July 7th, 2012
This would be the day that we would get to go on our much anticipated Keys to the Kingdom Tour. This would also be the day that we WAKE UP LATE!!!!
This was not good because we knew that they would just start without us and what if we could not get on another tour. I was in the most panic I have ever been at in Disney World. It was horrible I wanted to cry.
We were watching the clock like HAWKS and the boat from the Wilderness Lodge could just not get there fast enough. It was on this day that I wished the monorail went to the Lodge. Normally this does not bother me but on this day OH LORDY did it.
When we got there we were about 10 min. late. We ran into city hall and they gave us our name tags took our lunch orders and gave us our little head set thingies. Luckily our tour had not left yet they were right outside by the fire house. When we got to our group our tour guide of course had to pick on us which was fine. I did not care about being teased because we had made it!
The tour began and it was so interesting to hear all of the little stories. As we made our way up main street we were about half way up when the park gates opened. One of the things I learned was that guests come in and they still try to run straight to tomorrowland. However, usually just because the park gates were opened does not mean that it is park opening time. So there are cast members at all the lands with ropes to keep guests out until the park officially opens. So even if you run back there you won't get through until it hits the exact park open time.
I actually did not take many pictures on the tour I really wanted to just enjoy it and enjoy the information that was being shared with me. I did get this one image of one of the windows that I had never noticed before.
I also got this shot of the mainstreet vehicles because this was the first time I had EVER seen them. I knew they existed but I have never been in Magic Kingdom that early before. It was very neat for me to see them.
So what scoop can I give you from the tour? Well not much actually because I did not want to spoil the tour for my reader friends so I am not going to share much with you. I will tell you that the Utilidoors are pretty cool and they help you see how everyone gets around but all in all they don't look amazing. It definitely would be neat to use them everyday though.
We did see HUNDREDS!!! of Hot dog buns down there. The tour guide told us this was just the stock of buns for Casey's Hot dogs for the day. My mouth dropped open because of the insane amount of buns there were.
We did get to ride the Jungle Cruise with our special tour guide which actually made the ride pretty fun. We also got let on the haunted mansion. I learned some cool stuff about the mansion that they actually do come and replace the spiderwebs and add more. That was pretty neat. I also got to hear the story of the mansion for the first time. This was cool to learn about the designers and how the mansion was put together. It is neat to see now how one person got part of the mansion and the theme is very evident of it being darker and creepier. The other guy got the other section and he made it more light hearted and fun.
My favorite part was the story of the statues and how when Disney World was opened how Roy and Mickey did it together and how emotional it was. Mickey can look down from the flagpole and see himself with his best friend and never be sad because they are there together in the center of Disney World. I also love and appreciate the statue of Roy with Minnie now more than I ever did before. This ending to the tour made me cry.
By the time the tour was over we were pretty darn exhausted and it was time to go back to the lodge and take a nap.
******NAP********
When we woke up we were hungry so we decided to go over to the Grand Floridian to eat something and hopefully find me a Dooney and Burke bag.
We ate at Gasparilla which was ok...nothing spectacular and we were able to find me the exact dooney that i wanted at the shop there. I just wanted the small hip bag and the wristlet that has disney buttons on it as the design.
We ate our food out on the Marina Terrace which was nice because this was where we had our dessert party and it was rather enjoyable to be able to see the castle while we ate.
When we were done we needed dessert so it was off to Narcoosse's to sit at the bar and eat Cheesecake. The almond crusted cheesecake is the best ever!
After this it was time to head to the MK so we took the boat. Now why did we go there you may ask? Well it was to play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. While we played we beat Fantasyland and Liberty square/frontier land. Afterwards we went and rode Big Thunder Mountain and for the first time ever for me I got to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway.
From there we rode Buzz and the people mover. We could feel the exhaustion coming over us and we knew it was time to head home. So with one last look at the castle
It was off to the lodge for sleep.
Coming Up: Our Super duper lazy day with a Cali Grill ending
