Cast of Characters:
Grumpy the Critic - Dad
Happy Mom
DS - 9 who has Asperger Syndrome and used a GAC pass
DS - 5
We stated at Cypress Point Phase I - 2 bedroom condo. Great location and would happily stay there again. The condo was very nice. Nothing grand , but a very good clean place to sleep. The washer/dryer stacks are small and a family of 4's one day laundry is a full load. The kitchen was well stocked. The Winn Dixie is almost next door. FYI - they started the renovation project (complete gutting of every unit in Phase I) on Phase I and it should be done by the end of the spring.
We took the Auto Train down. It was 2 hours late coming into Sanford then we had to wait for the car to come off, so we had to skip the half day planned at Animal Kingdom. The train is a great way to travel and save money (if you don't get a sleeping car, take a car instead of an SUV or Minivan, and book far in advance you'll save more). The train was crowded coming down but we were still able to spread out to sleep on the chairs. The only downfall about the train (and it's very very minor) is they have served the same menu for dinner for the last 10 years - salisbury steak, veggie lasgna, and dover sole - not great, but sufficient. We saw seniors who packed their own dinners in coolers sandwiches and stuff like that. Amtrak also places familes in the same car so the seniors don't get disturbed by the kids. They unloaded the train very quickly in Sanford and we were in Downtown Disney by 12:45 PM.
When we visit Disney to cut down on food costs we eat breakfast in the condo, brought snacks (peanut butter crackers, fruit, etc.) for lunch and dinner in the parks. Our average dinner price for 2 adults and 2 kids including soda and tip was $75.00. The parks have their off season hours so there weren't enough hours to leave and come back.
1/17 - Downtown Disney, check-in at Cypress Point, then priority seating for dinner at Boma's. Boma's was very crowded, but the food was wonderful. The waiter told us that Saturday was the best night to eat at Boma's because they have a full buffet everything they make. Try the chocolate mousse, very good and so are the cookies. This is our favorite buffet because the food is so different - we love Middle Eastern food, yet there's something for our picky kids.
1/18 - Epcot. We got the birthday button for the 9 year old and that was a good conversation piece for him because of all the different languages it says Happy Birthday in. He has a lot of trouble with lines and crowds and the GAC made our trip so much easier. The front of Epcot was not great because so many things are closed or being renovated. For example in the Land only the boat tour and the Lion King movie were open, everything else was closed. The kids loved the World Showcase because of the KidCot stations and of course Japan for the Yugi-OH! cards. I agree with the person on this board that said all of the countries need to have something other than shopping in their countries. The movies in France, Canada and China were wonderful. Ate dinner at LeCellier and loved it. We will definately come back.
1/19 - MLK day at MK- very crowded for off season. The GAC pass came in very handy this day because I knew ds was going to have lots of trouble with the crowds. The GAC pass lets you enter either the FastPass entrance or the exit if the ride doesn't have FastPass and ride the ride within 10 minutes (that's about the max we have with him). It's not an immediate access pass, but it definately cuts the wait time. Dinner at the Crystal Palace was very good. Disney does an excellent job with their buffets. None of the buffets ever tasted like your typical buffets at home.
1/20 - MGM Day - 9 year old loved Tower of Terror Part 4 and Rockin Roller Coaster. Park was not as crowded as Magic Kingdom and we were able to see what we wanted. FYI after the animation tour is an after tour program "Draw with an Animator" where they taught you how to draw one of the disney characters. It was great for my 9 year and the 5 year old made a very Salvador Dali Mickey Mouse. Had the Fantastimic Dinner Package at Hollywood and Vine, which was worth every penny not having to wait in the cold for the show to begin.
Part 2 later - Snow Day today and the kiddies want to play outside.
