catrax
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 240
I returned early this morning from a last-minute, short birthday trip. There were just 2 of us, but I wanted to share some observations that I found interesting/surprising.
We visited Magic Kingdom on Friday, Animal Kingdom on Saturday, then Magic Kingdom again on Sunday. I've been reading about how light the crowds are this summer and, while it wasn't holiday crowded and the paths weren't as thick with people, the waits were long starting early. I'm used to planning out my trips with laser precision, but given the last-minute nature of it, I didn't have the time to prepare, so I just went with it - I had to! My thoughts:
We visited Magic Kingdom on Friday, Animal Kingdom on Saturday, then Magic Kingdom again on Sunday. I've been reading about how light the crowds are this summer and, while it wasn't holiday crowded and the paths weren't as thick with people, the waits were long starting early. I'm used to planning out my trips with laser precision, but given the last-minute nature of it, I didn't have the time to prepare, so I just went with it - I had to! My thoughts:
- I don't need to tell you how hot it was, but I will tell you that those cooling towels are totally worth it. I found putting that thing around my neck much better than any fan!
- Breakfast all day at Pop - waffles and bacon any time of day for my super-picky son!
- We stayed in a 90's refurbished room at Pop and it was a little strange for me. It felt foreign to me after 10 trips, first in Value, then Mods, but the room was clean and I loved the new features. The walk from my 1st floor room to the MK bus was literally 4 minutes walking at a good pace. If you're looking to save some cash and limit your walking, give these rooms a try.
- We Ubered for the first time ever. I was nervous, but it was so worth it! I walked out of my room, ordered the ride, walked to the main building and found the driver waiting for me - less than 5 mins later! He said they can pick you up at your building at Pop, as well. For $10, I was at Animal Kingdom bu 6:45 am, having left my room at 6:32am.
- Did I need to be at AK at 6:45 on Saturday morning? It turns out that I didn't. I think I could have been there by 7:20 and been fine. I would also mention that we weren't the first people there.
- We went bagless for the first time. It was glorious. When they let us through, people were running by us, but even walking we were close to the front of the tap-styles anyway. Definitely worth it. 6:45 arrival, walking off FOP at 8:10, walking off Na'Vi at 8:32, 4 trips on Kali (opened at 9) and Everest (with a 35 min wait) all before 10:30 am.
- I can't believe I didn't know this, but the lockers at Kali are free for 2 hours. Nice perk.
- I feel like there were so many fewer strollers than I normally notice, but that could be by chance.
- SO MUCH LINE CUTTING! And so many angry guests because of it. I overheard so much discussion of line cutting and what people were going to say or do if someone cut them and how they were going to report cast members who allowed it. On one occasion, 30 minutes into a 45 minute wait for Buzz Lightyear, 8 people joined the party in front of me. 8. Not mom and her kid who needed to go potty, but 8 people. All of the elbow throwing and jockeying for position - I've seen it in action for years, but, as Mickey would say, "Oh, boy!"
- Shamefully, I submit that I waited 50 minutes to get onto the Barnstormer in the mid-afternoon on Sunday. To be fair, the sign quoted 25 minutes. Sigh.
- Wait at Space Mountain at 9:10am (9am open), was about 35 minutes. I was just surprised since this has not been my experience in the past, but that, too, could have been by chance.
- I had afternoon or evening FPs on all 3 days and that worked out really well. I usually choose some late morning FPs in hopes that I can get more through the day, and I will definitely do that again in the future, but this worked for me, too.
