rotlex
Is it summer yet?
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2007
- Messages
- 2,768
Just back from a 13 night stay at CBR - on property from 08/11 through 08/24. (Yes, we were eligible for the $75 per night gift card - it was FANTASTIC)!
CBR was great as always. We stayed in Jamaica and had almost no view of the construction. Having the mini snack\food room downstairs as well as the Coke free style machines was a HUGE bonus. (Going to miss all that once it's gone)!
A quick run down of my thoughts for two weeks - we were on a free dining bounce back from last year:
- Weather was FANTASTIC. Almost no rain, and perfect temps made for long happy park days!
- Parks were fairly crowded - more than we are used too, but the fast pass system worked well for us as always, and we were able to pretty much wait no more than 20-30 minutes for anything.
- Pandora - wow, just wow. I wasn't expecting much, and we were floored. Disney definitely hit it out of the park here. Animal Kingdom was already our 2nd favorite park, I think it may have overtake the first spot now. Love it.
- Flight of Passage - AMAZING. We were able to ride at least 4 times during our trip, twice via FP, and twice in no more than a 30 minute line. (Got lucky I guess). Love it. It is now my favorite ride of any park. The experience is simply breathtaking, and sets a new bar for sim type rides. (at least IMHO).
- Animal Kingdom late hours. Again. LOVE IT. Everest at night is so cool, and the safari at dusk is just a whole new ride.
- Dining - We had the full dining plan and loved it all as always. I wanted to make special mention, again, of Animal Kingdom and the new restaurant, Satu'li Canteen. This is now our favorite quick service place. Great atmosphere, food, and service. (yeah, the burger pods taste like McDonalds burgers but they are good, LOL).
Overall, we had a great trip and I just wanted to highlight the new stuff, especially AK. Really no negatives to speak of other than what appears to be slowly declining customer service. We had no BAD experiences per say, but all the workers, there were a few exceptions of course, were just kind of, blah. I'm here to put in my hours and go home kind of feeling. The biggest exception to this was again, at Animal Kingdom. We just had a bunch of great experiences and interactions on both days we were there.
Lastly, and this is not a negative, but I can't help but ask what the heck is up with all the service animals? We are dog lovers, and I know I have read some stuff about this, but jeez. We must have seen at LEAST a half dozen "service dogs" each and every day in the parks. It was kind of ridiculous at one point. I know we can't judge someones needs, but when I see people walking through the parks with a dressed up poodle or beagle and it has a service dog jacket on, it does make you wonder. Again, dog lover here, but I think I saw more of it this trip that our last 20 or so.
Anyway, we are booked on another free dining bounce back for next year. Kind of annoying that it is only quick service at the mods though. Seems like every year we are spending more, and getting less.
CBR was great as always. We stayed in Jamaica and had almost no view of the construction. Having the mini snack\food room downstairs as well as the Coke free style machines was a HUGE bonus. (Going to miss all that once it's gone)!
A quick run down of my thoughts for two weeks - we were on a free dining bounce back from last year:
- Weather was FANTASTIC. Almost no rain, and perfect temps made for long happy park days!
- Parks were fairly crowded - more than we are used too, but the fast pass system worked well for us as always, and we were able to pretty much wait no more than 20-30 minutes for anything.
- Pandora - wow, just wow. I wasn't expecting much, and we were floored. Disney definitely hit it out of the park here. Animal Kingdom was already our 2nd favorite park, I think it may have overtake the first spot now. Love it.
- Flight of Passage - AMAZING. We were able to ride at least 4 times during our trip, twice via FP, and twice in no more than a 30 minute line. (Got lucky I guess). Love it. It is now my favorite ride of any park. The experience is simply breathtaking, and sets a new bar for sim type rides. (at least IMHO).
- Animal Kingdom late hours. Again. LOVE IT. Everest at night is so cool, and the safari at dusk is just a whole new ride.
- Dining - We had the full dining plan and loved it all as always. I wanted to make special mention, again, of Animal Kingdom and the new restaurant, Satu'li Canteen. This is now our favorite quick service place. Great atmosphere, food, and service. (yeah, the burger pods taste like McDonalds burgers but they are good, LOL).
Overall, we had a great trip and I just wanted to highlight the new stuff, especially AK. Really no negatives to speak of other than what appears to be slowly declining customer service. We had no BAD experiences per say, but all the workers, there were a few exceptions of course, were just kind of, blah. I'm here to put in my hours and go home kind of feeling. The biggest exception to this was again, at Animal Kingdom. We just had a bunch of great experiences and interactions on both days we were there.
Lastly, and this is not a negative, but I can't help but ask what the heck is up with all the service animals? We are dog lovers, and I know I have read some stuff about this, but jeez. We must have seen at LEAST a half dozen "service dogs" each and every day in the parks. It was kind of ridiculous at one point. I know we can't judge someones needs, but when I see people walking through the parks with a dressed up poodle or beagle and it has a service dog jacket on, it does make you wonder. Again, dog lover here, but I think I saw more of it this trip that our last 20 or so.
Anyway, we are booked on another free dining bounce back for next year. Kind of annoying that it is only quick service at the mods though. Seems like every year we are spending more, and getting less.
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