My Extremely Late, Picture Filled, May-June 2012 Trip Report.

First of all, sorry I am so late starting this trip report. For whatever reason, I just wasn't in the mood to post. I have slowly been uploading the pictures. That the was the first issue I ran into. On my previous reports I used ImageShack for my pictures, well I have met my limit with them. So, I started looking into other sites for uploading my pictures. I looked at Flickr, I do like them, but I can't upload enough pictures on there without paying. At this time, I don't want to pay for uploading my pictures. I tried a few others, but everything was so limiting. I finally decided on PhotoBucket. We will see how this goes. If anyone has suggestions on better places to upload pictures, let me know. Now on to the trip report.

The cast and crew.

First off, ME! Almost every picture of me is with one character or another. Either that or a PhotoPass picture.

My Mom and Dad, our first morning, heading to Magic Kingdom.

Sarah, with her favorite.

Charlie, right after he tasted Beverly for the first time.

Melanie, my favorite of her from this trip.


This trip took place from May 24th thru June 7th. We took two days to drive there and two days to drive back. We had a total of ten days in the parks with one off day. I bought my first Annual Pass and Tables In Wonderland card. The TiW card came in handy, saved us a nice chunk of change. We stayed at Pop Century, my favorite.

This report will be picture heavy and light on words. I am leaving in less than 30 days for the next trip and I would like to be finished with this one first. Hope you tag along!

 

[jesemeca]

Next we went on our safari.

 

[jesemeca]

We walked through one of the trails. I don't remember which one though.

I liked the gorilla, it was like he was messing with us.

Devine!

 

[jesemeca]

Mt. Everest.

Let's go find Nemo!

 

[jesemeca]

My sister loves Primeval Whirl, so we made our way over to DinoRama for her.

Squirrel!

Lion King was our last stop for the day. The tumbler monkeys are my favorite.

 

[jesemeca]

I love pink flamingos!

My brother took a nap on the empty bus.

We took the bus from Animal Kingdom to Art of Animation since it opened today. It really looks awesome.

Mickey Mouse hanging by the pool.

 

[jesemeca]

Around 8pm I headed out to Magic Kingdom on my own. I went for one last ride on Snow White. I started the night by roaming around for a little while and then made my to the long line for the ride. After my last ride ever, I found a spot and watched Wishes.

Goodbye Snow White!

 

[jesemeca]

Snow White's Scary Adventure was closing tonight and I wanted to be there to see it. I stayed until closing so I could watch a special boy named Ben, take the last ride ever on Snow White's Scary Adventure. After Wishes was over, the Cast Members were trying to get everyone to leave the area. They told us that it would not be opening any time soon, we needed to go around, through Tomorrowland. After maybe the third time telling us this, they finally caught on that we weren't going anywhere. We were all waiting for the same thing. While standing around, waiting for the line to end, I started chatting with the people around me. I meet a Jungle Cruise Skipper, who had been at work since opening that morning, that stuck around just to see this. I met many Cast Members that were off that night that came back to watch. I met a mother and son, locals, who were there for the same reason. Most of us didn't even know Ben, but we knew his story and wanted to be there, to be a part of it. As the last few mine carts came through, we all watched some of the last riders cheer and some cry. After the last group came out, they marked the mine cart and rotated the carts through. Once we saw the cone come back out, it was finally time. We all watched as Ben and his family boarded their mine cart for the last time. We cheered as they went in. As each cart came out, we all held our breath, waiting for Ben and his family to make there exit. And when they did, we clapped and cheered and cried for what seems like forever. Everyone had smiles on there faces, realizing what we all just watched. I have never felt so a part of something, without even knowing anyone else there. The crowd still didn't thin out any, we all kinda hung around. Eventually, they started directing us toward Main St. Where I hung around a little while, soaking up the feeling and emotions of tonight. I don't know any of you will read this, but I will say it anyway. Thank you, to Ben, his family, the Cast Members (both on and off that night) and all the other guests that were in Fantasyland that night. That night, that feeling, that atmosphere is what Walt Disney World is all about to me. We were a group of people, who didn't know each other, all coming together for that moment. I will forever be grateful that I got to be a part of that moment.

I took the bus to Art of Animation, since they only had a few people in line, and the Pop bus was at least three busses deep.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Loving your TR-im totally connecting to it since we were there a few weeks prior to you. Love all your character pictures as well as the AK gorillas!!! We spend about an hour just watching them they were so animated.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Great story about watching Ben do the final SWSA ride! I would've loved to be there for it and, like you, would've been sucked into the story of it all and found myself emotional. So cool you got to ride it on it's last day!

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

Your pictures from AK are making me miss it, haven't had a chance to get there since Jan 2011...its just been shortish trips since then. So November finally making our way back there!

Beautiful about being there to watch Ben and his last ride. I'm really going to miss Snow White's Scary Adventures. It was always great to go on it since there was never a line. The little mine carts were my favorite! But excited for new things!

 

[Tiggerific]

Ahhh ill be at disney the 27th to the 4th at pop too with my mom @DawnBerg

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Great report, Jess! Your pictures are great and I loved the Ben story too. What a great moment!

 

[JenniferS]

Love, love, love the Ben story.
I shared the story with my husband as it was unfolding.
My husband who normally "gets" Disney, said: But, it's not that great of a ride.
Then I read him some of Ben's mom's posts, and he finally clued in to how momentous it was that Disney would do that for him.
Did you know Ben's back story before that night? Or did you just stumble upon the crowd? Either way, I can imagine how emotional it must have been.
Great report, by the way. Great photos too.

 

[CinderALLIE]

Just found your TR, loving all the pics.

 

[WDW_Princess24]

I hear you on the slow starts, I have been meaning to start my August report since I got back. I use photobucket for all these reports and I have never had a problem with them so hopefully it works out for you. On my last trip I also bought my first AP and TIW cards so exciting!! Love that you were all able to go together and celebrate your dad’s birthday; my sisters ::gasp:: are not Disney fans, it’s such a bummer! Keep those awesome pics coming!!

 

[jesemeca]

Loving your TR-im totally connecting to it since we were there a few weeks prior to you. Love all your character pictures as well as the AK gorillas!!! We spend about an hour just watching them they were so animated.

Thanks! I do love taking my picture with the characters. The gorilla was playing nice that day. Almost as if he was posing for us.

Great story about watching Ben do the final SWSA ride! I would've loved to be there for it and, like you, would've been sucked into the story of it all and found myself emotional. So cool you got to ride it on it's last day!

I didn't even plan on riding it that night, the line just happened to be moving pretty quickly and I had some time to waste. I get chills just thinking about being there that night.

Your pictures from AK are making me miss it, haven't had a chance to get there since Jan 2011...its just been shortish trips since then. So November finally making our way back there!

Beautiful about being there to watch Ben and his last ride. I'm really going to miss Snow White's Scary Adventures. It was always great to go on it since there was never a line. The little mine carts were my favorite! But excited for new things!

Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park, but I still enjoy it. It was just way too hot that day.

I am going to miss Snow White's Scary Adventure also. I made sure to take as many pictures as I could on the ride. Most didn't come out too good, but I still have them.

Great report, Jess! Your pictures are great and I loved the Ben story too. What a great moment!

Thanks! Ben had his own little cheering squad that night.

Just found your TR, loving all the pics.

Thanks, I am planning on posting more soon. I have a whole nother trip to report on. LOL.

Love, love, love the Ben story.
I shared the story with my husband as it was unfolding.
My husband who normally "gets" Disney, said: But, it's not that great of a ride.
Then I read him some of Ben's mom's posts, and he finally clued in to how momentous it was that Disney would do that for him.
Did you know Ben's back story before that night? Or did you just stumble upon the crowd? Either way, I can imagine how emotional it must have been.
Great report, by the way. Great photos too.

I knew about Ben's story before that night. He was the whole reason I went to Magic Kingdom that night. I wanted to be there, even if just to say I was there. The energy and emotion running through the crowd was fantastic. It makes you realize how much something so small to us, can mean so much to someone else. It may not have been the best ride ever, but to Ben it was his best ride ever.

I hear you on the slow starts, I have been meaning to start my August report since I got back. I use photobucket for all these reports and I have never had a problem with them so hopefully it works out for you. On my last trip I also bought my first AP and TIW cards so exciting!! Love that you were all able to go together and celebrate your dad’s birthday; my sisters ::gasp:: are not Disney fans, it’s such a bummer! Keep those awesome pics coming!!

Thanks! I am liking photobucket so far. I am hoping to finish this report up soon. I have another report to start also. The new one even has a few guest appearances by other WDWMagicers!

 

[jesemeca]

Time for another Magic Kingdom day. We made it in just enough time to see the opening show. I love the song "Good Morning."

It was now time for breakfast at Crystal Palace, again.

I love Mickey Waffles and Pooh's Puffed French Toast.

My view!

Off to Neverland....

...or maybe Adventureland.

 

[jesemeca]

Time for Haunted Mansion.

At this point the ride stopped, so I was able to take some longer exposure pictures. I think they came out pretty good.

Blood on the saddle.

Next we made our way to Storybook Circus.

My brother, sister and dad on The Great Goofini.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Great shot of Constance... she's hard to get between the movement and the dark!

 

[jesemeca]

Great shot of Constance... she's hard to get between the movement and the dark!

Thanks. The picture right after that one is really blurry. I just got lucky on this one.