suevee
<font color=red>I am in a frenzy!<br><font color=r
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2000
- Messages
- 2,227
This year we decided to be brave and go during not one, but two holiday weekends! Well ....we weren't exactly that brave, our APs were running out right after President's Day, and we just happened to have some extra Park passes and the time off at Memorial Day, but even so...
We arrived at SoG on Friday, May 29 at 8 pm. Our flight had been delayed an hour, so we had to cancel our original PS at the Steak Concourse and made a new one for a late dinner at Kona's at 8:45. But that was okay and we were really excited. We had a great meal! Hubby had steak and fries, I had the red glazed teriaki pork chop with a warm potato, mixed veg, and bacon salad. Can we say yummy? Then we got the Kalua cake a la mode and creme brulee for dessert. Needless to say we had skipped lunch in our hurry and we were starved! The total was around $65. Then we went and watched the fireworks at 10 pm on the beach at the Poly. A perfect beginning...to a very nice trip.
On Saturday morning bright and early, against all wisdom, we went to the MK. Boy were we pleasantly surprised! No crowds! We went on everything we wanted and finished the morning with a Dole Pineapple Whip. What an auspicious beginning....nice weather, low crowds, maybe Memorial Weekend got so hyped that everyone decided to stay away???? NOT.....as we found out later.....
Around one we headed to our resort for a lite lunch at Evergreen, a swim and rest. Then we went to dinner at Kona's around 5 pm. Our meal was about $50 and great. Then we went back to MK to check out more rides...THE CROWDS FOUND US! But it still was not as bad as I had prepared for....Then..Sunday morning arrived.
Sunday arrives bright and early....On Saturday we had gone straight to Adventureland and then TomorrowLand. We had skipped Fantasy land because I planned to hit that an EE morning on Sunday. In the past we had done this and had ridden every ride multiple times before 10 am. This time we were in over our heads. The crowds had descended.
We tried - but were overcome by crowds and heat and left early to check out Epcot. I had a PS at the Teppa....Grill at Japan at 1 pm. We got to Japan at 11:15 and were able to get a seating for 12 noon. (Hint for touring Epcot - Take books!!! We knew we wanted to spend the rest of the day here and did not want to get overtired. So we packed our books for those time we needed a rest. Then we just picked out a comfortable spot and read in lovely surroundings for half an hour or so with our feet up. After our little break we were ready to continue touring.) Books in hand we settled in and waited for our reservation, then we had a great meal! Our first time here but definitely not our last. Then we went over to tour England, watched the sidewalk show, headed to Canada and set up for Off Kilter around 2:30. We had always missed this before and it was a must see on my list. They were fantastic. Then we headed back to the American Pavilion to see Felix Cavalierre and the Rascals at 5:45 (my husband's request) and once again it was a great show. (I need to expand my adjective lists) In between shows we did some rides, saw some exhibits, admired the topiary, read our books and just had a great relaxing day. The crowds at Epcot never seemed to be bad. After the Rascals show we headed back to SoG for a late dinner at the Gardin Grill and a swim. Wonderful day!
Monday morning we took it easy and sampled the breakfast buffet at SoG. Not bad for 7.50, but nothing to rave about. Then we headed over to MGM around 9:30 am. At first the parking lot at MGM was deceptive. It didn't look to bad, so on the tram we go...Once into the parks we go on a few rides and once again the crowds and heat do us in. Monday was a VERY HOT DAY! One cast member told us it was over 100 degrees and climbing! We are still having a good time though, so we head over to over to Beaches and Cream for a late lunch using our vouchers. WE really needed that ice cream! This was great! Our lunch with desserts were easily around $40 and our vouchers were $22.50. When paying the server I asked about tip. I knew the vouchers supposedly gave a 15% gratuity but I felt it was not enough given how great our server was. So I left a bit more. When we got to talking though our server says that the wait staff does not see the whole 15%. That between taxes and the portion Disney takes it is more like 7% for the server. I felt sort of bad using the vouchers then, but he told me not to feel bad because the extra I put in more than covered him. I felt much better then.
After lunch we went to EPCOT. Again books in hand. This time we wanted to see the Buckinghams and Illuminations. Anything else was gravy. We had another lovely day.
Tuesday, our last day arrived and so did the blisters! I had used deoderant, moleskin, special socks, different shoes, all to no avail. We did not have this problem in February for our 9 day stay and with three kids to run after! I can only conclude that the heat made the difference. More heat, more sweat, so more friction? So on our last day we looked at other resorts, did some shopping, had dinner at Pepper's Market at Coronado Springs and again had a very comfortable day. This was the first time we had been to Pepper's Market. Again we will be back. With two voucher's we got to much food! I took some pineapple back to the room for later.
Wednesday, our day to pack and leave. I found out it is much easier to pack for two than three or more....We took our time then went to Kona's for a pleasant last breakfast. Then off to catch our plane back home.
Last thoughts about Memorial Weekend vrs President's Weekend.
Both holidays are crowded, but the heat makes the difference. It seemed to me that Memorial Weekend was more crowded than President's Weekend. The parks seem to open later on Memorial Weekend, also the weather for swimming and/or water parks is definitely better. However, for us, we prefer President's Weekend. The heat did us in this trip, and that is a first for us! Usually we are commando style, grab the kids and go. Maybe it was because for the first time we didn't have any kids to grab???
At any rate we had a lovely time and will go again, but probably in February/March before the spring breaks. We prefer the earlier hours with the cooler weather, and will take our chances with the pools.
We arrived at SoG on Friday, May 29 at 8 pm. Our flight had been delayed an hour, so we had to cancel our original PS at the Steak Concourse and made a new one for a late dinner at Kona's at 8:45. But that was okay and we were really excited. We had a great meal! Hubby had steak and fries, I had the red glazed teriaki pork chop with a warm potato, mixed veg, and bacon salad. Can we say yummy? Then we got the Kalua cake a la mode and creme brulee for dessert. Needless to say we had skipped lunch in our hurry and we were starved! The total was around $65. Then we went and watched the fireworks at 10 pm on the beach at the Poly. A perfect beginning...to a very nice trip.
On Saturday morning bright and early, against all wisdom, we went to the MK. Boy were we pleasantly surprised! No crowds! We went on everything we wanted and finished the morning with a Dole Pineapple Whip. What an auspicious beginning....nice weather, low crowds, maybe Memorial Weekend got so hyped that everyone decided to stay away???? NOT.....as we found out later.....
Around one we headed to our resort for a lite lunch at Evergreen, a swim and rest. Then we went to dinner at Kona's around 5 pm. Our meal was about $50 and great. Then we went back to MK to check out more rides...THE CROWDS FOUND US! But it still was not as bad as I had prepared for....Then..Sunday morning arrived.
Sunday arrives bright and early....On Saturday we had gone straight to Adventureland and then TomorrowLand. We had skipped Fantasy land because I planned to hit that an EE morning on Sunday. In the past we had done this and had ridden every ride multiple times before 10 am. This time we were in over our heads. The crowds had descended.
We tried - but were overcome by crowds and heat and left early to check out Epcot. I had a PS at the Teppa....Grill at Japan at 1 pm. We got to Japan at 11:15 and were able to get a seating for 12 noon. (Hint for touring Epcot - Take books!!! We knew we wanted to spend the rest of the day here and did not want to get overtired. So we packed our books for those time we needed a rest. Then we just picked out a comfortable spot and read in lovely surroundings for half an hour or so with our feet up. After our little break we were ready to continue touring.) Books in hand we settled in and waited for our reservation, then we had a great meal! Our first time here but definitely not our last. Then we went over to tour England, watched the sidewalk show, headed to Canada and set up for Off Kilter around 2:30. We had always missed this before and it was a must see on my list. They were fantastic. Then we headed back to the American Pavilion to see Felix Cavalierre and the Rascals at 5:45 (my husband's request) and once again it was a great show. (I need to expand my adjective lists) In between shows we did some rides, saw some exhibits, admired the topiary, read our books and just had a great relaxing day. The crowds at Epcot never seemed to be bad. After the Rascals show we headed back to SoG for a late dinner at the Gardin Grill and a swim. Wonderful day!
Monday morning we took it easy and sampled the breakfast buffet at SoG. Not bad for 7.50, but nothing to rave about. Then we headed over to MGM around 9:30 am. At first the parking lot at MGM was deceptive. It didn't look to bad, so on the tram we go...Once into the parks we go on a few rides and once again the crowds and heat do us in. Monday was a VERY HOT DAY! One cast member told us it was over 100 degrees and climbing! We are still having a good time though, so we head over to over to Beaches and Cream for a late lunch using our vouchers. WE really needed that ice cream! This was great! Our lunch with desserts were easily around $40 and our vouchers were $22.50. When paying the server I asked about tip. I knew the vouchers supposedly gave a 15% gratuity but I felt it was not enough given how great our server was. So I left a bit more. When we got to talking though our server says that the wait staff does not see the whole 15%. That between taxes and the portion Disney takes it is more like 7% for the server. I felt sort of bad using the vouchers then, but he told me not to feel bad because the extra I put in more than covered him. I felt much better then.
After lunch we went to EPCOT. Again books in hand. This time we wanted to see the Buckinghams and Illuminations. Anything else was gravy. We had another lovely day.
Tuesday, our last day arrived and so did the blisters! I had used deoderant, moleskin, special socks, different shoes, all to no avail. We did not have this problem in February for our 9 day stay and with three kids to run after! I can only conclude that the heat made the difference. More heat, more sweat, so more friction? So on our last day we looked at other resorts, did some shopping, had dinner at Pepper's Market at Coronado Springs and again had a very comfortable day. This was the first time we had been to Pepper's Market. Again we will be back. With two voucher's we got to much food! I took some pineapple back to the room for later.
Wednesday, our day to pack and leave. I found out it is much easier to pack for two than three or more....We took our time then went to Kona's for a pleasant last breakfast. Then off to catch our plane back home.
Last thoughts about Memorial Weekend vrs President's Weekend.
Both holidays are crowded, but the heat makes the difference. It seemed to me that Memorial Weekend was more crowded than President's Weekend. The parks seem to open later on Memorial Weekend, also the weather for swimming and/or water parks is definitely better. However, for us, we prefer President's Weekend. The heat did us in this trip, and that is a first for us! Usually we are commando style, grab the kids and go. Maybe it was because for the first time we didn't have any kids to grab???
At any rate we had a lovely time and will go again, but probably in February/March before the spring breaks. We prefer the earlier hours with the cooler weather, and will take our chances with the pools.
