Tuesday July 30
Happy Anniversary!!! Eight years ago today, DW and I tied the knot. (And we haven't been able to get it undone since.)
Today it is back to MK. We get up around 7am, get dressed pack up the gear and head downstairs to catch the Character Caravan before catching a boat to MK. Only one character that we don't have showed up so we were on our way soon after getting downstairs. When we arrive there is a boat loading so quickly try to catch it. Turns out, this boat is going to Contemporary, not MK. No problem, we were early anyway, so we took the baot to CR and caught the monorail for a nice ride to MK. Just like our previous morning in MK, we were in line by 8:30am. More characters were out front entertaining. So while DW held our place in line, DD and I bounced from character to character getting her book signed and a photo. OK, back in line, gates are opening. Today we are going for AdventureLand and the Magic Carpets or Aladdin. Again to our enjoyment, very few people heading this way. We get to Aladdin and are the first people on. Nice ride, very similar to Dumbo. When the ride stops, only two three people are waiting so the CM says if we want to just stay on, we can. Ride again. Ride stops and guess what we hear, you guessed it. We ride again without ever leaving the car we got from the first time. Now after three times we decide it is time to get off, we could've rode at least once more without moving.
After we exit Aladdin, we head back to the little counter we passed on the way there for the famed Dole Whip. OK, everyone is right, this is now a must have on all future trips. Delicious!! After enjoying this new found treat, we head to FrontierLand to see if DD will ride Splash Mountain. Of course after seeing the hill, no way. So I head in alone and walk right up to the next car waiting, and get front seat. This has to be my favorite water ride, plus the Brer Rabbit story brings back many childhood memories. After exiting the ride, I remember hearing someone walking in front of me saying that Big Thunder Mountain only had a 5 minute wait. I wonder if that is still true. YEP, it was. Conquered two mountains back to back. After BTM, met up with DW and DD. DD wanted to ride the train, so we head to SM to catch the next one through. Us and one other family are the only ones waiting and the train is fairly deserted as well. Had a whole car to ourselves. Rode all the way around to main gate. From here we exit and walk up Main Street. Once we arrived at Castle, we find a good spot for the next showing of Cinderella's Surprise Celebration. Was able to secure a bench right in the middle around the garden there in front of the castle. This is a great show for everyone. Afterwards the characters come down and greet people. That's right, more autographs.
After getting a few new character signatures, DW wants to ride Jungle Cruise. Back to AdventureLand we go. When we arrive at Jungle Cruise, there is only about a 15 minute wait. Score again. We boarded our boat and we were off. Our tour guide had to be the greatest. I don't know if their speeches are rehearsed, but if they aren't, they need to make this CM's the norm. She was so funny, she had the whole boat laughing. As we exit Jungle Cruise, DD says "let's go to my rides" which translates into Peter Pan and Small World. We take the cut through from AdventureLand into FrontierLand and head towards FantasyLand.
On the way, we spot Snow White. DD and I rush up to get her autograph only to be turned away since she was leaving, but she did take the time to bend down and kiss DD on the cheek. Now to Peter pan. The wait was 60 minutes but FastPass was only an hour away. Since it is near lunch and we are in front of our new local hangout, Pinnochio Haus, we get FP and then sit down for a bite. After eating, we still have time for Small World before FP time. Once we get off Small World, we get to the FP line for Peter Pan, still have 5 minutes. The CM there picks with DD while we wait and in no time we are entering. It feels weird to walk in and get in line in front of people that have been waiting, but hey, FP is for everyone. DD loves this ride just as much as she did with the first time. While DW gets the stroller from the parking area, I decide to check if Snow White will be back out and was told at 1:30pm. It is 1:25pm now, so we get in line, or should I say form the line as no one else is there. After getting our first Princess' autograph, we head to WL for an afternoon break.
During our break, my last anniversary surprise was delivered. I had called the WDW florist the week before and ordered a wine caddy. It came as a nice wrought iron and wicker basket, with two glasses etched with the mickey silohette and a bottle of sparkling cider since we do not drink wine. DW was so surprised, especially since we had agreed that the trip would be our anniversary and nothing else would be bought.
After our break, we head to EPCOT for a tour of the World Showcase. Upon entering we head first to Ice Station Cool to try the drinks. Most were OK, but Beverly is another story. I have the utmost respect for people in Italy if they can drink this on a regular basis. It took forever to get that taste out of our mouths. We then stop at the little shop at the entrance to World Showcase and pick up a passport for DD and I ask about characters. I had heard that some of them hang out over there. I was told that Morocco is where we will find any characters and we head that way via the boat. Once in Morocco, we head to the character area and meet Aladdin and Jasmine. We already had Aladdin so we just asked for Jasmine's. However, Aladdin remembered DD from the day before. Note to anyone going in the future, get Guest of Honor Badges. From Morocco, we visit France, Japan, USA, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico, Canada and then United Kingdom. DD decorated a mask at each country and got her passport stamped. We weren't able to see Tapestry of Dreams because a storm was approaching and the wind was picking up. We did manage to get a good spot to view Illuminations and what a show. I have it on tape now and it is worth watching over and over. Then we head out, catch monorail to TTC and bus back to WL. Have to rest for the next day.
Happy Anniversary!!! Eight years ago today, DW and I tied the knot. (And we haven't been able to get it undone since.)
Today it is back to MK. We get up around 7am, get dressed pack up the gear and head downstairs to catch the Character Caravan before catching a boat to MK. Only one character that we don't have showed up so we were on our way soon after getting downstairs. When we arrive there is a boat loading so quickly try to catch it. Turns out, this boat is going to Contemporary, not MK. No problem, we were early anyway, so we took the baot to CR and caught the monorail for a nice ride to MK. Just like our previous morning in MK, we were in line by 8:30am. More characters were out front entertaining. So while DW held our place in line, DD and I bounced from character to character getting her book signed and a photo. OK, back in line, gates are opening. Today we are going for AdventureLand and the Magic Carpets or Aladdin. Again to our enjoyment, very few people heading this way. We get to Aladdin and are the first people on. Nice ride, very similar to Dumbo. When the ride stops, only two three people are waiting so the CM says if we want to just stay on, we can. Ride again. Ride stops and guess what we hear, you guessed it. We ride again without ever leaving the car we got from the first time. Now after three times we decide it is time to get off, we could've rode at least once more without moving.
After we exit Aladdin, we head back to the little counter we passed on the way there for the famed Dole Whip. OK, everyone is right, this is now a must have on all future trips. Delicious!! After enjoying this new found treat, we head to FrontierLand to see if DD will ride Splash Mountain. Of course after seeing the hill, no way. So I head in alone and walk right up to the next car waiting, and get front seat. This has to be my favorite water ride, plus the Brer Rabbit story brings back many childhood memories. After exiting the ride, I remember hearing someone walking in front of me saying that Big Thunder Mountain only had a 5 minute wait. I wonder if that is still true. YEP, it was. Conquered two mountains back to back. After BTM, met up with DW and DD. DD wanted to ride the train, so we head to SM to catch the next one through. Us and one other family are the only ones waiting and the train is fairly deserted as well. Had a whole car to ourselves. Rode all the way around to main gate. From here we exit and walk up Main Street. Once we arrived at Castle, we find a good spot for the next showing of Cinderella's Surprise Celebration. Was able to secure a bench right in the middle around the garden there in front of the castle. This is a great show for everyone. Afterwards the characters come down and greet people. That's right, more autographs.
After getting a few new character signatures, DW wants to ride Jungle Cruise. Back to AdventureLand we go. When we arrive at Jungle Cruise, there is only about a 15 minute wait. Score again. We boarded our boat and we were off. Our tour guide had to be the greatest. I don't know if their speeches are rehearsed, but if they aren't, they need to make this CM's the norm. She was so funny, she had the whole boat laughing. As we exit Jungle Cruise, DD says "let's go to my rides" which translates into Peter Pan and Small World. We take the cut through from AdventureLand into FrontierLand and head towards FantasyLand.
On the way, we spot Snow White. DD and I rush up to get her autograph only to be turned away since she was leaving, but she did take the time to bend down and kiss DD on the cheek. Now to Peter pan. The wait was 60 minutes but FastPass was only an hour away. Since it is near lunch and we are in front of our new local hangout, Pinnochio Haus, we get FP and then sit down for a bite. After eating, we still have time for Small World before FP time. Once we get off Small World, we get to the FP line for Peter Pan, still have 5 minutes. The CM there picks with DD while we wait and in no time we are entering. It feels weird to walk in and get in line in front of people that have been waiting, but hey, FP is for everyone. DD loves this ride just as much as she did with the first time. While DW gets the stroller from the parking area, I decide to check if Snow White will be back out and was told at 1:30pm. It is 1:25pm now, so we get in line, or should I say form the line as no one else is there. After getting our first Princess' autograph, we head to WL for an afternoon break.
During our break, my last anniversary surprise was delivered. I had called the WDW florist the week before and ordered a wine caddy. It came as a nice wrought iron and wicker basket, with two glasses etched with the mickey silohette and a bottle of sparkling cider since we do not drink wine. DW was so surprised, especially since we had agreed that the trip would be our anniversary and nothing else would be bought.
After our break, we head to EPCOT for a tour of the World Showcase. Upon entering we head first to Ice Station Cool to try the drinks. Most were OK, but Beverly is another story. I have the utmost respect for people in Italy if they can drink this on a regular basis. It took forever to get that taste out of our mouths. We then stop at the little shop at the entrance to World Showcase and pick up a passport for DD and I ask about characters. I had heard that some of them hang out over there. I was told that Morocco is where we will find any characters and we head that way via the boat. Once in Morocco, we head to the character area and meet Aladdin and Jasmine. We already had Aladdin so we just asked for Jasmine's. However, Aladdin remembered DD from the day before. Note to anyone going in the future, get Guest of Honor Badges. From Morocco, we visit France, Japan, USA, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico, Canada and then United Kingdom. DD decorated a mask at each country and got her passport stamped. We weren't able to see Tapestry of Dreams because a storm was approaching and the wind was picking up. We did manage to get a good spot to view Illuminations and what a show. I have it on tape now and it is worth watching over and over. Then we head out, catch monorail to TTC and bus back to WL. Have to rest for the next day.
