5 fantastic nights

Found this review on Facebook, and thought I would pop it in here since it was so well written

Just got back from five fantastic nights in Walt Disney World.  I hadn't had a full WDW experience since I was 16 years old--I turned 50 last November.  Long story short, everything was just a delight.  Here's a brief list of tips that I hope might be helpful:

1.  EPCOT is very spread out.  Think carefully about what you want to do there and plan accordingly.  I also think that it is the park that cannot possibly be seen in just one day if you've never been there before.  When I was much younger, the World Showcase didn't interest me much, but now at 50, I really enjoyed myself there.

2.  Guardians of the Galaxy is perhaps the very best roller coaster that I have been on in my life.  There's a lengthy preamble, but it's worth it.

3.  The cantina in Mexico has EXCELLENT food.  Some of the best while I was there.  The margaritas are also very good.  Expensive, but they pack a punch that is consistent with what you're paying.

4.  Geo 82 was worth the expense.  Very nice place with excellent adult cocktails.  Probably not the best idea for travelers with young children.  We ended up buying two of the Geo 82 wine glasses . . .

5.  Magic Kingdom is exactly that--MAGICAL.  Beautifully, immaculately kept up, and I found myself immersed in so many beautiful memories there.

6.  Hollywood Studios is definitely doable in a day, with abundant time spent in the Star Wars area.  The manner in which they transport you is really something else.  It's unbelievable, and the Star Wars rides are top notch.  I had never ridden the Tower of Terror before, and that was a real highlight.  I've never had a an experience like it.

7.  Oga's Cantina is another experience that really transports you into the movies.  You will likely share a table with another family, and it is pricey.  Nothing outrageous, but my party of four spent more than $100.

8.  We somehow were able to get a reservation at Beak and Barrel in the Pirates of the Carribean.  Be forewarned: the design of the area could result in you being seated at a table where you really can't see anything else going on in the bar.  Every few minutes there is some sort of "moment," and I missed them all because I was trapped in the booth.  It is beautifully appointed.  You really want to be sat at the long tables in front of the bar, or one of the booths right at the head of the long table.

9.  Animal Kingdom can DEFINITELY be done in a day, possibly less.  It takes a little while to get there from one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts, but nothing too long.  15 minutes, I think.  VERY long lines at the Avatar attractions, particularly the flying one.  The safari ride was AMAZING!  Dinosaur was also a blast from the past, soon to be replaced by Indiana Jones apparently.  The area is walled off, but you can see the cranes and bulldozers, and for me personally, it sorta pulled me out of the fantasy.  I survived, and let me tell you, what they've got planned looks amazing.

10.  We stayed at the Comtemporary, which despite its age, is well kept.  I do think that it needs some updating though.  We had dinner at the California Grill the first night (two of us were celebrating THEIR 50th birthdays), and that was AMAZING.  There was a thunderstorm that night, and we got to watch it from our table by the windows.  Stunning.

11.  The fireworks at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party were out of this world.  Like nothing that I have ever seen before.  This was towards the end of our trip, and let me tell you, you reach 50, and being on your feet all day long in an amusement park really starts to take its toll.  But I would absolutely do it again.  Beautiful and very well produced, telling a real STORY!

12.  Finally, Walt Disney World is expensive, no matter how you slice it.  There is a part in the Guardians of the Galaxy ride during which a character is trying to figure out what to call people from EPCOT.  EPCOTIANS?  And he asks the audience's opinion, "What do you call yourselves?"  Things got quiet and one guy screamed out, "BROKE!"  It is expensive, and I swear to you, you can't walk 10 feet that there isn't something attention-grabbing or for sale.  God knows we’re all completely preoccupied with our finances these days, but where I would put my money is (a) a resort hotel and (b) either lightning lane passes or premium passes.  Because we were traveling in September, shortly after the school year started, I don't think that the parks were as crowded as they usually are during holidays and the summertime.  Still, it really took the pressure off knowing that we would more or less be able to have a much shorter wait for most of the main attractions.  Life is short, I know that better than anyone, but if there is time to save/budget for it, you won't be disappointed.  Even though we went towards the end of September, it was 90 degrees + most days, and one of the days in EPCOT it rained cats and dogs for at least a couple of hours.  Knowing that we weren't going to miss out on anything major made me less uptight about the rain.

13.  One FINAL thing: we bought LL Bean rain jackets that fold up into a little pouch to put in our small knapsack.  The friends that were with us had plastic folded ponchos that were a bit of a nightmare, and they still got wet in them anyway.  I would recommend investing in some convenience raingear.  Also, I wore Hoka sneakers the entire week.  Like I said above, my dogs were barking at the end of most days, but I think that the Hokas really preserved me from blisters and foot fatigue that would have likely taken me out of the park earlier than I would have preferred.

Have fun, young and all, through the rest of the year.  I am sure that Walt Disney World will be calling on me again very soon!