CFioren317
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2006
- Messages
- 198
It is Saturday morning and my son wanted to sleep in so I wanted to put together in a post some of the things that happened the last couple days.
Thursday morning, 6am my son and I leave South Jersey for Orlando. Arrive around noon, rent car from Dollar(right at airport, which is convenient) and we head to our off-site hotel...Best Western Lakeside on 192. We get situated and head out for Hollywood Studios around 1:30. My son wants to do RnRC first, which is fine with me. We get FP for 4:20 and get in stand-by line, which reads 30 minutes. It was not very long, so I thought this seemed pretty accurate. However, after 15 minutes of the line not moving, I figured something must be wrong with the ride, so we left along with some others at the end. We then waited 5 minutes for GMR and walked onto Backlot Tour and they were great as usual. We walked past TSM, and were not surprised to see all FPs gone and a 75 minute wait.
We then hit RnRC using our FP and then went right back as the line read 20 minutes, but it was really only about 10. For some reason, I am in between clicks on my shoulder bar this time for RnRC, so I was thrown around pretty good and felt like I just got done playing football after the second ride. I am a pretty big guy, but I love how Disney makes everything good for all shapes and sizes.
We decided to head over to EPCOT and see a couple things before calling it a night. It was pretty much overcast all day, but not too bad and it really didnt rain much. We got to EPCOT, did SSE, which really changed alot since we saw it in 2006. Loved the little tv's in the cars and the presentation at the end with your pictures. Fun stuff. I still miss Walter Cronkite's voice though, but didn't care too much for Jeremy Lyons so he was no big loss.
After SSE, we saw HISTA, which was different than what I remember as well, but it was fun all the same. At that point, it was 7 pm, and it started to drizzle pretty hard, so we left. Back to the room, I went to pick up some sushi at this really good place on 192 in a shopping center with Subway, Jungle Golf, and a Winn Dixie. Picked up some bananas, cereal, milk, soda, snacks as the room has a nice big refrigerator. The plan for the next day was hit AK for rope drop.
Friday morning, we hit AK around 8:45 and were there for rope drop. It was very humid, but cool, and I was about the sweatiest person in the world. It is a good thing I don't get embarrassed easily, or I would have been yesterday. My shirt was soaked with sweat before we even got our EE fast passes.
We get over to EE and there is a CM telling everyone that the line we were in was for FPs and not the actual ride. We wanted to ride the ride without getting FPs, so we went to the other line, which of course, was the FP line and we were already in the right line. It worked out though, because we got 9:40 FPs and decided to hit Dinosaur while it was walkon. Ride was awesome, then headed back to EE for our 940 FP. We decided to wait 30 minutes to ride again, but the standby was really only about 20. I was feeling a little woozy, and sweaty, so my son rode the single rider while I waited and he was off in about 10 minutes. EE is really well made for all sizes and I was very comfortable, so if you are worried about fitting, I doubt you will have a problem.
By then, it was around 10:15. We then went over to the safari, got 10:50 FPs and I relaxed while my son went to a couple CMs to do some pin trading. I am amazed at how 99% of them are so friendly and nice even after the 7 millionth person comes up and asks them to do a trade. I definitely would not have the patience for that I have to admit.
At 10:50 we did the safari, and my son refuses still to do ITTBAB probably just because I want to do it, so we then head back to the room to relax...looking back, we should have waited to relax.
At 1:30 we head for MK. We get to the TTC around 1:45, ride the monorail, and on the ride, the sky opens up and when we get off around 2, it is a monsoon outside. We wait with the others, stranded in the exit of the monorail at MK, and for about 25 minutes, it does not let up. Finally, we see a little slowing, so we head to the shop for a couple ponchos...$8 a piece...Walt's probably spining in his grave, but it is what it is. The steady rain lasts the next 3 hours, with thunder and lightening, but we gutted it out. First, we dry off on PoC. Then we head over to Philharmagic(which is still incredible) IASW was too crowded, so we headed over to tomorrowland for Buzz. By now, it was around 3:50.
We got FP for Buzz for 4:40, which was nice because the Standby line was 40 minutes and it was outside in the rain. We walked over to Carousel of Progress, which is one of my favorites, and by the time that was done, we went to buzz for FPs. Met our first anal CM, who told us it was 4:38 and we had to stand in the freaking rain and wait until 4:40...of course, we waited 5 minutes for it to get to 4:40, which I pointed out to the guy. I figured, since he was being so exact with his timing, I would too. I understand that they don't want the FP line inside getting all cramped up, but there was no one else around...and it was pouring...let us in the 2 minutes early, or at least right on time. But then I just chalked it up to a guy who has a job, thinks he is more important that he is, and enjoys the power trip he is on so go with the flow. Ride was OK, but not as good as I remember it...maybe because it was the end of the day, we were soaked, and just ready to leave.
Back to the room by 5, looked in the phone book for a good chinese buffet, saw a place called "Oriental Seafood buffet" on TV, which was voted best of Kissimmee or something, and took a relaxing ride over to there. It was good, then turned in for the night.
So it is Saturday morning right now, and I am going to wake up my son and see if he is ready to hit MK. It is open til midnight, so it is probably going to be mobbed, but I want to get over there before it gets too crowded. Also, it looks like we have a window between 10 and 3 for no rain, so it is time to get moving. I'll post more later...another perk of this hotel is free wi-fi...a little slow, but well worth the cost.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday morning, 6am my son and I leave South Jersey for Orlando. Arrive around noon, rent car from Dollar(right at airport, which is convenient) and we head to our off-site hotel...Best Western Lakeside on 192. We get situated and head out for Hollywood Studios around 1:30. My son wants to do RnRC first, which is fine with me. We get FP for 4:20 and get in stand-by line, which reads 30 minutes. It was not very long, so I thought this seemed pretty accurate. However, after 15 minutes of the line not moving, I figured something must be wrong with the ride, so we left along with some others at the end. We then waited 5 minutes for GMR and walked onto Backlot Tour and they were great as usual. We walked past TSM, and were not surprised to see all FPs gone and a 75 minute wait.
We then hit RnRC using our FP and then went right back as the line read 20 minutes, but it was really only about 10. For some reason, I am in between clicks on my shoulder bar this time for RnRC, so I was thrown around pretty good and felt like I just got done playing football after the second ride. I am a pretty big guy, but I love how Disney makes everything good for all shapes and sizes.
We decided to head over to EPCOT and see a couple things before calling it a night. It was pretty much overcast all day, but not too bad and it really didnt rain much. We got to EPCOT, did SSE, which really changed alot since we saw it in 2006. Loved the little tv's in the cars and the presentation at the end with your pictures. Fun stuff. I still miss Walter Cronkite's voice though, but didn't care too much for Jeremy Lyons so he was no big loss.
After SSE, we saw HISTA, which was different than what I remember as well, but it was fun all the same. At that point, it was 7 pm, and it started to drizzle pretty hard, so we left. Back to the room, I went to pick up some sushi at this really good place on 192 in a shopping center with Subway, Jungle Golf, and a Winn Dixie. Picked up some bananas, cereal, milk, soda, snacks as the room has a nice big refrigerator. The plan for the next day was hit AK for rope drop.
Friday morning, we hit AK around 8:45 and were there for rope drop. It was very humid, but cool, and I was about the sweatiest person in the world. It is a good thing I don't get embarrassed easily, or I would have been yesterday. My shirt was soaked with sweat before we even got our EE fast passes.
We get over to EE and there is a CM telling everyone that the line we were in was for FPs and not the actual ride. We wanted to ride the ride without getting FPs, so we went to the other line, which of course, was the FP line and we were already in the right line. It worked out though, because we got 9:40 FPs and decided to hit Dinosaur while it was walkon. Ride was awesome, then headed back to EE for our 940 FP. We decided to wait 30 minutes to ride again, but the standby was really only about 20. I was feeling a little woozy, and sweaty, so my son rode the single rider while I waited and he was off in about 10 minutes. EE is really well made for all sizes and I was very comfortable, so if you are worried about fitting, I doubt you will have a problem.
By then, it was around 10:15. We then went over to the safari, got 10:50 FPs and I relaxed while my son went to a couple CMs to do some pin trading. I am amazed at how 99% of them are so friendly and nice even after the 7 millionth person comes up and asks them to do a trade. I definitely would not have the patience for that I have to admit.
At 10:50 we did the safari, and my son refuses still to do ITTBAB probably just because I want to do it, so we then head back to the room to relax...looking back, we should have waited to relax.
At 1:30 we head for MK. We get to the TTC around 1:45, ride the monorail, and on the ride, the sky opens up and when we get off around 2, it is a monsoon outside. We wait with the others, stranded in the exit of the monorail at MK, and for about 25 minutes, it does not let up. Finally, we see a little slowing, so we head to the shop for a couple ponchos...$8 a piece...Walt's probably spining in his grave, but it is what it is. The steady rain lasts the next 3 hours, with thunder and lightening, but we gutted it out. First, we dry off on PoC. Then we head over to Philharmagic(which is still incredible) IASW was too crowded, so we headed over to tomorrowland for Buzz. By now, it was around 3:50.
We got FP for Buzz for 4:40, which was nice because the Standby line was 40 minutes and it was outside in the rain. We walked over to Carousel of Progress, which is one of my favorites, and by the time that was done, we went to buzz for FPs. Met our first anal CM, who told us it was 4:38 and we had to stand in the freaking rain and wait until 4:40...of course, we waited 5 minutes for it to get to 4:40, which I pointed out to the guy. I figured, since he was being so exact with his timing, I would too. I understand that they don't want the FP line inside getting all cramped up, but there was no one else around...and it was pouring...let us in the 2 minutes early, or at least right on time. But then I just chalked it up to a guy who has a job, thinks he is more important that he is, and enjoys the power trip he is on so go with the flow. Ride was OK, but not as good as I remember it...maybe because it was the end of the day, we were soaked, and just ready to leave.
Back to the room by 5, looked in the phone book for a good chinese buffet, saw a place called "Oriental Seafood buffet" on TV, which was voted best of Kissimmee or something, and took a relaxing ride over to there. It was good, then turned in for the night.
So it is Saturday morning right now, and I am going to wake up my son and see if he is ready to hit MK. It is open til midnight, so it is probably going to be mobbed, but I want to get over there before it gets too crowded. Also, it looks like we have a window between 10 and 3 for no rain, so it is time to get moving. I'll post more later...another perk of this hotel is free wi-fi...a little slow, but well worth the cost.
Thanks for reading.
