Day 14 Pirates and Princess Party
Day 14 was going to be full, DSis had picked us up tickets for the Pirate and Princess Party at MK. Her and DBiL had not got any Disney tickets this trip and had not been to MK for a few years. At less than $40 for 8 hours in the park this was by far the cheapest way for them to catch up with MK.
We arranged to meet DSis and DBiL before heading off to Blizzard Beach so that DW could get one of the tops I had got the day before. Where yesterday was around 75 today was nearer 50 so it was not exactly busy there. There were however a few mad souls in the water and on the big slides, they must have been freezing.
From BB we drove over to the Magic Kingdom parking lot before getting on the monorail to Epcot so we could pick up mum's present and do a couple of the attractions we had missed before. When we got to Epcot we hired an ECV for DW before walking straight onto Spaceship Earth. Being tall I always have to slump down in my seat to hear on this ride, otherwise the speaker is talking straight to my shoulder.
We then headed over to the Land to see what the line was like for Snoring. As we went down the ramp Circle of Life was just loading and since we had never seen it before we went in. I think this must be one of the older things in the land as it is just a straight film, no moving seats, no smell-o-vision, no 3D goggles, just a well produced informative film.
On getting out of Circle of Life we did look at Snoring, but it had a standby line messured in hours and the fast pass return was a couple of days away, or just before closing that night anyway. We had lunch in Seasons again before heading over to Mexico to pick up mum's present. DS had developed a pounding head ache during the morning and I did fear we were going to lose the afternoon, but the power of Nurofen and a piggy back from me all the way from the land to Mexico soon sorted him out, even if it nearly killed me.
On the way back from Mexico we went on Figment, which was fun. DS wanted to get some stuff for people back home so we headed over to Mouse Gear, but on the way I finnaly figured out where the Coke shop is so we diverted to try all the free samples. Do NOT drink the Italian drink in here, Beverly, it is foul
by all means try it, but only take a small sip or you will be reunited with your last meal.
We got to ride in the cab of the monorail again on the way over to MK, but the driver this time never said a word to us, not even when we had to wait while an engineer train crossed in front of us near the TTC.
After park hopping our ECV rental, which seemed to confuse the CMs in the rental shop at first, we met DSis and DBiL at the top of Main Street. We had entered MK on out P&PP tickets so we would not have to pick up wrist bands later. I hope for all you going in August that they still let you in at 4-4:30 as this is a great cheap way to see MK.
We had seen nearly everything in MK by now in our holiday so we let DSis set the tour today. They had never been on Jungle Cruise and hadn't been on Pirates since it's rehab so we set off for Adventure Land. I think because the park was closing early the crowds were extra light, we only waited 10 minutes for both rides.
Wishes was firing extra early today, for the guests who had to be out by 7pm so we headed back to the hub to watch. I'm going to cheat a bit here and use a couple of photos I took last year of Wishes when I had my tripod with me.
These were taken from next to the Roy and Minnie statue in Town Square. I think this is one of the best fireworks shows in the world, and it never fails to get something in the corner of my eye.
While we were all watching Wishes the CM's had been quietly roping off the walk ways out of the hub to the other parts of MK. As soon as the show finished you could not get past them into the park without showing your wrist bands. For the first couple of hours there were also cast checking wrist bands as you went into places and even just out around the park. We even saw a couple ask someone near us for theirs while eating in Cosmic Rays, where we ate straight after Wishes. The park was nearly empty when we came out after eating, so we walked onto Buzz before leaving DBiL to hold the bags while the rest of us waited an whole 10 minutes for Space Mountain. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was open for the first time today after it's rehab, but even so it was a walk on. This is a great dark kidde ride, I never rode it before the rehab so I don't know if it is any better than before, but some of the effects were clever. I also spotted the photo in Owl's house of Mr Toad handing over the deeds to the place from when he had a ride in this location. We then walked onto Snow White which seemed a bit borring after the bouncing and floating of TMAoWP.
It was now time to head back to the hub for the P&PP fireworks, which I was really looking forward to. As you can see they had also re-lit the park for the party, this is what was done on Main Street, I'm not sure I liked it more than the normal lighting to be honest.
The fireworks were great, with them firing from right round the park not just from behind the castle. Don't be fooled though, again this show is designed to be watched from the lower part of the hub nearest Main Street.
There were loads of people heading down Main Street as this finished, but we went over to Haunted Mansion where we again walked straight in. We then picked a spot in Liberty Square to watch the parade. When we got there it was marked up as disabled viewing, but just before the parade started DW was the only disabled in the whole area so they took the signs off and maybe half a dozen people joined up. It also started to rain as we waited which was a shame since it was now cold and wet.
The parade itself was great, the cast took no notice of the wet as usual.
I would have posted a picture of Tink, but she was looking away when she was in range of my flash.
DW was now cold and wet, so she headed home with DS who had also had enough, but DSis, DBiL and I were going to get our money's worth.
DSis wanted to see Country Bears and since it was warm in there DBiL and I did not object. From there we went over to BTMRR where DBiL held the bags while we walked on. DSis now decided that what we need to do was ride Splash Mountain, at 11:30 in 40 degrees of heat! I was quite happy to join her since I had a warm waterproof coat on, but she didn't have a coat at all. She decided to take off her fleece and jumper so she could put them back on dry if she got wet.
The CM's staffing the queue couldn't quite believe what they were seeing as DSis went past in just a thin strappy t-shirt. About three quarters of the way round a CM emptying trash cans stopped us and gave DSis a clean trash bag fearing a law suite from DBiL if she died of cold! As it was we didn't get very wet at all.
There was still time before the park closed so we headed back to Fantasy Land to Philarmagic which DSis and DBiL had never seen. DBiL wanted to go on Small World, but thankfully DSis spotted Peter Pan which she had never ridden so we went on that instead, all three of us in one boat. 'Unfortunately' the CM's on Small World were good and punctual closing down that night so DBiL will have to wait for his next holiday to ride it again.
We took a slow walk back down though the castle and down Main Street with the very few others still there.