We've stayed at Saratoga Springs in the past, and along the main driveway is a nice pond, and beyond that, a gazebo with a horse from a classic carousel. It always looked like such a nice photo op, but we never remembered to stop before (stopping to smell the roses and all that.)
As long as there are no real horses. Then you won't be smelling roses.
As we approached the gazebo, we saw that it wasn't actually a carved horse, but a flat, 2D representation of one. With clear plastic guards around it to keep kids from climbing on it to boot! I guess I can see Disney's side here - it would be quite a liability for kids to be climbing all over a carousel horse and they could get hurt. So we had our kids climb up on the gazebo posts to protest the fact that they couldn't climb on the horse.
Curse you Imagineers and your visual trickery!
The area was very nicely landscaped (like, you know,
all of Disney property), so Evan wanted to take a picture of us.
Nice job Evan!
Oops, my bad. Those were monorail tracks. They look a lot like bear tracks, you know.
What exactly do the bears look like in Wisconsin?
But since the action in this TR is happening in early November, that seemed like an eternity away.
Pretty slick, stretching the TR all the way out like that. It's like you're constantly on vacation!
And not only that, but we sat in back and got to ring the bell. Whenever. We. Wanted.
No time like the present to get that ever elusive "I'm all alone in the Magic Kingdom and This is the Best Day EVER!" picture:
Also awesome.
The problem with taking the fire truck up to the castle was that we had planned a stop at the Main Street Bakery for some breakfast. Oh, no - now we have to stroll back down a joyously decorated Main Street, USA and listen to yuletide classics gently playing as background music. (Did the disdain come across that last sentence? It really wasn't meant to.)
Let me get out the world's smallest violin.
Were they really from Timbuktoo, Iowa? You can't prove that they weren't.
I thought Timbuktoo was in North Dakota. Did it get annexed?
Well, I've reached a good breaking point in our little mini-day at Magic Kingdom. Time for a quick break while I write up the second half, including the sad part - leaving.
If I don't read it, it'll be like you never left. So Virtual Barry and family could stay there forever. What do you say?
I left off with Bambi, her mom and I leaving the bakery. We met grandpa and the kids up by Dumbo and snagged a seat at one of the tables that were set up there. I bypassed the cinnamon roll (just kidding - I ate some of Bambi's) and got the ham egg and cheese croissant. Holy cow was that good!
Sorry, I started reading. I guess we'll never know what it was like to live there forever. My bad.
Mmmm...Main St. cinnamon rolls...
Sorry, no pictures from the inside. When a disembodied spirit tells me "no flash pictures", I listen.
Smart move. Could end up with a haunted camera.
We've got to hit the last few highlights before being dragged kicking and screaming to the airport. The kids sure are strong - I kick pretty hard when I don't want to leave.
I totally believe this.
Always a safe bet - it loads fast and the wait is rarely longer than 20 minutes. Bonus: it's an awesome ride. The kids get a kick out of the pig wallowing in the mud.
Good choice.
Now that my kids have seen the movie, we liked spotting the parts of the ride that made it into the film.
Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road!
Also a good call!
I'll be chilling with Ryder under a nice shady tree by Tom Sawyer's Island while Bambi and the daredevils experience the all-new BTMRR. You read it here first!
Spoiler alert: it's a lot like the old BTMRR.
"That may look like water coming out of the elephant's trunk, but I can assure you it'snot."
Best. Line. Ever.
Yes. Yes, it is.
Finally, we could wait no longer. The flight was non-refundable and I'm pretty sure AirTran would not take "But I was at the Magic Kingdom and I didn't want to come get on the plane" as a valid reason for missing the flight as I asked to be put on another.
Did you try? It sounds legit to me.
But the trip hasn't ended quite yet. The kids still had to add two new pins to their map: Nassau and
Castaway Cay!
And yes, I'll be doing a Trip Report! How can I not - it's Ryder's first trip!
Can't wait! I hope you guys have a blast. I can't promise your kids' pen pals will get off their lazy behinds by then, but you did say you're staying at the Boardwalk, right?
I usually like to come up with something poingant and thoughful for the closing, but honestly, I'm still a bit rushed. Lots to do here are work and at home before we leave. So instead of good bye, I'll just say...See Ya Real Soon!
Looking forward to next adventure! Simply put, we love your family. I hope it's a great trip and that Madison and Evan prove to be able tour guides for Ryder.
You guys are too cool. Madison is already concerned that Ryder is a hair puller and will be warning all of the Princesses.
Marching down Main Street must have been quite a thrill!
