Day 5: EPCOT and Magic Kingdom
Last day in the parks, always a sad thing. It also was cool and rainy. We started at EPCOT and were one of the first through the gate. Walking over to The Land I got lucky with a monorail passing
Soarin’ was not busy and almost an hour after the park opened there was still only a 30 minute wait. Quite different from the other morning we were there. Likely the weather was keeping some people away. We headed to the singles line at Test Track before it really started to rain and they closed it. Just as we were finished the heavens opened and it started pouring. People were huddled under the overhang and sharing umbrellas while we waited to get into Ellen’s Energy Adventure. It had almost stopped by the time the energy nightmare was over
We had the Friendship boat across the lagoon all to ourselves and had a nice chat with the captain. The dull weather didn’t detract from the impressive architecture of the American Adventure, which was our next stop.
After a tasty but cold lunch in Morocco (the wind was whistling through the cafe seating area inside too) we were done at EPCOT and hurried through the rain again for the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. There was some re-routing going on and the express train to the park stopped at the Contemporary. It’s been a while since I’ve gone through there and it was nice to view again. Resort hopping is always on my list of things to do, but there never seems to be enough time. I need more vacation time and unlimited funds (along with everyone else, I'm sure
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While passing by I figured out that the monorail must be where all those really nice photos of the flowers and train station are taken from, and managed to capture one of my own. It just needs a blue sky.
We’d never gone through the standby queue for Enchanted Tales with Belle but the line was short (10 mins), and I had no idea there was a water wheel!
The photo of Belle and her mother in Maurice’s cottage is a nice touch too. Wow, just noticed that tea pot looks a little like Mrs. Potts.
We caught the castle show as well. Cute story, although Prince Charming’s tunic could use a refit and those Prince’s wigs, well let’s just say, the Princesses have much better hair.
Haha, so I just realized I posted almost this exact same photo in last years report, so here’s a bonus one from the pirate segment.
On my "to do" list last trip was to check out Gaston’s Tavern and sample a cinnamon roll. It didn't happen, so it was moved to the "must do" list this trip. I wasn’t expecting them to be quite so huge. It was delicious! In the day with the sun shining in, it is probably nice and bright in the seating area, but at night it really could use a few extra lamps. It would be helpful for picture taking.
It seems Gaston really does use antlers in all of his decorating
We watched the fireworks from beside the carousel in Fantasyland. The highlight of the show was this cast member. Holding his broom he conducted the entire event; turning back and forth between Cinderella castle and the Beast’s castle precisely on cue. It was really cool to watch. I get the feeling he's seen the show a few times
I did manage to take a few photos of the fireworks in between watching him.
After one final ride on Space Mountain I headed back to Main St. and stopped on the bridge from Tomorrowland to watch the castle projection show. This time the only person nearby was a PhotoPass photographer and a few people who came to get a picture. It was quiet and peaceful, and a nice almost end to the evening. These are the floating lanterns.
And one final castle picture, from an angle I don’t recall ever taking before this trip.
Thanks for reading my trip report. It was a fun vacation and I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you
Thank you. My pleasure.