Tink2312
<font color=magenta>I didn't ask to be a princess
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2007
- Messages
- 2,053
Well, we’re back from a fantastic 15 nights at SSR! There has been so much going on this holiday it’s hard to believe we packed it all into the two weeks - it feels like we’ve been away about a month! 
We’ve had a fab time - did MNSSHP, free dining again which was great and got to do food and wine as well as some xmas celebrations too.
Highs:
SSR - beautiful once again. Got our request of Grandstand but moved buildings after 2 nights so we could be closer the main building.
Dining plan - a few highlight restaurants were Artist point, Teppan Edo, Rose and Crown, Crystal Place breakfast and Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Cast members - met some really helpful lovely people this time
Halloween on Boardwalk - went to BW Halloween night and we really enjoyed ourselves. Some fantastic free entertainment.
Weather - great weather for first week - very warm and near record highs. Cooler second week but lovely sunny skies every day!
MNSSHP - fantastic night. Well worth the extra $$
Car - it was great to get the Hertz deal (thanks Wayneg
) which worked smoothly and ended up with a Mitsubishi Endeavour which was fab.
Photo pass - first time doing this and we loved it. Saw loads of photographers and made it a sort of competition to see how many different pics we could get.
Lows:
Not many but to pick a few…
Weather - had rain for 2 days which did muck up plans a little - ended up missing Fant! Package and afternoon tea I’d book as special treat for my Mum.
Crystal Palace dinner - one of worst meals we’ve had in WDW - noisy, poor choice and food quality and characters missed us out and didn’t seem interested. We went back (reluctantly) for breakfast later in holiday which was wonderful so would definitely avoid dinner in future.
Dining plan - we did feel restricted this hol. Not sure if it was the warmer weather but we really just wanted to eat when we felt like it and ad hoc and not be tied to times. Ended up missing a number of ressies and came home with 1 CS and 3 TS remaining.
Universal - didn’t have time to do it so decided to save the tix to next year and stay onsite for a night.
The big low was the flight home…we knew before we went that the flight was oversubscribed (it turned out by 110 people!!) so when we got to DTD we were asked if we’d be willing to fly to Gatwick instead and then get a coach up to Manchester. It wasn’t until they said we’d each get a free round trip flight to use anytime in next 18 months for anywhere but Australia that we jumped at it!
It was pretty bad and quite poorly organised but we’re home now with free flights for next time. We’re debating whether to do xmas 2011 or keep our current booking next October with free dining agan.
Oh and one more thing I haven’t mentioned *drum roll* we’re now DVC members!!! We decided not to wait any longer when we did the tour at Bay Lake this time (as we were planning on buying next year anyway) so we’re now the proud owners of 160 point at BLT. I’m hoping to add on as I progress in my career and new resorts open but that’s enough to get us 10/11 nights each year with the opportunity to stay offsite too which we still love doing and keep up our trips further afield in Florida too.
Well, guess I just wanted to share what a fab holiday we had and I’ll try to post a trip report on the boards with some of our photo pass pics when I get them sorted!
Thanks for all of the help in the past and happy planning to those going soon
TTFN
We’ve had a fab time - did MNSSHP, free dining again which was great and got to do food and wine as well as some xmas celebrations too.
Highs:
SSR - beautiful once again. Got our request of Grandstand but moved buildings after 2 nights so we could be closer the main building.
Dining plan - a few highlight restaurants were Artist point, Teppan Edo, Rose and Crown, Crystal Place breakfast and Yachtsman Steakhouse.
Cast members - met some really helpful lovely people this time
Halloween on Boardwalk - went to BW Halloween night and we really enjoyed ourselves. Some fantastic free entertainment.
Weather - great weather for first week - very warm and near record highs. Cooler second week but lovely sunny skies every day!
MNSSHP - fantastic night. Well worth the extra $$
Car - it was great to get the Hertz deal (thanks Wayneg
) which worked smoothly and ended up with a Mitsubishi Endeavour which was fab.Photo pass - first time doing this and we loved it. Saw loads of photographers and made it a sort of competition to see how many different pics we could get.
Lows:
Not many but to pick a few…
Weather - had rain for 2 days which did muck up plans a little - ended up missing Fant! Package and afternoon tea I’d book as special treat for my Mum.
Crystal Palace dinner - one of worst meals we’ve had in WDW - noisy, poor choice and food quality and characters missed us out and didn’t seem interested. We went back (reluctantly) for breakfast later in holiday which was wonderful so would definitely avoid dinner in future.
Dining plan - we did feel restricted this hol. Not sure if it was the warmer weather but we really just wanted to eat when we felt like it and ad hoc and not be tied to times. Ended up missing a number of ressies and came home with 1 CS and 3 TS remaining.
Universal - didn’t have time to do it so decided to save the tix to next year and stay onsite for a night.
The big low was the flight home…we knew before we went that the flight was oversubscribed (it turned out by 110 people!!) so when we got to DTD we were asked if we’d be willing to fly to Gatwick instead and then get a coach up to Manchester. It wasn’t until they said we’d each get a free round trip flight to use anytime in next 18 months for anywhere but Australia that we jumped at it!
It was pretty bad and quite poorly organised but we’re home now with free flights for next time. We’re debating whether to do xmas 2011 or keep our current booking next October with free dining agan.Oh and one more thing I haven’t mentioned *drum roll* we’re now DVC members!!!
We decided not to wait any longer when we did the tour at Bay Lake this time (as we were planning on buying next year anyway) so we’re now the proud owners of 160 point at BLT. I’m hoping to add on as I progress in my career and new resorts open but that’s enough to get us 10/11 nights each year with the opportunity to stay offsite too which we still love doing and keep up our trips further afield in Florida too.Well, guess I just wanted to share what a fab holiday we had and I’ll try to post a trip report on the boards with some of our photo pass pics when I get them sorted!
Thanks for all of the help in the past and happy planning to those going soon
TTFN
). Glad you had a good time. Now you need to edit all those photopass pics you got! I also found plenty photographers this year, but it did occur to me that perhaps having prepaid for the CD made us actively seek them out, whereas before we noticed them if they were very obvious. So now your next trip is half sorted already: flights taken care of and DVC points for accommodation. 
