foxfire
<font color=00cc00>I wonder what rock I've been hi
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,657
We checked in early on Dec. 6 and left yesterday - Dec. 16. Crowds were low during our stay but we noticed they were beginning to build Friday afternoon and yesterday morning.
Epcot was practically dead on the 6th - we walked right on or into just about everything - even Soaring, the new Nemo ride, Test Track, Mission Space, Turtle Talk with Crush. In fact, we got FPs for some of the more popular rides but didn't even need them. When our FP time came up, there weren't any lines for the rides at all. I was in Mouse Gear that night and heard a lady say she had never been in there when there were so few people. Went back to Epcot on the 12th and there were more people but it still wasn't crowded. Saw the 5:00 Candlelight Processional and there were quite a few empty seats around us. We didn't have a CP package but got in easily in the standby line. Maureen McGovern was very good as the narrator that night.
Pop Warner was still there the first 3 days of our trip but we weren't affected by them. We saw a few groups of cheerleaders and football teams in the parks and at DTD but those were well behaved. Someone did tell us they were in line at T of T with a group who began cheering so loudly for so long that a CM finally told them to 'shut up'. They said that was the first time they'd ever seen a CM do that but that the cheering was very annoying. We never experienced any of that though.
Friday, Dec. 8, was soooooooo c-o-l-d but we had packed for that possibility. We wore heavy coats, hats, gloves, and several layers of clothing all day. We had a flexible schedule so we decided to go to AK since that park has a lot of tall vegetation which helped to block the cold wind that blew all day. We saw a lot of people buying fleece tops, hats, and gloves that morning. They had come to the park in clothing that just wasn't warm enough. The high that day was mid 50's and the wind chill made it feel colder. That was the only really cold day - several mornings were chilly but it warmed up nicely by noon. DS got FPs for Everest and rode it back to back - he liked it but wasn't blown away by it. He still likes R n R better. I enjoyed Nemo the Musical very much - I won't go into details since it's so new. A lot of people haven't seen it and I don't want to spoil anything for them but I think it's a cute show and cleverly done. We hopped over to MGM after the AK parade. We decided to see Fantasmic! and Osborne Lights that night. First time I've seen Fantasmic! when there were MANY empty seats - maybe because it was really cold. We sat near the top in the center section and had water spray land on us several times since the wind was still blowing pretty hard. A lot of people got up from from those front row seats and went to another location!
We arrived at MK for opening on Wed. (13th) and it began drizzling, then raining lightly about 10 or 10:30. It didn't seem crowded but it seemed like there were even less people there by afternoon. We had done HM, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pooh, It's a Small World, Philharmagic, & POC by 11:00. We had ADRs for CP at 1:00 and were seated about 15-20 minutes after checking in and there were a lot of people waiting to be seated. City Hall had a sign posted by early afternoon that there was no more table service available anywhere in MK that day.
We found a great spot curbside in front of City Hall to watch the afternoon parade 15 minutes before it started. We walked over to Tomorrowland after that and everything was a walk on. DS hit Space Mountain twice, one right after the other. We walked into Buzz after that. C of P had more people seeing it than I've noticed on previous trips. The renovations are nice and the new seats comfy - so glad to see this attraction receive some TLC. After we came out, it was almost time for the new show at the Castle forecourt so we walked over there. This show is really cute and I like it much better than Cinderellabration. Went over to Toontown after the show ended and stayed for a while, then caught the train over to Frontierland where we got a front row spot to watch Spectro about 20 minutes before it began.
I think overall people were more polite than I've ever experienced. Most everyone seemed to be in a good mood and I noticed very few meltdowns with children. I'm missing the World already but the best cure for that is to start planning the next trip!
If anyone has a question, I'll be glad to try to answer.
Epcot was practically dead on the 6th - we walked right on or into just about everything - even Soaring, the new Nemo ride, Test Track, Mission Space, Turtle Talk with Crush. In fact, we got FPs for some of the more popular rides but didn't even need them. When our FP time came up, there weren't any lines for the rides at all. I was in Mouse Gear that night and heard a lady say she had never been in there when there were so few people. Went back to Epcot on the 12th and there were more people but it still wasn't crowded. Saw the 5:00 Candlelight Processional and there were quite a few empty seats around us. We didn't have a CP package but got in easily in the standby line. Maureen McGovern was very good as the narrator that night.
Pop Warner was still there the first 3 days of our trip but we weren't affected by them. We saw a few groups of cheerleaders and football teams in the parks and at DTD but those were well behaved. Someone did tell us they were in line at T of T with a group who began cheering so loudly for so long that a CM finally told them to 'shut up'. They said that was the first time they'd ever seen a CM do that but that the cheering was very annoying. We never experienced any of that though.
Friday, Dec. 8, was soooooooo c-o-l-d but we had packed for that possibility. We wore heavy coats, hats, gloves, and several layers of clothing all day. We had a flexible schedule so we decided to go to AK since that park has a lot of tall vegetation which helped to block the cold wind that blew all day. We saw a lot of people buying fleece tops, hats, and gloves that morning. They had come to the park in clothing that just wasn't warm enough. The high that day was mid 50's and the wind chill made it feel colder. That was the only really cold day - several mornings were chilly but it warmed up nicely by noon. DS got FPs for Everest and rode it back to back - he liked it but wasn't blown away by it. He still likes R n R better. I enjoyed Nemo the Musical very much - I won't go into details since it's so new. A lot of people haven't seen it and I don't want to spoil anything for them but I think it's a cute show and cleverly done. We hopped over to MGM after the AK parade. We decided to see Fantasmic! and Osborne Lights that night. First time I've seen Fantasmic! when there were MANY empty seats - maybe because it was really cold. We sat near the top in the center section and had water spray land on us several times since the wind was still blowing pretty hard. A lot of people got up from from those front row seats and went to another location!
We arrived at MK for opening on Wed. (13th) and it began drizzling, then raining lightly about 10 or 10:30. It didn't seem crowded but it seemed like there were even less people there by afternoon. We had done HM, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pooh, It's a Small World, Philharmagic, & POC by 11:00. We had ADRs for CP at 1:00 and were seated about 15-20 minutes after checking in and there were a lot of people waiting to be seated. City Hall had a sign posted by early afternoon that there was no more table service available anywhere in MK that day.
We found a great spot curbside in front of City Hall to watch the afternoon parade 15 minutes before it started. We walked over to Tomorrowland after that and everything was a walk on. DS hit Space Mountain twice, one right after the other. We walked into Buzz after that. C of P had more people seeing it than I've noticed on previous trips. The renovations are nice and the new seats comfy - so glad to see this attraction receive some TLC. After we came out, it was almost time for the new show at the Castle forecourt so we walked over there. This show is really cute and I like it much better than Cinderellabration. Went over to Toontown after the show ended and stayed for a while, then caught the train over to Frontierland where we got a front row spot to watch Spectro about 20 minutes before it began.
I think overall people were more polite than I've ever experienced. Most everyone seemed to be in a good mood and I noticed very few meltdowns with children. I'm missing the World already but the best cure for that is to start planning the next trip!
If anyone has a question, I'll be glad to try to answer.
thank you! 
Parents your kids don't need you to be their friend,(if that happens you have a bonus) they need you to teach them how to be adults. Our first night there we saw two sisters around 8 and 11 in a fist fight at the Soarin line. They were fun to stand with for a half hour. The mom tried to get them to behave and then she just turned her back and let them go at it. Line cutting is just to be expected anywhere by adults and children. Rides, food courts, bathrooms etc. No, your kids aren't as good using there Heely's as you think they are. There were so many things that happened everyday that it really put a damper on the vacation. BUT there were also the real gems. Kind,friendly and polite. There are some still out there but the group seems to be shrinking.
