Mini Trip Report MK on 11/8

[d_lairson]

I spent most of the day yesterday at the MK for my birthday. I read several places online that the park was supposed to have heavy crowds but for most of the day that was not true. My only problems with crowds was from poor parade timing.

When we got their at about 10am we were very concerned because we ended up parking in Sneezey 94, which is in spitting distance of the Race experience. When we got up to the TTC to get my birthday gift card (and we got our tickets to the MVMCP on friday) there were probably 6-8 ticket windows and will cal windows that were open but there were no guests waiting. We had great timing all the way to the park. We parked right at the tram route, got out of the car and walked onto the tram, we walked up to the will call window and it took 3 min to get the gift card and tickets. We walked right onto the express monorail and had an empty cabin. When we got to the park there were no lines at security, so we basically just walked through, it was great!

The park was probably 100% decorated for x-mas, and the decorations were great. From the number of cars in the parking lot we expected the place to be mobbed but it was strangely empty. There was pluto in the town square, chip and dale at the fire house, daisy by package pick up and mary poppins (I think, I didn't quite see her) at tony's and the wait had to have been about 3-4 min at each.

As it was my birthday we headed straight for POTC and literally walked right onto the ride. We did take the left lane in and we saw that the right lane had a little wait, but it was like a minute or something. We did some shopping in the store for x-mas gifts for our nephews. I then killed some time looking at pins while my wife did BTM and SM.

We then had lunch at Cosmic rays, which was a little crowded but not as bad as it has been, then rode the TTA (it was my first ride since they changed the soundtrack and I was not amused with the new one).

After that we left the park to hit the monorail resorts so I could get some pressed pennies and quarters (and we scoped out Poly since we want to stay there soon). We got back to the park at about 2:45 and it was still pretty empty.

As we walked down main street there were big gaps on the curb where no one was waiting on the parade... very strange. But I loved the Mikcey's Christmas Carol window displays at the emporium. We then walked onto POTC again. After a little bit more shopping we headed to the haunted mansion but after dodging the people watching the parade we didn't get there until right after the parade let out and there was the resulting 30 min wait for the HM.

We were going to do the HOP but the ride was closed due to "Technical Issues". So I let my wife drool over all the stuff in the Christmas shop until our ADR at Liberty Tree. I did notice that the crowds were picking up at this point.

We were seated right at 4 and we had my fav meal (where I had LOTS of turkey) and a very yummy free cupcake as dessert.

After dinner the expected crowds had arrived and it was getting a little crazy. We headed over to Buzz to use our fast passes and saw the FP line was huge! So we walked right into the Stitch ride and the Laugh Floor with no wait. We did the TTA and then headed to Philharmagic but the line was too long.

After that we headed to the emporium and we saw that the crowds were just streaming in, I'm assuming for the EMH. We had a bit of an issue getting a mickey x-mas hat embrodered, but we got that sorted out finally and headed to world of disney to use my Birthday gift card on a Donald Big Fig.

Over all impression was that it was a great day to do a morning in the park, but the evening and EMH must have been crazy.

[Amy162]

we also did mk yesterday. crowds were great! we made ropedrop (our first ever!) ang got fp for buzz. we met some characters and did the teacups then got fp for pp. we ended up riding btmr and buzz twice with fastpasses, pooh w/fp, walked onto splash twice around 9pm, walked onto philharmagic twice and walked onto hm once. it was great! arriving at epcot now, will post more later!

[ashleyrm]

Glad to hear that the MK is decorated for Xmas. Was at Animal Kingdom today and no decorations there yet. Guess MK has to get ready earlier due to MVMCP. I still can't decide whether or not to go tomorrow night! There is a 60% chance of rain tomorrow and I just can't decide what to do.