Jim & John's Junket

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8th, 2013

Our final Disney Day was spent in the "Happiest Place on Earth"....Walt Disney World's MAGIC KINGDOM. With Aaron & Paul's advice, we got an early start, and headed straight to the newly expanded Fantasy Land to get our Fast Passes for Ariel's Under the Sea Adventure. Next we headed for our only 60 minute wait, at Belle's Tale attraction. It was well worth the wait, and we passed the time in line by getting to know a family from Arizona. At last we were inside Belle's cottage, and invited to become part of Belle's story, and surprise her with OUR performance. John really wanted just go sit and enjoy the show....however, his Ball State Pride of Mid America Marching experience so impressed the host, that John was selected to be one of Belle's MARCHING GUARDS!! Belle was really surprised by our great storytelling and reenacting...and so she gave each of us one of her very favorite bookmarks (along with a personal photograph...available for purchase!)

This newly, enlarged area of Fantasy Land, is only partly complete...and the construction area created some longer, than usual detours....but EVERYTHING is so well themed and beautifully appointed that we didn't want to miss any part of Fantasy Land. The wait for the new Pooh ride was very cleverly enhanced with LOTS of hands-on activities for the kiddies (and adults...like Jim). The attraction was really cute. Next we rode the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups...because there was NO wait..however, we managed to CRAM ourselves into them, but probably won't try that again!

After eating at Cosmic Rays in Tomorrow Land, we headed to the Storybook Circus. Seeing long lines, and waiting for our Fast Pass time to ride the Under Sea Adventure with Ariel, we headed to the train for John's first time adventure. We encircled the park, and got back in time for the Ariel attraction. We climbed aboard large clam shells which transported us through this wonderful underwater adventure. (By the way all this new area is built in the former LAGOON and TOON TOWN areas.) We went through It's a Small World, on our way to the Haunted Mansion...both of which are still mandatory, must do experiences at WDW. (Making mandatory pit stops at EVERY available Restroom is also MANDATORY, and we are happy to report that they are ALL excellent!!)

Next we took a peaceful cruise on the Disney Belle paddle boat... then headed to the Country Bear Jamboree for a LOT of BELLY LAUGHS (also a MUST see). While we were waiting outside the Jamboree Theater, we enjoyed three gentlemen playing bluegrass music and singing. They played guitar, banjo and SOUSAPHONE!! Excellent performers!!

We were ready for some adventure now, so we were able to walk on "Pirates of the Caribbean" (we had to visit this, since it went so well with our resort, and our PIRATE THEMED hotel suite). We also risked our life and limb to hop aboard a steamer on the Jungle Cruise....very entertaining host...FILLED with great PUNS!! We had made arrangements to meet Aaron Fisher for dinner at the Columbia Harbor Inn at 6:30 PM, then enjoy a few more rides, as well as the evening's 8:00 Fireworks.

After dinner, we headed to Main Street to find a place to stand (it was extremely crowded today!!)....and while Jim & Aaron saved a place, John checked out Main St. for souvenirs. About 7:45 PM the castle seemed to come alive, as the most amazing projections changed the castle into a giant movie screen. The themed special effects changed the structure from "Cinderella's Castle" to a Scottish Castle for Merida from Brave, to a giant forest, to Wreck-It Ralph's game and to ashes, as it seemingly burned to the ground. We had never witnessed anything like it...and it was the perfect opening to a wonderful Fireworks Show with the "Wish Upon a Star" theme. Disney certainly knows how to ENTERTAIN!!

Using the iPhone to check on wait times at some rides we hadn't gotten to ride earlier, we learned that we could "walk on" Dumbo (there are now two (2), Goofini's Barnstormin' Coaster (both in Story Book Circus) and finally Thunder Mountain Railroad coaster in Adventure Land. As we "ran" over to Thunder Mt., we luckily stopped by Mickey's Philharmagic for a delightful romp through some of Disney's most famous songs and characters...in 3-D (Don't miss this one either!!)

Finally, it was time to say good night to Walt's Magic Kingdom...and of course we had to take our one and only Monorail ride over to the parking area, so that we could catch a fast ride back to the Caribbean Beach Resort with Aaron. It was an amazing four, fabulous days at Walt Disney World. A special thanks to our hosts....Paul & Aaron Fisher....their parents, Virginia & Gene Fisher...and of course, Megan, the cute, very timid, well-behaved beagle!