When first-timers ask for advice on going to Florida, those of us who have been a few times will offer many different tips, but I think the most common recommendation I see given is, don’t try to do it all, and take some rest days. This was, is and always will be good advice.
These holidays can be tiring. The long-haul flight, the heat and the walking are a lot. It’s understandable that first-timers want to book everything, do every park and fill every day, but down that road, unhappiness lies.
This is all just a preamble to justify us having another rest morning. Yes, we were tired but we also wanted to make it all the way to the fireworks tonight as it would be the last day in the parks for Me, Louise and Mum this trip and for Mum maybe ever.
Sadly I missed the 7am virtual queue window due to actually getting some sleep and waking at 7.15. How foolish of me to do so when on holiday and Disney is absolutely correct to enforce a pre-7am wake-up on your holidays. Whilst others played in the pool there was an episode in our bathroom that was more biblical event than ablution. I felt both worse and better for it in equal measure.
After pool time, thoughts turned to it being food time and we opted for a good old-fashioned Dennys breakfast. This place has been a staple of our visits since I first went in 1980. We trusted Google Maps to guide us to one and we ended up at Lake Magic.
Being a Sunday it was busy and we waited about fifteen minutes for a table. Other smaller parties were seated more quickly.
I had a Grand Slamwich.
Louise had a South West Eggs Benedict
Tenders for Freddie
Rebecca, Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Tom had a Crepe, which was brave in a public restroom.
Mum had a French Toast Slam. You can see I just told her off for thinking about touching her food before I had taken the photo.
Our server was delightful. So with a very good tip all that was $137. It was now 1pm and we were off to Magic Kingdom. I had to amend the first LL I had made earlier as we were behind schedule!
We parked in Scar 423 and got a tram in. We were lucky enough to get on a tram that was pretty full and therefore was just about to depart. However, we sat there for ten minutes (there is zero exaggeration in that number) as a guest couldn’t collapse their stroller and despite endless requests from the Cast Member at the back of the tram, would not stop trying and move away behind the yellow line. Finally, he managed it and everyone was so happy for him, honest.
Rebecca delayed us further with a wee at the TTC.
We monorailed…
and made it into Magic Kingdom.
On our way up Main Street, we took advantage of Photopass, which we hardly ever do. I was mindful that this may be Mum’s last time at MK and wanted to record the moment despite all of our aversions to being photographed.
We won’t be doing that again in a hurry.
Our first LL was Small World and we caught the end of a show as we passed the castle.
As we made our way to the ride, I spotted some work underway around the castle so felt the need to capture it.
Our first ride of the day happened…
Next, we headed to Big Thunder for the LL I had booked whilst everyone else wasn’t having to worry about stuff like that. It was a hot walk and we broke it up by watching some of the passing parade.
Freddie, Tom, Rebecca and I rode Big Thunder.
Look, after all these years I need to try and find new things to take photos of ok?
It was now time for our no-expense spared ride on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Louise and I watched Dougie whilst everyone else rode. Tom’s pose was intentional, Mum’s not so much.
Around this time I got a text to tell me that an ECV had become available for Mum. So that Louise and I could ride, Tom “volunteered” to walk back to the entrance to pick it up. As you can see he had a whale of a time riding it back.
Space Mountain now for those brave enough to ride it. I got allocated the back seat in the rocket and noticed a considerable difference in comfort levels compared to the front. It was almost tolerable. As we exited I made a LL for Buzz. Today, all the Genie+ LLs were pretty much available for “now”. The park wasn’t that busy and maybe Genie+ could have been avoided, but again, this was a last-day situation so maximising our ride activity was good. Before we went onto Buzz, the boys met him.
That took a while and by the time they were done, I had to change the LL for the ride, but again, it was immediately available. I rode with Freddie and somehow he got 112,000.
Next, we wandered over to Jungle Cruise. I had booked this LL at 8am this morning. If ever a ride’s popularity was inexplicable. I guess it’s more the slow loading of this one that causes the wait times. Tom didn’t ride, instead, he took Dougie off for a walk to get him to sleep.
We don’t ride this one very often so I did chuckle at the jokes a fair bit.
Another immediate LL for Pirates was secured.
Louise stayed off with the now-sleeping Douigie.
Having no ADR booked for dinner and wanting to stay in the park for fireworks I scanned the app for options. Pickings were slim and we ended up with The Liberty Tree Tavern. It has been many decades since we dined there and expectations were not that high.
We did Philharmagic first. I sat out with Dougie.
Upon arriving at the restaurant we were seated as soon as those weak bladdered amongst us had restroomed.
Freddie took up the camera.
It was a set menu which saved us from choosing and meant the food arrived quickly. It was a salad and bread to start then a Thanksgiving dinner. We ended with Ooey Gooey pudding and the whole thing was a lot better than we had expected. We all really enjoyed it.
The bill was an “on-site, theme park eatery” level of $312.
We left and made our way down to Main Street, stopping off in the Christmas Shop.
We took up our usual spot here…
Happily Ever After started at 9.20.
All I will say is that there were lots of tears by the end of it. This was a special place for my Dad and everyone was affected by watching the fireworks and especially the music of course. I miss him.
We left via the normal monorail and caught a tram back to the car. It was a quiet drive home.
Till the next time….
Mkingdon's Blog 
What a great park day. We have always enjoyed Liberty TT.