NYDisneyDude
The Disney Padre de Familia
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2007
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- 23
Seven Magical Days at Saratoga Springs Resort
6/24/07 6/30/07
Its 4:45 P.M. on Saturday, June 30, and were at Gate 72 at MCO waiting for our 6:30 flight back to Syracuse. Today was the last day of our 7-day June 2007 Disney trip, our seventh Disney trip in seven years. Below is our trip report, plus a few proven tips and strategies that we have learned over the years to make for a more relaxing, enjoyable, and magical experience. Just a little background information, were a family of five (me, DW, three DSs 16, 14, and 6). We purchased a DVC (325 points) at Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) in 2005.
Day 1 (Sun., 6/24): Clockwork
Our first Disney journey in 2007 started at 3:00 A.M. on Sunday. We woke up at 3:00, hit the road by 3:30, and arrived at the airport at 4:15. We presented our e-ticket information to the Delta counter and the rep. had problems locating our flight information. We booked the flight through Yahoo Travel in early 2007, and the airline changed the flight several times. We suspected this may present a problem at check-in. In short, the Delta rep. corrected our flight information and issued our tickets. The flight to Orlando through Atlanta went like clockwork the theme of the day. We arrived at MCO at 1:30, got our rental car by 2:00, arrived at SSR by 2:30, and we were in our room by 3:15.
We arrived early enough on Sunday to make it an official day in the parks. My wife and I spent a lot of time reviewing and discussing our ticket options prior to the trip. Basically, we knew that we would use at least 5 days for this trip and another 5 days in November (our traditional family trip during Thanksgiving week). We still had 5 days remaining from our 10-day park hopper tickets that we purchased in 2005, but we didnt factor this into our decision because we knew we would use these tickets at some point in the future, and Disney ticket prices only go one direction up. So, we decided to buy annual passes for the family because the 10 days we would use would be cheaper than buying 5-day park hoppers and burning the 5-day tickets we had in the bank. The deciding factor was the $488 discount for being DVC members. In hindsight, buying the annual passes was a great decision. It completely changed our trip and gave us the peace of mind to play in the parks in a way that we had never done before. Plus, by the end of our trip, we ended up using 6 days (an extra day from our original plan).
Back to Day 1. We got on a shuttle and started our trip at Animal Kingdom. We arrived at the park at 4:00 and proceeded to the Guest Relations counter to buy our annual passes. As we approached the counter, we could see that a cast member was getting an earful from a grumpy guest. As the guest was walking away, we greeted the CM (Christine) with a smile and said well be much nicer. When we finished the deal, she asked us one more time for the spelling of our last name. We could see that she was writing out a Fast Pass certificate for the ride of our choice. Thank you, Christine! We immediately fast walked (Im going to trademark this) to Everest and got five Fast Passes (FPs), and then used the Fast Pass certificate from Christine. We enjoyed our inaugural ride for this trip.
After riding Everest, we had dinner at Restaurantosaurus (McD), and then my family rode Dinosaur (while I wandered). We gathered again for Bugs Life, then walked through Maharajah Jungle Trek mainly to see the Komodo Dragon and the bats (very cool). We then used our regular FPs to Everest, and returned home to SSR. Not bad for a 4:00 start.
My wife and I left the three DSs in the room under the watch of the eldest while we drove to Winn Dixie for a weeks worth of breakfast groceries and snacks (we have a proven 1-week grocery list Ill post it if interested). We returned to our villa at 11:00 and crashed after a very productive first day. If we didnt buy the annual passes, we would not have gone to AK. The annual passes allowed us to jump into the parks head first upon arrival. The day went like clockwork.
Day 2 (Mon., 6/25): Dole Whips
We left SSR at 10:00 and headed for MK. Time for tip #1.
Tip #1: During peak season, get a FP for your favorite ride first thing after entering the park. Then, get in line for your first or second favorite ride. This strategy works best in the morning (10-ish), but it will work well at other lucky times throughout the day. By using this strategy, youll be assured to ride one feature attraction twice, or two feature attractions once each before mid-day!
Using my Tip #1, I fast walked to Space Mountain for five FPs. We filled time by watching Monsters, Inc., Carousel of Progress (a family favorite), and then going for a ride on the TTA. Since this took more than two hours, we got five more FPs for Buzz Lightyear, and then went on Space Mountain followed by Buzz Lightyear.
A short thought on dining. We love Disney food. We usually try to balance our meals between fine dining, table service, or counter service. Since the last week of June is considered peak season, combined with the typically hot weather, we decided we did not want to be held back by a lot of table service meals. Our goal this trip was to enjoy the parks (and our annual passes) and eat for sustenance rather than great dining experiences. To that end, we decided to try the Columbia Harbor House for lunch. We tried the fish and chips, clam chowder, and chicken. All in all, a good meal for quick service (3 out of 5 stars).
My wife had wanted to watch the 3:00 parade, and we were able to do this after lunch. This is the first time we had seen the parade, which had a Walt Disney animation theme and featured classic Disney characters/floats probably a must see if you have young children (8 years old or younger). Personally, I would take a pass.
After the parade, we rode Pirates, and then proceeded to Aloha Isle to experience the legend of Dole Whips in honor of Bob from the DIS podcast team. We bought 3 for the 5 of us most of the family enjoyed them (theyre especially good if you let the ice cream melt into the pineapple juice). We all sat around discussing two questions: (1) how did Bob ever think he was going to transport 4 Dole Whips to the podcast studio, and (2) how in the world did he ever consume four before leaving MK??? Three were plenty for the five of us!
We returned to SSR at 5:15, and the family enjoyed some pool time. We made an 8:00 ADR for the Galley at the Yacht Club, based upon Petes recommendation in a recent DIS Unplugged podcast. We ordered 3 NY strip steaks, roasted chicken, and a kids cheeseburger. The meal was good, and Pete was right, the prices were very reasonable and the restaurant was not busy (maybe 1/3 full). I really enjoyed my steak, although I didnt care for the bed of root vegetables they looked and tasted a little too rugged for a steak pairing (and the resort theme). Despite the bland presentation, the steak was cooked perfectly and it tasted great. We walked around the Yacht and Beach Club resorts, then retuned home to our own SSR.
Day 3 (Tue., 6/26): Soarin (oranges vs. popcorn)
We left SSR at 10:00 and arrived at EPCOT at 10:15. Per Tip #1, I fast walked to Soarin while my family went to Test Track to hold a place in line for me. At 10:30, the Soarin FPs had a 1-2 return time. I returned to test Track and met up with my family. The standby time was listed as 40 minutes, but we made it through the ride in about half that time. In generally, it seemed like the listed standby times were longer than the actual standby times.
Useless trivia: What environmental tests did Bill select in the control room?
Answer: 2, 5, and 7
After Test Track, my family went on Mission Space while I wandered EPCOT looking for new and interesting photo spots (found one: take a picture of the EPCOT geosphere with the Universe of Energy sign in the foreground nice shot). One of the newer street shows was a trio of street drummers playing some amazing drum line style beats on garbage cans. Keep your eyes open for this street show while wandering EPCOT.
After my family got off Mission Space, we decided to head to the Lotus Blossom Café for lunch. This used to be one of our favorite lunch dining locations, but over the last three years, it has truly gone down hill. The menu seems a little too obscure and non-Asian for its venue, compared to the more traditional menu that was in place several years ago (the sweet and sour chicken, my favorite, is long gone). After a collective blah from the family, we decided to return to a new favorite, Sunshine Seasons located in the food court at The Land. This dining location has a fantastic menu. We like the Asian station, although the servers have mastered the art of portion control (well politely ask for a little more if the modest serving scoop is not used to its full potential). This location is great due to its proximity to Soarin. Follow my tip #1, have lunch at Sunshine Seasons, and youre good to go for a 1-2 return time for Soarin. We did try to get another FP before entering Soarin at 1:30, all FPs were gone for the day!
After Soarin, we walked to The Seas to see Turtle Talk with Crush. There was virtually no line.
Tip #2: We love the back door strategy, which works great at The Seas and the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney Studios (Ill get to that later). You dont have to go through the Seas with Nemo & Friends to see Turtle Talk. As you approach the building, bear to the left and enter through the intended exit. Turtle Talk will be on your right (I believe). This is an enjoyable attraction for all ages Dude! Note from my wife: The Seas with Nemo is a cute little attraction, but is not worth the typically long line do this during extra magic hours at night.
We decided to leave the park after Turtle Talk. As we were walking by Spaceship Earth, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was still open (we thought it was scheduled for a refurb). This is a timeless, classic attraction!
As we were leaving the park, we passed by several families just arriving. I have to admit, I always chuckle when I see these families studying the park map saying lets go on Soarin. Folks, Soarin is one of the most popular attractions on property (even though its just a movie advertisement for California where you smell oranges instead of popcorn). Again, see Tip #1.
After some pool time at SSR, we had dinner at Planet Hollywood (another family favorite and a traditional stop). We had the L.A. Lasagna, fajitas, a cheeseburger, and a kids chicken crunch. I would give Planet Hollywood 4 out of 5 stars (due to the L.A. Lasagna and the restaurants décor). After dinner, we made our usual stops at Downtown Disney (World of Disney, Once Upon a Toy, and the Pin Store). WOD was mobbed as usual, but it does have the largest selection of Disney merchandise on property (see my Tip #3 under Day 5).
We returned to SSR and called it a day.
Day 4 (Wed., 6/27): The Marathon
When we buy our tickets every year, we always add the park hopper option. Up until now, Ive been a firm believer that each day should have a two-fer (2 parks), every few days should have a three-fer (3 parks) and, drum roll please every trip should have at least one four-fer. Thats right, 4 parks in one day! This year, with our annual passes, we didnt do a three-fer or a four-fer. On Day 4, we stayed in one park (Disney Studios) for fourteen hours our first marathon day ever!
We did so many things that Ill summarize the day in bullet format. Before doing that, I would like to mention two notables. First, the cast members this trip seemed to be more animated and interactive than we have seen in recent years. As we were entering Disney Studios, a security officer approached my wife, handed her a napkin, motioned his hand toward her waist as if she has spilled something, and said Maam, you might need this . My wife was puzzled. As she was looking down, he said you have a little poo on your pack We broke out laughing as he was pointing to Winnie the Pooh on her fanny pack. One of our funniest moments ever in a park, by a security officer no less.
The second notable has to do with my Cast Member Hall of Shame. We truly love Disney service; however, each trip we run into at least one CM who doesnt get it. They completely misinterpret the Disney service hierarchy of Safety-Courtesy-Show-Efficiency. Last year, it was a tie between the CM who screamed at me because I approached Living Seas with a stroller and the CM who left us standing at the entrance of Epcot for 20 minutes after one of our tickets didnt work and she was told to go on break. This years nomination is the CM who told us that my 48.5-inch 6-year old could not go on Rockin Roller Coaster because he was too short. The ride height is 48 inches. My point-fiver had already passed two height check points successfully until reaching a third check point just before boarding the coaster. As the CM was placing the L shaped height checker on my sons head, he said the head has to go above the bar. My sons head was pressing firmly on the bar (which means he was at least 48). I looked at the CM and said if I got under that thing, even my head couldnt go above the bar (Im 6-foot tall). He gave me a stern, non-Disney look and said keep the line moving, you have to do a baby swap. We ignored this rogue CM and boarded the ride with no problems (our 48.5-inch 6-year old absolutely loved it!). This years nomination only wore the uniform. His attitude told a different story.
Now, Im sure some of you are saying the CM was only concerned about your sons safety. In response, I trust the Disney safety engineers. When they say 48, then its safe at 48. If it was marginal or debatable, they would have made it 50 or 52.
Day 4 summary
Arrive at Disney Studios at 10:15
Picked up 5 FPs to Rockin Roller Coaster with a 1-2 return time (Tip #1)
Tower of Terror (1st time) 60 minute standby time, but actual time < 40
Tower of Terror (2nd time) 40 minute standby time, but actual time < 30
Lunch at Pizza Planet (Tip: the tables outside are always full, check out the second floor dining area)
Using Tip #2, we entered the art/collectible gift shop at the animation courtyard and worked our way back to the character greeting area (the final stop of the animation tour). We got some great pictures with Remy and Mr. & Mrs. Incredible no lines!
Rockin Roller Coaster (used FP); CM Hall of Shame encounter
Tower of Terror (3rd time)
Watched the 3:00 parade (Tip: arrive 45 minutes early and find prime viewing spot under a tree on Hollywood Boulevard). Waiting for the parade is just as fun as watching the parade we were entertained the entire time by the street actors and Officer Dunkin. My DW actually got a ticket for attempting to frame your son (long story).
Jedi Training (my 48.5 son was selected) this is a must see for boys 8 and younger
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (1st time) we have totally enjoyed this popular rock-n-roll act over the last 3 years. Last fall, my wife was selected to play cow bell to Honky Tonk Woman. This year she played air guitar to Addicted to Love. I wont mention what they did to me, but it did involve a strap-on motorcycle (you get the picture). A few of the band members looked different this time around, but they sounded better than ever.
Pictures with Lightning McQueen and Mater (Streets of America)
Mulch, Sweat, and tears (2nd time)
Rockin Roller Coaster (2nd time)
Dinner at foodservice counters on Sunset Blvd.
Tower of Terror (4th time)
Star Tours
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (3rd time)
Snacked at Sunset Blvd.
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (4th time) while my wife and youngest went on Great Movie Ride.
Left the park at 12:15 the 14-hour marathon was complete!
We passed by the High School Musical show several times throughout the day. We werent able to find the right time to watch this, but the show looks fabulous and very appealing to all ages!
Day 5 (Thur., 6/28): The Recovery
We woke up late on Day 5 feeling the effects of the prior days marathon. A friend recently told us about retail therapy shopping makes you feel better. So, we decided to take the morning and afternoon off and go shopping. We planned to hit EPCOT in the evening.
On a recent DIS Unplugged podcast, Kevin and Pete mentioned the off-site Disney outlet store called Character Premier. There are two in Orlando we went to both. Folks, this is a must-do activity (thank you, Pete and Kevin). We found clothing items that we wanted to buy on previous trips but the price tag neutralized the impulse. A childrens coat that we bought last year for $50 was selling for $25 (ouch). Here are the two locations:
Character Premier (short drive from Downtown Disney)
Premium Outlet Mall
8200 Vineland Ave.
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 477-0222
Character Premier (approx. 7 miles from SSR)
Belz Factory Outlet Mall (also called Prime Outlets)
5211 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 354-0193
The prices are generally marked 50% off the original price. Now, one quick mention of some Disney irony. Disney Vacation Club merchandise is only available at DVC resorts. This has been a discussion item amongst DVC members on many boards, as we all want DCV merchandise, and there is not an online or mail order catalog. Both outlet stores had plenty of DVC merchandise that anyone could buy. There were also large selections of other Disney-branded items (Annual Passholder, Disney Marathon, Food & Wine Festival, etc.). Disney is probably the best marketer and protector of the brand in the world. When youre on-site, you are at their command. But when their Disney-branded items dont sell and inventory begins to build up, they dump the items in an outlet store like every other retailer in America. Im torn. I now love these stores, but the Disney-branded items seem a little more ordinary.
Tip #3: Visit one of the Character Premier stores
After our shopping expedition, we returned to SSR for some pool and nap time. We then caught a bus to EPCOT and arrived at the park at 7:00. We rode Test Track (< 30 minutes), and then my family went on Mission Space while I located a spot for Illuminations. We have watched this show many, many times over the last seven years. For us, the best viewing location is the stone wall in front of the castle in Canada (near a beer concession). You feel like youre right on top of the fireworks!
After the fireworks, we got a bite to eat at the Liberty Inn (American Adventure), walked around the World Showcase, checked on Soarin (50 minute wait), rode The Seas with Nemo & Friends, saw Turtle Talk again, and left the park at 11:30.
Day 6 (Fri., 6/29): The Two-Fer
The last day in the parks is always bitter-sweet. You want to savor those final moments, but you know the end of the day will come quickly. We decided to make Day 6 a two-fer. We stared the day at Animal Kingdom, arriving at 9:45, and employed my Tip #1. We fast walked to Everest and got 5 FPs (11:30-12:30 return time), then got in the standby line, which had a wait time of approx. 20-25 minutes. My family went on Dinosaur while I sat in the bench area just outside the ride exit. We watched Nemo the Musical at 11:30. My wife loves this show, but I prefer the live Phil Collins music of Tarzan over the soundtrack and fast moving fingers of puppeteers. Artistically, Nemo is first-class and top-notch, and I know it takes talent to sing, puppet-talk, puppet-blink, and move around the stage all at the same time. I still prefer Tarzan Rocks.
Anyway, after Nemo, we used our Everest FPs, then left the park and returned to SSR for pool and nap time.
We had dinner on Day 6 at Bahama Breeze on 535 (near Crossroads). We had the lobster and shrimp linguini, jerk chicken pasta, margarita chicken, hamburger, and kids chicken tenders. This restaurant was tropically themed, the food was outstanding, and our server was phenomenal (I almost had to tell him to stop brining us sodas and water)! This is a Darden restaurant, yet it was quite different from Red Lobster or Olive Garden. Ive had lobster dishes at Red Lobster where I had to search for the lobster. My lobster and shrimp linguini at BB was loaded I enjoyed large chunks of lobster from start to finish. I would rate this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars (a Wow in the table service category). Dinner for 5 with tip came to $100.
What better way to end a trip than Magic Kingdom! We headed to MK at 7:00, and once again employed Tip #1 I got FPs for Splash Mountain while the family got in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I think BMTR is a great coaster in its own right. Theres something scary about watching an unmanned train engine ripping its way through sharp turns, peaks, and valleys. After that, we rode the Liberty Square Riverboat for the first time ever (nice view of BTMR and the MK backlands). We worked our way around SpectroMagic and found our usual spot for the Wishes fireworks display.
Tip #4: the bridge to Tomorrowland near Stitches Great Escape is a fantastic viewing location for Wishes. The perimeter shots are visible from anywhere in the center of the park, but the feature shots are right in front of you at this location.
We returned to Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain. Ive got to say, this is also a great ride. The classic storyline and theme are very enjoyable with several thrills scattered throughout the ride. Its a little like Small World on steroids. The final pre-drop view of Cinderellas Castle and Space Mountain is priceless! Be forewarned, you will get a little wet on this ride, especially if sitting in the front section of the boat. While not all on the same day, we completed the Triple Mountain Whammy wham, wham, wham! Stacy (Top 7) would be proud.
As we headed toward our final ride of the evening, we stopped to watch SpectroMagic. A good location for SM is the area in front of the Hall of Presidents. Find the outer corner (closest to BTMR). With the parade making a 90-degree left turn for its final march to the backlot, you see the floats literally coming right at you. On the MK park map, this location is generally between 17 and 18.
Our final ride of the evening was Its a Small World a fitting end to a great trip. This attraction debuted at the 1964 Worlds Fair, along with Carousel of Progress and two other Disney shows. While the music can drive you a little batty after 10 minutes, you have to appreciate the fact that Walt had the World Showcase concept on the brain long before the idea came to fruition at EPCOT in 1982.
We actually parked our car at the Contemporary and took the monorail over to MK. As we left the park (and our last park visit of this trip sigh), we could see a long line of people coming down the ramp to the monorail technical difficulties. 45 minutes later, we were in our car and ready to return to SSR.
Three quick thoughts looking back at the week. First, the extra magic hours seemed just as busy as the normal hours. We tried to hit the major attractions at each park during EMH but the wait times turned us away. Second, the weather was hot all week. Yes, probably close to stupid hot, maybe even Africa hot at times never unbearable for a family from the Northeast. Plan and pack accordingly (shorts and white/light t-shirts). Third, the landscaping didnt seem to be up to Disney standards (mulch, edging, annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc.). This was particularly noticeable at EPCOT and SSR (the landscaping at SSR always looks a little overgrown and slightly neglected). Not sure why.
Day 7 (Sat., 6/30): The Departure (and Return to Reality)
As we all know, this is the hardest day of any Disney Trip. Nothing compares to the sight of the dreaded envelope on the doorknob of your Disney room. We spent the morning packing and getting ready for our return flight to Syracuse.
We packed the car, and headed to IHOP on 535 for brunch. From there, we headed to Downtown Disney to see the new Disney Pixar movie Ratatouille. We all loved it. Its another Pixar classic, with a wonderful, entertaining storyline (especially if you like food: Anyone can cook). This filled up the remainder of our time in Orlando. The movie ended at 3:15 and we drove to the airport.
The flight from Orlando to Atlanta went well, but there was a problem with a gate that delayed our arrival 30 minutes. We ran to our next flight (minutes to spare) and arrived at Syracuse at 12:30 A.M. (more delays in Atlanta). To top things off, my wife and I were suspecting that we would not see our luggage based upon the Delta flight planning we observed throughout the day. Its now Sunday, 5:00 P.M., and our three large travel bags are somewhere between Syracuse and Atlanta. Delta claimed the bags were delayed due to weight and balance restrictions. Basically, theyre trying to save fuel by holding back luggage. The Delta lost-baggage process is a polar opposite to Disney-style service. It doesnt take long for the magic to fade after leaving Disney property. A few more things the toilet overflowed this morning, the power just went out, and its 55 degrees outside. We miss Disney already!
Tip #5: Use Disneys Photopass as much as possible. This is a great way to get high quality pictures of the entire family (including the family photographer). You can order a CD with all the pictures (regardless of quantity) for $125. And, the Photopass Christmas cards are very nice.
Well, it's back to reality. Thank you for reading my trip report. On behalf of my entire family, we wish you Disney magic each and every day. Thanks also to the entire DIS team for this amazing site and the weekly podcast.
Dana, Sharon, Nate, Dan, and Josh
6/24/07 6/30/07
Its 4:45 P.M. on Saturday, June 30, and were at Gate 72 at MCO waiting for our 6:30 flight back to Syracuse. Today was the last day of our 7-day June 2007 Disney trip, our seventh Disney trip in seven years. Below is our trip report, plus a few proven tips and strategies that we have learned over the years to make for a more relaxing, enjoyable, and magical experience. Just a little background information, were a family of five (me, DW, three DSs 16, 14, and 6). We purchased a DVC (325 points) at Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) in 2005.
Day 1 (Sun., 6/24): Clockwork
Our first Disney journey in 2007 started at 3:00 A.M. on Sunday. We woke up at 3:00, hit the road by 3:30, and arrived at the airport at 4:15. We presented our e-ticket information to the Delta counter and the rep. had problems locating our flight information. We booked the flight through Yahoo Travel in early 2007, and the airline changed the flight several times. We suspected this may present a problem at check-in. In short, the Delta rep. corrected our flight information and issued our tickets. The flight to Orlando through Atlanta went like clockwork the theme of the day. We arrived at MCO at 1:30, got our rental car by 2:00, arrived at SSR by 2:30, and we were in our room by 3:15.
We arrived early enough on Sunday to make it an official day in the parks. My wife and I spent a lot of time reviewing and discussing our ticket options prior to the trip. Basically, we knew that we would use at least 5 days for this trip and another 5 days in November (our traditional family trip during Thanksgiving week). We still had 5 days remaining from our 10-day park hopper tickets that we purchased in 2005, but we didnt factor this into our decision because we knew we would use these tickets at some point in the future, and Disney ticket prices only go one direction up. So, we decided to buy annual passes for the family because the 10 days we would use would be cheaper than buying 5-day park hoppers and burning the 5-day tickets we had in the bank. The deciding factor was the $488 discount for being DVC members. In hindsight, buying the annual passes was a great decision. It completely changed our trip and gave us the peace of mind to play in the parks in a way that we had never done before. Plus, by the end of our trip, we ended up using 6 days (an extra day from our original plan).
Back to Day 1. We got on a shuttle and started our trip at Animal Kingdom. We arrived at the park at 4:00 and proceeded to the Guest Relations counter to buy our annual passes. As we approached the counter, we could see that a cast member was getting an earful from a grumpy guest. As the guest was walking away, we greeted the CM (Christine) with a smile and said well be much nicer. When we finished the deal, she asked us one more time for the spelling of our last name. We could see that she was writing out a Fast Pass certificate for the ride of our choice. Thank you, Christine! We immediately fast walked (Im going to trademark this) to Everest and got five Fast Passes (FPs), and then used the Fast Pass certificate from Christine. We enjoyed our inaugural ride for this trip.
After riding Everest, we had dinner at Restaurantosaurus (McD), and then my family rode Dinosaur (while I wandered). We gathered again for Bugs Life, then walked through Maharajah Jungle Trek mainly to see the Komodo Dragon and the bats (very cool). We then used our regular FPs to Everest, and returned home to SSR. Not bad for a 4:00 start.
My wife and I left the three DSs in the room under the watch of the eldest while we drove to Winn Dixie for a weeks worth of breakfast groceries and snacks (we have a proven 1-week grocery list Ill post it if interested). We returned to our villa at 11:00 and crashed after a very productive first day. If we didnt buy the annual passes, we would not have gone to AK. The annual passes allowed us to jump into the parks head first upon arrival. The day went like clockwork.
Day 2 (Mon., 6/25): Dole Whips
We left SSR at 10:00 and headed for MK. Time for tip #1.
Tip #1: During peak season, get a FP for your favorite ride first thing after entering the park. Then, get in line for your first or second favorite ride. This strategy works best in the morning (10-ish), but it will work well at other lucky times throughout the day. By using this strategy, youll be assured to ride one feature attraction twice, or two feature attractions once each before mid-day!
Using my Tip #1, I fast walked to Space Mountain for five FPs. We filled time by watching Monsters, Inc., Carousel of Progress (a family favorite), and then going for a ride on the TTA. Since this took more than two hours, we got five more FPs for Buzz Lightyear, and then went on Space Mountain followed by Buzz Lightyear.
A short thought on dining. We love Disney food. We usually try to balance our meals between fine dining, table service, or counter service. Since the last week of June is considered peak season, combined with the typically hot weather, we decided we did not want to be held back by a lot of table service meals. Our goal this trip was to enjoy the parks (and our annual passes) and eat for sustenance rather than great dining experiences. To that end, we decided to try the Columbia Harbor House for lunch. We tried the fish and chips, clam chowder, and chicken. All in all, a good meal for quick service (3 out of 5 stars).
My wife had wanted to watch the 3:00 parade, and we were able to do this after lunch. This is the first time we had seen the parade, which had a Walt Disney animation theme and featured classic Disney characters/floats probably a must see if you have young children (8 years old or younger). Personally, I would take a pass.
After the parade, we rode Pirates, and then proceeded to Aloha Isle to experience the legend of Dole Whips in honor of Bob from the DIS podcast team. We bought 3 for the 5 of us most of the family enjoyed them (theyre especially good if you let the ice cream melt into the pineapple juice). We all sat around discussing two questions: (1) how did Bob ever think he was going to transport 4 Dole Whips to the podcast studio, and (2) how in the world did he ever consume four before leaving MK??? Three were plenty for the five of us!
We returned to SSR at 5:15, and the family enjoyed some pool time. We made an 8:00 ADR for the Galley at the Yacht Club, based upon Petes recommendation in a recent DIS Unplugged podcast. We ordered 3 NY strip steaks, roasted chicken, and a kids cheeseburger. The meal was good, and Pete was right, the prices were very reasonable and the restaurant was not busy (maybe 1/3 full). I really enjoyed my steak, although I didnt care for the bed of root vegetables they looked and tasted a little too rugged for a steak pairing (and the resort theme). Despite the bland presentation, the steak was cooked perfectly and it tasted great. We walked around the Yacht and Beach Club resorts, then retuned home to our own SSR.
Day 3 (Tue., 6/26): Soarin (oranges vs. popcorn)
We left SSR at 10:00 and arrived at EPCOT at 10:15. Per Tip #1, I fast walked to Soarin while my family went to Test Track to hold a place in line for me. At 10:30, the Soarin FPs had a 1-2 return time. I returned to test Track and met up with my family. The standby time was listed as 40 minutes, but we made it through the ride in about half that time. In generally, it seemed like the listed standby times were longer than the actual standby times.
Useless trivia: What environmental tests did Bill select in the control room?
Answer: 2, 5, and 7
After Test Track, my family went on Mission Space while I wandered EPCOT looking for new and interesting photo spots (found one: take a picture of the EPCOT geosphere with the Universe of Energy sign in the foreground nice shot). One of the newer street shows was a trio of street drummers playing some amazing drum line style beats on garbage cans. Keep your eyes open for this street show while wandering EPCOT.
After my family got off Mission Space, we decided to head to the Lotus Blossom Café for lunch. This used to be one of our favorite lunch dining locations, but over the last three years, it has truly gone down hill. The menu seems a little too obscure and non-Asian for its venue, compared to the more traditional menu that was in place several years ago (the sweet and sour chicken, my favorite, is long gone). After a collective blah from the family, we decided to return to a new favorite, Sunshine Seasons located in the food court at The Land. This dining location has a fantastic menu. We like the Asian station, although the servers have mastered the art of portion control (well politely ask for a little more if the modest serving scoop is not used to its full potential). This location is great due to its proximity to Soarin. Follow my tip #1, have lunch at Sunshine Seasons, and youre good to go for a 1-2 return time for Soarin. We did try to get another FP before entering Soarin at 1:30, all FPs were gone for the day!
After Soarin, we walked to The Seas to see Turtle Talk with Crush. There was virtually no line.
Tip #2: We love the back door strategy, which works great at The Seas and the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney Studios (Ill get to that later). You dont have to go through the Seas with Nemo & Friends to see Turtle Talk. As you approach the building, bear to the left and enter through the intended exit. Turtle Talk will be on your right (I believe). This is an enjoyable attraction for all ages Dude! Note from my wife: The Seas with Nemo is a cute little attraction, but is not worth the typically long line do this during extra magic hours at night.
We decided to leave the park after Turtle Talk. As we were walking by Spaceship Earth, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was still open (we thought it was scheduled for a refurb). This is a timeless, classic attraction!
As we were leaving the park, we passed by several families just arriving. I have to admit, I always chuckle when I see these families studying the park map saying lets go on Soarin. Folks, Soarin is one of the most popular attractions on property (even though its just a movie advertisement for California where you smell oranges instead of popcorn). Again, see Tip #1.
After some pool time at SSR, we had dinner at Planet Hollywood (another family favorite and a traditional stop). We had the L.A. Lasagna, fajitas, a cheeseburger, and a kids chicken crunch. I would give Planet Hollywood 4 out of 5 stars (due to the L.A. Lasagna and the restaurants décor). After dinner, we made our usual stops at Downtown Disney (World of Disney, Once Upon a Toy, and the Pin Store). WOD was mobbed as usual, but it does have the largest selection of Disney merchandise on property (see my Tip #3 under Day 5).
We returned to SSR and called it a day.
Day 4 (Wed., 6/27): The Marathon
When we buy our tickets every year, we always add the park hopper option. Up until now, Ive been a firm believer that each day should have a two-fer (2 parks), every few days should have a three-fer (3 parks) and, drum roll please every trip should have at least one four-fer. Thats right, 4 parks in one day! This year, with our annual passes, we didnt do a three-fer or a four-fer. On Day 4, we stayed in one park (Disney Studios) for fourteen hours our first marathon day ever!
We did so many things that Ill summarize the day in bullet format. Before doing that, I would like to mention two notables. First, the cast members this trip seemed to be more animated and interactive than we have seen in recent years. As we were entering Disney Studios, a security officer approached my wife, handed her a napkin, motioned his hand toward her waist as if she has spilled something, and said Maam, you might need this . My wife was puzzled. As she was looking down, he said you have a little poo on your pack We broke out laughing as he was pointing to Winnie the Pooh on her fanny pack. One of our funniest moments ever in a park, by a security officer no less.
The second notable has to do with my Cast Member Hall of Shame. We truly love Disney service; however, each trip we run into at least one CM who doesnt get it. They completely misinterpret the Disney service hierarchy of Safety-Courtesy-Show-Efficiency. Last year, it was a tie between the CM who screamed at me because I approached Living Seas with a stroller and the CM who left us standing at the entrance of Epcot for 20 minutes after one of our tickets didnt work and she was told to go on break. This years nomination is the CM who told us that my 48.5-inch 6-year old could not go on Rockin Roller Coaster because he was too short. The ride height is 48 inches. My point-fiver had already passed two height check points successfully until reaching a third check point just before boarding the coaster. As the CM was placing the L shaped height checker on my sons head, he said the head has to go above the bar. My sons head was pressing firmly on the bar (which means he was at least 48). I looked at the CM and said if I got under that thing, even my head couldnt go above the bar (Im 6-foot tall). He gave me a stern, non-Disney look and said keep the line moving, you have to do a baby swap. We ignored this rogue CM and boarded the ride with no problems (our 48.5-inch 6-year old absolutely loved it!). This years nomination only wore the uniform. His attitude told a different story.
Now, Im sure some of you are saying the CM was only concerned about your sons safety. In response, I trust the Disney safety engineers. When they say 48, then its safe at 48. If it was marginal or debatable, they would have made it 50 or 52.
Day 4 summary
Arrive at Disney Studios at 10:15
Picked up 5 FPs to Rockin Roller Coaster with a 1-2 return time (Tip #1)
Tower of Terror (1st time) 60 minute standby time, but actual time < 40
Tower of Terror (2nd time) 40 minute standby time, but actual time < 30
Lunch at Pizza Planet (Tip: the tables outside are always full, check out the second floor dining area)
Using Tip #2, we entered the art/collectible gift shop at the animation courtyard and worked our way back to the character greeting area (the final stop of the animation tour). We got some great pictures with Remy and Mr. & Mrs. Incredible no lines!
Rockin Roller Coaster (used FP); CM Hall of Shame encounter
Tower of Terror (3rd time)
Watched the 3:00 parade (Tip: arrive 45 minutes early and find prime viewing spot under a tree on Hollywood Boulevard). Waiting for the parade is just as fun as watching the parade we were entertained the entire time by the street actors and Officer Dunkin. My DW actually got a ticket for attempting to frame your son (long story).
Jedi Training (my 48.5 son was selected) this is a must see for boys 8 and younger
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (1st time) we have totally enjoyed this popular rock-n-roll act over the last 3 years. Last fall, my wife was selected to play cow bell to Honky Tonk Woman. This year she played air guitar to Addicted to Love. I wont mention what they did to me, but it did involve a strap-on motorcycle (you get the picture). A few of the band members looked different this time around, but they sounded better than ever.
Pictures with Lightning McQueen and Mater (Streets of America)
Mulch, Sweat, and tears (2nd time)
Rockin Roller Coaster (2nd time)
Dinner at foodservice counters on Sunset Blvd.
Tower of Terror (4th time)
Star Tours
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (3rd time)
Snacked at Sunset Blvd.
Mulch, Sweat, and Tears (4th time) while my wife and youngest went on Great Movie Ride.
Left the park at 12:15 the 14-hour marathon was complete!
We passed by the High School Musical show several times throughout the day. We werent able to find the right time to watch this, but the show looks fabulous and very appealing to all ages!
Day 5 (Thur., 6/28): The Recovery
We woke up late on Day 5 feeling the effects of the prior days marathon. A friend recently told us about retail therapy shopping makes you feel better. So, we decided to take the morning and afternoon off and go shopping. We planned to hit EPCOT in the evening.
On a recent DIS Unplugged podcast, Kevin and Pete mentioned the off-site Disney outlet store called Character Premier. There are two in Orlando we went to both. Folks, this is a must-do activity (thank you, Pete and Kevin). We found clothing items that we wanted to buy on previous trips but the price tag neutralized the impulse. A childrens coat that we bought last year for $50 was selling for $25 (ouch). Here are the two locations:
Character Premier (short drive from Downtown Disney)
Premium Outlet Mall
8200 Vineland Ave.
Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 477-0222
Character Premier (approx. 7 miles from SSR)
Belz Factory Outlet Mall (also called Prime Outlets)
5211 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 354-0193
The prices are generally marked 50% off the original price. Now, one quick mention of some Disney irony. Disney Vacation Club merchandise is only available at DVC resorts. This has been a discussion item amongst DVC members on many boards, as we all want DCV merchandise, and there is not an online or mail order catalog. Both outlet stores had plenty of DVC merchandise that anyone could buy. There were also large selections of other Disney-branded items (Annual Passholder, Disney Marathon, Food & Wine Festival, etc.). Disney is probably the best marketer and protector of the brand in the world. When youre on-site, you are at their command. But when their Disney-branded items dont sell and inventory begins to build up, they dump the items in an outlet store like every other retailer in America. Im torn. I now love these stores, but the Disney-branded items seem a little more ordinary.
Tip #3: Visit one of the Character Premier stores
After our shopping expedition, we returned to SSR for some pool and nap time. We then caught a bus to EPCOT and arrived at the park at 7:00. We rode Test Track (< 30 minutes), and then my family went on Mission Space while I located a spot for Illuminations. We have watched this show many, many times over the last seven years. For us, the best viewing location is the stone wall in front of the castle in Canada (near a beer concession). You feel like youre right on top of the fireworks!
After the fireworks, we got a bite to eat at the Liberty Inn (American Adventure), walked around the World Showcase, checked on Soarin (50 minute wait), rode The Seas with Nemo & Friends, saw Turtle Talk again, and left the park at 11:30.
Day 6 (Fri., 6/29): The Two-Fer
The last day in the parks is always bitter-sweet. You want to savor those final moments, but you know the end of the day will come quickly. We decided to make Day 6 a two-fer. We stared the day at Animal Kingdom, arriving at 9:45, and employed my Tip #1. We fast walked to Everest and got 5 FPs (11:30-12:30 return time), then got in the standby line, which had a wait time of approx. 20-25 minutes. My family went on Dinosaur while I sat in the bench area just outside the ride exit. We watched Nemo the Musical at 11:30. My wife loves this show, but I prefer the live Phil Collins music of Tarzan over the soundtrack and fast moving fingers of puppeteers. Artistically, Nemo is first-class and top-notch, and I know it takes talent to sing, puppet-talk, puppet-blink, and move around the stage all at the same time. I still prefer Tarzan Rocks.
Anyway, after Nemo, we used our Everest FPs, then left the park and returned to SSR for pool and nap time.
We had dinner on Day 6 at Bahama Breeze on 535 (near Crossroads). We had the lobster and shrimp linguini, jerk chicken pasta, margarita chicken, hamburger, and kids chicken tenders. This restaurant was tropically themed, the food was outstanding, and our server was phenomenal (I almost had to tell him to stop brining us sodas and water)! This is a Darden restaurant, yet it was quite different from Red Lobster or Olive Garden. Ive had lobster dishes at Red Lobster where I had to search for the lobster. My lobster and shrimp linguini at BB was loaded I enjoyed large chunks of lobster from start to finish. I would rate this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars (a Wow in the table service category). Dinner for 5 with tip came to $100.
What better way to end a trip than Magic Kingdom! We headed to MK at 7:00, and once again employed Tip #1 I got FPs for Splash Mountain while the family got in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I think BMTR is a great coaster in its own right. Theres something scary about watching an unmanned train engine ripping its way through sharp turns, peaks, and valleys. After that, we rode the Liberty Square Riverboat for the first time ever (nice view of BTMR and the MK backlands). We worked our way around SpectroMagic and found our usual spot for the Wishes fireworks display.
Tip #4: the bridge to Tomorrowland near Stitches Great Escape is a fantastic viewing location for Wishes. The perimeter shots are visible from anywhere in the center of the park, but the feature shots are right in front of you at this location.
We returned to Frontierland to ride Splash Mountain. Ive got to say, this is also a great ride. The classic storyline and theme are very enjoyable with several thrills scattered throughout the ride. Its a little like Small World on steroids. The final pre-drop view of Cinderellas Castle and Space Mountain is priceless! Be forewarned, you will get a little wet on this ride, especially if sitting in the front section of the boat. While not all on the same day, we completed the Triple Mountain Whammy wham, wham, wham! Stacy (Top 7) would be proud.
As we headed toward our final ride of the evening, we stopped to watch SpectroMagic. A good location for SM is the area in front of the Hall of Presidents. Find the outer corner (closest to BTMR). With the parade making a 90-degree left turn for its final march to the backlot, you see the floats literally coming right at you. On the MK park map, this location is generally between 17 and 18.
Our final ride of the evening was Its a Small World a fitting end to a great trip. This attraction debuted at the 1964 Worlds Fair, along with Carousel of Progress and two other Disney shows. While the music can drive you a little batty after 10 minutes, you have to appreciate the fact that Walt had the World Showcase concept on the brain long before the idea came to fruition at EPCOT in 1982.
We actually parked our car at the Contemporary and took the monorail over to MK. As we left the park (and our last park visit of this trip sigh), we could see a long line of people coming down the ramp to the monorail technical difficulties. 45 minutes later, we were in our car and ready to return to SSR.
Three quick thoughts looking back at the week. First, the extra magic hours seemed just as busy as the normal hours. We tried to hit the major attractions at each park during EMH but the wait times turned us away. Second, the weather was hot all week. Yes, probably close to stupid hot, maybe even Africa hot at times never unbearable for a family from the Northeast. Plan and pack accordingly (shorts and white/light t-shirts). Third, the landscaping didnt seem to be up to Disney standards (mulch, edging, annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc.). This was particularly noticeable at EPCOT and SSR (the landscaping at SSR always looks a little overgrown and slightly neglected). Not sure why.
Day 7 (Sat., 6/30): The Departure (and Return to Reality)
As we all know, this is the hardest day of any Disney Trip. Nothing compares to the sight of the dreaded envelope on the doorknob of your Disney room. We spent the morning packing and getting ready for our return flight to Syracuse.
We packed the car, and headed to IHOP on 535 for brunch. From there, we headed to Downtown Disney to see the new Disney Pixar movie Ratatouille. We all loved it. Its another Pixar classic, with a wonderful, entertaining storyline (especially if you like food: Anyone can cook). This filled up the remainder of our time in Orlando. The movie ended at 3:15 and we drove to the airport.
The flight from Orlando to Atlanta went well, but there was a problem with a gate that delayed our arrival 30 minutes. We ran to our next flight (minutes to spare) and arrived at Syracuse at 12:30 A.M. (more delays in Atlanta). To top things off, my wife and I were suspecting that we would not see our luggage based upon the Delta flight planning we observed throughout the day. Its now Sunday, 5:00 P.M., and our three large travel bags are somewhere between Syracuse and Atlanta. Delta claimed the bags were delayed due to weight and balance restrictions. Basically, theyre trying to save fuel by holding back luggage. The Delta lost-baggage process is a polar opposite to Disney-style service. It doesnt take long for the magic to fade after leaving Disney property. A few more things the toilet overflowed this morning, the power just went out, and its 55 degrees outside. We miss Disney already!
Tip #5: Use Disneys Photopass as much as possible. This is a great way to get high quality pictures of the entire family (including the family photographer). You can order a CD with all the pictures (regardless of quantity) for $125. And, the Photopass Christmas cards are very nice.
Well, it's back to reality. Thank you for reading my trip report. On behalf of my entire family, we wish you Disney magic each and every day. Thanks also to the entire DIS team for this amazing site and the weekly podcast.
Dana, Sharon, Nate, Dan, and Josh
). You are definately the king of the parks...I could never survive a "four-fer", and the CMs who clean up the parks at the end of the day would have to sweep me up if I did one of your "Marathons". I love SSR! I am not a DVC member, although I should be according to your strategy #7...which I will make sure to pass along to DH! We stayed at SSR in January on rented points and had such a great trip. You offered to post your proven one week grocery store list, and I would love to see it when you have time.
) This gave us breakfast for the 6 night stay and snacks. We bought lunch and dinner, occasional water/lemonade, and Dole Whips when we were out and about.....
