SeattleMom
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2018
- Messages
- 14
THANK YOU to all for providing such great information. Reading this board helped me put together a fantastic trip AND one that allowed for some flexibility, which turned out to be needed! And what we thought was going to kill the trip - a 7pm trip to urgent care the night before with complaints of ear pain (whoever called that was right on the money!)- turned out to be lucky. We obtained antibiotics we wouldn't have known we needed and after two doses she perked way up. Still wore a mask on the planes, and some on the first hour in the park, but we were able to mostly control her cough with medicine.
For those interested and/or wanting the short version, here is our trip in 2 minutes, mostly starring my mom and DD along with Disney characters:
https://gopro.com/v/Z8ZWK7EMXOWk
My biggest learnings were... 1) Wow, everything takes longer than I expected, even when things are running well. For others planning a trip, add time, then add more time. 2) So many characters and princesses were available all over the parks with very little wait throughout the day - use the App for this, it was absolutely wonderful. When my daughter was younger we waited at least an hour to meet a princess...no need this time. We'll never do that again. I LOVE the Disney App!
Day 1 - Tues, June 26
Got to Magic Kingdom around 4:15pm
Wow, that Guest Relations line is LONG. Be prepared if you have a child who qualifies for the Disability Access Service. Buy a cold drink before you get in line. Staff SO kind, though.
Winnie the Pooh
Pirates of the Caribbean w/DAS return time - I had forgotten the bigger drop, but my DD weathered it fine, telling all passengers in the boat, "I suggest that we ALL HOLD ON!"
Dinner at Bengal BBQ - PRO, online ordering! CON, they REALLY need to order more chairs!
Haunted Mansion w/Fastpass
Disney Railroad
It's a Small World w/Fastpass
Together Forever Fireworks
I had also planned to do the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Tarzan's Treehouse, and Toontown before fireworks! I was clearly on drugs. Abandoned them all.
Day 2 - Wed, June 27
DD slept until 11am
Got to DCA just in time for a 12:50 lunch reservation at Carthay Circle.
AMAZING lunch with the Frozen Package. So yummy and remarkably calm and quiet for Disney. We will repeat this when returning.
Barely made it to the pre-seating for 3pm Frozen, meaning we actually missed it but arrived prior to them letting others in so we found great seats.
Frozen was lovely - my daughter's smiles were well worth the cost of lunch and the slow start to the day allowed her to rev up as well.
Monsters, Inc. w/return time but the ride was down
Soarin' w/Fastpass...and it wasn't all that fast. LONG line. "Mommy, is it taking a long time?"
Monsters Inc. now ready!
Toy Story w/Fastpass...so much fun, one of our favorites!
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Radiator Springs w/return time
Sonoma Terrace Paint the Night Reception and Parade - loved having a front row seat and table service with apparently unlimited wine and hot chocolate. Totally relaxing and fun.
Impromptu post-parade nighttime visit to Bug Land - rode the Ladybugs, Heimlich, Flik's Flyers, the bumper cars, and Ladybugs again! One of my favorite hours, absolutely no lines. I was worried my DD would see the fireworks and be bummer we weren't at Magic Kingdom, but this wasn't an issue as they weren't visible.
Day 3 - Thu, June 28
Slept in again
1pm reservation at Catal in Downtown Disney - excellent greek salad
It's a Small World w/Fastpass
Pixar Play Parade
Dumbo w/DAS return time
Pinocchio
Teacups
Peter Pan w/DAS return time
Storybook Boats...Meh. I'd skip this in the future, although Monstro's mouth was fun. : )
Alice in Wonderland
Astro-Orbiter
Nemo w/return time...abandoned even the small wait to make our reservation.
6:10pm Blue Bayou Reservation... yummy, but if this is a difficult $ choice, I'd skip it. The light up ice cubes provided much enjoyment later, though (see video).
Pirates again...the drop did not dissuade DD!
BB package provided great seats for Fantasmic. Lined up by Harbour Galley about 7:45pm. Be prepared for a hour wait on the ground - bring things to occupy your kids.
Together Forever show projected onto water and the fireworks above - way better view than I expected given others' reviews. Definitely worth sticking around.
Day 4 - Fri, June 29
Had to get up "early" to make 11:00am reservation at Lamplight Lounge. We were late because - Wow - Friday security line was much longer than others.
Lunch at Lamplight Lounge., seated on the deck. This would be wonderful for drinks, it was a little impractical for lunch due to the deep sofa seating and relatively far away table. They began running the fireplaces and the heaters about 10 minuntes after we sat down...yikes...it was already 78 degrees and sunny. They initially said they'd turn off the heaters but not the fire as doing so at our table turned off everyone else's table as well. Fifteen minutes later and all the fireplaces were turned off. Lobster nachos were a "just fine" starter (I'm not a huge nacho fan) but my drink was a stand out and delicious to boot (see video). Salmon sandwich was delicious. Service was painfully slow; I think they're still working out the kinks.
Toy Story again w/DAS return time
Disney Junior Dance Party
Scooted over to Magic Kingdom
Disney Railroad to ToonTown
Mickey's House (we'd met Mickey at DCA on Wed, so she didn't feel like we needed to stay for the meet and greet line, thank goodness...we were getting close to flight time)
ToonTown exploration
Tinkerbell Meet and Greet (this was a must do and I was afraid we weren't going to fit it in)
Impromptu Meet and Greet with Alice and Mad Hatter
Nemo ride
...and off to the airport! We allowed way more time than we needed by leaving the park at 4:55pm to get our bags from hotel and get to the airport for a 7:45pm flight. We easily could have spent another hour in the park. Orange County airport was nearly empty.
Now, of course, we want to go back!! Thanks again everyone!
For those interested and/or wanting the short version, here is our trip in 2 minutes, mostly starring my mom and DD along with Disney characters:
https://gopro.com/v/Z8ZWK7EMXOWk
My biggest learnings were... 1) Wow, everything takes longer than I expected, even when things are running well. For others planning a trip, add time, then add more time. 2) So many characters and princesses were available all over the parks with very little wait throughout the day - use the App for this, it was absolutely wonderful. When my daughter was younger we waited at least an hour to meet a princess...no need this time. We'll never do that again. I LOVE the Disney App!
Day 1 - Tues, June 26
Got to Magic Kingdom around 4:15pm
Wow, that Guest Relations line is LONG. Be prepared if you have a child who qualifies for the Disability Access Service. Buy a cold drink before you get in line. Staff SO kind, though.
Winnie the Pooh
Pirates of the Caribbean w/DAS return time - I had forgotten the bigger drop, but my DD weathered it fine, telling all passengers in the boat, "I suggest that we ALL HOLD ON!"
Dinner at Bengal BBQ - PRO, online ordering! CON, they REALLY need to order more chairs!
Haunted Mansion w/Fastpass
Disney Railroad
It's a Small World w/Fastpass
Together Forever Fireworks
I had also planned to do the Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Tarzan's Treehouse, and Toontown before fireworks! I was clearly on drugs. Abandoned them all.
Day 2 - Wed, June 27
DD slept until 11am
Got to DCA just in time for a 12:50 lunch reservation at Carthay Circle.
AMAZING lunch with the Frozen Package. So yummy and remarkably calm and quiet for Disney. We will repeat this when returning.
Barely made it to the pre-seating for 3pm Frozen, meaning we actually missed it but arrived prior to them letting others in so we found great seats.
Frozen was lovely - my daughter's smiles were well worth the cost of lunch and the slow start to the day allowed her to rev up as well.
Monsters, Inc. w/return time but the ride was down
Soarin' w/Fastpass...and it wasn't all that fast. LONG line. "Mommy, is it taking a long time?"
Monsters Inc. now ready!
Toy Story w/Fastpass...so much fun, one of our favorites!
Ariel's Undersea Adventure
Radiator Springs w/return time
Sonoma Terrace Paint the Night Reception and Parade - loved having a front row seat and table service with apparently unlimited wine and hot chocolate. Totally relaxing and fun.
Impromptu post-parade nighttime visit to Bug Land - rode the Ladybugs, Heimlich, Flik's Flyers, the bumper cars, and Ladybugs again! One of my favorite hours, absolutely no lines. I was worried my DD would see the fireworks and be bummer we weren't at Magic Kingdom, but this wasn't an issue as they weren't visible.
Day 3 - Thu, June 28
Slept in again
1pm reservation at Catal in Downtown Disney - excellent greek salad
It's a Small World w/Fastpass
Pixar Play Parade
Dumbo w/DAS return time
Pinocchio
Teacups
Peter Pan w/DAS return time
Storybook Boats...Meh. I'd skip this in the future, although Monstro's mouth was fun. : )
Alice in Wonderland
Astro-Orbiter
Nemo w/return time...abandoned even the small wait to make our reservation.
6:10pm Blue Bayou Reservation... yummy, but if this is a difficult $ choice, I'd skip it. The light up ice cubes provided much enjoyment later, though (see video).
Pirates again...the drop did not dissuade DD!
BB package provided great seats for Fantasmic. Lined up by Harbour Galley about 7:45pm. Be prepared for a hour wait on the ground - bring things to occupy your kids.
Together Forever show projected onto water and the fireworks above - way better view than I expected given others' reviews. Definitely worth sticking around.
Day 4 - Fri, June 29
Had to get up "early" to make 11:00am reservation at Lamplight Lounge. We were late because - Wow - Friday security line was much longer than others.
Lunch at Lamplight Lounge., seated on the deck. This would be wonderful for drinks, it was a little impractical for lunch due to the deep sofa seating and relatively far away table. They began running the fireplaces and the heaters about 10 minuntes after we sat down...yikes...it was already 78 degrees and sunny. They initially said they'd turn off the heaters but not the fire as doing so at our table turned off everyone else's table as well. Fifteen minutes later and all the fireplaces were turned off. Lobster nachos were a "just fine" starter (I'm not a huge nacho fan) but my drink was a stand out and delicious to boot (see video). Salmon sandwich was delicious. Service was painfully slow; I think they're still working out the kinks.
Toy Story again w/DAS return time
Disney Junior Dance Party
Scooted over to Magic Kingdom
Disney Railroad to ToonTown
Mickey's House (we'd met Mickey at DCA on Wed, so she didn't feel like we needed to stay for the meet and greet line, thank goodness...we were getting close to flight time)
ToonTown exploration
Tinkerbell Meet and Greet (this was a must do and I was afraid we weren't going to fit it in)
Impromptu Meet and Greet with Alice and Mad Hatter
Nemo ride
...and off to the airport! We allowed way more time than we needed by leaving the park at 4:55pm to get our bags from hotel and get to the airport for a 7:45pm flight. We easily could have spent another hour in the park. Orange County airport was nearly empty.
Now, of course, we want to go back!! Thanks again everyone!
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