Magic hours are great. You can literally stay 1 hour ahead of the crowd in the morning. In the afternoon, you can use the FastPass system and never really spend a minute in line all day. It makes Disney so much more enjoyable.We haven't been in a few years but we like the Swan and Dolphin. While not a Disney property, they carry the Disney perks. They are also more affordable and used to offer significant discounts for teachers, nurses, firemen, military, etc. You are near the Boardwalk and can walk to two of the resorts. We usually have a rental car but the hotels are so convenient, unless we are going off property for dinner, it generally stays parked in the parking lot.
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Disney Vacation (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter DOVCommish
- Start date
shader
Footballguy
Well we ended up going on our last minute Thanksgiving weekend trip to Disney and it was awesome.
I was very worried about the crowds, and they were definitely busy, but we did fine.
So important to get their early, and get fastpasses at every opportunity.
Alot of people don't know that the second time on the fastpass is basically irrelevant. If you get their early, you can amass fastpasses all morning long and then ride for free all evening. Lines in the morning lanes aren't bad at all.
One of the days, my wife graciously took the kids back to the hotel and I stayed in the park for three hours getting fastpasses. That was on "Black Friday". The crowds that night were absolutely awful, but with the fastpasses we rode tons of rides, enjoyed the fireworks and then went to the second parade.
It blows me away how many people will go stand in line for 1 or 2 hours on a ride.
I was very worried about the crowds, and they were definitely busy, but we did fine.
So important to get their early, and get fastpasses at every opportunity.
Alot of people don't know that the second time on the fastpass is basically irrelevant. If you get their early, you can amass fastpasses all morning long and then ride for free all evening. Lines in the morning lanes aren't bad at all.
One of the days, my wife graciously took the kids back to the hotel and I stayed in the park for three hours getting fastpasses. That was on "Black Friday". The crowds that night were absolutely awful, but with the fastpasses we rode tons of rides, enjoyed the fireworks and then went to the second parade.
It blows me away how many people will go stand in line for 1 or 2 hours on a ride.
Mr. Ected
Footballguy
We have stayed several times at the Pop Century resort. The rooms are fine, the area around the hotel is well done. Each section is divided into a decade from the 50s to the 90s or 00s, with the buildings and areas around the buildings decorated with items from that era. When we were there in October, we stayed in the 50s, and the buildings are decorated with a diner-type jukebox, and bobby-sox dancers and the pool is shaped like a bowling pin with the pool deck set up like bowling lanes. The 80s has a rubix cube, the 70s a large Big Wheel. The main pool(s) are great, and they have a pool for smaller kids.We stayed there because with a family of 5, we were best off getting two rooms that connected. (We were also able to get grandparents in for a portion of the trip for free!)ETA: One thought we often have when planning our trips to WDW is that why spend a small fortune on a room in a resort if you are not likely to spend much time there. If your planned days are mostly at the parks, and the most time you will spend in the room is asleep, why drop the $$$ on the more expensive resorts. just
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SteelCurtain
Footballguy
Thanks for the feedback on the value level rooms. Gotta run the $$ numbers and see if we can make it work.We have stayed several times at the Pop Century resort. The rooms are fine, the area around the hotel is well done. Each section is divided into a decade from the 50s to the 90s or 00s, with the buildings and areas around the buildings decorated with items from that era. When we were there in October, we stayed in the 50s, and the buildings are decorated with a diner-type jukebox, and bobby-sox dancers and the pool is shaped like a bowling pin with the pool deck set up like bowling lanes. The 80s has a rubix cube, the 70s a large Big Wheel. The main pool(s) are great, and they have a pool for smaller kids.We stayed there because with a family of 5, we were best off getting two rooms that connected. (We were also able to get grandparents in for a portion of the trip for free!)ETA: One thought we often have when planning our trips to WDW is that why spend a small fortune on a room in a resort if you are not likely to spend much time there. If your planned days are mostly at the parks, and the most time you will spend in the room is asleep, why drop the $$$ on the more expensive resorts. just
shader
Footballguy
We love the value resorts. The rooms are not great, no question there. But we rarely are in the rooms except to sleep.The food and cafeterias are fine, the pools are awesome and they have fun activities for kids.Disney isn't exactly a place to go and relax, so I don't see the need to spend all the extra money on luxury resorts, unless you are staying for 10-14 days and are in fact planning on doing alot of relaxing.Thanks for the feedback on the value level rooms. Gotta run the $$ numbers and see if we can make it work.We have stayed several times at the Pop Century resort. The rooms are fine, the area around the hotel is well done. Each section is divided into a decade from the 50s to the 90s or 00s, with the buildings and areas around the buildings decorated with items from that era. When we were there in October, we stayed in the 50s, and the buildings are decorated with a diner-type jukebox, and bobby-sox dancers and the pool is shaped like a bowling pin with the pool deck set up like bowling lanes. The 80s has a rubix cube, the 70s a large Big Wheel. The main pool(s) are great, and they have a pool for smaller kids.We stayed there because with a family of 5, we were best off getting two rooms that connected. (We were also able to get grandparents in for a portion of the trip for free!)ETA: One thought we often have when planning our trips to WDW is that why spend a small fortune on a room in a resort if you are not likely to spend much time there. If your planned days are mostly at the parks, and the most time you will spend in the room is asleep, why drop the $$$ on the more expensive resorts. just
Godsbrother
Footballguy
99% of the time you are correct but there have been reports of some cast members refusing to accept expired fastpasses on popular attractions when a park is very busy.
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Davej626
5.56 solves all
Is there a limit to how many FP's you can collect?
Disco Stu
Confirmed FBGal
Yesno. From wdwinfo...
Bobcat10
Footballguy
Decided to book a condo/resort (off of Vrbo.com, 3rd time we've used this site...Hawaii, Myrtle Beach and now Orlando) about 15 minutes from Disney...$650 total for 8 nights, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, balcony, etc. Seems like a nice resort.....Bella Piazza. Was getting quoted 200 to 300 more for other units in the same resort. Did alot of research and the exact unit I reserved seems normal. Since we probably are only going to Disney for 4 days, this seems better than staying in the park. We also looked at Lake Buena Vista Resort but that is pricey since it's basically on top of Disney. There were alot of other nice resorts in the Celebration/Kissimmee/Davenport area that are going to save people alot of money if driving 10-20 minutes is not an issue.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
A few days into a once-in-a-lifetime epic Orlando trip with my wife and 9-year-old daughter. Got in on Friday and staying through Christmas Day. At the Yacht Club for one more night then to Port Orleans Riverside for the duration.
We got a cheap upgrade offer for Yacht Club but probably wouldn't do it again - it's not our scene and those sailor suits they make the bell hops wear are demeaning even by Disney standards. That said they were able to check us in early (we got in at around 11 am after driving all night) allowing us some much-needed nap time before hitting MVMCP Friday night.
Hit Seaworld yesterday - had fun but we bought VIP access and that was a big contributor. My daughter (who LOVES roller coasters) and I got to bypass the lines for Kraken and Manta, which was great because Manta had about a 60-minute wait and the VIP queue for Kraken let us hop off one coaster then hop on the next one that came in without having to exit the boarding area. We were there all day so we got the all-day all-you-can-eat dining passes, which became and extraordinary value by dinner time, let us bypass the dining room cashiers, and even let us grab extra water bottles to take with us around the park.
Encore at MVMCP again tonight.
We got a cheap upgrade offer for Yacht Club but probably wouldn't do it again - it's not our scene and those sailor suits they make the bell hops wear are demeaning even by Disney standards. That said they were able to check us in early (we got in at around 11 am after driving all night) allowing us some much-needed nap time before hitting MVMCP Friday night.
Hit Seaworld yesterday - had fun but we bought VIP access and that was a big contributor. My daughter (who LOVES roller coasters) and I got to bypass the lines for Kraken and Manta, which was great because Manta had about a 60-minute wait and the VIP queue for Kraken let us hop off one coaster then hop on the next one that came in without having to exit the boarding area. We were there all day so we got the all-day all-you-can-eat dining passes, which became and extraordinary value by dinner time, let us bypass the dining room cashiers, and even let us grab extra water bottles to take with us around the park.
Encore at MVMCP again tonight.
spOOfy
Footballguy
Holy crap. How much is all of that costing, if you don't mind me asking?I arrive tomorrow AM. Staying 6 days.
ATC1
Footballguy
I like the Big River Brewery for lunch. There is also the ESPN club. Eating at the Yachtman's Steakhouse and Cat Cora's Kouzinna in early January. Monday the 9th the plan is to show up 2 and a half hours before the BCS Championship game with about 14 LSU fans and staying for the duration. Is that frowned upon if the beer keeps coming? Do I need to be there earlier?
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club for great burgers, fries, shakes and sundaes would be my choice.
Osaurus
Footballguy
Thanks for the recommendations. The brewery will work great. Going to ESPN on Saturday to watch Wyoming and Temple play for a bit before going back into EPCOT. I have never been in Disney for any major sporting event other than some of the sweet sixteen. I don't think they'll care as long as you buy product. No doubt they wil be ready for it.
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Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Seconded. Ate there on Saturday. It's small by Disney standards so the burgers are actually made fresh to order. We sat at the counter and watched ours cook. They were juicy and delicious. My daughter loved her milkshake and I had a tasty root beer float.
Flyin Pigs
Footballguy
We're going in June/July. Blackdotting for this completely overhwelming experience.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Hit MVMCP last night. The separate admission kept the riffraff out, and the drizzle kept some spaces open. My daughter (who is just about done with the Princesses, but not quite yet) got her picture taken with Christmas dress Belle, and the line was short to meet and greet Phineas and Ferb in Christmas hats.
Since the separate admission kept numbers down and a lot of folks were there just to stake out space for the parade, castle show, and fireworks, the rode lines were short. We walked right up to the loading areas of Big Thunder and Pirates, and Space Mountain had a 5-minute wait. We rode SM back-to-back with hardly any delay - no time to stop and play the SM video game in the queue.
The dance party at Cosmic Ray's was packed but the one at Diamond Horseshoe after the late parade was pretty much empty. My daughter danced with Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye with plenty of space - Woody even did turns and spins with her.
So we're at the DH party with like two other families, and then some members of a high school dance team walk in as "Party Rock Anthem" starts playing. A few of us line up with Woody, and we all start doing the Running Man on the first beat after "everyday I'm shufflin" for a few measures.
A magical evening capped by a Running Man with Woody. Good times.
Since the separate admission kept numbers down and a lot of folks were there just to stake out space for the parade, castle show, and fireworks, the rode lines were short. We walked right up to the loading areas of Big Thunder and Pirates, and Space Mountain had a 5-minute wait. We rode SM back-to-back with hardly any delay - no time to stop and play the SM video game in the queue.
The dance party at Cosmic Ray's was packed but the one at Diamond Horseshoe after the late parade was pretty much empty. My daughter danced with Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye with plenty of space - Woody even did turns and spins with her.
So we're at the DH party with like two other families, and then some members of a high school dance team walk in as "Party Rock Anthem" starts playing. A few of us line up with Woody, and we all start doing the Running Man on the first beat after "everyday I'm shufflin" for a few measures.
A magical evening capped by a Running Man with Woody. Good times.
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snogger
Footballguy
That is what I recall from our 2 trips down there during December.. You are so busy running from show to show or staking out the best spots for the parade and fireworks that the 1st year we didn't go on one ride during the Party.
Three years later when we went again, we skipped some of the shows and enjoyed the short lines for some rides.
Looking forward to going down there next December!
Disco Stu
Confirmed FBGal
Awesome. 
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
While I'm waiting in line or on the can during this epic trip I'll try to include some "if i only knew" stuff in the spirit of this thread. So I'll hit some random thoughts along the way and let the regular visitors confirm/refute them, and ill try to compile the list at the finish. This trip wad months in the making anf this thread was an outstanding resource, so i hope i can give back a little. So let's start this.
MK: if you drive to MK, the parking lot you park in is about 1.5 miles from the park entrance. From your car you take a tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and them a monorail or ferryboat ride to MK. This process usually takes about 45 minutes and can take an hour during peak entry/exit times. So if you're driving to MK, plan to pull onto the parking lot up to an hour before you plan to enter the park. NOTE: this is not true of Epcot, AK, or DHS. It's a MK thing, the one park where staying on Disney property, especially the high-fallutin joints like Grand Floridian, have a ton of extra value.
MK: if you drive to MK, the parking lot you park in is about 1.5 miles from the park entrance. From your car you take a tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and them a monorail or ferryboat ride to MK. This process usually takes about 45 minutes and can take an hour during peak entry/exit times. So if you're driving to MK, plan to pull onto the parking lot up to an hour before you plan to enter the park. NOTE: this is not true of Epcot, AK, or DHS. It's a MK thing, the one park where staying on Disney property, especially the high-fallutin joints like Grand Floridian, have a ton of extra value.
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Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
This is very true. Although to be honest, we cheat a little and drive to one of the MK resorts that has an eating experience and just tell the guard that we have food reservations. Since we stay on site anyway, we have the parking pass in our car and hotel ID's so they never bother checking us (yet). We usually just park at the Contemporary or Polynesian and then take the monorail over to the MK.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Y23fan>hi! I'm having Christmas dinner at Ohana.
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
I envy you like no man has ever envied another. When you have the wings, think of me. And think of me well.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
MK: if you go to the PhilharMagic show (recommended, short wait, the show is fun, nice way to get off your feet for a few) don't push to the front by the doors on the holding queue. You enter the theater from the side and you go across the row to the first available seat. So the first folks in the house actually sit on the far right side. This is also how it works at MuppetVision at DHS.
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Another truism. There is an art to standing in certain lines, PhilharMagic being one of them. You don't want to be first, but you don't want to be last either. You will be able to identify the professionals at doing this by how they walk around "pretending" to look at things in the room and not quite standing in any one particular space. You will also notice those moms that know what they are doing pull their husbands back from walking closer to the door to fill in a left spot - that is the move of the sucker.
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Just to jump ahead, this is also true in EPCOT at Universe of Energy. When you get into the main holding room for the short film with Ellen DeGeneris and Bill Nye, everyone tries to go to the back of the room where the seats are and where you can see the screen better. But with that comes the loss of the front row seats in the car you sit in for the ride. Watch half the show they start making your way to the doors under the screens. You'll get a better seat for the ride portion of the whole experience.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
I was a late adopter of smartphone tech, but the Mobile Magic app for Verizon customers is awesome. It posts wait times and the FastPass clock for attractions, and you can sort the info by short waits or proximity. There are third-party apps that use crowd sourced data to post wait times as well.
Osaurus
Footballguy
I use the free WDW wait times app. There is also a map with wait times too. Both are good.
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ATC1
Footballguy
Something else that was said that can be really helpful during the busy time at Christmas: If you have small children, use the baby swap to its full potential. There is the notion that if you have a small child you need to stay in 2 lines (one standby and one Fastpass) it takes much longer to go through the parks.
Family of 4-6. 1 infant (too short)
Don't get 4-6 fastpasses to one ride. Split them up 2 and 2 or 3 and 3. For example. Get half from Splash mt and half from Thunder mt. A baby swap allows you to take up to three people. Half go on the ride the first time, then the other half go the 2nd time. Then You do the same for the other ride. All will be fastpasses.
Also, if you have someone up for it. While there is a bathroom break, snack time or character wait etc. have a fastpass runner do to the next area of fastpasses to get more. By the time you get to that area the fastpasses should be good.
Family of 4-6. 1 infant (too short)
Don't get 4-6 fastpasses to one ride. Split them up 2 and 2 or 3 and 3. For example. Get half from Splash mt and half from Thunder mt. A baby swap allows you to take up to three people. Half go on the ride the first time, then the other half go the 2nd time. Then You do the same for the other ride. All will be fastpasses.
Also, if you have someone up for it. While there is a bathroom break, snack time or character wait etc. have a fastpass runner do to the next area of fastpasses to get more. By the time you get to that area the fastpasses should be good.
Reaper
Footballguy
Good stuff.. Keep it coming
Trip in March.
At this point, the whole fastpass thing sounds like a different language to me but, I'm sure it will make sense when I'm battling and jockeying for position through out the parks....
That said, With a just-turned 4 year old, I'll probably/hopefully be targeting a lot more less conjested attractions.
Trip in March.
At this point, the whole fastpass thing sounds like a different language to me but, I'm sure it will make sense when I'm battling and jockeying for position through out the parks....
That said, With a just-turned 4 year old, I'll probably/hopefully be targeting a lot more less conjested attractions.
ATC1
Footballguy
That is an oxy moron. Most of the park is filled with 3-7 year olds. Everything they want to do will probably be the most congested areas. What is your 4 year-old into? The fastpasses take some getting used to. An the way home it will hit you on how to use them more efficiently for next time. The main things to know are:Good stuff.. Keep it coming
Trip in March.
At this point, the whole fastpass thing sounds like a different language to me but, I'm sure it will make sense when I'm battling and jockeying for position through out the parks....
That said, With a just-turned 4 year old, I'll probably/hopefully be targeting a lot more less conjested attractions.
1. (For the most part) You don't need to show up for the exact time on the FP as long as it's after the starting time.
2. There is small print at the bottom of the FP that will tell you the time you can get the next FP. Get the next FP
as close to that time as possible.
3. Go to the rides where the FP fill up the fastest throughout the day 1st. MK: Peterpan, Pooh (Space mt.) DHS: Toy
Story Mania. EPCOT: Sorin, Test track.
4. Make use of the baby swap as directed in my post above.
The earlier you get to the parks the more you will be able to do. A lot of people will say ride the rides while the parades and fireworks happen. My kids love the parades and the fireworks. However, we get to the parks early enough to knock out a lot of the park before the crowd gets bad. By the time we are tired everything we want to do is done and we sit in our spot and rest until the show.
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
If you are going to the MK for the evening a good strategy is to book a late lunch at the Kona Cafe or an early dinner at either Ohana or the Kona and park at the Polynesian. That way after your meal you just take the monorail to the MK. When you are ready to leave you take the resort monorail back to the Poly right to your car.'Bruce Dickinson said:
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
DHS is proving to be an underrated site for character greetings. Right now by the Sourceror hat we've got Minnie Donald Daisy Chip Dale Goofy Pluto Trigger Eeyore Piglet with no more than a 5-minute wait for anyone besides Minnie. We brought a T-shirt and fabric pens for autographs and they are turning out great.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
At DHS the ride EVERYONE'S rushing to is Toy Story Mania. The park hours today are 9-8 and all the FPs for the day were gone by 11:40. We were able to walk right on Tower of Terror. Aerosmith has been running about 30-40 minutes with FPs an hour forward.
Osaurus
Footballguy
This is always the case.
Reaper
Footballguy
I just meant that stuff like Space Mtn and Terror Tower were out....That is an oxy moron. Most of the park is filled with 3-7 year olds. Everything they want to do will probably be the most congested areas. What is your 4 year-old into?Good stuff.. Keep it coming
Trip in March.
At this point, the whole fastpass thing sounds like a different language to me but, I'm sure it will make sense when I'm battling and jockeying for position through out the parks....
That said, With a just-turned 4 year old, I'll probably/hopefully be targeting a lot more less conjested attractions.
We will be there for 5 days including the 2 travel days and we're hoping to "take it easy" and limit things to mostly 3 half days or slightly longer - 2 at the Magic Kingdom and 1 at Animal Kingdom.....
She hasn't been Disney-fied yet and really at this point knows the Princesses and can recognize a few others - Mickey, Donald, Minnie.
We're pretty much just dipping our toes in the water here compared to some of you Hardcore Disney peoples.
I can picture hitting 3-4-5 attractions, walking around a bit and then sipping coctails at the pool the rest of the day.
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ATC1
Footballguy
Something tells me this will change when you see her face light up from the Disney corporation. It's like a drug. You think you can control it. But after the high of seeing your daughter happy you will spend a fortune to keep that high and try to prolong it as much as possible.I just meant that stuff like Space Mtn and Terror Tower were out....That is an oxy moron. Most of the park is filled with 3-7 year olds. Everything they want to do will probably be the most congested areas. What is your 4 year-old into?Good stuff.. Keep it coming
Trip in March.
At this point, the whole fastpass thing sounds like a different language to me but, I'm sure it will make sense when I'm battling and jockeying for position through out the parks....
That said, With a just-turned 4 year old, I'll probably/hopefully be targeting a lot more less conjested attractions.
We will be there for 5 days including the 2 travel days and we're hoping to "take it easy" and limit things to mostly 3 half days or slightly longer - 2 at the Magic Kingdom and 1 at Animal Kingdom.....
She hasn't been Disney-fied yet and really at this point knows the Princesses and can recognize a few others - Mickey, Donald, Minnie.
We're pretty much just dipping our toes in the water here compared to some of you Hardcore Disney peoples.
I can picture hitting 3-4-5 attractions, walking around a bit and then sipping coctails at the pool the rest of the day.
SteelCurtain
Footballguy
Is the Toy Story ride that good? I was there when it had just opened and it was absolutely mobbed (2+ hour wait and no FP). We skipped it and I've always wondered if it was worth it.
gmbacm
Footballguy
One of the better rides there as its appealing to all ages. Get a FP first thing.
Battles
Footballguy
In some aspects it's similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride, but it's so much better because everything in 3d computer graghics. Much more of an intense experience.
Osaurus
Footballguy
I like this ride, but not worth being in the morning stampede. That is one of the worst places for funneling people into in that whole place IMO. FP is a must here. This is a half day park for me just like AK.Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Quick thoughts about Extra Magic Hours.
EMH before park opening are great if you're staying on Disney property. You can't get in the park otherwise, so the park isn't too crowded, you can seat the FP rotation early, and at AK the animals are out and active.
Late EMH aren't too bad if you're off property. They don't kick you out of the park, you just won't be able to ride rides or see shows. It's IMO the best time for souvenir shopping if you're into that. Also a good time to check out the Osborne lights at DHS during Christmas time.
EMH before park opening are great if you're staying on Disney property. You can't get in the park otherwise, so the park isn't too crowded, you can seat the FP rotation early, and at AK the animals are out and active.
Late EMH aren't too bad if you're off property. They don't kick you out of the park, you just won't be able to ride rides or see shows. It's IMO the best time for souvenir shopping if you're into that. Also a good time to check out the Osborne lights at DHS during Christmas time.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
Festival of The Lion King is one of the best shows in WDW. Overplay of The Lion King when my daughter was a toddler sucked the joy out of that movie for me, but I got goose bumps hearing the songs performed live at an elite level. If you're bringing young kids, get in line early (or send a grandparent or two to stake some space). It's a theater in the round with four sections. If you sit low on the right side of a section, the kids are good candidates to either participate in the pre- show and/or march in the finale parade as part of the show.
If you can't get in early, it's still worth it. The show is fantastic and a nice seated climate-controlled break in the day.
If you can't get in early, it's still worth it. The show is fantastic and a nice seated climate-controlled break in the day.
Bruce Dickinson
Footballguy
So we're waiting to meet and greet Mickey in AK when a cast member walks up to us. She compliments the Santa hats my daughter and I are wearing, and my wife's Christmas scarf. Then she asks my daughter who she likes more: Donald or Goofy. After my daughter answers "Donald" the cast member asks us, "Would you three like to ride in the Donald float in the parade today?"
So yeah, we were in the Animal Kingdom parade. Technically it was the float in front of Donald's, and Timon with a few dancers were between our float and Donald's, but it was decked out in Donald garb.
It was a blast. We met with our handler by Pizzafari a half-hour before the parade started and got to see the staging area for the parade. Five groups total were there, one for each of the Fab Five. They had Christmas vests for all of is to wear in the parade, and costume head wear specific to each character: Minnie had pith helmets painted like candy canes, Goofy had hats with antlers, we had snow-themed headbands/earwarmers. We put our park bags in lockers, were given earplugs to muffle the sound of the speakers right by us blaring to reach thousands of spectators, and got on our floats.
We weren't allowed to take any pictures behind the scenes (I discovered this as I pulled out my camera phone to snap off a few shots of Chip, Dale, Timon, Pluto, and several dancers hanging out and stretching out for the show) but were allowed to take as many photos as we wanted on the parade route. I probably abused the privilege a little, but it's not like I get to ride in a parade float every day. It was a little tiring waving constantly for half an hour, so mixing to up with the camera agreed with my arm muscles. I did shtick it up a little: I'd wave at a group waving and taking pictures, then take a picture of them, then wave my hands close together in a "can you all squeeze in a little?" gesture.
Another nice touch from Disney on this: we were given a separate Photopass card for the event, Photopass photographers were stationed along the parade route taking pictures of the guest families and the parade, and we get to download the parade photos for free.
I kept expecting to have to sit through a DVC pitch or something, but this is something that happens to five families at AK every day.
I wish I could offer some strategy for getting selected for this. We were told we were nominated by a character handler because we showed a lot of Christmas spirit by donning Santa hats and scarves for photos, and were nice and polite to the staff and guests around us in line. I have no idea what the general criteria is; heck I didn't even know AK did this until today.
Another magical day at WDW. Universal tomorrow.
So yeah, we were in the Animal Kingdom parade. Technically it was the float in front of Donald's, and Timon with a few dancers were between our float and Donald's, but it was decked out in Donald garb.
It was a blast. We met with our handler by Pizzafari a half-hour before the parade started and got to see the staging area for the parade. Five groups total were there, one for each of the Fab Five. They had Christmas vests for all of is to wear in the parade, and costume head wear specific to each character: Minnie had pith helmets painted like candy canes, Goofy had hats with antlers, we had snow-themed headbands/earwarmers. We put our park bags in lockers, were given earplugs to muffle the sound of the speakers right by us blaring to reach thousands of spectators, and got on our floats.
We weren't allowed to take any pictures behind the scenes (I discovered this as I pulled out my camera phone to snap off a few shots of Chip, Dale, Timon, Pluto, and several dancers hanging out and stretching out for the show) but were allowed to take as many photos as we wanted on the parade route. I probably abused the privilege a little, but it's not like I get to ride in a parade float every day. It was a little tiring waving constantly for half an hour, so mixing to up with the camera agreed with my arm muscles. I did shtick it up a little: I'd wave at a group waving and taking pictures, then take a picture of them, then wave my hands close together in a "can you all squeeze in a little?" gesture.
Another nice touch from Disney on this: we were given a separate Photopass card for the event, Photopass photographers were stationed along the parade route taking pictures of the guest families and the parade, and we get to download the parade photos for free.
I kept expecting to have to sit through a DVC pitch or something, but this is something that happens to five families at AK every day.
I wish I could offer some strategy for getting selected for this. We were told we were nominated by a character handler because we showed a lot of Christmas spirit by donning Santa hats and scarves for photos, and were nice and polite to the staff and guests around us in line. I have no idea what the general criteria is; heck I didn't even know AK did this until today.
Another magical day at WDW. Universal tomorrow.
Reaper
Footballguy
Hmmm, I'll try to be nice then.....As an aside.... My uncle actually played the Cowbell on Don't fear the Reaper.
