Goofy'sFriend
"Gawrsh"
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2001
Hi everyone. We are back from our fantastic trip......6 nights at AKL and 4 RD mornings in the 4 parks and 2 evening EMHs.
Rope Drop is KEY!! We got soooooo much done. We got to the bus stops at 7:30 for a non-EMH 9:00 park opening. We were 1st at turnstiles and RD. FP major attractions first and then rode. We got everything done that we wanted to see and rode major attractions twice......and were out of parks by about 1:00 or 2:00, when the crowds were pouring in.
To compare, we have been the first week of August five years ago and Dec. 19 through Dec. 27 three years ago. and by far I thought the early afternoon crowds and evening EMH nights were FAR worse this trip.....
We did EMH evenings at MK on Sun. (1st night of Free Dining) and AK last night. They were the worst EMH we have ever done. MK closed at 1:00 a.m. and at 12:30, SM and BTM were 40 min. (BTM was offering FP so that helped) We wanted to ride PP last and at 12:45 a.m. it was also still 40 min.
I thought the AK EMH would be great from what I had been reading on the boards but during the last hour, Everest (No FPs offered) was 40 min. and Kali and PW were still at 50 min. The streets were PACKED (as much as an afternoon). Not sure if Free Dining added to these crowds but I suspect it has. Our mornings were wonderful, but again they were all before Free Dining started.
Cast members were great, buses pretty good....only 2 waits longer than 20 minutes. AKL beautiful. Food, okay.....nothing 4 or 5 stars but nothing bad. I will post more of that on the Dining Forum.
RNR, POC, Backlot Tour and AMC all broke down while we were in line....weird, that's never happened before.
Noticed a HUGE difference in the counter service and table service restaurants once Aug. 16 and Free Dining came around. Talked to several very frustrated people that had just arrived and had just about no where to eat except some of the "unpopular" restaurants at very early or very late times.......some very unhappy people.....especially those staying in the lodge and couldn't secure a reservation at one of the lodge's restaurants. On a side note, if you are leaving for Free Dining, we noticed yesterday that at Wolfgang Puck's and Planet Hollywood there were plenty of seats around 2 p.m. In fact, my best meal was at Wolfgang Puck's.
TSM.......CRAZY, CRAZY I am glad we were at the RD (literally). If you have small children, I would pick them up. The people pushing is just insane. We went the 2nd morning with the crowd to RNR and TOT and it was not stressful in any way. We got to ride TSM, RNR, TOT twice each day....once in standby and once with FPs. So, either way you go, as long as you are at RD you should be fine.
Overall, a great trip. LOVED TSM....fun, fun, fun. American Idol was also really fun for the last show.....except for the insane pushing. Don't know why people have to push through the doors when there is a seat for everyone. Not sure we will try EMH in the evening anymore or go when there is Free Dining......but we will do RD, can't go wrong there! Really felt sorry for those who were arriving late in the heat and crowds. I know it's hard to get up on vacation but it's so worth it.....we just went back to the lodge for a power nap.
Until the next trip............................
Rope Drop is KEY!! We got soooooo much done. We got to the bus stops at 7:30 for a non-EMH 9:00 park opening. We were 1st at turnstiles and RD. FP major attractions first and then rode. We got everything done that we wanted to see and rode major attractions twice......and were out of parks by about 1:00 or 2:00, when the crowds were pouring in.
To compare, we have been the first week of August five years ago and Dec. 19 through Dec. 27 three years ago. and by far I thought the early afternoon crowds and evening EMH nights were FAR worse this trip.....
We did EMH evenings at MK on Sun. (1st night of Free Dining) and AK last night. They were the worst EMH we have ever done. MK closed at 1:00 a.m. and at 12:30, SM and BTM were 40 min. (BTM was offering FP so that helped) We wanted to ride PP last and at 12:45 a.m. it was also still 40 min.
I thought the AK EMH would be great from what I had been reading on the boards but during the last hour, Everest (No FPs offered) was 40 min. and Kali and PW were still at 50 min. The streets were PACKED (as much as an afternoon). Not sure if Free Dining added to these crowds but I suspect it has. Our mornings were wonderful, but again they were all before Free Dining started.
Cast members were great, buses pretty good....only 2 waits longer than 20 minutes. AKL beautiful. Food, okay.....nothing 4 or 5 stars but nothing bad. I will post more of that on the Dining Forum.
RNR, POC, Backlot Tour and AMC all broke down while we were in line....weird, that's never happened before.
Noticed a HUGE difference in the counter service and table service restaurants once Aug. 16 and Free Dining came around. Talked to several very frustrated people that had just arrived and had just about no where to eat except some of the "unpopular" restaurants at very early or very late times.......some very unhappy people.....especially those staying in the lodge and couldn't secure a reservation at one of the lodge's restaurants. On a side note, if you are leaving for Free Dining, we noticed yesterday that at Wolfgang Puck's and Planet Hollywood there were plenty of seats around 2 p.m. In fact, my best meal was at Wolfgang Puck's.
TSM.......CRAZY, CRAZY I am glad we were at the RD (literally). If you have small children, I would pick them up. The people pushing is just insane. We went the 2nd morning with the crowd to RNR and TOT and it was not stressful in any way. We got to ride TSM, RNR, TOT twice each day....once in standby and once with FPs. So, either way you go, as long as you are at RD you should be fine.
Overall, a great trip. LOVED TSM....fun, fun, fun. American Idol was also really fun for the last show.....except for the insane pushing. Don't know why people have to push through the doors when there is a seat for everyone. Not sure we will try EMH in the evening anymore or go when there is Free Dining......but we will do RD, can't go wrong there! Really felt sorry for those who were arriving late in the heat and crowds. I know it's hard to get up on vacation but it's so worth it.....we just went back to the lodge for a power nap.
Until the next trip............................