Just returned September 2nd from 17 day trip

[pd1138]

Glad you had an awesome trip! We arrived aug 17 also , but left the 27th and I must say although it was hot we really liked not having that rain! I came so prepared for the rain too!!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Thanks so much for the detailed report. I always love reading the "just back" reports. It sounds like you had a great trip! A 17 day trip must be awesome. We don't have any plans on returning for a few years because we want to travel to other places, but when we do return, we want to stay for 14 days.

I've never had any interest in staying at the Contemporary but both my boys really want to. What kind of view did you have with a standard view room? What were your room requests?

We love Trail's End, too. I really think it is one of Disney's best kept secrets. We ate at Garden Grill for the first time this past June and we loved it! I'm glad you also enjoyed it. You mentioned your daughter got a Vanilla Coke at Sci-Fi; I always get one at Beaches and Cream. It's so goooood!

I'm glad you booked a bounce back. It always helps to have another trip in the works.

At the Contemporary, we requested close to transportation and patio. We had a view of parking lot ... but this is also a view of the monorail going by! Loved it. We did book a bounceback offer, but like you, we are going to try other places too. We have a 12 night Mediterranean cruise booked for next year (RCCL). Hope that we can also do the bounceback to Disney too, but know that we may have to cancel (DD's at the age where they have jobs, so tough for them to be gone too much in the summer). Booked it just in case - even a week at POP would give us our Disney fix BTW the Contemporary price for standard garden wing room was $209 a night. A great deal. My oldest DD has always wanted to stay here and I didn't think it was something we could afford, but it was fantastic.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Glad you had an awesome trip! We arrived aug 17 also , but left the 27th and I must say although it was hot we really liked not having that rain! I came so prepared for the rain too!!

I carried around rain capes for days! So unusual to go so many days without rain! We loved the breezes this trip. Still hot, but much more comfortable than other August trips.

 

[disny_luvr]

At the Contemporary, we requested close to transportation and patio. We had a view of parking lot ... but this is also a view of the monorail going by! Loved it. We did book a bounceback offer, but like you, we are going to try other places too. We have a 12 night Mediterranean cruise booked for next year (RCCL). Hope that we can also do the bounceback to Disney too, but know that we may have to cancel (DD's at the age where they have jobs, so tough for them to be gone too much in the summer). Booked it just in case - even a week at POP would give us our Disney fix BTW the Contemporary price for standard garden wing room was $209 a night. A great deal. My oldest DD has always wanted to stay here and I didn't think it was something we could afford, but it was fantastic.

You must've gotten an agency exclusive rate. We booked with that same agency before. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if I can find a good deal for the Contemporary in a few years. Even if we just stay for a few nights...

 

[Criickette]

Sounds like you had the perfect trip! I had no clue that you could request turkey bacon at Ohana, or anywhere for that matter. How did you go about that? My family does not eat beef or pork so it really puts a hinder in breakfast plans.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

You must've gotten an agency exclusive rate. We booked with that same agency before. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if I can find a good deal for the Contemporary in a few years. Even if we just stay for a few nights...

Yes, it was a magical deal. We are usually a POFQ family (probably our favourite resort), but it was nice to try something else.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Sounds like you had the perfect trip! I had no clue that you could request turkey bacon at Ohana, or anywhere for that matter. How did you go about that? My family does not eat beef or pork so it really puts a hinder in breakfast plans.

I asked at each restaurant we went to for breakfast.
At Akershsus, I received turkey sausage (by request)
At Early Morning Magic breakfast at MK, I received chicken sausage (in buffet line). They had chicken sausages and pork sausages.
At 'Ohana, I requested and received turkey bacon (I learned about this on the Dis)
At Garden Grill I requested and received chicken sausage.
I didn't ask at Crystal Palace or Tusker House breakfasts, because they are buffets and there was lots to choose from, but I'm sure you could have gotten turkey or chicken items there too. I find Disney so accommodating.

 

[Criickette]

I asked at each restaurant we went to for breakfast.
At Akershsus, I received turkey sausage (by request)
At Early Morning Magic breakfast at MK, I received chicken sausage (in buffet line). They had chicken sausages and pork sausages.
At 'Ohana, I requested and received turkey bacon (I learned about this on the Dis)
At Garden Grill I requested and received chicken sausage.
I didn't ask at Crystal Palace or Tusker House breakfasts, because they are buffets and there was lots to choose from, but I'm sure you could have gotten turkey or chicken items there too. I find Disney so accommodating.

Thank you! That is extremely helpful!

 

[rchampagne]

Our party was very enjoyable. I think we paid $26, so very reasonable. The fact that there were tables and chairs made it fantastic!
There were round tables (pretty tables cloths) with 8 chairs around each table. We had our family of 4 and a mother with her young daughter at our table. There were beautiful center pieces - wrapped boxes with a Mickey glove and wand (that lit up). I actually won it (they did trivia questions and the winners got the center piece). My trivia question was 'how many countries are in the World Showcase at Epcot?' Our instructions were to arrive by 8:30pm at the Italian Pavilion (I see that you are having your party in France). We got there at 8:15pm and there were probably 20 people ahead of us. We were served champagne (DD's got cider) when we entered. We were given bands to wear on our wrists. We were let in at 8:30pm. Other drinks were tea, water, lemonade. Desserts were pretty basic. A blue velvet cupcake, a PB&J cupcake, cookies, brownies, key lime tarts and a big bowl of fresh fruit. OK, but really just 'meh'. But the best was the view! Sitting outside the Italian pavilion, tables/chairs, special glasses (when the fireworks go off, it looks like a big explosion of Mickey heads)... the effects of the glasses was fantastic! Finally, when the fireworks ended, we were told we were receiving a 'magical moment'. We followed a CM with a green wand all the way to .... SOARIN'!!! The park was closed, but we got to ride Soarin'. Just our group. So amazing to get this experience. Terrific night. Hope you enjoy.

Those special glasses for the fireworks were great. My kids were wearing them at night, walking around Poly and seeing the Mickey heads on the torches.

 

[lustergirl]

Nice!!!