1st week over. Gone so quick.

[UKDEB]

Got home this morning, where did the last 24 nights go

Well, if it's any consolation, we've missed you here!

 

[disneyholic family]

AKL, Wow took 3 hours to have a look around and take pics. We were upgraded to savannah room this made it for us, doubt very much we would have enjoyed half as much with a carpark view, problem is I would never pay the savannah view prices, cost me £82/night, I think it was over £130/night with AP discount.
Plus point opening curtains to Giraffes, Zebras etc and great themeing around the hotel but really that was it for us. Inroom bed was not comfortable, not in the same league as Country Inn and suites beds where we paid a 1/4 the price at £20/night(also included great breakfast and brilliant wireless internet) Disney Internet costs $9.95/night and could only get 1 laptop to connect, anymore than 3 night would have been an issue. Also location, as others have said in the past AKL is a bit further away than other resorts, we still prefer offsite at LBV, so close to everywhere.
Don't want to sound too negative as we had a fantastic 3 days there and will stay there again in future for a few days if rates are good but not somewhere we would want to stay more than 3 days. It has also re-confirmed Disney resorts are not for us if we took the animals away we much prefer country Inn, Fairfield or Courtyards etc.
Sunday Eve Magic Kingdom Extra magic hours, what a nightmare, luckily we got our wristbands early as they ran out and turning very unhappy people away but because it was so busy the lines were just like any other day. Would not do EMH again.

Boma, we were split on this one, I loved it, must have eaten about 24oz of prime rib, 3 large pieces of salmon and the curried seafood soup was the best soup I have ever tasted(even beats the Bellagio(Vegas) Mushroom soup, previous best) DW and DS ate pasta and meatballs . DW doesn't like any seafood, or chicken on the bone, there was nothing really for her.

welcome back!!!!

just one point about the onsite beds - every resort is different...
the most comfortable beds onsite for us were at the All Star Music in November - super super super comfortable....least comfortable were at the GF and WL...i can't remember the beds at AKL....we've only stayed there twice (we went back a second time so that we could do the sunrise safari).....we don't really like it...it's ok, but we prefer other onsite resorts more...

regarding Boma - DD and her friend have an ADR for september....DD is a vegetarian who also eats fish, so it should be ok...
her friend is a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish - will she have food to eat at Boma? or should i try to get them a different ADR for that night?

 

[Pootle]

Whats happened? I don't do trip reports. Oh well the thread turned into one. 8 weeks to next trip

I'm glad you did. I've been wondering how you got on as I was in the US at the same time as you (Utah and Las Vegas). We had the same issues as you paying for gas and needed to pre-pay most of the time.

Boma, we were split on this one, I loved it, must have eaten about 24oz of prime rib, 3 large pieces of salmon and the curried seafood soup was the best soup I have ever tasted(even beats the Bellagio(Vegas)

I like the food at Boma too - especially the soups - and I loved the Sunday brunch at Bellagio .

This time I flew out of Manchester terminal 3 (first time in years) with AA and was so impressed at how convenient it was to use compared to Gatwick or Heathrow. Re bmi - sorry they didn't live up to your expectations. We upgraded to business on the way back from Chicago (AA) and for me it was worth every penny - but then, unlike you, I can't sleep easily in a regular economy seat

I think some of the chains (we like Holiday Inn Express, Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inns when we tour) have really upped their game with their beds, so I'm not surprised that you didn't compare AKL favourably.

Interesting to read all your comments and glad you had such a good time.

 

[wayneg]

welcome back!!!!

regarding Boma - DD and her friend have an ADR for september....DD is a vegetarian who also eats fish, so it should be ok...
her friend is a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish - will she have food to eat at Boma? or should i try to get them a different ADR for that night?

Take away the meat and fish from Boma and its not somewhere I would eat but I am not an expert on vegi meals, maybe other places will be just as limited also, maybe a Vegetarian that has eaten there will post an opinion.

I like the food at Boma too - especially the soups - and I loved the Sunday brunch at Bellagio .

This time I flew out of Manchester terminal 3 (first time in years) with AA and was so impressed at how convenient it was to use compared to Gatwick or Heathrow. Re bmi - sorry they didn't live up to your expectations. We upgraded to business on the way back from Chicago (AA) and for me it was worth every penny - but then, unlike you, I can't sleep easily in a regular economy seat

Is Sunday Brunch at Bellagio the best buffet in the world? best I have ever been to, would like to know of any better. Is is still only about $23?

Only managed about 3 hours sleep this time and my right leg still aches. Heathrow for our next trip via Detroit, going to be a long adventure but cost £241 return, manchester was over double the price.

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, the MOST comfortable i've ever slept in ever was at the doubletree in austin texas (across from the basketball arena, just outside the university)..

DD and i were there and both of us said then and continue to say that the beds in our room there were THE most comfortable beds we've ever slept in in our entire lives...

when we checked out, i asked the receptionist what brand they were, but she didn't know..

and when i wrote to them, they never wrote back...

too bad i didn't rip the bedding off the bed to check the brand....unfortunately, i didn't think of doing this at the time - we were only there one night and had to leave very very early in the morning to get to the airport...

i would buy it for my house if i knew what it was....

 

[Lizzybear]

regarding Boma - DD and her friend have an ADR for september....DD is a vegetarian who also eats fish, so it should be ok...
her friend is a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish - will she have food to eat at Boma? or should i try to get them a different ADR for that night?

Boma is great for vegetarians, one of the best places onsite IMO. Tell her to let the server know she is vegetarian My bf did and chef TJ personally showed him around the buffet, even telling him which soups contained meat stock (which many places we've eaten at don't mention) He also cooked him a special wok full of veggie goodies, despite there being more than enough on the buffet for him:

And deep-fried oreos after, which we had boxed to eat in the room as were full to bursting at this point

We can't wait to eat there again, it was one of our favourite meals of the trip!

...and now I will stop hijacking Wayne's thread! Glad to hear you had a great time, not long to wait until your next trip either

 

[disneyholic family]

Boma is great for vegetarians, one of the best places onsite IMO. Tell her to let the server know she is vegetarian My bf did and chef TJ personally showed him around the buffet, even telling him which soups contained meat stock (which many places we've eaten at don't mention) He also cooked him a special wok full of veggie goodies, despite there being more than enough on the buffet for him:

And deep-fried oreos after, which we had boxed to eat in the room as were full to bursting at this point

We can't wait to eat there again, it was one of our favourite meals of the trip!

...and now I will stop hijacking Wayne's thread! Glad to hear you had a great time, not long to wait until your next trip either

thanks so much for that info - i'll let DD know!!

 

[Tink2312]

Glad to hear you had a great hol Love the pictures - the cruise looks fantastic!

Firstly the dessert at Chili's was WHITE CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE $6.25 (just seen they charge £6.25 in UK ) delicious. http://www.chilis.com/menu/default.asp?catID=12&tierID=161 &menuType=Dine In

I LOVE that dessert! Chillis is one of our favourite restaurants - when we went in Nov. they were offering a rack of ribs meal with a salad starter and a dessert for under $10!!

Happy planning for the next hol!

 

[MandyJ72]

Im sure quite a lot of the rice / egg / potatoe dishes are vegetarian as well (can't remember back to last year for sure but Im positive it wasn't all meat and fish).

We don't really eat fish but there was masses to choose from and like others have said, if you can't see anything speak to the server and they will see what they can do to help - the Ginger & Carrot soup (resembles custard) is heavenly and is Veggie for sure coz I make it at home now!!

Glad you enjoyed your trip Wayne - I can understand what you mean about the animals making AKL and for us it was an amazing experience that we feel we probably didn't appreciate fully which was a shame but would go back in a heartbeat.

I know what you mean about the Savannah upgrade price - we reckoned our last trip would be the only time we would spend that much and we desperately wanted to so splurged out and compromised on other aspects of the trip (which worked out fine) to fund it but couldn't do that every time!!

 

[gaylie]

Brilliant report, very informative - but have to say, the best nights sleep I have had in Orlando (and Ive been there alot too) has to be the beds in the Grand Floridian, and the service and atmosphere was second to none. Very expensive though!!! Glad you had a good time...

 

[wayneg]

Brilliant report, very informative - but have to say, the best nights sleep I have had in Orlando (and Ive been there alot too) has to be the beds in the Grand Floridian, and the service and atmosphere was second to none. Very expensive though!!! Glad you had a good time...

Amazing how different people find hotels. While there we met with friends who were staying at GF, totally disliked it, they have stayed at most resorts and said GF was near bottom of their list. Not somewhere I am likely to try, I think AP rate was about £150/night, I paid that in New York but too much for Orlando for me.

 

[disneyholic family]

Amazing how different people find hotels. While there we met with friends who were staying at GF, totally disliked it, they have stayed at most resorts and said GF was near bottom of their list. Not somewhere I am likely to try, I think AP rate was about £150/night, I paid that in New York but too much for Orlando for me.

that's why orlando is great! something for everyone...