Another early morning. I think we got 5½ hours of sleep. Surprisingly, everyone got up easily and remained cheerful the entire day. PTL.
We had another breakfast at Crystal Palace scheduled for 8 A.M. We were anticipating a back up again at security, so we made sure we left a few minutes earlier than Thursday.
We were at MK parking before the attendants again today. This marked five out of five days that we did not need to show proof of any on-property reservation for free parking. We parked in essentially the same spot as yesterday, and interestingly, the same spot as when we visited 5 years ago. Either they have preferred parking somewhere else altogether, or we were so early we ended up in what would later be preferred parking???
I packed a princess dress for each of the four girls and en route to MK we shared with the kids our plans for dining in the castle for dinner. Eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table was something I never dreamt we would ever do. But when I looked into it last November, we decided we were going to go all or nothing this trip. With all of our dining paid for from credit card incentives, this would be the only meal we had to buy out of pocket. All six kids were excited about the news. Seeing what was inside the castle was of interest to us all.
We were delighted to see security was already fully operational and there was no line outside the bag check. We moved right through quickly and waited just before the tapstiles with about 100 or so other people. We were walking down Main Street by 7:45 A.M. Splendid.
TIgger showed Nigel how to do his hair…
We had another breakfast at Crystal Palace scheduled for 8 A.M. We were anticipating a back up again at security, so we made sure we left a few minutes earlier than Thursday.
We were at MK parking before the attendants again today. This marked five out of five days that we did not need to show proof of any on-property reservation for free parking. We parked in essentially the same spot as yesterday, and interestingly, the same spot as when we visited 5 years ago. Either they have preferred parking somewhere else altogether, or we were so early we ended up in what would later be preferred parking???
I packed a princess dress for each of the four girls and en route to MK we shared with the kids our plans for dining in the castle for dinner. Eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table was something I never dreamt we would ever do. But when I looked into it last November, we decided we were going to go all or nothing this trip. With all of our dining paid for from credit card incentives, this would be the only meal we had to buy out of pocket. All six kids were excited about the news. Seeing what was inside the castle was of interest to us all.
We were delighted to see security was already fully operational and there was no line outside the bag check. We moved right through quickly and waited just before the tapstiles with about 100 or so other people. We were walking down Main Street by 7:45 A.M. Splendid.
TIgger showed Nigel how to do his hair…
At RDRD we headed right over to 7 Dwarves Mine Train. I really do like that ride. I know it isn’t cool to admit it. But I’ve never been cool. We saw a cat in the exit route. 
They all headed to Adventureland as I went to get a second batch of FP+ with our extra Magic Bands. We already had rides on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Peter Pan I got an extra Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and an extra Splash Mountain. I also got a Pooh ride. We’ve always liked to re-ride our favorites.
I was only a few boats behind them for Pirates of the Caribbean. I confess I was texting a friend as I rode in a boat with two strangers. The boats before and after us were empty.
She asked how I felt about WDW. She was a frequent visitor in the past, as we were. Their last trip this past September had been their first in five years as well. Their take home was that changes had ruined WDW. While I agree with her on how miserable the changes are I was able to say that, in fact, we were having an amazing time. The best I could liken it to was an athlete or performer training for a role. I feel like I have been prepping for this trip, at least marginally, since 2013, and full-force since March 2015. I’d read a ton and engaged the strategies I thought I needed to improve yield. And it felt like it was paying off. Would I like every vacation to require this much effort? No way. But for this particular trip, we were having a blast.
They all headed to Adventureland as I went to get a second batch of FP+ with our extra Magic Bands. We already had rides on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Peter Pan I got an extra Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and an extra Splash Mountain. I also got a Pooh ride. We’ve always liked to re-ride our favorites.
I was only a few boats behind them for Pirates of the Caribbean. I confess I was texting a friend as I rode in a boat with two strangers. The boats before and after us were empty.
She asked how I felt about WDW. She was a frequent visitor in the past, as we were. Their last trip this past September had been their first in five years as well. Their take home was that changes had ruined WDW. While I agree with her on how miserable the changes are I was able to say that, in fact, we were having an amazing time. The best I could liken it to was an athlete or performer training for a role. I feel like I have been prepping for this trip, at least marginally, since 2013, and full-force since March 2015. I’d read a ton and engaged the strategies I thought I needed to improve yield. And it felt like it was paying off. Would I like every vacation to require this much effort? No way. But for this particular trip, we were having a blast.
Then we did Jungle Cruise. Normally, I am not a big fan of JC, but we had a great pilot and laughed a lot. Katriel was excited to see hippos and elephants.
Next, we made all Johanna’s dreams come true. We finally went on “the spitting camel ride.” Since we had been talking about WDW, Hanny had remembered the ride from photos of her on it in 2011. She was aghast yesterday when we left without riding it. I kept explaining we’d go on it Friday.
Now all was right in the world.
We rode it twice.
A bunch went up in Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Nan, Katriel and I did not. We sought shade. I was going to get a Dole whip, but I couldn’t figure out which one I wanted and then just passed.
John and Katriel walked back through the park to Storybook Circus, while the rest of went on the train from Frontierland to Storybook Circus.
Marie and Johanna went with Kelly to ride Under the Sea, which Kelly had missed Thursday. The rest of us met Donald and Goofy. Tab was able to get Donald’s autograph and Stewart got a selfie.
John and the kids did Stitch’s Great Escape with Kelly and then we headed back to Frontierland. The park was definitely busier than it had been all week and seemed to be as busy as I’d ever personally had to deal with. I don’t know how folks deal with 4th of July and Christmas crowds.
We used the first of our BTMRR FP+.
Next, we made all Johanna’s dreams come true. We finally went on “the spitting camel ride.” Since we had been talking about WDW, Hanny had remembered the ride from photos of her on it in 2011. She was aghast yesterday when we left without riding it. I kept explaining we’d go on it Friday.
Now all was right in the world.
We rode it twice.
A bunch went up in Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Nan, Katriel and I did not. We sought shade. I was going to get a Dole whip, but I couldn’t figure out which one I wanted and then just passed.
John and Katriel walked back through the park to Storybook Circus, while the rest of went on the train from Frontierland to Storybook Circus.
Marie and Johanna went with Kelly to ride Under the Sea, which Kelly had missed Thursday. The rest of us met Donald and Goofy. Tab was able to get Donald’s autograph and Stewart got a selfie.
John and the kids did Stitch’s Great Escape with Kelly and then we headed back to Frontierland. The park was definitely busier than it had been all week and seemed to be as busy as I’d ever personally had to deal with. I don’t know how folks deal with 4th of July and Christmas crowds.
We used the first of our BTMRR FP+.
Johanna loved it. She is a coaster fan, big time.
Then we hurried back to the Hub for the Move It, Shake It Celebration. We really only wanted to see Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
Then we headed back to see ride Splash Mountain. Katriel wasn’t big enough so we grabbed a Rider Swap pass. Then I didn’t want to take the time to do it as our Peter Pan FP+ window was open.
We did Peter Pan and then checked out the Rapunzel bathrooms, and took in the Hall of Presidents.
We did Peter Pan and then checked out the Rapunzel bathrooms, and took in the Hall of Presidents.
And decided on another junk lunch of ice cream.
We went over to Tom Sawyer island and spent a good deal of time there. They had a Memory Maker photographer over there who took a lot of nice images for us. I took some, too.
We went over to Tom Sawyer island and spent a good deal of time there. They had a Memory Maker photographer over there who took a lot of nice images for us. I took some, too.
It was getting close to dinner time, so we headed to the bathrooms so I could get the girls Princessed-Up for dinner.
We’d happened upon a photo area yesterday when Marie was in her Merida gown near the BBBoutique where they took photos of her. So we stopped back in and asked them to take photos of all the girls.
We’d happened upon a photo area yesterday when Marie was in her Merida gown near the BBBoutique where they took photos of her. So we stopped back in and asked them to take photos of all the girls.
The service was meh, the portions were small, and the princesses were rushed. But it was so fabulous. I wish it weren’t so crazy-expensive. I just kept thinking: “We are IN the castle!”
Dessert was the prettiest part.
Beer cheese soup and cheese sampler
Grapes and cheese for little ones Castle salad
Nigel had the pork belly confit and Katriel played with her appetizer
Pan-seared chicken
Beef and Shrimp
Chicken nuggets with mashed potatoes and corn
Gus and Jaq’s favorites
Childen’s smore
The Clock Strikes Twelve. Now THIS was super yummy.
It was getting to be MSEP time, so we stayed outside the parade route. We went back to BTMRR and Splash Mountain. We took a ride on the Carrousel and drifted back to Gaston’s Tavern just to look around.
We stopped at the Tea Cups for a ride there and then moved to leave the park via Main Street shops while Celebrate the Magic was running.
We shopped just until the fireworks started and then decided to get out of MK before the masses exited. We saw snatches of the fireworks on the way out of the parks. We weren’t even dragging out.
And to be completely transparent, I started to cry as we walked up the monorail ramp. Not sad because we were leaving – THRILLED that I felt so totally satisfied with what we had accomplished. There were only tiny little bits that we had not been able to do through the week: Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Liberty Belle Steamboat. But we had overwhelmingly covered what we had hoped to do and see, and had re-rides on our favorites.
All in all.
All in all.
Most excellent trip.
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