I think I made a HUGE mistake!!!!

[loribell]

Yep that is right, a HUGE mistake! We just returned from a quick trip to WDW, spent 6 wonderful nights at SSR. When we checked in the CM said our room was ready! Of course it was about 11:00 p.m. so I said boy that's good.

I was a little concerned when I called to make reservations because MS said SSR only had a few rooms left and I had already checked availability at all of the moderate resorts and was told they were all full. I was just positive the parks were going to be absolutely packed.

To my surprise the parks were not busy at all. Of course this is what I have always heard the parks were like at this time of year but with what I had found while trying to book I room I was worried.

This is where the HUGE mistake comes in; now that I have actually experienced the parks in this way I don't know how I can take the crowds in the future. I don't think the school will take to kindly to me taking the kids out of school for 2 weeks every fall, 4 days was really pushing it! There were basically NO waits for anything. Even when the ride said there was a 10 - 20 mninute wiat it was a walk on! Wow, I didn't now it could really be like that!

Anyway, we were in the Springs, room 3335. It was absolutely beautiful and in perfect condition. I made no requests except for non smoking but had hoped to be near High Rock Springs pool and we were pleasantly surprised with exactlly that. It was just a quick walk to the pool and the bus stop for when we wanted to use the bus. We always drive to the parks, with the exception of MK. Our wait for the MK bus was about 5 minutes. The wait for our return was maybe 10 minutes.

One semi bad thing that I did notice however was with our one dinner reservation. We took my DGD to Chef Mickeys for her 3rd birthday dinner on Saturday night, our seating time was 8:20 and something about the whole experience seemed really strange. It was really quiet and things seemed to be moving in slow motion. The service was really slow and while the food was still great, especially those great mashed potatoes, it seemed to be lacking something, like maybe it had been cut back a little. We also went to WCC for dinner without a reservation on our last night and found the same problem with the service. We all ordered the skillet and in an hours time we only received one small serving. Our server said she had ordered us another skillet but we waited forever for the second skillet to arrive and when it did the only chicken on it was wings! Does anyone really eat wings? Well any way, by that time we were ready to go and the food was great!

Can't wait to be back for our real trip in just 85 days!!!!! Even if the crowds will be unbelievably huge!

Oh yeah, those love bugs sure are a pain in the behind. They were everywhere!

Lori

 

[Lora]

It does kind of spoil you, huh? We love Sept. and even on our October trips, we feel like we miss the Sept. lack of crowds. School's not an issue for us, because we homeschool year-round and take our breaks when we want them. I think you're right, though, about the teachers not being to happy about your kids missing 2 weeks every fall! Maybe more schools will start going on year-round or trimester schedules and it will even things out a bit.

I'm wondering if some of the slowness had to do with it just being a slower time or if they are breaking in new cm's at that time. I seem to remember that in Sept. many of the cm's are new (especially those in the WS countries).

 

[Granny]

So, did you book a 1BR or other larger villa than a studio? That's another HUGE mistake many DVCers make!

Glad to hear that your trip was a great one.

 

[loribell]

Oh yeah Granny, we were in a 2 bedroom and it was fabulous!

Myabe we will run in to each other at Christmas time. We are going to be there at the same time aren't we? We'll be at VWL from the 19th - 26th and SSR the 36th - 30th.

Lora, have a great trip in just a few short days. We have been before in October and the crowds didn't seem alot better than they are in the summer! September on the other hand was great!

See you there,
Lori

 

[byoung]

Glad to hear you had a great trip.

 

[Granny]

Myabe we will run in to each other at Christmas time. We are going to be there at the same time aren't we? We'll be at VWL from the 19th - 26th and SSR the 36th - 30th.

Lori...yes, we'll be at VWL Dec 23-30, so you just might see us wandering around.

While we will be spoiling ourselves by not having the usual summer heat that we experience, we know that the crowds will be huge in the parks, so at least we won't be making THAT mistake like you did!

 

[Lora]

Lora, have a great trip in just a few short days. We have been before in October and the crowds didn't seem alot better than they are in the summer! September on the other hand was great!

I hear ya! October has gotten worse since the F&W Festival's start day keeps getting early. Our first Oct. trip was before the start of the Festival. Now I'm thinking of doing all of our trips in Sept., but both of my girls' birthdays are in October, so that's why we've stuck with it.

 

[K9pal]

Hey Lori,
We just returned from SSR too! There didn't seem to be many people at all staying there, especially in Congress Park. We had a 1BR, arrived at 11AM and our room was ready. We had wanted a water view and the one we got was garden view, so we immediately asked if maybe there was a water view that we could switch to - there was, and it was ready too! Rarely more than 5 or so people at the pool, parking lot virtually empty, can't begin to count how many times we had a bus completely to ourselves.
LOVE September!

Sue

 

[Sammy]

Boy do I miss those September trips! Our first two trips as a family were in September......no crowds, still warm temps, etc. Now, the older two kids are in High School and taking out of school is a big "no-no". They would have way too much work to make up. The last few trips have been during February school break, and that hasn't been too bad; however we are going during April school break next year, and I think it's going to be pretty crowded compared to what we are used to. Sigh.....maybe someday we can return "off" season.

Sammy

 

[Lexxiefern]

Have you been in January? It is slow like september. But Sept is better for swimming. I love when you can just walk on rides!

 

[loribell]

Boy do I miss those September trips! Our first two trips as a family were in September......no crowds, still warm temps, etc. Now, the older two kids are in High School and taking out of school is a big "no-no". They would have way too much work to make up. The last few trips have been during February school break, and that hasn't been too bad; however we are going during April school break next year, and I think it's going to be pretty crowded compared to what we are used to. Sigh.....maybe someday we can return "off" season.

Sammy

My DS is a freshman in HS and I was really worried about taking him out for 4 days. Boy was I wrong. We have block scheduling here so they only have 4 classes a semester; he has Algebra, English, Agriculture, & American History. His Algebra teacher gave him all of his work 3 days before we left and he had it all finished before we left, his History teacher gave him his work the day before we left and he did it all on the airplane, he had all of his Ag work done before we left and his English teacher wouldn't give him any work ahead of time so he did it this weekend (they have one day for every day they miss to finish the work they missed). It didn't hurt him at all to miss school. Now I wish we had stayed for Thursday & Friday too!

Hope the crowds aren't too bad for you in April.

Have fun,
Lori

 

[loribell]

No we haven't been in January. I would like to see what the crowds are like then too but DD really likes to spend time at the pool so I'm afraid that wouldn't go over to well with her!

Lori

 

[theblondebee]

I feel like I've made the same mistake but in reverse. We have never been when it is crowded. This year, we decided to go at Christmas. We have been early Dec., great weather walk on rides. Thanksgiving, a little warm but still mostly walk on and end of Jan, nice and cool and still no lines. I am extremely worried about how my family is going to react to the crowds, but I keep seeing people on the Dis that go year after year during the holidays so I keep telling myself that it must be worth it.

 

[eliza61]

We also have school age kids, so we generally go the last week in August-1st week in September. This has been a pretty good week, this year the parks were super empty, I guess Ernesto scared some folks away. We live in NJ so the kids have off Nov 8, 9 and 11th for the teachers convention, we're sneaking in a 5 day stay then and hopefully the Holiday crowds will not have kicked in yet. Wish me some pixie dust on that.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Glad you had a good time! The food situation has gone down hill at WDW with the dinning plans now, also they include tips, so the waiters are not exactly amking it hand over fist. You can only give so much food for a price and that goes for service also. I would like to see them do away with the dinning plans for that reason.

 

[Sammy]

My DS is a freshman in HS and I was really worried about taking him out for 4 days. Boy was I wrong. We have block scheduling here so they only have 4 classes a semester; he has Algebra, English, Agriculture, & American History. His Algebra teacher gave him all of his work 3 days before we left and he had it all finished before we left, his History teacher gave him his work the day before we left and he did it all on the airplane, he had all of his Ag work done before we left and his English teacher wouldn't give him any work ahead of time so he did it this weekend (they have one day for every day they miss to finish the work they missed). It didn't hurt him at all to miss school. Now I wish we had stayed for Thursday & Friday too!

Hope the crowds aren't too bad for you in April.

Have fun,
Lori

Wow...I'm glad it worked out for your DS...I really would love to take them out once more. We have block scheduling as well, but school department policy is NOT to give out any homework prior to the absence. Everything would have to be made up upon return. Both kids carry AP and honors classes, so they really do have quite a workload. Plus, they both play school sports (huge issue with time off), drama club, Student Council, etc., so even though I'd love to take them out, right now, it's more trouble than it's worth!

 

[bom_noite]

To chime in:

Just got the last lovebug off my car!

Am Loving our Local School Boards decision to start Aug 1 and insert a one week sep Break. Everyone at WDW was from our town as we saw 4 local families we knew at WDW. First time I ever saw anyone I knew there!

I may agree on the food. We ate at Boma's, and, I was a bit disappointed. Maybe that is particular tastes though.

Dont fret your decision, look long term. Things will change. We are dreading when our oldest go's to College (in 2 years) and we will have to find a new time to go as a family. But, that too will be short term.