Quick Trip Report--Sept. 3-10

[guenzo]

Hi all! We returned Saturday from our first family vacation to WDW. Thanks for all of the tips on these boards. I learned a lot, which came in handy.

What follows are a few of my impressions/tips from our trip:

-In the off-season, six days is plenty to see pretty much everything in all four parks. The crowds were light.
-Except for a couple of big rainstorms, the weather was pleasant. Overcast most days and boy was it HUMID. We come from the dry-desert Western US and the humidity in Florida is high.
-Get the Dining Plan and go all out on the restaurants. Worth every penny.
-Disney transportation is great. Short waits, quick service. I can’t imagine getting around WDW any other way.
-The first two hours in the parks are golden. Use them to ride the big rides. Leave the shows for the afternoon--when the crows are heavier and to get out of the heat.
-Make ADRs for all your TS restaurants.
-Leave a day or two at the end of your trip to hit the attractions you missed earlier and to unwind. You don’t want to leave WDW still in commando mode.

MGM
RnR is good…..GREAT launch and first 20 seconds, the rest of the ride is mediocre.
ToT is better at WDW than at California Adventures.

AK
We were able to see pretty much everything in one day. KALI is a weak ride…disappointing. The SAFARI is good…recommended.

MK
Stitch’s Great Escape: It was good but it isn’t even a ride...Why does it have a height requirement?

EPCOT
The three big rides: Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space, are time consuming because of their long pre-shows and queue areas. Do these first thing in the morning. Innovations is great. My family had a blast designing/racing robots and then getting to build them as souvenirs.

We had a great trip overall and are very happy we went. Any questions?

 

[wdwr]

Hey, I wonder if these means I don't have to do my trip report since you posted for the same week?

Where did you stay? I was at POP. I agree that most of the time the rides and bus wait times were great. Although I did find Saturday busy. I was foolish enough to go to MK right after I checked in. LOL However, the Bus Line for POP out of the MK at the end of ANY night is just horrible. One night I decided to wait until the line emptied enough that the next bus would not be packed...it was almost 11:30pm by then and the park closed after Wishes at 10.

I think Stitch has a height requirement for the shoulder harness. Now why they have the shoulder harness is beyond me. I don't remember what it was used for in Alien Encounter either. I just know that it seems most of the old equipment was re-used from what I have been told. (no stinky burps for me, thank you very much)

I skip Mission Space now so I don't remember the pre-show too much. I don't find the Test Track pre-show too long since I single ride..I get into that room pretty fast. And Soaring...well that was like a 10 or 20 wait when I finally got to it later in the week. So all my wait was the long walk down and then wait for the previous show to end. I ran out of time with all my tours so I have to build a robot next trip.

 

[Jennifer48]

Sounds like you enjoyed yourselves. Glad to hear it!

No matter how many times I read it, I still think "commando" means not wearing underclothes!

 

[dismom9761]

I liked the trip report and agree with alot of what you said.Great time of year!!

 

[home brewer]

We too just returned from our week Sept 4-10. We took our 7 year old son for his first trip to WDW and celebrated our other son's 1st birthday on the 7th.

Crowds were very light as was mentioned earlier. Most rides weren't even offering Fast Passes and wait time ranged from 5-20 minutes according to the signs (but I don't believe we ever waited more than 10 minutes for anything).

The cloud cover from Ophelia was a blessing. It looked like rain every day but rained very little. It was humid but there were few days when we had to deal with the sun and the humidity.

While we haven't set a date for our next trip, I plan to go the week of Labor Day becuase of the small crowds. School is just getting started so the kids don't miss much.

 

[mom2cookies]

We were there that week also. We arrived on the 4th and left the 10th. We had two rooms at the All-star movies. My kids were excited before they even got on any rides because of the lack of crowds. Why? Because the last two times we went were Easter and Christmas!. But we found our week! Labor day! The longest we waited for any ride was the back lot tour in MGM on friday. The whole trip had and extra excitement because we took with us our DD's friend. It was her first trip. She comes from a large family and her brother is in Iraq so it was good to share her excitement and awe. The weather has already been described, the lines already noted, what else is there? lol We (Dh and I ) already have plans for next time. Probably 2007. I told him this time i want a Date Night...lol Youngest will be 10 then and oldest 15 so we should be good to go

glad you all had a good time too.

 

[babytrees]

Hey, I wonder if these means I don't have to do my trip report since you posted for the same week?

Nope you have to post a trip report also !!!

I am addicted to trip reports...so more, more, more PLEAAAASE!!!

 

[wdwr]

Nope you have to post a trip report also !!!

I am addicted to trip reports...so more, more, more PLEAAAASE!!!

But my trip report isn't going to be nearly as good as everyone else's!

It was just me and nothing exciting happened the whole time.

Okay, I will try to post something this weekend. But if I can't make it fun, it is going to be REALLY short.

And when you are all bored to tears it will be your own faults.

wdwr

 

[babytrees]

I promise to only blame myself if your trip bores me!!

But very few do!!! I tell you it is an addiction and I am thinking of starting a twelve step program for it.....

Hello my name is babytrees and I am addicted to trip reports

 

[mom2cookies]

Well, let's see...... we consist of Dh, Me, DD 14, DD's friend 14, DD 12, DD 11, and DS 9. Stayed at the All-star Movies and had the dining plan. It was our 3rd trip, the other two were Easter and Christmas 2004.
Day 1 Sunday. We arrived extremely early.... between 6 and 7 am. Check in and go over our folder "stuff ". Take a quick walk around the resort until food court opened for breakfast. Figured out how to use the dining plan and ate. Afterwards we went to DTD, looked around until DQuest opened. Spent the day in DQ ( don't care to go again is the general consesus) then went to Planet Hollywood for early dinner. After dinner we went back to the resort since we could get into our rooms then. Unpacked and the kids went swimming. Went to bed.

Day 2 Monday Early entry for Epcot. Just did the "front" stuff. Not the Showcase. Rode Soarin' (w/ my eyes closed ), fast track, mission space, etc. Lines were non-existant ! Did Innoventions and all that. Had dinner ressies for Hoop de du Revue for 7:15. Enjoyed that immensely tho we didn't eat much. Afterwards we went to MK for Wishes. Also, kids got on some rides . ( i think.... lol) DD12 lost Tamagotchi

Day 3 Tuesday. Animal Kingdom. Noted some changes in the performances in Tarzan rocks but still enjoyed it. Got to sit in the Lion sections in the Lion King. Kids got scared outta their wits on Dinosaur but wanted to do it again. Loved kali rapids.... 1st time getting to ride rode it 3 times in a row. Didn't dry off until bedtime For dinner we went to Boma. Enjoyed the crab soup very much, Zebra domes were cute and good. Afterwards went back to resort for more swimming and rest.

Day 4 Wednesday Magic Kingdom Didn't get up too early so it was a little bit busy when we arrived. But since the crowds weren't bad, we didn't have long waits for the rides. Introduced DD's friend to space mt. and stitch. Stitch wasn't a big hit. Space mt. voted best ride. Had dinner at the castle. All the girls ordered Prime RIb. The slipper w/ mousse was a big hit for dessert Did EMH so they got on more rides after wishes. Went back to resort foot sore and weary but pleasantly content.

Day 5 Thursday Epcot again. Did the world showcase. DD got picked to participate with the street performers in Grt.. Britian. I laughed so hard i was CRYING!!! yeah, i do that That set the tone for the day. We were able to do the boat rides in Mexico and Norway. The kids that wanted them got autographs and pictures. We had dinner at the Rose and Crown. None of us really likes what we had, basically it was all toooooo salty and the veggies were peas (yuck). Stayed for Illuminations of course. Which the kids and parents were not at the same place at the designated time, so a search involving a CM and 2 kids ensued. A wdw cop and the other 3 kids watch ILLuminations from a choice position. Mom and Dad found them all together after the show. Everyone had a story to tell Thanks again to Cari from Canada and Scott for their attentiveness.

Day 6 Friday.... MGM..... most crowded much to our surprise But we still didn't have to wait long in any lines. Including character greeting lines. The kids were dissappointed in the Star Wars ride. Said it was boring. Missed Beauty and the Beast on account of dinner ressies at 50's Prime time cafe'. We all enjoyed our food their. There was sooo much tho! DD's friend got in trouble for elbows on the table. She had to set. DS was warned a few times. DH forces down all his veggies as he doesn't like to be in the spot light. LOL. Went to Fantasmic. Had Center seats. Great view. DD's friend watch with eyes wide open and mouth too. We were glad she had a good time. Her brother is in Iraq and she comes from a very large family.

Day 7 Saturday Finished up gift shopping, packed, ate breakfast, and left for home. We live in Pa. so it was a 2 day trip back and kids started school on monday.

We had sooo much fun and feel for us labor day week is the best time for us. The clouds from Ophella provided a barrier from the blazing sun,(none of us got burnt but we still had block most days)and the rain didn't hinder our activities. Dining plan worked out great. We can't wait to go again...... real soon.....

 

[babytrees]

Great Job Mom2Cookies!!

Fast to the point and no tears of boredom here!!!

 

[mom2cookies]

thanks Babytrees.