If there was a theme to today’s visit to Walt Disney World, it would have been The Waiting Game. To start our trip out with this theme, we had to wait an especially long time on Sunday, October 2nd to get our room assigned to us.  Just before 4:00 PM we had been told that someone was in our room cleaning it and it would be done momentarily.  When 4:45 came and we still hadn’t been told the room was ready I inquired, again, at the front desk.  We were told we were being placed at the top of the list.  I asked to speak to a manager and suddenly our room was ready.  They also gave us three fast passes for our trouble.  The manager did tell me that the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower were both at capacity.  This may have explained all of the delays we experienced this date.

For breakfast we ate at the Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary.  I had the bounty platter which was scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, fruit, and a piece of french toast.

As we entered the Magic Kingdom they had both sides open for security to check bags.  And every line was very long.  To say the crowd was packed would have been an understatement.  It took us some time to get through bag check and security and upon entering the park we went to Space Mountain where I customized a new magic band.  I did a purple magic band with my name on it and with Peter Pan.  While we waited for the magic band to be made we went on the Carousel of Progress which was packed.  I don’t think I’ve ever been on the Carousel when it was a full house before.  

After walking around for a while we went to see the Country Bear Jamboree and I don’t think there was an empty space in the place.  It was kind of fun watching this show with a crowd as the audience was lively with clapping, etc.  We then used one of our gift fast passes to go on the Haunted Mansion.  Of note, there is some work being done on the fast pass line to the Haunted Mansion.  So the lines merge at one point and you go through the que where they have the tombstones, etc.  

We took a stroll around Storybook Circus and were looking at the all of the yummy treats in Big Top Souvenires.  They all look amazing but I can’t see putting candy on an apple.  Something about that seems wrong to me. We then hopped on the steam train in Fantasyland and rode the railroad to the front of the park.  

Lunch was our next stop.  We used a quick counter service at Columbia Harbour House.  I had the checken nugget & fish meal.  The fries were somewhat bland but overall it was a good meal.  I had the seasonal cobbler for dessert and it was blueberry which is my favorite.

Next up for us was the Festival of Fantasy Parade.  We had planned to use our gift fast pass to sit in the reserved area but was told by a cast member that they aren’t doing fast pass at the moment for the parade now that you can get a dinner package at Tony’s that includes the parades.  We got a good spot anyway and watched the parade which is, in my opinion, truly amazing.  

Since we had the fast pass we planned to use for the parade we used it to go on Pirates of the Caribbean.  We were in the back row and the boat stopped at some key areas (dog sitting outside the prison and the end scene with Captain Jack) so I got some really nice photos. 

Something I don’t do very often is the Riverboat so we took the Libery Square Riverboat. I have to admit I had a really nice time and got some great photos.

Much to my chagrin, since we had some time before our next fast pass time, I suggested we go into the Enchanted Tiki Room.  It’s been a while since I watched this show and to be honest I can go a while before seeing it again.  It truly isn’t one of my favorite attractions. But then it was time for our fast pass to the Jungle Cruise.  We had a really funny skipper which was engaging and kept us entertained.

We then took a break and went back to the hotel for a bit.  It was enough time for me to pick up the iPhone case I ordered at D-Tech in Disney Springs the night before which I had shipped to the resort.

We made it back to the Magic Kingdom in time for our 8:00 PM dinner reservation at the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen.  I was somewhat disappointed with the experience this time.  First off the menu is the same as lunch, which I was hoping for some different choices.  We were seated at exactly 8:00 PM and did not walk out until 9:30 PM! It took forever to get drinks, the bread, our main course, and dessert.  Everything was so darn slow.  

At 9:30 we went to Peter Pan’s Flight as we had a 9:30 fast pass.  The fast pass line was huge. It was outside the attraction and the line looped inside the normal line.  It felt like the fast pass line was almost as long as the standby line.  I asked the cast member what was up with the long line for fast pass thinking that maybe the ride had been down for a bit and got the answer “a lot of people must have fast passes”.  That was helpful but something was off with the amount of fast passes handed out for that time slot.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was our next stop as we used our last fast pass which was given to us by the Contemporary.  We basically walked right on the ride.  Given that it was night time the ride was a bit faster than normal. As we got off the ride, Wishes had started so we watched Wishes from behind the Castle.

Having some time before the parade we went to Mickey’s PhilharMagic before watching the Main Street Electrical Parade.  This was one of the last nights of this parade so it was good to see it.

Our last stop was to use our fast pass for Space Mountain. We had to fight the crowd which was pouring toward the exit of the park so we could get to Tomorrowland.  It was fun to ride the coaster and by that time it was just about midnight which is when the park closed.

Total steps for the day:  24,277