Just got home! Buzz news. :)

[NYDisneyMom]

We also just got home last night from a week at WDW. The parks were definitely more crowded than any September we've previously gone. When checking out at the BW yesterday afternoon there were about 30 people on line waiting to check in! Yikes!! I had two people in front of me the week before at check in. October is going to be very busy!

We did Fantasmic on Tuesday night and by 7:45 the theater was filled! It was packed...tons of people standing for the show. I'm glad I decided to head over there at 7:00.

The weather was great...we had a few showers, which is normal. Our luau was almost a washout Wednesday night, but about 10 mins before show time the rains let up. That show, by the way, was much better than I had expected. We've never done it before, I'm glad we did!

The love bugs are pretty much gone, thank goodness! I hate those annoying things. I think I could count the number of love bugs I saw on both hands.

We did not get to see Mickey's Philharmagic. I'm very bummed about that. We tried for two days but they had no shows at all those days (Thurs & Fri). The gift shop has some cute stuff though!

One cool thing was when we went to MK Friday morning we headed straight back to Buzz. I noticed that at one point toward the end a camera flash went off and I thought that was strange, I'd never noticed that before. Sure enough...at the end of the ride you now are let out into an area where you can view your photos, then move on into a little gift shop! How cool! The CM said Friday was the first day they started taking the pics. So, naturally I HAD to buy our photo! LOL! So now I can say we were the first to buy photos from the Buzz ride.

Most of the rides in all the parks were walk on or very little wait. I think the longest line we waited on was Peter Pan, that was about 10 mins.

Lots of contsruction going on. The new ride in AK, the new "attraction" at Epcot, and man Sarasota Springs really has come a long way since last year!

So..we're back and now have months and months to wait for the cruise!!

 

[danny1649]

For sharing I'm going to get me a Buzz photo when we go in December.Your comments on the crowds is good news to me I'm glad things are picking up at my favorite place WDW.Maybe now COP will be open on a regular basis.

 

[Vinnie The Pooh]

I sit here watching the news and hear all this bad news about the economy and jobs being lost yet people are talking about how crowded the parks are. Did you happen to notice if there were a majoity of people from outside of the U.S. at the parks or at your hotel?

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by Vinnie The Pooh
I sit here watching the news and hear all this bad news about the economy and jobs being lost yet people are talking about how crowded the parks are. Did you happen to notice if there were a majoity of people from outside of the U.S. at the parks or at your hotel?

There was the normal amount of Brits there...but most people I talked to were from the US. All of the visitors I spoke to from the US were taking advantage of the Fairtale Package. Most of them drove, too, from as far as PA. They all seemed surprised when I said we've gone in September several times and this was the most crowded I've seen it.

I think they were all budget conscious, one couple said they saved $800 AND got to expand their 4 day trip to 7 days. I guess it was just too good of a deal not to do.

I have a friend who'd like to use her DVC points and is waitlisted for October through November, she can't seem to get a room. It's definitely gonna be a busy October. I just hope they don't offer the Fairytale Package again next year....I'm just too spoiled!

 

[LoriZH]

Hey thanks for that Buzz news, how cool! I am expecting it to be quite busy in 3 weeks but we are prepared. It usually is a bit busy that time of the year anyway.

Glad you had a great time!

 

[momxx5]

I'm glad you had a great trip.

Thanks for the "Buzz news". We would definitely get a picture. Its my DSs favorite ride!

I, for one, DO hope(and pray) that they offer the FTP next year. It would be the only way our family(of 7) could affordable spend a whole week at WDW. We did it this summer. It was the 1st time for our DDs to go to WDW. Without the FTP is may be a few years before we could come back. I'm already having terrible WDW withdrawl. LOL!

 

[diznee25]

NYDisneyMom,

At exactly what part of the ride is the photo taken on Buzz? Since the buggies turn in all directions, I'd most likely be moving around trying to shoot at targets!

Thanks,
Michelle

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by diznee25
NYDisneyMom,

At exactly what part of the ride is the photo taken on Buzz? Since the buggies turn in all directions, I'd most likely be moving around trying to shoot at targets!

Thanks,
Michelle

At the end where Zurg is defeated...the buggies lock and you can't turn it away from the camera. Just make sure if you have little ones that their heads are not directly behind the guns, or you won't see them. We ran right back in because my son's head was blocked by the gun (he's 7 and tall for his age) so tell the kids to scoot into the middle of the buggy for the pic.
If I could figure out how to put my photo into this post I'd show you our pic from Friday. Anyone know how to do that???

 

[MyBoysMommy]

LoL, what time did you get your photo Friday morning? We were on Buzz by 9:15 and bought our photo right away!! LoL, we might have been the first people to get a buzz ride photo! LoL, just messing with you. We were probably there at the same time

 

[MyBoysMommy]

Oh yeah, my boys were both wearing Mickey ears and I was "wearing" the baby in a hip bag!

 

[ccrosner]

Thanks for the fun report.

I'm confused, though. You said the hotel was really crowded as was WDW, but you also said you basically walked on all the rides. Is it that it's much more crowded than usual but still not so crowded as to cause big lines? Or did I just misread your note?

Thanks! We leave on Thursday!!!

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by ccrosner
Thanks for the fun report.

I'm confused, though. You said the hotel was really crowded as was WDW, but you also said you basically walked on all the rides. Is it that it's much more crowded than usual but still not so crowded as to cause big lines? Or did I just misread your note?

Thanks! We leave on Thursday!!!

If you're used to visiting Disney in the summer, then you will find September/October to be very light crowds. My 'problem' is that we've done Disney in September several times and at times we've felt we had the parks all to ourselves. The hotels are more crowded, the parks were more crowded this -- a 10 min/20 min wait to go on a ride seems like forever when you're used to walking on and being able to stay on as much as you like! After experiencing no crowds, it's hard to get used to. I could not believe Fantasmic was standing room only this past week. I've never seen that happen in September.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by MyBoysMommy
LoL, what time did you get your photo Friday morning? We were on Buzz by 9:15 and bought our photo right away!! LoL, we might have been the first people to get a buzz ride photo! LoL, just messing with you. We were probably there at the same time

LOL!!!! We probably did it together! I had my two boys with me and after our first picture didn't turn out well we dashed back and did another. There was absolutely no line at that time, and it was definitely before 9:30 because I remember we walked over to Toontown after Buzz and we were about 20 minutes early for the opening there, so we went on the raceway. My son really wanted to ride Goofy's Barnstormer with Goofy, but we didn't get to do it. About half an hour later, as we were walking out of Toontown my son looked up and saw Goofy riding his coaster! Bummer.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

I too just got back last night and thought it was afully crowed this past week. My longest wait was 45 minutes which was for Tower of Terror on friday morning. I also did fantasmic and was in the standing room only section which I don't recommend doing with small ones. Don't forget to mention there is a new something being made in MGM which the CM said would be open in 2005 and to keep checking back for more news on it and the name.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by Jasminesmommy
...... Don't forget to mention there is a new something being made in MGM which the CM said would be open in 2005 and to keep checking back for more news on it and the name.

All of the parks have new construction going on right now. MGM has a new stunt show thing replacing the Back Lot Tour. AK has Expedition Everest under construction. MK will be replacing Alien Encounter with a Stitch-themed ride. Epcot just opened Mission Space and just started construction on another ride in Future World that is similar to the Soarin' ride in Disney's CA Adenture Park. And..Sarasota Springs Resort is due to open next year, too, I believe. Lots of good stuff going on!