Just back-random thoughts

[OnePrincessMom]

We got back Saturday night, spent Mon-Fri in the parks. We had an amazing time, thanks for all of the tips and advice. Some random thoughts:

• Everyone was right about how many more rides are in DL compared to Magic Kingdom. I love how there are many attractions just steps away from each other. This did make for some challenges after fireworks-we saw a maniac scooter driver ride over someone's foot and then yell at him for not getting out of her way
• Carsland was awesome. We rode RSR three times in one day by getting there for rope drop and fast passing two more times.
• WOC also awesome, as were paint the night and the DL fireworks. We did miss the daytime parade though, so reason to come back.
• Space Mountain was a nicer ride than MK but was often down
• I wish the DL Hotel had more elevators and better wifi but overall loved the hotel
• Downtown Disney was a bit underwhelming and by the end of the week we were tired of walking through there every day...we did take the monorail a few times
• I wish Toy Story Midway Mania had fast pass...line was long most of the time except RD
• Crowds were very low, we picked a great week. They started to pick up Friday for the run Disney events, but still manageable.
• We were able to see and do almost everything we wanted to. We missed Mickey and the Magical Map but maybe next time.
• Love Toontown, I miss it in WDW, especially Mickey and Minnie's houses
• Indiana Jones ride was very fun
• POTC - great ride, but what's with the bouncy entry and exit?
• The Once Upon a Time costume display was a big hit with my daughter, so thanks to everyone for letting me know they are there
• All in all, a wonderful trip!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Sounds like a great trip! I'm glad your family enjoyed DLR.

Please tell me more about the Once Upon a Time costumes! I had not heard about this and my daughters are huge fans!

 

[texasgingerbread]

We got back Saturday night, spent Mon-Fri in the parks. We had an amazing time, thanks for all of the tips and advice. Some random thoughts:

• Everyone was right about how many more rides are in DL compared to Magic Kingdom. I love how there are many attractions just steps away from each other. This did make for some challenges after fireworks-we saw a maniac scooter driver ride over someone's foot and then yell at him for not getting out of her way
• Carsland was awesome. We rode RSR three times in one day by getting there for rope drop and fast passing two more times.
• WOC also awesome, as were paint the night and the DL fireworks. We did miss the daytime parade though, so reason to come back.
• Space Mountain was a nicer ride than MK but was often down
• I wish the DL Hotel had more elevators and better wifi but overall loved the hotel
• Downtown Disney was a bit underwhelming and by the end of the week we were tired of walking through there every day...we did take the monorail a few times
• I wish Toy Story Midway Mania had fast pass...line was long most of the time except RD
• Crowds were very low, we picked a great week. They started to pick up Friday for the run Disney events, but still manageable.
• We were able to see and do almost everything we wanted to. We missed Mickey and the Magical Map but maybe next time.
• Love Toontown, I miss it in WDW, especially Mickey and Minnie's houses
• Indiana Jones ride was very fun
• POTC - great ride, but what's with the bouncy entry and exit?
• The Once Upon a Time costume display was a big hit with my daughter, so thanks to everyone for letting me know they are there
• All in all, a wonderful trip!!

So was 5 days enough? I see you missed Mickey and the Magical Map and also the parade. Did you take afternoon breaks? I'm also a WDWer and this will be my first trip to DL. Just curious on getting everything in.

 

[texasgingerbread]

• Crowds were very low, we picked a great week. They started to pick up Friday for the run Disney events, but still manageable.

So I looked at your crowd calendar predictions and it was pretty low Tues-Thur. Did you find the shows to still be packed at night such as WOC, Fantasmic, Main Street for Fireworks, etc.? Did you walk on to any rides? Just curious what a level 2 or "ghost town" prediction means.

 

[madmaxx]

I wish the DL Hotel had more elevators and better wifi but overall loved the hotel

Which tower were you in? I don't think we've ever waited for an elevator (nowhere near as bad as the office building I work in).

 

[MaleficentRN]

So I looked at your crowd calendar predictions and it was pretty low Tues-Thur. Did you find the shows to still be packed at night such as WOC, Fantasmic, Main Street for Fireworks, etc.? Did you walk on to any rides? Just curious what a level 2 or "ghost town" prediction means.

If I may, we saw WOC on Thursday night and it was very crowded as well as the parade and fireworks on Wednesday night. We had dinner in Carnation Café and watched the parade from there. We left as the last float passed and the street was already full up to the restaurant.
We did Extra Magic every morning and, with the exception of Peter Pan, everything was about a 5 minute or less wait. We were only a couple of minutes late for rope drop on Thursday (Starbucks) and by the time we got to Peter Pan the line was through the castle. We passed on that ride it was no less than a 40 minute wait the whole week.

 

[texasgingerbread]

If I may, we saw WOC on Thursday night and it was very crowded as well as the parade and fireworks on Wednesday night. We had dinner in Carnation Café and watched the parade from there. We left as the last float passed and the street was already full up to the restaurant.
We did Extra Magic every morning and, with the exception of Peter Pan, everything was about a 5 minute or less wait. We were only a couple of minutes late for rope drop on Thursday (Starbucks) and by the time we got to Peter Pan the line was through the castle. We passed on that ride it was no less than a 40 minute wait the whole week.

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I was wondering about.

 

[only hope]

I'm also curious about the OUT costumes. A few were on display at Hollywood Studios awhile back; I wonder if they are the same ones? I would love to see them too, hoping they are there next month. Sounds like you had a good trip!

 

[OnePrincessMom]

We watched paint the night and the fireworks by Its a Small World. It was a great spot but you miss some of the fireworks effects that can be seen from Main St. Most every wait was 20 mins or less (many walk right on) up until Friday with the exception of RSR and Peter Pan. The Once Upon a Time costumes are in a window at DCA near the animation building. The line forms there for Sophia the First so try to avoid the times she is meeting or the line blocks the view. We were in the main tower, and since the parks closed relatively early (8 or 9 except Friday) there was always a wait for the elevator at the end of the day. We did take midday breaks, which was why we missed the daytime parade - excuse to go back!!!

 

[ADLFAN]

Those costumes are gorgeous! I am here now, and I remember seeing a purple dress for Malicifant, a beautiful lacy white dress for Snow White, and one other one that I cannot recall. Today is busy, busy, busy! We had to grab a FP for TOT (return time 8-9 when I pulled it at noon) and flee to the hotel pool! Hoping tomorrow is a lot slower!

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

Thanks for posting your thoughts!
We are WDW'ers going to DL for the first time next week!
Really excited about seeing/experiencing everything at DL/DCA.
Upset that POTC is going to be down for Refurb. Was really looking forward to POTC at DL.

 

[egritz]

So was 5 days enough? I see you missed Mickey and the Magical Map and also the parade. Did you take afternoon breaks? I'm also a WDWer and this will be my first trip to DL. Just curious on getting everything in.

I know this wasn't directed to me, but I would say 5 days is DEFINITELY enough to see everything during MOST of the year (maybe not the weeks during Christmas & New Year's or Spring Break), probably with time to repeat some of your favorites. We tend to miss stuff each visit (we go for 5 days) but it is because we'll repeat our favorite attractions multiple times (last trip we went to Princess Fantasy Faire 4 or 5 times, and visited with Jack Skellington 3 or 4 times...we could have easily done those ONCE and used that time to do other things that we decided to skip)

 

[ashley0139]

We got back Saturday night, spent Mon-Fri in the parks. We had an amazing time, thanks for all of the tips and advice. Some random thoughts:

• Everyone was right about how many more rides are in DL compared to Magic Kingdom. I love how there are many attractions just steps away from each other. This did make for some challenges after fireworks-we saw a maniac scooter driver ride over someone's foot and then yell at him for not getting out of her way
• Carsland was awesome. We rode RSR three times in one day by getting there for rope drop and fast passing two more times.
• WOC also awesome, as were paint the night and the DL fireworks. We did miss the daytime parade though, so reason to come back.
• Space Mountain was a nicer ride than MK but was often down
• I wish the DL Hotel had more elevators and better wifi but overall loved the hotel
• Downtown Disney was a bit underwhelming and by the end of the week we were tired of walking through there every day...we did take the monorail a few times
• I wish Toy Story Midway Mania had fast pass...line was long most of the time except RD
• Crowds were very low, we picked a great week. They started to pick up Friday for the run Disney events, but still manageable.
• We were able to see and do almost everything we wanted to. We missed Mickey and the Magical Map but maybe next time.
• Love Toontown, I miss it in WDW, especially Mickey and Minnie's houses
• Indiana Jones ride was very fun
• POTC - great ride, but what's with the bouncy entry and exit?
• The Once Upon a Time costume display was a big hit with my daughter, so thanks to everyone for letting me know they are there
• All in all, a wonderful trip!!

Sounds like a great trip! I'm glad your family enjoyed DLR.

Please tell me more about the Once Upon a Time costumes! I had not heard about this and my daughters are huge fans!

Yes I'm interested in these too. I'm a passholder and don't know about this.

 

[texasgingerbread]

probably with time to repeat some of your favorites.

Do you take afternoon breaks?

 

[egritz]

Do you take afternoon breaks?

Nope. Baby naps in the stroller. We go during the off season though so park hours are limited 10am-8pm most days that we're there. I don't think we stayed until closing one day last year.