Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW July 2011* Top Ten "Things" *

[natebenma]

Hi - Being I have not been to the Magic Kingdom in years where do you suggest we start when we arrive? It will be myself and my 24 year old daughter.

Do we head to one certain location and work our way through?

Best advice is EARLY, EARLY, EARLY- you get more done in the couple of hours after the park opens then you do once most of the guests star arriving around 11 am.

Thrill rides or no?

Space Mountain is probably the most popular ride, so I would suggest doing that early on or getting a Fast Pass.

My family loves the Peter Pan ride, but we would NEVER wait in the stand by line to ride it. Either do that early, or get a Fast Pass. The hourly put-through is pathetic (the number of guests that can ride in an hour), so the line builds very quickly here. It is also a ride that everyone can go on (not fast, dark or scary), so it tends to be popular.

It worked really well for us to grab a FP for Peter Pan (or Space Mountain if you prefer), then we went to Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain before they got too crowded. Both were walk ons early on.

Dumbo is another ride with notorious lines, but I suspect you are not planning on riding this. My family has never been on it.

We always wait to go to lunch until right after we have pulled a FP- it will have time to "steep" while we are eating. Sometimes it will even come due around the time we finish.

Most important thing to remember is that you do not have to use the FP within the time printed on the ticket. You can use it any time after the window opens.

Pirates usually does not have a long wait time, and even if it does, the queue is inside and cool, so it is not too bad. You can usually do this anytime.

We try to get FP for Jungle Cruise, since this line tends to be hot.

Hope some of this info helps. I should be through my MK update by the end of this week.

 

[Seeker615]

Thank you. Yes we love all rides except super spinning ones.

We will head to Space Mountain early and then try to do fast passes as the day goes on.

Looking forward to reading more of your report!

 

[natebenma]

Thank you. Yes we love all rides except super spinning ones.

We will head to Space Mountain early and then try to do fast passes as the day goes on.

Looking forward to reading more of your report!

I can't do the spinning rides, either. I've never been on the Tea Cups and I made the mistake one year of going on Astro Orbiters.

 

[natebenma]

We arrived at Columbia Harbor House, and I think the time to pull the next FP was in 5-7 minutes. BTM or Jungle Cruise? I suggested Jungle Cruise since we had already been on BTM that day. I reminded Mark that there is a passageway between Frontierland and Adventureland right around the Country Bears show. He gave me his order for lunch and off he went.


This meal was going to be a do-over for me. Last year I made a mistake when I ordered my meal here. I had my heart set on the yummy tuna sandwich, so when I got to the register I said “Lighthouse Sandwich, please”. Only problem is, the Lighthouse is the hummus sandwich, the tuna is the Anchor’s Aweigh. Mark asked me why I didn’t just say tuna sandwich.

I don’t know!

This year I correctly ordered the sandwich I wanted. But I made other mistakes…

As soon as I paid, I realized that I had forgotten to order the apple cobbler that Nate really wanted. So I gave him some money and sent him to another line.

Ben wanted chicken tenders. When I ordered them, the CM at the register asked if I wanted the kid’s meal. I am trying to get Ben to cut back on what he eats, so I said “Yes”. When our food was ready, and Ben saw the kid’s meal, he complained that I had ordered him the wrong thing. Went back to the register and explained my mistake. They charged me the difference between the two meals and when I tried to return the original one, they said they couldn’t take it back. So I ended up with two meals. More food! That backfired on me! Exactly the opposite of what I was trying to do!


By the time all of this order chaos was done and our meals were ready, Mark was back with the FPs.

We carried our meals upstairs. I didn’t take any pictures of the dining area this year, but it is worth seeing for those of you who have not eaten there before, so I will post pictures I took last year:

The atmosphere relaxing and there is a lot of interesting Colonial/Nautical décor to look at.


These are the meals we ordered this year. Sorry some of them are blurry

Fried Shrimp (Mark)

Tuna Sandwich (Me)

Mac and Cheese and Apple Cobbler (Nate)

Chicken and Chicken (Ben)

Last year, when we finished our meal at CHH, we took a picture of the FPs we had gathered that morning, when we realized we had been on all 3 Mountains AND we had FP for all 3 Mountains (all before 11:30 am)- it was a Double Triple Mountain Whammy!


This year, our FP collection looked like this:

I got a pocket, got a pocket full of Fast Pass!

Next up: Awesome Afternoon at MK

 

[RAPstar]

Sounds like an awesom MK day so far! I've never been terribly commando, so its always fun to read about people who do. This year I migth have to be a little more since I'm only doing a half day at MK, plus MNSSHP.

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[natebenma]

Sounds like an awesom MK day so far! I've never been terribly commando, so its always fun to read about people who do. This year I migth have to be a little more since I'm only doing a half day at MK, plus MNSSHP.

Can't wait to read more!!

Our morning went really well! Commando does have its price, though- parades and shows are generally sacrificed. I also fear that we have not "hardened" the kids off to lines. Between the Front of the Line staying onsite at Universal, and our collection of FPs, the boys are not accustomed to waiting in line at theme parks.

 

[AnjieNet]

Our morning went really well! Commando does have its price, though- parades and shows are generally sacrificed. I also fear that we have not "hardened" the kids off to lines. Between the Front of the Line staying onsite at Universal, and our collection of FPs, the boys are not accustomed to waiting in line at theme parks.

We have that problem as well. If we have more than a 15 minutes wait for anything, DD7 has a tendency to do the "how much longer" whining. And my DH isn't much more patient either!

About the commando style, we do it to an extent, usually see parades in passing but DD is still into a lot of the shows, so we hit those and sometime sacrifice a second/third ride to do so so we can fit everything it on our "must do" list.

I'll have to look up the menu for CHH. DD doesn't do seafood but it sound like something DH would really enjoy. I know if all else fails DD would go for the chicken too.

 

[SharonK0527]

All caught up and lovin' it!! Glad you were able to surprise the boys with MK for a day

Looking forward to the next update......

 

[natebenma]

We have that problem as well. If we have more than a 15 minutes wait for anything, DD7 has a tendency to do the "how much longer" whining. And my DH isn't much more patient either!

About the commando style, we do it to an extent, usually see parades in passing but DD is still into a lot of the shows, so we hit those and sometime sacrifice a second/third ride to do so so we can fit everything it on our "must do" list.

I'll have to look up the menu for CHH. DD doesn't do seafood but it sound like something DH would really enjoy. I know if all else fails DD would go for the chicken too.

Pretty much the only shows my guys tolerate are the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and Lights Motor Action at Hollywood Studios. I skipped Indiana Jones the past two years so I could see Beauty & the Beast and The Little Mermaid, solo.

I hope you get a chance to try out CHH.

All caught up and lovin' it!! Glad you were able to surprise the boys with MK for a day

Looking forward to the next update......

Our MK was fantastic and it made is so much sweeter that we pulled off the surprise!

 

[natebenma]

Our appetites satisfied, it was time to tour again. But first, since yet another FP window had opened for us, Mark and Nate headed over to BTM while Ben and I proceeded to Pirates to wait for them. We watched a little bit of this show while we waited:

When Mark and Nate arrived, the line was still pretty long, but we decided to ride anyway since we hadn’t been on Pirates yet today. I think the standby took around 25-30 minutes.

I never know how pictures will turnout with the flash shut off, but we were stopped in front of Jack, so this one came out ok. Too bad you can’t see all the treasure surrounding him!


After riding, we had a few more things to do in Adventureland:

1) Purchase souvenir rifle for Ben- he chose the one he wanted, we purchased it and arranged to send it directly home, so we didn’t have to deal with it on the plane. I think shipping was $9.95

2) Dole Whip Float for Nate

3) We cashed in our first FP, for Jungle Cruise

After riding Jungle Cruise we pulled a FP for Jungle Cruise. We heard it was fun at night, and this was something we hoped to do if we could stick it out until after sundown.


The park was starting to get very crowded, and our plan to beat the heat of the afternoon was to enjoy some of the attractions we had FP’ed as we made our way out of the park for our dinner break.


First stop- Peter Pan

Man, the people in the Stand-by Line looked HOT!!!

After our flight over London and Neverland, we decided to take an airconditioned break and watch Mickey’s Philharmagic. This is a really cute 3-D show, where Donald Duck makes an irreverent appearance in a number of popular songs from Disney movies. Mark and I both enjoyed this. The boys claimed they did not. After the show, we pulled a FP for Winnie the Pooh.

Continuing to make our way out of the park, we crossed over into Tomorrowland.

First up, use FP to ride Space Mountain.

Redneck Ride Photo

We had noticed the writing over the ride photos at most of the Universal attractions. It was sporadic at the Disney rides. Once in awhile you could get a picture without the words if you were quick enough.

I believe we had about 20 minutes before we could pull another FP. The next step for us was obvious:

PeopleMover!!! Another leisurely tour through Tomorrowland.

When the ride was over, we split up briefly- Mark and Nate to get Space Mountain FP and Ben and I went to Auntie Gravities for a couple of smoothies (Orange Pineapple and Cappucino).

We took the road less traveled out of Tomorrowland (by the Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace), found ourselves on Main Street, and paused briefly for our only set of Photopass pictures of the trip.

A few days before our trip, I contacted a few Yacht & Beach Club posters who were traveling at the same time as us, to see if they were willing to do a Photopass Share. I found one family who was already planning to preorder the CD, and they agreed to let me in on their account. I don’t have the PP pictures yet, but here is one the photographer offered to take with my camera.

It was sometime between 3:30 and 4 PM. We have a 5 PM dinner reservation at Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort.

It has been a REALLY good day so far!

We have been on Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain (2x), Buzz Lightyear, Mickey’s Philharmagic, Peter Pan, Space Mountain (2x), Peoplemover (2x)

We have FPs for Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise and Winnie the Pooh for when we return to the park.

Next up: The monorail is TOO a ride and Dinner at Kona

 

[Seeker615]

I am really enjoying this trip report. Your trip is pretty much like the one we are taking in 2 1/2 weeks. I am getting some great tips!

 

[SharonK0527]

Your MK day is going so well! We are doing a trip similar to yours in October - focusing on all of the "other" Orlando parks. Reading your trip report is getting me SO excited for our trip!! We have decided to spend 2 days at Disney and are also doing MNSSHP (that will be our only day at MK this trip ).

Looking forward to your next update....

 

[RAPstar]

The monorai IS a ride! Or at least that's what I told myself in 09 when I went resort hopping but no park hopping, lol.

 

[natebenma]

I am really enjoying this trip report. Your trip is pretty much like the one we are taking in 2 1/2 weeks. I am getting some great tips!

I'm glad you are finding my TR helpful. Harry Potter has certainly changed the way a lot of people visit Orlando! How exciting that you trip is so soon. Remind me again where you are staying.

Your MK day is going so well! We are doing a trip similar to yours in October - focusing on all of the "other" Orlando parks. Reading your trip report is getting me SO excited for our trip!! We have decided to spend 2 days at Disney and are also doing MNSSHP (that will be our only day at MK this trip ).

Looking forward to your next update....

This trip was a nice changeup from our recent trips. I'm jealous that you are going to MNSSHP- I have never been, and Halloween is my birthday, so that holiday has always been very special to me!

The monorai IS a ride! Or at least that's what I told myself in 09 when I went resort hopping but no park hopping, lol.

The monorail was definitely part of our strategy of making it through a long, busy day. But I'm not sure we convinced everyone that the monorail is a ride!

 

[Marquibiri]

Excellent TR.

Love the pics!

Marquibiri

 

[Seeker615]

We are staying at the Holiday Inn at the entrance to Universal. I have heard it is a decent hotel. Being we are on a bit of a budget we chose this since it is extemely close to the Studios.

We are taking Mears over to MK for the day.

 

[SharonK0527]

This trip was a nice changeup from our recent trips. I'm jealous that you are going to MNSSHP- I have never been, and Halloween is my birthday, so that holiday has always been very special to me!

If you ever get the chance, you need to go to MNSSHP! We go to Orlando every year and 90% of the time we go in October - DD's birthday, F&W Festival, and MNSSHP. My daughter is going to turn 11 on this trip and she told me her one "must-do" Disney thing this trip is MNSSHP. She absolutely loves it! We enjoy it because they only sell a limited number of tickets so the park isn't crowded. They do a special 'Boo to You' Halloween parade (VERY cute parade) and a special version of "Wishes" called "Hallo-Wishes" done in a Halloween theme. Lots of trick or treat stations and they are very generous with the candy I also love the way the characters get in on the action and they dress up for Halloween too! I have seen Eeyore dressed as a mummy and as a clown, Chip & Dale were dressed as a pirate and a vampire, Pooh was a flowerpot and Piglet was a flower, etc. SOOOOO cute!!! They also have special character meets that you usually don't experience when the park is open on a regular basis. The Halloween party is the only place where we have seen all 7 dwarves together and got to pose with them as a group (WAY cool!). The Princesses always appear with their Princes for signings and they will usually have Cinderella's glass Coach set up somewhere in Fantasyland. They also have some characters that you just don't see very often like Scrooge McDuck, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts and White Rabbit, Maleficent, Wicked Queen from Snow White, Cruella DeVil...lots of villains out and about. It's such a fun time!

It's an awesome evening at MK and I would highly recommend it if you ever have the opportunity to go!

 

[natebenma]

We are staying at the Holiday Inn at the entrance to Universal. I have heard it is a decent hotel. Being we are on a bit of a budget we chose this since it is extemely close to the Studios.

We are taking Mears over to MK for the day.

I'll definitely be interested in hearing about Mears transfer and the Holiday Inn. Always updating the info in my "mental filecabinet". Are you using Mears to/from MCO, too?

If you ever get the chance, you need to go to MNSSHP! We go to Orlando every year and 90% of the time we go in October - DD's birthday, F&W Festival, and MNSSHP. My daughter is going to turn 11 on this trip and she told me her one "must-do" Disney thing this trip is MNSSHP. She absolutely loves it! We enjoy it because they only sell a limited number of tickets so the park isn't crowded. They do a special 'Boo to You' Halloween parade (VERY cute parade) and a special version of "Wishes" called "Hallo-Wishes" done in a Halloween theme. Lots of trick or treat stations and they are very generous with the candy I also love the way the characters get in on the action and they dress up for Halloween too! I have seen Eeyore dressed as a mummy and as a clown, Chip & Dale were dressed as a pirate and a vampire, Pooh was a flowerpot and Piglet was a flower, etc. SOOOOO cute!!! They also have special character meets that you usually don't experience when the park is open on a regular basis. The Halloween party is the only place where we have seen all 7 dwarves together and got to pose with them as a group (WAY cool!). The Princesses always appear with their Princes for signings and they will usually have Cinderella's glass Coach set up somewhere in Fantasyland. They also have some characters that you just don't see very often like Scrooge McDuck, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts and White Rabbit, Maleficent, Wicked Queen from Snow White, Cruella DeVil...lots of villains out and about. It's such a fun time!

It's an awesome evening at MK and I would highly recommend it if you ever have the opportunity to go!

Oh, that sounds like SO much fun!!! I have seen some pictures and the park is decorated so beautifully. I would LOVE to see the characters in costume!

Do you guys dress up, or do you go "This t-shirt is my costume" route?

Excellent TR.

Love the pics!

Marquibiri

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

[natebenma]

Mark read over my updates and now I have to go back and edit.

He reminded me that we rode Big Thunder Mountain again early in the morning- it was still a walkon after Splash and that we pulled a FP for Jungle Cruise immediately after riding it in the afternoon, so that we could try it out at night.

 

[natebenma]

Before we had even left for Florida, Mark and I were (secretly) trying to figure out ways to take breaks that would allow us to prolong our stay at Magic Kingdom into the evening and hopefully avoid meltdowns resulting from exhaustion or overheating. One of our ideas was to have dinner at a monorail resort- take a break away from the park for a couple of hours, ride on the monorail for a bit and enjoy a nice sit down dinner.

I made a reservation for the Kona Cafe for 5 PM when they opened for dinner.

We considered taking the monorail all the way to EPCOT, looping around Future World and then travelling to the Poly, but that would have required quite a few transfers, exits and entrances, so instead, we decided we would ride the resort loop through the whole cycle (MK, CR, TTC, Poly, GF, MK, CR, TTC and Poly). We could just sit back in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy the views!

I think we boarded the monorail sometime around 4 PM.

Here we are pulling away from the station. The clouds looked a little ominous:

While we were on the monorail, Nate asked “What time are we eating?”

“Our reservation is at 5:00”


“Then why did we leave the park???”


Can I tell you that my heart filled with pride when I heard this question!

Mark and I may not have passed along an expertise in mathematics or a love of reading to the boy, but I am proud to discover that he has inherited our Disney Domination DNA. A commando soul lives on in the next generation.

Despite the protestations that we should still be at MK burning up rides, the rest of us recharged as the monorail went ‘round and ‘round.

Next up: Dinner at Kona