Post Trip Report from Sept 16-22 for two adult senior couples

Well, we're home. First to clarify, we had to squeeze this trip in between two chorale rehearsals as our friend in the other couple is our director. So we left Platteville WI at 9:15 and checked in at a Super i in Milwaukee for a "nap" and then fly out at 6:30 AM. We were tired but it was the start.

We landed and were immediately bumped to Business Class (building next door to El Centro). We asked to be close but as far as we could tell we were on the same floor. They explained that they "seriously overbooked to the point that one building with preferred king beds was unavailable". LOL Sounds like they didn't finish the water heater replacements yet.

So off to DS for a partial day. We did a few rides and ate at 50's Prime Time. IT WAS WONDERFUL! We sent a commendation to Guest Services as our wait/CM was marvelous. Dinner was incredible and we were all completely overfull.

Wed - MK. I always want to see one MK park opening so we did it this day. The hub reconstruction was a disappointment, although I knew it was coming. For me it was the loss of flowers that seem to be lacking. Sept? The daytime parade was really quite nice and many of the princesses around us were VERY excited. We finished the night at Narcoossee and it was BEYOND wonderful. The bartender, Sergio, used to own an establishment in our capital city of Madison and was very nice. The waiter was as well. Again both received commendations. The food here was incredible.

Thur- AK. I was bummed that Tough to be a Bug was down as that also meant the tour seeing the Tree of Life close up wasn't possible. We had lunch at Yak and Yeti and was still impressed with the food. We went at park closing to Boma's. I don't believe we will return here again. The food was "meh" and for Sept school time there were MANY children there, many of which were overtired and expressed it. I am a parent, and my GF is parent and grandparent, so we get it, but as I said, there were a LOT, many under the age of 1. One mom, just pulled up her shirt and started nursing which took us by surprise, while we totally support nursing, at a dining room table? We did agree that one TS a day is more than enough food! So I would divert to another 2TS or eat at TS at Epcot.

Fri - Epcot F&W...Our men decided on the first day of this adventure that while there were many beers, Scotland and Germany won. Wisconsin has a strong craft beer industry so the competition was probably unfair. We tried a lovely chicken mushroom Marsala, but was FOUR snack credits (when you start with 6 each, you're out of pocket pretty fast). It poured most of the day so we ended up at the new Moroccan place and it was quite good and you can see Illuminations from the window. We were all soaked and tired so we called it quits and decided to try on Sunday. I was able to do my "pearl selection" at Japan and this time did three (one for me and two for the girlfriends). I got one twin set (earrings for one) and two huge silver ones. From that one was made into a necklace for the other girlfriend as she is a concert performer and wears black, and I finally got my pearl ring.

Sat - started later (recovery? feet tired?) to MK. With all the hub expansion, and even with MNSSH, there seemed to be so many less flowers (one of my loves). We rode some rides, and ate at BE OUR GUEST. The food was beyond delicious and next time I will know to ask for the main ballroom. We were in the darker "Rose" room and the thunder and lightning was too loud for us to converse well. It still amazes me how much people put into their princess outfits. One smart parent found one on consignment and was going to clean it and sell it back on ebay. One young Belle was in full ball gown with hoop (she looked about 12). I know she was thrilled, but she also looked VERY hot.
We closed the night with Wishes Buffet. We did this about 4 yrs ago and thought the sit down was worth it. The offerings were far less this time, and there were 50% kids this time. When the clip from Frozen was played one young preteen even sang in full voice with all the actions of the character. Another young boy told us all what was coming up next. They also were having some issues with piping the sound track into the Terrace, so we for the most part, didn't hear the actual show.
I, for one, am sorry the went back to the electric parade original music. Those 24 bars of repeated synthesizer is a bit of a head banger. Many of our favorite parade floats (Night on Bald Mountain for one) is no longer there.

At the flag retirement, I saw an old high school classmate playing first trumpet. So we were able to have a chat. Since he knew many of the same musicians from Madison area, all of us were able to converse.

Sunday (again late start as our friends went to church...another looooong story of travelc with DTS tore up). Epcot F&W. We decided that we really love rides such as Soarin, and many of the beers, aside from DH falling in love with a lamb chop in Australia and a duck wrap somewhere around China, oh and my filet at Canada....the rest -meh. We just weren't that thrilled with F&W. As I mentioned earlier, I love the flowers at WDW, but the rose gardens between FW and WS were all walled off for a major construction (sign said) and Illuminations is cut again. I timed it and compared the original recording, and now with out narration in the middle, it is a full 10 minutes shorter.
As a result of the Illuminations cuts and the interruptions at MK, our friends thought Fantasmic the best show. Says it all.

Our flight on Monday was at 8:30 AM and even though we had expressed check out and had our boarding passes, we still had to leave at 5:30 AM....bummer. Afteward, drove the 3 hours home, unpacked, started laundry and tried to make up to the cats.

For us it will be another two years, and then our sons will probably be either just or about to be married, so funds may be diverted for a while. DH would like to land the free dining but see if we can work around our musical obligations to go maybe later in October. We are off Sat for another trip to visit DH's brother and wife in Branson MO for a week and then retirement can "officially" start.

Lessons learned:
-ONE TS a day is more than enough food.
-No Wishes Buffet anymore
-Eat a meal at Epcot and if we miss F&W we won't be bummed. If we were there during that time, we would choose only one day and do Animal Kingdom or if DTD is finished go there.
-We are getting up there so some rides are out. We love Everest, but ask for front or middle. The caboose is too rocky.
-Maybe Oct instead of Sept? I miss the flowers.
-Make sure you send Guest Relations those commendations for CMs that really do their job well. They are rewarded by Disney as well.
-When the crowds are this low many FP aren't necessary but they are easily changeable, which I did often on my phone.

-Will do Narcoossee, 50's Prime time, Yak and Yeti, Be Our Guest again. Not Bomas
- Coronado Springs toward the front is very nice, but I still want to try POFQ.

I will keep watching postings for new and exciting changes and all of your trip reports!
I will post some pics as soon as DH does some computer repairs.