Today we really didn’t have anything much planned, other than tea at Story Book Dining (which is the girls’ favourite). We had booked a park day at Magic Kingdom, just in case we wanted to go, so decided to have a leisurely get up and head over there to try and finish ticking off the remaining 50th Golden Statues.
We decided to drive as we were in no rush, but as it was heaving when we arrived and the trams still weren’t running, we paid the extra $20 to upgrade our free parking to preferred. This puts you really close to the Ticket and Transportation Centre, which was great, especially as Polly decided she was desperate for the toilet as soon as we parked meaning me and her had to make a mad dash through security to the toilets.
We then headed to the ferry. The cast members always try and tell you it’s faster than the monorail which it usually isn’t, but we weren’t in a rush and hadn’t been on it in ages, so thought it would be nice. They now have two ramps to load/ unload the ferries, one for the upper deck and one for the lower which makes the process a lot quicker.
We enjoyed the ride over to Magic Kingdom and were off and in the park pretty quickly as we’d already passed through security at the transportation centre. I still would always recommend using the buses for Magic Kingdom though. Whilst you’re still at risk of waiting a while for a bust to arrive, in a car there is no way of getting inside that park quickly unless you arrive very, very early.
We had thought about having a walk around the park before heading to the Grand Floridian for a quick service breakfast (the girls love the tater tots there) but as we’d already spent so much of the day getting into the park, we decided to give the croissants and tater tots from Friar’s Nook a go instead. The tots definitely got a big thumbs up, but the girls weren’t as keen on the wholewheat croissants!!
The park was absolutely heaving. The annual pass blackout days had ended so it seemed that everyone wanting to see the decorations and spend the last bit of their Christmas break in the park was in there today. It really wasn’t fun at all, and crowds were pretty much as bad as they are after the firework shows at night when everyone is trying to leave the park.
We decided to queue for the Ariel ride as we hadn’t done it yet, and it had a shorter queue than anything else, and meet Mickey (which never had a queue more than 10 minutes the whole time we were there). We then sought out a couple more statues and caught three different cavalcades including the one with the 3 caballeros which the girls really wanted to see.
By this time, we decided the crowds were too much on a day that we really weren’t bothered about doing anything, so we headed back to the car. The only thing we really missed this trip was the lovely gentle strolls around the parks as between the crowds and COVID it just wasn’t relaxing. It was a small price to pay though. At this point in the trip I was questioning how using up one shampoo and one sun tan lotion was actually going to create enough room in the case for the multitude of soft creatures we seemed to be accumulating, but we’d reached the point of no return!
Back at the hotel it was much quieter (clearly everyone was in the parks), so we decided to head out to the pool for an hour or so before setting off to Wilderness Lodge for our tea. We were so lucky with the weather this trip. In all our visits it is the only time we saw no rain, and I only think we needed to wear hoodies twice (one evening and one morning), so we made the most of it.
Shortly after we arrived the pool activities started. The girls aren’t usually keen to join in with the games as they are quite easily intimated, but as there weren’t as many children around, they decided to give it a go.
Well, 2 hours later they were still happily joining in the activities and having the best time. Afterwards they carried on playing in the pool and somehow ended up befriending a little girl who they loved mothering and looking after. They were having so much fun that when we told them it was time to go and get ready, they asked if they could please stay and play instead and go and make smores by the firepit with the cast members who were playing the games with them. Now, I love the Snow-White meal. The food is great, the characters are fab, and the setting is beautiful. But at that point, lying down by the pool in the late afternoon sunshine I decided that there really was nowhere I’d rather be.
They headed back to the pool, Steve headed to the bar, and I modified the mealtime before cancelling to avoid the no show charge. As I was doing this two of the lifeguards came over and asked if the girls belonged to me. They then gave me two 50th Mickey treats for them because they said they were the kindest girls they’d ever seen, and that they wanted to repay their kindness. I honestly thought my heart might burst. I am so lucky to have those two special little people to bring sunshine into my world every day.
It started to drop a little cooler, so I went to get some clothes for the girls, and we headed to roast some marshmallows. I know you can do this at a lot of the resorts, but I love the setting at Animal Kingdom Lodge, especially when the giraffes randomly wander over mid-roast. You can roast as many marshmallows as you like for free, but we bought the girls a 50thSmores pack each (well, we bought one and the lady gave us the other!). They loved making and eating them, and I have never been more grateful to have a room with a washing machine.
We realised we had no idea what to have for tea, so, for the 3rd night in a row we opted for butter chicken and bread service!!! If you do decide to mobile order from one of the restaurants, you are better off doing it earlier in the day as the time slots book up (we never had a problem with quick service). You can always amend the time and even cancel, but at least you know you have a slot booked in. Back to the room where the girls discovered tgeir new friends before settling down for the night.
Although we changed our plans again, we still had another fabulous day, and I’m so glad the girls got the confidence to take part in the activities.
Tomorrow we’re back at Hollywood Studios then hoping to finally see the Tree of Life in the dark!
Doodle & Peg Do Disney 