Just back --- any questions?

[wannabee princess]

I'll get to a full report sometime soon (just back last night at 11:30pm), but thought I would ask if anyone had a specific question to ask.

We stayed at AKL before heading to Vero Beach. We went to Boardwalk, DD, MK, Epcot and DS. We ate at ESPN, HDDR, Main Street Bakery, Casey's, LTT, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's.

We had the most MAGICAL birthday trip!!!! Can't wait to share the details! What a perfect place to turn 40!

 

[Nickimouse]

I would love to hear any information you have to share about the AKL. We will be there very soon!

So glad to hear you had a great Birthday trip!

 

[AtlantaSue]

How was your Chef Mickey's experience? I've seen some mixed reviews and would love a recent opinion - particularly if you were there for dinner!

 

[Deweysgirl]

I will be turning 40 next weekend at the World!
I also planned Le Cellier for dinner and Chef Mickey's for breakfast. I was wondering how your experience was at these two?

Welcome back and Happy Birthday!

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

What were the crowds like???

 

[dbail2]

Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!!

What did you go or get special for your Birthday..We are having a Birthday for our DD who is turning 17..Next month while we are there....

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by Nickimouse
I would love to hear any information you have to share about the AKL. We will be there very soon!

So glad to hear you had a great Birthday trip!

AKL was as beautiful as we remembered! It was a lot more crowded in July than in December (of course, we expected this!), but we had no problem getting spots at the pool, no trouble getting quick service at Mara everytime we stopped in there, and had great service and food at Boma for breakfast (I did have a PS for this, but the restaurant was not too busy).

I tried the Nyami Nyami at the pool since I had read raves about it here at the DIS, and I agree - it is DELICIOUS!

The check-in was fast, when I found out I didn't have the view I requested (said they had no note of it), she asked if I would at least look at the view I had and if I really didn't like it to call. We walked up to the room, I was not satisfied, called down and was moved to the view I had originally wanted - it was TERRIFIC!

Bell services was FANTASTIC!! Both on the check-in and check-out, we had such helpful CM's! I especially appreciated the check-in CM who took us to show us a couple of views we had not known about from our trip in Dec.

Bus rides were very good! We had one wait of 15 minutes to leave to Epcot, but otherwise on the way to and from parks we had several walk up to the bus stop and get right on! We even had a ride one time with one family besides ours, and one when we were the only family on the bus! The trip to MK was exactly 15 minutes. We especially appreciated the driver Frank!

Mousekeeping was fine - only had towel animals one day, but that was alright they gave us three that day.

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by AtlantaSue
How was your Chef Mickey's experience? I've seen some mixed reviews and would love a recent opinion - particularly if you were there for dinner!

Well, we didn't eat dinner this trip although we have in the past. The breakfast experience was very good! We had a lot of delicious food! Our server was good (won't say great since she never brought dh the water he asked for).

My boys are older, we didn't do autographs this trip (have them from Dec and told the boys since this was a short trip that we were only doing pictures) so the characters spent time interacting - Minnie spent the most time, Pluto was funny and Dale was also very good.

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by Deweysgirl
I will be turning 40 next weekend at the World!
I also planned Le Cellier for dinner and Chef Mickey's for breakfast. I was wondering how your experience was at these two?

Welcome back and Happy Birthday!

How cool that you will be celebrating your 40th in the World too!!

You will have a MAGICAL time I am sure! Be sure to get your birthday button at guest services first thing! I ended up getting one from DD, MK, Epcot (very cool one!) and DS (but it is the same as MK). We have never had so many people say Happy Birthday in our lives! The CM's are great! We were given FPs by several!!

Le Cellier was my most ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS experience of the trip - AGAIN!! We weren't originally planning on eating there this trip, although it is probably our favorite place to eat (wanted to try a few new places). Well, it was lunch time, we wanted to get a bite to eat, we had just left TT and it started to sprinkle. I said lets go to Canada and see what the wait is. Well, when I asked how long, the hostess said we could get right in!!

Marios was our server, and he was so friendly! We chatted about our past experience and asked if he had gotten to meet Carrie (our server in Dec who we loved!). He noticed my birthday button (dh had taken his off as we entered the restaurant which I didn't realize at the time) right away. He was very attentive without being overwhelming. Our food was EXCELLENT!!! I had the cheddar cheese soup and split the prime rib dip with oldest ds, dh had a cheddar burger, and youngest ds had nuggets.

When we were finishing, Paul (another CM) came over and started to play a Canadian trivia game with us! It was a blast! He was trying to "help" youngest ds and I, but I was not aware that Shania Twain was from Canada!

Marios was whispering to oldest ds, oldest ds was all giggles, and all of a sudden here came a wonderful piece of chocolate cake on a decorated plate, with a candle on it. He had asked ds what dessert I would like best! It was simply delicious! Then, he gave me a birthday card signed by the entire staff!!! I was walking on air!

Paul then brings out Magical Moments certificates for the Winners (boo hiss) and the "runners up"!

We took a few pictures, and left with huge smiles!

Have a WONDERFUL birthday!!!

Ohh, Chef Mickey's was also a great time - our CM brought dh and I special birthday placemats and cupcakes with candles! She felt "bad" that the kids weren't getting the special treatment, so she asked when their birthdays were. Oldest has one in Aug, so she said well then you need to celebrate it too! She then brought youngest same so he wouldn't feel left out. The food was very good - youngest loved Goofy's pizza. I thought the veggie pizza was delicious! I ate and ate! Didn't have anything that I wouldn't eat again!

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by IloveWINNIEthePOOH
What were the crowds like???

Well, I guess I was expecting a lot worse! I thought it was totally manageable! I was pleasantly suprised!

We even went to MK on a Saturday crazy: according to everything you read!) and I can honestly say I was never stressed or frazzled that entire day! Now, I will say that I would STRONGLY recommend getting there prior to opening! We had completely done everything in Fantasyland by 9:45 except Philharmagic (we got FP to use later) and were already finishing the Speedway!

We did every ride at least once (except the Astro Orbiters I think) and had a great spot for the parade and fireworks right on Main Street.

At Epcot, we also got there at opening, had no problems with crowds except for the fact that ds went in the single rider line at MS because it was posted 10 min. Well, 45 minutes later we were about ready to call security because we still couldn't find him at the exit! They must have changed the wait time right after he went in, because that is the wait time posted when we left.

At MGM, the only crowd problem was with the last minute people who come up to see the parade and don't care that you have been waiting in that specific spot. The lady next to me had been waiting even longer, and she was pushed out so much, her daughter was about three people away! Also, RnRc kept stopping, and the line for FP was stretched out to the area you exit!

The resorts were busier, but never had any problem with a PS (even taken in early when we arrive early!). The crowds were nothing to make me stay away in July!

 

[wannabee princess]

Originally posted by dbail2
Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!!

What did you go or get special for your Birthday..We are having a Birthday for our DD who is turning 17..Next month while we are there....

The extras we got (we didn't ask for anything special) just for mentioning it was a birthday when I made PS, or just for wearing a birthday button were fun! We didn't expect or rely on these happening, so it was a great suprise.

At MK we were given FPs by more than one CM - one even gave us three that were good for three people each! Dh went to get in line (stand-by) one time and was told that on your birthday you shouldn't have to stand in line, so he was given FP for him and ds (I was somewhere else with other ds at the time). While watching the parade, it seemed as though a few more characters stopped and motioned to the button - face characters said Happy Birthday!

At Epcot, as posted further up, we had the most MAGICAL experience of our vacation at Le Cellier - and this was with no PS, no mention of the birthday when we arrived - I only had on the Epcot birthday button.

At Boma we were both given smoothies for breakfast - yummy! I had mentioned birthday when I did PS.

At Chef Mickey's we were given cupcakes with a candle and special placemats. I had mentioned the birthday when booking PS.

At LTT we didn't get anything! I had planned this meal for our actual birthday supper, and was suprised that even though it was on the screen when they pulled up our PS, dh and I both had on birthday buttons, not one mention of it was made by our waitress. We even tried to chat with her (just to be friendly) and she was not very warm. There were probably 5-6 other birthdays celebrated while we were in the restaurant, and every one of them was given a cake/cupcake of some sort, with a song and production made of it. I didn't want to seem like I was begging for something, so I didn't ask our waitress why she ignored ours - dh would have been mortified if I had!

But, on the other end - totally spontaneous and one of the neatest moments for me personally! TOT is my FAVORITE ride in the entire World, and dh and I were in line to get on. Our elevator operator noticed my button, said happy birthday and asked my name. When the elevator was loaded, she made an announcement to the entire group that it was my birthday (dh had taken his button off again) and had them sing to me!!! I have to say that it was the best time I have ever had someone sing that song to me!!! I don't think I stopped grinning the rest of the day!