Our Ten Day Review & Extra Magic Hours Thoughts

[plutosgirl]

What a GREAT time we had! There were eight of us (4 adults and 4 kids 8,7,5,3) and we stayed at the Carribean Resort for 10 days! We had a blast.

I figured I would share some of our favorite things here since everyone gave us such wonderful tips before we left...I really don't know how anyone can do Disney without research...we would have missed so much! Anyways here goes and it may be long!

Favorite Rides~

Maelstrom-had us all fooled at one part...very cool since dh and I were in the back This is a must do ride (I don't want to say what happens or it won't be as much fun)

Test Track-we loved it...what a rush

Spaceship Earth & Ellens' Energy Adventure - very cool and informative

Buzz Lightyear-we did this one 5 or 6 times

Splash Mountain- was everyone's favorite! (rode this a lot!)

Mickey's PhilharMagic- we all saw this three times!! It was GREAT!

Favorite Meals~

Ohana's - ton's of food and a great waiter & tables around us...it turned into one big party with everyone around us sitting at each other's tables etc. Met a lot of fun people.

Chef Mickey's - The best with allergies...the chef was great and took his time walking me through the whole buffet and at the end delivered a "surprise" dessert he made just for me that was outrageous! Characters were great!

Boatwrights - Dh and I had a dinner alone here and it was really good. We were very pleasantly surprised...crab cakes were awesome!

Crystal Palace Breakfast Buffet - My daughters favorite...she ate three plates full of food (my skinny mini got her money's worth at this one! )

Hoop De Doo - well worth the money! It was our favorite by far!

Top Tips~

Went in search of Pluto (my favorite) the first day. The kids ended up meeting a ton of characters and got autographs & photos. We finally found Pluto...dh took a ton of photos of me and Pluto (27 years ago I finally met Pluto on the last night of our trip and my parents didn't have a camera!) Well a few more photos later we realized...I NEVER put film in my camera!! Whaaa Make sure your camera is loaded!!! (We did find him again in AK and the woman made sure she took a ton of pictures with my camera after she overheard what happened) Yea!

We took a break every afternoon and went back to the resort for swimming and relaxing. This worked out great with the Extra Magic Hours! The best one was MK all the kids made it right until midnight and we rode a ton of things! We got back to the park around 7 pm and then just had a ball for 5 hours.

The weather was sunny everyday (no rain for 10 whole days) and in the 80's. May is a perfect time to go (thanks for the tip) We never waited in a line and did a lot of things multiple times.

The Extra Magic Hours were nice because after so many early mornings it was nice to have a few where we planned to go to the park later in the morning after a nice breakfast and not rushing to get out. Spent a few hours in one park had a nice lunch. Went back to the resort napped, snacked, rested, grabbed a later supper and then had a great time with no little ones (or big ones melting down!)

Also, pin trading and penny presses were a big hit with the kids.
And you must request to sit in the front of the Monorail from MK to Epcot at sunset...it was one of the many highlights!



Biggest Disappointments~

MGM was horrible!!! and it seemed like everyone we talked to said the same thing. It was a wasted day...we honestly could have just gotten there early did TOT and R&R Coaster and left. My youngest like the Playhouse Disney but for a 15 minute show and the time waiting and what there was in the rest of the park to do we didn't like it at all and won't do it on our next trip.

Kali River Rapid Ride~This started out as exciting and then it was just over!! It was to short and for all the hype around it we weren't impressed at all...just wet!

Yes, I could go on and on but I better stop now. I hated to come home and woke up this morning looked around my own room and realized...it's over! Bummer!

 

[Micca]

Thanks for the report. Too bad about MGM. Did you see any of the shows like BATB, Little Mermaid, WWTBAMPI? Did you see Fantasmic? Those make a big difference in contributing to a good time at the studios(not to mention Star Tours).

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for a great review! Glad to see you had a good time. I was wondering if the 5 and 3yo went on Malestrom? We have never been on it and I was wondering if there is a height requirement? My DS will be 20 mo when we go and DD will be 6yo. I am also a chicken!LOL So I could just sit it out with DS and make DD go with DH!!

Also, I was surprised that you didn't like MGM. I do agree that there isn't as much to do as the other parks. One of our favorite things to do there is shop! They have some really great stores there. Did you try anything else there? With our kids we just do the playhouse Disney, B&B show, Lilltle Mermaid show, GMR, Muppet 3D, the parade and Fantasmic. Just wondering if you tried the attractions and didn't like them or didn't bother. Also how did you like your resort? My best friend is considering it for her trip in Aug. She will be there with family and kids. Was it a pain to take afternoon breaks with only being able to use the buses? Anything you can offer as far as how you liked the resort for a family with young kids would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

 

[danny1649]

Thank you for sharing,glad you had a good time at HDDR,it's one of our favorites and a must do each trip for us.

 

[plutosgirl]

When we were at MGM we did do the Mermaid, Backlot Tour, Muppet 3D, Playhouse Dis, TOT & R&R Coaster. By the time Beauty and Beast was scheduled we had had enough. and we just wanted to get out of there.

We had reservations for HW&V and Fantasmic but none of us wanted to even go back to MGM even just to see Fantasmic so we cancelled it. We really wanted to see it but just didn't want to go back there. I'm sure some people loved MGM but it just wasn't for us.

As far as the busses and mid day breaks and naps it worked out great...if just one needed a break then they caught the bus back and rested up. There were a few times the busses took a while but for the most part within every 15 minutes there was a bus going where you wanted to go....not bad at all...and it was nice not having to drive at all.

Oh, and yes we all went on Maelstrom.

 

[cindyfan]

You have peaked my curiosity........

When we were at MGM we did do the Mermaid, Backlot Tour, Muppet 3D, Playhouse Dis, TOT & R&R Coaster. By the time Beauty and Beast was scheduled we had had enough. and we just wanted to get out of there.

Why?
With the kids at that age.....I would think they would love it....
What about those attractions did you not like?

 

[sm4987]

I agree about MGM. I thought it would be great, but aside from Fantasmic and TOT, I could almost skip the park too. However, my kids really like it, so we end up doing it.

I'm glad your trip was great. I wish Evening Magic hours were going to be available while we are there, but that's just wishful thinking................

 

[disneymom3]

I totally agree about MGM. We don't like that park at all. Not to mention that when you go off season, the park may be open, but most of the attractions are closed early anyway! We went at 4:30 in May last year. Playhouse Disney was done for the day, the playground was closed, several other things we tried to do were done for the day and with all of the people there with nothing to do the lines for RNR and ToT were incredibly long! So, we will go again but only with hoppers or for early entry if we are onsite. Do ToT, Star Tours, Playhouse Dis and then we leave. Not worth a ticket when you have little kids if you ask me!

 

[Serenity]

Just goes to show how different eveyone is (and that is a good thing). We love MGM. My dtr (2) loves Little Mermaid, Muppets, Beauty and Beast. My son (7) lover R&RC, TOT, and Indiana Jones. I love it all. And Fantasmic is my favorite show of ANYTHING at any park. I would go to MGM everynight and watch it if I could. It is truly imaginative and innovative with the way they use the water - and all those characters - just thrills my kids.

So sorry you didn't enjoy your day there. But we are all different and all like different things. What would have been truely bad is if one of your party really liked it and wanted to stay and they rest of you wanted to leave.

Glad you had a great trip and thanks for posting about it.

 

[d96j97]

We just got back this morning (~3am). I just can't believe the week is over. Wasn't this the most awesome time to go? We had an absolute blast too!!!!

I also agree with you about MGM. We LOVE TOT and RRC but besides that....well...not too much. We did see Little Mermaid, Muppets 3D, Indiana Jones, and Beauty and the Beast. We did not stay for Fantasmic but came back another night for it. I could easily wrap up MGM and AK all in one day. For us...you can't get enough of MK!! If you did miss Fantasmic though...you missed probably the best part of MGM.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

Wondering if I'd be happy to switch my "MGM" day to later in the week?

Saturday (arriving)
AK & MK (if MK is open late?)

Sunday
MK (all day& nite for 1st fullday) I love MK

MOnday
? MGM or Epcot this day??

Tuesday
Universal Studios (til closing)

Wednesday
EPCOT (day & Nite-1st time i'll be there @nite) or MGM this day?

Thursday
Typhoon Lag & Mickey's Halloween Party @ MK

Friday
EPCOT? which to do this day??

Saturday
MK - all day&nite (last nite)

Sunday
home

Based on this schedule, WHERE DO U THINK MGM SHOULD GO? I can't wait to eat @ Sci Fi Diner, so not sure where to move it to. Did u guys eat there?

How would u arrange my schedule: