Just back after 7 days...the good and the not-so-good:

[ptrbryant]

Wow! I can't believe we just got home last night after 8 days/7 nights at WDW! First of all, we stayed for the first time at a studio at VWL...rented points from a fellow dis'er and it was really perfect! I thought it felt more spacious than the rooms at the lodge, but we had a corner room with a great view of Bay Lake out the patio and the quiet pool out the other window.

Crowds weren't bad at all...we were warned ahead of time by a CM at Star Tours NOT to come to Disney Studios on Saturday since they were expecting 27,000 guests due to cheerleading activities (said normal park attendance is 17,000). We had VERY brief waits, if any, at all the parks. Philharmagic was incredible--whole family (DH, 7 yo DS and myself) loved it and saw it repeatedly. We were first-timers for Spectro-Magic and WISHES and both were wonderful. Also, Fantasmic! was just out of "rehab" with some minor changes, but it really seemed much more exciting than last year. DH went on MissionSpace and was wowed by it---even though 2 of his "crew members" chickened out just before boarding and the remaining one who joined him vomited during the ride! :-(

We celebrated DS's birthday a week early at LTT dinner and the cake and table decorations were sweet---great character interaction as well. Big surprise was our first try at Garden Grill---will be a "must do" next time. Loved the food and character interaction was even better. Mentioned DS's b'day at check-in and on our 2nd day back from the parks, there were 3 balloons and a card and photo from Mickey. Now, my DS doesn't fully believe in Santa, certainly not the tooth fairy, etc., but he really thought the card WAS from Mickey (other incidents happened that lead to this level of credibility). Later in the trip, he wrote out a note that read, "Dear Mickey, You made the magic come true. Love, Thomas." He had a chance to actually hand it to Mickey at a character signing and, after reading it, Mickey gave DS a big, heartfelt hug and kept the note--- that made the whole trip worth every penny.

The not-so-good? It was cool and rainy for our first two-three park days...for some reason, it felt colder than it was. Also, something's going on with pollen right now and it was EVERYWHERE---coated our balcony, covered outdoor tables and benches, etc. On our first park day, it started my DS's allergy-triggered asthma, so for all but the last day of the trip, I had to give him his inhaler every 4 hours, along with other meds...it really wore him out, too. 3 days before we left, it had gotten to my allergies enough that I ended up going (with DS) to the CentraCare/UrgentCare right outside WDW gates and I have a bad sinus infection and got put on anti-biotics...felt lousy for the last two days of the trip, but I wasn't about to stay in bed!

So, in spite of negative things that WDW had no control over, the trip was magical and memorable!!! I think next time, we may try November when the weather is less unpredicatible and pollen counts are lower (?). I think the only thing that was a bit Disney-related sad was the animation tour...seeing all the empty desks and remembering what terrific movies had been made there. We DID spend one day at SeaWorld for the 1st time and, while the animals and grounds were beautiful, I now know what people mean when they say "it just wasn't Disney".
Didn't mean for this to be so long!
Karla B.

 

[Harambe]

Glad you had such a great trip (considering the pollen!). Isn't Garden Grill the best! Dale sat right down with us and played tic tac toe with DS. So cool. And the best salad at Disney!

 

[wilderness01]

We were there basically the same time and I didn't notice any pollen anywhere. However both our kids ended up with terrible sinus infections as well. Glad you had a nice trip.

 

[dreeandfree]

We are leaving Monday for the Florida coast and plan to be in Disneyworld Thursday and Friday. First stops are MK then Epcot. So I will leport back on the weather. Saturday is at the beach to watch a satellite launch. Then more Disney on Tuesday as we are hoping the 3 day weekend crowds will have gone down a bit by then.

 

[danny1649]

Glad you had a great time except for sinus problems. ºoº

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

The pollen was pretty heavy on our car, luckily no problems with it.
The first few days were, indeed, a bit cool and a bit rainy now and then, but, happily it improved and was wonderful!!!!
Wish I was still there. It is 60 right now at WDW.

 

[ptrbryant]

Hi, Gail (and others!),
I remember our pre-trip obessessing over the weather! The last couple of days were much better, but of course, that's when my sinus infection and son's asthma problems had already kicked in!

The main places I noticed the pollen were on our car, on railings at WL and esp. on all outside tables at Pizza Planet. If you don't have pollen allergies, it's possible that it may not have been noticed.

I forgot to mention that across from our studio was an extra-wide door with a sign "Cast Members Only". I'm sure it was a janitorial supply closet, but my DS kept wondering if it was the room Mickey stays in---wide enough for his head to get through, etc. Several times, DS would get on his hands and knees in the hallway, trying to see under the door. Good thing he didn't see just mops & cleaner! LOL!
Karla B.

 

[WilliamsMom]

Thanks for letting me know about the pollen. I had planned to take my Claritan but know I'll make sure I start prior to leaving.

Where is the Garden Grill? What did you like about it? Is it good for kids too?

 

[stinkerbelle]

glad you had fun...and how sweet for your son!

I too always come home from Disney when 1 extra souvinier...a head cold. Ugh...

Oh - and I too have made a trip to Centra/Urgent Care (during my honeymoon down there no less...) It's the last place in the world that doesn't take insurance. lovely. heheh

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We got back yesterday and are from North FL. We too were shocked at the Pollen. Our car was covered. Not like that here yet, though I guess this is a warning. When it was SO windy my eyes (I wear contacts) went crazy! I kept drops in my waist pack and we all took our allergy meds. The azaleas were blooming like crazy too.
Sat. night watching wishes from CR deck was windy and cold! Everyone screamed when the monorail went over us and added to the chill factor! The days were nice and pretty though. Just that pollen blowing in my eyes was a mess at times.
My DD also had a great B'day experience at CRT.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

ptrbryant

We celebrated DS's birthday a week early at LTT dinner and the cake and table decorations were sweet---great character interaction as well.

Did you inform the CM when you made your PS?
Did the cake cost extra?

Just curious as we are celebrating both our children's birthdays during our June/July trip. They are almost exactly six years apart!

I plan to try for a PS at LTT on July 4th. I thought it would be fun to have a little birthday party there too, in addition to a birthday cruise. We might have to celebrate at every place we eat!

 

[mitros]

Did you mean the cheerleaders will be there this Saturday, the 14th? We are arriving that morning, and if that is the case, we will avoid MGM at ALL costs!

 

[slp87]

Big surprise was our first try at Garden Grill

It has been 7 years since we last ate at GG. Did you have lunch or dinner and what was served??

Thanks!!

 

[mitros]

Go to www.Allearsnet.com click on dining then click on menus for all the menus at WDW. The GG has a "family style" buffet where they bring the food to the table, as much as you care to have, and there are characters, Mickey, Minnie, Chip n' Dale, all dressed in a kind of a farm/barnyard motif. Personally, we liked it better when Kraft ran the place and had a regular ala cart menu. It's OK, though, but we used to go to the Kraft version each time we went to WDW. Now we only eat there when we have young children along for the trip.

 

[sm4987]

glad you had a god trip

 

[Linda88]

Visited in Feb last year and didn't notice pollen although DD did have a Chest infection. Is pollen usually a big problem this time of year? Don'really want to bring loads of medicine if we can help it.

 

[ptrbryant]

Okay, to answer some questions:
Yes, when I made PS at LTT, I requested the b'day cake which was $12.50...it was about 6" in diameter (looked bigger than that sounds!) and was actually surprisingly good...yellow cake with a real whipped cream frosting and multi-colored confetti-like candy sprinkled over it. In the center was an image of Mickey with the words "Happy Birthday!"---the whole thing was edible, some kind of sugar-based icing. At LTT, the birthday song was cute--something to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy and they ring an 18th c. style bell (think Town Crier) to get everyone's attention. BTW, before we were seated, I DID confirm with the hostess about the cake and celebration (think I may have been given a phone number from PS actually, that I called a few days earlier to make sure of arrangements as well.) The table basically had some paper streamers and Mickey-shaped foil confetti sprinkled over it...just enough to make a fun surprise.

Garden Grille: It's kind of hidden away in EPCOT in The Land Pavilllion and is wonderful for kids! We ate there for dinner, though I think the lunch menu is the same except for the salad. The characters just seemed to spend more time with each child, the whole environment was more relaxed than other CMs we'd been to. The food was family style (tho DS I believe mainly had chicken strips somehow) and tasted less processed than the food at other places, even LTT. I'm incredibly prone to motion sickness, so was worried about the whole revolving restaurant idea, but I honestly only noticed it if I stared and the edge of the moving floor (which wasn't often! ) Service was very good, too...prompt and attentive, but didn't feel rushed.

Boy, I'd love to hear more from any FL residents about allergies/pollen peak seasons! BibbiddbobbiddiBOO: Do you generally have allergy problems in N. Florida? I've been saying for some time that I'd love to live in FL to be away from the severe allergies I've had since moving to KY...our other WDW trips never gave me any problems! I don't want to give up my FL dream yet!
Karla B.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Well we are in N. FL and our area is well known for bad allergies. The "Allergy Capital"! I took shots for years when we lived 4 hours north/east of here in GA. DS is taking them now and has for about 3 years. LOTS of pollen and blooming "things" in the spring-summer. Grass is a biggie since it is green about 8-9 months a year here. That is a big allergy for DS and myself. I noticed the grass was green in Orlando this past weekend, not sure if it always is there? Fall is also bad here. But we have a cooler climate than central and south FL, and actually have a little fall season. I can't speak for the other parts of FL., but allergies are bad up here. Oh, mold can be another bad allergy in FL. I know it is for me! I know they have a allergy index in the newspaper and pollen counts and molds are very high many days spring-fall. I imagine I will see pollen on my car here in the next 2 weeks.
BUT, we love FL( both DH and I are from FL) and moved back here by choice several years ago after 10 years away. The pros outweigh the cons.

Oh-for our CRT PS the CM noted it was DD's b'day when I made the PS and she got confetti, streamers and a tiny cupcake sized cake without me requesting it. BUT, there is no guarantee that will happen. I just did not want to order a cake for breakfast and DD did not expect anything.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mitros
Go to www.Allearsnet.com click on dining then click on menus for all the menus at WDW. The GG has a "family style" buffet where they bring the food to the table, as much as you care to have, and there are characters, Mickey, Minnie, Chip n' Dale, all dressed in a kind of a farm/barnyard motif. Personally, we liked it better when Kraft ran the place and had a regular ala cart menu. It's OK, though, but we used to go to the Kraft version each time we went to WDW. Now we only eat there when we have young children along for the trip.

ITA, it was so much more classy when Kraft had it. I have yet to eat there, for some reason a roll of paper towels on the tables simply does not do it for me. I like tableclothes and linen napkins.

 

[jcemom]

We had dinner at Garden Grill Saturday night. It was DH's birthay and I asked upon check-in if I could order a cake for him. The CM said no problem. When dessert time rolled around along came our server, two other CMs and Mickey. They sang to a very embarassed DH, then Mickey took a spoon from our table and scooped a spoonful of icing from the cake. He made as if to feed it to DH, then plopped it right on DH's nose! The boys absolutely howled! They thought it was SO funny (it was)!

As for dinner, we thoroughly enjoyed it. (They did not charge me for the cake, either.) Of course, Gail, with three little ones still at home, we're used to eating with the roll of paper towels nearby...LOL! I do think the tables are a bit small for all the "stuff" they put on them at one time, but we managed. We will definitely do this one again!

ptrbryant - glad to hear you managed to have a good time despite the pollen problems! I've noticed, but it hasn't been too bad for us, more of the stuffy nose at night/hard to sleep type stuff for me. We go home Thursday, and I'd rather have the stuffy nose than the cold and snow...LOL