Magic Kingdom Again

We were able to finally, finally get fastpasses for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, so we went back to Magic Kingdom this afternoon. When I went to go pack my purse I found not one, but three stowaways this time.

I guess word got out from last time. 

 

We also had fastpasses for Peter Pan's Flight, and hoo boy did we need them. Pan's Flight is one of the rides that fills up fast. When we got off, the wait time was already up to 80 minutes! Unfortunately, the fastpass lane doesn't even go by the new interactive queue Disney World put in for Pan's Flight, which was mainly why we went. On the other hand though, I did get a good photo of Ted's new Mickey ears.

 

It took awhile, but I've finally earned my ears!

 

While we were waiting for our Mine Train fastpasses to come around, we searched around for some photo-ops for Ted. Right next to the Carousel is the Sir Mickey's gift shop.

 

I might need a boost up.

 

We followed the outskirts of Fantasyland and turned a corner into Liberty Square, which is tucked in between Fantasyland and Frontierland.

 

 

When it got close to our allotted time we looped back around to Fantasyland and browsed for a bit in the Hundred Acre Goods shop right across from the Mine Trains. Ted took the chance to meet a fellow bear, and Eeyore introduced him to an old friend.

 

Now if only we had some honey...

So many Tiggers! I'm exhausted just looking at all of them.

 

After we rode Mine Train, we happened to be in the right place at the right time and saw a couple of characters that I don't think I've ever seen out in the parks.

 

What is it about this place that makes the mice grow so big?

 

The one in blue is Suzy, and the purple dressed one is Perla, according to the Disney wiki. We passed the Fairy Godmother on our way to their greet spot, and when I went back around, the Fairy Godmother was gone. I realized they were probably taking over so the Godmother could go on her break or retire for the day. Afterwards, we got an early dinner at the Pinnochio Village Haus and called it a day.

 

Mickey came out to ride the monorail and almost promptly fell off his seat when it started up.

 

Next park we visit will almost certainly be Epcot again, since we've pretty much got our fill of the Magic Kingdom for now. If there's any photo-ops you guys want to see Ted pose in front of, speak up in the comments!

Valentine's Day and New Plans

Happy (belated) Valentine's day!

Dark chocolate + raspberry = one happy bear.

We spent the day just hanging out at the house and munching on snacks. Earlier this week, I was digging through some stuff and I found my old autograph book from one of our trips to Disneyland.

I also have at least one from Disney World, although I don't know where it ended up. There's still plenty of room in this one, though-and next time we go to one of the parks, we might be buying Ted his very own!

So as long as we're not interfering with anybody else's experience, Ted can start his own autograph collection.

Behind the Scenes

I have some free time this afternoon, so I figured I'd work on Ted's blog a bit more. :)

Usually when I publish a post on here, I have to filter out a lot of photos that, for one reason or another, didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. When I take a posed picture of Ted-say in front of the Magic Kingdom entrance for example-I usually take a few photos back to back. Some of them turn out really nice and clear, so when I go to write up the post I have a few to choose from for that bit. From those, I generally look for images that show Ted as more than a bear face peeking up over the bottom, or ones where he isn't obscuring the point of interest.

The ones on the left here are some of the snapshots that didn't make the cut, as they either covered the focus point or cut off Ted. These were all taken at different points, since we were walking up to the entrance and I was trying not hold up the crowd behind us. Often times I'll only have time to take one or two photos if I want to keep up with everybody or if there are other people who need to get by me.











Sometimes, I'll be sitting down on an attraction seat and have to take photos of Ted at a weird angle. This is one of the reasons why even though I brought along my Dumbo tsum tsum this past Saturday, he only got two pictures in the blog.

 

Another issue that tends to present itself is when the points of interest are too far away and/or there's a glare preventing them from showing up on the camera. Like when we took the ferry into the magic kingdom, and tried to get a picture of Ted closing in on the castle. Operative word here being "tried".



These are just a few of the outtakes that are weeded out during the writing process-some are deleted straight off the camera, and others have to be edited a bit before I can see if they show up as well as I'd hoped they would. Most of the time, the photos that make it onto the finished post are lightened/darkened somewhat to make them easier to see. This is why Ted's fur comes off as a light mocha color in some photos, and in others it retains it's gold-brown.

Magic Kingdom Take Two! Continued.

Next up on the itinerary was Big Thunder Mountain, so we cut through Liberty Square to Frontierland. On the way, we passed the giant carousel in the middle of the old part of Fantasyland. There's a replica of the Sword in the Stone in front of it, and there used to be a show with Merlin that was performed there. Unfortunately, the show is long gone, but thankfully the sword remains!

And heave! ...Nope, couldn't do it.

 

I don't think this ride was meant for teddy bears.

You know what? I'll just wait out here.

 

After Big Thunder, we hopped on the train and rode a circuit around the park, since it was back up and running. There's another pressed penny machine directly under the Frontierland station entrance that I've been wanting to check out, so I got another coin.

 

Now this train I feel much safer on.

 

After, we started to get snack-ish again, and it was getting late so we made our way back to Main Street. We stopped in the Briar Patch gift shop on our way to dessert and browsed for a bit.

This looks promising. I'll just rest here while you guys shop.

I found another cousin!

 

 

 

Wake me up when we get to the TTC.

 

By the time we managed to get out to our car, we were more than ready to call it a day. There's still more I'd have liked to do, so Ted will be definitely be making more return trips.

 

Magic Kingdom Take Two!

We went over to Magic Kingdom again this afternoon, and Ted finally got to see it in the daytime! He wasn't alone, either-I discovered a stowaway as I was packing my purse.

Looks like Dumbo found out we were bringing along peanut butter cookies and decided to join in.

 

Almost there! I can hear the train!

 

We had fastpasses for Space Mountain first, so we headed over there once we got in. On our way out, I spotted a pressed penny machine in the gift shop. It's one of the hand cranked ones, where you have to line up the design before you push the coins in the slot.

 

I might need some help with the handle...

 

Afterwards we made our way through Fantasyland. The wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was over an hour and half, so we passed and ended up in Storybook Circus.

 

No way my feet could fill those tracks.

Where's a magic feather when you need one?

 

Even Dumbo got in on the act.

 

 

I was able to snap a few pictures on our way out of Fantasyland. Unfortunately the Little Mermaid ride is already under refurbishment; we think there might be technical issues or something of the sort.

 

Are you sure we don't have to get in the water to visit Ariel?

 

 

 

Yes, I'd like some salmon, please.

 

On our way past Cinderella's castle, we passed by a familiar, yet rarely seen face. Last time I saw her out and about in the parks was when I was little and still collecting characters' autographs.

 

I wonder if she'd be my fairy godmother...

 

There's a lot more pictures, so I'll be continuing this in another post.