PoohBears#1fan
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2002
- Messages
- 730
Tuesday 20th May
Wahay, first Disney day and about time! We're off to MGM today which is always a hit as the 3 of us who make the height restriction are mad about TOT. We did have a fifth person with us as today we took advantage of the free days rental of PAL Mickey.
We wandered along to the jetty and waited a couple of minutes for the boat, definitely a huge bonus of the BCV is the boat transfer, it's just so much nicer than getting on a bus.
First stop Rock 'n' roller coaster for fast passes, then we rode TOT while waiting for our slot, came off and got fast passes for later and rode R&R coaster, Rads felt it was a bit too fast for her though so Si had to ride alone, what happened to my little daredevil??? lol. Parent switch for both TOT, R&R & Star tours worked by giving the person not riding a ticket that admits up to 3 people, the first people go on the ride, then the second riders can go through the fast pass queue, worked well but we so preferred IOA's way as we got to wait in line together whereas this way we were apart for longer. There was also no specific place to wait with baby while the first people are riding. I took Zak through the shop at the end of TOT and waited in the air con by where you collect your ride photos from.
Off to Star Tours, lunch, TOT again & watched the parade then we walked back to the
Beach Club for some swimming at Dunes cove. It took 15-20 minutes to walk and that included stopping for photo opportunity in front ot the Tower. It was Zak's first swim today bless him and he loved floating around in his little seat, so pleased that he's having a great time too. Dunes cove is a lovely quiet pool which never seemed to get too busy.
PAL Mickey was great fun even if his jokes do grate a little by the end of the day LOL, my only critisism is that he's very hard to hear, especially in a loud park like MGM, you do tend to see lots of people walking around holding him to their ear, we must all look like some kind of strage Mickey worshipping sect to an outsider! (but then again, maybe we are?
) He did tell us when queues were low, warned us an hour before the parades and show, and the big one for Rads was that he'd tell her where characters were so she could zoom over there armed with her autograph book. None the less, for all his corny jokes, we couldn't part with him so spoke to the kind lady in the shop about adopting him and we're now the proud parents of the little guy. I wonder if he'll have much info on Alton Towers??? LOL
Wandered over to the Boardwalk in the evening, we ate at The Big River Brewing company which I'd thoroughly recommend, excellent food and service, the hazelnut crusted chicken is fantastic. We sat outside, Zak in his buggy and watched the Illuminations, what a great way to end the day.
Verdict of the day This is the best place in the world.
Wednesday 21st May
Epcot today, it was just great to be able to walk there, First stop of course was to get past passes for Test track, while we were waiting to ride Rads played in the fountains which is a very simple thing about WDW that she loves doing, if anyone was passing, she was the one fully clothed and soaked to the skin
Rung her out in time to ride Testtrack, again the baby switch worked by Rads & I going straight on and Si being given a ticket to access the fast pass queue when we come out, these tickets always admit up to 3 people so if you have 2 children who can ride, they both get to ride with both parents which is something I think is excellent, just try getting that to happen at a UK theme park, I asked at chessington earlier this year if that was the case, yet got a look that suggested I was quite, quite mad.
Spaceship earth next, then onto Universe of Energy which we all rode together, it was great to go on a ride as a family and Zak was quite happy sitting on my lap looking at everything in there. Then onto Cranium command & bodyward which we didnt' do parent switch on, just both took R on one each. After this we'd planned to go to The Land, Zak however was sleeping in his buggy and strollers are not permitted in there!!!! Bit surprised by this to be honest and much as I valued the CM's suggestion of waking him up we declined and decided to miss this part of EPCOT on this years trip.
We went for a coffee in the Nescafe pavillion then into Honey I shrunk the audience, which we did use parentswitch for and involved Si waiting by the exit with Zak and going into the exit with Rads when we came out, so at least this meant they didn't have to go through the preshow again. Now is it me, or have they toned the part with the mice down? I seem to remember it going on for a lot longer and everyone screaming and jumping out of their seats, yet this time that part only seemed to last a few seconds, this wasn't the only ride I thought had been toned down either.
Next we rode Journey into Imagination with Zak, which he did really seem to enjoy, with the exception of the part that was a bit windy and made him gasp he happily looked at everything and was very happy in there.
Evening now (remember baby in tow makes you a lot slower!) so we wandered round the world showcase, stopping for dinner at Morocco, I love the food there but I'm afraid I don't think it would hurt if they made the effort to be just a little happier! PAL Mickey was great around the world showcase, full of lots of educational facts for Rads (and for me on some occasions!!!) and a lot easier to hear than he was in MGM.
We then sat inbetween Morocco and france to watch The Illuminations, as has often been said, that show is incredible and really never looses it's appeal, I can't think of a better way to end the day. Walked back to the Beach Club which took around 5 minutes and off to bed.
I have to say, although Disney do parentswitch well, I can't help but think that Universal do it better, which is something I never thought I'd say, we so much preferred queueing together which also made the whole experience an awful lot quicker. With an older baby most of the rides would let you queue together, but when you have a teeny in a buggy and don't want to disturb them it's not always possible to go through the queue with it.
3 days in theme parks now and we've not even tried what I've heard are excellent babycare centres as we've not really needed to, all the rest rooms have changing facilities and as we don't heat bottles (just carry bottles of water and add a sachet of powder when needed) we've not yet tried them out. Zak was eating his food when we stopped to eat, or waiting for shows etc. in his buggy as he's too young for the highchairs they provide. As all shops, restaurants and preshows are airconned, even the need to cool off wasn't that prevelent.
Wahay, first Disney day and about time! We're off to MGM today which is always a hit as the 3 of us who make the height restriction are mad about TOT. We did have a fifth person with us as today we took advantage of the free days rental of PAL Mickey.
We wandered along to the jetty and waited a couple of minutes for the boat, definitely a huge bonus of the BCV is the boat transfer, it's just so much nicer than getting on a bus.
First stop Rock 'n' roller coaster for fast passes, then we rode TOT while waiting for our slot, came off and got fast passes for later and rode R&R coaster, Rads felt it was a bit too fast for her though so Si had to ride alone, what happened to my little daredevil??? lol. Parent switch for both TOT, R&R & Star tours worked by giving the person not riding a ticket that admits up to 3 people, the first people go on the ride, then the second riders can go through the fast pass queue, worked well but we so preferred IOA's way as we got to wait in line together whereas this way we were apart for longer. There was also no specific place to wait with baby while the first people are riding. I took Zak through the shop at the end of TOT and waited in the air con by where you collect your ride photos from.
Off to Star Tours, lunch, TOT again & watched the parade then we walked back to the
Beach Club for some swimming at Dunes cove. It took 15-20 minutes to walk and that included stopping for photo opportunity in front ot the Tower. It was Zak's first swim today bless him and he loved floating around in his little seat, so pleased that he's having a great time too. Dunes cove is a lovely quiet pool which never seemed to get too busy.
PAL Mickey was great fun even if his jokes do grate a little by the end of the day LOL, my only critisism is that he's very hard to hear, especially in a loud park like MGM, you do tend to see lots of people walking around holding him to their ear, we must all look like some kind of strage Mickey worshipping sect to an outsider! (but then again, maybe we are?
) He did tell us when queues were low, warned us an hour before the parades and show, and the big one for Rads was that he'd tell her where characters were so she could zoom over there armed with her autograph book. None the less, for all his corny jokes, we couldn't part with him so spoke to the kind lady in the shop about adopting him and we're now the proud parents of the little guy. I wonder if he'll have much info on Alton Towers??? LOLWandered over to the Boardwalk in the evening, we ate at The Big River Brewing company which I'd thoroughly recommend, excellent food and service, the hazelnut crusted chicken is fantastic. We sat outside, Zak in his buggy and watched the Illuminations, what a great way to end the day.
Verdict of the day This is the best place in the world.
Wednesday 21st May
Epcot today, it was just great to be able to walk there, First stop of course was to get past passes for Test track, while we were waiting to ride Rads played in the fountains which is a very simple thing about WDW that she loves doing, if anyone was passing, she was the one fully clothed and soaked to the skin
Rung her out in time to ride Testtrack, again the baby switch worked by Rads & I going straight on and Si being given a ticket to access the fast pass queue when we come out, these tickets always admit up to 3 people so if you have 2 children who can ride, they both get to ride with both parents which is something I think is excellent, just try getting that to happen at a UK theme park, I asked at chessington earlier this year if that was the case, yet got a look that suggested I was quite, quite mad.Spaceship earth next, then onto Universe of Energy which we all rode together, it was great to go on a ride as a family and Zak was quite happy sitting on my lap looking at everything in there. Then onto Cranium command & bodyward which we didnt' do parent switch on, just both took R on one each. After this we'd planned to go to The Land, Zak however was sleeping in his buggy and strollers are not permitted in there!!!! Bit surprised by this to be honest and much as I valued the CM's suggestion of waking him up we declined and decided to miss this part of EPCOT on this years trip.
We went for a coffee in the Nescafe pavillion then into Honey I shrunk the audience, which we did use parentswitch for and involved Si waiting by the exit with Zak and going into the exit with Rads when we came out, so at least this meant they didn't have to go through the preshow again. Now is it me, or have they toned the part with the mice down? I seem to remember it going on for a lot longer and everyone screaming and jumping out of their seats, yet this time that part only seemed to last a few seconds, this wasn't the only ride I thought had been toned down either.
Next we rode Journey into Imagination with Zak, which he did really seem to enjoy, with the exception of the part that was a bit windy and made him gasp he happily looked at everything and was very happy in there.
Evening now (remember baby in tow makes you a lot slower!) so we wandered round the world showcase, stopping for dinner at Morocco, I love the food there but I'm afraid I don't think it would hurt if they made the effort to be just a little happier! PAL Mickey was great around the world showcase, full of lots of educational facts for Rads (and for me on some occasions!!!) and a lot easier to hear than he was in MGM.
We then sat inbetween Morocco and france to watch The Illuminations, as has often been said, that show is incredible and really never looses it's appeal, I can't think of a better way to end the day. Walked back to the Beach Club which took around 5 minutes and off to bed.
I have to say, although Disney do parentswitch well, I can't help but think that Universal do it better, which is something I never thought I'd say, we so much preferred queueing together which also made the whole experience an awful lot quicker. With an older baby most of the rides would let you queue together, but when you have a teeny in a buggy and don't want to disturb them it's not always possible to go through the queue with it.
3 days in theme parks now and we've not even tried what I've heard are excellent babycare centres as we've not really needed to, all the rest rooms have changing facilities and as we don't heat bottles (just carry bottles of water and add a sachet of powder when needed) we've not yet tried them out. Zak was eating his food when we stopped to eat, or waiting for shows etc. in his buggy as he's too young for the highchairs they provide. As all shops, restaurants and preshows are airconned, even the need to cool off wasn't that prevelent.
Can't wait to see Mickey visiting Alton Towers 
