Trip Report I'll stop the World and Melt with you.

It's been two years since my family and I visited WDW. Two long years. Thankfully, my son Sterg and I got a three day Disney fix last summer at Disneyland.

Curiously, this trip report is being written at a time when a lot of negative Disney vibe is emanating from other regions of WDWMagic - as it was two years ago. The Doom & Gloom is running free and wild. I'm just thankful I stayed clear of most of it before our trip because I may have cancelled what turned out to be an amazing time. It is also fortunate that we got this trip in because from the sound of things there may not be a WDW to go to in a few years.

To be truthful, some things that Disney has done has me scratching my head; but this is neither the time nor place to discuss it. Putting that aside - let's get on with the trip report!

We left on Sunday July 21st. Maybe the longest day of my life. The night before, my oldest daughter Alex went to see Taylor Swift in Philadelphia ( about 50 miles away ) and due to a long rain delay she didn't make it home until 2 am. This meant that she would not go to sleep since we were being picked up at 3 am for the drive to Philly airport for our 6 am flight. At least we were supposed to be picked up at 3am.

Here is my Mom ( Yia-Yia )and my youngest daughter Antonia ( Toni ) up and ready at 3 in the morning waiting for our ride. Yia-Yia ( grandmother in Greek ) is 77 years old and joining us for the first time on a Disney adventure. Toni is now almost 12 and the little Yorki-poo in the front is Prince. Prince is short for Prince Charming ( named by Toni ).

When the driver didn't show up by 3:15 I started to worry. I called the limo company at the same time he called me to tell me he was lost. I reeled him in and we were on our way by 3:30. The drive down was nerve wracking as I kept watching the clock and praying for no delays. That is until our driver eased my tension by telling us his son works for Disney and he goes down to the World 4 or 5 times a year. The resulting Disney conversation lasted until we hit the airport around 4:30.

More tension as we went through security. My carry on was stopped in the machine and I was pulled aside. I had put a container of Vitamin C powder in my bag that garnered some attention. Of course, my Mom came over as I was being held and my bag inspected.

"Why didn't you put that in your suitcase, Christo?" she said to me in her Greek accented voice.

"Mom, please go wait over there" I responded.

"No, I want to see what they are doing" Then she followed with this one for the TSA officer.

"It's not drugs, my son doesn't do cocaine!"

OK, I thought. I'm definitely going to be held in some prison cell for the next week.

After the chemical test proved my Mother correct, I was allowed to go on my way. We had time to grab coffee and some food and make it on the Southwest plane to Orlando. A plane full of smiling happy faces! Including these;

This is my wife Val ( not the biggest of Disney fans ), with Yia-Yia in the middle and Alex by the window.

On the other side was yours truly sporting a Hawaiian shirt ( since we were staying at the Poly ), Toni and Sterg.

Before we knew it we were up in the clouds...

 

[fractal]

I find at times that my enjoyment of an attraction is based upon my expectations before hand. I rode EE in 2009 with the expectation of seeing the working Yeti I saw in 2007. I was so upset after riding it that I did not go on again that trip. Going back in 2011, my expectations were lowered and I began to enjoy EE again. First time I saw Monster's laugh floor, my expectations were low based on the bashing it received among "Disney fans" - I was pleasantly surprised and still enjoy it.

Now we get to Stitch. As someone who went on Alien Encounter, I was hugely disappointed when I went on Stitch in 2009. Prior to this trip, it was the first and only time. On this beautiful Friday morning, however, Toni convinced me to try Stitch again.

Well, my expectations were pretty low - I only did it for her sake and we had time to kill before Space Mountain. Despite these very low expectations, I still hated the ride. The story makes little sense and seems to have been written by a 4th grader. It tries way to hard to be funny and fails miserably. Possibly the best way to enjoy SGE is to put in ear plugs and try to appreciate the animatronics and effects - at least until you get to the burp smell. It's just not funny, not scary, and at times very annoying. SGE fell short of my very low expectations. Somebody really needs to do something with this attraction, it is just bad. Very bad. If Disney would bring back Alien Encounter and fix the Yeti I would not need a new attraction for at least 5 years. Enough bashing - onto some pictures.

One of the highlights of SGE was getting a good view of this CM control panel...

Cool AAs. Incoherent story line.

After suffering through this travesty, Toni wanted to go "across the street" to Laugh Floor. It was not as enjoyable as the previous time only because many of the jokes were the same. It seems like an attraction that's good for one time per trip.

"Mike check"...

Finally it was time for Space Mountain FPs. Now here was a ride I could do over and over again!

off we go!

Yes, it's bumpy and dark and gives you the fear of impending decapitation, but man is Space Mountain fun! There really is not any coaster like it in the world ( except in other Disney parks ), even after all these years.

Then's there's a great "post" show. Although I give the Disneyland's version the advantage during the actual ride, WDW's queue and post show is vastly superior.

Back to Earth...

 

[Bob]

I find at times that my enjoyment of an attraction is based upon my expectations before hand. I rode EE in 2009 with the expectation of seeing the working Yeti I saw in 2007. I was so upset after riding it that I did not go on again that trip. Going back in 2011, my expectations were lowered and I began to enjoy EE again. First time I saw Monster's laugh floor, my expectations were low based on the bashing it received among "Disney fans" - I was pleasantly surprised and still enjoy it.

Now we get to Stitch. As someone who went on Alien Encounter, I was hugely disappointed when I went on Stitch in 2009. Prior to this trip, it was the first and only time. On this beautiful Friday morning, however, Toni convinced me to try Stitch again.

Well, my expectations were pretty low - I only did it for her sake and we had time to kill before Space Mountain. Despite these very low expectations, I still hated the ride. The story makes little sense and seems to have been written by a 4 grader. It tries way to hard to be funny and fails miserably. Possibly the best way to enjoy SGE is to put in ear plugs and try to appreciate the animatronics and effects - at least until you get to the burp smell. It's just not funny, not scary, and at times very annoying. SGE fell short of my very low expectations. Somebody really needs to do something with this attraction, it is just bad. Very bad. If Disney would bring back Alien Encounter and fix the Yeti I would not need a new attraction for at least 5 years. Enough bashing - onto some pictures.

One of the highlights of SGE was getting a good view of this CM control panel...

Cool AAs. Incoherent story line.

After suffering through this travesty, Toni wanted to go "across the street" to Laugh Floor. It was not as enjoyable as the previous time only because many of the jokes were the same. It seems like an attraction that's good for one time per trip.

"Mike check"...

Finally it was time for Space Mountain FPs. Now here was a ride I could do over and over again!

off we go!

Yes, it's bumpy and dark and gives you the fear of impending decapitation, but man is Space Mountain fun! There really is not any coaster like it in the world ( except in other Disney parks ), even after all these years.

Then's there's a great "post" show. Although I give the Disneyland's version the advantage during the actual ride, WDW's queue and post show is vastly superior.

Back to Earth...

Awesome SM pics!!

 

[fractal]

We actually spent some time in this arcade and enjoyed this game. It was a simulators that moved, and even blew air on you - very fun!

New Fantasyland was next. First a check on the Mine Coaster progress...

then Storybook circus.

Barnstormer was another first for us.

I liked this view...

View from the top.

Weeee!

Is that it?

What can I say about Barnstormer? It's cute, it's fun but man is it a short ride. Toni called it "the shortest roller coaster ever".

I felt the same about the entire circus area. Very well done, nice theming but I was not compelled to spend much time there. If my kids were younger I might have felt different. Now onto see Ariel.

The castle, the queue are A+

Isn't funny how when you are going through an interactive queue and you want to try some of the effect but can't stand the fact that other people will jump ahead of you? That's how we felt, even though the ride was practically a walk on. Maybe next time we'll spend some time with the little crabs.

On to the ride. I rode the DL version last summer but this was Toni's first time.

What is up with Ariel's sultry eyes?

 

[fractal]

For some reason, I enjoyed JotLM better the second time.

Big Bad Ursula!

Time to kiss de girl. Ok Eric, how do you resist those eyes? I don't remember them looking like that in the movie.

Happy ending!

Now time to see Gaston. We went in long enough to see the pork shank on the menu. Toni laughed and said "Disney must have gotten a good special on shank!"

and before I forget; our Space Mountain pic; complete with goofy looking face. And yes, that is a Fractal shirt. Gift from the kids - they never thought I would actually wear it.

 

[DznyRktekt]

Put me on the list for a Fractal shirt.

 

[fractal]

Toni was starting to get updates from the Poly. They had awoken and made their way to the pool, so we decided to join them.

Making our way out of the park.

Photopass time!

The park was starting to get very crowded. I like the gang flexing their muscles.

I remember how great that frozen lemonade tasted!

These ladies were tremendous! They loved posing with Toni. That's a lot of teeth!

I may have taken more pictures of City Hall than the castle ( or close ).

There was heaps going on down Main Street and I was beginning to regret the decision to leave.

Toni finally drug me out of there. No crowd waiting for the boat.

Land Ho! I was really starting to enjoy the boat transportation more and more.

Back home!

 

[epcotisbest]

Great pics. Still enjoying your trip report. Cool shirt.

 

[Tuvalu]

Hey middle-aged women behind Toni...you are NOT at Typhoon Lagoon!!

 

[thrupaytonseyes]

Hey middle-aged women behind Toni...you are NOT at Typhoon Lagoon!!

Too funny!!

LOVE your shirt! That is great!

 

[ml123_9]

Ha, I love the "Fractal" shirt. You should trademark it and start marketing them. When we rode Little Mermaid, I kept thinking that Ariel was either stoned or drunk.

 

[Gabe1]

And another great morning with Toni, great memories.

Just wondering Disney...Does this look like a young woman in love? She looks like she just fell off a bar stool after one to many Kungaloosh's.

 

[lostpro9het]

Irony is funny....

I like the gang flexing their muscles.

 

[epcotisbest]

Good use of bokeh effect in many of your photos. The smiling face in front of the blurred castle may be the photo of the day.

 

[WDW_Princess24]

Love the fractal shirt! The kids are too funny!

 

[abeachchick]

Gosh your pictures are gorgeous!
And your family is beautiful

 

[fractal]

Friday afternoon was more pool time at the Poly!

Wow! Both teenagers smiling for a picture! I should have got up off my seat for this one.

Now for some Poly pool fish-eye pictures.

Val was telling me to stop walking around the pool taking pictures. "People probably think you are a creeper" she said. Of course I didn't listen, I wanted to capture different viewpoints.

My Mom would again add in "Chisto, what are you going to do with all those pictures?" For some reason that inspired me to do a couple panoramic shots.

I was a man on a mission and could not be stopped.

Finally, when I couldn't take any more clamouring from Val and Yia-Yia - I turned the camera on them. That really got them going. Here are the "girls" on the beach.

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

Toni was starting to get updates from the Poly. They had awoken and made their way to the pool, so we decided to join them.

Making our way out of the park.

What a great shot Fractal I am very impressed with it The depth of field, the composition and lighting are top knotch. The amount of blur is just enough without losing the castle's detail.

I really wish Photopass photographers can do something as fun as this. The standard full Castle shot is just getting old. And the thing I dislike a lot with the way they take picture is the use of Flash when they really don't need to.

But it's really nice to see these pictures Fractal Great job

 

[tongaloosh]

Thank you, THANK YOU for taking such a beautiful shot of Mouse Gear. I used to work there, and stocked that exact area, so it means a lot to me to see it again. Your pictures are absolutely amazing, and I'm loving this trip report!

I remember feeling a bit self-conscious with the tripod all set up. So I just kinda stood at one spot and took shots of different things.

Like I always wanted a night time shot of Mouse Gear. Yes, that's why I went to all the trouble of packing a tripod and carrying it around on this trip.

 

[fractal]

As I said before, the volcano slide at the Poly is a blast. It was unexpectedly fast and twisting. I went down that slide at least 6 or 7 times while the kids doubled or tripled that.

The rest of that afternoon we spent on a rented pontoon boat.


We started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship...

the mate was a mighty sailor man...

the skipper brave and sure.

Well, not really. I nearly crashed the darned thing backing up on the way out! I kept floating backwards while pushing the throttle to go forwards. Meanwhile my crew was in a state of utter panic, which didn't help matters. The look of the CM on the dock watching us was priceless! Eventually I got her going without any collisions.

 

[FigmentFollower]

With the school year starting, I didn't find much time to drop by the website. And now as I am still impressed by your trip report, my super quick weekend is approaching this Friday. Your reporting has made it so much more exciting to go down. Thanks again for your thorough report.