This is my first trip report and, incidentally, my first post. Got back yesterday and wanted to write about it, just for the heck of it. It will probably interest no one but me, so feel free to not read it. I won't be offended.
10/27 Check-in, Disney-MGM Studios
GOOD: Met boyfriend (referred to from now on as Mike) at Polynesian after interminable shuttle bus ride from airport. Checked in and saw that, even though I didn't ask or paid for it, our room had a balcony with a lagoon view. Yay! Time was limited, so we rushed through MGM. Walked right onto TOT (A far cry from the two-hour wait I endured the week it opened in July 1994) and Rock N Roller Coaster.
BAD: Spent the rest of the afternoon bemoaning how unimpressive MGM is. We got a kick out of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and I still love Muppets 3-D, but everything else seemed pretty lame. The Great Movie Ride needs something. I heard rumors it's going to be refurbished. Let's hope so. And the backstage tour was pretty sorry. The CM actually pointed out a car from "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag." This is Disney! Surely they have better props than that! Granted, MGM is my least favorite park, but it just seemed a little dumpy.
10/28 Animal Kingdom, MNSSHP
GOOD: Tonga toast. 'Nuff said.
I love Animal Kingdom, although it still doesn't feel like a full park. The place just looks great, however, with all the landscaping and architecture so detailed and evocative. The safari was nice, with lots of animals visible but not too terribly active. Flights of Wonder was an impressive surprise and Dinosaur was better than I remembered it to be. Just exploring the trails was very relaxing. The bats in Asia were fascinating, as were the gorillas and hippos in Africa.
Now let me take a minute to extoll the virtues of Everest. Man, that looks like it's going to be great!! Most of the track seemed to be in place and it looks like one wild ride. Can't wait for that baby to open.
BAD: Kali River Rapids disappointed in a big way. The queue area was lovely and detailed. The ride was short and lacked themeing. A few statues spouting water and a burning log do not a Disney attraction make.
GOOD: I got MNSSHP tickets just so I could go on most of the rides with no lines. (Think of it as an expensive E-Ticket Night.) I'm a Halloween nut, so it was fun seeing jack o'lanterns everywhere. My favorite was in the hearse carriage outside the Haunted Mansion. The kids in costume were cute and fireworks were impressive. The best part was the storyteller and the Dapper Dans on the Liberty Belle. It was awesome to be sitting on deck listening to an eerie story as we trolled the misty waters of the Rivers of America.
BAD: No Headless Horseman!!! We had a perfect spot in Liberty Square and he never showed. What gives?!?
10/29 Epcot
GOOD: Had my morning coffee on the balcony while Mickey's "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom" recording echoed across the lagoon. Fantastic! Once we got to Epcot, we headed straight to Test Track. It ruled!!! I was giggling like a schoolgirl by the time we zoomed out and around the building.
The manatees at Living Seas were cool. I want one. And I was pleased to see that Body Wars was closed. Not my favorite place. Are they turning it into something new or just refurbishing it? Mike and I think a weather pavilion would be awesome. They could have a ride that takes you through a hurricane, a blizzard, a tornado, a drought. Could be mighty fun.
ON THE FENCE: Mission: Space. It was inventive and interesting and very unusual. Just not my thing. I felt so claustrophobic with that control panel crammed in front of me. But it was Mike's favorite thing in the park. Oh, and I missed my cue to press the orange button, which is not a good thing when you've been dubbed a commander by Gary Sinise.
GOOD: I enjoyed strolling World Showcase. I've been there so many times, I skip all the movies. I only ride the Maelstrom, which is silly fun, and see the American Experience, because I'm a sucker for patriotic stuff and I get a kick out of seeing all the bad parts of American history skimmed over. (All-time favorite: "The country grew with the help of immigrants." Yeah, they were called sweat shops.)
I had no idea the Food and Wine Fest was going on, and it is now my new best friend. I had (in order) creme brulee, raspberry shuss, coffee, escargot, goulash, Merlot, some spicy Chinese chicken thing, beef enchilada, sake, blackened catfish and half a bottle of Pepto Bismol back at the hotel.
BAD: Had PS at Coral Reef at Living Seas. The pictures make it look like you're surrounded by the aquarium, when it's actually just partly along one wall. Food kind of seemed overpriced and there were so many kids there, which is surprising for a restaurant that costs that much. It was a disappointment and both Mike and I regretted not eating in France. Next time.
10/30 Magic Kingdom
GOOD: The usuals: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Buzz. Since we had done a lot during MNSSHP, we had time to go to Tom Sawyer's Island and sit on the rocking chairs and watch the people and birds go by. That park is probably my favorite place on earth. I could just sit there all day soaking up the atmosphere and be content.
BAD: Crowds were pretty horrible, which was a surprise since there weren't any during the previous days. It got worse after I had the bright idea of going to Main Street for dinner during the parade. Strollers everywhere. No room at all during the Wishes fireworks. It was a July-type crowd.
Fantasyland. While I didn't like 20K, I loved the lagoon and it's so sad to see it closed. They now have a damn fence that runs the length of the land. It felt very cramped in that line.
Overall: Nice trip. Not the best, but fun. The hotel room was a nice surprise and it was just great to be back there after a six-year absence. Not sure what it is, but something about WDW is good for the soul. I feel like a kid again and very sad when I leave. But I got an annual pass for the hotel discount and Mike and I agreed it would be stupid not to take advantage of it. So, WDW, I'll see you in October 2005!
P.S. Sorry this was insanely long.
10/27 Check-in, Disney-MGM Studios
GOOD: Met boyfriend (referred to from now on as Mike) at Polynesian after interminable shuttle bus ride from airport. Checked in and saw that, even though I didn't ask or paid for it, our room had a balcony with a lagoon view. Yay! Time was limited, so we rushed through MGM. Walked right onto TOT (A far cry from the two-hour wait I endured the week it opened in July 1994) and Rock N Roller Coaster.
BAD: Spent the rest of the afternoon bemoaning how unimpressive MGM is. We got a kick out of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and I still love Muppets 3-D, but everything else seemed pretty lame. The Great Movie Ride needs something. I heard rumors it's going to be refurbished. Let's hope so. And the backstage tour was pretty sorry. The CM actually pointed out a car from "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag." This is Disney! Surely they have better props than that! Granted, MGM is my least favorite park, but it just seemed a little dumpy.
10/28 Animal Kingdom, MNSSHP
GOOD: Tonga toast. 'Nuff said.
I love Animal Kingdom, although it still doesn't feel like a full park. The place just looks great, however, with all the landscaping and architecture so detailed and evocative. The safari was nice, with lots of animals visible but not too terribly active. Flights of Wonder was an impressive surprise and Dinosaur was better than I remembered it to be. Just exploring the trails was very relaxing. The bats in Asia were fascinating, as were the gorillas and hippos in Africa.
Now let me take a minute to extoll the virtues of Everest. Man, that looks like it's going to be great!! Most of the track seemed to be in place and it looks like one wild ride. Can't wait for that baby to open.
BAD: Kali River Rapids disappointed in a big way. The queue area was lovely and detailed. The ride was short and lacked themeing. A few statues spouting water and a burning log do not a Disney attraction make.
GOOD: I got MNSSHP tickets just so I could go on most of the rides with no lines. (Think of it as an expensive E-Ticket Night.) I'm a Halloween nut, so it was fun seeing jack o'lanterns everywhere. My favorite was in the hearse carriage outside the Haunted Mansion. The kids in costume were cute and fireworks were impressive. The best part was the storyteller and the Dapper Dans on the Liberty Belle. It was awesome to be sitting on deck listening to an eerie story as we trolled the misty waters of the Rivers of America.
BAD: No Headless Horseman!!! We had a perfect spot in Liberty Square and he never showed. What gives?!?
10/29 Epcot
GOOD: Had my morning coffee on the balcony while Mickey's "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom" recording echoed across the lagoon. Fantastic! Once we got to Epcot, we headed straight to Test Track. It ruled!!! I was giggling like a schoolgirl by the time we zoomed out and around the building.
The manatees at Living Seas were cool. I want one. And I was pleased to see that Body Wars was closed. Not my favorite place. Are they turning it into something new or just refurbishing it? Mike and I think a weather pavilion would be awesome. They could have a ride that takes you through a hurricane, a blizzard, a tornado, a drought. Could be mighty fun.
ON THE FENCE: Mission: Space. It was inventive and interesting and very unusual. Just not my thing. I felt so claustrophobic with that control panel crammed in front of me. But it was Mike's favorite thing in the park. Oh, and I missed my cue to press the orange button, which is not a good thing when you've been dubbed a commander by Gary Sinise.
GOOD: I enjoyed strolling World Showcase. I've been there so many times, I skip all the movies. I only ride the Maelstrom, which is silly fun, and see the American Experience, because I'm a sucker for patriotic stuff and I get a kick out of seeing all the bad parts of American history skimmed over. (All-time favorite: "The country grew with the help of immigrants." Yeah, they were called sweat shops.)
I had no idea the Food and Wine Fest was going on, and it is now my new best friend. I had (in order) creme brulee, raspberry shuss, coffee, escargot, goulash, Merlot, some spicy Chinese chicken thing, beef enchilada, sake, blackened catfish and half a bottle of Pepto Bismol back at the hotel.
BAD: Had PS at Coral Reef at Living Seas. The pictures make it look like you're surrounded by the aquarium, when it's actually just partly along one wall. Food kind of seemed overpriced and there were so many kids there, which is surprising for a restaurant that costs that much. It was a disappointment and both Mike and I regretted not eating in France. Next time.
10/30 Magic Kingdom
GOOD: The usuals: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Buzz. Since we had done a lot during MNSSHP, we had time to go to Tom Sawyer's Island and sit on the rocking chairs and watch the people and birds go by. That park is probably my favorite place on earth. I could just sit there all day soaking up the atmosphere and be content.
BAD: Crowds were pretty horrible, which was a surprise since there weren't any during the previous days. It got worse after I had the bright idea of going to Main Street for dinner during the parade. Strollers everywhere. No room at all during the Wishes fireworks. It was a July-type crowd.
Fantasyland. While I didn't like 20K, I loved the lagoon and it's so sad to see it closed. They now have a damn fence that runs the length of the land. It felt very cramped in that line.
Overall: Nice trip. Not the best, but fun. The hotel room was a nice surprise and it was just great to be back there after a six-year absence. Not sure what it is, but something about WDW is good for the soul. I feel like a kid again and very sad when I leave. But I got an annual pass for the hotel discount and Mike and I agreed it would be stupid not to take advantage of it. So, WDW, I'll see you in October 2005!
P.S. Sorry this was insanely long.
