RebelHawk
42
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2004
- Messages
- 797
Walt Disney World trip Highs and Lows with a few in betweens Dec 7th 12th 2008. This trip was one of our typical D.I.N.K trips with another D.I.N.K couple. Of course I think we may be at the end of our D.I.N.K trips in the near future but that is a story for another day. My wife and I stayed at The Beach Club Villas in a one bedroom villa and our friends stayed at Saratoga Springs in a studio. All in all it was a grand trip and we are already planning another trip for December 2009. For anyone interested I uploaded a few of our way to many pictures to our Webshots account.
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569217292NXocuv
Highs:
Accommodations My wife and I normally stay at The Boardwalk Villas but since we didn't book this trip until 10 months out we couldn't get a 1 Bedroom Villa there so we went with Plan B and booked at the Beach Club Villas. Everything was clean and well cared for in our room so we now know that we have a safe Plan B. Of course for next year we will make sure that we book 11 in advance so we can get the Boardwalk View 1 Bedroom Villas that we like.
MVMCP Much like MNSSHP my wife and I really enjoyed the Christmas party at MK. I don't know that we will do it for our next December trip but it was fun and I would recommend it to anyone.
Illuminations My wife being Canadian we typically watch the Illuminations fireworks from Canada in Epcot. Just to try something a little different we watched the fireworks over in Italy and all I can say is we will fight for a good spot and watch it from there every trip if we can (just don't tell anybody it is such a great spot).
Segway I really don't know how I can express just how amazing the Segway tour of Epcot is. We got there at 7:30 AM for the very first tour and after watching our 15 minute introduction to the Segway we were mounted and getting the feel for the device. The ease of control and the pure enjoyment of driving a Segway is truly unique. I just have to figure out a way to justify purchasing one for grocery runs at home.
Lows but it worked out:
Wrong choice of cars: I insisted that we drive our 2 seat convertible Z4 roadster that is my newest toy to Disney for this trip. My wife argued against this very cramped and luggage limiting car but being the good women that she is she agreed to pack as light as possible so we could get everything loaded into the trunk for the trip. After that 7+ hour drive I will have to default to her wise choice of taking a much larger car for any future road trips we make (well except for going to up into the Blue Ridge mountains).
Lost jacket: We checked our luggage with the Valet and Bell Services when we arrived at the Beach Club but somewhere between Valet and Bell Services bringing us our luggage my wife's jacket disappeared. When we called them they sprang into action. They led me through the luggage holding area, brought my car back around to check it out and checked in with Lost and Found. At some point her jacket fell off the luggage cart and someone turned it in to Lost and Found. No harm no foul.
Lost wallet: One of our friends who came on the trip with us lost her wallet while on the Segway tour around Epcot. We discovered it missing about 30 minutes after we were finished with the tour. After checking in with Guest Relations and scouring all the places we visited before during and after the Segway tour she filled out a lost wallet form and a report with the Orlando Police Department we were back on our way touring the park. About 2 hours later she received a call letting her know that her wallet had been turned in. When we picked it up we discovered that everything was returned except the expired fast passes she didn't use while in Epcot the previous day. I guess the joke will be on the would be theft when they try to use the stolen fast passes.
Crowds: I guess that Disney marketing is really earning their pay checks. I remember just a few years ago when going to the Disney parks during non peak times and the parks would be almost empty. I guess those days are gone. Each day of our trip we were surrounded by people at every turn. Of course with careful use of our fast passes and Advanced Dining reservations the only thing that we missed was the new Toy Story Mania part of Hollywood Studios.
Rain: We had one morning of rain which actually turned out to be a very fun day at Epcot. We were almost alone in the World Showcase. By 3PM that afternoon the last of the clouds blew away and our private day at Epcot came to an end.
Lows:
Flat Tire: On our 2nd to the last day a friend we were with wanted to run a couple of quick errands off property. Since my wife and I drove to WDW we called Valet that morning and had them bring the car around only to discover that we had a flat tire. After limping to the Hess station and refilling the tire with air I drove to the Car Care Center near MK. After checking the tire out they said it couldn't be repaired due to side wall damage and sold me a new tire. I do feel lucky because they did have the odd ball 255/35 18.5" tire at another location and were able to have my new tire installed by late that afternoon. They were even kind enough to get me lift back to the BCV so I could meet up with my wife and friends so we could enjoy the rest of our day.
Food at the parks: I have said it before and I will say it again, the Disney Dining Plan is the worst thing that has happened to the food at WDW. Bistro de Paris, $200 for 2 people and the food was mediocre at best. Three years ago it was almost as much but we practically licked the plate. Brown Derby, $160 for 2 people and while not bad it was no where near worth what we paid. The only dining meals that I say was worth the money was at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge, $170 and I walked out of there thinking that we finally got what we paid for and Teppan Edo in Japan at Epcot. We paid $80 and did get some good sushi but as long as you have good fish then it would be hard to screw up since it is raw.
Just plain funny:
Fantasmic: While waiting for Fantasmic to start about 5 rows in front of us a middle age women suddenly screamed and jumped up on her seat. This was followed by her kids and then the family beside her (including the husband). This ripple of insanity then jumped up to the row behind them and down to the next family. By this time a Cast Member came over to see what the problem was and bravely faced down the vicious Florida cockroach that terrified four families (like I said that included at least one husband). My wife, friends and I laughed about that one for days.
Celebrity sighting (sort of): Sig and Egard Hansen of the Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch were at Norway one day and were taking photos with guests and signing autographs. While browsing through the store we over heard a gentlemen pointing to one of the Northwestern (the ship Sig and Egard pilot) shirts and looking at his female companion and loudly stating "You know what this shirt is from? That show with the Cod fisherman in New England." Of course Sig and Egard, with signs all over the place, clearly and boldly saying that they were from the Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch from Alaska. I don't know who all might have heard that statement but my wife and I got a laugh out if it. What time is the 3PM parade anyway?
-Tom in SC
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/569217292NXocuv
Highs:
Accommodations My wife and I normally stay at The Boardwalk Villas but since we didn't book this trip until 10 months out we couldn't get a 1 Bedroom Villa there so we went with Plan B and booked at the Beach Club Villas. Everything was clean and well cared for in our room so we now know that we have a safe Plan B. Of course for next year we will make sure that we book 11 in advance so we can get the Boardwalk View 1 Bedroom Villas that we like.
MVMCP Much like MNSSHP my wife and I really enjoyed the Christmas party at MK. I don't know that we will do it for our next December trip but it was fun and I would recommend it to anyone.
Illuminations My wife being Canadian we typically watch the Illuminations fireworks from Canada in Epcot. Just to try something a little different we watched the fireworks over in Italy and all I can say is we will fight for a good spot and watch it from there every trip if we can (just don't tell anybody it is such a great spot).
Segway I really don't know how I can express just how amazing the Segway tour of Epcot is. We got there at 7:30 AM for the very first tour and after watching our 15 minute introduction to the Segway we were mounted and getting the feel for the device. The ease of control and the pure enjoyment of driving a Segway is truly unique. I just have to figure out a way to justify purchasing one for grocery runs at home.
Lows but it worked out:
Wrong choice of cars: I insisted that we drive our 2 seat convertible Z4 roadster that is my newest toy to Disney for this trip. My wife argued against this very cramped and luggage limiting car but being the good women that she is she agreed to pack as light as possible so we could get everything loaded into the trunk for the trip. After that 7+ hour drive I will have to default to her wise choice of taking a much larger car for any future road trips we make (well except for going to up into the Blue Ridge mountains).
Lost jacket: We checked our luggage with the Valet and Bell Services when we arrived at the Beach Club but somewhere between Valet and Bell Services bringing us our luggage my wife's jacket disappeared. When we called them they sprang into action. They led me through the luggage holding area, brought my car back around to check it out and checked in with Lost and Found. At some point her jacket fell off the luggage cart and someone turned it in to Lost and Found. No harm no foul.
Lost wallet: One of our friends who came on the trip with us lost her wallet while on the Segway tour around Epcot. We discovered it missing about 30 minutes after we were finished with the tour. After checking in with Guest Relations and scouring all the places we visited before during and after the Segway tour she filled out a lost wallet form and a report with the Orlando Police Department we were back on our way touring the park. About 2 hours later she received a call letting her know that her wallet had been turned in. When we picked it up we discovered that everything was returned except the expired fast passes she didn't use while in Epcot the previous day. I guess the joke will be on the would be theft when they try to use the stolen fast passes.
Crowds: I guess that Disney marketing is really earning their pay checks. I remember just a few years ago when going to the Disney parks during non peak times and the parks would be almost empty. I guess those days are gone. Each day of our trip we were surrounded by people at every turn. Of course with careful use of our fast passes and Advanced Dining reservations the only thing that we missed was the new Toy Story Mania part of Hollywood Studios.
Rain: We had one morning of rain which actually turned out to be a very fun day at Epcot. We were almost alone in the World Showcase. By 3PM that afternoon the last of the clouds blew away and our private day at Epcot came to an end.
Lows:
Flat Tire: On our 2nd to the last day a friend we were with wanted to run a couple of quick errands off property. Since my wife and I drove to WDW we called Valet that morning and had them bring the car around only to discover that we had a flat tire. After limping to the Hess station and refilling the tire with air I drove to the Car Care Center near MK. After checking the tire out they said it couldn't be repaired due to side wall damage and sold me a new tire. I do feel lucky because they did have the odd ball 255/35 18.5" tire at another location and were able to have my new tire installed by late that afternoon. They were even kind enough to get me lift back to the BCV so I could meet up with my wife and friends so we could enjoy the rest of our day.
Food at the parks: I have said it before and I will say it again, the Disney Dining Plan is the worst thing that has happened to the food at WDW. Bistro de Paris, $200 for 2 people and the food was mediocre at best. Three years ago it was almost as much but we practically licked the plate. Brown Derby, $160 for 2 people and while not bad it was no where near worth what we paid. The only dining meals that I say was worth the money was at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge, $170 and I walked out of there thinking that we finally got what we paid for and Teppan Edo in Japan at Epcot. We paid $80 and did get some good sushi but as long as you have good fish then it would be hard to screw up since it is raw.
Just plain funny:
Fantasmic: While waiting for Fantasmic to start about 5 rows in front of us a middle age women suddenly screamed and jumped up on her seat. This was followed by her kids and then the family beside her (including the husband). This ripple of insanity then jumped up to the row behind them and down to the next family. By this time a Cast Member came over to see what the problem was and bravely faced down the vicious Florida cockroach that terrified four families (like I said that included at least one husband). My wife, friends and I laughed about that one for days.
Celebrity sighting (sort of): Sig and Egard Hansen of the Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch were at Norway one day and were taking photos with guests and signing autographs. While browsing through the store we over heard a gentlemen pointing to one of the Northwestern (the ship Sig and Egard pilot) shirts and looking at his female companion and loudly stating "You know what this shirt is from? That show with the Cod fisherman in New England." Of course Sig and Egard, with signs all over the place, clearly and boldly saying that they were from the Discovery Channel show The Deadliest Catch from Alaska. I don't know who all might have heard that statement but my wife and I got a laugh out if it. What time is the 3PM parade anyway?
-Tom in SC
