Florida2012
If you can dream it, you can do it
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 418
We got home at midnight on Friday/Saturday after a five day trip (staying at the Kyriad the night before we went officially visited DLP and the Sequioa when there) and though still quite knackered, we are still flying high from our trip so here are our highs and lows
Highs
Weather - I couldn't believe at one point I was walking down Main Street in just a t-shirt! It was so warm, it meant half our clothes ended up not being worn (jumpers, etc)
Sequioa Lodge - We usually stay at the Cheyenne or Santa Fe and have always been happy with these resorts, but the Sequioa was something else! The food choices was exceptional, the location in relation to the park meant there was no point waiting for the bus and the atmosphere just seemed so much more calm than the other two. We will certainly be visiting again!
Tour of park - Our tour guide (Laura) had never done a tour on her own before but you wouldn't have known this! Her knowledge was exceptional (even I learnt so much!), her English was pretty much perfect, and nothing was too much for her! The tour itself, was very informative but VERY tiring!
Christmas Dreams - We were at the park two years ago to watch the original Xmas Dreams and thought it was ok. They seem to have added more as we thought it was absolutely amazing watching it EVERY night we were there
Christmas in Magic Kingdom - Wow, just wow!!!! We were at WDW last year as they were just putting the Xmas decorations up so didn't really get that wow factor. So to be able to walk into Magic Kingdom on the first day to snow down a highly decorated Main Street was a fantastic start to our holiday
Frozen Sing-a-long - I know people say there is too much Frozen in the parks (and BOY there is!!) but we adored the Sing-a-long, in fact we changed our plans on the last day to redo it! The CM's doing the show were really into it and we loved the area set aside for the kids dressed up, it was a lovely touch! The only time I became VERY nervous was when the CM came near me with the mic! Apparently my face was a picture!
Extra touches - Its nice to see a bit of magic from the CM's from one drawing characters on the pavement with his dustpan and brush to the CM's really getting into character around the various parts of the park. Can't say we've really seen this too often in the past! Just hope they keep this up!
Other bits - Royal Wishes, Space Mountain, Inventions & BBWWS
Lows
Security - I understand the need for additional security and I'm happy to comply with this, but sometimes it seemed quite half hearted. We went through one day when they were using the metal detector on people coming through but only men!! The other concern I have is the fact that I was under the impression selfie sticks were banned from the parks, but they were EVERYWHERE. Now if security were unable to notice these and confiscate them what else are they missing?!?!? (are they supposed to confiscate them??)
Characters - There didn't seem to be many characters about at all! In fact in the Studios, at one point, there seemed to be just three about (M&M at the entrance & Buzz in Toon Town). Also, we were waiting for Merida for half an hour before the scheduled time and about ten minutes after she was supposed to show CM's came across to tell us she wasn't attending. Much to the disappointment to the really large queue that had formed
Rudeness - As I put above the majority of the CM's were amazing this time, but the visitors to the parks? Different story! We seemed to spend the whole time having to avoid buggies and people trying to walk through us! Not sure why this was the case, for us, we were in the happiest place on Earth and were so pleased just to be there
Smoking - Yes this again! My wife smokes and is never really bothered when others smoke around her, so for her to be getting fed up of other smokers, tells me it is an issue! Around queues, buggies, everywhere!
Maintenance - For me the main issue! Yes, I realise the need for the upkeep (and where they have painted/fixed it looks AMAZING!!) but we were forever tripping over maintenance crews. Do they not do these bits overnight anymore? Also, BTM & Small World closed really killed us!!
So, despite these lows we had an amazing time and its great to see that the Magic is beginning to return to the park. We can't wait to return for the 25th anniversary, and the only reason we won't be there next year is because our budget won't stretch to a WDW and DLP trip in the same year!
Highs
Weather - I couldn't believe at one point I was walking down Main Street in just a t-shirt! It was so warm, it meant half our clothes ended up not being worn (jumpers, etc)
Sequioa Lodge - We usually stay at the Cheyenne or Santa Fe and have always been happy with these resorts, but the Sequioa was something else! The food choices was exceptional, the location in relation to the park meant there was no point waiting for the bus and the atmosphere just seemed so much more calm than the other two. We will certainly be visiting again!
Tour of park - Our tour guide (Laura) had never done a tour on her own before but you wouldn't have known this! Her knowledge was exceptional (even I learnt so much!), her English was pretty much perfect, and nothing was too much for her! The tour itself, was very informative but VERY tiring!
Christmas Dreams - We were at the park two years ago to watch the original Xmas Dreams and thought it was ok. They seem to have added more as we thought it was absolutely amazing watching it EVERY night we were there
Christmas in Magic Kingdom - Wow, just wow!!!! We were at WDW last year as they were just putting the Xmas decorations up so didn't really get that wow factor. So to be able to walk into Magic Kingdom on the first day to snow down a highly decorated Main Street was a fantastic start to our holiday
Frozen Sing-a-long - I know people say there is too much Frozen in the parks (and BOY there is!!) but we adored the Sing-a-long, in fact we changed our plans on the last day to redo it! The CM's doing the show were really into it and we loved the area set aside for the kids dressed up, it was a lovely touch! The only time I became VERY nervous was when the CM came near me with the mic! Apparently my face was a picture!
Extra touches - Its nice to see a bit of magic from the CM's from one drawing characters on the pavement with his dustpan and brush to the CM's really getting into character around the various parts of the park. Can't say we've really seen this too often in the past! Just hope they keep this up!
Other bits - Royal Wishes, Space Mountain, Inventions & BBWWS
Lows
Security - I understand the need for additional security and I'm happy to comply with this, but sometimes it seemed quite half hearted. We went through one day when they were using the metal detector on people coming through but only men!! The other concern I have is the fact that I was under the impression selfie sticks were banned from the parks, but they were EVERYWHERE. Now if security were unable to notice these and confiscate them what else are they missing?!?!? (are they supposed to confiscate them??)
Characters - There didn't seem to be many characters about at all! In fact in the Studios, at one point, there seemed to be just three about (M&M at the entrance & Buzz in Toon Town). Also, we were waiting for Merida for half an hour before the scheduled time and about ten minutes after she was supposed to show CM's came across to tell us she wasn't attending. Much to the disappointment to the really large queue that had formed
Rudeness - As I put above the majority of the CM's were amazing this time, but the visitors to the parks? Different story! We seemed to spend the whole time having to avoid buggies and people trying to walk through us! Not sure why this was the case, for us, we were in the happiest place on Earth and were so pleased just to be there
Smoking - Yes this again! My wife smokes and is never really bothered when others smoke around her, so for her to be getting fed up of other smokers, tells me it is an issue! Around queues, buggies, everywhere!
Maintenance - For me the main issue! Yes, I realise the need for the upkeep (and where they have painted/fixed it looks AMAZING!!) but we were forever tripping over maintenance crews. Do they not do these bits overnight anymore? Also, BTM & Small World closed really killed us!!
So, despite these lows we had an amazing time and its great to see that the Magic is beginning to return to the park. We can't wait to return for the 25th anniversary, and the only reason we won't be there next year is because our budget won't stretch to a WDW and DLP trip in the same year!
