MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

[eandesmom]

More trips planned, you'll never finish all your TRs

Isn't that the truth!

Adult time is always good, we went to Corfu last week for Freya's first holiday and we tried to have date night but it didn't really work sadly as Freya decided that was the night she'd be unhappy.

Ah...Corfu

Sigh

Bummer about the date night though!

 

[eandesmom]

I am sloooooooooooooooly geting caught up. If I haven't made it to your thread, I am on my way soon!

Today was moving day! We would be checking out of BWV and heading to the Treehouse villas! For those of you who may not know, the THV IS the reason we bought into DVC. My boys have been dying to sleep in a treehouse since they heard they existed. Especially in a treehouse, with the cousins! At the time, the point values for the THV were a great deal and they were very hard to get as a result. We'd been dancing around the idea of DVC for a couple of years and finally pulled the plug when a particular deal was offered that made sense.

That was in 2012. We still hadn't stayed at the treehouses, or at our original home resort, SSR, of which the treehouses are part. We'd also added on twice, at 2 other resorts! Still, having that 11 month advantage was huge, especially at the time of year in which our trip fell. The boys really wanted the bulk of the trip to be at the treehouses, however we felt that wasn’t really practical. It would be farther away from those not staying in our villa, and farther away from the parks in general. With the crowds, BWV made far more sense for the early NYE portion of the trip. Originally we had planned for this to be a WDW day. However, for a variety of reasons things moved around, mostly so we could spend more time with Kerri and Eric. Today we would be splitting up. Kerri and Eric would be having a couples day at WDW. The rest of us would head back to Universal for the day and see the "other" park as well as hit anything we'd missed on our first day at Islands of Adventure. As you might recall, that was actually quite a lot thanks to the rain. Or quite a lot for Jeff and I, the kids had done pretty well. Today we would be handling things differently. On our first outing to the dark side, we had done town cars, leaving early in the morning and coming back mid evening. Instead we would be renting cars, driving ourselves over, and leaving whenever we felt like it. We would have 2 cars. As my parents were staying for the rest of the week, they needed a car for their later days to visit friends and change hotels. Jeff would be flying the following day and needed a car for that. The plan was that the guys would pick up the cars while I had bell services pick up our things. My parents, Melissa and her boys would head straight to Universal. Jeff and I and the E's would head to THV and check us in, then over to Universal. The boys weren't happy about it but the reality of it was there were only so many seatbelts and they wouldn't fit in the other car. Suck it up buttercup. Plus Mel wanted a little alone time with her boys. I'd be getting 3 days of it later so I was good.

In many ways this meant a later start to the day. Cars could not be picked up until 9. This was because we were picking them up next door, at the Swan! LOVE that. So easy. We took that time to pack everyone up. And realized something was missing.

Kolby's brand new Ravenclaw T shirt from the previous visit to Islands of Adventure. As well as some small animal, I don’t even recall what it was or where it came from but it was also Kolby's. Apparently Kolby had stripped in the middle of the night. On the night Eric had gotten sick. On the night they’d bundled up all the sheets and sent them out with housekeeping.

Sigh.

Calls were made of course but that shirt was gone. And it stayed gone. I will say this time, unlike my previous missing clothing episode over at the YC, Disney did an AMAZING job of looking, calling and updating. I promised to buy him a new one. What else could I do? It wasn't his fault it was gone and it certainly wasn't in my sisters budget to buy a 2nd one.

The men went to get the cars and I got busy feeding the gang. And using up what I could grocery wise. Thanks to the beauty of biscuits in a can and a real oven everyone enjoyed some tasty biscuit, egg, cheese and ham breakfast sandwiches. I love being in a villa with a kitchen! Right as they finished the call came that the cars were ready. Mel and gang headed down while we waited for bell services who came just as they were leaving. A quick split of the luggage and we were off. While we sent a lot of the bags to be transferred, we’d decided we would drive the groceries over with us on the off chance it was ready and to ensure stuff made it into cold storage right away. Arriving at SSR I went ahead to check in. And for some reason, it took quite a while, again! First the line was simply slow. Then when I got up to the desk…they said I wasn't checked out of BWV. Um. Ok. I'd settled my bill the night before and it was after check out time. Really people, I needed to go back again? When there are 7 of you in a room apparently that takes a bit to check out out, and back in. Or at least it took her a bit. She confimed ALL my band were working fine and with that, we were off.

By then we were getting texts. Traffic was AWFUL on the highway heading to Universal. Which meant we needed to figure out an alternative…using our phone gps.

As we drove, more texts. The line from the highway to get into the Universal garage was awful as well. Like a parking lot. Except they weren't even parked yet.



We decided to try and park at one of the hotels instead of the garage. As we got closer, we finally heard the rest of the crew had made it into the garage and were off to Islands of Adventure. Driving along we passed the new value hotel that was soon to be opening. I think it's open now. We were NOT impressed with the exterior at all and from what I understand, you do not get any real onsite benefits so we didn't see the draw. At all. Our plan had to park at Hard Rock, mostly as we know our way best around that resort. However we didn't find where to park there easily and instead, ended up at RPH. There was a paid lot and based on the texts…it didn't seem to be that much more than the nightmare garage and a heck of a lot easier. In short order we were parked and out the door.

And then back in the door. Or trunk. Much debate was had about weather and layers and if I recall correctly we did end up electing to carry layers with us, though some (aka boys and men) had left them in the car originally.
Finally…we were on property, and on our way to the park. We were all a little taken aback that the group had elected to hit IoA first. I'd thought the whole point of this 2nd day was Universal, and the E's were chomping at the bit.
As we walked in we found out that Mel and the boys were in line for FJ. Which had like an hour wait. And no one was really sure how long they’d been in line as again, the cell service SUCKED

Great.

Mom and Dad were...doing something.

Visions of the separation disaster of the previous visit to that area of the park haunted both Jeff and I.

I had 2 kids that ONLY wanted to be with their cousins and were not happy with the later arrival as it was.

But those cousins were busy at the moment

What to do?

It was noon, or after noon actually...and I'd yet to take a single picture

Gardening Grandma

 

[MEK]

Oh wow - going to Universal on your resort change day. I bet that was a challenge. I think I remember reading about that in your other TR.

So - tell me about this resort parking? Is the cost the same? Do you think its more convenient. I need to know the tricks to Universal.

That is a TOTAL bummer about the T-shirt going missing in the laundry. Ugh! I hope you are able to find a new one. And somebody ended up with a really nice shirt.

Yayayayayay for the treehouse villas. Did you get in before they change the point structure? I'm thinking probably not.

 

[KatMark]

I think I've only done 3 updates total since I started the TR. With Mark losing his job, my boss leaving for a two-month vacation, and my mom in rehab, I've not had time to do an update. So you've not missed much on mine.

Sorry to hear about the t-shirt and the stuffed animal disappearing. But Disney does normally go out of their way to find it.

I didn't realize you couldn't get a car at the Swan (although we got ours at the Dolphin) until 11:00 a.m.? I wonder why so late.

I can't believe you went to Universal on check out day. I can't wait to hear if this was a better excursion than the first one.

 

[rentayenta]

THV!

 

[IheartDDuck]

THV moving day, woot woot! We loved them in July last year! Just so awesome.

Oh no! I'm sorry the items were lost. I'm glad that Disney really tried to find them. They did that for us once when we checked out of the Boardwalk to head home later in the evening, and my (dingbat) brother left his inhaler on the bed, and it apparently got wrapped up in the sheets. They really did great job finding it and keeping in touch with us along the way.

I don't see the draw of Universals new resort either! Like, okay. It's a value resort, but you get NOTHING from them. You stay at any other resort, and they give you express passes. Cabana Bay. Nothing at all. Not worth it in my opinion. Plus, it looks kinda cheap to me.

 

[afwdwfan]

Apparently Kolby had stripped in the middle of the night. On the night Eric had gotten sick. On the night they’d bundled up all the sheets and sent them out with housekeeping.

Sigh.

Calls were made of course but that shirt was gone.

Gotta feel bad for the kid. Like you said, it wasn't his fault. I hope you were able to find a replacement.

First the line was simply slow. Then when I got up to the desk…they said I wasn't checked out of BWV. Um. Ok. I'd settled my bill the night before and it was after check out time.

First time I've ever heard of that one... At least they were able to get it straightened out.

As we drove, more texts. The line from the highway to get into the Universal garage was awful as well. Like a parking lot. Except they weren't even parked yet.

I have never seen any kind of traffic jam getting into Universal. But then again, I've never rolled in middle of the day during the week around New Years Day either.

We were NOT impressed with the exterior at all and from what I understand, you do not get any real onsite benefits so we didn't see the draw. At all.

I didn't realize that. Yeah, if you're not getting the Express Pass benefits, there is no way I'd want to stay there. Totally not worth it. Just as well stay at my Disney resort instead of moving for a night or 2.

What to do?

Transformers. Definitely Transformers. That will appease the grumpy boys until they reunite with their cousins.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Moving day! Or should I have said Moving day ? What a bummer that you couldn't get your rental car until 11:00. Seems late to me but whadda I know? I've never had to rent a car before.

Ugh, the story of the traffic going to Universal sounds like a nightmare. We are thinking of adding a Universal day to our 2015 trip and I hate driving through Orlando traffic.

Oh no, I hope that the cousins reunite sooner rather than later since they all just wanted to spend time together.

 

[elphie101]

Nice cliffhanger - I'm going to guess a Margaritaville visit

In all seriousness, how crazy that history was starting to repeat itself? And I had no idea it was such a process to check in and out on the same day like that - strange.

 

[eandesmom]

Oh wow - going to Universal on your resort change day. I bet that was a challenge. I think I remember reading about that in your other TR.

Yeah. Honestly it was easier when we only planned one universal day. Originally it was just one day total. Then Mel really wanted 2 as her kids would want the Universal side. Which of course mine would too. So it was going to be just Mel and I, and the kids.

I figured Jeff could handle the move...originally he also thought he might fly this day

Then my dad decided he wanted a second day over there too. Not for Universal but to go back to Harry Potter in case he missed stuff.

Then Jeff decided he'd rather go to the park with us and flying wouldn't happen that day.

It really was the only day we could do it. Earlier, pre NYE made no sense as without the onsite benefits it would have been even worse. 2 days in a row going there sounded exhausting to all of us but with Mel and her boys leaving the next day...doing it on moving day was the only option.

So - tell me about this resort parking? Is the cost the same? Do you think its more convenient. I need to know the tricks to Universal.

It's definitely frowned upon and not easy to find but it worked out great for us. In this instance it was definitely better but it's not closer than the big garage. If it was a non peak time I might stick to the garage.

That is a TOTAL bummer about the T-shirt going missing in the laundry. Ugh! I hope you are able to find a new one. And somebody ended up with a really nice shirt.

More likely it got shredded in the wash. I don't quite understand it but they were rather convinced that somehow shirts that get tangled in sheets get eaten. Literally. It was bizarre. It would likely be ruined anyway...I'm sure they bleach those sheets to death.

Yayayayayay for the treehouse villas. Did you get in before they change the point structure? I'm thinking probably not.

Nope. BOO. Hence the 3 nights there. In some ways I'd have preferred a 5/4 split than the 6/3 but we were pretty stuck based on what we had available to work with at 11m. I didn't try to change at 7 as in the end BWV was closer to my folks and Kerri and Eric and it seemed best to stay over there while the others were still in FL.

I think I've only done 3 updates total since I started the TR. With Mark losing his job, my boss leaving for a two-month vacation, and my mom in rehab, I've not had time to do an update. So you've not missed much on mine.

I think I missed the part about the rehab. Oh Kathy! I am so sorry for all you are going though.

Sorry to hear about the t-shirt and the stuffed animal disappearing. But Disney does normally go out of their way to find it.

It was such the opposite level of customer service from our YC fiasco it was a bit fascinating.

I didn't realize you couldn't get a car at the Swan (although we got ours at the Dolphin) until 11:00 a.m.? I wonder why so late.

I miss typed. And honestly it may have been the Dolphin, it was one or the other lol. They could get them at 9. Still, by the time cars were picked up and the first one drove to Universal...they didn't get in the park until close to 11 I think given the traffic and garage scenario. We weren't all that far behind them. I think we got there at noon. My first picture is closer to 1 but I didn't take a pic right away at all.

I can't believe you went to Universal on check out day. I can't wait to hear if this was a better excursion than the first one.

We shall see huh!

THV!

Yes THV!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THV moving day, woot woot! We loved them in July last year! Just so awesome.

I could live in one. Literally

Oh no! I'm sorry the items were lost. I'm glad that Disney really tried to find them. They did that for us once when we checked out of the Boardwalk to head home later in the evening, and my (dingbat) brother left his inhaler on the bed, and it apparently got wrapped up in the sheets. They really did great job finding it and keeping in touch with us along the way.

I had such a poor experience at the YC that my expectations for any customer service was really low but thankfully it wasn't the case this time. Not that they ever found it but I do believe they tried.

I don't see the draw of Universals new resort either! Like, okay. It's a value resort, but you get NOTHING from them. You stay at any other resort, and they give you express passes. Cabana Bay. Nothing at all. Not worth it in my opinion. Plus, it looks kinda cheap to me.

It looked VERY cheap to us too.

Gotta feel bad for the kid. Like you said, it wasn't his fault. I hope you were able to find a replacement.

No, wasn't his fault but it was a little brutal, you know how "cheap" those theme park tees are.

First time I've ever heard of that one... At least they were able to get it straightened out.

Yes, it sure slowed things down though.

I have never seen any kind of traffic jam getting into Universal. But then again, I've never rolled in middle of the day during the week around New Years Day either.

I wouldn't advise it

I didn't realize that. Yeah, if you're not getting the Express Pass benefits, there is no way I'd want to stay there. Totally not worth it. Just as well stay at my Disney resort instead of moving for a night or 2.

Exactly

Transformers. Definitely Transformers. That will appease the grumpy boys until they reunite with their cousins.

Except....the rest of the gang was in the other park....

 

[Leshaface]

Really looking forward to seeing the THV! DH really wants to stay there someday, but I couldn't see 4 of us staying there in such a big villa...of course he wouldn't mind

That's the worst losing items on vacation. I lost a really nice, expensive sandal once, but didn't realize it until we were actually at home unpacking

 

[Pinkocto]

Despite the outcome I'm so impressed with them looking for the shirt and keeping you in the loop. This is exactly the opposite of what happened to us at the BCV this last trip...


Moving day! THV is on my list if I ever want to travel with multiple people

Was a villa available or did you have to leave the groceries with bell services?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I am learning an awful lot from your TR Cynthia!
Like, maybe I should plan Universal on a trip where I have lots of extra days, not around NY.
Trying to please a large group is difficult.

I am glad you enjoyed a nice adults only dinner.

We've rented a car from Swolphin too. It's so convenient!

THV - can't wait to see your pics! Someone else had some on a TR and I recognized the bathroom faucet as the same one in my bathroom!

So you got to Universal, now, what do you do??? Cousins on the other side? Boys will be wanting to get together I bet...

 

[eandesmom]

Moving day! Or should I have said Moving day ? What a bummer that you couldn't get your rental car until 11:00. Seems late to me but whadda I know? I've never had to rent a car before.

It was 9, not sure why I typed 11! We were on the road to Universal by 11, I think the first group was closer to 10 am when they left but it's a bit blurry

Ugh, the story of the traffic going to Universal sounds like a nightmare. We are thinking of adding a Universal day to our 2015 trip and I hate driving through Orlando traffic.

The back roads were MUCH better. It was the route our town car had taken on the way back the previous night and it worked great.

Oh no, I hope that the cousins reunite sooner rather than later since they all just wanted to spend time together.

That was my hope too!

Nice cliffhanger - I'm going to guess a Margaritaville visit

In all seriousness, how crazy that history was starting to repeat itself? And I had no idea it was such a process to check in and out on the same day like that - strange.

We've done the split stay many a time. It wasn't until magic bands that I think it became an issue. I've left my gang sleeping at one resort and gone, checked into the next, and gone back. Never a problem. The bands slowed it down for sure. But overall our check ins at both resorts took forever, go figure.

Really looking forward to seeing the THV! DH really wants to stay there someday, but I couldn't see 4 of us staying there in such a big villa...of course he wouldn't mind

I could live in a treehouse. LOVE the layout

That's the worst losing items on vacation. I lost a really nice, expensive sandal once, but didn't realize it until we were actually at home unpacking

Jeff is horrible about wrecking things on trips but we don't often actually lose much. Stolen...but that's a different story. I left a robe on DCL once, that was a HUGE bummer. I still miss that robe, it was the perfect travel size.

Despite the outcome I'm so impressed with them looking for the shirt and keeping you in the loop. This is exactly the opposite of what happened to us at the BCV this last trip...

Oh no!!!! Polar opposite of what happened to us at YC a few years back...wonder if you experience was similar. I really should have written to Disney about it, it was just awful and kept getting worse.

Moving day! THV is on my list if I ever want to travel with multiple people

it is wonderful wonderful beyond wonderful for a large group

Was a villa available or did you have to leave the groceries with bell services?

Had to leave with bell services. I am trying to recall if she gave me our villa number then or if it was later.

I am learning an awful lot from your TR Cynthia!
Like, maybe I should plan Universal on a trip where I have lots of extra days, not around NY.

Much as I hate to say it, I am not sure I'd want to attempt Universal again, at a peak time of year, without being onsite. It could happen and lord knows it's cheaper to stay at Disney thanks to DVC but UGH. It wasn't something we could skip though so we made the best of it. Still, expensive outing for that level of frustration.

Trying to please a large group is difficult.

It is. Lots of agendas. Which really only came into play at Universal somehow and probably was all my issue.

I am glad you enjoyed a nice adults only dinner.

it was fabulous!

We've rented a car from Swolphin too. It's so convenient!

Soooooooooo nice! I'd do that every time

THV - can't wait to see your pics! Someone else had some on a TR and I recognized the bathroom faucet as the same one in my bathroom!

Oh how funny! I do have bathroom pics

So you got to Universal, now, what do you do??? Cousins on the other side? Boys will be wanting to get together I bet...

We were on property walking in from RPH. We had not gone into Universal given that the others were over at IoA.

That was ALL the boys wanted.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Today was moving day! We would be checking out of BWV and heading to the Treehouse villas! For those of you who may not know, the THV IS the reason we bought into DVC. My boys have been dying to sleep in a treehouse since they heard they existed. Especially in a treehouse, with the cousins!

Cool! Hopefully you were letting the Tarzan jokes fly, too.

And realized something was missing.

Kolby's brand new Ravenclaw T shirt from the previous visit to Islands of Adventure.

Poor guy. Such a bummer.

By then we were getting texts. Traffic was AWFUL on the highway heading to Universal. Which meant we needed to figure out an alternative…using our phone gps.

It was probably the DOT's fault.

As we drove, more texts. The line from the highway to get into the Universal garage was awful as well. Like a parking lot. Except they weren't even parked yet.

I claim no responsibility for this.

Driving along we passed the new value hotel that was soon to be opening. I think it's open now. We were NOT impressed with the exterior at all and from what I understand, you do not get any real onsite benefits so we didn't see the draw. At all.

Yeah, not seeing the point of that one.

Great.

Mom and Dad were...doing something.

Visions of the separation disaster of the previous visit to that area of the park haunted both Jeff and I.

I had 2 kids that ONLY wanted to be with their cousins and were not happy with the later arrival as it was.

But those cousins were busy at the moment

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[annmarieda]

I need to quit expecting anyone to read my mind.

But ya know... I just did the very same thing on my own TR.

That is definitely disappointing that things were lost. Not a fun feeling at all.

picking up a car was surprisingly easy for us too. Who knew that it could work out so well?

Yay for moving day though! How fun to be moving to THV!

Sorry that your second day at US looks to be shaping up to be much like your first day. What is up with bad cell reception? I get it when you are out in the middle of no mans land...but right in the middle of a populated area?

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh! What a stressful start to the day! I just hope that you will be able to herd the people in. But that's really one of the reasons why I would never want to do a large group trip. I cannot expect everyone else to behave the way I would want them to. And that would just annoy me to no end...

 

[natebenma]

Looks like it is going to be a pretty eventful moving day! Smart plans with the car rental even though you couldn't pick up until 9.

That is too bad about the missing items. Why is it always the brand new clothes???

Given the state of the bed linens, I wouldn't be too surprised if they never made it to the laundry room at all... who is going to miss a couple of sheets?

I couldn't believe the news about Cabana Bay either. Not walking distance and not eligible for Express Pass. NOT happening!



What to do while waiting for cousins... are they coming to US when done with FJ?

Then I'm heading for mummy, mommy!

 

[CarolynK]

I am way behind, we were in Florida for 2 weeks so that's my excuse! I'm just gonna jump in where you are now and comment on your most recent update!

We have done Universal in CA, but never in FL...we have basically decided that when we have WDW APs we won't go offsite, but it's a possibility next year, our current APS expire this December so we're thinking about it (time to read Harry Potter, I guess!). It sounds just as crowded as WDW parks!

Sorry about the lost t-shirt! That stinks. DS lost his stuffed animal once when we were staying at the Swan. Housekeeping scooped up the bedding without even looking (according to them) We pretty much realized it right away and called them, but no luck. I felt like they didn't try at all to locate it (and back then, he was very attached to it so I kept calling them) but live and learn...every trip after that, when he got out of bed so did his toy

We love the Dolphin car rental convenience!! Lately, we've been taking ME, then the next morning we pick up the car for a day to go to Publix. ME allows DH to have a drink on the plane on the way down (and somewhere in the parks on the last day) and not have to worry about driving to/from MCO.

Looking forward to THV reports!

 

[eandesmom]

Cool! Hopefully you were letting the Tarzan jokes fly, too.

LOL. Not at that point

Poor guy. Such a bummer.

It was

It was probably the DOT's fault.



I claim no responsibility for this.

I blame ALL of it on you

Yeah, not seeing the point of that one.

Universal wants people to pay to stay at their cheap hotel where you get no benefits, versus someone elses cheap hotel.

Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

really

But ya know... I just did the very same thing on my own TR.

at least I'm not alone!

That is definitely disappointing that things were lost. Not a fun feeling at all.

No, it's sad when it's brand new like that

picking up a car was surprisingly easy for us too. Who knew that it could work out so well?

It was wonderful, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. SO much better than our other rental experiences where we've picked it up elsewhere than at MCO. And that includes the Car Care Center.

Yay for moving day though! How fun to be moving to THV!

Moving was a drag but moving to THV was very exciting!

Sorry that your second day at US looks to be shaping up to be much like your first day. What is up with bad cell reception? I get it when you are out in the middle of no mans land...but right in the middle of a populated area?

I could not believe how bad the reception was. It was a HUGE issue for our group both days and really impacted our experience.

Not to mention it killed everyones battery faster than usual.

Oh! What a stressful start to the day! I just hope that you will be able to herd the people in. But that's really one of the reasons why I would never want to do a large group trip. I cannot expect everyone else to behave the way I would want them to. And that would just annoy me to no end...

We really did not have issues at Disney. For 2 reasons, 1st all could easily just go back to the room or elsewhere so splitting up was easy. 2nd, we had cell reception!

Universal though, a totally different story. At that moment though, I wasn't stressed. We had just gotten there and the point of the others going early really was to do what they wanted. Catching up with them though...definitely a bad deja vu moment.

Looks like it is going to be a pretty eventful moving day! Smart plans with the car rental even though you couldn't pick up until 9.

Despite the delay getting to the park, it really did work out well.

That is too bad about the missing items. Why is it always the brand new clothes???

Sesriously. Like they have a homing signal that says LOSE ME!

Given the state of the bed linens, I wouldn't be too surprised if they never made it to the laundry room at all... who is going to miss a couple of sheets?

I couldn't believe the news about Cabana Bay either. Not walking distance and not eligible for Express Pass. NOT happening!

Nope. I'd rent an offsite condo for the same price. Still offsite and way more for the $$

What to do while waiting for cousins... are they coming to US when done with FJ?

Then I'm heading for mummy, mommy!

Who knew what they were doing after FJ...we couldn't get a hold of anyone.

I am way behind, we were in Florida for 2 weeks so that's my excuse! I'm just gonna jump in where you are now and comment on your most recent update!

That's an excellent reason! I wish I had the same one. How was it???

We have done Universal in CA, but never in FL...we have basically decided that when we have WDW APs we won't go offsite, but it's a possibility next year, our current APS expire this December so we're thinking about it (time to read Harry Potter, I guess!). It sounds just as crowded as WDW parks!

I've spent a total of 5 days there in the past 3 years. 3 of them horribly crowded and 2 not so bad. It really is all about the time of year. It was SO much worse than I was expecting in Jan though. I can't say I'd go again at that time of year unless I was staying onsite.

Sorry about the lost t-shirt! That stinks. DS lost his stuffed animal once when we were staying at the Swan. Housekeeping scooped up the bedding without even looking (according to them) We pretty much realized it right away and called them, but no luck. I felt like they didn't try at all to locate it (and back then, he was very attached to it so I kept calling them) but live and learn...every trip after that, when he got out of bed so did his toy

Oh there is nothing worse than a missing animal!!! That's pretty crummy though, I'd think kids leave animals in the bedding all the time.

We love the Dolphin car rental convenience!! Lately, we've been taking ME, then the next morning we pick up the car for a day to go to Publix. ME allows DH to have a drink on the plane on the way down (and somewhere in the parks on the last day) and not have to worry about driving to/from MCO.

that's exactly why we take ME too. Not so much for the way there (no one wants a drink on the red eye lol) but we don't have to think about it on the last day.

Looking forward to THV reports!

Coming up soon!