Just back - 2/2/14

[my2disneyboys]

Hey guys,
Just returned from a fun vacation. Not my favorite one, but hey- it's Disney- and it was still pretty awesome!

Stayed at AKL Jambo House and LOVED the resort.

I also really loved most aspects of the Magic Bands. For instance, from Magical Express, to checking into resort, getting into parks and your room- paying for anything- it was SO NICE to not have to worry about my credit card- or room key or park tickets - it was just a great feeling all week! Having gone in January several times, we have never really needed fastpasses. So I wasn't concerned about the 3 fastpasses that we were alloted. BUT it was crazy crowded. It rained most of the week and usually we go back to the pool mid-day for breaks but this time we stayed in the park during that busy time of the day and WOWZA! The fastpass return lines were even insane. For instance the fastpass return line to Peter Pan was lining up to Philharmagic! The Fastpass return to Big Thunder lined all the way to Splash Mountain! The wait for Haunted Mansion and Barnstormer were at 45 minutes. My husband and I both did not like only having the 3 fastpasses to use- and with the crowds so heavy it just didnt work for us. I think our strategy for November is going to be - hit the park at Rope Drop- go on everything we can.... book a sit down for lunch (because the worst part was the counter services- waiting in very long lines to order, getting lunch- and not having a table to sit at - feeling wet, and cold and exhausted- YUCK!) and then we will leave after our lunch and nap or read or pool if it's nice) and then return late afternoon for a sit down dinner and have all our fastpasses (all 3) booked for that afternoon/night.

Some new things we tried and some old favorites that were great!
We did the family magic tour - it was great for our kids - ages 6 and 9!
We went to Hoop de Doo - ALL LOVED it!!!
Had tea at GF with a friend -this was a nice break from the crowds!
Dinner at Ohana- so Fun and always a highlight for us.
Dinner at Sanaa - My favorite meal of the trip. Amazing view - go before dark if you are going!! The Bread Service- OMG!
Staying at AKL - so amazing. Busses were AWESOME. Only shared with Kidani and it really was so convenient because the busses run so frequently. I don't think we waited more than 5 minutes for a bus the entire week!
Wishes Fastpass from Rose Garden - AMAZING. Laying on a blanket - cuddling with your family and Tink flying right over your head and no crowds!

Some things we will never do again-
Go in January - CROWDS, TOUR GROUPS and WEATHER - really puts a damper (no pun intended lol) on the trip
Stay in the park all day long with no break (lol)
Wishes Dessert Party- I felt cheated. Especially looking down at the plaza patio and everyone sitting there and having ice cream and relaxing and me sitting at my table with everyone lined up standing in front of me- so I couldnt even see! I was SO tired and the only thing I wanted was to sit and watch Wishes, so I sat and couldn't see and my family all lined up and stood through it with everyone else.

 

[lugnut33]

The fastpass return lines were even insane. For instance the fastpass return line to Peter Pan was lining up to Philharmagic! The Fastpass return to Big Thunder lined all the way to Splash Mountain!

I know some people don't care, but I find that disturbing. It's another line, just like the FP kiosk lines.

As I had predicted, rope drop is even more important now that it ever was. At some point, lining up 2 hours before park opening will be a good strategy.

Thanks for the trip report.

 

[my2disneyboys]

I know some people don't care, but I find that disturbing. It's another line, just like the FP kiosk lines.

As I had predicted, rope drop is even more important now that it ever was. At some point, lining up 2 hours before park opening will be a good strategy.

Thanks for the trip report.

For us it was really annoying. to only get 3 fastpasses and then for their to be so many of them or maybe just managed properly but to wait 20 minutes in a fastpass return line in January seems crazy! I am nervous for my Thanksgiving week trip lol!!!

 

[ashleyrm]

Wishes Dessert Party- I felt cheated. Especially looking down at the plaza patio and everyone sitting there and having ice cream and relaxing and me sitting at my table with everyone lined up standing in front of me- so I couldnt even see! I was SO tired and the only thing I wanted was to sit and watch Wishes, so I sat and couldn't see and my family all lined up and stood through it with everyone else.

Completely agree with this one. Have done Dessert Party twice. First time was pretty enjoyable. The second time was horrible. Had a table by the railing and knew people would be standing at railing, but ended up with people practically sitting on top of me and on top of our table. Not fun.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Due to an increase in the number of Live Report and Just Back threads, the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies Moderator Team has decided to start moving these over to our trip report forum. The purpose of the theme parks attractions and strategies board is to help people find valuable information to plan their trips, discuss the attractions, and changes that are happening at Disney World.

Live trip reports, and just back threads are really a better fit for our trip report board. You can find the trip report forum here:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

We know that everyone loves to talk about their trips, and we do love to hear about everyone's trips. So, please share your trip stories, and read about other trip stories over on our trip report forum.

Just a reminder from the stickeyed post atop this forum.

 

[rebeccalancaster]

I am sorry your trip wasn't as magical

 

[my2disneyboys]

I am sorry your trip wasn't as magical

My review sounds so "unmagical" but truly it was great. I LOVED being in Disney and we had truly magical mornings and evenings. It was just the weather which we can't control and being at the parks mid-day when it was just too crowded for me!!

 

[CanadianPaco]

At some point, lining up 2 hours before park opening will be a good strategy.

Oh that won't be good! Sigh, we get there 45 min before as it is and I still have to explain this to DH each and every time!

 

[Meriweather]

We just got back the 1st.
I found crowds to be pretty low......after MLK weekend and a few tour groups.
I was skeptical of the long FP lines. The one at BTMR seemed so long, it was looping around and around. Asked a CM how long it would take. 5 minutes. I told him I was going to time it and sure enough, we were back to him in 5 minutes. The line after that to load moved pretty quickly.

I have never needed FP in Jan....except for TSMM and found that still to be true.
We didn't use most of the ones we got.....could still go right to TSMM and ride and then use our FP that we scheduled later.

We did like having a FP for Illuminations. It was in our favorite viewing spot. Did that twice.....and I didn't book any FP + until we arrived.

 

[shalom]

Sigh, we get there 45 min before as it is and I still have to explain this to DH each and every time!

We don't get there that early, but we do usually make rope drop. Which, with my DH, involves pictures, lots and lots of pictures of the same part of the park the first hour, and then a second one taken in the early afternoon. There's a thread in the "Theme Park Community" board called "Crowd Pictures" that had some I sent before we went last time, and I've also gotten them from Easy WDW. Pictures speak louder than words, and they definitely motivated my DH to get moving in the mornings.