I'm here at Disney!!! 4/2 Lessons Learned

[JulieNMM]

Hi everyone -- here I am!! A few things are not like I thought they would be (this is only my second time -- 1st was 9 years ago and I don't remember much).

Before I got here, I kept looking at weather forecasts. They all consistently said about 85 during the day and 62 at night. We got into the airport last night at 7pm and it was 84. By 10pm, it was still about 75. It's 10:30 now and 77 degrees. So much warmer at night than I thought it would be!!!

It's not as crowded as I expected. We went to MGM today and waited 10 mins for Star Tours, 15 mins for the Great Movie Ride, 10 mins for Ariel's show, and 5 mins for the backlot tram tour. We ate at Sci-Fi with no ADR and walked right in! It was about 11:45 and only about half filled, although when we left there was a big crowd waiting.

In the MGM courtyard, we saw Mulan, later saw Mike and Sully (they don't do autographs BTW), and saw Woody and Buzz by Al's Toy Barn.

After about 4 hours, the kids wanted to go back to the pool. They apparently like that better than Disney?

We had dinner tonight at Chef Mickey's. Had an ADR at 8:20 and got there at 8:10 and didn't get seated til 8:30???

Also, the roads here are very confusing! We got lost and toured the Magic Kingdom parking lot -- the whole thing.... this place is HUGE! You definitely need a car to save time.

Off to bed -- more tomorrow!

JULIE

 

[BeckWhy]

After about 4 hours, the kids wanted to go back to the pool. They apparently like that better than Disney?

Well once being a kid myself and being there when its 80 degrees, the pool is HEAVEN!!!!

When I was really little we didn't stay onsite so we couldn't leave and come back. I used to run the facet in the bathroom til the water was super cold and fill up water bottles.. and then dump it over my head later.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Also, the roads here are very confusing! We got lost and toured the Magic Kingdom parking lot -- the whole thing.... this place is HUGE! You definitely need a car to save time.


JULIE

This is one of the reasons we always use Disney transportation.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Hi Julie, I'm glad to hear you are having a good trip. Isn't it nice to expect large crowds and get there to find it much less crowded than you thought. Have fun.

 

[Sabrina90744]

Also, the roads here are very confusing! We got lost and toured the Magic Kingdom parking lot -- the whole thing.... this place is HUGE! You definitely need a car to save time.


That is exactly why I decided to stay onsite and use Disney Transportation. I didn't want to get lost going and coming.


Julie I noticed your from Cali, how hard has it been to get your kids up and running early in the morning. When we were there I was lucky to get the kids up at 9:30 Orlando time, the time change was a real issue for us.

 

[laura001]

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.........

 

[Minniespal]

Welcome to the Dis

 

[JulieNMM]

The first night we got here ( to the hotel), it was about 9pm and then we went to the store and by then it was 10. We stayed up until midnight and slept til 9:30 (really 8:30 because of daylight savings.) We've been on Eastern time ever since -- so no probs with the time change. Monday we went to MK and spent over an hour waitin to see Ariel -- luckily there are water fountains (for playing) there so the kids didn't mind so much...then we saw the parade. It was HOT! Then dinner at Ohana -- yummy drink in a pineapple (but $15!!! -- but it's vacation, right?)

Today is Tuesday and we had reservations at Donald's Breakfastosaurus -- we got to go into the park early!!! Cool! We were the only ones there. After some rides and digging for bones and seeing Pooh and friends -- it was too hot to do anything but go back to the hotel!!!! So we spent all afternoon there, drinking drinks -- now it's time to go to BOMA for dinner....

OH! I found my first hidden Mickey!!!! I stared and stared and then a CM said "what are you taking a picture of and I said oh nothing and he said "That's a hiding Mickey you know!" So I was right!!!!!! Cool!!!!

JULIE

 

[dustya21]

Hi Julie!!

I just wanted to say soak up the warmth and sunshine for all of us, PLEASE!! We're from northern lower Michigan. The calender says it is spring, but as I sit here looking out my sliding glass doors to the back of the yard, I see blowing snow!! Yep, I said snow. It's about 25 degrees and your post made me smile and reminded me that sooner or later, it's gonna warm up!!

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!!

 

[Azure]

Julie,

I'm hoping that you are having a magical trip!

 

[FamilyGuy]

It gives me a warm n fuzzy to hear about your day at Disney!

I am sure that the entire family can't wait to be back again!

Have a magical visit!

 

[JulieNMM]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone!!

To dustya21 -- apparently it is still winter back home for us, too, which for Californians means tons of cold rain! It just seems so foreign to think of that since it's sooooo hot here! DO NOT bring you sweaters! Although I am sunburned and was a little chilly last night in the restaurant.

BTW, I did NOT like the food at BOMA -- too "out there" for me, but DH enjoyed it and DS6 liked the chicken strips. I did enjoy the chocolate mousse and zebra desserts. After dinner, we walked out onto the overlook and saw lots of wild animals -- zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, antelope, some cow-type things. We're thinking we should have stayed at the AKL....

Well, we're off to Epcot and Akershus for lunch with the princesses. The kids have their "passports" and are ready!

More lessons learned:

1. There are way more characers here than at Disneyland! They are everywhere you look! Kids love it!

2. Make sure you have your passes BEFORE you leave the hotel. After swimming all afternoon, we went to Epcot, parked, and were walking in before we discovered that they were in the pockets of our other shorts. GRRRRRR.

3. The AAA diamond parking isn't all that swell. Sure you park closer to the entrance, but that means you're too close for the tram, which means way more walking in this 90 degree heat.

More later!
JULIE

 

[byoung]

Thanks for the reports Julie.