Day .5 Arrival Day: I made a mistake, read along and you might see why. We got up at 6:30 to be at the airport by 8 for our flight at 9:30. Had breakfast at the airport and things were going smooth. I thought I could get in a nap in on the flight but the kid behind didn't let that happen. Not that he was loud, he was just annoying and made irritating noises the whole flight. Even his slightly older sister said " can you just be quiet and let me enjoy myself?!". Well we got to the airport slightly early about 1:20ish, our bags were the first off the luggage belt because we didn't use magical express and we got our car rental in sufficient time. On the way to the resort we got a text saying our room was ready. So far so good.
Got in the room, got settled, and got our scooter rental. My daughter has issues with her legs so being on them ALL day can injure them. So we rent a scooter and use it only for getting around the park, not to get into rides and shows. We also have a car rental so we got a portal ECV that can be taken down, storeed in the trunk, and put back together again. Because we had a car rental we had to get a parking pass from Guest Services. The Castmember asked what we were doing that evening. We explained that we had some MK FastPasses and then a Wishes Dessert Party. The CM said we should take the bus, it would be faster. I have been to the DisneyWorld 3x in the last 4 yrs. My husband hasn't been back in over a decade. My husband is like " we should take the bus, he said it was faster" . I disagreed. But I relented and we took the bus because it's his vacation too and sometimes compromise is good. As suspected it takes several mins for the scooter to board a bus, we have several stops for some reason unknown, and several mins to get the scooter off the bus.
We get to the park and need a little something to tie us over before the dessert party we reserved. We went to Pinocchio Village Haus to get a quick bite. The place was busy but not packed. As we step in line to order we notice our line is taking FOREVER. Other lines have come and gone almost twice since we got in. I don't know what was going on with the people in front of us but it was holding everyone else up. We are at least 4 customers back and we hear them calling our number. We had to squeeze past several people through their little holding partitions to get our food and then settle for a dirty table somewhere because that is all they had available. My husband had a flatbread pizza, which was adequate except for the crust, dry and flavorless. My daughter had a chicken pasta and I had a chicken Cesar salad. The same kind of chicken breast was used for both. The chicken on both dishes comes with cuts on them but not fully cut up, annoying. And the chicken is flavorless and gross too. The rest of my Cesar salad is fine though.
So our first FP is for Peter Pan but we are a little early so we ride Its A Small World, I like the new updates. We the go on Peter Pan and it's cool as always. We have time before our Seven Dwarves Mine Train FP so we went to Philharmagic. When we got out it was sprinkling, not a problem, we been through the quick showers in FL before. But then on our way to SDMT it POURS. We took shelter in the Little Mermaid ride but it was too late. We got caught in the rain and we were soaked. We have the scooter so we don't want to be in the rain so we and several other park guests are huddled in the cave waiting, and waiting, and waiting for it to let up. Then they cancel our FP because the closed up the ride. My daughter is getting cranky, my husband is tired,and the rain isn't stopping. By the time it lets up its almost time for our last FP for Haunted Mansion . However because of the lightning they closed it down and haven't started it back up yet. They closed almost everything down. According to the My Disney Experience app Pirates of the Carribean is only a 20 min wait. We go over there and it's packed. There is no way that line was 20 mins. My daughter said the app says Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is open so we rush over there and use our comped FP for SDMT to get in rather quickly. It was fun and the first thing that went right all night.
It's almost time for the dessert party so we head over to Tommorowland Terrance and there is a line! for RESERVATIONS. So once more we are waiting in line, hot, tired, and just want to eat. When they finally get us seated my husband isn't eating. This is unusual for this man to refuse cheesecake so we know he is not happy. I asked him what's wrong. " I hate this place, it's for kids" my daughter and I try to assure him this isn't a typical day at the park but he isn't hearing it because he's tired, hot and we waited too long to sit and eat both times. We enjoyed the light show on the castle and the Wishes fireworks. It looked like Tinkerbell was coming right at us. We went home on the bus which was freezing. We were all wet and my daughter was shivering.
Now all though this day was miserable it did get better the following day. I made some mistakes. I admit that. But that's ok, we learn from them and move on
Things we got wrong:
1. We should not have planned anything that first night. Since we had an early flight I thought we could squeeze some extra park time in. We should have stayed at the resort that day and called it an early night.
2. I knew we shouldn't have taken the bus. My husband now knows why it's better to take the car rental.
3. We should not have ASSUMED we were getting a quick shower and got out our rain gear. We had rain gear but we thought it wasn't needed. We were wrong.
4. I have never been in a storm at Magic Kingdom before. There is a surprising lack of shelter for ECVs at MK and the few places that exist are PACKED in with other strollers and other ECVs.
Things we got right:
1. We didn't use Magical Express. It's a perfectly fine service but I already wait in line enough at Disney World I hate waiting more than I need to. We got our luggage right away, we got our rental right away, and we got our room assignment before we even got to our resort. It was much faster and more enjoyable way to travel.
2. We got our water and groceries delivered. I didn't mention this but we placed an order through Garden Grocers and had some snacks, fruit and most importantly cases of water delivered to the resort. It's a great service and I highly recommend it.
I know we sound like cranky impatient people but as the said I crammed too much for that day and I learned my lesson. Trust me it gets better. Our first full day at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs went so much better and I will update you later when I have time.
Got in the room, got settled, and got our scooter rental. My daughter has issues with her legs so being on them ALL day can injure them. So we rent a scooter and use it only for getting around the park, not to get into rides and shows. We also have a car rental so we got a portal ECV that can be taken down, storeed in the trunk, and put back together again. Because we had a car rental we had to get a parking pass from Guest Services. The Castmember asked what we were doing that evening. We explained that we had some MK FastPasses and then a Wishes Dessert Party. The CM said we should take the bus, it would be faster. I have been to the DisneyWorld 3x in the last 4 yrs. My husband hasn't been back in over a decade. My husband is like " we should take the bus, he said it was faster" . I disagreed. But I relented and we took the bus because it's his vacation too and sometimes compromise is good. As suspected it takes several mins for the scooter to board a bus, we have several stops for some reason unknown, and several mins to get the scooter off the bus.
We get to the park and need a little something to tie us over before the dessert party we reserved. We went to Pinocchio Village Haus to get a quick bite. The place was busy but not packed. As we step in line to order we notice our line is taking FOREVER. Other lines have come and gone almost twice since we got in. I don't know what was going on with the people in front of us but it was holding everyone else up. We are at least 4 customers back and we hear them calling our number. We had to squeeze past several people through their little holding partitions to get our food and then settle for a dirty table somewhere because that is all they had available. My husband had a flatbread pizza, which was adequate except for the crust, dry and flavorless. My daughter had a chicken pasta and I had a chicken Cesar salad. The same kind of chicken breast was used for both. The chicken on both dishes comes with cuts on them but not fully cut up, annoying. And the chicken is flavorless and gross too. The rest of my Cesar salad is fine though.
So our first FP is for Peter Pan but we are a little early so we ride Its A Small World, I like the new updates. We the go on Peter Pan and it's cool as always. We have time before our Seven Dwarves Mine Train FP so we went to Philharmagic. When we got out it was sprinkling, not a problem, we been through the quick showers in FL before. But then on our way to SDMT it POURS. We took shelter in the Little Mermaid ride but it was too late. We got caught in the rain and we were soaked. We have the scooter so we don't want to be in the rain so we and several other park guests are huddled in the cave waiting, and waiting, and waiting for it to let up. Then they cancel our FP because the closed up the ride. My daughter is getting cranky, my husband is tired,and the rain isn't stopping. By the time it lets up its almost time for our last FP for Haunted Mansion . However because of the lightning they closed it down and haven't started it back up yet. They closed almost everything down. According to the My Disney Experience app Pirates of the Carribean is only a 20 min wait. We go over there and it's packed. There is no way that line was 20 mins. My daughter said the app says Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is open so we rush over there and use our comped FP for SDMT to get in rather quickly. It was fun and the first thing that went right all night.
It's almost time for the dessert party so we head over to Tommorowland Terrance and there is a line! for RESERVATIONS. So once more we are waiting in line, hot, tired, and just want to eat. When they finally get us seated my husband isn't eating. This is unusual for this man to refuse cheesecake so we know he is not happy. I asked him what's wrong. " I hate this place, it's for kids" my daughter and I try to assure him this isn't a typical day at the park but he isn't hearing it because he's tired, hot and we waited too long to sit and eat both times. We enjoyed the light show on the castle and the Wishes fireworks. It looked like Tinkerbell was coming right at us. We went home on the bus which was freezing. We were all wet and my daughter was shivering.
Now all though this day was miserable it did get better the following day. I made some mistakes. I admit that. But that's ok, we learn from them and move on
Things we got wrong:
1. We should not have planned anything that first night. Since we had an early flight I thought we could squeeze some extra park time in. We should have stayed at the resort that day and called it an early night.
2. I knew we shouldn't have taken the bus. My husband now knows why it's better to take the car rental.
3. We should not have ASSUMED we were getting a quick shower and got out our rain gear. We had rain gear but we thought it wasn't needed. We were wrong.
4. I have never been in a storm at Magic Kingdom before. There is a surprising lack of shelter for ECVs at MK and the few places that exist are PACKED in with other strollers and other ECVs.
Things we got right:
1. We didn't use Magical Express. It's a perfectly fine service but I already wait in line enough at Disney World I hate waiting more than I need to. We got our luggage right away, we got our rental right away, and we got our room assignment before we even got to our resort. It was much faster and more enjoyable way to travel.
2. We got our water and groceries delivered. I didn't mention this but we placed an order through Garden Grocers and had some snacks, fruit and most importantly cases of water delivered to the resort. It's a great service and I highly recommend it.
I know we sound like cranky impatient people but as the said I crammed too much for that day and I learned my lesson. Trust me it gets better. Our first full day at Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs went so much better and I will update you later when I have time.
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