I have some lovely pictures I would like to post, but, I don't know how to do that. I would love to put them right into the posts, but someone will need to teach me. Can anyone explain?
Anyway...
When we arrived on Thursday night at Pop at about 9:30 PM, I was astounded at the line at check-in for that hour. However, in talking to the people online, I found out there were HUGE delays at the airport that day, so lots of people were arriving much later than anticipated. It also didn't help that the front desk was understaffed (3 people checking people in), probably because they didn't expect such a crowd at that hour. When I did check in, I was upgraded to a preferred view room for no reason or additional charge (I'm not complaining!!).
On Thursday morning, I got up and headed to Kona Cafe for breakfast because I desperately wanted some Tonga Toast. It didn't disapppoint! I'd love to get that recipe! I enjoyed eating there too, as it was not full and kind of quiet. It was quite a different scene right next door at Ohana, which looked like a madhouse.
::Sidebar- I took the advice of some forum posters and parked at the Magic Kingdom lot than walked to the Poly for breakfast. This was great advice, and I am very proud of the fact that on this particular morning, I was in the very first row of cars parked at the Magic Kingdom! I've never done that before. End sidebar.::
After breakfast it was on to the MK.
For those wondering...those two cows were on the opening train that morning, along with Foulfellow, Gepetto, Mickey, Rafiki, and Goofy. It was a rather odd assortment.
It was a pleasant surprise to see how manageable (read: empty) the MK was for most of the morning. I went right into Tomorrowland, and in less than an hour had been through Space Mountain twice, Buzz, and MILF. After that it was down to Frontierland by way of Liberty Square, where strangely, Haunted Mansion was posting a 30 minute wait (in comparison, Space Mountain has a 15 minute wait). Splash was practically a walk-on. I got drenched, but not on the way down. Our log was stuck at the very beginning of the ride when you are on the side of the hill, and I got soaked by a log on its way down. As for the ride itself, its recent refurb seems to have fixed a number of the problems it had the last time I rode. The sound was much clearer, and the animatronics seemed to be working.
In Adventureland that morning, I was fortunate enough to watch the Jack Sparrow outdoor show. What a riot! The kids there enjoyed it, and it was great fun. The refurb of the Treehouse was in full swing, and there was scaffolding up with men painting (I have pictures!). Also, I dont know why I never ordered a Dole Whip Floatt until this trip! Possibly the only thing better than a Dole Whip!
Let's see..what else do I want to mention from that morning?
Oh! As much as Donald is mt favorite character, and he is, my favorite characters to meet and greet are Chip and Dale. They are just so much fun!
Do people not know about Philharmagic? It was deserted both times I rode that day.
I can't think of anything else about that morning at MK to mention.
I left just before the parade began, took a brief respite at Pop, then headed over to MGM for the evening.
MGM, incidentally, was REALLY deserted. Everything but RnR was walk on. I had a hilarious encounter with the Queen of Hearts, who was out by the Hat. No one was around, and I guess she was bored, because she kept following me. It was really quite funny. She went right up to the doors of the Great Movie Ride.
Speaking of the GMR...isn't it about time for an update?
Fantasmic that evening went off without a hitch. No "blooopers" to report.
After MGM closed, I hopped over to EMH at Epcot, which had decent crowds for the two big attractions- Test Track and Soarin. Everything else was a walk on. The flowers weren't really lit up, so I decided to return the following day to look at them.
The following morning was Animal Kingdom...some items of note...
Yak n Yeti restaurant is going up quickly- will post pictures later.
Everest only had a 20 minute wait, but Fastpasses were flying out of there.
I think I need a chiropractor after riding Primevil Whirl.
For whatever reason, Dinosaur is still my favorite attraction in the park.
It was Migratory Bird day, and there were lots of neat little booths set up.
After leaving AK, I went to Epcot to look at the flowers. I'm not really a flower person, but they were neat to see. It was quite impressive. Epcot didn't seem that crowded, and I wondered why. I found out when I went over to MK that evening.
On Saturday night, MK was PACKED. When I got there, they had us parking way out in Donald, and not even in real parking spaces. We were parked in the side of the ride, next to the little ditch. It made me nervous, because we were parked close together, and there was no way for me to get out unless the person in front of or behind me had already left. I've never seen this done before, and it really puzzled me.
When I got inside, it was pretty packed, though i was still able to get Fastpasses for the big rides.
I was riding around on the TTA and had a random question. What was the building to the right of the Space Mountain used for? There are bathrooms on the first floor, but steps up to the second, with a small queue still set up. What was that?
Is there something related to Pinnocchio coming out soon or something? They seemed to really be pushing the Pinnocchio characters this trip. That afternoon on Main Street, Foulfellow, Geppetto, and that other little guy (who had a big pair of scissors giving people haircuts) were all out.
It had been awhile since I've seen Spectro, and I have to say, the parade kind of bores me. Maybe it's because I've seen it before, but it doesn't wow me anymore. On the other hand, Wishes continues to do so, and makes a perfect end to the day.
All in all, a great trip! I cant wait to go back!
I'll add pictures if someone tells me how!
Anyway...
When we arrived on Thursday night at Pop at about 9:30 PM, I was astounded at the line at check-in for that hour. However, in talking to the people online, I found out there were HUGE delays at the airport that day, so lots of people were arriving much later than anticipated. It also didn't help that the front desk was understaffed (3 people checking people in), probably because they didn't expect such a crowd at that hour. When I did check in, I was upgraded to a preferred view room for no reason or additional charge (I'm not complaining!!).
On Thursday morning, I got up and headed to Kona Cafe for breakfast because I desperately wanted some Tonga Toast. It didn't disapppoint! I'd love to get that recipe! I enjoyed eating there too, as it was not full and kind of quiet. It was quite a different scene right next door at Ohana, which looked like a madhouse.
::Sidebar- I took the advice of some forum posters and parked at the Magic Kingdom lot than walked to the Poly for breakfast. This was great advice, and I am very proud of the fact that on this particular morning, I was in the very first row of cars parked at the Magic Kingdom! I've never done that before. End sidebar.::
After breakfast it was on to the MK.
For those wondering...those two cows were on the opening train that morning, along with Foulfellow, Gepetto, Mickey, Rafiki, and Goofy. It was a rather odd assortment.
It was a pleasant surprise to see how manageable (read: empty) the MK was for most of the morning. I went right into Tomorrowland, and in less than an hour had been through Space Mountain twice, Buzz, and MILF. After that it was down to Frontierland by way of Liberty Square, where strangely, Haunted Mansion was posting a 30 minute wait (in comparison, Space Mountain has a 15 minute wait). Splash was practically a walk-on. I got drenched, but not on the way down. Our log was stuck at the very beginning of the ride when you are on the side of the hill, and I got soaked by a log on its way down. As for the ride itself, its recent refurb seems to have fixed a number of the problems it had the last time I rode. The sound was much clearer, and the animatronics seemed to be working.
In Adventureland that morning, I was fortunate enough to watch the Jack Sparrow outdoor show. What a riot! The kids there enjoyed it, and it was great fun. The refurb of the Treehouse was in full swing, and there was scaffolding up with men painting (I have pictures!). Also, I dont know why I never ordered a Dole Whip Floatt until this trip! Possibly the only thing better than a Dole Whip!
Let's see..what else do I want to mention from that morning?
Oh! As much as Donald is mt favorite character, and he is, my favorite characters to meet and greet are Chip and Dale. They are just so much fun!
Do people not know about Philharmagic? It was deserted both times I rode that day.
I can't think of anything else about that morning at MK to mention.
I left just before the parade began, took a brief respite at Pop, then headed over to MGM for the evening.
MGM, incidentally, was REALLY deserted. Everything but RnR was walk on. I had a hilarious encounter with the Queen of Hearts, who was out by the Hat. No one was around, and I guess she was bored, because she kept following me. It was really quite funny. She went right up to the doors of the Great Movie Ride.
Speaking of the GMR...isn't it about time for an update?
Fantasmic that evening went off without a hitch. No "blooopers" to report.
After MGM closed, I hopped over to EMH at Epcot, which had decent crowds for the two big attractions- Test Track and Soarin. Everything else was a walk on. The flowers weren't really lit up, so I decided to return the following day to look at them.
The following morning was Animal Kingdom...some items of note...
Yak n Yeti restaurant is going up quickly- will post pictures later.
Everest only had a 20 minute wait, but Fastpasses were flying out of there.
I think I need a chiropractor after riding Primevil Whirl.
For whatever reason, Dinosaur is still my favorite attraction in the park.
It was Migratory Bird day, and there were lots of neat little booths set up.
After leaving AK, I went to Epcot to look at the flowers. I'm not really a flower person, but they were neat to see. It was quite impressive. Epcot didn't seem that crowded, and I wondered why. I found out when I went over to MK that evening.
On Saturday night, MK was PACKED. When I got there, they had us parking way out in Donald, and not even in real parking spaces. We were parked in the side of the ride, next to the little ditch. It made me nervous, because we were parked close together, and there was no way for me to get out unless the person in front of or behind me had already left. I've never seen this done before, and it really puzzled me.
When I got inside, it was pretty packed, though i was still able to get Fastpasses for the big rides.
I was riding around on the TTA and had a random question. What was the building to the right of the Space Mountain used for? There are bathrooms on the first floor, but steps up to the second, with a small queue still set up. What was that?
Is there something related to Pinnocchio coming out soon or something? They seemed to really be pushing the Pinnocchio characters this trip. That afternoon on Main Street, Foulfellow, Geppetto, and that other little guy (who had a big pair of scissors giving people haircuts) were all out.
It had been awhile since I've seen Spectro, and I have to say, the parade kind of bores me. Maybe it's because I've seen it before, but it doesn't wow me anymore. On the other hand, Wishes continues to do so, and makes a perfect end to the day.
All in all, a great trip! I cant wait to go back!
I'll add pictures if someone tells me how!
