Well, we decided to go Wednesday and yes, it was crowded and yes, there was probably the EMH factor. But it looked like tons of people were arriving as we left so I guess it could have been worse. Longest we waited was about 40 minutes for the dreaded Dumbo. Fast-passed everything else we wanted to see (well...everything else the 3-year-old wanted to see -- we didn't go on any of the adult rides, and that was fine). I have no idea why *everyone* doesn't use FP, but they don't, and that makes it easier for me!
I didn't mind the early closing. The 3YO wouldn't have made it another 3 hours without severe tantrums and major carrying from one ride to another. I minded missing Spectromagic, though...
Quick review of Stitch ride: Not worth a wait. Glad we FP'd and baby-swapped it. Scared my 3YO, who nonetheless went on it twice. Other than a couple of in-the-dark special effects, pretty lame.
Everything else was great, as usual. Highlight of the night: We went to Minnie's House just before fireworks at 7, and lined up to get pix with Pooh characters. Two other side-by-side lines went to Minnie/Donald and the princesses. After 3YO got pix taken with Pooh, Eyeore and Tigger, we left, and realized the princess line wasn't too bad, so we ducked under ropes and got at end of that line. CM rushed up, all upset, saying line was closed and we would be last people to enter. I didn't feel too guilty, since I hadn't known the line was closed when we ducked under...I was just trying to save a walk back to the line's beginning, which was out of sight around the corner.
We enter, I realize my camera has ONE SHOT left on the roll of film, with 3 princesses all waiting separately to be photographed. Just as I'm faced with horrible quandary of asking 3YO which princess she wants foto with, I get brainwave to ask them all to pose together, since we're the last ones in anyway. They agree!
And then and then and then...my 3YO gets terrified and refuses to go near them!!! AARGH! Luckily, CM manning the doors volunteers to take picture, and I sit with her on my lap and 3 princesses clustered around us like benevolent fairies. PICTURE OF A LIFETIME! And yep, it was the last one on the roll. YAY!
Oh, and then she got to sit with driver in the monorail, since we shopped and dawdled so long that it was 9 p.m. by the time we were leaving and no one else was even on the platform.
Great day, all around. And I don't think those little miracles would have happened if we'd gone Monday.
Thanks everyone -- appreciate the quick responses and advice -- these boards are great!
Kren
