cruise pup
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2007
- Messages
- 57
I came to check out the new stuff since my last visit. And since it's been over 20 years since I've been to MK, about 10-11 years since MGM, 9 years since Epcot, and never to AK, that means there was lots to see. Spent a full day at AK. Loved, loved, loved the Finding Nemo show. Did I mention that I loved it? Next favorite was Flights of Wonder (I seem to be more into the audience interactive shows because the Cast Members are so good). Mt. Everest wasn't half a scary as I thought it would be but I have to admit that after the ride I felt a bit light-headed. I think my days of thrill rides are over because it also happened after I got off Test Track at Epcot. Kilimanjaro safari needs to go slower but look how many guests they have to transport. IMHOP I also found the animatronic baby elephant was lame after seeing so many real live animals. I know they're trying to teach a lesson but you can learn it by loving the real things. Kali River was awesome in spite of being soaked. But it rained later so I wasn't the only one with squishy undershorts 
. Dinosaur was just too noisy and uncomfortable. Give me the old NY Worlds Fair 64-65 Ford Pavillion Dinosaur ride anytime. It's Tough to Be a Bug was fun. I enjoy 3D movies. I made sure to hold my nose before the stink bug let one go so I still don't know what that was like and I think I'm better off not knowing. Festival of the Lion King was good but doesn't hold a candle to Finding Nemo. Plus I had seen La Nouba the night before and the acrobatics are superior, not to say that these guys weren't very good. I had a great lunch at Restaurantasaurus. I had the Oriental Chicken salad and it was nice to add fresh tomatoes from the fixings bar. The parade was very good and I found a bench with excellent sight lines which made it better. I headed over to Disney-MGM when AK closed because it had the Extra Magic Hours. Had a fabulous dinner at the Brown Derby and then went to Fantasmic. Well, the extra magic turned out to be a thunderstorm which put the kibosh on that so I headed back to my hotel. I have an excuse to come back to the studio but it'll be Disney Hollywood by then.
My 2nd day began at Epcot with early EMH. Did Soarin' which I liked but didn't feel it was necessary to repeat as the Cast Members suggested since we could get right on the ride and also get fast passes. Test Track came next and I finished off with Nemo. Turtle Talk turned out to be the highlight. I had a lot of fun and the "Dude" stuff didn't grate on my nerves as I thought it might. Since I had a second bout of lightheadedness after Test Track I decided to skip Mission to Mars and headed to MK. This would be my busiest visit. Although it just opened and I would have loved to see the enhancements, the wait was too long for Haunted Mansion and there were no fast passes, so it'll be #1 next time I visit. I got my fast pass for Splash Mountain and spent time in Frontierland/Adventureland doing POC, Tikki Room, Jungle Cruise and Country Bear and after lunch and Pecos Bills (again similar salad to offering which was very good) and did Splash Mountain. Little did I realize you get splashed by the water from the log touching down when you float by it. It was fun and I didn't get drenched. Splash Mountain was new for me as well as Mickey's Philharmagic (another fun 3D film). I was corrected by the kid sitting next to me that you're not allowed to wear the opera glasses until the movie starts because it's 3D! It's a Small World looks nicer now (still think it's Anaheim older brother is nicer). I then headed over to Tomorrowland for Laugh Floor (fun but not as good as Turtle Talk IMHOP). I finished with Stitch which was a major disappointment. It was time to head over to Ft. Wilderness where I had dinner at Trails End. Just chose the soup, salad and dessert option for $11.99. It includes the peel and eat shrimp and that was more than enough. Unfortunately the boat rides to and from Ft. Wilderness take up a lot of time (especially the wait for the return boat). By then I was bushed so fireworks, shmireworks, it was off to home I went. I actually saw the Epcot fireworks on the ride back.
I definately packed a lot in. Fortunately I had the next day to recover, use the hotel pool, have lunch in Downtown Disney and do a little shopping before my ride to the airport. Down time is definately something to schedule in your trip.
Next visit will be to MK and Studios so I don't expect to exhaust myself.
By the way, I was staying at the Hilton and WDW Village. I got the room for $76./night which to me was a bargain because you get the Extra Magic Hours and excellent transportation on the Mears coaches instead of the Disney buses.
. Dinosaur was just too noisy and uncomfortable. Give me the old NY Worlds Fair 64-65 Ford Pavillion Dinosaur ride anytime. It's Tough to Be a Bug was fun. I enjoy 3D movies. I made sure to hold my nose before the stink bug let one go so I still don't know what that was like and I think I'm better off not knowing. Festival of the Lion King was good but doesn't hold a candle to Finding Nemo. Plus I had seen La Nouba the night before and the acrobatics are superior, not to say that these guys weren't very good. I had a great lunch at Restaurantasaurus. I had the Oriental Chicken salad and it was nice to add fresh tomatoes from the fixings bar. The parade was very good and I found a bench with excellent sight lines which made it better. I headed over to Disney-MGM when AK closed because it had the Extra Magic Hours. Had a fabulous dinner at the Brown Derby and then went to Fantasmic. Well, the extra magic turned out to be a thunderstorm which put the kibosh on that so I headed back to my hotel. I have an excuse to come back to the studio but it'll be Disney Hollywood by then.My 2nd day began at Epcot with early EMH. Did Soarin' which I liked but didn't feel it was necessary to repeat as the Cast Members suggested since we could get right on the ride and also get fast passes. Test Track came next and I finished off with Nemo. Turtle Talk turned out to be the highlight. I had a lot of fun and the "Dude" stuff didn't grate on my nerves as I thought it might. Since I had a second bout of lightheadedness after Test Track I decided to skip Mission to Mars and headed to MK. This would be my busiest visit. Although it just opened and I would have loved to see the enhancements, the wait was too long for Haunted Mansion and there were no fast passes, so it'll be #1 next time I visit. I got my fast pass for Splash Mountain and spent time in Frontierland/Adventureland doing POC, Tikki Room, Jungle Cruise and Country Bear and after lunch and Pecos Bills (again similar salad to offering which was very good) and did Splash Mountain. Little did I realize you get splashed by the water from the log touching down when you float by it. It was fun and I didn't get drenched. Splash Mountain was new for me as well as Mickey's Philharmagic (another fun 3D film). I was corrected by the kid sitting next to me that you're not allowed to wear the opera glasses until the movie starts because it's 3D! It's a Small World looks nicer now (still think it's Anaheim older brother is nicer). I then headed over to Tomorrowland for Laugh Floor (fun but not as good as Turtle Talk IMHOP). I finished with Stitch which was a major disappointment. It was time to head over to Ft. Wilderness where I had dinner at Trails End. Just chose the soup, salad and dessert option for $11.99. It includes the peel and eat shrimp and that was more than enough. Unfortunately the boat rides to and from Ft. Wilderness take up a lot of time (especially the wait for the return boat). By then I was bushed so fireworks, shmireworks, it was off to home I went. I actually saw the Epcot fireworks on the ride back.
I definately packed a lot in. Fortunately I had the next day to recover, use the hotel pool, have lunch in Downtown Disney and do a little shopping before my ride to the airport. Down time is definately something to schedule in your trip.
Next visit will be to MK and Studios so I don't expect to exhaust myself.
By the way, I was staying at the Hilton and WDW Village. I got the room for $76./night which to me was a bargain because you get the Extra Magic Hours and excellent transportation on the Mears coaches instead of the Disney buses.
