Just Back! Sheraton Safari & Bryan's Spanish Cove

[FayeW]

We just returned yesterday, spent the first 2 nights at Sheraton Safari and then a week at Bryan's Spanish Cove.

Sheraton Safari is an awesome hotel, and we had an awesome rate of $59. per night thru travelzoo. This hotel is worth the $130-$150 per night they usually charge! The grounds are lovely, the kids loved the pool, and they have an excellent buffet breakfast. This is actually a hotel I could consider staying in for an entire week with my family. The beds were wonderful.

Bryan's Spanish Cove was alright. The layout and furnishings were very nice, and the staff were friendly. The location was very convenient to the WDW parks, and Universal. Although the unit was clean and well appointed, we preferred the location and amenities at Cypress Point, and felt that BSC didn't have the same WOW factor. I think we just preferred the larger resort with two pool areas, and the onsite convenience store. Given all of the variety in timeshares in Orlando, I'm not sure we would choose Bryan's again, but if you have reservations already, don't worry, it is a very nice place to stay. I would prefer to go back to CPGV, or try Vistana next time ( If I don't buy rent DVC points)

We did a DVC tour of SSR, and I have to say, the units are absolutely gorgeous. We were very impressed, and would strongly consider renting points to stay there next time.

We had many, many magical moments including celebrating our daughter's birthday with a surprise dessert at CRT. We only went in for dessert, and they had the table decorated for us with Mickey confetti and streamers, and brought her a cupcake with a candle, and slipped us an unsigned birthday card.As we were leaving I asked her if she was happy with her surprise and she said "The only thing that would make it more perfect would be to see Cindy". As we rounded the corner of the stairs, there SHE was, signing autographs! We gave the card to the other little girl travelling with us, and she had Cinderella sign it for DD without her knowing. I put the card on her pillow before she went to sleep, and she said it was the best "unbirthday" ever. ( Her birthday is in two weeks, but we picked a day to celebrate while we were there. We did not, however, get her a birthday badge.)

Our DD was Snow White for the Halloween Party. As we were walking up from the ferry, there was a family dressed as the 7 Dwarfs, the smallest one being a baby. The were yelling "There she is! There she is" and I didn't realize at first that they were talking about DD! The Dwarfs were waiting for their princess. They made a big fuss over DD, and pulled her into their family picture! If that was a fellow DISer, you made her day!

Also at the party, we happened to find Rafiki by himself down in Adventureland, and while we waited for the rest of the group to catch up, Rafike danced alone with DD for 5 mins. or so. After we left there, we stopped to listen to the strolling minstrels out by POTC. One of the kids mentioned we were from Canada, and they started playing "O Canada" for us. If you happened to see 4 adults and 4 children singing O Canada at the top of their lungs on Thursday night, that was us! That was the coolest!

The final magical moments came on Saturday, which was our son's 9th birthday. I did get him a birthday badge at Animal Kingdom, and I had tried to order a cake to be delivered to Flame Tree BBQ, where we planned on having lunch. I say tried to order, because when I spoke to the manager, he PERSONALLY went to one of the other restaurants that actually have the cakes the day before we were to arrive, and got the cake for us, so it was waiting on Saturday. They put candles on the cake, and then refused to let me pay for it! What awesome service ( and delicious cake!). We planned to make the last showing of Festival of the Lion King at 4:30, and when we walked in the greeter noticed my son's birthday badge, and said "Oh, I have a special seat for you", and put us in the front row, reserved seats in the Giraffe section. Both of our children, as well as our friends' two children, were chosen to participate in the show, and Timon told all of the participants what a great job they did, and told our DD "and especially you!" What a special way for all of us to end our holiday!

 

[isla bonita]

Sounds like a magical experience for your family and friends. Great stories, loved the 7 dwarfs!

 

[Briarmom]

I am headed to Sharaton Safari in 2 weeks (from tomorrow)! Did you use their transportation at all? We aren't renting a car.

 

[FayeW]

No, we didn't use the shuttle because the first day we were going to Blizzard Beach, and they don't offer the shuttle to the water parks (although I could have taken the shuttle to one of the parks, and then transfered.) I did look at the shuttle schedule, and it had several departure and return times for each park.

 

[w770496]

We are going to the Safari for Presidents Week. Glad to here you would stay there for an extended period. Was the Breakfast priced reasonably for adults and children?

Thx

 

[FayeW]

The breakfast was very reasonably priced for us, because children ( 12 and under) eat free! I think it was $8.99 for adults. We made the mistake of going next door to Sizzler for breakfast one morning, and it was more expensive, and absolutely awful! How can you ruin scrambled eggs???

 

[WIcruizer]

We've stayed at the Safari in the past, and found it to be a very good value. We would stay there again if we wanted a nice basic hotel for under $75. The balcony is nice, the location is greeat! Right outside the entrance to DTD.

I would warn you about the transportation. Be prepared to wait! If you can work it into your budget, get a rental car. That way you can drive to restaurants along 535 as well.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Faye, so glad your trip went well. And so happy your DD had a magical unbirthday. That sounded awesome!

Glad BSC wasn't a dump or anything. Sounds like it was nice and well worth a Skyauction bid. Good to know.

Thanks for the trip report and welcome home.

 

[C.Ann]

Another poster had mentioned that she was surprised to learn that they allow dogs at the Sheraton Safari.. That right there would stop me from booking.. I have nothing against dogs (living with one and babysitting one right now) but Murphy's Law rules my life.. If I got a room that a dog had peed in (as per the other posters comment) and was moved to a new room, you can be sure that the new room would have fleas.. If they offered me yet another room, you can be sure that as I was exiting the flea room, a dog would come charging out of nowhere and take a nice chunk out of my leg.. LOL

It's a shame too - because it looks like a nice place.. Friends up north had been asking me about it and I gave them what info I was able to obtain from the other poster and this board.. They're not crazy about the dog aspect and will be booking elsewhere..

 

[FayeW]

There were at least 6 dogs on our floor alone! One family had 3 little yorkies, another had 2 mixed breeds, and I saw another dog as well. There were several guests who had evacuated to Orlando from the Keys. I have to say that it made me feel better to know they were coming to Orlando to escape the storm.
It's too bad that your friends are passing up a lovely hotel because of the dogs, but I'm sure they will find accomodations just as nice elsewhere, there certainly is no shortage of nice hotels in Orlando!

 

[DMRick]

If I got a room that a dog had peed in (as per the other posters comment) and was moved to a new room, you can be sure that the new room would have fleas.. If they offered me yet another room, you can be sure that as I was exiting the flea room, a dog would come charging out of nowhere and take a nice chunk out of my leg.. LOL.

That poster was me, however, we did go there the day of the hurricane, and I now know that they were very short staffed because of it. The new room was imaculate and smelled fresh. We had wonderful housekeeping. I never once smelled a doggie smell again. I was assured the bedspreads are changed out, if a dog had been in the room. It was a great hotel, and we would stay again. I was surprised they allowed dogs (they say under 22 pounds and I don't know if they changed it because of the evacuee's, but that chocolate lab and german shep mix, were the biggest 22 pounders I've seen LOL), and I did post it, but I have since found out that many, many hotels near Disney allow dogs. The dogs were very well behaved, and the hotel kept very clean. With Ihop, Shoney's, Olive Garder, Pizza hut right nearby, within walking distance, and the hotel's own restaurant, I can't say enough good about it for eating out. We saw the Dis buses often (we had our own car), and in talking with other people, nothing bad was ever said about the hotel or the transport. We did wake up to no power on Monday (as did the hotel next to us), because of a power companies transformer blowing, but the hotel offered a free continental breakfast to make up for their lack of a restaurant that morning. Power was back on at 10 am. Most of us headed for the nice warm pool while waiting for the power to return. Others went into Disney.
We've stayed at some hotels I would consider dump's for first nighters while going to Disney, and this was not one of them. We spent 7 comfortable nights there.