Hi Beth! Happy belated Birthday!!! Vicki and I had to leave this morning (Sunday), so we're back. Everyone else is at WCT having a fun lunch now.
Angie, we were so sorry we didn't get more time with you because you were so sweet. I hope you come to more meets, maybe the Feb meet?
She has the cutest little girl.
Jill, we had a great time hanging with you at the TOT party. I could hardly recognize you out of costume at the Plaza! (we had to dash off about when you came).
Vicki and I drove down on Friday morning and went to Hojo's. We got our room assigment and gave them our bags to hold and then made it to Storyteller's. Everyone was there early! We loved seeing Miss Sally, who amazingly looks younger than last Feb. I want what she's drinking. The lovely Dawn managed to look fresh even though she had worked so hard decorating the tables so beautifully (someone will have pics). She also had assembled fabulous gift basket favors with an adorable Dot plush on top. A lot of love and thought went into those. She even customized different ones for the teens and kids.
It was great to see people I haven't seen since last Feb - Tina and her mom Donna, Theresa (there with her personable son Jessie), Deb, Wendy. I've been lucky enough to see some of the others at different meets - Katie (and her three kids), Mary Jo and her daughter, Jane, Cristabel, Stacierita (and her mom), Linda and the always gorgeous Bree, Melody (and her daughter) and Stacielee (and her daughter) and Brandy and Cheryl. If I have forgotten anyone, please chime in.
Miss Sally had a gorgeous and delicious cake (no wires), and opened some wonderful presents, including at least three or four crosses for her wall collection. None of the styles were duplicated! She also received a gift card and some cowboy fun stuff, and other goodies. We sang Happy Birthday after the restaurant sang some non birthday Disney song but wanted to say that service was very pleasant and the food yummy.
Then Mary Jo and Tina's party had to dash to go meet a legend which I'm sure they'll talk about. Most of the rest of us had to go back to our hotels to get ready for the TOT party. We met up with Cheryl and Jill for a light snack before walking to find the others. It had turned dark by then, which helped a lot. Walking from Hojo's in costume, in the sunlight, is a weird experience.
Photos were taken - some of the highlights off the top of my head were Melody as an adorable Annette, Cristabel as Jack Skellington, Jane as Minnie with a black nose, Vicki as the Candy Corn witch, Bree as a poker card dealer and the most amazing - Miss Sally as the Queen of Hearts and Dawn as the white rabbit - all made from materials they had in their house and with hot glue!!!!! Wait till you see those pics - oh, everyone looked great, really! We got a lot of compliments from CMs. Stacierita came by with her entire family all as Top Gun fighter pilots.
It was not very crowded, just right, even though the event was sold out. I'm glad they don't pack it.
We trick or treated by following Cheryl who had done this before, then all 11 of us went on Toy Story Mania. It was Miss Sally and Dawn's first time. Unfortunately, Miss Sally hurt her back on it
- I don't think she knew until the next day because we didn't hear about it until then. Some photos were taken with princesses, etc. and then most of the group headed back to their hotel.
Vicki, Jill and I continued on to the Animation building. Every CM would stop and say,"I found you!" to Jill who was dressed as "Where's Waldo." Very clever. The three of us had a great time sitting on the Hollywood street watching costumes go by. One of our favs was a family of Pinocchio characters, including a puppet. Another was Lucy from I Love Lucy and some little girl pirates.
Finally, around 11ish, we headed back to our hotel (the party ended at 11:30). It was not cold at all, just right.
On Sat morning we had a leisurely start, making it over to the park around 11:30. We ran into several of the divas and that's where we saw Miss Sally and heard about her back. We worked out with Cheryl how we'd meet up the rest of the day, which was perfect.
We were sorry to hear that both Wendy and Theresa were sick and back at their hotel after eating fruit at breakfast (I forget where).
Vicki and I grabbed fast passes for HM and then divas met up at Billy Hill. We had tables in the front and held them for everyone to arrive. We got to meet several newer divas, including Betty and two or three others who will post here. It was very noisy in that hall so it was hard to hear, but it was so great to have some newcomers. I hope we will get to see more of all of you!!
Marty was just fantastic from the front row. Oh, he is so talented. You really appreciate his skill - playing while clowning, while moving - and always keeping it fresh. He knows Tina of course, and he commented how he has a lot of female fans, and said large groups of them, all ages... while looking at all of us. We were in stitches. After, because of Tina, he came out for photos. What a sweetheart he is. Thank you, Tina (and Tina's husband)!
We sort of broke into groups then. Vicki and I went to ride HM (my first time seeing the NBC overlay), we found the bride monkey - our car stopped there. If you've never seen this Halloween HM, go see it! After, we bumped into Mary Jo, Cristabel and one of the new divas (who will post <s>). It was so much fun running into people in the park.
We had a fastpass for Buzz so we did that once, and eventually met up with Cheryl, Linda, and Cristabel so Vicki could join them on Ghost Galaxy with fps. I waited and talked to Kelly and her husband and their two picture perfect redheaded girls.
It was time to meet up at the Plaza Pavillion for dinner. The servers there seem to be understaffed and overworked because we had one of the grumpiest girls ever. She cleared a table at someone's request, but decided not to wipe it (and it was really messy). Cheryl also had an issue with one of the servers inside.
Anyway, the chicken was delicious - really good. Vicki and I split a dinner since we were headed off to eat again the first Fantasmic dessert seating. We didn't get to socialize much at the Plaza, but a lot of people showed up eventually. Shane (Kelly's husband) was a terrrific sport about helping us move chairs and hold seats at both Billy Hills and Plaza.
About 6:50, we took Cheryl and Linda's tickets and headed out. Only we hit the parade re-routing which was the worst ever. They made us go all the way around the top end of the Matterhorn to get to NOsq. We were rushing in the thick crowd and eventually made it to the line. Who should be second in line but Stacielee! I asked the CM if we could pick out seats for our two friends and although it should only be the one party name, he said that would be fine. But when I asked if Stacielee could pick our seats, he said that would be too much - he said it with a lovely smile though, he was a cutie.
So we were about 7th or 8th in line. And some of those in front were doing the 10:30 show. But several were representing larger parties. Anyway, Cheryl and Linda made it to join us. When we got our assignments, we were able to get front row, a little left of center. Not the very best but darned close. We returned fifteen minutes later for our actual seating and were happy to be finally in our front row seats with our goodie tray (which now is a smaller container with the same amount of food but there is no place for your drink).
We put our sweatshirts on as it was a bit cool then. The hot chocolate was very watery and our server couldn't figure out what we meant when we said to make it with less water. Otherwise, the tray is the same - I personally find the lemon square and the chocolate dessert inedible, but love the cookie and the cheesecake is fine. The truffles are good and the cheese, grapes and crackers are all good.
The show was terrific, I liked seeing the dragon finally although he/she didn't meet my expectations of rising out of the water and breathing fire. <s> But the big thrill was the fw show after. We could see Zero flying and they had the music there, so we heard all the sounds. There were added visuals on the water sprays and we enjoyed the fabulous fireworks while comfortably seated, looking straight ahead. It was really special and we all felt this made the seating well worth it. (thank you...
)
After, we had a wonderful plan to avoid the post-Fantasmic crowd. We had fps to HM.
We looked for Katie, who was also going to HM, but the crowds were so intense, there was no place to wait with the
scooter, so we had to go inside. Katie, did you get on?
We let Linda and Cheryl ride on the left side of the cars so they could see the Monkey Bride for the first time!!!
We then headed home. Vicki and I got a piece of the pumpkin fudge to try. Back in the room, we sliced a tiny bit of it, as it was very sweet. But it is nice and pumpkiny. I'm sure we can figure out that recipe.
This morning we saw Cristabel as we were checking out. We told her to say goodbye to everyone for us and for Wendy and Theresa to let the restaurant know what happened to them.
It was a wonderful meet and we were especially happy to meet the new divas. Beth, I hope you had a terrific birthday with your family. You were missed here!
I could not attend the lunch due to work....but met up with everybody for dinner and the Mickey TOT party! Everybody RAVED about the lunch and said it was a huge success
Had fun at the party last night....lots of great costumes, although it was sold out, I didn't think the crowds were bad at the party. Went on Toy Story Mania. Took pic's and nabbed a bag of candy
Its was fun to see everybody...and although many groups broke off to go on rides or hang with their family....we were able to re-meet up with everybody through the night while walking around.
Off to work today and then will meet up with everybody at Plaza Inn for dinner & fireworks
Thanks Angie!! Glad to hear you had a nice lunch. The ladies are the best.
Sorry the crowds were bad. Guess everyone loves Halloween!!
Can't wait to hear how last night's party and Miss Sally's lunch went.
Thank you ladies for making me feel so welcome today at lunch. It was great to meet you all!
I hope you all had a great time at the Halloween party and enjoy the rest of your trip.
We were in Disneyland until around 8pm, the crowds were the worst we'd ever seen. I can't imagine having our whole trip like that
Beth: I wish you could have come for your birthday but I understand having to do the responsible thing. I hope you had a nice day with your family instead.
Angie
I need to pack up my sister's costume, my wallet, my camera.
