Thanksgiving TR--Short

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

5 nights @ SSR (4 in studio, then last in 1BR)

Resort: Loved SSR again! Studio in Grandstand as requested. 1BR in Springs near preview center. Ground floor both times.

Bus: Just fine. Twice might have waited over 30 mins., otherwise <15 mins.

Crowds: Worse as week progressed-UGH! Won't be back at Thanksgiving for a long time--CM told DW this week is officially 2nd busiest of year now.

Food: Highlights-Storybook Breakfast @ Norway was worth trip, CRT for lunch was great (DD loved both), O'Hana ran out of dumplings/wontons !!! We did DDP, works well for us.

**Notes to self and others:
A) Love SSR, would buy there!
B) Castle with icicle lights is so incredible!
C) Visited open house on our last night--no BLT for me--ever!
D) We are spoiled for 1BRs!
E) Still don't like split stays, even at same resort was a hassle w/ 2 young kids.
F) Community Hall is great, wish would have visited sooner/more often.
G) Love my DVC, wish could/would have joined sooner!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Just curious, why "no BLT for me, ever" ???

 

[theostwalts]

Just curious, why "no BLT for me, ever" ???

Curious as well

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Resort: Loved SSR again! Studio in Grandstand as requested. 1BR in Springs near preview center. Ground floor both times.

Thanks for the nice comments about SSR. We really love it, too, and I'm glad you had a nice stay. We get to enjoy your home in the spring. We have a value 1-BR reserved for Spring Break. It was available, so we thought we would try it!

Crowds: Worse as week progressed-UGH! Won't be back at Thanksgiving for a long time--CM told DW this week is officially 2nd busiest of year now.

Wow. I didn't realize this. We probably won't ever travel that time of year, though, because DH is a teacher, and he and the kids just don't have enough time off to be worth the trip.

Food: Highlights-Storybook Breakfast @ Norway was worth trip, CRT for lunch was great (DD loved both), O'Hana ran out of dumplings/wontons !!! We did DDP, works well for us.

Thanks for posting about CRT. We have never done character dining before, and thought it's now or never, as DD is 6 and DS is 13. So, this spring, we have reservations there. I was reconsidering it, as some people on the boards didn't think it was worth the price, and said the food was just so-so. We're going to give it a shot anyway, though!

**Notes to self and others:
D) We are spoiled for 1BRs!
E) Still don't like split stays, even at same resort was a hassle w/ 2 young kids.
F) Community Hall is great, wish would have visited sooner/more often.

Agree...1-BRs are a must, and a split stay is tough. I enjoy unpacking, and want to be in one location. However, due to the high point values of Fri/Sat nights, we are going to stay at Pop Century Friday and Saturday during our Spring Break trip. We'll move over to AKV on Sun, and check out the following Sat. Normally, I'd just spend the points, though.

As for the Community Hall, what did you enjoy? If we saw it during our SSR tour, I don't remember it. What's in there? If you've been in the other CHs at other resorts, are they similar?

Again, glad you enjoyed your stay! We're thinking about trying the THV this summer. It's a battle between my husband and my son, though. My husband wants to try BCVs, and my son wants to try THVs. So...we'll see!

 

[Starr W.]

To the OP, I didn't think it was that crowded(our 3rd Thanksgiving trip) much less so than last year. We could actually walk through DTD this year on Thursday night.

We used TGM's plan, and things worked out great. I thought the bus service was greatly improved from last year.

 

[KirstenB]

Thanks for the report! I've always heard Thanksgiving week was crazy, but some years I'm tempted to try it. I'm glad you had a great trip!

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

Just curious, why "no BLT for me, ever" ???

DW and I both did not like the decor nor the layouts of the rooms. The master bedroom and studio quarters seem small due to the balcony.

Did not like the studio vanity/kitchenette setup (of course hoping to be 1BR folks, it wouldn't matter).

Simply did like the "feel" of the rooms and the style. Just not us.

Walking through the AKV rooms made us homesick in a good way!

It's all about personal preference, and BLT is just not for us--even with monorail access and proximity to MK--we didn't like anything about the rooms.

To those who own there and love the rooms, I am happy for you and hope you love your stays there. I'm not bashing BLT, it's just not us.

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

To the OP, I didn't think it was that crowded(our 3rd Thanksgiving trip) much less so than last year. We could actually walk through DTD this year on Thursday night.

We used TGM's plan, and things worked out great. I thought the bus service was greatly improved from last year.

Great, we focus on the Fantasyland scene b/c of our kids, so lines longer than 30 mins are daunting at best!

DTD was not as crowded. However, on Wed. we attempted PoTC at around 10:30am and the queue extended out of the turnstiles, snaking about 4 rows deep. CM told us come back later as lines would thin out--went back at 4pm, queue was extended out to near where the parrot is-- !

Thank goodness DD loves the TTA!!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

To the OP, I didn't think it was that crowded(our 3rd Thanksgiving trip) much less so than last year. We could actually walk through DTD this year on Thursday night.

We used TGM's plan, and things worked out great. I thought the bus service was greatly improved from last year.

What is the TGM's plan?

 

[Starr W.]

Great, we focus on the Fantasyland scene b/c of our kids, so lines longer than 30 mins are daunting at best!

DTD was not as crowded. However, on Wed. we attempted PoTC at around 10:30am and the queue extended out of the turnstiles, snaking about 4 rows deep. CM told us come back later as lines would thin out--went back at 4pm, queue was extended out to near where the parrot is-- !

Thank goodness DD loves the TTA!!!

We rode PoTC on Sunday morning about 9:30 and walked right on. We usually head to the train and head back to Frontierland when we get into MK. Rode BTM 3x via stand by lane and then walked right onto PoTC.

I have 2 boys 12 and 7, so they like the big rides(DS7 loves Space Mountain).

 

[Starr W.]

What is the TGM's plan?

Tour Guide Mike. But found out that a lot of his advice is common sense. I think it was well worth the $21.

 

[danielle782001]

E) Still don't like split stays, even at same resort was a hassle w/ 2 young kids.

We are planning a split stay in July...We have 200 SSR developer points we have to use and we also have our regular points....We will be in Disney for 12 nights...We were planning to to do the first four at SSR to use the developer points, then move to AKL for the remaining nights...Our kids will be 6 and 4...We have never done a split stay...

Should we just stay put? Even though we really do not want to be at SSR that long

 

[anonymousegirl]

DW and I both did not like the decor nor the layouts of the rooms. The master bedroom and studio quarters seem small due to the balcony.

Did not like the studio vanity/kitchenette setup (of course hoping to be 1BR folks, it wouldn't matter).

Simply did like the "feel" of the rooms and the style. Just not us.

Walking through the AKV rooms made us homesick in a good way!

It's all about personal preference, and BLT is just not for us--even with monorail access and proximity to MK--we didn't like anything about the rooms.

To those who own there and love the rooms, I am happy for you and hope you love your stays there. I'm not bashing BLT, it's just not us.

Thanks for the honest appraisal. I feel that way about AKV. They just don't float my boat.

I am heading down in a few days and I'll be looking at BLT. If I like the rooms I'll be starting the paperwork. If I don't, it's resale all the way (BCV or BWV)

 

[Laneychris]

Great info thanks

 

[bmalonef45]

We just returned today... supposed to return last night but when its raining at the worlds largest airport (ATL) they seem to have some issues. Anyway we experienced the increasing crowds from Monday to the weekend but didn't really think it was CRAZY busy. We pretty much road what we wanted without much wait except for missing the fast passes at TT in Epcot. That was a long slow 60 min. wait. Weather was cool early in the week but really nice Friday and Saturday. I would go to WDW again during this time if we didn't have to deal with the travel mess. WDW transportation was pretty darn good even from VWL.

 

[theostwalts]

DW and I both did not like the decor nor the layouts of the rooms. The master bedroom and studio quarters seem small due to the balcony.

Did not like the studio vanity/kitchenette setup (of course hoping to be 1BR folks, it wouldn't matter).

Simply did like the "feel" of the rooms and the style. Just not us.

Walking through the AKV rooms made us homesick in a good way!

It's all about personal preference, and BLT is just not for us--even with monorail access and proximity to MK--we didn't like anything about the rooms.

To those who own there and love the rooms, I am happy for you and hope you love your stays there. I'm not bashing BLT, it's just not us.

Thannks for the report. We are considering joining DVC with an initial purchase at BLT and then later AKV. The Contemporary was our first "family resort" and I think that is what is peaking our interest there. I do like the looks of AKV as well. Then again, I can't think of too many places at WDW I don't like!!

 

[edk35]

To the OP, I didn't think it was that crowded(our 3rd Thanksgiving trip) much less so than last year. We could actually walk through DTD this year on Thursday night.

We used TGM's plan, and things worked out great. I thought the bus service was greatly improved from last year.

We returned late Friday night and this was our 4th Thanksgiving trip and we thought the crowds were lower too. We always follow TGM anyway...but usually around Tuesday it is really packed. We had an awesome day on Wed. at EC and then at MK that night. We were floored at what all we did that day..the day before Thanksgiving.