Well, after 18 hours in the car, we finally made it back. That's the bad news. The good news is that we had an awesome time!
We went from 1/25 until 2/2. THE PARKS WERE FREAKIN' EMPTY. Michelle and I did our usual line avoidance plan (get there early and run for the good rides) but we didn't need it. At peak time nearly every day we walked on nearly every ride. Heck, a lot of the time, the only long part was getting to the ride through the queing area.
For some strange reason, the only ride we had a semi major wait (25 mins) was Listen To The Land at Epcot. The only fastpass we used was for Jungle Cruise. Nearly all of the major rides at WDW were walk on (including Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Kilimanjaro, etc.) Only Space Mountain and Test Track had somewhat long (15 mins) waits. I tell you, I am spoiled for life.
The crowds at IOA were even more sparse. At the middle of the day of our visit, the Hulk was going off 3/4 empty and the employees were holding the cars for spider man because there was no one there to ride them until we got there! We rode the Hulk, Dualing Dragons, and Spider Man until we were sick. It was like an E Ticket night at Universal.
What was great was that we toured the parks in the morning, saw all that we wanted to see in less than 3 hours and hung out by the pool in the sunny 80 degree weather. WDW does not get any better than that. I have been regulary going to WDW for over 20 years now and have never seen it this empty. I will never go another time of the year. The employees were even more pleasant and helpful than they usually are (which is saying a bunch). The only conceivable complaint was that Splash Mountain (one of my favorites )was closed for repairs.
Restaurants: I highly recommend Le Cellier (get the cheese soup), California Grille, and Beaches and Cream.
And now I'm home again.
We went from 1/25 until 2/2. THE PARKS WERE FREAKIN' EMPTY. Michelle and I did our usual line avoidance plan (get there early and run for the good rides) but we didn't need it. At peak time nearly every day we walked on nearly every ride. Heck, a lot of the time, the only long part was getting to the ride through the queing area.
For some strange reason, the only ride we had a semi major wait (25 mins) was Listen To The Land at Epcot. The only fastpass we used was for Jungle Cruise. Nearly all of the major rides at WDW were walk on (including Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Kilimanjaro, etc.) Only Space Mountain and Test Track had somewhat long (15 mins) waits. I tell you, I am spoiled for life. The crowds at IOA were even more sparse. At the middle of the day of our visit, the Hulk was going off 3/4 empty and the employees were holding the cars for spider man because there was no one there to ride them until we got there!
We rode the Hulk, Dualing Dragons, and Spider Man until we were sick. It was like an E Ticket night at Universal. What was great was that we toured the parks in the morning, saw all that we wanted to see in less than 3 hours and hung out by the pool in the sunny 80 degree weather. WDW does not get any better than that. I have been regulary going to WDW for over 20 years now and have never seen it this empty. I will never go another time of the year. The employees were even more pleasant and helpful than they usually are (which is saying a bunch). The only conceivable complaint was that Splash Mountain (one of my favorites )was closed for repairs.
Restaurants: I highly recommend Le Cellier (get the cheese soup), California Grille, and Beaches and Cream.
And now I'm home again.
inkbounc 
