAT?
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While Pam & I rode Pirates of the Caribbean, the boats stopped for a bit right near the end. We were chattering away, and I thought the family of four in front of us might be getting annoyed -- the dad kept turning his head slightly -- you know, in that way we all use to hint that the people behind us are driving us .
Well, it turns out I was incorrect in that assumption. After disembarking our boat, the dad & mom turned around to inquire, "Are you Cindybelle?" I was
Turns out they're the Canton family from Kansas City MO -- I had met them last December as we waited at the WL for a bus to DHS. At that time, they were handing out little notes like this one to everyone they met and enjoyed on their trip:
And last year I had taken this photo -- they're the 4 people in the forefront:
The mother and daughter both have December birthdays, and so they were at WDW again this December to celebrate. You can tell by the clothes that last year was a LOT colder at WDW than this year.
Last year, I ran into the Cantons again at Toy Story Midway Mania -- not much of a stretch, but fun for all of us just the same. As we snaked through the queue, the dad finally asked if I'd pose for a picture with his daughter. Since the weather had been so cold, I was wearing my Goofy Santa hat:
So when they surprised me last week, I shoved my camera into Pam's hands & begged her to take this photo. Of course, as soon as we all left the attraction, I was kicking myself for not grabbing the kids for the photo -- it would be cool to see how they've grown since last year. I'd been so nonplussed, and the kids moved away slightly, so I just didn't think about it in time. But here I am with Mr. and Mrs. Canton last week:
What are the odds that we would be in the same park, in the same attraction, in the same BOAT, and that they would be sitting directly in front of me?
Now, I call that Disney
Merry Christmas, Canton family! And to mother and daughter!
I needed to leave for DHS because of my early dinner ressie. Pam still hadn’t heard from her son, so she decided to walk me down Main Street. I started telling her about Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which she’d never visited before – and she decided to join me. I talked her into riding The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (ToT), which we did twice – and she managed to hold her hands up both times and loved it.
I'd say Pam is one of "us," wouldn't you?
And yes, Disney will be issuing this postcard quite soon -- sure to be a collector's item, so get one while you can.
Then we strolled through Disney: One Man’s Dream which Pam also loved, and we both got teary-eyed at the film. (Judy, I know you will enjoy that with me in 2012.) Pam checked her phone & saw that her son had called, so we hugged and
At that point, it was 3:30 -- and since my ressie at the Hollywood Brown Derby (my favorite restaurant) was for 4:05, I stopped in and was told I'd be seated shortly. While I waited, I pulled my shimmery pink scarf out of my backpack, reapplied my lipstick, and strode into the restaurant as soon as my name was called. (My good friend Kathy had found me a cigarette holder at a flea market, and I’d bummed a cigarette from someone at my company Christmas party a few nights before my trip.) I attached the cigarette to the holder and started my Hollywood diva act. The hostess eyed my cigarette suspiciously and said, “You aren’t planning to light that, are you?”
Me: “Dahling, of COURSE not – I don’t SMOKE.” Then I sashayed up to two amused (male) Cast Members, waved my cigarette holder, flicked my scarf, and announced “I know what a THRILL it is for you to have me here -- you don't have to say a WORD, dahlings.”
Hostess: “Um. We were going to seat you up there, if that’s all right” (up on the balcony rather that on the main floor).
Me: “Dahling, you KNOW I like to keep a low profile. That will be fahbulous.”
Inside I was thinking, “This sure would have been easier to keep up if Judy were with me.” Could I maintain the diva act on my own? What do YOU think?
I inquired about Adner, my favorite Brown Derby server – unfortunately, he had the day off. Darn. But I must carry on – my fans deserve an Oscar-worthy performance, dahlings.
As I perused my menu, "drawing" on my cigarette holder occasionally and flicking my scarf back and forth, the manager came to my table. "I have an important business call for you, madame," she said. "But first, would you please hand me your camera?" (The original Brown Derby in Hollywood CA was a place to "see and be seen," and the more famous actors, directors, etc. would ostentatiously receive phone calls. Old-fashioned black dial phones with long, long cords would be dragged from one table to the next.)
I complied, and as the manager focused the camera, I picked up the heavy, black, old-fashioned receiver.
Me: "Hello?"
Caller: "Gawrsh, yore in the Hollywood Studios -- ah yuck."
Me, to manager: "How do you people DO that? He's my favorite!!!!!!!!!!"
This is my favorite photo of me from the entire trip -- she snapped the picture just as my face was registering delight at hearing Goofy's voice directed at ME!
But the story doesn't end there, dahlings! There were two women sitting at a table directly in front of me, so that one woman had her back to me. Her friend kept peering around the woman's shoulder to get a glimpse of me. It was pretty obvious the friend was reporting all my mannerisms.
Finally the woman who had her back to me got up, turned around, and approached my table with a Hidden Mickeys book and a pen. "Could I get your autograph?" she asked quietly.
Me: "Dahling, of COURSE you can! Shall I inscribe this to anyone in particular?"
She: "Well my name is Pat."
I wrote with a flourish, "Dear Pat" and paused (dramatically, of course, dahlings ) and said, "Tell me, dahling -- which of my movies is your absolute favorite?"
Pat (looking embarrassed): "Um, I don't know. Um, who ARE you?"
Dahlings, she was dead serious! I didn't want to make fun of her, so I said, "Dahling, are you familiar with the castle at the Magic Kingdom?"
Pat: "Um, yes, sure."
Me: "Well, Walt named that castle after ME. I am (dramatic pause) Cindy P_________"
Pat (looking embarrassed again): "Um -- I've never heard of you."
Me: "Dahling, that's quite all right. Now you have." I finished signing the book "Dear Pat, please see all my movies. Cindy P______"
After Pat returned to her table, I took my camera over & asked her friend, "Dahling, would you get a photo of me with my dear fan, Pat? She's my first autograph-seeker." Her friend complied, but the photo was too blurry to share.
I ended up chatting quite a bit with both of them (you're surprised to hear that, right? ) & finally convinced them to pose for me. This is Joanne (standing) and Pat, who was there to celebrate a birthday. Turns out they're from Chicago, so we're practically neighbors.
I had to talk quite awhile to convince them that I do NOT work for Disney. "Oh come on," they said, "Disney pays you to come in here and act like this."
Me: "Dahlings, not only does Disney NOT pay me, but I have to pay Disney a considerable sum to come in here and act like this."
They said, "Well, you're very good." And I agreed with them, with my usual modesty, of course.
My new fans left for Fantasmic and I headed to the backlot streets to await the start of the Osborne Lights.
I thought this was the solo part of the trip What a magical day you are having Cindy! Lovely pictures, as always. I was all & thenwhen you got you phone call. more more more
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Last edited by mpwife153; 12-15-2011 at 09:11 PM..
OH, GREAT....NOW YOU WILL BE SPEAKING FRENCH...HA HA HA. i am loving the report on your second day. and i am very sad i was not with you at brown derby. (now how did THAT happen!!!)
OH, GREAT....NOW YOU WILL BE SPEAKING FRENCH...HA HA HA. i am loving the report on your second day. and i am very sad i was not with you at brown derby. (now how did THAT happen!!!)
Ma cherie Sheri, porquois non?
I will have to call upon my inner Jerry Orbach (Lumiere) the next time we find ourselves dining at Brown Derby. "It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure. . . ."
Heather, I'm thinking you need to come along with us!
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I always love reading your TR. It makes me feel like I'm right there with you 
of me -- and who can blame them? 
I told them I’m the same age as Disneyland, and one of the ladies (named DD) informed me that she’s got me beat by 3 years, and I think she said her father had worked for the California realtor who’d helped Walt acquire the Anaheim property – and while she doesn’t remember meeting Walt, she has a photo of herself at the age of 3, sitting on Walt’s lap!!!!!! How 
is that???
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"Well my name is Pat."
What a magical day you are having Cindy! Lovely pictures, as always. I was all 
& then
when you got you phone call. more more more 
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