lizandjason
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2008
- Messages
- 429
Hi, Liz (age 31) and Jason (age 33) here, marrieds with no kids, just back from out fifth trip since our honeymoon in 2008. Here are the highlights and a few lowlights. Overall, great trip. Here we go...
Resort: Original plan was to stay at POFQ for 4 nights, which we did, then switch to Poly for 3 nights. One night at the Poly and we switched back, which was actually easy to do and we got a refund for the difference. We just didn't 'feel it' at the Poly and we missed POFQ and the extra $$ wasn't worth it. I know...weird, right? We were surprised, too. POFQ is just the most lovely, quaint and friendly resort. Love the pool, food court, just the whole atmosphere.
Bus Service: Spotty. Surprisingly crowded for September. But...tolerable. Longest wait was about 25 minutes.
Boat Service: Boat to DTD from POFQ was great. 'Water taxi' between DTD Marketplace and West Side was a joke; it took an hour b/c they could only load 25 people at a time and then it took at least 15 minutes to make the round trip. Ugh. Should have just walked.
The 'Friendship Boats' from Hollywood Studios to the Epcot resorts was wonderful.
CMs: SO FRIENDLY! We even got a call from the CM who checked us in to POFQ just to say 'thanks for coming back' and asked if there was anything we needed. Park CMs were generally great, too. Very impressed. I think they were relieved that the summer rush was over; I would be too
Dining:
Boma dinner: Unbelievably, incredibly delicious as usual. I heart Boma.
Cape May Clambake: It was okay. Just...okay.
Biergarten: Wunderbar! I ate so much I hurt for an hour!
Sunshine Seasons: Awesome, and they some updated items.
Paradiso 37: Despite bad reviews,we tried it and LOVED it! Great food and service. Really, really hit the spot when I was craving Mexican.
Ghiradelli: Split the Cable Car (rocky road) and wept with joy.
Contempo Cafe: Really good!! Ignore the bad reviews! Lots of good choices and very helpful CMs.
Captain Cook's: GROSS. Why does the Poly have to saturate EVERYTHING with a sweet flavor? I get that they are trying to make everything tropical, but sometimes it just doesn't work. That combined with the smell in the lobby was just kind of nauseating.
'Ohana: Meh. It's lost its thrill for us. It's decent but nothing special anymore.
Le Cellier: Wow. Now I know why reservations are so coveted. Delectable steaks (new lunch menu was great), impeccable service. God bless Canada, what wonderful folks.
A Few Attractions Observations:
Epcot: Captain EO is so awesome. When it was over we looked at each other with wide eyes and we both said, 'I remember that!' So cheesy 80's, it's a beautiful thing.
MK: Fantasyland is about half shut down for the refurb. They are adding Disney characters to 'its a small world'. I really don't know how I feel about that. We got drenched in the front seat of Splash Mountain. As in, water slopping over the sides of the log and soaking us. But we survived! It amazes me how it can feel so crowded in the parks but all of the rides are walk-on. ALL of them. Every time. Okay, except Toy Story Mania.
Animal Kingdom: We LOVE Dinosaur, and The Lion King Show is not to be missed. We had tears in our eyes...and we've seen this numerous times. It is spectacular. After these two attractions, we left the park. That park is sweltering.
MNSSHP: Fun, loved seeing everyone dressed up, and felt 'special' because we had the bright green wristbands. Parade was fantastic.
Is it worth the money? For us, probably not again. Dance parties, trick or treating and character pictures aren't our 'thing'. But we did it once and we're glad we did.
Memorable moment of the trip: there was a torrential downpour and we were 'stranded' in the Haunted Mansion, and guests were 'camped out' in and outside of the stretching rooms. The CMs were enjoying the break in the usual routine and had fun with it.
I'll be happy to answer any questions!
Resort: Original plan was to stay at POFQ for 4 nights, which we did, then switch to Poly for 3 nights. One night at the Poly and we switched back, which was actually easy to do and we got a refund for the difference. We just didn't 'feel it' at the Poly and we missed POFQ and the extra $$ wasn't worth it. I know...weird, right? We were surprised, too. POFQ is just the most lovely, quaint and friendly resort. Love the pool, food court, just the whole atmosphere.
Bus Service: Spotty. Surprisingly crowded for September. But...tolerable. Longest wait was about 25 minutes.
Boat Service: Boat to DTD from POFQ was great. 'Water taxi' between DTD Marketplace and West Side was a joke; it took an hour b/c they could only load 25 people at a time and then it took at least 15 minutes to make the round trip. Ugh. Should have just walked.
The 'Friendship Boats' from Hollywood Studios to the Epcot resorts was wonderful.
CMs: SO FRIENDLY! We even got a call from the CM who checked us in to POFQ just to say 'thanks for coming back' and asked if there was anything we needed. Park CMs were generally great, too. Very impressed. I think they were relieved that the summer rush was over; I would be too
Dining:
Boma dinner: Unbelievably, incredibly delicious as usual. I heart Boma.
Cape May Clambake: It was okay. Just...okay.
Biergarten: Wunderbar! I ate so much I hurt for an hour!
Sunshine Seasons: Awesome, and they some updated items.
Paradiso 37: Despite bad reviews,we tried it and LOVED it! Great food and service. Really, really hit the spot when I was craving Mexican.
Ghiradelli: Split the Cable Car (rocky road) and wept with joy.
Contempo Cafe: Really good!! Ignore the bad reviews! Lots of good choices and very helpful CMs.
Captain Cook's: GROSS. Why does the Poly have to saturate EVERYTHING with a sweet flavor? I get that they are trying to make everything tropical, but sometimes it just doesn't work. That combined with the smell in the lobby was just kind of nauseating.
'Ohana: Meh. It's lost its thrill for us. It's decent but nothing special anymore.
Le Cellier: Wow. Now I know why reservations are so coveted. Delectable steaks (new lunch menu was great), impeccable service. God bless Canada, what wonderful folks.
A Few Attractions Observations:
Epcot: Captain EO is so awesome. When it was over we looked at each other with wide eyes and we both said, 'I remember that!' So cheesy 80's, it's a beautiful thing.
MK: Fantasyland is about half shut down for the refurb. They are adding Disney characters to 'its a small world'. I really don't know how I feel about that. We got drenched in the front seat of Splash Mountain. As in, water slopping over the sides of the log and soaking us. But we survived! It amazes me how it can feel so crowded in the parks but all of the rides are walk-on. ALL of them. Every time. Okay, except Toy Story Mania.
Animal Kingdom: We LOVE Dinosaur, and The Lion King Show is not to be missed. We had tears in our eyes...and we've seen this numerous times. It is spectacular. After these two attractions, we left the park. That park is sweltering.
MNSSHP: Fun, loved seeing everyone dressed up, and felt 'special' because we had the bright green wristbands. Parade was fantastic.
Is it worth the money? For us, probably not again. Dance parties, trick or treating and character pictures aren't our 'thing'. But we did it once and we're glad we did.
Memorable moment of the trip: there was a torrential downpour and we were 'stranded' in the Haunted Mansion, and guests were 'camped out' in and outside of the stretching rooms. The CMs were enjoying the break in the usual routine and had fun with it.
I'll be happy to answer any questions!
It's pure nostalgia. I wouldn't expect a teenager to get it! Thanks for sharing that.
