I wanted to write something summing up our experience of 14 nights at AKL but am not going to go in to daily details. Instead I have been thinking of the various aspects of the trips and will write a brief summary of each
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Trip Report Not a Report But a Review of Last 2 Weeks
- Thread starter SpiteriFam
- Start date
The Hotel
Coming all the way from the UK it was not going to be a short trip. We decided from the start we would be staying for 14 nights and with it being our first time we decided we wanted to stay in a Disney Hotel.
Animal Kingdom Lodge was chosen for a number of reasons. It came with the Dining Plan which was a big factor in our decision. With an 8 year old and a 4 year old we anticipated needing somewhere we could spend a fair amount of downtime and we didn't mind not being on top of MK given the length of our stay.
Upon arrival we were told we had a bunk bed room which was ideal. We'd requested this with our TA but I was nervous as to whether we would get the bunks or not. In addition to this we were told we had a partial Savanna view which was a great bonus. We hadn't considered paying the extra for the view so this was a treat.
Observations on room:
We liked the room we were given as it was large enough for 4 of us to all move around in and make home for 2 weeks.
The beds and pillows were very comfortable
The shower was excellent-thank God
The walls seem solid and there was little noise from next door
There is very little storage space for clothes which is annoying. It meant we had to keep a lot of clothes stacked on chairs which is not ideal.
I assume there are no lights on the balcony as it would confuse the animals at night? This is the only reason I can think of to explain why we spent every night squinting at each other in darkness
Leisure Facilities
The pool was great and the water was a lovely temperature. I would however say it's no surprise they are doing the pool renovation as the floor was very rough and broken in places. I got a few small cuts on my toes from the broken patches.
Keeping the pool open until 11pm is good, it's just a shame the pool bar closed 1 hour prior.
The hot tub was unbelievable. I've never been in one so warm and we nearly boiled ourselves a few times.
The gym was perfectly adequate. I only used it a few times but it never seemed to be busy.
Our kids loved the arcade which again didn't seem too busy.
The Mara
We ate there a lot and found it to be a perfectly acceptable QS outlet.
The pizza bread was a big hit with our daughter and the chicken nuggets with the boy.
The Bounty Platter can easily be split between an adult and a child at breakfast
By using our resort mugs we rarely had to buy drinks with our meals. We therefore picked up desert/pastries/fruit, futher stretching the value of our dining plan credits.
Special mention to the staff who were very helpful and pleasant.
Boma
Obviously this place is a different level to The Mara.
The Ribs were a highlight along with the other meets at the carving station
The line at dinner was far better than that at breakfast.
We must be the only people in the world who don't like Zebra Domes
Kids Activities
We didn't do much of them but our daughter did enjoy the activities she took part in.
Toasting marshmallows was fun for the kids. There's no charge and it was done daily (weather permitting).
Movies under the stars become movies within the hotel from Sept 1st but either way was good. 8:30 was a slightly late start time after a long day but fun all the same.
Whilst the kids enjoyed it all (which is the main thing) I didn't think the activities schedule was the best. It's about on par with standard European hotels which obviously cost far less and carry lower expectation levels
Location
The location really wasn't a problem. Getting to AK, Epcot, HS, BB was quick and easy. Yes, MK, TL & DS takes slightly longer but to be honest we barely noticed.
We only waited a long while for one bus and that was MK-AKL. Quite often our wait was <5 minutes. This included nights after shows
It's good they have a board up with anticipated wait times when boarding at the hotel. I don't however understand why they do not have the same at the parks.
We used UBER when going to other resorts and waterparks as we could not be bothered with transfers. I believe all trips were $8-12 and the cars were there almost immediately.
All in all a very nice hotel with the wow factor when walking in to reception. We didn't actually use the facilities as much as we expected to but when we did they were all good. The concierge desk was great when required and nothing seemed too much for people.
Coming all the way from the UK it was not going to be a short trip. We decided from the start we would be staying for 14 nights and with it being our first time we decided we wanted to stay in a Disney Hotel.
Animal Kingdom Lodge was chosen for a number of reasons. It came with the Dining Plan which was a big factor in our decision. With an 8 year old and a 4 year old we anticipated needing somewhere we could spend a fair amount of downtime and we didn't mind not being on top of MK given the length of our stay.
Upon arrival we were told we had a bunk bed room which was ideal. We'd requested this with our TA but I was nervous as to whether we would get the bunks or not. In addition to this we were told we had a partial Savanna view which was a great bonus. We hadn't considered paying the extra for the view so this was a treat.
Observations on room:
We liked the room we were given as it was large enough for 4 of us to all move around in and make home for 2 weeks.
The beds and pillows were very comfortable
The shower was excellent-thank God
The walls seem solid and there was little noise from next door
There is very little storage space for clothes which is annoying. It meant we had to keep a lot of clothes stacked on chairs which is not ideal.
I assume there are no lights on the balcony as it would confuse the animals at night? This is the only reason I can think of to explain why we spent every night squinting at each other in darkness
Leisure Facilities
The pool was great and the water was a lovely temperature. I would however say it's no surprise they are doing the pool renovation as the floor was very rough and broken in places. I got a few small cuts on my toes from the broken patches.
Keeping the pool open until 11pm is good, it's just a shame the pool bar closed 1 hour prior.
The hot tub was unbelievable. I've never been in one so warm and we nearly boiled ourselves a few times.
The gym was perfectly adequate. I only used it a few times but it never seemed to be busy.
Our kids loved the arcade which again didn't seem too busy.
The Mara
We ate there a lot and found it to be a perfectly acceptable QS outlet.
The pizza bread was a big hit with our daughter and the chicken nuggets with the boy.
The Bounty Platter can easily be split between an adult and a child at breakfast
By using our resort mugs we rarely had to buy drinks with our meals. We therefore picked up desert/pastries/fruit, futher stretching the value of our dining plan credits.
Special mention to the staff who were very helpful and pleasant.
Boma
Obviously this place is a different level to The Mara.
The Ribs were a highlight along with the other meets at the carving station
The line at dinner was far better than that at breakfast.
We must be the only people in the world who don't like Zebra Domes
Kids Activities
We didn't do much of them but our daughter did enjoy the activities she took part in.
Toasting marshmallows was fun for the kids. There's no charge and it was done daily (weather permitting).
Movies under the stars become movies within the hotel from Sept 1st but either way was good. 8:30 was a slightly late start time after a long day but fun all the same.
Whilst the kids enjoyed it all (which is the main thing) I didn't think the activities schedule was the best. It's about on par with standard European hotels which obviously cost far less and carry lower expectation levels
Location
The location really wasn't a problem. Getting to AK, Epcot, HS, BB was quick and easy. Yes, MK, TL & DS takes slightly longer but to be honest we barely noticed.
We only waited a long while for one bus and that was MK-AKL. Quite often our wait was <5 minutes. This included nights after shows
It's good they have a board up with anticipated wait times when boarding at the hotel. I don't however understand why they do not have the same at the parks.
We used UBER when going to other resorts and waterparks as we could not be bothered with transfers. I believe all trips were $8-12 and the cars were there almost immediately.
All in all a very nice hotel with the wow factor when walking in to reception. We didn't actually use the facilities as much as we expected to but when we did they were all good. The concierge desk was great when required and nothing seemed too much for people.
Magic Kingdom
We visited a number of times starting on the 21st of August. The visits were generally for about 4-5 hours at a time.
One Tuesday morning we arrived just before 9am so saw the nice little opening show. As people flocked to the biggest ride we made our way through Fantasyland and in to the Dumbo area picking off rides as we went. All were almost walk on so we got off to a great start not having to wait in lines.
Throughout all our time at MK (and other parks) we found the lines to be fine. We used FP+ later on in the morning/afternoon and booked extras once our 3 had been used. Using the passes on the biggest rides and then filling time with the lesser attractions meant we spent a minimal amount of time waiting.
Over the few visits we made the favorites included:
Peter Pan
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
BTMR
It's a Small World
Carousel of Progress
Although it wasn't a great show our daughter like Monster Inc as she was chosen to be Boo.
Our daughter did BBB which she loved and our son did the Pirates League which again was a hit. They're probably a rip off given how expensive there were but as a 1 off you can live with it.
For some reason MK seemed to get hotter than anywhere else we went. We like the heat so weren't too concerned but it really was brutal at times.
We were surprisingly underwhelmed by 7DMT. Given how the line was continually massive we expected more from the ride. Perhaps it was how short it was.
Due to various reasons we never got to stay for the night show which was a shame.
We visited a number of times starting on the 21st of August. The visits were generally for about 4-5 hours at a time.
One Tuesday morning we arrived just before 9am so saw the nice little opening show. As people flocked to the biggest ride we made our way through Fantasyland and in to the Dumbo area picking off rides as we went. All were almost walk on so we got off to a great start not having to wait in lines.
Throughout all our time at MK (and other parks) we found the lines to be fine. We used FP+ later on in the morning/afternoon and booked extras once our 3 had been used. Using the passes on the biggest rides and then filling time with the lesser attractions meant we spent a minimal amount of time waiting.
Over the few visits we made the favorites included:
Peter Pan
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
BTMR
It's a Small World
Carousel of Progress
Although it wasn't a great show our daughter like Monster Inc as she was chosen to be Boo.
Our daughter did BBB which she loved and our son did the Pirates League which again was a hit. They're probably a rip off given how expensive there were but as a 1 off you can live with it.
For some reason MK seemed to get hotter than anywhere else we went. We like the heat so weren't too concerned but it really was brutal at times.
We were surprisingly underwhelmed by 7DMT. Given how the line was continually massive we expected more from the ride. Perhaps it was how short it was.
Due to various reasons we never got to stay for the night show which was a shame.
Epcot
This was our daughters favourite park. We visited by day and by night over the 2 weeks.
Soarin was a firm family favourite especially the first time we rode it. The thrill level was just right for our 4yo first time around. On our second visit it actually ended up being the only time we had to wait >30mins. This wasn't an issue due to the AC in doors.
Mission Space was a success with the 8yo on the Orange side (more intense side). Neither of us felt sick though apparently some people do feel rough afterwards. It's no good for anyone who is claustrophobic!
Spaceship Earth was a nice gentle ride which we used a few times when we were tired and we wanted to get the kids to chill out for 5-10 mins.
It took us 2 weeks to finally make it on to TT as every time we had a FP it started to rain so the ride was shut down. It seems this ride closes a lot quicker and more frequently than any other attraction.
The World Showcase area was excellent with Mexico probably being the best pavillion. If the kids had not been with us we probably would've spent more time in this area.
We were there for the first weekend of the F&W show which was a good coincidence. This was however without a doubt the busiest time of the holiday. We knew it would be so no complaints but I wish we got the opportunity to go on a quieter day to enjoy some of the vastly overpriced drinks.
This was our daughters favourite park. We visited by day and by night over the 2 weeks.
Soarin was a firm family favourite especially the first time we rode it. The thrill level was just right for our 4yo first time around. On our second visit it actually ended up being the only time we had to wait >30mins. This wasn't an issue due to the AC in doors.
Mission Space was a success with the 8yo on the Orange side (more intense side). Neither of us felt sick though apparently some people do feel rough afterwards. It's no good for anyone who is claustrophobic!
Spaceship Earth was a nice gentle ride which we used a few times when we were tired and we wanted to get the kids to chill out for 5-10 mins.
It took us 2 weeks to finally make it on to TT as every time we had a FP it started to rain so the ride was shut down. It seems this ride closes a lot quicker and more frequently than any other attraction.
The World Showcase area was excellent with Mexico probably being the best pavillion. If the kids had not been with us we probably would've spent more time in this area.
We were there for the first weekend of the F&W show which was a good coincidence. This was however without a doubt the busiest time of the holiday. We knew it would be so no complaints but I wish we got the opportunity to go on a quieter day to enjoy some of the vastly overpriced drinks.
Animal Kingdom
Our home park if you like. We loved how different it was from the others as it blended being a zoo/nature attraction with being a theme park.
Did RD once and made our way straight to KRR. We rode 3 times in a row without being made to fully exit the ride which was good. Our son loved it as you seem to get just the right amount of wet.
EE was a seriously good roller coaster. Going backwards was cool
The safari was excellent and we were lucky enough to see almost everything. The animals were right up next to the car and were apparently more active than the guide expected.
Pandora obviously steals the show. NRJ was beautiful but FOP was a different level. Getting a FP was not easy but it was well worth it as the ride blew our socks off.
Dinosaur is apparently a terrifying ride for a 4yo. The ride picture of our son shows him staring dead ahead not daring to look to his right where the dinosaur is coming from!
One night he fell and split his lip slightly. There was a fantastically nice CM who took us to the local QS cafe and got us ice for his lip. He also got Harry a cake and a group FP for us to use at a later date.
Night show was brilliant. We booked the show package at TH as it was on the dining plan. It came with preferential seats and was better than using up a FP for. Seems like a no brainer if your are on the plan.
Our home park if you like. We loved how different it was from the others as it blended being a zoo/nature attraction with being a theme park.
Did RD once and made our way straight to KRR. We rode 3 times in a row without being made to fully exit the ride which was good. Our son loved it as you seem to get just the right amount of wet.
EE was a seriously good roller coaster. Going backwards was cool
The safari was excellent and we were lucky enough to see almost everything. The animals were right up next to the car and were apparently more active than the guide expected.
Pandora obviously steals the show. NRJ was beautiful but FOP was a different level. Getting a FP was not easy but it was well worth it as the ride blew our socks off.
Dinosaur is apparently a terrifying ride for a 4yo. The ride picture of our son shows him staring dead ahead not daring to look to his right where the dinosaur is coming from!
One night he fell and split his lip slightly. There was a fantastically nice CM who took us to the local QS cafe and got us ice for his lip. He also got Harry a cake and a group FP for us to use at a later date.
Night show was brilliant. We booked the show package at TH as it was on the dining plan. It came with preferential seats and was better than using up a FP for. Seems like a no brainer if your are on the plan.
Tuvalu
Premium Member
None of Disney’s resorts have lights on a room balcony; that is not unique to AKL. Lights draw bugs and keeping balconies dark can prevent bugs from entering inside through the sliding door.
I don’t like zebra domes either. There are more of us than you think!
Dinosaur terrifies my husband. He rides the attraction with his eyes closed.
I don’t like zebra domes either. There are more of us than you think!
Dinosaur terrifies my husband. He rides the attraction with his eyes closed.
Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach
There were both a real highlight for us as the kids love the water. We went 4 times in total which is possibly more than most other people would bother with.
The first thing to say though is why oh why are they so difficult to get to? I don't see why you have to change buses to visit these parks? It would make sense to have one bus go from say AKL-BB-TL and keep running in this loop. We got UBERS which was cheap and easy
BB is better for smaller kids due to the much tamer wave pool. Ours were split with the eldest loving the insane waves at TL.
There's wasn't much difference between the 2 lazy rivers. I think I actually preferred BB as I liked the caves you float through with the cold water.
The rides were probably slightly better at BB too so I'd say the main benefit of TL is the wave pool.
It was actually only the water parks that got us sun burnt whilst there so be careful.
Some decent enough food/snacks at these parks so coming early and staying until mid afternoon is easily done.
We didn't bother with the rental areas as we were out and about around the park but I can see how they would be very attractive should you wish to sit in the shade and chill out for a large section of the day.
There were both a real highlight for us as the kids love the water. We went 4 times in total which is possibly more than most other people would bother with.
The first thing to say though is why oh why are they so difficult to get to? I don't see why you have to change buses to visit these parks? It would make sense to have one bus go from say AKL-BB-TL and keep running in this loop. We got UBERS which was cheap and easy
BB is better for smaller kids due to the much tamer wave pool. Ours were split with the eldest loving the insane waves at TL.
There's wasn't much difference between the 2 lazy rivers. I think I actually preferred BB as I liked the caves you float through with the cold water.
The rides were probably slightly better at BB too so I'd say the main benefit of TL is the wave pool.
It was actually only the water parks that got us sun burnt whilst there so be careful.
Some decent enough food/snacks at these parks so coming early and staying until mid afternoon is easily done.
We didn't bother with the rental areas as we were out and about around the park but I can see how they would be very attractive should you wish to sit in the shade and chill out for a large section of the day.
Hollywood Studios
This was probably bottom of our list of parks. It's not to say we didn't enjoy it, just that we felt it did not keep us entertained for as long.
Slinky Dog was great fun, particularly with the kids. The length of the ride was decent and the ups and downs were enjoyable. We'd have ridden this more but for the wait times and difficulty getting FP.
Our 8 y/o & I loved ToT and RnRC. We rode these multiple times and were lucky enough to walk straight on ToT numerous times.
The evening show is probably the best out of those we attended.
HS seemed a decent place to be when it gets either to hot or when it rains. We enjoyed Frozen, Star Wars Simulator, Indiana Jones & Beauty and the Beast as they all got us under cover.
The Alien ride in TSL was a disappointment. The land itself was not great but that may be due to how crowded it was. It also seemed to be almost hidden away and not well signposted or easy to find on our first visit.
We aren't a Star Wars family but the building work we saw suggests the land will be quite something when it is finished.
This was probably bottom of our list of parks. It's not to say we didn't enjoy it, just that we felt it did not keep us entertained for as long.
Slinky Dog was great fun, particularly with the kids. The length of the ride was decent and the ups and downs were enjoyable. We'd have ridden this more but for the wait times and difficulty getting FP.
Our 8 y/o & I loved ToT and RnRC. We rode these multiple times and were lucky enough to walk straight on ToT numerous times.
The evening show is probably the best out of those we attended.
HS seemed a decent place to be when it gets either to hot or when it rains. We enjoyed Frozen, Star Wars Simulator, Indiana Jones & Beauty and the Beast as they all got us under cover.
The Alien ride in TSL was a disappointment. The land itself was not great but that may be due to how crowded it was. It also seemed to be almost hidden away and not well signposted or easy to find on our first visit.
We aren't a Star Wars family but the building work we saw suggests the land will be quite something when it is finished.
Food
Being on the DP we made a point of booking lots of Table Service Meals. We then found we were so full we struggled to use the rest of the credits.
The restaurants included:
Crystal Palace: excellent food (particularly the Sirloin) and lovely character interaction. The restaurant itself was stunning as the sunlight streamed through the glass.
Rainforest Cafe AK: VERY slow and annoying service. We were told multiple times that ours was coming out but it took an hour. Volcano desert at the end was great as a sharer.
Sci Fi Dine: Everything our kids hoped it would be. Their faces were a treat when they walked in and saw the cars. We sat them in the front and therefore got a quiet meal in the back of the car. Steak was lovely again.
Tusker House: We enjoyed the food because of the slightly more exotic providing. They did the kids some chicken tenders as they weren't as bothered about the main food. Again, the character interaction was good and they were with us very quickly.
Akershus: most disappointing meal of the trip. The starters were great but the main was below par and the desert poor. I guess it's worth going for the Princesses but not for the food.
Trattoria Alforno: Great breakfast/brunch. Highly recommend
Boma: Kids weren't fussed with dinner but we like the meats. The soup was fantastic as well. No wait on the buffet line so a good experience
Boma Breakfast: not as good as dinner because of the very long lines. When we did finally get to the front there was lots of good stuff to chose from
Garden Grill: Possibly the best meal and the most surprisingly good experience. The revolving restaurant is a nice quirk and the characters were great. The beef and gravy stole the show and the pudding was a close 2nd. Definitely worth doing.
Chef Mickey: Didn't like and wouldn't do again. Food was ok but it was too busy and characters were poor. They took ages to arrive and were then gone in seconds. As an aside I really didn't like the Contemporary. No offence but it really felt like we were in either an airport lobby or a tower block.
1900 Park Fare: Wonderful breakfast. I tried the Strawberry Soup which was brilliant. Very nice upmarket meal with interesting characters.
Skipper Canteen: Again, liked that it was slightly different cuisine. An interesting interior and again...more steak!
Hollywood & Vine: I wasn't bothered about it but kids like the food.
Buffets were good with us as we didn't have to worry about poor service or slow waits. We are a bit "in and out" when eating so this suited us nicely.
I wouldn't fancy the QSDP as it was very samey and a lot of quite basic fried food. We ordered all meals as adult meals and split them. No one ever once questioned us about doing this with kids. There was also a relaxed approach to alcohol. I sometimes took beer at Breakfast to keep in the room for night time. I was also surprised that a few times we could order 3 drinks with the 3 meals despite only being 2 adults. I believe Floridian law did however mean one of us could not be provided with all 3 drinks at once. This wasn't a problem as we just collected together or even returned for the 3rd half way though dinner.
Our booking came with the DDP but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order it in the future. We finished with 12 QSDP credits and 25 snacks. These were converted in to a disgusting amount of treats that were picked up as presents for friends & family.
Being on the DP we made a point of booking lots of Table Service Meals. We then found we were so full we struggled to use the rest of the credits.
The restaurants included:
Crystal Palace: excellent food (particularly the Sirloin) and lovely character interaction. The restaurant itself was stunning as the sunlight streamed through the glass.
Rainforest Cafe AK: VERY slow and annoying service. We were told multiple times that ours was coming out but it took an hour. Volcano desert at the end was great as a sharer.
Sci Fi Dine: Everything our kids hoped it would be. Their faces were a treat when they walked in and saw the cars. We sat them in the front and therefore got a quiet meal in the back of the car. Steak was lovely again.
Tusker House: We enjoyed the food because of the slightly more exotic providing. They did the kids some chicken tenders as they weren't as bothered about the main food. Again, the character interaction was good and they were with us very quickly.
Akershus: most disappointing meal of the trip. The starters were great but the main was below par and the desert poor. I guess it's worth going for the Princesses but not for the food.
Trattoria Alforno: Great breakfast/brunch. Highly recommend
Boma: Kids weren't fussed with dinner but we like the meats. The soup was fantastic as well. No wait on the buffet line so a good experience
Boma Breakfast: not as good as dinner because of the very long lines. When we did finally get to the front there was lots of good stuff to chose from
Garden Grill: Possibly the best meal and the most surprisingly good experience. The revolving restaurant is a nice quirk and the characters were great. The beef and gravy stole the show and the pudding was a close 2nd. Definitely worth doing.
Chef Mickey: Didn't like and wouldn't do again. Food was ok but it was too busy and characters were poor. They took ages to arrive and were then gone in seconds. As an aside I really didn't like the Contemporary. No offence but it really felt like we were in either an airport lobby or a tower block.
1900 Park Fare: Wonderful breakfast. I tried the Strawberry Soup which was brilliant. Very nice upmarket meal with interesting characters.
Skipper Canteen: Again, liked that it was slightly different cuisine. An interesting interior and again...more steak!
Hollywood & Vine: I wasn't bothered about it but kids like the food.
Buffets were good with us as we didn't have to worry about poor service or slow waits. We are a bit "in and out" when eating so this suited us nicely.
I wouldn't fancy the QSDP as it was very samey and a lot of quite basic fried food. We ordered all meals as adult meals and split them. No one ever once questioned us about doing this with kids. There was also a relaxed approach to alcohol. I sometimes took beer at Breakfast to keep in the room for night time. I was also surprised that a few times we could order 3 drinks with the 3 meals despite only being 2 adults. I believe Floridian law did however mean one of us could not be provided with all 3 drinks at once. This wasn't a problem as we just collected together or even returned for the 3rd half way though dinner.
Our booking came with the DDP but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to order it in the future. We finished with 12 QSDP credits and 25 snacks. These were converted in to a disgusting amount of treats that were picked up as presents for friends & family.
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After all that typing the one thing that really stands out is how lovely everyone was. The staff continually went out of their way to great the kids and make them smile. A few times we'd be having a meltdown only for a CM to step in and try to cheer things up. The sunny disposition of all we met left a real mark.
To be fair in the parks we found the general public to be just as good. I've read conversations on here about people losing their rags and kicking off but we saw none of this. The atmosphere was great throughout.
Having booked the holiday 16 months prior we'd been looking forward to it for a long time. Doing this can build up expectations in your head which then sets you up for a fall as you expect more from the holiday than it can give. Despite the long wait the reality was every bit as good as the expectation.
The holiday satisfied in every way to such an extent that I'm minded to look in to a DVC membership. It would only be a modest package to allow us (or friends/family) to visit every 2 or 3 years. We'll see.....
To be fair in the parks we found the general public to be just as good. I've read conversations on here about people losing their rags and kicking off but we saw none of this. The atmosphere was great throughout.
Having booked the holiday 16 months prior we'd been looking forward to it for a long time. Doing this can build up expectations in your head which then sets you up for a fall as you expect more from the holiday than it can give. Despite the long wait the reality was every bit as good as the expectation.
The holiday satisfied in every way to such an extent that I'm minded to look in to a DVC membership. It would only be a modest package to allow us (or friends/family) to visit every 2 or 3 years. We'll see.....
lostpro9het
Well-Known Member
Nope, they're horrible, right up there with the Norway school bread.
DisSplash
Well-Known Member
I do like the zebra domes (not crazy love for them but I do enjoy them). We are HUGE fans of Sci-Fi and have eaten there every single time we have gone ... I also have to agree with your assessment of AK. With the opening of Pandora, that park has really risen up the list for us, with HS squarely at the bottom - that is not to say that Slinky Dog and ToT aren't awesome rides, but it really is missing something these days. I personally feel that the removal of the Great Movie Ride last year sort of stripped the place of its "Hollywood" heart. But I digress.
I enjoyed reading your report! It sounds like you had a fabulous first trip, with bits of magic all over the place! And I totally agree with splurging on the BBB and Pirate experiences at least once - those will be some great photos and memories down the road. They are only that small once ... (says the mom of new High School Freshman
).
I enjoyed reading your report! It sounds like you had a fabulous first trip, with bits of magic all over the place! And I totally agree with splurging on the BBB and Pirate experiences at least once - those will be some great photos and memories down the road. They are only that small once ... (says the mom of new High School Freshman
).
winstongator
Well-Known Member
I’m glad this was the case and that you had a great trip. Also glad the August Florida rain and eat didn’t bother you. We live in FL but we’re in London in June. Perfect weather there then!
MinnieM123
Premium Member
They started this bus connection lunacy within the past couple of years--never used to be that difficult. Used to get a direct bus from my hotel. I don't bother with the water parks anymore--too much time wasted going via 2 buses . . . ugh.
Minnesota disney fan
Well-Known Member
love reading your report!
The reasons you mentioned about the dining plan are, for the most part, why we quit using a dining plan. Just too much food for us. We always felt we needed to eat everything and the most expensive thing to get our value out of it. Like you, we ended up with many snack credits and quick service credits. It seemed so wasteful. We also were so full all the time, that we couldn't stop for a treat while walking around the parks. Missed out on a lot of Mickey bars that way, LOL. So, we are much happier without the plan. It's kind of scary not getting the ddp if you always get it. But it was worth ditching it to us.
The reasons you mentioned about the dining plan are, for the most part, why we quit using a dining plan. Just too much food for us. We always felt we needed to eat everything and the most expensive thing to get our value out of it. Like you, we ended up with many snack credits and quick service credits. It seemed so wasteful. We also were so full all the time, that we couldn't stop for a treat while walking around the parks. Missed out on a lot of Mickey bars that way, LOL. So, we are much happier without the plan. It's kind of scary not getting the ddp if you always get it. But it was worth ditching it to us.
DryerLintFan
Premium Member
This was great! I'm glad your visit was positive and you all enjoyed your experience!
The post Disney blues are hitting hard. The kids have downloaded a Disney album which is getting some heavy use. In fact, it’s that bad that I even thought about booking a small trip to Paris!
Looks like August 2020 will be the return date. Just gotta avoid the temptation of looking forward too much and wishing the next two years away. This is something I’m particularly mindful of given how quick kids grow up and how the time can’t be recaptured.
Looks like August 2020 will be the return date. Just gotta avoid the temptation of looking forward too much and wishing the next two years away. This is something I’m particularly mindful of given how quick kids grow up and how the time can’t be recaptured.
DisSplash
Well-Known Member
Yes - this!! We have a Disney cruise booked for December 2019, and while its fun to watch the countdown get lower, and while I wish I was walking onto the ship tomorrow, I don't want it to happen too fast as I don't want to wish away this time with my kids, or my son's Freshman year in high school, or my daughter's middle school experience (even though middle school stinks, LOL!). I honestly don't even know how they got this old …. one minute we are binge watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (before binging was even a thing) and the next minute one of my kids is talking about where he wants to go for vacation when he graduates high school
- talk about planning ahead!! (IHis choice is Disneyland, of course). So yes, set the anticipation aside if you can and live in the moment now! So easy to say, and so hard to do ....