Just Back - Mini Report

[mrsltg]

Hi All-

Just back from an incredible week at the World. It was just dh and I celebrating his 40th birthday. We were there from 12/9-12/16. I will hit on a few things and please feel free to ask any questions:

Crowds - What crowds? A few times we felt lonely. The only noticeable crowd was Thursday at the MK. We went for EE and only stayed two hours (that was our plan). As we were leaving there were throngs of people entering the park. Where were they all week?

Cast Members - WOW! All I can say is WOW! I don't know if we just ran into a few spectacularly trained people or if it was a combination of us being in such a great mood coupled with them being in a great mood but it was fantastic. I plan to write letters for four specific CMs.

WDW Transportation - We stayed at the WL. We had a rental car and we used it some days and other days used WDW transport. It was very timely and we were impressed.

MVMCP - We were there on 12/11. The place felt like a ghost town. Again, where was everyone?

KTTK - AWESOME. Thanks, Matthew!

Illuminations Cruise - OMG AWESOME! Thanks, Jeredan.

Those were the highlights. There were a few less than stellar moments involving other guests.

-Adam who is apparently trying to rent a 3 bedroom apartment located at 818 Franklin. I know this because he spent all of Splash Mountain on his cell phone calling people back. He was upset he couldn't get a signal before the drop. The woman he was with looked like she wanted to die. DH and I relieved our aggression by singing, along with the others in our log, at the top of our longs and screaming long and loud at the slightest bump. The guy was a jerk.

-The woman who removed her shoes in Artist Point. WTH?

-The woman who sat cross legged on the chair at Alfredo's. Again, WTH? People are going to sit on the chair you're putting your shoe all over.

-The utter homogenization of all WDW gift shops. It used to be you could Pirates merchandise at PoTC. No more. You can now buy it everywhere and every shop sells the same dozen things. We went to AKL to purchase some African candles I always buy there. Most of the authentic African merchandise is gone and has been replaced with standard Disney junk. Don't get me wrong - I love mugs and tee shirts as much as the next girl, but nothing was original to the place it was being sold. Same thing with the pool bars. It was sad. I left AKL feeling slightly annoyed. I hope this trend will reverse.

Other than those few things the trip was outstanding. I can't believe I have to wait another 11 months for the next one!

Any questions, ask away!

 

[disneyphilip]

-The utter homogenization of all WDW gift shops. It used to be you could Pirates merchandise at PoTC. No more. You can now buy it everywhere and every shop sells the same dozen things. We went to AKL to purchase some African candles I always buy there. Most of the authentic African merchandise is gone and has been replaced with standard Disney junk. Don't get me wrong - I love mugs and tee shirts as much as the next girl, but nothing was original to the place it was being sold. Same thing with the pool bars. It was sad. I left AKL feeling slightly annoyed. I hope this trend will reverse.

I strongly suggest that you write them a letter regarding this matter.

It wouldn't hurt.

 

[bytheblood]

Crowds - What crowds? A few times we felt lonely. The only noticeable crowd was Thursday at the MK. We went for EE and only stayed two hours (that was our plan). As we were leaving there were throngs of people entering the park. Where were they all week?

Glad to hear that - hope it is this way in 2007 as well.

Cast Members - WOW! All I can say is WOW! I don't know if we just ran into a few spectacularly trained people or if it was a combination of us being in such a great mood coupled with them being in a great mood but it was fantastic. I plan to write letters for four specific CMs.

This always makes a trip most magical.

WDW Transportation - We stayed at the WL. We had a rental car and we used it some days and other days used WDW transport. It was very timely and we were impressed.

I love WDW transportation.

MVMCP - We were there on 12/11. The place felt like a ghost town. Again, where was everyone?

Again, I hope my visit is like this!

-Adam who is apparently trying to rent a 3 bedroom apartment located at 818 Franklin. I know this because he spent all of Splash Mountain on his cell phone calling people back. He was upset he couldn't get a signal before the drop. The woman he was with looked like she wanted to die. DH and I relieved our aggression by singing, along with the others in our log, at the top of our longs and screaming long and loud at the slightest bump. The guy was a jerk.

I don't know why people always feel the need to conduct business in an attraction.

-The woman who removed her shoes in Artist Point. WTH?

Eeeww! I would have said something to our waiter.

-The utter homogenization of all WDW gift shops. It used to be you could Pirates merchandise at PoTC. No more. You can now buy it everywhere and every shop sells the same dozen things. We went to AKL to purchase some African candles I always buy there. Most of the authentic African merchandise is gone and has been replaced with standard Disney junk. Don't get me wrong - I love mugs and tee shirts as much as the next girl, but nothing was original to the place it was being sold. Same thing with the pool bars. It was sad. I left AKL feeling slightly annoyed. I hope this trend will reverse.

I noticed this in May and was a little disturbed about it as well.

Other than those few things the trip was outstanding. I can't believe I have to wait another 11 months for the next one!

I am glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. These are my most favorite trip reports to read!

 

[blue_eyes5212]

We just got back too. We walked on to most rides and did not have more than a 20 minute wait for anything!! YAY!!

 

[Tasmen]

-The woman who removed her shoes in Artist Point. WTH?

I can't believe that was allowed! I definitely would have said something about it. That's just not acceptable in a restaurant especially a nice one.

 

[daisy_77]

Thank you so much for the review!

Ew...about the lady who took her shoes off at Artist Point!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I was at Pop 12/8 to 12/16. We also had a great time. I agree that crowds were very low and it was wonderful. We were at mvmcp on 12/12 and had a good time. The only day we didn't enjoy was Sat, the 16th at MK. I wanted to be there on my last day and it was miserable. 30 plus waits for everything.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Cast Members - WOW! All I can say is WOW! I don't know if we just ran into a few spectacularly trained people or if it was a combination of us being in such a great mood coupled with them being in a great mood but it was fantastic. I plan to write letters for four specific CMs.

...

Any questions, ask away!

What did these 4 cast members do to make your trip special? Always nice to see positive comments after so many unhappy comments.

 

[byoung]

Sounds like you had a great trip. we where there from the 8th thru the 13th loved it.We seen the Shuttle take off Saturday from under the MK Christmas tree, did you see it?

 

[Octoberbeauty]

I was also at MVMCP on the 11th and loved the "no crowds." It was awesome, wasn't it? We were able to walk on 99% of the rides that night.

Also went to the early entry to MK on Thursday and had to fight those throngs of people trying to get in as we left a little after 10 am. It was insane!! I couldn't believe all those people trying to get in the park. Made me feel better about having to go home that day..... well kinda. I'd still rather be back there now!!

 

[mrsltg]

What did these 4 cast members do to make your trip special? Always nice to see positive comments after so many unhappy comments.

Great question - thanks!

Phyllis - She was the "driver" of our sleigh ride at the Wilderness Lodge. I am a chatty person by nature and she was happy to talk with me about the horse, the WL, horses that work in MK, their barns, their vet care, the WDW company, taxes in central Florida, and her family and mine. The 30 minutes flew by but I can now say I know someone in Orlando. She was just one of those people you feel lucky to have met.

Matthew - KTTK tour guide. He was bright, funny, knowledgeable, and my favorite, sarcastic. He, my husband and I sat together during our lunch and just chatted. I asked him if he knew of the Dis and he did. He was profiled in a story in the Washington Post a few months back about Disney tours. He was another really great person.

Jeredan - Illuminations cruise driver. He knows everything and he's 23 - not in the typical way a 23 year old "knows everything." He does this on the side and is partner in a scuba diving business. He is handsome, witty, and sweet. Did I mention handsome in the Adonis sort of way?

And now the fourth one has just completely slipped my mind and it was a big one. UUUGGGHHH. Must leave work immediately to refer back to my trip notes.

Oh, one final person, Jane from Gifts of a Lifetime. I hired her to do a scavenger hunt for dh's 40th birthday. He was THRILLED. The hunt was great and I was impressed beyond impressed.

 

[mrsltg]

Sounds like you had a great trip. we where there from the 8th thru the 13th loved it.We seen the Shuttle take off Saturday from under the MK Christmas tree, did you see it?

I missed it. Paint a big "L" on my forehead... we were in bed at 7:30pm. We had gotten up that morning at 3:30am and spent about 7 hours walking around Epcot. Oh well.....

I remembered the other Cast Member - Devora. She was our housekeeper. She was fantastic! Our room was immaculate. When we saw her in the hall she would chat with us. We received some exotic towel creations each day (clearly not a make or break issue, but fun just the same!), and the room was always well stocked. She was the best mousekeeper we ever had - EVER.