Day 4 ~ November 27th Magic Kingdom/MGM Studios
Our first full day in Disney Parks!! Needless to say the first few days of the trip I never have any problem bounding out of bed even before the wake up call comes through (as opposed to the last few where it gets harder and harder to get out of bed).
The wake up call came at 8:15 a.m. and Colton picked it up. He rolled over and said No ones there. I told him it may take a second to come on and in the middle of us talking it comes on and he missed half of it. But oh well, he still thought it was cute (See! Im not the only one!

).
I jumped up and took a shower and got ready. While I was showering Colton went with my Dad to get a refillable mug at the newly reopened Captain Cooks. He asked if I wanted one but I hardly have ever used my refillable mug and we were only at the Poly for 3 nights. (BTW, after this day he never refilled it. That was an expensive apple juice!)
OT Refillable Mug story When we were at CSR (unbeknown to me until later) my Dad tried to use a POR mug at CSR and he got caught. I laughed for a good hour. Not only is he breaking the Only good for stay of trip rule but he doesnt even use the same resort mug?!? Im just glad I wasnt there. I wouldve been so embarrassed.
While Colton was in the shower I called Private Dining to have half a dozen chocolate covered strawberries sent to the room. I also moved the bottle of champagne I bought from my suitcase to our mini fridge. We have a tradition on every trip that we toast to our trip and to our relationship with champagne. Every trip, even if we go camping. I was surprised that he didnt mention anything as hes usually the one who buys it and brings it along. So I just hoped that he didnt look in the mini fridge before the strawberries came that afternoon (BTW, I did take a picture of them and it will be up when I get my photos back!).
After we were dressed and ready to go I put a Disney sticker decorated envelope with Housekeeping written on it and a tip in it on our nightstand (I also cleaned up a little as I dont want them having to touch our unmentionables

). I called my parents in the next room and everyone was ready so it was off to Magic Kingdom!
We walked to the Great Ceremonial House to get on the monorail. It was yet again a beautiful day and we were all excited. We went up to the second floor and waited in line for the monorail. I feel bad for the people staying at the GF because by the time the monorail goes to the Contemporary and Ticket and Transportation Center we have to squeeze on there when it comes to the Poly. A few families had to wait behind at the GF because the monorail was full.
We get to MK at about 10:30. We get in with no problems (I think the bag check lines run a lot faster than they used to). Its sort of a tradition now to do Buzz Lightyear as our first ride. We walk over to Tomorrowland and wait about 15 minutes to ride. I purchased the picture because no matter how many times I ride it I always get so caught up in shooting that I forget about the picture so its always a picture of me with my mouth hanging open and squinty eyes. Thats my game face.
Anyways after Buzz we go on my favorite ride in ALL of WDW. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority (formerly known as the Wedway People Mover). I love this ride. I love the retro feel. I love that there is never a line. I love how relaxing it is. I love that you can see a lot of the park riding this. I just love it. I think Colton liked it.
We then did Carousel of Progress which I loved as usual but Colton didnt seem impressed. I guess he doesnt get classic Disney.
Colton and I did Space Mountain (as my parents get motion sickness on roller coaster type rides and they rode it once years ago and that was enough for them). We waited about 15-20 minutes and I must say that I laughed my butt off looking at Colton in the seat behind me. They definitely did NOT make rides years ago for big people. He looked like a gorilla riding a tricycle. I should of taken a picture.
After this we slowly made our way back to the front of the park for our 11:30 a.m. ADR at Tonys. Our very first meal at WDW in 93 was at Tonys (when they served breakfast) so its a must every trip. We arrived about 11:15 and they dont open until 11:30 so we checked in and had a seat on the rocking chairs on the porch.
As we were sitting there Pinocchio and his Dad (never cared for the movie so couldnt tell you his name) came out and set up right in front of the porch right in front of us so my Mom and I are in about 25-30 different families pictures. Were celebrities.
They called our name and sat us in the glasshouse room (weve always sat out here and prefer it to the inside part of the restaurant). We ordered the breadsticks to share which were delicious. I ordered the Chicken Parmigana hero which I have to say was the most delicious sandwich I think I have ever eaten. So yummy. Colton and my Mom had a Meatball sub which looked good and they both said was very good. My Dad had one of the Panninis which he said was good. Our bill total with the DDE card discount including tip was $55.71 for the four of us.
After lunch we headed to Splash Mountain. It was starting to get warmer and the park was getting more crowded. The stand by line for SM was 35 minutes so we decided to get in line. But having ridden this ride many times I knew that the line was MUCH longer than 35 minutes. It was winding around the outside part before you ever went into the building. We decided to wait anyways. After standing in line for about 40 minutes and moving almost to the part where you are right beside the train station a voice comes over the intercom that the ride is broken down indefinitely and they dont know if or when it will be back up. So we get out of the line and get fast passes for later if it is up.
We walk over to Big Thunder and the standby line says 20 minutes. We get in line and waited 40 minutes before boarding (incorrect standby line times were a continuing theme for the week). But we also figured a lot of people probably did what we did and headed over to BTMRR when SM shut down.
After the wildest ride in the wilderness we headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean. Why is the line out of the building? In the past three trips to WDW the longest I have EVER waited for this ride is 5 minutes. I guess the movie and the ride refurb packs them in now. There was no FastPass for this ride so we get in line. I dont remember what the stand by line time said but we waited 35 minutes.
After this we headed back to SM to see if it was up. It was and our FastPass window had opened so we went in. We waited about 10-15 minutes and boarded (My Mom and I donned our ponchos as walking around soaked and smelling of Florida water did not appeal to me). This is definitely my second most favorite ride in WDW. I love going on it with people who go on it for the first time too because they think every drop is the big drop. And I was so happy to see that all of the animatronics were working (they all havent been for the past couple of trips) AND the jumping water was working! My Dad and I were so excited about that. We drop and Colton gets drenched (he tried to hide in my poncho as we were going down but for someone who talked a bunch of trash about my poncho before we got on the ride I pushed him away). Side note: I finally saw the Hidden Mickey profile in the opening of SM!! I was looking and looking and then it just popped out!
We got off of the ride and headed to Haunted Mansion. The parade was going down the street so we figured it would be a perfect time to go there. It was! We waited maybe 5 minutes and had the best people ever in our stretching room (have you ever just enjoyed the complete strangers you were around and wished they were around you on every ride?). There were only about 10-12 other people around but everyone was quiet during the talk so that everyone could hear and no one pushed over to the door to be the first to get out and everyone was very courteous about forming a line once we got out of the room instead of pushing around the sides to get in front of people. We even had a great conversation with the people around us. It was the best line experience the whole week.
The ride was great and Colton really loved it. After HM we headed over to FantasyLand to ride Its a Small World. I love it since the refurbishment. We waited maybe 10-15 minutes and had a great ride.
About this time its 4:30 and we have an ADR for Crystal Palace at 5:05. We take our time getting to Crystal Palace and check in at 4:50 and ask for a table on the side. We had to wait about 15 minutes but it was worth it to be out of the way and have a more quiet table. The food was great as usual and Colton ate a few mountainous plates (but my Dad definitely beat him). I was bummed out as it was getting closer to 6 p.m. and thats when the fireworks were going off but I didnt want Colton to see them until the next night when we could get a good spot! He said he really wanted to see them so we left my parents at the table and went outside and stood on the front steps of the restaurant. We had a great view and the fireworks were amazing! It was so great to be there, have a great view, not be in mobs of people, and be able to enjoy the fireworks. (BTW my parents said that they did not pipe in the music or dim the lights in the restaurant if anyone is considering staying in during the fireworks with a window seat)
After the fireworks were over we went back and collected my parents

. We then made our way out of the park with all of the other people as MK closed at 6. I always feel like a cow when leaving down Main Street at closing time. Were all being herded by the people with the big Mickey hands. But they do an excellent job of herding I have to say, especially with the Christmas Party traffic coming in .
We jump on the monorail and head to the Contemporary. We got off the monorail to look at the decorations. Colton said that this was his least favorite resort of all of the ones we visited as it reminded him of an airport. I told him that I liked it and have to stay here at least one night to complete my goal of staying in every Disney resort. He agreed and said that he just wouldnt want to spend the whole week there.
We looked at the chocolate display and then made our way back to the monorail. Now this is when my Dad got his angry pants on. We waited about 5 minutes for a monorail to arrive. When it did there were two wheelchairs the guy at the monorail station had to load (he was the only one on the platform working other than the monorail driver). There were about 10 other people waiting with us. The guy loaded the two wheelchairs and then the monorail left without anyone else getting on it! So we all thought that was a little odd as there was plenty of room on the monorail. Another monorail came about 5 minutes later and by this time there were two more wheelchairs waiting to board. He again loaded them and let no one else on even though there was room. By this time there are about 30 of us waiting to get on a monorail and my Dad asks the CM whats going on and why cant we load while hes putting the wheelchairs on? The CM says that the monorail is only allowed to be in the station for a minute and a half and he has to load the wheelchairs before anyone else can get on. Well thank God the next monorail came about 5 minutes later and there were no wheelchairs waiting and we finally got to get on. I'm all about waiting and being patient but standing for 20 minutes and not knowing if you're ever going to get on the monorail is not fun.
We stop at the Ticket and Transportation center and then continue on to the Poly and GF with us getting off at the GF to look at the Christmas decorations. Colton thought the Gingerbread house was neat but he didnt seem as impressed as I thought he would be (apparently he used all of his glee up on the Stitch wake up call

). He liked the resort but said the lobby was too loud (and it was a lot louder than usual) and too foo-foo for his tastes but agreed that we will stay there for at least one night at some point in the future. My mom had wanted to purchase a Gingerbread house after she had heard on the Food Network special that they were somewhere around $25. Yeah. Ok. Try $65. So we got a Gingerbread shingle

.
We hop back on the monorail with no problems and get back to the Poly at about 7:30 p.m. The chocolate covered strawberries were waiting and they were beautiful! Even though I had ordered half a dozen they sent a dozen with a beautiful conch shell made out of white and milk chocolate filled with M&Ms. The whole thing was only $34 including the room delivery charge and tax. Colton was impressed I snuck the bottle of champagne without him knowing and thought the strawberries were great.
We changed and I noticed the tip for Housekeeping was still on the night stand and I thought Well, maybe they didnt see it. I'll try again tomorrow.
We hopped on the bus to MGM at about 8 p.m. and after stopping at the GF arrived at MGM at approx 8:45. The park closed at 8 but was open until 11 because of EMHs. Colton wanted to do Tower of Terror first so after getting our wristbands headed over to do that. Sunset Boulevard was dead and we walked right on Tower of Terror (which wins both of our votes for best themeing for line and ride). He liked it but said all of the multiple drops gave him a headache (cry baby

) so we decided not to do it again.
We went back to meet up with my parents who said they would be waiting for us when we got out. Well apparently Fantasmic had let out because I have never seen so many people in MGM in all of my life! It was packed! We decided to leave the area and wait for some people to leave before we headed back to do RnR.
We walk over to the Osborne lights (my Dads favorite) and do a quick walk through before heading to MuppetVision. There were more people than Ive ever seen waiting in the preshow area which is good as I hope this show never closes. The show was cute as usual and I thought what a boring job it would be to dress up in the Shuggums (I think thats his name, Im not the best at the Muppet names) costume and come out every 30 minutes looking for an animatronic bunny. But maybe thats just me.
After Muppetvision my Dad wanted to spend more time at the Osborne lights and Colton and I decided to try RnR out now. We waited about 30 minutes and then rode in the front seat (I get motion sickness if I sit in any other seat other than the front on rollercoasters). Im not crazy about this ride as Ive been on way better rollercoasters and Colton thought it was ok (hes been spoiled by the Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion and no other rollercoaster will be good enough for him now).
We went back to the Osborne lights and watched the final light show. The lights perform every 15 minutes to different Christmas songs. It was performing to that popular Manheim Christms song (I'm on a roll with names tonight

). It was amazing and I found myself getting choked up as hardly anyone was on the street and it you could feel the music and the spirit. It was just a wonderful magical moment.
Well, MGM was closing and even though we didnt get a lot done we still had another day we were coming there later in the week. We got back on the bus (doesnt standing on the bus suck when youre exhausted and been up walking all day?) and headed back to the Poly.
I set the wake up call for the next day and fell into bed.
Up next: Animal Kingdom, Festival of the Lion King, Expedition Everest should be renamed to Expedition Make-U-Sick, Flame Tree BBQ lunch, Ohanas dinner, and Mickeys Very Merry Very Crowded Christmas Party!!