Been here 2 weeks, 1 week to go

[Portugal1000]

Well I did intend to write a proper live updates trip report but never really got around to it. Don't have a laptop with with so have to use bisiness centre.

So we are staying at Wyndhams Bonnet Creek in a 2 bedroom apartment. Its a great resort. Right next door to Carribean Beach. 5 pools, 2 lazy rivers. Loads going on. Basically, fantastic. We have stayed here 3 times before but always in December. We usually stay at Saratoga Springs in August but this time thought that the cost was just too great, even with the free dining. Plus we like more space.

We have used our Disney tickets 15 times so far. They run out tomorrow. We have been pleasantly surprised with the crowds and as long as you get to the parks early, use the fast passes, be organised, then there really is no reason to queue for very long. Today we were at MK and left at 3pm and really. We stayed on Thunder Mountain 4 times and didn't have to even get off. Never done that before. Must admit, I felt a bot sick after the 4th go!

We rode over 20 rides in total today. One thing we have notices is how easy to get dining reservations. MK had signs up saying availability at all restaurants. Even the bakery is empty. Usually I can't be bothered to wait in the huge lines just to get a cake but we have eaten in the twice this trip with no wait.

Weather has been great. Still very hot but I honestly don't think it is as bad as last year. Only rained a couple of times during the day.

Have ate in some great reaturants. Found a really great little place called Toojays. Excellent for Breakfast and lunch. Been there 5 times, never done that before.

We go to Hard Rock on Monday just for one night. Not checking out of Bonnet Creek but it was cheaper to rent a room for one night and get the 2 days fast passes than it was to buy them. We were at Universal last week and it was crazy so very glad we have fast passes next week.

Feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Great update - where is Toojays that you have been going to?

Surprised to hear crowds are not as heavy and restaurants free - especially with the free dining at the minute - although it's good for you

 

[misspickle]

can you get magic extra hrs staying at that hotel with it being in the wdw complex i know you can with the hilton.

 

[Portugal1000]

can you get magic extra hrs staying at that hotel with it being in the wdw complex i know you can with the hilton.

Hi
No extra magic hours but in all the times we have stayed on property, I have only used the evening ones once and always avoided the early magic hours.

 

[Portugal1000]

Great update - where is Toojays that you have been going to?

Surprised to hear crowds are not as heavy and restaurants free - especially with the free dining at the minute - although it's good for you

Toojays in in Dr Phillips BV, just off Sand Lake Road. Never been there before but a really nice little place with a few nice restaurants. Seems to be full of lots of locals when we are there which is a good sign. Toojays also has a deli attached and the meats and bagels are just delicious.

I don't think the free dining has kicked in for the Americans yet which maybe why restuarants not so busy. Even at California Grill at 8pm people were coming without reservations and getting a table straight away. Mind you. with steak at nearly $50 I am not surprised. We did have a lovely meal there but stuck with sushi and flat bread but still $100 for the 3 of us.
We had booked to go to Crystal Palace as we always go there on the free dining. However, we realised that it was $41 (plus tax and tip) so would have been $150 for 3 of us including an 11 year old so we just didn't think it was worth it anymore.

We went to Longhorns for first time and loved it. Great value. My sons birthday tomorrow so his choice. Toojays for breakfast and Longhorns for dinner, Typhoon Lagoon in between. Sounds perfect.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Great update - sounds like you are having a great time - Love the tip on Toojays and I agree that CP is pricey OOP but I still can't resist it, but there's only 2 of us

 

[RDP]

Sounds great, have a wonderful time. Looking forward to more updates.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Toojays in in Dr Phillips BV, just off Sand Lake Road. Never been there before but a really nice little place with a few nice restaurants. Seems to be full of lots of locals when we are there which is a good sign. Toojays also has a deli attached and the meats and bagels are just delicious.

I don't think the free dining has kicked in for the Americans yet which maybe why restuarants not so busy. Even at California Grill at 8pm people were coming without reservations and getting a table straight away. Mind you. with steak at nearly $50 I am not surprised. We did have a lovely meal there but stuck with sushi and flat bread but still $100 for the 3 of us.
We had booked to go to Crystal Palace as we always go there on the free dining. However, we realised that it was $41 (plus tax and tip) so would have been $150 for 3 of us including an 11 year old so we just didn't think it was worth it anymore.

We went to Longhorns for first time and loved it. Great value. My sons birthday tomorrow so his choice. Toojays for breakfast and Longhorns for dinner, Typhoon Lagoon in between. Sounds perfect.

Thank you for the info We normally go to CG on Christmas Day - cost over $200 for 3 (including 1 child) so I agree about the expense!!

 

[Portugal1000]

So we checked into Hard Rock for 1 night on Monday morning at 7.30am. I called the day before and asked what time IOA was opening and they said 8am. Got to check in and they said it opened at 7am!! So by the time we got to the park the queue for Harry Potter was an hour. Anyway we still managed to ride so everyone happy. All I can say it thank goodness we had the express passes for the reat of the day. i would have given up by 10am if I didn't. Every time we went into a shop we saw people buying the express passes. One family in front of me paid $99 each (there were 4 of them) to get express passes for both parks for 1 ride only. We only paid $220 for our room at Hard rock and unlimited express pass for 2 days for up to 5 people.
The queues were crazy and it was so hot. We did have a great day though and then went back to Hard Rock to swim just as a thunder storm started. So had a bot of a rest then back to Universal for dinner at Finnigans. So cheap compared to Disney.
One thing I would say is that if you have those vouchers you have to exchange for tickets, try and do it on a different day as we queued nearly an hour. Luckily we had gone last week. Anyway, if I had tried to do it in the morning we definitely wouldn't have even got into the park before 9am as queues were crazy. I would have been really unhappy if I had missed getting on HP. Universal definitely do not have enought staff.
So we were all exhausted and got up early to get to Harry Potter for 7 this morning only then to be told that it owuldn't open till 8am!! Ended up opening at 7.45 so not too bad and we got on straight away.Then over to other park for Rip Ride. Oh and the Despicable Me ride is great. Glad to be back at Bonnet Creek though. Far superior in every way compared to Universal Hotel and half the price.
Will try to update more but down to last 3 days now. Feels like we have been here forever.