Disney World Pt. 7

So instead of acknowledging my shortcomings as a blogger, I'm just going to continue as if I never left and you'll forget I suck by the end because you'll be so mesmerized by my amateur photography.  OK?

The next morning we got to Magic Kingdom for opening, and since we had already done quite a big at this park before our "Magic Kingdom day" we decided to hit some attractions that may not be "must dos" for us, but they are ones that you must do when the park opens, otherwise the lines aren't worth it. (to us, at least)  We headed straight for Fantasyland, and took a flight with Peter Pan, a ride on It's a Small World, and a spin on the new Dumbo.

The thing with Dumbo is that it's a basic ride, that appears in myriad forms around the world, but because it is so iconically Disney there is always a longish line for it.  (read 15+ mins, too long for "I don't wait in lines" Amanda) It's because not that many people fit on the ride, and because it is not continuous, there is not a perpetually moving line of people onto the ride.  Recently, along with the Fantasyland expansion, there was a re-branding of the once hellish Mickey's Toontown in favor of a new "Storybook Circus" with a re-vamped Dumbo ride at the center.  Now there are TWO Dumbos, and the queue weaves into a circus tent where there is a great air conditioned playground.  The entire area is really cute, we even rode the old "Barnstormer" kiddie coaster, which is now branded as "The Great Goofini" in which Goofy is a circus stuntman and you ride along for his wild antics.

After Fantasyland we headed over to one of my favs - The Haunted Mansion, then continued to my other fav, Splash Mountain.  The park started to get pretty busy at this point, I knew we weren't going to last much longer - it was real hot, and the Brazillian tour groups were everywhere.  We got fastpasses for Splash Mountain, and decided to cool off with some Dole Whip Floats.  Luckily, it was busy enough that Tortuga Tavern was open so we took a little respite in the shade and AC while we waited to be able to fast pass something else

We stopped into my favorite Disney gift shop outside of Splash Mountain, and I got a great Splash Mountain mug - which of course is now my favorite.  In the store they have all these little cubbies where the animals live in the "Briar Patch".  I wish all rides had such strongly themed shops, and ride specific merchandise - or at least the classically Disney rides.

I can't remember what else we did, but I think it was hot and we headed out.  That evening we had dinner at Jiko in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  To be continued...

.