It'll Be All Right -A May 2012 TR Updated 5/13*

[MHTeacher]

Well, look on the bright side---if you had gone with the 8:45 time, you would have been farther back in the line!

for beating Alex-I'm going to think positively that he didn't let you win!

[amazingact21]

Originally Posted by UGAFan0829

Whew...reading about such an early morning after a late night made me tired!! Y'all were definitely troopers!! And I hate that y'all got there early for nothing, but I'm highly impressed that the waits for TSMM and RnRC were only 15 minutes!!

I totally understand what you mean about the yellow glasses...they are definitely an icon!

Glad to hear that your Mom loved RnRC! Sorry that the second time wasn't as fun for her!

Heehee...you and Alex aren't the only ones who battle it out...Mike and I are the same way...you'll see that mentioned in my TR as well! And good for you for finally pulling out the victory. I totall giggled when I read about your celebration and your Mom wanting to know what was going on! Too funny!

15 minutes is definitely a great wait time when you're talking about TSM and RNRC. Those rides get outrageous during the day!

Glad you and Mike are just as competitive. I can't wait to see how your adventure on the ride went!

Originally Posted by marDgreen88

AHHHH Toy Story Mania. My second favorite ride in all of Disney! I've only ridden it four times so my scores aren't too great buuuuut I'm getting better. Anyways...

I really hope Alex didn't let you win. That's such an annoying feeling. It's like, do I celebrate or feel like an idiot?

Sorry you were disappointed in the crowds. Maybe if you go again next May, it'll be more like 2011!

Hey, that just means you have room to improve, right?
I was becoming seriously suspicious after we left the TSM building....

We won't be going to WDW next May, but it's a time I'll keep returning to in future years, so I'm hoping it'll eventually revert back to its old crowd levels.

Originally Posted by CandleontheWater

May used to be one of my favorite times to go, but now, not so much. I remember going early May of 2002, and we literally had the park to ourselves.

Yay for beating DH on TSM, I don't think I could ever beat my DH, even if I went into full on training. He is just too good! I'm also really bad at the ring toss screen, there is just something about it that is WAY more difficult than the others!

Glad your Mom was brave enough to try RnRC, what a fun memory!

Glad I'm not the only one who cannot do very well on the ring toss. It's a really difficult level. My DH plays video games occasionally, and I use that as his excuse for always beating me.


I know May 2011 was perfect. The weather was warm, but not hot, and one day we had parts of DHS all to ourselves. That's always such a great feeling, thinking you have WDW to yourself.

Originally Posted by wakica

Loved reading your race recap and I agree with you - the area heading towards and away from Camp Minnie Mickey was a total and comlete NUT HOUSE!!!!! i was appalled at the craziness around there!!!!

And the red light with the red markder???? Ya - we had that problem too. LOL Not thought out very well. HAHA! We had to cram in around a lighted area as best we could and then when we would bend over the clue to figure it out our heads would block the light so we would try the little light but it was red so we couldn't follow what we were noting on the paper. **!!!

OK, I wanted to comment on the race seperately so now I'm going back to read your latest instalation.

Ugh, that area made me want to pull my hair out. Everyone was pushing and shoving, and some people were even cussing up a storm because they were so angry they couldn't run. Not pretty....

And, yeah, I'd like to meet the genius who said, "Hey, let's use red flashlights, and let's attach them to these red pens!"

Originally Posted by wakica

I can't beleive you guys got going so early the day after the race!!!! Not to mention headinng into a theme park! I never even heard the rumors about DHS opening early that day! What rock was I hiding under?!?! Oh well, I guess I should consider myself lucky to have not been privvy to that information since it was inaccurate! I`m truly sorry that it caused you to make your plans around it though. You still had a great time though and still got in 15 minutes early which is definitely a bonus anyway right.

I totally agree with you about May NOT being cool!!! This is our second time in May and it was up in the 30`s BOTH times We always try for end of April and into May to try and get some cool April weather but then if you go too early you have to deal with spring break crowds which is NOT pretty!

Congrats on beating your DH on TSM That`s so great!!!

We only stayed in DHS for a little while, then we went back to the resort and pretty much slept the day away. In the end, we caught up on all our sleep, it was just kind broken up.


Yeah, it's a fine line in the spring between catching the Spring Breakers and the summertime crowd. We'd had an extremely warm winter down here, so I was prepared for it to be really hot in May, but it doesn't change the fact that it was brutal.

Originally Posted by teekathepony

How lovely for your mom that she found a friend for the race!
Too bad it was so crowded and frustrating though. It definitely sounds chaotic.
But congratulations on finishing and getting a good time! I know you wanted to beat your 5k time, but by the sounds of the people that were there, I'd say you did very good!

I was a little bummed that I didn't get a better 5K time, especially since I knew I was capable of it, but my overall time was great and that's all I focused on.

Originally Posted by Shannon84

What a fun race!! I love the idea of a scavenger hunt and race all in one, wish I could do it!!

I can totally agree with you about running through AK feeling soooo crowded, especially with tons of other people, plus when its night time there its SO dark and you can't see well at all!! But that aside, it looks sooo fun!! And how awesome you get to ride rides like EE in the dark!!

That is really cool your mom made a friend too, she looks so darn happy in the picture!!

oh and dont worry about crazy eyes in race picture you look awesome and not bad at all!! DF says I look like I am dying in all of my race pictures

Looks like you were having fun at DHS too...I can never beat DF at TSM..even if he is distracted and I am trying my best

The EE race really is a wonderful experience, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves Disney and/or 5Ks. It's something worth doing at least once, in my opinion. Being AK so late at night felt like getting a backstage pass or something. And it's cool to say that I've ridden EE at midnight.

I don't know what it is about DHs (or DFs) beating us in TSMM. Seems to always be the case, though.

Originally Posted by MHTeacher

Well, look on the bright side---if you had gone with the 8:45 time, you would have been farther back in the line!

for beating Alex-I'm going to think positively that he didn't let you win!

That is true. And I ended up doing everything I set out to that morning, so I can't really complain.

[Tickanee]

Ahhhh, Alicia!!! I could kick myself for not introducing myself while we were waiting to board! I even pointed you guys out to my DH after the ride and he encouraged me to go back and say something. I guess I just felt too weird. I am glad I got to "meet" you, LOL! Your mom is very nice.

My BFF and I had really considered running the Expedition Everest 5K both last year and this year. We nixed the idea both times...I am not good running in extreme humidity (even though I live in MA) and we don't like giving up our evening sit down dinners/drinks. Hearing how crowded the run is, I probably won't be doing that one.

We probably aren't going back to WDW until next Fall for Food and Wine Festival, so maybe when we settle on the exact dates they will coincide with a race.

Love your TR!

[BennyFedora]

I'm late to the party, but love the TR!

I lurve Philharmagic, although the last time I went on it I left with a sad puppy dog face. My favorite part is the blast of apple pie smell during Be Our Guest, but my puffer thingy didn't work. It was late in the day and at the end of our trip, so we didn't get to go on again, and I've been mildly upset for about a year and a half now...

Glad you had an awesome time on the Jungle Cruise! That ride's very hit-or-miss with your skipper, but I think it also has a lot to do with your expectations. If you embrace the corny, it's amazing. I say "It's the backside of (fill in the blank)" to Joyciemc ALL THE TIME.

I've never gotten into the pins or vinyls or anything, but I'd totally get one of a Country Bear. A lot of people don't appreciate the amazingness of CBJ, but it's a must-do (several times) when we go.

I've thought about doing a run in WDW, but after reading your TR, we've got to put it on the list. That probably also means I need to start running...ever

Not sure if anyone answered it or you figured it out later, but I think the 5 in the last clue comes from "If I've come this far"..."f I've". Although I was figuring out the clues while sitting at a computer and not having run 5K in sweaty craziness...

[amazingact21]

Originally Posted by Tickanee

Ahhhh, Alicia!!! I could kick myself for not introducing myself while we were waiting to board! I even pointed you guys out to my DH after the ride and he encouraged me to go back and say something. I guess I just felt too weird. I am glad I got to "meet" you, LOL! Your mom is very nice.

My BFF and I had really considered running the Expedition Everest 5K both last year and this year. We nixed the idea both times...I am not good running in extreme humidity (even though I live in MA) and we don't like giving up our evening sit down dinners/drinks. Hearing how crowded the run is, I probably won't be doing that one.

We probably aren't going back to WDW until next Fall for Food and Wine Festival, so maybe when we settle on the exact dates they will coincide with a race.

Love your TR!

Haha, it's all right, when I ran into another DISboarder in MK, I really hesitated saying hello, because I was shy, so I completely understand where you're coming from. Either way, though, I appreciate you saying something on my thread, because it was cool to run into a fellow DISer. If we're ever at WDW at the same time again and see each other, I'll be sure to say hello next time.

Hmm, I know in the fall there's the Wine and Dine Half, which I desperately want to do. It looks like so much fun, and you get to run through the Osbourne Lights, which I think is amazing. There's also the Halloween 5K that's normally in AK, and if they continue with it, there will be the ToT 10-miler. Plenty of choices for you and your DH, and I highly suggest giving one a try one day!

Originally Posted by BennyFedora

I'm late to the party, but love the TR!

I lurve Philharmagic, although the last time I went on it I left with a sad puppy dog face. My favorite part is the blast of apple pie smell during Be Our Guest, but my puffer thingy didn't work. It was late in the day and at the end of our trip, so we didn't get to go on again, and I've been mildly upset for about a year and a half now...

Glad you had an awesome time on the Jungle Cruise! That ride's very hit-or-miss with your skipper, but I think it also has a lot to do with your expectations. If you embrace the corny, it's amazing. I say "It's the backside of (fill in the blank)" to Joyciemc ALL THE TIME.

I've never gotten into the pins or vinyls or anything, but I'd totally get one of a Country Bear. A lot of people don't appreciate the amazingness of CBJ, but it's a must-do (several times) when we go.

I've thought about doing a run in WDW, but after reading your TR, we've got to put it on the list. That probably also means I need to start running...ever

Not sure if anyone answered it or you figured it out later, but I think the 5 in the last clue comes from "If I've come this far"..."f I've". Although I was figuring out the clues while sitting at a computer and not having run 5K in sweaty craziness...

Thanks, and hey, better late than never, right?


Ahhh, that's the first time I've seen the word 'five' in the clue. Thank you for pointing that out!

I would've been upset over the Philarmagic incident, as well. Those special effects are what make the show so great!

I agree with Jungle Cruise, you just have to embrace the pun and corny jokes if you wanna have a good time.


I have never actually seen CBJ! I know I need to one day, but I haven't gotten around to it. Maybe next time I will.

You and Joyciemc should really try and give a runDisney event a try one day. You don't even have to be a seasoned runner, the 5Ks are more about having fun. My mom is a walker and she had no problems with it.

[amazingact21]

Hope everyone’s weekend is going well, so far. Alex gets his days off usually mid-week, so Saturdays are normally my Wednesday’s. It’s taken some getting used to, but I’ve discovered that I’m a lot more productive with trip report updating now, so I can’t complain!



May 6th Morning:


When my mom, Alex, and I finished with Toy Story Mania, we were all hungry, but unfortunately it wasn’t 11 o’clock yet, and nobody wanted a snack. I needed to find something to do to kill a little time, and there was only one more thing I wanted to show my mom on that day.





The Great Movie Ride!


It’d be perfect. Air conditioned, quick, relaxing. You can’t go wrong with a recap of MGM’s finest films.


We walked into the building and breezed through the costume area, nothing new there.


Then we walked into the screening room and BAM!


We met up with a wall of people.




I’d never seen it so full in GMR before. They had two different lines weaving in and out of the ropes, and even as we stepped inside, the CMs were making the queue longer.


Alex and I were more than a little surprised. Every time we’d ridden GMR in the past, we’d spent maybe 5 minutes in this room. I don’t think we’ve ever even seen the whole clip reel before.


It was at that point that I stopped harping on whether or not Alex let me win at TSMM. (for the record, he swears he didn’t, even now, he promises me he just got tired out from scoring so high the first time around. 98% of me believes him, but until I do it again, I’ll still hold that little nugget of doubt in me.)


I began getting very un-Disney-like. Everything was falling apart. It was a billion degrees outside. I was wrong about the opening park time. There were swarms of people lining up the sidewalks of DHS. We had to wait at RNRC. And now, the Great Movie Ride had a line?!?


This was not May 2011.




This was not the vacation I had in mind. One where my mother would bow down to my excellent planning and experience Disney with no waits and no fights and no negative moments.


It was only Day 3 and nothing was going according to plan. What would the next 4 days entail if I couldn’t even get the easy stuff right?


Oh yes, I was getting upset. And poor GMR was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

While the three of us waited about 20 minutes in that one room, my comments were pretty much on repeat.


“I’m sorry you’re trip is turning out so bad, Mom.”


“Alicia, what’s going wrong? I’m having fun.”


“I promised you short wait times, though, and this heat is ridiculous.”


“You can’t control the weather.”


“I know, but I swore up and down the parks would be dead at this time of the year.”


“Well, I guess your secret got out. Maybe you shouldn’t have written about it in your reports.”



“I know, but I am ruining your perfect vacation.”


“Stop worrying about me, Alicia.”



I’ll just say, that for all my amazing magical moments, I did have 2 really dark times. And the wait for GMR ride was one of them. I just couldn’t stop agonizing over whether or not Alex and my mom were having a good time, and the wear had finally caught up with me. I was stressed and tired and hungry.


After what felt like forever, we finally did get on GMR and I saw that the reason why the line was so slow was because they only had one car going.









Who doesn’t want to go to Hollowoodland???




Once the ride was over, it was well past time to get some food in our bellies. We stopped at the first place we stumbled upon and ordered 3 burgers:







It ended up being way too much food. I couldn’t finish my burger or my fries or even my dessert, but I wasn’t too heartbroken at missing out on the rest of the meal. My burger was cold, leaving me with yet another DHS quick service restaurant that unimpressed me.


It really is difficult to find a good pizza or burger or chicken fingers in DHS.



With our bellies full, my mom, Alex, and I decided there was nothing we wanted more than to escape the heat and go back to the hotel and catch up on some beauty sleep.


It was only 12 o’clock, and none of us were in a rush, so I decided to grab a few pictures on our way out.





I took us under the Sorcerer’s Hat, because that’s a favorite pin trading spot of mine. I’ve always have amazing luck there, and this time did not disappoint. I managed to get Peter Pan, and what adult doesn’t envy Peter a little bit?



If you can believe it, I have never seen this sign before, so I insisted on lots of photo ops here:













Can you tell we all had just participated in a 5K 12 hours beforehand?





I know the Hat is no Epcot Globe or Cinderella’s Castle, but I love that it’s an icon and can’t help taking pictures of it.


And that’s when I realized something.


It was about time to stop worrying how other people were doing and concentrate on having a little fun, myself. And one of my absolutely favorite things to do in WDW is to just walk around and take photos of random things.


It gives me something to look back on and smile when I need a Disney fix, and lets me soak up the magic of the world.


So, that’s what I proceeded to do as the three of us very slowly made our way towards the exit of the park.







I even made us all stop for a Photopass picture!






Continued in Next Post…

[amazingact21]

My mom, Alex, and I walked on the right side of the main street of DHS, and it was only a matter of time before we ended up in the shops.


Alex wanted to do a Vinylmation trade, and I figured I’d do one as well. No one was in a big rush, and my mom was happy that she was out of the sun.


I saw Alex make his trade, but I was busy looking at some merchandise, and I did mine later on.


The other night in MouseGears, my mom bought this shirt for my dad:



He’s a retired meteorologist, and he gets a kicks out of my Hidden Mickey fascination. (He’s been known to spot one occasionally, but he’d deny it vehemently if questioned.) So this shirt was pretty much perfect for him.





I wouldn’t mind having this guy in my house. No matter that he’d take up my whole living room. Who needs couches?




I discovered a new love for Disney stores while I was in the 18th one. There’s so many tiny details within the rooms, that I’m sure you can catch something new each time you look around.



I ended up trading my Country Bear Jamboree Vinyl for a classic Hollywood Studios one. It is of the old MGM water tower, and I actually really liked it. My first visit to DHS was when it was still MGM, and I remember the water tower. My mother has this retro fridge magnet with all four park icons from 1997, and everytime I see it, I become nostalgic over the tower.




I went over to show it to Alex, excited to find my favorite DHS Vinyl. He laughed, and pulled his trade out of his pocket. It was a Hollywood Studios one, as well!
(I have pictures of both for later.)



Between the Vinyl Alex bought on Friday and the one we already had at home, we now had 4 DHS ones. A little crazy, but that seemed to be the pattern. We ended up keeping all of them, so an entire row in our display case is DHS-centered.



The three of us made it right before the turnstiles before I saw something else new and had to grab more shots.








I never knew there was a shaded area off to the left of the turnstiles if you’re entering the park. It’s nice and quiet and has a perfect spot to sit down for a bit.


I always find these flowers in DHS, no matter the time of the year:






Okay, okay, it was time to leave!




Clearly, noon time was not a popular arrival/departure time for the park. This area was dead. About time I found a spot that wasn’t crowded!





“Hey, Mom, point to the Memories sign as you walk under it.”



I think it’s funny that she didn’t even question me, my mom just went with it and continued on her way.








Goodbye for now, Hollywood Studios! I hope to be back soon!








Doesn’t DHS have the best palm trees? I live in FL, I see palm trees all the time. I spent 4 years with one in my front yard! But I still get a kick out of them when I’m at this particular park.



And what did the members of my party think about my constant picture taking?




Bored.





But who cares, I sure was happy!





Up Next…There’s No way I’m Capable of That

[MEK]

I have always encountered lines at GMR, so I guess I must be hitting up that ride at the wrong time of the year. I usually have to watch the movie reel twice before i get on.

I'm sure you probably all were exhausted after just running so late the night before. I find the heat really gets me if I am overly tired. I need to be on my "A" game to deal with it.

I'm glad you were smiling on your way out of the park. Your pictures are really nice.

I agree - why IS it so hard to find a decent CS meal in HS?

[marDgreen88]

The only time I experienced a line at GMR was in June 2010 (my first trip) and at the time, of course I thought it was a totally normal thing. Since then, not even a little bit.

Sorry about your breaking point! The funny thing is, nobody else is usually aware of the stuff that is going wrong. Us planners, I tell ya... we worry too much!

I love all your pictures! And I TOTALLY agree: I always gawk over the palm trees at DHS! They just seem so perfect.

[pinkxray]

I can't remember a line at GMR since I was at DHS as a teen and that was quite some time ago.

It really seems that there are no slow times any more. The beginning of May, Sept, Oct, Nov before the holidays.... all those good quiet times have picked up. I think the secret is out and you can't really pick a week based on past crowds. They get worse each year as people recommend them more as good times to go, plus Disney has done a good job offering free dining and such to fill those times.

Ugh, the heat in May! It is just as bad as the summer

Your Mom seems to be having a good time despite the weather and crowds. Very cute that she goes along with your photo request.

[Tickanee]

I found that I was just not hungry at all this May trip because of the warmer temps. Last May we had no trouble at all with the regular Dining Plan (except for a few snack credits we had to use up on the last day). This year I just wasn't hungry. I didn't even get my absolute favorite dessert...a napoleon from France in Epcot.

I didn't think the crowd level was too bad at all. The only bad wait was one morning at Tower of Terror because they had only one elevator going and a school group was in line in front of us. They wait time wasn't even close to being correct! I kept telling everyone that we should grab a FP because I knew it wasn't right, but they said to just wait FAIL! I bit my tongue, LOL! So hard for an A type person.

[Aussiesalad]

ahhhh we all have those less than magic moments at Disney.
It's nice when you can give yourself a quite kick in the bottom and realize where you are!!!

yeahhh I am also starting to wonder about there being ANY 'quiet' times left there
But your mum is right- your TR gave the secret away!

Those are some beautiful pictures!

Always nice to leave the park on a smiley note!

Ahhhhh palm trees! Seriously they are magical!

[amazingact21]

Originally Posted by MEK

I have always encountered lines at GMR, so I guess I must be hitting up that ride at the wrong time of the year. I usually have to watch the movie reel twice before i get on.

I'm sure you probably all were exhausted after just running so late the night before. I find the heat really gets me if I am overly tired. I need to be on my "A" game to deal with it.

I'm glad you were smiling on your way out of the park. Your pictures are really nice.

I agree - why IS it so hard to find a decent CS meal in HS?

I guess it does all depend on the time of the year. Seeing a line for GMR was a big surprise to me.


Aside from the sandwiches at Starring Rolls, I haven't found anything decent to eat at DHS. Which is wild, because at MK, there's a handful of places to choose between.

Originally Posted by marDgreen88

The only time I experienced a line at GMR was in June 2010 (my first trip) and at the time, of course I thought it was a totally normal thing. Since then, not even a little bit.

Sorry about your breaking point! The funny thing is, nobody else is usually aware of the stuff that is going wrong. Us planners, I tell ya... we worry too much!

I love all your pictures! And I TOTALLY agree: I always gawk over the palm trees at DHS! They just seem so perfect.

We do worry too much, but I guess it comes with the territory.

Originally Posted by pinkxray

I can't remember a line at GMR since I was at DHS as a teen and that was quite some time ago.

It really seems that there are no slow times any more. The beginning of May, Sept, Oct, Nov before the holidays.... all those good quiet times have picked up. I think the secret is out and you can't really pick a week based on past crowds. They get worse each year as people recommend them more as good times to go, plus Disney has done a good job offering free dining and such to fill those times.

Ugh, the heat in May! It is just as bad as the summer

Your Mom seems to be having a good time despite the weather and crowds. Very cute that she goes along with your photo request.

The down times have seemed to disappear, especially over the past two years or so. I know more guests mean more revenue and more revenue means new additions, such as Fantasyland, but I think it's only fair we can miss the good ol' days just a little.

Originally Posted by Tickanee

I found that I was just not hungry at all this May trip because of the warmer temps. Last May we had no trouble at all with the regular Dining Plan (except for a few snack credits we had to use up on the last day). This year I just wasn't hungry. I didn't even get my absolute favorite dessert...a napoleon from France in Epcot.

I didn't think the crowd level was too bad at all. The only bad wait was one morning at Tower of Terror because they had only one elevator going and a school group was in line in front of us. They wait time wasn't even close to being correct! I kept telling everyone that we should grab a FP because I knew it wasn't right, but they said to just wait FAIL! I bit my tongue, LOL! So hard for an A type person.

Maybe that's the reason I couldn't eat as much, as well. I had trouble using all my snack credits, as well. But that's a common problem for me.

It's always difficult when you have to go along with what others are doing and let them see their mistake for themselves. Maybe one day they'll take our advice.

Originally Posted by Aussiesalad

ahhhh we all have those less than magic moments at Disney.
It's nice when you can give yourself a quite kick in the bottom and realize where you are!!!

yeahhh I am also starting to wonder about there being ANY 'quiet' times left there
But your mum is right- your TR gave the secret away!

Those are some beautiful pictures!

Always nice to leave the park on a smiley note!

Ahhhhh palm trees! Seriously they are magical!

I don't think there are too many "down times" at WDW anymore. Between ongoing events, such as F&G and F&W, and promo deals (free dining) people are gravitating more and more to those off-dates. I will hate to see what it'll be like in a few years, when normal "dead" times like November are packed.

[BennyFedora]

Pizza Planet near the Muppets is pretty good for counter service--though I think they are re-theme-ing it soon, so I'm not sure how it will change.

Joyce and I loved the "Let the Memories Begin!" signs. We were always like, "Phew, glad they reminded us!" or "Crap, how did we get here? I only now began my memories for today as instructed..."

[Shannon84]

I worried my mom the same way during our trip every time we ended up waiting for things that I usually dont wait for or if something went wrong in my mind, 9 times out of 10 she noticed none of it so I worried for no reason but thats what I do best!!

I agree the quick service option at DHS stink!