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Trip Log:
Was up way before my planned time of departure, around 6am and we were not leaving until 8:15ish. We walked from the Boardwalk to EPCOT International Gateway arriving at 8:30am when the early morning started. The crowd had been let in already and we strolled right in with no wait. Made our way to World Nature and the Land. Walk right through the queue and directed into C concourse. There I had to wait one show and we just barely made it into the next, only 5 people behind us. So about 12 minutes from entering queue until preshow. After Soarin the plan was the Living with the Land boat ride but it was down due to a problem. So we walked next door and onto the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Took a look around the aquarium then spent some time in Communicore Hall checking out the Flower and Garden displays. Passed through World Discovery and started the Egg Hunt. Stopped by Mexico and went on the Gran Fiesta Tour then looked for Eggs in Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, Canada and wrapped up with the United Kingdom. Also found a few Spike the Bees and took some topiary pictures on my world tour. Returned to the Boardwalk and met friends at 11:30 to visit and for lunch. Set off for the Magic Kingdom at 4pm and had great bus luck, walked out and right on one. No wait at security and we were in the park at 4:21pm. Strolled up Main Street USA to the hub and decided on the PeopleMover. After our tour of Tomorrowland crossed back through the hub to Sleepy Hollow for a snack then visited the Country Bears in Frontierland. Took the Walt Disney World Railroad from Frontierland to Fantasyland and then wandered back through Fantasyland and the Castle and found ourselves back in Liberty Square for a trip on the Liberty Belle. After our cruise returned to Main Street and decided to exit the park. Caught a boat to the Yacht Club. Took a look at the Eggs in the lobby then the Storm Along Bay renovation work before checking out the Beach Club Eggs. Walked to the International Gateway to return to EPCOT for the remainder of the evening. Stopped by France for a snack then walked to World Celebration Garden to watch a couple sequences of the Beacon of Magic lights before finding a spot for Luminous near Canada. I misread the wind or it shifted and I was in the smoke path so moved around to the International Gateway bridges as a plan B. After the show returned to Boardwalk to call it a night.
Thoughts & Observations:
- I had no real game plan for the morning. We were just going to roam the park and see how it went. We arrived at 8:30 as they park was opening for resort guests, but were behind the initial rush as they had all been let in already.
- Ended up on Soarin’ which as usual was a slow process. We walked right through the queue and onto a ramp leading to a theater. They were only loading one for the early morning so we had to wait for a full show before being sent to the preshow.
- As I walked around World Showcase I ended up finding all 12 eggs for the Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt. I had not done this one in a number of years so it was fun. Most of the eggs were fairly easy to see and were visible from the main walkway making it straightforward. Interestingly, the keepsakes were the same wooden eggs that Anaheim had this year.
- There was not much going on around the World Showcase. The entertainment does not start until later in the morning. Also noteworthy is most is done well before sunset too.
- For lunch I tried the Blue Ribbon Corn Dog stand on the Boardwalk. My last visit I had not made it over there. The corn dog was ok. The hot dog was a good size and tasted good, but the amount of cornbread/batter was very minimal, and you could not taste it really. I forgot there was an annual pass discount there, so that was a nice plus.
- In the afternoon we headed to the Magic Kingdom. We had great bus luck, and it was just over 20 minutes from our room to Main Street, USA.
- Once in the park our luck was not as good as it took about 15 minutes to board the PeopleMover.
- It was a little strange not seeing the Astro Orbitor circling above. It is currently removed for renovation.
- As we passed through Space Mountain, it was down, and the lights were on; this is always an interesting view to see. Both from the perspective of the track layout as well as how short the actual view of the attraction space is.
- In Frontierland caught a Hoe-down while waiting for the Country Bears. This character and cast member moment is fun and great to see it is still around.
- The Country Bear Musical Jamboree continues to bring in healthy crowds. The showing we went to was about 2/3 full.
- The Walt Disney World Railroad is so inefficient. I wanted to go for a ride from Frontierland to Fantasyland and we boarded fairly quickly but the train took a very long time in the station.
- Big Thunder is closed for renovation, they are installing the new track so if you are lucky you can see track flying through the air. I was not that lucky this afternoon.
- It is very frustrating to visit Frontierland knowing the change that is coming. I find it sad that they are taking out the Rivers of America and the sights associated with it in favor of a Cars attraction and Villains Land. I really think both lands would be better suited for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and that park is in desperate need of capacity still. Where as the Magic Kingdom has more attractions than the other parks and is already extremely crowded most days. This will only add to that disparity between the parks.
- The Hall of Presidents is still closed with no indication of when it will reopen. I thought this may be a quick transition since they do not have to make a new figure.
- Stopped by the Yacht Club to see the chocolate eggs that were on display. The lobby felt really dark and it was not easy to get good pictures of the eggs due to the lighting. I will have to try again earlier in the day when there is more sunlight. The eggs were great to see the creativity and skill of the cast members is always impressive.
- The Beach Club has a number of eggs out on display too and the lighting was much better there.
- Stormalong Bay is closed for a major renovation. The pool, decking and buildings are all being renovated during this extended closure. It appeared they still have quite a ways to go with new scaffolding still going up. Sand is onsite to the process of rebuilding the pools.
- Stopped by the Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie in France for a snack tonight. The queue was substantially smaller than any of the times I visited in December. Also they had bread (a couple times in December when I stopped by they were out of baguettes for the day.
- For Luminous The Symphony of Us I was only partially paying attention to the wind and misjudged it with my first location. I stopped by Canada to watch which turned out to be on the edge of the smoke’s path. So I had to move to the International Gateway bridge.
- The Boardwalk was alive with activity tonight with a lot of guests out as well as some entertainment.
Pedometer Information for the day:
| Steps |
25,205 |
| Miles |
11.54 |
| Walking Time |
238 |
| Total Time |
13:12 |
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Part 1 - Boardwalk Villas
A closer look at some of the artwork and details in our 1-Bedroom Boardwalk Villa.
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Part 2 - EPCOT
A morning visit to EPCOT to visit a few attractions, see some of the Flower & Garden Festival and look for some Eggstravaganza Eggs.
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Part 3 - Magic Kingdom
An afternoon visit to the Magic Kingdom including some PeopleMover, Train, and Liberty Belle views.
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Part 4 - Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Chocolate Egg Creations at the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts plus a look at the Stormalong Bay renovation project.
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Part 5 - EPCOT
Wrapped up my evening at EPCOT with some time World Celebration, World Showcase and viewing of Luminous the Symphony of Us.
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Addition Blog Picture Posts from today:
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