Home now after a patchwork trip: One night at Caribbean Beach, followed by seven nights at Yacht Club, and one final night at Gran Destino.
Oh YC...what can I say? After this trip I think we'd break up!! But is it the resort's fault or covid protocol's fault...not sure.
We stayed 6/7 at CB and moved to YC on the morning of 6/8, left our luggage with bell services and waited for a boat to Hollywood Studios...and waited. And waited. And then gave up and walked over to the Skyliner. When we returned midday we got the room ready text as soon as the Friendship Boat docked. Great timing, we were so hot and tired!! Walked into the room (Room 2024) and painters were sitting on our balcony, loudly talking (yelling) back and forth. We had a nice view of the pond and trees, very private, except the lifts sat outside our room all week and were still there when we checked out yesterday morning (6/15).
No mousekeeping all week - twice we were able to ask a housekeeper in the hall for fresh towels, a new roll of toilet paper, and trash removal. One day I practically begged her to run a sweeper over the floor. She did, but we all had to cram outside on the balcony to eat our Ale and Compass takeout.
Four people in one room for seven days with no housekeeping was rough. We left so much trash behind from our Instacart order of water/gatorade/diet coke. I felt bad, but if they'd done regular trash pick up it wouldn't have been that way. We kept it contained with the brown bags from orders at the Market, A&C Lounge, and Disney bags from park purchases so it wasn't all over the place (i can't stand a messy room!)
It was so hot outside, so multiple showers and towels getting misplaced and mixed up...it just made for a rough time having to track people down for fresh towels and to get the old damp ones taken away.
Our room neighbors had a small baby/toddler and left a bag of used diapers outside one day. Yuck. Thankfully those were removed!!!
One night there was a pretty rough storm and power was out in our wing of the building. Our 15 year old went to get snacks from the Market and said people were in the lobby complaining and shouting, and I felt bad for Disney b/c it wasn't their fault! I'm not sure how long it was out - we were at Epcot when it hit (safe under cover at Spice Road Table...our kids were in Japan and when there was a break in the rain they ran for it and went back to the resort. The power was out when they got to the room. It was back on by the time DH and I returned, although it did flash off again for about five minutes or so again later that evening)
We were told lighting hit the laundry area by the Admiral Pool, and both were closed in the days afterward. We didn't check to see if they were open by the time we left.
Boats were hit or miss, but that will be improving in the coming weeks as they increase capacity and take down the awful plastic barrier things (it made the boats SO HOT because it blocked the breeze). We had no problem with buses.
And even though it was annoying to have the painting lifts outside all week, it wasn't THAT big of a deal...and the painters were needed - but they were needed inside as well. Our room felt damp and grimy...it needed a deep clean and some repairs done to the bathroom.
Moving to the Gran Destino Tower yesterday morning felt like moving into a palace.
Positives - because I do NOT like to be a negative nelly:
1. Ale and Compass Lounge!! I hope you all have the joy of Ricardo as your server b/c he's wonderful. You can get the burger form A&C and it. is. worth. it. Good drinks, too! I had the How Dare You? based on name alone, and I would recommend it on its own merit, lol.
2. Ale and Compass Restaurant Take Out via Mobile Order - Who knew braised short ribs were good from a take out container??? Probably even better on a plate, so I'll also suggest...
3. Ale and Compass Restaurant. We had "breakfast" here at 11:10 one day. The shrimp and grits was the clear winner (followed by that Vermont Cheddar burger again...my 17 year old had it three times over the course of the trip: from the lounge, at this "breakfast", and from the night we did A&C takeout.)
4. Stormalong Bay - we finally got to use it! We swam for a couple of hours mid-afternoon, from around 1 - 3pm on Monday 6/14. Lots of chairs, not too crowded in the area we were in (right in the center split of Yacht/Beach Club in front of Beaches and Cream). My oldest hung out there the day before on his own from about noon to 2 and he had the same experience. We never saw a line throughout the week. What a fun pool! (although the sand bottom creeps me out, LOL!)
5. Buses - we had zero issue with bus availability. No long waits except the day our 17 year old went back to the resort by himself instead of coming to Epcot with us after Homecomin' brunch at Disney Springs. We made it to Saratoga Springs by bus, and then to Epcot by bus by the time he was just boarding a bus to YC from Disney Springs. But I call that karma for him not joining us in the park, LOL!!
As a seasoned visitor this was probably the hardest trip we've ever been on. I am so excited for everyone with upcoming trips who get to experience the more "normal" disney-ness. I'm sure most of the inconveniences from this visit will fade away and it will be smooth sailing in the coming months and any complaints I might have had with this trip won't be an issue for any of you!!