Just back - a few quick notes

[soccerchick]

Just back from a week at the World. It was hot and crowded, but doable if you use fastpass. Tons of international travelers.

The Good::thumbsup2
At AK, the three sets of fastpass machines were still there as of Monday. We got three sets - one each for KS, EE, and Dinosaur. This makes touring AK so much better. Little wait for KS at all.

Epcot. Soarin was my kids' favorite ride and I think we rode it 4 times (might have been 5) on our Epcot day. They also loved Kim Possible and did two missions. It was cool to see all the little interactive elements to it and my kids actually worked together well w/out fighting

Online check in! Woo Hoo! Bypassed long lines with this! Got an upgraded room at our first resort too (split stay trip). Do this folks!

ADRs/Dining. We were seated by our ADR time for all meals except one. Waited 5 minutes past our ADR at Crystal Palace lunch (11:30). All meals were also very good! Did have to wait a while after we were done eating at Chef Mickey to get to see all the characters. Kids wanted to wait, so we did.

Blizzard Beach. Did Typhoon Lagoon last year and with our 6 and 9 year old, we liked BB better. The pre-teen area is cool and our kids loved the zip line. Lots of photopass photographers here.

Bus service. We stayed at All Star Movies and Sports. Didn't share any buses going to parks and didn't share coming back from MK. Longest wait was 10 minutes leaving MK on Friday at 2 pm. Most times a bus pulled up about 2 minutes after getting in line. One day two buses pulled up for MK; the first bus wasn't finished loading before the second one was there.

All parks were pretty clean and I didn't see any of the trash issues I'd seen mentioned here.

The Bad:
DHS was just insane. DH went to get FP at rope drop. Line was to Little Mermaid by the time the kids and I got around the corner.

The crane behind the castle. We didn't do photos on our first day at MK. By Friday when we weny back for day 2, the crane was up. I haven't had the heart to load my photopass pics and see. Oh well.

Line Jumpers. We never really experienced this on previous trips. Worst was a group of high school kids with some sort of Disney performing arts bags jumped the fastpass line at Little Mermaid and their friends kept joining them. I have never seen so many people get in line and then expect their family to easily cut through everyone and join them. DH and I joked we'd just let out 6 year old run to the front of the line and then we'd cut saying we needed to catch up with our family. Sorry - you don't. Your family can wait for you.

Also rude people who can see the line for things like pictures at the stockades at Liberty Square and just send their kids up anyway.

The worst line issue was at Cape May buffet were the layout just isn't good for the free dining crowds. Some people thought you should be able to go on around any way you wish. Others who had waited on their side obviously thought differently. I thought two groups were going to go at it.

The smell by the pool at All Star Movies. Yuck. Even my kids noticed it. I don't know if it is the crape myrtle flowers getting wet or what, but it really smells bad by the Fantasia pool entrance. It was there during our short stay and also later in the week we went to get DD's hair wrap there and it was still smelly.

Lazy guests who just drop their trash or leave it at tables to be picked up by workers.

Rides that break down. While not the end of the world, lesson learned is to use your fastpasses and ride when you can. BTMR broke down Wed. afternoon and Splash broke down Friday morning. Had to adjust FP and touring plans accordingly.

I'm happy to try and answer any questions.

[neatokimmo]

Thanks for the update Did the CMs tell you when the crane was being removed?

[CanadianPaco]

Thanks for the reviews! Glad to hear you had a great time!
Where is the centralized FP machine located in AK?

[Miss M.K.J.]

I was wanting to ask you about online check-in...I read in another thread that someone had wrote that if you do online check-in then you will not get any sort of an upgrade. I know that getting an upgrade is just at random anyway but that is why I thought I might just wait until we get to our resort. Since you did online and still got an upgrade then I guess that proves to be not true. Good for you--it is always nice to get a extra surprise!! Is online check-in the best to use when the resorts are crowded?

[seadd67]

I am sorry did you goto Cape may for Breakfast or Dinnier?,we plan on going for Breakfast and wanted to see how the food was?. I am sorry to here about the Line jumpers! how did the little one like It,worth the wait?. Could not darg my DS(16yo) In there kicking and screaming for anything for Little Mermaid,and he hates It when I tell him he use to love watching the shows just wait he will want to see It one day he Is to much of a Disney nut(like my self) to miss It every trip.

[DISHoppy]

Originally Posted by neatokimmo

Thanks for the update Did the CMs tell you when the crane was being removed?

As noted in another thread, it'll be gone on 8/28.

-Kevin

[PrincessKate's Mom]

With the centralized fastpass at AK, can you pick up and hold FP for all three rides at once? We're going in two weeks, those centralized fastpass machines could definitely help out with our touring plan!

[soccerchick]

Originally Posted by PrincessKate's Mom

With the centralized fastpass at AK, can you pick up and hold FP for all three rides at once? We're going in two weeks, those centralized fastpass machines could definitely help out with our touring plan!

yes! We tried to get Kali after that, but the EE one was "live" and we couldn't get one at the actual ride.

Hope it stays there. No one really seemed to pay attention to it. There were never lines at it when we walked by.

To the other poster, we did dinner at Cape May.

[matt&jakesmom]

Here is FP system you are referring to at AK. We are going next week and on our 1st day we thought we would take in a 1/2 day at AK. The FP system would definately work in our favor,don't you think?

I just did online check in the day and thought it was simple to do. We are staying at WL and now wait to see how the rest of it will work out.

[ScarletFire]

Originally Posted by soccerchick

At AK, the three sets of fastpass machines were still there as of Monday. We got three sets - one each for KS, EE, and Dinosaur. This makes touring AK so much better. Little wait for KS at all.

I want to make sure I understand you correctly; you can get three sets of FPs; EE, Dinosaur, KS; at the same time; no wait between collecting FPs.

If so, WOW.

[OB1]

All in all, sounds like a good trip. Thanks for taking the time to report.

I still am unhappy to hear about line issues. In most cases, people just don't save that much time by jumping anyway. And dropping trash - what is this world coming to. People complain that WDW is not as clean as it used to be, but I guarantee you that guests litter much more than in the past. It just kills me to see someone eating, then just drop their trash in the walkways - with a trash can 5 feet away.

[disneycrazy2004]

Originally Posted by soccerchick

Just back from a week at the World. It was hot and crowded, but doable if you use fastpass. Tons of international travelers.

The Good::thumbsup2
At AK, the three sets of fastpass machines were still there as of Monday. We got three sets - one each for KS, EE, and Dinosaur. This makes touring AK so much better. Little wait for KS at all.

I didn't realize this, but you can take FPs for 3 attractions at once? Just a bit confused

[KSBelle]

Thanks for the very informative TR.
I had been wondering about online check in and the FP machines at AK- so thanks for the updates.

[mom2rtk]

Originally Posted by disneycrazy2004

I didn't realize this, but you can take FPs for 3 attractions at once? Just a bit confused

That sounds kind of cool, but don't you all think the fast passes will all be gone WAY sooner that way?

Better get there first thing!

[Kimmysmom]

What was the cranes for?