Back home and thanks

[igk]

Arrived home yesterday after a very quick flight from Miami. A few highs and lows, but first a big thank you!

We went to Typhoon Lagoon on Oct 30th (the last day before closing for refurbishment). We got there mid afternoon and were setting ourselves up with towels/sunscreen etc. and an English lady approached us and said they were about to go home and gave us their high factor sunscreen for the kids as they were'nt going to use it anymore. They were literally about to go to the airport. We wished them a good light and went off to ride Slush n Gusher. When we got back to our 'place' there was a large bottle of wine sitting on top of our bag - I can only assume it was the same family who wouldn't be able to take it home with them. If you're reading this, thank you! We enjoyed sipping it on the balcony at OKW in the evenings after the kids were in bed.

Anyway we had a great trip.

Highs:

Weather - mid 80's, warm evenings - everywhere was so dry, the grass was even browning in places. A cold front came through on the last day (Thursday) so it rained a bit then and by Friday morning the temperature had dropped like a stone!

Crowds - really quiet - Jersey week seemed more or less a non-event. Not as busy as last year. A couple of mornings parks were so quiet we could just walk on stuff even by mid morning, even Soarin' was 35 mins by 11:30...
Only time it seemed busy was EMH evening at Epcot. Restaurants were pretty busy though.

DDP - great once again, too much food for us really, but would do it again without hesitation. Good food and service nearly everywhere we went.

MNSSHP fireworks from Ohana - we were seated at a fantastic table and just at the right time to enjoy this - hadn't really planned it so it was a bonus - they dimmed the lights and piped the soundtrack in.

Lows:

None really - our initial room at OKW was right at the far end of the resort (South Point area) and our room was right next to the main road, and dark. We asked to be moved and were put in bldg 31 in the Turtle Pond area which was fine.
Something I noticed about the renovated rooms was in our 1br there was a chair bed in addition to the sofa bed, which meant the kids didn't have to share. Not sure if this is all 1br rooms or not but very welcome.

Le Cellier - again not really a low, but slightly disappointed. Great service but the food was over salty (mushroom filet), and just not really up to the hype. Don't mind it going to 2 credits as it makes the decision easier!

MIA-LHR Virgin Airbus A340 - seemed to be a slightly older one then the one we flew out on, still had v;port, but the bathrooms weren't very good - one had virtually no water, and another one the sink was blocked!

 

[2Tiggies]

Welcome home! Sounds like you had a good time!

How nice of that family to leave you their wine and sunscreen!

Was the weather good? We also went to TL this time instead of BB and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Would love to hear more about your trip once you have recovered from the shock of re-entry into the real world!

 

[wayneg]

Le Cellier - again not really a low, but slightly disappointed. Great service but the food was over salty (mushroom filet), and just not really up to the hype. Don't mind it going to 2 credits as it makes the decision easier!

Welcome home.
I could have written exactly the same about Le Celier, last year it was probably our best meal, service OK but nothing special.
This year great service but food not as good, mush filet too salty and going to 2 credits is best thing they could do, its not a patch on Yachtsman steakhouse so we will be going there for our Signature again next year.

 

[Giddy Kipper]

Glad you had a fab holiday....its lovely when someone gives you something unexpected....we did something similiar last year. we gave our fastpasses to a American lady and her toddler waiting to ride toy story mania...she would have been there forever. She was shaking with excitement when we passed them over.

 

[wayneg]

Glad you had a fab holiday....its lovely when someone gives you something unexpected....we did something similiar last year. we gave our fastpasses to a American lady and her toddler waiting to ride toy story mania...she would have been there forever. She was shaking with excitement when we passed them over.

I do this whenever possible, get fastpasses for a popular ride even if we are not going to use them, then give them to someone coming into the park as we go out.

 

[2Tiggies]

I do this whenever possible, get fastpasses for a popular ride even if we are not going to use them, then give them to someone coming into the park as we go out.

PM me all your dates and itineraries please - we can follow you guys around like puppies

We also like to give people things where possible. I took a whole bunch of glo bracelets and necklaces left over from DD's party this year and we shared them with children waiting for parades and even a little girl having a full blown tantrum. I think the mother would have kissed DD if she didn't think it was inappropriate.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Welcome home! Glad you had a good trip.

 

[pmcpmc]

this time of the year is so beautiful in Orlando

 

[buzz for boys]

welcome home !!
Sounds like an amazing trip and always nice to be given a little bit of extra magic from others

 

[taylor91]

welcome back, sounds like you had an amazing time, great weather & crowds
I usually try to get some fastpasses to give out when exiting the parks too sometimes get some funny looks though

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Welcome home!

 

[igk]

Thanks everyone
We were really lucky with the weather - on the TV they said there hadn't been a drop of rain in Orlando all October, and it was really nice to have properly warm swimming weather and not have to wear jackets etc. in the evenings. Typhoon Lagoon was great, although we did see a black snake slither across the path leading to Slush n Gusher - DW is terrified of snakes so it probably didn't help me wondering aloud whether it might have been a Black Mamba (turned out to be a garden snake)

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks everyone
We were really lucky with the weather - on the TV they said there hadn't been a drop of rain in Orlando all October, and it was really nice to have properly warm swimming weather and not have to wear jackets etc. in the evenings. Typhoon Lagoon was great, although we did see a black snake slither across the path leading to Slush n Gusher - DW is terrified of snakes so it probably didn't help me wondering aloud whether it might have been a Black Mamba (turned out to be a garden snake)

DD nearly stood on one coming down from our room one morning. We also almost tripped over another on our way to the bus. I couldn't believe how long it was!