DAY SEVEN-MAGIC KINGDOM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1997
While Bob and I went to F.O.P. this morning, Christi and Amanda went on to Magic Kingdom without me. They had planned to go to Blizzard Beach, but it was full and they couldn’t enter. I told them that I would meet them at 2:00 pm at Tony’s Town Plaza for lunch. We had Priority Seating for that time. But I had a unique travel experience and didn’t make it there for a long time. This is a warning for those of you that think you can beat the transportation system. I didn’t get back to the hotel from F.O.P. until almost 2:00 pm. I was told by someone that I had just missed the bus to Magic Kingdom and there would not be another one for more than 30 minutes. There was a bus for Epcot just pulling in and I decided that I could catch that bus and then transfer to the Monorail at Epcot. So I did. But when I saw the distance from the bus stop to the monorail station, I decided to catch the bus (which was there waiting) to Wilderness Lodge because it was closer. Also, I have never seen the lodge and thought this was a great chance to view it. Bad choice. (At least as far was meeting the girls quickly.) When we finally arrived at Wilderness Lodge, I was on the wrong side to catch transportation to Magic Kingdom and I had to walk completely around the hotel. I started one way and then had to back track to find the boats to Magic Kingdom. I did get a great view of the pool area with the geysers and waterfall. I finally arrived at the dock and waited for a boat across the lake. I loved the trip, but this is NOT a quick way to travel. I should have just waited for the next Magic Kingdom bus at the Courtyard.
I finally arrived a Tony’s Town Plaza at almost 3:30 pm. I met one very mad young lady. This was my daughter. (Amanda doesn’t get angry, at least with me.) The girls had gone ahead without me for our Priority Seating. They ordered tea and were brought bread sticks. They waited and waited for me to arrive. Finally the restaurant closed to prepare for the dinner seating. For some reason, they had not taken any of their own traveler’s checks with them that day. Or they had already spent all they took. They had no money to pay for their tea and bread. They were not sure that the waitress believed them about waiting on Christi’s mother, but she had told them that it was okay and to leave without paying. I tried to get back inside to pay for them, but it was all locked up.
(Beginning of a perfect parade. Remember the Magic -- 25th!!)
The Remember the Magic Parade was just finishing as I had arrived. The girls had watched it and take photos after being kicked out of Tony’s. I mollified them by offering to take them back to Crystal Palace. They ran ahead to see if we could get in without Priority Seating. We were told we would only have to wait 20 minutes because they beat most of the parade crowd there. Any time my daughter can eat with Eeyore, she gets happy. After a leisurely lunch there, we strolled back to Fantasyland. The girls had done Tomorrowland that morning and it is not my favorite area. Since I had done the rides there in November, I didn’t care about doing it again.
We spent the rest of that evening redoing out favorite rides in Fantasyland and Liberty Square. We watched Spectromagic from in front of the Pecos Bill Cafe. That is my favorite place to watch any parade. Then we saw the fireworks from the bridge area. Back to the hotel after the fireworks.