Backstage Magic - Day 5

Okay today started horribly early with breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. You would not believe the food -- ice cream, PB&J pizza, cupcakes, creme brulee french toast, oh yes and eggs and bacon and ordinary breakfast stuff. I had a cupcake. Peter Pan stopped by and said I would throw all that good food under the table and go and get cookies and ice cream.

Then while we were all still numb from being up so early we plodded into DCA 2 hours before anybody else. Seeing the parks that early and complete empty of guests was astounding. Now I am REALLY spoiled.

Our first stop was Soarin' Over California where half the group got to go down under the screen and watch while the other half of the group rode the ride and then we switched locations. That is such an awesome ride. Then she showed us some IMAX film which is shown on a screen which is 60 x 80 feet and they showed us the crystals which blow on you during the ride fir, ocean and oranges. The orange smell is definitely the most prevalent smell and you can smell it everywhere on the ride in the line, in the backstage areas and coming out of the ride. But it is not an unpleasant smell so I guess it's okay.

Next was a private Turtle Talk with Crush -- CHAW DUDE!!! -- which was really fun. I don't know how they do it but Tom does so if you want to know ask him. But it was fun.

Next we went on Tower of Terror -- we all got in the elevator (there are 15 of us) and then all but 6 of us got off and walked down the stairs rather than ride the ride. I don't know if they gave us a special ride but it was awesome. I love that ride.

After that we were on our own so Tom was all energetic and wanted to ride on things and I was all bent and tired and cranky so we (I) crawled back to to the hotel and I took a nap for 3 hours and then I felt much better.

Then we went back to the Vineyard Room and ran into one of the people who run the Food & Wine Festivals and it was so nice to see her and then we went to our farewell dinner. It was amazing. The food was delicious and they had a Disney animator who attended and did a portrait for everyone of their favorite character. Since Tom didn't have a professed favorite I commandeered his selection and got a drawing of Maleficent AND the dragon. We'll frame it and hang it in the house. Then they showed us a slide show of photos which Robyn took during the trip and darned if it didn't make me cry.

Then we were going to have a private viewing area for the fireworks but we were walking out of the sound stage and I took a swan dive onto the pavement. Sometimes it is good to be chubby but a very nice young man came and helped me up (with Tom) and I am completely fine although I will report again tomorrow after I sleep.

We walked over and went to a new movie they have with Steve Martin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and ran into some people from our group -- they are very nice and we are going to miss them.

Then the fireworks. We got to sit in a private area and watch them. The fireworks were awesome but the part that made me laugh was when they told this woman that she had to move because she was blocking the walkway and she said "I'm not blocking I'm watching the fireworks."

We are almost through with the tour -- I believe that we have met some new friends who will always be friends probably through our mutual love of Disney.

We have one more breakfast at 7 AM tomorrow. Then we pack and go home. I do not know how I am going to go to work on Monday -- I'm exhausted. Yeah, yeah, I know you all feel really sorry for me. This has been an incredible tour. And when we get home our house should be clean and newly painted. Yay!!!!

Talk to you all soon!!

Love you!!
Christy