MorgannesMom
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2008
We just returned home from WDW late last night. These boards have always been so helpful to me, so I just wanted to share a few things that we learned this past trip I hope it helps someone else
1) Labor Day really isn't too crowded at WDW. The day after is even better, and the day after that even BETTER! Tuesday and Wednesday this week we truly walked on everything. Yesterday at 11 AM, Soarin had a 15 minute wait! Unbelieveable!
2) September can be hot and we had a couple of hot days but overall with mid day breaks it wasnt too bad.
3) A two hour mid-day break isn't long enough to nap and swim.
4) In September you dont have to wait in line for Fantasmic. Twenty min is plenty early. It may not be dead center, but the seats were fine (except for #5 below) and you could see everything.
5)It is hot, hot, hot, at Fantasmic. Bring something to use as a fan.
6)If Wishes is going on at the same time as Illuminations you can watch both from Germany in Epcot. It is really cool!
7)You can get stuck in front of Cinderella's Castle during MSEP, and yes, the music is as annoying as everyone has said. Be sure to move away from the parade route before it gets anywhere close or you can get stuck for the WHOLE parade.
8)I couldn't make the water fountains talk in Epcot. I was very disappointed!
9)Jiko rocks! Best restaurant I have eaten at Disney - and I have tried many of the best like California Grill, OHannas, Bistro DParis, LeCelliere (Can't spell that one...)
10) You cannot see Illuminations from under the canopy at Rose and Crown. Unfortunately our dinner was served to the table about 5 minutes before Illuminations started and we were starved (and didnt want a cold meal), so we tried to watch from our table no luck.
11) If you have visited a country which is represented in Epcots World Showcase, be sure to talk to the cast members from that country. We visited the real Morocco this past spring and had the best time talking with the Moroccan cast members. We shared pictures, and experiences. The Moroccan cast members were so excited to talk about their homeland with someone who had actually been there.
12) The boats to/from Disney Studios are hot and stuffy. We road 3 different boats and there was no AC on any of them. Id rather walk
13) The funniest conversations can be overheard in the bathroom - example - Mother to child - "just sit on the toilet and pee" or again, mother to child - "Are you tired?" Child - "Yes" - Parent - "well that's what happens when you get up at 4 in the morning!" My DH overhead a child in a stall in the mens room - Dad, how come there are no stools at ANY of the toilets in Disney?!
14) Be flexible. Plan everything, but be ready to throw those plans out the window. The magic happens most when it is unscripted.
15) Be proud if it is your Birthday. Wear your badge and wonderful things can happen.
16) Mission Space Orange so much fun! Especially when your family of 3 has the cockpit all to themselves! Everyone becomes a kid again, flipping buttons, yelling out the countdown, and screaming for pure joy!
17) Don't plan your earliest morning on your 5th day in. It is really hard to get up for that 8:05 reservation!
18) Humans aren't made of sugar. We don't melt. A September rain isn't cold and it keeps the crowds low!
19) The one time you dont carry the rain ponchos it will rain. But dont despair see #18 above!
20) Look at the sleeping faces of the children riding back to the hotel late at night. They become angelic.
21) Look at the faces of the parents of these children. They are tired, but happy to hold their children close - especially the parents of the 8, 9 and 10 year olds who know this may be the last time their child sleeps in their arms.
22) Listen to your children. They often have profound insights that we miss.
23) Your kids are never too old to play. If you take the time and effort to play with them, a miracle may even happen - your teenager may stop texting for a few minutes!
24) I know this has been said before, but it should be repeated even after many, many trips to WDW you will never see everything, so just relax and enjoy the trip, see what fits into the time you have, but most importantly enjoy the time with your family.
25) A kindness given will always be returned. Not always instantly but it will come back. Take pictures for other families the same will be done for you, Let someone move ahead of you in line if they ask in the long run it wont add that much to your wait. Give a small child your better view for the fireworks and parades you can always see over their heads, and just the joy on their faces is worth the two steps backwards!
1) Labor Day really isn't too crowded at WDW. The day after is even better, and the day after that even BETTER! Tuesday and Wednesday this week we truly walked on everything. Yesterday at 11 AM, Soarin had a 15 minute wait! Unbelieveable!
2) September can be hot and we had a couple of hot days but overall with mid day breaks it wasnt too bad.
3) A two hour mid-day break isn't long enough to nap and swim.
4) In September you dont have to wait in line for Fantasmic. Twenty min is plenty early. It may not be dead center, but the seats were fine (except for #5 below) and you could see everything.
5)It is hot, hot, hot, at Fantasmic. Bring something to use as a fan.
6)If Wishes is going on at the same time as Illuminations you can watch both from Germany in Epcot. It is really cool!
7)You can get stuck in front of Cinderella's Castle during MSEP, and yes, the music is as annoying as everyone has said. Be sure to move away from the parade route before it gets anywhere close or you can get stuck for the WHOLE parade.
8)I couldn't make the water fountains talk in Epcot. I was very disappointed!
9)Jiko rocks! Best restaurant I have eaten at Disney - and I have tried many of the best like California Grill, OHannas, Bistro DParis, LeCelliere (Can't spell that one...)
10) You cannot see Illuminations from under the canopy at Rose and Crown. Unfortunately our dinner was served to the table about 5 minutes before Illuminations started and we were starved (and didnt want a cold meal), so we tried to watch from our table no luck.
11) If you have visited a country which is represented in Epcots World Showcase, be sure to talk to the cast members from that country. We visited the real Morocco this past spring and had the best time talking with the Moroccan cast members. We shared pictures, and experiences. The Moroccan cast members were so excited to talk about their homeland with someone who had actually been there.
12) The boats to/from Disney Studios are hot and stuffy. We road 3 different boats and there was no AC on any of them. Id rather walk
13) The funniest conversations can be overheard in the bathroom - example - Mother to child - "just sit on the toilet and pee" or again, mother to child - "Are you tired?" Child - "Yes" - Parent - "well that's what happens when you get up at 4 in the morning!" My DH overhead a child in a stall in the mens room - Dad, how come there are no stools at ANY of the toilets in Disney?!
14) Be flexible. Plan everything, but be ready to throw those plans out the window. The magic happens most when it is unscripted.
15) Be proud if it is your Birthday. Wear your badge and wonderful things can happen.
16) Mission Space Orange so much fun! Especially when your family of 3 has the cockpit all to themselves! Everyone becomes a kid again, flipping buttons, yelling out the countdown, and screaming for pure joy!
17) Don't plan your earliest morning on your 5th day in. It is really hard to get up for that 8:05 reservation!
18) Humans aren't made of sugar. We don't melt. A September rain isn't cold and it keeps the crowds low!
19) The one time you dont carry the rain ponchos it will rain. But dont despair see #18 above!
20) Look at the sleeping faces of the children riding back to the hotel late at night. They become angelic.
21) Look at the faces of the parents of these children. They are tired, but happy to hold their children close - especially the parents of the 8, 9 and 10 year olds who know this may be the last time their child sleeps in their arms.
22) Listen to your children. They often have profound insights that we miss.
23) Your kids are never too old to play. If you take the time and effort to play with them, a miracle may even happen - your teenager may stop texting for a few minutes!
24) I know this has been said before, but it should be repeated even after many, many trips to WDW you will never see everything, so just relax and enjoy the trip, see what fits into the time you have, but most importantly enjoy the time with your family.
25) A kindness given will always be returned. Not always instantly but it will come back. Take pictures for other families the same will be done for you, Let someone move ahead of you in line if they ask in the long run it wont add that much to your wait. Give a small child your better view for the fireworks and parades you can always see over their heads, and just the joy on their faces is worth the two steps backwards!
We were there last year including the weekend before Labor Day and that was a little more crowded than we had experienced on our prior trip, but once Labor Day hit and the days following- AWESOME! So sad we missed it this year.
