DeeDeeDis
01-13-2008, 07:43 PM
What a great trip!!
15 of us ranging in age 16 to 55 arrived in orlando bright and early on a warm and sunny December 30th.
It was the first visit for 4 of us in our group and i was very worried that the crowds would leave them with a bad impress of wdw but with some luck, fast passes and great timing we barely waited more than 20 minutes to get on any rides.
Our first nite was spent at MK were i expected to be shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other people, but we weren't. We arrived just after wishes ended to the happy sight of a sea of people LEAVING the park. We were able to walk on Pirates, Jungle cruise, Haunted Mansion, Mickey's Philharmonica and the scarey adventure. We fast passed space mountain and the kids rode splash mountain at the end of the nite, or should i say early morning. We even got front row seats to view the Spectro magic Parade. The MK NYE Fireworks were amazing. We stood in the castle forefront and watched in wonder as they counted down from 10 in fireworks that appeared all around the park. It was absolutely beautiful and a great way to start our week. We didn't get back to our resort until after 3am!!
NYE we ate lunch at the renovated Teppan Restuarant in japan. The 15 of us had our own private room with two cooking tables. The service and food were great and we'll be eating here again. Spent the nite at MGM. again with fast pass, luck and timing little to no wait for ToT, RnR, ST, Muppets and Movie ride. The band and NYE fireworks were great and getting a soft drink or cocktail was easy with all the bars they had located thru out the park, it was a little humid out so the smoke from the display hung a little low in the air and covered some of the fireworks but still another fantastic show. Another 3am nite!
We were up early to finish what we missed the first afternoon at EPCOT and were able to get in most of the rides in the front of the park before the 12 noon crowds arrived. We did the same for animal kingdom and finish MK one nite.
We saw the MK NYE Fireworks, MGM fireworks, Illuminations, Fantasmic and if not for the 45 minute delay we would have even been able to see wishes (kids stayed - old people were just to old to do another late nite)
We ate at
Mexico - good service, okay food - nothing to write home about
Japan - great service, good food, lots of fun - yup we'll be back
Canada - my favorite - great food, good service
Liberty Tree Tavern - thanksgiving anytime of the year - love that goofy
Ragland Road - what a great way to end a fantastic wdw trip
The NYE fireworks are great and everyone should try this time of year at least once, if you know your experience crowds, and plan for some cold weather you bound to have a good time. It was a wonderful trip with really good people. even our 4 newbies are planning to go back.
On Friday , jan 4 we sent the kids home (ranging in age from 16 to 24) and the six adults heading for miami for a three nite cruise to the bahamas, then a nite at ft lauderdale beach and then back home on Jan 8.
15 of us ranging in age 16 to 55 arrived in orlando bright and early on a warm and sunny December 30th.
It was the first visit for 4 of us in our group and i was very worried that the crowds would leave them with a bad impress of wdw but with some luck, fast passes and great timing we barely waited more than 20 minutes to get on any rides.
Our first nite was spent at MK were i expected to be shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other people, but we weren't. We arrived just after wishes ended to the happy sight of a sea of people LEAVING the park. We were able to walk on Pirates, Jungle cruise, Haunted Mansion, Mickey's Philharmonica and the scarey adventure. We fast passed space mountain and the kids rode splash mountain at the end of the nite, or should i say early morning. We even got front row seats to view the Spectro magic Parade. The MK NYE Fireworks were amazing. We stood in the castle forefront and watched in wonder as they counted down from 10 in fireworks that appeared all around the park. It was absolutely beautiful and a great way to start our week. We didn't get back to our resort until after 3am!!
NYE we ate lunch at the renovated Teppan Restuarant in japan. The 15 of us had our own private room with two cooking tables. The service and food were great and we'll be eating here again. Spent the nite at MGM. again with fast pass, luck and timing little to no wait for ToT, RnR, ST, Muppets and Movie ride. The band and NYE fireworks were great and getting a soft drink or cocktail was easy with all the bars they had located thru out the park, it was a little humid out so the smoke from the display hung a little low in the air and covered some of the fireworks but still another fantastic show. Another 3am nite!
We were up early to finish what we missed the first afternoon at EPCOT and were able to get in most of the rides in the front of the park before the 12 noon crowds arrived. We did the same for animal kingdom and finish MK one nite.
We saw the MK NYE Fireworks, MGM fireworks, Illuminations, Fantasmic and if not for the 45 minute delay we would have even been able to see wishes (kids stayed - old people were just to old to do another late nite)
We ate at
Mexico - good service, okay food - nothing to write home about
Japan - great service, good food, lots of fun - yup we'll be back
Canada - my favorite - great food, good service
Liberty Tree Tavern - thanksgiving anytime of the year - love that goofy
Ragland Road - what a great way to end a fantastic wdw trip
The NYE fireworks are great and everyone should try this time of year at least once, if you know your experience crowds, and plan for some cold weather you bound to have a good time. It was a wonderful trip with really good people. even our 4 newbies are planning to go back.
On Friday , jan 4 we sent the kids home (ranging in age from 16 to 24) and the six adults heading for miami for a three nite cruise to the bahamas, then a nite at ft lauderdale beach and then back home on Jan 8.