Jaws Bites Back Day 4 - Magic Kingdom and Illuminations

[Alison]

Saturday 15th August 2009

Doing better today – we were all awake between 6 and 6.30! Yawn! Still, we really like to do rope drop, especially in the hot summer when it’s so busy, so it suits us really. Quick shower and we were off out early for our breakfast at Crystal Palace. When we got to the TTC, we thought about taking the ferry but only the resort monorail was running at that time – and it pulled in just as we got there; perfect!

We were able to get straight into the park and stopped to take a few (hundred) photos on the way to the restaurant.





It was quite busy checking in but we only had to wait a few minutes before our name was called. When we got to the table, there was a confetti heart as we were celebrating out 12th wedding anniversary!



The food was delicious as usual and we all filled up. I love the puffed French toast here! The characters loved Stephen’s book and insisted on looking through the whole thing, making ‘comments’ about other characters – as much as you can when you can’t talk! Just a couple of shots of them.





Breakfast took quite a while so it was 9.30 by the time we headed over to Frontierland. We passed Donald on the way who kept kissing the picture of Daisy and insisted on having the book open in the picture!



There was a 20 minute queue for Splash, so we picked up FP instead and went and did Big Thunder as a walk-on – even me! I thought I’d be brave and try and video it, even though I had my eyes closed half the time!



We had a bit of time before our FP for Splash so we went and cooled down in front of the squirting Tiki gods and then on over to the Jungle Cruise. We were good passengers; we groaned in all the right places at the jokes, we waved goodbye to no one on the dock and we watched our language as we weren’t at Universal!





We went on to the Tiki rooms, with Stephen proclaiming how much he loves the show. Wonder how much longer he will be saying that?! We all sang along and hung around at the end to hear Iago say he is off to the Hall of Presidents for a nap – I love that little bit of Disney magic!

Time for our Splash FP. Nigel was on a mission this trip to try and get some decent photos on a dark ride without flash and he had a chance to try out a few shots on this ride. The boys got absolutely soaked but I cunningly sat just behind them and only got a little bit damp!





Strolled down to Adventureland and Pirates was a walk-on. It’s nice to have it in English but we prefer the storyline of the ride at DLP.





Captain Hook and Smee were waiting outside so we queued up to see them. The CM with them was a real harbinger of doom, saying how awful the next week was going to be with Hurricane Ana coming over, how our holiday was going to be wrecked and he felt sorry for anyone who’d just arrived. This was despite all the weather forecasts saying Ana was going to miss us altogether. Didn’t stop me worrying, though and obsessively watching weather forecasts.

Captain Hook was not too impressed when Stephen said ‘Tick tock!’ to him!



On to Haunted Mansion – we were really looking forward to this as it had been being refurbished in 2007. We stopped to take photos of Madame Leota’s grave with the moving eyes.



Loved this ride and especially like the ‘Grim Grinnin’ Ghosts’ song!



Still very hot, so decided to stop off for our daily frozen lemonade!



Stephen was desperate to buy an ears hat that he had seen someone wearing so we popped into Toontown but they didn’t have it. He was really disappointed so we caught the steam train back to Main St and went to have a quick look in Le Chapeau – and there it was! Made his day! He also enjoyed listening in to the phone conversation in there.







Cont ...

[Alison]

We stopped off for lunch at Casey’s – usual round of hot dogs – we sat out the back on the bleachers and watched the old cartoons. The pianist outside was fantastic! Gentle stroll back before we melted, stopping off to buy Stephen a Crush pin to remember his Turtle Talk and then caught the ferry back. That was really lovely – a refreshing breeze and it was amazing watching lightning over the Contemporary while we had blazing sunshine!



Arrived back at the villa and went for a long swim. No rest, though – showers all round and it was back to Epcot! Stephen wanted to do Spaceship Earth again – he loves this and it was fast becoming the new Figment!





Sadly, our photos didn’t register for the emails, but I’m sure we’ll be doing this again!

Mission Space only had a five minute queue so Nigel and Stephen went off to do that.



I chickened out – I don’t do enclosed spaces!

Off for a wander around World Showcase, starting with Mexico and a beer and frozen pina colada! Well, it would have been rude not to!





We rode the ride and then walked slowly around, just enjoying the atmosphere, taking photos and snacking as we went – ice cream, funnel cake etc!

Stephen enjoyed browsing all the Nintendo stuff in the Japan shop and playing a new game. We watched the Pick a Pearl for a bit and then Stephen decided he would like to have a go.



He picked a really ugly, hairy one and got a pinkish 7 ¾ mm one.



Off down to the UK where we caught a bit of the British Invasion and then got some chips and settled down near the lake between UK and France to wait for Illuminations.





We really enjoyed the show; last time we saw it, it rained and stormed throughout the whole thing!

The park was surprisingly empty as we headed out – not nearly so much of a crush as the last time. We enjoyed seeing the lights in the pavement and then Stephen begged to go into the Art of Disney. Well, why break the habit of a lifetime?! Spent a while browsing and wishing we were richer before heading off.





Luckily, we’d parked close enough that we didn’t have to queue for the tram but could walk. Unluckily, just as we were about four rows away, the heavens opened and we got absolutely soaked. Driving conditions were horrendous but only for about 8 minutes – but after that, the puddles were huge!

Stephen was asleep almost as soon as he got in the car. He was in bed by 10pm and we had a glass of wine (or two!) to while away the evening!

See day 5 here!

[vitfa]

Another great day - really enjoying the trippy L x

[Cinnabon]

Another great report and photos.

[Guest]

What a great day with brilliant photos,i just loved seeing stephens smiling wee face looks like he was having a ball.

[Disney_Diva]

Fantastic report and wonderful photos x

[pudge]

Great day and fab photo's

[liverbird]

Great report! Love the photos, Stephen's having a ball. Looking forward to the next day . x

[Redrach1903]

Loving this trippy

The photos are excellent xx

[smythy21]

Great trip report and some really great photos