Cori's Trip to Walt Disney World - The Magic Kingdom

Our first park was The Magic Kingdom. Everything that I've read says "Don't go to the Magic Kingdom on Monday!" It's the busiest day statistically, because everyone does exactly what we did; get down and checked in on Saturday and Sunday, go to the Magic Kingdom on Monday. But you know what? I was too excited. And it really wasn't that bad.

I really wanted this trip to be about doing things that I had never done before in my 5 previous trips to WDW (or had done when we went when I was 5 and I don't remember doing). It was all about new experiences, as well as getting some great inside tips to share with the followers of my Disney Trivia tumblr.

Once we got into the park we obviously walked up Main Street. We caught the Dapper Dans singing on a trolley as it passed.






We went on the Haunted Mansion first. I was taking pictures of the tombs and headstones in the graveyard at the front of the queue, when my sister went "Is that an engagement ring?" and pointed to the ground. I shouted "WHERE?!" and almost dove over the fence to get a good picture of it. I had heard that they had removed the fencepost anchor that originated the "wedding ring myth", because the people taking pictures of it were causing traffic jams at the ride's exit, but I didn't know that they had added an actual ring.

So, to find the ring, when you get in the queue, pick the longer route that takes you through the graveyard. Once you've gone through all of the mausoleums and have come back around to where you can see the front of the organ crypt, look for the green trash can in front of it, in the corner just on the other side of the fence. To the right of it, embedded in the ground, is the engagement ring. 

 

Also, don't forget to watch Madam Leota's tombstone right next to the mansion entrance. She opens her eyes and looks around.









In Tomorrowland, we rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority for the first time. It's a great place to rest your feet, as well as get some good pictures of the park from above. Although, there were some times where it went through very dark areas through the inside of Space Mountain, where you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I really didn't like that. (I really didn't like Space Mountain either. Didn't like it the last time I went on it, really didn't like it this time). We also did the Tomorrowland Speedway (the go karts on tracks). I guess if you're a little kid or you aren't old enough to drive a car yet, it's fun. For an adult who's been driving for seven years, it was boring. The cars don't go that fast, the fumes smell awful, and if it's a hot sunny day, it's intensified ten times. For an adult, it's totally skippable in my opinion.

Next we ate lunch at Casey's Corner. Since the restaurant's theme is based of of Casey at the Bat, it features classic American baseball game food; hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken fingers, french fries, etc. I had the mini corn dogs, which were kind of like pigs in a blanket, but corn dogs, and AJ had some beast of a hot dog covered in BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, and other stuff. We sat in the back of the restaurant, where they have "bleachers" set up in front of a large screen that plays old Disney sports-themed cartoons. It was really fun and I highly recommend it.

In Adventureland, I of course had to get a Dole Whip. I decided to be adventurous (it is Adventureland, after all) and got a float with orange soft serve instead of just plain vanilla. It was AMAZING, especially when the soft serve melted and the two mixed together!




We went on Pirates of the Caribbean and I said hi to George, and then told him that I totally believed in him and would love to see him. Well, the ride stopped (probably because the boats got jammed at the end or they were un/loading a handicapped person) and AJ started getting nervous, telling me that I made George stop the ride, and that he'd shown himself. I said "He didn't show himself. I wanted to actually see him." Well, the ride stopped about six more times between then and the time we got off. I guess questioning George's decision to reveal himself or not also makes him annoyed.
In total, we got stuck on 5 or 6 rides that day. Every time we did, AJ said "See? You pissed George off and then he called his other friends".



Our next "first" was riding the WDW Rail Road. I have pictures of me on the train from my first trip to WDW, but I only have a few clear memories of that trip, so it was almost like riding it for the first time. It's fun. You get to see areas of the park from above, some areas are set up with figures that go along with the area and the train's narration, and it's a quick way to jump between the front of the park, Fantasyland, and Frontierland (hint hint, it lets you off right near Splash Mountain. Go get a fast pass before they're all gone).

In Fantasyland, we could see the Fantasyland expansion going on, which, I have to admit, seeing big walls and cranes right in the middle the park sort of killed the whole "magical atmosphere" that Disney strives to create in the parks. However, they did their best to fix it. They put large renditions of the concept art for the new areas and attractions, as well as little shields with quotes by Walt Disney about imagineering and building the parks.












One of the things that I was most excited for was meeting my favorite princesses. Since I'd last been there, Rapunzel and Tiana were doing meet and greets, and I had been stalking Disney blogs and sites for the all of May trying to find out when Merida would start meet and greets. Luckily, she started the day before we left for Disney. I was so excited!
We got around to looking for Merida at around 3 o'clock; just as we heard the parade coming down Main Street. This is the PERFECT time to do things like character meet and greets or rides, because all of the little children are watching the parade. I only had to wait about 20 minutes to meet Merida, and the queue setup made it seem even shorter. She was the best face character I've ever met. She was just perfect. And the bears were adorable!

Rapunzel's queue was longer (I waited about 45 minutes), and I didn't get to see Tiana because we just ran out of time and energy. I got Rapunzel and Merida to sign my Disney Princess hat, though, and I wear it with pride.




By about seven o'clock, we were ready to go home. It was hot, and we had done a lot of walking and backtracking (that's another story). Since the rest of my family wanted to go home too, we decided to leave with them rather than staying and then having to take a taxi home (the only negative thing that I have to say about staying off property, no shuttle service). So we didn't get to do about four or five rides and I didn't get to meet Tiana. If I had to do it again, I would definitely take two days to do everything in the Magic Kingdom. I think we would have enjoyed it so much more had we not kept saying "Ok, we have to go here now, and then we have to make it back here in an hour for our fast passes, and then we need to go do this..."

My advice is, if you've only got one day, plan it out. Figure out which rides are the most important to you and the people you're going with, start at one, and work your way around. When most people enter the park, they either start in Fantasyland, because those are the rides that little kids want to go on first, or they go to the right and start out in Tomorrowland. If you head to Liberty Square or Frontierland, start there, and work your way counterclockwise around the park, you'll beat a lot of the crowds. Also, get to rides that don't offer fast passes and have ridiculously long wait times later in the day, like Pirates of the Caribbean, and ride them when the park opens and they're not crowded (That was my plan.)
And if you discuss the plan with your group and they like it, make sure that they follow it. Don't start at the Haunted Mansion and then walk all the way over to Space Mountain (like we did) because someone doesn't feel like waiting until later to ride it. Not only does it waste time and make for extra walking, it also means you're walking through the two most crowded sections of the park when they're most crowded.
Also, get a times guide. This way you'll know when the parades are (because you could be stuck on one side of the park until it's over if you don't). The guide will also tell you what time shows are and (usually) what time character meet and greets are, but always ask the cast members about that. We rushed around like crazy and ran from the back of Fantasyland all the way to the park entrance because the times guide said that Rapunzel would only be doing meet and greets until 5 o'clock, when she was really doing them until 8 o'clock.

Major Tip - Disney Mobile Magic App

If you have an iPhone or an Android, you need to download this app. It is a life saver in the parks.

The app used to only be available to Verizon customers, and only became available for the iPhone this past February. You can get the app with any carrier, but if you’re a Verizon Wireless customer, you get access to new premium features, including videos and games within the app. 

It is the ONLY official Disney parks app, and gives you GPS enabled park maps, the ability to check on or book dining reservations, as well as see menus, character meet and greet times and locations, and exact wait times for rides (this is a big one. Any other app that says it gives you wait times for the rides is usually updated by users, so it isn't going to be exact. The Disney Mobile Magic App will give you the correct wait time.)

Cori's Trip to Walt Disney World - The Off Days

The best way to start out a trip to Walt Disney World? Rest up!


Our first two days in Florida were spent at the house that we rented in Kissimmee (about a 5-10 minute drive from WDW). We had v cswbedrooms with TVs in each one (and a king sized bed in ours), a huge kitchen, living room, dining room area, and our own pool and hot tub. 

Having those first two days to just chill and get ready for the week ahead was really great. We also took another day in the middle of the week to relax, which was another great idea. After two full days in the parks, a day to rest our feet (and our sunburns) was so unbelievably beneficial. Not to mention that we got to spend the entire day with the family, and not just half of the day.

My Fitness Inspiration Picture

Shedding for the Wedding (which isn't happening for a long time but it's never too early to get started, right?)

I never really considered myself thin. I always had a little extra baby fat on my stomach and hips, and being a dancer, my thighs were always big. But it wasn't until I gained 22 lbs during the last three years of college and went to get new headshots taken that I really realized how skinny I actually was in high school. I was showing a friend at work pictures of me from 2007, because he didn't believe me when I said that I only weighed about 105 lbs when I graduated.

These photos are all from around prom and graduation. 5 years ago. I wore extra small shirts and size 2 pants.

Now I have to bring smalls and mediums into the dressing room when I try shirts on, and in pants I'm tetering on the edge of being a 6. I know to most people this sounds like I need to be told to shut up, but when you're not even 5 feet tall, it's a lot. I'm about 2 lbs over what nutrition guids say someone my height should weigh. But the problem is, none of that weight is muscle, it's all fat.

I wouldn't be so upset about it if it was just my body. I could dress to hide that. I have been for the past few years. Unfortunately, it's most evident in my face. Which means that I can't get new headshots until I lose weight.

This was my headshot from senior year of high school, and this was my headshot from senior year of college. The one from college has been retouched significantly, the one from high school has no retouching.

My biggest fear is that AJ is going to propose to me, and either someone will be there to take pictures or we'll get engagement pictures done afterwards, and all I'll see when I look at them is how fat my face was. 

So I've started dieting and exercising. I'm testing my willpower with the Special K diet, and sofar it's been going pretty well. Although I do have to admit, I'm having my period and I'm craving weird things, so I did have some pistachio ice cream and skittles for breakfast one mornig.  The exercising part, well, that could be going better. I got on the eliptical the other morning and the only thing that stopped me from getting off after five minutes was how embarrasing that would be. So I stayed on for 20 until I couldn't push myself to do anymore. I've purchased several dance workout videos, so hopefully those will be easier and more fun. I'll be able to start doing one today, since the incision on my stomach from my mole removal is finally healed. That is, if I can keep my energy up. That's my other problem; working 6 days a week at two different jobs leaves me pretty wiped out, and if I get home and sit down, it's over. I'm not getting back up. Hopefully, starting to exercise will give me more energy.

But I can already see an improvement in just my mood from taking action. I went shopping yesterday to try and finnish off a gift card by buying a shirt for Disney World, since I don't like the way most of my shirts look nowadays. I took as many as I could into the dressing room with me, and because I'd gotten so used to things not looking good, I wasn't expecting much. I ended up not even trying on the last thing I brought into the room with me, because I already found three shirts that looked great and that I wanted, and I wasn't actually planning on spending anything over what was on my gift card. I came home and modled them for AJ, and he got as excited as I was, because, as he said, it had been a long time since he'd seen me that happy.

So we'll see how things go. I'd like to lose more weight by the time we go to Disney, but that's only about 20 days away, so... like I said, we'll see. This is one of my favorite pictures of me that's ever been taken. I'd love to look like that again.

Being a Big Girl, Part 2

I was able to get my stitches out today. Thank God. They were awful.

Once the stitches were in, they put Steri-strips over them to cover them up. About an hour or so later, the lidocaine wore off and it hurt like a bitch. The biggest problem was that the incision was in such an awkward pace; just above my belly button and a little to the left. So every time I went to sit down or bend over, the Steri-strips would hit the crease in my stomach and push the cut forward. And any kind of twisting was definitely out of the question. I had to call the doctor and get a prescription pain killer the day after the surgery because I couldn't sit up.

Today, the wound still wasn't fully healed, but at least it had scabbed over so that the stitches could come out. I'm gong to have to wait to see what the final scar is going to look like.

Being a Big Girl

Today, I got plastic surgery.

No, not like that.

I had to get a mole removed. Well, I didn't have to, but I had gone to get it checked out because I was nervous about it, and the dermatologist said that he didn't think that there was anything wrong with it, but that if I was nervous about it and it would keep stressing me out, then the best thing to do would be to get it removed. Since it was a flat mole and not a raised one like the one on my back that I'd had removed a few years earlier, getting it removed would require stitches, so he forwarded me along to the office's plastic surgen.

I went to the apointment by myself, even though my mom and AJ both said that they would come with me. I took the lidocaine injections like a champ, even though I hate needles, they stuck me about 7 different times, and each one burned worse than the last. I spent most of the time gripping the sides of the hospital gown in my fists and tensing up my feet and my legs so hard that they started shaking. Once I was numbed, the process of removing the mole and getting the stitches didn't hurt, it just felt really weird. I could feel them removing the skin, and I could feel the stitches tugging at the skin, but it was more like someone pulling your hair: Your hair dosen't feel it, but the scalp that it's attatched to does.

But I'm very proud of myself for doing it all on my own. My senior year of high school, I was sitting on the table in the doctors office crying because she had given me three shots in the same visit. .

I'm a big girl now :)