Some Observations from recent trip

[gmboy95]

Just got back a couple of days ago from February vacation trip....here are some observations.

1) Saratoga Springs is going to be a whole hell of alot bigger then I thought

2) I dont understand why the abandoned Tree house villas are not incorporated in some way with SSR....I think they would be highly sought after novelties that would get people fired up to try something different.

3) We where in disney for hurricane Charley this past august, and maybe i did not notice then, but the tree damage on the golf courses is shocking....there are a couple of fairways on the LBV course where it is lined completely with downed trees that have been cut up and placed there, and also trees that are in the woods leaning sideways by the dozens.

4) if any of you where woken last week at OKW by a stray golf ball smacking into your balcony.......I apologize

5) The annula pass discount is finally an actual, real life, no strings, benifit for DVC members.

6) We purchased the disney dining experience for $50 with our annual passes, and it was spectacular....we saved (10 people) well over $200 on meals INCLUDING ALCOHOL!!!!.....I reccomend this highly if you are traveling with a large group....20% off your meals and alcohol!!!.....once again, a true benifit....maybe disney is actually starting to see the light.

7) A bit disturbed at the condition of the parks.....cleanliness seemed to be an issue, and shockingly, many of the bathrooms where simply gross!!

8) The new "Soaring" ride they are building seems like it will be great.....but man what an eyesore in epcot.....a giant green building, looks like a basketball fieldhouse.

9) Had a really nice meal in Morocco....have always shied away from this due to not thinking i would like the food....gave it a try, and what do you know, it was very enjoyable and the service was first rate.

10) The wispering Canyon cafe is a treat for all who have a sense of humour...i was entertained from beginning to end, and the wait staff really do a nice job of keeping you on your toes.....Got Ketchup?

Just some random thoughts from our trip.

 

[NMW]

Great trip report! Thanks. It's sad the hurricanes did so much damage.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Terrific report, and it sounds like you had a terrific time too!

 

[wide awake]

On the cleanliness of the parks. I'm wondering if the combination of the hurricanes and the 50th anniversary celebration is taking a toll on the routine tasks.

 

[Stimpy]

Thanks for the report. I have to agree about the bathrooms. Our last trip in December, they seemed really gross and there were no CM's around. It used to be that we saw alot of CM's going into them and cleaning.

 

[mittelst]

I have to agree about the restrooms. I recall on a trip in 1994 that every park restroom seemed to have a CM attending to it full-time. I always considered WDW's park cleanliness and high service level among the elements that set it apart from standard theme parks. I also think that ride CM's used to do a better job acting "in character". Now it seems they're not much better than your local Six Flags.

I still think WDW is a wonderful place, but I don't think it's as "far and above" as it used to be. Perhaps Eisner's successor will be able to refocus on the parks.

 

[JimMIA]

Agree the restrooms are not what they used to be. We were there 2/2-2/6 for the first time in about 3 years and we noticed a definite difference in MK, but not in Epcot. Those were the only parks we visited.

Having been through Hurricane Andrew in Miami, I'm probably hyper-understanding about hurricane disruption, but I can't imagine the hurricanes having anything to do with restroom cleanliness. Unless they have cut their sanitation budget to make up for cleanup expenses, but that doesn't seem likely.

 

[KLR-wlv]

We were just there 2 weeks ago and our driver from the airport was talking about the hurricane damage that is still really noticeable. He said roof shingles are in extreme short supply - as soon as they are shipped in they're out of stock so there are many tarp covered houses still. He said Disney had trees down - but no street lights or signs or anything else like the rest of Orlando did - like they were in some protective bubble or something!

The main thing I noticed from our recent trip was extreme wait times for food no matter where we went. Hour wait at Beached and Cream - hour wait for room service - 40 minute waits for "fast food"...it was really frustrating. I always liked eating out in the past - but cooking in the villa would be much preferred.

 

[Plus4206]

The opthomologist have confirmed that I am colored blind....... but for the life of me I'm certain Soarin' is BLUE.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

5) The annula pass discount is finally an actual, real life, no strings, benifit for DVC members.

Ahhh...I hear angels singing!

 

[Niagara2]

In January I noticed that wait time for counter service was extreme. Only 4 back from register to place order but didn't get to front and walkikng away with food for 45 minutes. DH was holding table and won't do that again. Usually you are there in a few minutes but we all felt bad to tie up a table for that long. They were in short supply as everyone was waiting for food! We almost saw a fist fight because one women with two infants was holding two tables for her family. The big guy scared her enough to give up table but her DH came up from behind. Well, the family got to sit together but it was ugly for kids to watch.

 

[Mike]

In January I noticed that wait time for counter service was extreme. Only 4 back from register to place order but didn't get to front and walkikng away with food for 45 minutes. DH was holding table and won't do that again. Usually you are there in a few minutes but we all felt bad to tie up a table for that long. They were in short supply as everyone was waiting for food! We almost saw a fist fight because one women with two infants was holding two tables for her family. The big guy scared her enough to give up table but her DH came up from behind. Well, the family got to sit together but it was ugly for kids to watch.

Ahhh ... brings back fond memories of the debate board and the Table Holding thread ........

 

[Disneyaholic]

I have to agree that the parks are not as clean as they used to be. The restrooms have definitely taken a downturn, but the worst was a few days ago...We entered the Magic Kingdom to find that one of the horses had, um, "made a mess" on Main Street, in front of the entrance to the Emporium. (Maybe it was more than one horse, because it was a rather LARGE pile of "mess".)

Don't know how long it had been there, but the horse was no where around any more. We stared at it in disbelief for a few minutes (even snapped a few pictures), then went to the hat shop, purchased a set of ears, had it embroidered, and returned to Main Street to find someone just then coming to clean it up!

I wonder how many people stepped in or ran their strollers through it...

I can only imagine what someone who was visiting the Magic Kingdom for the first time must have thought...walking up Main Street, taking in that first sight of the castle, then seeing a LARGE pile of horse "mess"...

 

[colleen costello]

It is sad that standards are not what they used to be. When I was a kid the restrooms were spotless and smelled nice, too... And as the horses were more common back then, I specifically recall that there was a CM who was ALWAYS on Main Street and his job was "horse poop shoveler." My Dad used to laugh about retiring some day and doing that job... If the parks continue to become dirty and unkept, we will spend the great majority of our time at the resorts, which are still wonderful.

 

[Jacksmom99]

9) Had a really nice meal in Morocco....have always shied away from this due to not thinking i would like the food....gave it a try, and what do you know, it was very enjoyable and the service was first rate.

Ummm.... Honey, you forgot to mention that you helped the belly dancer provide entertainment for the evening! If any Diser was at Morocco around 6pm on Sunday, February 20, you got to see gmboy95 live and in action. or was it

 

[Pig Pen]

The opthomologist have confirmed that I am colored blind....... but for the life of me I'm certain Soarin' is BLUE.

I agree! In fact when we were there in January I mentioned to DH how well it blended with the blue sky. I think WDW tried to make it as unobtrusive as possible...but it is definitely huge.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Ummm.... Honey, you forgot to mention that you helped the belly dancer provide entertainment for the evening! If any Diser was at Morocco around 6pm on Sunday, February 20, you got to see gmboy95 live and in action. or was it

 

[MagikMom]

Thanks for your input re: the Disney Dining Experience. We will be going to WDW for 2 weeks June/July. For most of the trip there will be 4 adults and 3 keds ages 12, 11 & 9. I think we would be crazy not to get Dining experience, especially with the saving on alcohol too!

 

[gmboy95]

OK...maybe it is blue.....but it still resembles an airplane hangar....and as far as blending in with the sky....well.....that might be stretching it a bit

 

[Greysword]

Ummm.... Honey, you forgot to mention that you helped the belly dancer provide entertainment for the evening! If any Diser was at Morocco around 6pm on Sunday, February 20, you got to see gmboy95 live and in action. or was it

Doh!! Boy am I glad my DW does NOT visit the DIS! Too many secrets...