When we were preparing for this
MNSSHP, I had visions of the 17 of us proudly walking into the Magic Kingdom in our matching Mouseketeer outfits, and marching right up to the standby line for Mickey Mouse, to get our photos taken with him before our Fastpass windows opened up. Well, none of that happened.
Here's my costume, ready to go!
I had put out the word to everyone to try to be ready by 3:00 to head over to the Poly's monorail, giving us enough time to walk, navigate through the Poly, go through security, take the monorail, and be at the entrance gate at 3:45.
With various parties among our large group, some going to the parks that day, some napping, and some at the pool, it was like herding cats. I quickly revised our plans to just getting the four of us there at that time, and even those plans were doomed.
My sister, Mom and I were getting ready but niece was AWOL at the pools with the little kids. She was a darling to pay so much attention to them, and I'm sure it was a great help to their caretakers to have her around. And I mentioned that the pools were a looooong way away from our rooms - preventing my sis or I from quickly jetting down there to retrieve her. I had asked her to be back by 2:30, but she's only a kid herself, and whatcha gonna do?
We tried calling and texting our thirtysomething nephew who was also at the pool, to no avail. 3:00 came and went, three of us were ready, and no niece. As a planner, this was just killing me. As an aunt, I sucked it up and just went with it, not wanting to spoil the beginning of our night. She got back about 3:30 or so, got ready, and we actually entered the party at 5:15. So instead of 17 of us at 3:45, I barely managed to get 4 of us there at 5:15. The best laid plans!
But were were HERE! The two parties were the only time I'd be at Disney parks this trip, so I was psyched! Because we were so late, meeting Mickey was not an option. We took a few photos at the bypass:
My sister was "Darlene", the naughtiest Mouseketeer in snakeskin capris, fake tattoos and a side ponytail; my niece went for "Cubby!
There are very few photos of me from that night, but I shot a selfie on the monorail. I usually don't wear my hair this long in the summer, but kept it that way so I could braid it for this event.
It was a pretty busy party, I would guess: the final party with CM tickets, the final party you could use military tickets, and on a Sunday. Still didn't seem too bad, until we were at the Tuesday 9/26 party which was TRULY a light crowd!
Next up: Fast passes!