We returned from our son's graduation trip to Disney and Universal earlier this week, and this is the first time I've had to sit and type out some observations.
DS and his best friend had a wonderful time. They toured with us some and on their own some. They did the SAS half hour experience at Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon with a gift card they had received for graduation. It was one of the highlights of the trip for both boys. (They were the only two people in the SAS part of the lagoon, and had so much time to see all there was to see.) DS got stuck on Rock N Roller Coaster, and then received a backstage tour when the CMs came to unload their limo. He was thrilled.
We took the boys to Shula's for their graduation dinner, and it was a fantastic meal. We did not ask for or expect any special treats, but in casual conversation, the boys told our waiter that they had just graduated. At the end of the meal, he brought out two of Shula's lava cakes decorated with a candle and the word CONGRATULATIONS written in chocolate. Then he did not charge us for those. (About $25 worth of dessert!)
My husband and I had some observations about the RFID. We found the system to be very convenient and efficient. Park entrance at all four parks was smooth and quick. Of course, the main issue (FP+) is not up and running yet, but we use FastPass strategically in our family, so we think we're going to like that. (It will be nice to be able to know we have fastpasses to two attractions that we usually have to rush to. Then we can focus on the one that we don't have a fastpass to?)
Anyway. Quick story about the RFID tracking: Our home resort is BWV, and we stayed there. We checked in about 11:00 a.m., and, of course, our room was not ready. We played in Epcot and went to Beaches N Cream for dinner and then returned to the BoardWalk to figure out what was going on, since we had not received a call regarding room availability. When the front desk realized that there was an issue and that they had not released our room to us (it was 6:00 then, and they were still working on the garbage disposal), they pulled up our records for the day. The CM I spoke with said, "I can see you've been in Epcot and at Beaches N Cream." I laughed because that was a real Big Brother moment for me. But then she said, "We're going to comp you for anything you spent in the Epcot and at BnC today," and I didn't laugh anymore. I was very grateful. (Remember, we were traveling with two teenagers! Lunch and dinner for that day had added up.) Anyway, the RFID did turn out to work well for us.
Virtually all CMs were in extraordinary form and did a great job. Kudos to the Haunted Mansion CMs who were better this time than I've seen them in years. Both my son and his best friend were wearing Auburn shirts. When we got to HM, the CM we met at the door told us that the residents at the HM were, "dead, dead as Auburn's football team last year." Both boys rolled laughing. Then that CM followed us through the stretch room and into the line, continuing a long that theme in his HM character voice. What a hoot. Also love the new queues that Disney is designing. FantasyLand is great as well (though we weren't that impressed with dinner at Be Our Guest).
Just a wonderful experience.
Magic Happens!
Julie
DS and his best friend had a wonderful time. They toured with us some and on their own some. They did the SAS half hour experience at Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon with a gift card they had received for graduation. It was one of the highlights of the trip for both boys. (They were the only two people in the SAS part of the lagoon, and had so much time to see all there was to see.) DS got stuck on Rock N Roller Coaster, and then received a backstage tour when the CMs came to unload their limo. He was thrilled.
We took the boys to Shula's for their graduation dinner, and it was a fantastic meal. We did not ask for or expect any special treats, but in casual conversation, the boys told our waiter that they had just graduated. At the end of the meal, he brought out two of Shula's lava cakes decorated with a candle and the word CONGRATULATIONS written in chocolate. Then he did not charge us for those. (About $25 worth of dessert!)
My husband and I had some observations about the RFID. We found the system to be very convenient and efficient. Park entrance at all four parks was smooth and quick. Of course, the main issue (FP+) is not up and running yet, but we use FastPass strategically in our family, so we think we're going to like that. (It will be nice to be able to know we have fastpasses to two attractions that we usually have to rush to. Then we can focus on the one that we don't have a fastpass to?)
Anyway. Quick story about the RFID tracking: Our home resort is BWV, and we stayed there. We checked in about 11:00 a.m., and, of course, our room was not ready. We played in Epcot and went to Beaches N Cream for dinner and then returned to the BoardWalk to figure out what was going on, since we had not received a call regarding room availability. When the front desk realized that there was an issue and that they had not released our room to us (it was 6:00 then, and they were still working on the garbage disposal), they pulled up our records for the day. The CM I spoke with said, "I can see you've been in Epcot and at Beaches N Cream." I laughed because that was a real Big Brother moment for me. But then she said, "We're going to comp you for anything you spent in the Epcot and at BnC today," and I didn't laugh anymore. I was very grateful. (Remember, we were traveling with two teenagers! Lunch and dinner for that day had added up.) Anyway, the RFID did turn out to work well for us.
Virtually all CMs were in extraordinary form and did a great job. Kudos to the Haunted Mansion CMs who were better this time than I've seen them in years. Both my son and his best friend were wearing Auburn shirts. When we got to HM, the CM we met at the door told us that the residents at the HM were, "dead, dead as Auburn's football team last year." Both boys rolled laughing. Then that CM followed us through the stretch room and into the line, continuing a long that theme in his HM character voice. What a hoot. Also love the new queues that Disney is designing. FantasyLand is great as well (though we weren't that impressed with dinner at Be Our Guest).
Just a wonderful experience.
Magic Happens!
Julie
