Rigel Kent
Space Mountain Stampeder
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2005
- Messages
- 118
Overview:
Me 41, DW 42, DD 10, DD 7
Arrive WDW Tuesday, August 2, 2005.
Stay at All Star Movies.
Leave WDW Tuesday, August 9.
Magic Your Way base 6-day ticket, no hopping.
No dining plan. (It was not free for our visit, and we use counter service "spontaneously" much more than table service.)
Day 1, Tuesday, August 2, 2005: Arrive.
Plan:
1. Arrive at MCO airport around 3pm.
2. Take Disney Magical Express to All Star Movies.
3. After check-in, swim in Fantasia Pool. (Bring swim gear in carry-on, because luggage will be delivered later!)
4. Eat supper at the All Star Movies food court.
5. Sleep.
Actual:
1. Arrive as planned.
2. DME almost as planned.
3. Swim as planned.
4. Eat as planned.
5. Not planned: sleep very little!
We had trouble finding the Disney Magical Express in the airport. There was no one to greet us and escort us there, as I had been led to believe from the mailings. Maybe this was because we stopped to use the restroom (but who wouldn't?!). No problem, though. We went to the baggage claim area, where a helpful stranger took pity on us and told us where it was (instead of turning left to go to baggage claim, we should have gone right...a long, long way).
We were much too excited to get to sleep at a reasonable hour. I was the worst. I think I woke every hour, mind racing, going over Wednesday's plan again and again!
Dining:
Snack - Movies food court - $7
Supper - Movies food court - $30
We did not buy the souvenir cups. (We are probably the only people who don't. But until they let us put free milk in those cups, we probably still won't.)
Tips:
1. The previous trip, we had arrived at All Star Movies near midnight. The 3 pm arrival this time was much better, and probably worth a small additional airfare in the future if necessary.
2. If you can't find Disney Magical Express at the airport, ask someone!
3. We knew from the boards that Disney Magical Express would make several stops, so we were prepared for it, and it was OK. If our flight had arrived very late at night, however, we probably would have been better off with a private town car.
Day 2, Wednesday, August 3, 2005: MGM.
Plan:
EMH morning today is MK.
Touringplans dot com suggested 8/3/05 best park: MGM or AK, avoid MK.
We're going to MGM!
Showtimes found before leaving home from WDW Live Entertainment pages maintained by Steve Soares.
1. Get to MGM by 8:30 for 9:00 opening.
2. Voyage of the Little Mermaid (1st show: 9:15).
3. Star Tours.
4. Muppetvision 3D.
5. Honey I shrunk the kids playground. (This was the absolute top MGM priority for DD 10 and DD 7!)
6. Millionaire at 11:10.
7. Lunch- priority seating for 11:55 at 50's Prime Time Cafe.
8. Check FastPass return time for Lights, Motors, Action--get them if for 4:40 show (only shows today are 11, 1:55, and 4:40).
9. Return to All Star Movies for swimming.
10. Return to MGM.
11. Lights, Motors, Action at 4:40.
12. Parade at 5:30.
13. Indiana Jones at 6:20 - arrive before 6 for pre-show.
14. Fantasmic at 9. Arrive at 8 or earlier.
Fit-ins if possible: Backlot tour and/or One Man's Dream.
We're not doing RockNRollerCoaster or Tower of Terror.
Actual:
1. 8 am bus stop at Movies. 8:35 at turnstiles at MGM. Buy two water bottles and fill them with Crystal Light to go--one lemonade, other red (raspberry?). Hindsight: Crystal light was a waste of good-tasting bottled water. We should have saved it for the horrible-tasting tap water.
2. 9 a.m. rope drop. "Everyone" else is going down Sunset Blvd.
We go to Voyage of Little Mermaid, saw the first show at 9:15.
More empty seats than not. DD10 and DD7 thought it was going to be a long movie. They liked the real thing better than what they predicted. Great show.
*. Not planned: Potty break! Went to rest rooms by Magic of Disney Animation. Where are all the people?! We seem to be the only ones here!
*. Not planned: Photo break by the big hat.
3. Star Tours. 10 minute wait. We all love it.
4. Muppet 3D - practically no wait. Hilarious, as usual.
5. Honey I shrunk the playground - hardly anyone there. Stayed 10:30 to 10:50. I climbed the ropes too.
6. Millionaire - no wait for 11:10 show - first show. DD7 cries through most of the show because she is answering the questions wrong! I actually made the top ten for the fastest finger! I noticed some people seem to there just
to make it into the hot seat--they left when the second contestant was determined.
7. 50's Prime time - 11:55 priority seating. Enjoyable meal. Loved the meat loaf and pot roast. Apparently a lot of our cousins were there too...... I put my elbows on the table on purpose, but I don't know if the server realized it, because he only razzed me a little, and rather gently. I actually liked this place for the food and the decor. Done about 1:30.
*. Not planned: AACK! DD7 wants to do Tower of Terror!
For us, the afternoon break away from the park is required, because we are going to watch Fantasmic tonight. I check out FP return time for ToT--it's too soon, we won't be back in time. We'll try later.
8. I also check FP for Lights, Motors--it's for the 1:55 show, not 4:40--rats.
(Did I go to the tip board, or did I actually walk all over the park? I can't remember! DW, DD10 and DD7 wait by Echo Lake for me, anyway.)
9. Back to AS Movies at 2. Swim 2:15 to 3 in the Mighty Ducks Pool.
(Doesn't seem long now, but it was wonderful at the time!)
10. About 3:45 at Bus Stop to go back to MGM. Less than 15 minute wait.
11. Arrived at Lights Motors Action line at 4:30 for the 4:40 show.
Hooray! They let us in!
Uh-oh .... *not planned!!* .... we're waiting under the stadium and there is an announcement. Goodness only knows what they said (hard to believe
WDW couldn't come up with a PA system any better than a high school basketball gym). We're waiting. We're waiting. We're waiting. And so are hundreds of other people, in the hot hot hot area below the stadium. Can't they let us in! Finally we're in. The 4:40 show actually starts at 5:10.
Enjoyable show.
*. Not planned: Buy a mister fan. Wish we had bought it *before* LMA.
12. Not planned: Obviously we missed the parade.
13. Not planned: We skip Indiana Jones, also.
*. Not planned: About 6:10, I get FP's for Tower of Terror, return time
7:05 to 8:05. Eat snacks nearby - fresh fruit, carrots, and McDonald's fries.
*. Not planned: Go back across the park and do Star Tours again!
Sign said 20 min, but more like 10 min.
*. Not planned:
Go back across the park again....DD 7 and I use Tower of Terror Fast Passes at 7:20pm. DD7 was very scared. She thought it would fall only once! (I thought I had explained it, but I guess not.....) I was laughing during the drops. Very thrilling. I really enjoyed looking out over the
park before the drops.
DW and DD10 go shopping while DD7 and I are doing ToT.
14. At 8 pm, go to Fantasmic.
Use restrooms at top of hill, just before the seats (not down by Tower of Terror). Seems like there could be a storm, so we get great seats! Not front row, but maybe 2nd row. It's 8:15, and there is still an entire section of seats. No storm! We see Fantasmic for the first time! Not at all what I thought it would be! Much better! We got quite wet--not all at once, but little by little.
*. Leave. What a nightmare getting out, and waiting for the bus.
Overall rating of the day: 5 stars!
Dining:
Breakfast - Movies Food Court - $23
Lunch - 50's Prime Time - $69 (incl tip etc)
Snack - "Anaheim Produce" in MGM, and McD's fries - $13
Supper - 0 (the snack was the supper)
Rigel Kent's motion sickness report: I get woozy from some so-called gentle rides, and many bad ones too, but some bad ones are OK for me. Swinging on an ordinary playground swing makes me woozy. Tilt-a-whirl made my face turn ghost-white the last time I tried it; makes me sick now just to watch it.
In airplanes, I crank up the vent that blows on my face to keep from feeling yucky. "Pharaoh's Fury" (a humongous boat swing Midway ride) left me out of commission for several *days*. Reading in a car makes me sick.
BUT....
Star Tours= I liked! The second ride did feel worse than the first--it seemed rougher. Good thing the ride is not any longer.
Tower of Terror= I liked! All the fast motion was linear instead of circular, so I think that works better for me.
Final Tip: Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens!
This was the first time we have *ever* gone to a theme park before it opened. Thank you, Unofficial Guide, for converting us! This time, we came to WDW to have fun, not to "relax." It was easier for us to do, in some respects, because DW always wants to arrive early for things anyway. I had been the weak link. Once I decided I wanted to try going early, the rest was "easy." Well, DD10 and DD7 did try to stay in bed. We just didn't let them! We treated it like a "getting ready to go to school" day--no arguments, just
get ready. Once they were awake (which was when we were walking to breakfast), they were excited!
Tomorrow:
EMH evening tomorrow is Epcot.
Touringplans dot com suggested 8/4/05 best park: AK, avoid: MK, Epcot.
But.....
We're going to the Magic Kingdom!
Me 41, DW 42, DD 10, DD 7
Arrive WDW Tuesday, August 2, 2005.
Stay at All Star Movies.
Leave WDW Tuesday, August 9.
Magic Your Way base 6-day ticket, no hopping.
No dining plan. (It was not free for our visit, and we use counter service "spontaneously" much more than table service.)
Day 1, Tuesday, August 2, 2005: Arrive.
Plan:
1. Arrive at MCO airport around 3pm.
2. Take Disney Magical Express to All Star Movies.
3. After check-in, swim in Fantasia Pool. (Bring swim gear in carry-on, because luggage will be delivered later!)
4. Eat supper at the All Star Movies food court.
5. Sleep.
Actual:
1. Arrive as planned.
2. DME almost as planned.
3. Swim as planned.
4. Eat as planned.
5. Not planned: sleep very little!
We had trouble finding the Disney Magical Express in the airport. There was no one to greet us and escort us there, as I had been led to believe from the mailings. Maybe this was because we stopped to use the restroom (but who wouldn't?!). No problem, though. We went to the baggage claim area, where a helpful stranger took pity on us and told us where it was (instead of turning left to go to baggage claim, we should have gone right...a long, long way).
We were much too excited to get to sleep at a reasonable hour. I was the worst. I think I woke every hour, mind racing, going over Wednesday's plan again and again!
Dining:
Snack - Movies food court - $7
Supper - Movies food court - $30
We did not buy the souvenir cups. (We are probably the only people who don't. But until they let us put free milk in those cups, we probably still won't.)
Tips:
1. The previous trip, we had arrived at All Star Movies near midnight. The 3 pm arrival this time was much better, and probably worth a small additional airfare in the future if necessary.
2. If you can't find Disney Magical Express at the airport, ask someone!
3. We knew from the boards that Disney Magical Express would make several stops, so we were prepared for it, and it was OK. If our flight had arrived very late at night, however, we probably would have been better off with a private town car.
Day 2, Wednesday, August 3, 2005: MGM.
Plan:
EMH morning today is MK.
Touringplans dot com suggested 8/3/05 best park: MGM or AK, avoid MK.
We're going to MGM!
Showtimes found before leaving home from WDW Live Entertainment pages maintained by Steve Soares.
1. Get to MGM by 8:30 for 9:00 opening.
2. Voyage of the Little Mermaid (1st show: 9:15).
3. Star Tours.
4. Muppetvision 3D.
5. Honey I shrunk the kids playground. (This was the absolute top MGM priority for DD 10 and DD 7!)
6. Millionaire at 11:10.
7. Lunch- priority seating for 11:55 at 50's Prime Time Cafe.
8. Check FastPass return time for Lights, Motors, Action--get them if for 4:40 show (only shows today are 11, 1:55, and 4:40).
9. Return to All Star Movies for swimming.
10. Return to MGM.
11. Lights, Motors, Action at 4:40.
12. Parade at 5:30.
13. Indiana Jones at 6:20 - arrive before 6 for pre-show.
14. Fantasmic at 9. Arrive at 8 or earlier.
Fit-ins if possible: Backlot tour and/or One Man's Dream.
We're not doing RockNRollerCoaster or Tower of Terror.
Actual:
1. 8 am bus stop at Movies. 8:35 at turnstiles at MGM. Buy two water bottles and fill them with Crystal Light to go--one lemonade, other red (raspberry?). Hindsight: Crystal light was a waste of good-tasting bottled water. We should have saved it for the horrible-tasting tap water.
2. 9 a.m. rope drop. "Everyone" else is going down Sunset Blvd.
We go to Voyage of Little Mermaid, saw the first show at 9:15.
More empty seats than not. DD10 and DD7 thought it was going to be a long movie. They liked the real thing better than what they predicted. Great show.
*. Not planned: Potty break! Went to rest rooms by Magic of Disney Animation. Where are all the people?! We seem to be the only ones here!
*. Not planned: Photo break by the big hat.
3. Star Tours. 10 minute wait. We all love it.
4. Muppet 3D - practically no wait. Hilarious, as usual.
5. Honey I shrunk the playground - hardly anyone there. Stayed 10:30 to 10:50. I climbed the ropes too.
6. Millionaire - no wait for 11:10 show - first show. DD7 cries through most of the show because she is answering the questions wrong! I actually made the top ten for the fastest finger! I noticed some people seem to there just
to make it into the hot seat--they left when the second contestant was determined.
7. 50's Prime time - 11:55 priority seating. Enjoyable meal. Loved the meat loaf and pot roast. Apparently a lot of our cousins were there too...... I put my elbows on the table on purpose, but I don't know if the server realized it, because he only razzed me a little, and rather gently. I actually liked this place for the food and the decor. Done about 1:30.
*. Not planned: AACK! DD7 wants to do Tower of Terror!
For us, the afternoon break away from the park is required, because we are going to watch Fantasmic tonight. I check out FP return time for ToT--it's too soon, we won't be back in time. We'll try later.
8. I also check FP for Lights, Motors--it's for the 1:55 show, not 4:40--rats.
(Did I go to the tip board, or did I actually walk all over the park? I can't remember! DW, DD10 and DD7 wait by Echo Lake for me, anyway.)
9. Back to AS Movies at 2. Swim 2:15 to 3 in the Mighty Ducks Pool.
(Doesn't seem long now, but it was wonderful at the time!)
10. About 3:45 at Bus Stop to go back to MGM. Less than 15 minute wait.
11. Arrived at Lights Motors Action line at 4:30 for the 4:40 show.
Hooray! They let us in!
Uh-oh .... *not planned!!* .... we're waiting under the stadium and there is an announcement. Goodness only knows what they said (hard to believe
WDW couldn't come up with a PA system any better than a high school basketball gym). We're waiting. We're waiting. We're waiting. And so are hundreds of other people, in the hot hot hot area below the stadium. Can't they let us in! Finally we're in. The 4:40 show actually starts at 5:10.
Enjoyable show.
*. Not planned: Buy a mister fan. Wish we had bought it *before* LMA.
12. Not planned: Obviously we missed the parade.
13. Not planned: We skip Indiana Jones, also.
*. Not planned: About 6:10, I get FP's for Tower of Terror, return time
7:05 to 8:05. Eat snacks nearby - fresh fruit, carrots, and McDonald's fries.
*. Not planned: Go back across the park and do Star Tours again!
Sign said 20 min, but more like 10 min.
*. Not planned:
Go back across the park again....DD 7 and I use Tower of Terror Fast Passes at 7:20pm. DD7 was very scared. She thought it would fall only once! (I thought I had explained it, but I guess not.....) I was laughing during the drops. Very thrilling. I really enjoyed looking out over the
park before the drops.
DW and DD10 go shopping while DD7 and I are doing ToT.
14. At 8 pm, go to Fantasmic.
Use restrooms at top of hill, just before the seats (not down by Tower of Terror). Seems like there could be a storm, so we get great seats! Not front row, but maybe 2nd row. It's 8:15, and there is still an entire section of seats. No storm! We see Fantasmic for the first time! Not at all what I thought it would be! Much better! We got quite wet--not all at once, but little by little.
*. Leave. What a nightmare getting out, and waiting for the bus.
Overall rating of the day: 5 stars!
Dining:
Breakfast - Movies Food Court - $23
Lunch - 50's Prime Time - $69 (incl tip etc)
Snack - "Anaheim Produce" in MGM, and McD's fries - $13
Supper - 0 (the snack was the supper)
Rigel Kent's motion sickness report: I get woozy from some so-called gentle rides, and many bad ones too, but some bad ones are OK for me. Swinging on an ordinary playground swing makes me woozy. Tilt-a-whirl made my face turn ghost-white the last time I tried it; makes me sick now just to watch it.
In airplanes, I crank up the vent that blows on my face to keep from feeling yucky. "Pharaoh's Fury" (a humongous boat swing Midway ride) left me out of commission for several *days*. Reading in a car makes me sick.
BUT....
Star Tours= I liked! The second ride did feel worse than the first--it seemed rougher. Good thing the ride is not any longer.
Tower of Terror= I liked! All the fast motion was linear instead of circular, so I think that works better for me.
Final Tip: Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens!
This was the first time we have *ever* gone to a theme park before it opened. Thank you, Unofficial Guide, for converting us! This time, we came to WDW to have fun, not to "relax." It was easier for us to do, in some respects, because DW always wants to arrive early for things anyway. I had been the weak link. Once I decided I wanted to try going early, the rest was "easy." Well, DD10 and DD7 did try to stay in bed. We just didn't let them! We treated it like a "getting ready to go to school" day--no arguments, just
get ready. Once they were awake (which was when we were walking to breakfast), they were excited!
Tomorrow:
EMH evening tomorrow is Epcot.
Touringplans dot com suggested 8/4/05 best park: AK, avoid: MK, Epcot.
But.....
We're going to the Magic Kingdom!
I recall seeing an off-season performance schedule for the Studios a few years back (post-9/11) that virtually guaranteed you'd never be able to see all of the shows in a single day. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens occasionally even now.
