Warning - novice poster, novice Disneyite. Proceed at your own risk. This Board was great in helping us plan our short but sweet Disney trip so I wanted to repay the favor.
Cast: Husband and wife (Thirty Somethings), Daughters 9 and 3. Second trip to Disney - stayed off site. Bought two 1 day tickets at Welcome Center in Ocala.
IMO Thumbs Up:
Utilizing Fast Pass (Everyone was right -- turned the trip into a JOY!)
Arriving early for parking and rushing to boat at Magic Kingdom when Monorail lines were FULL.
Buzz Lightyear -- Husband and 3 year old daughter - him doing the shooting and her doing the spinning a sight I will always remember!
Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (didn't go on either on our first short trip last year - lines were too long and we didn't understand about Fast Pass).
Waiter Nabil and food at Restaurant Marakesh in Epcot - Really nice and Mmmm Food.
Watching the Castle Fireworks from O'Hana's (and avoiding the departure crowd) - good food too!
Dinner and drinks at Bahama Breeze restaurant (off site).
Getting the "Birthday Button" at City Hall, MK. (Daughter got to pick where she wanted to ride on SM, BTMR, allowed to use fast passes early, free games at arcade, serenaded and followed by banjo players in Frontierland etc., Made for a great birthday!)
Sea World in the nice cool February air. Loved the picture of my daughter feeding the dolphins.
Renting the stroller from the folks standing there right after they search your bags instead of waiting till you get to the stroller place.
Thanks to whoever told me about stroller exchange with Railroad - (take your card out leave your stroller, ride Train and pick up another stroller someone's left at other end).
Orange slush at Castle.
Bringing rain poncho and not just the cheap kind that drips all over your legs.
Bringing bubbles for the little sis to play with while big sis rides.
TTA - best ride in the world for exchanging a foot rub with your spouse and fun to see Space Mountain in the daylight while they rehab.
Florida Fun Pass for Seaworld.
IMO Thumbs Down:
Character Dinner at Park Faire - food yuck - big crowd, crying tired children everywhere.
Character Breakfast at Contemporary - great way to start or end the trip.
Breakfast at Boma - Food so/so. Atmosphere great - we love Wilderness Lodge but next time we want to stay here!
Crowds, crowds, crowds. Tip: Don't wait till end of night to pick up pictures at Magic Kingdom. STUPID US!
Staying off site (enjoyed the cheap house and great pool and hot tub but enjoyed onsite much better when we could easily get back to our room for a rest and the atmosphere in the Disney Resorts is a big part of the magic).
Beaver Tails - could've been because they were out of powdered sugar or because we're from Louisiana and our taste buds are spoiled from all the beignets and king cakes!
Barnstormer Railroad -- should be a rule that only the 3, 4, 5 year olds and parent can ride. What a long line for a little trip.
Rasberry slush at Castle.
New Tradition: Everytime we see the Monorail pass the whole family yells "Chowder" (I don't know why - but try it - pick a weird word for your family and the tradition is every time your in the parks or car and see the monorail pass whole family must shout out.)
Cast: Husband and wife (Thirty Somethings), Daughters 9 and 3. Second trip to Disney - stayed off site. Bought two 1 day tickets at Welcome Center in Ocala.
IMO Thumbs Up:
Utilizing Fast Pass (Everyone was right -- turned the trip into a JOY!)
Arriving early for parking and rushing to boat at Magic Kingdom when Monorail lines were FULL.
Buzz Lightyear -- Husband and 3 year old daughter - him doing the shooting and her doing the spinning a sight I will always remember!
Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (didn't go on either on our first short trip last year - lines were too long and we didn't understand about Fast Pass).
Waiter Nabil and food at Restaurant Marakesh in Epcot - Really nice and Mmmm Food.
Watching the Castle Fireworks from O'Hana's (and avoiding the departure crowd) - good food too!
Dinner and drinks at Bahama Breeze restaurant (off site).
Getting the "Birthday Button" at City Hall, MK. (Daughter got to pick where she wanted to ride on SM, BTMR, allowed to use fast passes early, free games at arcade, serenaded and followed by banjo players in Frontierland etc., Made for a great birthday!)
Sea World in the nice cool February air. Loved the picture of my daughter feeding the dolphins.
Renting the stroller from the folks standing there right after they search your bags instead of waiting till you get to the stroller place.
Thanks to whoever told me about stroller exchange with Railroad - (take your card out leave your stroller, ride Train and pick up another stroller someone's left at other end).
Orange slush at Castle.
Bringing rain poncho and not just the cheap kind that drips all over your legs.
Bringing bubbles for the little sis to play with while big sis rides.
TTA - best ride in the world for exchanging a foot rub with your spouse and fun to see Space Mountain in the daylight while they rehab.
Florida Fun Pass for Seaworld.
IMO Thumbs Down:
Character Dinner at Park Faire - food yuck - big crowd, crying tired children everywhere.
Character Breakfast at Contemporary - great way to start or end the trip.
Breakfast at Boma - Food so/so. Atmosphere great - we love Wilderness Lodge but next time we want to stay here!
Crowds, crowds, crowds. Tip: Don't wait till end of night to pick up pictures at Magic Kingdom. STUPID US!
Staying off site (enjoyed the cheap house and great pool and hot tub but enjoyed onsite much better when we could easily get back to our room for a rest and the atmosphere in the Disney Resorts is a big part of the magic).
Beaver Tails - could've been because they were out of powdered sugar or because we're from Louisiana and our taste buds are spoiled from all the beignets and king cakes!
Barnstormer Railroad -- should be a rule that only the 3, 4, 5 year olds and parent can ride. What a long line for a little trip.
Rasberry slush at Castle.
New Tradition: Everytime we see the Monorail pass the whole family yells "Chowder" (I don't know why - but try it - pick a weird word for your family and the tradition is every time your in the parks or car and see the monorail pass whole family must shout out.)
Maybe that is something I can get my family to do.
