carone0318
Disney-aholic, can't get enough of this place!!!
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2002
- Messages
- 2,069
We just returned from Disney, our vacation was 8/18 through 8/26. We stayed at BWV, with a boardwalk view (rm 2037/39 right above the general store). We flew from PHL to TPA and drove to Disney, about 1hr 20min drive. The van had a DVD so the kids just watched a movie.
The short and sweet version:
We went to all 4 parks and also Blizzard Beach and Sea World. I found all parks very do-able with the use of FP. We rode all the big rides, including all mountains at MK, Expedition Everest, Soarin, Test Track, no Mission Space. We did ride RnRC and the kids rode ToT. We also did mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens.
We didnt do any morning EMH, but did try an evening at MK waste of time. We were also at MGM during an evening EMH, but we were there for Fantasmic and then left and walked back to BWV. The lines just to get the wristband at MGM were crazy, definitely not worth my time. With the Fantasmic dining pkg we arrived by 8pm as we were told and we were on the far right about 10-15 rows up, decent seats.
For Illuminations, I set up camp about 8pm at the waters gate in front of the boat at Norway. There were already others there too. I do suggest getting there about an hour early for an unobstructed view and if you chose to show up 10 minutes before the show starts, please do not complain about your view.
Restaurants were packed. We had ADRs planned from 180 days out, so we were set, but we did have to wait on average about 15 minutes to be seated, that was bareable.
I had mentioned when making ADRs that our first night we were celebrating my dhs b-day. I had special ordered a cake. I only made mention of this for our first night. To our surprise, the CM making our ADRs had put in the memo on a quite a few of our other ADRs that there was a b-day celebration. Dh led the hokey-pokey at WCC, was given a dessert at Mama Melroses and ice cream at Teppenyaki and a birthday hat. These were unexpected moments.
Blizzard Beach was great fun! We did get here for morning EMH, I lied above. We had our pick of locations. The girls rode Summit Plummet first. The family tube was closed for about an hour. We did everything we wanted to do, several times too I thought I should add. We left around 2pm. We never once visited our seats that we put our stuff on and next year, I wont worry about location since we were never there. The chairs set up by the wave pool are just pack you like sardines in there.
Fantasia Gardens mini-golf (not the pitch & put one) was ok. I wanted to try it, but much prefer Winter Summerland golf area over by Blizzard Beach. Fantasia was nice because we could walk there, but I think next year we will drive to Winter Summerland again. Better theming, better courses.
One observation Photopass/photographers. You still see the photographers in all the parks, there to take you picture as you come into the park, but not one of them asked to take our picture. It seems before they had the $99 deal, you couldnt get through any of them without them asking to take your picture. Now it seems that you have to go ask them to take your picture. This observation is not good or bad, but just an observation.
Any questions or comments, please feel free .
The short and sweet version:
We went to all 4 parks and also Blizzard Beach and Sea World. I found all parks very do-able with the use of FP. We rode all the big rides, including all mountains at MK, Expedition Everest, Soarin, Test Track, no Mission Space. We did ride RnRC and the kids rode ToT. We also did mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens.
We didnt do any morning EMH, but did try an evening at MK waste of time. We were also at MGM during an evening EMH, but we were there for Fantasmic and then left and walked back to BWV. The lines just to get the wristband at MGM were crazy, definitely not worth my time. With the Fantasmic dining pkg we arrived by 8pm as we were told and we were on the far right about 10-15 rows up, decent seats.
For Illuminations, I set up camp about 8pm at the waters gate in front of the boat at Norway. There were already others there too. I do suggest getting there about an hour early for an unobstructed view and if you chose to show up 10 minutes before the show starts, please do not complain about your view.
Restaurants were packed. We had ADRs planned from 180 days out, so we were set, but we did have to wait on average about 15 minutes to be seated, that was bareable.
I had mentioned when making ADRs that our first night we were celebrating my dhs b-day. I had special ordered a cake. I only made mention of this for our first night. To our surprise, the CM making our ADRs had put in the memo on a quite a few of our other ADRs that there was a b-day celebration. Dh led the hokey-pokey at WCC, was given a dessert at Mama Melroses and ice cream at Teppenyaki and a birthday hat. These were unexpected moments.
Blizzard Beach was great fun! We did get here for morning EMH, I lied above. We had our pick of locations. The girls rode Summit Plummet first. The family tube was closed for about an hour. We did everything we wanted to do, several times too I thought I should add. We left around 2pm. We never once visited our seats that we put our stuff on and next year, I wont worry about location since we were never there. The chairs set up by the wave pool are just pack you like sardines in there.
Fantasia Gardens mini-golf (not the pitch & put one) was ok. I wanted to try it, but much prefer Winter Summerland golf area over by Blizzard Beach. Fantasia was nice because we could walk there, but I think next year we will drive to Winter Summerland again. Better theming, better courses.
One observation Photopass/photographers. You still see the photographers in all the parks, there to take you picture as you come into the park, but not one of them asked to take our picture. It seems before they had the $99 deal, you couldnt get through any of them without them asking to take your picture. Now it seems that you have to go ask them to take your picture. This observation is not good or bad, but just an observation.
Any questions or comments, please feel free .
(I think the numbers are right? ) right by the doors. Later I told DH that I swore the woman looked familiar. He told me I was nuts. Then I saw your sig picture tonight and swear that's where I know you from... 
