So I just got back from my fourth DVC trip since buying in back in 04, and I thought I would share some of my thoughts with the good folks here at DIS DVC. This started as a short post, but blew up.
What can I say? I love WDW in early December. It really is the best time to go. I was a little disappointed it wasn't a bit warmer (It was low 70s in the day and down in the 50's at night) then I caught a glimpse of the 18 degrees in NYC one morning and quickly realized that 71 wasn't all that bad. We only got to swim the first day, and I am not sure if that was becasue of the cool weather or the exhaustion from non stop theme parks. At least there was always a group of cheerleaders nearby to perk me up. ("Hey were on a line with hundreds of complete starngers! Lets scream our heads off and clap loudly!")
This time we purchased a 10 day no-exp pass, becasue we may go back next year for Xmas week and the AP would not work. Good news, my tix for next xmas are paid! Bad news, no summer trip! I do miss the power of the AP... Regular non park hopping tickets had me feeling a little trapped, but with a two little girls (5 and 3), we pretty much stick to a park a day.
Awesome flight down on JetBlue. Thnak you JB for coming to Newark. Although I do miss song and the $49 fares, JB softens the blow with $89 for EWR-MCO and free snacks!
Got "stuck" in the paddocks of SSR, or the horse hotel, as my daughter calls it. and I did feel stuck. 1BR on the other side of the bridge.. clean and nice, as always, but I really think Congress Park/Springs and future Grandstand will be the better places to stay, as I liked my DTD view from last year much better than my RCFD view this time around. Wow, that first Carousel building is really really far away... Waking up to the FD intercom system was not as pleasant as one would think. Next time, I will hopefully get an earlier flight and remember my requests. I went into this trip looking forward to SSR since we had such a nice trip last year in CP, I even had a waitlist at BW that I didn't bother extending past 31 days and (my last DVC to stay at) I went in with no requests, I was going to let fate decide and I came out dissappointed. Not in the location or the room, but the people at the resort... Quick for instance, returning from a late night at MVMCP, my wife and I each carrying to sleeping kids over our shoulders, walking 15 ft. behind another gentleman towards the building elevators. He gets on, presses his floor and allows the doors to shut in our faces. Who does that? Lots of little moments like that at SSR. That is my only complaint. I guess with that many people there, the percentage of jerks also increases. It is amazing how quiet it is there for a resort with 700 or so rooms. The Granstand is coming along nicely and nobody could give me any info on AKL.
Dining Plan! what a deal! too much food or too good of a price, I cant decide. $100 a day for 4 people to eat in WDW including a character meal that costs at least $100 with tip. It was like free breakfast or lunch and snacks with a paid character meal. The problem is the pressure to use all your credits. One day outside the world (like at Sea World) and you really have to plan your meals to use them all. Other problem was the pressure to eat the dessert with every meal.. Its already paid for, but I am so full. and I have to eat 2 mickey bars for 5PM if I want to keep pace. any family who eats at character meals, the DDP is a steal. Much better than DDE.
AK - Breakfastasaurus was good. Expedition Everest - Came away a little dissapointed. I think I was expecting a little more. Its a good ride, and I sure it will grow on me, but I didn't hoot and holler. Maybe being a single rider effected me. Definately brought more people and buzz to the park. Finding Nemo - The Musical. very cute. A lot of time went into this. Good music, broadway quality production, and fish puppets are cool. Saw Flights of Wonder for the first time. Really enjoyed the birds, didn't need the bad Don Knotts impression. Also took the train to Rafiki's planet watch.. It was empty, now I know why. skipped Dino Land as usual, and rode the Safari. Streets at AK are way too narrow for that parade.
MGM
Am I the only one who thinks its time to update Indiana Jones? You are a double for the 60 year old Harrison Ford? really? and YOU are the double for Karen Allen! No way. Character Lunch with Playhouse Disney was very good. Food at H&V is good, and the characters and kid interaction were great. Muppets rock, osbourne lights were jammed, but seem to get more elaborate every year. Had to meet my daughters favorite characters that I cannot see at a meal (Mike W. and Kim P.) Skipped ToT and RnR. didn't want to ride solo, and I came to the conclusion that I really hate the Tower of Terror. I just don't enjoy it. There, I've said it.
MK was great because my little 3YO hit 40".. A huge milestone in WDW. with that she was able to do every ride except for Space M. She loved Splash M and Big Thunder M. Was offended for days that stich burped and spit on her, and scored 116000 on Buzz (the ride broke down 3 feet from a Z target for about 5 minutes) we raked it in. My older one rode Space M for the first time, 3 times, I was very proud of her. It was great getting to do fun rides as a family. Talking garbage can was a huge hit.. thing would not leave us alone. CRT for Breakfast and CP for dinner. Whose idea was it to give CRT children plastic beating sticks.. I mean.. wands before a meal? I would like to meet this genious. The new pay in advance and forced picture buying make the whole fiasco operate much smoother. New Pirates and Jack Sparrow was a little overboard. Basically we did Tomorrow, Frontier and Adventure during the day and Fantasy Land for the whole MVMCP. Were in the park from 8:30AM till 10:30 PM. and I got to be the Beast in Belles Story. Highlight of my trip. was nervous, but I think I pulled it off.
Epcot. The Seas was jammed, whole park was jammed... I think they let the cheerleaders out on Friday. Clam ride beats the pants of the hydrolator garbage any day. Really liked it. Turtle Talk gets better each time, same jokes, more laughs. Even got to see the the main tank feeding, I saw more stuff in the tank than when I did Divequest. My 3yo got to ride Soarin and Test Track, she was thrilled. Test Track in 40 degree weather is different. Dinner in Mexico.. pretty good. Missed our seating for Princess Breakfast at Akershus, (see 14 hours at MK day before) but the nice Norweigens stuck us in at the end of the seating.
Also went to Seaworld. Might be our favorite park. Pets Ahoy is my kids new favorite show. I miss the old shamu show, Believe was a bit slow.
As always a great trip made better with DVC, Disney Dining and Dollar Rent a car.
Bill
What can I say? I love WDW in early December. It really is the best time to go. I was a little disappointed it wasn't a bit warmer (It was low 70s in the day and down in the 50's at night) then I caught a glimpse of the 18 degrees in NYC one morning and quickly realized that 71 wasn't all that bad. We only got to swim the first day, and I am not sure if that was becasue of the cool weather or the exhaustion from non stop theme parks. At least there was always a group of cheerleaders nearby to perk me up. ("Hey were on a line with hundreds of complete starngers! Lets scream our heads off and clap loudly!")
This time we purchased a 10 day no-exp pass, becasue we may go back next year for Xmas week and the AP would not work. Good news, my tix for next xmas are paid! Bad news, no summer trip! I do miss the power of the AP... Regular non park hopping tickets had me feeling a little trapped, but with a two little girls (5 and 3), we pretty much stick to a park a day.
Awesome flight down on JetBlue. Thnak you JB for coming to Newark. Although I do miss song and the $49 fares, JB softens the blow with $89 for EWR-MCO and free snacks!
Got "stuck" in the paddocks of SSR, or the horse hotel, as my daughter calls it. and I did feel stuck. 1BR on the other side of the bridge.. clean and nice, as always, but I really think Congress Park/Springs and future Grandstand will be the better places to stay, as I liked my DTD view from last year much better than my RCFD view this time around. Wow, that first Carousel building is really really far away... Waking up to the FD intercom system was not as pleasant as one would think. Next time, I will hopefully get an earlier flight and remember my requests. I went into this trip looking forward to SSR since we had such a nice trip last year in CP, I even had a waitlist at BW that I didn't bother extending past 31 days and (my last DVC to stay at) I went in with no requests, I was going to let fate decide and I came out dissappointed. Not in the location or the room, but the people at the resort... Quick for instance, returning from a late night at MVMCP, my wife and I each carrying to sleeping kids over our shoulders, walking 15 ft. behind another gentleman towards the building elevators. He gets on, presses his floor and allows the doors to shut in our faces. Who does that? Lots of little moments like that at SSR. That is my only complaint. I guess with that many people there, the percentage of jerks also increases. It is amazing how quiet it is there for a resort with 700 or so rooms. The Granstand is coming along nicely and nobody could give me any info on AKL.
Dining Plan! what a deal! too much food or too good of a price, I cant decide. $100 a day for 4 people to eat in WDW including a character meal that costs at least $100 with tip. It was like free breakfast or lunch and snacks with a paid character meal. The problem is the pressure to use all your credits. One day outside the world (like at Sea World) and you really have to plan your meals to use them all. Other problem was the pressure to eat the dessert with every meal.. Its already paid for, but I am so full. and I have to eat 2 mickey bars for 5PM if I want to keep pace. any family who eats at character meals, the DDP is a steal. Much better than DDE.
AK - Breakfastasaurus was good. Expedition Everest - Came away a little dissapointed. I think I was expecting a little more. Its a good ride, and I sure it will grow on me, but I didn't hoot and holler. Maybe being a single rider effected me. Definately brought more people and buzz to the park. Finding Nemo - The Musical. very cute. A lot of time went into this. Good music, broadway quality production, and fish puppets are cool. Saw Flights of Wonder for the first time. Really enjoyed the birds, didn't need the bad Don Knotts impression. Also took the train to Rafiki's planet watch.. It was empty, now I know why. skipped Dino Land as usual, and rode the Safari. Streets at AK are way too narrow for that parade.
MGM
Am I the only one who thinks its time to update Indiana Jones? You are a double for the 60 year old Harrison Ford? really? and YOU are the double for Karen Allen! No way. Character Lunch with Playhouse Disney was very good. Food at H&V is good, and the characters and kid interaction were great. Muppets rock, osbourne lights were jammed, but seem to get more elaborate every year. Had to meet my daughters favorite characters that I cannot see at a meal (Mike W. and Kim P.) Skipped ToT and RnR. didn't want to ride solo, and I came to the conclusion that I really hate the Tower of Terror. I just don't enjoy it. There, I've said it.
MK was great because my little 3YO hit 40".. A huge milestone in WDW. with that she was able to do every ride except for Space M. She loved Splash M and Big Thunder M. Was offended for days that stich burped and spit on her, and scored 116000 on Buzz (the ride broke down 3 feet from a Z target for about 5 minutes) we raked it in. My older one rode Space M for the first time, 3 times, I was very proud of her. It was great getting to do fun rides as a family. Talking garbage can was a huge hit.. thing would not leave us alone. CRT for Breakfast and CP for dinner. Whose idea was it to give CRT children plastic beating sticks.. I mean.. wands before a meal? I would like to meet this genious. The new pay in advance and forced picture buying make the whole fiasco operate much smoother. New Pirates and Jack Sparrow was a little overboard. Basically we did Tomorrow, Frontier and Adventure during the day and Fantasy Land for the whole MVMCP. Were in the park from 8:30AM till 10:30 PM. and I got to be the Beast in Belles Story. Highlight of my trip. was nervous, but I think I pulled it off.
Epcot. The Seas was jammed, whole park was jammed... I think they let the cheerleaders out on Friday. Clam ride beats the pants of the hydrolator garbage any day. Really liked it. Turtle Talk gets better each time, same jokes, more laughs. Even got to see the the main tank feeding, I saw more stuff in the tank than when I did Divequest. My 3yo got to ride Soarin and Test Track, she was thrilled. Test Track in 40 degree weather is different. Dinner in Mexico.. pretty good. Missed our seating for Princess Breakfast at Akershus, (see 14 hours at MK day before) but the nice Norweigens stuck us in at the end of the seating.
Also went to Seaworld. Might be our favorite park. Pets Ahoy is my kids new favorite show. I miss the old shamu show, Believe was a bit slow.
As always a great trip made better with DVC, Disney Dining and Dollar Rent a car.
Bill
rim shot
