Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[CampbellzSoup]

To see a grown man cry over seeing his son finally meet and hug Mickey Mouse was embarrassing go say the least

 

[pangyal]

Here now for a long-overdue solo trip for F&G and some nice weather, May 9-19. I have a few details to share from my first day of blending Early Entry, Genie+, ILL$ and park hopping.

At 7:00am, I purchased G+ and an ILL$ for 7DMT for 11:10am. I made my first G+ selection of PP for 11:10, then on the way to MK I cancelled it as it seemed too late to allow the flexibility I wanted with being able to tap in earlier and open up other options after that. I chose HM at 10am instead (the earliest available at that time).

I left Bay Lake Tower this morning at a leisurely 8:17am and was through security and at the tapstiles by 8:28am. I wasn't sure where to start (I had only gotten as far as page 19 of the Early Entry thread, lol) so I first went to Space, which had a line to the Lunching Pad, so I bailed and went to Buzz. I checked MDE and the time for PP was quoted at 50 minutes, which seemed high. Buzz was a walk-on, and when I left, Space's line had already moved into the inside queue, so at 8:53am, I decided to join and ignore the quoted 45 minute posted time. I waited a total of 15 minutes.

I next headed to PP to see how things looked. I noticed that the outdoor queue was not filled at all, so I crossed my fingers and headed in. It was a posted time of 50 minutes, but I waited only 18. This is a complete reversal from our past few trips, where the posted time is accurate and G+ is the only option unless you are okay with waiting an hour or more for anything, so I was pretty happy.

My HM was up next, so I waited until 9:55am and tapped in. While waiting in front of the doors, I grabbed a 7:50pm Slinky to start my DHS stack for this evening. After that, I went to check out Splash and BTMR- the lines looked pretty deep, and I still needed to put in more than a few hours of work today, so I headed over to Pirates, which was posted at 35 minutes; I waited 20.

After Pirates, I headed to Little Mermaid with a posted time of 25 minutes and waited 10. After that, it was well within the time for my 11:10am 7DMT ILL$, so I headed over and didn't have to wait long. I kept trying to refresh for a Pooh, Splash or BTMR as a final MK G+ pick, but was unsuccessful at getting anything within the next 30 minutes.

After 7D, I headed over to Pooh, which had a posted wait of 35 minutes but looked to be moving. I waited about 20 minutes, and was able to grab a BTMR G+ for 12:15pm at 11:55am. After that (and tapping in), I did try refreshing a lot at Pecos Bills during lunch to try to get Splash for any time before 2pm, but was not successful.

I headed back to BLT to work, and started working on my evening at 1:15pm, when I got Runaway Railway for 6:55, and then grabbed MF for 7:50pm at 3:15pm. It is definitively easier to find G+ options right now than it has been for the past three trips, which is really a relief, because I was finding the entire thing just oppressively rigid when combined with the super high crowds.

I plan to get TSMM for around 7:00 during my next G+ window at 5:15pm, and then either get AS2 at 7:15pm or walk on if possible. Then, I will get in line around 8:45pm for Rise.

Overall, a productive day! I have DHS booked for tomorrow, but if I can pull all of this off, I might stay and do a resort day. It's amazing what you can accomplish without a late-sleeping family !

 

[mom2rtk]

View attachment 668467

My son finally got to hug Mickey Mouse my life is compete

I'm so happy for you!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

DHS really suffers from not having many attractions.

Right now they are only running one side of Alien Swirling Saucers, peeps already know of ToT one side (that was down for a while today at park opening so was Rise)

Minnie and Mickey went down too today.

Lots of down rides over the last few days. Remy though luckily was a brief down while we were in line.

Rise is 130 mins but was just 140 mins

And 1 party at a time is being let in on Alien Swirling Saucers in Standby.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I'm so happy for you!

Thank you so much my love you know how far I’ve come and especially trying to be a dad this was just a full circle moment for me.

I’ll share just one more no one told me Mickey Bars and white shirts are dangerous!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thank you so much my love you know how far I’ve come and especially trying to be a dad this was just a full circle moment for me.

I’ll share just one more no one told me Mickey Bars and white shirts are dangerous!

View attachment 668471

Won't fix everything but my mom hack is to put the stick through an upside down plastic cup lid. Will capture some of the drips - but will do nothing for the chocolate face that will happen!

Glad you're having such a great trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thank you so much my love you know how far I’ve come and especially trying to be a dad this was just a full circle moment for me.

I’ll share just one more no one told me Mickey Bars and white shirts are dangerous!

View attachment 668471

It's OK. The white shirt is an acceptable loss for such an adorable photo!

 

[orangecuse]

DHS really suffers from not having many attractions.

Right now they are only running one side of Alien Swirling Saucers, peeps already know of ToT one side (that was down for a while today at park opening so was Rise)

Minnie and Mickey went down too today.

Lots of down rides over the last few days. Remy though luckily was a brief down while we were in line.

Rise is 130 mins but was just 140 mins

And 1 party at a time is being let in on Alien Swirling Saucers in Standby.

THATS what was going on today! We stacked HS for the evening and had MMRR, TSMM, Slinky, and Alien. Alien we never did get on as it was so slow we just bailed even w/ our genie+. We hopped to Epcot end of day for Remy ILL$ and it was down so we had to head to guest services for a refund. The people behind us at guest services said they had been waiting in the G+ line for an hour before they were told to just leave. Yikes!

 

[LMO429]

We just got back from a two week visit! We had gone a year ago and things are light years better than last year. All the cast members we interacted with were wonderful. We stayed a riviera and I truly got the old school Disney customer service from every cast member we interacted with there which after 2 weeks was a lot! Bravo riviera ! We did the guardians ap preview hands down the best ride at Disney I would never wait in a long line for a ride but that ride is def worth the lengthy waits once it opens. We got to ride two times during the preview and I still on a happiness high from it
It’s simply amazing!!!!!!!! It was nice to have housekeeping we stayed at riviera and had a rental car and loved it not sure I would have felt the same
With no reNtal car we did preferred parking every day and we felt jr was worth the money. Don’t rope drop hs if u r doing genie plus learn to stack your rides and go into the park with a full line up a little later in the afternoon. The bathrooms at mk were gross that was my only complaint. I actually liked enchantment which going in I thought I wouldn’t based on so many negative reviews is it wishes or happily ever after no but being a park regular I found it refreshing and a good change of pace. Mobile order was easy and fast never had a issue with that. Don’t bother with Starbucks on Main Street wish they had a genie plus for that lol it needs a it the lines were insane for coffee go to a Joffrey cart instead.

 

[LMO429]

Oh and infant baby Mickey ears are no where to be found on property currently which was unfortunate for ours babies first visit they have a blue first visit pair but they are too big for babies

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The people behind us at guest services said they had been waiting in the G+ line for an hour before they were told to just leave. Yikes!

Oh my that sounds awful!

 

[DisneyFive]

We just got back from a two week visit! We had gone a year ago and things are light years better than last year. All the cast members we interacted with were wonderful. We stayed a riviera and I truly got the old school Disney customer service from every cast member we interacted with there which after 2 weeks was a lot! Bravo riviera ! We did the guardians ap preview hands down the best ride at Disney I would never wait in a long line for a ride but that ride is def worth the lengthy waits once it opens. We got to ride two times during the preview and I still on a happiness high from it
It’s simply amazing!!!!!!!! It was nice to have housekeeping we stayed at riviera and had a rental car and loved it not sure I would have felt the same
With no reNtal car we did preferred parking every day and we felt jr was worth the money. Don’t rope drop hs if u r doing genie plus learn to stack your rides and go into the park with a full line up a little later in the afternoon. The bathrooms at mk were gross that was my only complaint. I actually liked enchantment which going in I thought I wouldn’t based on so many negative reviews is it wishes or happily ever after no but being a park regular I found it refreshing and a good change of pace. Mobile order was easy and fast never had a issue with that. Don’t bother with Starbucks on Main Street wish they had a genie plus for that lol it needs a it the lines were insane for coffee go to a Joffrey cart instead.

This is encouraging. Last summer (with standby only) was really rough for us. Glad to hear you liked this year so mch more!

BTW, I think Guardians is going to be virtual queue at the start so waits won't be long (as long as you can get the $ILL and get on the ride to begin with)

 

[LMO429]

This is encouraging. Last summer (with standby only) was really rough for us. Glad to hear you liked this year so mch more!

BTW, I think Guardians is going to be virtual queue at the start so waits won't be long (as long as you can get the $ILL and get on the ride to begin with)

Yes so much better than last year.

what I meant about the wait was that its totally worth it if for someone has to wait on a excessive line eventually its totally worth the wait I cant say that for many rides at disney

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes so much better than last year.

what I meant about the wait was that its totally worth it if for someone has to wait on a excessive line eventually its totally worth the wait I cant say that for many rides at disney

My husband said the same for our preview, he'd be willing to wait a while for the ride it was very fun what he did get to experience

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm here right now and thought I would share my HS day. Early entry and Genie+ are extremely critical if you want to get everything done and avoid the insane waits.

My group and I were on the bus from AKL to HS at around 6:55 and we managed to get a Rise LL for 8:45 am and Tower of Terror for 10:25 am while on the bus. We were let into the park at around 7:45 ish and we rode Smuggler's and Toy Story Mania during early entry with absolutely zero wait. We saw that Rockin Roller Coaster had a 10 minute wait so we walked over there but it shot up to 40 by the time we arrived. Actual wait time was 15. Rise went down during early entry so we got our Lightning Lane turned into an experience redemption pass. We rode Rise when it went back up and then we got Rockin Roller Coaster for 12:05.

After Rockin we decided to go back to AKL for a mid day break at the pool. While at the pool I "fiddle faddled" like Molly from Allears recommends and I got the following evening stack:

Slinky Dog Dash 5:20
Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway 5:55
Toy Story Mania 7:15

At the end of the night we saw Rise was down to a 40 minute wait so we hopped on line and got into the preshow in 25 minutes. The ride then broke down and we were stuck in the Stormtrooper room/room before being interrogated for about 30-40 minutes with absolutely zero communication from Cast Members until they evacuated the queue. We got a Lightning Lane to come back tomorrow but we're at MK tomorrow so I'm typing this while in line at Guest Relations (the CM that gave me the pass told me to go talk to them).

Overall an excellent day using Genie+/ILL but beware of the risk of riding Rise at park close. The trip is great so far as well - crowds are not terrible and CMs are very friendly/helpful.

 

[TigerLaw]

I'm here right now and thought I would share my HS day. Early entry and Genie+ are extremely critical if you want to get everything done and avoid the insane waits.

My group and I were on the bus from AKL to HS at around 6:55 and we managed to get a Rise LL for 8:45 am and Tower of Terror for 10:25 am while on the bus. We were let into the park at around 7:45 ish and we rode Smuggler's and Toy Story Mania during early entry with absolutely zero wait. We saw that Rockin Roller Coaster had a 10 minute wait so we walked over there but it shot up to 40 by the time we arrived. Actual wait time was 15. Rise went down during early entry so we got our Lightning Lane turned into an experience redemption pass. We rode Rise when it went back up and then we got Rockin Roller Coaster for 12:05.

After Rockin we decided to go back to AKL for a mid day break at the pool. While at the pool I "fiddle faddled" like Molly from Allears recommends and I got the following evening stack:

Slinky Dog Dash 5:20
Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway 5:55
Toy Story Mania 7:15

At the end of the night we saw Rise was down to a 40 minute wait so we hopped on line and got into the preshow in 25 minutes. The ride then broke down and we were stuck in the Stormtrooper room/room before being interrogated for about 30-40 minutes with absolutely zero communication from Cast Members until they evacuated the queue. We got a Lightning Lane to come back tomorrow but we're at MK tomorrow so I'm typing this while in line at Guest Relations (the CM that gave me the pass told me to go talk to them).

Overall an excellent day using Genie+/ILL but beware of the risk of riding Rise at park close. The trip is great so far as well - crowds are not terrible and CMs are very friendly/helpful.

So what did guest services end up saying on your issue?

 

[Smugpugmug]

So what did guest services end up saying on your issue?

They told us to come back to guest services on the day we are returning to HS (Saturday) to get the experience passes changed. I signed a form and they said they'll want to see my ID for some reason? But we're going to hop into guest services in MK to see what they can do. The guest services line was insane last night - went all the way down the main street due to people wanting refunds for the Rise ILL.

 

[Ariel620]

They told us to come back to guest services on the day we are returning to HS (Saturday) to get the experience passes changed. I signed a form and they said they'll want to see my ID for some reason? But we're going to hop into guest services in MK to see what they can do. The guest services line was insane last night - went all the way down the main street due to people wanting refunds for the Rise ILL.

Try the blue umbrellas in the park instead of GS up front. Shorter lines and more helpful imo.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Try the blue umbrellas in the park instead of GS up front. Shorter lines and more helpful imo.

It was after park close when I was in line but yeah that's what I did at MK and was told they are not authorized to help with HS issues. This afternoon I did see a Rise experience redemption pass show up on MDE but one of them is linked to my mom, who isn't even here on the trip so guess I'm back in line at guest services tomorrow morning

 

[MickeysHouse224]

We just got back from an incredible trip! May 7-13th.

Our strategy this time was to sleep in (except for waking up to make Lightning Lane reservations), have lazy mornings, swim in the afternoon and go the parks in the later afternoon/evening. This worked so well and I would say it had a lot to do with low crowds and a lot of genie+ availability. Had I not been able to snag the genie+ reservations we wanted throughout the day and still have a ton of availability once we were in the parks, this might not have gone as well.

Stayed at French Quarter - love the theming, love the size, LOVE the boat to Disney Springs. We shared busses with Riverside a lot, which is just a real bummer when trying to get to the parks. Food court was just okay - limited options and mobile ordering took a very long time for them to prepare.

Our schedule this time was something like this: sleep until our kids woke up naturally, slow morning of breakfast at resort or boat to Disney Springs for coffee/breakfast; swim in the afternoon; park in the later afternoon/evening. We never entered a park before ~2PM (often later) and were able to do everything we wanted with Lightning Lane.

Day 1 - Sunday 5/9 - Hollywood Studios
- arrived ~3PM, left about 8:30PM
- not in order, all with Genie+ - Rise of the Resistance w/ Individual Lightning Lane, Millennium Falcon, Slinky Dog (booked this one first in the morning), Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rockin' Roller Coaster. Also built a droid (walk up).

Day 2 - Monday 5/10 - Animal Kingdom
- arrived ~2:15PM left about 7:15PM
- dinosaur, everest, kite show, flight of passage ($LL), ate a sau'tili canteen, safari, gorilla falls trail, everest again (no genie + for second ride), boneyard, ice cream near everest - the Yeti Sundae is yummy!

Day 3- Tuesday 5/11- Magic Kingdom
- arrived ~3:00, left 11:30PM (closed at 11)
- in no particular order: peter pan, jungle cruise, big thunder mountain, splash mountain, buzz, speedway (4x throughout the evening), space mountain, people mover, pooh, dumbo x2, watched fire works from back or park, ate dinner while watching Mickey castle show, mine train (got in line a little before 11, waited maybe 15 minutes), ice cream & pretzel breaks!

Day 4 - Wednesday 5/12 - EPCOT
- arrived ~3:00, left ~9:00
- The construction in this park makes it so un-magical. Did not get that Disney feeling here at all this time!
- spaceship earth, walked world showcase and snacked, Frozen, 3 Caballeros ride, soarin, ate dinner and lingered because we met up with some local family but we could have done Living with the Land and Nemo had we just ate and moved on, Test Track

Day 5 - Thursday 5/13 - Hollywood Studios
- arrived ~3:00, left 9:00
- millennium falcon, ate at the star wars quick service, wandered around star wars to take photos & had blue milk (yuck), slinky, toy story mania, runaway railway, rockin' roller coaster. Had a LL for Tower of Terror but Rockin' Roller coaster had issues and we didn't finish until 9:05 (went in ~8:30), so that was a bummer.
- Bought a Mickey pretzel loungefly on the way out!

Day 6 - Friday 5/14 - Animal Kingdom
- arrived ~3:00, left ~5:45 (bus to airport at 7:05)
- looked at animals on the way in, everest, ice cream break for another Yeti sundae, safari, corn on the cobb, flight of passage ($LL)

We used Sunshine Flyer and had no trouble! Would use again.

Overall our best trip ever! We have found the right balance of parks and relaxing for our family. Can't wait to go back!