Team Renfroe trip report with TONS of pics & reviews

[FBandA]

Love your pictures what kind of camera do you have? We are going in July and we are talking about getting a new camera.

 

[MAJ RN]

Alan, I love the pics of CSR. I have never been there but it looks beautiful. My family loves both Soarin and Test Track. The boys actually want Epcot to be the first park we go to so we can hit those rides first.
Can't wait to see how the rest of your day at Epcot is.

Melissa

 

[jellyd]

Allan,

Looking forward to your thoughts and photos from Le Cellier!

RIck

 

[alan_renfroe]

"It appears that a lot of readers to this thread are staying at CSR. I've got lots of pictures, so I'll keep posting them.'

I am one of those CSR August people. Thanks for the report and pics. I am really enjoying your report.

"In getting the kids up, we always tried to give them some rest time during the day. If you're staying on property, it is a great luxury to go to the parks early, ride everything you can, come back & relax, then return for after dinner.

"

Our kids are grown. I still am going with the plan of resting in the afternoon.[/QUOTE]

You're welcome...no problem! (and I think I would do the rest in the afternoon even if the kids weren't with us!)

I tried to read back to see what I missed but I can't find it. Could someone please help, what thermostat trick?????

Here is the link from the Coronado Springs thread about the thermostat.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=23442626&postcount=30

Anyone staying at CSR should definitely visit this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1734215

Buzz does an incredible job of presenting all things CSR.

Hi Alan - you used the same strategy we did for Soarin' - once we got inside the gates, I gathered 21 key cards from our GG group and headed to The Land pavillion to get FPs for the ride, while everyone else headed to Test Track. I must have looked interesting to other people getting FPs putting in one card at a time and getting 21 receipts!
We all LOVED Soarin' - it was the first time any of us had ridden since it was a new attraction. The front row was definitely the best viewing spot. I've seen video from folks who have sat in back rows and you can see the feet of the riders in front of you; that must take away some of the magic of the ride.

Hi Sherri! We were fortunate enough to sit in the front both times we rode. It was awesome! I can see how seeing the feet of those in front of you might diminish the experience a little.

Since you got fast passes for Soaring as soon as you entered the park-= what time was the passes for?

The park opened that day at 9am, and I think our fastpasses were from 10:05 - 11:05. It worked out perfectly, because by the time we got off Test Track and Mission Space, it was time to go to Soarin'.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Day 3-the meal you+your son had looked awesome-shame about the overcooked meatballs.I have never eaten there,but after seeing the food+menu we may give it a try next year,as the spaghetti+meatballs did look good.Wow you certainly done alot that day all of you.x.

Yeah! We definitely packed our day full that day! We were feeling it the next day!

Love your pictures what kind of camera do you have? We are going in July and we are talking about getting a new camera.

It is a little Sony 7.2 megapixel. I bought it at Wal-Mart on the day after Thanksgiving sale for $79. It turned out to be a good investment!

Alan, I love the pics of CSR. I have never been there but it looks beautiful. My family loves both Soarin and Test Track. The boys actually want Epcot to be the first park we go to so we can hit those rides first.
Can't wait to see how the rest of your day at Epcot is.

Melissa

Thanks, Melissa! My DD loved Test Track so much that it was her very favorite ride in all of the parks! I would say that TT & Soarin' were A+ for all four of us, and that helped make Epcot a special visit...because we could all enjoy things together. (with the exception of Mission Space, which DD refused to do.)

Allan,

Looking forward to your thoughts and photos from Le Cellier!

RIck

Hi Rick! Le Cellier is coming up next. LOVED it.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Okay - so far our day is going great! Here is a quick timeline up to this point on Day 4:

6:30am - wake up
8:10am - bus to Epcot
9am - rope drop, headed to Soarin' for fastpasses
9:20am - Test Track
9:40am - Mission Space for boys, Test Track again for girls
10:05am - Soarin'

After riding Soarin', (and LOVING it!), we got more fastpasses to ride again after lunch.

The sky was still really cloudy, but no rain...it was VERY humid, though!

Next, we rode The Seas with Nemo and Friends:

You guys may disagree with me on this one, but I was expecting The Seas with Nemo and Friends to be better than it was. Our "clam mobile" stopped shortly after we got on, and we sat on the ride not moving for about 10 minutes. (maybe that is why I didn't like it as well as expected!) The aquarium was neat where the animated images appear that they are swimming among the actual marine life.

The best part of the experience was going to see Turtle Talk with Crush. Crush was hilarious!! His interaction with the kids in the crowd had the adults in stitches! It is absolutely amazing technology that they can animate something in real time and make it appear that the animated character is speaking directly to you. If you haven't seen Turtle Talk with Crush, definitely check it out!

After leaving The Seas pavilion, we went to the Imagination pavilion and saw "Honey I Shrunk The Audience." We thought this would be just great, but we found it to be really boring. They could have done so much more with the storyline of the movie. They used many of the classic 3-D tricks, but it just took too long for everything to unfold. DD did NOT like it at all. Of all the 3-D movies in all the parks, this one was our least favorite.

As mentioned earlier, it was really humid and we were getting thirsty. We stumbled upon Club Cool. How awesome is this place!! They have free soda samples from different Coca-Cola products from around the world.

My favorites were the ones from Isreal and Germany. The "Beverly" product from Italy was HORRIBLE! But it was fun to sample something that terrible!

They also have a lot of cool nostalgic Coca-Cola merchandise. (I don't collect that stuff, but I think it's really cool. I like classic ad art.)

Next, we began to make our way to the Canada pavilion for lunch. I took these photos along the way:

We had lunch reservations at Le Cellier Steakhouse for 12:20pm.

Next up - Review of lunch at Le Cellier

 

[englishrose47]

Loving your report! Soarin is my favorite ride at Epcot!! TT is ok but I .m not afan of fast or up and down rides !!I love Klub Kool! Don't spread the word about Beverley it is so much fun to watch unsuspecting friends try it!!

 

[Shazzie B]

I think I'm addicted to this thread Interested to see what you thought of Le Cellier - Did you have the chocolate 'Moose' my kids loved it.

 

[CHEK]

Firstly I have to agree with you on Stitch's great escape , I hated it last year when we went on it and I think the main reason I hated it was because I couldn't keep a hold of my youngest DD who at the time was 7 and was petrified , and it was sooo dark, we have never done AO so that's something on my to do list for feb . Epcot we love Soarin even though the 1st time we did it my Mum was in a real panic about having to take her shoes off , I don't know where she thought she was going

 

[TigerKat]

So glad you guys enjoyed the intense Mission Space. I, too, usually have motion/spinning issues, but never had a problem with MS....LOVE it!!!!

I agree about the NEMO ride....boring.

 

[disneyhockeymad]

Wow you seem to get really good days at all the parks, you're on and off the rides quicker than I can ever have imagined!
Mission Space is amazing and one of my favourite rides in Epcot, I agree with you whole heartedly with what you said about it!!
Can't wait to read the review on Le Cellier!

 

[RachelNinja]

I really like the picture you took with Spaceship Earth in the background. I've never been during the Flower and Garden Festival so I love to see the pictures! Can't wait for your Le Cellier review! I'm so interested to see what your DD and DS eat!

 

[irky416]

I can't wait to read your review of Le Cellier!

Great pictures from Epcot!

 

[bnba2]

Epcot we love Soarin even though the 1st time we did it my Mum was in a real panic about having to take her shoes off , I don't know where she thought she was going

You know what is funny is that I sort of felt the same way...then I started thinking about it...who really wanted to steal my hot sweaty shoes that had been walking around the Magic Kingdom and Epcot in the rain and heat...??I mean really??...but still there was a moment of trepidation when it started lol...thinking about it more clearly now...I have no worries next time...in fact I DARE someone to touch them let alone take them!!

bnba2

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

Love your pictures what kind of camera do you have? We are going in July and we are talking about getting a new camera.

I would love to reccomend a great camera to you. We bought a new one for our spring break trip to the Grand Canyon this year and it is outstanding! It is the G9 by Cannon. Now it is not cheap, currently about $475-$525 depending on where you shop but is is amazing. Go to your local BestBuy and have the camera department people take a picture of the lights in the ceiling. It is just crazy how good that camera is. I absolutly think that this camera is worth every penny we paid for it.
Michelle

 

[Dcanoli]

Here's a great thread on the Photography boards...you should really head over to them if you are seriously thinking about buying a new camera.

They helped me TREMENDOUSLY last year:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1835865

 

[rusafee1183]

hey MAYer!!! Finally getting a chance to check out the TR!!!
great report mr. griswald!!

it's so fun because i can relate so much to your tr because we were just there the week before you guys so everytime i see a picture i call my DH in to the room and say "LOOK HONEY - we were there!"

super cute pictures - your family is just adorable! i can't wait to have kids just so i can take them to WDW!!

keep it coming clark! i am excited to hear your review of le cellier (we give it 2very enthusiastic thumbs up - waaaaayyyy up )

 

[alan_renfroe]

Loving your report! Soarin is my favorite ride at Epcot!! TT is ok but I .m not afan of fast or up and down rides !!I love Klub Kool! Don't spread the word about Beverley it is so much fun to watch unsuspecting friends try it!!

That is SO funny about Beverly! After finding out just how bad it really is, I got a kick out of watching other unsuspecting passers by give it a try. It was like watching Candid Camera! Does anyone out there actually LIKE the Beverly drink?

I think I'm addicted to this thread Interested to see what you thought of Le Cellier - Did you have the chocolate 'Moose' my kids loved it.

LOL!! We're glad you are enjoying our thread. We DID have the Chocolate Moose! He was awesome!

Firstly I have to agree with you on Stitch's great escape , I hated it last year when we went on it and I think the main reason I hated it was because I couldn't keep a hold of my youngest DD who at the time was 7 and was petrified , and it was sooo dark, we have never done AO so that's something on my to do list for feb . Epcot we love Soarin even though the 1st time we did it my Mum was in a real panic about having to take her shoes off , I don't know where she thought she was going

They made you take off your shoes? We didn't have to take our shoes off.

So glad you guys enjoyed the intense Mission Space. I, too, usually have motion/spinning issues, but never had a problem with MS....LOVE it!!!!

I agree about the NEMO ride....boring.

Yeah, we both loved it. On the long walk to the exit, I could tell that I was a little dizzy, but no problems whatsoever. We actually rode it again later on, and I think I liked it even better the second time.

Wow you seem to get really good days at all the parks, you're on and off the rides quicker than I can ever have imagined!
Mission Space is amazing and one of my favourite rides in Epcot, I agree with you whole heartedly with what you said about it!!
Can't wait to read the review on Le Cellier!

It seemed to get a little more crowded each day we were there. Sunday at MK was empty, Monday at Epcot had a few more, Tuesday a little more....etc.

I really like the picture you took with Spaceship Earth in the background. I've never been during the Flower and Garden Festival so I love to see the pictures! Can't wait for your Le Cellier review! I'm so interested to see what your DD and DS eat!

Thanks! I like that picture also. It would've been nice to get the monorail going by....but who's got time to stand there waiting for the monorail when there is SO much to do, right?

 

[alan_renfroe]

I can't wait to read your review of Le Cellier!

Great pictures from Epcot!

Thanks! Le Cellier review is coming up.

You know what is funny is that I sort of felt the same way...then I started thinking about it...who really wanted to steal my hot sweaty shoes that had been walking around the Magic Kingdom and Epcot in the rain and heat...??I mean really??...but still there was a moment of trepidation when it started lol...thinking about it more clearly now...I have no worries next time...in fact I DARE someone to touch them let alone take them!!

bnba2

That's hilarious! They didn't make us take our shoes off at all.

I would love to reccomend a great camera to you. We bought a new one for our spring break trip to the Grand Canyon this year and it is outstanding! It is the G9 by Cannon. Now it is not cheap, currently about $475-$525 depending on where you shop but is is amazing. Go to your local BestBuy and have the camera department people take a picture of the lights in the ceiling. It is just crazy how good that camera is. I absolutly think that this camera is worth every penny we paid for it.
Michelle

Hi M & A! That camera sounds awesome.

Here's a great thread on the Photography boards...you should really head over to them if you are seriously thinking about buying a new camera.

They helped me TREMENDOUSLY last year:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1835865

Thanks for the link, Dcanoli.

hey MAYer!!! Finally getting a chance to check out the TR!!!
great report mr. griswald!!

it's so fun because i can relate so much to your tr because we were just there the week before you guys so everytime i see a picture i call my DH in to the room and say "LOOK HONEY - we were there!"

super cute pictures - your family is just adorable! i can't wait to have kids just so i can take them to WDW!!

keep it coming clark! i am excited to hear your review of le cellier (we give it 2very enthusiastic thumbs up - waaaaayyyy up )

Hey, fellow MAYer! Glad you found my report! Thanks for the compliments.

We gave Le Cellier 2 thumbs up also. Clark, Ellen, Rusty & Audrey all loved it!

 

[Susiev25]

Loving your TR so far, can't wait for more!