Rigel Kent
Space Mountain Stampeder
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2005
- Messages
- 118
To Dumbo, or not to Dumbo.....
The question: For our first Magic Kingdom day
(this trip), do we do Dumbo? Or don't we?
The problem is that DW and I *really* want to do
Space Mountain, and DD10 and DD7 *think* they
really want to do Space Mountain.
For me, our touring planner, it is tormenting.
All my research has convinced me that Space Mountain
should be our first stop of the day. Of course,
Dumbo should also be our first stop of the day.
Logic tells us: our kids freak out easily on scary
rides, so "make" them do Dumbo first. We can do Space
Mountain another day or time.
But logic never works in the Happiest Place on Earth.
I want to do Space Mountain. Bad.
It's not an Earth-shattering decision, I realize.
Heck, we'll come back in two days, so we can
*eventually* fit them both in.
I don't know how many times we went back and forth
between those two, trying to decide which one we'll do,
and which one we'll put off.
You are invited to step into the Way-Back Machine,
and go back in time with me 41, DW 42, DD 10, and DD 7
to Thursday, August 4, 2005. I still have the notes
I took that day, so I know exactly what attractions
we did. I wrote down most of the wait times.
I also have the times we took photos from the digital
camera. It will be a historically accurate re-enactment.
Please, step into the Way-Back. Let's relive
an actual crowded day in the Magic Kingdom!
...it's a great big beautiful...yesterday...
Here we are! Today is Thursday, 8/4/05.
Touringplans dot com suggests avoiding Magic
Kingdom today. AK is best; avoid MK and Epcot.
This evening, Epcot is having EMH.
AK?? No way. We'll do that on Sunday.
We'll come back to Magic Kingdom again on Saturday,
a predicted good day. But we're not waiting.
I have reason to hold out hope. Len Testa claims
that worrying about the "right day of the week" is
of minor importance compared to the attractions you
choose and the time of day you visit them. On the
scale from 1 to 10, attractions and time-of-day both
rate a 10, meaning huge effect. Day-of-week only
rates a 2. I'm praying this is right. We're
going early.
You should realize that we are not commandos by
nature. We're not commandoes either. I'm late
for everything. Meetings, church--you name it,
I'm late for it. Actually, DW is early for
everything, unless I'm going with her. Then we're
more like "on time." Or late.
But for one measly week in my life, I'm going to be
early. And if it means I have to put DD10 and
DD7's clothes on them myself while they are
vegetating to cartoons on Channel 96 to get
them moving (and it does mean that), I'm doing it.
Here we are, approaching the turnstiles.
We tried to be here at 8:30 am for the 9 opening.
It's probably 8:35. Maybe 8:40.
Working against us is the fact that it is still
the first week of August. Predicted crowd level is 8.
On the scale from 1 to 10 for how *important*
this is, crowd level index checks in at 9.
Time of day vs crowd level...the ultimate battle
of good and evil.
Last night I wrote down our plan.
[Editor's note: I still have it, in writing.]
We will do Dumbo!
To prepare, I downloaded all the free (yes, I'm cheap)
touring plans from touringplans dot com that I could find:
The one-day plan for Tweens,
the one-day Happy Family plan,
the one-day plan for girls age 4-8,
and the two-day plan for boys age 4-8.
Of course, I also have the plans from the Unofficial Guide.
(I also downloaded the free touring plans for
MK EMH nights with small children. They did not apply
to us at all. I can't imagine why anyone would bring
their small children to Magic Kingdom from 11 at night
until 2 in the morning. Maybe their body clocks
are on west coast time, refusing to adjust.)
I spent last night with my Swiss Army knife, carefully
cutting out the cheat sheets from the back.
I've memorized this stuff, but I'm not using any
of them word-for-word. I'm making my own modifications.
Ha ha...."my own modifications." Dangerous--I know.
Here is what our plan for today is:
Dumbo
Peter Pan
Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Carrousel
Small World
Haunted Mansion (possible FP?)
Splash Mountain (probably FP)
BTM Railroad
Then "wing-it" for the rest of the day,
leaving for the resort pool and returning
later tonight.
I'm pretty sure that putting HM 8th on the list
is too far down....I'm cramming in too much before
Splash Mtn. But, we'll use FP for Splash, that
should work, right? It doesn't matter.
If we don't get to Splash today, we can do
it another day. No one except me wants to
get wet anyway.
We must do Haunted Mansion today, because it's
DW's favorite attraction. There's no way I'm
going to leave that out of our plan!
Now, I don't know how this happened exactly.
When I woke up DD10 and DD7 this morning, I
said "we're going on Dumbo today!" and they
were thrilled.
Maybe it was the view of
Space Mountain from the bus ride....I don't
know. Maybe it's the fact that Dumbo
is not all that high on mom and dad's list of
must-see attractions.
Anyway, somehow, between the time we woke
up, and the time we are here, now, at the
turnstiles, we have changed our plan....to "don't"!!
We are skipping Dumbo, and going on Space Mountain today!
Now all four of us are thrilled, instead of
just two of us!!
(DD10 and DD7: "I think a roller coaster in
the dark will be less scary than one where you
can see the turns and hills." Wish I had a
recording of that........)
It's OK that this was not what I had written
down.....the plan will still work.
We'll skip Dumbo, and do it on Saturday.
Everyone's OK with that.
It's still a legitimate plan, right?
We're through security and the finger ticket thing.
DD7 hates the finger thing---she's *jealous* of us
because she is not required to use it!
DW, DD10, and I also hate the finger thing.....
because we have to stand there moving our fingers
all around trying to get it. Maybe if I just try
this long finger by itself......
We're standing around, squeezing toward the
ropes on the right. I forgot to get a Times Guide.
Don't worry.
I glance over my shoulder at the guy on
my left. He's looking at the exact same
cheat sheets from the back of the UOG!
I laugh hilariously to myself. If I were
more gregarious, I would say to him
"Hey! Great Cheat Sheet!"
Hey....what's this?! There's something
happening up there on the train platform!
There's going to be a show???
Yes, there's going to be a show!!! I never
knew they had something like this before
the park opens!!! (How *would* I know
it! The only time I've ever been to a theme
park before it opened was *yesterday*, at MGM.)
This is great!! This *is* the happiest
place on Earth!!!
DD10 and DD7 want to get closer to the middle,
to see the show. Hey! You're not supposed
to do that....we're trying to stay on the
right side, near the rope!! Oh, well,
how about "middle right."
Rope drop!! Oh, here's a Times Guide.
We see Alice in Wonderland coming from the
train platform. Ha! We're not falling for
that trick...you can't slow us down.
Here we go up Main Street!
We're not fast, but we're not slow either.
We're commando-wanna-be's.
We go into the central hub and then turn right
to go to Tomorrowland across the bridge.
A lot of people go with us.
Hey...a lot of people turned by the Plaza restaurant
and cut through the Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace.
Is that shorter, or is my way shorter?
Are you really allowed to cut through like that?
Don't know. We'll go with the bridge from the
central hub...it's a sure thing.
We're not the fastest people here, so by
the time we get to the Tomorrowland rope,
the rope is down and people are stampeding.
So are we! Well, as fast as you can stampede
without running....or even walking too fast.
Let's just say we're walking kinda fast.
Maybe I'm the only one walking fast.
I stop occasionally to let DD7 catch up.
A cast member hollers out in a loud voice:
"Space Mountain has been here since 1975!"
I laugh, and I want to shout back "yes, and
it feels like it's been that long since I last
rode it!" Actually it's only been 13 years.
We get to Space Mountain. I don't remember what
the "wait sign" said. It probably said 20 minutes,
because I was surprised it was already so long.
But I figured it wouldn't take that long.
I was right! It only takes 10 minutes, max.
I love the music playing in this line.
I love the decorations. I love the smell.
I love it all!
I don't want to be anywhere else except right here,
with these people!!
Remember how DD10 and DD7 thought a roller coaster
in the dark wouldn't be so scary. They don't think
that way any more. Don't get me wrong, they made
it through the ride without crying. But they were
scared. "When will it be over? Is it over yet?"
(My exact questions, too, but with opposite meaning.....)
DD10 and DD7 don't ever want to ride
Space Mountain again. Not really their
favorite ride.
But we made it. Let's sit on these comfortable
blue padded benches while the dizziness subsides.
Now we leave. Deep sigh.
Commando mode is now over for the day.
We did it! We did Space Mountain!
Well, *my brain* is still in commando mode,
but not our legs. We stroll now.
I step in gum. I clean the gum off my shoes.
It's 9:24 a.m. We take some photos in front of
Space Mountain.
Now what shall we do. Well, skipping Dumbo, my list
says Peter Pan. But I know we're on the Pooh side,
so we'll do Pooh, then Tea Cups while we're there,
then Peter Pan.
But wait...what's this? Buzz Lightyear says 10 minute wait!
DW and I know that the DDs will enjoy Buzz, no question.
We should do this so that they can go on a ride
(I mean attraction) that they will absolutely enjoy.
The sign says 10, but it was really 0!!!
And yes! What a great ride! And, unlike 4 years
ago, I don't have to deliberately miss to keep from
beating the DDs. Wheeeeeee! I get to be in control
of our joystick! Let's turn this way!
Wheeeeee! Let's turn that way! Look at that Z over
there!! Got it!
Buzz is a success! We exit and look at the wait sign.
It still says 10! Can this really be true! This is
summer! Crowd level is supposed to be an "8."
What the heck!!! Let's do it again!!
The line was definitely longer than 0 this time.
It was probably a 1 minute wait. 2 at the most.
OK, maybe they were 5 minute waits. (I have "5" written
down on my notes.)
We exit. That was fun! We stroll along leisurely.
Up there are the TeaCups and Pooh.
Now I know from memorizing the touring plans, that
every plan has Pooh before the TeaCups. So I run up
ahead to see the Pooh wait. It says 10 minutes!
10! I can't believe it! Come on, family, let's do
this first, because the line builds fast on this one.
Sign said 10 minute wait, but my notes say it was 0!
10:00 a.m.--we take some photos while riding Pooh.
Pooh is a wonderful ride. (I wonder where Mr. Toad
was...I didn't see his picture.)
10:03 am--take a photo in front of Pooh.
We have done Space Mountain, Buzz twice, and Pooh!
I know this is no world's record, but for us,
this is amazing! It is fun!
Mad Tea Party: This must be a dream! The sign says
0 minutes wait! 0! It actually *says* 0!
And it's right! Every single rider gets on, every
time! 10:05 a.m.--we take photos of each other in
our tea cups.
Let me tell you, I usually get woozy pretty easily.
There's no way I can go on this ride unless *I* am
in charge of the steering wheel. DW and DD7 want to
spin wildly. DD10 and I barely even want to go on it.
So DW and DD7 ride in a pastel green cup, and
DD10 and I ride in a yellow cup. I am in charge of
the wheel for our cup. I'm a little nervous.
Yes! It works! I don't get woozy! But, I am surprised
how *tightly* I have to hold on to keep those cups
from rotating.
All right, great day! And look, here's TweedleDee
and TweedleDum! We can get some photos, and some
autographs for our homemade autograph books.
A little line here, though. And Dee and Dum try
to steal someone's marker. They're just kidding.
Looking at my watch. How long do these guys take?
Part of me enjoys watching Dee and Dum.
Part of me wants to get going.
I make the "enjoy" part win.
It's ok...it's fun.
10:14 am - we finally get our turn for photos with
Dee and Dum.
Now........
Here we go walking up toward the carrousel area.
Am I the most naive person on the entire planet?
Am I the most naive creature this side
of Alpha Centauri? (get it?)
Can anyone (or everyone) guess what is about to happen?
You know the park layout don't you?
You know what's coming up don't you?
There it is.
In all its glory.
The granddaddy of all Walt Disney World attractions.
It's not Jumbo.
It's Dumbo.
"We want to go on Dumbo! Let's go on Dumbo!"
I'm thinking: What, are you crazy? We did Space Mountain,
not Dumbo! We can do Dumbo on Saturday!
My lips barely move: "Uh......"
Thank goodness for DW. She says yes, let them
go on Dumbo. We've done a lot of rides so far
with practically no wait. We've had a lot of
fun. If they want to wait for Dumbo, let's let them.
She's right, you know.
This report would be more dramatic in a tragic sort
of way if the Dumbo wait had been what I thought it would
be. (40? 90? 130?)
Here's the thing I can't believe. I can't believe
it! It's only a 10 minute wait! I mean, I can't remember
*exactly* what it was, because my notes from the day
say "10 min? only waited 2 cycles." Then the 2 is crossed
out and replace with a 1. So I know it was only 1 or
2 cycles.
I remember standing in line for an "enormous" amount
of time in *January* 2001 for this ride. It's probably
because we did crazy things, from an efficient planning
perspective, in January 2001. Like, we probably went
to Magic Kingdom on its early admission day....an hour
*after* it opened! And we made sure to hit the real
bottleneck attractions first.....like "Storytime with
Belle." (At least I got to be the Beast in 2001!!)
But today, in August, nearly an hour and a half after
Magic Kingdom opened, we are waiting for less than
10 minutes for Dumbo?! I must be dreaming.
DW and I don't even get in line! We just let DD10 and
DD7 do it themselves!
It's like a miracle. A miracle.
My photography is no miracle though. It's just bad.
I have 9 pictures at Dumbo. And they all suck.
I have a good photo of the base of the exit gate,
right next to a flower.
"Touring Tip #2: If you're trying to get the best
Disney-like photo of your loved ones on Dumbo, position
yourself on top of Cinderella's Golden Carrousel.
That way, when your loved ones make Dumbo stay up
high the whole time, you can actually get their
faces, instead of Dumbo's underbelly."
10:23 they made it to the front of the line!
10:25 they are in a Dumbo, waiting to go!
10:26 their Dumbo moves!
10:26 the flower is next to the base of the exit gate!!
10:27 Dumbo flies high!
10:27 Dumbo lands
Ah, sweet relief! Within 15 minutes after a photo with
Dee and Dum at Mad Tea Party, our DD's stood in line,
waited, and rode Dumbo.
All is right with the world.
There's a potty break in here, I'm pretty sure.
Back between Pinocchio's Village Haus and
Ariel's Grotto. That's a long wait for Ariel.
Keep those DD's looking the other way.
Mickey's PhilHarmagic has a short wait time
posted. Let's do it now! Come on DD's, it's
a 3D movie like Muppetvision.
DD10 snaps with a whine: "Another movie?
I don't want to do that!"
"But you liked the Muppet movie."
"But I don't want to do another one."
None of us have seen it, but I hear it's
the best of the 3D movies. DD10 relents.
It *is* great! All 4 of us love it!
The DD's reach out during the movie to
try to grab objects that are floating in
front of them. Maybe I do too....
Before coming to WDW, we looked at the
pictures in Birnbaum, I read to the family
out of the Unofficial Guide, and I wrote
down everyone's yesses, nos, and maybes.
At Magic Kingdom, there are only 3 things
that DD10 said "no" to, before the trip:
FairyTaleGarden with Belle, Tomorrowland
Transit Authority, and Peter Pan.
DD7 said "no" to only one thing.
The only thing she did not want to do
was Peter Pan.
I told DW, back then before coming down
here, I want to try to respect their
wishes as much as possible, but come on,
Peter Pan? I think we should "make" them
go on it. So we're going to try to "make"
them.
Philharmagic is over. We're by Peter Pan.
Crowds are really picking up.
It's about 11 AM, with probably a 30 minute
wait. I get 4 Fast Passes for Peter Pan
with a return time of 11:40 - 12:40.
I know DD's want to do Small World and
Carrousel. We can do those first, possibly
eat, then Peter Pan.
I tell the DD's we will do Small World,
Carrousel, and then we're using FP's for
Peter Pan. DD's: "Peter Pan? We don't
want to do that!" [Blah blah, what can
I say....we're mean commando parents,
I guess.]
I don't know why we need 13 pictures of
the inside of Small World, but we got 'em.
From 11:03 to 11:09 we took 13 pictures.
Some of them are actually not completely
black, too.
11:18 to 11:31, DD10, DD7, and I ride the
Carrousel *twice*. DW almost never goes on
carousels. I always do. I love them,
and they never make me nauseous. This is one
of my favorite Fantasyland rides.
I've been on it every trip, I bet.
(We probably went on it first thing
in the morning, in January 2001. Not
very efficient touring, wouldn't you say.)
I usually think of Paul Newman, Robert
Redford, and Eileen Brennan (is that
her name?) when I'm riding.
Now we can use our FP's for Peter Pan.
What do the DD's, who absolutely did
not want to go on Peter Pan, think now?
It's one of their favorites, of course!!!!!
12:03 - I get a receipt from Pinocchio's
Village Haus for 2 hot dogs, chicken garden
salad, turkey sandwich, and some sodas.
(DW calls them pops.) I know I was in
line before noon, because these counter
service places get jam packed at noon.
Someone leaves, and we get a table by
a window looking out onto Small World!
For us, the day is almost over.
The crowds are now bad, and the heat
is even worse.
I go over to Haunted Mansion to check
out the wait time, perhaps get FP's.
Nope...it's no longer a FastPass
attraction. 20 minute wait isn't
too bad. I report back.
About 12:50, we go on it, with an
actual wait that seemed like 5 or 10
minutes.
4 years ago, the DD's hated Haunted Mansion.
They were really scared. But they want
to try it again.
So we try it. They still get scared.
This is one of their least favorite
rides. They probably cried.
It's time to head back to the bus, and go
for a swim in the Fantasia Pool. Let's
go down through Frontierland, through
the secret passage to Adventureland, and
then back to the entrance.
Hmmm.....in 2001, we saw Daisy Duck
and Cruella De Vil inside a building near
the entrance. Let's see if we can see some
characters there today.
1:24-1:25 Chip and Dale are in Adventureland.
We get autographs and photos. Chip and Dale
must be dying in those sauna suits.
1:29 photo with the Castle in the background.
(Remember when that Castle was decorated
like a birthday cake?! "Twenty-five ye-ears
of Dis-ney ma-gic, zip a dee doo dah, zip a
dee ay...")
OK....we're near the entrance...here's that
building....Town Square Exhibition Hall.
No, it's Exposition Hall. Whatever.
DW sits in a rocking chair.
I go back the left side hallway inside
Exposition Hall.
[I don't remember if the DD's are with
me or DW.]
This is where Cruella was, 4 years ago.
No characters here today.
This hallway goes a long way back.
Hmmm...what's around this corner.
What the..! It's a secret movie theater!
And there's only one other family here,
maybe two! Steamboat Willie!!! I
remember when they used to play that
cartoon in a building on Main Street!
(I think they sell Pal Mickey's there, now.)
The DD's love cartoons! I go tell DW.
This place is great! I can write UOG and
tell them about this place! Let me see,
I have the cheat sheet with good resting
places.....oh, duh! There it is. Of course
they already know about it. But the place
is practically empty! Doesn't anyone
know about this? It is fantastic!!
[They really need air-conditioned resting
places like this in Animal Kingdom!]
2:01 - 2:08 autographs and photos with
Suzy and Perla, and then Goofy, outside
Exposition Hall.
Then.....
Back we go to the secret theater to watch more
cartoons! 2:14 - 2:18 I take photos of DD7
near the secret theater. They have scenes
where you can stick your head through holes
and get pictures of DD7 in the 101 Dalmatians
TV set, DD7 on a boat with Steamboat Willie
and Mickey, DD7 with her head coming out
of Dopey's belly, etc. DD10 just wants to
watch cartoons.
Finally, we go back to All Star Movies
for the Fantasia Pool. I take a nap, then
join them at the pool. We order a whole
pizza at the food court. Loved it!
The rest of the evening is practically a
waste. We go back to MK for the evening
parade and fireworks. About 7 pm we get
there, and take the train to Frontierland.
The UOG is right, there is *nothing* to
see on that leg of the train.
Then we walk back to Jungle Cruise and
Aladdin area. The walk back is so long, it
probably would have been shorter to walk
straight there from the front gate.
I can't believe Jungle and Aladdin only
have 10 minute waits. But there is a reason.
Thunder and lightning seem to be approaching.
We stand in the secret passageway between
F-land and A-land.
We also try out the padded chairs in the
super-secret room near the secret passage, but
there's no cross breeze.
We find a bench in the secret passage
to sit on.
I ask at the Tiki lodge: if our DD's were
scared at Haunted Mansion, and are scared
of the dark and of surprise loud noises
like thunder, will they like Tiki Birds?
The cast members think they'll get scared.
They also tell us to avoid Stitch, and
especially Snow White. What about
Pirates of the Caribbean? They think they'll
be OK.
15 minute posted wait at Pirates, seemed
like 10 instead. The verdict? DD7 loved it.
DD10 hated the hill, doesn't want to do Pirates
again. The skeletons don't bother either
of them. Just the drop is bad for DD10.
I'm not sure where to watch the parade.
We finally decide to go back to Exposition
Hall. DD's go to the secret theater again!
The cartoons weren't playing. I ask some
cast members in the front if the cartoons
will be playing again. Some of them don't
even know about the secret theater in their
own building!! Technical difficulties, it
turns out.
I ask, will there be a parade if it's
raining? Answer, if it's raining or lightning
at the time of the parade, no parade.
DW and I talk it over. We decide not to
wait. Let's beat the mad rush, and go to
the bus now. So we leave.
Summary:
9 am to 11 am
Space Mtn
Buzz
Buzz
Pooh
Tea Cups
Dumbo
PhilharMagic
11 am to noon
Small World
Carrousel
Carrousel
Peter Pan
Noon to 7 pm
Haunted Mansion
Secret Theater
Swimming
7 pm to bed
RailRoad
Pirates
Well, it seemed like a lot at the time....
Notice the difference between 9 am to 11 am,
and 11 am to bedtime!
That report wiped me out.
It'll probably be months before I write another, if ever.
Hope you enjoyed it, and/or find something useful out of it.
The question: For our first Magic Kingdom day
(this trip), do we do Dumbo? Or don't we?
The problem is that DW and I *really* want to do
Space Mountain, and DD10 and DD7 *think* they
really want to do Space Mountain.
For me, our touring planner, it is tormenting.
All my research has convinced me that Space Mountain
should be our first stop of the day. Of course,
Dumbo should also be our first stop of the day.
Logic tells us: our kids freak out easily on scary
rides, so "make" them do Dumbo first. We can do Space
Mountain another day or time.
But logic never works in the Happiest Place on Earth.
I want to do Space Mountain. Bad.
It's not an Earth-shattering decision, I realize.
Heck, we'll come back in two days, so we can
*eventually* fit them both in.
I don't know how many times we went back and forth
between those two, trying to decide which one we'll do,
and which one we'll put off.
You are invited to step into the Way-Back Machine,
and go back in time with me 41, DW 42, DD 10, and DD 7
to Thursday, August 4, 2005. I still have the notes
I took that day, so I know exactly what attractions
we did. I wrote down most of the wait times.
I also have the times we took photos from the digital
camera. It will be a historically accurate re-enactment.
Please, step into the Way-Back. Let's relive
an actual crowded day in the Magic Kingdom!
...it's a great big beautiful...yesterday...
Here we are! Today is Thursday, 8/4/05.
Touringplans dot com suggests avoiding Magic
Kingdom today. AK is best; avoid MK and Epcot.
This evening, Epcot is having EMH.
AK?? No way. We'll do that on Sunday.
We'll come back to Magic Kingdom again on Saturday,
a predicted good day. But we're not waiting.
I have reason to hold out hope. Len Testa claims
that worrying about the "right day of the week" is
of minor importance compared to the attractions you
choose and the time of day you visit them. On the
scale from 1 to 10, attractions and time-of-day both
rate a 10, meaning huge effect. Day-of-week only
rates a 2. I'm praying this is right. We're
going early.
You should realize that we are not commandos by
nature. We're not commandoes either. I'm late
for everything. Meetings, church--you name it,
I'm late for it. Actually, DW is early for
everything, unless I'm going with her. Then we're
more like "on time." Or late.
But for one measly week in my life, I'm going to be
early. And if it means I have to put DD10 and
DD7's clothes on them myself while they are
vegetating to cartoons on Channel 96 to get
them moving (and it does mean that), I'm doing it.
Here we are, approaching the turnstiles.
We tried to be here at 8:30 am for the 9 opening.
It's probably 8:35. Maybe 8:40.
Working against us is the fact that it is still
the first week of August. Predicted crowd level is 8.
On the scale from 1 to 10 for how *important*
this is, crowd level index checks in at 9.
Time of day vs crowd level...the ultimate battle
of good and evil.
Last night I wrote down our plan.
[Editor's note: I still have it, in writing.]
We will do Dumbo!
To prepare, I downloaded all the free (yes, I'm cheap)
touring plans from touringplans dot com that I could find:
The one-day plan for Tweens,
the one-day Happy Family plan,
the one-day plan for girls age 4-8,
and the two-day plan for boys age 4-8.
Of course, I also have the plans from the Unofficial Guide.
(I also downloaded the free touring plans for
MK EMH nights with small children. They did not apply
to us at all. I can't imagine why anyone would bring
their small children to Magic Kingdom from 11 at night
until 2 in the morning. Maybe their body clocks
are on west coast time, refusing to adjust.)
I spent last night with my Swiss Army knife, carefully
cutting out the cheat sheets from the back.
I've memorized this stuff, but I'm not using any
of them word-for-word. I'm making my own modifications.
Ha ha...."my own modifications." Dangerous--I know.
Here is what our plan for today is:
Dumbo
Peter Pan
Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Carrousel
Small World
Haunted Mansion (possible FP?)
Splash Mountain (probably FP)
BTM Railroad
Then "wing-it" for the rest of the day,
leaving for the resort pool and returning
later tonight.
I'm pretty sure that putting HM 8th on the list
is too far down....I'm cramming in too much before
Splash Mtn. But, we'll use FP for Splash, that
should work, right? It doesn't matter.
If we don't get to Splash today, we can do
it another day. No one except me wants to
get wet anyway.
We must do Haunted Mansion today, because it's
DW's favorite attraction. There's no way I'm
going to leave that out of our plan!
Now, I don't know how this happened exactly.
When I woke up DD10 and DD7 this morning, I
said "we're going on Dumbo today!" and they
were thrilled.
Maybe it was the view of
Space Mountain from the bus ride....I don't
know. Maybe it's the fact that Dumbo
is not all that high on mom and dad's list of
must-see attractions.
Anyway, somehow, between the time we woke
up, and the time we are here, now, at the
turnstiles, we have changed our plan....to "don't"!!
We are skipping Dumbo, and going on Space Mountain today!
Now all four of us are thrilled, instead of
just two of us!!
(DD10 and DD7: "I think a roller coaster in
the dark will be less scary than one where you
can see the turns and hills." Wish I had a
recording of that........)
It's OK that this was not what I had written
down.....the plan will still work.
We'll skip Dumbo, and do it on Saturday.
Everyone's OK with that.
It's still a legitimate plan, right?
We're through security and the finger ticket thing.
DD7 hates the finger thing---she's *jealous* of us
because she is not required to use it!
DW, DD10, and I also hate the finger thing.....
because we have to stand there moving our fingers
all around trying to get it. Maybe if I just try
this long finger by itself......
We're standing around, squeezing toward the
ropes on the right. I forgot to get a Times Guide.
Don't worry.
I glance over my shoulder at the guy on
my left. He's looking at the exact same
cheat sheets from the back of the UOG!
I laugh hilariously to myself. If I were
more gregarious, I would say to him
"Hey! Great Cheat Sheet!"
Hey....what's this?! There's something
happening up there on the train platform!
There's going to be a show???
Yes, there's going to be a show!!! I never
knew they had something like this before
the park opens!!! (How *would* I know
it! The only time I've ever been to a theme
park before it opened was *yesterday*, at MGM.)
This is great!! This *is* the happiest
place on Earth!!!
DD10 and DD7 want to get closer to the middle,
to see the show. Hey! You're not supposed
to do that....we're trying to stay on the
right side, near the rope!! Oh, well,
how about "middle right."
Rope drop!! Oh, here's a Times Guide.
We see Alice in Wonderland coming from the
train platform. Ha! We're not falling for
that trick...you can't slow us down.
Here we go up Main Street!
We're not fast, but we're not slow either.
We're commando-wanna-be's.
We go into the central hub and then turn right
to go to Tomorrowland across the bridge.
A lot of people go with us.
Hey...a lot of people turned by the Plaza restaurant
and cut through the Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace.
Is that shorter, or is my way shorter?
Are you really allowed to cut through like that?
Don't know. We'll go with the bridge from the
central hub...it's a sure thing.
We're not the fastest people here, so by
the time we get to the Tomorrowland rope,
the rope is down and people are stampeding.
So are we! Well, as fast as you can stampede
without running....or even walking too fast.
Let's just say we're walking kinda fast.
Maybe I'm the only one walking fast.
I stop occasionally to let DD7 catch up.
A cast member hollers out in a loud voice:
"Space Mountain has been here since 1975!"
I laugh, and I want to shout back "yes, and
it feels like it's been that long since I last
rode it!" Actually it's only been 13 years.
We get to Space Mountain. I don't remember what
the "wait sign" said. It probably said 20 minutes,
because I was surprised it was already so long.
But I figured it wouldn't take that long.
I was right! It only takes 10 minutes, max.
I love the music playing in this line.
I love the decorations. I love the smell.
I love it all!
I don't want to be anywhere else except right here,
with these people!!
Remember how DD10 and DD7 thought a roller coaster
in the dark wouldn't be so scary. They don't think
that way any more. Don't get me wrong, they made
it through the ride without crying. But they were
scared. "When will it be over? Is it over yet?"
(My exact questions, too, but with opposite meaning.....)
DD10 and DD7 don't ever want to ride
Space Mountain again. Not really their
favorite ride.
But we made it. Let's sit on these comfortable
blue padded benches while the dizziness subsides.
Now we leave. Deep sigh.
Commando mode is now over for the day.
We did it! We did Space Mountain!
Well, *my brain* is still in commando mode,
but not our legs. We stroll now.
I step in gum. I clean the gum off my shoes.
It's 9:24 a.m. We take some photos in front of
Space Mountain.
Now what shall we do. Well, skipping Dumbo, my list
says Peter Pan. But I know we're on the Pooh side,
so we'll do Pooh, then Tea Cups while we're there,
then Peter Pan.
But wait...what's this? Buzz Lightyear says 10 minute wait!
DW and I know that the DDs will enjoy Buzz, no question.
We should do this so that they can go on a ride
(I mean attraction) that they will absolutely enjoy.
The sign says 10, but it was really 0!!!
And yes! What a great ride! And, unlike 4 years
ago, I don't have to deliberately miss to keep from
beating the DDs. Wheeeeeee! I get to be in control
of our joystick! Let's turn this way!
Wheeeeee! Let's turn that way! Look at that Z over
there!! Got it!
Buzz is a success! We exit and look at the wait sign.
It still says 10! Can this really be true! This is
summer! Crowd level is supposed to be an "8."
What the heck!!! Let's do it again!!
The line was definitely longer than 0 this time.
It was probably a 1 minute wait. 2 at the most.
OK, maybe they were 5 minute waits. (I have "5" written
down on my notes.)
We exit. That was fun! We stroll along leisurely.
Up there are the TeaCups and Pooh.
Now I know from memorizing the touring plans, that
every plan has Pooh before the TeaCups. So I run up
ahead to see the Pooh wait. It says 10 minutes!
10! I can't believe it! Come on, family, let's do
this first, because the line builds fast on this one.
Sign said 10 minute wait, but my notes say it was 0!
10:00 a.m.--we take some photos while riding Pooh.
Pooh is a wonderful ride. (I wonder where Mr. Toad
was...I didn't see his picture.)
10:03 am--take a photo in front of Pooh.
We have done Space Mountain, Buzz twice, and Pooh!
I know this is no world's record, but for us,
this is amazing! It is fun!
Mad Tea Party: This must be a dream! The sign says
0 minutes wait! 0! It actually *says* 0!
And it's right! Every single rider gets on, every
time! 10:05 a.m.--we take photos of each other in
our tea cups.
Let me tell you, I usually get woozy pretty easily.
There's no way I can go on this ride unless *I* am
in charge of the steering wheel. DW and DD7 want to
spin wildly. DD10 and I barely even want to go on it.
So DW and DD7 ride in a pastel green cup, and
DD10 and I ride in a yellow cup. I am in charge of
the wheel for our cup. I'm a little nervous.
Yes! It works! I don't get woozy! But, I am surprised
how *tightly* I have to hold on to keep those cups
from rotating.
All right, great day! And look, here's TweedleDee
and TweedleDum! We can get some photos, and some
autographs for our homemade autograph books.
A little line here, though. And Dee and Dum try
to steal someone's marker. They're just kidding.
Looking at my watch. How long do these guys take?
Part of me enjoys watching Dee and Dum.
Part of me wants to get going.
I make the "enjoy" part win.
It's ok...it's fun.
10:14 am - we finally get our turn for photos with
Dee and Dum.
Now........
Here we go walking up toward the carrousel area.
Am I the most naive person on the entire planet?
Am I the most naive creature this side
of Alpha Centauri? (get it?)
Can anyone (or everyone) guess what is about to happen?
You know the park layout don't you?
You know what's coming up don't you?
There it is.
In all its glory.
The granddaddy of all Walt Disney World attractions.
It's not Jumbo.
It's Dumbo.
"We want to go on Dumbo! Let's go on Dumbo!"
I'm thinking: What, are you crazy? We did Space Mountain,
not Dumbo! We can do Dumbo on Saturday!
My lips barely move: "Uh......"
Thank goodness for DW. She says yes, let them
go on Dumbo. We've done a lot of rides so far
with practically no wait. We've had a lot of
fun. If they want to wait for Dumbo, let's let them.
She's right, you know.
This report would be more dramatic in a tragic sort
of way if the Dumbo wait had been what I thought it would
be. (40? 90? 130?)
Here's the thing I can't believe. I can't believe
it! It's only a 10 minute wait! I mean, I can't remember
*exactly* what it was, because my notes from the day
say "10 min? only waited 2 cycles." Then the 2 is crossed
out and replace with a 1. So I know it was only 1 or
2 cycles.
I remember standing in line for an "enormous" amount
of time in *January* 2001 for this ride. It's probably
because we did crazy things, from an efficient planning
perspective, in January 2001. Like, we probably went
to Magic Kingdom on its early admission day....an hour
*after* it opened! And we made sure to hit the real
bottleneck attractions first.....like "Storytime with
Belle." (At least I got to be the Beast in 2001!!)
But today, in August, nearly an hour and a half after
Magic Kingdom opened, we are waiting for less than
10 minutes for Dumbo?! I must be dreaming.
DW and I don't even get in line! We just let DD10 and
DD7 do it themselves!
It's like a miracle. A miracle.
My photography is no miracle though. It's just bad.
I have 9 pictures at Dumbo. And they all suck.
I have a good photo of the base of the exit gate,
right next to a flower.
"Touring Tip #2: If you're trying to get the best
Disney-like photo of your loved ones on Dumbo, position
yourself on top of Cinderella's Golden Carrousel.
That way, when your loved ones make Dumbo stay up
high the whole time, you can actually get their
faces, instead of Dumbo's underbelly."
10:23 they made it to the front of the line!
10:25 they are in a Dumbo, waiting to go!
10:26 their Dumbo moves!
10:26 the flower is next to the base of the exit gate!!
10:27 Dumbo flies high!
10:27 Dumbo lands
Ah, sweet relief! Within 15 minutes after a photo with
Dee and Dum at Mad Tea Party, our DD's stood in line,
waited, and rode Dumbo.
All is right with the world.
There's a potty break in here, I'm pretty sure.
Back between Pinocchio's Village Haus and
Ariel's Grotto. That's a long wait for Ariel.
Keep those DD's looking the other way.
Mickey's PhilHarmagic has a short wait time
posted. Let's do it now! Come on DD's, it's
a 3D movie like Muppetvision.
DD10 snaps with a whine: "Another movie?
I don't want to do that!"
"But you liked the Muppet movie."
"But I don't want to do another one."
None of us have seen it, but I hear it's
the best of the 3D movies. DD10 relents.
It *is* great! All 4 of us love it!
The DD's reach out during the movie to
try to grab objects that are floating in
front of them. Maybe I do too....
Before coming to WDW, we looked at the
pictures in Birnbaum, I read to the family
out of the Unofficial Guide, and I wrote
down everyone's yesses, nos, and maybes.
At Magic Kingdom, there are only 3 things
that DD10 said "no" to, before the trip:
FairyTaleGarden with Belle, Tomorrowland
Transit Authority, and Peter Pan.
DD7 said "no" to only one thing.
The only thing she did not want to do
was Peter Pan.
I told DW, back then before coming down
here, I want to try to respect their
wishes as much as possible, but come on,
Peter Pan? I think we should "make" them
go on it. So we're going to try to "make"
them.
Philharmagic is over. We're by Peter Pan.
Crowds are really picking up.
It's about 11 AM, with probably a 30 minute
wait. I get 4 Fast Passes for Peter Pan
with a return time of 11:40 - 12:40.
I know DD's want to do Small World and
Carrousel. We can do those first, possibly
eat, then Peter Pan.
I tell the DD's we will do Small World,
Carrousel, and then we're using FP's for
Peter Pan. DD's: "Peter Pan? We don't
want to do that!" [Blah blah, what can
I say....we're mean commando parents,
I guess.]
I don't know why we need 13 pictures of
the inside of Small World, but we got 'em.
From 11:03 to 11:09 we took 13 pictures.
Some of them are actually not completely
black, too.
11:18 to 11:31, DD10, DD7, and I ride the
Carrousel *twice*. DW almost never goes on
carousels. I always do. I love them,
and they never make me nauseous. This is one
of my favorite Fantasyland rides.
I've been on it every trip, I bet.
(We probably went on it first thing
in the morning, in January 2001. Not
very efficient touring, wouldn't you say.)
I usually think of Paul Newman, Robert
Redford, and Eileen Brennan (is that
her name?) when I'm riding.
Now we can use our FP's for Peter Pan.
What do the DD's, who absolutely did
not want to go on Peter Pan, think now?
It's one of their favorites, of course!!!!!
12:03 - I get a receipt from Pinocchio's
Village Haus for 2 hot dogs, chicken garden
salad, turkey sandwich, and some sodas.
(DW calls them pops.) I know I was in
line before noon, because these counter
service places get jam packed at noon.
Someone leaves, and we get a table by
a window looking out onto Small World!
For us, the day is almost over.
The crowds are now bad, and the heat
is even worse.
I go over to Haunted Mansion to check
out the wait time, perhaps get FP's.
Nope...it's no longer a FastPass
attraction. 20 minute wait isn't
too bad. I report back.
About 12:50, we go on it, with an
actual wait that seemed like 5 or 10
minutes.
4 years ago, the DD's hated Haunted Mansion.
They were really scared. But they want
to try it again.
So we try it. They still get scared.
This is one of their least favorite
rides. They probably cried.
It's time to head back to the bus, and go
for a swim in the Fantasia Pool. Let's
go down through Frontierland, through
the secret passage to Adventureland, and
then back to the entrance.
Hmmm.....in 2001, we saw Daisy Duck
and Cruella De Vil inside a building near
the entrance. Let's see if we can see some
characters there today.
1:24-1:25 Chip and Dale are in Adventureland.
We get autographs and photos. Chip and Dale
must be dying in those sauna suits.
1:29 photo with the Castle in the background.
(Remember when that Castle was decorated
like a birthday cake?! "Twenty-five ye-ears
of Dis-ney ma-gic, zip a dee doo dah, zip a
dee ay...")
OK....we're near the entrance...here's that
building....Town Square Exhibition Hall.
No, it's Exposition Hall. Whatever.
DW sits in a rocking chair.
I go back the left side hallway inside
Exposition Hall.
[I don't remember if the DD's are with
me or DW.]
This is where Cruella was, 4 years ago.
No characters here today.
This hallway goes a long way back.
Hmmm...what's around this corner.
What the..! It's a secret movie theater!
And there's only one other family here,
maybe two! Steamboat Willie!!! I
remember when they used to play that
cartoon in a building on Main Street!
(I think they sell Pal Mickey's there, now.)
The DD's love cartoons! I go tell DW.
This place is great! I can write UOG and
tell them about this place! Let me see,
I have the cheat sheet with good resting
places.....oh, duh! There it is. Of course
they already know about it. But the place
is practically empty! Doesn't anyone
know about this? It is fantastic!!
[They really need air-conditioned resting
places like this in Animal Kingdom!]
2:01 - 2:08 autographs and photos with
Suzy and Perla, and then Goofy, outside
Exposition Hall.
Then.....
Back we go to the secret theater to watch more
cartoons! 2:14 - 2:18 I take photos of DD7
near the secret theater. They have scenes
where you can stick your head through holes
and get pictures of DD7 in the 101 Dalmatians
TV set, DD7 on a boat with Steamboat Willie
and Mickey, DD7 with her head coming out
of Dopey's belly, etc. DD10 just wants to
watch cartoons.
Finally, we go back to All Star Movies
for the Fantasia Pool. I take a nap, then
join them at the pool. We order a whole
pizza at the food court. Loved it!
The rest of the evening is practically a
waste. We go back to MK for the evening
parade and fireworks. About 7 pm we get
there, and take the train to Frontierland.
The UOG is right, there is *nothing* to
see on that leg of the train.
Then we walk back to Jungle Cruise and
Aladdin area. The walk back is so long, it
probably would have been shorter to walk
straight there from the front gate.
I can't believe Jungle and Aladdin only
have 10 minute waits. But there is a reason.
Thunder and lightning seem to be approaching.
We stand in the secret passageway between
F-land and A-land.
We also try out the padded chairs in the
super-secret room near the secret passage, but
there's no cross breeze.
We find a bench in the secret passage
to sit on.
I ask at the Tiki lodge: if our DD's were
scared at Haunted Mansion, and are scared
of the dark and of surprise loud noises
like thunder, will they like Tiki Birds?
The cast members think they'll get scared.
They also tell us to avoid Stitch, and
especially Snow White. What about
Pirates of the Caribbean? They think they'll
be OK.
15 minute posted wait at Pirates, seemed
like 10 instead. The verdict? DD7 loved it.
DD10 hated the hill, doesn't want to do Pirates
again. The skeletons don't bother either
of them. Just the drop is bad for DD10.
I'm not sure where to watch the parade.
We finally decide to go back to Exposition
Hall. DD's go to the secret theater again!
The cartoons weren't playing. I ask some
cast members in the front if the cartoons
will be playing again. Some of them don't
even know about the secret theater in their
own building!! Technical difficulties, it
turns out.
I ask, will there be a parade if it's
raining? Answer, if it's raining or lightning
at the time of the parade, no parade.
DW and I talk it over. We decide not to
wait. Let's beat the mad rush, and go to
the bus now. So we leave.
Summary:
9 am to 11 am
Space Mtn
Buzz
Buzz
Pooh
Tea Cups
Dumbo
PhilharMagic
11 am to noon
Small World
Carrousel
Carrousel
Peter Pan
Noon to 7 pm
Haunted Mansion
Secret Theater
Swimming
7 pm to bed
RailRoad
Pirates
Well, it seemed like a lot at the time....
Notice the difference between 9 am to 11 am,
and 11 am to bedtime!
That report wiped me out.
It'll probably be months before I write another, if ever.
Hope you enjoyed it, and/or find something useful out of it.
