Day 2; Part 2: Take These Broken (Demon) Wings!
So around 6 or so we gathered and caught the bus back to the
Sidebar: I was accused of everything from "running", "speedwalking", "rushing", you name it throughout this trip. I take exception. I simply have a long gate, and while in Walt Disney World, an "enthusiastic gate." Besides, they're all sloths! Just kidding guys.
Anyway, I got to Liberty Tree and stood in line to check in. I know they're going for that old world, pre-central air conditioning theme, but my lord it was as warm in the waiting area as it was outside. Not helping the sweating issue! But what really got me to sweating was when I approached the podium, gave my name, and it was quickly apparent that he was having a hard time finding us. Which he then looked up and confirmed.
I explained I had made 2 reservations, one for 6:45 and one for 7, and then cancelled the 6:45. After further research the CM told me he did see a 7:00 reservation in the system for me. Sadly, it was for Thursday the 10th – four days from now! I told him I was certain it was for this night. I also calmly reiterated that I had 3 hungry adults and 2 impatient toddlers waiting outside. The manager stepped in and asked if I had the email confirmation and I did not but could look with my phone but it would take me a while as I'd made it back in July.
Now mind you they were both very polite and actually came off as genuinely concerned. I was well-aware if this were happening at almost any restaurant in
I pulled out my phone and started looking through my emails. I had barely connected when the manager said "Ok, I've changed your reservation back to tonight. Here's your pager. We'll buzz you when your table is ready."
Ask me again why I love Walt Disney World. This treatment is exactly what you can expect from Disney Cast Members 9 & ¾ times out of 10.
We were paged about ten minutes later. Of course, within those ten minutes I found the confirmation email on my phone. The reservation I had made was in fact for 7:00 . . . on Thursday, Sept. 10th. I'm an idiot! I forgot we were originally debating whether to eat at
Well we might as well have waited til Thursday night because it turned out to be a dinner from H@#% with the kids. Neither one was in the mood to sit nicely and eat. Sean wanted to lap the restaurant and was furious that we forced him to sit in a highchair to keep him at the table. He was throwing things, pushing his plate away, screeching, basically being a 2 & 1/2 year old. Abigail finding this a good way to gain attention decided to follow suit. And we were gaining plenty of attention from the other tables around us. Our server was a soldier and never showed a sign of annoyance. We still ate a little faster than we would have liked and the girls took the kids outside while Joe and I settled up, and honestly snuck a few more slices of ham and roast beef. The food is so good at Liberty Tree! Honestly people, if you haven't enjoyed a dinner there yet, do yourself a favor. Imagine the best Thanksgiving dinner you’ve ever had, minus the clean-up! The only thing missing is the cranberry sauce and your uncle sleeping in front of a football game with his belt undone.
We decided to do dinner at 7:00 so that if we played our cards right, we’d be walking out of Liberty Tree in time to claim a good spot for Spectromagic! Specrotmagic is actually the one parade at WDW I not only enjoy but look forward too. The front porch of Liberty Tree and that whole strip of shops, etc, is a perfect location to catch the parade. It’s the last leg of the show.
Despite rushing dinner due to crabby kids, our timing ended up being good. We found a nice spot right behind the rope just outside of the restaurant and had plenty of time before the parade would get to us. Before dinner, I was starting to feel a crick in my neck, which throughout dinner (and I'm not blaming the kids' behavior) it began to creep up into my skull. By this point I had a dull throbbing headache.
It occurred to me I had barely drunk any water all day in the heat and humidity (and yes I'd had that Lava Lamp earlier.) I was probably a little dehydrated so I wandered off for a couple bottles of water.
Another tip: if you go in the really hot months, get a pallet of water for your room and either rent a fridge or keep some on ice to take to the parks. I don't even know the official policy on bringing in beverages, but after Tuesday we got wise and started taking a couple bottles with us each morning and afternoon. And to be honest we never heard a complaint from the bag check guards. We didn't try to hide it either. I think given the heat, if taking your own is normally a no-no, maybe they were just turning their heads. You've got to stay hydrated and bottled water in the park is either $2.75 for Dasani or $3.25 for Smart Water (which apparently has elec . . . electro . . . Eletric-eels or something.)
I received a text while in line for water at the popcorn cart in front of the Liberty Bell replica to get Sean a box of popcorn. My son apparently discovered popcorn on this trip. This was the first of many popcorn purchases I'd make this trip. I will tell you now, another reason to bring store bought water if at all possible is on the dining plan, water counts as a snack. Both couples in our group blew through our snack credits pretty quickly on just bottled water (and popcorn.)
Kind of frustrating when I realized I’d used a snack credit on a $3 bottle of water, when I could have used it later for a $7 bbq turkey leg (which also counts as a snack – and is a delicious snack, at that!)
I returned to our spot and learned I wasn't the only pushover dad in town. Joe had dropped $15 bucks on a light up Minnie Mouse toy that spun around and her dress lit up. Not to be outdone, I reached into Sean's Lightning McQueen backpack and removed his little Lightning McQueen plastic wand with spinning lights inside a ball at the top. Joe asked "Oh cool, where'd you find that?"
I felt almost guilty saying "Target, a couple weeks ago . . . for $3 bucks."
We watched Spectromagic in its entirety. Now that is a cool parade. Imagine a parade of Disney characters on elaborate floats, but at night, and all covered by thousands of lights. Ok, maybe that didn’t quite do it justice, but I do enjoy it, and the kids and wives love it. There’s something a little off about this one, and even maybe a little creepy about parts of it, which I love. Maybe it’s the music. Maybe it’s that it happens later at night. Maybe it’s the float of the demon from Fantasia, Chernabog who spreads open his bat wings in a cloud of hissing smoke and glowing eyes.
There were a couple issues this particular night though. First of all, in the front of the parade, there have always been these weird characters riding around, some playing instruments, moving in robotic unison. They all had the same white, wide-eyed, childlike doll faces and wore these white costumes with led lights all over them. They kind of looked like something you’d expect to see at Neverland ranch. They were creepy and slightly haunting, it was even more bothersome to discover they’d been changed. Now you can see the actual performers’ faces, but slathered in white make-up (whatever's not running down their faces with sweat that is) and each wearing these weird Tin Man like noses and chin pieces. They went from somewhat creepy to downright disturbing. I never thought I'd say this but bring back the creepy Cabbage Patch masks, please!
Other than that, my aforementioned favorite float, the Chernabog demon wasn't working. His wings wouldn't open. So if you didn't know that parade, you'd probably think "Oh, I see, it's a float of a volcano that hisses and steams. Okay . . .?"
But of course I'm being nit-picky. Spectromagic is fantastic. One of the few parades in the universe you'll ever hear me say that about.
When it was over, we powwowed about our next course of action. Originally the wives wanted to stay for Wishes, the grand fireworks finale at the end of every night in the
I know it's great but I've seen it, and we knew we'd be back on Thursday so we could always catch it then. Which I pleaded to the group. They actually all agreed to head out, but we'd cut around through Fantasyland and Tomorrowland to avoid trying to get through the castle mob. As we headed that way I looked up at my beautiful beloved
I knew it was a long shot but I quietly mentioned there'd been a recent refurb and I'd “sure like to see the new additions.” The response was a resounding "NO!"
As my wife put it, "our son is already asking about monsters in his room. We are not taking him on the
Ok, point taken. There was always Thursday!
In Fantasyland we discovered virtually no wait for Winnie the Pooh so it was an instant no-brainer. We all hopped on for a quick ride through the Hundred Acre Wood. I do miss Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and in fact was so happy to discover it still exists in
Plus my ride was somewhat diminished when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirrored walls of the Heffalump room and saw how badly I need to lose weight! But, anyway, the ride is great. Maybe they could just take the mirrors out.
Once we got off Pooh, the girls decided they did want to watch Wishes after all. They got as far up the walkway between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland that leads toward the hub as they could. I could see that Sonny Eclipse was currently playing inside an almost empty Cosmic Rays. I ducked in to catch a few minutes while they all watched the fireworks. I've never been able to just stand and watch Sonny so it was nice to be able to do it when the place was actually quiet. Cosmic Rays is a very large counter-service and when dead like this, it’s kind of eerie. Almost like being in space. Sonny’s show is actually really cute and funny, in a cornball way. And because Sonny has such a regular guy voice it is possible to forget you're watching an animatronic and think you're actually enjoying an alien lounge singer. I saw the group had gathered outside the glass doors and learned staying for Wishes wasn't the best idea after all. Both kids were completely freaked out by the loud booms.
We made a retreat up and around the patio side of Cosmic Rays to get outta there while the show was still going on.
Sidebar: One of the decks behind Cosmic Rays can be rented for private Dessert and Fireworks Parties. It’s a great idea if you've got a decent sized group. It's positioned so that you have a perfect, unobstructed view of the castle and Wishes.
We timed our exit perfectly as we were cutting through the turn-styles as the grand finale sounded behind us. We got to the bus stop to find only a dozen or so waiting in front of us. By time we boarded, there were what seemed like hundreds waiting behind us.
Back at Pop Century. Wendy took Sean to the room and I ducked into the food court for water and chocolate milk for the morning (a must for a certain little one). It was a long day and I hardly remember getting into bed. Our plan for Tuesday was MGM . . . sorry, Hollywood Studios (old habits) but we’d agreed to just arrive whenever we decided to get there. We just had to get there by noon, because we had a lunch ADR at Hollywood & Vine.
And don't worry, I didn't make this one, so odds were it actually was for that day!
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