we're back too - highs and lows

[janiebubble]

We've actually been back since last Sunday but straight back into work on Monday and been struggling to keep going with life this week!

Highs

just being there!

Free dining - our first time, enjoyed not worrying about cost and had some lovely meals

Saratoga Springs - I didn't find it too large - we got a good spot in the Paddock but the building with the Carousel bus stop outside. I loved the quiet of the resort in comparison with crowds elsewhere, and the boat to DTD. We had a private bus to Epcot on our first morning which was great!

Epcot - never ceases to please and crowds were low. Oh and I conquered my fear of Mission Space (I rode it on soft opening in 2003 and swore never again ... but I tried the green channel and survived).

Hollywood Studios - winning on TSM for the first time! Getting lucky in the Star wars queue and ending up not queuing at all even though everyone else was!

Virgin cabin crew on the way out - by far the nicest I have ever flown with.

Economy car - just the two of us ... Chevvy HHR - loads of space - all luggage in boot - all the horror stories I've heard of economy unfounded!

Weather - first day freezing but we were prepared - unlike many British we saw! Just one days rain and glorious sun the rest of the time

House of Blues - fabulous food, great staff (and she gave us our extra sides free - not sure if she was supposed to but we didn't complain!)


Lows

Virgin ... I'm sorry - but a delay on the way out meant we arrived over an hour late then after everyone had got up, collected their handluggage (you know the drill) - we get told the immigration hall was full and were kept on the plane for another 30 mins - then immigration took almost an hour

Crowds in the Magic Kingdom - especially on the saturday - combined with lack of attractions and refurbishments. Can't wait to go back when its done!

Chef Mickey's - heaving, hot and crowded. On the Dining Plan, fine, but I'd think twice before I paid!

Wolfgang Puck Express - probably because we'd heard such good things. Queued for over half an hour - even though there weren't many in front of us. Meal cold when it arrived - first time I've ever sent anything back in Disney

 

[taylor91]

Thanks for sharing, glad to hear you had a great time Shame about WPE, we love it there but always ate really early to avoid crowds so you may have caught it in a busy period.

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks for reporting back. I am so pleased to see HOB on the Dining Plan list this year as DH has always wanted to eat there and we are adding the DP to our reservation for August so he will finally get his chance. Glad to hear your experience there was good.

Sorry you had a poor experience at WPE. We have always enjoyed it there but every restaurant has it's off days and I hope it won't prevent you from returning. If it was busy, sounds like they may have been short staffed or just couldn't keep up.

Shame about the delay with VA - I really do think the immigration arrangements at MCO have got worse since they reorganised the queuing system. We never seem to have had the delays in the past that we have experienced since the changes were put into place.

All in all, sounds like a great holiday though

 

[wayneg]

Welcome home.
Never had to wait at WPE, doesn't sound good.

 

[dixonsontour]

Welcome back sounds good but busy

We had the same happen to us on Virgin in 2010. Delayed a couple of hours, then kept on the plane as immigration hall full and then long time through immigration. We've flown indirect ever since.

 

[disneyholic family]

welcome home!!!

do you know when the MK refurbishment will be completed?

 

[Chilly]

What happened in the Star Wars queue then?

 

[janiebubble]

it wasn't really busy ... but we're in the stand by queue just coming to a halt ... guy comes out of a door just past where C3PO is looks at me, says how many? I say two ... he opens the chain and gestures us into the fast pass queue ... we get to the top probably 40 people in front of us - the guy at the top is shouting is there a 2? I said us! and they sent us straight through to fill up a row that was just walking into the ride. We probably would have only waited 15 mins but we did just walk straight on ... not even a wait outside the ride itself