jle323
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2004
- Messages
- 131
We just returned from my 6th trip to Disney. It was not one one the best. In fact, if it had been my first, I probably wouldn't be returning. Luckily, I know how wonderful it can be.
First, let me start by saying I dislocated my wrist 3 weeks ago, so one arm is in a splint, which definitely made traveling with a toddler more difficult. Our troubles first started before we even left our airport. We went thru security with a car seat, stroller, and 2 carry ons. That would have been fine, except after I went thru and was trying to open the stroller for my 20 month old son, someone from security came over and stopped me and refused to let me touch the stroller; he said my splint had to be checked for explosives and I had to wait for a female guard to come over. Meanwhile, my DH had to try to contain DS and open the stroller and collect our stuff. After that, however, the airplane ride went very smoothly.
Then we landed in Orlando. Despite all my research and planning I still had no idea that I was supposed to book my Magical Express. Since the airline we flew on didn't participate, I thought we just needed to collect our luggage and show up at the Magical Express stop (I swear this is what we did 3 years ago). Instead, we arrived to a madhouse and had to wait in line to check in. While this turned out not to be a big deal, it was very stressful and not a good beginning.
Then we arrived at WL. I had heard such positive reviews about it I could hardly wait. However, after we checked in, the CM gave us wrong directions to our room, and despite me only having one arm to use to lug all our crap, no one offered to help. After we spent 10 minutes trying to locate our room, DH finally went to the desk to get a bellhop to help with the luggage. This just really upset me, since there were quite a few bellhops hanging out at the entrance when we arrived. After we arrived to our room (in the opposite direction that the CM gave us), I was very disappointed. I found it small and dark. My parents arrived the day after and said the same thing. This was the first time we have stayed at a deluxe, and I would not say it was worth the money. Maybe we just had bad rooms, but we were all upset. Also, our check in day was the only day we ever had any towel animals. I was really looking forward to that.
We chose to come in September to avoid the crowds. When we were here on our honeymoon, it was awesome. I thought the crowds were awful this week. I assume it was because of the free dining. Maybe if I had been prepared for the crowds, it wouldn't have been so bad. But we were not expecting it.
Also, we encountered several very rude bus drivers and CMs. This has never happened before. One of the reasons I love Disney is because everyone is so nice and helpful. One day when it was just DH, DS, and I, I actually got on a bus holding the stroller with my one arm and was getting ready to sit before the bus driver, who was sitting in his seat and watched me walk by, said he wasn't running anymore. He then proceeded to pull over to the side to have his lunch break. There was no reason why he couldn't have stopped me before I got on struggling.
We also found the transportation to be very slow. Maybe it was because they weren't prepared for the crowds. One time it actually took us an hour to get to MK from WL. Most of the time my parents separated from us, and they made the same comment.
And lastly, on our second to last night we went to the HDDR ( which we loved). We asked for apple juice for my 20 month old son. The waitress definitely heard me, because she repeated it. However, at the end of the meal we realized she brought him soda. My DS had never had soda before, but he loved it and had drank most of it. When we said something to the waitress she didn't apologize, only joked that there must be another kid who was missing his soda.
I had been looking forward to this trip for a year. My DH calls me a Disney geek because I love it so much. But this was not the Disney I know and love. I hope we are able to return in a few more years, because ths trip just left a bad taste in my mouth.
First, let me start by saying I dislocated my wrist 3 weeks ago, so one arm is in a splint, which definitely made traveling with a toddler more difficult. Our troubles first started before we even left our airport. We went thru security with a car seat, stroller, and 2 carry ons. That would have been fine, except after I went thru and was trying to open the stroller for my 20 month old son, someone from security came over and stopped me and refused to let me touch the stroller; he said my splint had to be checked for explosives and I had to wait for a female guard to come over. Meanwhile, my DH had to try to contain DS and open the stroller and collect our stuff. After that, however, the airplane ride went very smoothly.
Then we landed in Orlando. Despite all my research and planning I still had no idea that I was supposed to book my Magical Express. Since the airline we flew on didn't participate, I thought we just needed to collect our luggage and show up at the Magical Express stop (I swear this is what we did 3 years ago). Instead, we arrived to a madhouse and had to wait in line to check in. While this turned out not to be a big deal, it was very stressful and not a good beginning.
Then we arrived at WL. I had heard such positive reviews about it I could hardly wait. However, after we checked in, the CM gave us wrong directions to our room, and despite me only having one arm to use to lug all our crap, no one offered to help. After we spent 10 minutes trying to locate our room, DH finally went to the desk to get a bellhop to help with the luggage. This just really upset me, since there were quite a few bellhops hanging out at the entrance when we arrived. After we arrived to our room (in the opposite direction that the CM gave us), I was very disappointed. I found it small and dark. My parents arrived the day after and said the same thing. This was the first time we have stayed at a deluxe, and I would not say it was worth the money. Maybe we just had bad rooms, but we were all upset. Also, our check in day was the only day we ever had any towel animals. I was really looking forward to that.
We chose to come in September to avoid the crowds. When we were here on our honeymoon, it was awesome. I thought the crowds were awful this week. I assume it was because of the free dining. Maybe if I had been prepared for the crowds, it wouldn't have been so bad. But we were not expecting it.
Also, we encountered several very rude bus drivers and CMs. This has never happened before. One of the reasons I love Disney is because everyone is so nice and helpful. One day when it was just DH, DS, and I, I actually got on a bus holding the stroller with my one arm and was getting ready to sit before the bus driver, who was sitting in his seat and watched me walk by, said he wasn't running anymore. He then proceeded to pull over to the side to have his lunch break. There was no reason why he couldn't have stopped me before I got on struggling.
We also found the transportation to be very slow. Maybe it was because they weren't prepared for the crowds. One time it actually took us an hour to get to MK from WL. Most of the time my parents separated from us, and they made the same comment.
And lastly, on our second to last night we went to the HDDR ( which we loved). We asked for apple juice for my 20 month old son. The waitress definitely heard me, because she repeated it. However, at the end of the meal we realized she brought him soda. My DS had never had soda before, but he loved it and had drank most of it. When we said something to the waitress she didn't apologize, only joked that there must be another kid who was missing his soda.
I had been looking forward to this trip for a year. My DH calls me a Disney geek because I love it so much. But this was not the Disney I know and love. I hope we are able to return in a few more years, because ths trip just left a bad taste in my mouth.
