Just got back yesterday!

[momsavealot]

If you have any questions, let me know! It was very hot and crowded in all 4 parks! We went last August and got hit with Tropical Storm Fay so I guess we were spared the heat and crowds last year. Can't imagine going at a peak time. Many foreigners! For dining, I would highly recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe and Hoop Dee Do for the experience, Cape May Cafe and 1900 Park Fare for the character meals, and Liberty Tree Tavern for the food. Disappointed with Chefs de France. Lots of technical difficulties - Toy Story Mania, Test Track, Indiana Jones show, and Spaceship Earth that I can remember. In fact we had to be walked off TSM b/c some kid decided to jump off onto the track. My favorite night was taking the boat at night to Fort Wilderness, watching Hoop Dee Do which the kids loved and then watching the fireworks and electric water parade from the beach! Very relaxing! Worst experience was being crammed into a preshow standing room only area for Honey I Shrunk the Audience - talk about being crammed in like sardines! Worst line was waiting to see the UP characters. My one big disappointment was not seeing Fantasmic AGAIN. But when I saw people lining up 2 hours in advance, there was no way I was going to keep 4 kids entertained (and frankly I was too hot and exhausted from the crowds). Pleasantly surprised with POP! Magic Express was great as usual. And my photopass pics are awful so don't depend on Photopass for your pics - take your own or you will be disappointed. Can't think of anything else so if anyone has any questions, let me know! Oh, and I don't know if people are just rude or if there is a language barrier, but people just do not follow the rules - when they say MOVE TO THE END OF THE ROW, do it! When they say NO FLASH photos, do it! Seriously, I had many eyerolling moments with my husband this trip!!

 

[MindyMouse76]

Just curious - was the photopass pictures blurry, not centered correctly, or just not the greatest smiles? We go next month and was so looking forward to Photopass. However, you are not the first person that has been disappointed with it! I still plan on taking MANY pictures with my own camera.....

Thanks!

 

[momsavealot]

Just curious - was the photopass pictures blurry, not centered correctly, or just not the greatest smiles? We go next month and was so looking forward to Photopass. However, you are not the first person that has been disappointed with it! I still plan on taking MANY pictures with my own camera.....

Thanks!

Not centered and the lighting is awful. Plus, there are hardly any Photopass photogs around the parks. I would highly recommend using your own camera!! and I would recommend looking at your Photopass photos while you're there to see if you need to redo any. I wish I had done that - I would have redone our Castle shot - just plain awful! Don't wait until you get home after your trip to review your Photopass pics if you can!!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Thanks for the info. We leave in about 20 days. We are staying at WL and plan on eating one night at whispering canyon. We ate there a few years ago and it was good.

Thanks for the tip on the photopass. In the past few trips we never had a problem with our pictures turning out. I have been reading a lot that diser's pictures have not been coming out good. Usually what I do is after the photographer takes a pic, I give him my camera. Makes for good back up.

 

[WeCantWait]

I would highly recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe and Hoop Dee Do for the experience, Cape May Cafe and 1900 Park Fare for the character meals, and Liberty Tree Tavern for the food.


How exciting! We leave in 13 days and have reservations for all of the above! Thanks for the report.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I think most people beleive MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE ROW doesn't apply to them. We were in Muppets once and the CM started calling people out, you maam in the 3rd row that sat down in the middle, yes you w/ the florescent pink shirt w/ the 2 kids in a buzz shirt and a cindy dress could you please move down. It was great, most of the people in the theater cheered.

So what was wrong w/ Spaceship Earth and Indiana Jones? The others we have had technical difficulties on before.

 

[momsavealot]

Thanks for the info. We leave in about 20 days. We are staying at WL and plan on eating one night at whispering canyon. We ate there a few years ago and it was good.

Thanks for the tip on the photopass. In the past few trips we never had a problem with our pictures turning out. I have been reading a lot that diser's pictures have not been coming out good. Usually what I do is after the photographer takes a pic, I give him my camera. Makes for good back up.

I have to say that I LOVED WL! I hope to make that our next resort. I just love sitting in the lobby! After our lunch, it rained and all the lifeguards came in and pulled out a big bag of board games to play with the kids in the lobby. My kids had a blast playing games with them and now demand that I buy them "Don't Break the Ice". I never saw my kids laugh so hard as at the Whispering Canyon Cafe! They bring you chocolate milkshakes until you beg for mercy!! You are going to have a great time - I'm so jealous!

 

[KarBear]

OP:
We leave in a week. Do you think the crowds will die down a little with Southern schools going back into session or were most of the crowds foreigners? Would you say the lines were over 60 min wait for popular rides like Buzz lightyear and Monsters inc comedy floor, or just the main BIG and NEW attractions.
Thanks for your help!

 

[noahdove]

Thanks for all the tips We are staying at Pop for the first time so we are excited about the resort

 

[momsavealot]

I think most people beleive MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE ROW doesn't apply to them. We were in Muppets once and the CM started calling people out, you maam in the 3rd row that sat down in the middle, yes you w/ the florescent pink shirt w/ the 2 kids in a buzz shirt and a cindy dress could you please move down. It was great, most of the people in the theater cheered.

So what was wrong w/ Spaceship Earth and Indiana Jones? The others we have had technical difficulties on before.

I WISH the CM's would have enforced the "Row rule" but nobody did while I was there. Instead, my party of 9 people had to GO AROUND! My husband and I usually say something to each other while passing them like "I guess the rules don't apply to EVERYbody" or "nice lesson to teach your children". You'd think they would be embarrassed with the repeated announcements, dirty looks and people climbing over them, but NO.

With Indiana Jones, they couldn't move one of the 3 big pieces of the initial set off the stage (the engine wouldn't start), so there was a big delay and they skipped the last part of the show with the plane.

With Spaceship Earth, they just stopped it while we were reclining back down to earth. I"m not sure what the problem was - just that there was a technical difficulty and to standby.

 

[momsavealot]

OP:
We leave in a week. Do you think the crowds will die down a little with Southern schools going back into session or were most of the crowds foreigners? Would you say the lines were over 60 min wait for popular rides like Buzz lightyear and Monsters inc comedy floor, or just the main BIG and NEW attractions.
Thanks for your help!

I highly recommend the Touring Plans by the Unofficial Guide's website. If you have a plan and get Fastpasses, you will be fine. Oh, and go as early as you can. The mornings were the best. By noon, the crowds had doubled. We always got the most done in the mornings. Our first night at MK, I decided to skip Spectromagic since all good spots were taken and we planned to see it the next night. While everyone was watching the parade, we WALKED on Buzz Lightyear twice in a row!! Then, we walked into Monsters Inc. Comedy Floor they pick someone from the audience to be "that guy" (you'll understand it when you see it). Well, they picked my dad and my family never laughed so hard while they made fun on him (he loved it). Best use of time during a parade ever! We finished it off with Astro Orbiters DURING Wishes - let me say an amazing experience!!! And yes, I think the best time to go is the last week before the free dining discount starts and while Florida schools go back into session. So, I think you're going at a great time! Have fun!

 

[KarBear]

Thanks for your help. But we are going when Free Dining starts.
It is what is ...you know.
I do have the touring guide book and I also purchased the RideMax thing..
Have you used RideMax? Any thoughts?
One thing that will be difficult is that I have a six year old so I think it may be hard to walk by one ride to get to another...But we will give it a try.

Another question off topic, where did you put your KTTW card when you where at the waterparks. Last time we "hid" our credit card and money in our bag but I never felt comfortable doing that and bathing suits have no pockets.

Any thoughts on the above two comments...????

Thanks

 

[momsavealot]

Thanks for all the tips We are staying at Pop for the first time so we are excited about the resort

Sorry, but I don't know how to multiquote. You're going to have fun at POP! Unlike the All Stars resorts, POP has its own buses so you don't have to share with another resort. But IMHO, the tye-dye cheesecake is over-rated. Whatever decade you're in, they pipe that music through your courtyard. Fortunately, I like 70's music. The food court is great - lots of variety (unlike the Poly - my last resort). Have fun! And I recommend the refillable mug for $12. Oh, and the Pina Colava at the Petals Poolside Bar is great too!

 

[momsavealot]

Thanks for your help. But we are going when Free Dining starts.
It is what is ...you know.
I do have the touring guide book and I also purchased the RideMax thing..
Have you used RideMax? Any thoughts?
One thing that will be difficult is that I have a six year old so I think it may be hard to walk by one ride to get to another...But we will give it a try.

Another question off topic, where did you put your KTTW card when you where at the waterparks. Last time we "hid" our credit card and money in our bag but I never felt comfortable doing that and bathing suits have no pockets.

Any thoughts on the above two comments...????

Thanks

I haven't used Ridemax, but I'm sure it's the same thing. As long as they recommend getting Fastpasses to the biggies first thing. For instance, for HS, get FP to Toy Story Mania and ride it if you're there early. For AK, we went to Safari 1st, no wait and then got FP to Dinosaur and EE. Hopefully, they'll still have the centralized FP machines at AK - use them! They're right next to ITTBAB. For MK, do Fantasyland as early as possible. Just remember, if the ride has a wait longer than 30 minutes, get a FP if you can! I have a 3, 6, 8 and 9 year old and the only time I HAD to go to a ride off the plan was Cinderella's Carousel b/c my 3 yr old demanded it. Luckily, this ride doesn't ususally have a long line. Get them excited by telling them what the next ride on your plan is so they can help you find it (kind of like a game!).

AS far as the KTTW card, they sell in the gift shops this thing that hangs from your neck and is a plastic container (waterproof) to hold your essentials like room cards, credit cards, etc (about the size of a wallet). That way, you don't leave it at your towel. Or you can get a locker and just put the locker key in this necklace thingy I"m talking about. ASk at the gift shop (esp. at the water parks), they will know what I"m talking about. They sold them at our resort right near the cashier so I'm sure they're everywhere. Hope that helps!