Finally sitting down to start this report. Since coming back from Florida we had Christmas and moved house, never again!!
Back to the report. Travelling: me, Martin, planner, Donna wife and boss and John real boss aged 9.
Thursday Dec 3rd we arrived at Gatwick V lounge to await our flight. Unfortunately the 11.15 was delayed until 1pm. Unfortunate but we took advantage of the lounge. We then had a long flight and finally arrived tired but safe. Checked the car and drove to I drive. We were so tired that our usual game of Pirate golf was postponed, John was sleeping.
Friday 4th. Awake early and breakfast at Ponderosa. There was some rain so we haeded to MK, always our first park. The park was very quiet, probablt because of the rain. We have always travelled in December and have never known weather like it. We left early after riding our favourite rides, Buzz, Pirates Thunder Mountain and others. We then headed back to QI Plaza and then onto shopping. We normally leave the shopping until the 2nd week but took advantage of the weather to get it done earlier and hope for better weather.
Saturday a little more shopping and then we hit Downtown. John was at an age that he could really appreciate Disneyquest and he did!! We spent several hours here and only left after promising to return. We then ate in Bahama Breeze, never a disappointment, played golf and then slept.
Sunday, MGM, sorry Hollywood Studios. The weather was a little better and we headed to Toy Story. The queue was 70 minutes and so John insisted we join it. Fast passes were early evening. The ride was great and 70 minutes went quickly. We also rode Star Wars, saw Indiana and generally had fun.
Monday was the day we were looking forward to. Universal and Islands. John is a huge Simpsons fan and the last time we here the ride was being built. We rode Simpsons 3 times and MIB 3 times. There were no queues which was great. Again the weather was not great.
Tuesday we returned to Magic Kingdom. Again another fantastic day.
I won't try to bore you all with a day by day blow by blow account so will highlight certain days and events.
I read on the forum reports about the new T-Rex restaurant. I can honestly say we were not impressed. The food portions were small, the noise was too much and the prices were expensive. This was the most expensive meal we had in the whole 2 weeks and nowhere near the best. Definitely one to avoid.
We have always been fans of Disney character breakfast but thought we would try Universal for a change. We did this on Thursday Dec 6th. The character interaction was great, Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. Unfortunately the food was limited and poor. I am a fan of American breakfast but there was little choice. There was plenty of muffins but no proper eggs, bacon or sausage. We would not hurry back here for breakfast.
We went to Epcot on the 11th but I am not a big fan of this park so we kept it to one visit.
Saturday we packed and travelled to the Polynesian for our second part of the holiday. On arrival we were early but still checked in. We had a lovely surprise when we told that we had been upgraded to concierge. I queried why and was told "pixie dust". I did not query it again. Once we had settled in we looked around. How the other half live!! There was free breakfast, lunchtime snacks, evening snacks and drinks and nighttime drinks. We were careful first not to eat or drink too much just in case they had made a mistake. By the next day we threw caution to the wind and ate and drank well. We even had entry into the parks for free.
The next day we had breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Far far better than Universal. We went to Downtown in the day and MGM at night. We ate in Mama Melrose and then watched Fantasmic. The food was great and the show better.
Monday we went to Cape May for breakfast. This was great, good character interaction and excellent food. We would definitely do this again.
The rest of the holiday we spent in Disney parks Animal Kingdom, MGM and again Downtown.
Overall, Donna and I agree this is the best Disney trip we have done. The highlight was staying at the Poly and being upgraded to concierge. Now we have had a taste we want to go back and stay in the same place again with concierge. What surprised me was the way some people treated the dining area. There were kids eating food and just leaving it for staff to clean up. There were half eaten plates of food left on tables and food dropped on the floor. The Disney staff were excellent but I thought this was just bad manners. The parents seemed unconcerned and made no attempt to keep the area clean. I know you pay for the extra service but does that give people reason to behave like this? The weather was not good and, as I wrote, was the worst rain we have known in December.
Disney is still good value for money and Universal is catching up. With Harry Potter land currently being built they will give Disney a run for their money. However, where Disney dominate is quality and Magic.
We also had the Disney Dining Plan which we can't recommend enough, well worth the money. Despite the fun of staying on Disney we still like I Drive. The restaurants in the area are brilliant and there is plenty to do. We also changed breakfast restaurants from Ponderosa to Sizzlers. Sizzlers is slightly more expensive but the food was nicer. I don't know why we never tried it before. Tony Romas was excellent as was Bahama Breeze. TGI and Don Pablos was okay but lacked something. They both seem more of a fast food outlet now.
I will try and download photos at some point and will add on bits as I remember them.
Back to the report. Travelling: me, Martin, planner, Donna wife and boss and John real boss aged 9.
Thursday Dec 3rd we arrived at Gatwick V lounge to await our flight. Unfortunately the 11.15 was delayed until 1pm. Unfortunate but we took advantage of the lounge. We then had a long flight and finally arrived tired but safe. Checked the car and drove to I drive. We were so tired that our usual game of Pirate golf was postponed, John was sleeping.
Friday 4th. Awake early and breakfast at Ponderosa. There was some rain so we haeded to MK, always our first park. The park was very quiet, probablt because of the rain. We have always travelled in December and have never known weather like it. We left early after riding our favourite rides, Buzz, Pirates Thunder Mountain and others. We then headed back to QI Plaza and then onto shopping. We normally leave the shopping until the 2nd week but took advantage of the weather to get it done earlier and hope for better weather.
Saturday a little more shopping and then we hit Downtown. John was at an age that he could really appreciate Disneyquest and he did!! We spent several hours here and only left after promising to return. We then ate in Bahama Breeze, never a disappointment, played golf and then slept.
Sunday, MGM, sorry Hollywood Studios. The weather was a little better and we headed to Toy Story. The queue was 70 minutes and so John insisted we join it. Fast passes were early evening. The ride was great and 70 minutes went quickly. We also rode Star Wars, saw Indiana and generally had fun.
Monday was the day we were looking forward to. Universal and Islands. John is a huge Simpsons fan and the last time we here the ride was being built. We rode Simpsons 3 times and MIB 3 times. There were no queues which was great. Again the weather was not great.
Tuesday we returned to Magic Kingdom. Again another fantastic day.
I won't try to bore you all with a day by day blow by blow account so will highlight certain days and events.
I read on the forum reports about the new T-Rex restaurant. I can honestly say we were not impressed. The food portions were small, the noise was too much and the prices were expensive. This was the most expensive meal we had in the whole 2 weeks and nowhere near the best. Definitely one to avoid.
We have always been fans of Disney character breakfast but thought we would try Universal for a change. We did this on Thursday Dec 6th. The character interaction was great, Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. Unfortunately the food was limited and poor. I am a fan of American breakfast but there was little choice. There was plenty of muffins but no proper eggs, bacon or sausage. We would not hurry back here for breakfast.
We went to Epcot on the 11th but I am not a big fan of this park so we kept it to one visit.
Saturday we packed and travelled to the Polynesian for our second part of the holiday. On arrival we were early but still checked in. We had a lovely surprise when we told that we had been upgraded to concierge. I queried why and was told "pixie dust". I did not query it again. Once we had settled in we looked around. How the other half live!! There was free breakfast, lunchtime snacks, evening snacks and drinks and nighttime drinks. We were careful first not to eat or drink too much just in case they had made a mistake. By the next day we threw caution to the wind and ate and drank well. We even had entry into the parks for free.
The next day we had breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Far far better than Universal. We went to Downtown in the day and MGM at night. We ate in Mama Melrose and then watched Fantasmic. The food was great and the show better.
Monday we went to Cape May for breakfast. This was great, good character interaction and excellent food. We would definitely do this again.
The rest of the holiday we spent in Disney parks Animal Kingdom, MGM and again Downtown.
Overall, Donna and I agree this is the best Disney trip we have done. The highlight was staying at the Poly and being upgraded to concierge. Now we have had a taste we want to go back and stay in the same place again with concierge. What surprised me was the way some people treated the dining area. There were kids eating food and just leaving it for staff to clean up. There were half eaten plates of food left on tables and food dropped on the floor. The Disney staff were excellent but I thought this was just bad manners. The parents seemed unconcerned and made no attempt to keep the area clean. I know you pay for the extra service but does that give people reason to behave like this? The weather was not good and, as I wrote, was the worst rain we have known in December.
Disney is still good value for money and Universal is catching up. With Harry Potter land currently being built they will give Disney a run for their money. However, where Disney dominate is quality and Magic.
We also had the Disney Dining Plan which we can't recommend enough, well worth the money. Despite the fun of staying on Disney we still like I Drive. The restaurants in the area are brilliant and there is plenty to do. We also changed breakfast restaurants from Ponderosa to Sizzlers. Sizzlers is slightly more expensive but the food was nicer. I don't know why we never tried it before. Tony Romas was excellent as was Bahama Breeze. TGI and Don Pablos was okay but lacked something. They both seem more of a fast food outlet now.
I will try and download photos at some point and will add on bits as I remember them.
