Day 2 Part 2 Mad Dash To Magic Kingdom, and Princess Meet & Greet!

While we were at Hollywood Studios watching Beauty and The Beast my daughter got a text from my girlfriend that her daughter who is a Castmember would be at the Princess Hall and that maybe we could get over there to see her before her shift ended (thank goodness for a Park Hopper)! 

We figured it would be easier to catch a bus which would take us directly to that gates rather then taking our car and having to then take transportation from the TTC to Magic Kingdom. What we didn't know was that with all of the construction that is taking place that we would have to walk half way around the parking lot to get to our bus area. That would be fine any other day, but its was afternoon and the heat in August in Florida can be stifling! But since we really wanted to see my niece (she has called us aunt and uncle since she was small) we kept going anyway. I can't tell you what a relief it was to get on that air conditioned bus! Although everyone else must have had the same idea because it was packed! 

We made it through security at MK and then the mad dash to get in the standby line before she left for her break began. We knew we were taking a chance because the Princess section at MK is crazy enough (its one of the few Character interactions I would get a fastpass for), so we were not even sure how long we would be waiting and if we would get to her in time. 

I can't recall now how long the line was, but less just say its was the longest line we stood in the entire trip! Someone had the red ticket and handed it to me because they decided to get out of line (that should give you a small indication of just how crazy it was).

I think it was over 40 minutes before we even got to this section! I have never see so many people (and not to mention so many unhappy children lol ). 

Got to love the portraits hanging on the wall though! Can you tell which Princess we were excited to meet? 

And no it wasn't my namesake! 

We really enjoyed meeting Tiana. But unfortunately it wasn't our Princess! Nothing against the young lady we did meet. She was very nice. But after the long wait it was slightly disappointing! 

But it was our first time meeting either of these beautiful ladies, so it was still a success! 

After all of that rushing to get to Magic Kingdom lets just say we were extremely tired, and hungry (it was pass our usual break time) so our goal at that moment was to grab some food and rest before heading to Epcot for the evening. I dd snap a few photos on our way out of the park, but we only stopped long enough to catch our breath before going back to the bus area to go back to Hollywood Studios to pick up our car and head outside of the parks to find some food. Because we have always driven to Orlando we have always had our own transportation, so its become a habit for us to take a mid day break to grab a meal, as well as do some shopping at one of the outlets or one of the local flea markets.

I wish we had stayed to see the parade at least but the sun was crazy hot that day and my family just wanted to sit somewhere cool and rest a bit. Especially after being at the parks since 8:30 that morning! 

It was a beautiful day to be in the parks, despite the heat (and crazy humidity). 

Some of these were taken as we made a quick walk from Fantasyland to Main Street before catching the bus back to Hollywood Studios. After we got back to our car we headed to the area near Disney Springs and grabbed lunch at our favorite Pizza place in Orlando!

I think we wore this one out! LOL Actually, it was probably the 99 degree weather that did him in. Stay tuned next week for Part three as we head into Epcot (my family's favorite park) for the first time on this trip!