THE MURPHYS are LIVE from WDW - SPRING BREAK 2012 (PICTURES ADDED!)

[jdd]

I just stumbled across your report and am so excited to start reading DH and I are staying at CBR in 36 days for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and we're doing a whole family vacation at Kidani in August!

Can't wait to hear your impressions of these resorts...okay need to start reading

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The boys are completely enthralled with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. We may never get them out of here!!!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The boys are completely enthralled with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. We may never get them out of here!!!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I just stumbled across your report and am so excited to start reading DH and I are staying at CBR in 36 days for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and we're doing a whole family vacation at Kidani in August!

Can't wait to hear your impressions of these resorts...okay need to start reading

Welcome!

We were in building 38 on the first floor overlooking the water. It was a nice spot. The only down side is the pirate beds were pretty small, with our boys being so big now I think we would have to get two rooms if we stated a while week. I will type more and share pics soon.

 

[jdd]

Welcome!

We were in building 38 on the first floor overlooking the water. It was a nice spot. The only down side is the pirate beds were pretty small, with our boys being so big now I think we would have to get two rooms if we stated a while week. I will type more and share pics soon.

Since it's just DH and I for this trip, I splurged on a King room - I would love to stay in a Pirate room but was embarrassed to do that since we won't have kids with us this trip

Loving the report so far! Can't wait to try Sorcerers!!

 

[MinnieTink]

Hi Erika! I just looked at your recent tweets and the pic of the fastpass return line for Pooh..... I have never seen a fastpass return line look like that, tho I have never been there during full-on spring break time. Is that because of time of year or because of the fastpass crackdown? I imagine it's because of the new policy enforcement but that seems nutz! It seems like policy enforcement would actually decrease guest enjoyment. Were there other FP return lines like that?

Glad you all seem to be having a wonderful time! And thanks for taking the time to take us along with you

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Since it's just DH and I for this trip, I splurged on a King room - I would love to stay in a Pirate room but was embarrassed to do that since we won't have kids with us this trip

Loving the report so far! Can't wait to try Sorcerers!!

You were smart! When dh and I come to wdw alone we always go for a king bed of course.

Sorcerers seems like a HUGE hit! People were gathered at all the game spots, people were at tables with their cards spread out trading with each other. My boys started with the max of 20 cards (five per park ticket) and by the time we left the park they had probably 100 cards. They were huge Pokemon fans when they were younger so they were allllll about the cards and collecting as many different ones as they could. Also my kids love MagiQuest and this is very similar to that. They completed at least 2 games I believe and we had to DRAG them out of the park at midnight or they would have kept on going. I would recommend people plan on pretty much a whole day devoted to this game... luckily we got there at ROPE DROP yesterday so we had done almost every ride before lunch time. They started Sorcerers around 12:30. By the time we got back to MK after dinner at Ohana the lines for some of the game spots were pretty long.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hi Erika! I just looked at your recent tweets and the pic of the fastpass return line for Pooh..... I have never seen a fastpass return line look like that, tho I have never been there during full-on spring break time. Is that because of time of year or because of the fastpass crackdown? I imagine it's because of the new policy enforcement but that seems nutz! It seems like policy enforcement would actually decrease guest enjoyment. Were there other FP return lines like that?

Glad you all seem to be having a wonderful time! And thanks for taking the time to take us along with you

It took us about 15 minutes to get thru that fast pass line for Pooh. It has been a long time since I've been around crowds like this. Normally our spring break is the week before this but for some reason it fell a week later than usual. This is way too close to Easter for my liking. But luckily we are pretty low key about rides anyway since we come all the time.

Disney seems very focused on eliminating guest surprises at the fast pass return. They are trying as hard as they can to notify everyone at the machines where you get your fast passes in the first place. Every fast pass machine now has a sign on it explaining the change as well as several CM's standing there talking to guests. At the Peter Pan machines there were at least 3 CM's explaining to guests as their tickets were printing.

At the actual rides yesterday I didn't see anyone trying to enter with expired passes. We had fast passes for Peter Pan, Pooh, and Splash Mountain and all the return times were fairly crowded. But I'm sure that is normal for this time of year.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Just wanted to report back on how things went last night with Ohana. We didn't have a reservation so we lined up at 4:30 PM in the "no reservations" line next to the podium. We were given a speech about how we would only get a table if someone didn't show up for their reservation, but by 4:50 I had a beeper and by 5:00 we were seated for dinner. So that worked out pretty well. The food was all good, our favorites were the chicken wings and noodles. The meats were steak, pork, shrimp, and chicken. I enjoyed the chicken more than the usual turkey, especially using the dipping sauces. Bread pudding dessert was good, the whole meal was fun and enjoyable for everyone. Youngest ds10 did the coconut race and the hula lesson. DS12 decided he was too old. We were back to MK by around 6:30. The monorail was running before and after our meal so I'm not sure what the status is with closing times.

Last night at MK the boys pretty much did their Sorcerers game all night. DH and I rode a few rides then headed towards the hub for Wishes. I was impressed with crowd control. The sidewalks coming away from the castle towards Main St were one-way only. They had an extra park exit set up next to The Plaza Restaurant which I have never seen before. We ended up circling around the back of the castle and coming in over by Liberty Square. After Wishes we made our way quickly to Main St for ice cream and got there just in time before a HUGE line formed. By the time we ate we were back at the bus stop shortly before midnight.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

iPhone pics and videos being uploaded here: http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/ekmurphy12/Disney - March 2012/

 

[wdwnut61]

Great pictures

I loved the ones of the castle with all the colors and fireworks. We can't wait to ride the new Dumbo thanks for the video

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We are back to the YC now. The day at Epcot was great until it started pouring rain. But that's still pretty lucky since we hadn't had rain yet all week. We were in line for TT when the storm hit. They had us all leave the line and go downstairs to the gift shop. They gave us all a fastpass ticket to come back later tonight. So we are having some appetizers now and then we'll head back soon. We've got fastpasses for Soarin' tonight also.

Lounge tonight was chicken skewers and potstickers.

Crowds were pretty bad today, but we were able to still have fun. The boys like the Orion vs Triton game at Mission Space, and they did the games at the exit of Spaceship Earth and inside Innoventions. We also did the Seas and Turtle Talk with Crush. The FUNNIEST thing happened while we were in the show, this group of people got up and tried to go out the restricted door, so Crush had to tell them not to go out that door and to go to the other side. It was hilarious! After they finally found their way out Crush said to us "Was it something I said?". Everyone cracked up!

We ate lunch at Seasons. It was so crowded they were directing people upstairs to the Garden Grill for additional seating. I had the spicy cashew chicken with noodles, it was HOT and soooo good.

This is our last night at YC. We are already getting excited for Kidani tomorrow. Or as we like to call it "Mini Jambo". We have savannah view so we will probably spend a good amount of time at the resort and the pool. Then tomorrow night is dinner at Narcoosee's and MK after until we wear ourselves out.

Any questions about anything???

 

[333disneymom]

Lounge tonight was chicken skewers and potstickers.

Crowds were pretty bad today, but we were able to still have fun. The boys like the Orion vs Triton game at Mission Space, and they did the games at the exit of Spaceship Earth and inside Innoventions. We also did the Seas and Turtle Talk with Crush. The FUNNIEST thing happened while we were in the show, this group of people got up and tried to go out the restricted door, so Crush had to tell them not to go out that door and to go to the other side. It was hilarious! After they finally found their way out Crush said to us "Was it something I said?". Everyone cracked up!

This is our last night at YC. We are already getting excited for Kidani tomorrow. Or as we like to call it "Mini Jambo". We have savannah view so we will probably spend a good amount of time at the resort and the pool. Then tomorrow night is dinner at Narcoosee's and MK after until we wear ourselves out.

Any questions about anything???

Nice pics, especially the castle shots. Sounds like you are having a great time. That Crush is so funny

Looking forward to your Kidani report.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Still having a great trip!!

Last night after riding Test Track and Soarin' we caught Illuminations and then headed over to Kimonos for sushi and karaoke. Then ran back to BC just in time to have ice cream at Beaches n Cream before it closed! What a great way to end our stay at the YC.

I think the rain might have helped the crowds for our fast pass returns because we walked right onto TT and Soarin' without any wait.

This morning we slept in and checked out of YC at 11:00, took a taxi to Kidani and our room was ready! We've got a great savannah view room, the kids have already started checking off all the animals that were out so far. Zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, ankole cattle, tommies, and more. Soon after animal spotting we changed into our suits and we've been at the pool allllll day! A perfect day for swimming and sun, I feel a little crispy now LOL

gotta jump in the shower for our ADR at Narcoosee's tonight... then heading to MK for the evening EMH from 12:00-3:00 AM!

More pics on photobucket: http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/ekmurphy12/Disney - March 2012/

I have taken tons of digital pics! Will share those when we get home!

 

[JolllyHoliday]

I always enjoy reading your live updates. You all look like your having so much fun that it just makes me smile. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Just got here!!

I am loving every minute of this...more please!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hello everyone!

We just got back from a great last night in MK! We were able to do quit a few things, and the boys continued on with their Sorcerer's of the MK until they finished it. I'm so exhausted I'll have to update more tomorrow, I can't WAIT to share all the pictures I've taken!!!

Goodnight from Kidani

 

[wdwnut61]

Looking forward to more pics

 

[Mousedreaming]

I'm really enjoying your report, and can't wait for more!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Airline checkin = fail

I will fill you in on the story later. Right now we are on a bus to DTD for lunch and shopping. Thinking Earl of Sandwich sounds good.

It's a sad day because we are leaving

Hopefully we will be back this fall, I'm sure my AP will be burning a hole in my pocket. Lol