mcd2745
These Mickey pretzels are making me thirsty!
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2010
- Messages
- 4,323
Got home last night. It was another great stay. We had room 2224 in Martinique. However, we actually had the Barbados beach right outside our door, and the Barbados quiet pool was closer than the Martinique pool. It was a real nice location. a 4-5 minute walk to OPR and even a short walk to the Custom House. We walked to our room from the Custom House after checking in and back there yesterday to catch Magical Express back to MCO 
. Room was just fine, no musty smell or anything (although we have never had that issue), and mousekeeping was good every day.
The weather was phenomenal all week. Not a drop of rain the entire 7 days we were there (although I understand it was real rainy the day before we arrived). It didn't really get too warm either, until the weekend, with Monday-Friday generally getting only to the low 80s.
Never had an opportunity to walk around the resort, but while going around in the buses, I looked and never saw any signs of any work being done in the rooms.
As seems to be the case this time of year, there were lots of high school groups/teams staying at CBR. I noticed several baseball/softball/lacrosse teams as well as a couple of bands and choir groups. And over the weekend, a ton of dane teams showed up as there is apparently a huge competition taking place at WDW this week. So you did notice groups of teens hanging out at the quiet pools and on the beaches a lot.
Bus service was good. The only long wait we had was our first morning. We waited about 25 minutes for a bus to AK and someone else at the bus stop mentioned they got there about 15 minutes before us (so a 40 min. wait for them). Returning from the parks seemed better than in the past to me as well.
The highlight of the trip was probably being selected to be the Grand Marshalls of the Festival of Fantasy parade at MK on Wednesday. We were finishing breakfast at Crystal Palace when a CM came to our table and just started chatting with us. After 5 minutes or so of "small talk", he says he has something he wants to offer us. Of course, the first instinct is he will try to sell something...but then he quickly said he wasn't selling anything. He then asks if would like to be the Grand Marshalls of the parade. Ummmm.....yeah!!! It was really cool riding the parade route in the old-fashioned car with everyone lined up waving at you and your family being announced throughout the route. We were even given Mickey ears with "Grand Marshalls 2014" embroidered on them and a certificate with our names and hometown and the date on it. The topper was my parents had just arrived (it was a surprise for the kids who had no idea they were coming), then just as we reached end of the route, there they were waiting and waving. The kids jaws dropped upon seeing their grandparents. It was a truly
magical moment.
. Room was just fine, no musty smell or anything (although we have never had that issue), and mousekeeping was good every day.The weather was phenomenal all week. Not a drop of rain the entire 7 days we were there (although I understand it was real rainy the day before we arrived). It didn't really get too warm either, until the weekend, with Monday-Friday generally getting only to the low 80s.
Never had an opportunity to walk around the resort, but while going around in the buses, I looked and never saw any signs of any work being done in the rooms.
As seems to be the case this time of year, there were lots of high school groups/teams staying at CBR. I noticed several baseball/softball/lacrosse teams as well as a couple of bands and choir groups. And over the weekend, a ton of dane teams showed up as there is apparently a huge competition taking place at WDW this week. So you did notice groups of teens hanging out at the quiet pools and on the beaches a lot.
Bus service was good. The only long wait we had was our first morning. We waited about 25 minutes for a bus to AK and someone else at the bus stop mentioned they got there about 15 minutes before us (so a 40 min. wait for them). Returning from the parks seemed better than in the past to me as well.
The highlight of the trip was probably being selected to be the Grand Marshalls of the Festival of Fantasy parade at MK on Wednesday. We were finishing breakfast at Crystal Palace when a CM came to our table and just started chatting with us. After 5 minutes or so of "small talk", he says he has something he wants to offer us. Of course, the first instinct is he will try to sell something...but then he quickly said he wasn't selling anything. He then asks if would like to be the Grand Marshalls of the parade. Ummmm.....yeah!!! It was really cool riding the parade route in the old-fashioned car with everyone lined up waving at you and your family being announced throughout the route. We were even given Mickey ears with "Grand Marshalls 2014" embroidered on them and a certificate with our names and hometown and the date on it. The topper was my parents had just arrived (it was a surprise for the kids who had no idea they were coming), then just as we reached end of the route, there they were waiting and waving. The kids jaws dropped upon seeing their grandparents. It was a truly
magical moment.
. There is so much negativity over there, mostly centered around FP+, of course. You see so many people there who are upset either because they feel they can't plan out their whole day the way they used to with FP-, or just because of the uncertainty, or whatever else. It seems they are not content with just going annd having a great time. It's as if they are only interested in having the exact same trip - with each aspect planned out meticulously - each and every time they go, which is likely only setting themselves up for inevitible disappointment. So, I'm happy to have been reminded to just let things happen and come naturally.
