Dulcee
01-19-2014, 02:19 PM
Traveling as a large group
DH and I will not be doing a big trip with his parents again. It just didn't work well. We were leary planning this trip but went ahead anyway. While we had a good time it won't happen again. Melding vacation styles of this many adults is no easy task. Touring the parks in a group of 7 isn't easy. I can only imagine that once I'm wrangling a small child my tolerance will be even lower then it was this trip.
Traveling pregnant
We hadn't exactly planned on me being pregnant this trip. We figured it would take longer then it did for us to get pregnant to begin with! However I have to say Disney is pretty pregnant friendly. There were few rides I couldn't or wouldn't do. And when I did opt out there was something close by to sub in.
It also gave us the unique perspective of thinking how different our next trip will be with a little one in tow. I can't wait!
Fast pass plus/Magic bands/My disney experience
I know there have been a lot of negative feelings towards all of this. This is the second time DH and I used fastpass +. The last was in Dec '12. We've liked it, really liked it, both times.
Its nice not having to run for paper fast passes. Its nice knowing if we can't make a time that I can easily modify that time and not have to chuck the fast pass altogether.
We LOVED the bands. We didn't have any problems getting them to scan. Paying for things this was easy, getting into the parks was easy. The only problem DH encountered was scanning his band to get into the resort. He couldn't contort his wrist and lean far enough out of the car to get the gate up.
The My Disney Experience App still has flaws. It could certainly work better and I hope it does when we return. When it worked it was GREAT. When it didn't work it made me what to throw my smart phone into Ariel's Grotto.
Dining
The food was ok this trip. The restaurants were not all our choices and frankly this is another reason we won't be traveling in a big group again. DH and I don't dine out at home, we don't get take out. Dining out is almost only done on vacation so we like nice restaurants when we go. We missed some favorites because of the group selections.
Highlights were Jiko's and Via Napoli. We'll be doing both again on our return trip without a doubt!
Another thing we'll be back to is the dining plan. DH and I both like the ease of it all being paid for. It may not be more economically (though this trip we still spent almost as much as the dining plan would have cost) but for us we enjoy the peace of mind of knowing its done.
Universal
I feel like there has been a lot of universal love on these boards lately. I'll admit that after visiting I don't understand why. Universal studios was a huge disappointment. Islands of Adventure was ok but the only area that wow-ed me was Harry Potter. There the main ride was beautifully themed. But the dueling coaster dragon ride seemed like they forced it to fit and just kind of snuck it back there. Our other issue was the whole vibe of the park is decidedly not as young, happy or magical as the WDW parks. You don't get the feeling of being away from it all, rather you feel like your in an amusement park.
While I'd love to see Diagon Alley once finished, we won't be rushing back anytime soon.
We'll be back to Disney hopefully soon. DH and I started planning for June 2015 already...I'm sure that will be a whole other adventure with a 10 month old along for the ride!
DH and I will not be doing a big trip with his parents again. It just didn't work well. We were leary planning this trip but went ahead anyway. While we had a good time it won't happen again. Melding vacation styles of this many adults is no easy task. Touring the parks in a group of 7 isn't easy. I can only imagine that once I'm wrangling a small child my tolerance will be even lower then it was this trip.
Traveling pregnant
We hadn't exactly planned on me being pregnant this trip. We figured it would take longer then it did for us to get pregnant to begin with! However I have to say Disney is pretty pregnant friendly. There were few rides I couldn't or wouldn't do. And when I did opt out there was something close by to sub in.
It also gave us the unique perspective of thinking how different our next trip will be with a little one in tow. I can't wait!
Fast pass plus/Magic bands/My disney experience
I know there have been a lot of negative feelings towards all of this. This is the second time DH and I used fastpass +. The last was in Dec '12. We've liked it, really liked it, both times.
Its nice not having to run for paper fast passes. Its nice knowing if we can't make a time that I can easily modify that time and not have to chuck the fast pass altogether.
We LOVED the bands. We didn't have any problems getting them to scan. Paying for things this was easy, getting into the parks was easy. The only problem DH encountered was scanning his band to get into the resort. He couldn't contort his wrist and lean far enough out of the car to get the gate up.
The My Disney Experience App still has flaws. It could certainly work better and I hope it does when we return. When it worked it was GREAT. When it didn't work it made me what to throw my smart phone into Ariel's Grotto.
Dining
The food was ok this trip. The restaurants were not all our choices and frankly this is another reason we won't be traveling in a big group again. DH and I don't dine out at home, we don't get take out. Dining out is almost only done on vacation so we like nice restaurants when we go. We missed some favorites because of the group selections.
Highlights were Jiko's and Via Napoli. We'll be doing both again on our return trip without a doubt!
Another thing we'll be back to is the dining plan. DH and I both like the ease of it all being paid for. It may not be more economically (though this trip we still spent almost as much as the dining plan would have cost) but for us we enjoy the peace of mind of knowing its done.
Universal
I feel like there has been a lot of universal love on these boards lately. I'll admit that after visiting I don't understand why. Universal studios was a huge disappointment. Islands of Adventure was ok but the only area that wow-ed me was Harry Potter. There the main ride was beautifully themed. But the dueling coaster dragon ride seemed like they forced it to fit and just kind of snuck it back there. Our other issue was the whole vibe of the park is decidedly not as young, happy or magical as the WDW parks. You don't get the feeling of being away from it all, rather you feel like your in an amusement park.
While I'd love to see Diagon Alley once finished, we won't be rushing back anytime soon.
We'll be back to Disney hopefully soon. DH and I started planning for June 2015 already...I'm sure that will be a whole other adventure with a 10 month old along for the ride!