I really enjoy this forum so I thought I would simply post some things from my most recent visit.
Off-Season
Visited last week Tuesday night through Sat morning. Did DL and CA on Wednesday and Friday, Legoland on Thursday (will put that info under SoCal thread).
Both days parks were very manageable. Not empty, but most rides 15 minutes or less. The Peter Pan, Alice, Mr Toad area had waits at times but nothing awful. A lot of the Fast Passes were turned off (BTM, Splash). I don't like Indy's Fast Pass or lines period as no matter what they say, you always have to wait 15 minutes. We are WDW vets so my kids (8,6,4) just wanted to ride their favorties which we did mulitple times. Ending up hopping both days between DL and CA and got our fill. Toy Story was a long line pretty much the whole time we were there. Friday morning with DL opening an hour before CA, we were there at rope drop, rode about 5 rides for an hour and then walked across the street for rope drop at CA. Friday night, that's another story. Went to dinner at Club 33 with a 6:30 reservation. We had cleaned up at the hotel, and walked back in. No wait at Pirates so we did that real quick before dinner. When we got out at 8:30, absolute mob scene. Pirates wait was 45 minutes and with people streaming in for Fantasmic and Fireworks, could barely move. Fortunately, we have saved some Fast Passes from earlier in the day and did BTM and Indy with the Fireworks going off over our heads and then headed out.
Off-season is very worth it having done Christmas, Spring and off-season on other occassions. Sure Space Mountain was closed for makeover but unless you have everything available to you on every day you are in the parks, the trade offs for wait times is worth it. In really two days with meals and swim breaks in between we more than got our fill.
GCH-
Very nice. Rooms were nothing special compared to others stayed in. We upgraded to park view - not worth it. We had the view of a tree and could see the side of Soarin and Tower of Terrror in the distance. We didn't arrive until about 11pm Tuesday night so I didn't fight it as I didn't want to deal with a move when my kids needed to go to bed. I was using DVC points and figured we really don't spend that much time in the room regardless. Next time I think I will do DTD view.
Pools were awesome and very convenient. So was access to CA. We got soaked twice on the Grizzly rapids so it was super convenient to walk about 50 steps, be back into the hotel to change and then be into the park once again.
Club 33
Very nice. Food was good, not great. Neat experience although I am not sure I would chop off my left arm as I have seen some posts for what people seem to be willing to do get in!! Make sure you follow the dress code. My Aunt had a skort on that looked more like shorts and they made her walk to one of the shops in the park and buy a dress. Pants/dresses only!
Thanks to all for your help in the planning.
Feel free to ask follow-ups
Off-Season
Visited last week Tuesday night through Sat morning. Did DL and CA on Wednesday and Friday, Legoland on Thursday (will put that info under SoCal thread).
Both days parks were very manageable. Not empty, but most rides 15 minutes or less. The Peter Pan, Alice, Mr Toad area had waits at times but nothing awful. A lot of the Fast Passes were turned off (BTM, Splash). I don't like Indy's Fast Pass or lines period as no matter what they say, you always have to wait 15 minutes. We are WDW vets so my kids (8,6,4) just wanted to ride their favorties which we did mulitple times. Ending up hopping both days between DL and CA and got our fill. Toy Story was a long line pretty much the whole time we were there. Friday morning with DL opening an hour before CA, we were there at rope drop, rode about 5 rides for an hour and then walked across the street for rope drop at CA. Friday night, that's another story. Went to dinner at Club 33 with a 6:30 reservation. We had cleaned up at the hotel, and walked back in. No wait at Pirates so we did that real quick before dinner. When we got out at 8:30, absolute mob scene. Pirates wait was 45 minutes and with people streaming in for Fantasmic and Fireworks, could barely move. Fortunately, we have saved some Fast Passes from earlier in the day and did BTM and Indy with the Fireworks going off over our heads and then headed out.
Off-season is very worth it having done Christmas, Spring and off-season on other occassions. Sure Space Mountain was closed for makeover but unless you have everything available to you on every day you are in the parks, the trade offs for wait times is worth it. In really two days with meals and swim breaks in between we more than got our fill.
GCH-
Very nice. Rooms were nothing special compared to others stayed in. We upgraded to park view - not worth it. We had the view of a tree and could see the side of Soarin and Tower of Terrror in the distance. We didn't arrive until about 11pm Tuesday night so I didn't fight it as I didn't want to deal with a move when my kids needed to go to bed. I was using DVC points and figured we really don't spend that much time in the room regardless. Next time I think I will do DTD view.
Pools were awesome and very convenient. So was access to CA. We got soaked twice on the Grizzly rapids so it was super convenient to walk about 50 steps, be back into the hotel to change and then be into the park once again.
Club 33
Very nice. Food was good, not great. Neat experience although I am not sure I would chop off my left arm as I have seen some posts for what people seem to be willing to do get in!! Make sure you follow the dress code. My Aunt had a skort on that looked more like shorts and they made her walk to one of the shops in the park and buy a dress. Pants/dresses only!
Thanks to all for your help in the planning.
Feel free to ask follow-ups
