We are off, or we will be shortly! After rising at 6am (me, Mom that is) showering, packing a bag of snacks and drinks for the park, getting everyone up and dressed and fed and making it downstairs with 10 minutes to spare for the bus we are on our way. I have picked up a used lightweight stroller at our local thrift store for $8 to use in the parks for 6 and 9 year old. It has sun shade (othewise known as stuff holder) and large basket underneath for "snack bag" Until they can not fold themselves in 2 this way, we will continue this tradition! Last trip we ran to Walmart for a $10 umbrella version after debating before trip and leaving ours home. I suppose we will look funny walking around Disney with no children and a stoller someday but it beats breaking your back all day. Disney rents strollers of course but they are $8 a day and have hard seats. Our Downtown Disney Bus service (a 1st for us, we really enjoyed this service and felt it was excellent) picked us up in front of hotel and stowed our stoller underneath in luggage compartment (very nice!). These resort buses were coach style w/ soft, reclining seats and good air conditioning. Ahh, relax for 10 minutes! and no parking fee. The bus stops are a bit of a hike to main gate but no further then personal car parking is.
Security is in place and all of our bags are checked, even the stroller pockets the first day. This moves quickly and isn't to much of a hassle but isn't very thourough either so really what's the point? We have 5 day hopper plus passes, one does not scan properly. This may be a problem! No one gets in early to wonder Main Street anymore. We are held at TTC until shortly before 9am and then held at Park entrance until 9 sharp.
We do not see characters on Main street (a first) and we beat the antique car down the street so no ride to the other end on it either! Just one of those Disney magic moments I so enjoy remembering when the trip is done. Hubby keeps us moving and the wait for Dumbo is short, short, short (maybe 5 minutes?) ! I grab fast passes for Pooh while they wait in line. We do Peter Pan and Small World and then Fast pass Pooh. (line has really built here quickly we see as we sail past everyone and walk right on). One of our tickets does not work all day for fast pass so I need a CM each time to get one out of machine for me. I take care of that at end of today at guest services in the park before we leave.
The rest of day is interesting to me I'm sure but let's leave it at we did each and every ride once, many twice, all with no lines, either truly no lines or fast passed everyone (why don't people use these??) Only ride to break down and cause us a wait was Space Mountain and we think someone dropped something on the track? Even made it over to Tom Sawyer Island and through the caves and fort before parade. Ordered counter service lunch at Peco Bills and sat on porch "protecting" our parade route front row seats until 3pm. Daughter had blue go gurt down front of her shirt from morning snack so. . . of course, she got picked by a Princess to walk with the parade and wave. It was still magical! Can't wait to see those pics!
End of day finds hubby and kids doing BTMRR & SM several more times while I shop before we all meet back at main street at 6pm (park close) and take the bus to boardwalk to enter Epcot from there. Kids start on Kidcot stations and mask for TOD parade and get 3 countries done! I insist on seeing Candlelight Processional at 8:15. I am awed and blessed. I want to do this again. Now it feels a bit like Christmas in this warm town! We watch Illuminatons in it's entirety for the first time with a great view. Find our bus (it's always in the same numbered slot, very helpful!) and climb right on. (side note: we always had seats and most of the time buses did not have anyone standing or just 2 or 3 at most.) We are back to hotel in time to whirlpool and swim for a few minutes before we are off to bed. Very hectic day, just the way hubby likes it, he's getting his money's worth and I've gotten to do a few different and magical things too. Kids are starting to look forward to all there is to do. Everyone is big enough this year to enjoy most everything so that makes it nice too. Oh dear! We've been so busy, we've forgotten to eat dinner what with the late lunch and snacks and all (I usually take granola bars, fruit pieces,mini ritz bit peanut butter crakers, rice krispy bars, gogurt, and water and drink boxes.) Hubby did get us a pizza while we swam! almost forgot! (just for those of you who were wondering <grin>)
Tomorrow is MGM!
Security is in place and all of our bags are checked, even the stroller pockets the first day. This moves quickly and isn't to much of a hassle but isn't very thourough either so really what's the point? We have 5 day hopper plus passes, one does not scan properly. This may be a problem! No one gets in early to wonder Main Street anymore. We are held at TTC until shortly before 9am and then held at Park entrance until 9 sharp.
We do not see characters on Main street (a first) and we beat the antique car down the street so no ride to the other end on it either! Just one of those Disney magic moments I so enjoy remembering when the trip is done. Hubby keeps us moving and the wait for Dumbo is short, short, short (maybe 5 minutes?) ! I grab fast passes for Pooh while they wait in line. We do Peter Pan and Small World and then Fast pass Pooh. (line has really built here quickly we see as we sail past everyone and walk right on). One of our tickets does not work all day for fast pass so I need a CM each time to get one out of machine for me. I take care of that at end of today at guest services in the park before we leave.
The rest of day is interesting to me I'm sure but let's leave it at we did each and every ride once, many twice, all with no lines, either truly no lines or fast passed everyone (why don't people use these??) Only ride to break down and cause us a wait was Space Mountain and we think someone dropped something on the track? Even made it over to Tom Sawyer Island and through the caves and fort before parade. Ordered counter service lunch at Peco Bills and sat on porch "protecting" our parade route front row seats until 3pm. Daughter had blue go gurt down front of her shirt from morning snack so. . . of course, she got picked by a Princess to walk with the parade and wave. It was still magical! Can't wait to see those pics!
End of day finds hubby and kids doing BTMRR & SM several more times while I shop before we all meet back at main street at 6pm (park close) and take the bus to boardwalk to enter Epcot from there. Kids start on Kidcot stations and mask for TOD parade and get 3 countries done! I insist on seeing Candlelight Processional at 8:15. I am awed and blessed. I want to do this again. Now it feels a bit like Christmas in this warm town! We watch Illuminatons in it's entirety for the first time with a great view. Find our bus (it's always in the same numbered slot, very helpful!) and climb right on. (side note: we always had seats and most of the time buses did not have anyone standing or just 2 or 3 at most.) We are back to hotel in time to whirlpool and swim for a few minutes before we are off to bed. Very hectic day, just the way hubby likes it, he's getting his money's worth and I've gotten to do a few different and magical things too. Kids are starting to look forward to all there is to do. Everyone is big enough this year to enjoy most everything so that makes it nice too. Oh dear! We've been so busy, we've forgotten to eat dinner what with the late lunch and snacks and all (I usually take granola bars, fruit pieces,mini ritz bit peanut butter crakers, rice krispy bars, gogurt, and water and drink boxes.) Hubby did get us a pizza while we swam! almost forgot! (just for those of you who were wondering <grin>)
Tomorrow is MGM!
