Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog! LINK TO TRIP REPORT!!!

[Mindy5767]

Check out this thread before you select a resort. You might find it makes a difference in your choice.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2459923&page=6

 

[dizneeat]

Mindy, all interesting points about the dining plan. Thanks for the information.


Hi, Karin! The cake was far easier than I could have ever imagined. Max had a great birthday.

As for my trip planning, I have to say that CBR holds no appeal to me. I don't know why, its just one of those things, I guess. And since I'm concerned about room size this trip, it got me looking at deluxe places. And again, CR would be perfection, but it is SO expensive. That's kind of where AKL came in. I looked at it for our last trip, too, because it is beautiful and relatively less expensive (for a Deluxe, anyway), but I got scared by the distance from the parks. I didn't realize that AKL is a trip within itself and I think Mark and I would have enjoyed it.

And when we saw AKL on our trip...well, I thought it was beautiful. Extraordinarily so. Enough to make it worth the travel time! I've been doing some research and we missed out on so much there when we visited last time. I'm just really impressed by the resort.

So...I'm fairly certain, it will be AKL! For now, anway.

I have so much time to tinker and change my mind..a million times...

But that's the fun part!

AKL is real beautiful - no way to talk you out of it!

Whenever we stayed there we would always spend FAR more time at the resort than at the parks! Are you thinking of getting a Savannah view room - I recommend that - nothing like sitting out on the balcony with a cold adult beverage and watching the animals!

We have been to visit all the resorts - easy when you have a car and stay for 6 weeks as we did one year! And AKL is still in the top 5 places to stay!
As for the CR - can't beat the location and the fact that the Monorail runs through it AND easy access to Chef Mickey's (for Max!!).
I had to LOL when I read that CBR does not draw you in! Neither did it draw us in ......... until they came up with the Pirate Rooms! Ever since we have stayed there twice!! It IS a beautiful resort but you are right about the size of the resort and that the rooms are smaller.
Have you considered staying at BLT? All new!

It will be interesting to see where we all end up in the end! At the moment Tom and I are discussing staying Value (man, those flights have become even more expensive for next February!!) and upgrading to a Moderate IF/WHEN a discount becomes available.

Okay, back to laundry for now!

 

[tinacaplan]

AKL is real beautiful - no way to talk you out of it!

Whenever we stayed there we would always spend FAR more time at the resort than at the parks! Are you thinking of getting a Savannah view room - I recommend that - nothing like sitting out on the balcony with a cold adult beverage and watching the animals!

We have been to visit all the resorts - easy when you have a car and stay for 6 weeks as we did one year! And AKL is still in the top 5 places to stay!
As for the CR - can't beat the location and the fact that the Monorail runs through it AND easy access to Chef Mickey's (for Max!!).
I had to LOL when I read that CBR does not draw you in! Neither did it draw us in ......... until they came up with the Pirate Rooms! Ever since we have stayed there twice!! It IS a beautiful resort but you are right about the size of the resort and that the rooms are smaller.
Have you considered staying at BLT? All new!

It will be interesting to see where we all end up in the end! At the moment Tom and I are discussing staying Value (man, those flights have become even more expensive for next February!!) and upgrading to a Moderate IF/WHEN a discount becomes available.

Okay, back to laundry for now!

Thanks for the input, Karin! Well, a lot depends on our finances right now and I don't know exactly what will be going in a few months (let alone six! ). I would be quite happy at CSR, too! We really loved it there. I loved the way the rooms were decorated and the grounds were gorgeous. We even enjoyed the pool, despite how chilly it was.

And again, the Contemporary is my absolute, no question, dream resort. Wow, when I put it like that... seems to make my decision so clear. But it is so expensive. I will say, though, that we'd be happy in a garden view room, or a BLT studio. And AKL is gorgeous...but far.

So, who knows? What a great decision to be grappling with though!

 

[Mindy5767]

DISNEEAT you stayed 6 weeks!!! WOWWeeee did you stay on property at a resort or did you rent a local vacation home? I can't imagine how much it would cost to stay on property for 6 WEEKS!!! This August trip is our longest stay yet because we're staying 8 nights-9 days at the Pop! We love OUR home resort Saratoga Springs. We'll be staying there for the week of Thanksgiving.

When we stay at the Pop, we do use the Food Court and the pool, but we don't spend nearly as much time at the resort as we do at SSR. Of course, at SSR, as DVC members, we get free internet, DVD loans. And we love just going for a walk around the resort, taking a boat ride to POFQ or DTD.

Actually, I'd really love to visit the alps again! Its been 3 decades!!

 

[dizneeat]

Thanks for the input, Karin! Well, a lot depends on our finances right now and I don't know exactly what will be going in a few months (let alone six! ). I would be quite happy at CSR, too! We really loved it there. I loved the way the rooms were decorated and the grounds were gorgeous. We even enjoyed the pool, despite how chilly it was.

And again, the Contemporary is my absolute, no question, dream resort. Wow, when I put it like that... seems to make my decision so clear. But it is so expensive. I will say, though, that we'd be happy in a garden view room, or a BLT studio. And AKL is gorgeous...but far.

So, who knows? What a great decision to be grappling with though!

Whatever you decide it will be wonderful, since you'll have Max with you!
Count me in on the ones who LOVE the Contemporary, but I am with you - it IS SO expensive to stay there, esp. since I would LOVE a tower room with a MK view!
Yes, I know I have expensive taste,

DISNEEAT you stayed 6 weeks!!! WOWWeeee did you stay on property at a resort or did you rent a local vacation home? I can't imagine how much it would cost to stay on property for 6 WEEKS!!! This August trip is our longest stay yet because we're staying 8 nights-9 days at the Pop! We love OUR home resort Saratoga Springs. We'll be staying there for the week of Thanksgiving.

When we stay at the Pop, we do use the Food Court and the pool, but we don't spend nearly as much time at the resort as we do at SSR. Of course, at SSR, as DVC members, we get free internet, DVD loans. And we love just going for a walk around the resort, taking a boat ride to POFQ or DTD.

Actually, I'd really love to visit the alps again! Its been 3 decades!!

Yes, we usually stay for "only" 4 weeks but a few years ago we stayed for 6 and it was !!
We did stay on property for all but 4 nights when we ventured offsite to ......


..........



..........

Universal

If I remember correctly, we stayed at POR, Pop, ASMo and AKL. It was worth every penny we paid for it (in those days I didn't know about the Disboards, let alone that there were discounts - Austrian TAs don't do discounts - it's rack rate or leave it!) Nowadays we don't use any more TAs and it works out far cheaper!

 

[dizneeat]

Sorry Tina, I somehow managed to double post!

 

[tinacaplan]

Sorry Tina, I somehow managed to double post!

That's ok...your post brought me to page eight! YAY! I can't believe that you once stayed for six weeks. That's incredible. Six weeks immersed in the magic How were you able to function back in the real world after that? That comes awfully close to my grand plan to build a small dwelling underneath one of the monorail lines in Futureworld!

And you are quite the resort expert, I suppose. How far out, really, is AKL? Did you ever use their bus service to get anywhere? I have read posts that say it can take twenty minutes to get from the CR to EPCOT on the monrail. That seems like a very long time, IMO. So, if its twenty minutes from the AKL to EPCOT, that makes a bit more sense to me. Especially since AKL is a lot cheaper. I think I was spoiled by CSR's busses...didn't take long to get ANYWHERE.

And, boy, do I hear you on the CR Tower MK view. That would be unreal. Truly. That's the stuff of a big wedding anniversary or a milestone birthday for Max! We'll see....

 

[KatMark]

Sorry I've not been around...just a little busy. We did CR with a view of the castle once. It was nice, but not something we would pay for it (it was an upgrade on our very first stay).

 

[tinacaplan]

Sorry I've not been around...just a little busy. We did CR with a view of the castle once. It was nice, but not something we would pay for it (it was an upgrade on our very first stay).

Um...yeah, you've kind of had a busy week! But hopefully both patients are on the mend. Are you feeling better? Mark looked to be in good spirits. Ahh..yes... the Contemporary. I don't think I'd pay extra for a view of anything, to be honeset. Although, come to think of it, we did pay for waterview at CSR and I was not dissapointed by that in the least.

I know that our Disney travelling will change as Max gets older and can spend longer periods of time in the parks. Heck, I can (almost!) envision a time when staying at Value wouldn't be so bad because he'll want to be at the parks so much! At three, though, I know we'll be spending some serious time at our resort, which made me think, maybe I could justify the extra cost. Also, we'll be at MK most this trip, so you can't argue with the convience factor. (Not that CSR is inconvient, because it isn't...no matter how people complain about the busses, we loved them) That said, there are so many things that need to fall into place between now and then.

If the starts aligned perfectly and we could get CR, garden wing, on a 40% off discount, and could afford the splurge... I might consider it... and then probably end up booking CSR anyway! I'm not sure when it comes down to it that I really could spend that much money on a hotel room.

So I think I will carry on with my planning for a seven night stay at CSR! We love it there! What can I say?

p.s...let me just say that I reserve the right to change my mind about this at least ten more times before I make my reservation!

 

[dvc at last !]

Wow - I did a lot of reading.
There is nothing wrong with thinking and planning your vacation for months
it is part of the fun. You can get so many ideas from this board.
I was brought up with the saying " sweep in front of your own door first "
no judging. Max is a cutie ! If you want to stay at your fav place do it.
We have DVC so we try different resorts each time. With a 1 bedroom there is a full kitchen and a washer and dryer - love it ! We bring some things from home and order groceries there. Breakfast and some lunches are at the resort. Dinner out. Like to get up early hit the parks go back to the resort eat lunch and swim and back to the parks for the evening.

 

[dvc at last !]

There is not a bad resort - all great, just different decor !

 

[Mindy5767]

There is alot to be said for the Value Resorts. We also are DVC, so we do go down frequently. When we aren't staying DVC, we choose value. It lets us go down more because the cost difference is really significant. Yeah, the rooms are smaller, but if its just my DH, me and DD8, its fine. DD8 loves the Pop Century. Its really a fun theme. The food court has alot of choices, and I can bring my own food if I want (cereal, etc). There's a toaster. I can toast my weight watchers bagel. The All Star Music, which I stayed in 2005, just got excellent reviews by the Disunplugged Podcast crew on their food court. Apparently, that resort manager knows what he's doing. They said the food was fresher and the baked goods so close to home baked that it beat some deluxe and mods.

We stayed at SSR in March, we're staying at Pop in August and in November, for Thanksgiving, we'll be back at SSR. We've done the Studios and the 2 bedroom villas, but not the 1 bedroom villas. It seems we're always bringing extra people and needing the 2 bedroom. I love the place though. The only problem I have with staying at the Pop.. or anyplace else for that matter... is its not my HOME. Its like you're going really close to home... but you're not quite there. I'll have to drop by SSR to get my fix!

 

[dvc at last !]

Our first trip to WDW in 1995 we stayed at All Star Music - loved it.
You are correct the Food Court was excellent. Then we were hooked !
Like I said all the Resorts are great just different theming.

 

[tinacaplan]

There is not a bad resort - all great, just different decor !

Thanks for reading. New readers always make my day!

There is alot to be said for the Value Resorts. We also are DVC, so we do go down frequently. When we aren't staying DVC, we choose value. It lets us go down more because the cost difference is really significant. Yeah, the rooms are smaller, but if its just my DH, me and DD8, its fine. DD8 loves the Pop Century. Its really a fun theme. The food court has alot of choices, and I can bring my own food if I want (cereal, etc). There's a toaster. I can toast my weight watchers bagel. The All Star Music, which I stayed in 2005, just got excellent reviews by the Disunplugged Podcast crew on their food court. Apparently, that resort manager knows what he's doing. They said the food was fresher and the baked goods so close to home baked that it beat some deluxe and mods.

We stayed at SSR in March, we're staying at Pop in August and in November, for Thanksgiving, we'll be back at SSR. We've done the Studios and the 2 bedroom villas, but not the 1 bedroom villas. It seems we're always bringing extra people and needing the 2 bedroom. I love the place though. The only problem I have with staying at the Pop.. or anyplace else for that matter... is its not my HOME. Its like you're going really close to home... but you're not quite there. I'll have to drop by SSR to get my fix!

I'm fairly certain we'll do CSR again. I do really LOVE it there and it will make us all very happy. I just sometimes go off.... on these flights of fancy, I suppose, where I like to think we might go deluxe. And, hey, perhaps we will. Not very likely, but its fun to think about!

 

[tinacaplan]

So I chaperoned a trip to Six Flags, New England today (large-ish amusement park about an hour away..there are several Six Flags parks in the country) and, while I tried HARD not to, I couldn't stop comparing it to Disneyworld. The kids had a wonderful time, actually, even if I didn't!

And herewith...my TOP REASONS WHY DISNEY REALLY IS THE HAPPIEST PALCE ON EARTH...

1. Bugs Bunny dosen't give me quite the same thrill as meeting say... Mickey Mouse... or Mary Poppins, who I practically stalked on my last trip. Obviously, if you look at my avatar, you can see I was sucessful.


2. I do not like my roller coasters to practically kill me. I decided to try ONE coaster and well...it did not end well. It was so fast and each drop we took, I felt like I was going to be lifted right up out of my seat. It was too fast and horrible.

3. I don't enjoy eating horrendous platters of chicken tenders and fries and paying over ten dollars for the privilige. Seriously. No lie. Horrible.

4. There was loud pop music playing everywhere. Which isn't to say I don't like music. I love it. But at Disney there is aways music of some kind floating around, adding to the unique experience.

5. Every, last little detail at Disney is designed to submerge you in an experience that is some what...out of this world. One of the most wonderful things about Disney is staying on site and using their transportation and feeling like you've been transported a million miles away.

6. At Disney, there are characters and attractions that are wound in beautiful, goose-bump producing memories. At Six Flags...well, no, of course not.


I was going to try and come up with ten things, but I've been in the sun all day and I'm pretty tired! Maybe I'll get around to anotehr REAL update soon!

 

[KatMark]

So I chaperoned a trip to Six Flags, New England today (large-ish amusement park about an hour away..there are several Six Flags parks in the country) and, while I tried HARD not to, I couldn't stop comparing it to Disneyworld. The kids had a wonderful time, actually, even if I didn't!

And herewith...my TOP REASONS WHY DISNEY REALLY IS THE HAPPIEST PALCE ON EARTH...

1. Bugs Bunny dosen't give me quite the same thrill as meeting say... Mickey Mouse... or Mary Poppins, who I practically stalked on my last trip. Obviously, if you look at my avatar, you can see I was sucessful.


2. I do not like my roller coasters to practically kill me. I decided to try ONE coaster and well...it did not end well. It was so fast and each drop we took, I felt like I was going to be lifted right up out of my seat. It was too fast and horrible.

3. I don't enjoy eating horrendous platters of chicken tenders and fries and paying over ten dollars for the privilige. Seriously. No lie. Horrible.

4. There was loud pop music playing everywhere. Which isn't to say I don't like music. I love it. But at Disney there is aways music of some kind floating around, adding to the unique experience.

5. Every, last little detail at Disney is designed to submerge you in an experience that is some what...out of this world. One of the most wonderful things about Disney is staying on site and using their transportation and feeling like you've been transported a million miles away.

6. At Disney, there are characters and attractions that are wound in beautiful, goose-bump producing memories. At Six Flags...well, no, of course not.


I was going to try and come up with ten things, but I've been in the sun all day and I'm pretty tired! Maybe I'll get around to anotehr REAL update soon!

I agree with ALL six of your reasons. And I'll add another. Although you can have a crying child, an obnoxious teen, etc., at Disney World, I have NEVER encountered the unchaperoned teenagers at Disney that we have at Six Flags. The last time we went to Six Flags the boys were about 7 and 9 years old. We were on the "rapids" ride and the language coming out of the mouths of the teenagers on that ride was beyond anything I had ever heard. When I kindly asked them to tone it down as I had two young children with me, they told me to "F.....off." We've never gone back to Six Flags since that time.

 

[Mindy5767]

I agree with ALL six of your reasons. And I'll add another. Although you can have a crying child, an obnoxious teen, etc., at Disney World, I have NEVER encountered the unchaperoned teenagers at Disney that we have at Six Flags. The last time we went to Six Flags the boys were about 7 and 9 years old. We were on the "rapids" ride and the language coming out of the mouths of the teenagers on that ride was beyond anything I had ever heard. When I kindly asked them to tone it down as I had two young children with me, they told me to "F.....off." We've never gone back to Six Flags since that time.

I have had some very unfortunate experiences at those "other" theme parks. The last non-Disney theme park we went to was Hershey Park. When I was a kid, that's where my parents took us more often. We went to Disney twice, but Hershey many times. Well... this last time, it was after having been to many recent Disney trips. All I could do was compare and see how dumpy Hershey park seemed now. It seemed old and in need of some rehab. My DD had fun, but it wasn't the same. The whole reason we went was because my sister had won tickets from a radio station, so we only had to pay $24.00 for my daughter's child's ticket. So, for $24.00 we got our money's worth. The food was horrible, the bathrooms dirty , it was crowded and the lines to the rides, if you can even call them that... where totally unmanaged. Some of the rides, the line seemed to just be a pushing crowd. Several years back, I took my older children, I think it was in the late 90's to Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. It used to be a Hanna Barbera themed amusement park when I was a kid. Now, it has Nickelodeon rug rats and other things that don't seem to connect. I don't even think they have the Flintstones anymore... but anyway, it was way horrible. It was crowded and the crowds of unchaperoned teenagers were unruly. At once point, a fight broke out between some unruly teens in front of us. We tried to get out of the way, but they were all over the place and I ended up getting knocked to the ground. And believe me, there were no employees or security people to attend to me. I had to pick myself back up and get myself out of there. I swore I would never go back. And I haven't. It was not like that at all when I was a teenager. I wouldn't call it family friendly anymore. That stuff just doesn't happen at Disney!! And if it did, believe me... it would be handled.

 

[dizneeat]

So I chaperoned a trip to Six Flags, New England today (large-ish amusement park about an hour away..there are several Six Flags parks in the country) and, while I tried HARD not to, I couldn't stop comparing it to Disneyworld. The kids had a wonderful time, actually, even if I didn't!

And herewith...my TOP REASONS WHY DISNEY REALLY IS THE HAPPIEST PALCE ON EARTH...

1. Bugs Bunny dosen't give me quite the same thrill as meeting say... Mickey Mouse... or Mary Poppins, who I practically stalked on my last trip. Obviously, if you look at my avatar, you can see I was sucessful.


2. I do not like my roller coasters to practically kill me. I decided to try ONE coaster and well...it did not end well. It was so fast and each drop we took, I felt like I was going to be lifted right up out of my seat. It was too fast and horrible.

3. I don't enjoy eating horrendous platters of chicken tenders and fries and paying over ten dollars for the privilige. Seriously. No lie. Horrible.

4. There was loud pop music playing everywhere. Which isn't to say I don't like music. I love it. But at Disney there is aways music of some kind floating around, adding to the unique experience.

5. Every, last little detail at Disney is designed to submerge you in an experience that is some what...out of this world. One of the most wonderful things about Disney is staying on site and using their transportation and feeling like you've been transported a million miles away.

6. At Disney, there are characters and attractions that are wound in beautiful, goose-bump producing memories. At Six Flags...well, no, of course not.


I was going to try and come up with ten things, but I've been in the sun all day and I'm pretty tired! Maybe I'll get around to anotehr REAL update soon!

I couldn't agree with you more on your reasons!!!

We have little experience with US theme parks (only been to Seaworld and US, both Hollywood and Orlando), but even there we did compare and point out to each other what it is that makes us love Disney so much.

Should you ever venture to visit other European parks - here are our experiences with some of them:
Phantasialand - no themeing, people do not line up whatsoever, lots of shoving and pushing, people are smoking all over the place, food - just gross!!!!

Warner Bros Moviepark - we went there several times because of the fun rides, BUT as I said before - bare rollercoasters, no theming, no storystelling, pushing and shoving, smoking, line jumpers - food - lets not talk about it, we came armed with a sandwich!

Europapark - they must have had someone copying Disney rides - lots of copies - this one would get the best review, but it is miles from ANY US park and lightyears from Disney!
They have a ride inside a giant globe - looks very much like Spaceship earth, .
And the waterride, with lots of little gnomes looked very much like Splash Mountain! Many other rides reminded us of Disney as well!

So, as I said before - couldn't agree with you more!

And let me tell you I find it frightening to take a class to an amusement park! You are one brave teacher to do so! I would be so worried that one of my pupils would get lost!

 

[tinacaplan]

WOW! So many comments on this topic. Shouldn't be surprised on a board full of hardcore Disney lovers.

My experience just further reinforces my feeling that any money I might be tempted to spend on amusement parks, fairs, etc...is best just put away for a trip to Disney. There are few places we've brought Max that I thought were worth the incredible expense. We have a local children's museum, to which we have a membership (for a mere hundred bucks) that is TOTALLY worth it, but that's been about it. And, well, he's still young for most "grown-up" museums.

And that's another thing...I just could not get over how pricey the food was at this place. Seriously...11 bucks for a plate of chicken tenders and some fries??? Even ice cream was over five bucks. And to think that in Disney you can eat a delicious napolean in France or a cupcake from Starring Rolls for a SNACK CREDIT!!

And Karin, I was only responsible for eight of my best behaved girls and the park was fairly small, all things considered, plus in the age of cell phones, finding one of them wouldn't have been a huge problem. So, I'm not that brave!

 

[Mindy5767]

Tina, I see you live in CT. When we visited CT for my cousin's Bat Mitzvah, we took the kids to an aquarium (southern part of the state). Not sure if it was called the Connecticut Aquarium or what it was called. But they loved it. It wasn't too expensive. I think it was cheaper than the Baltimore Aquarium. Of course, we're spoiled by the National Zoo and Smithsonian museums that are free. But those prices ARE what you find for a child's meal at the Smithsonian, but at least at the National Indian Museum the food is great!! Also the Kennedy Center has high prices for all food, including the childrens meals, but then again... we didn't pay for admission. Parking on the other hand... is just another adventure to add to the list.