chuckcorden
DVC member, Pirates of the Caribbean fan, UConn fa
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2006
- Messages
- 200
This will serve as an introduction: I was traveling to the Saratoga Springs Resort (SSR) for the first time as a Disney Vacation Member. I was also traveling as a single. My wife was unable to accompany me due to her role as the primary caregiver for her mother who lives with us. My wife is very supportive of me traveling to Walt Disney World (probably because it means that I am out of her hair.) I am also an inveterate traveler while my wife is more homebound. Our children are in their twenties and our grandchildren still count their ages in months.
Day One-Mar. 26, 2007(The Adventure of My Voided Annual Pass)
I am not going to write about everything that I experienced because it has been experienced by most visitors to WDW and I dont want to bore you. Besides my daughter has told me that that type of writing is mind-numbing. Therefore, I will mention only those things that may be somewhat out of the ordinary.
I touched down in Orlando at 9:30 and made my way to level one to catch the DME bus to SSR.
Of course, my room wasnt ready but I didnt expect it to be. However, I was able to pay for my Disney Dining Plan and received my combination room key/DDP card. After a three minute wait, I caught the bus to EPCOT (pick up-11:32, drop off-11:45).
When I arrived, I went to the ticket kiosk to have my Annual Pass certificate exchanged. There was some problem, I was told, so I was directed to Guest Relations. To make a long story short, I received my exchange certificate some months ago but I misplaced it. After searching high and low for it, I e-mailed Customer Relations that I probably lost the certificate and would they send me a replacement. I received no response from them and after a few weeks, I found my certificate. However, at GR I discovered they had voided that certificate and sent me a replacement. The only thing was: I never received the replacement so when I found my certificate I proceeded as if nothing had happened. I did this because I never received an e-mail from them informing me of the voiding and replacement of the certificate.
Anyway, after 15-20 minutes of discussion with a Cast Member I was able to get the replacement. I have to admit that GR was very nice and made me feel very comfortable despite what I perceived as my stupidity.
From GR I was able to enter Future World and rent an electric cart (ECV). I was wondering about my ability to rent a cart because of the lateness of the day (about 12:30). In fact, during my entire stay and despite the crowds (usually at levels 8 and 9), I was able to rent an ECV whenever I visited a park or whenever I switched parks in the middle of the day.
I rode over to World Showcase and ate at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop (CS-1). [Note: After each dining establishment, I will indicate if it was counter service or table service and how I rate it (1=worst to 5=best)]. Compared to the other CS restaurants, Yorkshire suffers. I consider some of the CS establishments as good as, if not better than some of the TS restaurants.
I returned to FW and tooled about seeing a number of attractions. I had a 5:30 reservation at Coral Reef and I was about 15 minutes early and had a short wait. It was a wonderful meal and a wonderful table. I was traveling as a single and am always concerned that I will be placed at a table near the swinging doors of the kitchen. Instead, I had a table right in front of the aquarium and had a great view of the fish and the scuba divers. It wasnt the best meal of my trip but it was well presented and with my table location I give the Coral Reef a TS -5 rating. I had a mixed greens salad with a key lime vinaigrette, Mahi-Mahi on Israeli couscous and arigula, and the Chocolate Wave. They were all small portions but it was enough.
Because I had been up since 3:00 AM, I was beginning to feel exhausted and made my way back to SSR. I picked up my carry-on baggage from the Bell Captain. By then, I had a room number (3723) at the Springs. The CM at the check-in desk gave me a map of the SSR with the building where I would be staying circled. However, she never told me how to get there. I assumed that when you left Carriage House, you turned right and headed straight to my building. I did that and ended up in the spa. I would have found it hilarious if I werent so tired.
Eventually, I discovered the correct way (down the path leading to Bus Transportation and then past the bus stop). There was another problem and that was finding the entrance to the building. First, I went to the rear because it was so well-landscaped and had an archway that I naturally assumed it was the entrance. Little did I know that at that moment that I was looking at the patio of my studio on the third floor.
It was at this time that I wished I had my wife with me. (It wouldnt be the last time on this trip that I had that wish.) I was soon able to figure out the location of the entrance and I made it to my room and found my checked baggage there.
After calling my wife, I turned on the NCAA womens regional championship in Fresno between UConn and LSU. UConn played one of their worst games of the year and fell to LSU. Thus ended Day One.
Day 2-Mar. 27, 2007 (The Adventure of My Dream Fast Pass)
I caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom (MK) after a 10 minute wait. When I arrived I had to wait until the gates opened and when they did, I immediately rented an ECV.
My first stop was a must: the Pirates of the Caribbean which is my favorite ride in the MK if not the entire WDW.
From there, I headed to Jungle Cruise but discovered that it wouldnt open until 10:00 AM. I then tooled over to the Haunted Mansion which had no wait at all.
When I was leaving the Haunted Mansion a cast member was handing out what looked to be cards or tags to be worn around the neck. When I received mine she said (Im paraphrasing), Congratulations, you have a Fast Pass that can be used all day in the park. What I received was a Dream Fast Pass which had tabs for nine different attractions in the Magic Kingdom. All I would have to do is remove the tab and present it to the CM and I would be allowed to enter the attraction through the fast pass lane. In a number of cases, this meant that I could just walk into an attraction even though there was a 40-50 minute wait posted. It is a wonderful idea and if someone is fortunate enough to receive one, it makes for a wonderful touring day at the MK.
After visiting a number of attractions including Splash Mountain, I was ready for lunch.
By the way, here is a little secret to use when you are going down the final flume in Splash Mountain: hold the palm of your hand to the top of your head. At least it worked for me. Maybe Ill try it on Expedition Everest.
For lunch, I had a reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern for Noon.
I first had the Celebration Salad followed by the New England Pot Roast. For dessert, I had the Liberty Shortcake (which was delicious.) My intention in rating restaurants was to rate those in which I used my DDP but I paid for this meal out-of-pocket. If I had rated it I would have given it a TS-3 (and that is because of the shortcake---dont miss it.)
After I ate, I continued to visit the various attractions in MK using my Dream Fast Pass. It was a pleasure just walking right in or waiting a few minutes in the fast pass lane. I know that some in the non-fast pass lane looked on me (and the others) as interlopers but I tried not to think of that. I was in the right place at the right time when I received my pass and if they had been there they would be in my position.
I did not visit Space Mountain because I didnt feel like riding a roller coaster in the dark. I had been on Space Mountain with my children a number of times in the past. This is the great thing about visiting WDW frequently: a person doesnt have to visit each and every attraction on every trip. It will be there when you come back and I will return to WDW in September.
After I had my fill of the MK, I caught the bus to SSR and rested for a short while. Then after a 10 or 15 minute wait the bus to EPCOT arrived. When I arrived at EPCOT it was about 5:00 but I was able to get an ECV for the $5 refundable deposit. The lines were short in Future World and I was able to see some of my favorite attractions (e.g. Spaceship Earth) with no wait at all.
I had a 6:30 reservation at Restaurant Marrakesh. After a short wait, I was led to a nice table but had to strain my neck to see the dancers who were behind me.
The atmosphere was great. I enjoy going to exotic restaurants of different nationalities. I had Beef Brewat Rolls as my appetizer, A Night In Casablanca (which included lamb, chicken, and Seafood Basilla as well as vegetables) for my entrée, and a Moroccan Symphony (Moroccan pastries) for dessert. It wasnt bad but compared to the other restaurants it gets the low rating of TS-2.
When I left Marrakesh, I rode to the entrance and exited the park. The bus to SSR was late and by the time I arrived in my room, I was exhausted. Thus ended Day Two.
Day 3-Mar. 28, 2007 (The Adventure of My Free Ice Cream)
I woke up at 6:30, still very tired and debated with myself whether to go back to bed. I lost the debate and proceeded to get ready for a day at the Studios. My stomach was in a turmoil so I went to Artists Palette and purchased an orange juice and some Pepto Bismol.
I had a ten minute wait for the bus and when I got there, there was a slight problem with my Annual Pass but after about five swipes, I was allowed in. I immediately rented a cart and started to ride down Sunset Boulevard. However, I wasnt quite up to doing the Tower of Terror (which is one of my favorites) so I just took pictures in front of the Tower and in front of the Rock n Roller Coaster (which I wont go on.)
I decided to find some attractions that wouldnt tax my stomach too much. The Great Movie Ride was closed due to technical difficulties so I made my way to Muppet Vision 3-D. I found it just as hilarious as I did on my last trip.
I rode around some more and ended up at Drew Careys Sounds Dangerous. It wasnt bad (the phrase I used in my notes was It was innocuous.) but I wouldnt rush to see it again.
Finally, I reached the ABC Commissary where I had the ABC Cheeseburger with fries and a bowl of fresh fruit with a bottle of water. It was wonderful and I rested there for a while writing my notes. The Commissarys ranking (CS-3) is in the middle of the pack due to the next two counter service establishments that I ate at. However, I wouldnt hesitate to eat there again and I plan on doing so on my next visit to the Studios.
After lunch I tried the Great Movie Ride again and it was open. Like previous visits, it was excellent.
While tooling around Echo Lake, I decided to purchase an ice cream, using one of my snack credits. I stopped at Dinosaur Gerties Ice Cream of Extinction and ordered a sugar cone with vanilla ice cream. The CM behind the counter took my DDP card and swiped it . . .and swiped it . . . and swiped it. Finally she tried to type in the number of the card. She had to do it again and again. Somehow, nothing she tried worked. Finally, she told me to take the ice cream and there would be no charge. I offered to pay for it but she was nice about it and told me that it was OK. I never had any other problem with my card but now I was one snack credit to the good.
I knew that I could never last until my reservation at Mama Melroses without some rest. So I made my way back to SSR to recuperate.
On my return visit to the Studios, I was tooling down the Streets of America and came upon a rake n roll group performing right across the street from Youse Guys Moychindice. This group was named Mulch, Sweat and Shears.
There was something familiar about the name but what it was escaped me.
Unfortunately, I had to make my 6:00 reservation at Mama Melroses.
After a ten minute wait, I was led to a table next to the wall that separated the bar from the eating area. It had a good view of the dining room. I ordered the Oven-Baked Caprino Cheese (delicious!) for the appetizer and the Charred Butcher Tender Steak with polenta and asparagus, in a gorgonzola butter and red wine reduction as the entrée which was very good. However, it was the sauce that made the course. For dessert, I had Tiramisu (ordinary). I wish I could have given Mamas a higher rating but it had a lot of competition therefore I rated it as a TS-3.
When I left the restaurant, it was dusk and for some reason it made me very sad. I wondered why and the reason dawned on me: On our first trip to WDW, the children were 7, 9, and 10. We were on Mickey Avenue or the Streets of America (I forget which) and it was dark and it was raining and we were lost. We kept on walking around like poor refugees until my wife took over and led us to civilization---the Prime Time Café! But I felt so bad that night that when I was leaving the Studios in the dark and saw other families milling about, a deep feeling of sadness overtook me. Dont those people have a home to go to?
I took the bus back to SSR, called my wife, and went to bed. Thus ended Day Three.
Day 4-Mar. 29, 2007 (The Adventure of the Mediocre Clam Bake)
I woke up feeling well and got ready for a day at the Animal Kingdom (AK). After getting my requisite cuppa at Artists Palette, I walked over to the bus stop. Upon arriving at AK and once the gates opened, I rented a cart and headed for Africa, my favorite part of the park.
Before I did that, I took a close look at the carvings (moldings?) on the trunk of The Tree of Life.
I didnt go inside and view Its Tough To Be a Bug! because I have a problem with the narrator (a tarantula). I suffer from terminal arachnophobia.
The Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa is probably my favorite ride/attraction in the AK. Seeing the animals in their natural settings seems to reinforce my belief in mans innate humanity towards nature despite what some might think.
Consequently, I would advise any tourist to visit Rafikis Express Train. The Conservation Station is an ideal spot to see this humanity in action.
After getting my fill of Discovery Island and Africa, I felt the call of hunger. I found the Tusker Restaurant and entered. I ordered the half of a rotisserie chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and string beans. For my dessert, I purchased a carrot cake and some bottled water to wash it down. This meal was almost as good as a meal found in some table service establishments in WDW. I rate it CS-5. It was a wonderful experience.
After lunch, I visited Asia (without Expedition Everest) and DinoLand. By this time, the lines were extremely long (e.g. Dinosaur had a 50 minute wait) and I didnt feel like waiting that long. On the way out, I stopped at Camp Minnie Mickey since I hadnt been there in previous visits.
I took the bus back to SSR and rested some before my 7:00 reservation at the Cape May Buffet. I decided to visit EPCOT before visiting the Beach Club and was able to rent an ECV. I rode over to the World Showcase and visited a few of the pavilions. I then left EPCOT through the International Gateway and walked to the Beach Club. It was somewhat painful but the walk was relatively short.
I arrived at Cape May in time but I had to wait nearly a half an hour for a table. The table was in a good location but that was the only thing good about the Clam Bake Buffet. I found that the seafood part of the buffet lacking. The fish of the day was tilapia which I like but that was about it. I am not a shellfish lover so all the mussels and clams were wasted on me. There are so many things that one can do with fish but Cape May didnt seem to have a clue. The non-seafood portion of the buffet included ribs which I enjoy. The corn on the cob was good.
Overall, I believe that I made a mistake coming to the seafood buffet. I have been to many buffets and some were great and some were ordinary. Unfortunately, this buffet was the latter. Even though I was on the dining plan, I felt that it was a waste of money. I will not come again. I give it a rating of TS-1, the lowest rating.
On a previous trip, when we stayed at the Beach Club, we took the children to the character breakfast. That was an enjoyable experience.
By the time I was finished, I was exhausted. But I had to make my way to the entrance of EPCOT. Therefore, I again rented a cart to ride through Future World. Then I walked to the bus stop. However, because of my exhaustion, I was very impatient and after waiting for about 15 minutes, I walked to the taxi area and hired a cab. It was the best $13 I spent during my vacation.
I finally got back to my room, called my wife, and hit the sack. I immediately fell asleep. Thus ended Day Four.
Day 5-Mar. 30, 2007 (The Adventure In the Irish Pub)
My last full day at WDW! I awoke at 6:30 and got ready for a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Today would be my buying for the family and friends (and pet) day and, in my opinion, the Emporium on Main Street is the best place for shopping in the parks.
Before I went to catch the bus, I stopped at the Artists Pallet for my usual cuppa (using a snack credit). While there, I asked the CM how many credits I had on my DDP. I was most concerned about the snacks. It turned out that I had one TS, two CS, and two snack credits left so I felt that I was on schedule to complete the dining plan.
I caught the bus to the MK after a short wait and rented a cart when I was admitted to the park. My first two attractions were Pirates and Haunted Mansion. (Alas! No Dream Free Passes today.) I continued touring the various lands of the Magic Kingdom, including ToonTown.
When hunger got the best of me, I made my way to Cosmic Rays Starlight Café in Tomorrowland. I ordered the Meteor Meal, a bacon double cheeseburger and fries. For dessert, I had the triple chocolate cake and, to drink, I chose the iced cappuccino. Cosmic Rays is well-known for its toppings bar and I chose my share of them including plenty of onions. The burger was a li-i-ittle messy but very delicious. I give it a rating of CS-4 (just a shade below Tusker House.)
From Cosmic Rays, I went to Main Street and the Emporium. There, I spent too much money (according to my wife when I returned home) on gifts for those on my list. But it was fun!
When I was finished, I made my way to the bus stop and caught the ride back to SSR. I had a 6:00 reservation for Boma. However, I had heard, on more than one occasion during my trip, negative comments on the restaurant. So I decided to cancel the reservation. I called Member Services to do so and while I had them on the line, I asked if there was a 6:00 opening at Ragland Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. There was, so I made a reservation. I am extremely glad that I did.
It had been raining for much of the afternoon so I decided to forego the boat and take the bus to Downtown Disney. I had never been to DTD before, consequently when I arrived at Pleasure Island and saw the clubs; I thought to myself, My son and daughter would love it here.
The rain had slowed but the wind was blowing hard. I had some time before my reservation so I toured the area.
When I arrived at Raglands I had a short wait and then was led to my table. The place was not crowded.
I started with Irish Soda Bread with a Guinness and sugar reduction to be used for dipping the bread. It was wonderful. For the appetizer, I had Simple Smoked Salmon; salmon with capers and crème fraiche. It was excellent and just enough. I followed this with Paddys Pork; stuffed pork loin with a honey glaze served on leeks, cabbage and mashed potatoes. I found the entrée a little too much. It tasted good but I was not able to finish. By the time I ordered dessert, I was feeling somewhat full. However, I ordered Gers Bread and Butter Pudding and when I received it I drizzled the accompanying maple syrup and cream on. When I tasted it, I was in Heaven. This was the best dessert I have ever had in WDW. Believe me, it was to die for.
My rating for Raglands is a TS-4 only because of the location of my table. It was that close with Coral Reef. The location of my table at the Reef was superb while Raglands was only good. And while Im describing my dinner at the Pub, there was a couple sitting about two yards away. I had been taking pictures of the food and the restaurant and writing notes in my notebook. I saw the woman get up and approach me. Excuse me, she said, Are you a critic? I answered in the negative and said that I was just a compulsive note-taker.
I took the bus back to SSR with plans to pack my checked and carry-on baggage to get it ready to be dropped off in the morning. However, I was too tired to get much done. While talking with my wife, I was watching TV. When I am home, I never watch network television. Therefore, there are many shows that begin and end with me never seeing an episode. Friends is a good example. Anyway, I started watching House on some channel: even today I cant tell you what network it is on. However, I found it to be a pretty good show and I wanted to see more. Therefore, I promised myself to buy Season One on DVD when I got home.
Thus ended Day Five.
Day 6-Mar. 31, 2007 (My Adventure with Mysterious Events)
I woke up early on the last day of March and the last day of my wonderful stay at WDW. After showering and having a cuppa, I finished packing. I brought my bags to the bell captains station and received the boarding pass for my 8:10 flight. I then bought coffee for the bus ride to EPCOT.
First I went to Mickeys Gear to buy a few more gifts (for my sons girl friend and for my dog). I then went to a few attractions and was in Land when a thunderbolt hit me. I had forgotten to check out! It was now about 10:15 and I envisioned myself racing to catch the bus to make the 11:00 check out time.
Then, sanity returned and I headed for Guest Relations.
I explained my problem and they told me to use the Mickeyfone and speak to whoever answered. I did and my problem was quickly resolved. Little did I know that this episode would be the first in a series of mysterious events that would highlight the last day of my WDW trip.
I rode over to World Showcase and traveled around Canada where I bought some goodies. I then rode around the World visiting some other pavilions and decided to have my lunch at the Tangierine Café in Morocco. This would take care of my last counter service credit.
I ordered the Shawarma Platter with chicken and hummus, tabbouleh, couscous and Moroccan bread. I also purchased an order of baklava for dessert and a bottle of water. My lunch was not bad, not great, mind you, but not bad. I give the Tangierine Café a rating of CS-2. Again, it had a lot of competition from Tusker House, Cosmic Rays, and the ABC Commissary.
After lunch, I tooled over to Japan and entered Mitsukoshi Department Store.
I found it fascinating that it has been around (in Japan, of course) since 1673. I had never visited the store in all my trips to WDW. I browsed around and purchased a plate. I was also absorbed by the bonsai exhibit.
The time had come to get on the bus for my final trip back to SSR. When I got back, I headed for the bell captains station to pick up my carry-on baggage. Before I did that though, I realized with a start that I had left my bag of gifts on the bus. I hurried (as fast as I could) back to the bus stop and waited for the EPCOT bus. When it arrived, I asked the driver if anyone had found a bag on the bus. He called his control center and was directed to ask me some questions, one of which was what my name was. When I told him, they said they had the bag back at bus control at EPCOT. I rode back to the park and retrieved the bag and then rode back to the resort clutching my bag. I looked in the bag and realized why they asked for my name. In the bag, I had placed the sign with my last name which I used on my ECV. I have nothing but praise for the Disney bus driver. He was very helpful and was extremely friendly on the way to EPCOT and the return.
This was the second event that was out of the ordinary that occurred on this day.
Anyway, I prepared to leave SSR. I went to the mens room and took a fresh set of clothes from my carry-on baggage. After changing, I went to the front of the resort to catch a taxi. I had decided to take a taxi because I was not pleased with the Disney Magic Express bus to the airport on my last trip. I arrived at the airport with little time to spare before I had to board my flight. Also, DME indicated in their message left on my door that they did not have my departure information. I know they did because I gave them the information when I arrived in Orlando. Therefore, I chose to take a taxi. It was a bad decision. The fare was way too expensive. On my next trip to WDW which is in the fall, I am going to call DME and have them pick me up three to four hours before my flight leaves.
When I arrived at the airport, I cleared security easily and found my gate. I then went to Applebees and had a salad and a soda. When I went back to the gate, I found that the flight was delayed until 8:30. The reason given was that our plane had not yet arrived from Boston. It finally came in shortly before 9:00 and when the passengers deplaned, we were rapidly loaded onto the plane. In fact, I think it was the fastest turnaround that I had ever witnessed. I should have known that there were dark clouds hovering over our flight.
The first hour and a half of the flight was uneventful. Then about 10:45 or so, the captain came over the intercom and declared that There is a little problem. It wasnt exactly Houston, we have a problem but it was caused by the same thing: oxygen leaking out. The captain didnt indicate whether the leak was from the cabin or the fuel. I know nothing about planes but I think they might use an oxygen mixture as jet fuel.
In any case, the captain declared that we would set down at Dulles International in Washington, D.C. and see if the leak could be repaired. Of course, there were a number of nervous jokes going around the cabin such as Let one side of the plane breathe for a few minutes and then the other side could breathe for a few minutes.
We finally set down and were immediately told that we would be leaving the plane and moving to a people mover for an immediate transfer to another craft. When questioned about why we werent going into the terminal, we were told that everything was closed. It didnt take too much thinking to figure out that the powers did not want us to leave the constraints of a plane or people mover because it would be too difficult to round us up and get us on a new plane.
We were in the people mover for close to an hour before the substitute aircraft was made ready for flight. When we first saw it through the windows of the people mover, it was completely dark. By the time we were allowed on, most of the passengers had to go to the bathroom which made the refusal to let us into the terminal and its bathrooms even stranger. When we were settled in our seats, the lucky ones (myself included) made a beeline for the lavatories. There was one problem: they werent working.
Service personnel came aboard and worked to get the toilets fixed which delayed out take-off even more. It was past 12:00 before we lifted off and I slept until we reached Hartford. After I retrieved my baggage and walked to my car, it was 2:15 AM. I finally pulled in the driveway at 3:00.
Thus ended Day Six.
Summary and Conclusions
I found my home resort, Saratoga Springs, to be a wonderful place to stay but it IS huge. Therefore, when I stay there in the future, I will again ask to be placed in the Springs because of my mobility issues. It is close to the pool, spa, Artists Pallet, Turf Club, and the Carriage House, as well as the bell captains station. During my time at SSR, I wondered how the guests of the resort who stayed at one of the other four sections (Paddock, Grandstand, Carousel, and Congress Park) handled the distance from the center of activity. But one of the good things about SSR is their bus system. I had short waits for rides to the parks and to DTD. Being where I was located, I did not have to use the internal bus system but if it is like the regular bus system then guests at outlying buildings are well-served.
I am very happy that I purchased the Disney Dining Plan. It cost me $194.95 and by my reckoning I purchased about $270.00 (including snack credits) with the plan. I guess I could have purchased the most expensive item on the menu but I didnt. In the future, perhaps, I will and then, of course, my savings will be that much greater.
I found the table service restaurants fairly consistent in quality with one exception. I will not return to the Cape May Clambake Buffet. My time at Cape May was simply not as good when compared to the other establishments. I thought the Coral Reef, Raglands, and Mama Melroses were relatively close in quality of food and in atmosphere and I would not hesitate to return there to eat on another vacation. The Marrakesh had a great atmosphere but the food was somewhat lacking. I am not going to say that I will never return there but it may be some time before I do. The Liberty Tree Tavern where I paid out of pocket was good but Ive eaten there often and I may just give it a rest.
Counter service restaurants were almost uniformly very good. Again, the only exception was the Yorkshire County Fish Shop and this negative review may be because of me. I was tired from my flight and I had trouble carrying the fish and chips, the shortbread cookies, and beverage to my table. In fact, I spilled much of my drink. This did not put me in the best frame of mind. The other CS restaurants, Tusker House, Cosmic Rays, the ABC Commissary, and Tangierine Café, I ranked in that order. I enjoyed each one immensely and cant wait to visit them in the future.
Of the five appetizers that I had, none stood out as excellent but the Smoked Salmon at Raglands and the Decoration Salad at Liberty Tree Tavern were very good. Likewise, with my entrées. I would say that both the Grilled Mahi-Mahi at Coral Reef and the Charred Butcher Tender Steak at Mama Melroses were about the best. However, as for the desserts, Gers Bread and Butter Pudding at Raglands was by far the best of the lot. Next would be the Liberty Shortcake at Liberty Tree.
The meal I had at Tusker House, the half of a rotisserie chicken, was one of the best meals I had at WDW regardless of whether it was a TS establishment or a CS one. I love rotisserie chicken as well as fried chicken and this probably has influenced my opinion. However, the chicken was delicious and I will definitely order it again. I highly recommend it.
One decision Ive made is that I will not come to WDW again during spring break or even close to Easter. I found the crowds unbearable. In the mornings, it wasnt too bad but after lunch it seemed that the crowds increased exponentially. Therefore, when I plan my late winter trip to WDW, I will pay more attention to the projected crowd levels and perhaps go in late February or very early March. If I do that then my annual pass will still be good and I will have gotten three trips with the pass.
Was this the best trip Ive had to Disney World? No. My trip last October when I stayed at the Yacht Club and spent a great deal of time at the International Food and Wine Festival was better. Not that I didnt enjoy staying at Saratoga Springs. I did and I look forward to staying there again. A negative feature of this trip was the crowds, as I mentioned above. However, one aspect of this trip that was by far better than any previous trip was the dining. I had made ADRs for every day at WDW and I enjoyed most of the meals. I cant wait to decide on what restaurants I will make reservations at during my trip this fall.
Thus ends my Trip Report. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Day One-Mar. 26, 2007(The Adventure of My Voided Annual Pass)
I am not going to write about everything that I experienced because it has been experienced by most visitors to WDW and I dont want to bore you. Besides my daughter has told me that that type of writing is mind-numbing. Therefore, I will mention only those things that may be somewhat out of the ordinary.
I touched down in Orlando at 9:30 and made my way to level one to catch the DME bus to SSR.
Of course, my room wasnt ready but I didnt expect it to be. However, I was able to pay for my Disney Dining Plan and received my combination room key/DDP card. After a three minute wait, I caught the bus to EPCOT (pick up-11:32, drop off-11:45).
When I arrived, I went to the ticket kiosk to have my Annual Pass certificate exchanged. There was some problem, I was told, so I was directed to Guest Relations. To make a long story short, I received my exchange certificate some months ago but I misplaced it. After searching high and low for it, I e-mailed Customer Relations that I probably lost the certificate and would they send me a replacement. I received no response from them and after a few weeks, I found my certificate. However, at GR I discovered they had voided that certificate and sent me a replacement. The only thing was: I never received the replacement so when I found my certificate I proceeded as if nothing had happened. I did this because I never received an e-mail from them informing me of the voiding and replacement of the certificate.
Anyway, after 15-20 minutes of discussion with a Cast Member I was able to get the replacement. I have to admit that GR was very nice and made me feel very comfortable despite what I perceived as my stupidity.
From GR I was able to enter Future World and rent an electric cart (ECV). I was wondering about my ability to rent a cart because of the lateness of the day (about 12:30). In fact, during my entire stay and despite the crowds (usually at levels 8 and 9), I was able to rent an ECV whenever I visited a park or whenever I switched parks in the middle of the day.
I rode over to World Showcase and ate at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop (CS-1). [Note: After each dining establishment, I will indicate if it was counter service or table service and how I rate it (1=worst to 5=best)]. Compared to the other CS restaurants, Yorkshire suffers. I consider some of the CS establishments as good as, if not better than some of the TS restaurants.
I returned to FW and tooled about seeing a number of attractions. I had a 5:30 reservation at Coral Reef and I was about 15 minutes early and had a short wait. It was a wonderful meal and a wonderful table. I was traveling as a single and am always concerned that I will be placed at a table near the swinging doors of the kitchen. Instead, I had a table right in front of the aquarium and had a great view of the fish and the scuba divers. It wasnt the best meal of my trip but it was well presented and with my table location I give the Coral Reef a TS -5 rating. I had a mixed greens salad with a key lime vinaigrette, Mahi-Mahi on Israeli couscous and arigula, and the Chocolate Wave. They were all small portions but it was enough.
Because I had been up since 3:00 AM, I was beginning to feel exhausted and made my way back to SSR. I picked up my carry-on baggage from the Bell Captain. By then, I had a room number (3723) at the Springs. The CM at the check-in desk gave me a map of the SSR with the building where I would be staying circled. However, she never told me how to get there. I assumed that when you left Carriage House, you turned right and headed straight to my building. I did that and ended up in the spa. I would have found it hilarious if I werent so tired.
Eventually, I discovered the correct way (down the path leading to Bus Transportation and then past the bus stop). There was another problem and that was finding the entrance to the building. First, I went to the rear because it was so well-landscaped and had an archway that I naturally assumed it was the entrance. Little did I know that at that moment that I was looking at the patio of my studio on the third floor.
After calling my wife, I turned on the NCAA womens regional championship in Fresno between UConn and LSU. UConn played one of their worst games of the year and fell to LSU. Thus ended Day One.
Day 2-Mar. 27, 2007 (The Adventure of My Dream Fast Pass)
I caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom (MK) after a 10 minute wait. When I arrived I had to wait until the gates opened and when they did, I immediately rented an ECV.
My first stop was a must: the Pirates of the Caribbean which is my favorite ride in the MK if not the entire WDW.
From there, I headed to Jungle Cruise but discovered that it wouldnt open until 10:00 AM. I then tooled over to the Haunted Mansion which had no wait at all.
When I was leaving the Haunted Mansion a cast member was handing out what looked to be cards or tags to be worn around the neck. When I received mine she said (Im paraphrasing), Congratulations, you have a Fast Pass that can be used all day in the park. What I received was a Dream Fast Pass which had tabs for nine different attractions in the Magic Kingdom. All I would have to do is remove the tab and present it to the CM and I would be allowed to enter the attraction through the fast pass lane. In a number of cases, this meant that I could just walk into an attraction even though there was a 40-50 minute wait posted. It is a wonderful idea and if someone is fortunate enough to receive one, it makes for a wonderful touring day at the MK.
After visiting a number of attractions including Splash Mountain, I was ready for lunch.
For lunch, I had a reservation at Liberty Tree Tavern for Noon.
After I ate, I continued to visit the various attractions in MK using my Dream Fast Pass. It was a pleasure just walking right in or waiting a few minutes in the fast pass lane. I know that some in the non-fast pass lane looked on me (and the others) as interlopers but I tried not to think of that. I was in the right place at the right time when I received my pass and if they had been there they would be in my position.
I did not visit Space Mountain because I didnt feel like riding a roller coaster in the dark. I had been on Space Mountain with my children a number of times in the past. This is the great thing about visiting WDW frequently: a person doesnt have to visit each and every attraction on every trip. It will be there when you come back and I will return to WDW in September.
After I had my fill of the MK, I caught the bus to SSR and rested for a short while. Then after a 10 or 15 minute wait the bus to EPCOT arrived. When I arrived at EPCOT it was about 5:00 but I was able to get an ECV for the $5 refundable deposit. The lines were short in Future World and I was able to see some of my favorite attractions (e.g. Spaceship Earth) with no wait at all.
I had a 6:30 reservation at Restaurant Marrakesh. After a short wait, I was led to a nice table but had to strain my neck to see the dancers who were behind me.
When I left Marrakesh, I rode to the entrance and exited the park. The bus to SSR was late and by the time I arrived in my room, I was exhausted. Thus ended Day Two.
Day 3-Mar. 28, 2007 (The Adventure of My Free Ice Cream)
I woke up at 6:30, still very tired and debated with myself whether to go back to bed. I lost the debate and proceeded to get ready for a day at the Studios. My stomach was in a turmoil so I went to Artists Palette and purchased an orange juice and some Pepto Bismol.
I had a ten minute wait for the bus and when I got there, there was a slight problem with my Annual Pass but after about five swipes, I was allowed in. I immediately rented a cart and started to ride down Sunset Boulevard. However, I wasnt quite up to doing the Tower of Terror (which is one of my favorites) so I just took pictures in front of the Tower and in front of the Rock n Roller Coaster (which I wont go on.)
I decided to find some attractions that wouldnt tax my stomach too much. The Great Movie Ride was closed due to technical difficulties so I made my way to Muppet Vision 3-D. I found it just as hilarious as I did on my last trip.
Finally, I reached the ABC Commissary where I had the ABC Cheeseburger with fries and a bowl of fresh fruit with a bottle of water. It was wonderful and I rested there for a while writing my notes. The Commissarys ranking (CS-3) is in the middle of the pack due to the next two counter service establishments that I ate at. However, I wouldnt hesitate to eat there again and I plan on doing so on my next visit to the Studios.
After lunch I tried the Great Movie Ride again and it was open. Like previous visits, it was excellent.
While tooling around Echo Lake, I decided to purchase an ice cream, using one of my snack credits. I stopped at Dinosaur Gerties Ice Cream of Extinction and ordered a sugar cone with vanilla ice cream. The CM behind the counter took my DDP card and swiped it . . .and swiped it . . . and swiped it. Finally she tried to type in the number of the card. She had to do it again and again. Somehow, nothing she tried worked. Finally, she told me to take the ice cream and there would be no charge. I offered to pay for it but she was nice about it and told me that it was OK. I never had any other problem with my card but now I was one snack credit to the good.
I knew that I could never last until my reservation at Mama Melroses without some rest. So I made my way back to SSR to recuperate.
On my return visit to the Studios, I was tooling down the Streets of America and came upon a rake n roll group performing right across the street from Youse Guys Moychindice. This group was named Mulch, Sweat and Shears.
There was something familiar about the name but what it was escaped me.
Unfortunately, I had to make my 6:00 reservation at Mama Melroses.
After a ten minute wait, I was led to a table next to the wall that separated the bar from the eating area. It had a good view of the dining room. I ordered the Oven-Baked Caprino Cheese (delicious!) for the appetizer and the Charred Butcher Tender Steak with polenta and asparagus, in a gorgonzola butter and red wine reduction as the entrée which was very good. However, it was the sauce that made the course. For dessert, I had Tiramisu (ordinary). I wish I could have given Mamas a higher rating but it had a lot of competition therefore I rated it as a TS-3.
When I left the restaurant, it was dusk and for some reason it made me very sad. I wondered why and the reason dawned on me: On our first trip to WDW, the children were 7, 9, and 10. We were on Mickey Avenue or the Streets of America (I forget which) and it was dark and it was raining and we were lost. We kept on walking around like poor refugees until my wife took over and led us to civilization---the Prime Time Café! But I felt so bad that night that when I was leaving the Studios in the dark and saw other families milling about, a deep feeling of sadness overtook me. Dont those people have a home to go to?
I took the bus back to SSR, called my wife, and went to bed. Thus ended Day Three.
Day 4-Mar. 29, 2007 (The Adventure of the Mediocre Clam Bake)
I woke up feeling well and got ready for a day at the Animal Kingdom (AK). After getting my requisite cuppa at Artists Palette, I walked over to the bus stop. Upon arriving at AK and once the gates opened, I rented a cart and headed for Africa, my favorite part of the park.
Before I did that, I took a close look at the carvings (moldings?) on the trunk of The Tree of Life.
The Kilimanjaro Safaris in Africa is probably my favorite ride/attraction in the AK. Seeing the animals in their natural settings seems to reinforce my belief in mans innate humanity towards nature despite what some might think.
Consequently, I would advise any tourist to visit Rafikis Express Train. The Conservation Station is an ideal spot to see this humanity in action.
After getting my fill of Discovery Island and Africa, I felt the call of hunger. I found the Tusker Restaurant and entered. I ordered the half of a rotisserie chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and string beans. For my dessert, I purchased a carrot cake and some bottled water to wash it down. This meal was almost as good as a meal found in some table service establishments in WDW. I rate it CS-5. It was a wonderful experience.
After lunch, I visited Asia (without Expedition Everest) and DinoLand. By this time, the lines were extremely long (e.g. Dinosaur had a 50 minute wait) and I didnt feel like waiting that long. On the way out, I stopped at Camp Minnie Mickey since I hadnt been there in previous visits.
I took the bus back to SSR and rested some before my 7:00 reservation at the Cape May Buffet. I decided to visit EPCOT before visiting the Beach Club and was able to rent an ECV. I rode over to the World Showcase and visited a few of the pavilions. I then left EPCOT through the International Gateway and walked to the Beach Club. It was somewhat painful but the walk was relatively short.
I arrived at Cape May in time but I had to wait nearly a half an hour for a table. The table was in a good location but that was the only thing good about the Clam Bake Buffet. I found that the seafood part of the buffet lacking. The fish of the day was tilapia which I like but that was about it. I am not a shellfish lover so all the mussels and clams were wasted on me. There are so many things that one can do with fish but Cape May didnt seem to have a clue. The non-seafood portion of the buffet included ribs which I enjoy. The corn on the cob was good.
Overall, I believe that I made a mistake coming to the seafood buffet. I have been to many buffets and some were great and some were ordinary. Unfortunately, this buffet was the latter. Even though I was on the dining plan, I felt that it was a waste of money. I will not come again. I give it a rating of TS-1, the lowest rating.
On a previous trip, when we stayed at the Beach Club, we took the children to the character breakfast. That was an enjoyable experience.
By the time I was finished, I was exhausted. But I had to make my way to the entrance of EPCOT. Therefore, I again rented a cart to ride through Future World. Then I walked to the bus stop. However, because of my exhaustion, I was very impatient and after waiting for about 15 minutes, I walked to the taxi area and hired a cab. It was the best $13 I spent during my vacation.
I finally got back to my room, called my wife, and hit the sack. I immediately fell asleep. Thus ended Day Four.
Day 5-Mar. 30, 2007 (The Adventure In the Irish Pub)
My last full day at WDW! I awoke at 6:30 and got ready for a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Today would be my buying for the family and friends (and pet) day and, in my opinion, the Emporium on Main Street is the best place for shopping in the parks.
Before I went to catch the bus, I stopped at the Artists Pallet for my usual cuppa (using a snack credit). While there, I asked the CM how many credits I had on my DDP. I was most concerned about the snacks. It turned out that I had one TS, two CS, and two snack credits left so I felt that I was on schedule to complete the dining plan.
I caught the bus to the MK after a short wait and rented a cart when I was admitted to the park. My first two attractions were Pirates and Haunted Mansion. (Alas! No Dream Free Passes today.) I continued touring the various lands of the Magic Kingdom, including ToonTown.
When hunger got the best of me, I made my way to Cosmic Rays Starlight Café in Tomorrowland. I ordered the Meteor Meal, a bacon double cheeseburger and fries. For dessert, I had the triple chocolate cake and, to drink, I chose the iced cappuccino. Cosmic Rays is well-known for its toppings bar and I chose my share of them including plenty of onions. The burger was a li-i-ittle messy but very delicious. I give it a rating of CS-4 (just a shade below Tusker House.)
From Cosmic Rays, I went to Main Street and the Emporium. There, I spent too much money (according to my wife when I returned home) on gifts for those on my list. But it was fun!
When I was finished, I made my way to the bus stop and caught the ride back to SSR. I had a 6:00 reservation for Boma. However, I had heard, on more than one occasion during my trip, negative comments on the restaurant. So I decided to cancel the reservation. I called Member Services to do so and while I had them on the line, I asked if there was a 6:00 opening at Ragland Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. There was, so I made a reservation. I am extremely glad that I did.
It had been raining for much of the afternoon so I decided to forego the boat and take the bus to Downtown Disney. I had never been to DTD before, consequently when I arrived at Pleasure Island and saw the clubs; I thought to myself, My son and daughter would love it here.
The rain had slowed but the wind was blowing hard. I had some time before my reservation so I toured the area.
I started with Irish Soda Bread with a Guinness and sugar reduction to be used for dipping the bread. It was wonderful. For the appetizer, I had Simple Smoked Salmon; salmon with capers and crème fraiche. It was excellent and just enough. I followed this with Paddys Pork; stuffed pork loin with a honey glaze served on leeks, cabbage and mashed potatoes. I found the entrée a little too much. It tasted good but I was not able to finish. By the time I ordered dessert, I was feeling somewhat full. However, I ordered Gers Bread and Butter Pudding and when I received it I drizzled the accompanying maple syrup and cream on. When I tasted it, I was in Heaven. This was the best dessert I have ever had in WDW. Believe me, it was to die for.
My rating for Raglands is a TS-4 only because of the location of my table. It was that close with Coral Reef. The location of my table at the Reef was superb while Raglands was only good. And while Im describing my dinner at the Pub, there was a couple sitting about two yards away. I had been taking pictures of the food and the restaurant and writing notes in my notebook. I saw the woman get up and approach me. Excuse me, she said, Are you a critic? I answered in the negative and said that I was just a compulsive note-taker.
I took the bus back to SSR with plans to pack my checked and carry-on baggage to get it ready to be dropped off in the morning. However, I was too tired to get much done. While talking with my wife, I was watching TV. When I am home, I never watch network television. Therefore, there are many shows that begin and end with me never seeing an episode. Friends is a good example. Anyway, I started watching House on some channel: even today I cant tell you what network it is on. However, I found it to be a pretty good show and I wanted to see more. Therefore, I promised myself to buy Season One on DVD when I got home.
Thus ended Day Five.
Day 6-Mar. 31, 2007 (My Adventure with Mysterious Events)
I woke up early on the last day of March and the last day of my wonderful stay at WDW. After showering and having a cuppa, I finished packing. I brought my bags to the bell captains station and received the boarding pass for my 8:10 flight. I then bought coffee for the bus ride to EPCOT.
First I went to Mickeys Gear to buy a few more gifts (for my sons girl friend and for my dog). I then went to a few attractions and was in Land when a thunderbolt hit me. I had forgotten to check out! It was now about 10:15 and I envisioned myself racing to catch the bus to make the 11:00 check out time.
Then, sanity returned and I headed for Guest Relations.
I rode over to World Showcase and traveled around Canada where I bought some goodies. I then rode around the World visiting some other pavilions and decided to have my lunch at the Tangierine Café in Morocco. This would take care of my last counter service credit.
I ordered the Shawarma Platter with chicken and hummus, tabbouleh, couscous and Moroccan bread. I also purchased an order of baklava for dessert and a bottle of water. My lunch was not bad, not great, mind you, but not bad. I give the Tangierine Café a rating of CS-2. Again, it had a lot of competition from Tusker House, Cosmic Rays, and the ABC Commissary.
After lunch, I tooled over to Japan and entered Mitsukoshi Department Store.
The time had come to get on the bus for my final trip back to SSR. When I got back, I headed for the bell captains station to pick up my carry-on baggage. Before I did that though, I realized with a start that I had left my bag of gifts on the bus. I hurried (as fast as I could) back to the bus stop and waited for the EPCOT bus. When it arrived, I asked the driver if anyone had found a bag on the bus. He called his control center and was directed to ask me some questions, one of which was what my name was. When I told him, they said they had the bag back at bus control at EPCOT. I rode back to the park and retrieved the bag and then rode back to the resort clutching my bag. I looked in the bag and realized why they asked for my name. In the bag, I had placed the sign with my last name which I used on my ECV. I have nothing but praise for the Disney bus driver. He was very helpful and was extremely friendly on the way to EPCOT and the return.
This was the second event that was out of the ordinary that occurred on this day.
Anyway, I prepared to leave SSR. I went to the mens room and took a fresh set of clothes from my carry-on baggage. After changing, I went to the front of the resort to catch a taxi. I had decided to take a taxi because I was not pleased with the Disney Magic Express bus to the airport on my last trip. I arrived at the airport with little time to spare before I had to board my flight. Also, DME indicated in their message left on my door that they did not have my departure information. I know they did because I gave them the information when I arrived in Orlando. Therefore, I chose to take a taxi. It was a bad decision. The fare was way too expensive. On my next trip to WDW which is in the fall, I am going to call DME and have them pick me up three to four hours before my flight leaves.
When I arrived at the airport, I cleared security easily and found my gate. I then went to Applebees and had a salad and a soda. When I went back to the gate, I found that the flight was delayed until 8:30. The reason given was that our plane had not yet arrived from Boston. It finally came in shortly before 9:00 and when the passengers deplaned, we were rapidly loaded onto the plane. In fact, I think it was the fastest turnaround that I had ever witnessed. I should have known that there were dark clouds hovering over our flight.
The first hour and a half of the flight was uneventful. Then about 10:45 or so, the captain came over the intercom and declared that There is a little problem. It wasnt exactly Houston, we have a problem but it was caused by the same thing: oxygen leaking out. The captain didnt indicate whether the leak was from the cabin or the fuel. I know nothing about planes but I think they might use an oxygen mixture as jet fuel.
In any case, the captain declared that we would set down at Dulles International in Washington, D.C. and see if the leak could be repaired. Of course, there were a number of nervous jokes going around the cabin such as Let one side of the plane breathe for a few minutes and then the other side could breathe for a few minutes.
We finally set down and were immediately told that we would be leaving the plane and moving to a people mover for an immediate transfer to another craft. When questioned about why we werent going into the terminal, we were told that everything was closed. It didnt take too much thinking to figure out that the powers did not want us to leave the constraints of a plane or people mover because it would be too difficult to round us up and get us on a new plane.
We were in the people mover for close to an hour before the substitute aircraft was made ready for flight. When we first saw it through the windows of the people mover, it was completely dark. By the time we were allowed on, most of the passengers had to go to the bathroom which made the refusal to let us into the terminal and its bathrooms even stranger. When we were settled in our seats, the lucky ones (myself included) made a beeline for the lavatories. There was one problem: they werent working.
Service personnel came aboard and worked to get the toilets fixed which delayed out take-off even more. It was past 12:00 before we lifted off and I slept until we reached Hartford. After I retrieved my baggage and walked to my car, it was 2:15 AM. I finally pulled in the driveway at 3:00.
Thus ended Day Six.
Summary and Conclusions
I found my home resort, Saratoga Springs, to be a wonderful place to stay but it IS huge. Therefore, when I stay there in the future, I will again ask to be placed in the Springs because of my mobility issues. It is close to the pool, spa, Artists Pallet, Turf Club, and the Carriage House, as well as the bell captains station. During my time at SSR, I wondered how the guests of the resort who stayed at one of the other four sections (Paddock, Grandstand, Carousel, and Congress Park) handled the distance from the center of activity. But one of the good things about SSR is their bus system. I had short waits for rides to the parks and to DTD. Being where I was located, I did not have to use the internal bus system but if it is like the regular bus system then guests at outlying buildings are well-served.
I am very happy that I purchased the Disney Dining Plan. It cost me $194.95 and by my reckoning I purchased about $270.00 (including snack credits) with the plan. I guess I could have purchased the most expensive item on the menu but I didnt. In the future, perhaps, I will and then, of course, my savings will be that much greater.
I found the table service restaurants fairly consistent in quality with one exception. I will not return to the Cape May Clambake Buffet. My time at Cape May was simply not as good when compared to the other establishments. I thought the Coral Reef, Raglands, and Mama Melroses were relatively close in quality of food and in atmosphere and I would not hesitate to return there to eat on another vacation. The Marrakesh had a great atmosphere but the food was somewhat lacking. I am not going to say that I will never return there but it may be some time before I do. The Liberty Tree Tavern where I paid out of pocket was good but Ive eaten there often and I may just give it a rest.
Counter service restaurants were almost uniformly very good. Again, the only exception was the Yorkshire County Fish Shop and this negative review may be because of me. I was tired from my flight and I had trouble carrying the fish and chips, the shortbread cookies, and beverage to my table. In fact, I spilled much of my drink. This did not put me in the best frame of mind. The other CS restaurants, Tusker House, Cosmic Rays, the ABC Commissary, and Tangierine Café, I ranked in that order. I enjoyed each one immensely and cant wait to visit them in the future.
Of the five appetizers that I had, none stood out as excellent but the Smoked Salmon at Raglands and the Decoration Salad at Liberty Tree Tavern were very good. Likewise, with my entrées. I would say that both the Grilled Mahi-Mahi at Coral Reef and the Charred Butcher Tender Steak at Mama Melroses were about the best. However, as for the desserts, Gers Bread and Butter Pudding at Raglands was by far the best of the lot. Next would be the Liberty Shortcake at Liberty Tree.
The meal I had at Tusker House, the half of a rotisserie chicken, was one of the best meals I had at WDW regardless of whether it was a TS establishment or a CS one. I love rotisserie chicken as well as fried chicken and this probably has influenced my opinion. However, the chicken was delicious and I will definitely order it again. I highly recommend it.
One decision Ive made is that I will not come to WDW again during spring break or even close to Easter. I found the crowds unbearable. In the mornings, it wasnt too bad but after lunch it seemed that the crowds increased exponentially. Therefore, when I plan my late winter trip to WDW, I will pay more attention to the projected crowd levels and perhaps go in late February or very early March. If I do that then my annual pass will still be good and I will have gotten three trips with the pass.
Was this the best trip Ive had to Disney World? No. My trip last October when I stayed at the Yacht Club and spent a great deal of time at the International Food and Wine Festival was better. Not that I didnt enjoy staying at Saratoga Springs. I did and I look forward to staying there again. A negative feature of this trip was the crowds, as I mentioned above. However, one aspect of this trip that was by far better than any previous trip was the dining. I had made ADRs for every day at WDW and I enjoyed most of the meals. I cant wait to decide on what restaurants I will make reservations at during my trip this fall.
Thus ends my Trip Report. I hope you all enjoyed it.
