Just a side note on AOA and cell phones...we have AT&T service...the previous times we were there, the reception in our rooms was HORRIBLE. We had to go outside to make a call. I always found that kind of ironic, since AT&T IS the official sponsor of the MDE app...I had asked the front desk as to why it was just a problem with AT&T. I was told that because the buildings are built to Florida's hurricane codes, the indoor service is spotty...I didn't accept that as a legitimate answer because the other family we were with didn't use AT&T, and their service was good. This time, our reception was EXCELLENT in the Cars buildings...I don't know if it was just the area of the resort we were in, or if they improved the service, but THANK YOU!!
We actually were able to get a few extra hours of sleep since we didn't have an early ADR for B'fast, so we were up and out by 8 am...we ate at LOF...a good meal and the omelets are very good. Another side note, we always get the DDP for our visit...some may say that it's a waste of $$$, and I guess for families with small children that might be true, but for us, we're hearty eaters and ALWAYS get our money's worth, so for us, it makes sense...different strokes, I guess.
Day 2 found us at AK for the day...we had a FP+ for Na'vi River Journey, but FOP would have to wait until later in the week. We waited in line until the Pandora area opened and took in the visuals...what an outstanding job WDW did!!! Truly breathtaking!! we were on the NRJ by 11, and it was an absolutely beautiful ride!! Having never seen the movie "Pandora", I thought we would be missing something by not seeing the movie first, but at WDW, everything has a way of standing on its own, so that wasn't really a problem. AWESOME!!
We spent the rest of the morning/early afternoon taking in the animals throughout the park. We traveled via the train to Conservation Station and all the Discovery Island trails...my DD & I made our way into the aviary section. There was a CM putting out food and fruit for the birds. When he was done, he shook a pair of plastic maracas, and like a scene out of Hitchcock's "The Birds", hundreds of beautiful birds flew out of what seemed nowhere and gathered around the feeding stations. I have heard about the use of audio cues on the safari, but never had the opportunity to see it in action...a truly astonishing sight!!
Lunch was at the popular (and busy) QS, Flame Tree BBQ. We have eaten there on every visit, but for the first time, we left there somewhat disappointed in the quality of food. The ribs were somewhat dry (even after being drowned in BBQ sauce), and the best baked beans I have ever had were replaced with what tasted like your off the shelf, Bush's baked beans...VERY disappointing. There was also no chocolate mousse. Luckily, there is a QS in Africa that sells Dole Whips, so that was our dessert.
The other attractions we visited were: EE, FotLK, ITTBAB, (everything was working), Dinosaur and Prime Evil Whirl. I know it's an "off the shelf" carnival ride, but my DD's & I still enjoy it, but it does beat the hell out of you!! A sore neck & back is the result, but still an enjoyable ride. As much as I wanted to, the rest of the family didn't want to spend the day walking around wet, so no KRR on this visit.
After spending a good portion of the day at AK, we made our way back to AOA for an hour or two of rest and a battery recharge for the ECV (the hilly terrain wrecks havoc on the batteries). With a recharge for everyone & everything, we made our way to DS for our ADR dinner and a tour of the shops.
Our ADR was at Paridiso 37, a restaurant we have never eaten at, but the menu looked good in our planning sessions. The atmosphere was cool, the waiter was excellent, but the food, left a lot to be desired. My ribs were good, but my DD's skirt steak was overdone and had to be sent back. For those of you that have never eaten this cut of steak, it's very thin and easily overdone. She ordered medium rare and it came out between medium and well done. Even the second one came out a little overdone, but she sucked it up and ate it. We're open to new food experiences, but do yourself a favor and skip this restaurant...VERY DISAPPOINTING.
After dinner, we made our way back to MK...we were there mainly to see the HEA show for the first time, but we were also treated to some last minute re-filming of the ABC Christmas show with Julianne Hough and Nick Lachey. Unless you have been to an actual taping, you don't realize how much work is done that you DON'Y see in the finished product. They were actually filming the opening number several times to get it "just right"...a little boring, but interesting at the same time.
Because that filming ran over, we had no choice but to stay in our great spot on the bridge near CP and the entrance to Adventureland to see HEA. It was a very good show, and Tinker Belle does still fly, but the family consensus was that we prefer Wishes...Guests were, for the most part, well behaved, just a few entitled idiots walked up with 5 minutes to go and proceeded to hoist their children up on their shoulders.
After the show, we made our way to Tomorrowland, for some rides. We were disappointed that our FP+ for SM couldn't be used because the ride was down, so we hopped on the speedway instead. Now many people think the speedway is a waste of time and the place reeks of gasoline fumes and exhaust, but I happen to love those scents. It brings back memories of REAL go-karts and mini-bikes growing up, and spending my HS & college days pumping gas...(NJ is one of 2 states where self serve gas is illegal, so many teens make extra $$ pumping gas). MY problem with the speedway is twofold...first, that DAMNED middle rail!!! Impossible to drive those cars without hitting the rail. Secondly, I will admit, it's too big and a waste of prime real estate. With the new Tron coaster and a redsigned speedway on the way for the MK's 50th, those will be improvements that area of the park really needs. MY highlights of the evening were yet to come...
We jumped on COP again and the PM and saw first hand why SM was closed...as we were making our way thru SM, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON!!! The workers were just finishing up emergency repairs, and some of the guys waved to us as we passed by. It was such an INCREDIBLE sight, that we got off and right back on so I could shoot some pictures. They didn't come out as well as I liked, so I did not include them. There are plenty of videos on You Tube that are much better, so if you get the chance, check them out. The other great thing I have to report is that Walt's model of his vision of Epcot Center was back and fully lit and operational!
We then headed back to Frontierland and used our FP+ for BTMRR...say what you will, but it IS much BETTER at night!!! Back to Tomorrowland, and SM was working again! They honored our expired FP+, and we rode it in the dark...that's another ride that beats the hell out of me, but I love it just the same.
This time, I wore a fleece pullover and a sweatshirt, and STILL froze on the bus back to AOA...
Day 2 was in the books at 11:30 pm!
We actually were able to get a few extra hours of sleep since we didn't have an early ADR for B'fast, so we were up and out by 8 am...we ate at LOF...a good meal and the omelets are very good. Another side note, we always get the DDP for our visit...some may say that it's a waste of $$$, and I guess for families with small children that might be true, but for us, we're hearty eaters and ALWAYS get our money's worth, so for us, it makes sense...different strokes, I guess.
Day 2 found us at AK for the day...we had a FP+ for Na'vi River Journey, but FOP would have to wait until later in the week. We waited in line until the Pandora area opened and took in the visuals...what an outstanding job WDW did!!! Truly breathtaking!! we were on the NRJ by 11, and it was an absolutely beautiful ride!! Having never seen the movie "Pandora", I thought we would be missing something by not seeing the movie first, but at WDW, everything has a way of standing on its own, so that wasn't really a problem. AWESOME!!
We spent the rest of the morning/early afternoon taking in the animals throughout the park. We traveled via the train to Conservation Station and all the Discovery Island trails...my DD & I made our way into the aviary section. There was a CM putting out food and fruit for the birds. When he was done, he shook a pair of plastic maracas, and like a scene out of Hitchcock's "The Birds", hundreds of beautiful birds flew out of what seemed nowhere and gathered around the feeding stations. I have heard about the use of audio cues on the safari, but never had the opportunity to see it in action...a truly astonishing sight!!
Lunch was at the popular (and busy) QS, Flame Tree BBQ. We have eaten there on every visit, but for the first time, we left there somewhat disappointed in the quality of food. The ribs were somewhat dry (even after being drowned in BBQ sauce), and the best baked beans I have ever had were replaced with what tasted like your off the shelf, Bush's baked beans...VERY disappointing. There was also no chocolate mousse. Luckily, there is a QS in Africa that sells Dole Whips, so that was our dessert.
The other attractions we visited were: EE, FotLK, ITTBAB, (everything was working), Dinosaur and Prime Evil Whirl. I know it's an "off the shelf" carnival ride, but my DD's & I still enjoy it, but it does beat the hell out of you!! A sore neck & back is the result, but still an enjoyable ride. As much as I wanted to, the rest of the family didn't want to spend the day walking around wet, so no KRR on this visit.
After spending a good portion of the day at AK, we made our way back to AOA for an hour or two of rest and a battery recharge for the ECV (the hilly terrain wrecks havoc on the batteries). With a recharge for everyone & everything, we made our way to DS for our ADR dinner and a tour of the shops.
Our ADR was at Paridiso 37, a restaurant we have never eaten at, but the menu looked good in our planning sessions. The atmosphere was cool, the waiter was excellent, but the food, left a lot to be desired. My ribs were good, but my DD's skirt steak was overdone and had to be sent back. For those of you that have never eaten this cut of steak, it's very thin and easily overdone. She ordered medium rare and it came out between medium and well done. Even the second one came out a little overdone, but she sucked it up and ate it. We're open to new food experiences, but do yourself a favor and skip this restaurant...VERY DISAPPOINTING.
After dinner, we made our way back to MK...we were there mainly to see the HEA show for the first time, but we were also treated to some last minute re-filming of the ABC Christmas show with Julianne Hough and Nick Lachey. Unless you have been to an actual taping, you don't realize how much work is done that you DON'Y see in the finished product. They were actually filming the opening number several times to get it "just right"...a little boring, but interesting at the same time.
Because that filming ran over, we had no choice but to stay in our great spot on the bridge near CP and the entrance to Adventureland to see HEA. It was a very good show, and Tinker Belle does still fly, but the family consensus was that we prefer Wishes...Guests were, for the most part, well behaved, just a few entitled idiots walked up with 5 minutes to go and proceeded to hoist their children up on their shoulders.
After the show, we made our way to Tomorrowland, for some rides. We were disappointed that our FP+ for SM couldn't be used because the ride was down, so we hopped on the speedway instead. Now many people think the speedway is a waste of time and the place reeks of gasoline fumes and exhaust, but I happen to love those scents. It brings back memories of REAL go-karts and mini-bikes growing up, and spending my HS & college days pumping gas...(NJ is one of 2 states where self serve gas is illegal, so many teens make extra $$ pumping gas). MY problem with the speedway is twofold...first, that DAMNED middle rail!!! Impossible to drive those cars without hitting the rail. Secondly, I will admit, it's too big and a waste of prime real estate. With the new Tron coaster and a redsigned speedway on the way for the MK's 50th, those will be improvements that area of the park really needs. MY highlights of the evening were yet to come...
We jumped on COP again and the PM and saw first hand why SM was closed...as we were making our way thru SM, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE ON!!! The workers were just finishing up emergency repairs, and some of the guys waved to us as we passed by. It was such an INCREDIBLE sight, that we got off and right back on so I could shoot some pictures. They didn't come out as well as I liked, so I did not include them. There are plenty of videos on You Tube that are much better, so if you get the chance, check them out. The other great thing I have to report is that Walt's model of his vision of Epcot Center was back and fully lit and operational!
We then headed back to Frontierland and used our FP+ for BTMRR...say what you will, but it IS much BETTER at night!!! Back to Tomorrowland, and SM was working again! They honored our expired FP+, and we rode it in the dark...that's another ride that beats the hell out of me, but I love it just the same.
This time, I wore a fleece pullover and a sweatshirt, and STILL froze on the bus back to AOA...
Day 2 was in the books at 11:30 pm!
