ParrotBill
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2005
- Messages
- 3,179
Just back from a week at SSR. This was our third trip to WDW within 12 months to use our annual passes to the most possible, as well as our
Tables in Wonderland card. We went last May, 2 weeks in late August,
and again last week. We used points from across 3 use years for a total of 4 weeks stay in moderate seasons.
We drove down from upstate NY via I-77, I-26, I-95, I-4 - straight through, changing drivers every 2 hours in the last 8 hours... but we left 2pm Thursday and arrived noon Friday! There were no traffic or construction delays although driving through West Virginia at 2AM is tough!
For our first night we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - awesome deal with AAA, and we just lounged to recover from the drive.
Friday morning we went over to SSR, and amazingly they had our one BR ready in the Grandstands 8000 building... halfway between the bus stop and the pool and a very short walk to each! The room overlooked the pool. The only negative about the room was the outside music could be heard all night.
For the first time we had a bad housekeeping on arrival. We were understocked on towels, toilet paper, and no dishwasher soap or kitchen towels. No bid deal but kept having to call as I discovered each issue.
Last week was our Spring Break and since it was late compared to most of the country we found crowds to be only moderate - a lot like our usual time of year, late August, but without the heat! Two days rained a lot but overall good weather.
Bus service was quite good - no unacceptable delays, buses always within 15 minutes.
Interesting to see the construction of the new lakeside restaurant in Mexico, I did not realize it is a total rebuild and it will be very big. I tried the new Tequila bar in Mexico - drinks are pricey at $12-15 but they pour em strong!
We ate at Brown Derby and enjoyed it, at Fulton's which is our favorite restaurant, and at Artist Point which disappointed us - the menu has been fancied up and the signature dessert (Berry Cobbler) has been downsized and changed in recipe - even though it is pictured as it used to be at the entrance!
We took pictures of the mile long wall in Fantasyland and answered questions for a million others as to why that wall is there - they really should put a sign up about the new Fantasyland to come!
One afternoon in HS a castmember walked up to us and asked if we were in a hurry. I said no, and she said "would you like to come spend some time with Minnie, Daisy, and Donald?" Why, sure... and we were taken to a private room for a 15 minute greeting with lots of antics by Donald and fun with all of them. What a treat!
On our last evening we decided to go to the Biergarten for dinner at the last minute. On our way out, about 8:40, some teenagers handed us FastPasses for Soarin' because they had to be somewhere in a few minutes.. so we went (yes still open, even though most of Futureworld closes at 7:00), and in line behind us were people we know from back home!
We drove home taking all weekend with a stop in D.C. at the Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport. The drive home was quite good with few traffic or construction issues. We made hotel reservations as we went, using a PC and Cellular wi-fi hot spot.
One thing I learned. I told guest services and others how much I hate the new dining reservation systems and how hard it is to get reservations even though the restaurants are often not full for the times we tried. I learned that you can check in up to 2 hours before your time and they will put you in the queue.. telling you it may be 30 minutes but in each case we waited no more than 10.
We took one day to go to the beach (Honeymoon State Park north of Clearwater), and to a tour at Big Cat Rescue, a very cool place since my 10 year old daughter loves tigers. You get to see them very close and there are so many you always see some who are active. It's a great place and great organization that gives homes to big cats who need a home. They are a very responsible organization.
So, great trip, and nice to have a car for a change. Questions welcome.
Tables in Wonderland card. We went last May, 2 weeks in late August,
and again last week. We used points from across 3 use years for a total of 4 weeks stay in moderate seasons.
We drove down from upstate NY via I-77, I-26, I-95, I-4 - straight through, changing drivers every 2 hours in the last 8 hours... but we left 2pm Thursday and arrived noon Friday! There were no traffic or construction delays although driving through West Virginia at 2AM is tough!
For our first night we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - awesome deal with AAA, and we just lounged to recover from the drive.
Friday morning we went over to SSR, and amazingly they had our one BR ready in the Grandstands 8000 building... halfway between the bus stop and the pool and a very short walk to each! The room overlooked the pool. The only negative about the room was the outside music could be heard all night.
For the first time we had a bad housekeeping on arrival. We were understocked on towels, toilet paper, and no dishwasher soap or kitchen towels. No bid deal but kept having to call as I discovered each issue.
Last week was our Spring Break and since it was late compared to most of the country we found crowds to be only moderate - a lot like our usual time of year, late August, but without the heat! Two days rained a lot but overall good weather.
Bus service was quite good - no unacceptable delays, buses always within 15 minutes.
Interesting to see the construction of the new lakeside restaurant in Mexico, I did not realize it is a total rebuild and it will be very big. I tried the new Tequila bar in Mexico - drinks are pricey at $12-15 but they pour em strong!
We ate at Brown Derby and enjoyed it, at Fulton's which is our favorite restaurant, and at Artist Point which disappointed us - the menu has been fancied up and the signature dessert (Berry Cobbler) has been downsized and changed in recipe - even though it is pictured as it used to be at the entrance!
We took pictures of the mile long wall in Fantasyland and answered questions for a million others as to why that wall is there - they really should put a sign up about the new Fantasyland to come!
One afternoon in HS a castmember walked up to us and asked if we were in a hurry. I said no, and she said "would you like to come spend some time with Minnie, Daisy, and Donald?" Why, sure... and we were taken to a private room for a 15 minute greeting with lots of antics by Donald and fun with all of them. What a treat!
On our last evening we decided to go to the Biergarten for dinner at the last minute. On our way out, about 8:40, some teenagers handed us FastPasses for Soarin' because they had to be somewhere in a few minutes.. so we went (yes still open, even though most of Futureworld closes at 7:00), and in line behind us were people we know from back home!
We drove home taking all weekend with a stop in D.C. at the Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport. The drive home was quite good with few traffic or construction issues. We made hotel reservations as we went, using a PC and Cellular wi-fi hot spot.
One thing I learned. I told guest services and others how much I hate the new dining reservation systems and how hard it is to get reservations even though the restaurants are often not full for the times we tried. I learned that you can check in up to 2 hours before your time and they will put you in the queue.. telling you it may be 30 minutes but in each case we waited no more than 10.
We took one day to go to the beach (Honeymoon State Park north of Clearwater), and to a tour at Big Cat Rescue, a very cool place since my 10 year old daughter loves tigers. You get to see them very close and there are so many you always see some who are active. It's a great place and great organization that gives homes to big cats who need a home. They are a very responsible organization.
So, great trip, and nice to have a car for a change. Questions welcome.
Great Report! You did alot!
