Ending the day with a bang

The second ride on the TTA is much like the first, except we can tell that the parade has ended at the hub. That means our way out of the park won’t be blocked.

As we approach the loading area for the TTA, the boys ask if they can ride a third time, but it’s 11:15 now and time to head back to the room. They don’t seem to mind too much – it has been a long day!

We make our way back to the hub. A stage show starring the main Disney characters is under way in front of the castle. It’s our first spotting of Mickey! Santa Goofy comes out as we walk past, but we don’t stay for the show.

Main Street passes by in a hurry – it’s still snowing – and we are out of the park. Brandon suggests we take the boat to the Polynesian instead of the monorail. Okay, why not? We follow the sign down to the dock for the boat to the Grand Floridian and Polynesian, and a few minutes later the boat is pulling up.

The skipper of the boat tells us he’s been radioed to tie up, though, because the fireworks are starting soon. Hmm… it is 11:40, and the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks are scheduled for 11:50, but I’m not sure why that would affect a boat on Seven Seas Lagoon.

Oh, well. We walk back up the ramp and head to the resort monorail platform.

One quick monorail ride later and we are exiting at the Polynesian Great House. And then we hear … BOOM. BOOM. BOOM BOOM. The fireworks are going off, but these sound much too close to be coming from the Magic Kingdom.

We hurry to the lagoon-side windows and look outside, and fireworks are exploding practically overhead! As near as I can figure, they are being shot off from the island in the lagoon closest to the Poly. We can see across the lagoon, too, and they are same shells as are being fired off above the Magic Kingdom.

Even though it’s December 30, I’d read on the online attractions schedule that this is the same fireworks show as they’ll have tomorrow to bring in the New Year, so I’m guessing Disney makes the show even bigger by having the fireworks launch over the lagoon as well as the park! Whatever the reason, it’s VERY loud – and “awesome!” as Brandon says!

We head downstairs and into Rarotonga, letting ourselves into our room. Becky is asleep, and hardly stirs at our arrival. The booming stops minutes later, and the lights are out right at midnight.

I’m asleep immediately.