Day 6- Back to MK as we didn’t really visit any other land other than Fantasyland the previous MK day. We arrived at 8am for EMH and met Tinkerbell with a 10 minute wait. After Tinkerbell, we headed to Tomorrowland to ride both TS and BLSRS with 15 min or less waits. We then headed to Frontierland for rope drop at 9am. We got to ride Splash Mountain twice on the standby line with short waits. DD7 was disappointed that we didn’t get to ride in the front of the log flume either time but I THINK it was usually the people with FP who got the front. After SM, we waited about 20 minutes to meet Woody and Jessie (also in Frontierland). We then went over to Adventureland for 2 quick rides on Magic Carpets of Aladdin before going back to CHH in Liberty Square for lunch. (The ice tea lemonade slush is divine on hot summer days!) After lunch, we used our FP to meet Tiana and Rapunzel at PFH. We then went back to Tomorrowland to meet Buzz and watch Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. (In case you’re wondering why we didn’t do these 2 attractions earlier in the day when we were already in Tomorrowland, it’s because Laugh Floor and Buzz aren’t available till after 10am). We then had a treat at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor before doing some shopping at the mega sized Emporium on Main Street. Then back to the hotel for an hour rest before having a walk-in dinner at the Wave at around 5pm. Overall, I enjoyed the food at the Wave but they completely covered the salmon with barbecue sauce so that was all you tasted. Ungh.
Day 7- We got up (semi) early to start waiting for an AK bus at around 7:15am as we wanted to arrive for EMH at 8am. However, 3 HS buses passed before we got an AK bus. That was a common gripe during this trip- there were limited buses to the theme park with the morning EMH but multiple buses to the same non-EMH theme park. It didn’t make much sense to me. I know that there are people needing to get to early AM ADRs at the non-EMH theme parks but I would think there are much more people needing the bus to the EMH theme parks, no?
We finally got an AK bus and arrived around 8am. We were at the back of the masses waiting to get in but were still able to get to KS in good time (by 8:15am or so). The standby line moved pretty briskly, until it was our group’s turn for the next safari truck. At that point, 3 trucks passed with training drivers. We wound up waiting about 15-20 minutes for a truck, which was frustrating since it was eating up the precious EMH hour. On our last trip to DW 2 years ago, we were able to ride KS 3 times before 9:30am hit (what can I say, DS4 LOVES his animals). It didn’t look like that was going to happen this time around. We finally got a truck and the driver/tour guide was great. We were lucky and saw loads of animals (crocodiles, lions, cheetah, giraffes, hippos, ostriches, impalas, elephants, etc.).
After KS, we met Flik (15 minute wait), Dug and Russell (20 minute wait), and then Pocahontas (another 20 minute wait) before heading over to Flights of Wonder for the 10:30am show. We had lunch at Flametree BBQ just as it opened at 11am and had a nice waterfront view and breeze. After lunch, we made an unplanned stop in Dinoland for dinosaur crazy DS4. I had planned for Dinoland later in the day for when we watched Finding Nemo (since it’s in the same vicinity) but once he saw the Dinoland sign when we went to see Pocahontas (her line is right next to the entrance for Dinoland), he kept asking about it all morning so off we went. We rode Triceratop Spin twice and shopped for dinosaur gear. Sadly, Dinosaur was closed for refurbishment but I wasn’t sure if it would’ve been too scary for my kids anyway. Both kids were too short for Primeval Whirl but seemed okay with missing it. We didn’t bother with the Boneyard as it was just too hot from the August heat AND the on and off rain showers that day probably would’ve made it a muddy mess. (No thanks). We then did a FP for Festival of the Lion King at 1pm and FP for Finding Nemo the Musical at 2pm (not exactly fun trekking to exact opposite sides of the park for back to back shows). We then went and hid in a dinosaur store in Dinoland for a while as it POURED for about a half hour. The downpour closed the KRR during our FP time but ta-da, Disney instantly issued me a FP good for the rest of the day. So we went to It’s Tough To Be a Bug while we waited for KRR to come back on-line. Both kids thought ITTBB was hysterical and wasn’t scared by the sensory special effects. Then again, they were sharing a seat so I think some of the special effects (like getting poked in the back) missed them. By then, KRR came back and we used our FP for it. And yes, all of us were in different degrees of soakdom. Me, not wanting to get wet the most, of course got the most soaked. Glad I changed into a swimsuit right before. We then had an early dinner at Rainforest Cafe at the front of AK before trudging wearily back to our hotel.
Day 8- We got up even earlier that day (at the bus stop by 7am!) to catch a bus to HS for EMH at 8am. This time, we learned another hard lesson- ask the bus driver where he’s going if his destination sign only says the hotel we are at. We saw a bus pull up to the drop off point shortly after we arrived and it only listed “Contemporary” as its destination. DH and I shrugged and waited. It then pulled away (never stopping at the pick up spot where people board). As it passed us, the sign switched to HS!!! That almost made me cry. So we got up early to catch the early bus to HS and basically saw it drive right past us. We then waited as 3 separate AK buses (no EMH there that morning!) came before another HS bus finally arrived almost a half hour after the one that passed us by. Out of all the other times we rode the Disney buses for the rest of the trip, the drivers always stopped at the actual boarding point. They would often even verbally check with us about our destination before leaving if we didn’t board. I have no idea what was with that early HS bus driver. Evil incarnate? Having a shitty morning and wanting to pass it on to others? I have no idea but it took a while for DH and I to calm down. I was extra nervous about arriving late to HS as I wanted to sign DD7 up for Jedi Training (which is first come, first served basis) before running to TSMM on standby.
We got to HS a few minutes after 8am. Again, we were at the back of the masses waiting to get in (extra painful as we would’ve been in the front of the pack had we caught that first bus). DD7 and I ran to Jedi Training sign ups while DH and DMIL took DS4 to TSMM on standby. For the record, 4 year olds are allowed to perform in Jedi Training but DH and I figured that the waiting around would’ve been too much for DS4 so we skipped it for him this time around. It took about a half hour for us to sign up because just as we were near the front of line, yet again, technical difficulties. The Ipads the CMs were using to do sign ups went down and it took them a while to set up an old school paper and pencil system. So, by the time we were done with signups, TSMM standby lines were already at 40 minutes. sigh DS4 apparently really enjoyed TSMM but even he only got to do it once before lines got long.
We then headed over to Star Wars Launch Bay and hung out there for an hour to meet Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, some Jawas, and to look over some exhibits. After SWLB, we rode Star Tours twice (both on standby) and then saw Muppet Vision 3D. DD7, DMIL, and myself then headed over to our scheduled Jedi Training time while DS4 and DH used FP for a third Star Tours ride and then hung out in the Star Wars store. We all had lunch at Backlot Express before riding the GMR on standby and met Doc McStuffins. It was then perfectly our time for our TSMM FP. But yet again, ride technical difficulties. 2 of the 3 TSMM tracks were down so they were only taking FP riders. However, even with FP, the wait was going to be an hour long and DH and I were exhausted. I felt bad that DD7 wouldn’t get to ride TSMM yet again (she missed it due to Jedi Training 2 years ago also) but both kids perked up when offered hotel pool time in exchange. (We felt that DS4’s cuts from BB had healed enough by then). So we took in some pool time amidst some weird sun showers/light rain. It was fine if you stayed in the warm water but cold if you were constantly out of the pool like my kids were doing to go up the water slide. We then got dinner for DMIL and both kids from the counter service eatery at our hotel. DH and myself took the monorail over to the Poly (can you tell that we really love it there?) to make dinner out of the delicious small plates offered at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.
Day 9- We mercifully slept in a bit after 4 straight morning EMH days as TL didn’t open till 10 am anyway. At TL, the kids loved Ketchakiddee Creek and the Surf Pool. I was nervous about how scratchy the bottom of the Surf Pool was but DD7 loved the waves so off we went. Again, it was raining on and off, making it super cold whenever you were out of the water. Who knew it could feel cold in August in Orlando??? And then, 1 1/2 hours into TL, a big wave knocked DD7 over while we were in the shallow end and the pool bottom scratched up one knee pretty badly. Off we limped off to First Aid. DD7 was pretty upset about her knee and the off and on rain made us all pretty miserable and cold. Even the mini donuts couldn’t make DD7 happy so after only 2 hours at TL, we left. Wouldn’t you know it, the sun came out as we boarded the bus back to our hotel. Oh well. DH advises all others that if you stay in the deeper end of the Surf Pool, you won’t get scratched up as much as the waves carry you along. However, being in the shallow end is more dangerous as the waves just knock you over to the very scratchy floor. Learn from our painful lesson!
Back at the hotel, we showered and had some snacks. We then headed out to DS. DD7 and DS4 fell asleep on the way there so once we arrived at DS, DMIL and DH held them while they napped in a covered walkway. I snacked on french poutine from the Daily Poutine and pastries fronm Amorette’s Patisserie. Heh. Once they woke, we shopped around and took pictures with the amazing Lego models before dining yet again at T-Rex (more accurately, they dined at T-Rex while I bided my time for more delicious snacks around DS). We walked around some more after T-Rex. I had planned to grab some To Go options from Chef Smith’s Homecoming but sadly, it turns out they stop the To Go option after 5pm and it was already 6pm. Boo! I consoled myself with some gelato from Vivoli il Gelato.
We headed over to the Star Wars Galactic Outpost as I was hoping to get some good souvenirs for a SW-crazy nephew at home. However, the SWGO is TINY. If you want SW paraphernalia, I would recommend Tatooine Traders in HS or even the SW section at Mousegear in Epcot over SWGO.
Day 10- Back to Epcot Word Showcase to finish out the countries we had missed. Although I had one more FP for FEA for that evening, I didn’t trust that the ride wouldn’t break down yet again so I hustled my family over to Norway first thing in the morning to ride FEA as standby. We got there at opening and the wait wasn’t bad- about 20 minutes. After all that trouble/anticipation, I was worried that I wouldn’t even like FEA but it was great! Well worth it. We then walked across to the other side of the showcase to have breakfast in France’s Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie. Just awesomeness. We also got to take some great shots in France as we were practically the only ones there. We met Cinderella’s stepsisters and stepmother just as they arrived. After France, we browsed Morocco and Japan. We had tons of fun shopping at the big department store in Japan. We also got shaved ice (again) in Japan and had a nice late lunch at Spice Road Table by the water. The food was delicious at SRT but the portions were pretty small for what you pay. Both DD7 and I got beautiful henna tattoos at the Morocco Pavillon, too. At that point, DMIL had a craving for funnel cake so that’s what we did in the American Pavillon. I wanted to watch the American Adventure but nobody else in my group wanted to (sigh) so off we went to Italy. By that time, some pretty spectacular storm clouds were gathering so we ran for Futureworld to hopefully wait out some rain while shopping in MouseGear. Unfortunately, it rained steadily by then and it was a drenching downpour. I would’ve preferred to wait out the rain in MouseGear but DH had had it and pushed for us all to just don our rain gear and run to the monorail. Enter complete drenching, despite raingear. Back to the hotel and an exhausted dinner at counter service again. And yes, we didn’t use our remaining FP for FEA that evening at 6:25pm as everybody was too tired to use it.
Day 11- Oh oh. DS4 woke up with a fever. So, we took it easy that morning instead of our initial plan to run to Epcot at 9am opening to get in (a hopefully shorter) line for Joy and Sadness. We waited for the fever medicine to kick in and see how DS4 was doing before deciding what to do. After breakfast at the counter service in Grand Floridian (we were on the hunt for simple pancakes for DS4 to cajole him to eat), DS4 seemed his normal self so we went out to Epcot mid-morning. Given how on the previous days we were always at the theme parks for EMH, I had no idea that the monorails/buses got so crowded 9-11am. We often had to wait for the next monorail before being able to board. Once at Epcot, unsurprisingly, the line for Joy and Sadness was an hour long. As they were the remaining characters my kids were interested in meeting, we bit the bullet and hunkered down for an hour wait with the help of old Iphones loaded with kiddie games to pass the time. We then used FP to ride Test Track (DD7’s choice) and Seas with Nemo (DS4’s choice). We shopped a bit more for last minute gifts and then headed back to the hotel for counter service lunch. Dude, CC has some amazing desserts! Try the chocolate chip cookie whoopie pie!
We rested for a few hours in our hotel room as DS4 understandably tired easily. We also needed that whole afternoon practically to pack all the stuff we had accumulated. (Never underestimate the generosity of grandmothers). We went to an ADR at Grand Floridian’s Grand Floridian Cafe that night as I had thought it would be relaxing to have a nice table service dinner our last night at DW. It was really good food but we definitely felt underdressed given the nice surroundings. It’s a casual service restaurant but you may want to forego the muscle tees and tanktops. Heh.
Day 12 (LAST DAY). =(
We had originally thought to use our last day of theme park tickets at MK as it was close to our hotel and thus pick up for Magic Express to the airport. However, we realized as we packed our carryons for the day that we would have to lug all of our electronics with us as DH and I were uncomfortable leaving electronics with the front desk along with the rest of our carry on luggage. So, MK was scrapped. We went instead to Poly to try our luck for a late walk-in breakfast at KC. SCORE! I got my tonga toast, pulled pork with eggs Benedict, and macadamia nut pancakes! Spread out amongst our entire party, of course. Heh. We also wandered around the Grand Floridian after Poly before heading back to Contemporary to wait for our airport transportation at 3pm for a 6pm flight. Our flight wound up being delayed for several hours but overall, this was a great trip. I can’t wait for my next DW trip!
Line cutters are so rude, glad you stood your ground and they left…yay!