FantasmicDad!
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 26, 2016
- Messages
- 10
This is my first time posting a thread so I apologize in advance if I got a little wordy! Just returned from a wonderful 25th Anniversary trip with my DW from 9/17/16 to 9/26/16. I have enjoyed reading previous just back threads leading up to my trip so I thought I would offer my thoughts. This was my 11th trip to the World and my DW's 12th trip to the World but our first trip without our two kids since we were married.
We like to try different resorts when possible so we decided to give CBR a try for this trip. I requested a corner room in the Jamaica section with my online check-in. Although we did not get the corner room, we did get a standard room in the Jamaica section (4546.) We went straight to HS from the airport and we received a text at 12:30pm that our room was ready. We had a problem with the AC not working when we finally arrived at our room later in the day but after a call to the front desk, maintenance had the air working properly by the time we returned from dinner. We did not have any other AC issues the rest of the trip. The resort is big but having previously stayed at CSR we were not bothered by the size of the resort. I had read bad reports regarding the bus transportation at this resort. We always rent a car for our trips and we only used the bus when we went to MK. Jamaica was the first pick-up spot which ensured us a seat but it also meant that we had to stop at each of the other resort stops before heading to the park. Bus trips to the MK took between 30 and 45 minutes. Also, the location of the bus stop for CBR at the MK is the second to last spot of all the resorts which can be quite an annoying trek to the bus especially after a long, hot day at the park. Overall we loved the central location (very close to HS, EP and DS) and the quietness of the resort. We had dinner one night at Shutters which was very good and the food selection at the food court was good as well. We will be staying at CBR again for our 12/17 trip (we finally got a bounce back offer!!)
I know it is Florida in September and I expected heat and rain but it felt unbearably hot at times during this trip. We took a previous trip in August 2010 but I do not recall being effected by the heat like we were this trip. With that being said, it did not stop us from hitting all of the parks and DS multiple times and racking up over 70 miles of walking during our trip.
The parks were clean and well staffed. With the exception of KRR being down during our FP+ time, there were no other ride issues during our trip. We did FEA via FP+ which both DW and I thought was "cute" but not worth the posted 90 minute wait time. We both liked the new Soarin'. We had a magical experience with talking Mickey at MK on our anniversary day. He called us "two lovebirds" and asked us the secret to our 25 years together. He got a kick out of my response which was "taking multiple trips to DW over the years". We did the Keys to the Kingdom tour which was thoroughly enjoyable and a must in my honest opinion for any Disney fan. Our tour guide Jessica was great! We did MNSSHP on 9/25/16 which we found out upon arrival was sold out! The party was more crowded than expected but we did some trick or treating and made a point to stake out a spot on the sidewalk outside Casey's Corner about an hour and a half before the start of HalloWishes and the second Boo to You Parade. I am so glad that we did as we had prime viewing for both of these spectacular shows. We were told that HalloWishes was the best fireworks show that Disney puts on and boy were they right! It was amazing. The unexpected surprise attraction during our trip for both my DW and I had to be the Frozen Sing Along Show in HS. We went one day just to escape the heat and wound up absolutely loving the show. It was hysterical, especially the cast members who played the male and female hosts of the show.
We had pleasant cast interactions all trip, especially with Brian, the Photo Pass cast member at HS. We (more me than my DW) like to get a little "Goofy" when getting our picture taken and Brian definitely obliged. We always get the Memory Maker and get our moneys worth as we came home with close to 400 pictures, ride photos and videos. We did overhear two security cast members griping about their pay as we were both heading to our cars in the Imagine section of the EP parking lot.
We had the free dining again this trip. We ate at Sci-Fi, Shutters, BOG (lunch), Art Smith's Homecoming, Yak and Yeti (lunch), Chef de France, Chef Mickey's (breakfast), Mama Melrose (Fantasmic dinner package), Coral Reef, Portobello's, Garden Grill (breakfast with Chip and Dale) and Tony's. Meals were good at all locations but standouts were definitely Mama Melrose (love the steak!), BOG (atmosphere and great onion soup), Chef de France and Portobello's. Maybe I went in with high expectations but I was not overly impressed with AS Homecoming. I had the fried chicken which was good but I was expecting more. As a tradition we usually end our trips with a meal at Tony's in MK but we may have to re-think this tradition for future trips. We sampled many adult beverages throughout the trip and I highly recommend the Black Cherry Bourbon frozen lemonade at the American Pavilion in EP. It was quite refreshing!
I can keep going but I think I will stop here. We had an absolutely amazing trip and I can't wait to start planning our next one. I am suffering from some serious Disney depression right now but posting this thread and looking at our photos and videos is helping to ease the pain!
We like to try different resorts when possible so we decided to give CBR a try for this trip. I requested a corner room in the Jamaica section with my online check-in. Although we did not get the corner room, we did get a standard room in the Jamaica section (4546.) We went straight to HS from the airport and we received a text at 12:30pm that our room was ready. We had a problem with the AC not working when we finally arrived at our room later in the day but after a call to the front desk, maintenance had the air working properly by the time we returned from dinner. We did not have any other AC issues the rest of the trip. The resort is big but having previously stayed at CSR we were not bothered by the size of the resort. I had read bad reports regarding the bus transportation at this resort. We always rent a car for our trips and we only used the bus when we went to MK. Jamaica was the first pick-up spot which ensured us a seat but it also meant that we had to stop at each of the other resort stops before heading to the park. Bus trips to the MK took between 30 and 45 minutes. Also, the location of the bus stop for CBR at the MK is the second to last spot of all the resorts which can be quite an annoying trek to the bus especially after a long, hot day at the park. Overall we loved the central location (very close to HS, EP and DS) and the quietness of the resort. We had dinner one night at Shutters which was very good and the food selection at the food court was good as well. We will be staying at CBR again for our 12/17 trip (we finally got a bounce back offer!!)
I know it is Florida in September and I expected heat and rain but it felt unbearably hot at times during this trip. We took a previous trip in August 2010 but I do not recall being effected by the heat like we were this trip. With that being said, it did not stop us from hitting all of the parks and DS multiple times and racking up over 70 miles of walking during our trip.
The parks were clean and well staffed. With the exception of KRR being down during our FP+ time, there were no other ride issues during our trip. We did FEA via FP+ which both DW and I thought was "cute" but not worth the posted 90 minute wait time. We both liked the new Soarin'. We had a magical experience with talking Mickey at MK on our anniversary day. He called us "two lovebirds" and asked us the secret to our 25 years together. He got a kick out of my response which was "taking multiple trips to DW over the years". We did the Keys to the Kingdom tour which was thoroughly enjoyable and a must in my honest opinion for any Disney fan. Our tour guide Jessica was great! We did MNSSHP on 9/25/16 which we found out upon arrival was sold out! The party was more crowded than expected but we did some trick or treating and made a point to stake out a spot on the sidewalk outside Casey's Corner about an hour and a half before the start of HalloWishes and the second Boo to You Parade. I am so glad that we did as we had prime viewing for both of these spectacular shows. We were told that HalloWishes was the best fireworks show that Disney puts on and boy were they right! It was amazing. The unexpected surprise attraction during our trip for both my DW and I had to be the Frozen Sing Along Show in HS. We went one day just to escape the heat and wound up absolutely loving the show. It was hysterical, especially the cast members who played the male and female hosts of the show.
We had pleasant cast interactions all trip, especially with Brian, the Photo Pass cast member at HS. We (more me than my DW) like to get a little "Goofy" when getting our picture taken and Brian definitely obliged. We always get the Memory Maker and get our moneys worth as we came home with close to 400 pictures, ride photos and videos. We did overhear two security cast members griping about their pay as we were both heading to our cars in the Imagine section of the EP parking lot.
We had the free dining again this trip. We ate at Sci-Fi, Shutters, BOG (lunch), Art Smith's Homecoming, Yak and Yeti (lunch), Chef de France, Chef Mickey's (breakfast), Mama Melrose (Fantasmic dinner package), Coral Reef, Portobello's, Garden Grill (breakfast with Chip and Dale) and Tony's. Meals were good at all locations but standouts were definitely Mama Melrose (love the steak!), BOG (atmosphere and great onion soup), Chef de France and Portobello's. Maybe I went in with high expectations but I was not overly impressed with AS Homecoming. I had the fried chicken which was good but I was expecting more. As a tradition we usually end our trips with a meal at Tony's in MK but we may have to re-think this tradition for future trips. We sampled many adult beverages throughout the trip and I highly recommend the Black Cherry Bourbon frozen lemonade at the American Pavilion in EP. It was quite refreshing!
I can keep going but I think I will stop here. We had an absolutely amazing trip and I can't wait to start planning our next one. I am suffering from some serious Disney depression right now but posting this thread and looking at our photos and videos is helping to ease the pain!
