Just back 4/28 - 5/3/19

[L_MD]

Hi everyone, I was on my 3rd solo trip the last week of April/beginning of May.

General things about my trip:

• Weather: a LOT hotter than I like (high 80's - 90 most days), and I scrapped a lot of my food plans because the last thing I wanted to do was eat
  
• Buses: usually less than a 10 minute wait leaving in the AM. After park close was longer but I still never waited for than one bus-cycle.
• Wait times: not overly high or low, but evening hours were dead (great!)
  
• MemoryMaker: OK. Photos initially weren't showing up, one morning the screens weren't working at Test Track, and I just felt like I threw away money. However, I logged on yesterday and almost every picture was there (minus a few rides) so I guess the moral is- be patient.

Sunday, 4/28: Arrived at MCO around 8am. Line for DME was long but still very fast (waiting for bus at 8:51, on bus at 9:09, at resort (POFQ) around 10am after 2 other stops).

Disney Springs and Epcot for Illuminations. Low wait times around 8pm- rode Spaceship Earth with a 5-minute wait. Then an FP for Illuminations, which I've never done...I usually watch on the France bridge. WOW! If you're going soon, grab one at the end of your evening!

Monday, 4/29: I was on the bus around 7:10 and at MK about 15 minutes later.

Rides: RD Big Thunder (huge line, but it moved very quickly), then w/ FP Pirates (no wait), PPF w/ FP, Peoplemover twice, Mine Train w/ FP, CoP. Then lunch and the Tiki Room after before a break.

Could have grabbed more FP's but I'm at the point in my trips where I just want to ride my favorites.

AK around 7:30 that evening solely to look at some pretty lights. I also rode Triceratops Spin (no wait) and Navi River w/ FP.

Tuesday, 4/30: On bus at 7:30, at Epcot about 15 minutes later. RD Test Track single-rider, then 2x more. Cancelled the FP I had for it. SSE with FP, LWTL with FP, 2x Gran Fiesta, American Adventure nap, Voices of Liberty (AMAZING), then two showings of Impressions de France.

Evening: Epcot where I saw Illuminations for the last time again from the FP area. Then World Showcase for EMH.

Wednesday, 5/1: Used my FP Refresh abilities for AK. Didn't RD. EE single-rider then w/ FP, Dinosaur w/ FP and then standby twice (no wait), FOP with a FP. Then went for a drink at Nomad...got 2nd FOP FP. Then went to Nomad for a 2nd drink...got 3rd FOP FP. Tried to get a 4th but my luck ran out and I couldn't get a good time.

MK EMH: dead. Saw the fireworks, Peoplemover x2, Carrousel, IASW, HM. Not much of a wait for anything. Ended the evening by playing SOTMK, which is when I like doing it (so I don't get judged by 12-year-old boys!)

Thursday, 5/2: Up early for a tour, was let in with the usual crowd at 7:45. MARCELINE TO MAGIC KINGDOM TOUR was amazing. We rode HM, then IASW, and ended with CoP. CBJ after tour was done.

I had AFTER HOURS tickets. I was originally going to see Illuminations and then monorail to MK, but I got pretty sick and missed the Epcot part. I was able to drag myself to MK around 9:15pm and my god was that event worth every penny. Nothing had a wait: rode Peoplemover x3, Buzz x3, Carrousel x2, 7DMT, HM, IASW, and Big Thunder x3 to close out the evening. Only one side was running on Big Thunder but this was around 12:30am, the event was dead, and they were letting people both choose their own row and also ride again if there was no one waiting for the row.

Getting back after the event was kind of a pain, since they were allotting buses based on who was left...took awhile.

Friday, 5/3: Last day and not much to bore you with. PPF with FP, Riverboat, HM with FP, Peoplemover, then over to Epcot for a final ride on SSE and a final showing of Impressions de France.

Probably too long for TPAS. Sorry!

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Wow! Sounds like you had a great time and a great touring strategy. Thanks for sharing!

 

[txcorey]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a great time. We're staying at POFQ in June, so it was especially good to hear that the transportation was generally good.

 

[L_MD]

Wow! Sounds like you had a great time and a great touring strategy. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks!

 

[L_MD]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a great time. We're staying at POFQ in June, so it was especially good to hear that the transportation was generally good.

Thank you! You'll love POFQ. I've never had issues with buses there.

 

[djc9699]

Then went for a drink at Nomad...got 2nd FOP FP. Then went to Nomad for a 2nd drink...got 3rd FOP FP. Tried to get a 4th but my luck ran out and I couldn't get a good time.

Should have gone back to Nomad for another drink and maybe you would have got the 4th FOP FP . Sounds like a great day at AK for sure!

 

[Delphinidae]

How was evening EMH at Epcot? We are planning on staying for it on our upcoming trip but I've been seeing that nothing seems to be open in the WS during that time.

 

[emily nicole]

We were there almost the same dates, 4/28-5/5. I agree that it was very hot. I think I’ll be sticking to winter trips from now on! The crowd level was quite low, at least!

 

[L_MD]

Should have gone back to Nomad for another drink and maybe you would have got the 4th FOP FP . Sounds like a great day at AK for sure!

I was tired by then and had MK EMH that night, or maybe I would have. I love Nomad Lounge.

 

[L_MD]

How was evening EMH at Epcot? We are planning on staying for it on our upcoming trip but I've been seeing that nothing seems to be open in the WS during that time.

I stay because I like walking around looking at things, less about going into stores and shopping. You're right that a lot of stuff closes, even Mitsukoshi closes before 11pm. I can't tell you for sure what stays open, sorry, but I'll go every time just for the ambiance. You could do a lap and then ride a few things in Future World.

 

[L_MD]

We were there almost the same dates, 4/28-5/5. I agree that it was very hot. I think I’ll be sticking to winter trips from now on! The crowd level was quite low, at least!

I just like it when Easter is a little earlier so that perfect timeframe is more mid-April than early-May...a few weeks REALLY makes a difference!

 

[samantha3590]

Planning on doing this same week next year! Would love to go earlier but afraid of spring breakers and Easter is later again in 2020

 

[Disneypro1]

Great trip! Early May is thee best time to go. 1st week of May always has low crowds. Thats the only time we go. Pull the kids right out of school.

 

[L_MD]

Planning on doing this same week next year! Would love to go earlier but afraid of spring breakers and Easter is later again in 2020

I'm still debating a 2020 trip- it might just be a long weekend, but it will probably be the same week for me too!

 

[klmall]

We were there two years ago at almost the exact same dates and experienced the same oppressive heat and the crowds were everywhere. In fact, I had lower temperatures in early June than during that April/May time period.

 

[Farro]

oh boy!

We picked 5/6-5/15 for 2020.

Guess I'm in for high heat, humidity and lovebugs!

 

[Christina Johnson]

Thank you! You'll love POFQ. I've never had issues with buses there.

I love POFQ! Stood there last year in August, stood at CB in October and AOA in February. my fav out of all three is POFQ. Can’t wait to go back in August!

 

[cakebaker]

We were there May2-7 and while we had hot afternoons most days, mornings were cooler as were the evenings. The heat was nothing like it is July-September. I’d never go any other time if I could.

 

[L_MD]

We were there May2-7 and while we had hot afternoons most days, mornings were cooler as were the evenings. The heat was nothing like it is July-September. I’d never go any other time if I could.

I loved the evenings!

 

[Wildcard]

We were there for about the same dates. My wife and I agreed that while we picked those dates to celebrate our anniversary, we'll be returning to December trips going forward. The heat/humidity was just too oppressive, especially toting a small child around now. The crowds didn't seem too bad in the mornings and evenings, which was nice.