EAWildman
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2008
- Messages
- 226
So, by pure chance, my wife and I had the opportunity to be in WDW for two days last week. We decided to take it. See, we had a couple of days set up to house hunt in Atlanta, but the baby sitter (grandma) took the grandson for the whole week...so, we added a couple of days down in Florida before we went house hunting in Georgia.
We are airline employees so we fly stand-by for free. With the airline discount on rooms, we got a reasonable deal for a preferred room at All Star Sports. I arranged for a fellow DIS'er to drop off an annual pass discount card so we could purchase annual passes for ourselves. We figure since we will be living in Atlanta, we will have more opportunities to take quick, short trips to WDW this upcoming year. Especially since our boy just turned 2 and will get in free for the duration of these annual passes.
The UG said that these days would be "9's" on the crowd calendar. And while there were certainly alot of people around...more than we are used to when going in January or November like we usually do...I didn't think the crowds were nearly as bad as I had imagined. The parks were crowded, but we still got to go on many rides and attractions and we didn't follow a touring plan and we didn't go right a rope drop either.
The first day we went to EPCOT and bought our annual pass. It was around noon I think. We rode on Ellen's Energy Adventure (no wait) and Spaceship Earth (5 minute wait). Then we took the monorail over to MK. We rode Pirates of the Carribean (5 minute wait) and got something to eat (Pecos Bill's). We did a little shopping while waiting for the next show of the Hall of Presidents. We saw that and thought it was fantastic. Major improvement. Then we headed over to the Haunted Mansion. It was posted as a 25 minute wait...we got in line since it was starting to rain a little bit. I think the wait was less, hard to say.
Then we wandered about Fantasy land for a while. Went to get a Mickey bar and the stand looked like it was closing up...we went to ask the manager who was helping to pack it up, where the nearest ice cream vendor was. He asked what we wanted to buy...we said "Mickey bars!" He went over, picked up two, gave them to us and said..."shhhhh....here you go!"
We thanked him and told him he made our day magical!
We went over to Tomorrow land and rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger spin (5 min wait). Then it was about time for Wishes. This is where it did seem like it was very, very crowded. But after the fireworks were over the crowd really thinned out. Alot. We rode Splash Mountain (posted a 20 minute wait but was about 10 minutes) and we could have just stayed on to ride again if had wanted to (but the wife got wet and didn't want to get more wet.) We also rode BTMRR with no wait at all. We got to see the nighttime parade. We went and saw Philharmagic (just had to wait until the next show). Then we got to ride the last boat of Jungle Cruise. That was alot of fun!
The next day was hotter, but no rain. We started out about 11am at the AK. We had lunch at Pizzafarri which I had never been to and thought was actually very good. We rode Dinosaur (45 minute wait) while waiting for the next show of the Finding Nemo Musical. After that we caught the afternoon parade at AK, we hopped over to the Studios and rode the GMR and then saw the finale show of American Idol. I loved the new American Idol attraction. I thought it was really fun and very entertaining. I thought it fit right in with the Studios theme.
We had dinner at Hollywood and Vine and got right in...no wait, no reservation. Of course, it was right when people were lining up for Phantasmic. After dinner we hopped over to the Magic Kingdom just in time to watch Wishes right in the middle of Mainstreet USA. Best viewing of Wishes ever!
After that we went and got a Dole whip and did Pirates of the Caribbean again (no wait). We also did the Laugh Floor (no wait) and Buzz Lightyear again (no wait...no one in line at all). We got over to do Winnie the pooh (no wait) and the Haunted Mansion again (no wait).
The buses were great! Twice we had a whole bus for ourselves. Once going to EPCOT (we waited about 10-15 mintues). Once coming back from the MK at about 1am the first day. No wait for that bus.
The weather the first day was hot, but mostly cloudy which cut the heat down and bit and it cooled off a bit too after a little rain shower passed through. It was hotter and sunnier the second day, but no rain at all.
Overall, it was a great short trip. Took most of my fear of summer visits away. Had a great time.
Eric
We are airline employees so we fly stand-by for free. With the airline discount on rooms, we got a reasonable deal for a preferred room at All Star Sports. I arranged for a fellow DIS'er to drop off an annual pass discount card so we could purchase annual passes for ourselves. We figure since we will be living in Atlanta, we will have more opportunities to take quick, short trips to WDW this upcoming year. Especially since our boy just turned 2 and will get in free for the duration of these annual passes.
The UG said that these days would be "9's" on the crowd calendar. And while there were certainly alot of people around...more than we are used to when going in January or November like we usually do...I didn't think the crowds were nearly as bad as I had imagined. The parks were crowded, but we still got to go on many rides and attractions and we didn't follow a touring plan and we didn't go right a rope drop either.
The first day we went to EPCOT and bought our annual pass. It was around noon I think. We rode on Ellen's Energy Adventure (no wait) and Spaceship Earth (5 minute wait). Then we took the monorail over to MK. We rode Pirates of the Carribean (5 minute wait) and got something to eat (Pecos Bill's). We did a little shopping while waiting for the next show of the Hall of Presidents. We saw that and thought it was fantastic. Major improvement. Then we headed over to the Haunted Mansion. It was posted as a 25 minute wait...we got in line since it was starting to rain a little bit. I think the wait was less, hard to say.
Then we wandered about Fantasy land for a while. Went to get a Mickey bar and the stand looked like it was closing up...we went to ask the manager who was helping to pack it up, where the nearest ice cream vendor was. He asked what we wanted to buy...we said "Mickey bars!" He went over, picked up two, gave them to us and said..."shhhhh....here you go!"
We thanked him and told him he made our day magical! We went over to Tomorrow land and rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger spin (5 min wait). Then it was about time for Wishes. This is where it did seem like it was very, very crowded. But after the fireworks were over the crowd really thinned out. Alot. We rode Splash Mountain (posted a 20 minute wait but was about 10 minutes) and we could have just stayed on to ride again if had wanted to (but the wife got wet and didn't want to get more wet.) We also rode BTMRR with no wait at all. We got to see the nighttime parade. We went and saw Philharmagic (just had to wait until the next show). Then we got to ride the last boat of Jungle Cruise. That was alot of fun!
The next day was hotter, but no rain. We started out about 11am at the AK. We had lunch at Pizzafarri which I had never been to and thought was actually very good. We rode Dinosaur (45 minute wait) while waiting for the next show of the Finding Nemo Musical. After that we caught the afternoon parade at AK, we hopped over to the Studios and rode the GMR and then saw the finale show of American Idol. I loved the new American Idol attraction. I thought it was really fun and very entertaining. I thought it fit right in with the Studios theme.
We had dinner at Hollywood and Vine and got right in...no wait, no reservation. Of course, it was right when people were lining up for Phantasmic. After dinner we hopped over to the Magic Kingdom just in time to watch Wishes right in the middle of Mainstreet USA. Best viewing of Wishes ever!
After that we went and got a Dole whip and did Pirates of the Caribbean again (no wait). We also did the Laugh Floor (no wait) and Buzz Lightyear again (no wait...no one in line at all). We got over to do Winnie the pooh (no wait) and the Haunted Mansion again (no wait).
The buses were great! Twice we had a whole bus for ourselves. Once going to EPCOT (we waited about 10-15 mintues). Once coming back from the MK at about 1am the first day. No wait for that bus.
The weather the first day was hot, but mostly cloudy which cut the heat down and bit and it cooled off a bit too after a little rain shower passed through. It was hotter and sunnier the second day, but no rain at all.
Overall, it was a great short trip. Took most of my fear of summer visits away. Had a great time.
Eric
