We are back on land and ready to start a long but fun day!
Breakfast started bright and early. With Disney Cruise Line you eat breakfast in the dining hall that you had dinner in the night before. We were back at the Royal Palace bright and early. 6:45 am to be exact. This is a great chance to say good bye to your service team. Once we were done eating we headed out to the lobby and waited for the all clear and then headed into customs. In customs you find your bags based on the character on the tags you were given the night before. We found our and were through customs in just a few minuets. With a short walk across the street to the parking garage. We said good bye to Greg, John, Debbie, Mike, and Lila. They were renting a car and exploring the coast before heading to the airport to fly home. Doug's Parents were coming with us to the parks for another day of adventure. We were in our van and gone by 7:45 am.
We had to stop at Art of Animation to pickup the stroller before we headed into the park. We were Soooooooooooooo close to making rope drop. We parked at about 9:10 in the Hollywood Studios lot. Doug went ahead with the old "key to the world cards" to try to get a paper fast pass for Toy Story. By the time he got there he got one for the last hour of the day. With the wait at Toy Story already over 50 minuets we headed to rockin' roller coaster first. Doug, Sandy, and Clair went to Little Mermaid.
The Rockin' Roller Coaster picture is one of the best in the parks in my opinion.
They survived.
Now it was time to use our FastPass+ on Toy Story Mid Way Mania. Doug had spent months building up this ride to his parents. I think he started to worry he had hyped it too much when we were in line.
Clair and Sandy, I'm sure they both had a great score.
Doug rode alone. That is how he likes it. Sam and Alden take too many of his targets. Clair is the only one he likes to ride with. He of course was not happy with this score.
Alden and I were happy to head into the midway for some fun. Samantha rode with Jim. The review from Sandy and Jim was thought it was great. They both loved it and would do it again if there wasn't an hour long line. Jim claimed that it is a ride "not to be missed"
Then Half of us headed to Star Tours and the non motion people headed to Great Movie Ride.
We met back up at 50's Prime Time Diner for lunch. We were starving and tired. The adventures at sea and the early breakfast was catching up with us. We checked in 45min early hoping they could get us seated early. We were really not hopeful because it was the Sunday before Veteran's day the the park was nice and busy. We were happy hanging out in the 1950's style living room and air conditioning.
The food and atmosphere was great. Doug's parents just let us pick where to eat. I choose 50's because it is comfort food. After all the fine dining on the cruise ship I knew we would be ready for just good old fashion cooking. Doug got a pot pie, Jim got meat loaf, Sandy had some fried chicken. It was exactly what we needed. For more about the restaurant you can check out our full post here.
After eating we stopped in the Animation building to meet a few friends.
We were exhausted and ready for a nap so we headed to the front of the park and got a picture on the way. It is nice to have the Photopass get a few shots of the whole group now and then.
We hopped in the van and dropped Jim and Sandy off at the Beach Club before heading around Crescent Lake to our room for the next two nights at the Boardwalk.
The room was nice. The Boardwalk is a deluxe resort. It would be extremely difficult to go from the Cruise ship to a Moderate or a value resort.
The couch folds into a bed and that is where Alden will be found.
The decor didn't do much for the kids. We have stayed at the Beach Club before so we wanted to stay some where different but the kids weren't all that impressed.
The kids also pointed out how the tiny bathroom in the cruise ship had twice the storage and counter space.
Once settled down we took a long nap. SO long we kinda forgot about telling Doug's parents dinner plan. Doug's Dad finally called and asked where and what we were doing.
We then told them we would met them in Hollywood Studios by Sweet Spells.
After a boat ride over to the park we found Doug's parents waiting at our favorite candy shop. We had FastPass+ to Fantasmic! We got a couple snacks and some Glow With The Show Hats. Alden picked the big Mickey cookie dipped in chocolate.
I went with the Sorcerer Mickey Candy Apple. I felt it went with the show. We got our snacks and made our way to the stadium. The stadium for Fantasmic! is huge. You need to get there a little early just because of the waking it takes to get back to it. We were about 30 min early and got good seats. We were off to the left. For most of the show they show it in 3 spots.
This is a little zoomed in of Mickey during the show. It was the kids first time seeing it and they give it mixed reviews. Sam said "it's not Wishes" and she is right. It is an odd mix of things going on in the show.
After the show we headed to Toy Story. It is totally nuts leaving Fantasmic! I suggest having a meeting place. Ours was the viewing window for Sweet Spells. It is just far enough away to lessen the craziness but close enough that Samantha and Alden would make it if totally separated. It is a lot like leaving a sporting event after a buzzer beater.
Time to take in the Osborn Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. As usual they are awesome!
The kids spent some time singing and dancing with the lights. It is hard to make out the mass of people behind them but as you head to the center of the lights it is packed! The park was about to close. Jim and Sandy headed back the the boat to head back to the beach club and we had one trick left up our sleeve.
After a little light viewing we hopped in line for Toy Story about 5 min before the park closed. The sign said 60min for the wait but we new better. We waited about 20 minuets is all. They let you into line right up until park closing for most attractions.
It is hard to see but Doug broke into the 200,000's this ride.
Clair and I continue to improve.
As we exited the ride the park was closed but we headed back to the lights. They normally run the lights 1 hour after the park is closed.
We got a few more pictures as the crowd thinned out.
Line for this Photopass location was easily 20 to 30 minuets the first time we were here. Now we just waited for one family.
You can clearly see 30 minuets after park closing and you can wonder freely around. Earlier you were shoulder to shoulder as you made your way around looking at lights. This was a great way to end the night, looking at Christmas lights dancing to music with fake snow falling!
We headed back to the Boardwalk Inn with just a short walk.
Tomorrow we close out our trip with a challenge.
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