We just returned home today from a wonderful vacation at WDW from 9/2-9/9. We stayed at AoA in a Nemo Suite, my brother's family stayed there as well, in a Cars suite. It was their first trip! I booked these rooms as a bounce back from last September and put my name on our reservation and my husband's name on my brother's, so his family was also able to get the dining plan for "free". We did have to upgrade to DDP since AoA is technically a value resort. Upon arrival, we had to stop at the front desk to switch DH back to our room and SIL to brother's room so everyone's magic bands opened the correct resort room and each family's dining plans and credit card were charged appropriately. We were told multiple times on the phone that this had to be done in person once we checked in. We arrived and talked with a CM who was at first hesitant to help us with this issue. He originally said it couldn't be done, and we'd have to use key cards for the appropriate rooms. We pushed back and he then said he could do it, but it would take a long time. That was not an acceptable answer so someone who knew more than he did came over and straightened it out for us. It took a few hours for the magic bands of DH and SIL to work on the correct room, but it did end up happening.
Overall the crowds were good. We have been in September for the past 3 years and never had been over Labor Day. I expected the parks to be busier than we were used to, and they were. But once the weekend and Monday had passed, crowds were thinner. Due to Irma, crowds at the end of the week were very light.
Our first park day, Sunday, was in MK, of course! We had a PPO for BOG and had preordered so were planning on being finished with breakfast by 8:45 to try to catch a ride on 7DMT before the rope droppers. Our party had 3 people with allergies, so, of course, it takes longer to order and get our food, etc. My daughter is one so we were well versed in allergy menus and what to expect. We got on the bus at 7:00 and arrived at the park and through bag check in time for us to be in the front of the line. We took a few pictures with photopass photographers on Main Street and were at BOG by 8:00. I don't know if there was a problem with the kitchen or if it was related to our party with multiple allergies, but our food still had not arrived at 8:30. Needless to say, I was disappointed. A CM did come by after realizing we had been sitting there with no food for a long time. We finally got our food. Then, we were given 2 anytime fast passes for any attraction for our entire party of 8 to make up for our food being late and foiling our plans! We ended up eating quickly and making it in to 7DMT queue just as the rope drop crowd was turning the corner! Wouldn't you know as we were riding that first ride, my sunglasses, which were perched on top of my head, fell off and into the mine. Bummer! A few hours later, I stopped in Merchants of Venus to get some new sunglasses and happened to mention to the CM there as I was at the counter that I lost mine on mine train and he asked my name and said the new glasses were "on Mickey"! I couldn't believe it! That was so nice. I told the CM that Mickey or the dwarfs could wear mine!
Our next day was HS and my DS9 and nephew6 wanted to do Jedi training. Brother and I and the boys were up early and were at the gates in time to move over from our place in line as soon as they opened the breakfast tapstiles over to regular ones so we moved over to be first in that line. We were able to sign up for our preferred JTA time. It ended up sprinkling at the time of our JTA and they cancelled it. I couldn't believe it was cancelled for such a small amount of rain- not even enough to warrant getting out the ponchos. The CMs offered the kids who were signed up either a special meet with Darth Vader or a fp for any attraction at HS. DS and nephew opted for the fp and were able to ride RNR (again!). Brother took nephew to sign up for any available JTA later in the day and was able to snag the last available spot. DS decided since he had done JTA twice in the past he didn't need to do it again, so was thankfully not disappointed that he didn't get a spot.
Tuesday was our AK day and we rope dropped FOP. That was an experience I would think twice about doing again. We arrived early and were at the front of the line. We had 2 strollers in our party. By the time we made it back to the second rope in Pandora, we were a ways back. People were very cut throat and continuously jockeying for better positions. SIL and I are very competitive people, so it is not like we were leisurely walking back there. I would have appreciated a more controlled walk back to Pandora rather than the running free for all that it was. Once you make it to the second rope drop, you are squished together like sardines in the heat and humidity and it is a very uncomfortable experience. My plan was to rope drop FOP and then get on River. We were able to ride FOP, but by the time we got out the wait at River was 60min, both posted and confirmed by asking the CM stationed there so I didn't ride it. SIL took niece on River while we did FOP and she was not impressed. Her complaint was that it didn't have a story. DS and nephew LOVED FOP! We had a fp for it later in the day and since niece is under the height requirement Brother was able to get a rider switch. DS and nephew ended up riding FOP 3 times that day!
Wednesday we were at EPCOT. My sister, who is single and has no children came down and surprised the kids. We called it "Operation Fairy Godmother". It was a success! We were able to get everyone together at the Disney Visa meet for pictures with Mickey and Goofy. They are so cute! My sister kept asking me how I arranged it, like I had some sort of special pull to get a private meet with the characters. I was so glad she was able to make it so she could experience the magic of WDW!
Thursday and Friday we were in MK again to finish out the vacation. DD7 decided she wanted to start pin trading. I had bought her a lanyard prior to the trip, but she didn't have any pins. We were in a shop looking at the pins and talking with the CMs about them and another guest overheard us. He apparently has hundreds of them and offered my daughter one to get her started. So nice! It made her day. She loved showing off her pin. The next day, DS and I went to MK for EMH and happened upon the double decker bus getting ready to depart for the castle. We hopped on and rode on the top. He was so excited! Later that morning, DH and DD arrived and were able to ride it as well. After getting off the bus, they happened upon a mom and her daughter from England and were chit chatting and the little girl, who was 8, gave my daughter another pin! I thought that was so special, to have magic spread from another guest! Later that afternoon, DD wanted to ride on the Liberty Belle so we got on and her little friend from England was on as well. The girls were chatting and playing with streamers DD had collected from the Muppets show when there was a commotion and the boat went back to the dock right after we had departed. It turns out another guest was having a medical issue. I am in the health care field so went over to see if I could help. While I was working to help the guest the rest of the passengers disembarked and my daughter was being entertained by a CM to keep her company. After the EMS arrived and we were able to disembark, the CM gave my daughter a fp for our whole party for 7DMT and also a slip for her to get a free pair of ears!
In all, we had a great time! I couldn't believe how much pixie dust we encountered, especially from other guests!
Our final bit of pixie dust was making it out of Orlando and back home safely on our regularly scheduled flight this morning. We were able to request DME to pick us up an hour early since we weren't sure what to expect at the airport today with the hurricane approaching. That worked out great and helped relieve some stress. I'd rather spend extra time waiting at the airport than worrying we wouldn't make it through security, etc in time. The airport staff was great (we flew Delta). Very professional and courteous, especially considering the circumstances. Prayers for those in Orlando and those affected by the hurricane.
Overall the crowds were good. We have been in September for the past 3 years and never had been over Labor Day. I expected the parks to be busier than we were used to, and they were. But once the weekend and Monday had passed, crowds were thinner. Due to Irma, crowds at the end of the week were very light.
Our first park day, Sunday, was in MK, of course! We had a PPO for BOG and had preordered so were planning on being finished with breakfast by 8:45 to try to catch a ride on 7DMT before the rope droppers. Our party had 3 people with allergies, so, of course, it takes longer to order and get our food, etc. My daughter is one so we were well versed in allergy menus and what to expect. We got on the bus at 7:00 and arrived at the park and through bag check in time for us to be in the front of the line. We took a few pictures with photopass photographers on Main Street and were at BOG by 8:00. I don't know if there was a problem with the kitchen or if it was related to our party with multiple allergies, but our food still had not arrived at 8:30. Needless to say, I was disappointed. A CM did come by after realizing we had been sitting there with no food for a long time. We finally got our food. Then, we were given 2 anytime fast passes for any attraction for our entire party of 8 to make up for our food being late and foiling our plans! We ended up eating quickly and making it in to 7DMT queue just as the rope drop crowd was turning the corner! Wouldn't you know as we were riding that first ride, my sunglasses, which were perched on top of my head, fell off and into the mine. Bummer! A few hours later, I stopped in Merchants of Venus to get some new sunglasses and happened to mention to the CM there as I was at the counter that I lost mine on mine train and he asked my name and said the new glasses were "on Mickey"! I couldn't believe it! That was so nice. I told the CM that Mickey or the dwarfs could wear mine!
Our next day was HS and my DS9 and nephew6 wanted to do Jedi training. Brother and I and the boys were up early and were at the gates in time to move over from our place in line as soon as they opened the breakfast tapstiles over to regular ones so we moved over to be first in that line. We were able to sign up for our preferred JTA time. It ended up sprinkling at the time of our JTA and they cancelled it. I couldn't believe it was cancelled for such a small amount of rain- not even enough to warrant getting out the ponchos. The CMs offered the kids who were signed up either a special meet with Darth Vader or a fp for any attraction at HS. DS and nephew opted for the fp and were able to ride RNR (again!). Brother took nephew to sign up for any available JTA later in the day and was able to snag the last available spot. DS decided since he had done JTA twice in the past he didn't need to do it again, so was thankfully not disappointed that he didn't get a spot.
Tuesday was our AK day and we rope dropped FOP. That was an experience I would think twice about doing again. We arrived early and were at the front of the line. We had 2 strollers in our party. By the time we made it back to the second rope in Pandora, we were a ways back. People were very cut throat and continuously jockeying for better positions. SIL and I are very competitive people, so it is not like we were leisurely walking back there. I would have appreciated a more controlled walk back to Pandora rather than the running free for all that it was. Once you make it to the second rope drop, you are squished together like sardines in the heat and humidity and it is a very uncomfortable experience. My plan was to rope drop FOP and then get on River. We were able to ride FOP, but by the time we got out the wait at River was 60min, both posted and confirmed by asking the CM stationed there so I didn't ride it. SIL took niece on River while we did FOP and she was not impressed. Her complaint was that it didn't have a story. DS and nephew LOVED FOP! We had a fp for it later in the day and since niece is under the height requirement Brother was able to get a rider switch. DS and nephew ended up riding FOP 3 times that day!
Wednesday we were at EPCOT. My sister, who is single and has no children came down and surprised the kids. We called it "Operation Fairy Godmother". It was a success! We were able to get everyone together at the Disney Visa meet for pictures with Mickey and Goofy. They are so cute! My sister kept asking me how I arranged it, like I had some sort of special pull to get a private meet with the characters. I was so glad she was able to make it so she could experience the magic of WDW!
Thursday and Friday we were in MK again to finish out the vacation. DD7 decided she wanted to start pin trading. I had bought her a lanyard prior to the trip, but she didn't have any pins. We were in a shop looking at the pins and talking with the CMs about them and another guest overheard us. He apparently has hundreds of them and offered my daughter one to get her started. So nice! It made her day. She loved showing off her pin. The next day, DS and I went to MK for EMH and happened upon the double decker bus getting ready to depart for the castle. We hopped on and rode on the top. He was so excited! Later that morning, DH and DD arrived and were able to ride it as well. After getting off the bus, they happened upon a mom and her daughter from England and were chit chatting and the little girl, who was 8, gave my daughter another pin! I thought that was so special, to have magic spread from another guest! Later that afternoon, DD wanted to ride on the Liberty Belle so we got on and her little friend from England was on as well. The girls were chatting and playing with streamers DD had collected from the Muppets show when there was a commotion and the boat went back to the dock right after we had departed. It turns out another guest was having a medical issue. I am in the health care field so went over to see if I could help. While I was working to help the guest the rest of the passengers disembarked and my daughter was being entertained by a CM to keep her company. After the EMS arrived and we were able to disembark, the CM gave my daughter a fp for our whole party for 7DMT and also a slip for her to get a free pair of ears!
In all, we had a great time! I couldn't believe how much pixie dust we encountered, especially from other guests!
Our final bit of pixie dust was making it out of Orlando and back home safely on our regularly scheduled flight this morning. We were able to request DME to pick us up an hour early since we weren't sure what to expect at the airport today with the hurricane approaching. That worked out great and helped relieve some stress. I'd rather spend extra time waiting at the airport than worrying we wouldn't make it through security, etc in time. The airport staff was great (we flew Delta). Very professional and courteous, especially considering the circumstances. Prayers for those in Orlando and those affected by the hurricane.
