I had the opportunity for a quick trip to disney on Monday, March 8, and since I had 1 day left on a Park Hopper, decided to make the most of it. My wife and I talked about it and there were a number of hotels she wanted me to check out, and I wanted to do the rides that we stayed away from when we were there last year with our 5 year old daughter.
I started out early - about 6:30 - and checked out the hotels. I drove by the Downtown Disney hotels, and then stopped in at the Carribean resort. I then looked at PoP Century, AKL, All-Star Music, and Coronado Springs. In each case I just took a quick walk around to see the layout and get a quick impression.
AKL is gorgeous and my wife would love it, though being so far away from MK may be an issue. I also really liked Coronado Springs. The Carribean looked ok (I just drove around). The Allstars are a little to much I thought.
I then started the parks! I got to MGM at rope drop and hit the ToT, Rock-n-Roller Coaster, and Star Wars. Loved them all! The park was pretty empty first thing and I was able to do them quick.
I then went to AK and hit Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, looked in the Boneyard and did It's Tough to Be a Bug. We never made it to Dinoland when we were there - we'll definitely do it next time. Dinosaur was neat, the Whirl was disapointing I thought, and It's Tough to Be a Bug was great - but would scare my daughter. There were a lot of screaming kids in the theatre by the time it was over. I left just before noon - the park was congested walking around - and there were a lot of cars in the lot - but the waits were fine.
I then made a pit stop at Epcot for Mission Space. Hopped right in the singles line (which posted a 30 minute wait) and was on the ride in 5 minutes, and then on my way. Loved it. Crowds appeared to be very low.
I got inside MK about 1:15, and went right to Big Thunder Mountain for a fast pass. I checked out Tom Sawyer Island (nothing much I thought, but probably relaxing on a hot summer day) and then got a Turkey Leg! Great! I got a fast pass for Splash Mountain and then rode Big Thunder Mountain. Stand-by line was huge. I then rode Pirates of the Carribean, and then hit Mickey's Philharmagic! Fantastic! The kids in the crowd were thrilled, and I know my daughter will be too! I then ran to one of my favorites - the TTA (which my wife and daughter didn't care for). I think it's great - if not just to get a nice moving view of Tommorrowland, the Contemporary, and Cinderella's castle.
I got a fast pass for Buzz Lightyear. It was about 4:00, and most all other fast passes had a return time of after 6:00 now. I did Splash Mountain, hopped the train to Mickey's Toon Town fair, and hit Buzz Lightyear. I then walked around Fantasyland some, and went to the Hall of Presidents.
The crowds seemed pretty big to me, I thought. A lot of lines for most of the rides.
I wanted to see Fantasmic, so I left, got my car, and flew back to MGM. I got to Fantasmic at 6:40, and standing room only was all that was left (which was fine for me). Great Show! My daughter would love it, but I agree with all the postings that you need to be there about an hour early - defintiely true!
I then took off and header over to Epcot for Illumintations. I hit Spaceship Earth can looked around some of the World Showcase. This was great too - one of the best fireworks displays I've seen. I left a little early and headed back to my hotel.
First - I was wiped, but had a GREAT time! When we were there last year, we focused on stuff for my daughter - which meant no thrill rides. It also meant no Fantasmic of Illuminations because she was pretty wiped by the time they started - or that's when we were eating dinner. It was great doing all those things. By myself I was able to move pretty quick (though I'm paying for it today!)
I loved checking out the hotels. I only wish I could've seen a couple more. We stayed at the Contemporary before - which I loved - and think that the hotels are part of the whole experience that can't be missed.
The crowds outside of the MK were fine. MK seemed pretty busy to me. The weather was great.
The main thing I walked away with is I can't wait to bring the family back, and maybe try one of the hotels I checked out. It's so much more fun (to me at least) to be there with a young child. My daughter loved it and can't wait to go back - and neither can we!
I started out early - about 6:30 - and checked out the hotels. I drove by the Downtown Disney hotels, and then stopped in at the Carribean resort. I then looked at PoP Century, AKL, All-Star Music, and Coronado Springs. In each case I just took a quick walk around to see the layout and get a quick impression.
AKL is gorgeous and my wife would love it, though being so far away from MK may be an issue. I also really liked Coronado Springs. The Carribean looked ok (I just drove around). The Allstars are a little to much I thought.
I then started the parks! I got to MGM at rope drop and hit the ToT, Rock-n-Roller Coaster, and Star Wars. Loved them all! The park was pretty empty first thing and I was able to do them quick.
I then went to AK and hit Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, looked in the Boneyard and did It's Tough to Be a Bug. We never made it to Dinoland when we were there - we'll definitely do it next time. Dinosaur was neat, the Whirl was disapointing I thought, and It's Tough to Be a Bug was great - but would scare my daughter. There were a lot of screaming kids in the theatre by the time it was over. I left just before noon - the park was congested walking around - and there were a lot of cars in the lot - but the waits were fine.
I then made a pit stop at Epcot for Mission Space. Hopped right in the singles line (which posted a 30 minute wait) and was on the ride in 5 minutes, and then on my way. Loved it. Crowds appeared to be very low.
I got inside MK about 1:15, and went right to Big Thunder Mountain for a fast pass. I checked out Tom Sawyer Island (nothing much I thought, but probably relaxing on a hot summer day) and then got a Turkey Leg! Great! I got a fast pass for Splash Mountain and then rode Big Thunder Mountain. Stand-by line was huge. I then rode Pirates of the Carribean, and then hit Mickey's Philharmagic! Fantastic! The kids in the crowd were thrilled, and I know my daughter will be too! I then ran to one of my favorites - the TTA (which my wife and daughter didn't care for). I think it's great - if not just to get a nice moving view of Tommorrowland, the Contemporary, and Cinderella's castle.
I got a fast pass for Buzz Lightyear. It was about 4:00, and most all other fast passes had a return time of after 6:00 now. I did Splash Mountain, hopped the train to Mickey's Toon Town fair, and hit Buzz Lightyear. I then walked around Fantasyland some, and went to the Hall of Presidents.
The crowds seemed pretty big to me, I thought. A lot of lines for most of the rides.
I wanted to see Fantasmic, so I left, got my car, and flew back to MGM. I got to Fantasmic at 6:40, and standing room only was all that was left (which was fine for me). Great Show! My daughter would love it, but I agree with all the postings that you need to be there about an hour early - defintiely true!
I then took off and header over to Epcot for Illumintations. I hit Spaceship Earth can looked around some of the World Showcase. This was great too - one of the best fireworks displays I've seen. I left a little early and headed back to my hotel.
First - I was wiped, but had a GREAT time! When we were there last year, we focused on stuff for my daughter - which meant no thrill rides. It also meant no Fantasmic of Illuminations because she was pretty wiped by the time they started - or that's when we were eating dinner. It was great doing all those things. By myself I was able to move pretty quick (though I'm paying for it today!)
I loved checking out the hotels. I only wish I could've seen a couple more. We stayed at the Contemporary before - which I loved - and think that the hotels are part of the whole experience that can't be missed.
The crowds outside of the MK were fine. MK seemed pretty busy to me. The weather was great.
The main thing I walked away with is I can't wait to bring the family back, and maybe try one of the hotels I checked out. It's so much more fun (to me at least) to be there with a young child. My daughter loved it and can't wait to go back - and neither can we!
