Home again - Highs and lows

[Elise79]

We got home yesterday from 16 nights at OKW.

Highs:

OKW - Great room at OKW perfect location for us with a fantastic view of the golf course (including a bunker ) - resort is still one of our favourites. Never disappoints.
Gurgling Suitcase - spent many an hour in the bar here. Great fun place to be

Parasailing - I took DD on a tandem parasail now she is old enough and she loved it!!




KSC - We were lucky enough to see a Rocket launch. Whilst its no where near as impressive as the shuttle it was still amazing. We were lucky as it was delayed by a couple of hours so they opened the buses up on an extended tour and we got really close to the last shuttle pad (which is going to be demolished soon as it has been leased to Space X)



Look for the yellow dot!


Meeting up with friends - Spent some time with friends from Orlando and we got to spend some quality time with friends we first met in October 2011 who live in CT. We met at an Owners Locker Wine Evening in Epcot and the 2 girls hit it off straight away. They saw each other again in December 2012 for the evening and again had a great time. This time they got 3 days.


Yachtsman Steakhouse - this restaurant never disappoints. Amazing food and service.


Frozen premium package - worth ever penny we spent on it. Front row viewing with ice cream and drinks for the processional, first row after disabled seating in the sing a long and alcoholic beverages with the dessert party for the fireworks

Longboat Key Club - Spent another night here. Love the place so relaxing and a sea turtle laid her nest right below our balcony during the night.


Disappointments:

BA - won't be flying with them again. Ever.

California Grill - one of WDW premier dining locations. Our favourite server wasn't working so we took who we were given and he was rubbish. Didn't explain the menu, didn't offer drinks (and we had alcohol so it would have upped his tip to keep them refilled) and at the end tried to give himself a extra tip
Its a shame as I had organised a cake for my in laws 40th Anniversary and a chocolate Pluto for DD so its should have been a memorable night for the right reasons.

FP+ - This worked better in April when it was just rolled out than it did this time. They have "tweaked" it and IMO not for the better. I can still work it but it was a lot less flexible feeling this time.

Any questions feel free to ask

 

[disneyholic family]

welcome back!!
all in all sounds like a magical time was had by all!!!

FP+ continues to make me nervous!!

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow Tracy, welcome home. It certainly sounds like a fantastic trip. I absolutely adore Chloe's blue spotted dress. Meeting up with friends is nearly always a highlight of our WDW trips now.

At the risk of sending you off on a Lee-style-rant about BA, dare I ask what the problem was? Or problems were?

The parasailing looks great, I think Gary is hoping to persuade Daniel to do it with him next trip.

 

[karen1987]

Dare I ask about your experience with BA?! We fly with them next Monday!

 

[pickers1982]

What are the FP tweaks. Shame as thought it was great in feb

 

[flortlebap]

Shame about Cali Grill - we have our first trip there early sept!

 

[Cyrano]

Sound like you had a wonderful time.

 

[dixonsontour]

Para sailing looks great.

 

[irenep]

Sounds like a great time overall - but what is it with BA these days? - so many unhappy customers!

I love sitting on my balcony watching the golfers at OKW (great entertainment) and I always leave intending to take up golf ...haven't done yet though

FP+ seems to be going from bad to worse. We had it in April and found it just about did for us but nowhere near as good as before - so what's the difference now? I thought it sounded better being able to get a 4th (or more) later?

 

[scoobydooby]

Ha h another one in the never again BA Club. I'm
In that too!

My kids did the parasailing last year tandem and loved it too. I'm chicken.

You have over several posts put Yachtsman on my must eat at list

Did you use the pull out beds? What did you think? Any photos?

Glad you had a good trip. I found my own personal experience of FPP in May ranged from excellent to really irritating. I thought it made MK and AK easier to navigate and DHS and Epcot considerably harder to navigate. I did like that on our late start days when we didn't rope drop we still had three great rides to enjoy.

 

[pickers1982]

I usually do le cellier even if staying in bc but think ill give yachtsman a go now

 

[Elise79]

Wow Tracy, welcome home. It certainly sounds like a fantastic trip. I absolutely adore Chloe's blue spotted dress. Meeting up with friends is nearly always a highlight of our WDW trips now.

At the risk of sending you off on a Lee-style-rant about BA, dare I ask what the problem was? Or problems were?

The parasailing looks great, I think Gary is hoping to persuade Daniel to do it with him next trip.

Dare I ask about your experience with BA?! We fly with them next Monday!

Firstly BA - our issues started with them pre-flight. They changed the times of our flights at least 4 times and didn't notify us. We aren't talking small changes either one change was over 2 hours!

Then when I came to pay my balance off (it was a fly drive) I did it online and got a confirmation it was all paid. 4 weeks later I get a call to say there was a glitch and payment wasn't taken. It then took 4 ( yes four) phones calls to get it sorted and them to take my money!

Lastly, the actual flight experience was less than stellar. We were in WT+ and are used to VS PE so not having seperate crew, no wine before take off, grumpy crew both ways - they gave out the customs forms on the plane rather than at check in and I was sitting in the second seat in and DH had got up when she came past and she just missed me out so I asked for one and she snapped at me I could get it from the other side, outbound they had run out of first choice meal for DH and he was '7th to be served and one of those in front had chosen the other meal, no after dinner drinks, no hot chocolate on the night flight and the last straw they damaged both our cases on the way home (one we had to break the lock on to get it open)!

When they charge the same £ for £ as VS I expect the same level of service and it wasn't there or anywhere near.

What are the FP tweaks. Shame as thought it was great in feb

Sounds like a great time overall - but what is it with BA these days? - so many unhappy customers!

I love sitting on my balcony watching the golfers at OKW (great entertainment) and I always leave intending to take up golf ...haven't done yet though

FP+ seems to be going from bad to worse. We had it in April and found it just about did for us but nowhere near as good as before - so what's the difference now? I thought it sounded better being able to get a 4th (or more) later?

FP+ - they used to hold a bigger percentage back for on the day booking and also used to give you more choices of times when you tried to change. Now it requires a lot of work to do the same things. We are in the minority as we go more frequently so I will plan some days but not others in advance and even at Easter i was able to get the FPs I wanted on the day fairly easily. This time I spent a lot of time getting frustrated with both the app and selection choices.

 

[Sailing Queen]

Can I ask, what building you were in at OKW ? Will be our first time onsite in January, 2 bed, can't wait

 

[Elise79]

Can I ask, what building you were in at OKW ? Will be our first time onsite in January, 2 bed, can't wait

We were in building 16 this time. The only issue with this building (and buildings 64 & 15) is the parking - there is very little parking for these buildings and sometimes coming back late we couldn't get a space.

However at OKW what is best for one family might not suit another. We like having access to both the main pool and a quiet pool as we do use both. I also like being in walking distance to the Suitcase

We do not use the refillable mugs even though we get them with the DDP so that isn't a consideration to us. I think we filled them 4 maybe 5 times in 16 nights despite walking past to get to the pool.

 

[Elise79]

Here are some more photos:
Hoop Dee Doo:


California Grill:










Longboat Key Club:




Bundt Cake from Norway:


Frozen premium package:

 

[kizzabel]

Fab photos and BA aside it sounds like you had a fantastic holiday. Your LO is a cutie. Those desserts look lush!

 

[BudgieMama]

Elise, how did you find out your flight times had changed, if they didn't contact you? Where did you find the updated details? I don't want them to change ours and miss it!

 

[disneyholic family]

that frozen premium package looks very cool!! (no pun intended)

 

[darthtatty]

looks like you had a lovely time.
I love your parasailing pics, im surprised my husband hasn't mentioned doing it before. May have to check it out next week

 

[Dimplenose]

Elise, how did you find out your flight times had changed, if they didn't contact you? Where did you find the updated details? I don't want them to change ours and miss it!

You need to keep checking your "manage my Booking" page. Any changes will show up in red.