disneylifer
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2004
- Messages
- 78
Sorry for the delay
man, sure can get behind on a lot of things after being gone over a week
Day 5:
Extra Magic Hours was early hours at MGM and late hours at AK. Had a ps for lunch at Crystal Palace at 1:00 so we went to mgm early (again, missed the rope drop but were still pretty early)to try and clean-up. Got fastpass for ToT and wandered around for a bit while waiting for our time. Could have gone to the new Stunt Show at mgm, but the times conflicted with everything else. Did get to walk in to Muppets 3d with virtually no wait. Still a very fun 3d show. Anyway, time to ride ToT. Son wouldnt go (doesnt care for drops) but wife, dd and myself rode and loved it (well dont know if wife will do again). Great ride fun theme, good cm involvement, etc. Time to head over to MK for lunch. Took bus to TTC then ferry to MK. Still had some more to do at mgm oh well,
can come back tomorrow or later after lunch.
Checked in at CP for 1:00 ps at about 12:50 were seated right at 1:00. All pss went
very smoothly this trip. Btw, when you check-in at your resort ask guest services to print an itinerary and they will print a neat schedule of all of your ps times in date order. Got to see Pooh, Piglet, Eyore and tigger at CP. Good time.
Headed back over to mgm to finish up what we didnt finish up in the am. Did Star Tours, the Walt Disney One Mans Dream, and Great Movie Ride. Closed the day early to let kids swim and rest were planning to stay late at MK the next day.
Day 6:
Ate breakfast in the room (cereal, pop-tarts, etc) and headed to MK. We had a 6:30 ps at Liberty Tree Tavern and were going to go to another park for a while, then head over to MK for dinner, then Wishes, then stay in the park at least until sometime after regular hours to check out the late hours (depending on how we held up!), but all agreed that we would just like to spend the entire day at MK. Still everybodys favorite park.
DD and myself went back to tomorrowland and hopped in the Space Mountain line that showed a standby time of 15 minutes. Wife and son didnt want to ride, so they went to get fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear while we waited in line (we had rode Buzz the first day we were at MK, but the kids really love it ok, we do too!). Anyway, after a few minutes in the lines, the standby time changed to 60 minutes! Oh well, we decided to go ahead and wait it out. Turns out, as we still had two or three turns in the final que area, the loading cm asked for two riders and we were the first so we got to save a few minutes.
Got through with SM then rode BL with our fastpass. After a spin on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (will always be the Wedway People Mover to me ;-), we headed over to adventureland and went through the SFR treehouse, rode Alladins Carpets (again) and got a couple of autographs (if I remember, it was Rafiki and Timon at the base of the bridge going to adventurelend) before heading over to Pecos Bills for lunch (pop tarts dont have much staying power). Watched the new Cinderellabration and then headed back to the room for a nap and a swim. We were bound and determined to stay late tonight!
Took bus back to MK after some R&R at the pool and room and checked in for our 6:30 ps at LTT at about 6:20. Were seated within ten minutes. LTT has been one of our staples, eating at it each year since we first tried it. That is becoming a problem for us we always want to try a new restaurant (or two or three) but still always want to do the ones we have done in the past. Going to have to start eating more meals each day or adding more days to our vacations!
Anyways, after eating we catch Hall of Presidents then head towards the front of the castle. End up stopping on the bridge going from Fantasyland to the hub. Not very good fireworks are layered carefully behind the castle. You lose much of the effect of the whole show from anywhere but the front (especially from the side of the castle as we were). Also, Tink didnt fly from the castle. Maybe too windy? Oh well, still enjoyed Wishes. A bad view of Wishes is still better than any other fireworks show youll see (maybe a little IMHO here).
Went and rode Jungle Cruise (still hadnt yet) spent some time just wandering and then went and watched the Country Bear Jamboree. Daughter had been wanting to ride Splash Mountain the whole trip and the lines had always been too long and circumstances just never allowed us to get/use a fastpass. I had promised her that we would, probably during the extra hours. Time to go over and get armbands for the extra hours. They were distributing them in back of Fantasyland (and I suppose many other places).
Enjoyed some drinks then went back to the SM and Big Thunder Mountain area (making our way to Philharmagic on the way for one more viewing best 3d yet).
Ended up riding BTM a couple of times and then I had to fulfill my promise Splash Mountain. It was really too cool to ride and with the lines 15 minutes or so at BTM, I figured they would be much longer at Splash Mountain. How wrong we walked right on. Really enjoyed it and it wasnt too cold after all.
Made it til 2:30. Great time. The park in areas seemed almost eerily empty.
If you are going and the late Extra Magic Hours at MK fit into your schedule, I highly recommend it. The most popular rides will still have lines (as I said BTM was 15 20 minutes) but much less than normal. And rides like tea cups, Pirates, etc. can be walked onto.
This is not necessarily so at the late EMH at every park Ill get to that in a sec.
Day 7:
Late start today. Planned on going back to EPCOT to finish up and spend the rest of the day at the World Showcase (love the WS) where we had ps at LOriginale Alfredo di Roma for 6:30. Today is the late Extra Magic Hours at EPCOT. Future World and the Mexico boat ride and Maelstrom in Norway are open until 12:00 midnight.
Still hadnt rode TestTrack, so went to see about getting fastpasses. Got there about 11:30 and the fastpasses were already gone. Darn. So we get fastpass for mission space (yeah, we had rode it already, but the kids and I wanted to ride again) and then go to the Wonders of Life pavilion which is open and ride Body Wars and go to Cranium Command (underrated fun).
After some browsing in the WoL pavilion, head over to the Coke Station Cool and get some free cool soda (finally some warm Florida sun today!). The Beverely still doesnt taste any better. Nasty.
Time to ride MS and then we head over to the WS where we have lunch at the China counter restaurant. I believe it is China Blossum. After that we make our way around the WS, sometimes popping back and forth a few worlds to catch entertainment. Watched the drum and fife corp in America, the comedy act and Sergio in Italy. The acrobats in China (amazing) and then go around to Japan to watch the drummers. By now it is time for our ps at Alfredos. Again, great ps service. Checked in at 6:15 and were seated by 6:25. I know I said I would do a separate post for dining reviews.. but one note here if you like Italian food, you gotta try Alfredos.
After dinner, we catch the Maelstrom while the crowds are forming for Illuminations and start our way around towards Futureworld. Armbands for EMH are given out just on the Future World side of one of the bridges going between WS and FW. We go with plans to finally get to ride TestTrack and ride MS a few more times and still get out of the park before the closing crowd and after the post-illuminations flood.
Something to consider when planning EMH visits with MK, the late hours work well because the park is so big and there is such a wide variety of attractions open. While the number of people at EPOCT is also proportionally smaller, the vast majority of the people are at two attractions MS and TT.
Needless to say we still didnt ride TT. We did do a few old favorites; homey I shrunk the audience and spaceship earth, but then turned in after some relaxing and picture taking. Trip starting to get to my feet only waited five minutes for a bus AND got to sit nice break.
Day 7, Final Day:
The plan: Get over to EPCOT and ride TT and then go to Downtown Disney for our shopping trip. You see, my son really isnt much of a coaster or thrill rider. Hell do some, but really doesnt like them (and flat out wont do some). But he never complains and even encourages the rest of us to go ahead and ride on the stuff he doesnt like. But he loves Test Track (and MS?!) so I really make an effort to make sure he gets to ride it. Thats why we would make a special trip for one ride.
Anyway, we get to TT around 10:00 (another late start) and get a fastpass that is between 1:50 and 2:50. We had wanted to start back home by then (driving) but I as I said earlier, I had been promising the whole trip that we would get to DD for their shopping and of course wanted to ride TT, so what to do?
Will, a day as hectic as only my family can make it followed all for one ride and a shopping trip.
New plan: Get over to DD, get our shopping done, swing back by the resort where our car was and unload the goods, then get to EPCOT to make our fastpass.
Impossible you say? Youre right.
We take the bus to the FQ and the plan is to take the boat to DD. We get on the boat which is there and loading. Driver says she has to go to POR first might as well, probably be quicker that walking back to the bus stop and chancing that we might have to wait for the next bus. We go to POR and then stop back by the FQ then finally head to DD. In all of this, I must say I am still glad we took the boat. Very nice ride with a friendly, interesting driver. Very relaxing.
We get to DD and decide that we might as well eat, so we grab sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich and then head to the World of Disney store.
After 20 minutes or so in the store, it is obvious that we cant finish shopping (dd still hasnt decided on one thing) so
New plan: Get back over to EPCOT before our Fastpass runs out and come BACK to dd to finish shopping.
Take bus to FQ . Starting to look like we might not make it to TT before our pass expires. Watch the FQ go by as we realize that this bus goes to the four POR stops before coming BACK to the FQ stop.
TT Looking very doubtful now.
Finally get back to the FQ and get a bus to EPCOT.
Getting off bus as our fastpass time passes by wifes AP / finger scan doesnt work. Have to explain to CM that it hasnt the entire trip. Finally get away and start back towards TT. Going to be ten fifteen minutes late. Maybe theyll let us ride anyway.
As we run up to TT I see the familiar image of the CM stopping people and telling them the ride is down temporarily. I inquire as to if my Fastpass can still be used and he says all fastpasses for the time will be honored. At first it seems unbelievable that we went through all of this and now it is down, but then kinda enjoy the humor in it, plus we still get to use our passes if it runs again today.
We go over and do the Turtle Talk thing again in Living Seas and when we come out we hear the noise of TT running again! We get over to it and get to ride after about a ten minute wait. The final irony of the TT ordeal is that when we are getting out of our car, the waiting line(s) are told that the ride is being stopped until the threat of lightening lessens. We were the last ones to get to ride!
Ok, Ill finish now we take the bus back to FQ and take the car to dd to finsh our day. Get done with what actually ended up being a quite enjoyable time at the Disney Store and get on the road home at about 8:00.
Next Ill post some reviews of dining, if anyone is interested. I promise to keep it short.
Day 5:
Extra Magic Hours was early hours at MGM and late hours at AK. Had a ps for lunch at Crystal Palace at 1:00 so we went to mgm early (again, missed the rope drop but were still pretty early)to try and clean-up. Got fastpass for ToT and wandered around for a bit while waiting for our time. Could have gone to the new Stunt Show at mgm, but the times conflicted with everything else. Did get to walk in to Muppets 3d with virtually no wait. Still a very fun 3d show. Anyway, time to ride ToT. Son wouldnt go (doesnt care for drops) but wife, dd and myself rode and loved it (well dont know if wife will do again). Great ride fun theme, good cm involvement, etc. Time to head over to MK for lunch. Took bus to TTC then ferry to MK. Still had some more to do at mgm oh well,
can come back tomorrow or later after lunch.
Checked in at CP for 1:00 ps at about 12:50 were seated right at 1:00. All pss went
very smoothly this trip. Btw, when you check-in at your resort ask guest services to print an itinerary and they will print a neat schedule of all of your ps times in date order. Got to see Pooh, Piglet, Eyore and tigger at CP. Good time.
Headed back over to mgm to finish up what we didnt finish up in the am. Did Star Tours, the Walt Disney One Mans Dream, and Great Movie Ride. Closed the day early to let kids swim and rest were planning to stay late at MK the next day.
Day 6:
Ate breakfast in the room (cereal, pop-tarts, etc) and headed to MK. We had a 6:30 ps at Liberty Tree Tavern and were going to go to another park for a while, then head over to MK for dinner, then Wishes, then stay in the park at least until sometime after regular hours to check out the late hours (depending on how we held up!), but all agreed that we would just like to spend the entire day at MK. Still everybodys favorite park.
DD and myself went back to tomorrowland and hopped in the Space Mountain line that showed a standby time of 15 minutes. Wife and son didnt want to ride, so they went to get fastpasses for Buzz Lightyear while we waited in line (we had rode Buzz the first day we were at MK, but the kids really love it ok, we do too!). Anyway, after a few minutes in the lines, the standby time changed to 60 minutes! Oh well, we decided to go ahead and wait it out. Turns out, as we still had two or three turns in the final que area, the loading cm asked for two riders and we were the first so we got to save a few minutes.
Got through with SM then rode BL with our fastpass. After a spin on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (will always be the Wedway People Mover to me ;-), we headed over to adventureland and went through the SFR treehouse, rode Alladins Carpets (again) and got a couple of autographs (if I remember, it was Rafiki and Timon at the base of the bridge going to adventurelend) before heading over to Pecos Bills for lunch (pop tarts dont have much staying power). Watched the new Cinderellabration and then headed back to the room for a nap and a swim. We were bound and determined to stay late tonight!
Took bus back to MK after some R&R at the pool and room and checked in for our 6:30 ps at LTT at about 6:20. Were seated within ten minutes. LTT has been one of our staples, eating at it each year since we first tried it. That is becoming a problem for us we always want to try a new restaurant (or two or three) but still always want to do the ones we have done in the past. Going to have to start eating more meals each day or adding more days to our vacations!
Anyways, after eating we catch Hall of Presidents then head towards the front of the castle. End up stopping on the bridge going from Fantasyland to the hub. Not very good fireworks are layered carefully behind the castle. You lose much of the effect of the whole show from anywhere but the front (especially from the side of the castle as we were). Also, Tink didnt fly from the castle. Maybe too windy? Oh well, still enjoyed Wishes. A bad view of Wishes is still better than any other fireworks show youll see (maybe a little IMHO here).
Went and rode Jungle Cruise (still hadnt yet) spent some time just wandering and then went and watched the Country Bear Jamboree. Daughter had been wanting to ride Splash Mountain the whole trip and the lines had always been too long and circumstances just never allowed us to get/use a fastpass. I had promised her that we would, probably during the extra hours. Time to go over and get armbands for the extra hours. They were distributing them in back of Fantasyland (and I suppose many other places).
Enjoyed some drinks then went back to the SM and Big Thunder Mountain area (making our way to Philharmagic on the way for one more viewing best 3d yet).
Ended up riding BTM a couple of times and then I had to fulfill my promise Splash Mountain. It was really too cool to ride and with the lines 15 minutes or so at BTM, I figured they would be much longer at Splash Mountain. How wrong we walked right on. Really enjoyed it and it wasnt too cold after all.
Made it til 2:30. Great time. The park in areas seemed almost eerily empty.
If you are going and the late Extra Magic Hours at MK fit into your schedule, I highly recommend it. The most popular rides will still have lines (as I said BTM was 15 20 minutes) but much less than normal. And rides like tea cups, Pirates, etc. can be walked onto.
This is not necessarily so at the late EMH at every park Ill get to that in a sec.
Day 7:
Late start today. Planned on going back to EPCOT to finish up and spend the rest of the day at the World Showcase (love the WS) where we had ps at LOriginale Alfredo di Roma for 6:30. Today is the late Extra Magic Hours at EPCOT. Future World and the Mexico boat ride and Maelstrom in Norway are open until 12:00 midnight.
Still hadnt rode TestTrack, so went to see about getting fastpasses. Got there about 11:30 and the fastpasses were already gone. Darn. So we get fastpass for mission space (yeah, we had rode it already, but the kids and I wanted to ride again) and then go to the Wonders of Life pavilion which is open and ride Body Wars and go to Cranium Command (underrated fun).
After some browsing in the WoL pavilion, head over to the Coke Station Cool and get some free cool soda (finally some warm Florida sun today!). The Beverely still doesnt taste any better. Nasty.
Time to ride MS and then we head over to the WS where we have lunch at the China counter restaurant. I believe it is China Blossum. After that we make our way around the WS, sometimes popping back and forth a few worlds to catch entertainment. Watched the drum and fife corp in America, the comedy act and Sergio in Italy. The acrobats in China (amazing) and then go around to Japan to watch the drummers. By now it is time for our ps at Alfredos. Again, great ps service. Checked in at 6:15 and were seated by 6:25. I know I said I would do a separate post for dining reviews.. but one note here if you like Italian food, you gotta try Alfredos.
After dinner, we catch the Maelstrom while the crowds are forming for Illuminations and start our way around towards Futureworld. Armbands for EMH are given out just on the Future World side of one of the bridges going between WS and FW. We go with plans to finally get to ride TestTrack and ride MS a few more times and still get out of the park before the closing crowd and after the post-illuminations flood.
Something to consider when planning EMH visits with MK, the late hours work well because the park is so big and there is such a wide variety of attractions open. While the number of people at EPOCT is also proportionally smaller, the vast majority of the people are at two attractions MS and TT.
Needless to say we still didnt ride TT. We did do a few old favorites; homey I shrunk the audience and spaceship earth, but then turned in after some relaxing and picture taking. Trip starting to get to my feet only waited five minutes for a bus AND got to sit nice break.
Day 7, Final Day:
The plan: Get over to EPCOT and ride TT and then go to Downtown Disney for our shopping trip. You see, my son really isnt much of a coaster or thrill rider. Hell do some, but really doesnt like them (and flat out wont do some). But he never complains and even encourages the rest of us to go ahead and ride on the stuff he doesnt like. But he loves Test Track (and MS?!) so I really make an effort to make sure he gets to ride it. Thats why we would make a special trip for one ride.
Anyway, we get to TT around 10:00 (another late start) and get a fastpass that is between 1:50 and 2:50. We had wanted to start back home by then (driving) but I as I said earlier, I had been promising the whole trip that we would get to DD for their shopping and of course wanted to ride TT, so what to do?
Will, a day as hectic as only my family can make it followed all for one ride and a shopping trip.
New plan: Get over to DD, get our shopping done, swing back by the resort where our car was and unload the goods, then get to EPCOT to make our fastpass.
Impossible you say? Youre right.
We take the bus to the FQ and the plan is to take the boat to DD. We get on the boat which is there and loading. Driver says she has to go to POR first might as well, probably be quicker that walking back to the bus stop and chancing that we might have to wait for the next bus. We go to POR and then stop back by the FQ then finally head to DD. In all of this, I must say I am still glad we took the boat. Very nice ride with a friendly, interesting driver. Very relaxing.
We get to DD and decide that we might as well eat, so we grab sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich and then head to the World of Disney store.
After 20 minutes or so in the store, it is obvious that we cant finish shopping (dd still hasnt decided on one thing) so
New plan: Get back over to EPCOT before our Fastpass runs out and come BACK to dd to finish shopping.
Take bus to FQ . Starting to look like we might not make it to TT before our pass expires. Watch the FQ go by as we realize that this bus goes to the four POR stops before coming BACK to the FQ stop.
TT Looking very doubtful now.
Finally get back to the FQ and get a bus to EPCOT.
Getting off bus as our fastpass time passes by wifes AP / finger scan doesnt work. Have to explain to CM that it hasnt the entire trip. Finally get away and start back towards TT. Going to be ten fifteen minutes late. Maybe theyll let us ride anyway.
As we run up to TT I see the familiar image of the CM stopping people and telling them the ride is down temporarily. I inquire as to if my Fastpass can still be used and he says all fastpasses for the time will be honored. At first it seems unbelievable that we went through all of this and now it is down, but then kinda enjoy the humor in it, plus we still get to use our passes if it runs again today.
We go over and do the Turtle Talk thing again in Living Seas and when we come out we hear the noise of TT running again! We get over to it and get to ride after about a ten minute wait. The final irony of the TT ordeal is that when we are getting out of our car, the waiting line(s) are told that the ride is being stopped until the threat of lightening lessens. We were the last ones to get to ride!
Ok, Ill finish now we take the bus back to FQ and take the car to dd to finsh our day. Get done with what actually ended up being a quite enjoyable time at the Disney Store and get on the road home at about 8:00.
Next Ill post some reviews of dining, if anyone is interested. I promise to keep it short.
