The Longest Disney Day

On December 31, 2008 I unexpectedly spent 18 hours in the Magic Kingdom, and it was pretty. freaking. awesome.

We had spent New Year's Eve 1999 in Disney, and at that point in time you could enter the parks, leave, and come back in even if the park was at capacity, as long as you had been in before the limit of guests was reached, so when we were there again for New Year's Eve 2008 we thought great, we'll get to the Magic Kingdom early, head back to our base at the fort Wilderness Campground for dinner and a nap, and re-enter the park in time for a few more rides and the fireworks. Brilliant.

We got to the boat dock at Fort Wilderness around 7 a.m. to ensure we made it in, as we knew this was sure to be a peak day.

Lots of us had a similar idea.

Except, when we went to leave sometime in the early afternoon, we noticed that the park was already at capacity and they weren't letting anyone through the turnstiles, so we asked a cast member to verify that we could get back in later. The answer was an emphatic no. Or at least, that there was no guarantee as there had been previously. I believe we were told, and I more or less quote, that "If Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie walked up to the gate right now I couldn't let them in, that's how full we are."

We weren't dressed for a chilly evening, as we had assumed that we could grab our light jackets when we went back for dinner. We also hadn't planned on buying another meal in the parks that day. It was put to a vote. I of course voted to stay, figuring that we had come all this way and to miss the New Year's Eve celebration would be, well, lame. My brother wanted a nap (he was 16 and sort of over the family vacation). My parents offered to split up, but I was convinced that the one who left would regret it, so I talked everyone into staying. 

It was around 2 p.m. With 7 hours of fun behind us, we had 10 hours to go till the fireworks.

So we rode some more rides. 

 And watched the parade (we're not usually parade people). 

By late afternoon we were flagging. We headed for the TTA, which is always a great place to take a break. My father claimed a bench around the corner of Space Mountain, near the gift shop entrance, and laid down for a nap. As my mother, brother and I rode circuits on the TTA, we looked down on him as we passed...sound asleep amid thousands of people. 

As darkness fell, I started to get cold. While the rest of my family rode the Haunted Mansion, I happily abstained (see my previous post) and slipped into the Emporium and purchased a hoodie, which is still one of my favorite Disney souvenirs.

Around 10 p.m. people were already staking out their spots for the fireworks show. Having ridden most things twice, we grabbed a snack and hunkered down on the bride from Tomorrowland to the castle hub. And waited. I may have fallen asleep there. I know my brother did. We both laid right down on the ground. Several days going full speed at Disney had left us all ready for bed by 10-but by goodness we were going to see those fireworks. 

Disney piped party music through the park at around 11 which helped perk things up (at least for those of us who weren't already hyped up on soda and cotton candy). It seemed to work-witness below my brother and I doing the Cha-Cha Slide.

Excuse the horrible quality of this photo but it was LATE.

And then, as they do, the fireworks came. Tinkerbell came flying down from the castle tower, and we counted down to 2009 with thousands of Disney's favorite guests, and then we sleepily slogged our way back to our camper with the crowds.

Worth it.

And it was awesome. The sheer joy of being in the Most Magical Place on Earth from sunup to sundown. The absurdity of my father sleeping on a park bench, and of doing the Cha-Cha Slide on a bridge in the Magic Kingdom with my brother at 11 p.m. The camaraderie of all the guests waiting excitedly in their spots for the fireworks to start and the new year to begin. You expect certain things at Disney, most of them good. But it's those unexpected things that are truly the very best.

Even if they require several cups of coffee the next morning.

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The White House!

In college I focused my academic history interest on politics, specifically presidents. In graduate school, I focused in even more and wrote my master's thesis on the White House from a public history perspective, exploring how both presidents and the people used the building itself and its image to establish and reinforce their views of how the government should relate to the people [I could go on but very few people would care :) ].

I think, on a personal and public historian level, that it is a shame that the White House is now so closed to the general public (by understandable security necessity of course, but still unfortunate). I myself have done the public tour that one can get through their congressperson, and have always wanted to see more. The house just exudes this sense of history that is somewhat intoxicating to a public historian who specializes in politics...and the White House itself. So while I enjoyed the public tour, I always wanted more.

And I finally got to go! I went as a guest of my boss who was invited to the White House Celebration of Design cocktail event on October 8, 2014 (the day before my birthday. Best. present. ever.) Though only the public sections of the house that one usually sees on tours were open, there were no ropes to keep me from touching things (judiciously, of course. I do work in a museum after all), from wandering the rooms at my leisure, from inspecting paintings up close and taking pictures was totally allowed. It was amazing. 

Dresses worn by the FLOTUS.

Line to meet the FLOTUS.

Michelle Obama gave a speech, but I was too short to see it. Nice chandeliers though.

From my Project Runway viewing, I recognized Anna Wintour, Rachel Roy, Jason Wu, Carolina Herrera, Naomi Campbell, Cynthia Lieve, Jenna Lyons, Zac Posen and Diane von Furstenburg. I was wearing a dress made by my mother and shoes I bought from Old Navy five years ago because I am awesome.
 

I made an exception of not taking photos of famous people for Anna Wintour, because my friend was begging me to capture her image on film.

Just absolutely amazed to be there.

                            

And I took a selfie in the White House bathroom. Can you say classy?

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What to Wear to Disney

[edit: I wrote this post when I was heading to Disney in 2014. Sadly, it is January 2015 and I'm not headed to WDW]

I'm leaving for Disney in three days! 

And I'm having trouble packing. This time around I'm only going to be there for two full days, book-ended by two half days. The problem is that it is much easier for me to pack for six days than basically two. I'm a chronic over packer. Also, I haven't been to Disney in full-on summer weather in over five years-but I remember what it's like. Boy, do I remember.  Hot, humid, and very much like my own lovely Washington, D.C. in that it is quite simply not fit for daily living. So I'm thinking that this trip I'm going to let go of any notions of fashion and embrace the probability of being a big sweaty-but-happy mess.

I've read a log of blog advice on what to wear to Disney, most of it conflicting. The real secret to choosing clothes for WDW, in my humble opinion, is to wear whatever enables you to feel you can really enjoy yourself. Maybe that means your most comfortable work-out gear. Maybe it means a dress and flip-flops. You know what you personally feel best in. Nothing ruins a day for me like constantly worrying about what I'm wearing. 

Every time I pack for WDW I find myself getting caught up in what will look good in photos, what will be most comfortable, etc., etc., and it all boils down to this: what can I put on and feel reasonably confident in, and then totally forget that I am wearing so that I can have a blast? Because after all that thought, I NEVER remember what I wore (which is good) only that I had a great time. I often don't even mind if I don't look the greatest in my photos, because I usually have a huge, beaming smile on my face and I don't care what you look like, happy looks good on anybody.

See? I got caught in a rainstorm on my way to lunch, but I was so friggin' excited to eat at Be Our Guest that I didn't even care.

This one? Sweaty. No make-up. But hey, Figment! So who cares?

That being said, I do have a few suggestions for what to pack beyond the usual "breathable cotton" and "comfortable shoes":

1. Pack extra shirts. And underwear. I usually head back to my room for an afternoon swim or nap. Once I change out of a shirt that has gotten sweaty, I personally can't bring myself to put it back on, so I'll often wear the same shorts and shoes with a clean t-shirt for a return to the parks in the evening. Yes, this means packing essentially two outfits for some days, but it is worth it when you realize that I wouldn't be able to focus on having fun while wondering if my shirt smelled like sweat all night. Don't even get me started on sweat-soaked underwear (it happens).

2. Wear the shoes you want. You'll be walking a lot. You'll be standing even more. Wear whatever means comfort in that situation for you. When I was finally old enough to choose my own footwear (my parents were always big on the athletic shoes in any walking situation), I wore flip flops, and contrary to everything I had ever been told, they didn't break and my feet felt fabulous at the end of the day. I will say, however, that they were decent flip flops, not $2 bargains meant for the pool.

3. Pack for extreme sun and extreme rain. Sunglasses are a must if you like to see. So are ponchos if you like to be dry and don't want to be making a mad dash to pay for one in the Emporium or MouseGear.

I'm sure there are plenty more tips to be had. I will amend as necessary, and you can feel free to leave yours in the comments! Now to get back to trying not to over think the current contents of my suitcase.

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WDW Withdrawal

It usually starts with something small, like an e-mail in my inbox that Disney is running a promotion. 30% off a six-day vacation? Let’s calculate how much that would be. Oh…well never mind then.

But then the seeds are planted. I start thinking about it more and more. I haven’t been in over a year, I’ll think. Surely there’s a celebration to be had. I start talking about it obsessively, and it always leads to one conclusion: I need a Disney World vacation.

That doesn’t mean I always get one, though. Far from it. If I went every time I wanted to I’d be very, very broke.  That means I need to find a way to get my Disney fix and stave off the vacation cravings as long as possible. In that pursuit, I am dedicating this little piece of the internet to my love of WDW (obsession? Perhaps.) I’ve decided that those days when I just can’t stop thinking about being in Disney will henceforth be known as my “Zip a Dee Doo Dah Days” and I will channel my desire to be there into posts about my favorite memories, tips and thoughts on the parks. I don't have insider information. I'm not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or any subsidiary. I just have my observations and hopefully some wit.

Via

Here’s hoping it helps ease the withdrawal!

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Conversations with my grandparents.

Mom-mom: "What is Ben doing today?"

Me: "He's taking himself to the movies."

Mom-mom: "You have a weird relationship."

Pap-pap: "I couldn't sleep, so I was trying to watch TV. I didn't know they tried to sell pornographic things then."

Mom-mom (under her breath): "Not that they'd do anything for him anyway."

Me: "I was listening to a comedian who said that you should ask your grandfather about the last time he had sex, and it will be the funniest conversation you ever have."

Pap-pap: "Heh. Heh heh heh."

Mom-mom: "...it's been quite a while."

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