Just back from our 3rd weekend trip this year. According to the kids (7 and 9) "Best trip ever". We were able to do everything we wanted so that helped a lot. The 9 year old is about to have a birthday, so this trip was for him and to make sure he got his priority list done (which was all the "big" rides). Stayed at Swan due to low late August rates and just pure convenience.
Friday: Arrived at Swan around 5pm in the pouring rain. Decided to eat at Il Mulano to wait out the rain. I've never seen a restaurant try so hard at being fine dining but fail so miserably because every table had kids under 10 (didn't bother me but found it kinda funny). I'm sure the child friendly dining was done for later reservations.
It was still raining just enough by the time we walked to the Epcot gate we picked up ponchos. Headed to Soarin and then to guardians. Luckily they honored our boarding group almost 12 hours after it was called (got boarding group 3 and went about 8pm). Big kid wanted to try mission space so DH and him rode "green" for the first time. Stayed for the fireworks (but picked the worst spot ever.....do not stand behind the boat launch near Canada) and headed back.
Saturday: I debated but went ahead and got G+ for today. Little one has
DAS pass but because I wanted to make sure big one got on all his rides some of which little one won't do I got it. I started with the big one by myself for early entry and the others joined us a little later...this is how it went:
Arrived at 7:45 at HS and got in line for slinky. Off slinky by 8:15
8: 15 RnR (early entry)
8:30 ToT (G+) (NOT needed, much different than our 45 min wait experience for ToT early entry in march)
8:45 repeat ToT since it was a walk on and rest of family not there yet. Check out shops while we wait.
9:30am rest of family comes and get DAS for Rise (about an hour and half wait at this point)
9:45 had TSM G+ but it was down so headed to Falcon with recovery G+ (saved about 30 min)
at some point also get a message that Rise is down so am able to select another DAS
Blue/green milk break
10:15am Alien swirl (G+) (15 min save)
10:30am: TSM (DAS)
10:45 Rise up so headed through....placed order for Docking Bay 7 right as we were walking on the ride.
Rise goes down right as we were the next group headed for the trackless portion. Kids want to wait so we sat down for about 45ish minutes. Was told it was a good sign that they didn't clear all of us out. Everyone glad that we stuck it out (CM Order did break character and offer to escort resistance to the restrooms ;-)
11:45: lunch, well our order had been thrown out at this point but Docking Bay was super nice and remade our order....lesson, don't say you are there unless you are really there!
12:30: Star Tours (DAS) and then lots of "looking" in the gift shop.
1pm Mickey (G+) pretty sure the ride went down because there was quite the extended wait right before we went into the theater but nothing was said. This G+ probably saved a good 45 min
1:45 Done with all the rides and ready to head back to the hotel to crash. Made another G+ for Magic Kingdom but never made it there.
Thought it was going to pour all afternoon but it never did so around 4pm we headed to the pool for a bit, ate at the poolside restaurant and then took on mini golf of Fantasia Gardens (boys loved this)
Sunday: MK
Got the closest parking spot ever to TTC about 7:45am. Took the ferry over (monorail doesn't open til 8).
Goal was to get big kid on Space. Almost bought G+ but took a chance and just used DAS. Most rides still had posted wait times of less than 30 minutes most of the day (including PP!) Bonus was little one was brave and tried a few new rides (honestly thanks to DAS or this would never have happened, lots of pixie dust for this special kiddo). This was by far the quietest weekend day I have ever seen at MK. Guess because there was a party but there was noticeably less people everywhere.
Early entry we did:
Space (x 2 with rider swap)
9: Astro orbiter (hate this line but agreed to it since buzz was down)
930: Buzz (10 min wait)
The rest of the day we had DAS pass for everything
Seven Mine train
Haunted Mansion
Peter Pan
Lunch at 11am (Plaza)
Tree House
Cavalcade
12: Thunder Mountain
1230: Splash Mountain
1pm: Pirates
130: Buzz (mainly to pick up Toy Story toys for the birthday kid)
2pm: Out heading back home!
So besides the suffocating heat/humidity and dodging thunderstorms, I love Disney in August! But I live in Florida, so am dealing with those everyday anyway...
Now kids are asking when are we coming back for Animal Kingdom....