We just got back from 9 nights and 10 days! We stayed at the WL Villas. Seeing the price of the Marriott ($22.03) makes we wish that we banked our points for 2003 and stayed there! What a deal!!
We got rained on everyday - everyday - if I may emphasize the point. We go to WDW, or have been for the last 4 years, during the last week of Aug. We are from New Jersey and we have always found that last week in Aug. to be a great time as the crowds are small. Not this year though. We thought that it was much more crowded than in years past. Maybe because of all the great deals out there?
Last Friday, 8-22, it rained the hardest of the trip. We were in Magic Kingdom and it rained all day (10 am until about 4:00pm). And hard. Splash Mountain had a whole new meaning! The dollar ponchos we bought at home at the dollar store may have been the best purchase in our lives. We wore them everyday - I think - except one.
The parks seemed to thin out on Friday, 8-29, the day before we had to leave. Friday we did the grand tour of MK, Epcot and MGM, riding only the rides we love to hold us over until our next visit. It was no problem, because, again, it seemed the crowds were small.
Hoo-De-Doo was great, as usual. That is how we start our vacation the first night there. I was picked out of the crowd during the loudest "Toot-Toot" contest by the Funny Actress (can't remember the character name) who plays off of "Six Bits", to do the "toot-toot" routine! It was after a few sangrias I might add!
Chef Mickey's was good, as usual, Sci-Fi was OK, but we thought it was expensive for what you got - I would recommend it if you are forty-something because you can explain to your kids that this is how you used to go to the movies when you were their age!!
Went to the Kona Cafe - I was the only one that really liked it - I finally had Tonga Toast!!! The girls didn't like the eggs (omelette and scrambled). My significant other had pancakes and said they were tasteless. Service was poor. But I am the only real breakfast eater in my family and the Tonga Toast made up for everything!
I also had my first Dole Whip. Actually two of them and one Dole Whip float. My favorite is the Pineapple/vanilla swirl. Got the tips about the Tonga Toast and the Dole whip from this board - thanks everyone! I cannot beleiev that I have been to WDW 6 times and had never heard of them before this board!!!
Mission Space was not all that fun for me. I was the only one that went on because we had heard from several people that they got motion sick from the ride and that knocks you out for the rest of the day. Did not have to wait long as I had gotten a FastPass early in the day for 4:00pm - but I didn't need one by then - there was a 5 minute wait. I have no desire to go back on it, except for the first minute or so. That was the best part of the whole ride. Also, you get to e-mail people at the end of the exhibit - it was fun because I e-mailed my better half and she didn't know it. When we got home, she really got a chuckle from the e-mail!!
The Whispering Canyon at the WL was good - we ate there twice. Once for lunch and the other for dinner - we got the all-you-can-eat dinners all around for dinner. Our server for lunch was the best - MT - she is loud and you can't miss her. I had lots of fun with her embarrassing the kids!!
Did not enjoy Universal all that much (they have no idea how to handle large crowds and the "cast" members are miserable) and Wet-N-Wild was OK. I prefer Blizzard Beach. There was less of a crowd at Wet-N-Wild which made it more appealing to the girls.
We are thinking about going to Norway next year for vacation - so it may be some time before we go back to WDW for a lenghty stay.
Here is a hint that we have found to work out great. Every three days or so, we take off. Meaning, we plan nothing. We use it to relax by the pool, go pool hopping, go horse back riding, canoeing, etc. Even our girls (10 and 12) enjoy the "off-days. Gives us a chance to relax and try different things.
If you want more, just ask and I'll post again.
Sad to be home,
Zzotto
We got rained on everyday - everyday - if I may emphasize the point. We go to WDW, or have been for the last 4 years, during the last week of Aug. We are from New Jersey and we have always found that last week in Aug. to be a great time as the crowds are small. Not this year though. We thought that it was much more crowded than in years past. Maybe because of all the great deals out there?
Last Friday, 8-22, it rained the hardest of the trip. We were in Magic Kingdom and it rained all day (10 am until about 4:00pm). And hard. Splash Mountain had a whole new meaning! The dollar ponchos we bought at home at the dollar store may have been the best purchase in our lives. We wore them everyday - I think - except one.
The parks seemed to thin out on Friday, 8-29, the day before we had to leave. Friday we did the grand tour of MK, Epcot and MGM, riding only the rides we love to hold us over until our next visit. It was no problem, because, again, it seemed the crowds were small.
Hoo-De-Doo was great, as usual. That is how we start our vacation the first night there. I was picked out of the crowd during the loudest "Toot-Toot" contest by the Funny Actress (can't remember the character name) who plays off of "Six Bits", to do the "toot-toot" routine! It was after a few sangrias I might add!
Chef Mickey's was good, as usual, Sci-Fi was OK, but we thought it was expensive for what you got - I would recommend it if you are forty-something because you can explain to your kids that this is how you used to go to the movies when you were their age!!
Went to the Kona Cafe - I was the only one that really liked it - I finally had Tonga Toast!!! The girls didn't like the eggs (omelette and scrambled). My significant other had pancakes and said they were tasteless. Service was poor. But I am the only real breakfast eater in my family and the Tonga Toast made up for everything!
I also had my first Dole Whip. Actually two of them and one Dole Whip float. My favorite is the Pineapple/vanilla swirl. Got the tips about the Tonga Toast and the Dole whip from this board - thanks everyone! I cannot beleiev that I have been to WDW 6 times and had never heard of them before this board!!!
Mission Space was not all that fun for me. I was the only one that went on because we had heard from several people that they got motion sick from the ride and that knocks you out for the rest of the day. Did not have to wait long as I had gotten a FastPass early in the day for 4:00pm - but I didn't need one by then - there was a 5 minute wait. I have no desire to go back on it, except for the first minute or so. That was the best part of the whole ride. Also, you get to e-mail people at the end of the exhibit - it was fun because I e-mailed my better half and she didn't know it. When we got home, she really got a chuckle from the e-mail!!
The Whispering Canyon at the WL was good - we ate there twice. Once for lunch and the other for dinner - we got the all-you-can-eat dinners all around for dinner. Our server for lunch was the best - MT - she is loud and you can't miss her. I had lots of fun with her embarrassing the kids!!
Did not enjoy Universal all that much (they have no idea how to handle large crowds and the "cast" members are miserable) and Wet-N-Wild was OK. I prefer Blizzard Beach. There was less of a crowd at Wet-N-Wild which made it more appealing to the girls.
We are thinking about going to Norway next year for vacation - so it may be some time before we go back to WDW for a lenghty stay.
Here is a hint that we have found to work out great. Every three days or so, we take off. Meaning, we plan nothing. We use it to relax by the pool, go pool hopping, go horse back riding, canoeing, etc. Even our girls (10 and 12) enjoy the "off-days. Gives us a chance to relax and try different things.
If you want more, just ask and I'll post again.
Sad to be home,
Zzotto
