Just back from 2 weeks - my thanks and comments

[buffettgirl]

First, I want to thank all the dis'ers that I've talked with over the past 9 months or so while planning my 2 week vacation. Even though we've been to disney 10+ times this was really the first time I made a concerted planning effort (more than a few adr's). We always go in July/Aug and this was really the best july we've ever had. We followed best days from TGM and UG and those worked out beautifully well. We never waited more than 20 min for any ride. We made good use of the FP system. My first thank you goes to everyone who told me that FP's can be used after the time printed. That made all the difference! And my second thank you to all of you who taught me that a good touring plan does not have to mean a commando touring plan. Next, I want to thank those of you who told me about getting free ice water at any CS restaurant! This saved us HUNDREDS of dollars. The 4 of us drank at least 4-6 large cups of water each day (most places gave us 16oz cups) and at 2.50 a bottle we probably would have spent almost $20 per day, per person just on water. WE never had any cast member bat an eye at our request for iced water. A few CS gave us small cups but that was no big deal. We all carried around insulated polar bottles (another thank you to whomever mentioned those) and just refilled as needed during the day. The tap water in the parks was perfectly drinkable.

Ok, some comments. We stayed the first 4 nights at CSR for a conventions. WE were in casistas 3. Our room was old and unrenovated and sadly was in a big big need of renovation. The walkways / hallways were just full of peeling paint and very run down looking. We also had fleas in our room - me being the recipient of about 50 flea bites on my feet and legs. CSR claimed that since no one else in our family was bit then the bites couldn't have come from them, but unfortunately, fleas often bite only one person in a family and ignore the others (we lived in a nasty apartment at one point and our neighbors had fleas which migrated to ours and I was the only one bit then too) Anyway - CSR didn't even want to hear my complaint even when I showed them my feet and legs. our room at CSR was very small and putting in a pull out bed made it horrible. I am glad we were only there for 4 days. I also found pepper market a bit strange and horribly over priced. Everything at CSR was horribly overpriced for that matter.

anyway, our next 10 nights were at SOG. Our room there could have fit 2 CSR rooms. If you are eligible for SOG give it a try. My room was 117 with no tax. So quite a bargain for a room that sleeps 5 (2 doubles and a pull out couch) It was very quiet there too. Using a combination of disney busing and SOG busing it's just a piece of cake getting around. Definitely look into it if you can. Yes, you're not exactly in a disney hotel and you do lose a little bit of the magic... but saving money was well worth it.


Anyway - that's it I think. Oh I can't tell you if the yeti was in action as I had my eyes closed (but LOVED EE - it was my first time on). RNR was AMAZING too! i could have ridden that all night! Brazil tour groups were in full force but I saw much better behavior from the teens this year than in years past. only a few instances of them totally blocking the return fast pass lane and a they were a bit all over main street taking over the MK parade at 3pm. But otherwise, I saw no line jumping or trying to repeat lines.

Anyone have questions?

[MelanieC]

Wow - I would have demanded a new room. For them to say it didn't come from them - ??? It's not like you bit yourself in bed, lol.

Sounds like you had a great time. We've stayed at SOG too and really enjoyed it - and that was before the renovation.

[ckdsnynt]

Originally Posted by buffettgirl

First, I want to thank all the dis'ers that I've talked with over the past 9 months or so while planning my 2 week vacation. Even though we've been to disney 10+ times this was really the first time I made a concerted planning effort (more than a few adr's). We always go in July/Aug and this was really the best july we've ever had. We followed best days from TGM and UG and those worked out beautifully well. We never waited more than 20 min for any ride. We made good use of the FP system. My first thank you goes to everyone who told me that FP's can be used after the time printed. That made all the difference! And my second thank you to all of you who taught me that a good touring plan does not have to mean a commando touring plan. Next, I want to thank those of you who told me about getting free ice water at any CS restaurant! This saved us HUNDREDS of dollars. The 4 of us drank at least 4-6 large cups of water each day (most places gave us 16oz cups) and at 2.50 a bottle we probably would have spent almost $20 per day, per person just on water. WE never had any cast member bat an eye at our request for iced water. A few CS gave us small cups but that was no big deal. We all carried around insulated polar bottles (another thank you to whomever mentioned those) and just refilled as needed during the day. The tap water in the parks was perfectly drinkable.

Ok, some comments. We stayed the first 4 nights at CSR for a conventions. WE were in casistas 3. Our room was old and unrenovated and sadly was in a big big need of renovation. The walkways / hallways were just full of peeling paint and very run down looking. We also had fleas in our room - me being the recipient of about 50 flea bites on my feet and legs. CSR claimed that since no one else in our family was bit then the bites couldn't have come from them, but unfortunately, fleas often bite only one person in a family and ignore the others (we lived in a nasty apartment at one point and our neighbors had fleas which migrated to ours and I was the only one bit then too) Anyway - CSR didn't even want to hear my complaint even when I showed them my feet and legs. our room at CSR was very small and putting in a pull out bed made it horrible. I am glad we were only there for 4 days. I also found pepper market a bit strange and horribly over priced. Everything at CSR was horribly overpriced for that matter.

anyway, our next 10 nights were at SOG. Our room there could have fit 2 CSR rooms. If you are eligible for SOG give it a try. My room was 117 with no tax. So quite a bargain for a room that sleeps 5 (2 doubles and a pull out couch) It was very quiet there too. Using a combination of disney busing and SOG busing it's just a piece of cake getting around. Definitely look into it if you can. Yes, you're not exactly in a disney hotel and you do lose a little bit of the magic... but saving money was well worth it.


Anyway - that's it I think. Oh I can't tell you if the yeti was in action as I had my eyes closed (but LOVED EE - it was my first time on). RNR was AMAZING too! i could have ridden that all night! Brazil tour groups were in full force but I saw much better behavior from the teens this year than in years past. only a few instances of them totally blocking the return fast pass lane and a they were a bit all over main street taking over the MK parade at 3pm. But otherwise, I saw no line jumping or trying to repeat lines.

Anyone have questions?

Sorry, but that kind of treatment at Disney is inexcusable! Flea bites at a Disney Resort! Who cares if no one else got bites? None of their business. you did! First I would have been nice but I would eventually have threatened to call the newspaper, showed them my room condition and have them report this if they didn't move me! What do you want to bet they would have moved you so fast when the reporters showed up No one at Disney wants it reported on the six o'clock news that their hotels have fleas Not at the rates they charge! I pay for pixie dust, not flea bites!
Glad the rest of your vacation worked out great!: