photobob
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2003
- Messages
- 3,552
Players-Me, Wife, Son(16), Daughter(10)
SIL, BIL, 2 nieces 12 & 6
This was the first time we went to Disney World with others and was apprehensive since we've had less than positive family trips in the past.
Due to some very good fortune I was able to procure three rooms at the Yacht Club for $104 per room per night. I had a $74 rate at POFQ and got upgraded to the Yacht Club.
We arrived after a nine hour drive to the Yacht Club Sat 5/24 at about 4 pm. (Have you ever noticed driving down I-75 south of Atlanta if you ever get passed by a car doing 20 plus miles per hour faster than you it is a Georgia driver?) While the wife went to check us in I got the door man to help unload our car. I told him it would take two carts but he didn't think so, five minutes later he got the second cart.
When I went in and got the parking passes for the car I couldn't believe how beautiful the place was. I go back tell the doorman our room number (1089) and I go park the car.
We I come back and walk through the lobby past the gift shop I am in absolute awe of the place. I make my way to the room and my wife opens the door with a huge grin and we look around and just giggle because we can't get over this place, the room is gorgeous, it is big with 2 queens and a daybed and a patio that has a view of the gazebo. In the courtyard surrounding the gazebo are little bunny rabbits walking around.
All the kids head to the pool and what a pool! If you haven't seen Stormalong Bay, it is like a water park it is so big.
That evening we head over to Boarwalk and have dinner at Big River Grille. It was a good meal.
As beautiful as the Yacht Club is, the location is it's greatest asset, I believe. You can walk out of the resort and walk for 3 or 4 minutes and be in Epcot. You can walk 3 or 4 minutes and be on Boardwalk, or visiting the swan or dolphin or be at Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf. There is also a boat launch to Disney MGM Studios. We took great advantage of the closeness to so many different things.
Some observations:
-Why close Magic Kingdom so early? We went to Magic Kingdom on Sunday the day before Memorial Day and it was quite busy. We stayed just through lunch before heading back. The next day which was Memorial Day we went to MGM early and then late that afternoon went to Epcot and then jumped on the monorail to go to Magic Kingdom. We got lucky and rode upfront with the driver and asked him what time MK closed and he says 7pm, well it was 7:30 pm so it was already closed. They closed MK at 7 pm on Memorial Day??? It wasn't even dark yet. Other than Sunday MK closed every night at 7 pm but they have 2 e-ride night which we didn't do.
-Crowds and lines. Sunday at MK was quite busy. Memorial Day was fairly heavy the rest of the week was not. Most rides at MGM were walk ons or short waits. ToT never took us more than 15 or 20 minute waits in the standby lines, RNR was generally a 30 minute standby. Friday at MK we rode Splash and Big Thunder twice each in about 1 hours time. I never saw Buzz Lightyear with more than a 15 minute wait, space mountain average 20 minute standby wait time.
-Went to see Cirque du Soleil for the first time. Incredible show, even greater since BIL bought tickets for everyone.
-Had lunch at Mama Melroses, walked in seated immediately upon 12:05 arrival, no ps. The four of us all got a different flatbread pizza and we all shared with each other. They were fantastic!
-Had lunch at Le Cellier at Canada in Epcot. Very good again. I had the steak sandwich and cheese soup which is very good to dip pretzel bread in by the way. Walked in seated immediately, no ps.
-Had lunch at Rainforest cafe at AK, everyone enjoyed.
-Wife, SIL, Daughter and nieces had lunch at Tony's at MK and enjoyed it.
-Saw the afternoon parade at MK for the first time, it was very good, but seems to be very short.
-Tried two different times to see fantasmic but went too late and didn't feel like doing standing room only since I've seen it twice before. Once we went right at 9 pm and tried another time at 8:30. I just wasn't willing to stand in line or sit on those bleachers for an hour.
-Rode the new Primieval Whirl and thought it was a fairly neat experience but found that area to be so against the Animal Kingdom theme. It just doesn't fit, it is basically a carnival looking area.
-Played Fantasia fairways with my son. It was alot of fun. We made some really good shots and some really bad shots. It was fun. ( in other words, I won!)
In conclusion we had a really great time. We had stayed previosuly at CBR, ASMo and ASMu so this was our first Deluxe experience and it was a great one. While I'll probably never be able to afford to stay at the Yacht Club again I'll always cherish the experience. One thing I do like better about the value and moderates is the food courts. I guess if you can afford to stay at a resort that the usual rate for the room we stayed in is $329 per night you can afford to eat all your meals at sit down restaurants or eat room service.
Sorry if this read like rambling thoughts, but that is what they were,
Bob
SIL, BIL, 2 nieces 12 & 6
This was the first time we went to Disney World with others and was apprehensive since we've had less than positive family trips in the past.
Due to some very good fortune I was able to procure three rooms at the Yacht Club for $104 per room per night. I had a $74 rate at POFQ and got upgraded to the Yacht Club.
We arrived after a nine hour drive to the Yacht Club Sat 5/24 at about 4 pm. (Have you ever noticed driving down I-75 south of Atlanta if you ever get passed by a car doing 20 plus miles per hour faster than you it is a Georgia driver?) While the wife went to check us in I got the door man to help unload our car. I told him it would take two carts but he didn't think so, five minutes later he got the second cart.
When I went in and got the parking passes for the car I couldn't believe how beautiful the place was. I go back tell the doorman our room number (1089) and I go park the car.
We I come back and walk through the lobby past the gift shop I am in absolute awe of the place. I make my way to the room and my wife opens the door with a huge grin and we look around and just giggle because we can't get over this place, the room is gorgeous, it is big with 2 queens and a daybed and a patio that has a view of the gazebo. In the courtyard surrounding the gazebo are little bunny rabbits walking around.
All the kids head to the pool and what a pool! If you haven't seen Stormalong Bay, it is like a water park it is so big.
That evening we head over to Boarwalk and have dinner at Big River Grille. It was a good meal.
As beautiful as the Yacht Club is, the location is it's greatest asset, I believe. You can walk out of the resort and walk for 3 or 4 minutes and be in Epcot. You can walk 3 or 4 minutes and be on Boardwalk, or visiting the swan or dolphin or be at Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf. There is also a boat launch to Disney MGM Studios. We took great advantage of the closeness to so many different things.
Some observations:
-Why close Magic Kingdom so early? We went to Magic Kingdom on Sunday the day before Memorial Day and it was quite busy. We stayed just through lunch before heading back. The next day which was Memorial Day we went to MGM early and then late that afternoon went to Epcot and then jumped on the monorail to go to Magic Kingdom. We got lucky and rode upfront with the driver and asked him what time MK closed and he says 7pm, well it was 7:30 pm so it was already closed. They closed MK at 7 pm on Memorial Day??? It wasn't even dark yet. Other than Sunday MK closed every night at 7 pm but they have 2 e-ride night which we didn't do.
-Crowds and lines. Sunday at MK was quite busy. Memorial Day was fairly heavy the rest of the week was not. Most rides at MGM were walk ons or short waits. ToT never took us more than 15 or 20 minute waits in the standby lines, RNR was generally a 30 minute standby. Friday at MK we rode Splash and Big Thunder twice each in about 1 hours time. I never saw Buzz Lightyear with more than a 15 minute wait, space mountain average 20 minute standby wait time.
-Went to see Cirque du Soleil for the first time. Incredible show, even greater since BIL bought tickets for everyone.
-Had lunch at Mama Melroses, walked in seated immediately upon 12:05 arrival, no ps. The four of us all got a different flatbread pizza and we all shared with each other. They were fantastic!
-Had lunch at Le Cellier at Canada in Epcot. Very good again. I had the steak sandwich and cheese soup which is very good to dip pretzel bread in by the way. Walked in seated immediately, no ps.
-Had lunch at Rainforest cafe at AK, everyone enjoyed.
-Wife, SIL, Daughter and nieces had lunch at Tony's at MK and enjoyed it.
-Saw the afternoon parade at MK for the first time, it was very good, but seems to be very short.
-Tried two different times to see fantasmic but went too late and didn't feel like doing standing room only since I've seen it twice before. Once we went right at 9 pm and tried another time at 8:30. I just wasn't willing to stand in line or sit on those bleachers for an hour.
-Rode the new Primieval Whirl and thought it was a fairly neat experience but found that area to be so against the Animal Kingdom theme. It just doesn't fit, it is basically a carnival looking area.
-Played Fantasia fairways with my son. It was alot of fun. We made some really good shots and some really bad shots. It was fun. ( in other words, I won!)
In conclusion we had a really great time. We had stayed previosuly at CBR, ASMo and ASMu so this was our first Deluxe experience and it was a great one. While I'll probably never be able to afford to stay at the Yacht Club again I'll always cherish the experience. One thing I do like better about the value and moderates is the food courts. I guess if you can afford to stay at a resort that the usual rate for the room we stayed in is $329 per night you can afford to eat all your meals at sit down restaurants or eat room service.
Sorry if this read like rambling thoughts, but that is what they were,
Bob
