Aaahhh..just back!

[PlutoLuvr]

Hi, Folks! Great forum. I've been a Disney addict/Floridian for 30 years and just stumbled on this website.

Okay...trip report. DH and I arrived on Sat, 2/25, and returned Sat, 3/4. We stayed at the Westgate since our family bought a timeshare there in December. It's okay. Close to Disney during the day and close to CitiWalk for nighttime stuff. Can't really complain.

Sat -- MGM. Crowds were very light. We ate at Prime Time for dinner, which was a first for me. All I can say is WOW!!! I have found my restaurant at MGM.

Sunday -- Universal. Place was empty. Food's awesome at Finnegan's, along with the pints of lager

Monday -- MK...packed!!! 1 hour wait for just about everything. Not much fun standing in lines all day.

Tues -- Epcot during the day, dinner at Jiko at night. Epcot was nice, but not "empty." Not as packed as MK was the day before, thank goodness. Jiko...omg. One of the best dinners of my life. DH and I both had the filet on mac & cheese. We were so impressed, we cancelled our Thurs ADR for LeCellier and made another at Jiko. Must call them to get recipes

Weds -- Universal again due to my mom joining us later in the trip. Just worked out that way. Still empty over there & great beers flowing!

Thurs -- AK. Fairly light crowds. EE broke while we were watching it, and they had to get riders off the thing while it was stuck going uphill. DH went on it before it broke, but then he threw his back out on Dinosaur. No more thrill rides for him the rest of the trip Then back over for that incredible filet at Jiko!

Friday -- DD & the Poly Luau (sp?). DD was very crowded very early in the day. Dinner was just "okay." I don't think we'd do it again considering how much we enjoy other dinners at Disney.

Saturday -- Islands of Adventure....packed!!! Didn't stay long.

Overall, weather was awesome. Cold in the first part of the week, then warm -- but not hot -- the second part. This meant we had to pack everything! We didn't care for the crowds. However, we are a bit spoiled being Floridians and usually going in September or early May when there is no one at the parks. I'll bet February/March isn't as crowded as, say, summer, but we're really used to no waits for anything, especially food. We waited everywhere for food and drink this trip. One plus about going in February is in September, we're watching the canes. Either they're headed for our home or Disney...can be stressful!

Have a good one!

 

[Katy]

Thanks for the great report. I'm glad I didn't get stuck on EE going up that hill!

We were there a couple of weeks ago and the crowds at Universal were very manageable also. Had perfect weather -- can't wait to go again in June.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Almost forgot to mention something...TRAFFIC!!! It's Bike Week in Daytona the end of February through the beginning of March (it's actually three weeks long, with the "big" Bike Week being the second week). Holy Christmas, y'all do not want to get stuck in that traffic. Avoid Daytona at all costs or anywhere near it. My timeshare guy told me that I-4 is a "sponsor corridor" for Bike Week and traffic at times on I-4 was just gridlock -- not just the downtown Orlando area DH refers to as the "gauntlet" either. We got stuck a few times on I-4 heading south to Disney from our hotel on Turkey Lake Road. What should have taken ten minutes tops took an hour.

Just something to keep in mind for those folks not staying on Disney property or driving I-95 and hooking up with I-4 to get to Orlando in the next week to ten days! We allotted a bunch of extra time once we realized this for ADRs. Sometimes we arrived early, but we hit a shop or cafe and waited

Bikers at Magic Kingdom is FUN!!! Those folks look like they know how to party

 

[OhMari]

I have a question, what is watching canes?

Do you think May will be less crowded this year?

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I have a question, what is watching canes?

Canes = hurricanes. We're always watching where the hurricanes go in the height of hurricane season (September). The last few years Florida's gotten quite a few -- even the smaller ones cause damage and you don't want to be on the roads right before, during or after any of their paths. Sometimes it's worked out where we actually "evacuated" to Orlando because one was headed to our area in NE Florida, but other times, Orlando takes a hit, and I feel like we're headed to a bad place weather-wise on vacation.

Do you think May will be less crowded this year?

I love the beginning of May. I just checked our passes, which we renewed last May 2nd. I think we were about the only folks at the parks. Now, I have gone in the middle to end of April, and it was busy -- I think it's still spring break for some folks somewhere, I suppose. That time we went at the end of April wasn't packed, but we didn't walk right on Peter Pan, either. I think we might have had a 10- to 20-minute wait. End of May/beginning of June can be busy, as well, as summer has started for others.

If you're going, hope you have a magical time! The flower/garden festival at Epcot is truly a wonder, even if you don't have a green thumb. So many Mickey bushes!

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.