I checked before writing this blog and found that this will be number 671 since I started back in January 2018. On average, each one is about 1,000 words. That is a lot of stuff and nonsense from someone who still struggles with words and putting them eloquently down on record.
I think they have got better (self-praise and all that), although that may be due to the fact that I do now try to remember to run them through some sort of checker before hitting the publish button. They are not polished and are written quickly and off the cuff. I know they are not masterpieces and will never become serialised as a Radio 4 series, but they serve a purpose for us.
As a reminder, I write these to record our lives and travels, primarily for our own benefit, although it does seem that one or two other people are entertained by them. I haven’t tried to monetise them, although again this week I have been contacted by a travel organiser who wanted to assist. It was clear from his knowledge of our travels and family that he had at least read a few of them.
The sun was already in position as I took up my position at the patio table by the pool at 7.45am again. I will miss this so much when we return to the chilly UK next week. The morning passed by quickly. I read a bit, did some more daily admin and got Karen and myself some frequent drinks. Neil lay listening to things on his phone.
It was time also for another holiday haircut and shave to make myself even more presentable for Mickey’s Christmas Party, which he had kindly invited us to this evening.
At 1pm we were in the car, setting off for The Cheesecake Factory on Vineland Road, where the plan was to have lunch and for Karen and Neil to have their annual cheesecake fill.
We were seated quickly in what was, temperature-wise, the coolest restaurant of the trip. We all ordered from the ‘lunch’ menu, which promised smaller portions. In reality, they were just normal sizes and not the gargantuan ones you get from the regular menu. I went for Fish and Chips, which was fine, but after eating it wished I had gone for my original choice of an omelette.
Karen followed this with a Low-Licious cheesecake, from which she grudgingly gave me the thinnest spoonful. Neil was much more generous with his Key Lime Pie cheesecake.
From here, we drove straight to the Magic Kingdom and paid the eye-wateringly expensive $35 parking fee. As ever, we were directed to start a new row of cars at the furthest point away from the tram stop. Why just once can’t we be the last car to fill a row?
The tram arrived quickly and we were soon on the ferry going across the lake to the Magic Kingdom entrance. We arrived at exactly 4pm, the time that Christmas Party guests were permitted to enter. It took just over 10 minutes to get into the park. I’m not sure how long it would have taken the large British family in the queue next to us, as they hadn’t bothered to download their tickets onto the mobile app and were struggling to work out how to do that.
After a quick photo stop and collecting our ‘free’ Christmas party ornaments, we made our way to do some of the attractions that would be closing early and not reopening until the party officially started at 7pm.
I enjoyed the revamped Hall of Presidents, although I thought it was mean that they had the now quite poorly Joe Biden standing when he could have been given a seat. Country Bear Jamboree made me laugh as usual.
As we walked around, I decided that I was not prepared to wait more than 20 minutes for anything, although perhaps 30 minutes for Tron, as I had only ridden that once before. I was able to achieve that on Pirates and Thunder Mountain. The latter was almost a walk-on, so Karen and Neil went on again and had returned almost before I had found somewhere to perch and wait.
Many people were dressed for the festive season and there were loads of families wandering around in matching pyjamas, and even more wearing the reduced-price Christmas T-shirts we had been seeing in Old Navy.
It was indeed a happy, jolly atmosphere, with Christmas music playing across the park, and we did start to feel slightly festive.
At 7pm, the free cookies and drinks became available at specified locations. We took a small detour to pick up our first ones and found the most ridiculous queue. It was as though there was a national cookie shortage or they were only free for the first 2,000 people. We correctly guessed that the queues would be non-existent later in the evening, and they were.
Eventually, we walked to Tron, where Neil was convinced the advertised 30-minute wait would be much shorter, and indeed it was. Karen suddenly had a change of heart as we joined the queue and decided to sit it out, without realising that she could have opted to sit in a car rather than riding on the ‘bikes’. Neil and I were allocated the back row, which pleased him. I really enjoyed the ride, especially the start, where you are blasted outside at high speed.
I also have to mention Space Mountain, which was in the midst of its Christmas makeover. I have opted out of the past couple of times we have been here to prevent jarring my back. Today, I was determined to ride it as I am fitter than I have been for a while (and yes, I have lost some weight – thank you for noticing!).
It is still a jarring, noisy ride, with loud Christmas music, and I was glad to have ridden it again. However, I felt no need to do so again, unlike Neil. He was so quick returning that Karen had only just got us a couple of teas from Joffrey’s, where there had been no queue either.
After relaxing on the PeopleMover, Karen and Neil went off to find a spot for the fireworks in front of the castle, whilst I sat in Tomorrowland in what I thought would be a prime spot. Indeed it was, as although I couldn’t see the projections on the castle, I had a perfect, unimpeded view of the fireworks.
I was then soundly thrashed by Neil on Buzz Lightyear before Karen and Neil joined the queue for the Mine Train. It had a 30-minute wait advertised, so I found somewhere to sit whilst they went off. They returned much sooner than expected, despite the ride breaking down for a while just as they got onto the train.
Our final ride of the night was Jingle Cruise, which we exited at two minutes to midnight, just as the park was about to close. We had trouble getting to it as the Christmas Parade was taking place, for which some people had been waiting ages. In trying to cross the road, we happened across a gap at the kerbside and had never had such a good vantage point. Cinderella even waved to me!
A special mention should go to the Cast Member who was organising the queue at Jingle Cruise. He was so loud and jolly and brought a smile to everyone’s face around him. I didn’t get his name, otherwise I would have nominated him for a Disney accolade.
With that, we made our way out of the park. Karen and I were amazed at how much we had achieved and felt we had missed nothing. Neil, who was in charge of where we went and when, just moaned that he had missed out on getting the special holiday hot dog. That surprised us, but then again, he is our Neil!
We got the ferry back and the tram was waiting for us. We were back in the villa just before 1am and I went straight to bed, leaving Karen to make her cuppa and Neil presumably trying to make up for his missed hot dog.
A great day. Thanks for the invite to the party, Mickey, although perhaps next time don’t ask us to pay quite so much for the tickets!
