Here is a short trip summary. More detailed trip report to follow.
8/2-8/9 - Royal Pacific
Arrived at 5:00. Was given a room facing the front entrance, tower 1, level 4. We asked for a park view room, but hotel was full and nothing was available. Didn't get upgrade due to APH rates.
Next morning we awoke to our message light blinking. The front desk said a park view was now available and if we wanted to move, we could have it. (Great Service!)
Left luggage in hall for bell hop to pick up. Returned that evening from parks, got keys and were in room 1746 for the remainder of our stay. Great view of hulk, doom, taxi waterway, etc. I think the view of this room has been detailed on the Post your room thread. We loved the view. Unexpected downfall (but we loved it) - Hulk starts running at approx. 6:00am -sometimes earlier, sometimes later. The growl of the coaster always woke me up. Great alarm clock!!
Crowds:
Very heavy, especially Saturday. Monday the 9th - park was dead. We even commented on the difference between the day before.
FOTL
Didn't find the after 3 thing affecting our plans at all. In fact, we loved it. We actually saw shows that in 4 years we had missed and should not be missed - they are as part of the experience as the rides. Mummy was the only ride that they consistently scanned cards on. Hulk - nope, Spidey - once or twice, MIB once, rest they just looked at the cards. Most lines were walk-on to max 15 minutes - no problems. Mummy was 15-30 in afternoon (walk on in the mornings), with Saturday at 2:30pm being our longest at 45 minutes.
Biggest surpise:
The abuse of the 1 time express passes and the FOTL lines. 4th year there and have never seen this kind of purposeful abuse of the lines. Most of it did not matter because the lines were short anyway. But could potentially become a problem if it becomes common knowledge on how to "beat the system." On many of the rides, the people just showed the cards, nothing was noted on them. We then saw the people go through the line over and over again. (Again - not a problem because the lines were short) Of course, much like we did with the hotel passes, but this was after 3 when we were allowed. Also saw some in Hulk line scratching off the "h" while in line and then going through again.
Was cut in front of several times at Mummy by people ducking under the ropes from the regular line (right after you enter the door and our cards were scanned.) When they got to the top and asked to show their express passes - many just said "oops - our friend/mother/spouse/etc just got on the car in front and he/she has them. What could the ride op do? Had to let them on. But it seemed that this was a common practice (at least the times we were in line)
Best Shows in our opinion:
Ghostbusters and Horror Makeup show. Can't believe we never hit these in the 4 years we have been there. So thanks FlyFly for tipping us off on the Ghostbusters. It was excellent!
Horror makeup show is also not to be missed. First time we had the last 9:15 showing on Saturday night. We thought the woman was excellent and the show one of the best we have ever seen. Then we saw it the next day. The grey haired guy was amazing!!! We also realized how much they left out on the 9:15 showing. (still a great show!)
Late afternoon of the 9th - 11th -
Went to Hammock Beach on the Palm Coast (3o minutes south of St. Augustine). What can I say. If you want a great beach experience and want to be totally pampered, this is the place to go. 5 pools - slide pool, beach pool, lazy river pool, adult pool, indoor pool. Great secluded beach with chairs and umbrellas. Fantastic golf course. Free fishing poles and bait for the kids to surf fish, bikes, 9 hole putting course, great restaurant, pool bar and grill, etc.
We had a 1 bedroom condo for $199.00 a night. There is a $20.00 a night resort fee that covers all tips (cashless resort - absolutely no tipping), high speed internet, valet parking, beach and pool towels, beach toys, and all the other services.
Overall rating of vacation:
11 out of 10
8/2-8/9 - Royal Pacific
Arrived at 5:00. Was given a room facing the front entrance, tower 1, level 4. We asked for a park view room, but hotel was full and nothing was available. Didn't get upgrade due to APH rates.
Next morning we awoke to our message light blinking. The front desk said a park view was now available and if we wanted to move, we could have it. (Great Service!)
Left luggage in hall for bell hop to pick up. Returned that evening from parks, got keys and were in room 1746 for the remainder of our stay. Great view of hulk, doom, taxi waterway, etc. I think the view of this room has been detailed on the Post your room thread. We loved the view. Unexpected downfall (but we loved it) - Hulk starts running at approx. 6:00am -sometimes earlier, sometimes later. The growl of the coaster always woke me up. Great alarm clock!!
Crowds:
Very heavy, especially Saturday. Monday the 9th - park was dead. We even commented on the difference between the day before.
FOTL
Didn't find the after 3 thing affecting our plans at all. In fact, we loved it. We actually saw shows that in 4 years we had missed and should not be missed - they are as part of the experience as the rides. Mummy was the only ride that they consistently scanned cards on. Hulk - nope, Spidey - once or twice, MIB once, rest they just looked at the cards. Most lines were walk-on to max 15 minutes - no problems. Mummy was 15-30 in afternoon (walk on in the mornings), with Saturday at 2:30pm being our longest at 45 minutes.
Biggest surpise:
The abuse of the 1 time express passes and the FOTL lines. 4th year there and have never seen this kind of purposeful abuse of the lines. Most of it did not matter because the lines were short anyway. But could potentially become a problem if it becomes common knowledge on how to "beat the system." On many of the rides, the people just showed the cards, nothing was noted on them. We then saw the people go through the line over and over again. (Again - not a problem because the lines were short) Of course, much like we did with the hotel passes, but this was after 3 when we were allowed. Also saw some in Hulk line scratching off the "h" while in line and then going through again.
Was cut in front of several times at Mummy by people ducking under the ropes from the regular line (right after you enter the door and our cards were scanned.) When they got to the top and asked to show their express passes - many just said "oops - our friend/mother/spouse/etc just got on the car in front and he/she has them. What could the ride op do? Had to let them on. But it seemed that this was a common practice (at least the times we were in line)
Best Shows in our opinion:
Ghostbusters and Horror Makeup show. Can't believe we never hit these in the 4 years we have been there. So thanks FlyFly for tipping us off on the Ghostbusters. It was excellent!
Horror makeup show is also not to be missed. First time we had the last 9:15 showing on Saturday night. We thought the woman was excellent and the show one of the best we have ever seen. Then we saw it the next day. The grey haired guy was amazing!!! We also realized how much they left out on the 9:15 showing. (still a great show!)
Late afternoon of the 9th - 11th -
Went to Hammock Beach on the Palm Coast (3o minutes south of St. Augustine). What can I say. If you want a great beach experience and want to be totally pampered, this is the place to go. 5 pools - slide pool, beach pool, lazy river pool, adult pool, indoor pool. Great secluded beach with chairs and umbrellas. Fantastic golf course. Free fishing poles and bait for the kids to surf fish, bikes, 9 hole putting course, great restaurant, pool bar and grill, etc.
We had a 1 bedroom condo for $199.00 a night. There is a $20.00 a night resort fee that covers all tips (cashless resort - absolutely no tipping), high speed internet, valet parking, beach and pool towels, beach toys, and all the other services.
Overall rating of vacation:
11 out of 10
