Just got back so I will try to answer any questions.
My opinions in a nutshell:
Lines were long -
After about 2 hrs after park open, yes they were. Still were able to get a lot done with RD and well positioned FP's though.
FP+ is not the way I like to do Disney. I miss the old FP system
FP+ works great for us now. Know what we want to do, and were even able to switch around times and rides. Was very surprised to pick a Wishes FP+ for the hub area day of. Nice to seat on grass, but I still like watching behind the castle the best.
There are now only 3 kiosks for FP+ in all of MK and the lines were 20-30min long.
Used the kiosk in NFL couple of times after Wishes to get 4th+ FPs for BTMR and Tink M&G. Saved a lot of time beating the masses going to both after fireworks and Standby times rocketed.
Mama Melrose Fantasmic Dinner package is the best deal in town.
Fantasmic dinner seats are not dead center as people here said. We were 2nd section from right hand side. Still worth it because it was stand- room only by 7:45.
Liberty Tree Tavern lunch was 2nd best meal deal in town - and we had window seats to watch noon parade!
The day MK parade is much better than the last one
Had FP to see FoF parade at 3pm one day. Ended up having great, shaded view from area right by Hall of Presidents instead for noon. FoF parade is great, recommend seeing it at least once. Was then able to swap out FP+ on phone for Space M later that evening.
TT and POTC seemed to be down more than running
I guess we were lucky - both were running when we did them. Never ran into any ride issue outside getting stuck on HM for about 5 min one time.
Beach Club is wonderful - SAB was great!
Absolutely agree. SAB was a big reason we bought there. Kids loved pool and pool games, esp. getting to do make your own Mickey tie-dye T-shirts poolside as an activity.
Beach Club concierge is not worth the extra money. CM's were not nearly as friendly as Poly
Beach Club busses to/from MK were awful.
Again, we must have been lucky with the bus service to MK. Coming back back from AK was a little long with having to stop at Blizzard Beach for a pickup as well before going to YC/BC.
Beaches n Cream was great
Enjoyed the food, service was on the slow side. Enjoyed getting the "minisink" with the Mickey pants.
Cape May Cafe was okay (did breakfast and dinner)
Did the breakfast for the first time, food was good and my DD's loved seeing Minnie in her beachwear. Dinner there has been our traditional last night meal. Concierge did us a big favor by getting friends added to our ADR at the last minute (they decided to come to WDW/UOR for Spring Break at the last minute). Kids watched Big Hero 6 on the beach after while the adults kept watch at Hurricane Hannah's
The MSEP still gives me goosebumps.
Agree.
Watching Wishes in the rain instead of wall to wall people is so much better than I thought.
We were fortunate to enjoy the mid to upper 80's weather w/o seeing any rain during out trip (3/14-3/22)
The only night EMH that is worth it anymore is MK. Maybe Epcot if you want to enjoy WS
Agree.
We now appreciate morning EMH more.
I was ticked off that the People Mover now closes during EMH.
Other notes -
BC is testing new online check in process. They email/text when room is ready. We got one at 12:30 saying room was not ready, got one at 2:30 saying room now was ready. We went straight to Epcot after arriving to BC, did FPs, went to room to relax/unpack before going to Via Napoli for dinner. Didn't need to stop at check in desk at all. Got concierge to print out paper parking pass as a souvenir, as they said they will no longer will printing them out - only MB's will work to get in resort parking in the future.
HDDR is still a great time. The stepsisters/Lady Tremaine at 1900 PF are a hoot as well.
We travelled with friends from home (different ones from the ones that joined at CMC dinner). Trick is to plan time apart from each other. We had a good mix of time together both in parks (doing things together and separately) and outside.
Got all our kids to do Jedi Academy - again another must do at least once. Glad I got in line one hr before park open, and that they had an AED in the building for the signups.
Rode Jungle Cruise for the first time in a long time. Forgot how great that ride can be, esp. when you get a fun skipper like we had. We had a 10 am FP for all 12 of us. Standby was listed as 10 min. We went standby, started to change to ropes in the queue as we were in it. Took about 15 min to get to boat. By the time we finished, stand by was up to 50 min. So we were able to change that to BTMR FP instead. That morning, my family (4) saw opening show and did PP, HM, BTMR x2, a couple of SotMK portals to finish Adventureland quest and JC by 10:30. Did Space M FP at 11 and rode people mover. Then headed back to SAB for pool time.
Looking forward to Jungle Cruise restaurant. And absolutely love the new Dole Whip location! Now if only people could get DW ordering down.
Skipped Downtown Disney due to all the construction, but I am really looking forward to Disney Springs once it's finished.
Memory Maker was great - between both families using it, we got over 500 photos.
Great trip - Spring Break was a blast! Next trip will be Xmas later this year, split between AKL and BCV. Can't wait.