It started with Zoe and I doing the four park challenge. We started our morning at DAK, which of course we loved. We didn't get there right at park opening, which meant we didn't have time for any rides before we saw Festival of the Lion King. As usual, the show was amazing! We were hungry (and tired) by the time the show was over so we found a stand that sold breakfast food and has the most amazing iced coffee. Zoe doesn't like coffee and she even loves it. It's just the best!
This was a while ago so I don't remember the exact order of what happened, but I believe we met Tarzan next. It was both awkward and amazing all in one. We realized Terk was right around the corner from Tarzan so we got in that line next and got some adorable pictures. While in line for Terk we realized we should've done the hand thing he does with Jane when he meets her, so we go back in line to meet him since his line wasn't long. He remembered us and said "You miss Tarzan?" His english was very broken, which surprised me because I expected him to not talk at all.
Next on our list was Hollywood Studios! I haven't been there since they closed the Animation Studio so I was curious as to how the park would be. The first thing we did was go to Rockin' Roller Coaster because I have never done it. Thankfully there was a single riders line so we got in that for a shorter wait. Zoe and I have amazing luck together because we ended up being able to ride the ride together. It was also the rides 16th birthday, which I think is pretty cool to say the first time I rode Rockin' Roller Coaster was on its 16th birthday.
We also watched the Frozen parade. Idina Menzel, who is the voice of Queen Elsa, was in Hollywood, so we were hoping she might be a special guest in the parade but she wasn't, unfortunately.
Epcot was next. We rode a few small rides, like Spaceship Earth, but other than that we met Pluto (and got some adorable pictures) and Belle in France. Our trip to Epcot was short because we wanted to be back in MK in time for the final Move It, Shake It parade.
We made it to MK in time for the parade and we were exhausted by this point. It was a lot of people's last day of their program, including our friend Kienuwa, so we were going to spend time with him in the park but first we wanted dinner and a nap.
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| Our view for dinner |
What we really wanted was dinner at Be Our Guest, but we knew that was a long shot. We did keep asking the check in for the restaurant just in case anyone cancelled. We are glad it didn't work out for us, though, because we ended up having the most magical night.
After getting dinner at a quick food place we decided to find a goodbye gift for Kienuwa. His favorite princess is Tiana so we were going to find a picture of her and have her sign it. We couldn't find one anywhere so we decided to get a picture of Wishes with the castle, Walt and Mickey on it. We were thinking we would get Tiana, Mickey and a few other major characters to sign it.
We found a characicatur artist who was good at Disney font so she could write "We'll Miss You" on the top. We were sent to this particular artist by anther cast member and when we told her what we were doing she was able to help us out more than ever. She happens to be friends with a lot of characters so with her help we were able to get most of the frame filled.
We went to Princess Fairytale Hall and, again explained what we were doing. We asked the worker of we could quickly go in and get it signed or if she could even run it in. The cat member was so nice that she gave us fast passes for both princess halls! That gave us Ana, Elsa, Rapunzel and Cinderella's signatures.
We ran to Tiana's meet and greet next and she was already gone. We had told the worker earlier what we were doing so we knocked on the window, hoping to get her attention. When she opened the door she recognized us and said "you're the one with the picture, right?" She took the picture from us and got Tiana and Prince Naveen to sign it.
Next we ran to Ariel. We explained what we were doing to the worker and she also gave us a fast pass for Ariel. By this point in the night everyone was texting us that Kienuwa was freaking out that we weren't with him yet because it was almost time for Wishes and we wanted to be back in time for that.
Our last hope was Belle. We went to Be Our Guest next to ask if Belle and the Beast were there. Unfortunately they weren't but they suggested we try Enchanted Story Time with Belle. The workers there took the picture backstage to see, but said they weren't sure if they could. Remember how I said Zoe and I have great luck together? When the worker came back she said Belle and the Beast were there to sign it!
We ran towards the castle to find our friends. We literally ran to every character meet and greet and to the castle for Wishes so we definitely got a workout in. We could tell Kienuwa was mad at us for ditching him all evening, but we knew he would forgive us.
After Wishes we gave him his gift and he cried. I asked if he forgave us for not spending time with him that day and said obviously. Zoe and I are just amazing at giving gifts!
As if the four park challenge wasn't enough, Zoe and I decided to open every park before her program ended. It started by her having to meet a family friend at DAK at park opening to get them into the park and she asked if I wanted to go and ride a few rides before work. I will never say no to DAK. We got there right at park opening and went start for Expedition Everest. It was so early that we walked right into the ride. We also rode a dinosaur ride and the line was so short we got to ride it two time in a row. As usual, we saw FOLK and got coffee after.
The next park opening was on a Sunday after working until 4 a.m. We opened Hollywood on no sleep. Zoe and I stayed at Amanda's and figured it would be impossible to wake up after 2 hours of sleep so we decided an all-nighter was the only way to go. The weather forecast originally said rain for the day so I wore rain boots and looked like a child, but at least I could jump in the rain puddles from the night before.
I rode Toy Story Mania for the first time, finally! I didn't realize it was an interactive ride so it wasn't what I expected, but it was still fun.
The next park we opened was Epcot. The main ride we wanted to do was Test Track but it was raining so we couldn't. We met Mickey, Goofy and Minnie, rode a few rides and got breakfast. As we were about to leave we saw some custodians that looked like they were about to do a performance. We were intrigued because MK custodians do nothing like what they were about to do. They drummed on trash cans and it was so cool! They even have a clever name: The Jamitors.
Opening MK was the hardest park get up for. The opening for MK is an hour earlier than all other parks and we wanted to make sure we were there for the opening show. Apparently the train was broken so the show wasn't how it normally is, but I still thought it was adorable!
Once we got in the park we went right for Space Mountain. We also met Ana and Elsa because I was wearing my Olaf sweatshirt. We then made our way to Main Street and were able to meet the Dapper Dans before watching the Trolley Show. The morning entertainment is adorable in MK.
We met Anastasia, Drizella, Lady Tremaine, Gaston and the Fairy Godmother. I had to work at noon that day so it was a very eventful and magical morning before work.
We decided to open DAK one last time since it was technically a different week when we first decided to open parks. Before we even entered the park we got to meet Rafiki, which was on or to-do list for the day. As usual we saw FOLK and got coffee. We also rode Kali River Rapids, which I've never rode!
We went to Epcot next because Zoe and I had fast passes for Test Track since we couldn't ride it the other morning.
We realized we would get to MK in time to watch Festival of Fantasy, which I haven't seen in a long time as a guest. While watching it we noticed Peter and Wendy looking in our direction. We waved and they waved back and then Peter put his hands on his head like ears because Zoe and I had our Minnie Mouse ears on.
That was Zoe's last day in Orlando because her program ended. We were supposed to go to the airport together (I was going home for the weekend) but sleeping beauty got ahold of Zoe and she barely made her flight, meanwhile I had plenty of time. I think that's the best way to end your program. Zoe kept saying how tired she was, but at least she wouldn't regret not doing enough at the end of her program. I completely agree! I hope to have the same end to my program.
