Back from Disney

[shelby_36]

We are home from Disney and our cruise. We actually got back last week but our computer was down.

I'll have to say I was really disappointed. We did only go for one day but i expected more. Maybe i had my sights set too high. I'll give a little synopsis and maybe you all can tell me if my experience was the norm or not. BTW the hope of convincing hubby to come back for a longer time is long gone.

We got to the park and everything was going really well.. short line for the ferry..walked through the castle at the time that all the characters were arriving on main Street..we practically walked right on the carousel and Mickeys Philharmomagic.... that wwas really cool. Then we went on another ride can't remember what it was..I think the tea cups and the wait saud 30 minutes and we got on in 15.... so when we went to Buzz and it said 40 I was hoping for closer to 30..WRONG! We waited for an hour and a half. (and the AC was not working) they must have had a problem earlier b/c fast pass line was HUUGE so it seemed like they were holding the line to catch them up. Well by the time we got out of there hubby was LIVID and 5yr old was VERY whinny. We went and got a fast pass at Space mountain and went and got some lunch. Went on one or two more short rides and came back at our fast pass time and the ride was shut down and they didn't think they would reopen it. Again At this point we have done nothing but kiddie stuff so the teens were very unhappy. We we to toon town I think for a little bit and came back through Space Mountain and it was reopened so we did that ..finally. Well by this time it is like 4:00 and we haven't even gotten near the fun part of the park..with splash and thunder road... we get over there and the wait time was posted at 75 minutes and Fast Pass times were 8:30 that night. About that time the biggest downpour began complete with bolts of lightening and 3 inches of rain in our shoes.... We tried to decide what to do and ended up leaving. I know if we would have stayed we would have gotten on faster but driving from the park we drove through 2 more HUGE lightening storms so I don't think things improved that night.

Wedidn't see any fireworks, parades, or the Cinderalla thing.. All in all the day was pretty much a bust unfortunately.

I do apprecite all the help we got here..the ponchos came in very handy as did extra clothes.

 

[SleepingUgly]

Hmmm ... I probably would have done things differently. Probably would have started the day with Splash Mountain and BTMR, since those rides are definitley more popular, and it's nice to get those out of the way. Also, if the standby line says at least a 30-minute wait, we always use fastpass, and then used that time to go on a less-popular ride (but a ride nonetheless; beats waiting in line!) and then went back to the ride during our fastpass time.

Plus, according to your timeline, you went to Fantasyland, did three rides, then went to Tomorrowland, did one ride, and then criss-crossed the park to go back to Splash Mountain? It seemed like maybe you could have had better luck had you started out your day at Splash Moutain, moved towards Fantasyland (which in our experience, stays pretty light in terms of crowds until about noon), and then headed towards Tomorrowland? Just a thought ...

I am sorry your day did not go as well as you had hoped. Did you ever find out what was going on with the Buzz ride?

Linda

 

[kpm76]

So sorry to hear you had a bad experience I think one thing to keep in mind is you traveled at a very busy time...the summer months are very crowded....and the heat and humidity can be oppressive which adds to the frustration if things are not going your way. It sounds like you thought you'd be able to do everything you wanted at MK in one day and unfortunately I think that is very unrealistic for a day in mid-June....perhaps it can be done in January but with the June crowds I think it's highly unlikely. Also, while the rain and thunder storms certainly can put a damper on things (pardon the pun) it's very typical for FL in the summer. I certainly don't mean to accuse you of poor planning, but realizing that you were only spending one day in MK, I think it would have benefited your family to sit down before the trip and identify one thing that was a must see/do for everyone and make sure that happened. Sounds like the older kids in your crowd were disappointed because they did not get to do the bigger rides. Sorry to hear Space Mt. broke down but unfortunately that happens from time to time.....Fast passes are a must but there's a method to the madness and you really need to have a plan. Again, sorry you had a bad time...I hope your DH will give WDW a try again when you can spend more time there....it seems a little drastic to write it off after only one day in the MK.....

 

[shelby_36]

Well we knew we wouldn't get on everything and the reason we started at the carousel was the little one... It would have been impossible to make her walk by all that cool stuff and go all the way across the park. We didn't expect to "see it all" but we certainly expected to go on more than 6 rides for $300.

 

[shelby_36]

Oh, and I'll have to get a new husband before I go back he has already said never again.

 

[kpm76]

Oh, and I'll have to get a new husband before I go back he has already said never again.

Awww, well maybe the memories of this bad trip will fade with time and he will change his mind. I can understand not wanting to walk right through Fantasyland with a little one...that would have been torture...I can also understand why you'd be upset after spending $300 and not feeling like you had a great time I hope someday you are able to return and have a better experience

 

[rifamtrav]

Shelby_36, it sounds more like you were a victim of the peak season much more so than not planning. In fact, I thought your plan was probably a good one considering you were thinking of your own family's needs, and you're right, with a little one you have to start at fantasy land. Your experience has cemented my own resolution to never go during the summer or peak season. We've always gone off peak, and yes, now that the kids are all school age it means less trips. We're lucky this year because our schools start a week later than normal so we're able to fit in a trip the first week of September.
So, don't get too down on yourself, you had the crowds and the weather to contend with. Maybe don't mention disney to your DH for a while, then sometime if you can ever swing a long weekend in November or EARLY december give it another try, you will be amazed at the difference!

 

[Tiffany]

Well we knew we wouldn't get on everything and the reason we started at the carousel was the little one... It would have been impossible to make her walk by all that cool stuff and go all the way across the park. We didn't expect to "see it all" but we certainly expected to go on more than 6 rides for $300.

But, she would not have had to walk by anything just up Main Street and to the left through Adventureland. The MK is a the hardest park to do during the peak heat and vacation times without a well thought out plan of attack.

I would suggest you see if the hubby would be interested in trying again during the off season. There is a big differance trying to tour the MK in June compared to say January.

 

[DisneyGirl2005]

If you are ever able to talk your hubby into going back, try sending the teens for the fast passes while the little one rides the kiddie rides. It helped us out quite a bit. Also worked while I waited in line for characters with DS7 - DS13 headed out for the fast passes. Before we used the current fast pass we would try to get another at the next available time. Sometimes it didn't work perfectly, but most of the time it did. We were there last week and we only waited in 2 long lines and we were there for a 7 days. 1 was for test track (we got a fast pass for soarin' instead and the next available time for test track would have been too late) and the other was for Buzz. The stand-by time said 15 minutes - we went for it and low and behold the darn ride broke down (some things can't be planned for). Anyway didn't want to rattle on - just thought it might help it you ever make it back.

 

[jwann]

Teens @ Magic Kingdom?
Personally, I think your mistake was going to MK in the first place. I'd have suggested MGM for a single day with a 5 year old and teens.

 

[AllyBri]

Teens @ Magic Kingdom?
Personally, I think your mistake was going to MK in the first place. I'd have suggested MGM for a single day with a 5 year old and teens.

I completely agree.
The little one would have had just as much fun at the Studio, especially not having been to the MK before. When she would have walked in and see all the characters, I'm sure she would have been impressed.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

During peak summer time, with one day at Mk, go for the super headliners first. The carousel will be much easier to get on at 10:00am than Splash or Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad.

My advice would be go for FP at BTMRR and get on Splash immediately at park opening. Send a runner to Fantasyland for FP while continuing to ride attractions in the Frontierland/Adventureland area (POTC, JC, etc.) and work your way to Fantasyland.

There were some other attractions that you could have seen with little wait. It's a Small World comes to mind. Country Bears, Aladdin's Magic Carpets, Carousel of Progress, etc. Personally I couldn't have left without going on a few more.

 

[rmontgo892]

Sorry it was less than magical! The crowds, heat, and limited time are always bad omens for any park, imho! I have left the MK on a few occasions when it was overwhelming but had the luxury to head back to our resort and rest or hang out at the pool and try again later or hit another park.

You planned knowing you had one day and did the best you could!

 

[TuppenceABag]

Well by this time it is like 4:00 and we haven't even gotten near the fun part of the park...

When I read this I just about choked on my cheerios. You had just said you were in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, but had't reached the "fun part of the park" yet! I have but one question...WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF FUN?

 

[shelby_36]

Fun is going on more than 6 rides in a day. Do you actually have fun sanding in line an hour and a half for a 30 second ride where you point a gun with a flashlight at the end? Its hard for me not to get upset that AFTER I return everyone chimes in that MK is not for teens. I thought MK was for all age groups and people sounded like that here (BEFORE we left) Maybe some of you have more cooperative families...but we would never set our 12 year old loose in Disney to go get Fasspasses and then expect him to find his way back on his own. It was very difficult for us to all troupe around the park and coordinate the Fastpass dance by the time we made our way through to the first ride we wanted with FP it was nearly 11 am and by the time that one made us qualify for another it was almost 2! By 3 the FP were giving out tickets for 8:30! We also NEVER saw a ride that had a wait time of less than 45 minutes other than the Carousel and one other ride.

 

[civileng68]

we haven't even gotten near the fun part of the park..with splash and thunder road... .

Thunder road? As a former north carolinian, are you from North Carolina and are you subliminally thinking of Paramount's Carowinds?

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Fun is going on more than 6 rides in a day. Do you actually have fun sanding in line an hour and a half for a 30 second ride where you point a gun with a flashlight at the end? Its hard for me not to get upset that AFTER I return everyone chimes in that MK is not for teens. I thought MK was for all age groups and people sounded like that here (BEFORE we left) Maybe some of you have more cooperative families...but we would never set our 12 year old loose in Disney to go get Fasspasses and then expect him to find his way back on his own. It was very difficult for us to all troupe around the park and coordinate the Fastpass dance by the time we made our way through to the first ride we wanted with FP it was nearly 11 am and by the time that one made us qualify for another it was almost 2! By 3 the FP were giving out tickets for 8:30! We also NEVER saw a ride that had a wait time of less than 45 minutes other than the Carousel and one other ride.

Everyone has opinions, and a lot of them are different. I think the MK is the best park for a family like yours. I don't think I would send a teen ahead to get FPs in a park that they've never been in myself.
I would have went to one of the three mountains right when the rope dropped in the morning if I had only one day.

 

[disgal1]

Did you just start on disboards recently? It takes a whole lot of time to plan a trip to MK if you have never been. I am a vet, been more times than I can remember(grew up near there) and I started planning our next trip..(.we leave tomorrow ) in January!!
I have tweaked even up to today...made an 8am character breakfast at crystal palace so we will all be in the park really early for pix on a less crowded main street
Granted, we are staying a week, but if you have only 1 day in MK in summer, with crowds and storms, that really requires a major research and backup plan

my point is, don't be frustrated, and don't give up. Maybe your husband can get on the disboards, start reading trip reports, and get excited about planning another trip, but in a cooler less crowded time of year.and when you can spend more time.

I am so sorry you all didn't have a magical time. I hate that for your kids.I know that will bug you guys for a long time. I hope that you give it another shot.

 

[lbgraves]

We just went three weeks ago & the lines were 30-60 minutes long...but we never stood in one of them. I believe that our previous 2 days spent in MK helped us out but we had never used FPs before this trip. I remember our first time at MK. I was totally overwhelmed, though it was mid November and there weren't crowds. I read ALOT on the boards & at first DH was sceptical about them. He learned to love them very quickly when we went to MGM first. By the time we went to MK later in the week he was on the program. LOL! We got a FP before we ever went on anything. We never used one FP before getting another. It rained on & off all day but we still managed to do everything we wanted to that day. I even stood in line with DD to see Ariel (50 mins ) while DS & DH went off & used the 4 FPs for Buzz & BTMR that we hadn't used yet. Oh, and of course Dumbo but DH went to get another set of FPs for us while I rode that with the kids. The weather definitely didn't help you, but noone can control that. With one day in the park, it is the luck of the draw this time of year especially.

Just wondering if you did the park after the cruise or before. We have always gone before. This trip we are going after & I am concerned with being rested enough to enjoy the entire day. That may have been a part of it for you too. I know that the cruise itself is relaxing however, the last day is taxing with CC, then having to pack & try to go to the farewell in the atrium and getting up early to disembark and drive to the park so you don't miss alot of time there.

 

[cranbiz]

We did MK on Monday June 27th. Just DW and I (no kids- 25th Anniversary).

Granted we did not do the Carousel and Dumbo or Magic Carpets, but we did not arrive until about 1pm. We did everything before 11pm by carefully using FP and chosing our rides carefully. It ment crisscrossing the park once or twice but we had no problems (we even ate at CP at 6:05) With EMH that night we did everything again and pirates and HM twice.

Now the sudden downpour with 3-4 inches of rain helped thin lines but it's just water and if you have your poncho's or other rain gear you will do alot while others are trying to stay dry.