Leaving is such sweet sorrow...it is sad to be leaving - but at least we will spend tomorrow nite at Hilton Head Island DVC! It sort of eases the trip back to NJ!
We had a GREAT week here this year - some locals have told us it was one of the warmest Feb weeks in a long time - was good for me since I was here for the coldest week in 20 years two years ago! Weather was in the mid-70s every day - even Tues when we had off and on showers all day long - a good day for shopping and resort hopping having spent 11 hours in MK on Monday!
We stayed in bldg 35 across from Old Turtle Pond bus stop - 3519 had crooked look toward the water and golf course and ducks who loved to be fed every morning. The room was very clean and updated - I think these units were refurbed last year when we were in the 40s section. Rugs were clean enuf to wear white sox or go barefoot! Would enjoy staying in this section again if I could not get closer to the Southpoint pool. Will prob never geet by pool as long as this Manager stays here - he put us next to a bus turnaround last year and tried to put us at the Southpoint bus turnaround this year. I politely explained that the location was not acceptable and asked for another [since I already knew we were not getting our original request]. The designated smoking area is in the lovely courtyard like area but not covered...the trees formed a slight canopy in a light rain. 40s area is still under refurb - what a wreck! Not easy to get to the pool - but the pool is open - sometimes the snack shack is, too.
Park crowds and buses were most manageable! Never waited more that about 10 mins for a bus at OKW and at parks. Rode the monorail without standing. Walked on Mickey's Philharmagic, Small World, steam train, steam boat, Hall of Presidents [got the rockers on the porch next to the Hall for the parade] and got into Liberty Tree Tavern for 4:30pm dinner seating without reservations. Day turned a bit nippy after the sun set so viewing Spectromagic and Wishes sent us to the Emporium to buy the annual sweatshirt - nice and toasty after that!
Got walkup dining at Prime Time Cafe same time on Wed evening, too. Was cold and windy Wed nite at Hollywood Studios but Fantasmic was as good as ever - wind did not distort water screens too much. Epcot was virtually empty on Thurs - have never seen it so easy to navigate. Just hit a few of the countries and did some shopping there - no fireworks - had Valentine ressies to enjoy offsite.
It has been a great trip...our rookie has enjoyed herself immensly! Tomorrow we will fight the traffic headed to Daytona valiently and make our way to I-95for the trip up to HHI - I will be at Signe's before 3pm - hope I can get key lime and cappuchino pound cakes set aside for me when I call! Hope to convince DH to go to Sunset Grill for dinner but I bet he will want to go to Sticky Fingers. Oh well - I'll be at Hilton Head DVC - what's not to enjoy!
Will post when I get back to NJ about the 5 rooms here in the 35 building that were trashed by DVC members! The cleaning and maintenance crews have been busting their buns for three days trying to get the rooms back in service. Our room goes out of service as soon as we leave because the upstairs "guests" left the jacuzzi tub spicket dripping Thurs nite - woke up to a stream of water coming thru ceiling lite - easily mopped with several towels but ceiling shows water stain around light fixture. Maintenance supv agrees that the "mistake" was probably deliberate because we had the desk ask them to show some degree of respect for the downstairs neighbors and calm the children's running, jumping and ball bouncing at 8 am! Are there penalties for guests who trash rooms?
We turned in a camera battery charger from this room in case a disboarder left it here - call the resort front desk.
Nite nite from OKW - tomorrow HHI!
We had a GREAT week here this year - some locals have told us it was one of the warmest Feb weeks in a long time - was good for me since I was here for the coldest week in 20 years two years ago! Weather was in the mid-70s every day - even Tues when we had off and on showers all day long - a good day for shopping and resort hopping having spent 11 hours in MK on Monday!
We stayed in bldg 35 across from Old Turtle Pond bus stop - 3519 had crooked look toward the water and golf course and ducks who loved to be fed every morning. The room was very clean and updated - I think these units were refurbed last year when we were in the 40s section. Rugs were clean enuf to wear white sox or go barefoot! Would enjoy staying in this section again if I could not get closer to the Southpoint pool. Will prob never geet by pool as long as this Manager stays here - he put us next to a bus turnaround last year and tried to put us at the Southpoint bus turnaround this year. I politely explained that the location was not acceptable and asked for another [since I already knew we were not getting our original request]. The designated smoking area is in the lovely courtyard like area but not covered...the trees formed a slight canopy in a light rain. 40s area is still under refurb - what a wreck! Not easy to get to the pool - but the pool is open - sometimes the snack shack is, too.
Park crowds and buses were most manageable! Never waited more that about 10 mins for a bus at OKW and at parks. Rode the monorail without standing. Walked on Mickey's Philharmagic, Small World, steam train, steam boat, Hall of Presidents [got the rockers on the porch next to the Hall for the parade] and got into Liberty Tree Tavern for 4:30pm dinner seating without reservations. Day turned a bit nippy after the sun set so viewing Spectromagic and Wishes sent us to the Emporium to buy the annual sweatshirt - nice and toasty after that!
Got walkup dining at Prime Time Cafe same time on Wed evening, too. Was cold and windy Wed nite at Hollywood Studios but Fantasmic was as good as ever - wind did not distort water screens too much. Epcot was virtually empty on Thurs - have never seen it so easy to navigate. Just hit a few of the countries and did some shopping there - no fireworks - had Valentine ressies to enjoy offsite.
It has been a great trip...our rookie has enjoyed herself immensly! Tomorrow we will fight the traffic headed to Daytona valiently and make our way to I-95for the trip up to HHI - I will be at Signe's before 3pm - hope I can get key lime and cappuchino pound cakes set aside for me when I call! Hope to convince DH to go to Sunset Grill for dinner but I bet he will want to go to Sticky Fingers. Oh well - I'll be at Hilton Head DVC - what's not to enjoy!
Will post when I get back to NJ about the 5 rooms here in the 35 building that were trashed by DVC members! The cleaning and maintenance crews have been busting their buns for three days trying to get the rooms back in service. Our room goes out of service as soon as we leave because the upstairs "guests" left the jacuzzi tub spicket dripping Thurs nite - woke up to a stream of water coming thru ceiling lite - easily mopped with several towels but ceiling shows water stain around light fixture. Maintenance supv agrees that the "mistake" was probably deliberate because we had the desk ask them to show some degree of respect for the downstairs neighbors and calm the children's running, jumping and ball bouncing at 8 am! Are there penalties for guests who trash rooms?
We turned in a camera battery charger from this room in case a disboarder left it here - call the resort front desk.
Nite nite from OKW - tomorrow HHI!