aprincessmom
Huh?
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2000
- Messages
- 1,921
The setup...
We had gone in February but I planned this little quick trip after 9/11. I lost friends and co-workers in the attacks and felt like this holiday season I would need some extra help getting in the festive mood. Where else could you get it but at the most magical place in the world. But it was a surprise for DD (at 5 -- almost 6 -- it would be her 3rd trip).
On Sunday while we decorated the Christmas tree I told her I felt like I needed a vacation, some place warm and sunny where we could just swim and relax. She agreed it would be fun but "we have work and school". On Monday I said "Wouldn't it be great to take a few skip days from work and school and just go somewhere fun?" She agreed. So I said "I'll talk to my boss and your teachers and lets see if we can take a few days off soon". That night I told her I had talked to both (I had but way before this) and they said it was okay. So we got out our vacation stuff and started talking about where we could go and settled on --surprise, surprise -- WDW. She was soooo excited. I told her I'd call the next day (Tuesday) to see when we could go. Tuesday night I picked her up and said "Guess what? We leave tomorrow!" She was so excited. Excited enough that she didn't really question why I had already packed most everything we'd need.
And now...here's the trip report for 11/28-12/2.
Flights
Took an early Southwest flight from Providence to Orlando. No complications or problems. Long lines for check in but they went very quickly. Got there at 5:30 a.m. for the 7:40 flight and was glad we did because we did need that time. Plane lands 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Left Orlando on Sunday. Got there at 9:00 for the 11:10 flight. Again, long lines but all moved quickly. Landed early again. Great flights and flight crews coming and going.
Hotel
Stayed at the All Star Music. Had a bad experience this past Feb. with the then Dixie Landings -- the resort was fine but housekeeping didn't come twice even after multiple calls to managers. Was a bit nervous about staying on site this time. It was FANTASTIC! We checked in at 11:30 on the 28th and got a room right away. We stayed in Broadway. It was an easy walk to either pool and the food court/busses. Clean, quiet, very pleasant staff through out the entire complex. Plenty of room -- outside of having only one sink I didn't feel like it was smaller than a moderate. Plenty of drawer space and storage space for luggage. I would definitely stay there again.
The piano pool (quiet pool) was pretty empty. The guitar pool, while busier than the piano, was still relatively empty in my estimation. It was lots of fun and we did a lot of swimming as it was pretty warm while we were there. Always got seats, kids were well behaved, life guards were very pleasant and engaging.
Food court got crowded after 7 at night but was pretty empty at lunch time. We ate breakfast in our room for the most part so can't comment on the breakfast crowds. The food itself was fine.
Did the character caravan during check out yesterday. DD had a great time with Pinocchio, Geppeto, and Pluto.
Busses
Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at the resort. However, did have a lengthy wait and crowded bus ride on Friday night from MGM to DD. We left the park after doing the OSofLights but before Fantasmic ended and had to wait for 2 busses before we could get on one. Perhaps management can add more busses to the areas open past 6 p.m. and fewer to the resorts. Most resort busses were leaving empty but the lines to Epcot and DD were enormous!
Parks
Since we did mostly rides in Feb., DD was more interested in shows and character meetings which made for a very relaxing trip. We'd spend the mornings at the parks, head back for swimming at around lunch time, head back to parks around 3-ish and then head back to the room for bed (around 8-8:30 for DD).
Overall, the parks were relatively uncrowded. Fantasyland, as always, was very crowded everyday we went to MK. Only had to use the FastPass once, on Saturday in MK for Big Thunder Mountain. Otherwise, it was pretty much a walk right in experience at all the parks. Some of it was luck of timing. For example, on Saturday we got on the Jungle Cruise and there was no one in line. Got off the boat and there was a line all the way back to the Flying Carpets. Go figure!
Saw the Candlelight Processional with Marlee Matlin on Thursday, 6:45 showing. Walked into the stand-by seating 10 minutes prior to show time and had excellent seats. On Saturday we walked by at 4:30 (show was at 5) and the pavillion was already filled and there was a long, long line in standby for the next show (at 6:45). I would recommend this to show to everyone. It was just lovely -- the choir is exceptional. The whole time I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes. It was inspiring. DD really loved it, too.
We also took the time to listen to the holiday traditions at each country. Very interesting and entertaining. DD swears that Pere Noel (Canada) is the real Santa...at the end she turned to me and said "Mom, he's the real thing. This is REALLY SANTA!" (I've told her the mall santas are just helpers since Santa is so busy this time of year). He was wonderful. ALso the Three Kings in Mexico were very impressive.
Kidcot was fun but extremely crowded. DD and I were both put off by parents who would push their kids to the beginning of the line in front of those children who had been waiting patiently for their stamps and ornament. Also, I saw bunches of parents running up to the stations, pushing children out of the way while carrying handfuls of masks to be stamped while their kids wandered around causing unsupervised general mayhem. If your kid isn't interested, don't sweat it. Do something they want to do instead.
Saw Spectromagic. It was wonderful. Festival of the Lion King was spectacular as usual. Lots and lots of character meetings. I hadn't really noticed this in all the times I'd been before (both pre- and post-kid). We got tons of pictures and autographs and really great interactions with all the characters.
Dining
Did counter service primarily. DD enjoyed having a burrito kid meal in Mexico. For the most part she isn't a chicken strip and grilled cheese kid so we would often buy adult things and split them. Management should consider adding some variety to the kid menus for those odd ones like my DD who enjoy a burger with the works and a salad for dinner.
We did the Pooh breakfast at the Crystal Palace again, DD's choice. She loves it and the food is excellent. We had a great time with all the characters and had a great server. DD also did the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party at the Grand Floridian. She had a wonderful time. There was a nice mix of boys and girls. The CMs were great and the kids had a terrific time. I got to hear about almost everything -- because some of it is "secret for just kids".
Overall
A great trip. It was certainly magical and relaxing. The CMs we encountered were terrific -- helpful, gracious, and happy. Crowds were very manageable, kids were pretty well behaved, grown-ups not so much (!!!! just a reminder -- it's a vacation, not Rommel's desert run so calm down and enjoy it !!!!). Based on our experience, I would recommend a trip to anyone. I've been over 10 times and it was still a great vacation despite all the cut backs. Quite honestly, if you've never been, you'd never know things were different now.
We had gone in February but I planned this little quick trip after 9/11. I lost friends and co-workers in the attacks and felt like this holiday season I would need some extra help getting in the festive mood. Where else could you get it but at the most magical place in the world. But it was a surprise for DD (at 5 -- almost 6 -- it would be her 3rd trip).
On Sunday while we decorated the Christmas tree I told her I felt like I needed a vacation, some place warm and sunny where we could just swim and relax. She agreed it would be fun but "we have work and school". On Monday I said "Wouldn't it be great to take a few skip days from work and school and just go somewhere fun?" She agreed. So I said "I'll talk to my boss and your teachers and lets see if we can take a few days off soon". That night I told her I had talked to both (I had but way before this) and they said it was okay. So we got out our vacation stuff and started talking about where we could go and settled on --surprise, surprise -- WDW. She was soooo excited. I told her I'd call the next day (Tuesday) to see when we could go. Tuesday night I picked her up and said "Guess what? We leave tomorrow!" She was so excited. Excited enough that she didn't really question why I had already packed most everything we'd need.
And now...here's the trip report for 11/28-12/2.
Flights
Took an early Southwest flight from Providence to Orlando. No complications or problems. Long lines for check in but they went very quickly. Got there at 5:30 a.m. for the 7:40 flight and was glad we did because we did need that time. Plane lands 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Left Orlando on Sunday. Got there at 9:00 for the 11:10 flight. Again, long lines but all moved quickly. Landed early again. Great flights and flight crews coming and going.
Hotel
Stayed at the All Star Music. Had a bad experience this past Feb. with the then Dixie Landings -- the resort was fine but housekeeping didn't come twice even after multiple calls to managers. Was a bit nervous about staying on site this time. It was FANTASTIC! We checked in at 11:30 on the 28th and got a room right away. We stayed in Broadway. It was an easy walk to either pool and the food court/busses. Clean, quiet, very pleasant staff through out the entire complex. Plenty of room -- outside of having only one sink I didn't feel like it was smaller than a moderate. Plenty of drawer space and storage space for luggage. I would definitely stay there again.
The piano pool (quiet pool) was pretty empty. The guitar pool, while busier than the piano, was still relatively empty in my estimation. It was lots of fun and we did a lot of swimming as it was pretty warm while we were there. Always got seats, kids were well behaved, life guards were very pleasant and engaging.
Food court got crowded after 7 at night but was pretty empty at lunch time. We ate breakfast in our room for the most part so can't comment on the breakfast crowds. The food itself was fine.
Did the character caravan during check out yesterday. DD had a great time with Pinocchio, Geppeto, and Pluto.
Busses
Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at the resort. However, did have a lengthy wait and crowded bus ride on Friday night from MGM to DD. We left the park after doing the OSofLights but before Fantasmic ended and had to wait for 2 busses before we could get on one. Perhaps management can add more busses to the areas open past 6 p.m. and fewer to the resorts. Most resort busses were leaving empty but the lines to Epcot and DD were enormous!
Parks
Since we did mostly rides in Feb., DD was more interested in shows and character meetings which made for a very relaxing trip. We'd spend the mornings at the parks, head back for swimming at around lunch time, head back to parks around 3-ish and then head back to the room for bed (around 8-8:30 for DD).
Overall, the parks were relatively uncrowded. Fantasyland, as always, was very crowded everyday we went to MK. Only had to use the FastPass once, on Saturday in MK for Big Thunder Mountain. Otherwise, it was pretty much a walk right in experience at all the parks. Some of it was luck of timing. For example, on Saturday we got on the Jungle Cruise and there was no one in line. Got off the boat and there was a line all the way back to the Flying Carpets. Go figure!
Saw the Candlelight Processional with Marlee Matlin on Thursday, 6:45 showing. Walked into the stand-by seating 10 minutes prior to show time and had excellent seats. On Saturday we walked by at 4:30 (show was at 5) and the pavillion was already filled and there was a long, long line in standby for the next show (at 6:45). I would recommend this to show to everyone. It was just lovely -- the choir is exceptional. The whole time I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes. It was inspiring. DD really loved it, too.
We also took the time to listen to the holiday traditions at each country. Very interesting and entertaining. DD swears that Pere Noel (Canada) is the real Santa...at the end she turned to me and said "Mom, he's the real thing. This is REALLY SANTA!" (I've told her the mall santas are just helpers since Santa is so busy this time of year). He was wonderful. ALso the Three Kings in Mexico were very impressive.
Kidcot was fun but extremely crowded. DD and I were both put off by parents who would push their kids to the beginning of the line in front of those children who had been waiting patiently for their stamps and ornament. Also, I saw bunches of parents running up to the stations, pushing children out of the way while carrying handfuls of masks to be stamped while their kids wandered around causing unsupervised general mayhem. If your kid isn't interested, don't sweat it. Do something they want to do instead.
Saw Spectromagic. It was wonderful. Festival of the Lion King was spectacular as usual. Lots and lots of character meetings. I hadn't really noticed this in all the times I'd been before (both pre- and post-kid). We got tons of pictures and autographs and really great interactions with all the characters.
Dining
Did counter service primarily. DD enjoyed having a burrito kid meal in Mexico. For the most part she isn't a chicken strip and grilled cheese kid so we would often buy adult things and split them. Management should consider adding some variety to the kid menus for those odd ones like my DD who enjoy a burger with the works and a salad for dinner.
We did the Pooh breakfast at the Crystal Palace again, DD's choice. She loves it and the food is excellent. We had a great time with all the characters and had a great server. DD also did the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party at the Grand Floridian. She had a wonderful time. There was a nice mix of boys and girls. The CMs were great and the kids had a terrific time. I got to hear about almost everything -- because some of it is "secret for just kids".
Overall
A great trip. It was certainly magical and relaxing. The CMs we encountered were terrific -- helpful, gracious, and happy. Crowds were very manageable, kids were pretty well behaved, grown-ups not so much (!!!! just a reminder -- it's a vacation, not Rommel's desert run so calm down and enjoy it !!!!). Based on our experience, I would recommend a trip to anyone. I've been over 10 times and it was still a great vacation despite all the cut backs. Quite honestly, if you've never been, you'd never know things were different now.
