Originally Posted By vbdad55 Still MGM to me... Midway Madness -- underestimated just how much fun this ride really is.. Also this IS the fastpass run when you get there - standby times were consistently over 120 minutes and by 10 AM fastpasses were on 8 PM. Stunt show - even having seen it a few times before- is still entertaining Great Movie ride - for the first time in a while- the gangster scene had all things working as did the western scene ...now Mary Poppins was stuck in place but I'll make that trade off American Idol Experience was far more fun than I anticipated - went for a 4 oclock show ( none @ 3 due to parade) - and one of the contestants was from Chicago. Wanted to vote for his but he was not good - takes a lot to get up in front of that large crowd.. my recommendation - go to 7 PM finale where you get the top 8 contestants of the day. ToT and RnR - same as always - still entertaining ate at Prim Time Cafe ( kudos for hacing the Chicken Pot Pie back on the menu - it is excellent)- also had a 20 year employee ( 10 years @ Prime Time) - seerving and they were excellent - kind of like Jubgle Cruise - your "mom' here makes all the difference. Dinner @ Brown Derby - always quality Star Tours was short wait only - all in all fine - with one major exception. Fantasmic. Now the week I was there it was showing 3 days ( twice each nite)- but by not running every day - you HAVE to get there almost 90 minutes ahead of time to get in- even for the late show. The lines stretches all the way down the street and jams up shopping areas. Who the heck is going to stand in line 90 minutes in August to see this show and not be miserable. I refused so maybe I'll see it next time
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Great take. We really looked forward to trying 50's Prime Time last time. We had a poor "Mom" and was unimpressed. As you say, it is like a Jungle Cruise kind of thing. I am soooo glad you got a good one. Great to hear your fav GMR scene was firing on all 4, that is great news). As for LMA, I still love this show very much. After 7 years of enjoying it, probably 20+ viewings in DLP and a couple in WDW, I still love it. I am surprised it does not get better reviews in WDW, it is still increadible popular in Paris. I don't know how you do it though. We can never manage two table service in a day, too much food. A part of me wishes I could given the number of good dining choices available in WDW.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 most of the 2 a day dining experieces are well spread out -- some are early breakfast and dinner -- others may be lunch at say 11:30 and dinnner at 7:45 ish. After walking 8-9 hours in August heat in Florida - I'm ready Also did Raglan Road again this year at DTD arrivla evening @ 9:00- and not only was it rockin' - the food is excellent. And California Grill of course at 9:30 PM the last night - for wishes. That place never disappoints Also happily I was able to purchase 12 bottles of Iron Horse vineyards Fairy Tale Cuvee @ the general store @ Old Key West. Everyone likes this 2004 sparkling wine mix....and although they would not ship any to me ( and the vineyard will not sell it to you directly)- after having been told only the Cruise Ships sold it - I was thrilled
Originally Posted By danyoung >And California Grill of course at 9:30 PM the last night - for wishes. That place never disappoints< As you know, my favorite restaurant on the planet. What did you have? Where were you sitting?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Still MGM to me...>> It always will be to me. Just as EPCOT Center will be ... <<Midway Madness -- underestimated just how much fun this ride really is..>> Fun. Yeah. But not all that it could be. And certainly not to warrant the waits it gets (which I believe speaks to the lack of attractions in that park). That's why I do most of my riding at DCA where they can use a single rider line and I never wait more than 15 minutes. <<Also this IS the fastpass run when you get there - standby times were consistently over 120 minutes and by 10 AM fastpasses were on 8 PM.>> See above! ... But on my last trip I was shocked to see a standby wait of only 25 minutes at 11 a.m. when I arrived (by the time we were out it was 45 minutes) and rode while grabbing a FP for 4:40. <<Stunt show - even having seen it a few times before- is still entertaining>> I've tried. But LMA just bores me to tears. Better in Paris, but not hugely. <<Great Movie ride - for the first time in a while- the gangster scene had all things working as did the western scene ...now Mary Poppins was stuck in place but I'll make that trade off>> But ain't it sad you have to? <<American Idol Experience was far more fun than I anticipated - went for a 4 oclock show ( none @ 3 due to parade) - and one of the contestants was from Chicago. Wanted to vote for his but he was not good - takes a lot to get up in front of that large crowd.. my recommendation - go to 7 PM finale where you get the top 8 contestants of the day.>> Yeah. It isn't my thing, but it is well done ... and you can tell that Disney wasn't the one spending the $$$ since it is so high quality. <<Dinner @ Brown Derby - always quality>> I was going to go. Wanted to. Love the place. But the price points are getting ridiculous. $22 for a noodle bowl? for lunch? - <<all in all fine - with one major exception. Fantasmic. Now the week I was there it was showing 3 days ( twice each nite)- but by not running every day - you HAVE to get there almost 90 minutes ahead of time to get in- even for the late show. The lines stretches all the way down the street and jams up shopping areas. Who the heck is going to stand in line 90 minutes in August to see this show and not be miserable. I refused so maybe I'll see it next time>> I didn't see anything like that when I was there, but I'm guessing it was busier now with free dining. Although, frankly, I am not a big fan of the show in FLA and can go years without seeing it.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Midway Madness -- underestimated just how much fun this ride really is.. << It's kind of addictive. I would have ridden it a lot more had it not been for the wait times. >> Who the heck is going to stand in line 90 minutes in August to see this show and not be miserable. I refused so maybe I'll see it next time << I still don't see how anybody can enjoy themselves at WDW in any of the Summer months because of the heat. Evidently they do because it sure seems to be crowded.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't know how you do it though. We can never manage two table service in a day, too much food. A part of me wishes I could given the number of good dining choices available in WDW.>> I am amazed that people eat two -- and even three -- table service meals in a day. I like food. I like to be served in nice surroundings. Still ... I just can't put it away like that. But again, a large percentage of WDW visitors are morbidly obese so ... wonder how VBDAD is fitting into his two piece? ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Also did Raglan Road again this year at DTD arrivla evening @ 9:00- and not only was it rockin' - the food is excellent.>> RR is excellent. Had another great meal there last month! <<And California Grill of course at 9:30 PM the last night - for wishes. That place never disappoints>> Yeah ... tell me about it ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Midway Madness -- underestimated just how much fun this ride really is.. << <<It's kind of addictive. I would have ridden it a lot more had it not been for the wait times.>> It's addictive, but can leave you with sore wrists and shoulders after a few rides. I think it's perfect for male teens. >> Who the heck is going to stand in line 90 minutes in August to see this show and not be miserable. I refused so maybe I'll see it next time << <<I still don't see how anybody can enjoy themselves at WDW in any of the Summer months because of the heat. Evidently they do because it sure seems to be crowded.>> I generally hate summers in Florida, but it can be tolerable and even enjoyable sometimes. The weather I had in the nights was quite pleasant most times ... and since I spent most days out of the parks or out of the sun, it certainly can be done. And after living through a summer in China, I don't think I'll ever view Florida's quite as harshly.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I agree with almost all vbdad's comments. I am not a huge fan of Fantasmic, but I believe it should be shown at least once every night. Count me as another person who thinks TSMM is WONDERFUL. I could ride it all day. I think the Disney Studios is coming back. I also found American Idol Experience very entertaining. Even Indiana Jones seemed to have been changed enough to keep it from being the same-old, same-old. I'd say at the present time it is my 3rd favorite park at WDW; behind Epcot and the AK. As for Raglan Road... that is where the groom's dinner was held for my daughter's wedding. The food is FANTASTIC. It is now on my WDW must do list.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I too was suprised at how much I liked AI. Thought it would be really lame, but we loved it..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <>And California Grill of course at 9:30 PM the last night - for wishes. That place never disappoints< As you know, my favorite restaurant on the planet. What did you have? Where were you sitting?< emailed manager ahead as I usually do - had window seats just to the left of where you enter - I know I should try something else- but once a year I have got to have my terryaki steak/potatoes/green beans....I did have a tomato/basil soup that was wonderful- and we had a few bottles of Fairy Tale Cuvee
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<Dinner @ Brown Derby - always quality>> I was going to go. Wanted to. Love the place. But the price points are getting ridiculous. $22 for a noodle bowl? for lunch? yeah even I admit the price point hurts- ( although Tables in Wonderland) certainly helps... I was more bothered by the same price point @ Coral Reef than Brown Derby though - just personal taste I guess as I like BD better
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >> Midway Madness -- underestimated just how much fun this ride really is.. << It's kind of addictive. I would have ridden it a lot more had it not been for the wait times. btw - I understand it is coming out for the Wii this fall-- can anyone confirm
Originally Posted By vbdad55 But again, a large percentage of WDW visitors are morbidly obese so ... wonder how VBDAD is fitting into his two piece? ;-) vbdad works out hard to not look like so many I did see...at 6'4" and loving to eat like I do, I have to...and even with that I hae a spare 20 or so
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<I still don't see how anybody can enjoy themselves at WDW in any of the Summer months because of the heat. Evidently they do because it sure seems to be crowded.>> I generally hate summers in Florida, but it can be tolerable and even enjoyable sometimes. The weather I had in the nights was quite pleasant most times ... and since I spent most days out of the parks or out of the sun, it certainly can be done. seriously no hotter there most days than July-August in Chicago in a normal summer... the key is we do not stay at the parks all day - we break mid day for pool/relax.... only 1 day was it heat index 100+ - that was not great but when it is the only time you can balance home/work/school schedules- you make do
Originally Posted By vbdad55 And after living through a summer in China, I don't think I'll ever view Florida's quite as harshly. because Florida does not have brown sky ala Gary, Indiana in the 1960's like China does -- I agree
Originally Posted By danyoung >emailed manager ahead as I usually do - had window seats just to the left of where you enter - < Ahh, my favorite seats, right there with a wonderful view of the MK and the Seven Seas Lagoon and the ferries and the monorails. I'll be dining there again in December, but just knowing a friend dined there recently does me a world of good!
