I was wrong about my park prediction last night. I said that I would probably go to Disney Springs or Hollywood Studios today.
Instead, I ended up at Magic Kingdom.
I began the morning with a trolley car ride from the front of the park to Cinderella’s castle.
From the castle, I went straight to Peter Pan’s Flight since it is usually a very long wait. The park had just opened and the wait was already at 35 minutes. Contrast that with the 5 minutes at most of the other attractions at the time. The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were walk-ons. But it was worth the wait for Peter Pan. He brings out the kid in all of us.
Since the Haunted Mansion was right around the corner from Peter Pan’s Flight, I went there next.
When I got out of the Haunted Mansion, I made a bee line for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to see how the newly themed ride compared to its predecessor. I like the other ride much more.
The ride warns that you will get wet. And boy, do you get wet. But I missed the theming from the Song of the South from the former ride.
After the plunge, I went to Pirates of the Caribbean. When I got off of Pirates, I was going to go to Disney Springs and to Morimoto’s for lunch. However, as I neared the front of the park, Casey’s beckoned to me. It is a quick service food place and was nearly empty of lines. So I went in and ordered the lunch of mini corn dogs that comes with french fries. I got a glass of water to go with the meal and the cost was only $10.99. Can’t beat that. Morimoto’s would have been better in terms of “quality” but would have cost closer to $60. The mini corn dogs and fries were ample, hot, and tasty.
Tomorrow is my final full day here. I have lunch reservations in Japan in EPCOT and then tomorrow evening I have a final fireworks cruise booked.
I love coming to Disney after New Year’s but twelve days here was enough to refresh me and let me look forward to returning home and to the work that awaits me. I have a couple of funerals to attend to when I return as well as some other parish things. I’ll plow on until my next vacation post-Easter. That will be my annual spring cruise.
After the cruise, I will return for two months and then pull the plug on my time at my parish and as an active priest. Retirement will begin July 1st. I’ve got a few celebratory cruises planned post-retirement so this year will be full of stories, that’s for sure.
For now, though, it’s time to call an end to today.
g’night