we're back too - highs and lows - The DIS Discussion Forums

janiebubble · 02-26-2012, 02:00 PM

We've actually been back since last Sunday but straight back into work on Monday and been struggling to keep going with life this week!

Highs

just being there!

Free dining - our first time, enjoyed not worrying about cost and had some lovely meals

Saratoga Springs - I didn't find it too large - we got a good spot in the Paddock but the building with the Carousel bus stop outside. I loved the quiet of the resort in comparison with crowds elsewhere, and the boat to DTD. We had a private bus to Epcot on our first morning which was great!

Epcot - never ceases to please and crowds were low. Oh and I conquered my fear of Mission Space (I rode it on soft opening in 2003 and swore never again ... but I tried the green channel and survived).

Hollywood Studios - winning on TSM for the first time! Getting lucky in the Star wars queue and ending up not queuing at all even though everyone else was!

Virgin cabin crew on the way out - by far the nicest I have ever flown with.

Economy car - just the two of us ... Chevvy HHR - loads of space - all luggage in boot - all the horror stories I've heard of economy unfounded!

Weather - first day freezing but we were prepared - unlike many British we saw! Just one days rain and glorious sun the rest of the time

House of Blues - fabulous food, great staff (and she gave us our extra sides free - not sure if she was supposed to but we didn't complain!)

Lows

Virgin ... I'm sorry - but a delay on the way out meant we arrived over an hour late then after everyone had got up, collected their handluggage (you know the drill) - we get told the immigration hall was full and were kept on the plane for another 30 mins - then immigration took almost an hour

Crowds in the Magic Kingdom - especially on the saturday - combined with lack of attractions and refurbishments. Can't wait to go back when its done!

Chef Mickey's - heaving, hot and crowded. On the Dining Plan, fine, but I'd think twice before I paid!

Wolfgang Puck Express - probably because we'd heard such good things. Queued for over half an hour - even though there weren't many in front of us. Meal cold when it arrived - first time I've ever sent anything back in Disney

taylor91 · 02-26-2012, 02:43 PM

Thanks for sharing, glad to hear you had a great time

Shame about WPE, we love it there but always ate really early to avoid crowds so you may have caught it in a busy period.

wilma-bride · 02-26-2012, 02:57 PM

Thanks for reporting back. I am so pleased to see HOB on the Dining Plan list this year as DH has always wanted to eat there and we are adding the DP to our reservation for August so he will finally get his chance. Glad to hear your experience there was good.

Sorry you had a poor experience at WPE. We have always enjoyed it there but every restaurant has it's off days and I hope it won't prevent you from returning. If it was busy, sounds like they may have been short staffed or just couldn't keep up.

Shame about the delay with VA - I really do think the immigration arrangements at MCO have got worse since they reorganised the queuing system. We never seem to have had the delays in the past that we have experienced since the changes were put into place.

All in all, sounds like a great holiday though

wayneg · 02-26-2012, 05:49 PM

Welcome home.
Never had to wait at WPE, doesn't sound good.

dixonsontour · 02-26-2012, 06:03 PM

Welcome back

sounds good but busy

We had the same happen to us on Virgin in 2010. Delayed a couple of hours, then kept on the plane as immigration hall full and then long time through immigration. We've flown indirect ever since.

disneyholic family · 02-26-2012, 06:38 PM

welcome home!!!

do you know when the MK refurbishment will be completed?

Chilly · 02-29-2012, 09:31 AM

What happened in the Star Wars queue then?

janiebubble · 02-29-2012, 01:12 PM

it wasn't really busy ... but we're in the stand by queue just coming to a halt ... guy comes out of a door just past where C3PO is looks at me, says how many? I say two ... he opens the chain and gestures us into the fast pass queue ... we get to the top probably 40 people in front of us - the guy at the top is shouting is there a 2? I said us! and they sent us straight through to fill up a row that was just walking into the ride. We probably would have only waited 15 mins but we did just walk straight on ... not even a wait outside the ride itself

02-26-2012, 02:00 PM	#1
janiebubble DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 697	we're back too - highs and lows We've actually been back since last Sunday but straight back into work on Monday and been struggling to keep going with life this week! Highs just being there! Free dining - our first time, enjoyed not worrying about cost and had some lovely meals Saratoga Springs - I didn't find it too large - we got a good spot in the Paddock but the building with the Carousel bus stop outside. I loved the quiet of the resort in comparison with crowds elsewhere, and the boat to DTD. We had a private bus to Epcot on our first morning which was great! Epcot - never ceases to please and crowds were low. Oh and I conquered my fear of Mission Space (I rode it on soft opening in 2003 and swore never again ... but I tried the green channel and survived). Hollywood Studios - winning on TSM for the first time! Getting lucky in the Star wars queue and ending up not queuing at all even though everyone else was! Virgin cabin crew on the way out - by far the nicest I have ever flown with. Economy car - just the two of us ... Chevvy HHR - loads of space - all luggage in boot - all the horror stories I've heard of economy unfounded! Weather - first day freezing but we were prepared - unlike many British we saw! Just one days rain and glorious sun the rest of the time House of Blues - fabulous food, great staff (and she gave us our extra sides free - not sure if she was supposed to but we didn't complain!) Lows Virgin ... I'm sorry - but a delay on the way out meant we arrived over an hour late then after everyone had got up, collected their handluggage (you know the drill) - we get told the immigration hall was full and were kept on the plane for another 30 mins - then immigration took almost an hour Crowds in the Magic Kingdom - especially on the saturday - combined with lack of attractions and refurbishments. Can't wait to go back when its done! Chef Mickey's - heaving, hot and crowded. On the Dining Plan, fine, but I'd think twice before I paid! Wolfgang Puck Express - probably because we'd heard such good things. Queued for over half an hour - even though there weren't many in front of us. Meal cold when it arrived - first time I've ever sent anything back in Disney __________________ Disneyland :2003 2004 2005 Walt Disney World:1990, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Disneyland Paris:1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005(x2), 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 (x3) Disney Cruise Line: 2011 - Magic 7 Day Med

02-26-2012, 02:43 PM	#2
taylor91 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Uk Posts: 2,603	Thanks for sharing, glad to hear you had a great time Shame about WPE, we love it there but always ate really early to avoid crowds so you may have caught it in a busy period. __________________ Taylor xx Jun'01 1st Trip to WDW Dec'04 WDW Jul'07 WDW Feb'08 DLP Jul'09 WDW Jul'10 WDW Jul'11 WDW Nov'12 POFQ

02-26-2012, 02:57 PM	#3
wilma-bride Would love a diet on Cadbury Flakes Admits she's strange when it comes to eggs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 18,361	Thanks for reporting back. I am so pleased to see HOB on the Dining Plan list this year as DH has always wanted to eat there and we are adding the DP to our reservation for August so he will finally get his chance. Glad to hear your experience there was good. Sorry you had a poor experience at WPE. We have always enjoyed it there but every restaurant has it's off days and I hope it won't prevent you from returning. If it was busy, sounds like they may have been short staffed or just couldn't keep up. Shame about the delay with VA - I really do think the immigration arrangements at MCO have got worse since they reorganised the queuing system. We never seem to have had the delays in the past that we have experienced since the changes were put into place. All in all, sounds like a great holiday though __________________ Fred and Wilma Go On Honeymoon Fred and Wilma Second Time Around Fred and Wilma and the Girls Came Too Fred, Wilma and Friends February Fun & Frolics Fred and Wilma do DVC, DCL & DDP - The Food Fred, Wilma and Family do Disney Bad Mothers Handbook Fred and Wilma - They're Back and They're Child Free Bad Mothers and Others Fred and Wilma - The Keys to the World

02-26-2012, 05:49 PM	#4
wayneg VMK AceCaptainWayne I can't get my mouth to say healthy things Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dewsbury, UK Posts: 21,037	Welcome home. Never had to wait at WPE, doesn't sound good. __________________ 1993Travelodge Maingate East,1997Holiday Inn Nikki Bird,1999Sheraton 4 Points/Clearwater Hilton, 2000(Xmas) Disney’s ASMo 2001Travelodge Maingate East, 2002 NYC Crowne Plaza Times Sq./Orlando Sheraton World Resort 2003(Aug) La Quinta Lakeside 2003(Oct) Disney Wonder +Raddison Parkway2004(Oct) Disney Magic + Homewood Suites, 2004(Xmas) Hilton DTD 2005(Oct) Disney Magic + BW Lakeside, 2005 (Xmas) BW Lakeside, 2006(Aug) Courtyard By Marriott LBV + 1st RCCL cruise, 2006(Oct) Disneyland, Cailfornia Howard Johnson, 2006(Xmas)Comfort Inn LBV,2007(Easter)Fairfield Inn, Marriott Village 2007(Aug)Courtyard By Marriott LBV, 2007(Oct) Disneyland CA, HoJo/Vegas, Flamingo,2008(Easter) Windsor Hills, Disney Wonder, Fairfield Inn 2008(Aug)Country Inn, 2nd RCCL, AKL, 2008(Oct)& 2008(Xmas)Fairfield Inn, 2009(May)Country Inn 2009(Aug)OKW, Disney Magic, Regal Sun 2010(Easter) Hampton Inn LBV 2010(Aug) Royal Pacific & OKW 2011(Feb)H.I. Express LBV 2011(Aug)OKW, Disney Dream, HI DTD 2011(Oct) Fairfield Inn 2012(Aug) Fairfield Inn, OKW 2012(Nov) Fairfield Inn 2013(Apr) Fairfield Inn LBV

02-26-2012, 06:03 PM	#5
dixonsontour DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: lancashire uk Posts: 3,873	Welcome back sounds good but busy We had the same happen to us on Virgin in 2010. Delayed a couple of hours, then kept on the plane as immigration hall full and then long time through immigration. We've flown indirect ever since. __________________ 16 trips to US 1997 onwards including All Star Movies Dec 09 with DDP, OKW Oct 10 with DDP, Floridays Resort Oct 2011, Bahama Bay resort May 2012, OKW Oct 2012 with DxDDP DH 38 Me 38 DD 7 Perfectly Princess Tea Party Review Disney Dining 2010 Review Dining on a budget - $100 a day with coupons All new Dining on a Budget of $100 May 2012 Dixons go Deluxe Oct/Nov 12 Next trip October 2013

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02-26-2012, 06:38 PM	#6
disneyholic family Wayne always catches me i cannot wear anything between my toes Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: in my heart i'm always in WDW Posts: 14,904	welcome home!!! do you know when the MK refurbishment will be completed? __________________ Beth

02-29-2012, 09:31 AM	#7
Chilly I was having a bit of a blonde moment D'oh! Married my prince at WDW Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Essex, England Posts: 12,599	What happened in the Star Wars queue then? __________________ Claire 2012 May Alternative West Coast & DCL Alaska 2011 Mar/Apr Disneyland via a road trip 2010 Sept/Oct WDW POFQ 2009 Dec/2010 Jan DFTW WDW GF, Poly & AKL + DCL Wonder 2008 Jul Engaged DLRP Santa Fe 2007 Sept WDW Pop 2006 Sept WDW Offsite 2005 May Disneyland Offsite

02-29-2012, 01:12 PM	#8
janiebubble DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Merseyside, UK Posts: 697	it wasn't really busy ... but we're in the stand by queue just coming to a halt ... guy comes out of a door just past where C3PO is looks at me, says how many? I say two ... he opens the chain and gestures us into the fast pass queue ... we get to the top probably 40 people in front of us - the guy at the top is shouting is there a 2? I said us! and they sent us straight through to fill up a row that was just walking into the ride. We probably would have only waited 15 mins but we did just walk straight on ... not even a wait outside the ride itself __________________ Disneyland :2003 2004 2005 Walt Disney World:1990, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Disneyland Paris:1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005(x2), 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 (x3) Disney Cruise Line: 2011 - Magic 7 Day Med

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