Here's an abreviated trip report Since John and I haven't been to DL since '92 and WDW since '04 (me) '99 for everyone else and the kids don't remember much if anything of our WDW visit, we wanted to experience everything we could... I may add more as I think of it.
John's not home to include his answers so he'll have to chime in with his own trip report.
Took advantage of Sunday's early entry. Woke the kids up at 4am to make the drive from San Diego. "Repeat after me - Mom has great ideas..." The kids may not be able to get out of bed early on a school day - but they do wake up early, quickly, and happy for the important stuff Rode everything in Fantasyland except for the train and canal boats by 8:00 Then, walked right on Winnie the Pooh, Pirates, and HM.
The crowds were light on Sunday and by Sunday evening we rode over 90% of the rides in both parks, including time out for checking into the hotel and swimming and meeting DIS friends for the ELP dessert seating and rides post parade.
Monday was horribly crowded - we did Magic Morning in Toon Town complete with the opening ceremony and the whole works - much to Mike's (ds13) dismay. It was my birthday and my plan.... Light crowds, everyone seemed to do the submarine sprint... Continued to hoard fast passes along the way, and headed over to DCA to ride and hoard some more for later in the evening. Fast passes worked great - walked on everything or minimal waits with the fast passes. Worked well to bypass the crowds.
Tuesday we did early entry again and the submarine sprint - only waited about 20 minutes. When we were next in line, a cast member was complaining about a guest who was very angry she was still waiting in line, it was taking too long - wonder what that woman thought later in the day - the crowds were horrible! Anyway, the CM surprised me a bit - I can understand the need to vent just not 2 feet in front of guests...
Post fireworks - did a bunch of fast passes, also jungle cruise. By 11:15 walked right on Pirates. Finished up our trip with Big Thunder at 11:30. Walked out of the park at 11:45
Favorite MK ride:
Mike: Space Mountain, Big Thunder
Maggie: Big Thunder
Monica: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Favorite CA Ride:
Mike: California Screamin'
Maggie: California Screamin'
Monica: Soarin'
I liked the updated pirates and Nemo - they were a good blend of old a new. I didn't like the attic redo in HM (the floating Madame Leona was cool!!!) the computer animated bride wasn't as well done as Buzz's face on the Buzz ride...
Ride in most need of an update: Jungle Cruise - not much of an update just a better sound system or CM need better training on how to present and project through the microphone. The majority of their spiel was lost over the motor and the speakers. (We rode it twice with 2 different cast members...)
The one unanimous "Did not Like" was the swinging gondolas on the ferris wheel. That was just a bizarre feeling! (Barf bags available inside the ride is not a good sign... )
John's biggest disappointment was that he couldn't fit into the side by side configuration of Space Mountain.
We all (even Mike who at times lived up to his Grumpy t-shirt and hat) enjoyed the Pixar play parade and Fantasmic. Pixar - we walked up and again found a curbside spot in the sun with 15 minutes to go - by the time the parade started, the sun was not a factor.
MK Parade - just ok - we happened to catch it right at 6:30 and found a roadside spot on the circle looking into the sun. The sun didn't help but, I'm glad we didn't stake a spot out early.
ELP was awesome! Always my favorite childhood memory and made even more fun with DIS friends and desserts!
Fantasmic, again staked out a front row spot with about 15 minutes to go next to one of the light poles roped off near the center. Small obstruction of the stage but, full view in front of the right most screen.
Fireworks were incredible and worth staking out a spot about 7:30 on our last night
Toy Story Mania was great - we rode during the soft opening on Sunday with about a 30 minute wait (posted time 50 minutes) not worth the 6 hours reported during Tuesday's opening. After TSM, we rode Buzz, no comparison and I was frustrated trying to get my lazer gun to work (I rode it in '04 in WDW and loved it then.
After hearing all of the "Happy FAther's Day" wishes and my birthday wishes on MOnday. The kids started counting John's birthday wishes - he was up to 70ish when they lost count.
OK that ended up being much longer than I intended...
I'd rather go shopping!
!!! I could keep going on back to back to back
. There for a while the drops were wimpy but the last few times we were there, they were awsome.
) 
He does fit (or did in '99) into WDW space mountain configuration of a single line of riders. He has a place for his legs.
- "we can't wait to read updates while you are in Disney, Lucy, next month"
