puffkin
DVC Owner- SSR & AKV
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
- Messages
- 9,848
Buzz and Woody Return Final Thoughts
Cast:
Woody planner, 22 year old recent college graduate who is obsessed with Walt Disney
World, third trip
Buzz 23 year old fiancé who just wants to go on vacation, second trip
Dates: June 1st June 8th, 2002
Our story:
It is amazing how fast a trip can go when you are having so much fun! Buzz and I developed all nine rolls of film the day we got back because we were exited to see our pictures. All of the planning and time spent on the Boards paid off because our trip ran very smoothly and we experienced few problems. The trip also proved to Buzz that he could have a good time in Walt Disney World, even though we had just been there the year before. I am working on convincing Buzz to come back in two years on our honeymoon, hopefully he will agree! Anyway, here are some final thoughts on our trip.
Resort- I really liked Port Orleans Riverside and could definitely tell the difference between a Moderate and a Value. The grounds were so beautiful and the old south theme was noticeable all over the resort. We both agreed that this resort was much more laid back than All Star Movies. If we decide to do another commando style or budget trip, I would definitely stay at the All Stars. However, for a more relaxing trip, I would definitely upgrade to a moderate. We liked our location in Building 15 and enjoyed the quiet pool near our resort. We both agreed that the food court at ASMo had a better selection, but the seating area at POR was nicer. You could definitely tell that the rooms at POR were larger, and the two sinks were nice. Buzz thought the arcade was better at POR than ASMo. We didnt really use the main pool, so I cant comment on that. I also liked that we had a full-service restaurant and bar even though we didnt use them much. All in all, I really loved this resort and Buzz liked it. However, we will probably try to experience something new on our next trip.
Crowds- Wow, what a difference a year makes! It was full last year during the second week of June, but very manageable. We thought that by going a week early, we would have fewer crowds. Boy were we wrong! It was much more crowded this year, I believe people are really travelling again. We noticed a significant increase in the crowds at all the parks. The Magic Kingdom was packed every time we visited throughout the week. We were still able to get a lot done, but we used fast passes and did attractions at off peak times. The best strategy is to hit the parks early, because the crowds really started to pick up after 10:00 am. I can only imagine what the rest of the summer is going to be like.
Transportation- We had FABULOUS transportation this year. The only transportation wait we had was when travelling from the Boardwalk in to Downtown Disney our one night. Most of the time, we walked right onto a bus or we waited only a few minutes. We kept joking that this couldnt last all week, but it did. The on-demand bus system that Disney implemented last year seems to be working really well. With wait times usually well below 10 minutes the whole week, the Disney transportation system was definitely a high point of our trip.
Weather- It was VERY HOT and VERY HUMID the first few days of the trip. Definitely worse than last year. Even at night, we would be dripping. However, by the middle of the week, the weather improved a little. It was still hot and humid, however the humidity levels decreased a little, especially at night. We only experienced rain the last few days of the trip. Except for a pretty consistent rain one night, it was mainly brief thunderstorms.
Tips that Buzz and I compiled:
1. Skip the afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom. I thought this parade was nice, but it really wasnt worth an hour wait. Use this time to tour the parks. After catching a glimpse of the Cinderellas Surprise Celebration show, I would say see this instead of the parade. The show looked really good and featured lots of characters, and doesnt require nearly as much wait time.
2. Try to do all your parades and shows at the beginning of the trip. This way, if something is cancelled because of the weather or you cant get a good spot, you will have more chances to catch it the rest of the trip.
3. Bring your own water bottles and spray bottles. We filled our water bottles up with water and ice everyday at the resort. It saved us so much money in the parks because we didnt have to keep buying bottled water. Also, the spray fans at the parks cost $17, so it would be much cheaper to bring one from home. We didnt need one last year, but we had to break down and buy one this year because we were miserable. So, come prepared.
4. Use the Rainforest Café entrance at the Animal Kingdom. If there are long lines at the turnstiles in the Animal Kingdom, use the entrance located after the gift shop in the Rainforest Café. We zipped into the parks both mornings by using this entrance since not many people think to use it. Also, there was never anyone at the far right entrance in Epcot, so try this one out as well.
5. Take afternoon breaks, but not in the sun. This was something new that we tried this year and it really works. We would hit the parks early, rest and relax at the resort, and then have a nice evening in the parks. When we did use the pool, we only did it briefly or tried to stay in the shade. Spending an afternoon in the pool is usually a bad idea, because it will make you even more tired. A quick dip or a shower, a rest in A/C, and a change of clothes really can work wonders.
6. Use a towncar service from the airport. This was one of our favorite things of the trip. It was nice not to have to hassle with the Mears shuttle service and we felt like celebrities at the airport when our driver met us. Also, the cost is not much more and is actually cheaper for a family of 3 or more. It was nice to be driven directly from the airport to our resort and back again without numerous other stops. Also, the grocery stop was very convenient and allowed us to stock up on things such as snacks and water that we couldnt bring with from home. The towncar service was well worth the cost.
7. Bring your own ponchos from home. We spent about a $1 each for our ponchos compared to $6 each at the parks. Also, ours werent yellow, so we didnt blend in with everyone else. After the rain, we could just throw ours away and not have to worry about lugging ponchos around the rest of the day.
8. Do your shopping in the middle of the week at Downtown Disney (especially if you have the Disney Club Card). We like to browse the shops in the parks for the first part of the trip. Then we hit the World of Disney in the middle of the trip to do the bulk of our shopping. This way, we can easily keep track of how much money we are spending as well as receive the Disney Club discount. We dont have to lug our purchases all over the parks or go through the annoyance of package pickup. And, if we cant find something, we still have the rest of the week to pick it up in the parks.
9. Get your park passes put on your keycard. You may have to politely insist, but it is so nice to have everything on one durable plastic card. Also, if you lose your card, it is easier for Disney to verify how many days you have left and to reissue a card. Also, take advantage of the charging privileges. We used the card for almost all our food purchases in the parks. It is nice to get an itemized bill at the end of the week showing what you spent your money on. You can then pay it off daily or at the end of the week. We loved not having to carry large amounts of cash around.
10. Bring plenty of film and batteries from home. They are easily twice as expensive at WDW. Also, bring more film than you think you will use. Chances are, you will be glad you have extra film!
11. Print off the Mousekeeping tip envelopes from these boards and fill them before you go. We put all our tips for mousekeeping and town car driver in envelopes before we left. It was nice not having to dig around for tip money everyday. We also think the mousekeeper enjoyed our decorated envelopes.
12. Save room in your luggage for souvenirs. We didnt think we would buy as many souvenirs this year as we did on our last trip, and it was still a tight squeeze to get everything in. So, always plan for more than you expect.
13. Buy a Magical Moments pin. They are a little expensive at $16 each, but we got a lot of enjoyment out of mine. It was fun to see where the pin would be triggered through out the parks and it added to the magic of our trip.
14. Offer to take pictures, because others will return the favor. It is nice to have pictures with all family members present, so if you see a family taking a picture at a spot you want, offer to take their picture. They will generally return the favor!
15. Make your wake up times at odd times. For instance, we usually got up at 7:30 am so we would make our wake up call for 7:28 am. This ensured that we got Mickey everyday instead of generic music. One or two minutes doesnt really make that much difference in sleep time
16. Do the Animal Kingdom over two mornings. This park gets so hot because of the dense foliage that it is better to do the park in the morning. I believe that to give this park the attention it deserves, you will need two mornings here. Use one morning to make the Kilimanjero dash and the other to head towards Dinoland. And, take the time to observe the animals; after all they are supposed to be the main attraction.
17. Make Priority Seatings! We like to do one sit down meal a day. It is nice to get out of the heat and rest for an hour or so. Even if you arent sure if you will be eating at a particular restaurant, make the PS. That way, if you want to eat there, you have a PS and wont have to wait for a table. If you dont feel like going, it is easy to cancel a PS from any phone. I always feel that it is better to be safe than sorry.
18. Do express checkout at the resort. It is nice not having to go stand in line at guest services just to check out. This saves a lot of time and hassle.
19. Finally, STAY ONSITE! Nothing beats the convenience of staying on Disney property. If you do your research, it really isnt much more expensive (if at all) to stay in a Disney resort. Being so close to the parks is imperative if you want to take afternoon breaks. Also, using Disney transportation is a plus. I would hate to hop in a hot car after a day in the parks and then have to drive. Also, Disney busses drop you off right at the gates, so you dont have to ride tramcars to get to the park. And, being immersed in Disney from the moment you check in to the moment you check out is well worth it in my opinion. The only time I would every stay off site is if my accommodations would be free.
Well, I will bring this trip report to an end and officially close this Disney vacation. I hope that you have enjoyed reading about our adventures in Walt Disney World. I enjoy reading others trip reports and wanted to return the favor. It is depressing to know that I have no upcoming trips to WDW to plan, but hopefully I can convince Buzz that we should do a Disney Cruise/theme park honeymoon. Until then, the memories of our two trips together will have to do. Thanks again for reading!
All Time Favorites of the trip:
Woody- Seeing Spectromagic and the Tiffany Towncar service but especially seeing Buzz up on stage in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue
Buzz- Watermice
All Time Worst of the trip:
Woody- the crowds compared to last year
Buzz- the pointless security checkpoints and the heat
Cast:
Woody planner, 22 year old recent college graduate who is obsessed with Walt Disney
World, third trip
Buzz 23 year old fiancé who just wants to go on vacation, second trip
Dates: June 1st June 8th, 2002
Our story:
It is amazing how fast a trip can go when you are having so much fun! Buzz and I developed all nine rolls of film the day we got back because we were exited to see our pictures. All of the planning and time spent on the Boards paid off because our trip ran very smoothly and we experienced few problems. The trip also proved to Buzz that he could have a good time in Walt Disney World, even though we had just been there the year before. I am working on convincing Buzz to come back in two years on our honeymoon, hopefully he will agree! Anyway, here are some final thoughts on our trip.
Resort- I really liked Port Orleans Riverside and could definitely tell the difference between a Moderate and a Value. The grounds were so beautiful and the old south theme was noticeable all over the resort. We both agreed that this resort was much more laid back than All Star Movies. If we decide to do another commando style or budget trip, I would definitely stay at the All Stars. However, for a more relaxing trip, I would definitely upgrade to a moderate. We liked our location in Building 15 and enjoyed the quiet pool near our resort. We both agreed that the food court at ASMo had a better selection, but the seating area at POR was nicer. You could definitely tell that the rooms at POR were larger, and the two sinks were nice. Buzz thought the arcade was better at POR than ASMo. We didnt really use the main pool, so I cant comment on that. I also liked that we had a full-service restaurant and bar even though we didnt use them much. All in all, I really loved this resort and Buzz liked it. However, we will probably try to experience something new on our next trip.
Crowds- Wow, what a difference a year makes! It was full last year during the second week of June, but very manageable. We thought that by going a week early, we would have fewer crowds. Boy were we wrong! It was much more crowded this year, I believe people are really travelling again. We noticed a significant increase in the crowds at all the parks. The Magic Kingdom was packed every time we visited throughout the week. We were still able to get a lot done, but we used fast passes and did attractions at off peak times. The best strategy is to hit the parks early, because the crowds really started to pick up after 10:00 am. I can only imagine what the rest of the summer is going to be like.
Transportation- We had FABULOUS transportation this year. The only transportation wait we had was when travelling from the Boardwalk in to Downtown Disney our one night. Most of the time, we walked right onto a bus or we waited only a few minutes. We kept joking that this couldnt last all week, but it did. The on-demand bus system that Disney implemented last year seems to be working really well. With wait times usually well below 10 minutes the whole week, the Disney transportation system was definitely a high point of our trip.
Weather- It was VERY HOT and VERY HUMID the first few days of the trip. Definitely worse than last year. Even at night, we would be dripping. However, by the middle of the week, the weather improved a little. It was still hot and humid, however the humidity levels decreased a little, especially at night. We only experienced rain the last few days of the trip. Except for a pretty consistent rain one night, it was mainly brief thunderstorms.
Tips that Buzz and I compiled:
1. Skip the afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom. I thought this parade was nice, but it really wasnt worth an hour wait. Use this time to tour the parks. After catching a glimpse of the Cinderellas Surprise Celebration show, I would say see this instead of the parade. The show looked really good and featured lots of characters, and doesnt require nearly as much wait time.
2. Try to do all your parades and shows at the beginning of the trip. This way, if something is cancelled because of the weather or you cant get a good spot, you will have more chances to catch it the rest of the trip.
3. Bring your own water bottles and spray bottles. We filled our water bottles up with water and ice everyday at the resort. It saved us so much money in the parks because we didnt have to keep buying bottled water. Also, the spray fans at the parks cost $17, so it would be much cheaper to bring one from home. We didnt need one last year, but we had to break down and buy one this year because we were miserable. So, come prepared.
4. Use the Rainforest Café entrance at the Animal Kingdom. If there are long lines at the turnstiles in the Animal Kingdom, use the entrance located after the gift shop in the Rainforest Café. We zipped into the parks both mornings by using this entrance since not many people think to use it. Also, there was never anyone at the far right entrance in Epcot, so try this one out as well.
5. Take afternoon breaks, but not in the sun. This was something new that we tried this year and it really works. We would hit the parks early, rest and relax at the resort, and then have a nice evening in the parks. When we did use the pool, we only did it briefly or tried to stay in the shade. Spending an afternoon in the pool is usually a bad idea, because it will make you even more tired. A quick dip or a shower, a rest in A/C, and a change of clothes really can work wonders.
6. Use a towncar service from the airport. This was one of our favorite things of the trip. It was nice not to have to hassle with the Mears shuttle service and we felt like celebrities at the airport when our driver met us. Also, the cost is not much more and is actually cheaper for a family of 3 or more. It was nice to be driven directly from the airport to our resort and back again without numerous other stops. Also, the grocery stop was very convenient and allowed us to stock up on things such as snacks and water that we couldnt bring with from home. The towncar service was well worth the cost.
7. Bring your own ponchos from home. We spent about a $1 each for our ponchos compared to $6 each at the parks. Also, ours werent yellow, so we didnt blend in with everyone else. After the rain, we could just throw ours away and not have to worry about lugging ponchos around the rest of the day.
8. Do your shopping in the middle of the week at Downtown Disney (especially if you have the Disney Club Card). We like to browse the shops in the parks for the first part of the trip. Then we hit the World of Disney in the middle of the trip to do the bulk of our shopping. This way, we can easily keep track of how much money we are spending as well as receive the Disney Club discount. We dont have to lug our purchases all over the parks or go through the annoyance of package pickup. And, if we cant find something, we still have the rest of the week to pick it up in the parks.
9. Get your park passes put on your keycard. You may have to politely insist, but it is so nice to have everything on one durable plastic card. Also, if you lose your card, it is easier for Disney to verify how many days you have left and to reissue a card. Also, take advantage of the charging privileges. We used the card for almost all our food purchases in the parks. It is nice to get an itemized bill at the end of the week showing what you spent your money on. You can then pay it off daily or at the end of the week. We loved not having to carry large amounts of cash around.
10. Bring plenty of film and batteries from home. They are easily twice as expensive at WDW. Also, bring more film than you think you will use. Chances are, you will be glad you have extra film!
11. Print off the Mousekeeping tip envelopes from these boards and fill them before you go. We put all our tips for mousekeeping and town car driver in envelopes before we left. It was nice not having to dig around for tip money everyday. We also think the mousekeeper enjoyed our decorated envelopes.
12. Save room in your luggage for souvenirs. We didnt think we would buy as many souvenirs this year as we did on our last trip, and it was still a tight squeeze to get everything in. So, always plan for more than you expect.
13. Buy a Magical Moments pin. They are a little expensive at $16 each, but we got a lot of enjoyment out of mine. It was fun to see where the pin would be triggered through out the parks and it added to the magic of our trip.
14. Offer to take pictures, because others will return the favor. It is nice to have pictures with all family members present, so if you see a family taking a picture at a spot you want, offer to take their picture. They will generally return the favor!
15. Make your wake up times at odd times. For instance, we usually got up at 7:30 am so we would make our wake up call for 7:28 am. This ensured that we got Mickey everyday instead of generic music. One or two minutes doesnt really make that much difference in sleep time
16. Do the Animal Kingdom over two mornings. This park gets so hot because of the dense foliage that it is better to do the park in the morning. I believe that to give this park the attention it deserves, you will need two mornings here. Use one morning to make the Kilimanjero dash and the other to head towards Dinoland. And, take the time to observe the animals; after all they are supposed to be the main attraction.
17. Make Priority Seatings! We like to do one sit down meal a day. It is nice to get out of the heat and rest for an hour or so. Even if you arent sure if you will be eating at a particular restaurant, make the PS. That way, if you want to eat there, you have a PS and wont have to wait for a table. If you dont feel like going, it is easy to cancel a PS from any phone. I always feel that it is better to be safe than sorry.
18. Do express checkout at the resort. It is nice not having to go stand in line at guest services just to check out. This saves a lot of time and hassle.
19. Finally, STAY ONSITE! Nothing beats the convenience of staying on Disney property. If you do your research, it really isnt much more expensive (if at all) to stay in a Disney resort. Being so close to the parks is imperative if you want to take afternoon breaks. Also, using Disney transportation is a plus. I would hate to hop in a hot car after a day in the parks and then have to drive. Also, Disney busses drop you off right at the gates, so you dont have to ride tramcars to get to the park. And, being immersed in Disney from the moment you check in to the moment you check out is well worth it in my opinion. The only time I would every stay off site is if my accommodations would be free.
Well, I will bring this trip report to an end and officially close this Disney vacation. I hope that you have enjoyed reading about our adventures in Walt Disney World. I enjoy reading others trip reports and wanted to return the favor. It is depressing to know that I have no upcoming trips to WDW to plan, but hopefully I can convince Buzz that we should do a Disney Cruise/theme park honeymoon. Until then, the memories of our two trips together will have to do. Thanks again for reading!
All Time Favorites of the trip:
Woody- Seeing Spectromagic and the Tiffany Towncar service but especially seeing Buzz up on stage in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue
Buzz- Watermice
All Time Worst of the trip:
Woody- the crowds compared to last year
Buzz- the pointless security checkpoints and the heat
! Good luck with your wedding and I hope you get that Disney honeymoon 
