[smallworld]

Just returned this afternoon and I will report more tomorrow. Here's some quickies until then.

* Love, Love, Love POFQ still---it was our favorite when it first opened and still is.

* Parks super duper crowded---worse than July 4th visit, worse than New years eve visit---worse I think than we have ever experienced.

* Bus system worked really really well in spite of crowds

* Finding Nemo show a must for adults and kids.

* Soaring a must as well

More tomorrow.

Smallworld

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by smallworld

* Parks super duper crowded---worse than July 4th visit, worse than New years eve visit---worse I think than we have ever experienced.

Worse than over the 4th? Wow, that's crowded!

I like the tease and I can't wait to read more. Get some rest and get started tomorrow, I need a Diney fix.

[InHouseMouse]

I'm going to stay at POFQ in 20 days!!! I need to know more! LOL... can't wait to hear everything.

I wonder why the parks are so busy now that the holiday is over.

[Dopey]

Good to have you back where you can report on this trip no later than TOMORROW. OK?

[Maria]

Originally Posted by Dopey

Good to have you back where you can report on this trip no later than TOMORROW. OK?

Yes what she said Welcome back, we all love to see picture too please

[pkc123]

Welcome back. Can't wait to hear all about your trip and to see all your pictures.

[dac921]

Welcome back....

[bransworld]

Welcome back! I am looking forward to reading more about your trip.

[smallworld]

---Can I just start by saying I awoke this morning to "Yo Ho Yo Ho----" in my head!!!! How silly is that one!!! I am 51 years old and I have the pirates song stuck in my head!!! Ah well it is one of my favorites from way back when I saw the ride on Wonderful World of Disney with good ole Walt!!!

Anywho---

We finally got to take our trip that was originally scheduled for last August---when my father in law passed away. The good thing about the delay, is that we were able to squeeze in more days this time that we wouldn't have had in August. The trip included myself, and my 19 year old daughter. We have been going to WDW every couple of years since she was 3---and we both have watched it change over the years. (Hubby used to go but he has lost his enthusiasm now and doesnt go with us anymore poor man. He is waiting to take grandchildren some day I guess!!)

We took the Magical Express service for the 2nd time, and if you stay on the property, this is such a bonus!! Over the years we have used different forms of transportation but this is by far the quickest and easiest. For those who have not used it, you check your bags into your airport and home, and never touch them again until they "magically" appear in your resort room!! Same thing in reverse going home. Check them into the system at the resort (if you use a participating airline) and never touch them again until you arrive home at baggage check!! Love, love it!!

Port Orleans-French Quarter has not changed much since we first stayed there about 13+- yrs ago when it first opened. (The only change being that the trees are all grown up now!!!) It is indeed my first choice for an on property resort---just have never been able to get ressies there for years. Why first choice? Location to the parks--5 - 10 min bus ride to all the parks, size----smaller property so every room is never far from food court and bus stop, food court is excellent, quick and not too crowded, river boat transportation to downtown disney is an option, moderate price but deluxe decor. Now keep in mind that there are generally 2 of us in the small rooms there ---that could make a difference in your choice if you have a room full. We had a garden view room again. I don't want to pay extra money each night for a pool view or water (river view) ---it's really not worth it. I should back track here and give you a bit of our philosophy(sp?). We have never stayed in an accomodation above moderate so I can never rate those. We personally don't believe in paying extra for a room that we are only in to sleep and shower. The service at all hotels is great so ---thats just my opinion. Remember that opinions are just that---and everyone is indeed entitled to their own. :) Even when my daughter was three years old, we would (and still do) leave the hotel in the early morning and never return until park closing sometimes after midnight. (our first visit with the whole family and grandparents when my daughter was 3 -we stayed at the now gone townhouses next to the Disney Marketplace. They were nice but that visit we realize that we were never there except to sleep) We never cook our meals or come back to the hotel during the day sooooooooo. Moderate or value it is now. We have stayed at quite a few different hotels so I would be glad to answer questions on them. You gotta keep in mind, though, that things are constantly changing at WDW. ie bus service. Anyway, POFQ is still our favorite and I will ask for it first each time I call for ressies. LOL

The crowds? WOW!!! That was quite a shock. I thought that the crowds would thin out a day or so after New Years ---thats why we picked arrival on the 3rd. We kept waiting for everyone to go home!!! The marathon on the weekend brought lots of people and their families in. They arrived early and stayed until we left so------------. I never realized this happened at the same time each year so be forewarned. Also, the europeon families were still out of school last week as well as Florida discount days. Again, I never thought of that. We were there several years ago for New Years Eve and the parks were "dead" on New Years Day. We just assumed that everyone had gone home but they probably were just asleep!!!!! Lesson learned. Don't go the week of New Years expecting to have the parks to yourself. It was quite the opposite. At one point last Friday, we could not even move down the walkway between Peter Pan and Small World. This was around lunch time---it was jammed packed. I was glad that I didn't have a child in tow!!

Let me see what else can I tell you? Oh we did not do any character meals this time. We personally don't like to get booked into making too many reservations for meals while there, and then have to leave a line or wait around to time the dinner reservation just right. Again, it's just a personal thing--keep in mind I don't have a little one anymore. If you do---you gotta do at least one character meal while there. (We have always liked the character meal at Liberty Tree---it has the "pooh" characters as well as Mickey and Minnie) Oh yes that reminds me. TIP---please keep in mind that the characters are NOT out at lunch time at Liberty Tree. While eating lunch there we saw several families who were misinformed or didnt do their homeworkd and made lunch reservations expecting to find the characters there at lunch time. There are at Liberty Tree for dinner only. :) Food is always good there and plenty of it.

We wanted specifically to see the Osborne Lights this trip. It was rained out our first night there, so we went back on Friday to be sure we saw them before they came down. It was so worth going just for that!!!! I love them. I miss them on the houses in the back but still they were pretty along the street area. Be sure and catch those one year.

We walked right into Fantasmic. We sat in the back but really you can see well from everywhere. Oh. We won't do the Fantasmic dinner thing ever again. (didnt this time) Last visit we signed up and paid for dinner at Mama Melrose. The dinner was ok but not worth the money we felt---and when we got to Fantasmic, the seating area we were given were on the side area---and then it got cancelled because of a storm coming!!! So you have no guarantee of a good meal, a good seat or a show with that. Just so you know. We just felt that we wasted our time and money on that so this time we showed up at 7:45 and walked in with the crowd and got a better seat than we had with the dinner plan!! (again keep in mind that this is all opinion)

Ummmm. What else? Oh. Pirates was really cute. We rode it a couple of times!!! Johnny Depps autoanimatronic character is very very realistic!!! Looks just like him!! If you have a pirate lover---you will see Johnny Depp everywhere in the park---they are really pushing this now.

We did not ride the Matterhorn. The lines were long and fastpast was way late in the day. Perhaps next time. A cast member told us that the Matterhorn was sort of a cross between space mtn and thunder railroad with the drops more intense. Hope that helps your desision.

Did soarin for the first time. The warnings for heart, etc are not necessary. I have motion sickness but this was not a problem at all. It was pretty crowded otherwise we would have gone on it again.

I miss the old food court options that they had in the Land. This system does not give you as many options. It also is designed weird in that the line for the Land stretches all the way back through the seating area and you can't get back and forth across it with your tray. Who designed that?

I feel as if I am rambling on and on. Why not just ask me questions?? I would love to answer when I can.

As I said this was our "umpteenth" trip. I can tell you that alot has changed there since we first were running around chasing characters 16 years ago!!! (its so much easier to find and get autographs from the characters now than it was back then--you guys with little ones now don't know how lucky you are!!!)

Ok. Ask away. I need to go get another cup of coffee and start into the laundry. Smallworld

[smallworld]

Quick question. How and where do you post pictures? We have some great pictures on the digital camera.

[bikedealer]

Welcome back. I know some of our schools around here were off from Dec 23rd till the 8th of Jan. This could be the crowd problem.

[KiKi]

Welcome back.

I had no idea it would be so busy the first week of January. A friend of mine was there last year for the same week, and she said it was empty. We almost went this year based on her experience. I think I'm glad we're waiting until May.

So when is your next trip?

[janiebird66]

Welcome back. I wouldn't have thought it would be that busy after the first either
Where is the Matterhorn? I am drawing a blank on that one

[lovemysons]

Welcome back! I am so surprised to hear it was that crowded. I am glad you had a chance to see the Osborne lights, they are spectacular!

As far as posting pictures, choose "go advanced" and then select "manage attachments" and upload from there.

[smallworld]

Kiki: May is a good time or so I have heard. We have never been in the springtime---many time during the fall months but never spring. But then again, I have been there before after New Years Eve and it was empty so---I guess you just have to be prepared in case. Luckily, we had planned in enough days to get thru everything. Smallworld