Howdy friends! We’re diving right in today… Only 39 days left! Wait, 38, 37, 36… um... 21! Oh my...Best get cracking. And with that cracking, today I offer two posts! Days 5 - 12!!
Day 5 - June 7, 2017 - Resort: BCV - Park: Epcot
As I mentioned in the last update, we’re hitting Epcot pretty hard, so we’re planning on strolling over around mid-morning to do some convenient touring. Our first FP+ isn’t until 10 am, so we have time to wake up in a leisurely fashion after what could be a late night. It wasn’t until 2014 that Clara was tall enough for Soarin’. Since then she’s been able to enjoy it on her trip with Ryan, and then we all got to be the first of the family to “soar” around the world back in
Disneyland last summer.
After our tour of the world, we’ll use a FP+ on Living with the Land. Seeing as we’ll be there during peak touring time (11-12) it seemed like a good idea. Following this educational boat ride will be a tour of the Seas Pavilion, no FP+ for Nemo, but one for Crush. We figure if the line is bad we can always go in the exit door and just enjoy the marine life and air-conditioning.
And that will bring us to the end of our FP+ for the day… There really is no need for additional FP+ at Epcot, I just can’t imagine getting something worth our time as a fourth. I guess time will tell. At this point we’ll head back to BCV to swim and rest after a light lunch. We have a 6:15 ADR at Via Napoli (I am looking forward to a pitcher of Sangria- I’m sure someone will help me with it) and then we plan to enjoy the World Showcase until Illuminations. Since we have another sleep in day the next day (if one so chooses), it is possible some of the grown-ups might check out a late night Pandora EMH. Could be interesting. Maybe.
Day 6 - June 8, 2017 - Resort: BCV - Park: MK
This particular morning brings a first of the trip: a morning of choice. We built a few of these into the schedule, a morning where a group, or family unit might decide to sleep in, wake up and lounge, swim, or perhaps head off to a park. Because Caz is leaving Sunday night this very well might be our only chance to wander off as a family, but it is hard to say if we’ll have the energy to do so, or if we’ll sleep. We’ll just have to wait and see!!
After lunch, no matter where everyone is, we’ll meet up at the Magic Kingdom. For this part of the trip, I was able to pick a recommended day, so hopefully we’ll enjoy lovely weather and low(er) crowds. Our first MK ride is scheduled at 1:30pm and we’ll be splitting up. Caz, Papa, Eme, Josh, Drea, and Brie will head off to Space Mountain, while Buszia, Clara, Ryan and I will go for a ride on the Tomorrowland Speedway. The kids love this:
This is Caz’s one and only MK day, so we had to get the thrill rides scheduled. After our time in Tomorrowland, we’re heading over to the Frontierland area to watch the Parade. I’m hoping this area will be less crowded for us. I’m thinking we’ll have just enough time to do our initial rides and then cut across the park to get to that area for what I’m hoping will be a front row seat.
After the parade we’ll be in good position to head over the the wildest ride in the wilderness, BTMRR. Yee Haw! Super fun…
Clara cracked us up this past summer with her super worried face as we waited for this ride at DLR. Of course, just like all the other times, she loved it!
Dinner is at the Skipper Canteen, where I have high hopes for something new and different, and I’m also hoping for some new beer offerings. What they have now is lame:
For such an exotic menu, you’d think they’d offer something more interesting… Blue Moon? Really?
After dinner, we have one more FP+ scheduled: 7DMR. I heard a rumor that the rocking capabilities have been reduced. If so, I will be very disappointed. If not, Caz and I plan to ride together and get it really rolling.
Papa and Buszia will take the children home at that point, as we have something special and different planned for the next day. Caz and I, and Brie and Drea if they so choose, will take a tour of the lounges around the Seven Seas Lagoon. I considered staying and watching the new fireworks show, but I think I want to wait and see it with my kids… Especially considering how much I adored Wishes.
I love Wishes. Love it. This show more than any other attraction represents the wonder and joy of WDW. The girls and I watched the live stream of Wishes a few weeks back and were “treated” to a preview of the new show and I wasn’t impressed. I refuse to see any more previews as that one was so disappointing. I’m not into the contemporary music and I hope that the new show still has some whimsy, which Wishes has plenty of. I have so many cherished memories of Wishes…
So hiding out at Trader Sam’s sounds like a better idea. Or perhaps we’ll do that and then come back to the park and do some late night riding. Especially if we can get some fourth FP+. I think this depends on if they extend the hours. As of right now, MK is only open until 10 pm.
Day 7 - June 9, 2017 - Resort: BCV and OKW - Park: Shhhh…. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
As I mentioned earlier, we have something special planned this day. For the past year, the niece and nephew Christmas and birthday gifts have been funds to go towards tickets for the WWoHP. Caz and I have taken one for the team (not really, we’re super excited) and the two of us will be escorting all four children on this adventure. We even have special t-shirts. The kids each have a Hogwarts house shirts (Clara=Ravenclaw, Eme=Hufflepuff, Josh=Slytherin and Ryan=Gryffindor). Even Caz and I got into the fun, and I got Caz a Durmstrang t-shirt and I have an Ilvermorny shirt. We have a code name, merging the three last names (Adskioff) and we’re all going to pick special wizarding names. So we’re totally geeking out. Both the girls and the boys have interactive wands, and despite the challenges we’ll be bringing a small backpack.
While the kids, Caz and I are enjoying the WWoHP, the rest of the adults will be moving us over to our Hospitality House area (building 25) grand villa. Hopefully it isn’t too much work, and they don’t sweat too much… I think with the help of Bell Services it should go just fine. In addition to moving, they’ll be enjoying a final full day at the glorious Storm-a-long Bay, without ANY children. Truly a vacation day. The ladies will also be taking in a breakfast at the Captain’s Grille, thus using up the final Deluxe Dining Plan credits. Good times.
Back to the touring details… For the littles and Caz, this will be their first trip to WWoHP, but myself, Josh and Eme have been before. We plan on taking a Mears shuttle there, arriving about 45 minutes before we can get in which is 9 am. Currently there are not early hours for resort guests on this date… I wonder if and when that will change. I’m thinking we’ll head to Diagon Alley first as Clara can’t ride the FJ since she’s too short. Hopefully the kids will enjoy Gringotts. I’m not sure how long we’ll linger in this area, I need to do more research.
Our plan is really to stick to only Harry parts (wait that sounds weird) of the parks, so eventually we’ll take the Hogwarts express over to the other park and check that area out. We plan on using the child swap here, and potentially go through the queue of all the rides multiple times. We’re going to eat at both restaurants, and immerse ourselves in everything Harry Potter. And really just pretend that we are all wizards. Seriously. We cannot wait! We *might* check out the Jurassic Park area of the park, but that is a big might. Overall we’re going to just have a blast in J.K. Rowling’s universe!
I’m guessing we won’t stay super late as we plan on being there early, so leaving after dinner is a pretty good bet. We’re planning on taking an Uber XL on our way home, giving us more flexibility compared to a scheduled Mears pick-up. Where we go after depends on the kids. It will be our last chance to swim at SAB, but if they’re tired, I don’t want to push it. We have a morning of choice planned for the next day, so there is a possibility of sleeping in so…
Day 8 - June 10, 2017 - Resort: OKW - Park: DAK
As I mentioned earlier, this is another day where the morning is what you will make of it. We have built quite a few of these into our schedules in the hopes to allow some (ironically) unscheduled opportunities. I love it. Scheduling for time to not be scheduled. Totally genius! It's hard to say what what we’ll be doing and with the limited time we have left until we actually go on this trip, I’m not going to spend too much time speculating.
As for the afternoon, we’re heading over to Animal Kingdom with a Safari scheduled at 12:50pm, followed with Expedition Everest at 1:55 for some, while Buszia, Ryan and Clara will take in a Nemo show. Honestly, I must see Nemo too, so as soon as we ride Everest I’m heading over to sit in the standby area. Our final FP+ of the day is for the Banshee ride (or whatever it is called). I’m excited for this ride in a “yay, new ride” kind of way, but I honestly don’t really care about Pandora. Plus, I read the beer in that area is not so good. And green. Why green? As I don’t want to create a spoiler and ruin Pandora for anyone, here is a picture of green foamy beer:
Up next is our dinner at Tiffins which is a ROL package. I’m pretty excited for this meal… Should be delicious! As for ROL, who knows. New show, could be good - should be good. Looks good!
And there you have it… At this point we’re HALF-WAY through the trip! Yay!
See you real soon! Really. I’m following this post with another.
