We flew in and arrived at 3 on Friday May 23. Because we did not stay at a Disney owned resort hotel (we did stay inside the Disney Property at Wyndam Bonnet Creek), we were not able to take the Magical Express. My aunt rented a car and drove us the 30 min to WDW resort area.
-This was the last day of the
EPCOT's International Flower and Garden Festival. So naturally, we got up early and went to
EPCOT! Took pictures of all the special topiaries and used our FastPass+ for
Mission: Space, and
Figment. We missed our
Soarin' FP+ but I had it booked for another day so it was okay. We rode
Maelstrom (Norway) and then we walked over to Germany to eat at
Biergarten at 1pm. You have to have reservations!
Later in the afternoon we took the monorail over to
MK because it was open until 1 AM for everyone (not just extra magic hours). My hubby and I ran over to
Space Mt and rode it. The standby was only 20 min! Then we ate at
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe (quick service) and got our spots for the Electrical parade and Wishes! - The first show.
After the nighttime shows were over, we ran to
Buzz lightyear Space ranger spin and rode it! Then we walked over to the circus area and rode
Dumbo and
Barnstormer - by now everyone has either left the park or is saving seats for the next parade and wishes! Then we went and rode the new
Little Mermaid ride in Fantasyland and the
haunted mansion! At 1:45 we were leaving
MK on the monorail! - beware the trams are supposed to take you to your car 1 hour after the park closes, but they can stop before an hour!
Sunday, May 18
We were so tired! We slept in a little and then went back to Magic Kingdom!
We arrived after lunch time and rode It's a Small World!
Then we claimed our spots in front of the castle at 2 for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. First, we watched Dream Along with Mickey show in front of the castle.
And at 2:40 we were getting hungry. We decided we would come watch the festival of fantasy parade another day and went to eat at Tortuga Taverns in Adventureland for lunch. It closes at 3! We sat on the far side, close to frontierland. We could see some of the parade from there! - it starts in frontierland.
After the parade passed, we ran over to new fantasyland to see if we could ride the Seven Dwarfs mine train. No, special cast members only :(
Then we walked right into Mickey's Philharmagic 4D show! I always love it!
Next was Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise- had the best tour guide ever!!- Winnie the Pooh, and the Flying Magic Carpets.
Then we saw Aladdin and went to meet him!
My hubby and I were wearing our Anniversary pins and he told hubby to take me on a carpet ride and sing to me!
It was late evening and we decided to go back to the room and rest!
Monday, May 19
Hollywood Studios!
First thing, we ran to the back to ride Toy Story Mania!
Then we walked over to Journey of the Little Mermaid show - it was great EXCEPT her tail got stuck at the end and they had to close curtain!! Ariel never turned into a human! -- my cousin went a few hours after us to watch and the SAME THING happened!! Come on, Disney!?
Then the hubby and I had FastPass to Rockin Roller coaster at 10 - but it was temporarily closed!
What happens when you have a Fastpass but the ride is closed? They will give you another Fastpass to use on any ride at anytime (just one time)! They will email you the list of rides. So we waited around until 11 and rode Tower of Terror! - we had a Fastpass for it!
Then we walked over to the Indianna Jones Stunt show! I begged my hubby to volunteer but he only raised his hand - you have to do jumping jacks in the stands to get noticed! Or wear hot pink and sit front row!
Then we went back to ride our Rockin Rollarcoaster! It was finally open! We touched our tickets to the Fastpass+ and had no problem!
Next we ate lunch at 1:15 - reservations at SciFi drive in theater restaurant! Food was delicious, but I remembered the movies/commercials being Better... I know there used to be a clip with giant Mosquitos, and the original King Kong...
We had a Fastpass+ for Star Tours at 2:30. We got a different ride this time! We didn't see Darth Vadar, but the guy next to me was the spy!
Then we rushed to the FP+ kiosk and got a FP+ for the Motors Lights Action: Extreme Stunt Show! The show was at 4:30 but our fast passes were for 4:10... WORST MISTAKE! The FP+ only guaranteed us a seat if it was full... So we had AWFUL seats in the top top section! It would have been much better if we would have walked on standby!
After the show, we rushed again to get FastPass+ and the only thing left was Fantasmic!
Then we ran over to catch the last show of Beauty and the Beast! The FP+ people get to go in and sit down before they let standby, so they all sit front and center. We still got great seats in the middle center!
Our FP+ for Fantasmic was for like 8:30 but we saw people going in at 7:30! So we ate at FairFax place across Sunset Blvd and headed over! They let our FP+ in BEFORE the time and before the standby! So we got great seats for Fantasmic!!
Tuesday, May 20
Animal Kingdom!!
We got up early and went straight to Kilimanjaro's Safari Ride! - you see the most animals in the morning- and it was the best one I had ever been on! They even had new animals!
We had FP+ for Expedition Everest! The front is the absolute best place to ride!
We are in the front row:
Then we went over to Dinoland. We had FP+ for Dinosaur! It's super loud & not for children! Yes I look scared, but the guy in front of us is terrified!
We went back to ride Expedition Everest - the single line goes by super fast!
My family ate at FlameTree BBQ, but hubby and I bought food at Yak & Yeti quick service and walked it over to the tables by Flametree BBQ!
We missed Nemo the musical and It's Tough to be a Bug 4D show, because we are coming back in November with children, and the hubby would rather ride the "big kid" rides now. We also missed the Festival of the Lion King, but it wasn't showing. It has been moved to a new African theater! It starts back June 1, 2014!
We had a FP+ for Kali River Rapids, but we decided to skip it and just park hop over to Magic Kingdom! We didn't want to get soaked!
We arrived after 3 so we missed the Festival of Fantasy parade AGAIN! (Don't worry, we saw it on Thursday!)
There we went straight to FP* kiosk and got
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin for 4:15! So we walked right onto the ride!
Next we rode the Tomorrowland People Mover, and got stuck on it for 15-20 minutes! All because a teenager dropped her phone on the track as she was exiting the vehicle! The maintenance man had to come to get it.
Next we ran to get another FastPass+ and they didn't have anything we wanted. We didn't get anymore FP+ that day.- We wanted Wishes FP+ but they were out!
So we walked over to New Fantasyland to look at the Seven Dwarf mine train - still Cast Members only :( Then we walked closer to Beast's Castle (Be Our Guest) to get some pictures.
Next we went on Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride and shopped around.
We walked through the Castle towards Main St USA to claim our spots for Wishes and Celebrate the Magic! Then we took turns going to eat. Hubby and I just walked to Casey's Corner to get hot dogs and ballpark nachos!
After the Wishes fireworks, we ran to Peter Pan's Flight, Big Thunder Mountain, and Haunted Mansion! We were in the very last group of Haunted Mansion before the park closed! Once out, we walked through Adventureland towards Main Street USA, and we ran into the 2nd Electrical Night Parade!
It was 12:30 AM when we got back to the room!
Wednesday, May 21
This was going to be our Water Park day - we have tickets to either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. We were so tired, we decided to sleep in and make it a pool day at the resort.
In the afternoon, we went to EPCOT! We had FP+ for Nemo and friends, Soarin', and Turtle Talk with Crush! We missed Turtle Talk with Crush. Then we went to FP+ kiosk looking for one for Test Track, but it was sold out.
We ate over in China, and got a Chocolate eclair in France!
We were going to stay for Illuminations, but we didn't. Instead, we went back to our resort and played mini golf!
Thursday, May 22
Finally! The day we get to see the
Festival of Fantasy Parade! We got up Early and arrived at the park at 8:30 AM! They let us in at 8:45 - extra magic hours for DW resort guests 8-9 AM. Hubby and I raced over the
Space Mountain and walked right onto the ride! Then we jogged over to
Big Thunder Mountain and rode it 3 times!! Once with a FastPass+, and the others just standby! Then we rode
Winnie the Pooh and
Peter Pan's Flight (yes, I love that ride!).
Then before 11 we got in line to eat at
Be Our Guest Restaurant! By 12 we were finally inside Beast's Castle. It was a very long line! Well worth it, though!
FastPass+ is now available for it, and I strongly recommend getting it for
BOG! You get to order ahead of time and don't have to wait in the long line to order!
You order inside Beast's castle on a touch screen computer - in the study - Once you pay, you take your receipt and your rose to the table you choose! 3 rooms: West wing with the enchanted rose, Dining hall, or the East wing (where we ate). Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!
We walked around and had out pictures made by the Disney Photopass Photographers. It was the hottest day yet - 92F- so we stopped by the Edy's Ice Cream parlor! Delicious! They also have the kitchen sink, but I just got double scoop of Birthday Cake ice cream, cone to cup, and hubby got a delicious sundae!
Next, we claimed our spots for
Festival of Fantasy Parade! It was the BEST parade Disney has EVER done!
After the parade, we shopped down Main Street USA, and then went to
Downtown Disney to shop! End of a successful trip!
Friday, May 23
We flew home :(
--- Coming soon - Details on each restaurant we ate, along with pictures and the prices!---
