So we hit all the parks as follows:
7/30 Hollywood Studios
7/31 Magic Kingdom
8/1 Animal Kingdom & EPCOT
8/2 Fill-in day mainly at EPCOT
As you can guess, it was HOT. We got through it and with the help of Multi-Lightning Lanes and Single Lightning Lanes, we got on just about every single thing we wanted – a few multiple times especially with the help of a few torrential downpours that drove people away.
At current count we got on 42 attractions over those four days which was actually more than I expected/anticipated (with many thanks to the posters here)! We did stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) and the extra hours really helped – mainly the rope drops.
The new Genie+ system seemed to work well, but it did cost us a lot in extra walking including five nasty blisters for me. It also just kills a bit of the Disney “magic” with everyone still having to live connected to their phones like drones.
I had some surprising pros and cons when it came to several random attractions:
- Smuggler’s Run was much better than I expected. I really bought into the immersion and look. Well executed.
- Muppet*Vision I just adore, but it’s totally out of its element now and really needs to go. Few younger people have any idea about The Muppet Show so much of it just feels dated.
- Rise of the Resistance was the most epic attraction of the bunch, though not my favorite. There’s nothing like it, but I actually would have liked the cast members to treat us even worse!
- Toy Story Mania! Much was made of this prior to my going. I was going to skip it, but many here kept pointing out my “oversight”. We’re just two adults. What I got was what I expected. Buzz with little else. Unless you have kids, it isn’t worth the wait in my view.
- The Hall of Presidents included a new intro for me since my last visit in 2007. Wonderfully updated. Lincoln’s reading of the Gettysburg address really hit my wife (her first visit) and I hard. This could be a traveling patriotism/learning thing that would really pack a punch.
- The Jungle Cruise has to go. Some said it has a new script. The cast member failed horribly at it and made us feel her contempt for having to read the words. Everyone was bored silly. Wipe and remake.
- PhilharMagic was one of my favorites. In 2007 it played to PACKED houses. This time my wife and I were alone in the theater. Shocking. I still love it. My wife thought it was okay. I also swear there was a smell for Jasmin but it didn’t happen. Plus every effect felt delayed.
- Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor was a huge surprise. We did it to just relax and I ended up being the star of the show! Great improv.
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train was very good, but there’s no way I’d be happy with it after waiting well over an hour or more to get on it.
- Tiana’s Bayou was both better and worse than Splash Mountain. The greenery and lushness was so well done. Loved the new look and the new characters. The one negative is that the song just isn’t up to Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, and my never be.
- TRON had the best sense of speed in the parks, but it’s too short, especially for the current wait times without LL.
- Under the Sea was a bore for me. I just didn’t feel like it had the Disney magic touch.
- Avatar Flight of Passage was a favorite of mine. Soarin on steroids. Wow. Plus the entire theming of Pandora just works.
- Na’vi River was my wife’s favorite. We rode it three times. She just loved the visuals. I just wish there was a bit more to it.
- Expedition Everest was still being finished in 2007 so this was a first for us and we both really enjoyed it.
- DINOSAUR needs to go. It’s just so blah.
- Frozen Ever After was my biggest flop. Maelstrom was more memorable for me. This had flourishes, but it all felt way too compressed. The reverse view of the big song was nice. If it were twice as long I’d be sold. Instead if feels like a trailer.
- Guardians was easily my favorite attraction of the bunch and, thanks to the storms, we got on it three times. It’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster all grown up. Loved everything about it with the possible exception of the coaster fly-by visuals feeling a bit pasted on.
- Remi was also a wife favorite. He’s my favorite character. I loved all the nice touched including the fun in the queue. Borderline on standby waits which, thankfully, we bypassed.
- Soarin’ isn’t Flight of Passage, but this is way better than the 2007 “California” version and still very entertaining.
- Living with the Land. I mention this because it turned into our wetest ride in Disney. There was a massive rain storm and the building leaked so much that we got drenched. Made it much more memorable.
Once again, thanks to everyone here for all the tips, tricks and insights. Everything was pretty much a win. AKL was just wonderful. Our meals (DP) were excellent and the staff was, as usual, exemplary. Now if only it was more cost-effective to go more often.
