Well, we are just back from our family grand gathering trip. Oct 2-11, 7 nights at Port Orleans Riverside, then 2 nights at a condo on the Space Coast. 4/5 days in WDW, a day at Universal for some of the party, a day at Sea World, and 2 days at the beach. "Free" dining, the beginning of Food and Wine, and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Also, unbeknownst to me when I planned it, the trip coincided with the Wine and Dine half-marathon.
We usually make it to WDW about every 3-4 years, and for the first time in my life, I am not already planning my next visit. In fact, I am not even really interested in planning my next visit. In fact, I am sort of pre-planning other places to visit. I just wasn't feeling the magic this time around.
I will fully admit that some of the problem was mine. We had a shorter time to vacation, due to the kids' school and DH's work commitments, so we ended up cramming WAY too much into too short of a time. Also, we were travelling with a large group of family. We all know the added stress that can bring.
Some of the problem was due to circumstances beyond either my or Disney's control. HOLY CROWDS BATMAN!! I have travelled many times before in fall, often during Free Dining and/or Food and Wine and I have NEVER seen crowds like this. I think a lot of people were there for the beginning of Food and Wine, obviously, but then a lot more people were there for the marathon and decided to stay extra days. The parks just seemed shoulder-to-shoulder, lines for food were insane (Free Dining, of course), and, worst of all the buses were awful. You were crammed like sardines, hardly anyone got to sit, we often had to wait through 2 or 3 buses to get on. Disney needs to invest in more buses and run them more frequently during busy times and not try to cram so many people in.
And speaking of Free Dining, I will not be partaking of it again until they revamp it and add tips back in. Last time I used it (admittedly 2007) tips were included and that was sooo convenient. This time, especially travelling in a large group, we spent a HUGE amount of money on tips. And I am sorry, call me cheap, call me a hick from Montana, flame away but I am NOT in the habit of dropping a $40 tip on a freaking buffet restaurant with semi-mediocre food just because it happens to be at WDW. Yes, the restaurants were incredibly busy; but if my drink goes unfilled, plates go uncollected, and I have to flag down someone else's server to get a bottle of ketchup, I am not going to feel real pleased about that mandatory tip. Anyway a huge chunk of my disposable vacation money ended up going to "tips" and it annoyed me. On the flip side of that, a shout-out to Sam, our fantastic waiter at Yachtsman Steakhouse. He was one of the best servers I have ever had anywhere and he was worth every penny of his tip.
I am feeling very torn about POR. On one hand, it is still a beautiful resort. The theming is lovely, and I love the atmosphere. On the other hand, the rooms are really starting to show their age, and Disney better do something about it soon. With the huge number of guests that move through that resort on a yearly basis, things are bound to get worn down, and its getting ugly. The mattresses in our room were terrible - I have slept (or not slept) on better beds in a Motel 6 - and we never got more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night, they were that uncomfortable and worn down. Kudos to Mousekeeping though, the rooms were always spotlessly clean, and we always had extra towels and toiletries without asking.
Our building at POR was in a great location for buses - very close to the West Depot - and RIGHT next door to a quiet pool and a laundry. Unfortunately, that also meant it was a HUGE hike to the food court each day. Hence another of my mental-anguish issues with POR after this trip. It is just so huge and spread-out and the pathways are so stinking confusing. I think I may be becoming a deluxe-resort sort of person... it certainly would be nice to have everything a little more centralized and not feel like I needed to hire pack mules and sherpas to get to breakfast each morning.
One final issue with Port Orleans... we were so tired at night, and it would have been nice to be able to enjoy the hot tub. However, every evening and sometimes earlier in the afternoons, the hot tub was packed with 20-somethings who, in direct violation of the "no drinking in the hot tub" rule, were boozing it up in the hot tub. They were also rather un-family-friendly, in that they were loudly discussing their boyfriends/girlfriends and their body parts and what they would do with them, using slang and descriptive phrases that I can't repeat on the Dis without getting points!! All the while, the Muddy Rivers CMs/Bartenders are RIGHT THERE, housekeeping motors through every once in a while, the litter-picking-up people wander through with their little brooms/dustbins, sometimes there is even a lifeguard on duty and no one did anything about it!! The pool is full of kids, people, lets keep it clean. Also, maybe other people might get a turn in the hot tub once in a while?? Maybe???
Finally, the parks. Apart from being horrifically busy, all was well there. Many of my favorite rides were closed, but oh well, that's the peril of travelling in "slow" (HA) season. Fantasyland made me a little sad.. it was like trying to enjoy myself in the middle of a construction zone, but we didn't spend hardly any time in there, so no biggie. I am looking forward to seeing it when it is all finished. I didn't even notice the walls/scrims on Main Street, they were very well camoflauged.
MNSSHP was fun, but also PACKED. Not packed like a busy-day-at-the-park-packed, but a lot busier than I expected a hard-ticketed event on a Sunday that early in the season to be. Again, I think it was poor timing, in that the people who were there that weekend for the half-marathon got tickets for the MNSSHP as well. We had fun though, that was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
OK, anyway, I will be doing a "real" trip report eventually - once I catch up on laundry
and get over the post-Disney funk I seem to be in, and plan my next trip - to Hawaii or somewhere...
If anyone has any questions I can answer, specifically re: POR, MNSSHP, Sea World, or the restaurants we ate at (Crystal Palace, Yachtsman, Kona, Ohana, Garden Grill, Boma), or the parks, etc, feel free to post! I will share some pics as soon as I get them all sorted out.
OH! One thing I forgot to add...
We had the nicest Magical Express bus driver.... he was kind, personable, funny, seemed to genuinely enjoy his job. Also incredibly misinformed.
He admitted that he worked for Mears, and was contracted to Disney. He played the little video, then asked the "trivia" questions. Then he gave his own advice re: Disney World. Most of it was harmless, some of it even good advice, like use lots of sunscreen and stay well-hydrated.
Then he started in on refillable mugs. He advocated buying a refillable mug, because it was an investment in the future. He told an entire busload of people that Disney WANTED you to bring your mug back for all of your future visits and basically get free refills, for life, all over Disney property.
I very nearly stood up right there on the bus and delivered a stern lecture, but I restrained myself. My husband said he was worried for a moment, but he was proud of my self-control. I did, however say "That is SO not the case" in a slightly-louder-than-normal tone of voice for the benefit of those sitting near me.
I hate to think of all the Disney Newbies who started out their vacations being given misinformation by someone in a Disney uniform.
YAY - Disney mail!! Am I correct in assuming there should still be some other travel documents coming, or is that it?? Do they still send out WDW luggage tags for my suitcases?
) we want to try to pack as lightly as possible. For the first time ever, I will probably be doing laundry on my vacation.
etc. Finish laundry.
Guys can be so funny that way.
But we will be in WDW!! YAY!! 
