The alarm went off at 6:30 for our last day, as we had an extra magic hour in DCA to try and get ahead of the crowds. We quickly showered and dressed, but skipped breakfast and headed straight to the park, arriving just before 8 am, we immediately headed towards the entrance to Cars Land and the rope that stopped any more progress at the end of Buena Vista street. The CM at the gate stated that Cars Land would open at 8am, but the Fast Passes would not be distributed till 9am, but that no-one but the EMH would be able to get in the queue until 9am.
We then decided to get some more done, so headed first to Soarin'. This is the same ride as Epcot, but the pre-show is so much more in line with the film, the film is also much crisper than on the east coast. We were on the first ride of the day, but even so after the ride we headed straight to Radiator Springs to see if we could get a ride before needing to get in the Fast Pass line. Now by the time we got there 8:20 am the main queue was 40 mins, but the CM at the entrance said that the single rider was a walk on, so we took that option so that we would get 2 rides today.
It is almost 3 rides in one, first a gentle drive through the country.
Then a dark ride in and around radiator springs.
then finally the actual race and the speed increase. It is one of the best rides that Disney have produced in years and for me is better than the Harry potter ride over at Islands of Adventure (but as I am not a HP fan, this could be affecting the decision). This ride is worth the trip over to California, but I would be surprised if Cars land does not make its way into WDW at some point soon, so that may be a shorter trip.
After the ride we started to make our way back towards the Fast Pass queue, but did stop for a go on Luigi's Flying tyres.
This was the least impressive of the rides in cars land, and is just a less controlled version of Dodgem cars, that with the slow loading I would expect that it will close at some point.
We then made it to the FP queue, and what a queue, it went all the way from just outside Cars land, back to the hub area and then down the road in Hollywood land, almost all the way to the Aladdin theatre. This was just before 9am and what the CM had said early was WRONG, no-one was stopping the non EMH guests getting in the queue which was just making it even longer, but as Radiator springs was such a good ride I still wanted to ride again, so I got in the queue.
Finally a few minutes after 9 the queue started to move and then moved constantly till we got to the FP machines to get a time of 2:45-3:45, ah much closer to the time we wanted to be leaving than expected but this was the only option so now we had to plan the rest of the day (and grab some breakfast) but first as we were so close to Mater's junkyard, it would be wrong not to try the jamboree again. and again it made us smile.
After this ride, we had decided to call it a day in DCA and head to Disneyland after breakfast so went via Toy Story Mania in the hope that the queue was not that long, OOOPS, after 45mins we had finally made it on and off, a great ride but it had been a long long queue. I had beaten Celia again, probably from my scores on the flying tossers section.
After Toy Story we headed quickly out via the Grand Californian and grabbed some breakfast at Jamba Juice, Celia had her oats and I had a breakfast wrap and we both had smoothies, which we ate whilst walking back to the hotel, we had got an 11am checkout, and after a quick brush of our teeth and whilst Celia finished the packing, I headed to the reception to checkout and confirm that they could store our luggage. Luggage was left with bell services and the room was vacated. A quick monorail ride and we were back in Disneyland at 11:30.
As it was a ride I had never done, and even with a long 20 mins wait in a classic switchback only queue, we rode Alice in Wonderland, a nice little dark ride. From there we headed into Tomorrowland and a short queue for Buzz Lightyear Astro blasters, one of our favourite rides be it this version or the WDW or Disneyland paris versions. I sneaked a win again, but only with a last minute jump in my score.
From there we headed over the hub to New Orlean's square and Pirates of the Caribbean, post pirates lunch was calling and I had a want for a Monte Cristo sandwich, getting into the Blue Bayou was unlikely but we had a look at French Market and Cafe Orleans and decided on the sit down, we had a short wait 10 mins or so, before we were seated and I had my order in for a Monte Cristo.
A great last meal before we leave California, afterwards with the clock ticking down before our Fast pass time we headed back out of the park, I had hoped to grab a Dole whip but the queue was most of the way to the Jungle cruise, so that seemed a waste. Back in DCA we decide to watch the Aladdin show, another attraction I had never been to before, and again wow, there are lots of talk about broadway quality shows but this is the best one we have seen. The genie is the star and seems to spend most of the time ad-lbing and telling jokes, again a must see.
As the show went on I was starting to worry that we would not make our FP time as Disneyland had just started to enforce the window. But the show did finish with 15 mins to spare and we headed through the Bugs land area and discovered a third entrance to cars land, this one bringing us into Radiator Springs between Luigi's and Mater's rides. so we were quickly into the fast Pass queue and onto the ride once again.
It is just a good the second time round and I so wish we had more time to ride it again, and this time we didn't win the race, but we still left smiling.
After the ride we had been given a voucher for a free photopass on this ride (above) so we had a quick look in the stores here to find a nice relevant frame to display it when we got home. leaving Cars Land we headed back to Buena Vista street and whilst Celia had a look in Elias and Company, I headed over to Clarabelles Hand Scooped Ice, for some ice cream to make up for the lack of a dole whip. So with my Double scoop Mint chocolate chip we met back up and headed towards the Disneyland hotel.
So this was it, we got back to the hotel and whilst we waited for the bags we discovered a model of the Disney Fantasy, which we have booked on for next year (Nov 2014), which felt like a nice end to the trip seeing the next holiday in model form. Our room will be on the 9th Deck (first one with a balcony) at the rear of the boat.
Note; Since arriving back we booked another holiday in October 2013 and there is a feeling that the cruise will not remain the next holiday when we return from that one.
We loaded up the car and drove back to LAX, with no great dramas. Arriving at the Avis lot, we removed our bags and swapped shoes for the flight (i always fly in slip ons, having worn trainers all day). Back at the terminal we were swiftly checked in and through security and it too the first class lounge. Time for a shower and change of clothes after a sweaty day in the park, followed by some food and drink before we were called for our flight. On board, it was an older first class than the way out but all we really needed was a bed as this was the 9pm flight. There was a Russian who was just being a pain, and seemed to be incapable of waiting to get to sleep and seemed to think that lying down was the right way to take off.
With the flat bed, ear plugs and eye mask I am able to get some sleep and some hours later awoke to a wonderful breakfast of pastries and a cooked breakfast as we landed back at Heathrow. The cab was waiting and we were soon back home.
No comments:
Post a Comment