Just tooting my own psychic horn – sadly. Sadly tooting. Toot, toot. I wish I had a Salty Caramel cupcake right now. Sniffle!!! 
3 Likes
I thought of you when I saw the announcement, only I couldn’t remember who it was I was thinking of. 
I remembered someone talking about loving Sprinkles recently…and was sad for them when I heard the news, but genuinely couldn’t think of who that person was or if it was an in person or online convo.
2 Likes
Day 2 (October 25, 2025), Afternoon/Evening
When last we met our erstwhile birthday girl, she was leaving beautiful Epcot and heading back to the All Star Movies resort full of iced coffee and Tears for Fears ringing in her ears. I was tired! I’ve always, always been a great believer in naps, and when I first read the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (1996 edition), I was thrilled to find out that “experts” recommended taking a nap in the middle of the day! Yay! Look at that! It’s the official unofficial recommendation!!!
But I also thought I should eat something with protein, so when I arrived at the resort, I mobile-ordered a kids’ meal of chicken strips … which I apparently didn’t take a picture of. Unbelievable! What a massive loser I am. The kids’ meal is the right size for people whose doctors prescribed Ozempic. I couldn’t even finish that lunch. Well, it really hadn’t been long since I had eaten at France! And then there was coffee! But I tried, and that’s what counts. Eat the chicken, not the fries. Disney now has very good chicken strips. Remember 1998? Terrible chicken strips! Worse honey mustard! In that context, the modern state of Disney fast food is a great relief.
I paused for a bit at the resort and took a couple of selfies with the big Toy Story props. They’re so photogenic!!! I know everyone does this, but it’s just irresistible when you’re right there next to the giant door and the huge alphabet blocks!
(Yes, it was too sunny to take pics; I took ‘em, anyway.) 
Back at the room, I dialed up the Resort TV and found Happily Ever After On Demand. I love those fireworks. Can’t get enough of them. I also love Fantasy in the Sky and the original IllumiNations, both of which apparently happen on New Year’s Eve. That fact is the first thing that has ever made me think I might want to put up with holiday crowds just for those fireworks.
(But of course, the best fireworks were IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and I could actually cry over never seeing that globe glide out onto the World Showcase Lagoon ever again.)
…
…OK, many weeks later, I really need to just bang this trip report out. I’m sorry. I prefer to write, really write, but I’m gonna forget what was awesome if I don’t get it put down in print.
So. When last we met – blah blah blah, I had eaten a couple of tasty chicken strips and just a couple of french fries, sipped a beverage, and put on Happily Ever After on the TV for a quick nap. And it was quick! I was up and at 'em by 2:30, and this time I found the short cut through the trees to the bus stop. Woo hoo! On my way to Animal Kingdom!
Woodrow texted me and asked me to let him know when the bus arrived, so I sent him a photograph of the Animal Kingdom sign at the Animal Kingdom bus stop --3:15! I made my way in and through the Oasis, and soon I was crossing the bridge to Discovery Island. From that vantage point, I could see Woodrow to the left of the tree – like, between the Tree of Life and Island Mercantile, there he was in all his turquoise and black Coordinator of Training glory.
I had never seen Woody on stage in his costume, so I burst into tears as I approached him, and he held his arms wide for a big old Mama hug. We hugged; I hiccupped and tried to stop crying; he laughed at me, etc. Basic greetings, y’know. After I dried my tears, we took a selfie, and then Woodrow escorted me through the park to Kilimanjaro Safaris where I got into a short line and he went back to work.
The safari was a walk-on, and soon I was on a truck and riding through. It was a good ride! I could understand almost every word the driver said! It was late enough in the day that I had a whole bench to myself. No lions, but it was still a very good safari!
Next I made my way toward Asia. First I was stopped by the new sitar player and his accompanying drummer. That was a good show. I watched three songs and would have stayed longer, but they wrapped up. Then I backtracked to Mr. Kumal’s and finally got the dumplings I’ve been meaning to get for the last four years. No room for fries! But I gave the CM one of my little ducks, and she gave me a giant Diet Coke. LOL!
I backtracked to the shelter on the bypass path between Africa and Asia. Twenty-five years ago, this was a smoking area. And three years before that, there was a secret path through the woods directly to Africa. I miss that foot path! It meant hopping over a little creek, and it always felt neat to know a secret in the middle of such a bustling place.
In the shelter was a woman who, like me, had been using that little shelter for rest and respite for years. We talked about what a nice day it was while I nommed on the yummy dumplings. Couldn’t finish them all, but I did enjoy them! Caught up on some text messages while I was there, and then I headed for Expedition Everest. When I arrived, though, the line was long, so I walked right past it and headed 'round past the Finding Nemo theatre and thence off to DinoLand.
I really dislike the construction walls. It makes the trek feel … long and uninteresting. When it was DinoLand, you had something fun to look at – Cementosaurus and the carnival games, Primeval Whirl, etc. I know it was not loved by most people, but it was tacky fun to me. Sigh. Anyway. Disney’s always changing. I know.
Soooooooo I made it through the boring tunnel of green walls and found myself at Dinosaur with plenty of time to kill. I got in line. It was a bit of a wait, but that was nice. It gave me time to look at the exhibits one last time.
The pre-show was quick, and soon I was giving a last look at the mayonnaise/mustard/ketchup pipes that run through the loading area. Boarded my time machine, and soon we were off in search of an iguanodon. That particular moment in the Cretaceous period certainly had bumpy roads! We found the dinosaur and brought it back to the present, and then I passed through the gift shop.
I wandered back to Discovery Island, where I swung through Island Mercantile. Sometimes I shop in Discovery Trading Company, but I usually have better luck with things that just plain appeal to me in Island Mercantile. That was not the case this day, though. I passed through without buying anything!
And at that point, I was finished with the Animal Kingdom. As I walked slowly out of the park, I decided to take a bus to Hollywood Studios to get dinner at Woody’s Lunch Box. I’d had one of the Raspberry Lunch Box Tarts in December 2024, and I had a hankerin’ for another 'un. Also, I just love Hollywood Studios. I love the mid-mod feel; I love the music, I love the movies, I love Hollywood Studios. Never disappoints! Well, that’s not true; I had a terrible birthday there in 2022. But that was then! This is now!
(OK, three or four months ago, but you know what I mean.)
I took a video of myself twirling as I walked in, and sent that to Woody, and walked around a bit. Such a pretty park as the sun sets! Then I walked to Toy Story Land, which was crowded, crowded. Lines were all long! I mobile ordered the BBQ Brisket Melt, a cup of tomato soup, a root beer float (!!!), and the Raspberry Lunch Box Tart, and by the time I got up the hill to the Lunch Box, there was no place to sit and my order was not ready yet. I walked toward Galaxy’s Edge because there were tables and chairs to one side the last time I was there, but I ran into go-away green construction walls. Oh! Somehow I didn’t know!
Back up the hill to wait outside Woody’s Lunch Box for my order, and when it was finally called, I picked up a tray. The root beer float was very messy!!! It was floating all over the dang place! I wandered around the seating area, looking in vain for a table or a chair or a trash can to dine upon.
Suddenly, waving arms caught my attention, and two young men were standing up, summoning me, and picking up their own trays. “You can have this table,” one of them said, smiling, and I smiled back and thanked them profusely. They cleaned off their detritus, wished me a nice day, and went on their way.
Of course I had ordered way, way too much food.
The sandwich I found not quite to my liking. The beef was a bit chewy; the barbecue sauce a bit too spicy. (I know. I am a wimp when it comes to hot pepper spice.) The soup was great, though, so I made a good dent in it. The root beer float was delicious!!! And sticky!!! And such a mess!!! I’m glad I got it, but I wished I had baby wipes in my hand bag!
As I was finishing up, an older gentleman and two younger men were walking around, looking for a table the way I had been just minutes earlier. It was obvious that the two younger men were developmentally challenged, and I waved to the older gentleman and called out. He heard me, saw me, and started toward me while I said I was almost finished and they could have my table.
He thanked me and told the younger men to sit down; he was going to “go find Mom.” They did as he told them, but they looked at me with a great deal of suspicion while I packed up my trash and put on my cross-body bag, LOL!!! It was truly hilarious, and I’m so glad someone has warned them about stranger danger. I just didn’t know I am so scary!!! ROFL!! I wrapped up the Raspberry Lunch Box Tart that I didn’t have room to eat, and I wished them a lovely evening and hit the road.
On my way out of Toy Story Land, Wesley texted me and asked what I was doing, so I stopped and sent him a little selfie…
… and then made my way out of the park and back to the buses. It was a gorgeous night!!! I was a little sweaty and so glad the temps were cooling off as I walked, but I was definitely happy to take a shower when I got back to the beautemous All Stars.
Woodrow texted to let me know he would meet me early, early in the morning. I had him on my reservation so we could both take advantage of Early Entry. I put on Happily Ever After again – yes, again!!! – and tucked myself in for the night. Early to rise, early to rise! I was so looking forward to the next day at the Magic Kingdom and the Halloween party. How could I possibly go to sleep?
Oh, yeah – I checked my pedometer on my phone – just over 10 miles for the day. 
I really didn’t feel it! It’s a good tired when you’ve had such a good day.
7 Likes
Ha! Most of us here would fan girl (or boy or whatever) if we saw you! I’ve got to go back and watch the twirling video…
4 Likes