Jeff
12-23-2008, 04:37 PM
We drove from Michigan this year :car:- the first time since 1984. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. We left Michigan in a near blizzard on the 19th and arrived safe and sound in beautiful sunny Florida on the 20th. Stopped outside of Atlanta the first night.
The parks were not as busy as Christmas weeks in the past during our first 3 days.
Saturday evening at Epcot we were amazed at the light crowd.
Sunday we went to Epcot, the Studios, Target (had to get a small Christmas :tree: and some lights for the window) and then to Downtown Disney. By far the heaviest crowds were at Downtown. Yikes!!! Last minute Christmas shoppers everywhere.
Monday we spent the morning at the Studios and the evening at the Magic Kingdom. The crowds were noticeably heavier but still not "Christmas week huge" as we have seen in the past. We were, of course, at the park for the opening, I got a fast pass for Toy Story Mania first thing while my wife and daughter rode the Tower and R&R Coaster (I can do without those two motion sickness activators). This seemed a great plan as wife and daughter had ridden both of the big two in well under 30 minutes. We then had some breakfast from Staring Rolls, saw the Movie Ride and the Little Mermaid then used our FP for Toy Story. :thumbsup:This is a very fun ride and all in my family loved it. Somewhere in there we watched the High School Musical 3 street show too.
Lunch at Whispering Canyon over at Wilderness Lodge. The menu has changed a bit and the food didn't seem as good. Dinner was at the Boardwalk to Go kiosk and, unfortunately, their chili dogs and corn dogs are now just run of the mill dogs. Ordinary buns from a grocery store bag and cheese whiz on top. The corn dog wasn't as good as the frozen "State Fair" brand you can buy at any Super Walmart! Big fail (as my daughter would say)!!
In the evening the MK crowds looked big on Main Street, but then it's always crowded there. We actually never went into the park beyond the Train Station as we were there just to see the parade and Holiday Wishes. I'm not sure how things were in the rest of the park.
Today, Tuesday the 23rd. We started the day at MK. At park opening, Jimmny Cricket and Daisy Duck were near the Christmas tree to siphon off those with little children and the lack of a plan. :secret:We went right to Space Mt. and got FP, rode Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, over to Splash and Big Thunder at 9am when that part of the park opened. Then to Pirates (still a walk on) then back to FP on Space, Monster Inc, TTA, COP, Buzz again (with FP). My daughter maxed out at 999,999 this time just when I was feeling all big and bad with 948,000. Wouldn't you know it! When I do my best she maxes the thing out!:mad: So now, back in our room at the Swan as I type this I am thinking of waking my daughter up from her nap just to get some revenge for the Buzz beating!!!!!!!!!!!:D
Crowds up today but still not crazy as years past. Also, park hours are cut back from past years.
MK only open from 9am till midnight (not counting magic hours) This is certainly later than last few years.
Studios, open from 9am till 8pm. this is a later opening and earlier closing than the past.
I guess that shows that the Disney powers that be are expecting lighter crowds as well.
I probably won't post again while I'm here as the Swan charges $13 for 24 hours of internet access. I'll pay that for a plate of nachos and a drink over in Epcot this evening and not think anything of it - but for something many hotels (not here at WDW of course) have as a "free" service it seems a bit much! Oh, well - no complaints, I'm at WDW with my family for Christmas!:thumbsup:
Wishing you all a great Christmas!:santa:
The parks were not as busy as Christmas weeks in the past during our first 3 days.
Saturday evening at Epcot we were amazed at the light crowd.
Sunday we went to Epcot, the Studios, Target (had to get a small Christmas :tree: and some lights for the window) and then to Downtown Disney. By far the heaviest crowds were at Downtown. Yikes!!! Last minute Christmas shoppers everywhere.
Monday we spent the morning at the Studios and the evening at the Magic Kingdom. The crowds were noticeably heavier but still not "Christmas week huge" as we have seen in the past. We were, of course, at the park for the opening, I got a fast pass for Toy Story Mania first thing while my wife and daughter rode the Tower and R&R Coaster (I can do without those two motion sickness activators). This seemed a great plan as wife and daughter had ridden both of the big two in well under 30 minutes. We then had some breakfast from Staring Rolls, saw the Movie Ride and the Little Mermaid then used our FP for Toy Story. :thumbsup:This is a very fun ride and all in my family loved it. Somewhere in there we watched the High School Musical 3 street show too.
Lunch at Whispering Canyon over at Wilderness Lodge. The menu has changed a bit and the food didn't seem as good. Dinner was at the Boardwalk to Go kiosk and, unfortunately, their chili dogs and corn dogs are now just run of the mill dogs. Ordinary buns from a grocery store bag and cheese whiz on top. The corn dog wasn't as good as the frozen "State Fair" brand you can buy at any Super Walmart! Big fail (as my daughter would say)!!
In the evening the MK crowds looked big on Main Street, but then it's always crowded there. We actually never went into the park beyond the Train Station as we were there just to see the parade and Holiday Wishes. I'm not sure how things were in the rest of the park.
Today, Tuesday the 23rd. We started the day at MK. At park opening, Jimmny Cricket and Daisy Duck were near the Christmas tree to siphon off those with little children and the lack of a plan. :secret:We went right to Space Mt. and got FP, rode Buzz, Pooh, Peter Pan, over to Splash and Big Thunder at 9am when that part of the park opened. Then to Pirates (still a walk on) then back to FP on Space, Monster Inc, TTA, COP, Buzz again (with FP). My daughter maxed out at 999,999 this time just when I was feeling all big and bad with 948,000. Wouldn't you know it! When I do my best she maxes the thing out!:mad: So now, back in our room at the Swan as I type this I am thinking of waking my daughter up from her nap just to get some revenge for the Buzz beating!!!!!!!!!!!:D
Crowds up today but still not crazy as years past. Also, park hours are cut back from past years.
MK only open from 9am till midnight (not counting magic hours) This is certainly later than last few years.
Studios, open from 9am till 8pm. this is a later opening and earlier closing than the past.
I guess that shows that the Disney powers that be are expecting lighter crowds as well.
I probably won't post again while I'm here as the Swan charges $13 for 24 hours of internet access. I'll pay that for a plate of nachos and a drink over in Epcot this evening and not think anything of it - but for something many hotels (not here at WDW of course) have as a "free" service it seems a bit much! Oh, well - no complaints, I'm at WDW with my family for Christmas!:thumbsup:
Wishing you all a great Christmas!:santa: