Figaro's live trip report - part six
Day16 - Tuesday 5th February
We head to the Magic Kingdom after seeing all the guides predict it should be quiet. At the TTC, the line for the monorail is down the ramp and beyond the ticket booths. We take a ferry and Mikki takes photos of the huge crowds approaching MK security!
Inside, we get fastpasses for Under the Sea and wander into Frontierland. After watching Brer Rabbit and other characters dance, we reach Pirates of the Caribbean and join the line. As we finally reach the dock, Mikki realises the slow progress was because the cast member was not directing people into the gates until the boat arrived. Perhaps some refresher training needed. The ride itself was most memorable for the person on the left in row 1 getting wetter than we ever remember. Sadly, that was my Mikki.
Time to ride Under the Sea on fastpass. It's a lovely ride based on a lovely film and it has a very clever effect at the start as we go underwater. However, it is really just a classic Fantasyland dark ride, like Peter Pan or Winnie the Pooh: it's almost disappointing after all the effort the put into the queing area. Also, today, Mikki thought several bits weren't working. Shouldn't Ariel's tail move?
We decided a predicted 20 minute wait was acceptable for lunch at Be our Guest, and so it proved. There is plenty to see while waiting. The ordering system was new to us. Andrew was glad Mikki was there to follow what was happening on screen.
After eating, we explored the the main rooms taking pictures. All were beautifully and thoroughly themed but there was a lot of noise. The main ballroom (where we ate) is large so there is crowd noise. The side room with the rose has Beast bellowing a lot. Only the opposite side room offered any chance of peace. My humans did not feel encouraged to try it in the evening.
After lunch, we left the park to have a rest before an evening outing to Epcot to say Hi to John from Owners Locker. He insisted on taking my picture. Prrr.
Day 17 - Wednesday 6th February
We are up early to be at the Magic Kingdom for opening and are first in line to meet Ariel,the little mermaid. Passing the Under the Sea ride, we notice it is closed. Perhaps Mikki was right that it wasn't working properly yesterday. Ariel was very nice to me and gave me a cuddle. It may have helped that Andrew assured her I am not the sort of cat who would be specially interested in her fishy bits!
I get lots more pictures as we walk round Fantasyland and the rest of the Magic Kingdom. We ride old favourites, Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
We leave the park and the humans decide to visit Old Key West and have lunch at Olivia's. It is nice for them to know there are still a few familiar faces there. There is now a single menu all day but it seems to combine some lunch and dinner favourites.
They then go to downtown Disney for a wander around the shops. They resist buying anything this trip.
Day18 - Thursday 7th February
I told you Mikki bought an orange astronaut jumpsuit that fitted Andrew, didn't I? Well, today he has to wear it to ride Mission Space. He changed once in the park and the cast members on Mission Space were wonderful, all wanting to get good pictures for Andrew. It was rather fun even if I didn't get in the pictures as quick as I might have.
After he changed back we all went on Soarin and then the humans had a snack in the Land. They got stamps for their postcards (who'd have thought Art of Disney was the place to get stamps?) and then headed out. A quick shop at Lake Buena Vista outlets and then home.
Later the humans left me to rest while they they went out to dinner at Outback. Not the best service and not what they were used to there but the food tasted good.
