Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2002
- Messages
- 5,956
Libbys Trip Day 13 Crystal Palace Breakfast and Magic Kingdom
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Tuesday 23rd August
We get up early today as I think it will take a long time to get to the Magic Kingdom for breakfast. We have trouble opening the garage door this morning (its remote controlled) and Im starting to panic. DH and I try to stay calm as we look at the opening mechanism to see if theres a manual override. We dont find it but we do find that weve manage to flick a security switch when we opened the boot last night. With the security switch reset the door opens easily and were off to see Winnie the Pooh.
Actually were off very, very slowly as DH is now determined to drive to the end of the road without the car doors automatically locking (which they do at 15 mph actually for the first couple of days we were accusing the kids of playing with the locks each time we heard them click!) Mission accomplished and were off to TTC at a more normal speed.
We meet no traffic problems early starts are certainly the way to go if you can get you family out of bed. We reach the TTC at 8:15 am and park close enough to walk to the monorail. There are lots of little princesses emerging from cars in all their finery.
We get to the Magic Kingdom and still have a lot of time to kill so I decide to give dollar a call to see what theyll do about the non-functioning air conditioning. Im passed from dept to dept and end up talking to roadside assistance, who I avoided calling in the first place! After a very patronising talk about switching on the snowflake switch (the pt cruiser doesnt have one!) and speaking to me as if Ive never used a/c before we do have it in England you know. He says we can switch out the car (I have to make sure that this means swap) but only at the airport where we picked it up from. This could take an hour round trip and as were near the end of our holiday we decide to stick with car weve got.
Its still early when were ready to enter the Magic Kingdom so we walk along the closed turnstiles until we get to the far right hand side where people with breakfast reservations are being allowed in. Were asked if we have a reservation but we never have to prove it. We take a few quiet photos and then walk through the cool shops to get to Crystal Palace (heres a challenge try to get through the entire length of the Main Street shops without the CMs greeting you we must have been asked 6 times how we were doing).
We get to Crystal Palace 25 minutes early but only have to sit on the veranda for about 5 minutes before we are seated. Unfortunately weve just missed the characters but as Piglet is stranded in the lobby we get photos with him before exploring the breakfast selection.
The food is good and fresh. DS decides to have Piglet waffles with bacon and sausage and makes a lot of sick jokes about eating Piglet. I have scrambled egg, bacon, French toast and cake (but not all on the same plate!). Sadly we dont see any characters for at least 30 minutes and then Pooh comes along on his own. Weve finished our meal and paid before we get to see Eeyore or Tigger. It was an OK breakfast but we had much better times at 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickeys on previous holidays.
Its about 9:45am when we leave Crystal Palace and we head to Fantasy Land where we very quickly ride Snow White, Peter Pan, the Carousel and Pooh. Then we head to Toon Town for some character photos. As the children havent been collecting autographs weve missed out on the photos too. First we visit Mickey in the judges tent with only a 10 minute wait (and I get a kiss!) then we head to County Bounty and decide on the traditional characters. Were front of the queue and in a couple of minutes were visiting Minnie, Donald and Goofy.
We then spend some time looking around Minnies House which seems much smaller than I remember or maybe my kids are bigger.
We take the train to Frontier Land and get a fast pass for Splash Mountain. Theres just a 10 minute wait for BTMRR so we ride this. Its still not time for Splash Mountain so we take the raft to Tom Sawyers island a first for us. The kids enjoy exploring the tunnels and caves but it is very hot so we only spend half an hour here before heading back, via the raft to Splash Mountain. Theres a very big queue by the fast pass entrance but these people are too early for their ride so we just walk past then with relief (memories of Lights, Motors, Action fast pass queue are still very fresh!) I love Splash Mountain!
Were getting hungry now so we go to Colombia Harbor House. This has become our favourite counter service in MK as it seems so calm and weve been lucky with having no problems finding empty tables.
After this we head to Tomorrow Land, we notice that the castle is open so we take the chance to pop inside before heading to get fast passes for Buzz Lightyear. Weve 40 minutes to kill so we get ice creams and sit at the closed Noodle Terrace to eat them in the shade. We have a ride on the TTA which is very busy today not really a queue but steady loading and nearly all the carriages are occupied. We get to Buzz and I get that smug feeling bypassing the standby line. The universe saved we head over to Exposition Hall to look at our photos.
Before looking at the photos we go to the back of the hall here are no characters there (theres a parade imminent) but we get some nice snaps with the props. Were quite disappointed with the photos. Only one photographer has managed to get the kids and the character facing the camera square on. We buy a nice picture of the kids with Donald Duck (I know if I dont buy one today Ill never get round to ordering on line).
Outside in Main Street the crowds are only one or two deep but we decide not to stay as I want to ride the monorail to Epcot today (something else Ive not done).
By mistake we take the resort monorail to the TTC where we change for the Epcot line. Its not a very scenic route with views of gas pipes, lorry parks and rubbish bins. We do a circuit of Spaceship Earth before getting off. I want to see the Optical Illusion mentioned on MousePlanet a few weeks ago. We see it but it is fairly disappointing.
We head back via the monorail to our car. The car wasnt too unbearable and we head back to the villa for a swim.
Later on DH and DS head off to subway to get some sandwiches for tea. Once again its been a long day and we head off to bed quite early.
Libby
Cast Me 43 in love with Mickey Mouse
DH (of 20 years) 43
DS 14 cynical teenager
DD 11 a stroppy little madam
Location 14 day holiday at Windsor Palms with 1 night trip to Royal Pacific Resort
Date August 11th to 25th 2005
Tuesday 23rd August
We get up early today as I think it will take a long time to get to the Magic Kingdom for breakfast. We have trouble opening the garage door this morning (its remote controlled) and Im starting to panic. DH and I try to stay calm as we look at the opening mechanism to see if theres a manual override. We dont find it but we do find that weve manage to flick a security switch when we opened the boot last night. With the security switch reset the door opens easily and were off to see Winnie the Pooh.
Actually were off very, very slowly as DH is now determined to drive to the end of the road without the car doors automatically locking (which they do at 15 mph actually for the first couple of days we were accusing the kids of playing with the locks each time we heard them click!) Mission accomplished and were off to TTC at a more normal speed.
We meet no traffic problems early starts are certainly the way to go if you can get you family out of bed. We reach the TTC at 8:15 am and park close enough to walk to the monorail. There are lots of little princesses emerging from cars in all their finery.
We get to the Magic Kingdom and still have a lot of time to kill so I decide to give dollar a call to see what theyll do about the non-functioning air conditioning. Im passed from dept to dept and end up talking to roadside assistance, who I avoided calling in the first place! After a very patronising talk about switching on the snowflake switch (the pt cruiser doesnt have one!) and speaking to me as if Ive never used a/c before we do have it in England you know. He says we can switch out the car (I have to make sure that this means swap) but only at the airport where we picked it up from. This could take an hour round trip and as were near the end of our holiday we decide to stick with car weve got.
Its still early when were ready to enter the Magic Kingdom so we walk along the closed turnstiles until we get to the far right hand side where people with breakfast reservations are being allowed in. Were asked if we have a reservation but we never have to prove it. We take a few quiet photos and then walk through the cool shops to get to Crystal Palace (heres a challenge try to get through the entire length of the Main Street shops without the CMs greeting you we must have been asked 6 times how we were doing).
We get to Crystal Palace 25 minutes early but only have to sit on the veranda for about 5 minutes before we are seated. Unfortunately weve just missed the characters but as Piglet is stranded in the lobby we get photos with him before exploring the breakfast selection.
The food is good and fresh. DS decides to have Piglet waffles with bacon and sausage and makes a lot of sick jokes about eating Piglet. I have scrambled egg, bacon, French toast and cake (but not all on the same plate!). Sadly we dont see any characters for at least 30 minutes and then Pooh comes along on his own. Weve finished our meal and paid before we get to see Eeyore or Tigger. It was an OK breakfast but we had much better times at 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickeys on previous holidays.
Its about 9:45am when we leave Crystal Palace and we head to Fantasy Land where we very quickly ride Snow White, Peter Pan, the Carousel and Pooh. Then we head to Toon Town for some character photos. As the children havent been collecting autographs weve missed out on the photos too. First we visit Mickey in the judges tent with only a 10 minute wait (and I get a kiss!) then we head to County Bounty and decide on the traditional characters. Were front of the queue and in a couple of minutes were visiting Minnie, Donald and Goofy.
We then spend some time looking around Minnies House which seems much smaller than I remember or maybe my kids are bigger.
We take the train to Frontier Land and get a fast pass for Splash Mountain. Theres just a 10 minute wait for BTMRR so we ride this. Its still not time for Splash Mountain so we take the raft to Tom Sawyers island a first for us. The kids enjoy exploring the tunnels and caves but it is very hot so we only spend half an hour here before heading back, via the raft to Splash Mountain. Theres a very big queue by the fast pass entrance but these people are too early for their ride so we just walk past then with relief (memories of Lights, Motors, Action fast pass queue are still very fresh!) I love Splash Mountain!
Were getting hungry now so we go to Colombia Harbor House. This has become our favourite counter service in MK as it seems so calm and weve been lucky with having no problems finding empty tables.
After this we head to Tomorrow Land, we notice that the castle is open so we take the chance to pop inside before heading to get fast passes for Buzz Lightyear. Weve 40 minutes to kill so we get ice creams and sit at the closed Noodle Terrace to eat them in the shade. We have a ride on the TTA which is very busy today not really a queue but steady loading and nearly all the carriages are occupied. We get to Buzz and I get that smug feeling bypassing the standby line. The universe saved we head over to Exposition Hall to look at our photos.
Before looking at the photos we go to the back of the hall here are no characters there (theres a parade imminent) but we get some nice snaps with the props. Were quite disappointed with the photos. Only one photographer has managed to get the kids and the character facing the camera square on. We buy a nice picture of the kids with Donald Duck (I know if I dont buy one today Ill never get round to ordering on line).
Outside in Main Street the crowds are only one or two deep but we decide not to stay as I want to ride the monorail to Epcot today (something else Ive not done).
By mistake we take the resort monorail to the TTC where we change for the Epcot line. Its not a very scenic route with views of gas pipes, lorry parks and rubbish bins. We do a circuit of Spaceship Earth before getting off. I want to see the Optical Illusion mentioned on MousePlanet a few weeks ago. We see it but it is fairly disappointing.
We head back via the monorail to our car. The car wasnt too unbearable and we head back to the villa for a swim.
Later on DH and DS head off to subway to get some sandwiches for tea. Once again its been a long day and we head off to bed quite early.
Libby
i will make sure we go this time tho 
