Hello all: We recently completed a great trip to Disney. My wife & I, and our 11 year old daughter and 6 year old son stayed at French Quarter, in room 5345. The room and hotel was absolutely beautifull. This was our first time at this resort and it now our favorite hotel, surpassing Riverside. It was nice being the first ones picked up in the morning by the bus, and nice to get off first before it heads over to Riverside. The grounds were beautiful, everything is really close by, and the pool is great.
Of course, Florida in late June is hot with afternoon storms. The parks were very crowded. French Quarter seemed to be half full. Riverside appeared to be about 3/4 full.
Even with the crowds and the heat, we had no problems whatsoever with getting on the rides that we wanted in the parks. I cannot understand why more people do not use fastpass. Of course I am perfectly happy if others choose to use it.
Monday June 26 - pulled into the resort around 8:30 from Cocoa Beach where we spent the previous weekend (nice beach town). Checked in but the room was not ready. Headed over to Animal Kingdom, arriving around 9:15. Went over and got fastpasses for EE for an hour later. Walked over to the Safari and got in standby. Line was long but only waited about 20 minutes. Went back to EE and my wife and I took turns. EE is a cool ride. Went to Rafiki's planet watch and walked around the park a bit before checking on the room at 1:00. It was ready so we headed back to check in. The hotel's bell services were great in getting our luggage in the room. Hit the pool then went to Boma for dinner. Boma was good but not worth the price in my opinion. The deserts were fantastic though. After dinner went to EPCOT arriving around 7:30. Did SSE, Living Seas, and Mexico before finding a front row seat for Illuminations at 8:45. You read that right, we got front row view arriving only 15 minutes ahead of time. Stood next to a Cowboy's fan, and since I am an Eagles fan, we talked about how T.O. will be a pain to them this year.
Tuesday June 27 - Started off the day with Chef Mickey's for breadfast. Great breakfast, saw all of the characters. Was able to get into MK by 9:00. The rope dropped just before we got in. Went straight to Peter Pan, walked on. Walked into Philharmagic - great show, first time for us. Went to Snow White, five minute wait. Went to Pooh, again only a five minute wait. So basically, by 10:15 we had done most of fantasy land. Went to tomorrowland and got FP for Buzz. Standby was already 70 minutes and much of the line was in the hot sun. Did TTA and COP before FP time for Buzz. Had lunch where I had an interesting conversation with another park guest. Was in line to get a turkey leg at the stand in Tomorrowland. The guy behind me blurted out "Who hates Disneyworld?" He saw the look I gave him and he said that he was tired of the heat, the crowds, and waiting everywhere. I explained that the crowds didn't bother me as we walked on all of the fantasyland rides. He asked what I would do if I finished all of the rides early. I said probably go back to the hotel and swim. I got the impression that he a). was a day pass attendee and b). had never used fastpass. It did start to rain after lunch so we went to Mickey's Toon Town for awhile and then over to ride haunted mansion. Once the rain has started, the line for all of the indoor rides got crazy long. Even small world stretched out the door. We decided to go back to the hotel and rest and swim. Later took the boat to DTD right before another storm came through and shut down the boats. Shopped a bit and returned to the hotel.
Wednesday June 28 - Went to Studios. Since the kids don't like fast rides. I took two tickets and got FP for ToT, and my wife got two FP for RNRC. Did those rides and was done with them by 10:30. My 6 year old is a Star Wars fanatic so took him on Star Tours for the first time. Standby was only 10 minutes. My son liked it so much that we rode it again later on. Walked into the Muppet Movie. Sorceror Mickey was out and got pictures with him. Had our longest wait of our entire visit at the GMR, about a half hour. Forgot to mention that we had lunch at Toy Story Pizza Planet. They have really good pizza. Eventually went back to the hotel mid afternoon for swimming and a nap. Went to Riverside for dinner and swam again in the evening.
Thursday June 29 - Final day - we had checked out first thing then went to EPCOT. After getting in the gates, I took everyones tickets and rand to get FP for Soarin. The return time was for an hour later. We were able to walk on to Living with the Land. Went back to living seas once more before returning to ride Soarin. We all really liked it. It is my daughter's favorite ride now. Then walked onto Journey Into Imagination and Universe of Energy. We had a 1:00 reservation for Le Cellier. Very good lunch. Saw O'Canada. Walked around the world showcase before returning to future world. Took my 6 year old onto the green team for MS. We both liked it. I did not do well on my last visit with the original MS and much prefer the green team version. By this point it was around 3:30. We went back to the hotel and left Disney for another 2 years. Thankfully the vacation is not over as we are visiting with family in the Clearwater area for a week before heading back to Pennsylvania.
Overall impressions:
Likes - French Quarter, new attractions EE and Soarin, all of the beautiful landscaping at French Quarter and EPCOT.
Dislikes - fingerprint reading - this seems to really hold up the lines to get into the parks.
Let me know if anyone has any questions.
Of course, Florida in late June is hot with afternoon storms. The parks were very crowded. French Quarter seemed to be half full. Riverside appeared to be about 3/4 full.
Even with the crowds and the heat, we had no problems whatsoever with getting on the rides that we wanted in the parks. I cannot understand why more people do not use fastpass. Of course I am perfectly happy if others choose to use it.
Monday June 26 - pulled into the resort around 8:30 from Cocoa Beach where we spent the previous weekend (nice beach town). Checked in but the room was not ready. Headed over to Animal Kingdom, arriving around 9:15. Went over and got fastpasses for EE for an hour later. Walked over to the Safari and got in standby. Line was long but only waited about 20 minutes. Went back to EE and my wife and I took turns. EE is a cool ride. Went to Rafiki's planet watch and walked around the park a bit before checking on the room at 1:00. It was ready so we headed back to check in. The hotel's bell services were great in getting our luggage in the room. Hit the pool then went to Boma for dinner. Boma was good but not worth the price in my opinion. The deserts were fantastic though. After dinner went to EPCOT arriving around 7:30. Did SSE, Living Seas, and Mexico before finding a front row seat for Illuminations at 8:45. You read that right, we got front row view arriving only 15 minutes ahead of time. Stood next to a Cowboy's fan, and since I am an Eagles fan, we talked about how T.O. will be a pain to them this year.
Tuesday June 27 - Started off the day with Chef Mickey's for breadfast. Great breakfast, saw all of the characters. Was able to get into MK by 9:00. The rope dropped just before we got in. Went straight to Peter Pan, walked on. Walked into Philharmagic - great show, first time for us. Went to Snow White, five minute wait. Went to Pooh, again only a five minute wait. So basically, by 10:15 we had done most of fantasy land. Went to tomorrowland and got FP for Buzz. Standby was already 70 minutes and much of the line was in the hot sun. Did TTA and COP before FP time for Buzz. Had lunch where I had an interesting conversation with another park guest. Was in line to get a turkey leg at the stand in Tomorrowland. The guy behind me blurted out "Who hates Disneyworld?" He saw the look I gave him and he said that he was tired of the heat, the crowds, and waiting everywhere. I explained that the crowds didn't bother me as we walked on all of the fantasyland rides. He asked what I would do if I finished all of the rides early. I said probably go back to the hotel and swim. I got the impression that he a). was a day pass attendee and b). had never used fastpass. It did start to rain after lunch so we went to Mickey's Toon Town for awhile and then over to ride haunted mansion. Once the rain has started, the line for all of the indoor rides got crazy long. Even small world stretched out the door. We decided to go back to the hotel and rest and swim. Later took the boat to DTD right before another storm came through and shut down the boats. Shopped a bit and returned to the hotel.
Wednesday June 28 - Went to Studios. Since the kids don't like fast rides. I took two tickets and got FP for ToT, and my wife got two FP for RNRC. Did those rides and was done with them by 10:30. My 6 year old is a Star Wars fanatic so took him on Star Tours for the first time. Standby was only 10 minutes. My son liked it so much that we rode it again later on. Walked into the Muppet Movie. Sorceror Mickey was out and got pictures with him. Had our longest wait of our entire visit at the GMR, about a half hour. Forgot to mention that we had lunch at Toy Story Pizza Planet. They have really good pizza. Eventually went back to the hotel mid afternoon for swimming and a nap. Went to Riverside for dinner and swam again in the evening.
Thursday June 29 - Final day - we had checked out first thing then went to EPCOT. After getting in the gates, I took everyones tickets and rand to get FP for Soarin. The return time was for an hour later. We were able to walk on to Living with the Land. Went back to living seas once more before returning to ride Soarin. We all really liked it. It is my daughter's favorite ride now. Then walked onto Journey Into Imagination and Universe of Energy. We had a 1:00 reservation for Le Cellier. Very good lunch. Saw O'Canada. Walked around the world showcase before returning to future world. Took my 6 year old onto the green team for MS. We both liked it. I did not do well on my last visit with the original MS and much prefer the green team version. By this point it was around 3:30. We went back to the hotel and left Disney for another 2 years. Thankfully the vacation is not over as we are visiting with family in the Clearwater area for a week before heading back to Pennsylvania.
Overall impressions:
Likes - French Quarter, new attractions EE and Soarin, all of the beautiful landscaping at French Quarter and EPCOT.
Dislikes - fingerprint reading - this seems to really hold up the lines to get into the parks.
Let me know if anyone has any questions.
got any pictures?