So, that was how the day began. The rest of the day

saw me playing tour guide in the Magic Kingdom for my

friends. I enjoy doing that- JA hadn't actually been

here for years, from before the Pooh ride. So we

spent a good amount of time on the newer or changed

rides. The highlight for me was the new Stitch's

Escape attraction in Tomorrowland. Personally, I

would have preferred visiting some of the acts in

Epcot: Mo'Rockin, Off Kilter, and Pam Brody all might

have wondered what became of me in recent months. I

often found myself glancing toward the entrance

wishing I could take the monorail over. Once we got

in though, we never got closer than where I go to

stock up my pixie dust glitter.

The day turned out fairly normal: we ate at Columbia

Harbor House since the breakfast was so large, and I

introduced CK to the churro cart.

We went on a slower pace that day, systematically

working around the park until the first parade of the

two-parade night came by. Big Thunder and Splash

Mountain are better that time of night and have less

wait. That put us out of position for Wishes of

course, but the way I do it...that's not a problem.

No, I'm not going to tell you...if I did everybody

would go there...

There's just a few minutes between Wishes and second

Spectro: ordinarily I'd move the group back toward

Frontierland, but it was important to slow down. CK's

got a metal rod in his back, and I'd just run him

through half the park quickly after a day of loading

and unloading. I brought them back to show them the

place in Expo Hall where they show the classic Mickey

Mouse cartoons. This stuff bothers JA for some

reason, so he went to the stores for a while.

The second spectro came and went, marking the time my

friends would be leaving. As is my tradition on

occasion, I headed back to the Partners statue to

contemplate on things Disney and the ideas of Walt.

The castle announced the final park closing, but I

couldn't bring myself to leave: I still couldn't

afford my annual pass, and it would be a long time

before I could return again.

I sat and watched the people file out: the last big

groups of people who would wait in line for the

monorail or ship for a long time: there was no

getting home quickly now, regardless of what anybody

did...

Custodial came by and gave me the empty look: the one

that kind of wonders why I'm still there. Especially

alone. He did his job, and moved on. I was still

planted, not wanting to leave even if nothing was

going on. Even the guys who sell popcorn were

leaving now...I kind of expected somebody in security

to come and usher me out.

Surprisingly, the first person to approach me was not

a security officer, dressed more formally. She looked

quizically at me, smiled the smile, and walked over.

"OK, it's allright...I'll go" I said quietly and

re-assuredly.

"Actually sir, that's not why I'm here. We've got

someone downstairs who would like to see you."

Downstairs? I couldn't believe she said that to me:

it's true, the so-called underground is more of a

first-floor, but something cast rarely speak of except

to other cast.

I thought for a bit as she led me over to the

Frontierland entrance: who was it? Johnathan was the

only attractions person I knew personally but he was

in AK last I heard...my friends from EPCOT would be in

normal clothes and just walk up to me if they were

here...there was the girl who played Belle and kept

picking me from the audience to be Beast at fairytale

gardens, but that was a year ago now. Then again,

just a week from being exactly a year..but...nah...

I finally concluded as I headed down the stairs that

someone I knew had picked up a seasonal role and just

hadn't told me yet. Strange that noone would have

mentioned it before though.