HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZED: SATURDAY
part 2
Zed stood behind Addison with his arms wrapped around her as he looked out of the monorail windows in amazement. "I honestly never thought I'd be doing this," he whispered, placing a soft kiss under her ear.
Addison smiled and leaned her head against him. "I'm glad I get to be with you for your first time."
As the monorail pulled up to a stop at the Magic Kingdom, Zed laughed to himself as Addison recited the announcement once more.
"Please stand clear of the doors...Por favor, mantenganse alejado de las puertas!….What?" she asked looking over her shoulder as the doors opened.
"Nothing. You're just too cute sometimes."
"You're pretty cute yourself, mister," she giggled kissing his cheek before taking his hand and stepping off the monorail and onto the platform.
As they stood at the top of the crowded ramp heading down to entrance gates. Zed squeezed her hand in excitement. They walked down the left side of the ramp and towards the left side security entrance, because, according to Addison, you should always go to the left when it comes to lines at Disney World. When they finally made it past security, Addison pulled out her phone. "I'm so recording this!" she giggled as the cast member showed Zed how to scan his magic band to get into the park. He smiled so wide that his cheeks were beginning to ache. Once they were both inside the entrance, Addison pulled him towards the center of the walkway in front of a large floral display of Mickey Mouse. "We have to take a picture!"
"Do you think someone would take one for us or is a selfie okay?"
Addison smiled. "You see that guy right there in the white pants and silly looking hat?"
"Yeah..."
"That's a Disney photographer. They have them all around the park. All we have to do is have him scan our magic bands and they send us the pictures."
"Seriously?"
Addison smiled and shook her head yes.
"So cool!" he laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and smiled for the camera.
Addison let Zed have his band scanned for the pictures, silently cursing that she didn't take a picture of the goofy grin on his face when it happened.
"You ready, Handsome?" she smiled up to him as they walked towards the entrance?
"Oh, yeah!" he said, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss on it.
"Let's go!" she giggled pulling him through the short walkway and into the Magic Kingdom.
Zed stopped short as they exited the walkway and stood at the top of Main Street in front of the train station. "This is incredible!" he whispered as he took everything in for the very first time.
Addison smiled and jumped up to kiss his cheek. "Welcome to the happiest place on Earth!"
Zed looked over to her and broke into another ear to ear smile. He picked her up and spun her around before kissing her. "So where do we start?"
"First things first. Since this is your first visit, there is a very important tradition we have to honor."
"And what would that be?"
"You need a pair of monogrammed ears!"
"I need a what?"
"We need to go to The Chapeau and get you mouse ears with your name on them. It's tradition, Zed. Don't argue with me on this."
Zed laughed as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Whatever you say, Gorgeous. Lead the way."
"Wait...You're actually going to let me get you a pair of ears?"
"Absolutely! Why would I mess with tradition?"
Addison threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. "Yay! Let's go!" she exclaimed as she pulled on his arm and began to lead him down Main Street to the Chapeau.
Addison was a woman on a mission as she perused the various rows and displays of mouse ears until she found exactly what she was looking for. "Found it!" she said excitedly as she held up a traditional black Mickey Mouse ear hat.
Zed looked over to her and laughed. "That's what we're getting?"
"Not WE...YOU...I already have one of these at home from my first visit."
Nodding his head and smiling he reached over and pulled a Minnie Mouse headband with a red bow off the display rack and walked over to her, placing it on her head. He stepped back and took an appreciative look. An even larger smile spread across his face. He couldn't help himself, he had to kiss her. He reached up and cupped her face in both of his hands as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. "Addie, those look adorable on you," he whispered in her ear as he casually reached up and pulled off the price tag.
"What are you doing?"
"Buying them for you."
"But it's YOUR birthday. You shouldn't be buying ME anything!"
"Exactly," he smiled victoriously, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "MY birthday. And I want to be able to see YOU wearing those ears all day. So I'm buying them."
Addison narrowed her eyes at him and pretended to glare before breaking out in a fit of giggles. "Fine."
"Thank you. Now if you excuse me, I have a purchase to go make."
"That's fine, but I'm buying these for you!" she said as she rushed past him to the register. "Hi, I'd like to get this embroidered."
The cast member behind the counter looked up and smiled. "Absolutely. Please just fill out this form, and we'll get it started for you."
Zed walked up behind Addison and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Are you really putting my name on the back?"
"Sure am!"
A few minutes later they walked out of the Chapeau proudly wearing their new mouse ears.
"Oooh! We need a castle picture!" Addison exclaimed as she pulled him along Main street towards the castle. The photographer had them pose in a variety of poses. There was one of them with their arms wrapped around each other. One of them kissing and holding their hands together forming a heart. One of Addison on his back. And of course, one of them holding a huge bouquet of Mickey balloons.
"So..." Zed said as they walked closer to the castle. "Ears acquired, obligatory castle pictures taken...Where to now?"
Addison smiled as she took out her phone and pulled up the Disney Parks app. "We start in Fantasy Land," she said as she showed Zed the map of the park. "There's barely any wait for the teacups!" She grabbed his hand and ran to the right of the castle and across the bridge leading them into Fantasy Land.
The line moved quickly, and before they knew it they were walking onto the ride.
"I'm going to let you lead," Zed said as they sat down in their pink teacup. "I don't want to risk spinning this thing too fast."
"Oh please, if you don't feel like you're going to vomit by the time the ride is over what's the point? Spin away, baby!"
Zed just smile and shook his head. "If you insist."
As the ride began, he and Addison started to spin the silver wheel in the middle together. Within seconds everything around them became a blur. Zed stole a glance in her direction. With her hair flying wildly and her eyes scrunched closed in excitement while she laughed she was absolutely breathtaking. He quickly pulled his phone out and snapped a picture of her. When the ride ended they both stumbled dizzily out of their teacup.
"That was so much fun," Zed laughed as they followed the path over to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Addison couldn't help but laugh when Zed begged to play in the circus-themed kid's zone, only to be told by the cast member monitoring it that he was too old. When they were finally seated in their purple and teal colored Dumbo cart, she turned to him. "Who's flying?"
"Have at it, Gorgeous. I'm just going to enjoy the ride," he said as he folded his hands behind his head and settled into the seat.
As they reached the maximum flying altitude he threw his hands up in the air "Wooooo!"
Addison couldn't help but laugh. She left the controls unmanned and pulled out her phone to take a picture of him in all his mid-flight glory.
"Did you just take my picture?"
"Mmhmm!"
Zed laughed and put his arm around her shoulder. "Hands on the controls, Gorgeous."
After a fun flight in an Elephant, they went next door to Goofy's Barnstormer.
"So fun!" Zed exclaimed as the walked off the roller coaster. "It could have been longer, but still, so much fun!"
"Well if you liked that, just wait until we hit up Mine Train and the Mountains!"
"I don't know what any of those things are, but I'm going with the flow," he said as he draped his arm around her. "Where to next?"
Addison checked the map on her phone again. "We still have about an hour before our first fast pass, do you want to go on the Little Mermaid ride or the Winnie the Pooh ride?"
"Either. I am good with whatever."
"I feel like I'm making all of the decisions though."
"Addison," he said as he spun her around in a smooth dance move, "I'm at Disney World with you. We could literally sit in the middle of the grass back out on Main Street all day and I would be happy. You're the experienced Disney-goer, I'm following you."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," he smiled pulling her in for a kiss.
"Okay, let's go Under the Sea!"
"You got it, Ursula," he teased, referencing her costume from last Halloween.
"Watch it, Prince Eric...OMG! Best idea ever!" she said spinning around to face him while she walked backward.
"What?"
"There's an Ariel meet and greet right next to the ride! We can video chat with Zoey!"
"She'd love that! Let's go!"
They happily snuggled close together in the pink clamshell cart as the journeyed under the sea, singing along with all the songs as they made their way through the ride. When it ended they both sprinted to Ariel's Grotto next door, laughing the entire way. After a few minutes, they were finally up next. Zed called his little sister, anxiously waiting for her to pick up. As soon as her face filled the screen Addison grabbed the phone.
"Hi, Peanut! We have a surprise for you!"
"What are you...OMG is that Ariel!" Zoey shrieked as Addison spun the phone around.
"YES! We're about to get our picture taken."
"Zoey, smile!" Zed said as he and Addison
stood on either side of Ariel. Addison handed the phone to the mermaid and they all smiled for the picture.
"Thank you, Ariel!" Addison said hugging her.
"Did I just take a picture with Ariel?" Zoey asked between giggles.
"Sure did, short stuff," Zed said taking his phone back. "I love you kiddo."
"I love you too, Big Bro. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Z. Bye Addie!"
"Bye Peanut!" Addison said as she blew a kiss.
"I think that was a success," Zed smiled, wrapping his arm around Addison's waist as they stepped back out into the Florida sunshine. "Do you smell that?"
"What?"
Zed sniffed the air and laughed. "Come on," he said as he pulled her along the pathway.
A few moments later he stopped in front of Gaston's Tavern. "I could use a snack break, what about you?"
"Did you seriously just sniff out food?" she asked through a fit of giggles.
"Not just any food..." he smiled as they walked in. "I think you'll like it. Why don't you grab us a table while I order."
"Are you sure?"
"Addie...Trust me. You might know Disney, but I know food," he laughed, leaning down to kiss her.
"Okay…." she said hesitantly as she walked into the adjoining dining room to find a table for the two of them.
She had just sat down when Zed made the corner.
"Oh my God, Z!"
"Told you you'd like it!" he smiled bending down to kiss her cheek.
"That cinnamon roll is bigger than my head! Your zombie senses really came through this time."
Zed rolled his eyes and smiled as he sat down next to her. "I also got us this thing," he said holding up a souvenir mug. "It had some funny name, but it's supposed to taste like apples and marshmallow's so...that's pretty much a win." he shrugged placing it on the table.
Addison took a sip. "That is so good."
Zed leaned over and took a sip as well. "Yeah, we're going to need another one of these."
Addison laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being you. It's your birthday and here you are doing something super sweet for me. Cinnamon rolls are my thing."
"I love you, This is already my favorite birthday ever. The least I could do is split a ginormous super sweet cinnamon roll with you."
Addison giggled and cut a piece off and held it up for him. "The first bite is yours, Handsome."
Zed pretended to growl as he bit down. "Oh man..." he moaned. "I was right...It's delicious."
Between Addison's love of all things cinnamon, and Zed's love of all things food, they finished eating in record time. After a refill of their LeFou's Brew, they were ready to tackle the rest of Fantasy Land. As they stepped outside into the courtyard, Addison grabbed Zed's arm.
"Z! Look! Gaston is taking pictures! Let's go get one!" she shrieked as she took off past the fountain to stand in line.
Zed laughed as he walked over to meet her. "Excited?"
"I've never met him before!" she clapped excitedly. "He's supposed to be one of the best character interactions!"
When it was their turn the photographer posed them on either side of Gaston. He instructed Addison to act like she was swooning as Gaston flexed his bicep, and asked Zed to look upset.
Zed shook his head and laughed. "I think I have a better idea..." he lifted the hem of his shirt up enough to show off his abs and that V that he knew drove Addison crazy and threw her a wink. Addison's bit her lip and smiled just as the photographer snapped the picture.
"That's going to be a great one," he laughed as he walked up and scanned Addison's magic band.
Addison blushed and grabbed Zed's hand as they waved goodbye to Gaston.
"You okay there?" Zed teased as he let her lead him towards their next ride.
Addison smiled and stopped walking, spinning on her heel to face him. "You're trouble, you know that!"
"Whatever are you talking about?" he asked innocently batting his eyelashes at her.
"Come on, trouble. I think we could both use a roller coaster after that," she giggled taking his hand and walking towards the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
As they walked up to the ride, Zed let out a whistle. "That is one looooong wait."
"Lucky for us we don't have to stand in that long line!" Addison said holding up her magic band. "I love fast passes!" They walked up to a separate entrance and scanned their bands, much like they had done to enter the parks. They bi-passed a crowd of people and walked up a much shorter line. Within minutes they were sitting down in their very own mine car. "Ears off for this one." Zed followed her lead and took his ears off, placing them in the storage compartment. "You ready for this?"
"Oh yeah!" he smiled as they took off.
A few minutes later Zed and Addison walked off the ride hand in hand smiling ear to ear.
"Wow, that was awesome!" Zed said spinning her around and putting her on his back.
Addison smacked a kiss on his cheek. "I knew you'd love it!"
"Where to next?"
"We're right across from Pooh Bear...They might even let you play with all the stuff in the line."
"Score!" he laughed as he walked them across the path towards the next ride.
As they made their way through the line, Addison took several pictures of Zed playing with the various activities set up to occupy small children while they waited. Her favorite was when he almost got stuck trying to go through a small doorway made to look like the entrance to Pooh's house. Eventually, they made their way through the winding line and into their very own honey pot car.
About halfway through the bouncing, spinning ride, Zed leaned over to Addison. "Is this the wrong time to say that Winnie the Pooh has always kind of given me the creeps?"
Addison's head whipped over to him. "What?! How did I not know that?"
Zed shrugged and let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm kind of freaking out at the moment."
"We didn't have to ride this! Oh, Z...I'm sorry! I had no idea!"
Zed couldn't hold it in any longer and began to shake with laughter. "I'm just messing with you."
Addison smacked his arm and pretended to pout before starting to laugh as well. "I can't believe you!"
"Sorry, I couldn't help it. Forgive me?" he said poking out his bottom lip.
"Only because you're cute and I happen to love you."
"I love you too," he whispered kissing her cheek.
When they exited the ride and entered the gift shop Addison turned to look at him. "I should really get you a Winnie the Pooh stuffy after all that, Buster."
Zed pulled her in for a hug and tickled her sides, causing her to giggle and swat away his hands. "And if you did, I'd keep it on my bed and snuggle with it every single night you aren't in my arms!"
"Ugh! You are too sweet! Now I can't even get you a gag gift because I'd be jealous of a stuffed bear in a crop top!" She said throwing her hands up in the air.
Zed laughed and kissed her cheek. "Come on, Gorgeous. What ride are we going on next?"
"We can try Peter Pan?"
Zed shivered at the memory of traipsing around Seabrook in green tights 2 years ago. The things he did for the women in his life. "If we must."
"90 minutes for Peter Pan!" Addison said in disbelief as they walked across up to the classic dark ride. "It's cute, but it is sooooo not worth that kind of wait. Are you okay skipping it?"
He let out an exaggerated sigh. "If we must."
Addison giggled and pretended to elbow him. "Still emotionally scarred from Halloween a few years ago?"
"Maybe a little," he said cracking a small smile.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, that costume looked good on you."
"Gorgeous, everything looks good on me."
"And off..."
Zed stopped walking and pulled her into him. "You did not just go there?"
Addison just shrugged and gave him a smile.
"You're lucky we're surrounded by families at the moment."
"You're the one that flashed your abs back at Gaston's," she teased as she bumped her hip into him.
"Oh, Addison...What am I going to do with you."
"How about...you ride It's a Small World with me?"
"Lead the way, Gorgeous."
Addison laughed as she took his hand and walked across the way to the line. As they stood and waited in the winding cue she looked over to him and let out a small laugh.
"What?"
"You have to promise me something."
"And what would that be?"
She snuggled into his arms and placed a gentle kiss above his heart. "That you won't hate me for making you ride this."
Zed let out a loud laugh, gaining more than a few stairs from the people around them in line. "Why would I hate you?"
"You'll see..." she whispered as they walked forward to step onto one of the boats. When the boat launched she waved to the ride operator like she always did and took a deep breath as they entered the dark tunnel that led to the first room. She watched Zed's face as he took it all in. By the time they turned into the second room she had to laugh. "Are you actually enjoying this?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I? Look at these things!" he said gesturing towards the singing dolls. "They're like the cutest things ever. And this song slaps."
Addison looked at him like he'd suddenly sprouted an additional head.
"What?"
"Nothing...it's just so unexpected."
Zed smiled and kissed her quickly on the cheek before re-focusing his attention on the hoards of animatronic singing dolls that surrounded them. He was still buzzing when they stepped off the boat. "Did you see our names pop up at the end! How did they do that?"
Addison laughed. "Probably from our Magic Bands."
"Can we ride that one again?"
Addison stopped walking. "Wait...You actually want to ride It's A Small World again?"
Zed shrugged and smiled shyly.
She threw her head back and laughed. "How could I tell you no when you're being so adorable right now."
"Is that a yes?" he asked hopefully.
"Come on, Zombie. Let's go ride it again!"
When they stepped off the ride for the second time, Addison grabbed his hand. Now, this next ride..." she said with a smile as she led him down the path in front of the Rapunzel bathrooms, "is my all time favorite ride in all of Magic Kingdom."
"Looks like it's supposed to be scary," Zed said as they approached the gloomy looking building.
"Oh, it is! Haunted Mansion used to scare the mess out of me when I was little. But, even then it was my favorite."
"I think you have a thing for the macabre."
"What makes you say that?"
"Um...exhibit A," he said gesturing towards the ride. "And, exhibit B.," he said pointing to himself.
"You are like the least scary thing ever, Z."
"Still a Zombie."
Addison stopped for a moment before she shrugged. "Good point. Well, lucky for you I guess!" she said as she grabbed his arm and put it around her shoulder. "Come on, there are 999 happy haunts waiting for us...but I hear there's room for one more!"
As they stood outside the doors waiting to go in Addison looked up to him. "I have to warn you. You know how when we watch a movie I really like I have this tiny habit of quoting the entire thing?"
Zed rolled his eyes and kissed the top of her head. "You and your 80's movies."
"Yeah...that applies to this ride as well."
"You've memorized the entire ride?"
"...Pretty much..."
Zed shook his head and smiled just as the doors opened leading them into a parlor with a fireplace.
"Watch the picture," Addison whispered. The portrait began to change to a corpse before their eyes. "How cool is that?"
"I was so right...you definitely have a taste for the darker side."
Addison playfully elbowed him before they walked forward into the next room. As the room filled in Addison looked up to Zed. "Please drag your bodies away from the walls and into the dead center of the room..." Right on cue their "Ghost Host" said the exact same thing, causing Zed to let out a soft chuckle.
Everyone gathered in the center of the small circular room as the walls and portraits began to stretch.
"Of course there's always my way," Addison said along with the Ghost Host right before a loud clap of thunder. The lights went out and someone screamed. Addison pointed to the ceiling where there was someone hanging.
The lights came on and Zed just shook his head and smiled. "No wonder you were so cool with all the Zombie stuff."
"Look alive!" she smiled as the doors opened and they were escorted into a hallway.
"How many times have you been on this ride?" he asked as they made their way through the hallway.
"Hmm...hard to say. I've been to Disney I think...this is my tenth time? And I usually ride this at least twice? Sometimes more? I don't know...Oh! Okay, so the carts are called 'Doom Buggies', how cool is that?" she giggled as they waited for their turn to step on the conveyor belt.
"Doom Buggies? They kind of look like coffins."
"Hmm...They kind of do. I've never noticed that before!"
They stepped onto the conveyor belt and into their Doom Buggy. "Do not pull down on the safety bar, please. I will do that for you." she quoted, snuggling into his side.
Zed kissed the top of her head affectionately as the bar lowered and they turned into the library. The Doom Buggy twisted and turned throughout the mansion. When they turned into a dark room, illuminated only by a crystal ball, Addison shrieked. "It's Madame Leota! This is my favorite part! Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat, call in the spirits, wherever they're at! Rap on a table...it's time to respond. Send us a message from somewhere beyond….Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween, awaken the spirits with your tambourine! Creepies and crawlies, toads in a pond, let there be music from regions beyond!… Wizards and witches, wherever you dwell, give us a hint, by ringing a bell!"
"Did you really just quote that entire part from memory?"
Addison looked up and smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Oooh! The ballroom!" she said pointing down below them as "ghosts" appeared and began to dance around. The Doom Buggy then moved into the attic of the mansion. "I'm not going to quote any of this part," she whispered. "I actually want you to still want to marry me one day."
Zed looked around at the various portraits in the attic displaying several weddings, all of which seemed to end poorly for the groom. At the end of the attic was a bride holding an ax.
"Good call," Zed laughed just as the Doom Buggy spun around and exited the attic backward through a window, leading them into the cemetery.
"Okay, so maybe this is my favorite part," Addison smiled as a catchy tune began to play. She started to sing along with the various ghosts and statues. "When the crypt doors creak and the tombstones quake, spooks come out for a swinging wake. Happy haunts materialize and begin to vocalize. Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize!" They wound through the cemetery and into a narrow corridor. "Oooh! Watch! It's the hitchhiking ghosts!"
They both laughed as their heads appeared to be swapped around by a mischievous ghost sitting on top of their buggy.
As the ride came to an end Addison snuggled up against him. "Hurry back! Hurry back! Be sure to bring your death certificate..."
Zed chuckled under his breath and kissed the top of her head once more. The ghost host raised their safety bar and they stepped back onto the conveyor belt and onto the walkway leading to the exit.
"I think this ride might have just tied Small World as my favorite."
"Really?!"
"Really."
Addison let out a small laugh. "Small world and Haunted Mansion are like the most opposite rides ever!" If we can fast pass it later, would you want to ride it again?" she asked hopefully.
"Definitely!"
Addison hugged him around his waist. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said as he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
After posing for the required photo in the stockade in the middle of Liberty Square, Zed turned to her. "So, what's next?"
"Hmm...our Splash Mountain fast pass is still twenty minutes away...How do you feel about large animatronic bears singing campy folk songs?"
Zed laughed. "What on Earth?"
Addison grabbed his hand and pulled him further ahead into Frontierland. "I give you the Country Bear Jamboree!" she announced with a flourish of her arms when they arrived at the entrance.
Zed shook his head and smiled. "Have I ever told you how cute you are?"
"You may have mentioned it a time or two," she said, standing on her tip-toes to kiss him. "Now come on! I need to get my Liver Lips McGrowl fix!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE:Hello, my name is CAPS1031 and I have a Disney problem…
I really tried to condense their Disney trip down to one chapter, but they were having way too much fun for that. So…Part 3 will be coming Tuesday! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter even a fraction as much as I enjoyed writing it. Drop me a review and let me know!
PS...I own absolutely no part of any of the rights to anything Disney!