Updated with pics- 9/28-10-6: Crowds, Dining, Pop & More...

[disneydaveb]

We just returned on 10/6 from a 9 day trip and here are some highlights (and lowlights):

Some Pics:

http://www.walmart.com/agt/bounce.g...896954E6E5999CFD52FE&sharee=mojojojo1@rcn.com

Me - 36
DW - 37
DD - 9
DD - 5

Magical Express- This was great. No problems. We were on a bus and headed to the Pop Century within 20 minutes after landing from Philly to MCO. However, I was a little disapointed that on the way to Pop, we had a regular yellow Mears bus instead of a Magical Express bus. Oh well, no big deal, we had an ME bus on the way back. Note: We flew Southwest so we did not use the Resort Airline Check-In. Also, the front desk will print out your boarding passes for Southwest so you have a better chance of receiving that coveted "A" boarding pass.


Pop Century- We liked the themeing, but not as much as the All-Star Movies. The Pop was more compact then the All-Stars and it did not seem like a very far walk to the busses and food court from any of the buildings. We stayed in the 50's #2 facing the pool on the 1st floor. Now, I have read that the walls are thin and the pool area is noisy, but to be honest, we did not here anything besides a faint toilet flush every now and then. Also, there were people in the pool at all times, but as soon as we closed our door, we did not hear a thing.
The pools are very cool. We visited all 3. The kids loved the Goofy fountain play area.

The food court was also great at the Pop. We enjoyed the Pizza, Burgers, Shrimp Lo Mein, Omletes, Pancakes, Waffles, bakery items, cheesecake...all were very good. Lines moved rather quickly even though the resort was extremely packed especially after the 30th.

The busses, on the other hand, were probably the worst thing about the pop. We waited for at least 20 - 30 minutes for busses every were we went. That was just to the parks. From the parks to the resort was ridiculous. Especially on EMH nites. At one point, on the way back from Epcot, we could not even see the Pop bus stop because the line streched so far back. An the thing is, there were a bunch of busses just sitting in the parking lot waiting with their lights off. Every once and a while one of them would turn their lights on and come and pick us up.
I remeber looking longingly over at the almost non-existent bus lines for all 3 of the All-Stars and wondering if I should switch over at mid-week. But I didn't.



Okay, on to the parks. Very long lines in MK and EPCOT all week. EMH evenings were kind of a waste. In the 3 hours the parks are open, you are lucky to get on 2 or 3 attractions because the waits are so long. Especially EPCOT.

Dinining Plan - This was awesome. We totaled $1164.00 worth of table service, counter service, and snacks. This was all FREE.

Table Service-
Crystal Palace - Excellent

Sci-Fi Lunch - Excellent (great chicken sandwich. DW had some kind of shrimp pasta dish which had about 2 dozen shrimp.)

Ohana- Enjoyed the new menu. Never had the old menu. (Turkey was best I have ever had. Bread pudding-banana dessert thing was very good. Would have ordered more but way too full.)

Breakfasaurus- Great. Me and DD9 are big breakfast fans.

LeCellier - DW's NY strip was her dining highlight. I had chicken. Tasted like chicken. Creme brulet was best dessert of the trip.

Cape May Cafe- Met my sister and her family here for dinner. My DW and Brother-in0law are huge seafood fans. They were in heaven.

50's Prime Time- Great Fried Chicken. DW liked the Pot Roast. Onion rings were a hit.
Huge brownie sundae for dessert. Couldn't finish it.

1900 Park Fare- Cindy's buffet- One of the best buffet's we have been at. Awesome pasta bar. Carved Prime Rib and Turkey. Great place for kids to interact with Cindy and Prince C. Good strawberry shortcake. Or was that at the Cape May Cafe?

Biergarten- This is a fun place. Huge Beers! My DW lived in Germany when she was a kid and really enjoyed the food here. I pretty much stuck to the Chicken Shnitzel (Chicken Fingers) and Pretzel Bread.

Couter Service - All good!

Pecos Bill's- Favorite Burgers. Awesome Chicken wrap.

Cantina de San Angel- Excellent. Loved the Chicken Tacos.

ABC Comissary- Averege. DW and DDs didn't care much for the burgers. I had Toboulah wrap. Not bad. Good Chocolate moose cheese cake.

Snacks were all over the place. We were able to use snack options to purchase food items at the Food & Wine stands in the countries at EPCOT!


Other than some bus issues and a little rain, we had a great time.
Not sure if we will purchase the Dining plan next time because I think we spent A LOT OF TIME eating and waitng at resturants. It's a great deal because we would have spent $770 for the plan and ate $1164 worth of food.
Soarin' is one of the best attractions in all of Disney. Can't wait for Expedition Everest!

Will add some pics shortly.

 

[LaLa]

We may both feel the heat, but I cannot agree with you more on the point about separate buses for people on the scooters or whatever they are. These are not wheelchairs that we are talking about. These are clearly not handicapped people. We just returned and in all of our trips over the years, I have never seen so many people who are obviously capable of walking using these scooters. There was maybe two or three times in our 9 day trip that we did not have to wait and wait for these scooters to be loaded onto the bus first. So we are standing there with DS7 and DD4 who are literally exhausted and we have to wait in the rain and heat for someone who rides up to the front of the line in one of these things, can't get it backed in and literally hops out so her husband can get in to maneuver it into the bus.

 

[pamouselover]

Great report! I think the all star buses did not come to soon to pick us up either.We were there Sept.23-29th. One night leaving MGM the bus line was down pass two other resorts stops. People kept asking is this the line for all stars? But I heard people complaining that they thought because POP had its own bus stop they thought they would have gotten on a bus sooner.
I must agree about the wheel chair issue....Cracked me up to see sometimes these people get up out of the wheel chair to walk on the bus.
I dont like to see people abuse the wheel chair as I had a aunt who HAD to be carried and put into a wheel chair before she died of cancer.

 

[GIOny]

My daughters were there the same time and also stayed at the POP, they really enjoyed it with the exception of the bus lines, they said that part was really bad. My question to you is about the food plan, I really haven't looked into it that much so I don't get it yet, but what did you mean you WOULD of spent $770.00 for $1164.00 worth of food? How much is the food plan? The fact that you said your not sure if you would purchase the Dining Plan again makes me think it was not worth it, is that because normally you would not eat that much? We are a family that likes a nice dinner but just a quick bite for breakfast and lunch are fine, would it be worth it for us? Thanks for any info!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

for some reason it seemed as though all stars resorts everywhere always had a bus at hand. We were at the Poly and had to wait 45 mins for a bus to AK...it was crazy!! I was not too impressed with the bus service which is why I will only stay at a monorail or maybe EPCOT (for walking) resort. I did not complain too much, it was a "free" service and saved a lot of money. Hard to get to parks early when busses are so slow.

As far as the electric chair thing goes, we were getting on the the monorail when this lady practically sprints by UP HILL in the heat...then we get to the top and I see her DH following slowly with a wheelchair!!! Of course they got priority which was not big deal because it was the resort monorail from the TTC in the mid of the day so no crowds, but a teenage girl was with them and the wheelchair bound lady then sits in the chair and the teen asks her why she did not just let him push her up and the teen says "who cares what others think" and the lady says, "oh it is not others I care about, I don't want him to have to push me around all day in this thing and break his back..." HMMMMM....do you need it OR NOT???

I thought little of it until I read this post

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[disneydaveb]

We got in on the free dining plan offer. I was prepared to purchase it and it would have cost my family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children around $770, maybe a little less.
But it was free. I added up all of the receipts for table service, counter service and snack and it came to $1164. Also, we die not use 2 or counter service and 3 snacks. So, it is a great deal. However, I don't think we would have ordered as many appetizers and desserts. We never finished any of the desserts and a few times we did not even order them. Snacks were hard to use up also. We brought back 8 Powerades and 8 Mickey rice krispie treats from the Pop food court.
Sure, it is worth if youthink you plan to eat that much. We really enjoyed the TS resturants. We also enjoyed the CS resturants, but found that we were always satisfied with spliting 2 or 3 CS meals between the 4 of us. I think a good way to use the plan for 4 people woul be to split 2 CS for breakfast, 2 CS for Lunch or Dinner and then use TS for Dinner or Lunch. The only problem is that you waste a lot of time eating if you do it that way. We did find that we spent a lot of time eating. Normally, without the dining plan, we would rent a car and pick up some snacks and quick breakfast foods for the room. We would plan a TS for a few dinners and use CS for the rest.
I quess it's just personal preference, but you will get your monies worth.

 

[Suzanne74]

okay I am still here right now but your assessment of the ECV's are right on. Now I know there are people who do need it and I know there are people abusing the system. I understand people who can walk but want to go to the parks and can't make it all day. Why can't you rent AT the park and then just wait in line like eveyone else why is an ECV now a first priority on the bus, the 90min lines and everywhere else. I was at EMH this past Wed night and the bus lines were SO SO long for everyone. We watched 2 EVC's get on EVERY bus taking up not only 6 chairs but not have to wait in line as well. Aren't they the ones sitting - not standing with exhausted kids on their shoulders?? Oh - the lines were fuming. I wasn't annoyed until our bus came up. These 2 parents obviously young but very obese came buzzing along with their scooters and their 2 kids (probably early teens say 11-14ish.) Anyway, they buzzed right past the entire line and right up to the front - all the while laughing and having fun. We were in line for 40min and they get right up from their scooters and all four of them take up about 6 seats (since the 2 parents are so obese) so in total 12 seats are taken since 6 have to be pushed up to accomadate the scooters. We FINALLY get on the bus and of course no seats. Now most people are lapping kids, squeezing in etc... We get in by the front of the bus and my DH and BIL both holding sleeping kids on their shoulders. Do you think these people even had their kids (who didn't seem tired at all) offer seats to either one of them - nope nada. They sat there and talked the whole way home about their great day and I was fuming. I could not believe how they didn't think anything of bypassing a 40min line and taking up 12 seats total - all the while everyone else is about to drop from exhaustion. I always give anyone elderly, anyone with tired kids etc.. my seat and make sure my family does the same, even my 4 yr old dd gives up her seat for people and sits on my lap or holds on if she isn't tired. I just couldn't believe it. I may get flames too but ya know what - it just doesn't seem right.

 

[Hsminnie]

No flames just perspective. I realize most of you are upset with folks who CHOOSE an ECV, not folks who need them.

We just returned 10-6 after traveling with 3 kids, my mom and my aunt. Mom has MS and can walk, sometimes as much as 100 yards at a time on a good day, but who needed an ECV to get around the resort (POR) and to be able to go on her own. (Had she been in a manual wheelchair she would not have been able to go on her own to any of the parks. She lacks the arm strength to push herself.) Aunt Jane has a myriad of neurological issues and can only move a very small distance with her 'sticks'. Both would pay good money to stand in line exhausted and worn out to trade your legs for theirs. They were often ignored at shops, cut in front of and forced to veer sharply or jerk to a stop by oblivious park goers and jeered and haranged at every bus stop if we happened to arrive at the same time the bus did. (Which only happened twice - POR buses sucked!!!! ) Not to mention the stress of their daily lives outside of WDW which is WAY more accomodating than the rest of the world to folks with disabilities.

I realize it is a pain to watch people who obviously are abusing a system when you are not. It frustrates me no end to sit in a traffic jam caused by speeders when I follow the speed limit. Or to have to climb over someone at a WDW show who refuses to 'move to the end of the row'. The fact is, people who are truly disabled should not be made to suffer because of the idiots (I struggle not to use stronger language) who abuse ECV's. But keep in mind, disabilities are not always evident. My mom contracted MS as a thin, healthy looking 37 year old. My aunt was 38 and an outdoor type when she was disabled. SOME fat people cannot help it (hormones, medications, etc.)

Wouldn't it make your day better to assume, and help your kids assume, that the folks you see are in need of your compassion rather than your scorn? Who cares if the abusers get by? They have to live with their deceit and you get to feel good about your graciousness!

 

[LindaBabe]

HS Minnie, GOOD for you!

If I had to walk around the resort, to and from the bus stop to the park I might as well not go because I would not have the strength to go further. But I "look" like one of those healthy, obese people who is too lazy to walk.

Walk a mile in my shoes, disneydaveb et al. You won't find them so comfortable!

 

[Carnator]

We stayed at POP Sept 21-27 and I have to agree with everyone about the ECV's They are are abused, they take to much time to load and they get special treatment to get boarded 1st. So if you are going to catch heat about your comments then send them to me. You see I had an EVC the entire time from the minute I checked in until checking out.I can't walk more than 25yrs without stopping to rest. I am only speaking for myself when I talk about this subject. I don't like to get special treatment because of my condition. I understand what it is like to wait with children in the heat (4 yr and 7yr). More times than I remember we would wait by the benches behind the lines and look to see who I would be behind if I got in line. When that person got close enough to the front where I was sure they would be getting on the next bus, I would scoot, zip or whatever to the designated waiting area. I did not mind and I think it only fair to wait in line, except for having to make those tight turns in the line . (lol ) Having a bus just for EVC's and wheelchairs and families is a great idea.
As for why people have them at the resort and do not get them at the park. Some would not even be able to get from the bus stop at MK to the main gate and there are limited number to rent.
As far as the abuse of who uses EVC and wheelchairs that is a tough one. I don't like to judge because like someone pointed out,just because someone looks heathy doesn't always mean they are. I personally witnessed this abuse I was blown away.We were in the special area at Epcot to watch the fireworks.There was a family there that thought it was funny to have rented a EVC for the day while taking turns riding it. The father commented that had he known what special treatment they received for the rides and shows he would have rented one every day they had been there. The children were grown teenagers and were fighting about who was going to ride it back to the gate after the show. Enough said about the subject.
Now to the other subject. The DINING PLAN. It was awesome. We changed our dates to get the free plan to try it out. I have not figured out the exact dollar cost like some of you, but I have a general idea what it would have cost for our food. Even if I had paid for the plan, I would have saved just on the table service meals not counting the lunches and snacks. When we go back next year my wife and I have already decided to get the Dining Plan.

 

[GIOny]

Thanks for the Dining Plan info, DisneyDave. I'm going to look more into it!

 

[Michelle2]

I am sure that everyone who was upset with the wheelchairs and ECVs are upset at those who abuse them, and were not meaning frustration in anyway to those that really need it. At least that is how I feel.

At USO 2003, our DS16 months at that time, was about run over by about 5 college looking guys who were goofing around in about 5 ECVs...they were acting so loud and boisterous, it even seemed like they had been drinking. They did not care who they forced out of their way.

We just returned from Disneyland and noticed how many people were in ECVs. In fact, my sister who hadn't been to DL since the early 90's joked around saying that the next time DM61 needed to get an ECV whether she needed it or not (she was kidding, and it was just between us). If people get front of the line access at every ride, first on the busses, etc, of course you will find people abusing the privelege- which is unfortunate for those that are really in need of it.

Thanks for the report disneydaveb. I am glad for the most part you had a great trip! I had friends staying at POR about the same time using the WDW transp., and I am curious to see if their experience was similiar. I am such an impatient person we rent a car just to not have to deal with precious time waiting for a bus...now it just confirms my decision. We will be there in about 7 weeks!!

 

[disneydaveb]

Just to clarify, I am absolutely for the utmost accomodations for individuals who use these devices to get around. Whether they really need them or not. I just think that since over the years, these electric chairs have become so popular that Disney needs to make some changes and provide additional busses. One for Walk-ons and one for chairs and carts. Or maybe provide the carts at the parks for those who can get back and forth to the busses. Either way, Disney touts their bus system as a perk for staying on-site...(and spending all of your money on Disney property). If this is no longer a convenience, we will just rent a car and have the freedom to stay on or off site and maybe have some meals elsewhere. Maybe even vivit Universal for a change. My preference would be to stay onsite and use the busses, but I feel that the bus system as it currently stands is more of a stressful annoyance rather than a perk or convenience.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Dave,
I'm one who agrees with you about the ECV.
Only 2 rides on our entire trip were ECV free.
The lines for POP were extremely long coming back from the parks.
Only 2 times were they quick. We got a quick ride one evening around 5pm coming from MGM, and again around 1pm coming from DTD. The other times we attempted to go back to the resort we just stood for between 40 minutes and 1 hour.
We watched busses come and go for other resorts. We watched busses sitting empty to then be dispatched to a resort. Bus service to the parks wasn't so bad, but coming back was a nightmare.

We saw 2 incidents that made me so mad about the ECV.
One night coming back from MK there were like hundreds of people in line at Pop as usual.
This one lady with a big old black perm, her shabby husband and 6 adults with them didn't want to wait. Pops was mouthy and throwing this fit about waiting. So, he went to the side of the wait line and took a manual wheelchair that was just sitting there. He put big perm lady in the chair. The Pop bus finally arrived. Pops put his big haired lady up to the bus. The bus driver opened the back door and before she got the chance to lower the wheelchair the perm granny hopped out. ALL of them got onto the bus and sat down. They took up 8 spaces. Pops just pushed the wheelchair back where he found it. They were too lazy to stand in line.

The bus driver was mad. Other guests were furious. The bus was packed. Several people with sleeping children in their arms were standing. Those mutants wouldn't move. A little 2 year old girl had to stand, yet those people sat there like royalty. Other guests asked the bus driver about this. The driver said she sees this a lot, but she's not allowed to confront anyone. Many of the guests quite loudly on the bus let these people know what they thought. Not one of those freaks said a word. DH says he doubts it will stop those people from abusing the system later since no one will stop them.

I saw a man yell at a preteen girl in line at Crystal Palace because he insisted he was allowed to cut in line with his scooter. Of course, Mom had to yell back at him. Are ECV even allowed to cut line at buffets? I didn't think so, but he sure did. He weighed about 400 pounds, too. Sigh. Poor girl. He was so mean to her. I guess it's the responsibility of all guests to look out for ECV in case they want to jump line at buffets. Sigh.

It's sad it takes someone who doesn't need an ECV to make others doubt people who really do need it.

When we were at WDW last Dec. we never saw this many ECV. We only had a few bus trips back and forth to POFQ with ECV, but this time it was a LOT more.

BTW.. we had the same building as you, Dave. We were on the 3rd floor. It was very loud in our room. You could hear the music playing and echo of all the shreaking and such from the pool from 7am to midnight or later. Even with the door shut and the tv on you could hear. I guess we got a bad room. The echo was terrible. We could hear the neighbor on one side of us just as though they were in the same room as us, but we didn't hear the folks on the other side.

Pop's food court was nice. The food, except the pizza, was tasty for us.

 

[Beck's mom]

More times than I remember we would wait by the benches behind the lines and look to see who I would be behind if I got in line. When that person got close enough to the front where I was sure they would be getting on the next bus, I would scoot, zip or whatever to the designated waiting area. I did not mind and I think it only fair to wait in line, except for having to make those tight turns in the line . (lol )

That was very considerate and fair of you. It also makes me wonder in many instances why the able-bodied grown-up people in the party with the disabled person can't wait in the line until their turn comes up?

It was very frustrating to us that just when we thought it was our turn to get out of the hot sun, someone would zip up in one of those motorized thingies with 12 people in tow and fill the bus up halfway and we'd have to wait for the next bus or stand. On the one hand you want to be considerate and gracious, on the other you are irritated by the ones abusing the privilege.

 

[kitty2kidz]

I too was amazed at the people with ECV's--not the ones who need them , but the ones who were just too lazy to walk!! I am a big pooh sized woman and I ran my behind off all week ( I wish it actually did come off--somehow amist all of the extra running it stayed just the same) Anyway--there were times that I was tired and didnt really want to speed walk to the next attraction--but I did because I came to Disney and I knew that there was a lot of walking involved. I really is fustrating when you are tired and hot and running all day (and Pooh sized) to see other people abusing the system by getting an ECV and getting rewarded for being lazy by getting to go ahead of the 40 minute wait line. I am not talking about anyone with a medical condition who uses these--I am talking about the people who are too lazy or "cant " walk that far because they are too big and tired. I am big and I was tried but that is my burden-- I dont think I get special treatment for being obese. Maybe you should have a doctors excuse stating the need for an ECV for medical purposes vs. those who just rent them to avoid walking.( although many people would get the excuse anyway) Those with a medical condition could get to go ahead (which at times even seems wrong if there is a 90 minute wait and 1 person in your group has a broken leg for example--the whole party still gets to go ahead of the people waiting 90+ minutes????)I dont know what the solution is?? I just know it is fustrating to see such a large number of people getting special admission onto rides when ou are waiting your turn fair and square!! Let the flaming begin!!

 

[legalslave]

I don't understand why being in a wheelchair or ECV should give anyone the privlilege of line cutting, or going to the head of the line. What does not being able to walk have to do with waiting? Why can't they sit and patiently (or impatiently) wait like the rest of us?

 

[disneydaveb]

Finally added some photos.. see original post

 

[deejohn]

Dave,
Great report. We are going in Dec from Delco. How was the baggage checkin at Philly International? What time did you leave (our flight is at 7AM!!?!?!)? Could you do curb-side check in?
Thanks,