Well we just got back last night we stayed from 5/19-5/23. We spent 5/21 at the Magic Kingdom. We stayed off site at Holiday Inn Sunspree Hotel which I will post the review of that hotel under the Hotel section. We got up about 6 am Wed morning ate breakfast at the hotel and caught the 8:15 bus to Magic Kingdom. Disappointingly it took us an hour to get to the Kingdom even though the entrance to the park was like 4 lights down from the hotel. We got to the kingdom and had to decide whether we wanted to take the ferry boat or the monorail. This is probably something to look into before you go. The monorail may get there quicker but there was a huge line. So we took the boat which we were able to get to the front of the line and made it over to the kingdom in about 15 min. We stopped at the front and got showtimes and a list of what characters would be where. This was right out front as you came in with the park maps. I was very happy to see it gave the times and locations for Cinderellas Surprise Celebration and Belles storytime which play all day. Going into the gate with the security guards I took a clear backpack they didnt even have to open it they just looked it over from the outside and it made getting in easier. My DS is 2 and my DD is 4 I brought our double stroller thank goodness and it was wonderful using that to haul them and all our stuff around in. Another advantage of the dble stroller is using it to hold our place at the parades it was worth its weight in gold for that with all the people trying to cut in front of you. Anyways so we saw Pinochhio and about 5-6 characters from various shows all minor characters right as we came in the gate. We went down Main St and got there just as Cinderellas Surprise Celebration started. It was a really good show with just about every major character at disney in the show. What a great way to start the day. They have the castle blocked off now because of this show which runs about every hour all morning. So you have to walk around the castle to get to fantasyland. After the show the characters came down to sign autograph books although they all split up in different directions and walked a good distance from the castle todo it and everyone had to pick who they wanted and follow that person. My DS loves goofy so we followed him and waited in line for about 15 min to see him. The park was PACKED dont go on a spector parade day is all i can say it was crazy. Then we went over to see ariel after walking through tommorrowland to fantasyland. About an hour wait with Ariel taking 2- 5 min breaks during that time. They didnt even have the water on at the grotto for the kids to play in and it was so so hot. The Cm told us there was a drought in florida and they couldnt turn the water on. Finally we got in to see Ariel. My DD 4 was thrilled and was convinced it was the same Ariel as last year. We wanted to do the rides like Dumbo etc but wait times were like 45 min so we went to Its a small world which we got on in about 15 min. The kids loved it. Next we went to the carrousel which did not even have a line. everybody was at dumbo. We went into Tinkebells Treasure Shop. This is the place to get something for a little girl. They had so many neat Disney Princess stuff. After looking at all the other stores at MK I think this one had the best stuff. We went to the tea cups and waited about 20 min for that but it was mostly shaded thank goodness. It was a lot of fun and definetly worth the wait. It was very hot that day. we packed a small collapsible cooler with 4 frozen water bottles some frozen popsicles the flat ones call flavor ice in the long plastic sleeve and some frozen pudding that comes in those long sleeves. They were great treats in the heat of the day. Next we went to Toontown Fair. We went to see Minnies house and Pluto was outback signing. My DD loved it my DS was scared of him. Then we went to the Toon town hall of fame it looks like a store dont be fooled this is where the big characters are. We were very lucky and made it in before the crowds. We waited about an hour to see Cinderella and Pooh but the line was huge behind us going clear out the door. It was inside in the ac yeah! it was worth the wait cinderella spent about 5 min talking to my dd who was in heaven. My DS saw pooh and ran about 15 ft all the way to him and threw his arms around him for a big hug. These two events Cinderella and Pooh made the trip for me it was worth every penny to see the looks on the kids faces. They were amazed. We then went to Mickeys house but the line to see mickey in the judges tent had a bout a 2 hr wait no way. We were all very hot by this time and wanted to sit down and eat lunch it was about 1;30. So we decided to try to eat at Cosmic Rays but we took the wrong bridge to Tommorrowland and came up beside the Plaza Pavillion. Reading this site i thought the plaza would be a great place to eat. However the less expensive counter service plaza was closed but it gave us a great tip we cut throught the middle of the plaza pavillion which is open on both sides and came right out onto Main St. First reataurant we found was the Plaza restaurant. It is in a rounded green type of building. This is the more expensive plaza but it was worth it. Everything but the kids meals were 10 a plate and up. The food was awesome probably the best food I had while we were there. As we finished eating we could hear the parade music start on main st. So we headed over there. Now the parade route by the castle hub was packed so hard we could barely get through the crowd. My mother in law had a cart and thank goodness that cleared a path for us. We stopped by the hub looking for a place. A CM was so nice he came up and asked if we needed a place to see the parade and then pointed us down main st to right in front of the train station. This was the perfect spot. I dont think anyone realized the parade came around the circle in front of the station after coming down from the castle. We got a very good spot and let me tell you it was like 3:15 very few had gone all the way down to the middle of the circle. This was also where we watched the sparade what great seats. Watching the parade looking up towards the castle and having the parade come down the middle of the streetwas perfect.And great for pictures. I had brought some snacks like cotton candy and fruit snacks the kids ate waiting for the parade about 330 we saw the parade. It was wonderful, dont forget to take your little ones out to dance in the parade when they stop and ask the kids to come out and dance. My dd danced w snow white it was wonderful. After the parade we went back to dumbo hoping the afternoon would be less crowded. Not happening. But we had to see dumbo to day was our only day at MK. So we waited for 1 1/2 hours to ride for like 2 min. It was fun but the wait made the kids hot and crabby. Almost every kid in that line was crying and fussing it was nuts. After the ride we all had a little heat exhaustion i strarted to get dizzy so we went to theColubia Harbour house to cool down. I found out that they will give you a cup of ice water here for free but charge you $2.50 for bottled water. I had my Brita bottle and just poured the water into the bottle what a great way to save money. By this time we were out of the 4 frozen bottles of water we brang. We just got 3 large ice waters ran them through the brita bottle in Columbia Harbour house and put them back in our original water bottles then back into the cooler those lasted us the rest of the night. We went back to see Mickey in Toon Town fair at the judges tent it was only like a 10 min wait thank goodness my kids werre so tired. Then we went over to tommorrow land buzz light year ride is a very big thing for my dd
4. But it was a long wait so we got a fast pass and went to ride the tommorrowland train. This was a great way to cool down and there was no line at all for this. It was about 7 by now. We rode the train three times we just stayed on instead of getting off each time. There were lots of empty cars so the cm didnt mind. My dd 2 fell asleep on this it was so cool and relaxing he was out the rest of the night. My DD 4 was very excited to get all the attention from the adults to herself the rest of the night. We went to space ranger spin and then headed over to main st using the same short cut we used at lunch time. It was great came right out on Main St across from Caseys corner turned left and went to pick our spot. In front of the train station in the middle circle looking right down at the castle it was about 8 15 the parade started at 8 45. My DD loved the parade. If you havent seen it you should it has Ariel in a beautiful float and Cinderella in a carriage with prince charming perferct for my dd4. We then waited about 15 min to see the fireworks. they were beautiful with the castle changing colors. My video tape ran out just as the fireworks finsihed. It was a perfect way to end a very exciting day. When we left the park same question monorail or ferry. We choose the ferry and made it in about 20 min. That was from the time we got in line for the ferry to the time we got off the ferry. Which wasnt bad the monorail line was very very long. They have ferrys that go to the resorts too those lines were pretty short. Anyway we caught our bus just as it was pulling out and made it back to the hotel. It was a beautiful day filled with disney magic and worth all of the budgeting and saving up we did.
4. But it was a long wait so we got a fast pass and went to ride the tommorrowland train. This was a great way to cool down and there was no line at all for this. It was about 7 by now. We rode the train three times we just stayed on instead of getting off each time. There were lots of empty cars so the cm didnt mind. My dd 2 fell asleep on this it was so cool and relaxing he was out the rest of the night. My DD 4 was very excited to get all the attention from the adults to herself the rest of the night. We went to space ranger spin and then headed over to main st using the same short cut we used at lunch time. It was great came right out on Main St across from Caseys corner turned left and went to pick our spot. In front of the train station in the middle circle looking right down at the castle it was about 8 15 the parade started at 8 45. My DD loved the parade. If you havent seen it you should it has Ariel in a beautiful float and Cinderella in a carriage with prince charming perferct for my dd4. We then waited about 15 min to see the fireworks. they were beautiful with the castle changing colors. My video tape ran out just as the fireworks finsihed. It was a perfect way to end a very exciting day. When we left the park same question monorail or ferry. We choose the ferry and made it in about 20 min. That was from the time we got in line for the ferry to the time we got off the ferry. Which wasnt bad the monorail line was very very long. They have ferrys that go to the resorts too those lines were pretty short. Anyway we caught our bus just as it was pulling out and made it back to the hotel. It was a beautiful day filled with disney magic and worth all of the budgeting and saving up we did.
