Yet another Trip Report

[NedsTJ]

Just got back today from a 4.5 day solo trip. Thought I'd share some thoughts while they are still fresh and while I do some laundry...

When: June 13th - 17th, 2007
Where: Saratoga Springs Resort, 1 bedroom Villa (DVC member)

Notes on Arrival/Departure: Foregone the Magical Express and took a taxi from the airport to the resort. (Next time I might take advantage of those towncars that advertise stopping at a grocery store). I think the longest wait was waiting for the luggage to appear on the carousel. LOL.

Saratoga Springs: This was my first time staying at SSR. I've always stayed at OKW, as my mom has been a DVC member since the beginning, and I think I've been spoiled by the OKW atmosphere and room sizes. Next time I'll be back at OKW. I thought SSR was too busy and certainly not as "friendly" as OKW. I have also stayed at the Boardwalk and enjoyed that experience better than SSR as well.

I'll start with the worst and get it out of the way:

Worst Experience – Fantasmic at MGM. Let me just say that I think it was mistake going to this the first night I was there, but I was trying to take advantage of the “Extra Magic Hours”. After a long day of (Delayed!) traveling the whole Fantasmic experience was terrible. Arriving at the Fantasmic theater 45min ahead of time for the 9pm show, I then wait in a 25 min line for a beer and a bottled water. Cool, they had Yuengling...ice cold, delicious. Mmmm. Start looking for a place to sit...but, I’m on my own without someone saving a seat and I’m told all there is is standing room only. So, I ask a CM if there is any room for 1 person to sneak in and she send me to Row F, in the middle. Not so bad, I think, except it’s surrounded by kids. But I figure, hey, all part of the experience, right...30 seconds later one the little brats knocks my beer over....onto my backback....and onto my cell phone. I glare at the kid but the parents aren’t anywhere to be found, or at least they’re not fessing up. There was no way I was getting up to get another, so I pulled out the water and sat back to try and enjoy the show...but the whole mood was ruined, so I chalked it up to a learning experience and told myself that the vacation truly begins tomorrow...


Best Planned Experience – Epcot Illuminations on Thursday Night. Went to Epcot in the evening (after a not-so-good dinner at Rainforst) and caught Illuminations. Then hit all the major attractions during the Extra Magic Hours. Not so long lines (25 mins for Soarin’), walked right onto the Single Rider line for Test Track. Weather was great. The only thing I missed doing was the American Pavilion, as I kept missing the show times. But in the end, that’s ok. I think that Epcot is my favorite place to visit.

Best Place I Ate – The Turf Club at Saratoga Springs. Had the Free Range Stuffed Chicken. Fantastic. I should have eaten there more often. This was after going over to DTD to do some shopping and try to find a place to eat there. The crowds were terrible, the lines long, and it was hot. So I caught the boat back to SSR to eat the Turf Club. Best decision I think I made all week.

Worst Place I Ate – Honestly, and this pains me to say so, but Tony’s in the MK was terrible. I ordered the Chicken Florrentine and had to send it back as calling it “warm” would be a stretch. (should have guessed when the food came out before they brought the bread to the table) My Waitress asked if I wanted to select another dish (and I should have taken the hint) but I just asked them to make up a fresh plate. The second attempt wasn’t exactly hot either, but neither was it that good. I was starving at this point and ate it anyway. (Later, around 11pm, I had an excellent chicken tenders basket and an ice cream sandwich. Mmmm.) They were not taking reservations, all seating was first come first serve. I can remember in the past having excellent bruschetta, and delicious entries that the whole family raved about...but it seems like it’s fallen off a bit. Oh well. (I also don’t recommend the Rainforest at DTD either.)

Coolest Experience: Shaking hands, talking with and getting an autograph from “Chewbacca” – Peter Mayhew at Star Wars Weekend. The whole Star Wars weekend was cool, lot’s of ppl dressed up as Jedi, rebels, etc. If you are a SW nut you’ll love it.

Best Unplanned – Watching the fireworks from fantasyland, near the dumbo ride. Sure, you don’t get the view of the fireworks over the castle, but they are so close, going off all around you, and so loud that it was pretty cool.

Learns -

• Take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, especially in the evenings. The MK was open until 2am, hardly any lines, hardly any waiting.
• ADR's might not be a bad idea next time. I winged it this time, and got lucky and not-so-lucky. Would have been nice to have one or two more sit-down table service type dinners.
• Fours and one half days was plenty of time to see and do what I wanted.
• It get's pretty darn hot/humid in June. Next time I stick to April or October!

I'm sure i'll edit this over the next few days. Maybe post a full itinerairy in case ppl are interested.

 

[IATink]

Thanks for the report! I liked how you broke down your trip into sections of what you liked and what you didn't.
That's really a bummer about Fantasmic. I think the parents should have done something!
We are going in August and I'm already dreading the heat and humidity!

 

[NedsTJ]

I knew going into the show that it would be crowded...i don't think I've ever been to a Fantasmic show that wasn't. But I don't think it was the best idea for the first night there. Should have gone with my gut and headed to MK instead. The show itself was ok. I don't think it's changed a bit in the last few years. Also, to top it off...I follwed the crowd out the LONG way....the path that doubles back along the back side of the blvd and ends up on Sunset again. Still not sure how that happened, but I was very disoriented when we ended up on Sunset...and I know it wasn't the beer!!