Disney Vacation...Day 4: Magic Kingdom

I realize it has almost been two years since we went on this vacation but I still want to finish what I started and keep blogging.  I lost my username and password for this account and just finally dedicated some serious time to relocate it.  YAY!!!  So, I'm back in business.  I'll try to remember all the juice details of the past two years because maintaining this blog really is important to me.

Another early day for the Collins Clan on this exciting day.  We had 8:15 a.m. breakfast reservations at The Crystal Palace.  These early reservations ensured that we were able to enter the park before official opening time so we were able to get pictures in front of the castle with nobody else in view.  It was awesome!


After our mini photo shoot we headed over to The Crystal Palace where we met the 100 Acre Wood  friends.  Greyson was nervous to meet them and shied away every time any of them circled near our table but warmed up to the idea near the end.  We got pictures with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore.

We filled our bellies with delicious Mickey waffles, bacon, sausage, fruit and other typical yummy breakfast foods and set us up for a GREAT day!  The kids had so much more energy with this big breakfast in them.  If there ever is a "next time we visit Disney" I will definitely make sure to start each day off with a big breakfast.  It really made a difference in their stamina.

We ate as quickly as we could so that we could start walking around the park right at opening.  The boys and I headed up to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to use our first Fast Pass (9 a.m.).  Daddy went to rent the stroller for the day (necessary!) and was to meet us up there.  We had a little time to kill before Daddy arrived so we watched the first runs of Splash Mountain while we waited.  It seemed too early to be riding a water ride but everyone who was on it looked like they were having fun.  Once Daddy arrived we hopped in the short Fast Pass line and all boarded the train.  Even little Greyson rode it with no qualms at all.  Brody was a little fearful but I think he warmed up to it as the ride went on.  So much fun!

Next up we crossed the park to get to Peter Pan's Flight.  I was extra excited for this one because I remember riding this as a child.  It was definitely more magical at that age.  Still fun though and the boys really enjoyed it.


It was getting pretty warm in the Florida sun so we headed for an indoor experience (Enchanted Tales with Belle).  The air conditioning felt sooooo good.  It was a cute little play with Lumiere

(awesome special effects) as a hologram and a live Belle telling a story using the members of the audience as plates, spoons, etc. to act out a scene from the movie.  Greyson was chosen to be a plate and he was the cutest dish that Disney has ever seen guaranteed!

After this little cool down experience we headed back into the Florida heat and walked over to where the Seven Dwarves Mine Train was because we had a Fast Pass valid from 10:45-11:45 a.m.  We were alerted that there was something technically wrong with the ride and it would hopefully open up later in the day.  We were told that our Fast Passes would work for this ride any time that day so we could return at our leisure.  We were all roasting by this point so we took shelter in some shade outside of an ice cream shop.  Out of nowhere a man in a prince costume greeted our boys and asked them if they were having fun.  Wilting from the heat we half-heartedly answered yes and then he was off mentioning that he was to meet Cinderella shortly.  We then realized that he was Prince Charming!  Super cool!  Wish I would have gotten a picture of the boys with him.  Oh well, can't do everything!

We got Hunter an ice cream but nobody else wanted one (shocking!) so as Hunter scarfed down his treat we walked over to Dumbo because that was #1 on Greyson's list.  This was the longest line in which we waited in all of Disney and it didn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes.  I came prepared with ring pops to keep the boys happy while they waited.  There was a play area for kids to kill time while their parents waited in line and Greyson expressed an interest in going in there but we were worried

about losing our place in line so we just kept right on waiting.  Dumbo was FUN!  A lot more fun than I imagined actually.  You are able to control the elephants (whether you go up or down) and it moved pretty quickly.  I really enjoyed it as did the boys.  I even caught a picture of Hunter smiling from ear to ear!

After this ride the little guys were interested in climbing on the stationary Dumbo so we went with it.  I got a few shots of them playing around. 

It was SO HOT by now that once we left the Dumbo area we stumbled upon a splash pad with a train and the kids were dying to run around in there.  So be it! 

I ran and got us all LARGE slushies while they all cooled off a bit.  Everyone perked up a little with this relief.

We then had a Fast Pass for Space Mountain.  We had a problem with this ride because at this point Brody kept complaining his tummy hurt (nerves we suspected...he wasn't liking a lot of fast rides) and wasn't interested in riding.  Greyson was too short to ride.  Hunter was DYING to ride (this was his #1) so he went with Daddy

while I stayed back with the littles.  Tyler saw the Speedway while

we were waiting and fell in love (our little Speed Demon).  We mainly just tried to stay cool while we waited for them to return.  Hunter RAN back so excited about the ride.  He really was thrilled!  So since I still had a Fast Pass as did Tyler we got in line.  Hunter lucked out because of the Baby Swap policy so he was able to ride twice using the Fast Pass with no penalty!  I will admit I was a little nervous to ride because as a child I wimped out and my little sister did not.  She cried and cried over how scary it was.  Even my Dad to this day talks about how terrifying the ride was.  I decided it was time to do it though and it wasn't so bad.  The darkness is really all that is scary about it because you don't know which way you are going next.  Tyler and Hunter (of course) liked it!

After we got off the ride it was time to get some pressed pennies for their collection so we headed into the nearest gift shop and got that done.

With pressed pennies checked off the list we went back to Seven Dwarves Mine Train to see if they had fixed the ride.  They had!  Brody was still not feeling the rides and didn't want to go.  So Daddy stayed back with him while Hunter, Tyler, Greyson (he made the cut for height!) and I all got in line.  This was a bit of a wait (probably due to it not being in service that morning) but no more than 15 minutes at most.  This ride was awesome! 

I really liked the swinging train cars as well as the lit up jewels and Dwarves in the dark mine during the middle of the ride. 

After that excitement we had to head over for our lunch reservations at Be Our Guest!  We were all excited to get out of the heat.  Other than the heat it had been a really perfect day so far!  Our lunch reservation was for 2:20 p.m. 

We had a bit of a wait to get into the restaurant and then to order our food (done by little computer kiosks) but there were some cool things to see along the way.  The knights in shining armor

were pretty awesome!  We ate lunch in the Rose Gallery Dining Room.  The napkins were all red and folded like roses

.  So cute!  The room was beautiful with a big music box in the center with the Beast and Belle "dancing." 

The food was decent.  We had sandwiches.  Hunter had the "Gray Stuff" for dessert.  I couldn't get that line out of my head from the movie, "Try the gray stuff, it's delicious!" 

It did look pretty tasty!

After we ate Hunter and I meandered through the other dining rooms to have a look around.  We were at the tail end of their lunch service so the staff was busy turning the restaurant over for dinner and most guests had left by then so we didn't feel that we were interrupting anyone's meal by checking out the other areas.  The West Wing Dining Room was super impressive. 

Give me Beast!

They had a hologram wilting rose.  The drapes and paintings were all slashed and torn up.  It was dark.  The ambience was very neat.  Disney does it up well that's for sure!

After lunch we stumbled upon an area with a fountain and statue of Gaston. 

It was pretty funny so I snapped a few pictures.  We had agreed to head back to the hotel to escape the heat and get a good family nap in to prepare for our evening adventures at the park.

We all slept for a good couple of hours and felt pretty refreshed before we headed out of the hotel to the front where the buses picked you up to take you to the parks.  The boys loved the public transportation almost as much as the rides!  Pretty funny.

On the bus ride over I checked the Disney app and learned that Pirates of the Carribbean was OPEN!  This was thrilling news because I had learned several months prior that the ride would be closed for renovation during our trip.  I was crushed.  That was the third and final thing I remembered about our trip(s) to Disney as a child.  I almost didn't believe the app so our first order of business was to head over that way to find out.

On the way over we ran into a man who was mopping an area of the park where nobody was standing around.  He actually mopped a picture of Mickey Mouse

in the cement just for the heck of it.  It was so NEAT!  The magic of Disney right before our very eyes.  It wasn't even for a large crowd of people either.  We just happened to be walking past him and saw him all by himself doing it.  This may sound ridiculous but it was seriously one of the highlights of the trip for me.  I wish I would have snapped a picture of him in the act.  He mopped it so quickly and was off before I had the chance.

The boys wanted to ride Aladdin's magic carpet ride.  I had the tripod with me for nighttime shooting and decided to sit this one out.  They all looked like they had a lot of fun though!  Spontaneity is good!

We hit up the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse as well.

This was also high on my list of things to do because I remember it so vividly as a child and loved it so much.  That memory stuck with me for some reason.  I love creating similar memories with our children.  The sun was setting and there was no line and it was awesome!  I loved it and so did everyone else.  It only took a few minutes to walk/climb through it and we were off to Pirates to see if it was true that the ride was running.

IT WAS!!!!  I was SO excited!  Not many of the kids wanted to ride.  The sun had set, it looked a bit dark and spooky I will admit. 

I didn't blame them.  The twins were only five years old.  Greyson was three.  Hunter was still nine (for one more day!).  Tyler tried to be brave and got in line with us for a few minutes and then turned back and ran over to Dad.  So it was Hunter and me who ended up riding it.  His assessment of the ride when it was over was, "It was okay, but it was kind of calm though."  I enjoyed seeing it as an adult but I'd have to agree.  It's sad to me that we are so numbed by crazy special effects and intense action these days that animitronics aren't the attraction that they used to be.

After this ride it was time for us to find a good spot to watch the nighttime parade.  Actually it turned out to be a bit late for that as it seemed that every spot on the side of the main street had been taken.  We made the most of it with a spot off the main road where we were still able to see the Electric Parade floats and busted out all of the glow necklaces/bracelets/head gear that we had brought with us from Wisconsin.  The Dollar Store even had Mickey ears!  Sometimes mom plans ahead and it pays off.  We even had some people ask where they could buy them.  Ha ha ha!  Saved a ton of money not purchasing this stuff in the park and it didn't take up much space in our suitcase at all.  The boys loved getting their glow on.

After the parade we sneaked in one more ride before the fireworks display was to begin.  Tyler's top choice at Magic Kingdom was the Tomorrowland Speedway (of course).

He loves anything and everything super FAST.  Everyone enjoyed this ride and John said this is what he remembered most about visiting Disney as a child so it brought back some memories for him.

Time for fireworks!  It was a sea of people so we found the best spot we could and waited.  It was quite the display!  The show started with Tinkerbell (real live person) on a zip line way high up in the sky.  This is the reason for lugging the tripod all the way from Wisconsin.  I got some nice shots of the castle with the fireworks.

John was a Saint as always helping me set it up and watching the kids to ensure their safety while I "played" with my camera.

Finally we closed out our extra long and exciting day at Magic Kingdom with a trip over to the Haunted Mansion.  One final hurrah gone a little badly.  Hunter, Tyler and Brody chose to ride with me.  It was a tad too scary for them.  When the elevator doors were closing Tyler and Brody started panicking and saying they decided they didn't want to ride anymore but it was too late.  They all wanted to ride with me in the car but it was supposed to only hold up to three people.  Hunter was terrified that he wouldn't get to ride with me and would have to ride alone yet I knew I had to ride with Tyler and Brody because they were even more scared.  We didn't get it all figured out before the car got to the end of the conveyor belt so the cast member running the ride had to stop it and he wasn't too happy about it (as we were the last ones to ride before they shut it down for the day).  He let us all cram into one car together and proceeded to get the ride running again.  The boys all decided to make fun of the ghosts and laugh at the things they saw (like the floating heads around the table for instance) to "get through it."  It seemed to work for them but Hunter told me later that he was, "scared out of his mind."  When we left the park most of the people had cleared out in the direction of the parking lot and buses.  We had to wait for a while for a bus back to the Art of Animation (resort where we were staying).  And that completed our day at the Happiest Place on Earth!