HI gang. This is my first trip report so bear with me. Set the stage:
Me Crazy mom 36 disnafreak since forever
DH -could take it or leave it, happy if we are having a good time
DS14- loves goofy, great older brother, same sence of humor as his mom (big fan of british TV, monty python and of course disney)
DS 6- think stitch
the good:
I used my Teva sandals for 4 days, no problems
I had my mole skin ready and waiting (never needed it)
I had my DVC backback and my BIG zip lock bag for putting it in at the water rides.
Used the dining plan so didnt have to carry any money
Did carry water in the backpack along with granola bars and such for breakfast.
had my DIS secrets downloaded on my blackberry so we could find things in the parks
had FASTPASS down to a SCIENCE by sending DS14 ahead to get fastpasses, then find downtime rides/shows/FOOD. We never had less than 2 fastpasses waiting at any one time and never waited more than 30 minutes on non fast pass rides
Had dinner at:
Wolfgang puck - by the water
Hollywood and Vine for fantastmic tickets
Rose and Crown and watch Illuminations on the patio
thanks to all the DISers who posted these handy tips making me look brilliant.
*course I gave you all the credit* - no REALLY!
Trip overall was great. Forgot to warn DS6 about the yetti. He was fine with the ride itself, but freaked out over the "big ape". this from the kid that wanted to ride space mountain over and over.
Went on the pirates ride one last time before they updated it.
DH was loving the studio we got at Saratoga springs. It was his first time and a studio is WAY bigger than the rooms at ALL Star_________ . I however was spoiled. Last summer I brought the boys and I could only get a 1 bedroom. SOOOOO I had a king bed and bedroom ALL TO MYSELF
So the studio felt cramped. So I took over the bathroom to make up for it. hehe.
The bad:
Had a disapointing experience with the bus system. I had to finish something in the room so the rest of the family went to the bus stop. As I came out of the building I saw our bus driving up so I ran like a mad woman. (yes this is a sight) The bus stopped, DID NOT OPEN THE DOORS, paused less than 20 seconds and then took off. I saw this all with my own eyes because I was behind the bus running much faster than a fat woman should.
Now, what was upsetting was if he had just OPENED the doors, that would have bought me enought time to get there. as it was, I was sucking fumes and my family looked shocked. they didnt know I was going to be that quick or they would have boarded the bus (which AGAIN, would have bought me just enough time.)
During the 4 days I was there, every other bus stopped, opened the doors, some drivers even stepping out and greeting people. Just my luck I get this driver on that morning. It was another 40 minutes till the next bus came and we missed the morning magic hours.
Turns out a woman SAW all this from the balcony of her room and came down and complained to every driver that came between that time and the time our bus came.
2nd "bad" thing. Phone and internet were both out in our room. This was also the case last july when we came. Very strange. Had to use cell phone to resolve both situations, both times.
3rd "bad" thing. we got fast passes for lights, motors, action. by the time we got to the front of the fast pass return line, the show was filled. I ask about getting into the next show but they said my passes were "expired". Turns out the tickets were only good for 10 minutes, not the typical hour we had been seeing on our other fast passes. it was 10 minutes past the time on the ticket. I was shocked - didnt know they printed anything less than an hour. Lesson: pay close attention to the time window on the tickets. I honestly didnt see that it was TEN MINUTES.
Last "bad" thing - I promise ! MGM - Fantasmic Dinner Package. The service was fast and the food was very very good. We did have a problem with the server bringing the regular cokes to the diet coke people and visa versa but not a big deal.
for the show, the seating was good - no standing in line and the show was great. would do again.
HOWEVER - I will be contacting disney as there was VERY LITTLE control over who could sit in our section. A very large family/group who did not speak english, or at least claimed not to when confronted, converged into the area from the opposite direction that we came in, leading me to believe they shouldnt have been there. They pushed and shoved us on the bench we were sitting on and were very loud. It made me mad because we paid and planned in order to be there and they literally just pushed their way into the section. Kind of like when you steak out a spot for a parade and someone comes at the last minute and bumps you out of the way....
Me Crazy mom 36 disnafreak since forever
DH -could take it or leave it, happy if we are having a good time
DS14- loves goofy, great older brother, same sence of humor as his mom (big fan of british TV, monty python and of course disney)
DS 6- think stitch
the good:
I used my Teva sandals for 4 days, no problems
I had my mole skin ready and waiting (never needed it)
I had my DVC backback and my BIG zip lock bag for putting it in at the water rides.
Used the dining plan so didnt have to carry any money
Did carry water in the backpack along with granola bars and such for breakfast.
had my DIS secrets downloaded on my blackberry so we could find things in the parks
had FASTPASS down to a SCIENCE by sending DS14 ahead to get fastpasses, then find downtime rides/shows/FOOD. We never had less than 2 fastpasses waiting at any one time and never waited more than 30 minutes on non fast pass rides
Had dinner at:
Wolfgang puck - by the water
Hollywood and Vine for fantastmic tickets
Rose and Crown and watch Illuminations on the patio
thanks to all the DISers who posted these handy tips making me look brilliant.
*course I gave you all the credit* - no REALLY!
Trip overall was great. Forgot to warn DS6 about the yetti. He was fine with the ride itself, but freaked out over the "big ape". this from the kid that wanted to ride space mountain over and over.
Went on the pirates ride one last time before they updated it.
DH was loving the studio we got at Saratoga springs. It was his first time and a studio is WAY bigger than the rooms at ALL Star_________ . I however was spoiled. Last summer I brought the boys and I could only get a 1 bedroom. SOOOOO I had a king bed and bedroom ALL TO MYSELF
So the studio felt cramped. So I took over the bathroom to make up for it. hehe.The bad:
Had a disapointing experience with the bus system. I had to finish something in the room so the rest of the family went to the bus stop. As I came out of the building I saw our bus driving up so I ran like a mad woman. (yes this is a sight) The bus stopped, DID NOT OPEN THE DOORS, paused less than 20 seconds and then took off. I saw this all with my own eyes because I was behind the bus running much faster than a fat woman should.
Now, what was upsetting was if he had just OPENED the doors, that would have bought me enought time to get there. as it was, I was sucking fumes and my family looked shocked. they didnt know I was going to be that quick or they would have boarded the bus (which AGAIN, would have bought me just enough time.)
During the 4 days I was there, every other bus stopped, opened the doors, some drivers even stepping out and greeting people. Just my luck I get this driver on that morning. It was another 40 minutes till the next bus came and we missed the morning magic hours.
Turns out a woman SAW all this from the balcony of her room and came down and complained to every driver that came between that time and the time our bus came.
2nd "bad" thing. Phone and internet were both out in our room. This was also the case last july when we came. Very strange. Had to use cell phone to resolve both situations, both times.
3rd "bad" thing. we got fast passes for lights, motors, action. by the time we got to the front of the fast pass return line, the show was filled. I ask about getting into the next show but they said my passes were "expired". Turns out the tickets were only good for 10 minutes, not the typical hour we had been seeing on our other fast passes. it was 10 minutes past the time on the ticket. I was shocked - didnt know they printed anything less than an hour. Lesson: pay close attention to the time window on the tickets. I honestly didnt see that it was TEN MINUTES.
Last "bad" thing - I promise ! MGM - Fantasmic Dinner Package. The service was fast and the food was very very good. We did have a problem with the server bringing the regular cokes to the diet coke people and visa versa but not a big deal.
for the show, the seating was good - no standing in line and the show was great. would do again.
HOWEVER - I will be contacting disney as there was VERY LITTLE control over who could sit in our section. A very large family/group who did not speak english, or at least claimed not to when confronted, converged into the area from the opposite direction that we came in, leading me to believe they shouldnt have been there. They pushed and shoved us on the bench we were sitting on and were very loud. It made me mad because we paid and planned in order to be there and they literally just pushed their way into the section. Kind of like when you steak out a spot for a parade and someone comes at the last minute and bumps you out of the way....
