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Day seven Wednesday January 29
OK, that's more like it- the crowds are finally what I hoped they would be. All it took was 48 degree temperature with showers turning to a steady rain! Started the day at Epcot where I had a Behind the Seeds tour in the Land at noon. If you like the ride, or have an interest in gardening, I think you would enjoy this tour. Inexpensive ( I think I paid $16 with Dis Visa discount) and fairly non time consuming- ours went about 80 minutes. Jumped on the monorail over to Magic Kingdom and ? where are the people? I waited in zero lines all afternoon. Of course I am not in the line demographic as I don't have a little one, like to meet princesses, or ride roller coasters. Even the standby times I saw as I passed were tame- Space Mt 10 minutes, Pan 20 minutes. I did Pirates, Mansion twice, Peter Pan (with a FP+), Buzz four times, and TTA four times (love it). Today's food reviews- Pecos Bills:
Cheeseburger C- and would be lower without the fixings bar, Atmosphere C-. Aloha Isle- Dole Whip A I finally had one! It was quite good, even on a cold day, but not quite as life changing as I have been led to believe on the boards! Wandered Main St for a while, took a lap on the train and decided I was done. As I was leaving I saw the sign for the Grand Floridian ferry and decided to take a detour and check out how the upper classes do Disney. After a quick ride, I walked to lobby- really a very lovely place, live chamber music- wish I could afford it. I dilly dallied until seven ( the resort & MK'S monorails are being worked on 11-7 on weekdays) and then jumped on the resort rail. I love going through the Contemporary! Took the Epcot monorail- one of my top five Disney things to do is ride the monorail into Epcot after dark, beautiful! Walked to Mexico and just hung out for a while, sitting on the fountain. Then I rode the three Amigos ride. I know the middle is pretty hokey, but the beginning under the volcano and the end in the fireworks room make me happy. Next was Norway where I stopped and had a Norwegian Club at the bakery, it gets an A-, only marked down slightly because I had it toasted and it got a little greasy. Then rode Maelstrom a couple of times. I am one of those whackos who enjoys Disney theming so much I can just sit in the little dark village at the end of Maelstrom for fifteen minutes and be happy. Walked out at 8:55 and Illuminations was starting! Looked at railing and the were several open areas 40-50 feet long straight ahead of me, never seen that before. It was cold and wet. illuminations was amazing as always. I know that it has been around for a while and probably should be replaced, but it will be a daunting project to improve on it!
Tomorrow- Last park day at Epcot
Port Orleans FQ 1992
All Star Sports 2004
Contemporary 2004
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2004
Pop Century 2006
Beach Club 2006
Contemporary 2006
Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites 2009
All Star Music 2014
Coronado Springs 2014
Pop Century November 2014
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Emerzmom-
I agree about Coronado. It is very beautiful, but it doesn't have the Disney feel for me.
Thanks
Port Orleans FQ 1992
All Star Sports 2004
Contemporary 2004
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2004
Pop Century 2006
Beach Club 2006
Contemporary 2006
Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites 2009
All Star Music 2014
Coronado Springs 2014
Pop Century November 2014
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Day 8, Thursday January 29
Started day still with good bus luck, first bus at Coronado stop #4 was for Epcot! Headed straight for World Showcase as I felt it was the area I have neglected. Explored an empty Canada, then went to UK. Meet & greet with Alice only had two families in line when I walked by. Couldn't walk by France without seeing Impressions again. The cast member doing the intro was great. Morocco for lunch at Tangierine Cafe- chicken platter B+, theming A, service B. spent some time exploring nooks and crannies of Morocco. Trying to find appropriate souvenir for eighteen year old boy- not easy (I ended up getting him a retro Epcot shirt at the shop under Spaceship Earth). Next to Japan, have to explore Mitsukoshi store every time I pass, but resisted buying anything. Thought about repeating American Adventure, but timing was wrong. Wandered Italy, thought about a pretzel in Germany, but line was long (same line as beer line). Spent a while in China seeing Reflections ( very good), terra cotta warrior dudes, and in store. Norway next to try School Bread (again, like Dole Whip - thought it was good, but not stupendous). Used only fast pass of the day on Maelstrom, standby was a twenty minute wait at 4pm. Did Energy Adventure again, then back to Mexico for three amigos and some sitting time. Also bought a purple porcelain cat- it looks better than it sounds and it was only $12.
Started back around World Showcase to meet some friends in Boardwalk, by this time I was on fumes, feet hurt, energy low. Made it to Boardwalk to meet them, after Grand Floridian- the Boardwalk lobby seems tiny! Tried Big River for dinner, one hr wait. Same story at Flying Fish and Kouzzina, ended up at ESPN with no wait. Burger B, nachos B, bud light B, theming if you are sports nut, A++. If you are not a sports nut, I would steer clear. After dinner I hoofed it ( sore hooves) over for one last ride on Spaceship Earth. Got off at 8:50 and bee lined for the bus and was back in my room at 9:30. Again, it has other faults, but the Coronado's bus service was sweet.
No package from Magical Express on my door, so I had to call- 1:45 bus to airport tomorrow!
Port Orleans FQ 1992
All Star Sports 2004
Contemporary 2004
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2004
Pop Century 2006
Beach Club 2006
Contemporary 2006
Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites 2009
All Star Music 2014
Coronado Springs 2014
Pop Century November 2014
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I've enjoyed your reports. Sounds like a fun time.
Carrie
CBR: 2/21-2/25/17
POR: 6/4-6/11/16
POFQ: 11/15-11/19/15
8/28-9/1/14 -DL-Dumbo 19.3 C2C
POR: 1/7-1/14/14 -Dopey 48.6
POR: 6/11-6/17/13
ASMu: 1/11-1/15/13 -1st Full 26.2
ASMu: 9/22-9/28/11
ASMu: 6/7-6/13/11
Pop: 1/30-2/6/10
Pop: 2/1-2/7/09
Pop: 1/08
ASMu: 05/06
Off-site: 12/93
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Love how you grade your meals..Thanks for the reports
Dec.11-18, 2021 Port Orleans Riverside
Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2017, Port Orleans Riverside
Oct. 29-Nov.4, 2014-Yacht Club
Dec. 17-23 2011-Wilderness Lodge
Dec. 20-30, 2008-Pop Century
Dec. 25,2005-Jan.1, 2006-Coronado Springs
Jan. 1-7, 2003-All Star Movies
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Day nine- January 31
Last day, sitting in Coronado lobby for three hours waiting for DME. When I planned this, it seemed like a golden opportunity to have some time to explore the resort. However since I am not a duck, I am sitting here reading and watching the rain. Had late breakfast at Pepper Market- Biscuits & Gravy B+, theming A. I can see how people just might dump their tags before checking out( you take a tag, the servers stamp it with what you get, you eat, then you go pay with your tag, problem if you lose tag.
Final reflections:
On past trips at this point I am anxious to get home for many reasons, today all that I am missing about home is my son, I will be glad to see him.
All Star Music was good, great theming at the All Stars and the price can't be beat. Bus service and food court are packed, but again the price is right.
Coronado Springs is beautiful! However it definitely has a business/ convention feel to it more than a Disney feel. You also need to be aware that you room could possibly be 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the main building. There are four bus stops, so you will not have that long of a walk to catch a bus.
Cast members were efficient and 70% friendly, those that weren't friendly weren't nasty, just sort of vacant.
The weather was all over the map, it was close to 80 on Tuesday, then high 40s with steady rain on Wednesday. It has been gray and wet for three days in a row now. Winter in Florida has all sorts of possibilities. If weather doesn't bother you- the parks are a lot less crowded when it is bad.
While late January is still probably considered a " slow" time, it seems that The South American invasion has pumped up the crowds quite a bit.
As to our guests from the south, I encountered not one instance of rudeness, line cutting, or excessive noise. Everyone I ran into was extremely polite.
Epcot remains my favorite park. World Showcase is pretty amazing, though they do need to invest some money in Future World soon- reimagine Imagination? New ending for Spaceship Earth?
Magic Kingdom is still- magic. TTA and the Mansion are my enduring favorites, and there is just so much to do!
Studios needs to rip out the backlot tour ( maybe save Catastrophe Canyon?) and use that space for something big. Right now for me, Studios is a 3-4 hour park because I don't do Rockin Roller or Tower.
I enjoy Animal Kingdom, on the fence about the Avatar stuff, we'll see.
Downtown Disney packs the people in, it's pretty amazing we all have money for Disney to keep vacuuming in there. I like the dining options,the outdoor music is good. Didn't get inside Splitsville, but I like the idea. Cirque is tremendous, would love to them refurb and create a new show someday. It seems like they could plug in some of the old Pleasure Island concepts and be successful- comedy club? Adventurer's Club?
Mostly a good trip. Disney trips for me tend to be more challenge than relaxation. Every time I think that I should rest, I think " I can rest at home, I'm at Disney, who knows when I'll be back". So I end up worn out.
Going solo had lonely moments, but as other people have said- it it pretty liberating to do what you want to do on a whim. Take the first bus that pulls up, go explore a hotel lobby that you are interested in, ride the same ride three times in a row, eat when and where you feel like it.
Magical Express calls- back to California and real life.
Port Orleans FQ 1992
All Star Sports 2004
Contemporary 2004
Animal Kingdom Lodge 2004
Pop Century 2006
Beach Club 2006
Contemporary 2006
Anaheim Desert Inn & Suites 2009
All Star Music 2014
Coronado Springs 2014
Pop Century November 2014
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Loved reading your trip reports. Hopefully next time you go to the "World" it will have gone through some updating (That is what I am hoping for my next trip as well). All in all it sounds like you had a great trip.
"There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and dreams that we could possibly imagine."-Walt Disney
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Originally Posted by denygold
Cast members were efficient and 70% friendly, those that weren't friendly weren't nasty, just sort of vacant.
The weather was all over the map, it was close to 80 on Tuesday, then high 40s with steady rain on Wednesday. It has been gray and wet for three days in a row now. Winter in Florida has all sorts of possibilities. If weather doesn't bother you- the parks are a lot less crowded when it is bad.
While late January is still probably considered a " slow" time, it seems that The South American invasion has pumped up the crowds quite a bit.
As to our guests from the south, I encountered not one instance of rudeness, line cutting, or excessive noise. Everyone I ran into was extremely polite.
Epcot remains my favorite park. World Showcase is pretty amazing, though they do need to invest some money in Future World soon- reimagine Imagination? New ending for Spaceship Earth?
Magic Kingdom is still- magic. TTA and the Mansion are my enduring favorites, and there is just so much to do!
Studios needs to rip out the backlot tour ( maybe save Catastrophe Canyon?) and use that space for something big. Right now for me, Studios is a 3-4 hour park because I don't do Rockin Roller or Tower.
I enjoy Animal Kingdom, on the fence about the Avatar stuff, we'll see.
Enjoyed your report. We were there at the same time. I almost feel like I don't have to finish my report, because I just agree 100% with what you said above. The quiet time doesn't feel so quiet anymore, and there definitely isn't a lot of English being spoken. Didn't create any problems at all for us either though. Still love, love Epcot, but the reality is that at least half of future world (Innoventions, Imagination, Energy and Space, IMO. Did I mention Innoventions? ) could stand to be completely re-done. Animal Kingdom might be my favorite park right now, but I'm nervous about what Avatar is going to do to it.
Bay Lake Tower - 2014, 2015
Polynesian Resort - 2013
Wilderness Lodge - 2011
Port Orleans - 2003
Hotel Plaza - 2002
Coronado Springs - 1998
Disneyland - 1997
All Star Music - 1995, 1997
Offsite - 1980, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
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I don't think you get a magical express envelope before checkout anymore do you? I think the times are set up when you get your packet in the mail before your trip. Glad you had a good time and the crowds were light!
We'll Go On....Off To Neverland
Wishes!
It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow....Where Dreams Really Do Come True
Never Forget It was All Started By A Mouse....TTFN
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