Poolside Relaxation, Polynesian Adventures, and Epcot Escapades
Day 4
Day four started around 9am since we didn’t get back to the room the previous night until approximately 1am. We were staying in a one bedroom which has full kitchen, so I made breakfast for everyone and put on my swim trunks. I try to get to the pool right when it opens. There are only a few tables with umbrellas, so I like to get there early enough to snag one. The plan for the day was going to be relax by the pool, over to Disney’s Polynesian Resort and try to get into Trader Sam’s, Epcot and then dinner on the Boardwalk.
We hung by the pool swimming and playing card games until about 1pm. Everyone changed and we were off to the Polynesian. I ordered a Lyft to take us there because going to the Magic Kingdom and then to the Polynesian would have taken too long. Once we arrived at the Poly, I made my way over to Trader Sam’s to put my name on the list. Once I turned the corner by Captain Cooks, I saw that there was already a line. There was maybe ten people in front of me when I got there at about 1:45pm. At exactly 2pm a cast member came out with an iPad and began taking names. I put my name in and went off to find Heidi and the kids.
I found them at the Pineapple Lanai eating dole whips. We sat down at a table outside to wait for our reservation at Trader Sam’s. I had brought along the deck of cards, so we played a few games of 7’s until exactly 3pm when I got the text to return to Trader Sam’s. This was the kids first time in Trader Sam’s, and once the drinks started coming out from the bar it was funny to see their faces when all the antics started with the drinks. Anyone know how to get the hippos out of the trees?
After Trader Sam’s, we made the trek over to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) to grab a monorail to Epcot. We made our way into Epcot and over to Living with the Land as it was the shortest wait in the park at only five minutes. On the way there, we walked through Moana’s Journey of Water which was far more interesting at the end of May in the heat than it was last December when I walked through it. We walked over to Living with the Land, walked right on with zero wait. I don’t really know why but I love this attraction.
Now that we were truly living with the land, we made our way over to the United Kingdom. Heidi and I went to Rose and Crown to grab a cider, and with ciders in hand we started playing the Duck Tales game in the Disney Play app. There have been many iterations of this game Kim Possible, Perry the Platypus, and now the Duck Tales. Its basically a scavenger hunt through all the countries in the World Showcase. After completing our mission, it was now time to head to dinner.
Dinner tonight was at Trattoria al Forno on Disney’s Boardwalk. This is a crowd favorite in my traveling party. We usually go once a trip. The food once again was spectacular. We started with the calamari and garlic bread. For the mains, the kids went with the margarita pizza while Heidi and I split the lasagna. The lasagna has changed a few times in the years we have been coming, but it’s always been delicious.
Epcot was back on the docket after dinner. One of the nicest things about Disney’s Boardwalk Resort is how close it is to the back entrance of Epcot. You can either walk or take the boat. We elected to take the boat. We had around an hour and a half before we had to make it over to Guardians of the Galaxy for our lightning lane. We played the Duck Tales game in Japan and Germany before finally arriving at Guardians of the Galaxy. I’m going to do a separate piece on it but the preshow for Guardians of the Galaxy needs to change. After Guardians, we decided to call it a night a head back to Wilderness Lodge.
When we arrived at the bus stop outside of Epcot for Wilderness Lodge, there were already people waiting. Ten minutes went by then twenty. Still no bus. I opened my Lyft app and saw a Minnie Van close by. I decided to grab it because I couldn’t take waiting any longer. The Minnie Van arrived five minutes later and still no bus. After arriving at Wilderness Lodge, we did something I’ve always wanted to do. Late night swimming. The pool was open until 11pm and we closed out the night in the pool.
These kinds of days, where spontaneity meets carefully planned adventures, are what make Disney vacations truly magical. The memories created, the smiles shared, and the simple pleasures, like a Dole Whip on a warm afternoon or a refreshing dip in the pool under the stars, are treasures we’ll carry with us. As we look forward to the rest of our stay, this day will stand out as a perfect example of why we keep coming back to the magic of Disney.
Day 1 First Class to Campfire: A Magical First Day at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Day 2 Wilderness Lodge Welcome, Magic Kingdom Mania, and Culinary Delights at Disney Springs
Day 3 Spontaneous Magic: A Day of Unexpected Adventures at Disney World
