I'll be quick (like our vacation)...
- Monday, MK in the morning and Epcot in the afternoon. Christmas music and decorations everywhere. Booked our FP+'s on very short notice (night before) and got Pirates, HM and Buzz. Crowded still but got on all of those very quickly. Additionally walked on MLF and Mickey's Philharmagic (no smells working). Lots of marathoners still wearing their medals. Went over to EPCOT and got on Soarin', Imagination and then called it a day (after just enjoying the atmosphere).
- Tuesday, 1/9. Got to AK at 8:15, hit the gate at 8:20 (bags left in car, park opens at 9a) and quickly headed to Avatar FOP, still got off the ride at around 11:30p. My super honest opinion (57 y/o male, been to WDW around 20x), not worth it. Maybe a 1 hour wait max would be (the wait as told to us by a cast member was 90 minutes from the sign telling the wait time, he nailed it). The wait sucked the life out of the day and although the attraction is cool (the only rain of the day came while we were inside in the queue. We were fried after that, went back to our rental and then headed over to Hollywood Studios with FP+ for Indiana Jones, Muppets and Fantasmic (not really useful, easy to walk on). DHS was still beautifully decorated for Christmas and after Fantasmic we walked around and were put into the Christmas spirit again. The Star Wars Jedi Academy show was new and improved from our last visit and very entertaining (our kids are college aged and with us, too old for Jedi training). Walked on to Toy Story Mania close to closing, advertising a 45 minute wait, we said what the heck and walked on in 12 minutes.
- Wednesday, 1/10. Morning at MK. It was misting early and we decided to get there around 10:45a and crowds were picking up already as it started to clear out. Christmas decorations pretty much gone today (music on the boat over). Had FP+ for Jungle Cruise, SRS (again) and Tomorrowland Speedway (turned it back after seeing a 15 minute walk on). Went to see Hall of Presidents. Went back to the rental again and returned to EPCOT. Hit Soarin' again (FP), went to dinner at
the restaurant inside Mexico (fantastic) then walked around the world, daughter went single rider on TT (10 min. walk on) and headed home.
Avatar FOP thoughts - the queue was crawling inside the facility and had a very claustrophobic feeling and there were a couple of parts of the ride that my eyes/brain didn't process right. Absolutely would not recommend doing it... far too long of a wait for a ride that was only ok to me. Several of us were complaining that the 3D glasses were slipping off our face (I caught mine once mid ride). There were a couple stomach dropping moments, didn't think they were necessary. I much more enjoyed the moments of smooth flight and pauses.
Soarin' Around the World - I liked the old Soarin' but this one was good... although I didn't enjoy the stomach drop coming over the Great Wall. I think the thrill aspect is really unneeded. It's absolutely a specatular ride without it. We were all the way to the left, row 3... the worst seats (but again, love the attraction).
I didn't love Stitch's Great Escape but was sad that it closed the day we arrived (we didn't get in until Sunday night). Just to throw in my $.02, I though Alien Encounter may have been the greatest attraction of all time (for me, I know opinions vary).
Still pretty disappointed at the number of things not working as they should. Smells missing in Philharmagic and Muppets 3D (plus no water from Fozzie's fake flower), video projection on the water screen not working at Pirates (unless it had been removed)... I felt I noted them at a lot of the attractions, the little things that made them very cool. Having AK missing Kali River Rapids (and EE down several times when I was checking) made the crowds in Pandora even bigger... no real major attractions elsewhere (long waits at Kilimanjaro).
I recognize that these things are very complex... but also for $1400+ for four 3 day park hoppers make me feel that things should be working pretty well (and especially when it's crowded). They can't have attractions shut down (missed going on Splash Mountain down for refurb). Still amazed that PP Flight always has long waits... would have liked to go on for nostalgia (kids 19 and 20) but never any FP available and really long waits.
Good times still... looking forward to my next visit... we have a list of what we are going to do next (didn't get to Navi River Journey, Frozen Ever After).
- Monday, MK in the morning and Epcot in the afternoon. Christmas music and decorations everywhere. Booked our FP+'s on very short notice (night before) and got Pirates, HM and Buzz. Crowded still but got on all of those very quickly. Additionally walked on MLF and Mickey's Philharmagic (no smells working). Lots of marathoners still wearing their medals. Went over to EPCOT and got on Soarin', Imagination and then called it a day (after just enjoying the atmosphere).
- Tuesday, 1/9. Got to AK at 8:15, hit the gate at 8:20 (bags left in car, park opens at 9a) and quickly headed to Avatar FOP, still got off the ride at around 11:30p. My super honest opinion (57 y/o male, been to WDW around 20x), not worth it. Maybe a 1 hour wait max would be (the wait as told to us by a cast member was 90 minutes from the sign telling the wait time, he nailed it). The wait sucked the life out of the day and although the attraction is cool (the only rain of the day came while we were inside in the queue. We were fried after that, went back to our rental and then headed over to Hollywood Studios with FP+ for Indiana Jones, Muppets and Fantasmic (not really useful, easy to walk on). DHS was still beautifully decorated for Christmas and after Fantasmic we walked around and were put into the Christmas spirit again. The Star Wars Jedi Academy show was new and improved from our last visit and very entertaining (our kids are college aged and with us, too old for Jedi training). Walked on to Toy Story Mania close to closing, advertising a 45 minute wait, we said what the heck and walked on in 12 minutes.
- Wednesday, 1/10. Morning at MK. It was misting early and we decided to get there around 10:45a and crowds were picking up already as it started to clear out. Christmas decorations pretty much gone today (music on the boat over). Had FP+ for Jungle Cruise, SRS (again) and Tomorrowland Speedway (turned it back after seeing a 15 minute walk on). Went to see Hall of Presidents. Went back to the rental again and returned to EPCOT. Hit Soarin' again (FP), went to dinner at
the restaurant inside Mexico (fantastic) then walked around the world, daughter went single rider on TT (10 min. walk on) and headed home.
Avatar FOP thoughts - the queue was crawling inside the facility and had a very claustrophobic feeling and there were a couple of parts of the ride that my eyes/brain didn't process right. Absolutely would not recommend doing it... far too long of a wait for a ride that was only ok to me. Several of us were complaining that the 3D glasses were slipping off our face (I caught mine once mid ride). There were a couple stomach dropping moments, didn't think they were necessary. I much more enjoyed the moments of smooth flight and pauses.
Soarin' Around the World - I liked the old Soarin' but this one was good... although I didn't enjoy the stomach drop coming over the Great Wall. I think the thrill aspect is really unneeded. It's absolutely a specatular ride without it. We were all the way to the left, row 3... the worst seats (but again, love the attraction).
I didn't love Stitch's Great Escape but was sad that it closed the day we arrived (we didn't get in until Sunday night). Just to throw in my $.02, I though Alien Encounter may have been the greatest attraction of all time (for me, I know opinions vary).
Still pretty disappointed at the number of things not working as they should. Smells missing in Philharmagic and Muppets 3D (plus no water from Fozzie's fake flower), video projection on the water screen not working at Pirates (unless it had been removed)... I felt I noted them at a lot of the attractions, the little things that made them very cool. Having AK missing Kali River Rapids (and EE down several times when I was checking) made the crowds in Pandora even bigger... no real major attractions elsewhere (long waits at Kilimanjaro).
I recognize that these things are very complex... but also for $1400+ for four 3 day park hoppers make me feel that things should be working pretty well (and especially when it's crowded). They can't have attractions shut down (missed going on Splash Mountain down for refurb). Still amazed that PP Flight always has long waits... would have liked to go on for nostalgia (kids 19 and 20) but never any FP available and really long waits.
Good times still... looking forward to my next visit... we have a list of what we are going to do next (didn't get to Navi River Journey, Frozen Ever After).
