Whelp, I'm back! I think I'll write up my experiences in a full-on TR-esque report in this forum, but overall: I enjoyed it. Coles notes:
- App: Invaluable. The FP kiosks weren't even functional when I went. They directed us to the app. I didn't have a functional Chinese phone number to receive a text and no CM would help me with their phone, so I ended up using roaming on my phone to accept a text to my Canadian phone number and get active that way. By that point Soaring was sold out and I only got a FP for Peter Pan late in the day. Still managed okay.
- Line jumping: Visible and annoying. Decreased through the day but happened several times, especially in the initial security and entrance lines. I have a story about how one couple of line jumpers were called out by a whole family and security got involved, which I'll write up in detail later.
- Third-party merch sales: surprised to see this inside the park, but I did - only once though, a guy selling Mickey and Minnie ears in the Pirates lineup for 20 RMB / $4 CDN. I'm amazed they allow it, but understand how tough it would be to police all the little corners in the long lineups. Still seemed to be a popular item, though, especially the Minnie ears (which were almost indistinguishable from the real ones my DD got at Disney Paris). I found a pair of Mickey ears someone had dropped on Buzz Lightyear and on close inspection they're clearly fakes, with no tags, glued-on ears and hat, etc. Clearly knockoffs.
The park itself: Lives up to its hype. It's BIG, but very navigable. Here's the lightning round observations:
- We went on a Wednesday and by all accounts it was a slow day.
- We never waited more than 25-30 minutes for anything we did.
- Longest observed waits: Soaring (105 minutes), Seven Dwarfs Coaster and Peter Pan (75 minutes).
- Shortest wait: Buzz Lightyear. Did it three times including a walkon late in the day.
- Pirates was a 25 mintue wait at the top of the day and 10 minutes for our second time.
- The park space is clearly set up for future expansion.
- Toy Story Land was not yet open for us but you could peep inside while walking by.
- Closed on our day: Raging Rapids (darnit!), Wandering Moon Restaurant
- Camp Discovery was initially closed but opened late in the morning.
- Tron Lightcycle coaster: DO IT. It's unique in Disney (for now) and SOOO worth it.
- Pirates: DO IT. Unique among its counterparts in other parks and SOOO worth it.
- Live shows seen: POTC Stunt Spectacular and Tarzan. Both good fun.
- Mid-day parade is standard Disney fare IMO but also a fun diversion.
- Didn't stay for the day-end fireworks - didn't want to be in the crush of people heading out.
- No issues taking the subway there and back - three transfers for us from our hotel.
If you're on Facebook, I think you'll be able to see our (as yet uncaptioned) picture albums from the day:
Part 1:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1865502540149276&type=3
Part 2:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1865835766782620&type=3
Now back to work.
Mark