prestoncaldwell
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2016
- Messages
- 493
- Woke up early, rushed through Santa;s offerings, were walking to Toy Story lot from Dolphin's Cove Resort on Orangewood at 6:15 AM.
- Toy Story Lot closed. Walked the rest of the way, it really wasn't bad. It was about 37 degrees so a brish walk helped warm us up. We made it to the gates about 10 minutes before opening.
- Crowds weren't bad in the morning. We signed up for Jedi training, then headed to Peter Pan. 15 minute wait for PP.
- 5 minute wait for Tea Party because DD7 had to do it.
- 5 minute wait for Alice.
- We walked over to Tomorrowland because DW hates organized touring. She and our friend did Star Tours while DC7 (Dear Chicken) and I hung out in gift shop and waited for them. Star Tours about 10 minutes.
- Submarine, about 15 minute wait, we had to cross the "salmon run" of 8 AM entrants heading toward Hypersace Mountain to get there.
- 8:40 AM ADR for Plaza Inn Character breakfast. We waited an additional 20 minutes for an inside seat. The characters were wonderful, Minnie, Tigger, Winnie, Eeyore, Capt Hook, Peter Pan, Rafiki, Dale. Capt Hook and Dale had a dance-off, DC7 told Dale to do the crocodile dance (slapping arms like croc jaws) and Hook took off running. Excellent character acting, as silent characters go. Breakfast was the highlight of our day.
- Reported to Jedi Training. Wife registered DC7 and friend and I staked a spot for the show. After 10 minutes, we got word the training was cancelled. Walked back, it looked like a bar fight. These poor CMs were trying to do damage control, offered advance sign-up for future days if we are multi-day, so they signed us up for Wednesday and gave us universal fastpasses.
- It's a Small World, wait time 20 minutes.
- walked over to Adventureland. Did Jingle Cruise, about a 30 minute wait. DW complained the whole time about me picking the wrong side when the line split. We ended up on same boat as party in front of us before the split.
- Walked over to Indy Jones, used FP, about 10 minute wait.
- Went to Haunted Mansion hoping the return times were very late by now, so we could break for the afternoon and do HM on return, but return time was really early (it was 12PM, return time was 1:05 to 2:05).
- By now, the walkways were reaching gridlock. This is our queue to exit stage left. We inched through the gridlock and made our way to the Toy Story buses, walked back to the resort and all took a healthy nap.
- Woke up at 5 PM, ate lunch in our apartment, and went back to DLR for more punishment. Evening was warmer than morning. Crowds were still insane. Did lots of shopping, then finally coralled DW and DC7 to head toward Haunted Mansion to get a FP at 8:45. CM said we could get a FP but the wait was only 15 minutes. I told DW we will miss the fireworks if we do this, she debated. We didn't miss the fireworks, because after waiting 40 minutes, we got to the entry door, and DC7 freaked out, so we had to take her out the exit just in time for the FW to start.
- FW were delayed, so we made our way toward the Circle to find a spot for PTN, assuming they would be cancelled like every other time we've been to DLR. They weren't cancelled, and we found a corner in front of the camera shop to watch the good half of the firewoks
- Of course no one moves after the fireworks, they leave their spots staked for PTN. So we used the old shopping trick. Went to the gift shop closest to the fire station, shopped around, bought a couple things, then shot out the door and found a spot inside the rope at 10:25. Perfect. DC7 was right on the curb for the parade, and she loved it. Much more beautiful than the night parade we saw at MK over Spring Break. Our position also poised us for a rapid escape from the park, and we only waited for the second busload, about 10 minutes, for the bus back to Toy Story. Dragged ourselves back to the resort and I remember nothing about the rest of the night.
I don't regret going to the park Christmas Day for a minute.
