May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 9

Day 9 – 5/29 –Epcot & Departure Day

We took our time packing up and checked out right about 11am.We put our luggage in the back of the SUV and headed over to Epcot. We had latelunch reservations (2pm). We started off with some family photos in front ofSpaceship Earth, grabbed some FastPasses for Soarin’ and then headed over tosee Captain Eo.

DW and I remember seeing Captain Eo on our honeymoon. Let’sjust say, it doesn’t hold up. At all. The 3D technology was horrible, the printwas dark, the special effects looked like claymation and story was prettylaughable. Plus we had to wait about 20 minutes for the show to start.

After Captain Eo we rode Figment, and DD spent some timeplaying with the interactive exhibit at the exit.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 8

Day 8 - 5/28 –Magic Kingdom & Yehaa Bob

This was our “Fantasyland at Rope Drop” day, also known asthe “Dumbo Dash.” We arrived at the Magic Kingdom in time for the Welcome Show,counted down with Mickey and quickly headed down Main Street U.S.A., throughCinderella’s Castle and into Fantasyland to the Flying Dumbos. They werecompleting a test run when we arrived.

We got onto the first cycle. I rode with DD while DW and DGMrode together.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 7

Day 7 - 5-27 –Animal Kingdom & Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?

Our rope drop plan at Animal Kingdom is different fromanyone else we’ve heard of. DD has tried Expedition Everest a couple of times,but has firmly decided that she doesn’t like it. Any EE riding that DW and Iget to do is usually done Single Rider Line style.

So, while most of the park opening crush is to get to EE orthe Safari, we head straight to Kali River Rapids. We poncho it up, get onboard, and stay on as long as they’ll allow (or until we see people starting toqueue up). We usually ride 3-4 times, but DW and DD set a record of riding fivestraight times a couple of years ago.

After a couple of times riding, I got off and let DW and DDcontinue. My mother (DGM) was driving in from Tampa and I went over to meet her near theSafari. Shortly after she arrived, DW and DD came over excited to inform usthat they had tied their record of five straight times on Kali.

I grabbed us FastPasses for Safari, and then we boarded thetrain for Conservation Station/ Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

After the train pulls into the station, you have about afive minute walk to the building where the exhibits are. They were going to bedoing a physical on a Golden Tamarin, so while I staked out a spot by theviewing window, DD and DGM were brave enough to pet this snake.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 6

Day 6 - 5/26 – Hollywood Studios and a Birthday Luau

She had been wearing her birthday pin religiously throughoutthe trip thus far, but today was DD’s actual birthday. When we had startedlooking at weeks in May for a trip, our initial priority was to pick a weekbefore it got ridiculously hot (we have frequently gone in August) orridiculously busy. Since most schools would still be in session in May, wethought that would be a great time to go. It dawned upon us that we couldcombine the trip with DD’s birthday – what better party could you hope for?

We packed some of DD’s birthday presents (books, Star Warsaction figures) but left her largest present (a Littlest Pet Shop set) at home.We printed a picture of it and included it with her card and a note explainingthat it would be waiting for her when we returned. Here she is pointing to thepicture we printed.

After presents and a hurried breakfast, we hustled over toHollywood Studios, arriving a little later than we usually do. We were a littlenervous when we saw how long the lines at the turnstiles were.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 5

Day 5 – 5/25 - Magic Kingdom & PhotoPass Phun

After staying out late the night before watching fireworks,we slept in a little this morning, got ready in a leisurely fashion and arrivedat the Magic Kingdom around 10:00. We grabbed someFastPasses to see Mickey Mouse at the Town Hall, and headed straight forFrontierland to see what kind of waits were in store at Big Thunder MountainRailroad.

We grabbed a FastPass for Splash Mountainand hopped on BTMRR. This time DD was much better about holding the ‘big arms”a little longer…

…but not too much longer.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 4

Day 4 – 5/24 – Magic Kingdom& Wishes

The morning started with more homework before we left forthe parks.

There’s some debate about whether its faster to drive to theMagic Kingdom, park at the Ticket & Transportation Center, then take amonorail or ferry to the turnstiles, or simply take a bus from your resortdirectly to the MK, bypassing the T&TC altogether. Whenever we’ve had arental car, we’ve driven. It’s usually 25 minutes or so from the time we getinto our car in the AKL parking lot until we get to the turnstiles.

May 2011 Walt Disney World Trip Report - Day 3

Day 3 – 5/23 – LeCellier

After a late night at Hyperspace Hoopla, we decided to takeit easy and sleep in a little bit. Since we had pulled DD out of school for theweek, her teacher was kind enough to prepare an assignment for her to do eachday. It was a travel journal with questions to answer about each day, and aplace for drawing a picture.

After homework was done and we were up and at ‘em, we headedover to Epcot. After grabbing some FastPasses for Soarin, we rode the Seas withNemo and Friends, and headed over to Turtle Talk with Crush. In the queue areaare a couple of tanks with some rays and fish. This puffer fish kept comingover to DD and it seemed like it was looking right at her.