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Trip Log:
Started our last morning packing up and getting ready to go. Once the bags were packed most of the group set off for the Magic Kingdom arriving just before the 8:30am early entry period was to begin. We walked into Tomorrowland and found our first destination not ready to open, Buzz Lightyear. The rest of our group was on a later bus so we circled back to castle and watched the opening moment while waiting for them and then made our way to Adventureland. The Jungle Cruise was showing as not open yet, but the queue was growing so we joined it and waited. After our cruise returned to Tomorrowland. Buzz was growing and no one felt like waiting so we visited the PeopleMover then Carousel of Progress. At this point we decided to take the long way back to Riviera which meant we needed to get moving. A quick walk to the front of the park and onto a Ferry for a trip across the Seven Seas Lagoon. At the TTC boarded an EPCOT monorail. Once at EPCOT took a quick stroll through the park to reach the International Gateway and the Skyliner back to Riviera. Met the rest of our group and had time to change and then wait for the bus. The bus showed up a few minutes early and we were on our way. At MCO grabbed a bite to eat then found a seat to wait for the fight which boarded on time, left early and due to gate issue arrived on time in Los Angeles.
Thoughts & Observations:
- We finished packing early and decided to head to the Magic Kingdom for a few attractions. The buses seemed to be a good 20 minutes or so apart again so they were full and slow going. Adding to the slowness was a lot of traffic from the TTC to Contemporary too.
- Magic Kingdom security was really backed up for strollers and secondary bag check. Luckily we did not bring a stroller today, but one of us (not me for once) got flagged for secondary screening.
- We walked out to Tomorrowland to visit Buzz Lightyear but of course it was not operating so we circled back and watched the “Let the Magic Being Welcome Show” in front of the castle. The show is nice, but I preferred the old one in front of the Train Station. Using the train was more interesting/unique to me. This is a better venue as more guests can see it and you are in the park and spread out vs crammed in the entrance plaza. One note about the show is the audio was blaring and horrible.
- The rest of the group did not make the Jungle Cruise yesterday so we headed there first the queue was backed up toward Pirates. They were just opening and it was slow going to fill the queue.
- We walked back to Tomorrowland Buzz was open but had a wait longer than our patience so we visited the PeopleMover and Carousel of Progress before calling it a day.
- We decided to take the long route back to the Riviera, which given the weather was not the optimal choice. We took the Ferry Boat, which we just missed one so had to wait. Then the Monorail which was a minimal wait for the next trail then we had to hike through EPCOT to the Skyliner station. This hike was less than ideal given today felt even hotter than yesterday. We had no wait at the Skyliner so we made it back to the Riviera at the time I estimated.
- Found the rest of our group out by the bus stop already with our suitcases so met them and changed. Then waited for bus.
- We were picked up four hours before our flight. The bus was a few minutes early and only made one stop at Caribbean Beach Resort before heading to the airport. Once there we did stop at the new Terminal C first.
- The queue for Sky Priority Delta check-in was short so we were in the food court with no real delays. There were only 4 people in front of me at Chick-fil-A but I was still the last one to get to our table. The others had gotten food and most were done eating already. The Chick-fil-A at MCO is terribly inefficient.
- Encountered a three person wait at TSA Pre-check. The regular TSA wait was 15-20 minutes.
- The terminal was busy as always. Orlando feels so confined, especially at the end were there are a handful of gates with minimal seating around them. Delta had three flights leaving at exactly the same time out of close gates so that made boarding process less than ideal.
- Our flight crew kept trying to get people to board efficiently. They wanted to push back early. My guess is with three flights at the same time there is most likely one team pushing back so if you were last you had to wait. Our flight closed the door early and pushed back early.
- The flight home was uneventful. We had to taxi to the far side of MCO to take off. We still arrived in Los Angeles early. Of course the gate was occupied so we had to sit and wait. Then when we finally moved to the gate I could see the gate but there were only two people there to guide us in and they require three. Other trucks and workers showed up and we just sat there. The pilot announced the delay and we waited. Eventually a worker did come out and he drove away then came back a few minutes later and they all picked up their gear and we were directed in.
- There was no wait for the bags, shuttle bus to the parking lot or drive home even. So it was a nice way to end the trip.
Pedometer Information for the day:
| Steps |
8,580 |
| Miles |
3.93 |
| Walking Time |
1:18 |
| Total Time |
4:08 |
Addition Blog Picture Posts from today:
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