Disney Trip Report - Day 5

Click for Day 4

Tuesday was Tigger breakfast day, and we had the desirable reservation time of 8:30 – which got you into the Magic Kingdom before everyone else, and we thought we be cool to get a few pictures of the park near empty.  Or so we thought. 

The plan was to leave the hotel at 7:30 in order to provide plenty of time to get to Magic Kingdom, hop the monorail, and walk to the Crystal Palace.  One problem…a lot of other folks apparently also had reservations or simply wanted to be at the park super early.  Couple that with the fact that ONLY the resort monorails run that early (the ones that go to the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian) – hence, rather than just hoping on right away and getting there the line was backup up 3 or 4 monorails deep, and had to stop at the resorts first.  The time cushion we had was all but disappearing and the 8:30 reservation was looking in trouble.

Luckily, we got on a monorail and got to the gates by 8:33.  To our surprise, Disney is very lax with the reservation entrance…as we figured we would get stuck in line with some sort of reservation verification.  But nope – we were escorted right in, without showing anything.  We got to the Crystal Palace about 8 minutes late, but all was fine.

Disney does the Character Dining (as it is called) very well.  The Crystal Palace (where Pooh & Friends reside) serves breakfast buffet style – which includes any and everything you can think of.  But really, you’re not paying for the food here – you’re paying for the experience.  Another nice thing, they do not rush you at all…you’re allowed to take all the time you want, and the characters do a continual rotation throughout the restaurant.  Thankfully, it is probably only a one time thing – as we had asked Connor if he wanted to do a Stitch breakfast at the Polynesian resort (that is where Stitch hangs), and he pretty much said no…he was content with the stuffed animal he got.

After breakfast we hit the park for a bit and then headed back to the hotel for pool time, as Tuesday was another day that Magic Kingdom was open to 1AM – so there was plenty of time to squeeze in rides.

Tuesday was really the first day we had to deal with any sort of Florida T-Storms/Rain – as Sat/Sun/Mon was near perfect.    We hung at the pool, dodging a sprinkle here or there and used some of the room credits on a couple pool side pizzas. 

Given there were storms in the area, we decided to give the “free” bus from the Dolphin a shot.  Not being a fan of the bus, I think the experience at the Dolphin may have converted me, as the busses came every 10 minutes or so, and got you to the magic kingdom in about 10 minutes (as they went non-stop from the Dolphin).  Further, they drop you at the gates of the Magic Kingdom, not the transportation center where you then must hitch a monorail or ferry.  In the end, we actually liked the bus.

As had happened on Friday – the early evening T-Storm cleared the park out a bit – as we waited very little throughout the night, even though we could tell crowds were starting to build.

We caught the fireworks in the usual spot, hit some late rides (Bridget got a Dole Whip – google it, it’s like this rare thing only available at Disney that people rave about – and it was pretty damn good).

Needless to say – the non-stop action all week was starting to wear on all – and I think we only made it until about 11:00/11:30 (nowhere near 1AM).  I recall I had a pounding headache, feet were sore, and both kids were passed out in strollers.  Day over.

Sitting down for the Tigger Breakfast.

Patiently waiting...

Mickey waffles...

Piglet was first up.

Carter into the hugs..Connor not so much (he knows "its just somebody in a costume")

Tigger getting closer.

The view from our table was probably the best in the building.

Tigger...at last.

Getting devoured by Tigger.

Still having fun.

Apparently Tigger has gone "street", as it was fist bumps for all.

More fist bumps.

Connor likes taking care of Carter and making him laugh.

Pooh (yes, the hand position looks a little "off")

High fives.

Pooh leaving.