we're back!

[sam_rogers]

we got back this morning from a fantastic trip! I really need to catch up on sleep lol.

Best bits:
1)opening the studios park! we got first ride on rock n roller coaster and 2 free photos!

2) Dine with shamu! it was pricey but excellent being so close to the whales, my degree is in wildlife conservation and i love orcas so i really really enjoyed this!

3) short queue times! all the parks were quiet for pretty much the whole holiday, they weren't even that bad over labour day weekend!

i'll hopefully get round to putting up some pics soon!

 

[igk]

Glad you had a good time!
We were Family of the Day at Epcot last year which was great. We got pics with the characters then driven to Test Track in a 'real' Test Track car, then we got a behind the scenes tour of Mission Space.

 

[sam_rogers]

Glad you had a good time!
We were Family of the Day at Epcot last year which was great. We got pics with the characters then driven to Test Track in a 'real' Test Track car, then we got a behind the scenes tour of Mission Space.

we were the 'happy hollywood couple' lol. do you have any idea how they pick the families to open the parks?

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Glad you had a good time - it's great when lines are short

What time were you at the Studios?

 

[scottishgirl87]

Glad you had a good time!

Can I ask what you thought of All Star Sports???

 

[sam_rogers]

Glad you had a good time - it's great when lines are short

What time were you at the Studios?

we got to the studios for about 8.30 both days we visited there!

Glad you had a good time!

Can I ask what you thought of All Star Sports???

i thought the all star sports was great, we didnt spend a lot of time in the rooms but it was ideal for the 2 of us (might be a bit cramped with 4 people though) the pool was great and the hotel is so close to the parks. the only problem we found was that the choice at the food court was fairly limited, but if you're not planning on eating at the hotel much then its fine! oh and housekeeping left us animals made out of flannels lol

 

[gemmybear83]

Glad you had a great trip can't wait to see some photos!

 

[yummymummywales]

Glad you had a fab trip - we are off in 6 weeks and I can't wait!!

Can I ask a question about Dine with Shamu - I am thinking about booking it as a surprise for DH who loves the whales - how long does it go on for? Does it run at the same time as a show?

Many thanks,

 

[cannp123165]

It sounds like you had a great time!

 

[disneyholic family]

welcome back!! glad to hear you had a nice time!!

 

[Snowy-girls]

Welcome back.Glad you had a lovely time-great for getting picked to open the park .
We loved Dine With Shamu and would thoroughly recommend to anyone .x.

 

[Pegasus928]

Welcome back.
We have Dine with Shamu booked so would appreciate a 'review' and some pics if you have them

 

[jjk]

welcome back

 

[sam_rogers]

Glad you had a fab trip - we are off in 6 weeks and I can't wait!!

Can I ask a question about Dine with Shamu - I am thinking about booking it as a surprise for DH who loves the whales - how long does it go on for? Does it run at the same time as a show?

Many thanks,

I'm not sure about the morning and lunch time reservations but we did ours at 5.30 and there wasnt a show on at the same time. I think we were in there for about an hour and a half. When you are seated you can go and help yourself to the buffet, you can go up as many times as you want and there's loads of choice with the food, I think ryan ate about 3 full plate fulls plus dessert the whale show is about half an hour long but they leave the whales in the pool next to the tables after the show is finished so you can still sit and watch them, which is probably why we were in there for so long lol. We were originally given a table with a rubbish view but we asked to move and they let us go to an empty table right next to the pool!

 

[jayduk]

Welcome home, glad you had a brilliant holiday!!

Did you go to DHS on a Fantasmic day?? How did the crowds differ on a non-fantasmic day? Is it bad enough to avoid on a Fantasmic day and return one night just for Fantasmic?
Also, did you get to see Fantasmic? How long did you have to wait?...I love fantasmic and really want to see it!..thanks.

 

[igk]

we were the 'happy hollywood couple' lol. do you have any idea how they pick the families to open the parks?

I think we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. We were in the middle of the rope drop area i.e. not in the huddle for either TT or Soarin' and I guess we looked 'suitable' - 2 adults, 2 kids, DD wearing Minnie ears and looking cute...
I have to say it did make our day, we were given a bunch of FPs as well.
The only trouble was the weather - it started raining about midday and turned torrential. We left the park in the end about 1:30, but we had Le Cellier ADRs for dinner so came back later. Despite waterproofs/umbrellas we still got soaked - it really was raining, I thought the parking lot was going to flood - though I brought a change of socks with me which I surreptitiously put on once we got to Le Cellier. By this time the park was nearly empty...

 

[sam_rogers]

Welcome home, glad you had a brilliant holiday!!

Did you go to DHS on a Fantasmic day?? How did the crowds differ on a non-fantasmic day? Is it bad enough to avoid on a Fantasmic day and return one night just for Fantasmic?
Also, did you get to see Fantasmic? How long did you have to wait?...I love fantasmic and really want to see it!..thanks.

It was definitely busier on the fantasmic day, it is possible to go to the park just for the evening but make sure you get there early enough. we queued up for it 2 hours before it started because the queue was already starting to get quite long.

 

[sam_rogers]

I think we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. We were in the middle of the rope drop area i.e. not in the huddle for either TT or Soarin' and I guess we looked 'suitable' - 2 adults, 2 kids, DD wearing Minnie ears and looking cute...
I have to say it did make our day, we were given a bunch of FPs as well.
The only trouble was the weather - it started raining about midday and turned torrential. We left the park in the end about 1:30, but we had Le Cellier ADRs for dinner so came back later. Despite waterproofs/umbrellas we still got soaked - it really was raining, I thought the parking lot was going to flood - though I brought a change of socks with me which I surreptitiously put on once we got to Le Cellier. By this time the park was nearly empty...

they pick the studios family before the turnstiles have even opened, we weren't near the front of the queue either, maybe we just got lucky lol