Tuesday, February 22, 2011

DisneyWorld (more information)

I told you the least crowded time here is January & February but we went over yesterday forgetting this is President's Day (3 day weekend) plus Daytona 500 Race this last weekend so yesterday was one of those "busy" days. We had been here all winter but had not spent time at the Castle in Magic Kindom. When you come in the gate, grab a Magic Kingdom Guide Map & New Information card with them to tell you the times for everything in that park that day . You are now looking down Main Street (stop inside the gate at Guest Relations to get your FREE large Disney button to wear that is in the cart on the porch). At 3 0'clock on Main Street we enjoyed the wonderful "Celebrate a Dream come True" afternoon parade, if you can plan it right which we just luckily did. After the parade and a little shopping in the shops along Main Street we went to the front of the castle for the great 4:15pm 'Dream along with Mickey'(they do it 6 times a day starting a 10:35am so don't think you have to follow our schedule, it just worked so great for us & I wanted to share). Live characters put on the show on the front steps and stage of the Castle. After the show we went behind the castle for the indoor adventure rides/shows. They are very close together so go pick up the "Fast Passes" for each one. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mickey's PhilharMagic & Peter Pan's Flight. You can plan and go from one to the other without standing in line for 30 or 40 minutes if it's crowded. We were lucky and a couple of them were starting so we didn't need to get a fast past we just got in line and in 5 to 10 minutes were inside riding & seeing the show. It's a Small World - is just across from them so check it 1st (they don't give fast passes for it). If the lines are long, go do the other things and keep checking. It's a boat ride worth the wait!! BUT I warn you will have -It's a Small World song in your head the rest of the day. SO CUTE! They also have wonderful outdoor rides such as Mad Tea Party, Dumbo the Flying Elephant & Prince Charming Regal Carrousel if you have time (you may have to come back). Check your daily schedule sheet and see when they light up the castle in colors. Absolutely Gorgeous!! By now it was almost dark 6?pm and a MUST is the ""Main Street Electrical Parade."" AWESOME!!! So get around to the front of the Castle back on Main Street. After this stay on Main Street, walk towards the front gate where you started down main street when you came. At 8pm is the greatest fireworks you have ever seen over the castle and the further back you are the better you see it all. I do believe we saw & did more in this short time than any other park. Now you want to leave? We did. Just turn around and go thru the gate where you get on the MonoRail to get to the Trams that take you back to your parking lot where your car is located. You did remember where you were parked didn't you? Minnie, row 2? Goofy, 36? Dinasours, 21? etc. Very important when there are at least 2,000 cars out there and it's kinda dark. PLEASE! PLEASE! Go. If you do, you'll want to go back. There just isn't anything else to keep the kid alive in you like this adventure and you DO want to do that. I met 80 year old men wearing Goofy caps and Mickey shirts. The most fun I had was watching the little (2 -4 year olds) enjoying the park and they really did enjoy it. That age is so cute because they do and say what ever they think. So honest! Thats why Walt built it.
HINT: A week vacation would let you take a day getting there & 1 getting home leaving 5 days at Disney. I would recommend 1 day each at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom & 2 days at Magic Kingdom. It's the 1st park he built & will always be the best as far as me & little kids are concerned. Food & shopping is expensive so if you are on a limited budget (aren't we all?) there are ways to get around it like not eating much in the park. Most of the places to eat are hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Things you could get for 1/4th of the price at a Fast Food place or pick up something at a grocery store & take with you. You're here to have fun, you can eat at home. BUT while there you just have to have one of those Mickey Ice Cream Bars $4.95 each, a little Caramel/chocolate bag of popcorn $4.95 , & other things you can't get anywhere, else. Now, if you are loaded with money or really saved for this trip and want to "splurge" eat in the restaurant IN the Castle. $65 a meal.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

February in Florida

Thanks Austin for making a comment in December. Sorry, to be so long getting back on here but we've been having so much fun at DisneyWorld this winter. It's been fun seeing all the changes since we worked here part-time after retirement the winter's (Jan.-March) of 1998 & 1999 staying in our RV in Mouse Mountian Campground about 5 miles from the parks. It's in the 80's today, all the windows open, and air conditioning would have felt good but by 4 o'clock it starts cooling down very nice. We are getting ready to leave for Disney's park - Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios when we worked there) for "Fantasmic" the 7 o'clock Lazer Water Show with Mickey fighting the Villians, boats with Disney characters, etc. We worked there the winter of 1999 and looking forward to going to see what they show on that BIG sheet of water now. We are always amazed how many people come here from other countries. This wonderful FUN for all place, was started by one middle class man (Walt Disney) that could draw wonderful as a kid. As he grew and used his talent he had a dream. A place little kids could go and have a wonderful fantasy day - thus DisneyLand. With more ideas and needing more room. Florida, because of some freezing weather & trees died in Orange groves, masses of land was for sale. They still get some freezing at night in the winter but have learned how to control the damage. It seems expensive to get in but once you do you go to many wonderful rides, shows, everything for free. As American's it should be a must for every American child growing up to come here, allowing enough time (at least a day each) to see all four parks - Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom then Magic Kingdom. I recommend seeing them with small kids in that order. The 1st being not as interesting for small children and by the time they are getting tired you are at "their" parks which perks them right up with the animals, disney characters, princesses, castle, etc. The things they know about and love. I made the mistake years ago of taking 3 little grandkids (5, 7 & 8) to Magic Kingdom 1st and all I heard at the other parks was, "When are we going back to the FUN park?" Animal Kingdom wasn't built yet then. They have really added fun things to the other parks now so everyone has fun at them. It's just very tiring for old people like me, little kids and parents of little kids to see all the shows & ride all the rides in one day at each park. The new things "Fast Passes" I find annoying! As you get to a show or ride, you just missed and it won't be on again for 30 or 40 minutes; you can get a ticket that lets you go do something else instead of standing there that long. When you come back the Fast Pass people all get in 1st while the people that have been standing there waiting have to watch them all get right in. The worst part is: while you are gone with your fast pass doing something else instead of standing in line, you have to get back there at the right time the show starts. When we were there, there was a side entrance that people with disablities like wheel chair people and their family, etc. could go to and not have to wait which made the lines shorter for regular guests. However, like everything else it was abused by people using wheel chairs that really didn't need them. Why does some people have to ruin a good thing for the rest of us? That probably the reason for the change. MY RECOMMENDATION!! Take a year and don't do so many things all year that you spend money on including birthdays, christmas, etc. Can you go a whole year without buying any new clothes you don't really need to do something you will remember all your life? Tell the kids you are saving to spend a wonderful time at DisneyWorld, with that to look forward to, I bet they won't mind. I met one family in January that was spending their Christmas there and the kids loved it. I suggest, if possible, to schedule your vacation for sometime in January or February. The weather is cool (might need a jacket) which doesn't wear you out like heat!! Those months are the least amount of crowds of the year. It gets crazy again like Christmas in March (spring break).