Just got back, trip report

[phoebusII]

We just got back. Had a wonderful time. However, it was very hot, mid to upper 90's every day. I just melted in the heat. Also, I thought it was rather crowded, except for Epcot. OUr last trip was end of Nov.-early Dec. when most people were still afraid to travel and the parks were very empty. I guess a lot of people are back to traveling again. We stayed at ASMu. Our first stay at a value resort. I liked it much more than I thought I would. The room size was fine and I really liked the pools. We stayed in the Country building. It was a long walk from the main pool, food court and buses, but it was also nice and quiet.

Day 1- I was proudest of my fastpass use on this day. We got to the park at opening time, went straight to BTM railroad and got a fastpass. Then DH and DD went on Splash Mountain while I stayed with 2 yr old DS. We did the babyswap thing so they gave me a fastpass for that ride. After those 2 rides, headed to Fantasyland and got FP for Pooh. Went on Small World, the Carousel, Snow White, and Dumbo, then Pooh. Then got FP for Peter Pan, had lunch at Columbia Harbor House. saw the Country Bear Jamboree, Aladdin's Magic Carpet, POC. Then got FP for Jungle Cruise. Saw parade, went on Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise. Yes, you can hold 2 FPs at a time as long as you get the second one after the start time on the first one. Then got FP for Buzz Lightyear, went on AO and TTA, then on Buzz Lightyear. Then had the Character Dinner at LTT. We made PS for closing time. The restaurants and shops stay open past closing time so you really can stay later. Then took ferry to TTC, monorail to Epcot. We treated them as another ride. DS really wanted to ride the "monorail choo-choo". Then caught the bus back to resort, went swimming and collapsed into bed. Altogether I used 6 FPs this day. It was the most I ever used it one day.

Day 2- AK- Very hot. Lion King show is always wonderful. Tried the Tusker House Schoolroom lunch and did not like it very much. The food was good but didn't like the entertainment. I also thought the Primevil Whirl was very tame. I can't understand the 48 inch height requirement. Otherwise, had a very nice day. Oh, it was so hot we bought one of those expensive misters. The kids fought over it for days. By the third day DH broke down and bought another one so they would quit fighting. Then they fought over who got the purple one.

Day3- Epcot- Hot again. We did a lot of inside things to try to keep cool. Went to TT for the first time and really liked it. Saw the Canada and France movie for the first time. They are both very good. Ate lunch at Morocco, DD got to dance with the belly dance and loved it. Ate dinner at Germany. The kids loved the music. Always love the parade, saw it twice, the kids
love it when the characters touch them and dance with them. Love the fireworks. Let the kids play in the water fountains. They got soaking wet but had a great time and it was so hot it didn't matter that they were wet.

Day 4 MGM- The highlight of the day was after the Hunchback show I asked whether Esmeralda ever gives autographs in the park. She is DD's current favorite. The CM said no, but took our autograph book backstage and got both Esmeralda and Quasimodo to sign it. DD was thrilled.

We had a few more days, but this message is long. Suffice it to say we had a great time. Weather is hot right now and the parks are moderately crowded, but I want to go again right now!

 

[bjakmom]

Wow- Excellent use of FPs! Thanks for the report - love to hear when a CM dispenses a little 'magic'- we already have our fan/misters and will pack extra batteries for August!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

It's not a long post! I want to hear more. Tell us about the rest!

 

[phoebusII]

Glad to hear you're not bored with the long trip report. Here is the rest.

Day 4-MGM- I was a little brief about this day because the post was already running long. We got a rather late start because we kept the kids up late for Illuminations the night before. So we let them sleep in. We started with the Hunchback of Notre Dame show because it is DD's favorite Disney movie right now. We sat close to the stage and DD sat next to the runway. Esmeralda blew her a kiss and Quasi touched her on the head. She was thrilled. Then on the way out I asked a CM whether Esmeralda gives autographs in the park. I remembered seeing a few of the rarely spotted characters giving autographs at MGM in the past. He said no but took our autograph books backstage and got both Esmeralda and Quasimodo to sign. We also found the singing in the rain umbrella and could barely tear the kids away. Saw Beauty and the Beast, which I really like, Playhouse Disney which is excellent for preschoolers, the Great Movie Ride. Saw Mary Poppin's carousel horse while in line. I can't remember all the things we did, but we had dinner at the Brown Derby and got a FP for Fantasmic. It was worth getting the FP because we only had to get there a half hour before the show and could have gotten there a bit later. DD was scared because of the villians but I bought her a popsicle and she got through it OK.

Day 5-MGM and EPCOT- We decided to split the day between these 2 parks and see the things we missed the first time around. However, the kids and DH slept late again. DH doesn't like wild rides and in the past I didn't go on RR and only went on TOT once because I wanted to spend time with the family. But this time I really wanted to go, so while they slept late I got up early and went to MGM by myself. A whole morning for mom to herself, Yippee! I got there at park opening and went straight to RR. Wow!! I got in line again and went on it a second time. Then to TOT. Then I saw the Drew Carey show. I should have skipped it and gone on Star Tours instead. I missed that one because I ran out of time. Saw Indiana Jones which I had never seen because we thought it might be too intense for DD. Then met the family at Hunchback which DD wanted to see again. Did lunch. Couldn't get in to Sci-Fi so settled for the ABC commissary. It was nicely air conditioned. Then got FP for Millionaire and went to see the WD display and movie. I had to leave because DS got scared and DD had to go the bathroom 2 minutes before the movie started. DH stayed and said it was good. Then saw Millionaire and took the boat ride to Epcot.

DS had been begging to go on the monorail all day so we took the monorail to TTC and back. Yeah, I know, waste of time, but DS loved it. Then we spent some time at the FW things we hadn't seen before and the countries we missed. Had dinner at Mexico. We were going to make an early night of it and go swimming at the resort, but ended up staying until the fireworks.

Day 6-MK- Our last day. Went on a lot of the rides we missed the first day plus the old favorites. HM, TS Island, Riverboat, SM, etc. The park closed at 7:00 so we were definitely going to make an early night of it, but DS wanted the monorail again. Decided to try to get into the Crystal Palace as MK was closing. They let us in, so it was after 8:00 by the time we left the park. It was the best part of the day. Main Street was nice and quiet. They turned on the lights on MS and at the castle. It took us a half hour just to make it to the gate because I just wanted to stay on the quiet, pretty street. Then we took the monorail to Epcot again. Got there just as the fireworks were starting and watched the beginning of it from the monorail platform. Then caught the bus to ASMu, went swimming, packed.

Day 7- Got up, caught the Mears bus and headed home.

 

[yepod]

Thanks for the report!

Loved the comment about the kids fighting over the one mister, then over the purple one LOL

How old is your DD?

We took ours in December at 3 years & she can't wait to go back!

 

[phoebusII]

DD is 5 and DS is 2. DD loves the princesses right now and DS loves choo-choos and the Dumbo and teacup rides.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Sounds like you had a great trip... its nice to read a report where people don't focus on the little negative details that they let spoil their trip... thanks for sharing!