Today we’d decided to try riding Guardians again as although we felt sick the first time, we thought that if we didn’t focus on the screens, we could get through it and enjoy it more. I got us boarding group 50 which was ideal as we wanted to do a few rides first and then finish with Guardians just in case we did feel queasy.
We didn’t get to the park for the extra half hour as there was a slight delay on the monorail, but the park was still really quiet. We managed to do Frozen, Soarin’, Living with the Land and the Grand Fiesta Tour before our group was called. We also had a fabulous meet with Donald in his Mexican outfit who spent ages with the girls, directing the Photopass photographer, before then taking their hands and walking off with them into Mexico! They loved it so much, although I bet the people behind us in the queue weren’t as happy about it as we were with him so long!
Guardians was much more successful this time round, and we all really enjoyed it (well, Winnie enjoyed the shop at the end and almost bought herself a Starlord jacket as it would apparently go with everything!!) We grabbed lunch in Connections which was pretty good, before heading out of the park with a quick stop at Spaceship Earth on the way because who can resist Dame Judy?
The girls were really tired today so asked for a nap and ended up sleeping a good two hours, after which we got ready and headed to Magic Kingdom. I’d only discovered this morning that I could create them their own log in details on the Play Disney app and link their Magic+ bands so they could collect all the statues (I thought it could only link to my account), so after collecting all the Epcot ones they were keen to get some MK ones too.
We went across on the boat which wasn’t the wisest as in the low, evening sun it was really hot. Still, it is very peaceful. As we entered the park the 50th cavalcade was just coming down Main Street, so we watched it from under the train station with absolutely no crowd. We then went statue hunting.
We had planned to try and stay for the fireworks, but knew the girls were flagging a bit so decided that seeing as we’d not done the dessert party for both girls’ birthdays (we cancelled Winnie’s as she was poorly, and Polly decided it was too early in the trip to be able to stay up late enough) we’d check if there was any availability. It turns out there was, so we booked the Plaza view as we wanted to see the new projections/ opening to the show. We then went on Speedway and saw the 50th characters at the train station before checking into the party. Now, we’ve done it a few times before on NYE, and while the food has never been great, we’ve enjoyed the view. This time, the food was definitely much better, and included freshly made crepes. We all managed to find plenty we liked.
Around 8pm we’d had enough to eat so headed to The Plaza. It was raining lightly but there was a fair bit of lightning in the area. As 9 approached the rain got heavier and the lightning worse, so the announcement that the show was delayed wasn’t a surprise. The announcements kept coming, and while it was evident the storm wasn’t shifting, we stuck it out almost to the bitter end, dancing and playing whilst getting wetter and wetter. At 10.30 we called it and headed back to the hotel, knowing it was unlikely the fireworks would happen, and as we left the monorail to walk to our room after the park had closed it was evident, they’d been cancelled. The storms have been hanging around for much longer than when we used to come, when they’d be crazy for an hour or two then disappear, so fireworks were always a risk, but we really did have a magical day and evening regardless. And when we got home Polly said that her favourite holiday memory is of us playing musical statues in the rain in the Plaza gardens, and no fireworks can ever top that.
Tomorrow we are heading back to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and we honestly couldn’t be more excited. Crossing everything that Polly gets her special Fairy Godmother.
Doodle & Peg Do Disney 