Just got back yesterday from our first trip home and it could not have been any better (even with Charley blowing through)! We arrived on Sunday 8/8/04 for a 9 day stay and did not get a Welcome Home from the security guard. We did however get one as we walked up to the Carriage House to check in and also received one from the CM that checked us in. We arrived at about 10:00 AM and we could have opted to have a smoking optional room at that time yet chose to wait for a non smoking studio. We went over to DD (we drove since it was raining) to shop and then came back to have lunch at the Artists Palette. Our room was ready about 1:00. We were in villa 1112 which is on the 1st floor in the 4th building. This is the last one to open, the farthest from the pool and Artists Palette. We had a wonderful view of some trees, and now there are even less to look at after Charleys ride through.
First off, this being our first trip home and all our previous trips being at ASMo (including 1 night there this time before arriving at SSR) we were absolutely thrilled with the resort! The landscaping was beautiful and everything looked great. As for the construction, it was there to be seen, you cant miss it. Yet it was not a problem, I was actually intrigued by it. They even lowered the green tarp on the fence that blocks the view for the hurricane.
We did head down there knowing that most of the reports about the Artists Palette were not that promising. Especially since I am a burger, chicken strips and fries kinda guy! We were pleasantly pleased with the food there. We did get the special often. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich and my DW had the Turkey and Brie (this is on the everyday menu) and both were good. My DD3 had the kids Mac and Cheese which she proceeded to gobble up. On another day we both got the Roasted Chicken special. It came with roasted potatoes and green beans, this was great, and it was a lot of chicken! On our 5th day I had the Chicken Caesar salad and DW had the Chicken Artichoke Flatbread. No complaints there either. For breakfast I had the Breakfast Platter which consisted of scrambled eggs, 2 bacon strips, one juicy sausage link and hash brown potatoes, your typical Disney breakfast. DW had a Croissant Sandwich which was eggs and cheese. I will say that I feel that there needs to be more on the menu and if there was a way to tell what the special was ahead of time that would be helpful too. DVC members do get 10% off the food there too.
The bus transportation was great! Never waited long and never had to share with any other resort. I think that the parking issues that were prevalent during the first month are not as much of a problem now that 4 buildings are open, yet we were not near the models so tours did not affect us. We never even went to the boat launch so nothing to report about that.
The walk from our building to the Artists Palette was not too long, about 10 minutes tops. I did this walk each morning to get a cup of coffee. I know that this may be long for some people and I tend to walk fast and dont mind to walk. We decided to get the refillable mug, but only one. We figured to use it at the pool( there is a station to fill up outside!) and could share during a meal. The walk to DD Marketplace from our building was 5 minutes, it was great! We did this a few times. It brings you right where the busses drop off near Disney Days of Christmas and the Scrapbooking store.
High Rock Spring pool was awesome! We spent a lot of afternoons there. DD3 loved the little slide and played in the zero entry area a lot! You can rent for free a swim vest for younger children right by the pool and this was a huge difference maker for our DD. The big slide was great too! I must have gone down it 20 times or more! It lasts about 10 seconds and the lights that tell you when to slide worked great until Charley fried them and a lifeguard had to sit up there to control entry to it. I will say that the pool never got very crowded yet I can easily see how this will be a problem when the 12 buildings are open next year (and even worse when Phase III is done in 07). We stopped in the quiet pool one day for a quick swim before some rain and that too was nice. They too will be more crowded when more buildings are open next year. My hope is another large pool with Phase III, keep your fingers crossed.
Charley came and put a small kink in our plans. I was impressed though with the amount of staff still around, they were put up in available villas. They even had Characters in the Artists Palette around 5 o clock that day and Disney ran some movies continuously during that day and evening on their TV stations. We took a walk around the next morning to see the damage. There is a lot of work to do. Many, many trees were down, one tree even landed on the patio of the villa next to us. If it had been 1 foot longer and 1 foot to the left it would have gone through their sliding door! Many of the new trees that were planted had fallen over with the soil ball still intact, but it looked like they may be able to just put them up again. By the time lunch arrived the day after Charley all the paths were clear (at least the ones that I checked) except for one that went through the trees outside our villa.
In all our experience on our first trip home was great and will be a memorable one. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
First off, this being our first trip home and all our previous trips being at ASMo (including 1 night there this time before arriving at SSR) we were absolutely thrilled with the resort! The landscaping was beautiful and everything looked great. As for the construction, it was there to be seen, you cant miss it. Yet it was not a problem, I was actually intrigued by it. They even lowered the green tarp on the fence that blocks the view for the hurricane.
We did head down there knowing that most of the reports about the Artists Palette were not that promising. Especially since I am a burger, chicken strips and fries kinda guy! We were pleasantly pleased with the food there. We did get the special often. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich and my DW had the Turkey and Brie (this is on the everyday menu) and both were good. My DD3 had the kids Mac and Cheese which she proceeded to gobble up. On another day we both got the Roasted Chicken special. It came with roasted potatoes and green beans, this was great, and it was a lot of chicken! On our 5th day I had the Chicken Caesar salad and DW had the Chicken Artichoke Flatbread. No complaints there either. For breakfast I had the Breakfast Platter which consisted of scrambled eggs, 2 bacon strips, one juicy sausage link and hash brown potatoes, your typical Disney breakfast. DW had a Croissant Sandwich which was eggs and cheese. I will say that I feel that there needs to be more on the menu and if there was a way to tell what the special was ahead of time that would be helpful too. DVC members do get 10% off the food there too.
The bus transportation was great! Never waited long and never had to share with any other resort. I think that the parking issues that were prevalent during the first month are not as much of a problem now that 4 buildings are open, yet we were not near the models so tours did not affect us. We never even went to the boat launch so nothing to report about that.
The walk from our building to the Artists Palette was not too long, about 10 minutes tops. I did this walk each morning to get a cup of coffee. I know that this may be long for some people and I tend to walk fast and dont mind to walk. We decided to get the refillable mug, but only one. We figured to use it at the pool( there is a station to fill up outside!) and could share during a meal. The walk to DD Marketplace from our building was 5 minutes, it was great! We did this a few times. It brings you right where the busses drop off near Disney Days of Christmas and the Scrapbooking store.
High Rock Spring pool was awesome! We spent a lot of afternoons there. DD3 loved the little slide and played in the zero entry area a lot! You can rent for free a swim vest for younger children right by the pool and this was a huge difference maker for our DD. The big slide was great too! I must have gone down it 20 times or more! It lasts about 10 seconds and the lights that tell you when to slide worked great until Charley fried them and a lifeguard had to sit up there to control entry to it. I will say that the pool never got very crowded yet I can easily see how this will be a problem when the 12 buildings are open next year (and even worse when Phase III is done in 07). We stopped in the quiet pool one day for a quick swim before some rain and that too was nice. They too will be more crowded when more buildings are open next year. My hope is another large pool with Phase III, keep your fingers crossed.
Charley came and put a small kink in our plans. I was impressed though with the amount of staff still around, they were put up in available villas. They even had Characters in the Artists Palette around 5 o clock that day and Disney ran some movies continuously during that day and evening on their TV stations. We took a walk around the next morning to see the damage. There is a lot of work to do. Many, many trees were down, one tree even landed on the patio of the villa next to us. If it had been 1 foot longer and 1 foot to the left it would have gone through their sliding door! Many of the new trees that were planted had fallen over with the soil ball still intact, but it looked like they may be able to just put them up again. By the time lunch arrived the day after Charley all the paths were clear (at least the ones that I checked) except for one that went through the trees outside our villa.
In all our experience on our first trip home was great and will be a memorable one. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Sarah
