Trip Report: Max's Dad 6\1 - 6/7

xsupaxmanxsfnex · May 26, 2008

Wow I like how you have it all planned out. Very different than my family. All we have planned is a character breakfast, lunch at Sci-Fi Drive In, and going to MK the first night. Sounds liek you are going to have a great time and there's only a couple of days left!

SnowWhiteMomma · May 26, 2008

I love us planners!!!! My dad makes fun of me, but he will appreciate it when he gets there.

You plan looks great!

CAPTAIN HOOK · May 27, 2008

SnowWhiteMomma said:
I love us planners!!!! My dad makes fun of me, but he will appreciate it when he gets there.

My wife's the same - critical of the time I spend "on that computer".

"All in the name of planning and research" I tell her :ROFLOL:

MaxsDad · May 27, 2008

Re: Planning

Hey, planning the WDW trip is a tenth of the fun. It also helps fill the void between vacations!

When we went in 1999, I hadn't been in decades, and we booked thru AAA. When we went we had only seen the offical Birnbaums guide. No ADR's, no plan, no room request, no clue. Nothing. Yet we still had fun, but also didn't get to see Test Track or Tower of Terror because we had no plan.

Before our 2004 trip, I ran across this site and others. Hallelujah! We not only had a plan but, we had ADR's, EMH, E Ride nights, we knew about the latest additions (M:S), etc.

Before our 2006 trip, I found out about the Unoffical Guide. Now planning had taken on a new level of strategery.

With the excaption of the first night at MK (which is in such detail because we have been dreaming about it for months) this plan is actually pretty loose by my standards. The rides/shows I have preplanned are for specfic reasons, i.e. Brand New, Refurb, missed it lat time, etc.

In closing, some may say to us planners something like, "Why do you stress over it so much?" I say to you, "Who is really stressing, the planner who knows where he is going, why and how? Or the family of four standing in the middle of a sidewalk at the hub, huddled around a map, arguing in 90 degree humidity about the next fun thing to do because they had no plan?" (no offense anyone, we've all been there before)

figmentmom · May 27, 2008

MaxsDad said:
In closing, some may say to us planners something like, "Why do you stress over it so much?" I say to you, "Who is really stressing, the planner who knows where he is going, why and how? Or the family of four standing in the middle of a sidewalk at the hub, huddled around a map, arguing in 90 degree humidity about the next fun thing to do because they had no plan?" (no offense anyone, we've all been there before)

Hee hee - that was US, our first trip all those years ago! :ROFLOL:

Grumpy-Fan · May 28, 2008

CAPTAIN HOOK said:
My wife's the same - critical of the time I spend "on that computer".

"All in the name of planning and research" I tell her :ROFLOL:

Here Here! I do all the planning and my wife, also critical, but the end result is her thanks for the wonderful trip to WDW.

xsupaxmanxsfnex · May 30, 2008

Of course xsupaxmanxsfnex has to ask a question...What are ADR's?

MaxsDad · May 31, 2008

Advance Dinning Reservation. Something fairly simply made overly complicated, huh?

Speaking of which, we have added two more for this trip: Biergarten (SP?) and Mama Melrose.

MaxsDad · Jun 3, 2008

I posted, or so I thought, the first day's report yesterday afternoon, but i don't see it here.

This is a test to see if this shows up.

MaxsDad · Jun 3, 2008

Okay that's twice now that I've tried posting a TR for day 1, and it not worked.

I hate to have misled you, reader, but when I press the submit button it redirects me to the Sign on page, then the Disney website for some reason.

I guess its just another example of the man tring to crush the voice of dissent. :lol: Just kidding we're having a blast! If you like negative threads, this isn't for you.

If anyone has any ideas on this issue, please suggest. Otherwise I may have to wait til I get back.

MaxsDad · Jun 3, 2008

Day 1 Super-Abridged
Road trip- great
Park - MK (see plan in post 1)
Lines - Short
Times- good
REsort- beautiful
Bellman- Arnie = wonderful
JC Skipper - Brent = top two ever.
Mood- relaxed. It's a new me.

MaxsDad · Jun 5, 2008

Copy Paste Attempt - Day 1

Day 1
Preparations for the trip went well back home, and we set out on the open road about 11:30. Immediately I was struck by the relatively higher numbers of smaller cars and sedans on the interstate, as opposed to SUV’s in years past. I ate lunch while my wife drove, then after about a half hour we switched places. The ride down was very smooth, esp. compared to last year
(see TR from August 2007 if you want to know what I mean). I was having a blast listening to the CD’s I made and just moving along, unencumbered by traffic. Places that are always tie ups were free and clear.

We arrived at The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge at about 7, and used the free valet parking, thank you DVC. Check In was very fast and friendly. A great Bellman we would later find out is named Arnie, appeared in front of us on the way to our room carrying our bags, so we just followed him. Arnie was very friendly, and you could just tell he loved his job here at WDW. Our room was on the Parking Lot side of the hall, pretty far down from the elevators. As I was focused on unpacking at the kitchenette, my wife said, “There isn’t any counter space.” So I say, “Well it is a Studio, it isn’t going to have all that space like last year.” Turns out she was talking about the bathroom. There was no vanity and no tub. It was an accessible room. So we call down and they move us pretty quickly. I get to spend more time talking w/ Arnie, as I request him to move our bags. This room is a regular room, with vanity and tub, but also closer to the elevators and on the pool side of the hall. SO I was real glad I called and asked to be moved.
We made our way to the MK about 8:05 or so. A boat was “waiting on us” when we got to the dock, and departed as soon as we got on. Upon arrival, we all got our first AP’s ever (and DDE). My daughter said she about flipped out when she heard how much the tickets were for the three of us. I explained to her the cost for just a 4 day hopper, comparatively, and reminded her that we would be able to use these tickets a few times.
Now, you should now that I can be a bit of a Commando Park Warrior, that “cracks the whip” so I have been told. Well if you read the first post, you know we didn’t really have big ride plans for tonight. So there was no real hurry to get to Space and grab fastpasses, etc. as usual. So I surprise my ladies by saying, “Het, let’s go through the Emporium.” Now usually, I avoid gift shops as much as possible, not only do they subtract time, they add cost. But resources are plentiful at this time, so we use this to get to Casey’s and get the dogs. The 9 o clock Parade starts on time, and we can see the tops of it go by from the seats we got outside, which surprisingly enough were available just before 9. After we finish eating, wife says, let’s go ride something, so I suggest checking out Jungle Cruise. We walk over and walk straight onto the boat without stopping, and the boat departs right away. If you haven’t done JC at night, you should next time you get a chance. All of my best rides have been at night, and this one was one of the top two. JC is all about the skipper, and by the end of the day, they are deliriously on the edge of insanity. “Brent” was our skipper and he is definitely in our top two. Good show! A great time is had by all.
There was still enough time after the cruise to stop by Aloha Isle on the way back to the hub for Wishes. We had decided not to get fries w/ the dogs, and get ice cream later instead. They got swirls, and I got the float. Delicious as always, service was only so so efficiency wise.
We get a decent spot behind the hub near the center, and meet a family from GA, not too far from us. That makes the wait go quicker. After we enjoyed Wishes, we swam upstream to get to Haunted Mansion. It was closed for refurb the last time we were here. We really like the changes, and were able to get on in about five minutes. We also were able to fit all 3 of us in the doom buggy. At this point I am ecstatic about how well things have gone today. Lines were not bad at all for June. Timing and quality has been great too. We decide to head over to Big Thunder, another ride that is great at night.
Sign says 30 minute wait, but it is more like 15 tops. With 3 people, many times someone has to go alone. Wife does it this time. Ride is fun, but daughter gets squished by me as we are slung around in the back train car. Next, we walk onto Pirates with no wait. At this point it is about 11. I am thinking that Fantasyland should be empty this late because the parents will have taken the little ones home. Not the case, but we do take a ride on the Tea Cups, after only having to wait through one cycle. We go to Tommorrowland next, and check on Space, it says 40, so we decide to take our daughter to Monsters Inc. as she has never seen it before. I tried to get an aisle seat, so she could laugh at me being mocked, but it was not to be. She did enjoy the show though nonetheless.
The night had gone so much better than I could have ever imagined. We decided to head back to the resort. I have never been this relaxed at WDW before. I think a part of it is the AP, knowing that I will be back again soon. I am at peace. No need to rush, just enjoy.
Boat comes soon, and the ride back is relaxing and peaceful. We get back around 12:30, with plans to go to Epcot tomorrow morning for opening, where my wife would later say, “What have you done with my husband?”

MaxsDad · Jun 5, 2008

Whooppy! Apparently, if you stay on 1 page for too long with this Service Provider, Disney, it logs you off automatically.

More to come.

MaxsDad · Jun 5, 2008

Day 2
We ate in the room, and headed out to the Bus stop at 8:30, just in time to see an Epcot Bus pulling off. Oh well, everything can’t be perfect, right? Well, about 5 minutes later, here comes another. So we board the … Freezer-turned-on-its-side-with-wheels and are “shaken” to Epcot. But first, it stops at Ft. Wilderness. The morning sun feels great after getting off the Sub Z. We get through bag check and the finger scan at just after 9. We walk to Soarin’ and see the large Rope Drop mob in front of us heading in that same direction, complete with Tour groups. We were being herded like cattle to the right, as they only used half the doorways and half the building and steps. Sign says 20, but I feel that is optimistic when we stop short of the Video Screens. As we get near the end of them, the games start. Wait went by fast, and 20 was pretty close. Our “boarding passes” were for B1 !!! Front and center too. It was an awesome flight. In my mind, I wouldn’t want to do this one again this trip. It won’t get better, and I don’t want to wear it out, so to speak. Next, we head over to Test Track, and get a fast pass for about 10:45. Then we stroll over through Innoventions and onto SSE. This is another attraction that was closed on our last trip. It actually had a line! Only 10 minutes posted, likely was less than that, but still a line! We enjoyed our journey through time. I like the changes that I am aware of. I didn’t see the paperboy. I liked the blue lights at the start of the decent. Narration was OK. Post show looked cool. I tried to send a postcard, but couldn’t find our picture. Girls didn’t want to explore it any further, so we left, but that just leaves more to see another day. We took the time to stop and watch the Fountain show. Had a snack we brought in at some covered tables they have out there. It was nice. Our Test Track time came up, and fast passes were now being distributed for 1:00. So we got three more, and then got on. Nobody has to go alone on this one, as it is built for a party of three. We are seated in the front, with my daughter on the left, so I gouch her at the 18 wheeler, and she jumps because she had forgotten about it.
We have ADR’s in Germany for noon, so we start on our way down the Mexico side of WS. We got into Mexico and ride the boat. We had not done this since the re-do. I think it is more entertaining than before. It used to be “It’s A Small Mexico After All”, now it’s “Finding Donald”. We leave and go to Norway and just stop and sit and look around. Then onto to Germany, where we arrive early, and check in at the desk, and look around the shops. We are seated with another family. We have never eaten here before, but we all find something we like. Cheesecake was great, very soft, fluffy, and light. I really liked the Pork Snitzel with Hunter Sauce. I ate a bit of just about every Sausage they had, and they have plenty. Our waiter was very interesting, and he seems to be really enjoying his time here in the USA. Turns out the family we sat with is moving to our state later this year, so we had something to talk about. I was hoping to hear the entertainment I hear people talking about on here, but they did not perform while we were there. We left just before one, and slowly waddled back over to TT. Rode again, and started heading back to the gate.
We are staying at a Epcot resort on our night, so I plan to spend most of that day at Epcot. But before that, we had planned on coming back to Epcot for opening again on Day 4. I started thinking about it, and we had done everything we really like to do already. ( I love M:S, but I am the only one who will ride it) So I suggest, “Hey, since we have done a lot of Epcot already, and we are coming back at the end of the week anyway, why don’t we change the plan, and not go to Epcot again in 2 days. We could go to a Water Park instead that morning.” That’s when my wife said, “Who are you?” They liked the idea. I like the idea because it doesn’t add a lot of expense because she and I have unused WP tickets already.
Bus is waiting on us, and we end up being the only ones on it. When we get back, we rest and go to the pool. It is pretty nice. The pool at AKL is much bigger though. Pavement is quite hot, like burn your feet hot. I try the Sour Apple drink, and I swear it tastes like a Margarita.
WE get ready and call Valet to bring car around so we can go to AK for EMH. We tell them that we are going to eat first. The food court is just satisfactory. Daughter and I split Flatbread (read: Pizza). It is 4 small pieces of thin crust pizza for 8 bucks. Flavor is decent. Wife says Chicken nuggets are good. Well, when I walk out the front door of the resort, who is at the valet stand but Stephen, our valet from AKL last year who was so nice, and “Johnny on the spot”. He is surprised I remember him, and when I remind him of our ordeal, he recalls it. And it has started to rain. Hard. WE go anyway. It is about 6, when we board the tram. People are leaving in masse. Easily, it is a 8:1 ratio of people going to coming. And it has cooled off drastically. We head for an African Safari. We walk right on the truck.
This was one of the best I have been on. Driver was average, but the animals were out. It was wet and cool, and “the herd was on the move, Sire”. Saw Rhino up and walking at the beginning, Hippos in the water nearby. Many Crocs, the real ones not the shoes. Lots of the walking meat for the other animals. One Giraffe grazing on a hill that the driver missed. Elephants here and there. More Rhinos, this time in the road blocking the trucks. And for the first time, Cheetahs (or was it Leopards?). And the male lion was up and walking around, pacing back and forth.
Next we headed over to Asia, got a wristband, and saw E:E had a 20 minute wait. It was less than that even. Rode it in the rain for the first time. Yeti was in A mode, but I didn’t notice any steam. I rode alone, the other 2 together.
Next was a walk in the rain to Dinosaur. Its wait was only slightly shorter than E:E, so not very long. We put our daughter on the right side, and she thought we had already seen the big Dino early in the ride on the left. She thought it was on the left! It got her good, when it came up on the right.
Next was Bug’s Life, as we call it. Also short wait. We sat back center, so we could see others reactions.
Then we saw Lion King, a family favorite.
Went back to E:E, and rode it once in the dark, also a ride that is cool at night. Wait was less than before, eventhough sign said otherwise. Noticed steam at top of mountain this time, but not on train.
WE then headed back and called it a night. MK early opening it tomorrow. Wife is loving “new me”, and the relaxed pace.

PoohBear119 · Jun 5, 2008

I love the reports so far... I have always been leery about AK at night for EMH. I think riding EE at night might convince me and if not the safari sounds like a blast. Your reports are gearing me up for my anniversary trip with the hubby in less than 2 months... keep the reports coming!

MaxsDad · Jun 6, 2008

Couple of observations before Day 3
One of the best things about WDW is watching kids smile and have fun. Riding on rides with first time riders and seeing their reactions. I have seen fewer rude people this time and less parents and kids yelling at each other. Based on opinion alone, I would say crowds are smaller than we saw at first of June in 2004 and 2006.
Day 3
We had breakfast in the room again. I thought that taking the bus would be better for MK opening. I was wrong, the boat would have been better. We didn’t see the opening ceremony, but weren’t far behind, similar to Epcot yesterday. Nothing quite like the MK early in the morning. The bright shining sun on Main St USA. The adventure that awaits beyond, and the blank canvass of the day. Since only Tommorrow and Fantasy land are open, went to Space for a quick ride on Alpha side. Very little wait as usual for opening. We got the front car. We then rode Buzz, walking right on again. I rode alone, which was good cause I wanted to try and find the high point targets I had read about on here. I scored about 250,000, which is the best I have ever done.
We waited for Frontierland to open at 9, then followed the CM’s to splash. I rode this alone to, now that I think about it. But it was great. We didn’t want to get wet the other night on Splash, and knew we wouldn’t want to get wet at the P&P party either, so this morning was the time. When we got off, we just went next door to Thunder. Only had to wait about 10 minutes to get on. Next we decided to check out Fantasyland.
Peter Pan had a short wait, 15 or so, so we stood by. Peter Pan’s ride system had always seemed to loud to me, it took away from the effect. Seems quieter now. But I didn’t notice the “You can Fly” song though. Slipped around the corner and saw smoke everywhere and I was a bit concerned, but then I asked what was going on and was told it was just firework smoke from the Castle Stage Show. So we went into Philharmagic, and filled in all the available space … by hanging back o the rails and letting everyone crowd around the doors. Then when they opened, we simply picked the row that would put us in the position we wanted. Worked well.
My wife loves the ices at the stand behind Dumbo. Cherry is her favorite, and she says they are hard to find in WDW. So we got her one, and walked over to the stand over by the tea cups, Enchanted Grove?, and I got one of the Strawberry Swirl things I had read about o here recently. Yes, it is good. Is it Dole Whip good? Maybe not, but it does stand on its own pretty well. They had other good sounding things there too.
The previous night (sorry to backtrack) I had tried on a Capt. Jack hat at Pirates. We decided we would get hats for the party. So we went to look for my daughter a crown. Tried Tink’s place, and came up empty. Went to the Emporium, and found a crown and pirate hats for wife and I. We decided to head back for lunch. Remembering the food from yesterday, and seeing the Ft Wilderness boat already there, I said let me call and check on something. I got us a ADR for Trail’s End that was 20 minutes away. When we got there, I found out we could have just walked up, it wasn’t crowded. Food was decent, selection was wide, as some breakfast food was still available if wanted. It was a good value. We certainly were full when we left. Took the short boat ride over to our resort to rest and swim.
I explored the Villas lobby downstairs. There is some pretty cool stuff here, like Walt’s old trains from his house in California from about 1950. Many comfy looking chairs and rockers. If you wanted to relax, they certainly have the facilities here for it. Also the building itself is awesome, very beautiful. Much like the Lodge, it has lots of carved wood. You can really see the similarity between here and AKL. I wish I had more time here to enjoy all it has to offer, but I will hopefully be back again.
That evening we took a bus to DHS. The wait was longer than normal. And it made a stop at Ft Wilderness too. But all is well, no worries still. When we get inside the park, I want to look at the tip board, as we are looking at it, I see a guy change a name on the board. It is Toy Story Mania. I look closer and both signs have TSM on them, but one is missing the FP symbol. I never realized that is how they indicate when the FP’s run out for the day on the tip board. So TSM ran out around 4-5 PM that day. Stand BY said 90, so we decided we would get that on another day. So we FP RnR, and go watch Indy. During the show, my wife is not feeling well. So we get up and go out near the end. She rests, and says she will try to stick it out. So we go to the Great Movie Ride.
They let us into load, but there is no more room. They ask us to please wait. I say are you running cowboy and gangster? They say yes. I say can we do cowboy? She looks at something and says sure and tells us to go ahead and stand in line 1 up front. We hadn’t done cowboy before, so I was excited. Paul was out host, and he was full of enthusiasm, a good guide. Our hijacker was into his part as well, and even acted up with the smaller ones in the car which was great. Wife is feeling OK after our tour. Says she is up for RnR, so we give it a whirl. There are new riders behind us. Sometimes we forget that not everybody has done this before, and when you see their excitement after witnessing a launch, it is exciting for me too. She says after the ride that it actually helped, it made her feel better, but I now am getting a headache, … and it is POURING down rain, BIG rain. Water is flooding the streets. We poncho up, and head to the HTH next door. She will not ride this ride, so she waits in the gift shop while daughter and I go on one of our favorites. It was a sequence that makes you think it is over, but it is not. We loved it. Wife was entertained by CM’s in unload area acting up. We decide to call it a day, and the sun is still up. This would bother me before. To waste this much of the day, miss an ADR, miss Fantasmic again. (Didn’t see it last time either, oh well) But not this time. Not anymore. As we are leaving, Noah Part II begins to cover the already saturated ground. We wait at the bus stop, and see a bus pull in with our name on it, but somewhere in the circle, it changes names and picks up other people. It was a bit annoying, and a bit of a let down, but transportation for the week had been pretty good, so we were due. My apologies to the other people at the stop affected by our previous good luck.
We ended the night by getting big ole fat cheeseburgers from Roarin Forks food Court, and just chillin in the room and watching movies and such. Big day tomorrow planned, Water Park and P&P party, but first breakfast at Whispering Canyon.

lpet11984 · Jun 6, 2008

Sounds like you're having a fabulous trip-- can't wait to read more!

Don't mind me living vicariously through your report...

Ravenclaw87 · Jun 11, 2008

Great TR so far!!

Keep it up *taps foot impatiently*

michelek73 · Jun 11, 2008

Trip Report

I am 171 days away from following in your footsteps.....can not wait for more of your report....!!!!!!

Trip Report: Max's Dad 6\1 - 6/7

xsupaxmanxsfnex

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SnowWhiteMomma

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CAPTAIN HOOK

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MaxsDad

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figmentmom

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Grumpy-Fan

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xsupaxmanxsfnex

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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MaxsDad

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PoohBear119

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MaxsDad

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lpet11984

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Ravenclaw87

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michelek73

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