Disney Vacation (2 Viewers)

[parasaurolophus]

Part of the reason why I canceled my Disney card and vowed I’m never going back was due to Kathy from New York at the front gate of Hollywood studios.   

Got there at 6AM.  Got to front of line at 6:45, resident tickets didn’t work.  Bob from Iowa said don’t worry, go to guest relations and come back to front of the line.

guest relations line takes 10 mIn, main gate still way backed up.

go to front of line and Kathy tells me I need to get back in line.  Tell her bob promised me I wouldn’t.  Kathy tells me I’m wrong he wouldn’t have said that, get in line.  At this point my wife had to take over because inwas shaking I was so mad at that point.  We argued about it for 2-3 more minutes and we refused to step aside and her boss ended up coming over who ended up letting us through.

This was me when we went to Epcot later that day and we got questioned again and told we had to buy a ticket. We got there at 7:30pm. They close at 9. So I was dreading any delays. I had told my daughter to lean back and stay in the stroller and I had the top down so I was hoping to just get right through. But literally right as I am putting my magic band up to the reader she pops her head out and yells about the big golf ball. Gate worker then asks how old is she. I explained to her the deal and the way she responded made me think she knew the policy since she nodded her head up and down. She was tough to understand since she didn't speak English very well. So I start to go in. She then yells at me to stop and runs in front of me and tells me we need a ticket. I was furious. I mean you work at the gate of disney. You literally need to know like 5 things. That's it. The work manual would be less than one page for how to let people in.

1. Have people but their magic band or card up to the reader and put their finger on the finger pad. Same finger every time.

2. If green, yay! let them in.

3. If not green, try again. If not green again,  you call for somebody that has an Ipad and can look into why it isn't green.

4. 3 and over needs a ticket. 10 and over needs adult ticket. Three exceptions for this. If child arrives on trip and is 2 and turns three on trip, no need for ticket. If child is 9 at arrival and turns ten on trip, no need for adult ticket. If adult has a no expiration ticket that they bought when they were 9 and are now 35, they don't need an adult ticket. 

5. Smile and be polite while doing these easy things. 

Luckily my insta-MOP got a supervisor on the scene at Epcot within like 5 seconds and he explained it to the worker and in we went. She actually apologized and I think felt genuinely bad for not knowing the policy and that she had acted like a bouncer at a club that stopped a bartender or somebody else that should have obviously been let in. 

My daughter is super tall. There are only 5 rides she can't go on because of height. So I am sure that is why we kept getting asked.   

 

[The Ref]

This was me when we went to Epcot later that day and we got questioned again and told we had to buy a ticket. We got there at 7:30pm. They close at 9. So I was dreading any delays. I had told my daughter to lean back and stay in the stroller and I had the top down so I was hoping to just get right through. But literally right as I am putting my magic band up to the reader she pops her head out and yells about the big golf ball. Gate worker then asks how old is she. I explained to her the deal and the way she responded made me think she knew the policy since she nodded her head up and down. She was tough to understand since she didn't speak English very well. So I start to go in. She then yells at me to stop and runs in front of me and tells me we need a ticket. I was furious. I mean you work at the gate of disney. You literally need to know like 5 things. That's it. The work manual would be less than one page for how to let people in.

1. Have people but their magic band or card up to the reader and put their finger on the finger pad. Same finger every time.

2. If green, yay! let them in.

3. If not green, try again. If not green again,  you call for somebody that has an Ipad and can look into why it isn't green.

4. 3 and over needs a ticket. 10 and over needs adult ticket. Three exceptions for this. If child arrives on trip and is 2 and turns three on trip, no need for ticket. If child is 9 at arrival and turns ten on trip, no need for adult ticket. If adult has a no expiration ticket that they bought when they were 9 and are now 35, they don't need an adult ticket. 

5. Smile and be polite while doing these easy things. 

Luckily my insta-MOP got a supervisor on the scene at Epcot within like 5 seconds and he explained it to the worker and in we went. She actually apologized and I think felt genuinely bad for not knowing the policy and that she had acted like a bouncer at a club that stopped a bartender or somebody else that should have obviously been let in. 

My daughter is super tall. There are only 5 rides she can't go on because of height. So I am sure that is why we kept getting asked.   

My understanding its Policy they aren’t supposed to ask about age either.

they probably should because I know someone who took a tiny 5 year old through in a stroller for a week.

 

[The Noid]

they probably should because I know someone who took a tiny 5 year old through in a stroller for a week.

I was on the short, and young looking, side when I was a kid. I probably saved my parents hundreds of dollars getting away with pretending to be a younger age, hiding in the trunk at drive-ins, etc. For years my memories of a trip to Busch Gardens happened when I was 5, but I found out in my 30's I was actually 6. I think I committed so thoroughly to saying I was 5 during that vacation that I gas-lighted myself

 

[glvsav37]

Lol, I think we all have a story or 2 about trying to slip one by Disney. 

My oldest turned 10 and moved into Disney's adulthood on our last trip before our annual passes expired. Being we didn't need to get passes for her on that trip we could still put her in as a kid for the dining plan. Now my daughter is tall and most people think she's 1-2 years older then she is normally. So expecting it might be questioned by a server we told her that for this trip if anyone asks, she's 9..cool? cool. 

We get to the airport and start to go through screening, and the TSA agent takes all of our paperwork and checks me in, checks my wife in, then—while holding her birth certificate—looks at my daughter and goes, "Hi honey, how old are you?" Sure as sh!t, she looks at him and proudly goes, "I'm 9" Me and te wife jump into action.."no no, Katie, you'e 10...she's 10" He looked at us with a smug, unamused TSA look and I thought for sure I was getting the 'TSA special treatment' afterward. Thankfully, he let us slide.

Of all the people who could have asked....

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I’ve been going to theme parks about as long as I remember going to places.  I’ve been to amusement parks big and small all over the country, from local parks owned by families to tourist destinations that draw from all over the world.  I’ve been an annual passholder for Disney Parks in Florida and California, Universal Orlando, Six Flags, CedarFair, and Schlitterbahn.  Name a theme park ride in the United States and I’ve either been on it, been on the equivalent of it in another park owned by the same company, or been on the next generation of it.  

Rise Of The Resistance is the greatest theme park ride I’ve experienced in my entire life.  Not the highest or fastest or wildest or scariest.  But the greatest.  

 

[cheese]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

 

[That one guy]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

I mean, saving $2k sure sounds like the right choice regardless of inconveniences that may occur.  Are you renting a car?  If so, take the 417 from airport to get to Disney rather than I-4; 417 is a toll road, will cost about $6 one way, but it is a superior route from Sanford to the attractions over the hell that is I-4

 

[AcerFC]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

We did it once. It was fine

 

[UncleZen]

For those with motion sickness, have you tried taking dramamine? My last trip to Universal was wrecked because of the Harry Potter ride so on my last 2 trips to Disney, I took dramamine and it helped a lot.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

You won’t have DME or resort airline check-in if you fly into SFB instead of MCO.  And depending on time of day, it will be 60-80 minutes of driving from SFB versus 20-30 from MCO.    
However, since SFB is like 12 gates instead of MCO’s 120-130, it will be a lot faster in the airport at SFB for things like getting bags and getting through security, so you will make up a lot of that extra drive time by not navigating through gigantic MCO.  
Given the cost trade off, I’d go for the SFB option.  

 

[parasaurolophus]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

2k? You got 7 kids? 

 

[cheese]

You won’t have DME or resort airline check-in if you fly into SFB instead of MCO.  And depending on time of day, it will be 60-80 minutes of driving from SFB versus 20-30 from MCO.    
However, since SFB is like 12 gates instead of MCO’s 120-130, it will be a lot faster in the airport at SFB for things like getting bags and getting through security, so you will make up a lot of that extra drive time by not navigating through gigantic MCO.  
Given the cost trade off, I’d go for the SFB option.  

Thanks good points. 

2k? You got 7 kids? 

3 so 5 tickets. Right now it’s almost 600 per to fly into MCO and under 200 per to fly into SFB because the discount airlines go there. 

 

[rick6668]

For those with motion sickness, have you tried taking dramamine? My last trip to Universal was wrecked because of the Harry Potter ride so on my last 2 trips to Disney, I took dramamine and it helped a lot.

I have and may do that, it just makes me tired.  Tired is better than sick though.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

I would rather do SFB if it were the same price, much less saving $2k for it.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I would rather do SFB if it were the same price, much less saving $2k for it.

I’m more experienced on the DLR side for this.  SNA is an easy call over LAX because it’s a lot closer and smaller.  But I’d also pick ONT over LAX - not any closer to DLR than LAX is, but it’s a fraction of the size so it takes a lot less time if you start the clock when the plane wheels hit the runway until arriving at the park/hotel.  

 

[Osaurus]

Thanks good points. 

3 so 5 tickets. Right now it’s almost 600 per to fly into MCO and under 200 per to fly into SFB because the discount airlines go there. 

Ah yes. The Allegiant airport. Great airport to go to for Global Entry interview. They used to be my client too. I set them up with GPS collection of all their airport assets. 

 

[wlwiles]

Suckered in again!  Just booked a 5 night stay at PO-Riverside starting early May.  Daughter will be 5 on this trip and is princess crazed, so there's Bibbity Bobbity Boutique and all the princess meals in our future. 

Hoping that the wife and I are the only people in HS that day that aren't Star Wars fans so we plan to head straight for Toy Story Land and miss the whole Galaxy's Edge stuff altogether.  

 

[glvsav37]

If you are looking for different Orlando experience but still want to do some Disney, note that the new Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Resort has become one of Disney's Good Neighbor resorts. This means that staying there gives you certain perks normally reserved for on-site guests like 60-day fastpasses and early/late magic hours. 

 

[BigJohn]

Was there the week of Christmas.  I'll keep this short.

- The Grand Floridian was top notch.  Room was cramped with 5 of us, but we were never there.

- If I go back, I'll spend as much time as I can in Epcot.  Love that place.

- We were on the Deluxe dining plan.  It was paid for, so it was awesome, but I probably would not do it if I'm paying.  Just too much food.

- Best meal of the week BY FAR was Chef Art Smith's Homecoming in Disney Springs.  Absolutely amazing food.  The chicken biscuits and the lollipop chicken legs were my favorite dishes of the whole week.

- Only bad experience was the sci-fi theater in Hollywood Studios.  Waiter was horrible, food was meh, cramped little car for a fat guy(me).  Just a bad time.

 

[glvsav37]

I just heard that they are now offering fastpasses for Smuggler's Run (the Millennium Falcon ride) starting on 2/19. booking window is open now. 

It will be a tier 1 FP, so you'll need to decide between this and the other popular park ride slinky dog dash. 

 

[jb1020]

I just heard that they are now offering fastpasses for Smuggler's Run (the Millennium Falcon ride) starting on 2/19. booking window is open now. 

It will be a tier 1 FP, so you'll need to decide between this and the other popular park ride slinky dog dash. 

This was the news I was hoping for.  We'll be there in Oct.  No way in hell we ever stood a chance to ride this thing in current conditions.  My family can't get up for a 9am rope drop.  

 

[AcerFC]

This was the news I was hoping for.  We'll be there in Oct.  No way in hell we ever stood a chance to ride this thing in current conditions.  My family can't get up for a 9am rope drop.  

wrong ride

Smugglers run was actually a pretty consistent standby time since there was no fast pass. This will change that. There were often times where the standby was 20 minutes in the evening hours. 

  We went there after Ogas Cantina and we waited 45 minutes or so

Slinky dog never went under 60 minutes for standby the entire day

Rise of the Resistance is the one you need to be in the park when it opens. Although, if it is a slow day, AND, the ride runs smoothly all day, you can get to the park around 10 and get a backup boarding group. Obviously no guarantees 

 

[The Commish]

Sorry if answered like 20 times.... How lame is it to use SFB instead of MCO if staying a week at Disney?  I hate to sound cheap when it’s Disney, but it’s seriously about 1/4 the price saving about $2k to fly into SFB. We have gone twice and used MCO and the DME from airport,  so I do prefer it. Just wondering if others have done SFB path and whether it’s a massive drop off. 

I mean, saving $2k sure sounds like the right choice regardless of inconveniences that may occur.  Are you renting a car?  If so, take the 417 from airport to get to Disney rather than I-4; 417 is a toll road, will cost about $6 one way, but it is a superior route from Sanford to the attractions over the hell that is I-4

Do it cheese....I can even pick you up from the airport if need be   It's a nice, small airport...easy to get in/out of and like TOG says, it's hopping on 417 to get there.  It does loop around a bit, but it sure as hell beats being on I4.  It'll probably take you 45 minutes to an hour to get to Disney from there.

 

[glvsav37]

This was the news I was hoping for.  We'll be there in Oct.  No way in hell we ever stood a chance to ride this thing in current conditions.  My family can't get up for a 9am rope drop.  

As Acer said, you are thinking of Rise of the resistance ride that you need the boarding groups for. But I tend to think that you will be ok for later this year and they 'should' do away with the boarding groups. Smugglers run opened at the end of August, so its been open roughly 5 months. If Rise follows the same schedule It would be June for thme to open FP booking. Now that doesn't take into account what the summer crowd outlook says, but even so, by October it should be fine. 

BTW I'll be there around the 17/18 for a conference. Not sure if that lines up with your dates at all, but you got a beer (or mickey bar) with your name on it from me if so. 

 

[jb1020]

Yeah, dangit.  You guys are right.  Me and the boy can get up and get in line.  

@glvsav37 We actually check in Oct 17.  I'd love to meet up and say hello if everything lines up.  You probably won't be at the Poly will you?  

 

[glvsav37]

Yeah, dangit.  You guys are right.  Me and the boy can get up and get in line.  

@glvsav37 We actually check in Oct 17.  I'd love to meet up and say hello if everything lines up.  You probably won't be at the Poly will you?  

Awesome!!  I'll be down in the Disney Springs area. I have not decided if i'm going to add my 'solo days' before or after the conference, but now that I know you will be checking in on the 17th then maybe i'll shoot to stay after the event. I'm pretty mobile and can go anywhere bc I'm generally by myself.

Overall depends on my work/school schedule and flight costs which I have not booked yet. I'll let you know. 

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Ok Disneyland... let's see what you got. 

 

[phandango]

Yeah, I need to know this as well.  Any rides I need to stay away from?  I hate that I get motion sickness, but it's fine on coasters/such , but the rides where it feels like you are moving  but aren't are the worst.  I don't want to ruin the day.  Years ago I did the ride at Epcot where you are shrunken and go into a person's body and I was wrecked for a few hours afterward.

We just got back from Disneyland. Before we left, I messaged my doctor and asked if he could prescribe the scopolamine patch, which helps with motion sickness. You just put the patch behind your ear four hours before getting on rides and it lasts for three days (you can shower with it on, so no need to take it off). Man, I'm telling you, it works. I went on everything with the kids, including Guardians of the Galaxy (the former Tower of Terror), the one where you're in a runaway elevator that shoots you up and drops you over and over. I would've been wrecked on that ride without the patch, but the only thing I felt was the normal amount of queasiness that went away after a few minutes. If you can get it from your doc, I'd recommend it. 

 

[That one guy]

For those staying in and around Disney World looking for something to do not at one of the parks, took my 5 year old daughter this weekend to Disney Springs to do the Aerophile balloon ride.  There’s a groupon going for it currently, but even without it's only $20/person.  It was fun, she loved seeing everything lit up at night 

 

[Shula-holic]

Took my daughters last week.  First off, Tuesday night and all day Wednesday were frigid.  We spent Wednesday at Hollywood Studios and they never made it on Slinkydog because the ride didn't start until the afternoon hours due to the temps.  The bright side of the cold streak was Tuesday night in Magic Kingdom the lines got pretty short on some things to the point we got a lot done in very little time.  Liked the snacks and some of the dinners but the quick service places to me were mostly on par with my old junior high lunchroom food.  The best dinner we had was at the Tutto Italia at Epcot.  I was also surprised how much I liked the Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom.

 

[glvsav37]

Took my daughters last week.  First off, Tuesday night and all day Wednesday were frigid.  We spent Wednesday at Hollywood Studios and they never made it on Slinkydog because the ride didn't start until the afternoon hours due to the temps.  The bright side of the cold streak was Tuesday night in Magic Kingdom the lines got pretty short on some things to the point we got a lot done in very little time.  Liked the snacks and some of the dinners but the quick service places to me were mostly on par with my old junior high lunchroom food.  The best dinner we had was at the Tutto Italia at Epcot.  I was also surprised how much I liked the Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom.

Based on the user name....next time you should walk a bit down the boardwalk, visit the Dolphin and grab an awesome (and expensive) steak at Shulas. 

https://www.opentable.com/r/shulas-steak-house-walt-disney-world-dolphin-resort-lake-buena-vista 

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Rise of the Resistance is the best theme park ride I've ever been on.  Second place isn't close.  The total immersion of that ride and the experience it tries to have you enjoy is beyond remarkable. 

And Disneyland is really cool. 

 

[Capella]

Took my daughters last week.  First off, Tuesday night and all day Wednesday were frigid.  We spent Wednesday at Hollywood Studios and they never made it on Slinkydog because the ride didn't start until the afternoon hours due to the temps.  The bright side of the cold streak was Tuesday night in Magic Kingdom the lines got pretty short on some things to the point we got a lot done in very little time.  Liked the snacks and some of the dinners but the quick service places to me were mostly on par with my old junior high lunchroom food.  The best dinner we had was at the Tutto Italia at Epcot.  I was also surprised how much I liked the Yak and Yeti at Animal Kingdom.

Food at the MK is horrible. The other 3 parks have pretty decent stuff to eat. One of those things I’ve never understood. 

 

[AAABatteries]

Was there the week of Christmas.  I'll keep this short.

- The Grand Floridian was top notch.  Room was cramped with 5 of us, but we were never there.

- If I go back, I'll spend as much time as I can in Epcot.  Love that place.

- We were on the Deluxe dining plan.  It was paid for, so it was awesome, but I probably would not do it if I'm paying.  Just too much food.

- Best meal of the week BY FAR was Chef Art Smith's Homecoming in Disney Springs.  Absolutely amazing food.  The chicken biscuits and the lollipop chicken legs were my favorite dishes of the whole week.

- Only bad experience was the sci-fi theater in Hollywood Studios.  Waiter was horrible, food was meh, cramped little car for a fat guy(me).  Just a bad time.

When BigJohn says it’s too much food you better listen.  Seriously though, this is something my family has discussed for 10 years.  How could anyone possibly each that much food and also want to take that much time out of touring.  How many ADRs did you end up having?  I have to say the idea of a week long Deluxe plan with 21 ADRs does give me a semi.

 

[AAABatteries]

Food at the MK is horrible. The other 3 parks have pretty decent stuff to eat. One of those things I’ve never understood. 

MK is for snacking - dole whip, ice cream sandwich, cinnamon roll as Gastons - if we have to eat there I’ll just grab a dog at Casey’s 

 

[AcerFC]

Crystal Palace isnt awful for a buffet and who doesnt like pics with Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore and Piglet.

I also enjoyed our dinner at the Plaza the one time we ate there. 

But like AAA, if I am going to eat and not hit one of those places up, I usually get a Turkey Leg

Also, AAA forgot that little snack place just in front of the castle as you make your way to the Hall of Presidents. waffles and chipwiches 

ETA: I think they blew an opportunity with the Jungle cruise place. Would love to eat there BUT, there is hardly anything on the menu for my family to eat. So we just pass on it. I also think there is enough space in the place across from Pirates to make it a themed restaurant. 

 

[Capella]

MK is for snacking - dole whip, ice cream sandwich, cinnamon roll as Gastons - if we have to eat there I’ll just grab a dog at Casey’s 

This is true too. My kid gets excited to go there because of “TREATS”. It’s like sweets heaven. 
 

I do like Casey’s but that wait can be tedious. 

 

[The Commish]

MK is for snacking - dole whip, ice cream sandwich, cinnamon roll as Gastons - if we have to eat there I’ll just grab a dog at Casey’s 

We'll do the nachos Pecos Bill's or if we want a meal we go to Liberty Tree Tavern.  We've never been disappointed at LTT, but it is a specific meal you have to be in the mood for.

 

[glvsav37]

the only saving grace of MK dining is that the park is just a monorail ride away from 3 really great resorts with much better dining options.

Ohana
Kona Cafe
1900 Park Fare
Chef Mickeys

all blow away most of what MK table service dining offers. Too bad most people don't realize this. 

I'll even throw in Trader Sam's and the new Beauty and the Beast lounge at Grand Flo for when you need to escape the parks for a drink...and air conditioning. 

 

[AAABatteries]

But like AAA, if I am going to eat and not hit one of those places up, I usually get a Turkey Leg

Also, AAA forgot that little snack place just in front of the castle as you make your way to the Hall of Presidents. waffles and chipwiches 

That’s where I get the ice cream sandwich usually.  They have some waffle dishes that are decent too.

 

[Shula-holic]

MK is for snacking - dole whip, ice cream sandwich, cinnamon roll as Gastons - if we have to eat there I’ll just grab a dog at Casey’s 

I ended up using my snacks by getting sundaes at the ice cream place at the end of Main St.  On our last night I had 6 snacks to burn and that's with two kids getting drinks all the time.  There's just no way we could use them all.

 

[AcerFC]

I ended up using my snacks by getting sundaes at the ice cream place at the end of Main St.  On our last night I had 6 snacks to burn and that's with two kids getting drinks all the time.  There's just no way we could use them all.

That is when you load up on Mickey Rice Krispie treats and either eat them or give them to family members as a gift from your trip 

 

[Shula-holic]

That is when you load up on Mickey Rice Krispie treats and either eat them or give them to family members as a gift from your trip 

We brought home the big Mickey cookies for the girls and boxed up fudge as well because I love that stuff and it would keep a few days.  Now back to eating healthy again.  I hadn't ate that many sweets in the past 2-3 years as I did in one week there.

 

[Redwes25]

Food is pretty much awful everywhere in parks except in Epcot countries.  A couple of exceptions here and there but park eating is about snacks and sweats.  

 

[AAABatteries]

Food is pretty much awful everywhere in parks except in Epcot countries.  A couple of exceptions here and there but park eating is about snacks and sweats.  

We discuss the park food all the time but my rankings 

EPCOT

AK

MK

HS 

 

[AcerFC]

We discuss the park food all the time but my rankings 

EPCOT

AK

MK

HS 

This

 

[Capella]

We discuss the park food all the time but my rankings 

EPCOT

AK

MK

HS 

If we are doing meals I would put HS ahead of MK but if considering sweets and things like that MK goes to #2 for me. Weird sentence to type out. 
 

Epcot #1 either way. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

The no lids on sodas thing is dumb. Carrying a tray of food with an open soda on it while pushing a stroller aint easy. 

Put a paper lid on it. Bs money grab. If they really cared about plastic and the earth they wouldnt sell so many single use glow in the dark things come fireworks time. 

 

[phandango]

Rise of the Resistance is the best theme park ride I've ever been on.  Second place isn't close.  The total immersion of that ride and the experience it tries to have you enjoy is beyond remarkable. 

And Disneyland is really cool. 

I agree. If anyone is headed to Disneyland soon, here's our experience: We got in line to get into the park at 7 am for 8 am opening. They started letting people in at about 7:45. We went to the end of Main Street near Jolly Holiday bakery. I'm sure this is explained elsewhere in the thread, but I scanned our park tickets into the Disneyland app. I had my wife set up her own Disney account on the app and scanned tickets into her phone, and I did the same thing on my daughter's phone. As soon as 8 am hit, we all went to the app to claim a boarding group. Mine went through first. We got boarding group 41 and at about 11 am we got the alert that it was time to get on. We were all wondering how difficult it would be, but I was able to research it so we had as few bumps as possible. Turned out to be super easy. As I said to my family, "I know that 'hero' is a strong word, but I can't think of any other way for you to describe me."

As for Rise, it's definitely more of an experience than a ride. We all loved it. Without spoiling anything, when you exit the shuttle and emerge onto the platform and see what's waiting there, man, that was so awesome. In fact, all of Star Wars land was cool. We were walking around and a Stormtrooper came up to my wife, pointed to her phone and said, "What are you doing with that data pad?" She panicked and just pointed to my daughter and said it was my daughter's birthday, so the Trooper bugged her instead. Throughout the afternoon, the Troopers (and sometimes Kylo Ren) went around questioning people about the identity of a rebel spy. The trip was worth just the few hours we spent there. It really reminded me of Harry Potter area at Universal Orlando -- completely immersive, like you're in that world. 

 

[rick6668]

We just got back from Disneyland. Before we left, I messaged my doctor and asked if he could prescribe the scopolamine patch, which helps with motion sickness. You just put the patch behind your ear four hours before getting on rides and it lasts for three days (you can shower with it on, so no need to take it off). Man, I'm telling you, it works. I went on everything with the kids, including Guardians of the Galaxy (the former Tower of Terror), the one where you're in a runaway elevator that shoots you up and drops you over and over. I would've been wrecked on that ride without the patch, but the only thing I felt was the normal amount of queasiness that went away after a few minutes. If you can get it from your doc, I'd recommend it. 

I will have to look into this.  Any side effects?  How did you feel afterwards?  Reading some things online about side effects and it worries me a little.