Summer Vacation Day 7 - The Magic Kingdom

As one can imagine, Youngest Daughter was champing at the bit to get her first glimpse of Disney World. All four of us headed that way mid-morning, and the look on her face when we drove under the big sign on Disney World Road (I suppose "Disney World six-lane interstate-grade highway" was too much of a mouthful) and the entrance to the Magic Kingdom was worth it all.

Both photos cribbed from Google Image Search

From the parking lot (we were in Goofy) you take a brief tram ride to the transportation hub, where you can choose from the monorail or the riverboat. We took the former, made it through the front gate (much to Southern Man's relief, as he'd purchased used tickets from a broker back in Kissimmee), wandered through what appeared to be a olde towne square, turned a corner - and there it was.

Cinderalla's Castle is the focal point of The Magic Kingdom, and it is spectacular. I suppose it must be the most photographed location in the park; Southern Man certainly burned enough film on photos of Youngest Daughter with that castle in the background. But first we watched the first of what would be several spectacular parades down Main Street, which we all enjoyed very much. And then Youngest Daughter (who had been given a Disney book for her birthday) took charge and we headed for the attractions, which included:

• Splash Mountain


• Big Thunder Mountain


• The Haunted Mansion (air-conditioned, so we did it twice)


• Snow White's Scary Adventures


• Peter Pan's Flight


• It's A Small World (and that song is still ringing in Southern Man's head)

It was phenomenally crowded and the lines for many rides were an hour plus, so we couldn't do that many attractions. We snacked all day, had a fine dinner at the Pinocchio Village Haus and then saw the most spectacular fireworks show ever. Disney is famous for nightly fireworks, so you can imagine what it was like on the 4th of July!

We finally left the park at about midnight, just missing the tragic monorail accident that claimed the life of the young college student and train operator Austin Wuennenberg. Our prayers go out to his family.