Just back, some thoughts

[sters]

Just back and using give a day passes. Note that some rides, such as space mountain, don't have designated Give a Day machines, so during extra evenning magic hours you won't be able to get an immediate fast pass. Be sure to grab passes during the day because the line there was crazy long even at midnight. On the other hand, other attractions, such as Buzz, had designatedgive a day machines. Lines weren't long enough to maximize all the tickets, so we ended up giving ours away to some family that looked like newbies, park map in hand, on our way out of Animal Kingdom.

Bus service to Port Orleans Riverside was much better than in past years, even when I saw the "Oh My GAWD" size line at Epcot. Three busses pulled up and cleared the line promptly.

Via Napoli, the new pizzeria in Italy, was a walk up at noon. And it was excellent, highly recommend it.

Happened to catch fireworks in Fantasyland and was impressed with the "surround sound" display. Something different than standing on Main Street and unexpectedly magical. Plus, we got on Peter Pan while everyone was gawking at the fireworks

Did the Pirates and Pals fireworks cruise and loved it. I think seeing Wishes from out on the water gave me a greater appreciation for the fireworks show. You can really see those star shaped fireworks. AND I loved seeing the monorail in the foreground.

We ended up loving our two water park days the best. Must have been the heat.

 

[JennyG]

Just back and using give a day passes. Note that some rides, such as space mountain, don't have designated Give a Day machines, so during extra evenning magic hours you won't be able to get an immediate fast pass. Be sure to grab passes during the day because the line there was crazy long even at midnight.

Thanks for the tips! We will be using our give a day certificates in Oct. How does it work with the fast passes? DH said something about it but not much.

We still aren't sure how we want to use the certificates. DS is only 3yrs old and did not get one. So, we bought his ticket for a full 7 days.... mine is for 6 days and DH got a discounted travel agent ticket for 10 days. So he doesn't have to worry about the extra day. If he uses his certificate for fast passes, can we all get them or just him?

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

SpMtn does have GAD machines open during regular hours, also the literature encourages you to get the GAD FP early in the day as they may run out or machines may be closed. In May when we had GAD they closed the machines about an hour before the park closed, but we just showed the CM at the FP station our card and explained the deal and they gave us a FP. Happened on both Space and Buzz.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Happened to catch fireworks in Fantasyland and was impressed with the "surround sound" display. Something different than standing on Main Street and unexpectedly magical. Plus, we got on Peter Pan while everyone was gawking at the fireworks

We did that this trip too I sat and watched them from the stroller parking area and acutally liked it much better than Main Street, the view was great, very little was blocked (I've had much more blocked by trees from the bridges around the hub) and it wasn't wall to wall people. My new favorite wishes spot.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our trip report board.

 

[moray26]

We still aren't sure how we want to use the certificates. DS is only 3yrs old and did not get one. So, we bought his ticket for a full 7 days.... mine is for 6 days and DH got a discounted travel agent ticket for 10 days. So he doesn't have to worry about the extra day. If he uses his certificate for fast passes, can we all get them or just him?

I would add the 7th day to your ticket for $3 when you get there. Then, you can use your DH and your GAD tickets for FP on 2 separate days. Here's how it works: Day 1, your DH goes up to the ticket window at the park of your choice to redeem GAD voucher and says he needs FP for himself and he has 2 additional people in his party (you and DS). Day 2, you go up to the ticket window at the park of your choice to redeem your GAD voucher and ask for the FP option for yourself and your 2 family members.

 

[sters]

Thanks for the tips! We will be using our give a day certificates in Oct. How does it work with the fast passes? DH said something about it but not much.

We still aren't sure how we want to use the certificates. DS is only 3yrs old and did not get one. So, we bought his ticket for a full 7 days.... mine is for 6 days and DH got a discounted travel agent ticket for 10 days. So he doesn't have to worry about the extra day. If he uses his certificate for fast passes, can we all get them or just him?

You report to guest services with your tickets and your ID, so bring a birth certificate for your children. They will give you a plastic card for the total number in your party (we had 6 one day), but they all have to be present. At the fastpass machines, you insert the plastic card and you will get a fastpass you can use immediately. Plus, you can use your regular park tickets for fastpasses in the ordinary way. You can use it at any fastpass machine, plus there are some designated machines you can only use the give a day cards to speed up the line.