The Most Magical Place on Earth

We're back from Disney World!

We all had a really good time. Yes, even me thanks to a hot tip from reader Sarabeth about the funnel cakes at Sleepy Hollow. They were by far my favorite Disney ride—slow-moving and delicious!



(I'm like a bird of prey tearing apart a carcass, all business and talons. Do NOT try to get between me and my funnel cakes.)

Together with Husband, the 10YO conquered Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Soarin', Epcot's high-flying hang-glider simulator. The 8YO and I decided to sit those out. After a rocky start on a Star Wars flight simulator on the first day, the 8YO refused to go on any more rides involving: 1. Darkness; 2. Speed; and 3. Loud Noises. Can't say that I blame him. That left him and I to our own devices on the more subdued PeopleMover, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Innoventions pavilion at Epcot where we learned all about saving money, diversification, and inflation. The 8YO enjoyed the piggy bank activity more than I thought he would, but I don't think the financial lessons really sunk in. That's okay. I find any advice about fiscal restraint given by the Disney Corporation to be highly suspect.

Other things we enjoyed: eating in the different countries at Epcot (Japan, Germany, Norway), the safari tour and exotic bird show at Animal Kingdom, and the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (a sort of animated audience-participation improv show, which proved highly entertaining with the right audience). Husband particularly liked Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, a target-shooting game. He racked up hundreds of thousands of points, more than the kids and I combined plus the people in the three cars behind us. The second time around, he doubled his score while the rest of us showed no significant improvement. I asked if he had any tips. Are there higher scoring targets somewhere I don't know about or some special technique besides, as he suggested, "just being awesome"? Nope. I'm a terrible shot, plain and simple. Here's a tip for you: in any kind of extreme survival scenario where we need to bear arms, be sure to stay far, far away from me.

Maybe you already know this, but everyone is so unbelievably happy at Disney World, it's ridiculous. The kids are happy, the adults are happy, even the groundskeepers seem totally psyched to pick up trash off the street. It was a little contagious. After the 15th time someone addressed me as "Princess" and told me to "Have a magical day," instead of punching them (my first instinct), I was all, "YES, I WILL HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!! BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE A MAGICAL DAY, TOO!!!" And then I jumped and clicked my heels together without the slightest hint of sarcasm. (Needless to say, this attitude wore off as soon as we returned to Logan, so we're back to nobody calling me "Princess" unless they want to be punched, just FYI.)

What else? Oh, the kids got to have their pictures taken with Phineas and Ferb at Hollywood Studios. I did NOT get to meet the real-live Perry the Platypus. He was nowhere to be found. I even checked the shark tank at Epcot in case they made a terrible mistake. But the 8YO found some pretty sweet Perry the Platy-mouse ears so I took a picture with him instead.

Turns out mid-November is a good time to go to Disney. True, you have to put up with Christmas decorations everywhere and the incessant carols, but the weather was still warm enough for the kids to swim everyday in the giant Nemo-themed pool at our resort. The parks weren't overly crowded and, thanks to Husband's excellent planning with the fast passes, we barely waited in any lines at all. No lines = magic. No lines + funnel cakes + margaritas by the pool with a copy of Hyperbole and a Half = MAGIC!!!

But enough yammering on. I hear there's a raffle to be won, so let's cut to the chase. The winners of the signed copies of my book WINTERSWEET are:

Blaine (commenter 21)
Amy (commenter 5)
NurseJen (commenter 19)
Millie (commenter 20)

I know the numbers seem clustered together, but Random.org assures me that that's how actual randomness works. "Random" does not mean numbers evenly scattered across a defined range. It means that anything can happen, even three people in a row. (And since I recognize the winners as long-time readers, I'm fine with that.)

But weren't there supposed to be five winners, Tammy? Five? Did you leave your ability to count at the Magic Kingdom along with all of your money?

No, smarties, the fifth and final winner was handpicked by me because without those funnel cakes, the Magic Kingdom would have been much less magical (for me anyway). Therefore, the fifth winner is:

Sarabeth (commenter number 13)

Winners, I'll be in touch. And thanks to everyone for all the nice compliments about my appearance. I don't know what possessed all of you, but I feel as pretty as a…well...princess!

Ow!!! I just punched myself! Stupid reflex.

Happy Thanksgivukkah!!

Comments

[Cheryl]

November is generally when we have perfect weather - although it has been a bit warm lately. I was on a south FL road trip while you were here in Orlando and all we did was complain about the heat - it was in the mid 80's every day and that is just not right for November! Usually I can cook Thanksgiving dinner with windows open and ceiling fans running but I may have to close things up and run the air conditioning this year.

Glad you enjoyed your trip.

[Millie]

The best Thanksgivukah news ever! I've really been wanting your book!

[NurseJen]

Omigosh omigosh omigosh!! Tammy Donroe picked ME?!?!? (or her cyperbot random-thingie, whatevs.)

I'm so excited I could plotz!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. My one experience with Disney left me wanting to drink, smoke, and curse a lot just to counter-act all the nice.

No one, ever, called me princess. I guess they instinctively knew better...

[Sarabeth]

This news is even more magical than a funnel cake, o pretty pretty princess!! Mille grazie!! Was just at Brookline Booksmith and the book is on face-out display, by the way, quite eye-catching.
So glad you had a good time and good weather.
Beth