Tanner Life

Monday we were so tired that we ended up sleeping pretty late. Didn't stick with the plan of being at Animal Kingdom when it opened! We decided to head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge for lunch, we'd never visited there!

What a neat place! Walking around and seeing the animals is pretty amazing. I'd love to stay there and see zebras out my windows! The pool area is really pretty and with the bottom painted a tan color, it blends in and looks so natural. (It was pretty full of people too, even in the freezing temps. We felt of the water and it was super warm, though I know when they got out of there they had to freeze to death!) We ended up eating in the fast food area there before heading over to Animal Kingdom.







Animal Kingdom has narrow pathways to begin with, no large open areas....we knew when we got there it was probably a mistake. It was like herding cattle through gates, I have never seen so many people in my life. It made the NUTZ status crowds at the other parks, look like nothing! We went over towards Everest anyway, what were we thinking? Of course the fast passes were gone for the day (it was noon and they were all gone...through 8:00) The lines for everything was anywhere from an hour to two. You couldn't get into Bugs Life or even the Train Station, craziness! The line for Kali (a water ride mind you in freezing temps) was an hour! CRAZ I NESS!! We made a bee line for the parking lot and got out of there!

We decided to brave the Magic Kingdom again....maybe everyone was there until 3:00AM last night and it was empty today? Yeah- right- We finally arrived over there just as the masses were gathering for the parade. It was impossible to get down Main Street so we decided to catch the train. We missed one and played with the penny movie machines while waiting on the second.

That is when.....

Our "Dreams Come True" moment came. Of course we'd seen and heard about all sorts of neat things happening to people for the Dreams Come True Celebration...I had my dreams come true when I got a season pass for the year and wasn't holding my breath for a stay in the new suite in the castle for a night. (Though wouldn't that be a dream for sure) As we entered the train turn stile though... there was the dream team. They were handing out the Dreams Mickey Ears.... I was too excited! Of course...it's just Mickey Ears..right? It's Mickey Ears that you can't buy anywhere though...only get from the Dream Team! They did a big clap for you as they were telling everyone that they had been randomly chosen to have a magical moment...It was pretty neat~ The people already on the train that was pulling in..tried to get off and get ears too and the Dream Team was super strict about not allowing that. You had to be coming into the turnstile do hickey to get on the train. So...here we are...ears and all!!





Andy was a sweetie and after letting me get our picture made...he wouldn't wear his. He wanted to give them to a child. (Of course he couldn't get my ears off my head with a crow bar..I'm such a spoiled brat and that wasn't really kind of me...at all) He spent the next few hours searching for just the right child until he found a little boy that he thought was adorable, an only child and wasn't sure that he would be taking home any other special treat from the day. He made the families day and it was super sweet! What a guy?!!

We got a fast pass for Big Thunder and fought the masses trying to find other things to get in. We caught Buzz again, waited about 30 minutes not too bad. (At this point the TTA had a line out into the middle of Tomorrowland, never EVER seen that!!!!!! You had to wait in that line and then the line up at that top...didn't even know one was up there) We ended up coming back to TTA and that is where our next "oh MY GOSH" moment happened!

I had read on a website that if Space Mountain was ever shut down for issues, hop on TTA and you get to see inside with the lights on...sure enough. By chance...we were on TTA and as we got into Space Mountain...something was different. THE LIGHTS WERE ON!! How cool was that????? Nothing like I expected!!! We were shocked. I took pictures, but you can't see anything b/c of the flash in the glass. It's for sure a better ride with the lights OFF in there! It looks small and doesn't take up half the "space" in the building...wild! It's basic, steel and brown...looks very small and sad!

We did get in to see Philharmagic with a relatively small wait (15 minutes) We walked by Peter Pan that was 2 hours and Small World that was 30 (No JOKE, when have you ever seen that??) We went back for our Big Thunder ride, gotta love that thing...and then had 45 minutes to waste before our Plaza reservations. We decided we might as well wait in something and Jungle Cruise was about 35...that would work out. (Pirates was 70 minutes and the stroller parking alone was something to behold)

It was our 2nd time @ the Plaza and we really enjoyed it. It's more of a lunch kind of place for us, but my club sandwich ROCKED! Andy got the best chocolate milkshake in the entire world. (pretty much melting chocolate ice cream) and I will get one next time FOR SURE! We were there in time to see Spectro Magic from our table, that was classic. Great end to a nutty day!!

We had fast passes for Space Mountain, but they were for hours and hours away. We couldn't bring ourselves to wait for an hour for anything else...and decided to give them away! We were outta there for the night and returned to pack...sad but true~

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Tuesday morning we woke to a beautiful day of course! We had planned to get to MGM when they opened and didn't quite make it. It was 10:00 before we arrived and lines for Rockin' & Tower were already over an hour. The fast passes were left...but they were for about 4 hours away and we had to get on the road. So we rode the BackLot tour that we walked right on and enjoyed our last hour in the Happiest Place on Earth. We walked around a few minutes and it was time to say goodbye---

WAIT though...Hold the Phone! It was up to 74 degrees by then and we were sooo not ready to leave. We ended up going over to Pop Century (first time) to check that place out and had lunch at their quickie counter service. Neat place!! The food was really good too!! We are going to try to stay there next month! (Did she say next month? Yep- in March!) We can get a great discount in March with our passes, might as well!!




We ended up saving $36 with our dining experience card already...that was fun too! By the time we make one more trip, that thing was wayyyy worth it!!

We had a great time despite the freezing Florida temps and the crazy nutty crowds! When you're at Disney World, you can't help but have a great time!!!!! 8 Hours later, we were back home in the pouring down rain......planning for next time!!