Friday 4/19 - Magic Kingdom day
This day is a big one, but a nervous one.
Big = Our daughter gets to march with her band before the afternoon parade.
Nervous = It’s the worst forecast of the entire trip, bad bad storms predicted.
I’m up around 5am for a 7am EMH park open.
We’re at the bus stop at 6:30, in the gates at MK just after opening.

The band group was there around the same time, so we get to see our daughter and her good friend Lizzy.
We got them the matching shirts and ears on display here.

The band kids group goes off on their own, we probably won’t see them until parade time (fingers crossed).
Castle reaction shot.

Soak up Main Street ambience.

Castle jump shots.

So…
I’m the master planner for this trip (all trips).
I’ve done all the research.
I read all the forums (escpecially this one).
I’ve listened to all the podcasts.
I know all the tricks/tips.
I “cheat” the system to get all the great FPs at 74 days out (yeah, I’m a leading-reservation kinda guy)
I have a great plan of attack.
I got great FPs are starting at 10, so we’re gonna head left and knock out half the park right away at EMH!
I… I… screwed up
So…
Problem is, that you can only head right for EMH into Fantasyland or Tomorrowland.
I knew that, didn’t I, maybe I used to know that!?!?
Abort go-left mission, adapt to a go-right mission, conquer!
Luckily, my troops barely notice the difference.
I avoid the shame of an embarrassing coup d’Ètat.
And, I just spent too much time on my mistake.
Let’s get back to the trip report please.
As you know now, we are heading to the right - we do Buzz (no perfect score this time) we do the People Mover (always perfect in my opinion).


Nice walk up thru Fantasyland, soaking it all in.
When do ever get to see an empty Tangled area?

Mansion, Pirates, 7DMT, Little Mermaid, Small World (this ride needs a head rest, would make napping easier)
Lunch at BOG was good, despite the ugly mugs here…

Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is always fun.
Out of the 6 of us, 3 of us are part of the show.
The joke that Shae texted in makes it… Have you heard of the new Wookie Cookies? They are Chewy!
I get on camera as Mike Wazowski (so I have to close one eye, get it??)
Jenn gets on video to do the guess your number game.
That was all fun!

But more Big fun is now ahead.
It is almost parade time!
But, we are also back to the nervous part.
Our eyes are on the weather radar. Looks like this is gonna hurt.


The band is “backstage” getting ready.

We camped out the best spot on the hub, and are poncho’ed up and ready for anything.
Weather Gods… I’m fine if we get blasted with rain - Just let these kids march first please!

Parade starts back in Frontierland. There’s another high school band first. They come by nice and dry, so far so good.
Our band comes next, still dry, so far so good.

I know where my marching kid is gonna be (pre-planning in full effect) and there she is…

Then, there she goes…
Marching right down the middle of Main Street USA!!!
Frickin awesome

Still dry, but then… Drip, drop, BOOM it pours fast and hard. Wind is blowing, people are screaming. It’s hilarious.
I love it. We are prepared.
The band does get drenched just before finishing near the end of Main Street.
It will be a fun memory for them.
Storm passes quickly, as usual down here.
Still drizzly though, so we decide to go use our FPs for Splash while we’re poncho’ed for the fun of it.


BTW - any other time on a normal weather day, unless it’s already storming, you are NOT allowed to poncho-up just for a ride.
NO WAY - it’s a family rule, and others that do it are ridiculed accordingly.
But, today being different - we get in the FP queue, rain gets worse, then worser, then lightning, then the announcement - closed.

We are so close to the ride, we wait it out for a bit.
Just enough time for Kev to get in a nap, he’s kinda famous for them.

We wait a bit more, then decide to bail. Thunder still in the distance, so it’ll be down for awhile.
I ask at the exit about getting our FP back, they say NO - because we chose to leave the line.
What? C’mon now. No biggie though, I don’t complain.

The weather is still bad enough that Disney doesn’t release the band from backstage. They get to hangout longer and play Disney trivia with some CMs.

We make our way back to Pop to dry out for awhile and rest up for a couple hours.
Photos taken through a wet ziplock….


On our way out, a quick stop at guest relations to ask about our wasted Splash FPs.
Ellen from St. Louis hooks us up with some extra FPs for later tonight and for tomorrow.
I give her a shout-out #castcompliment tweet

All rested - we are now back at MK and are greeted by a nice dry sunset, and everyone is dry and happy.



We take the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!!

Now time to find a spot for HEA.
The ladies go on a food run, and the men secure a great spot.
The grass courtyard by Casey’s, up along the front rail. Nobody can stand in front of us for about 10 feet.
Win!
And - Spicy chicken waffle is on the way. Bigger Win!

HEA is good as usual. Then we quickly dart to avoid the masses leaving and go to Adventureland for a nice cruise, a jungle cruise that is.
Great overall day, lots of memories for all of us.
