Magic, Mayhem, Wifi and more; Our Return to Disney --Day Seven

Cast:

Me (Husband) -- 54
DW -- 42
DD -- 12
DS -- 5

"Disney Becomes Difficult!"

To date, Walt Disney World has been making a mockery of the weather forecasters. They've predicted doom & gloom everyday and aside from the one water-park day we scheduled, weather has been beautiful. Some spotty rain here and there, but for the most part, it's the type of weather you leave Pittsburgh for!

I wake early, ready myself, run out for coffees, and return. Wife is up, as is my DD in a goofy mood. Silly. Wanting to get dressed WITHOUT leaving her trundle bed. (I just shake my head.)

We decide to eat at Hollywood Studios and I have Feta & Spinach Wrap on the brain. Last time I was there, it was so good. I'm distracted.

We get to the park around 9:45 and it's pretty crowded already. My DS still seems tired from the night before as he's already grabbing at me to carry him. It's going to be a long day!!!!

We get to Starbucks and unlike last time, we cannot find a seat, not that there's much seating there anyway. Wife says, "Order for kids. I'll be back." DD starts to panic as we have no seat, our drinks are being called, but food isn't ready. She's in - out - in - out - trying to find a seat. DW returns with an umbrella stroller!

We had made a miscalculation: we thought DS would not need one as he's five. Wrong! The parks and the heat are killing him. And me. DW says, we are averaging nearly 9 miles on most days. That's a lot of walking for five-year-old.

He sits, crosses his legs, asks for his milk and he's all set. "Ah, it's good to be the King!"

One of the first things we is use a FP for the Anna & Elsa Sing-A-Long. Very festive atmosphere inside the Hyperion Theatre. Show is cute! The Historians do enough humor to keep parents interested to endure THE SAME SONGS WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR YEARS!!!! Still, we all enjoy it. Next, we ride Star Tours 2.0 again. This is becoming a favorite! I've timed the FPs well enough again that we walk straight over and they're active. However, they won't let us pass. Next to the FastPass lane is the Jedi Training Academy and some Storm Troopers use that ramp to enter the stage so we have to wait. They pass and the CM lets us continue to the ride. The music changes to the Imperial March, smoke surrounds, then Darth Vadar steps on stage. I'M RIGHT THERE!!!!! I'm not a super Star Wars fan, but I was giddy and awestruck as Darth Vadar approached.

"Sophia!!! Darth Vadar was right there!!!!!"

The CM couldn't stop chuckling. It was such a highlight. The ride was great...again. DD wants in the worst way to be the Rebel Spy. She wasn't!

After, we walk over to Indiana Jones to watch that show. I've seen it many times, but still enjoy it. They've changed is ever so slightly, but DS LOVED it. Had to get an Indy Snake after. (Still have it now!)

When the attraction is over, DD & I have about 12 minutes to make it to Rock 'n Rollercoaster before our FPs expire. (DW & DS have FPs for Toy Story Midway Mania, but elect to let them expire.) I need a bathroom break, but DD won't allow it. On the way we pass, not one, not two, not three, but four different Streetmosphere skits. We wanted to stop in the worst way. Press on. I love this ride.

We arrive with about one minute to spare, but the CM tells us they give us an extra 10 minutes. (shoot, I really need the bathroom!)

RnRC blows us away. Break. Quick shop. Then join rest of family for late lunch at Prime Time Cafe. Normally, I'd get the fried chicken, but because I didn't enjoy my FC at the Hoop De Doo, I'm skeptical. Instead, I get Dad's Stuffed Pork Chop and it's pretty good. I'm pleased with my decision.

We shop and I call Lost & Found (again.)

"I know it's a long shot, but I left two bags by a planter from D-Street with some Star Wars memorabilia, including some boxers, some figurines, a T-shirt, and a pin. Any chance someone turned those in?"
"As a matter of fact, I have two bags from D-Street here with those exact items. I will set them in the Thursday box with your name on them."

Are you kidding me??? How great are Disney people???? I am really pushing the envelope here. We've left: my cell phone, DW's cell phone, my video camera, and two bags of newly purchased items and all were turned in. In my honest opinion, the people that frequent WDW adopt a different mindset. It's almost like they try to match the CMs' kindness with kindness of their own. I'm amazed!

No more riding here. We shop a bit more, catch a bit of a Streetmosphere Act, then go to exit and hop Friendship to Epcot. Today is soft opening of Food & Wine Festival!!!

Three years ago, we stumbled upon the soft opening by accident. It was great. Park was not crowded and most kiosks were operational. I absolutely planned this entire trip around this day! When I sat down 500+ days before trip, I knew where I wanted to be on this day. (I guessed on the soft opening, but I was correct.) Unfortunately, plenty has changed in three years. The secret is out. Epcot was PACKED!!!!!

Oh well. We start in the UK. Wife gets a drink. Next, we go down to Canada and get our first look at the Lumberjack Show. This has to be a bad joke? They let Off Kilter go for this??? Horrible!!! The MC is not funny. Deadpan, but humorless is not funny. It's just boring. Then, they fire up the chainsaws and my DS's ears hurt. So did mine. We couldn't leave fast enough!!!

Greek booth. (We're Greek Orthodox so we compare to the yiayias at church.) Not bad! Mexico. Margarita! Shop in China. Then my favorite: the Roasted pork lettuce wrap with kimchi slaw at S. Korea. The line goes forever. People comment: "Are they really that good?"

"Yes."

While waiting, it starts to rain, but the sun is out. Weird. People refuse to yield. If the sun is out, they they're not putting on rain gear. But the rain picks up. I put my poncho on, but the crowd REFUSES! Too sunny.

Forty minutes later, I have my prize. It's as good as I remember and the rain has lessened. DW & DD shop some more. Then the skies open up! Everyone runs for cover. I watch the radar. It's going to be a bit.

Epcot thins out and DW says, "Put on ponchos and let's make the best of it." In 30 minutes, the sun is back out, but a lot of the crowd has left.

We stay almost till close then head back to the room. Now, is when the trip gets tricky. DW wants to know the remainder of the schedule.

"Any more full days in Epcot?"
"No."
"What's the plan, then?"

I tell her and it's not going to work for her. Not enough time in World Showcase. Tomorrow I have mani / pedis scheduled for DW & DD. "Keep that." Then Magic Kingdom, but it closes early so dinner at Downtown Disney. "Keep that, too."

She wants Saturday changed, but FPs are set, as are ADRs. She want to go to Epcot -- ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF F&WF!! Bad Idea!

"Let's go to Animal Kingdom in morning and see what we missed, then get over Epcot early and spend rest of day there, DW says."

The problem with that is: I can't see what FPs are available to us at Animal Kingdom until I cancel the FPs at Magic Kingdom. Or at least I think that's the rule.

"I have to cancel FPs at Magic Kingdom first. I'm not sure what we can get. Also, we have breakfast at Ohana's."
"Cancel!"

Point of not return: I cancel all FPs at Magic Kingdom and try getting new ones at AK. Earliest FP for Kilimanjaro Safaris is 2:50 - 3:50. So much for getting to Epcot early. FP for Festival of the Lion King is for second show. Big gap to fill. That will give us enough time to walk Pangani Trail first thing in the morning, then get in line for show. Breakfast will be at ...are you kidding me...Starbucks!!!!! One more Feta & Spinach Wrap to come!!!!

I make the cancellations and the new FPs. Hopefully, it all works out. In the mean time, it's all coming together.

Does your head hurt yet? Where's my abacus?