ww52
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2001
- Messages
- 1,057
Background and planning:
Our 6th trip (GF 1989, BC 1994, BC 1996, GF 1997, GF 1998, now Swan 2003). Our whole family - myself, my wife, son 21, son 17, daughter 16 and also my wifes brother. Planned on meeting up with another family also. BIL went 8 years ago, stayed offsite; hit the parks late most times and so saw relatively little and only a few of the big rides; talked about going with us for a few years and was excited when we planned this trip and we invited him to join us.
Im the planner and more of an overall Disney fan than anyone in my family except maybe my daughter; my wife doesnt care for the rides, but loves Epcot and likes MGM and Universal. Kept the planning very basic listed park hours, EE days, E-ride nights; kept in mind a general list of attractions wed want to see and those using FP. Didnt want to do this commando style, but we planned to do early morning / rest / late afternoon and evening. Stayed away from day by day itinerary, and especially too much written down (family objects to the rigidity, even if it is just a guide). So I kept it mainly in my head lots of info from DIS and Tour Guide Mike especially whats new to us; also researched changes in Universal since our last time there and also whats at IOA. Decided on two different PHP (5 day for 3 of us and 6+ for three); four of us wound up with a day left, and no plusses used some of us planned on TL but didnt go; didnt buy Un/IOA until we got there. Rented a van (Budget using their FastTrack club); flew United from Chicago. We wanted Epcot area and considered BC again, but went with Swan (glad we did); two rooms using my wifes teacher rate; upgraded to CL with MGM view using SPG points (1000 per night per room)
Day 1:
Landed early PM; got van reasonably fast - disappointed that a call to Budget didnt reveal that FastTrack people should go to a location across the road in the parking garage (wasted time at their counter in the terminal).
Check in very smooth; rooms ready early; able to get connecting rooms and the view was great; could see ToT, Fantasmic area, waterway to MGM, BW and part of Epcot. Decided on valet parking at the Swan for $10 a day and, given the heat and rain, a good decision. Plus they only charge for the days you take out the car there were a few days we didnt. Went to Goodings (too expensive, but I didnt bring the directions to Winn-Dixie or Publix and I didnt want to waste time in case we got lost); despite the expense, Goodings has become a tradition of sorts for us.
Well only be with our friends a few times, since we only have three full days in common this trip. Also they prefer to sleep late even at the expense of longer and hotter waits. Normally, we dont like to get moving real early either but a Disney vacation in the summer involves giving up one thing for another. Since both families were happy with the schedules we each followed, it worked out great.
Tried to have lunch at Beaches and Cream but too crowded; whole YC/BC was crowded, especially SAB; first indication that FTP might have a very noticeable effect; scaffolding at BC an eyesore; glad we picked Swan; had lunch at one of the smaller Dolphin restaurants.
PM rain was torrential; (other than this and one other night, the rest of the trip only had the normal relatively short PM storms); planned on MGM but figured it would be a wash out; stopped around 6:30 so we decided to go except BIL (didnt want to use a day on his pass for a short time); surprised at the crowds and the line at Fantasmic at 7:00. Save that for another time.
Rides: long wait for ToT and RnRC, so we went on GMR (long wait also maybe 30 minutes, which is long for that ride). Then maybe because of Fantasmic, lines shortened for RnRc. Did that, then ToT, then RnRc again (my wife went with for the pre-shows but then used the exit door before the ride itself.)
Day 2:
EE AK, but began to rethink EE because of the crowds; by the way, security seemed more for show (just a cursory look inside our bags), but its very possible they profile.
Rides: Didnt use FP for Safari 20 minute wait, but we didnt feel like criss-crossing the parks due to heat so we waited it out; wanted to stay together so we didnt employ a FP runner; except in one case to be mentioned later, this turned out OK. Then Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids. Reasonable waits for all of them. Getting their early was key. Our friends got their later and had longer waits though FP helped them a lot.
Lunch at Lone Star with our friends (our opinion is that Disney food is overpriced for ordinary food, or very expensive for the food that is special; we only had three park/resort meals in all).
Evening back to MGM, this time with BIL and our friends; BIL did ToT but not RnRC with us, which he later regretted. Also did GMR again, Muppets, Star Tours (my wife went on also, but got dizzy). Late dinner at Pizzeria Uno with everyone
Our 6th trip (GF 1989, BC 1994, BC 1996, GF 1997, GF 1998, now Swan 2003). Our whole family - myself, my wife, son 21, son 17, daughter 16 and also my wifes brother. Planned on meeting up with another family also. BIL went 8 years ago, stayed offsite; hit the parks late most times and so saw relatively little and only a few of the big rides; talked about going with us for a few years and was excited when we planned this trip and we invited him to join us.
Im the planner and more of an overall Disney fan than anyone in my family except maybe my daughter; my wife doesnt care for the rides, but loves Epcot and likes MGM and Universal. Kept the planning very basic listed park hours, EE days, E-ride nights; kept in mind a general list of attractions wed want to see and those using FP. Didnt want to do this commando style, but we planned to do early morning / rest / late afternoon and evening. Stayed away from day by day itinerary, and especially too much written down (family objects to the rigidity, even if it is just a guide). So I kept it mainly in my head lots of info from DIS and Tour Guide Mike especially whats new to us; also researched changes in Universal since our last time there and also whats at IOA. Decided on two different PHP (5 day for 3 of us and 6+ for three); four of us wound up with a day left, and no plusses used some of us planned on TL but didnt go; didnt buy Un/IOA until we got there. Rented a van (Budget using their FastTrack club); flew United from Chicago. We wanted Epcot area and considered BC again, but went with Swan (glad we did); two rooms using my wifes teacher rate; upgraded to CL with MGM view using SPG points (1000 per night per room)
Day 1:
Landed early PM; got van reasonably fast - disappointed that a call to Budget didnt reveal that FastTrack people should go to a location across the road in the parking garage (wasted time at their counter in the terminal).
Check in very smooth; rooms ready early; able to get connecting rooms and the view was great; could see ToT, Fantasmic area, waterway to MGM, BW and part of Epcot. Decided on valet parking at the Swan for $10 a day and, given the heat and rain, a good decision. Plus they only charge for the days you take out the car there were a few days we didnt. Went to Goodings (too expensive, but I didnt bring the directions to Winn-Dixie or Publix and I didnt want to waste time in case we got lost); despite the expense, Goodings has become a tradition of sorts for us.
Well only be with our friends a few times, since we only have three full days in common this trip. Also they prefer to sleep late even at the expense of longer and hotter waits. Normally, we dont like to get moving real early either but a Disney vacation in the summer involves giving up one thing for another. Since both families were happy with the schedules we each followed, it worked out great.
Tried to have lunch at Beaches and Cream but too crowded; whole YC/BC was crowded, especially SAB; first indication that FTP might have a very noticeable effect; scaffolding at BC an eyesore; glad we picked Swan; had lunch at one of the smaller Dolphin restaurants.
PM rain was torrential; (other than this and one other night, the rest of the trip only had the normal relatively short PM storms); planned on MGM but figured it would be a wash out; stopped around 6:30 so we decided to go except BIL (didnt want to use a day on his pass for a short time); surprised at the crowds and the line at Fantasmic at 7:00. Save that for another time.
Rides: long wait for ToT and RnRC, so we went on GMR (long wait also maybe 30 minutes, which is long for that ride). Then maybe because of Fantasmic, lines shortened for RnRc. Did that, then ToT, then RnRc again (my wife went with for the pre-shows but then used the exit door before the ride itself.)
Day 2:
EE AK, but began to rethink EE because of the crowds; by the way, security seemed more for show (just a cursory look inside our bags), but its very possible they profile.
Rides: Didnt use FP for Safari 20 minute wait, but we didnt feel like criss-crossing the parks due to heat so we waited it out; wanted to stay together so we didnt employ a FP runner; except in one case to be mentioned later, this turned out OK. Then Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids. Reasonable waits for all of them. Getting their early was key. Our friends got their later and had longer waits though FP helped them a lot.
Lunch at Lone Star with our friends (our opinion is that Disney food is overpriced for ordinary food, or very expensive for the food that is special; we only had three park/resort meals in all).
Evening back to MGM, this time with BIL and our friends; BIL did ToT but not RnRC with us, which he later regretted. Also did GMR again, Muppets, Star Tours (my wife went on also, but got dizzy). Late dinner at Pizzeria Uno with everyone
