a1tinkfans
Spreading Some Pixie Dust Today!
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2006
- Messages
- 12,078
Well, thought I'd let you know that we have returned from our very quick trip down to disney. My husband had surprised me with a Birthday Visit this past weekend for us and our 12 year old son! Our first visit in winter and our first visit/stay at AKL.
We arrived Friday and took the magical express to the resort. When we started at the airport the bus was packed! But, then the bus made two stops (pop century and coronado springs) and we three were the only ones on board! My husband booked this very last minute and he was told he lucked out as the reosrt was booked solid, Guess they weren't kidding!
Once at the AKL, we learned that we had been upgraded to a Savannah view, corner room (we had a water view room booked). The view really was amazing and YES, the animals really do come near your balcony. My son especially loved it!!
(By the way, we happened to notice a few doors down from us a VERY decorated door of Lime green mickeys plastered all over the the door
)
As far as the AKL goes, I don't think we'd return there. We are POR fanatics who love the trails and main pool area along with the ambiance of the south and the fabulous food court with Boatwrights for dining. The AKL had a limited menu at the Mara (food court) and despite having reservations at Boma, they were seriously behind and we waited for more than 40 minutes past our reservation time, 7:40 (which was already way too late for us as early bird diners) We wound up grabbing food at the food court and just passing out. The Natural lighting (dim) and the walking indoors as opposed to outside as in POR was also just not our style. It just felt dark and a bit dreary, though I suppose thats what it really should be like at this particular resort. The halls seemed to have these huge carts everywhere with cleaning supplies and people just dumped their food trays outside their rooms?? You'd need to maneuver about people and packages....I really didn't think I'd see that at a Deluxe. We also wanted to hear the storytelling which was scheduled but then no one showed. My child went to the desk to inquire and they just pointed him to the wall schedule and said, Next, not really "magical". We both got back on the line and again inquired. Then a gentleman came outside, said he was from Africa and gave a two minute story and was text messaging as he said it (??) and then said he had to go. There were only about 8 people so I guess he felt we weren't worth his time. Not impressed!
The resort itself is quite amazing, the savannah is wonderful and the wood work, art is beautiful! Bought some lovely gifts at the shop.
We did see PLENTY of activities for small children. The kids were quite engaged in crafts and paint and glue projects, but this was geared to the under 10 crowd and looked quite successful!
Well, we spent Saturday at MAGIC KINGDOM! The resort had actually given me a birthday pin (prompted by my husband) and that pin sure brought many unexpected magical moments thru out the day!
In all the years of going to Disney we have never been at the gate when it opens. (we have also never used the extra morning magical hours, go figure). It was a WONDERFUL experience. A family was chosen to help the Mayor officially open the park, streamers were flying, pixie dust thrown and the crowd was cheering.
Then I look up and see the train conductor who is leaning out of the train, points to me and then to his chest (as to tell me he sees the birthday pin) and yells HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Well, to say I was shocked is not enough. I was tearing up big time and of course my husbands clicking away at his emotional wife!
Santa was at the park as soon as you walked in and we of course visited him. Then off to the rides and a most lovely day of Birthday memories followed.
We even met the Mayor, who also took the time to extend birthday wishes!
Jim, who is a most talented piano player located down Main Street to the left, just around the corner there, before you get to Crystal Palace played Happy Birthday! All these spontaneous Magical Moments that catch you off guard. Seeing my son get such a kick out of it was truly wonderful! He happens to be a late December birthday, so I think Dad and I just might bring him on HIS birthday next year.
The park was quite busy and the BUZZ was that it was a heavier crowd than normal. I will say we saw tons of young teens running around (in Pj pants ?) all over the place, they all appeared to be having loads of fun and laughing!
Lunch was at Peco's Bills, my sons favorite and they gave me a FREE peanut butter Brownie dessert, YUMMY and what an unexpected surprise!
We had dinner at the Plaza Restaurant, delicious sandwich and then off to get in a few additional rides. By this time, we were all a bit wiped out as we had been in Disney/Fla for just over 24 hours and starting to fade. (Of course just before we left NY I got a head cold BUT, that did not dampen my spirits at all, though I must admit it did make me tire faster than normal).
The parade was amazing, the lights and the Main Street decorations were really beautiful too! No one does it like Disney!
We ended our night with another FIRST! The space shuttle had been launched and our bus driver pointed it out, well what could I say but AMAZING! The bus was Buzzing!!!
Back to our room where we literally threw stuff in our luggage for the morning ride back to the airport.
Well, this magical winter birthday visit had many firsts for us! We really loved the visit and it just made me want to go back even more. Since we really LOVE the SUN, I'm not sure if I'd plan a whole vacation at this time of year (I think we also caught the cold spell, though Saturday was comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt) and Sunday when we left I think it was back up to the 70's again. Much warmer then up north anyway. It was FAST but FABULOUS and such a thoughtful PERFECT birthday present from the hubbie!A real wish come true!
Oh, just two more things, FIRST, I met a lovely family from New Jersey at the Haunted Mansion, we gabbed about the Disney experience, resort info and also about the "return visit program" I know you said you're on the board all the time, so HELLO!!!
And lastly, I made an inquiry at the AKL about the bounceback promo. Reservation/check in said they had no idea. I went to the Concierge desk who also said he knew nothing about it. I REALLY did not want to miss out (allegedly if you are a resort guest ANYWHERE for Decemebr you can come back August/Sept 07 with a minimum 1 day pass, room and they will throw in FREE DINING) but only if you ask specifically for the promo.
I had read on the board here that someone went ot the POR where a kiosk was set up, but we were unable to confirm the exact hours and because we were a bit tied with time, we didn't want to visit POR if the kiosk was unavailable during certain times. I also read HERE that someone called central reservations. SO, I figured, Can't hurt. I called main reservations and explained that I was an onsight guest. They then said they would confirm that, which she did and then she said she would transfer me to a particular person who could help me. The funny thing was, when I was transferred they did not tell ME about the Promo, I had to CLEARLY tell them why I was calling and that I was interested in the retrun visit with free dining. The woman then said GREAT, and I booked a return visit with a 200.00 deposit and it was done! What a deal. But it did feel as though it was some sort of secret, and that was strange.
People that I had spoken too at the resort said that the free dining offer was made available to European visitors first, then this "stay on property during december" promo and depending on the response to the offer they may then open it up to the general public again in spring. There was actually a man from out of state that flew in on Friday, stayed at one of the Resorts (only room available) that night just to get the promo for his large family and flew out on Saturday! I guess it must have saved him lots!
Well thank you all for reading along. The boards here REALLY are FULL of so much information and it has once again helped us out to make our summer trip that much more cost effective, so THANK YOU!!
Wishing You and Yours a Joyous Holiday Season!!
We arrived Friday and took the magical express to the resort. When we started at the airport the bus was packed! But, then the bus made two stops (pop century and coronado springs) and we three were the only ones on board! My husband booked this very last minute and he was told he lucked out as the reosrt was booked solid, Guess they weren't kidding!
Once at the AKL, we learned that we had been upgraded to a Savannah view, corner room (we had a water view room booked). The view really was amazing and YES, the animals really do come near your balcony. My son especially loved it!!
(By the way, we happened to notice a few doors down from us a VERY decorated door of Lime green mickeys plastered all over the the door
)As far as the AKL goes, I don't think we'd return there. We are POR fanatics who love the trails and main pool area along with the ambiance of the south and the fabulous food court with Boatwrights for dining. The AKL had a limited menu at the Mara (food court) and despite having reservations at Boma, they were seriously behind and we waited for more than 40 minutes past our reservation time, 7:40 (which was already way too late for us as early bird diners) We wound up grabbing food at the food court and just passing out. The Natural lighting (dim) and the walking indoors as opposed to outside as in POR was also just not our style. It just felt dark and a bit dreary, though I suppose thats what it really should be like at this particular resort. The halls seemed to have these huge carts everywhere with cleaning supplies and people just dumped their food trays outside their rooms?? You'd need to maneuver about people and packages....I really didn't think I'd see that at a Deluxe. We also wanted to hear the storytelling which was scheduled but then no one showed. My child went to the desk to inquire and they just pointed him to the wall schedule and said, Next, not really "magical". We both got back on the line and again inquired. Then a gentleman came outside, said he was from Africa and gave a two minute story and was text messaging as he said it (??) and then said he had to go. There were only about 8 people so I guess he felt we weren't worth his time. Not impressed!
The resort itself is quite amazing, the savannah is wonderful and the wood work, art is beautiful! Bought some lovely gifts at the shop.
We did see PLENTY of activities for small children. The kids were quite engaged in crafts and paint and glue projects, but this was geared to the under 10 crowd and looked quite successful!
Well, we spent Saturday at MAGIC KINGDOM! The resort had actually given me a birthday pin (prompted by my husband) and that pin sure brought many unexpected magical moments thru out the day!
In all the years of going to Disney we have never been at the gate when it opens. (we have also never used the extra morning magical hours, go figure). It was a WONDERFUL experience. A family was chosen to help the Mayor officially open the park, streamers were flying, pixie dust thrown and the crowd was cheering.
Then I look up and see the train conductor who is leaning out of the train, points to me and then to his chest (as to tell me he sees the birthday pin) and yells HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Well, to say I was shocked is not enough. I was tearing up big time and of course my husbands clicking away at his emotional wife!
Santa was at the park as soon as you walked in and we of course visited him. Then off to the rides and a most lovely day of Birthday memories followed.
We even met the Mayor, who also took the time to extend birthday wishes!
Jim, who is a most talented piano player located down Main Street to the left, just around the corner there, before you get to Crystal Palace played Happy Birthday! All these spontaneous Magical Moments that catch you off guard. Seeing my son get such a kick out of it was truly wonderful! He happens to be a late December birthday, so I think Dad and I just might bring him on HIS birthday next year.
The park was quite busy and the BUZZ was that it was a heavier crowd than normal. I will say we saw tons of young teens running around (in Pj pants ?) all over the place, they all appeared to be having loads of fun and laughing!
Lunch was at Peco's Bills, my sons favorite and they gave me a FREE peanut butter Brownie dessert, YUMMY and what an unexpected surprise!
We had dinner at the Plaza Restaurant, delicious sandwich and then off to get in a few additional rides. By this time, we were all a bit wiped out as we had been in Disney/Fla for just over 24 hours and starting to fade. (Of course just before we left NY I got a head cold BUT, that did not dampen my spirits at all, though I must admit it did make me tire faster than normal).
The parade was amazing, the lights and the Main Street decorations were really beautiful too! No one does it like Disney!
We ended our night with another FIRST! The space shuttle had been launched and our bus driver pointed it out, well what could I say but AMAZING! The bus was Buzzing!!!
Back to our room where we literally threw stuff in our luggage for the morning ride back to the airport.
Well, this magical winter birthday visit had many firsts for us! We really loved the visit and it just made me want to go back even more. Since we really LOVE the SUN, I'm not sure if I'd plan a whole vacation at this time of year (I think we also caught the cold spell, though Saturday was comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt) and Sunday when we left I think it was back up to the 70's again. Much warmer then up north anyway. It was FAST but FABULOUS and such a thoughtful PERFECT birthday present from the hubbie!A real wish come true!
Oh, just two more things, FIRST, I met a lovely family from New Jersey at the Haunted Mansion, we gabbed about the Disney experience, resort info and also about the "return visit program" I know you said you're on the board all the time, so HELLO!!!
And lastly, I made an inquiry at the AKL about the bounceback promo. Reservation/check in said they had no idea. I went to the Concierge desk who also said he knew nothing about it. I REALLY did not want to miss out (allegedly if you are a resort guest ANYWHERE for Decemebr you can come back August/Sept 07 with a minimum 1 day pass, room and they will throw in FREE DINING) but only if you ask specifically for the promo.
I had read on the board here that someone went ot the POR where a kiosk was set up, but we were unable to confirm the exact hours and because we were a bit tied with time, we didn't want to visit POR if the kiosk was unavailable during certain times. I also read HERE that someone called central reservations. SO, I figured, Can't hurt. I called main reservations and explained that I was an onsight guest. They then said they would confirm that, which she did and then she said she would transfer me to a particular person who could help me. The funny thing was, when I was transferred they did not tell ME about the Promo, I had to CLEARLY tell them why I was calling and that I was interested in the retrun visit with free dining. The woman then said GREAT, and I booked a return visit with a 200.00 deposit and it was done! What a deal. But it did feel as though it was some sort of secret, and that was strange.
People that I had spoken too at the resort said that the free dining offer was made available to European visitors first, then this "stay on property during december" promo and depending on the response to the offer they may then open it up to the general public again in spring. There was actually a man from out of state that flew in on Friday, stayed at one of the Resorts (only room available) that night just to get the promo for his large family and flew out on Saturday! I guess it must have saved him lots!
Well thank you all for reading along. The boards here REALLY are FULL of so much information and it has once again helped us out to make our summer trip that much more cost effective, so THANK YOU!!
Wishing You and Yours a Joyous Holiday Season!!
