Stayed in: Howard Johnson Maingate West, Kissimmee
When: October / November 2006
Hi all!
Well what a trip! Every time I go to WDW FL there just seems to be more and more to cover!
There were 7 of us on this trip, so as you can imagine, it was no always easy doing things that everyone wanted to do. Then someone needs the toilet… someone wants a drink… so although we had a fantasmic trip, I’m not sure I’d go with so many people next time!
So let’s start at the beginning…
The Hotel:
We stayed off site at the Howard Johnson Maingate West, along the far west end of SR 192. It was the first time we had stayed in Kissimmee, and to be honest the last! We love Lake Buena Vista, and that’s where I will return to next time. Anyway, that aside, it was only 10-15mins from all the Disney parks and 15-20mins to Universal and SeaWorld which was nice and easy.
There was a Chinese Buffet next door which was nice and clean and friendly. Good food and good prices.
Walgreens was just down the road and Wal-Mart Supercenter just along the road on the SR 27.
The Disney Days:
Our first day in Disney this trip was Tuesday 24th October in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Attractions covered today:
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Kali River Rapids
- Expedition Everest – twice!
- DINOSAUR
- and Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
Expedition Everest really is the most awesome ride Disney have ever conceived!
The whole area surrounding it is stunning, the landscaping and the theme beautiful. They really have it so spot on. The actual queue line is quite interesting and gives some good views of the mountain.
When you first get on the ride train and it sets off, you think ‘oh this isn’t so bad – it’s like Thunder Mountain’…. Then you are taken up… and up… and you meet a dead end… then it’s backwards at 60mph in the pitch dark… you see a shadow of the yeti and then it’s off to meet him! And boy is he real!!
The drop is about 80ft and is thrilling and the ride photos at the end are good fun. There is a lot of cool merchandise at the ride exit gift shop too.
On our second day (Wednesday 25th October) we visited the Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom still remains my top favourite and it sure did not disappoint!
We took the monorail to get to the park and the ferryboat back.
Attractions covered today:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Splash Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Carousel of Progress
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority
- Stitch’s Great Escape
- Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
Characters met today (including getting their autograph!)
- Mary Poppins (she rode the Carrousel with us!)
- Rafiki and Timon together
- Stitch
- Hook and Smee together
- Brer Fox
We also ate in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.
When we arrived at the park today there was a massive black crane hanging over it which was based in Fantasyland. It kind of spoiled the effect and our pictures, but at about midday the crane was lowered and picture opportunities once again become available.
We met a lot of characters today and they really seemed to be out in full force.
The Pirates of the Caribbean is really no better than it was before, with the exception of the Jack Sparrow animatronic figure at the end. The two during the ride and the Barbossa don’t do a lot for me. The hologram of Davy Jones at the start of the ride though is quite a cool effect. But personally, the PotC ride at Disneyland Paris is still the superior one! Sorry guys!
On the 26th October we made our first visit to EPCOT of the trip. We spent the whole time there in Future World because there was so much to see and do!
Attractions covered today:
- Leave a Legacy
- Spaceship Earth
- Mission Space (Green Team) inc. Advanced Training Lab
- Test Track inc. GM exhibit
- Soarin’
- Circle of Life
- Living with the Land
- Honey, I shrunk the Audience
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Kodak Image Works
Characters met including autograph:
We also ate in the Electric Umbrella.
I absolutely love with a passion the Land pavilion! The new Soarin’ is incredible (I have rode it twice before in CA, but had forgotten how good it was!)
I think the Land Pavilion is probably about the best in Future World. Test Track is still pretty cool, though didn’t seem as thrilling as before.
I also rode Green Team on Mission Space. I rode the original when it first opened in 2003 and refused to go on last year because it made feel so rough! But now they have changed it, it is pretty cool. Love the theme and the design of it. It’s a shame though really because it is an amazing experience but there seemed to be little interest in it. I think they over did it and the world got round about how menacing it was – now they have killed it. All that money and effort; and they went too over the top – now no-one wants to ride. A real shame.
This evening we went to the Magic Kingdom for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
We arrived about an hour or so early and as we entered we were given trick or treat bags and a wrist band to wear. We also received our Halloween Guide Maps and we were set to go! The park had already been decorated out for the event and the night was drawing closer. As night fell and the people thinned out, the Halloween music began to play around the park and the lighting changed. There was that fake smoke stuff all over the place kind of lingering about the pathways, making it look spooky, characters were out around the park in Halloween costumes, decorations and spooky projections donned the buildings and pathways. It was really cool. On top of the Tomorrowland buildings there were a giant Stitch and a giant spider. In Adventureland there were a giant Timon and Pumba. The trick or treat locations were cool and we picked up lots of candy.
The Halloween parade was excellent. The floats were all different and unique just for the event. The Headless Horseman made an appearance at the start too and really set the creepy scene! At the end of the parade they gave out candy too!
The HalloWishes fireworks were spectacular. For the first time in my travels to Disney I saw giant Catherine wheels on the side of the Castle! I was like ‘oh my god! They have fireworks actually on the Castle!’ That was pretty cool. The soundtrack to the fireworks was good too (“boo to you…” lol) Also for the first time, the fireworks were somehow sent up and instead of just being behind the Castle or in the skies above it, some of them actually surrounded the skies above the plaza area. They sort of made a giant ring around the hub and lit up the entire park. It was quite spectacular. I have never seen Disney do that before.
Attractions we covered this evening:
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Astro Orbitor
- Haunted Mansion (just had to lol – it’s a Halloween party after all lol)
- Big Thunder Mountain (complete with bats especially for Halloween!)
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures
- The Barnstormer
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Mickey’s Boo-to-you Halloween Parade
- HalloWishes
- Trick or Treat locations thru-out the park (we got loads of candy!! Lol)
Characters met with autographs:
- Tweedledee
- And some other guy who I don’t know who he is! Lol
We also ate in Pecos Bill’s café that evening.
27th October came around and we went to Disney-MGM Studios.
Attractions covered today:
- Great Movie Ride
- Star Tours – twice!
- Muppet*Vision 3D
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
- Studios Backlot Tour
- Rock n’ Roller Coaster
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Stars and Motor Cars Parade
Characters met today with autographs:
- Chip and Dale – together
- Goofy and Minnie Mouse – together
- White Power Ranger
- Green Power Ranger
- Pink Power Ranger
- Blue Power Ranger
We also ate at Rosie’s at lunch time.
We visited Downtown Disney in the evening.
On the 29th October we visited Downtown Disney again in the evening.
On the 1st November we spent the day at Downtown Disney. We visited DisneyQuest.
DisneyQuest attractions covered:
- CyberSpace Mountain – twice!
- Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride
- Jungle Cruise
- Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
On the 2nd November we spent the day in magic Kingdom again.
Attractions we covered today:
- Walt Disney World Railroad
- Swiss Family Tree House
- The Enchanted Tiki Room
- Jungle Cruise
- Stitch’s Great Escape
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Mickey’s Country House
- Minnie’s Country House
- Mad Tea Party
- Space Mountain
- Wishes
- SpectroMagic (my favourite all time Disney parade)
- Family Fun Day Parade (kinda fun)
Characters we met with autographs:
We also met the Mayor of Main Street and his wife, and a Fireman too (whose medals for bravery include one for watching the fire engine…)
We ate in the Columbia Harbour House.
The Christmas decorations were up too now. They were not there on our first visit last week, but have appeared…
In the evening the tree was lit up which was nice.
On the 4th November we went to EPCOT again.
Attractions covered that day:
- Spaceship Earth
- Mission Space (Green Team)
- Test Track
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Soarin’
- IllumiNations Reflections of Earth
- Walked around World Showcase
Characters we met with autographs:
- Belle
- Aladdin and Jasmine – together
We ate in the Electric Umbrella again!
On the 5th November we visited the Animal Kingdom for the last time.
Attractions covered on today’s visit:
- Festival of the Lion King
- Pangani Forest Trail
- Wildlife Express Train
- Conservation Station
- Habitat Habit!
- Maharajah Jungle Trek
- Expedition Everest
Characters met and autographs:
As with Magic Kingdom the Christmas decorations were now up all over the park and made a nice end to our trip to see them.
On the final day of our trip, 6th November, we visited Downtown Disney for one last time and went in DisneyQuest.
Attractions covered in DisneyQuest:
- Ride the Comix
- Invasion
- And various other interactive games and activities in DisneyQuest
New to Me:
The following attractions were ‘new’ to me on this trip (either because they were actually new or because it was the first time I had experienced them):
Magic Kingdom
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Astro Orbitor
- Mad Tea Party
- Family Fun Day Parade
- Boo-to-You Parade
- HalloWishes
Animal Kingdom
EPCOT
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Soarin’
- Mission Space (green Team only)
- Circle of Life
DisneyQuest:
- Invasion
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Shopping:
For anyone looking for official WDW merchandise at discount/sale prices, then head for the Character Premier store at Premium outlets at the very far end of I-Drive (formerly called Belz Factory Outlets).
The store is Disney owned and is manned by Disney CM’s – it’s where WDW sent merchandise from promotions that have ended that they don’t like to mark down in the parks. They do this in fear of spoiling their perfect image.
The pins are half price. They sell lanyards and lanyard medals at half price. They are all fantastic too. I picked up some amazing bargains. They have t-shirts, ornaments – everything really! It’s a cool shop and well worth a visit.
I picked up a Halloween Lilo mini beanbag, previously $11.00 – marked down to .99c!! Yes! .99c! Just because it was an old Halloween line of plush!
So check it out.
Final comments:
The food and wine festival at EPCOT is a waste of time. It just crowds up the narrow pathways between the showcases and is an excuse for fat Americans to eat cheap to their hearts content in my opinion!
The new ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ decorations and advertising around WDW make it a bit like Universal - cheap and tacky with only one focus - advertising. They should stop this promotion NOW!
It’s not like OTT or anything, but it is at every park and Downtown Disney. Like little banners and flags and stuff. And the characters have new costumes that match the blue/silver/white theme of the 'event', they changed the parades name and musical score ('Dreams Come True' with a wishy washy lousy sung soundtrack) and the new stage show at the Castle is along the same lines too 'Dream Along with Mickey' - again with lousy accompanying music and costumes. AND there is new Million Dreams merchandise all over the place too. On top of that the receipts u get at checkouts when u buy stuff in WDW now also says 'Disney Parks - where dreams come true'. I hate the new Disney Parks branding. It’s awful!!! Bring back good ole Walt Disney Parks and Resorts!!! Oh one last thing, the entrance gates into WDW also now have ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ facades too... the one in LBV no longer has Mickey and Minnie - it has castle spires with blue trim...
Well that’s it! Until next time ;)
DAN