tookydo
Disney Dame
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
- Messages
- 229
This was our 9th trip but first with no kids. They simply didn't want to miss school. I was nervous at first and while we did miss them, it made for a completely different trip. It was relaxed; we rode rides they won't go near any longer (Figment, Turtle Talk, Dumbo, etc.) and we ate at places they would never consider. We stayed at Caribbean Beach for the first time. We liked it a lot; the grounds were immaculate. Our only complaint was that one evening we returned to our room very late and it had never been cleaned. We simply called and had towels delivered.
We spent all day Thursday at Magic Kingdom. It was fabulous - crowds were low; wait times were minimal. By far the best day of the trip as far as crowds go.
Friday morning was spent at Disney Springs. It's a beautiful place but I was disappointed. It really was mostly for the high end shopper and not my taste. We had breakfast at Wolf Gang Puck Express and then heading to DHS. What I have read is true...this is really a half day park. We rode everything we wanted. I'm looking forward to the changes coming. We had dinner at Sci-Fi because I simply love their burgers; waited out a rain storm and headed back to the room.
I'm an uber planner but made a crucial mistake for Saturday. I planned an Epcot day on the first Saturday of Food and Wine. Wow, was it crowded. We started with a PPO ADR at Garden Grille...fabulous! Had an 8:05 ADR, was the first to check in, seated immediately, saw all the characters, not rushed at all and were numbers 9 and 10 in line for Soarin. We loved the new movie and rode 4 more times before our vacation ended. We had lunch at Lotus Garden (yuckee) and discovered the Chase Visa Lounge for the first time...great place to be during a rainstorm. We watched Starship in concert and had dinner at 8:50 at Rose and Crown. This was by far our best meal of the trip. We both had the steak and fish. We asked our waiter if it was possible to get a seat outside and he said that since Illuminations didn't start until 10:00, there was a chance. By the time we were finished with our meal, he had us moved outside to a table for 2 with a front row view of the fireworks.
The only disappointment of the day were the number of drunk people stumbling all over the place, and the language, well, wasn't very family friendly.
We tried EMM at MK. We wanted to see if it was worth it before trying it with the whole family. I loved it! I rode SDMT 10x (once with my DH and the rest by myself). Once I had the entire train to myself. I did have to get off each time. They would not let anyone stay on. I rode until about 8:45 because that's when the PPO ADR folks were permitted on. That was kind of a disappointment to me but it is what it is. So we did Pooh once and PP once; then IASW. Then we had breakfast. I would guess that about 50 people were there for EMM. We got a jump on a few rides after breakfast and headed to Animal Kingdom. We did the safari at 7:30 and it was probably a bit late. Just a little too dark. But the lion was up and walking around - the first time we had ever seen him awake! Dinner at Yak and Yeti. The tree was phenomenal at night. I wish we would have had more time just to watch that.
Our last day we did EMM at DHS. Again, I felt it was worth it. I rode TSMM 8x. This time I didn't have to get off. I just kept going. Then we went to breakfast. I thought this one was slightly better than MK. The french toast was different; there was cheesy potatoes and more fresh fruit. My only complaint would be that the event is too spread out - it takes time to go from TSMM to ST. I would guess there were less than 50 people for EMM. After breakfast we went back to the room and packed then went to Epcot for our last afternoon. We had dinner at Le Cellier. I might get flamed for this but I enjoyed the steak at Rose and Crown more than my filet mignon at Le Cellier. We had a fastpass for Soarin on our way out.
All in all it was a great trip. I thought the parks were clean, inculding the bathrooms, and every CM we encountered was awesome. Wish I could say that for the guests. I tend to shrug things off but two incidents really disturbed me. At the Nemo show at AK we were seated at an aisle. My husband got up to throw away some gum wrappers and a woman and her daughter ambushed his seat. I said excuse me that's my husband's seat. She said "He is going to have to move because my daughter can't see."
There were plenty of seats available so instead of arguing, especially in front of kids, I simply moved. The second incident is even more disturbing. In line for Test Track we were stuck in the room before the design room. I was leaning on the railing watching a women, two lines over, pick her nose. OK, that's gross enough, (warning, you may want to stop reading here), but then she pulled it out and flicked it - right on two kids who were maybe 6 and 8 years old. 
I started to gag, then the doors opened and we entered the design room. What are people thinking??
And I almost forgot, since we are going again next summer and possible in March, for the first time ever, we are annual passholders!
I'm already planning out next trips.
We spent all day Thursday at Magic Kingdom. It was fabulous - crowds were low; wait times were minimal. By far the best day of the trip as far as crowds go.
Friday morning was spent at Disney Springs. It's a beautiful place but I was disappointed. It really was mostly for the high end shopper and not my taste. We had breakfast at Wolf Gang Puck Express and then heading to DHS. What I have read is true...this is really a half day park. We rode everything we wanted. I'm looking forward to the changes coming. We had dinner at Sci-Fi because I simply love their burgers; waited out a rain storm and headed back to the room.
I'm an uber planner but made a crucial mistake for Saturday. I planned an Epcot day on the first Saturday of Food and Wine. Wow, was it crowded. We started with a PPO ADR at Garden Grille...fabulous! Had an 8:05 ADR, was the first to check in, seated immediately, saw all the characters, not rushed at all and were numbers 9 and 10 in line for Soarin. We loved the new movie and rode 4 more times before our vacation ended. We had lunch at Lotus Garden (yuckee) and discovered the Chase Visa Lounge for the first time...great place to be during a rainstorm. We watched Starship in concert and had dinner at 8:50 at Rose and Crown. This was by far our best meal of the trip. We both had the steak and fish. We asked our waiter if it was possible to get a seat outside and he said that since Illuminations didn't start until 10:00, there was a chance. By the time we were finished with our meal, he had us moved outside to a table for 2 with a front row view of the fireworks.
The only disappointment of the day were the number of drunk people stumbling all over the place, and the language, well, wasn't very family friendly.We tried EMM at MK. We wanted to see if it was worth it before trying it with the whole family. I loved it! I rode SDMT 10x (once with my DH and the rest by myself). Once I had the entire train to myself. I did have to get off each time. They would not let anyone stay on. I rode until about 8:45 because that's when the PPO ADR folks were permitted on. That was kind of a disappointment to me but it is what it is. So we did Pooh once and PP once; then IASW. Then we had breakfast. I would guess that about 50 people were there for EMM. We got a jump on a few rides after breakfast and headed to Animal Kingdom. We did the safari at 7:30 and it was probably a bit late. Just a little too dark. But the lion was up and walking around - the first time we had ever seen him awake! Dinner at Yak and Yeti. The tree was phenomenal at night. I wish we would have had more time just to watch that.
Our last day we did EMM at DHS. Again, I felt it was worth it. I rode TSMM 8x. This time I didn't have to get off. I just kept going. Then we went to breakfast. I thought this one was slightly better than MK. The french toast was different; there was cheesy potatoes and more fresh fruit. My only complaint would be that the event is too spread out - it takes time to go from TSMM to ST. I would guess there were less than 50 people for EMM. After breakfast we went back to the room and packed then went to Epcot for our last afternoon. We had dinner at Le Cellier. I might get flamed for this but I enjoyed the steak at Rose and Crown more than my filet mignon at Le Cellier. We had a fastpass for Soarin on our way out.
All in all it was a great trip. I thought the parks were clean, inculding the bathrooms, and every CM we encountered was awesome. Wish I could say that for the guests. I tend to shrug things off but two incidents really disturbed me. At the Nemo show at AK we were seated at an aisle. My husband got up to throw away some gum wrappers and a woman and her daughter ambushed his seat. I said excuse me that's my husband's seat. She said "He is going to have to move because my daughter can't see."
There were plenty of seats available so instead of arguing, especially in front of kids, I simply moved. The second incident is even more disturbing. In line for Test Track we were stuck in the room before the design room. I was leaning on the railing watching a women, two lines over, pick her nose. OK, that's gross enough, (warning, you may want to stop reading here), but then she pulled it out and flicked it - right on two kids who were maybe 6 and 8 years old. I started to gag, then the doors opened and we entered the design room. What are people thinking??And I almost forgot, since we are going again next summer and possible in March, for the first time ever, we are annual passholders!
I'm already planning out next trips.
Glad you had a nice trip. Kidless trips are fantastic arent they? 
