bookworm61
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2005
- Messages
- 278
We were in the world from the 18th-24th. We stayed at AllStarSports for the first time at a value and liked it very much.
It was much colder than we anticipated and we ended up spending alot of $$ on cold weather gear. As you know, Disney's prices are high, so we really paid through the nose. However, I love my tinkerbell fleece jacket and plan to enjoy it for a long time.
If I were to go again during cold weather, I would pack alot more clothes for all kinds of weather.
I did do laundry once, but I think many others had the same idea. I had to wait (just a few minutes) for a washing machine as there was a line with 2 people ahead of me. No more laundry on vacation unless I have my own machine in a time share.
The parks were varyingly full. On Sunday the 19 we went to MGM and it was fine. However, the next few days were wall to wall people at the parks. It was to the point of dangerous, I thought, when we were at AK at parade time and you couldn't even move -we were packed in like sardines.
I was afraid to go to a park on Thanksgiving, but DH wanted to and we went to EPCOT. Surprisingly, it was fine. Not full at all.
We visited a few resorts for meals and to see the decorations. This was well worth the trouble. The Contemporary has a chocolate rendering of Gepetto's workshop which also contains hidden Mickeys. Beautifully done. Also, the GF had the Gingerbread house with wonderful detail. If you look closely, you will see frescos of various Disney characters such as Stitch.
The parks are also decked out with decorations. I thought EPCOT was especially lovely. It has a structure at the point where Future World meets World Showcase that illuminates at night and the colors of the lights keep changing.
We never saw anyone or anything from YOAMD except I twice saw people wearing dream fastpasses so there must have been someone somewhere.
We also didn't see much of the photopass photogs. No one offered to take our picture. I guess with the crowds, they were busy enough without soliciting business.
We rented a car and 3 times took the bus when we split from our group. In all my years visiting WDW, I have never had such quick and easy bus service. We usually go during low season (end of August) and have usually waited a bit for buses. This time, we never waited more than a minute for a bus to or from our resort. Just very lucky, I guess.
We tried out a few new (and new to us) attractions. First of all, in my opinion(please don't flame me!!), the clamshell Nemo ride in the Living Seas is a total waste of time. As my Dad commented, "I kept waiting for the ride to start, and then it was over." In other words, very dull.
As to the new Nemo show in AK, the puppetry is spectacular, the cast is amazing and the songs are just okay. I preferred the old Tarzan show, but perhaps I was in the minority in loving Tarzan Rocks. I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea.
We also tried out Mission Space for the first time. We went on the green side, or as I call it, the non-death line. We loved this ride and rode it multiple times.
In MK, we were lucky enough to catch about half of the pirate tutorial. Very, very cute. I enjoyed that alot. Hope to see the beginning half next time. The pirate ride with new characters is still a great ride. For me, the new characters don't really add/take away.
All in all, a wonderful trip. I am not sure I would choose to go again during a crowded time. I would rather face the heat of late August than the crowds of Thanksgiving.
It was much colder than we anticipated and we ended up spending alot of $$ on cold weather gear. As you know, Disney's prices are high, so we really paid through the nose. However, I love my tinkerbell fleece jacket and plan to enjoy it for a long time.
If I were to go again during cold weather, I would pack alot more clothes for all kinds of weather.I did do laundry once, but I think many others had the same idea. I had to wait (just a few minutes) for a washing machine as there was a line with 2 people ahead of me. No more laundry on vacation unless I have my own machine in a time share.
The parks were varyingly full. On Sunday the 19 we went to MGM and it was fine. However, the next few days were wall to wall people at the parks. It was to the point of dangerous, I thought, when we were at AK at parade time and you couldn't even move -we were packed in like sardines.
I was afraid to go to a park on Thanksgiving, but DH wanted to and we went to EPCOT. Surprisingly, it was fine. Not full at all.
We visited a few resorts for meals and to see the decorations. This was well worth the trouble. The Contemporary has a chocolate rendering of Gepetto's workshop which also contains hidden Mickeys. Beautifully done. Also, the GF had the Gingerbread house with wonderful detail. If you look closely, you will see frescos of various Disney characters such as Stitch.
The parks are also decked out with decorations. I thought EPCOT was especially lovely. It has a structure at the point where Future World meets World Showcase that illuminates at night and the colors of the lights keep changing.
We never saw anyone or anything from YOAMD except I twice saw people wearing dream fastpasses so there must have been someone somewhere.
We also didn't see much of the photopass photogs. No one offered to take our picture. I guess with the crowds, they were busy enough without soliciting business.
We rented a car and 3 times took the bus when we split from our group. In all my years visiting WDW, I have never had such quick and easy bus service. We usually go during low season (end of August) and have usually waited a bit for buses. This time, we never waited more than a minute for a bus to or from our resort. Just very lucky, I guess.
We tried out a few new (and new to us) attractions. First of all, in my opinion(please don't flame me!!), the clamshell Nemo ride in the Living Seas is a total waste of time. As my Dad commented, "I kept waiting for the ride to start, and then it was over." In other words, very dull.
As to the new Nemo show in AK, the puppetry is spectacular, the cast is amazing and the songs are just okay. I preferred the old Tarzan show, but perhaps I was in the minority in loving Tarzan Rocks. I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea.
We also tried out Mission Space for the first time. We went on the green side, or as I call it, the non-death line. We loved this ride and rode it multiple times.
In MK, we were lucky enough to catch about half of the pirate tutorial. Very, very cute. I enjoyed that alot. Hope to see the beginning half next time. The pirate ride with new characters is still a great ride. For me, the new characters don't really add/take away.
All in all, a wonderful trip. I am not sure I would choose to go again during a crowded time. I would rather face the heat of late August than the crowds of Thanksgiving.
