Hoosier Girls Invade the World---Final Thoughts---COMPLETE 7/17
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**chezp** · 07-12-2006, 02:34 AM

I love your photos of the Flower and Garden Festival and [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Chip for getting over to the Garden Grill so quickly from Character Connection! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

gwugirl03 · 07-12-2006, 06:04 AM

Looks like so much fun!! More please!!!

Tara O'Hara · 07-12-2006, 06:30 AM

Awesome update, Dawn!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Glad yo uenjoyed your meal at the Garden Grill! It sounds [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]!

**Caldercup** · 07-12-2006, 10:09 AM

The Chipmunk Boys were on their game for you two! (We [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] them!!)

Great photos and a fun update - looking forward to more...
Eileen

Mickeysgal · 07-12-2006, 12:15 PM

Another great update! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Glad you both enjoyed your meal. The pictures are great! Thanks for sharing the fountain photos. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

**Colexis Mom** · 07-12-2006, 12:39 PM

Great update Dawn [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] What a fantastic meal [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Love the pics! More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

DawnDenise · 07-12-2006, 03:22 PM

[b]Day 3, Part 4: Tiff kicks my butt @ Buzz!!

I will warn you now. This update will be kind of long, especially considering how short my last update was. I didn’t want to split our EMH at MK up so I apologize in advance. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

<font color="purple">We walked up those ridiculously long ramps at EPCOT to the monorail station. We don’t have to wait long for one to arrive, and we are on our way to the TTC. I always love the ride to and from EPCOT. It’s such a relaxing ride. It is over far too quick. We make it to the TTC and go down the one ramp and up the other ramp to catch the monorail to MK. It is at this time we decide we are going to ride in the front of the monorail before this trip is over. Doesn’t leave us a lot of time but we are gonna try.

We make it MK and get through security fairly quickly. We are a little early to get our bracelets for EMH so we head over to Exposition Hall. Tiff and I wanted to go back and explore the area where you can get some pictures in some scenes from certain movies. No one was back there. It was actually kind of creepy, but I think we were wondering if we were allowed back there. <shrug> We grab some fun pictures and then head back out onto Main Street.

Tiff wanted to get “ears” for her nephew for their trip in October and I asked if she wanted to check out Le Chapeau. It was pretty crowded when we first walked in. Apparently, you have to have your whole extended family in the shop waiting while you are getting 8 pairs of ears. We stepped outside for a few minutes and then saw the place clearing out. While Tiff is getting the ears, I decide we need to have some head accessories for the evening. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I decide that Tiff needs some Tigger ears and since I left my Eeyore ears at home, I decide to get Stitch ears for Chuck. After getting all that taken care of, we make our way to Tomorrowland.

Our first stop is to get our EMH bracelets before we forgot. We get a new CM that had a little trouble putting the bracelets on us but we made it through the line eventually. We grabbed a FP and then stood in stand-by. We decide that I will drive our cruiser. We wait for about 20 minutes and board our cruiser to save the galaxy. We are definitely doing our best to save the world but our scores weren’t that great. Tiff beats my score by a couple of thousand but I am willing to accept that. After disembarking, we head over to Carousel of Progress.

We get right in and before our tour through the decades begins, someone asked if he knew what was going on as they noticed some smoke on their way into the parks. Our CM informs us that there are wild fires burning about 10-15 miles away. Yikes!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] He says it’s nothing to worry about and they won’t be closing the parks. Everyone is like “okay then”. We then start singing our way. I am amazed that most people sing along on this attraction. It’s kind of like that Kum-ba-ya feeling of singing around a campfire.

We enjoyed our time on CoP and when we got off, our FP times were open for Buzz. Tiff takes turn driving this time. We are head to head and then we get stopped in one of the rooms. I don’t know what Tiff hit but her score tripled mine. She’s telling me what she hit and trying to direct me but nope…I failed miserably. She beat me 460,400 to 113,100. Tiff kicked my behind on Buzz. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

After that disappointing defeat, we head over to Fantasyland to hit some rides there during the first showing of Spectro. We immediately head to Mickey’s Philharmagic first. We grab our opry glasses and wait for about 10 minutes to be let in to the theater. Now throughout the trip, we have managed to be on the end of the rows for all these type of shows. Since there were not a lot of people for the showing during EMH, we got the pick of seats. We were about midway up, dead center. YAY!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] As always, we thoroughly enjoyed the show. I could watch that over and over again.

We head into Snow White Scary Adventures next. It’s been awhile since I have been on this ride so I was happy to climb aboard our mine cart. I can’t remember who we had though. I grabbed some pictures using flash photography ( [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] ) but no one seemed to mind or at least I didn’t overdo it.

And as we were getting ready to go sliding through the final doors, our cart stops. So Sarah…this one is for you.

Our next adventure takes us to Dumbo. Tiff has never rode Dumbo due to being unsure if it would bother her inner ear issues. I can relate but reassure her that she’ll do okay. We have about a 15-minute wait. We start talking to the family in front of us who couldn’t believe that we take more than one trip to Disney a year. Then when we told them that we left the husbands at home for this trip, they were in shock. They were a joy to talk to though. Their extended family was on a once in lifetime trip that started off with a cruise then WDW. I can’t remember the exact number they told us but it was definitely an extended Magical gathering. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Anyway, we are getting ready to get our ticket for our elephants. I tell Tiff to get one for herself as I wanted to document her first “flight”. I tell her to pick the color she wanted I would get in the elephant right in front of her. She finds her Dumbo, and I grab a shot of her looking a little nervous but excited. I hop into my elephant and get belted in. Before we know it, we are off flying over Fantasyland. I go all the way to the top and turn around. Tiff is having a blast. I capture the moment and continue to go up and down. Why are some of the simplest rides the best? <sigh> </font>

Before

During

<font color="purple">After a successful flight, we head to It’s a Small World. It’s practically a walk on. Tiff and I get in the first row of a boat and lots of attention from the CMs due to our ears. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] We joyfully sing along and take pictures. I take pictures of this ride every time. I can’t help it. The colors are so vibrant. I finally am able to get pictures of the all the “good-byes” at the end. Once we got off our boat, we realized that we needed to go find a spot to view Wishes so off we go toward Main Street. I led us to the tip board hoping that it wouldn’t be too bad. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad. We were near a trash can, and Tiff stood up on the curb while I moved a little bit farther out. I am determined to get some decent shots of the fireworks. I have read all the suggestions from our “famous” photographers here on the boards. Armed with that knowledge, I began.

Now these shots are not spectacular but they are the best I have taken to date (and let me tell you there have been many, many unsuccessful attempts). I stopped taken pictures towards the end because the tears started flowing. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zcry.gif[/img] After the normal spectacular ending, the mob begins moving. All those people that were not/could not stay for EMH heading out in swarms. I make my way to Tiff who is standing guard by the trash can. We again talk about our plans for tomorrow while it clears out. Once we are able to sit along the curb, we grab spots for Spectro. Once we can actually see Main Street, I decided to run and grab us some waters.

After standing in line for about 20 minutes, I get up to the front to find out they do not have the LARGE bottles of water left. Determined not to go stand in another line, I settled for the smaller bottles and make my way back to Tiff. I scoot into my seat after getting many glares from the people to the right of me. I am not sure of the situation so I just talk to Tiff. Apparently, the woman and her child of at least 8 years old were told that that her boy could not sit on top of the trash can to view the parade. Tiff informs me that he was sitting up there kicking the can and making a scene and was asked to sit on the ground. Tiff relinquishes our spots right by the can and scoots over a bit to make room for them. Remember these two…they’ll make a return visit later on. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

We still have about 30 minutes before the beginning of Spectro. We have a nice conversation with the family sitting to the left of Tiff and just enjoy the time. We watch a couple of CMs play games with the kids. When they turn off the lights, we all clap and get ready for the spectacular show of lights. I am ready with the camera and watch as the floats make their way up Main Street.

Enter…stage right…annoying people. I snap my first picture and all I here is “Oh my eyes!!! Why must people take pictures???” I glance at Tiff, we roll our eyes, and wait for more floats. I continue taking pictures and continually hear “Oh my eyes” from the boy. I couldn’t help but think “Well, stop looking at my flash then.” About five or six pictures into the parade, I began to think maybe it is not the most friendly thing to do snapping pictures every few minutes. I actually stopped taking pictures to see if others aornd me were taking some. Once I saw that I wasn’t the only person taking pictures, I continued my business as usual.

In the meantime, a family that was behind us put their 3 year old girl on top of the trash can to see the parade. The little girl was well-behaved and just stood on top of it watching the floats go by. The woman did not take this lightly. She immediately flagged down a CM and security officer to voice her complaints. They basically told her that the child wasn’t jumping up and down on it nor kicking it and the parents had a hold of her. Apparently, the CM and security thought as long as she wasn’t damaging the trash can, it was okay. This infuriated the woman and her child. So, along with the “Oh my eyes!” with every picture, I was privy to their moans and groans about their mistreatment.

Here are some of the pictures from the parade. I hope that if you were in the MK on June 9, 2006, watching the 11:00pm showing of Spectro on Main Street at the corner where Casey’s is at, I did not blind you and ruin your viewing pleasure. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

So…after the parade we debate on heading into Adventureland/ Frontierland. We go and get some closer shots of the Castle in its many colors. And here ya go ladies and gentleman, the picture that I was so proud of.

We take a walk through a couple of the shops and make the executive decision to head back to OKW. Not really taking full advantage of EMH but we also knew we had a ton of packing to do since we needed to leave our bags with Bell Services before we headed out to the parks.

We follow the masses out to the bus stops and are pleasantly surprised by getting a bus pretty quick. We make it back to our bus stop and make our last walk back to our little studio. We took showers immediately and then started the depressing act of packing.

I pull out all of my purchases from earlier and get things organized. I tossed one of the bags onto the bed and we hear “Now that wasn’t very nice!” from my plush talking Mater. It was one of those appropriate comments that fit the moment. We were rolling. We could just imagine my bag going through security and them hearing Mater make his multiple comments. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

After getting everything packed minus our PJs and toiletries, I call bell services and set up a time for them to come pick up our bags and then set the wake-up call for 6:30am. Lights out!!</font>

Coming up: Do we get to ride in the front car of the monorail??

**Colexis Mom** · 07-12-2006, 04:20 PM

Fantastic update Dawn [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] How great Tiff had her first ride on Dumbo (and boy did she look like she was having fun [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] )! Great pictures of Spectro and Wishes [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Sorry for the rude parade people [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I can't wait for more [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

**DrDolphin** · 07-12-2006, 04:37 PM

Great update Dawn!!! Your photos are wonderful!

**WDWfan** · 07-12-2006, 06:22 PM

Dawn - [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/love.gif[/img] your Spectro and Wishes pictures. I never seem to get pictures of Wishes, because I'm so mesmerized I can't bear to take my eyes off it long enough to get pictures. Maybe on my next trip I'll see it twice and try to take pictures once.

Tara O'Hara · 07-12-2006, 06:55 PM

Sorry about the rude people Dawn, but great update and beautiful pictures!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]

zacksmom_1993 · 07-12-2006, 07:03 PM

Ummm... hey "my eyes" kid? It's an electrical LIGHT parade! If you're so dang sensitive, methinks you should've stayed away. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] Glad you got the photos anyway, Dawn! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Although Zack always freaks out at those clowns at the beginning. He'd say, "my eyes" at that sight! So sad your trip is coming to an end, but can't wait to hear about your last day.

**chezp** · 07-13-2006, 02:43 AM

It looks like you guys had a lot of fun at EMH, despite the moaning woman and child [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] and you couldn't be more right about the simplest rides often being the best. I love Dumbo - it's so much fun and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one from those photos! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img]