Just Back - A Few Notes

[Figmentary]

We (myself, parents, and my two boys - 3YO & 6YO) arrived Sunday afternoon (12/3) and left Friday morning (12/8) and stayed at Beach Club. Hope these notes are helpful:

12/3 - Disney Springs
-Apparently Sunday nights are packed.
-Boys loved World of Disney.
-T-Rex was pretty good. Youngest got a little scared.
-Lesson learned was control sugar intake for the rest of the trip.

12/4 - Magic Kingdom & EPCOT
-RD Buzz Lightyear. No wait. Let the kids choose after, so Speedway, Tea Party, and Laugh Floor next.
-FP Townhall Mickey (could of done early without FP), Jungle Cruise, & Pirates.
-Did Pirates League and timed Pirates FP to ride right after - which worked great.
-Didn’t need FPs at EPCOT, but grabbed them on the go anyway.
-Dinner at Garden Grill was great.

12/5 - EPCOT & Magic Kingdom
-RD Frozen - 25 minute wait and worth it.
-Breakfast (9:35pm) at Askershus probably not worth price, but by Frozen and boys liked seeing Princesses.
-Character Spot (20 minute wait?) - Great picture spot.
-Lunch (2pm) at BOG was a highlight. I’ve heard a lot of criticism on DIS, but great food and atmosphere. Grateful to Mouse Dining & Touring Plans reservation finders for getting us one.
-FP Belle, Peter Pan (was down), and Haunted Mansion (was down)
-MVMCP - We loved it.

12/6 - Hollywood Studios
-FP Star Tours - Didn’t need FP. Rode twice as walk on.
-H&V Diner - DIS nailed this one. Really horrible food. Boys like characters, though.
-FP Frozen Sing Along - Worth it. Best show of park.
-FP Toy Store Mania
-Crowds were lowest here, and could pretty easily do anything.
-Sunset Seasons Greeting was awesome.

-12/7
-Got there at 7:40am for 9am park open. They let us into park at 8:05am. Got off FOP at 9:10am. TOTALLY WORTH IT.
-Used FPs foe Navi, Kilimanjaro, and Character Outpost. Only needed first two, but Character shots with Christmas M&M were excellent.
-I was surprised that this was probably my favorite park this trip. Pandora is gorgeous (day & night), but the entire park seems more lively and fun than it did 10 years ago. Music everywhere. Felt like a big party.

Great trip overall. Crowds were higher than expected, but a lot of planning and a lot of going with the flow went a long way.

 

[kaybird]

Sounds like a great trip, thanks for taking the time to share! We are heading down for New year's, FOP only flavored I didn't get, hope to rd as well!!!

 

[a742246]

Glad you had a great time, I agree AK does feel like a big party now!

 

[kniquy]

Thanks for the trip report!! We are considering going for this same week so are happy to hear it is pretty manageable with the crowds. How was your experience with rope dropping FOP? I have read some peoples reports that it is a mad rush and if you have little ones you might get a little pushed around while everyone runs/briskly walks past.

 

[Figmentary]

My parents and boys met me at the park later, but everyone yesterday was respectful and helpful. I would have little ones in a stroller and not put too much pressure on little walkers to keep up. If you get to the park about an hour and twenty minutes early and are in the first 25% of people let in an hour early to line up, you can let mad dashers run past you and still be done by 9:30am or so.

 

[Figmentary]

Sounds like a great trip, thanks for taking the time to share! We are heading down for New year's, FOP only flavored I didn't get, hope to rd as well!!!

 

[sponica]

12/5 - EPCOT & Magic Kingdom
-RD Frozen - 25 minute wait and worth it.
-Breakfast (9:35pm) at Askershus probably not worth price, but by Frozen and boys liked seeing Princesses.
-Character Spot (20 minute wait?) - Great picture spot.
-Lunch (2pm) at BOG was a highlight. I’ve heard a lot of criticism on DIS, but great food and atmosphere. Grateful to Mouse Dining & Touring Plans reservation finders for getting us one.
-FP Belle, Peter Pan (was down), and Haunted Mansion (was down)
-MVMCP - We loved it.

What time did you get to Epcot for RD? I think that's the strategy we might use for FEA...

 

[2Gma]

Thanks for sharing your experience.
We did Disney Springs on a Sunday too, yep, crowded.
We did H&V for the Halloween Dine in October and thought it was the best food we'd had at a character meal.

 

[Figmentary]

Thanks for sharing your experience.
We did Disney Springs on a Sunday too, yep, crowded.
We did H&V for the Halloween Dine in October and thought it was the best food we'd had at a character meal.

Wow. Maybe just an off day.

 

[Figmentary]

What time did you get to Epcot for RD? I think that's the strategy we might use for FEA...

We entered the International Gateway around 8:30am. Might be worth taking a bus to one of those hotels.