Thoughts and observations from trip...1/1 to 1/6

[labattblue]

- Stayed at POP. No complaints. Good bus service. Did not plan on swimming, and it was a good thing as weather was cool(did not arrive until late in day on 1/1). Bus service excellent. Did not use food court at all except to grab something quick for breakfast(croissant, muffin, etc...)

- If I didn't know better, I'd swear all of South America was visiting during our stay. No tour groups, just huge numbers of people.

- Star Wars fireworks at DHS were EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! They are a must see. The only problem is that GMR and TSMM get shut down early because of fireworks, and do not re-open afterwards. Since we had park hoppers and planned on going to see the lights multiple times(see below), we ended up seeing the fireworks 3 times.

- Much bigger crowds than I expected on 1/3 to 1/6. I thought they would thin out come Sunday with all the kids going back to school. Maybe a little, but Sun-Wed were still more crowded than I aniticipated.

- Don't like FP+. I just don't. The old system was much more preferable...especially being able to use accumulated FP, later in the day. I'm sure it will grow on me...eventually.

- Had one of the best Safari experiences ever. Not only saw female lions in full view, but also the male in his glory on top of the rocks.

- Got to see Soarin' on last day prior to expansion/new film. Hopefully the new film and the digital projection will be AWESOME.

- Disney Springs packed during weekday during daylight hours. Can't wait for this project to be completed and hope that eventually the crowds get more evenly distributed.

- Plan was to see lights on 1/2 & 1/3. On 1/2(the streets of america were packed). As it rained on and off all day on 1/3, the lights were a disappointment as a lot of them were out due to the rain. Luckily my DD overheard a CM tell someone they were being extended until 1/6, so we made plans to go back on 1/5, and they were on in all their glory with much lower crowds. Saw them back in 1998 in their original form, and then the last two years. They will be missed.

 

[larryz]

Nice report. Thanks for sharing!

 

[HillPete]

We just got home from Pop, too! I wonder if I saw you in the food court while I was getting coffee one morning this week?

I agree with you about the crowds. Many more people than I was expecting. Especially after school started on Monday.

We also LOVED the Star Wars fireworks. We scored a table in front of Min and Bill's last night just after Fantasmic and watched the fireworks while we ate dinner. Couldn't ask for a better view.

We didn't mind FP+, but I'm pretty sure it is contributing to the much longer wait times in the standby lines. I think more people are actually using FP+ so fewer standby folks get on the rides each hour.

Saw Soarin' three times. Gonna miss that one. We'll have to trek out to California one day just to see it again.

It was great they extended Osborne Lights. We were bummed that our plans didn't allow for a visit with the original closing date. We were thrilled to see them last night, especially after the kids told us they didn't remember seeing them the last time!!

Overall, a chilly, but wonderful trip.

 

[fbarker]

Had one of the best Safari experiences ever. Not only saw female lions in full view, but also the male in his glory on top of the rocks.

What time did you go on the Safari?

 

[labattblue]

Had one of the best Safari experiences ever. Not only saw female lions in full view, but also the male in his glory on top of the rocks.

What time did you go on the Safari?

It was between 10-11. Have been on safari many times and it is truly hit and miss, no matter what the time of day is. Feel lucky to have seen both lions during one ride.

 

[fbarker]

It was between 10-11. Have been on safari many times and it is truly hit and miss, no matter what the time of day is. Feel lucky to have seen both lions during one ride.

oh you were lucky then because that is normally the time its very quite especially for the big cats.

 

[Jennasis]

We just got home from Pop, too! I wonder if I saw you in the food court while I was getting coffee one morning this week?

I agree with you about the crowds. Many more people than I was expecting. Especially after school started on Monday.

We also LOVED the Star Wars fireworks. We scored a table in front of Min and Bill's last night just after Fantasmic and watched the fireworks while we ate dinner. Couldn't ask for a better view.

We didn't mind FP+, but I'm pretty sure it is contributing to the much longer wait times in the standby lines. I think more people are actually using FP+ so fewer standby folks get on the rides each hour.

Saw Soarin' three times. Gonna miss that one. We'll have to trek out to California one day just to see it again.

It was great they extended Osborne Lights. We were bummed that our plans didn't allow for a visit with the original closing date. We were thrilled to see them last night, especially after the kids told us they didn't remember seeing them the last time!!

Overall, a chilly, but wonderful trip.

Soarin' isn't going away. The movie is being changed...at both WDW and Disneyland.

 

[HillPete]

Soarin' isn't going away. The movie is being changed...at both WDW and Disneyland.

It was my understanding that the movie in Disneyland is staying the same. Hence my comment that I would need to go to California to see it again. I know it is staying in WDW with a new movie and additional theatres. I will miss the old movie.

 

[mom2rtk]

It was my understanding that the movie in Disneyland is staying the same. Hence my comment that I would need to go to California to see it again. I know it is staying in WDW with a new movie and additional theatres. I will miss the old movie.

I think they are both changing.

 

[Dis_08]

Sounds like we were in the same parks on many of the same days. I thought it was hot by comparison to my trip this time of year in 2012....and the crowds were insane. I really dislike FP+, and there were things we used to do multiple times a day (like buzz) that we were only able to do when we had a FP for it.

 

[larryz]

It was my understanding that the movie in Disneyland is staying the same. Hence my comment that I would need to go to California to see it again. I know it is staying in WDW with a new movie and additional theatres. I will miss the old movie.

You can still see it, albeit on YouTube...

 

[mickeymom629]

Is there a recommended viewing area for the Star Wars fireworks? I see there's no FP+ for it (or I was too late to grab any for my trip in 2 weeks).

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

We saw them on their debut night... We stood at the very end (or beginning depending on your point of view) of Hollywood Blvd. Just in front of the very first souvenir kiosk after the entrance. I thought the view with the Blvd framing the fireworks was amazing! Don't know if we missed any side bursts by standing there, but it really was spectacular. Very "old" Hollywood glamor, etc.
It was also perfect that we were able to exit very shortly after fw were over. We took the bus back and waited less than 5 minutes to board. In fact, fw to resort room was 20 minutes!

 

[ThumpersMommy]

Thanks for your report. Glad you had a good time. Sorry to see the Osborne lights end too.

 

[labattblue]

Is there a recommended viewing area for the Star Wars fireworks? I see there's no FP+ for it (or I was too late to grab any for my trip in 2 weeks).

We stood in the area where the hat used to be. The area between the hat and where the palm trees are. You don't want to be behind the palm trees as they will obstruct your view.