Merriwind
Always looking for an excuse to go to WDW...
- Joined
- May 2, 2005
- Messages
- 1,636
The good-
Soarin Wow! What more can we say. This ride was awesome, much better than I expected it to be. The lift in the beginning is a little sudden, but not bad in any way. My only complaint, I wish that each scene and the entire attraction could last longer.
Swan/Dolphin My new favorite hotel at WDW. Service with a smile, clean, great pool, first rate all the way. The little things count. A dirty spoon in the hallway was picked up within an hour of my noticing, whereas similar items sat in the BWV corridor for days. The towels were very plush, beds were quite soft, nice toiletries (including separate shampoo and conditioner), top-notch service from all staff. The pool at the Dolphin is a winnerslide, basketball hoop, volleyball net, warm springs pool, hot tub, kiddie pool, sandy beach, playground. It was hard to get DD out of there!
Boma As always, a great meal. We havent been in nearly a year, although we have visited on different days, so we have seen all the menu variations. That being said, there were several changessome different soups, a new salad, falafel, a different run on the meat, cake-ier zebra dome base, etc. Nothing drastic, just a little variety. Service, was not great. It was ok, but barely. This, unfortunately, was a constant in our visit to WDW. Service, overall, was lacking.
The adorned castle wow! Very, very nice. Really gives it a touch of magic. We love the magic mirror.
Kool & the Gang What a concert! Loved it, loved it, loved it. So glad I have their Greatest Hits CD. DD7 and I sang and danced throughout. A great time!
Its a Small World rehab Love the new frontmuch more festive. Glad for the new paint and audio. Also glad the classic ride was maintained as is. All in all, well done. Really makes me want similar treatment for other aging classics, such as Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, even the Buzz cars are showing age.
Spending a day at MK with DD7 (just us girls) really priceless. She kept thanking us the whole trip for brining her (it was a bit of a surprise). That was really nice, especially since shes been so often, I was afraid shed get jaded. On Friday, she asked how we could make the day last longer!
The bad-
The crowds Doesnt anybody go to work or school anymore! OMG! I learned one important lesson. I have always avoided (as per all the guidebooks) the EMH park. Well, our only full day this trip was Friday and DD wanted MK, so we went. We didnt arrive until about 8:20am. Until 9ish, it was like a normal morning at MK. Then at 9, the rest of the people arrived. It was really crowded! I couldnt wait to leave. Never again to the EMH park, never again! EMH notwithstanding, WDW overall seemed much more crowded than last October. We are thinking of skipping the F&W fest next year, because its just not worth fighting the people. We waited 20 minutes for Haunted Mansion, 10 minutes with FP at Buzz, never got on Test Track. Even Journey Into Your Imagination had a 15 minute wait! I have never seen that as anything but a walk-on. Too many people for me! We are just not used to waiting in line. We may be rethinking some of next weeks plans.
Crystal Palace seating Waited and waited. Finally started paying attention and noticed that people arriving far later than us were being seated. Finally went to the door to inquire. Got many apologies, but still waited. Finally, they brought DD and I to our table. The seater apologized for the wait, but they had to wait for a table for 2!!!! There are very few of these in the Crystal Palace. I understand them not wanting to seat us at a large round table for 6 or 8. But, to leave us sitting outside while parties of three and four arriving long after us were being seated seemed inappropriate to me. In the end, it was an ok thing, because we were seated so late in the breakfast time that we actually got to have the lunch buffet too. I really liked the lunch foodgreen curry chicken, ancho-chile rubbed salmon, broccoli in some sort of glaze, shrimp mango black bean salad, etc, better than breakfast. DD7 was thrilled to get dessert with breakfast.
Fresh! I just dont get the hype about this place. It was fine, a fancy buffet, but thats it to me.
The ugly-
Lack of magic (or sometimes basic courtesy) from WDW staff I was astonished on several occasions by the downright grumpiness and, in one case, hostility of cast members. The worst was at the Sleepy Hollow Refreshment stand. DD7 was thirsty. We were heading to use our Buzz Fastpasses before heading out to escape the crowds. Sleepy Hollow was one place without a long line, so we waited a few minutes to order a Sprite. I had three 20s in my wallet and handed the cashier one. She gave me back seven dollars and change. I said, Oh, I gave you a twenty. She was hardly friendly to begin with, but her demeanor turned nasty in a heartbeat. She sighed, and told me that I had given her a ten. I explained that I had gone to the cash machine the day before and only had twenties. She looked at her cash register and said, no, you gave me a ten. She looked at me expectantly; clearly she expected me to just leave. I didnt and insisted again that I gave her a twenty. She said, well, you will have to wait to get this straightened out. (As though I was leaving!) She sighed again, locked her drawer, flounced across the kitchen to the phone. Her hand motions on the phone clearly indicated her exasperation. While I was waiting, the lady behind me said, I know you had a twenty, I saw you holding it. I thanked her and apologized for holding up the line, but I wasnt moving. Finally, the cashier came back and told me that I would have to wait for her supervisor. I told her that I knew it was a twenty and that even the other woman had seen it. Really? said the clerk, as she opened her drawer. Wouldnt you know it? There sat my twenty, on top of her tens. She apologized and said, I wasnt trying to rip you off. No, but she clearly acted like I was!
Sadly, this was only the most extreme case of cast member poor attitudes that we encountered. Cast members at the Haunted Mansion repeatedly scolded (more than I think their characters required) the poor woman in front of me who kept trying to hand them the timing card. Restaurant servers didnt stop to chat, many seemed to be in a poor mood. One bus driver we had was super friendly and chatty, another only grunted when we said our usual hello and thank you. Staying at the Swan made this contrast more stark. The staff there bent over backwards to be friendly, cheerful, helpfulthe magic was there, but not at MK, Epcot or Boma. We werent wished a magical day once. (And believe me, we are not a gloomy Gus family, we are a cheerful, chatty, well-mannered bunch. Its too bad, WDW doesnt seem like WDW without the magic.
Soarin Wow! What more can we say. This ride was awesome, much better than I expected it to be. The lift in the beginning is a little sudden, but not bad in any way. My only complaint, I wish that each scene and the entire attraction could last longer.
Swan/Dolphin My new favorite hotel at WDW. Service with a smile, clean, great pool, first rate all the way. The little things count. A dirty spoon in the hallway was picked up within an hour of my noticing, whereas similar items sat in the BWV corridor for days. The towels were very plush, beds were quite soft, nice toiletries (including separate shampoo and conditioner), top-notch service from all staff. The pool at the Dolphin is a winnerslide, basketball hoop, volleyball net, warm springs pool, hot tub, kiddie pool, sandy beach, playground. It was hard to get DD out of there!
Boma As always, a great meal. We havent been in nearly a year, although we have visited on different days, so we have seen all the menu variations. That being said, there were several changessome different soups, a new salad, falafel, a different run on the meat, cake-ier zebra dome base, etc. Nothing drastic, just a little variety. Service, was not great. It was ok, but barely. This, unfortunately, was a constant in our visit to WDW. Service, overall, was lacking.
The adorned castle wow! Very, very nice. Really gives it a touch of magic. We love the magic mirror.
Kool & the Gang What a concert! Loved it, loved it, loved it. So glad I have their Greatest Hits CD. DD7 and I sang and danced throughout. A great time!
Its a Small World rehab Love the new frontmuch more festive. Glad for the new paint and audio. Also glad the classic ride was maintained as is. All in all, well done. Really makes me want similar treatment for other aging classics, such as Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, even the Buzz cars are showing age.
Spending a day at MK with DD7 (just us girls) really priceless. She kept thanking us the whole trip for brining her (it was a bit of a surprise). That was really nice, especially since shes been so often, I was afraid shed get jaded. On Friday, she asked how we could make the day last longer!
The bad-
The crowds Doesnt anybody go to work or school anymore! OMG! I learned one important lesson. I have always avoided (as per all the guidebooks) the EMH park. Well, our only full day this trip was Friday and DD wanted MK, so we went. We didnt arrive until about 8:20am. Until 9ish, it was like a normal morning at MK. Then at 9, the rest of the people arrived. It was really crowded! I couldnt wait to leave. Never again to the EMH park, never again! EMH notwithstanding, WDW overall seemed much more crowded than last October. We are thinking of skipping the F&W fest next year, because its just not worth fighting the people. We waited 20 minutes for Haunted Mansion, 10 minutes with FP at Buzz, never got on Test Track. Even Journey Into Your Imagination had a 15 minute wait! I have never seen that as anything but a walk-on. Too many people for me! We are just not used to waiting in line. We may be rethinking some of next weeks plans.
Crystal Palace seating Waited and waited. Finally started paying attention and noticed that people arriving far later than us were being seated. Finally went to the door to inquire. Got many apologies, but still waited. Finally, they brought DD and I to our table. The seater apologized for the wait, but they had to wait for a table for 2!!!! There are very few of these in the Crystal Palace. I understand them not wanting to seat us at a large round table for 6 or 8. But, to leave us sitting outside while parties of three and four arriving long after us were being seated seemed inappropriate to me. In the end, it was an ok thing, because we were seated so late in the breakfast time that we actually got to have the lunch buffet too. I really liked the lunch foodgreen curry chicken, ancho-chile rubbed salmon, broccoli in some sort of glaze, shrimp mango black bean salad, etc, better than breakfast. DD7 was thrilled to get dessert with breakfast.
Fresh! I just dont get the hype about this place. It was fine, a fancy buffet, but thats it to me.
The ugly-
Lack of magic (or sometimes basic courtesy) from WDW staff I was astonished on several occasions by the downright grumpiness and, in one case, hostility of cast members. The worst was at the Sleepy Hollow Refreshment stand. DD7 was thirsty. We were heading to use our Buzz Fastpasses before heading out to escape the crowds. Sleepy Hollow was one place without a long line, so we waited a few minutes to order a Sprite. I had three 20s in my wallet and handed the cashier one. She gave me back seven dollars and change. I said, Oh, I gave you a twenty. She was hardly friendly to begin with, but her demeanor turned nasty in a heartbeat. She sighed, and told me that I had given her a ten. I explained that I had gone to the cash machine the day before and only had twenties. She looked at her cash register and said, no, you gave me a ten. She looked at me expectantly; clearly she expected me to just leave. I didnt and insisted again that I gave her a twenty. She said, well, you will have to wait to get this straightened out. (As though I was leaving!) She sighed again, locked her drawer, flounced across the kitchen to the phone. Her hand motions on the phone clearly indicated her exasperation. While I was waiting, the lady behind me said, I know you had a twenty, I saw you holding it. I thanked her and apologized for holding up the line, but I wasnt moving. Finally, the cashier came back and told me that I would have to wait for her supervisor. I told her that I knew it was a twenty and that even the other woman had seen it. Really? said the clerk, as she opened her drawer. Wouldnt you know it? There sat my twenty, on top of her tens. She apologized and said, I wasnt trying to rip you off. No, but she clearly acted like I was!
Sadly, this was only the most extreme case of cast member poor attitudes that we encountered. Cast members at the Haunted Mansion repeatedly scolded (more than I think their characters required) the poor woman in front of me who kept trying to hand them the timing card. Restaurant servers didnt stop to chat, many seemed to be in a poor mood. One bus driver we had was super friendly and chatty, another only grunted when we said our usual hello and thank you. Staying at the Swan made this contrast more stark. The staff there bent over backwards to be friendly, cheerful, helpfulthe magic was there, but not at MK, Epcot or Boma. We werent wished a magical day once. (And believe me, we are not a gloomy Gus family, we are a cheerful, chatty, well-mannered bunch. Its too bad, WDW doesnt seem like WDW without the magic.
