TheBoyCoopey
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
- Messages
- 1
Hi, everybody. Used the forum whilst preparing for my trip to WDW which has now been and gone (sob) and thought I'd add a couple of points which relate to details I picked up and how they compare to my trip.
I apologise if any of this is repeated information. The forum has so many long threads that its difficult to keep track.
On the Winnie The Pooh ride, it is Owl that receives the deeds to the ride from Mr. Toad, not Pooh.
In the case of the 'is there or isn't there a ring in the concrete' at Haunted Mansion. I have to say the only ring I saw was quite obviously embedded in the ground for use with the drop latch on the iron gate that swang across the exit. I didn't crawl around on hands and knees looking for further evidence so I apologise if this is known and I missed the real ring. Anyway, you can't miss this one, it's right in middle of the path between the iron gates that you go through to arrive back in the forecourt with the horse and cart.
Other tidbits of experience:
Sunday at the Magic Kingdom was great. Little crowds compared with later in the week and lines were usually under half an hour and the place never felt crowded. No Spectromagic or fireworks though.
Be prepared for pushing and shoving getting into Fantasmic at MGM. We arrived about 30 mins before kickoff and the crowds made it look like we'd never be able to get seated but when you see the size of the theatre (amphitheatre?) you'd worry less. Its pretty huge and we got a great seat right in the centre (recommended but not crucial)
The FastPass system is great. Use it. Make sure you get one straight away and be warned that the most popular rides may run out of passes way before park closing. We did Splash Mountain first to avoid disappointment as the queue for this was the biggest we saw.
Standing under the picture of the young lady in pink in the HM stretch room was also a must. You'll be right by the exit to the DoomBuggies whichever of the stretch rooms you are ferried into (there are 2) She's the one holding the parasol.
We timed having cake and milkshake before going on Mission: Space but with no ill-effects. I think if you 'buy into' the ride and believe you're shooting forwards you should feel little side-effects (you will feel something though) This ride is an experience. I loved it.
It rained on a very busy day in Magic Kingdom and yet I never saw them sell out of the water-proof ponchos despite the huge demand. I think they were $6 a piece (about £4) If you need to take anything else, lockers are available at all parks but will cost you $5 for the day (plus $2 deposit) We didn't need to carry anything other than sun cream really. You can worry about too much and end up pointlessly lugging a bag around.
In my humble opinion, Animal Kingdom doesn't match up to the experience of the others. Little to see, much to buy is how it came across. If you miss a park, miss this one. The safari is good but that's about it. Its a very disorienting park with little reward for the effort. Unbearable on a hot day.
I found a good splash of talc each day beneath my clothes in between the cracks helped keep away rash from sweaty rubbing. Sorry to be so blunt but it does help.
I thought Alien Encounter was pretty poor. Definitely not for kids or anyone who is expecting a great experience. I didn't find it up to Disney's creative standard at all. A cheeky spray of water and overuse of 'suggestion' isn't what I was expecting. Avoid if necessary to see other things.
Must dos: Tower of Terror (offers so much more than what you'd expect - superb), Rock n Rollercoaster, Splash Mountain, Mission: Space (because it so 'new'), Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, Thunder Railroad. And of course a smattering of the others make the whole thing unforgettable.
Check out the blue TTA ride in Tomorrowland. Its simple, its fun and it gives you a nice moment of pause. No queue time on a busy day and a pleasure. It offers more than just what you see when you see it (if you see what I mean)
Get at least one Magic Kingdom Parade in. They are so 'happy!'
If you do want to eat with the characters for dinner, we were able to book both the Crystal Palace and the one in Liberty Square (can't remember name) eariler on in the day so give it a go. The best place is the Town Hall info as you enter Main Street from the entrance (on the left). Cinderella Castle was totally booked. Crystal Palace has all the Winnie The Pooh gang at meal times.
Remember where you parked!
Everything else, as far as I remember, was just perfect. I didn't get ripped off, nothing nasty happened (bit of rain) and no nasty surprises. Go and enjoy yourself. We did. Lots.
One last tip: If you want your picture with a character, wait until after the performance at Cinderella's Castle (there are many in the day). The characters will emerge for photos. Some will walk through the crowd and apparently away from the area (Goofy heads for Tomorrowland). Stick close to your favorite because they will stop when they get to their designated spot and a queue will form from there. People seemed to just stand and watch them walk off and then go chasing once a queue had started. Follow them! Stay close and you'll be first in a potentially long line. Great when you're just a couple of adults not wanting to queue with 400 children.
Enjoy!
I apologise if any of this is repeated information. The forum has so many long threads that its difficult to keep track.
On the Winnie The Pooh ride, it is Owl that receives the deeds to the ride from Mr. Toad, not Pooh.
In the case of the 'is there or isn't there a ring in the concrete' at Haunted Mansion. I have to say the only ring I saw was quite obviously embedded in the ground for use with the drop latch on the iron gate that swang across the exit. I didn't crawl around on hands and knees looking for further evidence so I apologise if this is known and I missed the real ring. Anyway, you can't miss this one, it's right in middle of the path between the iron gates that you go through to arrive back in the forecourt with the horse and cart.
Other tidbits of experience:
Sunday at the Magic Kingdom was great. Little crowds compared with later in the week and lines were usually under half an hour and the place never felt crowded. No Spectromagic or fireworks though.
Be prepared for pushing and shoving getting into Fantasmic at MGM. We arrived about 30 mins before kickoff and the crowds made it look like we'd never be able to get seated but when you see the size of the theatre (amphitheatre?) you'd worry less. Its pretty huge and we got a great seat right in the centre (recommended but not crucial)
The FastPass system is great. Use it. Make sure you get one straight away and be warned that the most popular rides may run out of passes way before park closing. We did Splash Mountain first to avoid disappointment as the queue for this was the biggest we saw.
Standing under the picture of the young lady in pink in the HM stretch room was also a must. You'll be right by the exit to the DoomBuggies whichever of the stretch rooms you are ferried into (there are 2) She's the one holding the parasol.
We timed having cake and milkshake before going on Mission: Space but with no ill-effects. I think if you 'buy into' the ride and believe you're shooting forwards you should feel little side-effects (you will feel something though) This ride is an experience. I loved it.
It rained on a very busy day in Magic Kingdom and yet I never saw them sell out of the water-proof ponchos despite the huge demand. I think they were $6 a piece (about £4) If you need to take anything else, lockers are available at all parks but will cost you $5 for the day (plus $2 deposit) We didn't need to carry anything other than sun cream really. You can worry about too much and end up pointlessly lugging a bag around.
In my humble opinion, Animal Kingdom doesn't match up to the experience of the others. Little to see, much to buy is how it came across. If you miss a park, miss this one. The safari is good but that's about it. Its a very disorienting park with little reward for the effort. Unbearable on a hot day.
I found a good splash of talc each day beneath my clothes in between the cracks helped keep away rash from sweaty rubbing. Sorry to be so blunt but it does help.
I thought Alien Encounter was pretty poor. Definitely not for kids or anyone who is expecting a great experience. I didn't find it up to Disney's creative standard at all. A cheeky spray of water and overuse of 'suggestion' isn't what I was expecting. Avoid if necessary to see other things.
Must dos: Tower of Terror (offers so much more than what you'd expect - superb), Rock n Rollercoaster, Splash Mountain, Mission: Space (because it so 'new'), Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, Thunder Railroad. And of course a smattering of the others make the whole thing unforgettable.
Check out the blue TTA ride in Tomorrowland. Its simple, its fun and it gives you a nice moment of pause. No queue time on a busy day and a pleasure. It offers more than just what you see when you see it (if you see what I mean)
Get at least one Magic Kingdom Parade in. They are so 'happy!'
If you do want to eat with the characters for dinner, we were able to book both the Crystal Palace and the one in Liberty Square (can't remember name) eariler on in the day so give it a go. The best place is the Town Hall info as you enter Main Street from the entrance (on the left). Cinderella Castle was totally booked. Crystal Palace has all the Winnie The Pooh gang at meal times.
Remember where you parked!
Everything else, as far as I remember, was just perfect. I didn't get ripped off, nothing nasty happened (bit of rain) and no nasty surprises. Go and enjoy yourself. We did. Lots.
One last tip: If you want your picture with a character, wait until after the performance at Cinderella's Castle (there are many in the day). The characters will emerge for photos. Some will walk through the crowd and apparently away from the area (Goofy heads for Tomorrowland). Stick close to your favorite because they will stop when they get to their designated spot and a queue will form from there. People seemed to just stand and watch them walk off and then go chasing once a queue had started. Follow them! Stay close and you'll be first in a potentially long line. Great when you're just a couple of adults not wanting to queue with 400 children.
Enjoy!
Thanks
