We're home!!

[BitsnBearsMom]

Exhausted but what a great weekend we had!!

I will sit and write out a TR tomorrow at some point but here are a few high's and low's

Air tran - for a no-frills carrier we had a great flight both ways - coming home I could have jumped over the counter and kissed the woman there when she said she would put us onto the non stop flight - I was on my own with the 2 boys and had just lost ds' booster seat (it never got unloaded from the ME bus and I didn't realize it until he was gone!!) so she made up for that!!

POFQ - loved it

ASMu - will never ever ever ever do a value stay again!! more about that in tomorrow's TR - we are not complainers by nature but I did go have a chat with the manager this morning to let him know my feelings about the resort - low down is that I expect *Disney service* at ALL disney owned resorts and didn't get that at ASMu - the feeling I got was 'I am JUST working at a value' - crummy experience right from the check in staff to the cleaning staff. Only bright spot we had was the conceriege staff and how friendly and helpful they were. Couldn't believe the ignorance and behaviour from alot of adults staying there either!! Some of it was just shocking!! The manager did tell me he had only been transfered over a week ago to AStars (he had been a manager at BW and YC previously) becuase they were having serious issues with the level of service at the All stars!

no more commando touring for us either - loved the slower pace we took this time - we really took time to stop and smell the roses. Enjoyed getting a dole whip/funnel cake at MK and sitting and people watching rather then rushing here there and everywhere to pack everything in. It's amazing what you see when you do!!

We learned the best time to get park rides in is right at opening. We had done Laugh floor, Buzz walk on 3X, and the speedway by 10:10am and the park opened at 9am.

Off to bed now - we are all beyond exhausted and I have a dog glued to my leg - I think he figures if he sticks to me I won't leave him again!!

More tomorrow when I've recovered a bit!!

 

[ANTSS2001]

Exhausted but what a great weekend we had!!

I will sit and write out a TR tomorrow at some point but here are a few high's and low's

Air tran - for a no-frills carrier we had a great flight both ways - coming home I could have jumped over the counter and kissed the woman there when she said she would put us onto the non stop flight - I was on my own with the 2 boys and had just lost ds' booster seat (it never got unloaded from the ME bus and I didn't realize it until he was gone!!) so she made up for that!!

POFQ - loved it

ASMu - will never ever ever ever do a value stay again!! more about that in tomorrow's TR - we are not complainers by nature but I did go have a chat with the manager this morning to let him know my feelings about the resort - low down is that I expect *Disney service* at ALL disney owned resorts and didn't get that at ASMu - the feeling I got was 'I am JUST working at a value' - crummy experience right from the check in staff to the cleaning staff. Only bright spot we had was the conceriege staff and how friendly and helpful they were. Couldn't believe the ignorance and behaviour from alot of adults staying there either!! Some of it was just shocking!! The manager did tell me he had only been transfered over a week ago to AStars (he had been a manager at BW and YC previously) becuase they were having serious issues with the level of service at the All stars!

no more commando touring for us either - loved the slower pace we took this time - we really took time to stop and smell the roses. Enjoyed getting a dole whip/funnel cake at MK and sitting and people watching rather then rushing here there and everywhere to pack everything in. It's amazing what you see when you do!!

We learned the best time to get park rides in is right at opening. We had done Laugh floor, Buzz walk on 3X, and the speedway by 10:10am and the park opened at 9am.

Off to bed now - we are all beyond exhausted and I have a dog glued to my leg - I think he figures if he sticks to me I won't leave him again!!

More tomorrow when I've recovered a bit!!

home and I am so sorry about ASMu... We have stayed 3X (Jazz INN Area but during off peak season... maybe thats why) and never have a problem... I hope this experience did not dumpen your whole trip... looking forward for your TR!!!

 

[Debbie]

Sorry to hear about that you were disappointed with ASMu. I'm headed there in 85 days, and am looking forward to the refurbished rooms. Hopefully, things will be straightened out by then. GLAD you had a good time at the parks, though!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We didn't let it ruin the trip - we did have a great chat with the manager of the resort (not a witching crabbing one - just a discussion) when we were leaving - he said he and several other managers had been brought over from YC, BW, BC just a week ago to fix the level of service that had slipped at the All stars - apparently there have been problems with views of staff JUST working at a value so no Disney pride there and service was slipping right from check in service to mousekeepers. I did make sure to compliment the lady that served us at conceirge as she was very helpful!

hopefully they do get it fixed but next time I will definatly upgrade to at least a moderate as that's what we prefer - dh and I even considered going to see our guide to buy more points on the spot while there and see if we could use them right away but figured we'd stick it out as we were only going to be there to sleep. We will be buying more points though in the very near future so this doesn't ever happen again!! I like my DVC resorts!!

 

[explorer1977]

Welcone Home.

Great to hear you had an amazing trip. More DVC points is the answer for sure. I think we are done adding on for a while now, we will not use or new oints till 2008.

 

[riu girl]

Glad to hear you had a nice time.

Can you tell me what the air quality was like in Disney (smoke etc) from the fires or is that a non isssue now?

Thank you

 

[dvc at last !]

subscribing

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We didn't experience any smoke smell at all.... and i went ready for it too armed with both of my inhalers - had to use my main one daily b/c of all the flowers but didn't need the rescue one at all.

Love bugs weren't too bad either - only part they bothered us was when we were at Epcot - there were alot of them in some area's!

 

[riu girl]

I really appreciate the info. Thank you.

 

[Disney_Mama]

Can't wait to read your trip report.

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

oooohhhh....I've been SOOOO out of the "Canadian" loop lately that I didn't even know you were going down there!

Now I'm all jealous, since out next trip isn't until next May/June! Although, Michael is trying to convince me that going down with a 2 month old baby during free dining is a good thing! ;-)

We'll have to catch up soon! Because...yes! It's been forever! You should pop over for some coffee or something!

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Exhausted but what a great weekend we had!!

I will sit and write out a TR tomorrow at some point but here are a few high's and low's

Air tran - for a no-frills carrier we had a great flight both ways - coming home I could have jumped over the counter and kissed the woman there when she said she would put us onto the non stop flight - I was on my own with the 2 boys and had just lost ds' booster seat (it never got unloaded from the ME bus and I didn't realize it until he was gone!!) so she made up for that!!

POFQ - loved it

ASMu - will never ever ever ever do a value stay again!! more about that in tomorrow's TR - we are not complainers by nature but I did go have a chat with the manager this morning to let him know my feelings about the resort - low down is that I expect *Disney service* at ALL disney owned resorts and didn't get that at ASMu - the feeling I got was 'I am JUST working at a value' - crummy experience right from the check in staff to the cleaning staff. Only bright spot we had was the conceriege staff and how friendly and helpful they were. Couldn't believe the ignorance and behaviour from alot of adults staying there either!! Some of it was just shocking!! The manager did tell me he had only been transfered over a week ago to AStars (he had been a manager at BW and YC previously) becuase they were having serious issues with the level of service at the All stars!

no more commando touring for us either - loved the slower pace we took this time - we really took time to stop and smell the roses. Enjoyed getting a dole whip/funnel cake at MK and sitting and people watching rather then rushing here there and everywhere to pack everything in. It's amazing what you see when you do!!

We learned the best time to get park rides in is right at opening. We had done Laugh floor, Buzz walk on 3X, and the speedway by 10:10am and the park opened at 9am.

Off to bed now - we are all beyond exhausted and I have a dog glued to my leg - I think he figures if he sticks to me I won't leave him again!!

More tomorrow when I've recovered a bit!!

We too are just back from 12 glorious days at WDW - we stayed at POP Century and LOVED IT!!!!! We normally stay at moderates or deluxe but decided to try out POP because of all the things I had read on the DIs. It was fantastic. I found alll the CM to be very helpful and friendly. We liked POP so much that I have already booked a return trip there in October!!!!!

I would try out POP before you rule out the value resorts.

 

[pkitty]

We have stayed at all the All Stars and found POP to be the best. Now that we have our DVC it's hard to remember what that was like. A couple of years ago we stayed at Movies for one night prior to going into SSR. At one point my husband looked at me (stuck in the fray of the counter service area and shrugged). When we battled are way to a table he looked at me and said " can you believe we use to do this....wow....either we are really spoiled now or getting old!" Even my DD who is 14 now looked frazzled and we only stayed one night. We DD was smaller (first trip at 4 years old and every year since) it was great, priced well and better than anything on the outside of WDW for the price but I guess our needs have changed. Given the chance of going but staying at the AS'S or not going at all....I'd still take and AS of course!