"Official" Walt Disney World & Disneyland Thread

[drquest]

We did the Norway ride once and for whatever reason never did it again in all our visits to Epcot. I have a little girl who at the age of 2 is already obsessed with Frozen (Ive seen it at least 100 times and wake up with the songs already in my head) so I think the added character might be a good thing for it. We always miss the F&G show, which sucks, and we've only made it to the Food and Wine festival once which is too bad since it was a lot of fun. What do you do there when you volunteer?

I've ridden Maelstrom many times, but it never had a line, and Epcot massively needs more tier 1 rides.

[superherocrazy]

I've been to Disneyworld with my family twice and both times were in October when the park was decorated for Halloween. We paid the extra money to experience dressing up and trick-or-treating in Magic Kingdom. I was afraid I'd be the only adult in costume but it's amazing to see how many get into the spirit and dress up with their children. Plus free candy you can't go wrong!

We have stayed at the All star movies and All star sports resorts, you're only in the room to sleep, and bought the Premium meal plan on both occasions, which was more than enough for my family of 4. Both times we had so many snacks left over we ended up bringing a lot of glazed nuts home to enjoy after the vacation was over.

Magic Kingdome - Liberty Tavern is the place to eat, great food and lot of it. Favorite Rides - Buzz Light Year and Haunted Mansion.

Epcot - Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, you can get your pictures with the princess, and Marrakesh, the leg of lamb is to die for. Favorite Rides - Test Track and Mission Space.

Hollywood Studios - Brown Derby, although it burns two dinner points, and Hollywood and Vine. Favorite Rides - Toy Story and Tower of Terror, even though I'm afraid of heights I go on it at least 5 times while I'm there.

Animal Kingdom - Yak and Yeti to eat. Favorite Ride - Expedition Everest.

We stay 8 days and hit all the parks twice except for Animal Kingdom, this park we attend on the last day of our vacation, which gives you more than enough time to experience everything in the park. Sorry to say we've never made it to downtown Disney so far.

This year over the Christmas holiday we vacationed in California and were able to attend Disneyland. It is not as big as Disney World but just as fun. I've always wanted to see Disney decorated for Christmas and I was not disappointed. We spent Christmas Eve at the park and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't as crowded as I feared. Most rides were a 15 minute wait with only two with over a 45 minute wait. Those we got fast pass tickets and rode them later in the day. Since it was only a day/night trip, no meal plan, and just purchased burgers for lunch and dinner. Who needs food when there's so much to do. Favorite Rides - Splash Mountain and Star Tours.

I'm already looking to book a Disneyworld vacation for this year but haven't decided what month to go. I'd like to see all the Florida resorts decorated for Christmas so maybe over my children's Thanksgiving or Christmas school breaks.

Can anyone who's been there during these time periods give some insight on the crowds and wait times for rides.

If you've never been to one of these parks what are you waiting for, no matter what uour age, you'll have the time of your life!!!

[drquest]

Can anyone who's been there during these time periods give some insight on the crowds and wait times for rides.

I've been there over Halloween several times, and quite a number of times over Thanksgiving and a couple of times in early December. October is lighter crowds for sure than Thanksgiving and is a lot of fun if you like dressing up in costumes etc.... Some people go so overboard on their costumes and it makes for a lot of fun people watching.

I've noticed it's been getting more and more busy over Thanksgiving, so expect pretty packed crowds. I have friends that have been there over Christmas break, and the week of Christmas is supposed to be nuts, so I doubt we'll try to be there over that time frame. If you want to see the parks decorated, and do the Christmas Parade etc, they do the parades starting a few weeks before Thanksgiving, but not everything is decorated across WDW until the day after Thanksgiving.

[superherocrazy]

Thanks for the info. I've heard the week after Thanksgiving is a good time to go, because the kids are back in school, and it's before the school's Christmas break begins. I'll have to do more research before committing.

I loved the Halloween experience and was so glad to do it with my children. Our last visit I dressed as a pirate and my picture was taken so many times, while we were around the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, it made me feel like one of the cast.

[drquest]

Thanks for the info. I've heard the week after Thanksgiving is a good time to go, because the kids are back in school, and it's before the school's Christmas break begins. I'll have to do more research before committing.

I loved the Halloween experience and was so glad to do it with my children. Our last visit I dressed as a pirate and my picture was taken so many times, while we were around the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, it made me feel like one of the cast.

I would agree about the week after Thanksgiving. We usually have 1-2 days after the Thanksgiving weekend left before we head home and the parks are pretty mild. It's a very good time to good as the weather is nice and lower crowds, and parks are decorated etc.

Regarding Halloween, the last trip we made, my three kids all went as boxers, and my wife was a referee. I went as the caucasian Don King, with the tall hair and mustache etc.... My daughter, who's my oldest was pretty tired of hearing "Hey it's Don King" all day, haha...

[thunderbolt]

We did the Norway ride once and for whatever reason never did it again in all our visits to Epcot. I have a little girl who at the age of 2 is already obsessed with Frozen (Ive seen it at least 100 times and wake up with the songs already in my head) so I think the added character might be a good thing for it. We always miss the F&G show, which sucks, and we've only made it to the Food and Wine festival once which is too bad since it was a lot of fun. What do you do there when you volunteer?

we work at the FNGLA display in between France and Morrocco for 3 hours and get the park the rest of the day for free. My wife and I scratch our Disney itch that way every year. Get to see backstage, too.

[HardyGirl]

Hugh that film is priceless! My first visit to Disneyland was right before my 7th birthday in 1973. I do have photos, but my scanner is acting weird. That's so cool that your dad had a movie camera w/ sound. I've never been to Disney World, and the last time I was in Disneyland was '96. When I was little, I really loved the Dumbo ride, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Carribean and It's a Small World. Of course when I got older it was all about the coasters, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

[TrekStar]

Went to Disneyland twice, and Disney World once, but haven't been to either in over 10 years
want to go back to both very soon.

[YoungOnce]

Always been a big Disney fan and we have stayed at the "world" a lot in the past twenty years as our girls have grown up.

That said, it seems that something is being lost at the parks for me and it's not neccessarily Disney's fault (well, not all of it...). It is nigh impossible to just show up and enjoy a spontaneous day at any of the parks nowadays. If you intend to ride the top tier rides and eat at the restaurant of your choice, you need to get your FP and ADRs well ahead of time. Especially if you go during busy times, which is a better part of the year nowadays.

It is still a magical place, especially with kids, but the spirit of Walt is losing to a very corporate, profit-margin experience IMO. They have every right to make lots of money of course, but I find myself pining for the more relaxed experience it used to be.

[HardyGirl]

FP? ADR?

[megomania]

FP? ADR?

FP = Fast pass
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations

[YoungOnce]

FP = Fast pass
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations

Yeah.... Sorry... Fast passes are your "permission" to get in a shorter line at an attraction. Almost a must in peak attendance days (which is any day around a holiday or throughout the summer). Advance dining reservations must be made at about any sit down restaurant to guarantee a seat. Thanks megomania!

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, it's definitely something you have to plan in advance, if you want to maximize your Disney experience. I wasn't sure I'd like the new Fast Pass Plus bands vs. the old Fast Pass tickets, but it's actually better to have that all in advance, and not have to make a mad dash for those kiosks every morning.

We went over fall break and enjoyed the Halloween party as well this past year. It was well worth the extra dough! My son kept getting pulled into other family's photos, since he was dressed as a very convincing Jack Skellington!

Chris

[huedell]

I watched both your clips and they are amazing!! that's so very cool. A lot of that stuff is long gone (chair lifts, 20,000 leagues..., mr. toads wild ride, and they just recently removed the water fountain in the lobby of Polynesian resort). And I'd never use the term "generic" or even "cliche" to describe any of the old rides, they are quite simply "CLASSIC".

I'm with you on THAT 4NDR01D----I tend to use harsher words/get defensive, when "CLASSIC" woulda covered it all Earth2Chris mentioned the Peter Pan/Snow White rides---those are two more real classics to add. It's sad certain rides are shut down, but,, I suppose Disney has to make way for newer rides based on their newer more popular properties. That said, the thing I'm most surprised at, is that there's no more "ski lift" type cars over the park? If that's so, I wonder why---'cause those seem more "handy" than anything else.

Hugh that film is priceless! My first visit to Disneyland was right before my 7th birthday in 1973. I do have photos, but my scanner is acting weird. That's so cool that your dad had a movie camera w/ sound. I've never been to Disney World, and the last time I was in Disneyland was '96. When I was little, I really loved the Dumbo ride, Peter Pan, Pirates of the Carribean and It's a Small World. Of course when I got older it was all about the coasters, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

Thanks for the post, HardyGirl---maybe you'll get to Disneyland again one of these days (or get to see Disney World for the first time)---regardless, it sounds like your childhood/'96 memories are quite epic on their own. As Earth2Chris pointed out---the Peter Pan ride is really top notch nostalgic stuff! Wherever you may be, I know you'll keep enjoyin' keepin' the childhood dream alive!

[EmergencyIan]

Used to really love Epcot, but the character-ization of it is starting to really suck the fun out of it. They recently shut down the Norway ride to repurpose it to a Frozen ride. March 5th I will be there volunteering for the Flower and Garden show so I will check it out again.

Really? They're messing up the cool ride in Norway to make it a "Frozen" ride? I hate to read that. Seems like that damages the integrity of the "World Showcase" in EPCOT.

- Ian