Just Back from week at POR - Go w/Questions!

[CWIPPERMAN]

Just got back Saturday night from a week at Port Orleans Riverside (thanks to the Fairytale Package). Had a great time, only got rained on once (for about 5 minutes while waiting for fantasmic), and the crowds were very light (except for Saturday the 20th).

I'll be working on my trip report to put on my website, and I took over 1500 pictures (I'll only put a small fraction of them on the site)... but I'd be glad to answer any questions anyone has.

 

[holcomb-mania]

Right now, ToT has one side closed for rehab. Did you notice a long wait?

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

We went to MGM three times during the week. We went Monday (the 15th), and had about a 5 minute wait. We went Friday - where early in the day we had a 10 minute wait - by Friday afternoon (around 5PM) the wait was up to 45 minutes (we had fastpasses - and went straight to the front of the line).

And then Saturday morning we went, and the wait time was at 20 minutes at 9:15 AM, but by 10 AM it was up to 70 minutes (we had fastpasses and walked right past everyone).

It was kind of weird because I knew one side was supposed to be closed. When we got there on Monday, we went to the Left shaft (when you are leaving the pre show area, we went straight, and the que line that turns right - which goes to the right shaft - was closed off). So, they had the left side running. When we went Friday and Saturday, it was the right side that was open, and the left was closed off.

It was kind of the opposite for the pre-show room (the "library"). On Monday, the room to the right of the entry area was open. Friday and Saturday, the room on the left was open.

Just FYI.... Saturday was VERY busy at both MGM & Magic Kingdom - it was busier than I have EVER seen it since I went in 1994 over Thanksgiving week. By the time we left Magic Kingdom Saturday, many of the lines were stretching out the doors of the rides. I honestly don't know how those of you that go in the summer can handle it. The longest line we waited in all week was the security checkpoint Saturday to get into Magic Kingdom (about 25 minutes).

Just a quick note.

The Tower of Terror on Friday evening and Saturday morning were the ONLY time I have used fastpasses at WDW. Most of the rides had their machines closed all week. I will say this much - it sure is nice to have them when those lines are long. The fastpass return times were about an hour away when we went on the rides. So we got the fastpasses - went on Tower of Terror - walked to Rock 'N Roller Coaster and went on it. Stopped for a bathroom and beverage break - and it was time for our "return time". It worked great for us.