Leave in 3hrs

[dolphindan1]

We leave in 3 hours for our 6 hour drive...staying at Bonnet Creek and will return next Sunday the 22nd...I will try and give some live updates or end of the day updates...here is our schedule

SAt...arrive...relax...get stuff from Wally World
Sun...AK/RD...MVMCP...we have Tusker breakfast at 8am..LTT at 530pm
Mon....Epcot/RD....Cape May at 535
Tues....MK/RD....8am Crystal Palace
Wed....DHS/RD....SCI-Fi at 120
Thurs....Busch Gardens...1st time
Fri....Epcot WS....Chef De France noon
Sat...DTD...Trex at 12:30...maybe DQ or hit a park for repeats
Sun...official opening for Space Mtn so we play to hit that and leave unless we get a soft opening earlier in the week....drive home...

I will try and post crowd reports if possible...

cant wait to leave...family picking me up from work at 8...

 

[Nomi]

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Poohchum]

It sounds like an awesome trip! In August we ate at CP, CM AND Sci-Fi. All three were amazing choices.

My DH and I are going on 12/3 for a short trip. Please, please tell about MVMCP. We are going!

 

[OB1]

We leave next weekend. You have the perfect week to avoid the crowds, and the weather looks awesome for the upcoming week. Have a great trip.

 

[dolphindan1]

We arrived yesterday after our 6.5 hour drive from Charleston SC area...Got in at about 2:30...went to Bonnet Creek and checked in. What a beautiful place and so close to everything. We are on the 11th floor and can easily see DTD, and Epcot and a little furthur MK...we went to DTD to Earl of Sandwhich, Lot 2 parking lot is full but I expected that on a Sat afternoon. They are having some kind of sidewalk chalk art thing going on that really added to the crowds especially around World of Disney and lego land and the stage. Anyway go to EOS and got our food in about 10 minutes...we walked around and bought a few things. My wife said it was packed. I didnt think it was for a Sat afternoon. they had alot of walking area roped off for these chalk drawers so that added to the walk ways being crowded....but we easily got a booth in EOS....anyway back to the room I had worked the night shift and left straight from work so I was tired. NO parks...we watched wishes and Illuminations from our Balcony then to bed...

We are now up getting ready for our 8am Breakfast with Donald at AK, then the day there and Christmas party tonight...I was so tired last night but I was up and ready to go at 3am....LOL

Will report about our day in the am....

 

[dolphindan1]

WOW....is all I can say about my 1st full day at Disney...We had a 8am breakfast with Donald at the Tusker House in AK...food was great, waitress was great, characters were great...did I mention the food was great?...anyway so I had my Ridemax schedule all ready to go at RD, My wife was not gonna ride EE so I got here to get a FP for the safari...Boys and I headed to EE...only us on the back path to Asia...well except for the Jungle Book Characters, got to EE walk on, we were behind RD at the gate, we then rode again...walkon....went to Primevil...5 mins...Dinosaur...2 times walked right into movie...ITTBAB 5 mins...Rapids...5 mins 2 in a row...Rafikis had the most people but we toured and did everything even let the kids pet the animals...25 minutes...we walked both trails....just a few people...LK was about 3/4 full at 2:30...Safari, which I had FPs too...they said save them for souveniers we walked right on too a waiting jeep...by the way we saw more animals here then we have ever in 7 trips very active at 3:15pm...walked right off safari got a spot at the rope for the parade starting in 5 minutes...its still the best parade in Disney..lots of character interaction...Pluto ran and almost tackled my 13 year old. who wasnt looking impressed and just wanted to ride EE again...so after parade we walked to Asia rode EE 2 times without needing our FPs and then to Dinosaur didnt need out FP there either...

So we leave at 5PM and head to MVMCP...I thought OK last time we did this it was packed...2004 in early Dec...here is where the crowds get started...HAHA...empty...we walked right down the middle of main st to cosmic rays walked right up ordered food and sat right up front...walked to Buzz and and saw that Space Moutain was open...I literally ran to the entrance then I saw 60 mins for a wait....I started to turn around cast Member said that it was wrong...20 mins we are on...we got to play the new game twice...basically asteroids...but I was excited to get to ride...went to Buzz walk on...not a single person in building...our 9 year old scored over 600,000...went to Pooh, PP, Snow White, HM, BTMRR 3 times...Splash was empty, POTC had boat to ourselves...went to find a spot for parade 30mins early sat right in the hub between road to TL and road to Main street...after parade...amazing by the way...walked to Main street to get ready for 2nd parade...getting cold by now...we walked right up to tables and chairs in front of Main Street Bakery...we sat there till 15 mins before parade start...lots of curb space left...we sat eight dab in the middle of main street...well across from bakery...no one sat next to us....we left after parade...walked right on to Monorail....

great day...lowest crowds I have ever seen at Disney...I know AK was best day by Mike and TP and ridemax....and they were all right

Off to Epcot today...which is best day for TGM...hope its as nice...

 

[dfmalone]

I so ENVY you right now, have fun for me and everyone else who;s trips are upcoming

 

[g-dad66]

Man, this is the week we're going to shoot for next year!

The grandkids will have Thursday off for Veterans Day, and hoping they might get Friday off too.

Thanks for the great live reports.

 

[BenA81]

thanks for the reports!

 

[aspen37]

Wow it sounds like your having a great trip. I hope the crowds continue to stay quite for the rest of your trip.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Can you see the shuttle launch from Orlando?

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

Thanks for the report! We will arrive there on Friday, going to MVMCP Friday night. How is the weather? I see for our trip it predicts upper 70/low 80s during the day and upper 50s at night and I am trying to figure out if my 8 year old will want her heavy coat at night in the parks??? Appreciate your input on that. BTW we will be at T-Rex for lunch on Sat as well. Small world!

 

[g-dad66]

great day...lowest crowds I have ever seen at Disney...I know AK was best day by Mike and TP and ridemax....and they were all right

Off to Epcot today...which is best day for TGM...hope its as nice...

Hmmm...I just noticed that Touring Plans listed AK as the park to avoid today (November 16) and the crowd calendar rating was a 6. (Sounds to me like it should have been about a 3...)

And Touring Plans says Epcot is the park to avoid on November 17 (probably because of EMH, which was also true for AK on the 16th).

Sounds to me, though, like there's no need to avoid ANY park this week.

 

[dolphindan1]

Here is an update...

Monday we were at Epcot and it was empty...Soarin and TT were 5 Minutes at 2:30...Soarin and TT...We waited longer to get on SE than anything....can you believe that...we rode soarin twice...TT 4 times...Ellens, Nemo and watched turtle talk...Land...Imagination...MS...toured Innoventions East...SE..at fish and chips..did 2 Kim Possible missions...one in canada and one in france...all by 2pm...we left at 7...we have another day there on friday...it was the most amazing day we have ever had at Epcot in 7 trips...so was AK the day before and the party..

Yesterday we went to MK...empty...we toured the entire park by 530...that include lunch and ice cream...arrived 15 minutes after RD..and went straight to BTMRR...we saw no one on the way there...Splash was not giving FPs...rode BTMRR 3 times without getting off...then rode splash boat was waiting on us...then HM...PP...IASM...Snow white...merry go round....philharmagic..Snow white...Pooh...Cosim rays to eat...then Race cars...Buzz twice...Caroseul of progress...TTA...SM...was about to get on then broke down...LOL..had to get out...then Stitch...Laugh Club...watched Dream with mickey show...JC...POC...watched pirate tutorial...Country Bears....HOP...then Splash and BTMRR 2 times ...took train to toontown...rode space twice

we never felt rushed and I still have all my FPs I gathers that we did not need....it was amazing...even my wife says its nice not to feel rushed...

Today its DHS...hope its light too...no fantasmic so that should be nice...

Couple observations....we never saw any child meltdowns till our MK day...we saw several at MK...also we have met some very nice people...family from Utah...lady from Chicago who were were the only ones on the trail from Africa to Asia at RD...also met a family last night from MB SC...right down the raod from us waiting in line for Space Mtn...weather has been great...if not a little warm....

Disney merchandise and food is grossly overpriced...but thats ok...we still love it...

We have always traveled in early Dec...never again....we will go this time of the year next trip...half if not more than half the crowds...amazing

 

[dolphindan1]

Can you see the shuttle launch from Orlando?

Yes we were actually sitting in France while the kids were doing Kim Possible...we saw alot of people on the bridge to the IG...then looked up and saw something flying and saw the huge smoke trail...I was like its the shuttle....jumped up and took a picture...everyone cheered....it was great to see...for some reason I thought it was on Tuesday..

 

[dolphindan1]

Hmmm...I just noticed that Touring Plans listed AK as the park to avoid today (November 16) and the crowd calendar rating was a 6. (Sounds to me like it should have been about a 3...)

And Touring Plans says Epcot is the park to avoid on November 17 (probably because of EMH, which was also true for AK on the 16th).

Sounds to me, though, like there's no need to avoid ANY park this week.

We went to AK on Sunday and Epcot on Monday....but yeah I doubt you really need to avoid any park this week...I would say its been a 2 or 3...we have been in Dec when its been 4's and this has been half or more than half less than that...its been great

 

[dolphindan1]

update...

So I am sitting in the room looking at my FPs I got this AM at AK...now do I go use them or do I stay and watch Clemson earn a berth to the ACC championship game....hmmmm...right now Clemson is winning out over AK

any way our day at wed at DHS was amazing...I still loathe going to DHS but its more tolerable when lines are low...we arrived at RD...in front or close to front for TSM...we decided at the last minute to NOT get a FP and just jump right on...we were 2nd in line...got FP when we got off....went to RNR...rode 2 times...TOT rode 1 time...got another TSM FP......GMR...Star tours, jedi training...FP TSM..AI...indiana Jones...sci fi lunch 1:30...backlot....fp TSM...ride TSM using earlier FP...shopped a little...4:10 stunt show....TSM ride....RNR...RNR...TOT...Osbourne...2 more rides on TSM....not bad at all..

Thursday we went to Busch Gardens....let me first say this was out 1st time to Busch and its a very nice park...very clean and 3 or 4 of the best roller coasters....we rode each one mutiple times along with Rhino rally...Sheikra is perhaps the best coaster I have ever ridden...Cheetah Chase destroys Primevil whirl at AK... Busch Garden has a very confusing layout luckily it was not crowded by any means....where Disney beats BG is with theming and stage and 3-d shows...the 3-d show at BG was poorly done as was the big stage show...but it was nice to go and we will go back for the coaster alone...except for Gwazi...that was the worst, roughest roler coaster ever....i was hurting when i got off....it looks cool but dont do it

Friday...2nd Epcot day...we slept in and arrived at 10:30...got FP for Soarin...went to Innoventions and did Sum of all thrills....20 minute wait...TT FP...Got KP FP...then went to France to eat....best meal I have had all week...Escargot and Lobster Bisque....very very good...then went back to Norway and started KP...did 4 missions...my oldest was too embarrssed to do it but sure followed me and my youngest son around...LOL...its a fun thing to do....we went around WS doing missions...watched Belly dancer...hubba hubba....LOL....rode Imagination....Soarin with FP...and TT twice....at at Electric Umbrella then got Ice Cream at fountainview....ten watched Illuminations from Canada....

I woke up this morning and and decided at 10 I was going to AK to get some FPs for this afternoon...so got the boys ready...we went and got to EE with a 5 minute wait....so we got FP and rode...then Dino...same thing...then went to walk around the TOL on the secret trail....only ones on the trail....went to KS to get FP...guy working machines gave us FPs ddnt need ticket...so went went straight back to EE and got FPs...then left went to Trex for lunch at 12:30....so I am sitting here now....with four rides with FPs and cant decide if I want to use them....its our last day too....kids are swimming....I am waiting on Clemson game....