Trip Log:
Started off the day taking a look around the AKL. Most of the animals were far away sice it was already getting warm and they like to hang out in the back. Our first destination of the day was the Studios. Walked by Indy, just missed the show, and headed back to catch the Muppets. After the Muppets headed around the backlot and checked out the couple shops back there. Then over to Millionaire. They seemed short CMs, the line formed incorrectly and headed out into Mickey Ave. Finally, about 10 minutes to show time a CM showed up. After the show headed back toward the backlot to grab a quick lunch at the Backlot Express. Headed around the backlot and over to Little Mermaid. The new seats were great. The show seemed pretty much the same. The water effect seemed better, less water gets dumped on you, more of a mist now. Headed over to EPCOT after the show. Took the slowest boats in the world, that we have ridden, all the way, which took 45 minutes. At EPCOT strolled around the UK and Canada. Watched the circle vision film and then went to dinner at Le Cellier. Dinner was great as usual there. Walked through EPCOT and out to the Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Caught the train out to the Toontown and walked back to near the castle to watch Spectro Magic. The crowd was large at the park and it seemed everyone wanted to see the parade. After the parade walked down Main Street and caught the Fireworks and then back to the Lodge to call it a night.

Thoughts & Observations:

• We got off to a nice relaxing morning exploring the AKL some more and watching the animals.
• We headed out to the Studios, a mild crowd at the park.
• We went to Millionaire for its first show of the day, did not think of FastPass, so we waited in Standby. I found it extremely poor that a CM did not come out until about 10 minutes to show time to deal with the line. By this time it was slightly out of control and down Mickey Ave, instead of in its chains. Also it was a warm morning and the fans were not on, so guess we should be happy we were not all packed in the chains. The thing I did not understand is at least a half dozen CMs came by, saw the problem, looked around, then left.
• Grabbed lunch at the Backlot Express, which was a major mistake. It was around 12:30 and the lines stretched to the door. Not really a problem at most Disney dining establishments, but this one seemed to have some serious issues dealing with the crowd. It took us over 45 min to get up to the front and get our food.
• All traces of the 100 years are slowly being removed. The signs on the street posts are gone, the hat icon is in the change over phase, and the sign out front changed to Tower of Terror during our trip.
• We had dinner reservations at Le Cellier so we took the boat, the entire way to EPCOT, I swear we were moving backwards a couple times. I aged at least a couple weeks on the trip. It was the slowest 45 minutes. They should add some background music, or even better yet TV screens to entertain you or something. Usually we only go a stop or two so its not bad, but visiting all 4 stops is extremely long.
• Dinner at Le Cellier was perfect as usual. The crowd seemed light when we arrived, but by the time we left it was full.
• The Magic Kingdom was open late only one night and Spectro Magic was tonight. So we trecked over to the MK via monorail.
• The place was packed. Nice to see, but no fun to be in. We lined up for Spectro in front of the castly on the walkway that leads to the Tea cups about 30 min before the parade. We were probably 10 feet behind the people on the curb leaning on a railing. The crowd grew as to be expected. By the time the parade started it was solid people for at least another 20 or so feet behind us even. The crowd started to get a little out of control with people in the flower beds and cutting through the lawns. I do not understand some people. And when they tried to jump the railing and go through us they looked at us as if we were in the wrong standing on the sidewalk waiting for the parade because we were in their way.. extrmeley rude in my book... anyways the point of this long bullet is there were no crowd control CMs to be seen for over 30 min. Finally one young male CM with a flashlight showed up to clear out the planter. He took quite a lot of abuse from several people, but eventually they moved and he moved on. As soon as he was clear they were back for the duration on the parade. Wonder why staffing for such a large crowd was so small. That is very "un-Disney" and a rare sight.
• After the parade we decided to get a jump on the crowd and watch the fireworks from Town Square and bail early. So we did and headed out to the Bus stops. There were no busses to be seen and a large crowd following us. A couple busses trickled in and filled up. We waited probably 15 minutes for a good number of busses to show and finally ours did. Usually at park closing its busses as far as the eye can see just waiting for people. I thought this was strange too, its almost as if they missed the memo about closing time.

Pedometer Information for the day:

Enough with the text.. onto the pictures

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