OK – on to the Transit Authority for a ride around Tomorrowland. We always love this and Maddy is excited about Space Mountain so a trip through there is welcomed by her. I think I’ve answered the ‘Is it time for SM yet’ question at least 50 times by then! They did a survey as we excited this ride and asked several questions about it. How you rate the ride, CM’s, etc. Saw them at Carousel of Progress as well. They make me nervous at the less busy rides. Always figure Disney is looking for a way to blame the people if they decide to close something down.
 

NOW its time for Space Mountain. Maddy is bouncing and Brinn is nervous. JUST because Brinn went twice last year and even enjoyed the ride, the worries are back in force THIS year. ;-) She is fretting. Big drops... I KNOW they have increased since last year. Yeah, that’s it. Its WORSE this year, and I might not ride. Oh boy, fun times! So we get to the FastPass return area and its all backed up. A few minutes to find out that the ride is down and they aren’t letting anyone get in line right now. VERY disappointed Maddy and VERY relived Brinn. ;-)
 

We’ll be back – don’t worry Maddy (sorry Brinn!) and off to see if we can grab a FastPass for the new Monster’s Laugh Floor show. No fastpasses to be had but the wait was around 20 minutes. Its air conditioned and I spent the ENTIRE time texting two jokes from the girls into the show. They will use a few that are sent in but you have to be quick. I send very FEW text messages so I’m slow. And I was still sending them as I entered the theatre to sit down! (They don’t give you the number until about 5 or 6 minutes before you move into the theatre)

This is a cute show and pretty well done. We enjoyed it and the live interaction with the audience. None of us ended up on the big screen (whew!) but they DID use Brinn’s joke! She was the last one of three and got a pretty decent laugh from the crowd. They had these jokes picked out around January, so at least they knew what they wanted to send in when we got there. :-)

After we exited this ride we were getting hungry, but figured we would check Space Mountain once more. Stitch was never even mentioned, and *I* wasn’t bringing it up. That is a ride I can easily do without. But it’s easy to choose SM over food since doing it on a FULL stomach may not be the best choice! ;-)

So off we go and YEA its open again. Happy Maddy!!! Nervous Brinn. Times like this FastPass feels like the ultimate budge! The standby line was WAY out into the park but we buzzed right through the entire Fast Pass line. Every step moved Brinn from riding to NOT riding... She was arguing with herself, and I almost think she wanted me to tell her she had to ride. But she is OK waiting for us at the chicken exit now so the decision is all hers. We used all the usual logic – “You rode it last year TWICE”. If the drops bothered you then, you would NOT have gone a second time. But no avail. She caved and was more than happy to take that chicken exit (as long as I told the CM) ;-)

So Maddy, Kristen and I took one rocket and had a good time. This ride does not really thrill me either. The drops aren’t bad at all, but the jerky motion had me grunting and groaning around every corner. I think its worse in the back of the back rocket!

So off we go and there is Brinn on the bench. MUCH better now and she can skip any ride she like from here on out. Makes everyone happy and I think she is a bit surprised by NOT getting pushed to ride some things. The funny thing is she almost always loves them after doing them – but oh well!

Time for lunch and we ended up at Pinocchio Haus. Got a table with view of Small World and enjoyed a nice lunch. The kids choices on the counter service meal plans are really boring and I can understand people complaining. Mac and Cheese or PB and J. Not even a small pizza in a pizza place. :-( But the girls made due and after we left it was crowded – way hot and time to head back. We decided to jump on Small World first and then head back to the resort for a rest and a swim.

Small world was good, but pretty busy. And the boats were backed up over two rooms in the ride at the end. Took for EVER to get off and both the song and my cramped feet (there is NO leg room on these new boats) were grating on my nerves. We exited the park after this and quickly caught a boat to the Wilderness Lodge. I stayed in and worked on trip report while Maddy took a forced nap. (WAY cranky and even worse when told she missed a swimming trip). Kristen and Brinn hit the pools. I relaxed with my feet up and a cool drink.

Then it was time to get up and ready for the evening. Back to the MK with a much more friendly and happy Madison and off to the Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner. The wait was long, but after we were eventually seated the food and characters were excellent. Gooffy and the Chip Munks were in rare form tonight. Lots of picking on guests and each other, and Goofy was enjoying surprising people as well. He got Kristen good from behind and she screamed right out loud! LOL It was great – at least for me and the girls! :-)

After dinner we headed to Big Thunder. We had grabbed a Fast Pass before leaving the park, and used that now. Good thing – there was over an hour wait. The crowds still seem to be at earlier summer levels, but its also Extra Magic Night so I think more people are here than normal. And since the Pirate and Princess party takes over several nights, the later nights at the MK are busier as well. People don’t want to waste a day ticket if the park ‘closes’ at 7pm for a party they have to pay extra for.
 

Anyway, we zip on through the Fast Pass line and have a great ride. So good in fact we grab another fast pass on the way out. We’ll use this tonight! Then it was off to pirates with only about a 10 minute wait. And oh so cool... Love this queue! :-) Brinn at least remembers that this ride has a TINY drop and does not freak out this year. We all enjoy it and then head back to get a spot for the early SpectroMagic.

I had a spot on the end to set up my tripod, but MAN did I have a tough time keeping it. This last minute arrival family wanted to shove themselves and their kids into our space and had a fit I would not move for them. Yea – well – if you want a spot, get here early enough to get it. And there were plenty of spaces, they just wanted ours! They finally left when I would NOT move. Geez.

Loved Spectro as always and the camera came through in the low light of the parade. Got some nice shots and rude guests non-withstanding kept my camera from getting knocked over by strategic foot placement and holding it down tightly. Still, I was bumped continuously by these two ladies that crammed in behind us and I swear were doing it on purpose because I stayed there. Oh well. All you can do is stand up for yourself and just say no. ;-)

Then it was off to watch Wishes. These EMH nights are crazy busy. The area in front of the castle was packed. BIG TIME packed. So, we found a spot where we could and enjoyed the show. Very good as always, and again a few decent shots of the fireworks.

After Wishes we grabbed some EMH wristbands and then went off to use that Big Thunder fastpass. Worked like a charm at got us past the hour long line with almost zero wait. This ride is awesome in the dark and the girls loved it! Wanted to go again of course, but no way were we waiting in that line. This is what we don’t care for during nighttime EMH – the parks are crazy busy and no fastpasses after regular closing time.

So, back over to Fantasyland where Kristen is wanting a Mrs. Potts sundae VERY badly. These are considered snack items on the plan, so we wanted to go there before leaving. We hit Philharmagic on the way and enjoy a great show. LOVE this 3D movie – it is so well done.
 

After that we do the dessert thing and talk about the next day. SeaWorld is planned, but we COULD move this to the next week, and enjoy a sleep in pool day. THAT won over the girls. Back to the room waiting for a THIRD large boat for the VERY long Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness line. At least they had the boats there and ready to move out all the people!

So tomorrow is a wing it day now. Staring out with sleep and then pool time. We’ll see what the afternoon and evening brings!

Good night!