I'm back.
I won't start a trip report thread but I will put my info here.
First let me preface that I'm not the kind of person who does meet and greets, nor do I go on the more kiddie rides for nostalgia. I never went to Disney as a kid.
I stayed at the French Quarter with a river view, building 6. Very quiet when I was there. The garden view of that building overlooks the area where they show the movies. I only had breakfast once at Sassagoula. It was not good and I did not eat there again. Also, mousekeeping is on an every other day schedule. However, they never cleaned my room in the 4 nights I stayed there.
Our bus was dedicated to all destinations - we did not share with any other resort. I appreciated the tv screen that showed the bus arrival times - they were mostly accurate. I took a boat to and from Disney Springs. The launch dock is behind the pool area along the river path. The arriving dock is way over on one end near the Christmas store. The bus to Disney Springs drops you off in the center.
As I mentioned before, a solo trip was much faster. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I had a list of attractions that were must do, and like to do. I got through all of them at MK and HS. Epcot I decided not to try for frozen or remy but I may very well have had the time to do so if I wanted.
I had originally has ADRs for dinner at all 3 parks I was going to and decided to cancel them all. More on that later.
Half day: Disney Springs. Walked into Boathouse with no ADR for lunch. Food was decent, had a water view, and got pixie dust of a cupcake when I mentioned this was a belated birthday trip. Shopped, got quick service dinner, wanted to ride the balloon but there was a storm and winds and it was closed.
First full day: HS. Star wars was the focus, although I had not been to Toy Story either. Rope dropped at 8:30. I did both Resistance and Smugglers no problem. The single rider lane for Smugglers was perfect. I ate at Docking Bay 7 and the Batuuan beef stir fry was actually one of the best things I ate all trip. Rode Toy story mania, Slinky, and alien saucers. I thought saucers was pretty rough for a kids ride. Slinky was great. And to round out the day, R&R, ToT, Mickey & Minnie and still had time to sit through Raiders. I miss the audience participation in Raiders. I got chosen one year and it was fun.
I took a mid afternoon break to go clean up and rest at the hotel, came back, and still finished before the park closed.
Day two: Epcot. My focus here was two things: Ride guardians and do food & wine, everything else was bonus. I got a ILL for Guardians at 9:15. Rope dropped at 8:30. Did Soaring, Living with the Land (mostly that one to kill time) then went to Guardians. I could go on and on about how awesome it is but ... I followed that up with single rider Test Track (super fast) and Spaceship Earth (mostly to kill time for F&W opening). Went up to the showcase, rode Mexico, and when I was done, F&W was open. I walked, shopped, ate until I was whooped and headed back to the hotel for another cleanup and rest. Returned around 4:30 for my second ride on Guardians. Then I walked and shopped the other half of the showcase until I was full and done.
Day three: MK. ILL Tron for 9:10. Tried to rope drop 7 Dwarves but it wasn't working, neither was Space mountain. Hit Buzz and killed time on the people mover until Tron. Tron is pretty good. Guardians is much, much better. I wouldn't pay for ILL again for Tron. Moved to the other side of the park for HM, Big Thunder, Pirates. Had a LL for Jungle just past one so I ate some lunch at Cosmic Rays first. (yeah, I walked back and forth alot). I just wandered a bit and shopped after jungle, then rode HM a second time, and then a third since the lines were so low during the parade. Took a Liberty riverboat ride, then got on the railway and back to the other side of the park for a virtual queue for Tron, again. Followed that up with the Laugh Floor, mostly for air conditioning and a chance to sit. By this time I was tired and hungry and wanted real food and not quick service. Ended up at the Diamond Horseshoe for dinner - that place was dead. Food was fine. After that, I was going to kill time shopping main street until the fireworks. At about 8:25 it started raining and never stopped. I gave up on the idea of fireworks at about 9:20. Had to wait for the bus (everyone was leaving, the busses were a madhouse) and got back to my hotel after 10, and it was still raining.
Why did I cancel my ADRs - with LL and virtual queue's you have no idea when you are going to ride something. To me, the rides were more important than the ADRs. I was ok with counter service when I wanted. Also, in the heat it was nice to choose when to go inside for a sit and a snack. Plus my appetite was diminished in the heat.
My tips:
Bring electrolyte powder and add it to your water. This kept me from terrible sun and heat headaches.
Bring a UV blocking umbrella - I read this tip on here and it was so useful, especially at Epcot where there is so little shade in the showcase.
Skip the personal fan - I tried mine the first day and it was so hot it was just blowing hot air in my face. I left it behind for the other two days.
Bring extra socks. I found that if I changed my socks after about 6 hours it made my feet feel better.
Bring extra underpants. Yeah, sounds weird but for the same reason as the socks, I felt better with clean undies. I just changed in the bathroom.
Wear a hat and redo your sunscreen often! I burn easily. I only got a few places on the back of my shoulder where my backpack strap rubbed it away.
For the hotel: Bring epsom salts. Soak in a hot tub with salts for about 15 minutes when you get back. It really helped with my tired legs.
Got questions: ask!
