Back last night: wait times, etc!

[mariepapa]

Wow! What a great trip we had Stayed from 8/23-8/28 at Pop Century. Did online check in (loved it, waited one minute in line when we got there). Pop was nice but very big and busy. But for the money I am not complaining. All days were extremely hot and humid. We almost passed out

Magic Kingdom 8/23: used FPs on Splash when we got in at 11:30 and the wait was 50 min. We came back and rode an hour later with our FPs. POC was 10 min, HM 20 min, BTMMR, we also used FPs and the wait was 60 min. Stayed for Spectromagic which was incredible and had great seats but had to line up early for those :0 Watched wishes from the entrance also wow!!!!!!!!! Crowded but not as bad as I thought and all people without ADRs were being turned aways from restaurants.

Magic Kingdom 8/24: did Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Dumbo at opening was 20 minutes! Rope drop for Toontown, 2nd in line for Fairies (yippee)! Met Minnie and Mickey, waited 15 minutes. Used FPs for PPF and Pooh that day. Both had lines around 50 minutes. All others were very short, around 15 minutes. Philharmagic was 5 minutes. We did all we wanted to do and were happy.

Animal Kingdom 8/25: Got there at rope drop like all other days so far! Central FP kiosk was open and got all three FPs which had return times of 10:30 am. Did ITTBAB which was walk in and not even full. Then Safari (10 min with FP) and then gorillas. Then Flights of Wonder. My daughter and husband rode EE and were out in 5 min and the line was 30 min. We then made it to Dinosaur which rocked, I loved that attraction so much! Wait time on that without FP was 70 min. Did a few more things had a great dinner at the Tusker House (great buffet) and swam at the hotel that night because we were pooped!

Epcot 8/26: Rope drop and hightailed it to Soarin, got at FP and did the Seas, then Soarin (which had a 70 min wait). Then over to TT, skipped Mission Space the time was never right. Even with a FP, we waited 20 minutes and the standby was 90. Then WS but Maesltrom was walk on. Very hot that day and rained that night but not enough to drag out the ponchos. It cooled off nicely from the rain.

Hollywood Studios 8/27: Rope drop with the entire world to TSM!!!!!!! FP line was almost an hour!!!!! We went to standby which was at 20 min and waited 40 until they announced the ride broke down So we got a FP for 2:30 pm and came back then (wait time then 90 min). Bad luck again. My DD wanted to ride RRC so I waited with her in the Single Rider line and it broke down while we were waiting. So we waited 30 minutes. It finally came back up and she rode. Standby was 50 min. when we went in. After being there for 2 hours, we finally got to ride something. Muppetvision 3D was wonderful. Then had lunch and did Indiana Jones. Did most everything we wanted to do, except Fantasmic which was standing room at 7:45 pm. We were too tired to stand anymore so we left.

Great trip but as per other reports: some cast members could care less. Heck I could barely understand a lot of them! And I live with an immigrant! Also dining plan should be revamped. They need more kids choices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BridgetBordeaux]

Really cool update. Thanks for the details. Sorry that a few things broke down!

[mariepapa]

...it was a good thing I did not order the Photopass CD! I barely saw any photographers. I saw a couple in MK and mainly only when we were getting character signings. Again, the same goes for AK. NONE in Epcot and only one in HS! And the photos we did get were not that good so I don't think we will be ordering any.

[DLR29]

I totally feel your pain about DHS and stuff breaking down. I think one day we arrived after a midday break about 4 and I didn't ride/see anything until 7 because of all of the ride breakdowns and other inconveniences.

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Originally Posted by mariepapa

Animal Kingdom 8/25: Got there at rope drop like all other days so far! Central FP kiosk was open and got all three FPs which had return times of 10:30 am.

So you were able to get FP for all 3 rides at the same time?

[mariepapa]

Originally Posted by Tarheel girl 1975

So you were able to get FP for all 3 rides at the same time?

Yes, but they said this was an experiment that was supposed to end the next week. I loved that I did not have to hike to three different places to get them all too. And since you don't usually have to use them within the hour they give you, it worked out great. I seriously don't see how people cannot use the Fast Pass system and still enjoy their vacations

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Originally Posted by mariepapa

...it was a good thing I did not order the Photopass CD! I barely saw any photographers. I saw a couple in MK and mainly only when we were getting character signings. Again, the same goes for AK. NONE in Epcot and only one in HS! And the photos we did get were not that good so I don't think we will be ordering any.

Sounds like you had a good time and managed to get alot done. Thanks for the report and espically for the Photopass update. Today is D day for ordering for our trip (personal deadline) and I have been toying w/ the idea back and forth. After hearing the bad reports on the Dis lately about photogs being MIA I just couldn't decide, but you have convinced me to keep the $100. Can't get much closer to actual real time of our trip advice than this. Thanks again.

[mariepapa]

Originally Posted by PIRATEGIRL007

Sounds like you had a good time and managed to get alot done. Thanks for the report and espically for the Photopass update. Today is D day for ordering for our trip (personal deadline) and I have been toying w/ the idea back and forth. After hearing the bad reports on the Dis lately about photogs being MIA I just couldn't decide, but you have convinced me to keep the $100. Can't get much closer to actual real time of our trip advice than this. Thanks again.

Glad I could help you! One thing I found is that my husband and daughter took better photos than the photopass photographers! I have three or four on my card of just the back of my daughter's head! Why in the heck would I pay money for that?

[sherabby]

We saw quite a few photo pass photographers. There were at all the entrances every time we hopped parks as well. AK had them in the photo spots. We had no issues...even got night shots in front of the castle and at the side of the castle. Wait times on Fri night were almost non-existant! 5 min at Buzz and I saw no line at Splash either!