I had an extra day on a business trip, Tuesday 11/11, and used an extra day I had on an old Park Hopper ticket to spend sometime in the world!
I arrived at EPCOT at 11:00 with great weather. Going through the turnstiles, the ticket guy said he thought it was all ready packed - wasn't sure if it was because of Veteran's Day or not. However I found the park to be fine. I went right to Mission Space, which had a fast pass return time of 1:15, a stand-by time of 40 minutes and a singles line of 30 minutes. It was the main reason I was there, so I went in the singles line. The signs were wrong! I got on in 3 minutes, and the stand-by line was moving really quick as well. Great ride! As soon as I got off I went in the singles line on Test Track, and it was the same thing! The signs showed long waits but they weren't. I got on very quick and loved it. I then did a little sight seeing of part of the World Showcase and then looked in some shops and restaurants.
I left and went to check out some hotels. I was at Disney with my family at the end of April and stayed at the Contemporary, so I wanted to check out the other MK hotels. I went to Wilderness Lodge first. It's beautiful. I looked at the pool, the walk to the boats to the MK, and the hotel layout. I have to say there are some pretty long walks in the hotel. I passed by 2 different families that were near the ends of the hotel by Bay Lake, and both were complaining about the distance to the Lobby - and they're right. It is a hike.
I then went to the Contemporary, walked through it again - it's my favorite - and hopped on the monorail. I walked around the Polynesian. Great pool and the Ceremonial House is layed out neat. Some buildings are a hike.
I then went to the GF, and know my wife would love it. Beautiful layout, great pools. Checked out some of the views from the different buildings to see which seemed to have the best views of the MK.
On to the MK! It was about 3:30 and I arrived as the parade was coming into Town Square. Went right to Mickey's Philharmagic and grabbed a fast pass. It was a bit of a wait, so I walked around the different lands. I thought the park was pretty packed. The wait times posted were pretty much dead on, and HM, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain were all up there. Went on Pirates and grabbed my first Dole Whip (which I've read so much about here!) It's great! Went into Philharmagic and loved it - and I know my family will as well. Went on HM and Splash Mountain, and then caught Spectromagic as it was coming into Liberty Square. Rode Space Mountain and got on Peter Pan just as Wishes was starting. I walked around Fantasyland and part of Tommorowland to watch Wishes - looking for the best spots. I had read that it's a lot better to be in front of the Castle, but the show seemed great from Fantasyland! It also was not very packed.
After the show I followed the masses out and went back to the Contemporary to get a Christmas gift. It was then time to go.
A couple thoughts: It is usually crowded between Peter Pan and Small World - all the people going to those rides, walking to/from Liberty Square, and all the strollers. It is now just as packed around Philharmagic and the Carousel. This now makes Fantasyland REALLY packed and tougher to move in during the day.
I saw a lot of people leaving after the day parade, however the park was still very busy - must have been nuts around lunch.
The Leave a Legacy rocks at EPCOT are pretty strange looking. When my family was in Disney in April, we didn't get to EPCOT. The next time we go, we'll probably visit, but since my daugther is 5, I can't see us spending much time there - not enough for kids.
A great trip and can't wait to get back there with my family!
I arrived at EPCOT at 11:00 with great weather. Going through the turnstiles, the ticket guy said he thought it was all ready packed - wasn't sure if it was because of Veteran's Day or not. However I found the park to be fine. I went right to Mission Space, which had a fast pass return time of 1:15, a stand-by time of 40 minutes and a singles line of 30 minutes. It was the main reason I was there, so I went in the singles line. The signs were wrong! I got on in 3 minutes, and the stand-by line was moving really quick as well. Great ride! As soon as I got off I went in the singles line on Test Track, and it was the same thing! The signs showed long waits but they weren't. I got on very quick and loved it. I then did a little sight seeing of part of the World Showcase and then looked in some shops and restaurants.
I left and went to check out some hotels. I was at Disney with my family at the end of April and stayed at the Contemporary, so I wanted to check out the other MK hotels. I went to Wilderness Lodge first. It's beautiful. I looked at the pool, the walk to the boats to the MK, and the hotel layout. I have to say there are some pretty long walks in the hotel. I passed by 2 different families that were near the ends of the hotel by Bay Lake, and both were complaining about the distance to the Lobby - and they're right. It is a hike.
I then went to the Contemporary, walked through it again - it's my favorite - and hopped on the monorail. I walked around the Polynesian. Great pool and the Ceremonial House is layed out neat. Some buildings are a hike.
I then went to the GF, and know my wife would love it. Beautiful layout, great pools. Checked out some of the views from the different buildings to see which seemed to have the best views of the MK.
On to the MK! It was about 3:30 and I arrived as the parade was coming into Town Square. Went right to Mickey's Philharmagic and grabbed a fast pass. It was a bit of a wait, so I walked around the different lands. I thought the park was pretty packed. The wait times posted were pretty much dead on, and HM, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain were all up there. Went on Pirates and grabbed my first Dole Whip (which I've read so much about here!) It's great! Went into Philharmagic and loved it - and I know my family will as well. Went on HM and Splash Mountain, and then caught Spectromagic as it was coming into Liberty Square. Rode Space Mountain and got on Peter Pan just as Wishes was starting. I walked around Fantasyland and part of Tommorowland to watch Wishes - looking for the best spots. I had read that it's a lot better to be in front of the Castle, but the show seemed great from Fantasyland! It also was not very packed.
After the show I followed the masses out and went back to the Contemporary to get a Christmas gift. It was then time to go.
A couple thoughts: It is usually crowded between Peter Pan and Small World - all the people going to those rides, walking to/from Liberty Square, and all the strollers. It is now just as packed around Philharmagic and the Carousel. This now makes Fantasyland REALLY packed and tougher to move in during the day.
I saw a lot of people leaving after the day parade, however the park was still very busy - must have been nuts around lunch.
The Leave a Legacy rocks at EPCOT are pretty strange looking. When my family was in Disney in April, we didn't get to EPCOT. The next time we go, we'll probably visit, but since my daugther is 5, I can't see us spending much time there - not enough for kids.
A great trip and can't wait to get back there with my family!
