Day 22 – Studios, MK, and the Geyser
Saturday 4th June
Well, we’ve come to our final full day of the holiday. We’ve now settled into our fifth accommodation of the trip, and have pretty much done everything that we had hoped to do when we arrive. So, what to do? I know…hit the parks!! When we visited the Studios previously for the Star Wars weekend it was a lot of fun, so we decide to start the day here and then finish off at Magic Kingdom for our last evening.
After grabbing some breakfast at Roaring Forks we quickly get the bus to the Studios – much more efficient than last night’s attempts to get to Epcot
It’s already pretty busy with Star Wars fans everywhere but this is all incidental to us today. We get the obligatory FPs for Toy Story before heading off in different directions – Helen and Emma finally get some luck with Disney Junior while Ryan and I take a last trip on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Emma is pleased to see Jake and the Neverland Pirates, which seems to have become a regular show now on the Disney channels in the UK. Me…I still miss Bear in the Big Blue House and the goodbye song, old softy that I am ;-)
After meeting up again we head over to the new Phineas and Ferb meet and greet area. This has only just opened a few days ago, so the level of interest is high, as are the crowds. The boys do a little show every so often, then reappear shortly afterwards for photos and autographs. It’s a little different, and we’re in the line for about 45 mins in the end I guess.
After this we make use of our fastpasses for our final ride on Toy Story Mania this trip. I’m sure if I ride it 10 times each holiday I will never get as high a score as some of those posted on the leaderboard. I content myself with the thought that they probably all belong to 12 year olds born with a joystick in their hand
We stop for a bite of lunch at the Studio Catering Company, and then decide to just wander for a while. There lots of Star Wars characters walking around freely, some of whom have the most amazing make-up and costumes. Check out these guys (plus the obligatory green army man)
Decide to do the backlot tour, as every trip I think to myself that it must be closed down soon or at least heavily updated. Still nice seeing the boneyard at the end though, and they do at least update the vehicles from time to time.
We get a photo with Mike and Sulley and then stop and listen to Mulch Sweat n’ Shears for a few minutes, as they drew quite a crowd.
By around 3pm we felt like it was time for a rest and headed back for a swim. The buses were great again, and we were back at the lodge in no time. If you’ve been to the WL before you may be aware of the ‘geyser’ near that pool that erupts on the hour, every hour (well during daylight hours, anyway). Well Ryan in particular loved this, and if we were at all nearby he would want to head up to see it….and get soaked by it, too!
http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/i..._Web_3/0_0_ababfedd9af129a95599ec8f837f3fc7_1
Spend some time in the pool and the hot tub, watching the world go by for an hour or so, then head back to room to get ready to go out. We’ve got a reservation at Kona Café at the Polynesian tonight, so need to get a boat over the the MK, then use the resort monorail.
The food at Kona was really good as usual, but the server was trying to juggle 5 or 6 tables at the same time and kept disappearing at the most inopportune times. Bit annoying when you could see other servers on the far side of the restaurant standing around with time on their hands. Might give Kona a miss next trip, I think.
After the meal and eventually getting the bill from our elusive server, we head back to the MK. We do a few of the old favourites such as Buzz and the TTA, before finding some space near the hub to watch the parade. We hardly ever manage to find a spot here, so it’s nice to sit on the kerb for a change with no chance of someone coming and jumping in at the last moment.
Once the parade is done we nip down to the teacups for a couple of rides then head back to see the new pre-fireworks show with photos taken throughout the park projected onto the castle. The effect seemed to work incredibly well, and I’m sure if you were in one the pictures it would make you feel very special indeed. We then got a lovely last view of Wishes from by the side of the castle.
Loving the new pre-show projection on the castle
With the fireworks finished we are starting to tire just a bit, so have a last wander around Fantasyland, taking a couple of photos, and Emma wants one last ride on the Carrousel…which turns into two We head out of the park, but also give in to ‘just one more’ ride on the Speedway, too!
Behind the castle at night
Speedway at night
We finally make it back to the lodge around 11pm, and it’s lights out in no time at all. Home tomorrow…boo hoo…
Day 23 – Heading for Home and Summary
Setting the Scene and Index
Saturday 4th June
Well, we’ve come to our final full day of the holiday. We’ve now settled into our fifth accommodation of the trip, and have pretty much done everything that we had hoped to do when we arrive. So, what to do? I know…hit the parks!! When we visited the Studios previously for the Star Wars weekend it was a lot of fun, so we decide to start the day here and then finish off at Magic Kingdom for our last evening.
After grabbing some breakfast at Roaring Forks we quickly get the bus to the Studios – much more efficient than last night’s attempts to get to Epcot
It’s already pretty busy with Star Wars fans everywhere but this is all incidental to us today. We get the obligatory FPs for Toy Story before heading off in different directions – Helen and Emma finally get some luck with Disney Junior while Ryan and I take a last trip on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Emma is pleased to see Jake and the Neverland Pirates, which seems to have become a regular show now on the Disney channels in the UK. Me…I still miss Bear in the Big Blue House and the goodbye song, old softy that I am ;-)After meeting up again we head over to the new Phineas and Ferb meet and greet area. This has only just opened a few days ago, so the level of interest is high, as are the crowds. The boys do a little show every so often, then reappear shortly afterwards for photos and autographs. It’s a little different, and we’re in the line for about 45 mins in the end I guess.
After this we make use of our fastpasses for our final ride on Toy Story Mania this trip. I’m sure if I ride it 10 times each holiday I will never get as high a score as some of those posted on the leaderboard. I content myself with the thought that they probably all belong to 12 year olds born with a joystick in their hand
We stop for a bite of lunch at the Studio Catering Company, and then decide to just wander for a while. There lots of Star Wars characters walking around freely, some of whom have the most amazing make-up and costumes. Check out these guys (plus the obligatory green army man
)Decide to do the backlot tour, as every trip I think to myself that it must be closed down soon or at least heavily updated. Still nice seeing the boneyard at the end though, and they do at least update the vehicles from time to time.
We get a photo with Mike and Sulley and then stop and listen to Mulch Sweat n’ Shears for a few minutes, as they drew quite a crowd.
By around 3pm we felt like it was time for a rest and headed back for a swim. The buses were great again, and we were back at the lodge in no time. If you’ve been to the WL before you may be aware of the ‘geyser’ near that pool that erupts on the hour, every hour (well during daylight hours, anyway). Well Ryan in particular loved this, and if we were at all nearby he would want to head up to see it….and get soaked by it, too!
http://cdn-2-service.phanfare.com/i..._Web_3/0_0_ababfedd9af129a95599ec8f837f3fc7_1
Spend some time in the pool and the hot tub, watching the world go by for an hour or so, then head back to room to get ready to go out. We’ve got a reservation at Kona Café at the Polynesian tonight, so need to get a boat over the the MK, then use the resort monorail.
The food at Kona was really good as usual, but the server was trying to juggle 5 or 6 tables at the same time and kept disappearing at the most inopportune times. Bit annoying when you could see other servers on the far side of the restaurant standing around with time on their hands. Might give Kona a miss next trip, I think.
After the meal and eventually getting the bill from our elusive server, we head back to the MK. We do a few of the old favourites such as Buzz and the TTA, before finding some space near the hub to watch the parade. We hardly ever manage to find a spot here, so it’s nice to sit on the kerb for a change with no chance of someone coming and jumping in at the last moment.
Once the parade is done we nip down to the teacups for a couple of rides then head back to see the new pre-fireworks show with photos taken throughout the park projected onto the castle. The effect seemed to work incredibly well, and I’m sure if you were in one the pictures it would make you feel very special indeed. We then got a lovely last view of Wishes from by the side of the castle.
Loving the new pre-show projection on the castle
With the fireworks finished we are starting to tire just a bit, so have a last wander around Fantasyland, taking a couple of photos, and Emma wants one last ride on the Carrousel…which turns into two
We head out of the park, but also give in to ‘just one more’ ride on the Speedway, too!Behind the castle at night
Speedway at night
We finally make it back to the lodge around 11pm, and it’s lights out in no time at all. Home tomorrow…boo hoo…
Day 23 – Heading for Home and Summary
Setting the Scene and Index
