bennette
10-21-2009, 11:50 PM
I've been REALLY wanting to see the Halloween fireworks and the revised Space Mountain/Ghost Galaxy this year but crowd reports were just too scary. This morning I asked my husband if he would be willing to schedule an early shift and meet me there after work. He said yes!
So after work we both drove from our respective locales. I got off the 5 at Ball and drove over to the parking garage. It took about 20 minutes total to get from the freeway, parked, and out of the garage.
The parking guy told me not to worry about parking and ignored my parking/Annual pass (nor did he give me the card to circle where I was but no problem; I know my way around.) Five minutes later, my husband was asked for his pass (?) and it didn't work. They didn't charge him, though, just suggested he get it checked at Guest Services. We met up around 7:00.
Things were a little backed up at the tram station with many costumed guests heading over to the TOT party. We walked to the park, just waiting long enough at the crosswalk to hear a guest explain repeatedly to a CM why her logic for loading trams was better than Disney's. Poor CM. :(
Crowds in the park weren't as bad as we thought. I had only noticed the fireworks were at 8:40 shortly before leaving home so wanted to get seated asap.
I managed to get a spot right behind the rope in the hub and sat there while my husband went on a fastpass run for Ghost Galaxy and a couple of corn dogs. Fastpasses were gone for the day but on the plus side, the line for the Corn Dog Castle was quite short. :)
I entertained myself with the usual game of counting how many people sat on the hub seating in front of the rope. You know--it's where the fire/safety walkway is located and where CM's with giant flashlights are constantly moving people through. (Not the whole seating area, just the space closest to the rope that fits two-three people. Today's count, in one hour: 57.
It was a rough night for me with intruders. Usually I have no problems. (I just don't look approachable when I'm in fireworks mode.) Tonight I was accosted by the following: two selfish young people who sat there in front of the rope for a half hour and then stuck just half their bodies under the ropes when the show started (that would mean their lower half in my space). Finally the CM pushed them all the way under the rope which meant they were entirely in our space; next, a super annoying mom and her teenage son who dropped directly under the rope and in front of us as the show started and who then kept standing up in the walkway to take pictures; and last but oh so not least, the tribe of seven, eleven, fifteen (?) small children and their parents behind us that grew and grew and grew in size as the show approached, even though their blankets stayed teeny tiny.
There was another mother with mondo double stroller and three kids who walked up five minutes before the show and asked if she would be taking anyone's space if she parked there. "Yes, my husband's! There is more seating on Main Street; a CM can help you." (My husband had decided a cheese filled pretzel would really top off that corn dog and took a 25 minute detour to get it; slow line.) Come ON lady! Five minutes before the show and you've got a hummer sized stroller and five bodies you want to park in a two-foot square? Even her husband just looked at her when she asked and immediately walked away with two of the kids.
Anyhoo, my husband returns just as the fireworks begin and we were filled with excitement and joy. Until...the mongrel horde behind us started screaming the most terrible high pierced sounds. I know the children get excited, especially when you have kept them up way too late and then plied them with sugar and soda to distract them for an hour while they cry and fuss but HOLY COW, what a sound! Who would have ever thought someone could make a noise that overpowered Disney fireworks? We figured they'd get the wiggles out in a couple of minutes and calm down but noooooooooo. Finally, ten minutes in, I did the unthinkable, something I have never. ever done before. Yes, dear readers, I turned around and gave the two closest mothers, well, not the stink eye but at least an "are you kidding me with this?" look. Giggles, shrugs, "what can you do" gestures is what I got in return. (Um, tell the to be quiet so that others can watch the show? And get them to cover their mouths when they cough while you are at it! It's flu season!)
I will now spend at least two more karmic cycles trapped in this painful cycle of existence to make up for being so nasty but goodness gracious. It was simply horrible and ruined the fireworks for us which I didn't think was possible. They must have seen the show before because at the end the audience is encouraged to do a screamalong (might not want to read if you haven't seen the show yet) and hubby and I both about lost it.
Feeling, well, energized after the shreak fest, we booked it over to Ghost Galaxy to get a ride (park was closing at 9:00). They were graciously still letting people in. I have not gone in without a fastpass in years and doing the full line was almost exciting, even though it's just chains and concrete. We didn't wait long, maybe fifteen minutes. We requested the fourth row for the best graphics effects. It was a nice ride; we enjoyed the special effects, but it definitely seemed quicker than usual, as some have mentioned.
We then drifted out an empty Tomorrowland. A bubble machine was running at the exit of Star Traders. Who doesn't love random bubbles? Okay, the fireworks were a letdown but bubbles can do a lot for your psyche.
We popped into the Clothing Emporium to pick up our two free kid's tickets to The Princess and the Frog movie, then took a look at some of the things in the new gallery space.
We walked back to the lot, as the crowds of people exiting the TOT were still good sized.
And that's pretty much it. We're pretty bummed out about the fireworks and might try another early weeknight next week. They were pretty good fireworks and I loved the floating Zero effect (he seems to work a lot better than Dumbo did). We were happy to give our comments about the fireworks to a CM on the way out, especially since thee is actually a box for mentioning rude guests distracting from the experience. :eek:
So after work we both drove from our respective locales. I got off the 5 at Ball and drove over to the parking garage. It took about 20 minutes total to get from the freeway, parked, and out of the garage.
The parking guy told me not to worry about parking and ignored my parking/Annual pass (nor did he give me the card to circle where I was but no problem; I know my way around.) Five minutes later, my husband was asked for his pass (?) and it didn't work. They didn't charge him, though, just suggested he get it checked at Guest Services. We met up around 7:00.
Things were a little backed up at the tram station with many costumed guests heading over to the TOT party. We walked to the park, just waiting long enough at the crosswalk to hear a guest explain repeatedly to a CM why her logic for loading trams was better than Disney's. Poor CM. :(
Crowds in the park weren't as bad as we thought. I had only noticed the fireworks were at 8:40 shortly before leaving home so wanted to get seated asap.
I managed to get a spot right behind the rope in the hub and sat there while my husband went on a fastpass run for Ghost Galaxy and a couple of corn dogs. Fastpasses were gone for the day but on the plus side, the line for the Corn Dog Castle was quite short. :)
I entertained myself with the usual game of counting how many people sat on the hub seating in front of the rope. You know--it's where the fire/safety walkway is located and where CM's with giant flashlights are constantly moving people through. (Not the whole seating area, just the space closest to the rope that fits two-three people. Today's count, in one hour: 57.
It was a rough night for me with intruders. Usually I have no problems. (I just don't look approachable when I'm in fireworks mode.) Tonight I was accosted by the following: two selfish young people who sat there in front of the rope for a half hour and then stuck just half their bodies under the ropes when the show started (that would mean their lower half in my space). Finally the CM pushed them all the way under the rope which meant they were entirely in our space; next, a super annoying mom and her teenage son who dropped directly under the rope and in front of us as the show started and who then kept standing up in the walkway to take pictures; and last but oh so not least, the tribe of seven, eleven, fifteen (?) small children and their parents behind us that grew and grew and grew in size as the show approached, even though their blankets stayed teeny tiny.
There was another mother with mondo double stroller and three kids who walked up five minutes before the show and asked if she would be taking anyone's space if she parked there. "Yes, my husband's! There is more seating on Main Street; a CM can help you." (My husband had decided a cheese filled pretzel would really top off that corn dog and took a 25 minute detour to get it; slow line.) Come ON lady! Five minutes before the show and you've got a hummer sized stroller and five bodies you want to park in a two-foot square? Even her husband just looked at her when she asked and immediately walked away with two of the kids.
Anyhoo, my husband returns just as the fireworks begin and we were filled with excitement and joy. Until...the mongrel horde behind us started screaming the most terrible high pierced sounds. I know the children get excited, especially when you have kept them up way too late and then plied them with sugar and soda to distract them for an hour while they cry and fuss but HOLY COW, what a sound! Who would have ever thought someone could make a noise that overpowered Disney fireworks? We figured they'd get the wiggles out in a couple of minutes and calm down but noooooooooo. Finally, ten minutes in, I did the unthinkable, something I have never. ever done before. Yes, dear readers, I turned around and gave the two closest mothers, well, not the stink eye but at least an "are you kidding me with this?" look. Giggles, shrugs, "what can you do" gestures is what I got in return. (Um, tell the to be quiet so that others can watch the show? And get them to cover their mouths when they cough while you are at it! It's flu season!)
I will now spend at least two more karmic cycles trapped in this painful cycle of existence to make up for being so nasty but goodness gracious. It was simply horrible and ruined the fireworks for us which I didn't think was possible. They must have seen the show before because at the end the audience is encouraged to do a screamalong (might not want to read if you haven't seen the show yet) and hubby and I both about lost it.
Feeling, well, energized after the shreak fest, we booked it over to Ghost Galaxy to get a ride (park was closing at 9:00). They were graciously still letting people in. I have not gone in without a fastpass in years and doing the full line was almost exciting, even though it's just chains and concrete. We didn't wait long, maybe fifteen minutes. We requested the fourth row for the best graphics effects. It was a nice ride; we enjoyed the special effects, but it definitely seemed quicker than usual, as some have mentioned.
We then drifted out an empty Tomorrowland. A bubble machine was running at the exit of Star Traders. Who doesn't love random bubbles? Okay, the fireworks were a letdown but bubbles can do a lot for your psyche.
We popped into the Clothing Emporium to pick up our two free kid's tickets to The Princess and the Frog movie, then took a look at some of the things in the new gallery space.
We walked back to the lot, as the crowds of people exiting the TOT were still good sized.
And that's pretty much it. We're pretty bummed out about the fireworks and might try another early weeknight next week. They were pretty good fireworks and I loved the floating Zero effect (he seems to work a lot better than Dumbo did). We were happy to give our comments about the fireworks to a CM on the way out, especially since thee is actually a box for mentioning rude guests distracting from the experience. :eek: