we are back.....highs and lows

[crabbie1]

Hi all well it is 0315 and I have been awake since 1am after being up 30 hours since thursday 0600 us time.Managed to sleep only 6 hours. DB got up and had a coffee and a look on ebay and here obviously. Obviously body clock up the shoot Well back now to reality.Had a lovely holiday and to be honest not really any lows but will list as I remember.
Highs:
AKLV-A definate first.Absolutley loved this place.To be honest we did 4 nights there and spent one and a half days just relaxing around and looking at the resort. Totally different class to the other resorts we stayed at and would go back ina flash and save the extra to do it.No longer to get to any of the parks via bus than SSR so dont know what some nations moan about(didnt want to specify) Our room was 7506 in giraffe trail kidani just 4 doors down from the elevator.We had a studio but they offered us an upgrade to one bed for 2 nights but standard view so we decided to stick with the studio and glad we did as savannah view was breathtaking.Every morning we had zebras,giraffes,ostrich and these funny storks that did there mating ritual to the females whom to be honest took no notice very funny then a fight would break out. Staff great .Went to boma twice once for bfast once for dinner both excellent. mara was a good CS in jambo.Wish there was a cs place in kidani though.Great community hall for kids where they could make crafts and play games.I left DD a couple of times for an hour and she loved it.They do not take responsibilty though it is at owners discretion as they speak I know DD is good and would not go off so happy to leave her.
Could go on about this place
RPR-Despite being a bit worried due to a few negative reviews we liked it here.Well worth paying the extra $40 a night for club.We had more than our moneys worth in soft drinks alone. Rooms are lovely though smaller than most disney rooms but very nicely decorated.Loved the beds here very comfortable. DB arranged for strawberries and champagne to be in the room on my return after 40th day trip outgreat pool and well worth the fol pass at the parks. Ate at pastamore which was lovely,margaritaville and hardrock cafe though DB will not ask for buffalo wings againThought they meant big not extra hotthe server was really good and didnt charge us for them so we left him a 25%tip as great chap.
Did everyride I said I wouldnt including TOT and rock and rollercoaster twiceloved this ride.Even the mummy I did twice. Amazing what you do for kids hey.
Although not a harry potter fan the wizzarding world was very good and liked the FBJ ride.DB first ride.Walked straight on at 08.30 but at 9.30 there was a 50 min wait so glad we did it first. Bought a few bits an owl for my mom a pink pompom thing(cant remember its name)that in the sweet shop they rang a bell as I called her hollie and annonced she was going to be adopted.DD loved this.sent postcards from the land as well.
Think I should have done a TR as this thread too long. will post more tomorrow as now 4am and getting tired again. Have loads of pics but have to download first and find out how to upload them-help is there a site that doesnt charge as rarely do this or a link to facebook I can use and I can put on there.
anyway more tomorrow. Any questions please ask.

 

[jjk]

welcome back

 

[strawberry blonde]

Sounds like you had a brilliant time. Hope you get more sleep tomorrow. Welcome back

 

[Jets fan]

Sounds like you had a fab time, glad you like RPR as I| am staying there for the 1st time in December and am soooo looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts

Tina

 

[skelfbsfb]

Sounds like you all had an amazing time.

 

[jen_uk]

Sounds like a brilliant trip, looking forward to seeing some photos

 

[Netty]

sounds like you had a fantastic time!!
www.photobucket.com is free for photos

 

[Pegasus928]

Great to see so many highs

As for putting pics up I did a thread a little while back about how to do this via Photobucket.
You can find it HERE
Can't wait to see some when you get it all fgured out

 

[scojos]

welcome home
ill bring coffee up tomorrow if you need some
tracy x

 

[dixonsontour]

Glad you had a great trip - no lows except your tooth??

 

[hogwartsdropout]

How was the weather, and did it get chilly at night?

 

[crabbie1]

How was the weather, and did it get chilly at night?

never once was it chilly absolutley fab time to gnly the one evening of rain and that was on my birthday and the afternoon we went to animal kingdom.. Weather wise this is my favorite time to go as although hot and humid still bearable and not uncomfortable.Low queues as well. If it wasnt for schools I would go this time every year but DD getting older and will not be missing school when at senior school.
Scojos I didnt get up till 1400had lots of coffee today.Glad dd dad had her the weekend so I can rest before work.
dixon-the tooth didnt cause and issues just looked bad but gettin it done thursday. That was a nightmare.
lows- well I have to say SSR. Although in congress park we were in the building right in the corner on the ground floor.Wasnt busy at the resort but couldnt be bothered to ask to move to a higher floor.Very big resort and mousekeeping was awful.Never left linen for dd sofa bed or emptied bins. Did phone but the woman on the phone couldnt understand me.Gave up in the end. Studio was shabby and not clean. Obviosly needs a revamp which they were doing on some of the other areas.Did have a good view of DTD though but on a personal point of view would not stay here again. Sorry to all SSR lovers but after comparing to RPR AKLV POR and OKW would not stay here again.My personal opinion.
A couple of resturants pointed out the tip and said it wasnt included which annoyed me especially as they were buffets and only attended us to bring the drinks and clear the table.The one at Ohana breakfast didnt even bring us any coffee and db had to ask twice and we were given the bill after only just starting our meal. Hence there tip was a little lower
This was just a minor low.All the food we had was great and overall excellent service.
And the worst low was the food on the way back with VA-Absolute guff pardon the expression.Chicken korma pasta in a spinach sauce and beef with veg which turned out to be pureed. DB nearly died and asked if it was mistake as he did have his own teeth. DD had maccaronni brocoli and 2 chicken bites which were like rubber,a packet of strawbwrry biscuits and a yoghart. The food going out was fine.
When I have downloaded some pics I will do a better report.
Overall a great holiday and although it may sound I hated SSR I didnt just a bit disappointed .I know a lot of people love it here and perhaps if I had addressed the issues we had I would have enjoyed it more but at the end of the day it was a base and we didnt spend much time there.
Oh another high,the penguin spotlight tour-A-M-A-Z-I-N-GStroked touched and held ludwig the penguin. Well worth the money. a great birthday to remember.

 

[TCO]

Did you get caught in the horrible rain on the 28th? We were due to go to MNSSHP that night but changed to the 30th.

I know what you mean about tips, some servers feel the need to circle the bit aout tip not included and then still tell you. Some are the opposite though, The most we tipped was 25% at Le Cellier, the guy was awesome, really worked hard to please.

Wonder if we ever crossed paths.

Glad you had a great time!

 

[crabbie1]

Did you get caught in the horrible rain on the 28th? We were due to go to MNSSHP that night but changed to the 30th.

I know what you mean about tips, some servers feel the need to circle the bit aout tip not included and then still tell you. Some are the opposite though, The most we tipped was 25% at Le Cellier, the guy was awesome, really worked hard to please.

Wonder if we ever crossed paths.

Glad you had a great time!

Oh yes We were at AK and got absolutley soaked. I bought rain macs before we went -a complete waste of time-went straight through.Had to buy DD a poncho. We went on the 30th to the MNSSHP.Had a good night just a bit warm in our costumes

 

[TCO]

What were your costumes? We didn't go into the MK until just before seven that night as I would have felt daft in my costume beforehand

 

[crabbie1]

I was draculas bride and db dracula. Dd werewolf. Didnt get there till 8 .

 

[tinks_1989]

Did you get caught in the horrible rain on the 28th? We were due to go to MNSSHP that night but changed to the 30th.

I know what you mean about tips, some servers feel the need to circle the bit aout tip not included and then still tell you.

We got caught in that rain! It was terrible! Dave thought it was incredible to watch I was just rushing to get out of it lol!

We also noticed that with tips "Because you are on the dining plan gratitude isn't included" we would tip more if the server didn't mention that they were due a tip. I am a hairdresser and receive tips but would never expect one

 

[jockey]

Welcome back, we too love AKL

 

[canopynut66]

We got caught in that rain! It was terrible! Dave thought it was incredible to watch I was just rushing to get out of it lol!

We also noticed that with tips "Because you are on the dining plan gratitude isn't included" we would tip more if the server didn't mention that they were due a tip. I am a hairdresser and receive tips but would never expect one

So agree about the tipping!!!!! yes were well aware tips no l onger included but "mentioning it twice is plenty" and way to much for my sister as I gringe when they server mentions it as then my sister has just cut it in half as she a server her self.....I want to say NO NO don't mention the tip to the server especially if they were good. That is falling by the way side lately....other wise my sister tips very well

 

[tinkerpea]

Hi my family and I got caught in the rain aswell we was in the pool at Kidani and all of a sudden down poor wow did we get soaked ( we had to get bk to Jambo!) it was amazing to watch and the kids loved it!
we got an up grade when arriving at AKL so didnt expect it but boy was it a good one we was in the Arusha savannah right where the animals got feed everyday got some amazing pics , Jiko was the worst meal of the holiday never again! but we all enjoyed Boma and did a 3 or 4 times Le cellier was one of the best as was Citrocus ( they printed out personal menus for us with our names on and happy 2nd wedding anniversary and they was Beautiful!! really pleased you had a fab time , we also did MNSSHP on the 8th October and was constantly stopped by little girls and their parents for pictures of us ( we was Tinkerbell and Peterpan ) we also had to sighn autographes for a group of CMS who said we was the best adult Tink and Peterpan they had seen out of the partys that yr my boys loved that and called us tink nd pan all night lol .

P.s we was not told by any cast memebers that we could not have pics taken with other guests and we did make sure that the parents knew we was on holiday .