Another Failed Trip Report... Day 6, KTTK (for me), HS for DH and kids, Biergarten & Boardwalk

[clubhouse]

Day 6

KTTK Tour, HS, Biergarten!

If you'd like to catch up on previous days, my index is here.

I needed an alarm to wake me this morning, but for once I was happy to spring out of bed (quietly!) as I was off to meet my best friend Hazel for the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, which she generously bought me for my birthday. She's a very good friend. I left the villa at 7.10am and was on the bus by 7.30am. The trip to the Magic Kingdom was quick and before long I was through bag check and let the reservations castmember know that I had a tour booked. I thought we were meeting outside and wondered where Hazel had got to, amazed at the crowd at this early hour I took a sneaky selfie to try to get the crowd in.

Hazel texted me to find out where I was and I realised I was being a numptie and headed into the park.

We headed into the Town Hall where we were given a bottle of water, name badges and our ear pieces, I was very excited by now! I also ordered lunch, Hazel had already done hers.

We had a bit of time to kill before the tour set off so took the opportunity to get a few snaps and some photopass pics. Avid trippie readers may recognise a lot of todays photos as I have pinched them from the lovely Hazel's great trippie (she is a trip report finisher - puts me to shame, even does live ones) as for some reason I can't find any of the photos I look that day apart from the one dodgy selfie above. DH had the camera, but that doesn't explain the missing photopass snaps. Nevermind, as I said I stole them!

Our tour started dead on time at 8.30am and our guide, Jessica was lovely and extremely knowledgable. We stopped at the Columbia Harbour House for lunch, I had the Broccoli Peppercorn Salad which was Mixed Greens, Garden Vegetables, Chicken, Broccoli, and Parmesan tossed with a Creamy Peppercorn Dressing, Hazel had the Aweigh Sandwich - White Tuna, Lettuce, and Tomato on Toasted Multigrain Bread with Potato Chips and we both had a diet coke. No pics of lunch either (oops). During lunch we were given a lovely pin to help us remember our time.

There is a no photography rule, so no pics from the tour, but it was a great experience. I was very excited to go backstage and see the utilidors after reading about them. I learned lots and Jessica was careful to keep us out of the sun where she could and we even took in a couple of rides. The time really flew past and I'd recommend this tour to anyone.


By the time the tour ended at around 1.30pm the park was heaving and it was very hot. We ducked into a few shops, afterall we don't often get a chance to do this child free (I'll lose more mum points for that probably, hey ho), I got a new Pandora a charm for my bracelet. We decided to head over to the Grand Floridian for a drink before going our separate ways. We got the boat over and headed to the Gasparilla Grill as the Grand Floridian Cafe had just closed. I used a QS credit to get us both a drink and we shared a giant lemon and blueberry cupcake - it was delish!

We had a bit of a blether before it was time to head back to the Magic Kingdom so we could get back to our home resorts. We chose the boat again and after boarding we were a bit worried as we could see the rain rolling in! We ogled the new Poly watervillas,

some day we'll stay there and eventually made it back to MK where I headed back to OKW and Hazel headed back the the Yachtclub. We had dinner plans together that evening so I was keen to see what DH and the kids had been up to.

So here's what they told me...
The cleaner woke DH at 8.30am and he asked her to come back later. Apparently the kids were still snoring away at 9.00am when DH woke them and got them moving. They were at Hollywood Studios by 10.00am. They had a healthy breakfast of a brownie each then visited the Launchpad where they had some fun with this guy:

who wanted to swap the kids hats for a load of ring pulls.

Next they rode Toy Story Mania, before meeting up with Woody and Buzz.

Looks like we've lost the photopass pics from this day as I've spent ages looking through zip files and can't find the ride pics or character shots for today - we did have a bit of trouble with the download.

They wanted to go see the March of the First Order, when a castmember approached them and asked the kids if they were twins like Luke and Leia? Despite there being almost 2 years between them and a fair height difference we are often asked if they are twins when we are in America. The kids think it's funny now although this time they were a bit confused but answered that they were brother and sister. Then the CM asked DH if it was ok for the kids to take part, DH agreed and the CM took the kids off and explained what they had to do when the Storm Troopers and Captain Phasma appeared. They had to walk behind them through the crowd to the best viewing point and then they went on with the show. You can just see them in the middle of the crowd in the 3rd photo here.

The the CM escorted DH and the kids to a private meeting with Kylo Ren (they totally skipped the line and this was the second time they met him today!).

Then they went outside again and were given a special fastpass to use to say thanks. I was sad to miss all this, but by all accounts they had a really great time, they are Star Wars daft.

They decided to use the Fastpass to ride Rock N Rollercoaster, were DS proceeded to tell the woman next to him how to pose for the photo. Sometimes I think we're a bad influence on our kids. They also went on Tower of Terror and DD freaked out. DH had a bruise on his arm to tell the tale, the video on the photopass was hilarious (bad mum) as was the photo, but it's magically disappeared .

At some point DH did feed them. Chilli Cheesedog and chicken nuggets with fries, drinks were orange juice and slushies instead of desserts. You'll have to take my word for that as there are no food pics from DH.

DH and the kids were back at the room by the time I got back. We had a bit of a rest before getting ready to go out Epcot to meet Hazel and her family for dinner and drinks. We jumped on a bus to Epcot and made our way round to Germany. The kids started a Duffy at the Kidcot station and soon Hazel and her family arrived. Hazel had organised celebration pins for us all.

The kids were pleased to see each other. We got checked in to Biergarten and were taken in for our meal right on time. The show had already started and the kids were happy to join in and were sooner roaring "ticky tacky ticky tacky oi oi oi" at each other. It was giant beers all round for the boys and Hazel and I had the white wine flight,

I think Hazel's mum might have had this too. There were multiple trips to the buffet, we all enjoy the food here, and lots of dancing (the kids - not the grown ups).

It was lovely catching up with Hazel's mum and dad too (and Derek her lovely hubbie), but most of all it was lovely to spend time with my friend on our holidays.

When we left Biergarten it was almost time for Illuminations, so we decided to find a place to watch that, obviously we needed Grey Goose slushies, so we got a couple each (well it was still a birthday celebration after all!),

the kids got an ice cream.

Illuminations was lovely as always.

We decided we'd not had enough fun so headed along to the Boardwalk and into ESPN for a couple of drinks.

The kids had their own table and were really good. Before we left for OKW the kids had a go in the photobooth.

It was getting late now so we headed home in an Uber and the Close family went home to the Yacht Club. A great day with great friends, we really are very lucky.

Todays step count - 18,692

Tomorrow - Pooltime & Shopping

[Leelashpurple]

What a fab way to celebrate.

[smithlane]

I really want to try the Keys to the Kingdom tour, it always has such rave reviews!
A lovely day and evening with friends

[caitlinsmummy]

I am loving your report!

I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I like to hear that sometimes the kid's get a little antsy with waiting around ... most the reports I've read all the children seem to be perfect and I feel like we're going to be this awful family where the kid's moan about the queue times or it being too hot haha.

I really look forward to the rest of your report and finding out if you managed to use all your table, quick service and snack credits! We will be a family of 5 (12 years, 9 years and 5 years) when we go x

[Excitedx4]

A great day with your friend and her family

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by caitlinsmummy

I am loving your report!

I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I like to hear that sometimes the kid's get a little antsy with waiting around ... most the reports I've read all the children seem to be perfect and I feel like we're going to be this awful family where the kid's moan about the queue times or it being too hot haha.

I really look forward to the rest of your report and finding out if you managed to use all your table, quick service and snack credits! We will be a family of 5 (12 years, 9 years and 5 years) when we go x

See more...

Thanks, I think it's fair to say kids can't be perfectly behaved all the time, especially on holiday! Having said that I can't always say I was on my best behaviour, I am known to get a grump on from time to time.

We do try our best using up the DDP credits but it was harder than we thought!

[Jake71]

WOW what fabulous day and a great birthday pressie from your friend.

[collybird]

What an awesome day!

Glad to hear the time on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour passes quickly. We are doing it this year and my OH will probably have a heart attack over the length of time he'll have to walk around.

The kids photos in the booth are so funny.

[Jockey]

I have this tour booked for a few weeks time..cant wait !

[mick]

A great day spent with friends