Outstanding Trip!!!

[Johnfish]

We justr got back and I am having WDW withdawal symptoms already.

A few quick observations (i will post a more detailed report later) Our trip was from 8/25 to 9/3

1. The end of August is a great time to go!! The crowds were non existant until yesterday. We never waited more the 10 minutes for anything although we did need to fast pass a few things (Soarin in particular). The temperature and humidity was actually better than what it has been at home this whole summer (central Virginia). The only real concern is the possibility of hurricanes,

2. Disney Cast members ROCK!!! We had so many wonderful intereactions with cast members. Everyone was so wonderful. There were 5 people who really shined though. Jim and Anthony were I guides on the Segway around the world tour. They were both outstanding and Jim was a great help when my son fell off. He was ok but a little shaken up! Jonathan Jen and Debbi were our guides on the Backstage Safari tour at Animal Kingdom. We loved this this tour and it was especially magical because we were the only ones on the tour!. Jen was the animal expert and added a lot of great info. Jonathan was our other guide. He was actually doing this temporarily while Living Seas was being rehabbed. Jonathan made the tour truly entertaining (he told us he is close friends with Raffiki and Goofy) and was really knowldegeable about the backstage working of the animal kingdom.

3. We love Port Orleans French Quarter! The resort is beautiful and compact and very easy to get around as well as to and from the parks.

4. Soarin is Great. One of our favorite rides but it needs to be longer!!

There is alot more to tell but I will save it for a longer report.

If any one has any questions I will be glad to answer them.

John

 

[Mrs. Squirrel]

We justr got back and I am having WDW withdawal symptoms already.

I second that! I got sick the last day of our trip or I would have been on the DIS for a Disney fix already!

We too just got back on 9/3 with a grand gathering of 10. I agree with everything you said! We got so spoiled with the non-existent lines that the kids in our group were grumbling if we had to wait longer than 15 minutes for a ride or Disney bus! The heat was tolerable for us, because we rested from about 2-5 every day on the advice of those from the DIS. One thing you didn't mention, which folks may be wondering, was the EMH. We did them at every park and the crowds were very low. . .nothing like what had been reported during the busy summer season. The crowds seemed to pick up a little at the start of labor day weekend, but many cast members commented to us that overall, crowds were down for late Aug./early Sept.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[TweetieSC4]

So great to hear the news! We leave on Sunday, and I was really wondering. Short lines!!! Can't wait...

 

[Leota]

Hey Johnfish - We just got back from POFQ too.A very nice little resort. We had the same experience as you. The heat/humidity was totally bearable. We only got hot the last 2 days (8/29 & 8/30) We only waited in one 20 minute line, the rest were walk-ons or 10 minutes or less. We did have to Fast Pass Soarin, of course.

This was our second end of August trip. I thought the free dining plan might raise crowds a bit, but we didn't notice that at all.

 

[Johnfish]

I have to agree with everything said here. As Mrs Squirrel pointed out the evening EMH were not at all crowded. The night we went to Magic Kingdom there were almost no waits for anything. Epcot was a bit more crowded but we stil got to do soarin and test track twice.

Once again I think the end of August is a great time to go!!!

John

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the info on the AK tour. I've always wanted to do a tour there, since AK is my favorite park. Doesn't the tour start at 8:30 am? How did you get over there? What animals did you see? Did you see any birds (I'm a birder so I'd love to see some)?

 

[Johnfish]

Thanks for the info on the AK tour. I've always wanted to do a tour there, since AK is my favorite park. Doesn't the tour start at 8:30 am? How did you get over there? What animals did you see? Did you see any birds (I'm a birder so I'd love to see some)?

Hi Simbas Mom!!!

The tour started at 8:30 and we checked in at guest services. They told us where to wait for the guides. The guides then took us backstage. We got to see where they keep the elephants and the rhinos. They even got one of the rhinos to come over near where we were standing (there were bars between us) and we actually got to pet him.

If you are into birds you would love the next part. They took us over to an aviary. They showed us lots of different birds and talked about thier conservation program. They have special breeding programs to help restore endagered species. One of the species thay are trying to save is a kingfisher from the island of Guam. These birds had been almost completely wiped out by snakes that had made it onto the island. Disney went in and rescued the few remainig birds (about 20) and started a breeding program. There are about 80 now in captivity and the number is continuing to grow. We got to see the breeding pairs and even a chick they had in a special incubator.

After the aviary we were shown where all the food for the animals was prepared. It was interesting to note that the fresh produce supplier that supplies all the Disney restaurants also supplies Animal kingdom! The animals do eat well!!

The next part of the tour took us to a conferance room. We were shown a video about how the animals are trained. After the video a keeper came in with an animal for a close up visit. Our guides seemed relieved that it wasnt a snake this time! Our animal was a 7 year old screech owl. I was amazed at how small he was (about 5 inches tall) We learned alot about what they eat and their behaviour. The keeper also told us we could make owl houses that would attract these little guys to our yard.

The last part of the tour was the Safari. We got on our own tour truck (just my son, myself and the 3 guides). We got to ride through the safari with out the little red story and the guides gave us all sorts of details about the animals and how they are transported in and out of the safari etc. They also pointed out several hidden mickeys (next time you ride check out the shape of the island the flamingos are standing on ).


I think the thing that impressed me most was the conservation efforts that Disney is constantly supporting. I had no idea how involved Disney was in these types of programs. From the bird breeding all the way up to breeding elephants and other large mammals.

The other great thing about the Back Stage Safari tour is that some of the money for the tour is contributed to the Disney Wildlife Fund that funds these program.

My son and I really enjoyed this program and recommend it highly.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

John

 

[KathylovesPooh]

Welcome back....Question for those of you who went to MK EMH. How were the crowds in late afternoon/early evening before EMH? Was it really crowded then?

 

[danny1649]

Sounds like you had a great trip.

 

[dyna]

I agree with the crowds being very low last week but we didn't try EMH except for Thursday at Epcot. Now I'd noticed the crowd pickin up about noon at the MK on Thursday then went to dinner at Epcot that night.

We wasn't sure if we wanted to do EMH but got bracelets for it and about 9:00 just before Illuminations we tried to get on Soaring and was told a 30 minute wait and HISTA had a 30 minute wait as well. Not sure if the rides was down till after Illuminations or what but the park was more crowded than it had been any evening all week we was tired didn't feel like hasseling the crowds so went on back to the room early.

WE had a SWEATY good time ourselves

 

[Johnfish]

The only day that I saw a big increase in crowds was on saturday. Understandable as it was the week end and labor day to boot. Even friday night at MK was relatively light.

John

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hi Simbas Mom!!!

The tour started at 8:30 and we checked in at guest services. They told us where to wait for the guides. The guides then took us backstage. We got to see where they keep the elephants and the rhinos. They even got one of the rhinos to come over near where we were standing (there were bars between us) and we actually got to pet him.

If you are into birds you would love the next part. They took us over to an aviary. They showed us lots of different birds and talked about thier conservation program. They have special breeding programs to help restore endagered species. One of the species thay are trying to save is a kingfisher from the island of Guam. These birds had been almost completely wiped out by snakes that had made it onto the island. Disney went in and rescued the few remainig birds (about 20) and started a breeding program. There are about 80 now in captivity and the number is continuing to grow. We got to see the breeding pairs and even a chick they had in a special incubator.

After the aviary we were shown where all the food for the animals was prepared. It was interesting to note that the fresh produce supplier that supplies all the Disney restaurants also supplies Animal kingdom! The animals do eat well!!

The next part of the tour took us to a conferance room. We were shown a video about how the animals are trained. After the video a keeper came in with an animal for a close up visit. Our guides seemed relieved that it wasnt a snake this time! Our animal was a 7 year old screech owl. I was amazed at how small he was (about 5 inches tall) We learned alot about what they eat and their behaviour. The keeper also told us we could make owl houses that would attract these little guys to our yard.

The last part of the tour was the Safari. We got on our own tour truck (just my son, myself and the 3 guides). We got to ride through the safari with out the little red story and the guides gave us all sorts of details about the animals and how they are transported in and out of the safari etc. They also pointed out several hidden mickeys (next time you ride check out the shape of the island the flamingos are standing on ).


I think the thing that impressed me most was the conservation efforts that Disney is constantly supporting. I had no idea how involved Disney was in these types of programs. From the bird breeding all the way up to breeding elephants and other large mammals.

The other great thing about the Back Stage Safari tour is that some of the money for the tour is contributed to the Disney Wildlife Fund that funds these program.

My son and I really enjoyed this program and recommend it highly.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

John

Sounds great! I'll definitely have to do this one.

 

[wdwdavem]

Welcome back. Glad to see you had a great trip. We also just got back 8/20 - 8/30 and agree that the crowds were light. The only EMH we used was one morning at epcot. We got to the parks at opening and had no waits at all. One morning at the MK we went on splash mountain 3 times in a row with no one in line then did BTMRR twice and we could have just kept going because there was nobody there. The only fast pass we used in ten days was at soarin because we wanted to do it once more during the middle of the day. Late august is wonderful.

 

[piglet1234]

WELCOME BACK! it sounds great!

 

[pamouselover]

sound great!

 

[disgram]

Am beginning to feel a little better about our trip next August after reading the wonderful things that you'all have said!! I was afraid that we didn't pick the right dates, August 22-30. Sounds like we did the right thing. Thanks everyone!!