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efoxx
10-31-2006, 06:20 PM
Well here we are back in the real world, and trying to adjust to this reality. Wfoxx and I just returned from our fall trip to WDW and on the Disney Cruise. I thought I would give a quick trip report to the curious out there.

Day 1 (Wed.) started out a bit ominous when we received a call from the town car service that our driver had overslept and would be late. We weren’t too worried about missing our flight as our actual flight wasn’t until afternoon. But we wanted go on an earlier flight, and rather than pay the extra $100 apiece we decided to go standby. Fortunately we not only made it to the airport in a timely manor, but we made the flight we wanted. Only down side was we had an isle and middle seat, I like the window. What really bothered me was the woman who had the window seat insisted on keeping all the shades down.

We arrived in Orlando, picked up our rental car and checked into the Swan. First time there, and we were only there because we ran out of DVC points and they had a great government rate. It was nice enough, and very convenient, but not a Disney hotel. After checking in we headed up to the MK for the afternoon to see the new Pirates. It was rather more crowded then expected, but I think this was due to it being an EMH evening. The new PotC is great, and I even managed to get some good video. With the help of FP Wfoxx and I were able to do pretty much all we wanted to do by 9 and headed back to our hotel.

Day 2 (Thursday) and off to AK for a couple of quick rides on EE. When the park opened EE was listed as “delayed opening”. But we got a FP and waited in the standby line. The CM’s could give us no time frame for when it would open, and just as people started to leave the line it opened. We rode EE twice and Khali river rapids before heading over to Epcot for the rest of the day. It was hot BTW, records every day we were in Orlando. Like July hot 92+ with 80% humidity.

The rest of the day was spent at Epcot; we got to experience the Seas with Nemo and friends including the new finding Nemo ride. It really was good, but I think the theme song “it’s a big blue world” may one day be synonymous with IASW. It was almost as if the chose the tune and words to go hand in hand with the other ride. Overall I would say it shows a good sign for things to come for all of Disney theme parks. Wfoxx and I ate at the Nine Dragons for the first time. I would have to give it a pass. I was how ever impressed with the “buried warriors” on display in the China pavilion. Highlight for the day for me would have to be watching Brian the magician perform at the boardwalk. He was very funny.

efoxx
10-31-2006, 06:22 PM
Day 3 (Friday) was spent at Epcot all day. This is Wfoxx’s and my favorite park, and we could just spend our entire vacation there. I think we did just about everything there, thoroughly enjoying the food and wine fest. One down side was that we wanted to do the Tea making class in England, but the people there couldn’t get their act together. Every time we showed up they had a different way of deciding who gets in. (Get a ticket, you don’t need a ticket, wait in line, wait in line for a ticket then come back and wait in line. Sorry but we only let in 22 people and your 23 and 24). So after 4 frustrating attempts we gave up. We ate dinner that night at Chef’s de France. It was the highlight again for us. I miss the Duck, but the Cote de Porc Fermierewas fantastic. Wfoxx and I purchased a bottle of Crème de Cassis as we really liked it, but alas Ted (part of united airlines) broke the bottle for us. On the plus side we have the best smelling suitcase in the world

Day 4 (Saturday) no big thing here, we checked out of the swan and spent the day at the studios. We arrived at the start of EMH and headed straight for RnRC. I was dismayed to see 25 min. wait posted 10 min. after park opening. So we grabbed a FP for it and rode ToT a couple of times. When our FP time came we headed over to RnRC. The time posted was 20 min. but I was VERY dismayed to find out the ENTIRE line was after the merge point with FP. The line headed up the ramp into the studio and switched back and forth before heading to the soundstage. I complained that this really wasn’t a FP as we waited in the ENTIRE standby line, but they couldn’t figure it out. In the “good ol’ days” the standby line was outside before the merge point and you only waited a minute or two inside.

The rest of the day was great though. We got to meet Drince88. She is REALLY a nice lady; we sat and talked for quite a while. Hey Cathy buy the DVC! But eventually we had to make our 3pm Resv. At 50’s prime time so we said goodbye and headed off.

In the afternoon we headed off to Cocoa Beach with a quick stop at DTD for some shopping and admiring the pirates in the world of Disney. You can see our trip report of the members cruise here…
http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?p=965582#post965582


Lesson learned from this trip was stay away from EMH parks. This is the first time we actually went to those parks, and I was surprised at how crowded they were.

On the way home from the cruise we stopped by Mouse Surplus. I tell you if you are any true Disney fan you must make the trip to see this place. It was mega cool. Took lots of pics and even bought a few items. Oh well trip over, now we will have to wait until April 29th

jengold29
11-01-2006, 03:34 AM
Hey, did you eat at chefs de france on friday 10/27? We were there, we had a 7:15 ADR.

Drince88
11-01-2006, 03:49 AM
It was great meeting you guys, too! (And still considering it!)

It cooled off (for at least a couple of days) after you left. Monday evening cooled off pretty good, and Tuesday morning was record lows!

Regarding the Nemo tune - I'm kind of wondering if that's going to be a part of the new stage show, too.

efoxx
11-01-2006, 06:28 AM
Hey, did you eat at chefs de france on friday 10/27? We were there, we had a 7:15 ADR.
Sorry it was friday 10/20 but we were there at 7:15, just finishing up the meal.

danyoung
11-01-2006, 06:44 AM
What really bothered me was the woman who had the window seat insisted on keeping all the shades down.

I'm very claustrophobic, and I hate it when someone does this. I usually ask politely if they'd mind keeping it open a bit, and most times people are nice enough to accommodate. But ideally, I'll get the window seat and enjoy the great outdoors view!

Mark Goldhaber
11-02-2006, 09:30 PM
Regarding the Nemo tune - I'm kind of wondering if that's going to be a part of the new stage show, too.
Why yes, yes it is.

RideMax Mark
11-03-2006, 04:45 AM
Lesson learned from this trip was stay away from EMH parks. This is the first time we actually went to those parks, and I was surprised at how crowded they were.

Yes, I sometimes wonder if folks who make a habit of hitting the EMH park have any idea of what they're missing at the *NON* -EMH parks.

I took this picture yesterday at Epcot, just before 11am, on a day when the *MK* was holding its EMH (notice the cast member on the left side of the picture just standing there waiting for guests to show up!):
http://winters.smugmug.com/photos/107615417-L.jpg


Of course, it's not always this dramatic, but I think this helps illustrate the point... ;)

danyoung
11-03-2006, 05:34 AM
We arrived at the start of EMH and headed straight for RnRC. I was dismayed to see 25 min. wait posted 10 min. after park opening.

I have kind of a hard time making EMH work as some of the parks, mainly because there just ain't that much stuff open. The MK works extremely well, as most of Fantasyland and most of Tomorrowland are open. It gives me the opportunity to see a lot of the simpler stuff like the dark rides that I woudn't ever wait in a long line for.