We are home from 14 nights at okw

[dixonsontour]

We arrived home yesterday, after a great trip

Highlights

- loved Old Key West, our first time there. Got my room request building 42 a few steps from turtle pond pool. Studio was newly renovated and very nice - liked having the toaster and fridge. Went in pool almost every day. Very relaxing resort.

-our first October trip, really liked all the halloween decorations at MK, MNSSHP, F & W at Epcot

-crowds were fine didn't queue for anything - did alot of rope drops and used fastpasses. Only times it was really crowded were MK wednesday due to the electic parade/wishes and the saturday night at epcot due to food and wine.

-weather was great - low to mid 80's first week, second week was hotter reaching high 80's/90. Not a drop of rain.

-met some lovely people and castmembers. Tinkerbell and the character handler with Belle both remembered my DD from our last trip.

-enjoyed DDP again but it is tons of food. Counter service kids meals are not great but we shared alot with DD to avoid them as much as possible. Favourite meals were teppan edo, raglan rd, chef mickey. Taken lots of food pics - hoping to do a food report.

-Perfectly princess tea party - yes it was expensive but a truely magical time for me and my DD that I will always remember.

-As this was our second proper wdw disney trip things went very smoothly. DH and my DD knew the score - no complaints about early mornings, DD was a pro at posing with the characters etc

-meteor meet and greet airport parking (booked with 50% off code on here - thanks for that) went very smoothly and would use again - DH did go a little pale at the comment 'it's a fast car innit mate' when he was handed the car back!

Not so goods

- Flew Virgin from Manchester. Flight was delayed 2 hours on the way out then had to wait an hour on the plane on arrival as immigration was full and they wouldn't let us off. We were absolutely shattered when we eventually arrived.

-Rude server at coral reef - only time ever DH has complained to a manager in a restaurant.

-my daughter was ill for a couple of days during our second week which meant some of our plans went ourt of the window.

-preferred fireworks viewing at MK. Should have listened to the advice on here and not bothered. Park was so crowded we went to the area but you can't see due to the trees and they don't dim the lights. We never made it back to see Wishes so I feel cheated out of my wishes fix. Epcot preferred viewing was great though.

 

[wayneg]

Sound like you enjoyed yourselves

Glad I posted the meteor meet and greet code, sounds like it worked well for everyone that used it.

Look forward to seeing some food pics, not seen anything to tempt me to Raglan road but everyone seems to give it the thumbs up.

 

[2Tiggies]

Welcome home!

You are the second person to post rave reviews about Meteor meet and greet this week.

Sorry your DD was unwell. Is she okay now? Such a shame when you are on holiday. I felt bad enough about being ill myself when we left, but would have felt worse if it were my child. I hope she made a speedy recovery.

A food report would be great

I would also love to hear about the Perfectly Princess Tea Party. My own DD is too old for that now, but you don't read too much about it and I would love to hear of your experience.

What happened with VA on they way out? How annoying. We moaned about our 40 minute delay but were off the plane and sailed through MCO, and were still exhausted. You must have been shattered!

Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

It sounds like you had a good time and welcome home

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Welcome back!! It was nice meeting you, albeit briefly (that woman behind me really wanted her breakfast!!!). Looking forward to the food review!!

 

[Cyrano]

Sounds like you had a fantastic time

 

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Glad you had a good time

Pleased to hear the positive comments about Old Key West as we are going there next year.

 

[buzz for boys]

Welcome back x
Glad to hear good reviews of meteor from manchester we use them later in the month and yes the 50% of was a fantatsic deal !!

 

[DjdBrit]

Great to hear you had a fab trip. I am thinking of booking OKW for next year any tips or advice? What order does the bus go around the resort? I would like to be near the 1st stop

 

[dixonsontour]

My DD is fine now but now i've got flu like symptoms and a sore throat. House looks like a bomb has hit it as i haven't got the energy to finish unpacking.

Sorry can't help with okw buses - we didn't use them at all.

 

[2Tiggies]

My DD is fine now but now i've got flu like symptoms and a sore throat. House looks like a bomb has hit it as i haven't got the energy to finish unpacking.

Sorry can't help with okw buses - we didn't use them at all.

You need some rest. Leave the unpacking, aside from anything urgent. I only finished unpacking on Saturday (2 weeks after we got back ).

I also felt a bit flu-ish on return and blamed the Post Disney Blues but on our last night we got back to our resort and I was feverish, shivering violently, even put the heat on in the room so there must have been something in the air.

Take care of yourself, and try put off doing as much as possible. It will still be there in a week.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I would love to hear your thoughts on the Turtle Pond area!

OKW buses were excellent for us and stop at Penninsular Road, South Point, Turtle, Miller's Road and HH.

 

[sullyandsid]

Great to hear you had a fab trip. I am thinking of booking OKW for next year any tips or advice? What order does the bus go around the resort? I would like to be near the 1st stop

Hi there, OKW is our favourite resort - the first stop is Penninsula road - handy if you want to walk back to the store etc - as the bus doesnt pull back in there until the way back out.

To be honest anywere on OKW is fab - we like down by the Turtle Pond Pool as it is nice and quiet and the pool is great.

 

[PudseyChancer]

Welcome home(!!!)

Glad you enjoyed OKW, it's a brilliant, relaxing resort, and we loved the turtle pond area as well. Looking forward to a trip/food report..???

 

[disney_princess_85]

Welcome home. Glad you had a fun trip!

 

[dixonsontour]

Pudsey - I should say thank you to you - it was your trip report that convinced me to go for turtle pond and i'm so glad we did.

I'll try and post some pics of the area in a few days.

We liked it because it was quiet - lots of trees/foliage. At night we regularly saw rabbits and also saw squirrels some days.

Our room in Block 42 had no balcony view (surrounded by trees) but didn't matter to us.

Within a few steps of the room was the pool. It was nice and large and lots of shallow areas so ideal for my 4 year old. I think it has recently been renovated and there is a hot tub. Seemed to be a few families there each time with young kids so my DD could find a 'friend'. Was never overly busy - could always get a lounger.

Next to the pool is the snack bar. I think this was open pm only - I know for definite it shut at 5. I refilled our mugs there alot.

As we were in a studio I alo used the laundry there next to the pool - it was free and not busy at all.

There was also a playpark.

We did try the main pool one day but my DD didn't want to go on the slide and the pool seemed alot smaller - maybe because it was alot busier.

 

[2Tiggies]

Don't you love the little animals that roam freely around the grounds? At POFQ there were rabbits and squirrels too. My daughter loves little animals and was fascinated by the lizzard too. She was less keen on the 2 snakes we met though

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes lots of lizards too - I tried to avoid mentioning those to DD.

One day I was pointing up - saying look! look! - trying to show her the squirrel before it ran off. She couldn't see and asked was it a panda! The bamboo near the room was gigantic and i'm sure a panda would have loved it but sadly no pandas at OKW.

 

[2Tiggies]

Yes lots of lizards too - I tried to avoid mentioning those to DD.

One day I was pointing up - saying look! look! - trying to show her the squirrel before it ran off. She couldn't see and asked was it a panda! The bamboo near the room was gigantic and i'm sure a panda would have loved it but sadly no pandas at OKW.

That is so cute! DD couldn't remember what the towel animals were called and exclaimed one day as we returned to our room: "Look! We got more puppets!" Kids are so cute!

I always want to ask where you had that photo taken of your DD with the whole array of characters (the one in your signature).

 

[dixonsontour]

It's was taken at Hollywood studios nr the chinese theatre on our trip last year.

We came into the park 9.30ish and it was quiet so we were having photopass pictures taken. DD had chosen to wear her minnie dress and we got taking to a cast member (keisha) who was making a fuss of DD. She told us where minnie would be out at 10am.

I went to get a drink while DH and DD waited for minnie and was suprised to see they had come after me with the cast member in tow - all she would say was follow me.

I thought she was taking us to see just minnie but all the characters came out. Several cast members sort of formed a circle around us and DD got some special time with them. We even had our own photopass photographer and keisha taped it with our video camera. It was a truely magical momment.

All the characters then waved bye and went to do their 10am meet and greets.

It was pure pixie dust - DD does have a visible disability (she was born without her left arm) but I think it was the whole combination - quiet park, timing, DD all decked out in dress with matching bows and socks, first visit badges...who knows.

We did look for keisha to say Hi at HS but didn't see her last week. She was a lovely cm who had taken the time to radio her manager and ask for the special meet and greet.