Hello everyone! I'm currently enjoying my Spring Break on an east coast road trip with my dad, so where did we start?? In The Most Magical Place on Earth of course!
Starting at home in Birmingham, AL, we made the 8-10 hr trek to Orlando Friday and got in around 2 AM Saturday morning to check in to All-Star Movies. We woke up at 7 the next morning to go to get to MK rope drop! Full day ahead! When my dad came back to the room with coffee, he surprised me with an early birthday present (my b-day is this Wednesday). I was overly ecstatic (still am) and am humbled and honored to say that I am now an official WDW AP Holder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that, we drove to MK Parking Lot, to the TTC, Monorail to MK, then got there just 10 minutes before the Welcome Show! What a welcome it was! It still gets to me, and for some reason, there was really something about that Welcome Show that brought tears to my eyes. There are only a couple times where I've shed a few tears, this being one of them (the other during World of Color at DCA). Wow, it was just awesome!
We were let in the Park and took our time on Main Street, went to Center Street (one of my all-time favorite relaxing places in WDW). They still played the Dancing and Singing Lessons loop even behind the tarps (facade is under refurb) Then headed to the Bakery to get a small breakfast. That blueberry muffin was DELICIOUS.
We then went over to Adventureland to get away from the crowds rushing to Space Mountain (we were saving Tomorrowland for nighttime). Walked over to Jungle Cruise b/c we rarely do that! It was a walk-on and our skipper was great! I forgot how much longer this version feels than Disneyland's! Next, we rode Pirates (no wait at all!) Still love this ride so much! But it feels so short. After riding DL's back in August, this one feels pretty rushed! The condition of the attraction was ok. Several effects weren't working (Blackbeard's projection was off) and the sound was pretty quiet. But it's an easy fix!
Then we walked to Frontierland for Splash Mountain! Also a walk-on! So far, the crowds weren't bad AT ALL! Many people complain about the quality and broken effects on Splash, but when we rode, most effects were working (unfortunately, the jets that shoot water over the log weren't working). Sure this could use a refurb, but it deserves more credit than usual!
After not getting too soaked on Splash, we took the train to (FINALLY!!!!) Storybook Circus!!!!! Wow, the quality in this section so far is incredible and a direct hit for Imagineering! I mean, animal tracks and peanuts in the ground?? Just SO AWESOME! And Dumbo and Barnstormer look great!!
We headed through Fantasyland to get to Liberty Square for my all-time favorite attraction -- HAUNTED MANSION!!! WOO!!! Walking through Fantasyland, seeing the construction going on over the walls was just amazing. New Fantasyland is truly going to be such an immersive, unique, and quality experience, I just can't wait!! So we got to Mansion and walked right in (after going through the interactive queue). This ride is in nearly perfect condition! I love this ride so much!!! The only thing -- where are the Hidden Mickey plates on the dining table in the Ballroom scene??
Next was my (get this!) FIRST TIME on Country Bear Jamboree! I know, of all the times I've been there and of how obsessed I am with WDW, I can't believe I've never seen the show! Anyways, I finally did and it was so great! Classic, hilarious, and fun! We ate lunch afterwards at Pecos Bill's. By far the BEST burger I've ever had on Disney property!!!!!
On the way out we walked through Adventureland to grab my first Dole Whip! Very, very good! Heading out, we grabbed some Sorcerer's cards for later and then were on our way to DHS!!
In DHS, we went through the shops on Hollywood Bvd. Then we went straight for Tower of Terror. This ride is the absolute best attraction in WDW. Yes, I said Haunted Mansion is my favorite, but ToT is, in all aspects, THE BEST. The theme, the queue, the backstory, the pre-show, the thrills, the excitement, the details, EVERYTHING. LOVE LOVE LOVE this ride! After ToT, we went to Great Movie Ride. As a huge movie guy, this is still one of my favorites for sure! Sure, some scenes could be updated. But riding past Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain or Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca is MAGIC! After this we took a round-trip of the Park and finished it off with Star Tours! The new version is spectacular! The re-rideability aspect and quality detail of this attraction will keep bringing me back again and again, and I just so happen to be a huge Star Wars nerd!
Leaving DHS and taking the bus back to TTC, we decided to take the Monorail from TTC to Epcot for dinner(our car was still parked at MK Parking Lot)! Everything about Epcot (the music, the sights and sounds, the landscaping, oh and this little thing called Spaceship Earth makes my mouth drop every single time I walk in! Also, the Flower and Garden Festival is clearly here and it looks amazing all around the Park! We chose to eat at the new La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico (all table service restaurants were completely booked). The nachos there were pure goodness!!!! To walk off all the great, filling food we just ate, we walked around the complete World Showcase and back to Future World. Seeing the prep work for Illuminations at sunset was really cool! Leaving this beautiful Park was sad, especially as the sun was going down (my favorite time of day at Epcot).
Getting back to MK, my dad and I went straight for Tomorrowland for Carousel of Progress and Peoplemover (two of my favorites ever!). Carousel of Progress is such a classic and should not leave this Park, especially with such a close tie to Walt! It does need a refurb though, it completely deserves it!! I say bring it back to its original state, with Rex Allen's narration and the futuristic look on the 60's! Peoplemover broke down for a few minutes while we were in line (Yep, Spring Break crowds were a-coming! You know it's busy when there's a line for Peoplemover!), so we decided to come back later.
Going back on the Main Street using the backstage pathway, we walked through the shops to kill time during Main Street Electrical Parade and then found a great spot for The Magic, the Memories & You! and Wishes. Grabbing popcorn and two Cokes, we were ready! MM&Y is truly a great show, loved the new Romance segment, and I can't wait to see the future of this technology in the Parks! Wishes is still a magical show that only Disney can do!
Just to try out one mission, we did the Sorcerer's of the MK Adventureland mission, battling Scar. Thoroughly enjoyed this game. The fact that the cards are able to have increasing power and actual meaning, the game has different difficulties, and that you can combine various cards for stronger, different spells was fantastic. Will definitely be back to play that soon.
We wanted to ride Snow White one last time, so we walked through the Castle to do so! I genuinely love this ride and it somewhat makes me cringe that it's leaving for a Meet-and-Greet, but the Seven Dwarves Mine Train is gonna be a truly marvelous attraction and will help transform Fantasyland into a whole different feel! Late 2013/Early 2014, can you come any sooner???
Lastly, we rode Peoplemover and it's such a relaxing, peaceful, classic ride that it just makes me smile thinking about it! After that, we sadly had to leave the Park.. We were extremely exhausted, but it's still so sad to make that last turn-around to see the Castle one last time 'til the next visit.
The next morning, we woke up packed and ready to head out. But, at the last minute, decided to do one last thing: take advantage of our new Annual Passes and make a quick last stop at DHS for ToT! It's my dad's favorite ride and we both really wanted to go just one last time. And it was incredible and thrilling as usual! If any ride is ever close to perfect, this is it!
So now, it was officially time to say goodbye. This trip with my dad was one that I will never forget. It was a trip of many "firsts" (and one "last"). Now having an Annual Pass, I know that I will be able to visit my favorite place on earth, revisiting my favorite attractions and places, further finding and appreciating the many details, and discovering the new all very soon! As I hope to intern here at the Parks one day through the College Program and eventually work as an Imagineer, my love for Disney grows and grows every single time I drive through that welcoming and warm "Walt Disney World: Where Dreams Come True" sign. I thank you all for reading this and hope you can share with me these memories that we've all made in some way or another at some time in our Disney life. I know this is a very long trip report and I apologize for the lack of pictures, but I hope you do enjoy reading my quick one-day magical trip report. Thanks again! See Ya' Real Soon!
Starting at home in Birmingham, AL, we made the 8-10 hr trek to Orlando Friday and got in around 2 AM Saturday morning to check in to All-Star Movies. We woke up at 7 the next morning to go to get to MK rope drop! Full day ahead! When my dad came back to the room with coffee, he surprised me with an early birthday present (my b-day is this Wednesday). I was overly ecstatic (still am) and am humbled and honored to say that I am now an official WDW AP Holder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that, we drove to MK Parking Lot, to the TTC, Monorail to MK, then got there just 10 minutes before the Welcome Show! What a welcome it was! It still gets to me, and for some reason, there was really something about that Welcome Show that brought tears to my eyes. There are only a couple times where I've shed a few tears, this being one of them (the other during World of Color at DCA). Wow, it was just awesome!
We were let in the Park and took our time on Main Street, went to Center Street (one of my all-time favorite relaxing places in WDW). They still played the Dancing and Singing Lessons loop even behind the tarps (facade is under refurb) Then headed to the Bakery to get a small breakfast. That blueberry muffin was DELICIOUS.
We then went over to Adventureland to get away from the crowds rushing to Space Mountain (we were saving Tomorrowland for nighttime). Walked over to Jungle Cruise b/c we rarely do that! It was a walk-on and our skipper was great! I forgot how much longer this version feels than Disneyland's! Next, we rode Pirates (no wait at all!) Still love this ride so much! But it feels so short. After riding DL's back in August, this one feels pretty rushed! The condition of the attraction was ok. Several effects weren't working (Blackbeard's projection was off) and the sound was pretty quiet. But it's an easy fix!
Then we walked to Frontierland for Splash Mountain! Also a walk-on! So far, the crowds weren't bad AT ALL! Many people complain about the quality and broken effects on Splash, but when we rode, most effects were working (unfortunately, the jets that shoot water over the log weren't working). Sure this could use a refurb, but it deserves more credit than usual!
After not getting too soaked on Splash, we took the train to (FINALLY!!!!) Storybook Circus!!!!! Wow, the quality in this section so far is incredible and a direct hit for Imagineering! I mean, animal tracks and peanuts in the ground?? Just SO AWESOME! And Dumbo and Barnstormer look great!!
We headed through Fantasyland to get to Liberty Square for my all-time favorite attraction -- HAUNTED MANSION!!! WOO!!! Walking through Fantasyland, seeing the construction going on over the walls was just amazing. New Fantasyland is truly going to be such an immersive, unique, and quality experience, I just can't wait!! So we got to Mansion and walked right in (after going through the interactive queue). This ride is in nearly perfect condition! I love this ride so much!!! The only thing -- where are the Hidden Mickey plates on the dining table in the Ballroom scene??
Next was my (get this!) FIRST TIME on Country Bear Jamboree! I know, of all the times I've been there and of how obsessed I am with WDW, I can't believe I've never seen the show! Anyways, I finally did and it was so great! Classic, hilarious, and fun! We ate lunch afterwards at Pecos Bill's. By far the BEST burger I've ever had on Disney property!!!!!
On the way out we walked through Adventureland to grab my first Dole Whip! Very, very good! Heading out, we grabbed some Sorcerer's cards for later and then were on our way to DHS!!
In DHS, we went through the shops on Hollywood Bvd. Then we went straight for Tower of Terror. This ride is the absolute best attraction in WDW. Yes, I said Haunted Mansion is my favorite, but ToT is, in all aspects, THE BEST. The theme, the queue, the backstory, the pre-show, the thrills, the excitement, the details, EVERYTHING. LOVE LOVE LOVE this ride! After ToT, we went to Great Movie Ride. As a huge movie guy, this is still one of my favorites for sure! Sure, some scenes could be updated. But riding past Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain or Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca is MAGIC! After this we took a round-trip of the Park and finished it off with Star Tours! The new version is spectacular! The re-rideability aspect and quality detail of this attraction will keep bringing me back again and again, and I just so happen to be a huge Star Wars nerd!
Leaving DHS and taking the bus back to TTC, we decided to take the Monorail from TTC to Epcot for dinner(our car was still parked at MK Parking Lot)! Everything about Epcot (the music, the sights and sounds, the landscaping, oh and this little thing called Spaceship Earth makes my mouth drop every single time I walk in! Also, the Flower and Garden Festival is clearly here and it looks amazing all around the Park! We chose to eat at the new La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico (all table service restaurants were completely booked). The nachos there were pure goodness!!!! To walk off all the great, filling food we just ate, we walked around the complete World Showcase and back to Future World. Seeing the prep work for Illuminations at sunset was really cool! Leaving this beautiful Park was sad, especially as the sun was going down (my favorite time of day at Epcot).
Getting back to MK, my dad and I went straight for Tomorrowland for Carousel of Progress and Peoplemover (two of my favorites ever!). Carousel of Progress is such a classic and should not leave this Park, especially with such a close tie to Walt! It does need a refurb though, it completely deserves it!! I say bring it back to its original state, with Rex Allen's narration and the futuristic look on the 60's! Peoplemover broke down for a few minutes while we were in line (Yep, Spring Break crowds were a-coming! You know it's busy when there's a line for Peoplemover!), so we decided to come back later.
Going back on the Main Street using the backstage pathway, we walked through the shops to kill time during Main Street Electrical Parade and then found a great spot for The Magic, the Memories & You! and Wishes. Grabbing popcorn and two Cokes, we were ready! MM&Y is truly a great show, loved the new Romance segment, and I can't wait to see the future of this technology in the Parks! Wishes is still a magical show that only Disney can do!
Just to try out one mission, we did the Sorcerer's of the MK Adventureland mission, battling Scar. Thoroughly enjoyed this game. The fact that the cards are able to have increasing power and actual meaning, the game has different difficulties, and that you can combine various cards for stronger, different spells was fantastic. Will definitely be back to play that soon.
We wanted to ride Snow White one last time, so we walked through the Castle to do so! I genuinely love this ride and it somewhat makes me cringe that it's leaving for a Meet-and-Greet, but the Seven Dwarves Mine Train is gonna be a truly marvelous attraction and will help transform Fantasyland into a whole different feel! Late 2013/Early 2014, can you come any sooner???
Lastly, we rode Peoplemover and it's such a relaxing, peaceful, classic ride that it just makes me smile thinking about it! After that, we sadly had to leave the Park.. We were extremely exhausted, but it's still so sad to make that last turn-around to see the Castle one last time 'til the next visit.
The next morning, we woke up packed and ready to head out. But, at the last minute, decided to do one last thing: take advantage of our new Annual Passes and make a quick last stop at DHS for ToT! It's my dad's favorite ride and we both really wanted to go just one last time. And it was incredible and thrilling as usual! If any ride is ever close to perfect, this is it!
So now, it was officially time to say goodbye. This trip with my dad was one that I will never forget. It was a trip of many "firsts" (and one "last"). Now having an Annual Pass, I know that I will be able to visit my favorite place on earth, revisiting my favorite attractions and places, further finding and appreciating the many details, and discovering the new all very soon! As I hope to intern here at the Parks one day through the College Program and eventually work as an Imagineer, my love for Disney grows and grows every single time I drive through that welcoming and warm "Walt Disney World: Where Dreams Come True" sign. I thank you all for reading this and hope you can share with me these memories that we've all made in some way or another at some time in our Disney life. I know this is a very long trip report and I apologize for the lack of pictures, but I hope you do enjoy reading my quick one-day magical trip report. Thanks again! See Ya' Real Soon!
