jaguar9748
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2001
- Messages
- 531
Home just 3 hours after another magical summer vacation at WDW! We typically go to Disney 4 times a year (Christmas, summer and 2 other opportunities). We were last at Disney in March. Weather this time was much warmer, of course, and I'm pleased to report that the crowds are back (and the lines are long again!). I say this because while I hate to stand in line (and won't), after experiencing some pretty "dead" parks during visits since 9/11, I am pleased to see folks returning. It's good for Disney, it's good for America and it's good for all of us!!
Good: Crowds; CBR resort; Mission:Space; Illuminations; Magic Kingdom; Olivia's at Old Key West; Crystal Palace; Ghiradelli's; It' Tough to be a Bug; Muppets; Surprise Mornings; good bus service; Winter-Summerland golf course
Bad: Crowds; torrential rain; Magic Kingdom closing early in the summer; shops and rides opening well after park opens (more later); Surprise Mornings; humidity
CBR: Corner, waterfront room; next door to Old Port Royale complex and bus stop; great mousekeeping; very nice resort
Epcot: Mission:Space is great, but if motion is not your thing, don't do it!; Test Track broke briefly - again; parts of Future World closed at 6 PM which is unheard of in summer; World Showcase excellent as always; Illuminations is the best show, as always
Magic Kingdom: During Surprise Morning rode 4 rides between 8 AM-9 AM; Surprise Mornings are no longer surprises; Park is packed, packed, packed!; only lands open are Tomorrowland or Fantasyland; Magic Kingdom was packed by 11:30 the morning we were there; Magic Kingdom is till the best!; our night at Magic Kingdom was rained out by torrential rains, wicked lightning and huge thunder; lots of folks WET!; we huddled under the train station and did enjoy a great dinner at Crystal Palace
Animal Kingdom: During Surprise Morning got 2 things done - It's Tough to be a Bug and Safari; because these were the only attractions open the line for the safari was LONG!; Disney needs to open more things in Animal Kingdom, but since there's not a lot to do anyway I guess that wouldn't work; anyway, Kali River Rapids didn't open until 9:30 AM - what's up with that?!; bunches of shops and food stands weren't open either; first Lion King Show wasn't until almost 10 AM; first Tarzan Show wasn't until 10:30ish; AK is HOT in the summer!
MGM: Some folks at CBR waited for 45 minutes for a bus - they were hot!; we only waited 2 minutes - hooray!; Tower of Terror wait was 45 minutes at 8:30 AM (poor folks who arrived at 9 AM); Good waits on Star Tours and Muppets; first Millionaire not until 10:30 AM; first Beauty and the Beast not until 2:15 PM (what's up with that?!); first Playhouse Disney not until 10:00 AM; saw the new Walt Disney exhibit - fabulous - makes you believe in Disney all over again when you hear the chances that he took and the visionary that he was!; more rain kept us from Fantasmic
Downtown Disney: Usual busy self; good shopping; good food (Ghiradelli's and new Wetzel's Pretzels); new shop going in called the Earl of Sandwich (sandwich shop which should be good) - will be located where the former grocery store for the Disney Institute Villas was;
Winter-Summerland Miniature Golf: Fun, as always
A magical stay in Disney! As our Disney days with our kids come to a close (they're 18 and 20), we enjoy these memories more and more!!
Good: Crowds; CBR resort; Mission:Space; Illuminations; Magic Kingdom; Olivia's at Old Key West; Crystal Palace; Ghiradelli's; It' Tough to be a Bug; Muppets; Surprise Mornings; good bus service; Winter-Summerland golf course
Bad: Crowds; torrential rain; Magic Kingdom closing early in the summer; shops and rides opening well after park opens (more later); Surprise Mornings; humidity
CBR: Corner, waterfront room; next door to Old Port Royale complex and bus stop; great mousekeeping; very nice resort
Epcot: Mission:Space is great, but if motion is not your thing, don't do it!; Test Track broke briefly - again; parts of Future World closed at 6 PM which is unheard of in summer; World Showcase excellent as always; Illuminations is the best show, as always
Magic Kingdom: During Surprise Morning rode 4 rides between 8 AM-9 AM; Surprise Mornings are no longer surprises; Park is packed, packed, packed!; only lands open are Tomorrowland or Fantasyland; Magic Kingdom was packed by 11:30 the morning we were there; Magic Kingdom is till the best!; our night at Magic Kingdom was rained out by torrential rains, wicked lightning and huge thunder; lots of folks WET!; we huddled under the train station and did enjoy a great dinner at Crystal Palace
Animal Kingdom: During Surprise Morning got 2 things done - It's Tough to be a Bug and Safari; because these were the only attractions open the line for the safari was LONG!; Disney needs to open more things in Animal Kingdom, but since there's not a lot to do anyway I guess that wouldn't work; anyway, Kali River Rapids didn't open until 9:30 AM - what's up with that?!; bunches of shops and food stands weren't open either; first Lion King Show wasn't until almost 10 AM; first Tarzan Show wasn't until 10:30ish; AK is HOT in the summer!
MGM: Some folks at CBR waited for 45 minutes for a bus - they were hot!; we only waited 2 minutes - hooray!; Tower of Terror wait was 45 minutes at 8:30 AM (poor folks who arrived at 9 AM); Good waits on Star Tours and Muppets; first Millionaire not until 10:30 AM; first Beauty and the Beast not until 2:15 PM (what's up with that?!); first Playhouse Disney not until 10:00 AM; saw the new Walt Disney exhibit - fabulous - makes you believe in Disney all over again when you hear the chances that he took and the visionary that he was!; more rain kept us from Fantasmic
Downtown Disney: Usual busy self; good shopping; good food (Ghiradelli's and new Wetzel's Pretzels); new shop going in called the Earl of Sandwich (sandwich shop which should be good) - will be located where the former grocery store for the Disney Institute Villas was;
Winter-Summerland Miniature Golf: Fun, as always
A magical stay in Disney! As our Disney days with our kids come to a close (they're 18 and 20), we enjoy these memories more and more!!
