Our First Trip! 2/2-2/7
(Stayed at the Contemporary w/two sons, 5 & 2)
LOVED IT:
+the character voices on the elevators
+ Having one card for room key, park pass and charging food/purchases
+Being on the monorail
+Dinner at Chef Mickeys! First let me say, with small children, buffet style eating is nearly essential. BUt Chef Mickeys was one of the better ones. The food was good, the seating (with priority reservations) was prompt and the characters were great. They spent a lot of time with the kids and there were many charaters.
+E NIght. Can't stress this enough. Even in off season, lines were a problem for us. A 2yr old cannot wait thirty minutes in a line. Buzz Lightyear was really the only ride ok for him on enight, but it was awesome to go with absolutely no line. we rode a bunch of times. It was even nice to stroll uncrowded streets. (on week night it is from 7-10pm which is more doable with kids than 10-1am on weekend)
+ Fast Pass. Awesome. We could get a pass and do some non-wait thing like go to lunch, or a playground (boneyard at Animal Kingdom, shrunk kids movie set at MGM, toon town at MK) then go right on. Just wished they had more Fast Pass rides (Like for DUMBO!)
+Animal Kingdom. A nice change of pace from MK. Safari was fun, Lion King show was GREAT and boneyard was a big hit. Fun Music playing everywhere.
+Loved the way most CM's could tell you about anything park related.
+Loved big rooms at contemporary, having a fridge in room ($10/day) for milk, juice and poptart breakfasts.
COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT:
-Dinner at Crystal Palace in MK. Not only did they not seat us on time, but they seated later Priority res. before us. And they were not very apologetic when it was brought to their attention. But just as important, food wasn't good. Mcuh of it was cold. Sara Lee makes better cheesecake. I guess due to location, they don't have to be good.
-Lunch at Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom. Very expensive in my opinion (as much as dinner at chef and no dessert) and service was poor. The atmosphere is great with waterfalls, animated jungle animals and an occasion rainstorm and food was pretty good, but overall, would skip. If you do go, be sure to have Priority Reservation and try to go off peak hours as well for maybe better service.
-The Intense Volume everywhere. Sitting close to the electric parade I was worried about damage to my childrens hearing. Muppets 3D at MGM was very loud and we walked out of TimeKeeper for the same reason. Mermaid was also loud.
-Transportation within the Kingdom was not stroller friendly. RailRoad must fold stroller or leave behind as well as mainstreet trolleys and cars.
- the holding rooms....a drag ot be let in only to wait in a new room (bear Jamboree, Mermaid, Living Seas among a few)
-Mistake in room reservations at Contemporary. Supposedly guaranteed sonnecting rooms were not. I had to get really upset before they finally agreed to fix it and that was draining. It also resulted in us being as far away from the tower/monorail as possible. (original reervation requested close to tower and included guaranteed connecting rooms)
No Ones Fault: Unseasonable cold weather was very uncomfortable. Not sure if I'd take a chance on February again. Definitely would pack coats next time.
(Stayed at the Contemporary w/two sons, 5 & 2)
LOVED IT:
+the character voices on the elevators
+ Having one card for room key, park pass and charging food/purchases
+Being on the monorail
+Dinner at Chef Mickeys! First let me say, with small children, buffet style eating is nearly essential. BUt Chef Mickeys was one of the better ones. The food was good, the seating (with priority reservations) was prompt and the characters were great. They spent a lot of time with the kids and there were many charaters.
+E NIght. Can't stress this enough. Even in off season, lines were a problem for us. A 2yr old cannot wait thirty minutes in a line. Buzz Lightyear was really the only ride ok for him on enight, but it was awesome to go with absolutely no line. we rode a bunch of times. It was even nice to stroll uncrowded streets. (on week night it is from 7-10pm which is more doable with kids than 10-1am on weekend)
+ Fast Pass. Awesome. We could get a pass and do some non-wait thing like go to lunch, or a playground (boneyard at Animal Kingdom, shrunk kids movie set at MGM, toon town at MK) then go right on. Just wished they had more Fast Pass rides (Like for DUMBO!)
+Animal Kingdom. A nice change of pace from MK. Safari was fun, Lion King show was GREAT and boneyard was a big hit. Fun Music playing everywhere.
+Loved the way most CM's could tell you about anything park related.
+Loved big rooms at contemporary, having a fridge in room ($10/day) for milk, juice and poptart breakfasts.
COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT:
-Dinner at Crystal Palace in MK. Not only did they not seat us on time, but they seated later Priority res. before us. And they were not very apologetic when it was brought to their attention. But just as important, food wasn't good. Mcuh of it was cold. Sara Lee makes better cheesecake. I guess due to location, they don't have to be good.
-Lunch at Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom. Very expensive in my opinion (as much as dinner at chef and no dessert) and service was poor. The atmosphere is great with waterfalls, animated jungle animals and an occasion rainstorm and food was pretty good, but overall, would skip. If you do go, be sure to have Priority Reservation and try to go off peak hours as well for maybe better service.
-The Intense Volume everywhere. Sitting close to the electric parade I was worried about damage to my childrens hearing. Muppets 3D at MGM was very loud and we walked out of TimeKeeper for the same reason. Mermaid was also loud.
-Transportation within the Kingdom was not stroller friendly. RailRoad must fold stroller or leave behind as well as mainstreet trolleys and cars.
- the holding rooms....a drag ot be let in only to wait in a new room (bear Jamboree, Mermaid, Living Seas among a few)
-Mistake in room reservations at Contemporary. Supposedly guaranteed sonnecting rooms were not. I had to get really upset before they finally agreed to fix it and that was draining. It also resulted in us being as far away from the tower/monorail as possible. (original reervation requested close to tower and included guaranteed connecting rooms)
No Ones Fault: Unseasonable cold weather was very uncomfortable. Not sure if I'd take a chance on February again. Definitely would pack coats next time.
