So yesterday was the day I’ve been waiting for since January: my return to the parks. My roommate and I got up early to go get our ID’s, then after some errands we headed to Hollywood Studios with one of the guys.
I feel a little sad that my first park of the summer wasn’t Magic Kingdom, but Hollywood Studios is fitting. It was the park I visited the most during my original college program.
We rode on a few rides, and of course I had to ride my old nemesis, the Tower of Terror. I rode that ride for the first time when I was sixteen, and it terrified me. I don’t like elevators or heights or darkness or falling…and yeah, that’s the Tower of Terror. In the photo, there’s everybody with their arms in the air, looking thrilled, and then there’s me, hunched over and trying not to die. It gave me nightmares until last fall when one of my neighbors decided she was going to cure me once and for all, and dragged me on the ride. No really, she had to hold my arm to make sure I didn’t run off.
After that initial ride, I was shaking and laughing like a lunatic, but I went back. A lot. I have the speeches memorized, and I have all the timing down. It’s probably my favorite ride.
Since I hadn’t been on the Tower since January, it was more terrifying than I remember, but now that the first ride is out of the way, I’ll be back for more.
After Studios, we headed for Magic Kingdom. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t in the most fantastic mood when traveling between parks. Iwas so disappointedin myself for that; it’s DISNEY. You can’t be depressed in Disney. It didn’t last for too long, though; as soon as I walked on to Main Street, my grin was huge. The shops were still familiar, and at the end of Main Street was the castle.
I missed seeing that view.
Main Street was so different! They finally finished Expo Hall! I’ve never seen that building without some sort of construction. They’ve moved onto the Confectionery. It’s blue now!
I had to ride all my old favorites, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and I managed to do a few new things, like Hall of Presidents and the People Mover in Tomorrowland. The latter goes through Space Mountain, and it was down at the time, so we got to see it with the lights on!
Most people would be terrified of the ride after seeing that, but that makes it so much more fun for me. I know, I’m insane.
I stayed until park closing. They have a new show on the castle before the fireworks, where they put up pictures of guests. It’s part of the new theme. When I first heard this was going to happen, I was a little worried, I didn’t think it sounded like a very good idea, but I was
proven wrong tonight. The show was fantastic, with all sorts of amazing animation and graphics projected on the castle, all choreographed to music. I really enjoyed it.
And of course I had to stay for Wishes. I think I missed that the most, out of everything. I heard that every night at work. I know the lyrics by heart, I know the fireworks, and if I can’t see the castle I can still picture exactly what’s going on. Wishes won’t get old for me. Probably ‘cause inside me there’s a silly little kid who still believes in wishes. I still make a wish at the end, the same wish I’ve made every single time I’ve seen the show. I know that’s a little ridiculous, but I don’t care. It’s Disney. I’m allowed to believe in wishing stars here. My wish hasn’t come true yet, but I haven’t given up on it. We’ll see.
It’s good to be back ❤
Zoey Delmaire Writes 