Another full transparency moment. I wanted to experience Magic Kingdom and the 50th, but honestly after such an epic day in Epcot, and hearing about what had transpired at MK the day before, the excitement was at a bare minimum. Basically, I was looking forward to trying to get some of the merchandise that I was unable to get the day before (here is looking at you ornament that I am still without…spoiler) and to take our usual staring wistfully at the castle pictures, but the 50th Celebration edition.
Waiting for the car at the B. They were working with a skeleton crew so it was one person getting the luggage, bringing said luggage to the rooms AND parking the cars. They did everything with what I assume was a huge smile (masks and all) and may I just say that how hard they worked. They alone and the amazing customer service of the front desk with the room debacle made the stay a100% worth it.
We woke up nice and early, got everyone ready and headed out the door. Although Magic Kingdoms transportation and ticket center parking lot was not terribly busy, the monorail was down and we had to take the ferry. You know who was thrilled? Our transportation (especially boat and train) loving Commodore, you know who was not thrilled?! This girl (spoiler alert, I hate the ferry)! I have no patience for the ferry or waiting for said ferry or anything of the ferry sort. Plus we were herded on the ferry like cattle and soooooo close to one another, the only bright spot being that we all got on the ferry and didn’t have to wait for a second one which if you had told me was going to happen, I would have bet the ranch that we would have had to wait for another ferry. Kudos to the Cast Members getting us on the ferry who had a much better eye for this than I.
Strangely, getting off the ferry was not a big ordeal and we got into the park fairly easily. I am going to guess everyone else had veered into other parks that day since it was not that busy and I only stood in the line for the Emporium for about five minutes. I am not a big Starbucks drinker (I know I know it is a cardinal sin in Disney, but I do love their Disney mugs if that gives me any grace), but they happened to be putting out the 50th cups (the sparkly ones that caused a stampeded the day before) and I experienced FOMO as I normally do and since I was unable to get the ornament yesterday, I ended up buying the cup as well as two kids 50th backpacks (they were my favorite), a photo album and something else I cannot remember, but I am sure was magical lol. In hindsight I should have gotten two of the cups, but they were putting so many out I didn’t think much of it and from what my best friend told me who was only like twenty minutes behind us in the park they were already sold out by the time they had gotten there (there were literally 100’s), it was a weird thing.
Honestly, I am looking forward to going back when the hype is down a little to enjoy the characters more (word on the street is that Character Meet and Greets are going to be coming back in some type of form in November) as well as the calvacades (the adults without kids were ten times worse about this than anyone else). Even when I didn’t have kids, I was always the person to guide a kid in front of me so that they could see, but still be seen by their parent, but apparently not everyone thinks this way. We did get to enjoy some character engagement, although once popcorn was in EV’s hot little hands, you can see where the priorities were.
It was so fun watching her interact with the Princesses knowing who they were for the first time. My girl for the first four years of her life was an Ahsoka and Elena of Avalor kind of girl (she still is) so knowing who these beauties were was kind of a big deal for her in this moment.
What you do not see is how I removed the lovely Cast Member who stood pretty much right in front of EV rather than to the side of her as well as the adult women who was positively losing her mind and could have cared less how little EV was (although her excitement was really a sight to behold…I kind of wish now I kept her in the picture lol). Gotta love the magic of photoshop! Lightroom and Adobe are 100% worth whatever their yearly charge is with how many pictures I take at a given time.
It was so sunny and hot which is why the pictures were so filmy. There is however no excuse for that really excessive forehead vein.
Popcorn. Is. LIfe. Pooh. And. His. Friends. Are. Not. Commodore’s face says it all.
I highly suggest that if there are REALLY long lines for the Photopass photographers in front of the castle and there are more than one of you, that one person should wait and the other should take the kids to either run to the castle to get photos of the kiddos or at any one of the amazing 50th statues that are circling the area. Dividing and conquering is what Sean and I do best and it keeps the kids from breaking down and using EV’s go to phrase of “just one more picture Mama and that’s it!” I had bought the Celebration Mickey ears with the Mamala the Sunday before and brought them as props for pictures of the kids in front of the castle. The great thing about them staring off at the castle is that I do not have to worry about them both looking at the camera, smiling, or staring off at something or someone in the distance.
It comes out magical every darn time! I cannot tell you how many pictures are in my house are of the back of them at Disney with EV’s little arm draped around her brother. They are my absolute favorite. I suggest wearing something comfortable or bringing a t-shirt or sweater with you to lay on as I am literally on my tummy or crouched down really low to take this photo.
Perfect. Picture. Every. Time.
EV was holding Commodore’s hand across the “street” so that he wouldn’t trip on the street car rails and I am absolutely swooning.
She just hates him getting hurt or putting himself in harm’s way more than anything.
By the time we are done, Sean is almost at the front of the line waving us down, we do a family picture and then its off to race up to the castle to ‘Penelope’ which has become one of EV’s favorite things and my favorite thing to watch.
Pro tip for pictures: If your kids endlessly never look at the camera…invest in fun children’s sunnies…they will look adorable and if they are not looking at the camera, it sure as heck will look like they are.
Notice the shadows of people, but not the people…thanks photoshop lol.
After this we did lunch at Tony’s TownSquare which was wonderful as we were in the atrium (half outside half in) and had a direct view of all the characters on the train station platform. This was perfect for when the Celebration attire Mickey and Minnie made their debut and I was able to scoop both kids up and rush them to say hello (pictures above). I wish we were were able to meet up with the Princesses, but it seems like every time we got there, they were just leaving and Winnie the Pooh and friends were entering. My kids literally have not a clue about Winne or his Hundred Acre Friends and I am not the least bit sorry about it.
We were able to do a lot of fan favorites such as; Haunted Mansion (Vampirina’s house), Ariel, The People Mover (it will forever be the Wedway), but the most fun part of the day was taking the kids on the rides they had never been on before. EV and the Commodore got to enjoy Buzz Lightyear as well as the Speedway. My favorite part of the Speedway was seeing Sean’s car driven by a ghost :). There is something about taking kiddos on rides that they can immerse themselves in that makes the moment that much better. EV’s face while driving a car for the first time will forever be a favorite of mine.
Ev took this about as serious as mama!
Obviously with EV’s height I had to push the peddle (which if you are petite, what the heck is up with this….I was crouched so far down to reach it), but the kids were over the moon (or moreso EV I should say) to drive the car themselves and EV was in a fit of hysterics the entire time.
Any guesses who is driving the car?!
The Purple Wall had my favorite of the 50th golden statues, hence me being solo without anyone else. I mean was there a better backdrop for my dress?! I’ll just wait!
Sean was the real MVP when it came to the Carousel as I had told him all about EV’s favorite horse Penelope and we spent a good couple of minutes explaining to EV how we might just have to name a new horse ‘just in case’, but Sean spent a good majority of the time making note of which one was Penelope and what the other horses around her looked like (have we become THAT family…oh and in case you were wondering she is number 64 thanks to Sean who also looked for that). The perfect day was about to get more perfect-er for EV as it turned out where we were standing was not where the second gate opens, but Penelope happened to be one row away. We were able to get not only EV on her prized Penelope, but the Commodore on his and I was able to snag one as well. Their faces alone and how they feel about the carousel is nothing short of magical.
Every change of facial expression is EV taking in every second to converse with Penelope
He has never freaked out on a ride once even when it is something he has never experienced before and I am sure it is in preparation for the wild streak he is going to have as he gets older.
We met up with Uncle Mikey and Tio who thought I was kidding when I told them that the people who had blankets and were sitting all over the front of main street were readying themselves for the fireworks that were not starting for another five hours (they thought it was for a processional). Once they realized the gravity of the future fireworks situation and realizing that we still had multiple trips planned till the end of the year and would be watching the fireworks over and over, they couldn’t have been in agreement that fireworks were looking mighty good at Epcot. We stopped for one more family photopass, which I was super excited for since he had a prop for the 50th. Uncle Mikey was over the moon that it resembled a shield and promptly grabbed for it as quickly as he could (make note of his pure happiness in the photo) and honestly I couldn’t figure out why more photopass people did not have this and as mentioned, the magicshot commemoratives were really lacking. Seriously though, what is with that rainbowish shot of the ones above? There is so much more they could have done considering all the creative ones that exist and with the kids why did no one do one of the 50th balloons and us that I have seen all over the Instagram (these should have been automatic and not have to be asked for #firstworldproblems). Okay I am done…its becoming the ornament saga all over again.
Poor EV always being told to stare into the sun and say “cheese”.
Want to take a guess the first thing I did when I got to Epcot?! If you guessed get another bowl of that Pho….then you would be correct! I then proceeded to talk the rest of our party into it who all felt the same way and it was just as good as the first time. No. Regrets.
Well technically we stopped for more pictures first…and then there was Pho…and then merchandise perusing, and then ‘fish’ and then of course Spaceship Earth which the Uncles took the kids with them on theirs and it felt so weird riding on a ride with just Sean. Anyone else go on dates to Disney just you and your partner without the kids and feel weird riding things solo?! Just us?! Granted we were not on a date or anything, but it still felt strange.
I do not care what anyone else says. I really enjoyed Harmonious. The one thing is that if you only care about the fireworks than that is fine, but if you want to experience the show, you really have to be by the water to enjoy it and not just walking around the park as you could do in the past with the previous fireworks show. I know it has not been everyone’s cup of tea and there have been a lot of naysayers, but I loved the song selection and how they turned Disney images more into folklore versions and I really loved the incorporation of the different elements of both water and fire(works).
For those that have seen it, what are your thoughts?! Do you prefer shows that allow you to walk around, get more drinks and food and still experience the show or would you rather get a drink and food, cop a squat and experience it one place…namely by the water since it kinda forces you too?!
