Pig Pen
To all who have come to this happy place...welcome
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2001
- Messages
- 4,884
I actually got back on the 25th...but this week was a nightmare and this is my first chance to log on. Here are a few highlights. Overall we had a wonderful trip. Two weeks is a perfect amount of time to get in some park time, relaxation, exercise, and a lot of good food!
We arrived on Sunday, March 12 about 11:00 am at MCO. Took Magical Express which I found crowded and confusing. Due to some changes in our travel plans and other issues we had to wait at the check-in line which took some extra time and it was mobbed. However, for a free service, I am thankful WDW is offering this. I am undecided if I will use it if it's still running for our Dec trip.
We finally arrived at WL at about 2:00 pm. Check in was efficient but we had to wait an hour for our room to be ready - no problem - we had margaritas by the pool.
We had a standard room, AP rate, nonsmoking, overlooking the lobby area. Our balcony view was an expanse of green roof. Not attractive at all, but we preferred the lobby location over the view. Unexpectedly, we had bunkbeds! Not a major problem but we hated the look of them in the room and missed the big extra bed which we would have used! We had to call down to get a fridge which was brought up within minutes. Our luggage arrived from the airport later while we were at dinner.
From then on, our stay at WL was wonderful and we had zero complaints. Roaring Forks was still down for rehab so we had limited food choices, but we made do.
The weather ranged from highs in the 90's to lows in the 40's. There was NO HUMIDITY nor bugs. It was windy and I got cold several times. Had to buy a souvenir hoodie! Darn!
The parks during this first week were mobbed. There were 180 minute waits most days at the big attractions. Thank goodness for fastpass although Soarin and EE were often sold out by 11:00 am or earlier!
On Sunday March 19 we moved to a studio at OKW which was much larger and brighter than our WL standard room. We asked for a location close to the main pool and were given a 2nd floor unit in Blg. 28. We had a view of the lighthouse and pool area from the front windows and overlooked the golf course from our balcony. The walls were a bit thin as we could hear everything in the adjoining one bedroom unit (including bathroom sounds
).
DH preferred WL due to location and lobby. I liked OKW for the tropical atmosphere and spaciousness. The flowers everywhere were absolutely gorgeous. What ARE those yellow flowered trees everywhere????
The second week the parks seem a bit less hectic, but still long waits. I never got to try EE due to the waits. The only day I had a decent fastpass for EE - 1:45 pm, I developed a headache (it was 90 degrees) and ended up going back to the room for awhile.
We ate at Ohana, Boma, Kona, Crystal Palace, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Marrakesh and the CS at Morrocco, Grand Floridian Cafe, Cosmic Rays, Pinnochio House, San Angel's, Flame Tree BBQ, Sci Fi Theater, Olivia's, Artist Point, Main Street Bakery - the french toast loaf is to die for! We had various other snacks - dole whips, roasted nuts, cookies, etc. The only place we probably would not return to was Crystal Palace - once was enough!
The best foods? Smokey portabello soup at Artist Point along with their chocolate bread pudding dessert. Also loved the maple creme brulee at Le Cellier. I LOVE the counter service restaurant at Morrocco - ate there twice - veggie platter. Marrakesh was so-so but would try it again. I just didn't order the right thing. Grand Floridian Cafe was elegant but the food was nothing special - went for breakfast - it was okay. We got to see a bride take off in Cinderella's coach though!
We used our DDE card and saved a bundle on sit-down restaurants. I don't think paying for the dining plan would work for us. Except for our fave restaurants that only open for dinner, we generally eat one meal per day (lunch) and graze the rest of the day. We spoke briefly to a couple who were on the dining plan and they said they were forcing themselves to eat and felt they had wasted money and were getting fat. We stuffed ourselves enough without the dining plan! I will need to analyze my figures more closely though.
Love "Basin" at DTD. Bought a bunch of soaps for token gifts for my coworkers. Great place and smells nice.
We did one late night at MK and stayed for an 11:00 pm Spectro (the first Spectro where I didn't get trampled). This was unexpectedly pleasant. I have never been a diehard Spectro fan because of the crowds, so if you are like me, try to catch a late night parade if they are offered. It's much better.
Otherwise, we didn't really take advantage of EMH. We have been to WDW many times, have annual passes, and are content with seeing one or two favorites per day during busy times (as long as I have my ADRs I am happy).
We rented bikes several times and rode around the campground from WL and all over OKW and SSR. Nice bike path running from OKW along the canal to SSR and DTD. Used the DVC pool and hot tub at WL and the sauna at OKW. We had some cooler weather (60's during the day) during our OKW week so didn't use the pool there.
We did the Segway tour at Epcot and it was the highlight of our trip. DH continues to rave about it. I was so thankful I didn't fall and break anything! It was a great tour and I recommend it to everyone. Much easier to maneuver than I thought it would be.
We returned via Magical Express to MCO and this went much smoother.
Now I am back in the real world and adjustment has proved difficult.
We arrived on Sunday, March 12 about 11:00 am at MCO. Took Magical Express which I found crowded and confusing. Due to some changes in our travel plans and other issues we had to wait at the check-in line which took some extra time and it was mobbed. However, for a free service, I am thankful WDW is offering this. I am undecided if I will use it if it's still running for our Dec trip.
We finally arrived at WL at about 2:00 pm. Check in was efficient but we had to wait an hour for our room to be ready - no problem - we had margaritas by the pool.
We had a standard room, AP rate, nonsmoking, overlooking the lobby area. Our balcony view was an expanse of green roof. Not attractive at all, but we preferred the lobby location over the view. Unexpectedly, we had bunkbeds! Not a major problem but we hated the look of them in the room and missed the big extra bed which we would have used! We had to call down to get a fridge which was brought up within minutes. Our luggage arrived from the airport later while we were at dinner.
From then on, our stay at WL was wonderful and we had zero complaints. Roaring Forks was still down for rehab so we had limited food choices, but we made do.
The weather ranged from highs in the 90's to lows in the 40's. There was NO HUMIDITY nor bugs. It was windy and I got cold several times. Had to buy a souvenir hoodie! Darn!
The parks during this first week were mobbed. There were 180 minute waits most days at the big attractions. Thank goodness for fastpass although Soarin and EE were often sold out by 11:00 am or earlier!
On Sunday March 19 we moved to a studio at OKW which was much larger and brighter than our WL standard room. We asked for a location close to the main pool and were given a 2nd floor unit in Blg. 28. We had a view of the lighthouse and pool area from the front windows and overlooked the golf course from our balcony. The walls were a bit thin as we could hear everything in the adjoining one bedroom unit (including bathroom sounds
). DH preferred WL due to location and lobby. I liked OKW for the tropical atmosphere and spaciousness. The flowers everywhere were absolutely gorgeous. What ARE those yellow flowered trees everywhere????
The second week the parks seem a bit less hectic, but still long waits. I never got to try EE due to the waits. The only day I had a decent fastpass for EE - 1:45 pm, I developed a headache (it was 90 degrees) and ended up going back to the room for awhile.
We ate at Ohana, Boma, Kona, Crystal Palace, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Marrakesh and the CS at Morrocco, Grand Floridian Cafe, Cosmic Rays, Pinnochio House, San Angel's, Flame Tree BBQ, Sci Fi Theater, Olivia's, Artist Point, Main Street Bakery - the french toast loaf is to die for! We had various other snacks - dole whips, roasted nuts, cookies, etc. The only place we probably would not return to was Crystal Palace - once was enough!
The best foods? Smokey portabello soup at Artist Point along with their chocolate bread pudding dessert. Also loved the maple creme brulee at Le Cellier. I LOVE the counter service restaurant at Morrocco - ate there twice - veggie platter. Marrakesh was so-so but would try it again. I just didn't order the right thing. Grand Floridian Cafe was elegant but the food was nothing special - went for breakfast - it was okay. We got to see a bride take off in Cinderella's coach though!
We used our DDE card and saved a bundle on sit-down restaurants. I don't think paying for the dining plan would work for us. Except for our fave restaurants that only open for dinner, we generally eat one meal per day (lunch) and graze the rest of the day. We spoke briefly to a couple who were on the dining plan and they said they were forcing themselves to eat and felt they had wasted money and were getting fat. We stuffed ourselves enough without the dining plan! I will need to analyze my figures more closely though.
Love "Basin" at DTD. Bought a bunch of soaps for token gifts for my coworkers. Great place and smells nice.
We did one late night at MK and stayed for an 11:00 pm Spectro (the first Spectro where I didn't get trampled). This was unexpectedly pleasant. I have never been a diehard Spectro fan because of the crowds, so if you are like me, try to catch a late night parade if they are offered. It's much better.
Otherwise, we didn't really take advantage of EMH. We have been to WDW many times, have annual passes, and are content with seeing one or two favorites per day during busy times (as long as I have my ADRs I am happy).
We rented bikes several times and rode around the campground from WL and all over OKW and SSR. Nice bike path running from OKW along the canal to SSR and DTD. Used the DVC pool and hot tub at WL and the sauna at OKW. We had some cooler weather (60's during the day) during our OKW week so didn't use the pool there.
We did the Segway tour at Epcot and it was the highlight of our trip. DH continues to rave about it. I was so thankful I didn't fall and break anything! It was a great tour and I recommend it to everyone. Much easier to maneuver than I thought it would be.
We returned via Magical Express to MCO and this went much smoother.
Now I am back in the real world and adjustment has proved difficult.
