First Full day at a park
One "advantage" of a 24 hour flight to WDW is the jet lag advantage in the morning. The kids were up at the break of dawn. We took the path outside the garden wing rather than walking inside and waking up people as my kids excited squealed along the corridor. Luckily the Contempo cafe was open already and we executed one of our cost saving plans to offset our coming character meals -> we ordered just one adult meal (eggs and a pile of meat and bread) and one kids meal (Mickey waffles). With all the sides like milk, fruits, some sort of apple sauce the food was enough for all four of us.
We went outside and I just can't explain how exciting it was to see that "walkway to the magic kingdom" near the sidewalk. We may have missed the first change of the pedestrian light because we were taking so many pictures of space mountain. My wife got a little emotional when she saw the train station because she swore it looked exactly the way it had when she was a kid. We tried to stroll up Main Street but DS had already jumped out of the stroller and was running up to the castle. There were a bunch of photopass people in the area and we were able to get some wonderful pictures with almost no people in the background. I hadn't told the family about the welcome show and the kids just went berserk when Mickey came out to welcome everyone. We walked through the castle to get to peter pans flight. I may have lost a few minutes to the people who went through the path near liberty square but the look on DDs face as we went under the castle was worth it.
Peter Pan flight was a 20 minute wait already but the queue really was fun. When that ship first started rising the kids just went bonkers.
After that it was Winnie the Pooh with another great interactive queue and then barnstormer, the first roller coaster ride ever for DD and DS. DD was hooked and she made me promise to ride more. We finished just in time for our first fast pass -> the haunted mansion. I just can't explain how much this meant to me because I remembered growing up and just making do with reading about this ride in the Disney guide books that people brought home. I was worried about 4 year old DS but he was brave through out. ( I forgot to mention that during our Cinderella interaction the day before we got her to talk about how proud she was the he was going to be brave enough To go to the haunted mansion.) Our magic shots outside the mansion are some of our favorites.
On the walk back to our next FP+ we chanced upon the muppets and their great moments of history (but just the American parts! ) and I was just amazed that this was just one of many random moments of laughter and joy that you'd suddenly find yourself Watching on the street.
It was getting hot and I was glad we had brought a large water bottle. We'd also brought packaged snacks from home to help us power through the day. All Part of DWs well thought out plan, taking care of the brood while at the same time ensuring return trip luggage space for our shopping.
Our next FP+ was 7 dwarves. Once again 7 year old DD was ecstatic and you could see it in the ride pics with all of us holding on for dear life except for her with her hands in the air and smiling from ear to ear. Unfortunately this one was a little too scary for DS and he made us promise not to make him ride any more roller coasters.
DS spirit was revived however by a quick ride Under The Sea. There's just something about him and mermaids.
After lunch at cosmic rays. Burgers. Nuggets. Fries. We snuck in Small World and Dumbo for DW. We had quick power nap back in the hotel. When we got up it was dristling so we took a boat ride to the wilderness lodge ( the kids felt like it was another ride) for our adr at the whispering canyon cafe. On the boat ride over our kids started interacting with some of their cohort and somehow ended up discussing a YouTube kids channel that they coincidentally all followed. The dad remarked that it really was a small world after all.
From the wilderness lodge it was a boat ride back to the magic kingdom for a bunch of night time rides -> magic carpets. dumbo. The tea cups. We made it to the hub for happily ever after and DS and i looked up at the sky in awe - cheek to chee as the fireworks lit up the sky. DW was amazed at the castle lights and images saying she didn't remember anything like that at all. DS once again started powering down but DD wanted to watch the next show. Luckily with the stroller and the DWs desire to burn off some calories that problem was solved by splitting the team into two. DW and DS walked back to the Contemporary while DD and I stayed to watch the next castle show ( I forgot what it was called but DD forgot her princess aversion long enough to sing along with some frozen songs and the crowd). I remember closing off the night walking down main street hand in hand with DD eating ice cream to celebrate a successful first day.
NEXT: A disturbance in the force!
I'm looking forward to reading more.
