The $16,000 "Free" Disney Trip **Updated 12/11** COMPLETE - Page 18 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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You are Kassie are birthday buddies - although she's one day later and several years younger! LOL I told her and she grinned. She still remembers you fondly!
Kassie! I had fun hanging out with her!
Quote:
Originally Posted by iloverags2
Happy Birthday, Sharon! You must let me buy you a belated birthday frozen beverage next month!
OK, Cindy, since you twisted my arm!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
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Day Two – Sunday, October 26 Haunted Mansion Holiday! and a bunch of other attractions
I was awake at about 5:00. I grabbed my laptop and made some notes (under the covers so as not to disturb anyone). When I got out of bed to get ready, Karen took a photo of my bed, with the laptop still in it.
Once I was dressed, I finished unpacking and when everyone was ready we headed out. It was Early Entry, which meant the park (at least Fantasyland and Tomorrowland) would be opening at 7:00.
We decided to get the monorail. I was excited to see that it was the new red monorail. From what I’ve heard, the new monorails have ventilation problems (and no air conditioning) so they don’t run when the temperature gets hot (it was in the 90s or close to it every day I was there). They were only running the new monorails early in the day or late in the evening. I was really happy for the chance to ride a new monorail. They were only boarding 15 people per car, which left several empty seats, so I guess there was another issue.
We were planning to ride the Nemo subs first thing, but they were down. The CMs weren’t sure how long it would be before it was up again, so we rode the Matterhorn instead. The seats were cold and slightly damp from condensation, but it was a fun ride!
The subs were still down, so we cut over to Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan’s Flight while the line was still short. We also did Alice in Wonderland, which I really enjoy.
The subs were still down, so we decided to modify the plan and try to do the Nemo subs first thing Monday morning. We headed to the bakery on Main Street for breakfast. The park was really empty at that hour. See?
I was going to get a sticky bun for breakfast, but luckily Zack let me know that only communists eat anything besides the cinnamon roll, so I changed my order. Whew! I’m not sure what the difference is. Must be the icing that keeps away communism.
While Zack and I ate (and I didn’t even come close to finishing my cinnamon roll, but luckily that didn’t seem to matter to the communism police) Karen dashed off and got us FPs for… I don’t remember. I think it was for the Indiana Jones Adventure.
When Karen returned and finished her cinnamon roll (well, she got about as far as I did), we ventured over to New Orleans Square to check out the Haunted Mansion Holiday. I knew it was the Haunted Mansion with a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, but it was way more elaborate than I imagined it would be!! It was really a complete re-do of the attraction. I took lots of photos of the Mansion itself before we headed in to ride (and notice – no line!).
Once inside, I was really blown away. Everything, from the stretching room to the hitchhiking ghosts, was different. It was really fantastic and I enjoyed it a lot. It was probably my favorite part of the Halloween festivities at DL! I took video on my next trip through so I could enjoy it at home.
Since we were in NOS, it was only natural that we ride POTC next. After our trip to the Caribbean, Karen went to meet her sisters. Zack and I waited in NOS. Karen told Zack to take pictures. Nobody had to tell me.
Unfortunately, when Karen told Zack to take pictures, she didn’t specify what he was supposed to be taking pictures of. So Zack took a picture of the ground, his teeth, and some trees at a crazy angle. I took a picture of Zack taking pictures (he did eventually get around to taking real photos).
Karen returned with Kirsten and Alice and we exchanged life stories on the way to Main Street. Well not our entire life stories, but the sweetened condensed versions, as I like to say. Kirsten is really into Halloween, so we checked out the window displays along Main Street U.S.A.
We walked over to Tomorrowland and someone suggested we ride Buzz. Now here’s my dilemma: I’m going to ride Buzz, but I have to choose someone from the Weiss family as my riding partner. Which one looks like they’ll cause me the least damage? Just kidding! I actually told Karen that I’m not afraid to ride with her, because we both know she can kick my butt (figuratively) so there’s no need for her to kick my butt (literally). It was total moo-poo, but hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. OK, so Karen can beat me on the DL version of Buzz, so not total moo-poo
My score was decent, but Karen beat me (so did Zack, I think, but I beat Kirsten and Alice ).
Alice and Kirsten got FPs for Space Mountain (I didn’t mention it before, but I guess we picked up FPs while we were in Tomorrowland earlier). Then we went over to the other side of the park to ride Indiana Jones Adventure. But first we spent some time checking out the Dia De Los Muertos display.
Then we went through the Haunted Mansion again.
This time I took video of the ride. I uploaded the stretching room video, but the actual ride video is a bit too long so I’ll have to edit that first. If I can figure that out, I’ll post it then (I think I did the HMH 6 times during my trip).
Click to see video of Stretching Room (sorry it’s a bit dark)
We had FPs (Karen, Zack and I), but we didn’t need them. The line for Indy was short enough that we were able to walk right into the preshow movie. I so love this ride. It’s really a lot of fun! It was around this time that Karen suggested we should try to do 25 attractions! We had already knocked out 10 things, and we had until midnight, so I was sure we’d be able to, even with our tour later. Eileen, I’m sure you would’ve loved to watch Karen figure out a plan for that!
We must’ve stopped in a shop for some reason, because I took a photo of the really cute candy apples they had (I really loved how Halloween was everywhere – even pumpkin bread in the bakery and pumpkin ice cream!)
Then we enjoyed the punny goodness of the Jungle Cruise.
Then we did another classic, the Enchanted Tiki Room.
When we were near the hub, we checked out the tip board. You can see that it wasn’t really crowded, particularly since it was a Sunday!
We must’ve gone to Tomorrowland for some reason, because we saw Buzz Lightyear. We must’ve gotten some odd looks, because Karen and I both were taking pictures of Buzz’s… err… Disney stamp. Zack thought we were both crazy, until I told him it was a copyright stamp like a doll (and he corrected me – an action figure!!), so then he thought it was cool.
I must be mixed up, because I don’t remember doing this much crossing around the park, but we somehow ended up over in Mickey’s Toontown. It was just Karen and me, but I don’t remember where Zack, Alice and Kirsten went.
I really love DL’s version of TT. There’s so much more to it!
Roger Rabbit was down, so we decided to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster. I took this picture of Chip & Dale’s Treehouse from the queue of GCC.
GCC is really cute, themed like it’s made from various toy parts.
It’s really cute, but the ride is really short. Really. Short. Karen timed it and it came in at about 45 seconds. But it was actually a good thing it was so short, because the CM made us sit together (in one teeny, tiny acorn car). When we got out of the car, my butt was still stuck in the square shape of the seat for a while, like you see in cartoons.
We found Zack and Karen’s sisters after the ride. Roger Rabbit was back up again, so we were able to ride it after all.
Our next stop was at Big Thunder Ranch, or Woody’s Halloween Roundup, as it’s known at this time of the year.
Zack decorated a cookie while we were entertained with a little show. During the show, Woody snuck up on one of the performers and nearly scared the life out of him.
We headed over to Critter Country and went on Pooh and Splash Mountain. Kirsten, who was in the very back (just behind me) got really wet. The way the boats are designed, all the water splashes into the back of the boat, so if you ride SM in Disneyland and don’t want to get wet, don’t ride in the back seat!!
We were all hungry by then, so we headed to Downtown Disney for some lunch.
Up Next: An Evening with a Ghost Hunter
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Oh wow! Even from just the snippet of video in the stretching room, I can tell that HMH is really cool! Probably something I'll never see, so I'd love to see your video of it.
Great update and outstanding photos. I love the ones of the empty Main Street and such. The 'kicked up' HM looks and sounds really cool.
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ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
I was awake at about 5:00. I grabbed my laptop and made some notes (under the covers so as not to disturb anyone).
But... did you at least get some sleep after that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
...we rode the Matterhorn instead. The seats were cold and slightly damp from condensation...
Making it easy to slide over the seatback without flashing the crowd, huh?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Unfortunately, when Karen told Zack to take pictures, she didn’t specify what he was supposed to be taking pictures of. So Zack took a picture of the ground, his teeth, and some trees at a crazy angle. I took a picture of Zack taking pictures (he did eventually get around to taking real photos).
I can't tell you the number pics I have of the inner workings of DS's nostrils.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
We walked over to Tomorrowland and someone suggested we ride Buzz. Now here’s my dilemma: I’m going to ride Buzz, but I have to choose someone from the Weiss family as my riding partner. Which one looks like they’ll cause me the least damage?
And KAREN was the Weiss you chose? Did you see the marks she left on me last time?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
It was around this time that Karen suggested we should try to do 25 attractions! We had already knocked out 10 things, and we had until midnight, so I was sure we’d be able to, even with our tour later. Eileen, I’m sure you would’ve loved to watch Karen figure out a plan for that!
Did her eyes blink with each re-calculation? That's always my favorite thing to watch! (And... Jill better not show this update to Thom or he'll be itchin' for another crack at Karen and her Amazing Park Stamina Adventures!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
We must’ve stopped in a shop for some reason, because I took a photo of the really cute candy apples they had (I really loved how Halloween was everywhere – even pumpkin bread in the bakery and pumpkin ice cream!)
Ooooh, the invisible Lemon Holiday Cupcakes must have been really popular.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
We must’ve gone to Tomorrowland for some reason, because we saw Buzz Lightyear. We must’ve gotten some odd looks, because Karen and I both were taking pictures of Buzz’s… err… Disney stamp. Zack thought we were both crazy, until I told him it was a copyright stamp like a doll (and he corrected me – an action figure!!), so then he thought it was cool.
Yeah... taking pictures of an "action figure's" butt is soooo much better-sounding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
But it was actually a good thing it was so short, because the CM made us sit together (in one teeny, tiny acorn car). When we got out of the car, my butt was still stuck in the square shape of the seat for a while, like you see in cartoons.
Was there an accompanying cartoon sound as your butt popped back into its normal shape? Poiiiiiiing!
Woody's Halloween Roundup looked great with all the cowboy pumpkins. How did they theme my friend The Crazy Cow?
Wow, that was a quiet day. And I thought it was quiet the next couple of days.... I'm loving reading this - it is bringing back so many great memories of Disneyland. I loved the Haunted Mansion Holiday too - as you know!
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Sharon! 
I took a picture of Zack taking pictures (he did eventually get around to taking real photos).
Which one looks like they’ll cause me the least damage? 
Just kidding! 
OK, so Karen can beat me on the DL version of Buzz, so not total moo-poo
).
ºOº ~*~ 
And I thought it was quiet the next couple of days.... I'm loving reading this - it is bringing back so many great memories of Disneyland. I loved the Haunted Mansion Holiday too - as you know! 
More please!! 
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