- Joined
- Jan 24, 2011
- Messages
- 260
"Its All About the Antennae"
It has been one of the crappiest winters on record here the frozen tundra of New England. As depression set it in after shoveling the 3rd 10 plus inch storm of the year because my snow blower broke during the first storm, it was time for something drastic. I looked at my wife and with one word we were on the same page .DISNEY!!!!!!. We picked the week of Feb. 5th to the 12th as we were confident that the parks would be fairly empty. I looked at the prices and deals out there and settled on the Swan at $159 per night. Seemed like a fair deal and we love the Epcot area. Somewhere around two weeks before the trip I stumbled across ****************. What a find!. I never realized that DVC points could be rented so I quickly through a post up for either BWV, BCV or VWL. I was quickly informed that with two weeks notice, that I had a snowballs chance in H.E. double hockey sticks at getting one of those resorts. So be it, at least I found this place and would certainly use it in the future. I read the forums for a few days to see if by chance that someone might post a last minute reservation. That never happened, but I notice that people often posted fire Sale points with little use time left on them. I had a good reservation at a hotel that I liked, so maybe I could find a symbiotic situation with someone at the end of their points life and I could get a great deal. Within 11 hours of my post, I was contacted by someone wanting to rent me points at SSR. They gave me an incredible deal at $6 ppt and I could not pass it up.
We happened to be watching American Idol the night we made our reservations and it just so happened that Disney was running one of the commercials where the parents spring the trip on the kids last minute. Because I am too much of a kid I could not quite keep a secret for two whole weeks. The next night when we watched the show with my daughters Rachel 12, Hannah 10), we did not fast forward through that commercial. As the commercial was playing, the girls where commenting about how lucky those kids where. I said to them, boy that must be neat that their parents surprised them like that, oh wait here comes the tears and screams ..You know there are going to be some tears and screams here to in a minute They looked at us like confused dogs when their heads turn sideways . we are going to take a drive to the airport real early next Saturday, and you might want to pack for some spring type weather Oh and make sure you bring some good sneakers because there will be plenty of walking and riding .yes riding like on rides. I was right the yelling crying and screaming was well worth the price of admission.
Saturday Feb. 5th: The travel to Disney went off without a hitch. The Magic Express to SSR was fantastic, quick and efficient. We arrived at the resort at about 1pm. We checked in without much problem. Disney needs to streamline this process a bit as it took about a half hour to go through the process with no line. This seemed to be driven by a slow IT system. Anyway this was far from an issue. After reading others comments here, we had no issue getting a room in the Springs Building. We were at the street end of the building, so we where steps from the bus stop and very close to the amenities. We could not have had a better room.
We had a quick lunch at the Artists Pallet and we were off to the MK. On first glance, it seemed moderately crowded. This was not backed up by ride wait time as we never waited more than 10 minutes for anything. It usually takes me a day or so to get relaxed, but this trip was different. I will say this that the weather was not great, but I never expected it to be. I would gladly trade great weather for the very un-crowded feel we had all week. It was not an issue so I wont follow it up with the daily weather report
We enjoyed Pirates, the Haunted House and Space Mountain among others. We never needed a fast pass. As it started to get dark, I asked if everyone wanted to head to Epcot for dinner and some Illuminations. I could have seen that show all 7 nights. It is my favorite thing to do at Disney. We made it over and would up getting into Mexico. Either I am spoiled by the great Mexican Restaurants near my home, or Mexico has started to head down hill. It was not what I had remembered from my last trip in 06. The ambiance is still fantastic, but Montezuma is exacting his revenge on a nightly basis at this place! I cannot recommend Mexico to any human or canine!!!!!!! We wound up finding a nice spot and where treated to a never disappointing Illuminations.
Sunday Feb 6th: Room was incredibly quite so we slept like kings. We got up late and had a nice breakfast at AP. The AP was perfect all week for nice light fare and we were always happy with it. We headed to Hollywood Studios. Sunday was again another day of short wait times. We went on TT, and RRC and caught some street shows. We had promised the girls that they could by something to wear during the trip. Over at a vendor cart near the big hat, the pivotal decision for the rest of our trip was made ..
DADDADADADADADADAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The trumpets sounded and the heavens opened up with choirs of angels THERE THEY WERE. The mostest, bestest, doodad ever to grace mouseland, the "springy mouse antennae" which are placed on the top of the head. These things shake and bounce and wobble at the slightest movement. I swear if Gaddhaffi placed a set of these sparkly babies on his head, no one would be trying to bomb him back to the Stone Age. They are the mere definition of the word happy. This trinket seemed to take over our vacation. We could not walk five feet without someone making a comment, smiling or touching them. We did not walk by one character for the rest of the week that did not grab an antenna a BOOOYOYOYOYOYOYOYIIIIINNNGGGG. I guess that is why I saw almost no one with them on. They attract too much attention. Not for my little actresses! These attention hounds ate it up. It didnt seem to matter that the two older ATMs that funded this grandiose adventure grew mildly tired (to say the least) of all the attention. Those DA$$*D things where worn morning noon and night.
Off we went, wobbling antenna and all to an old favorite, Whispering Canyon. We had great casual meal as always however we unfortunately received a character visit. He was in a tall, angry woman suit, but I am confident that grumpy waited on us. The waitress actually gave us great service, but she was not into the part required at the Canyon. We had a table in the middle so we at least were treated to others receiving the special whispering canyon treatment. We still had a great time. We headed over to MK for wishes and some rides. I enjoyed the new Show ½ hour before wishes. All in all another great day.
It has been one of the crappiest winters on record here the frozen tundra of New England. As depression set it in after shoveling the 3rd 10 plus inch storm of the year because my snow blower broke during the first storm, it was time for something drastic. I looked at my wife and with one word we were on the same page .DISNEY!!!!!!. We picked the week of Feb. 5th to the 12th as we were confident that the parks would be fairly empty. I looked at the prices and deals out there and settled on the Swan at $159 per night. Seemed like a fair deal and we love the Epcot area. Somewhere around two weeks before the trip I stumbled across ****************. What a find!. I never realized that DVC points could be rented so I quickly through a post up for either BWV, BCV or VWL. I was quickly informed that with two weeks notice, that I had a snowballs chance in H.E. double hockey sticks at getting one of those resorts. So be it, at least I found this place and would certainly use it in the future. I read the forums for a few days to see if by chance that someone might post a last minute reservation. That never happened, but I notice that people often posted fire Sale points with little use time left on them. I had a good reservation at a hotel that I liked, so maybe I could find a symbiotic situation with someone at the end of their points life and I could get a great deal. Within 11 hours of my post, I was contacted by someone wanting to rent me points at SSR. They gave me an incredible deal at $6 ppt and I could not pass it up.
We happened to be watching American Idol the night we made our reservations and it just so happened that Disney was running one of the commercials where the parents spring the trip on the kids last minute. Because I am too much of a kid I could not quite keep a secret for two whole weeks. The next night when we watched the show with my daughters Rachel 12, Hannah 10), we did not fast forward through that commercial. As the commercial was playing, the girls where commenting about how lucky those kids where. I said to them, boy that must be neat that their parents surprised them like that, oh wait here comes the tears and screams ..You know there are going to be some tears and screams here to in a minute They looked at us like confused dogs when their heads turn sideways . we are going to take a drive to the airport real early next Saturday, and you might want to pack for some spring type weather Oh and make sure you bring some good sneakers because there will be plenty of walking and riding .yes riding like on rides. I was right the yelling crying and screaming was well worth the price of admission.
Saturday Feb. 5th: The travel to Disney went off without a hitch. The Magic Express to SSR was fantastic, quick and efficient. We arrived at the resort at about 1pm. We checked in without much problem. Disney needs to streamline this process a bit as it took about a half hour to go through the process with no line. This seemed to be driven by a slow IT system. Anyway this was far from an issue. After reading others comments here, we had no issue getting a room in the Springs Building. We were at the street end of the building, so we where steps from the bus stop and very close to the amenities. We could not have had a better room.
We had a quick lunch at the Artists Pallet and we were off to the MK. On first glance, it seemed moderately crowded. This was not backed up by ride wait time as we never waited more than 10 minutes for anything. It usually takes me a day or so to get relaxed, but this trip was different. I will say this that the weather was not great, but I never expected it to be. I would gladly trade great weather for the very un-crowded feel we had all week. It was not an issue so I wont follow it up with the daily weather report
We enjoyed Pirates, the Haunted House and Space Mountain among others. We never needed a fast pass. As it started to get dark, I asked if everyone wanted to head to Epcot for dinner and some Illuminations. I could have seen that show all 7 nights. It is my favorite thing to do at Disney. We made it over and would up getting into Mexico. Either I am spoiled by the great Mexican Restaurants near my home, or Mexico has started to head down hill. It was not what I had remembered from my last trip in 06. The ambiance is still fantastic, but Montezuma is exacting his revenge on a nightly basis at this place! I cannot recommend Mexico to any human or canine!!!!!!! We wound up finding a nice spot and where treated to a never disappointing Illuminations.
Sunday Feb 6th: Room was incredibly quite so we slept like kings. We got up late and had a nice breakfast at AP. The AP was perfect all week for nice light fare and we were always happy with it. We headed to Hollywood Studios. Sunday was again another day of short wait times. We went on TT, and RRC and caught some street shows. We had promised the girls that they could by something to wear during the trip. Over at a vendor cart near the big hat, the pivotal decision for the rest of our trip was made ..
DADDADADADADADADAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The trumpets sounded and the heavens opened up with choirs of angels THERE THEY WERE. The mostest, bestest, doodad ever to grace mouseland, the "springy mouse antennae" which are placed on the top of the head. These things shake and bounce and wobble at the slightest movement. I swear if Gaddhaffi placed a set of these sparkly babies on his head, no one would be trying to bomb him back to the Stone Age. They are the mere definition of the word happy. This trinket seemed to take over our vacation. We could not walk five feet without someone making a comment, smiling or touching them. We did not walk by one character for the rest of the week that did not grab an antenna a BOOOYOYOYOYOYOYOYIIIIINNNGGGG. I guess that is why I saw almost no one with them on. They attract too much attention. Not for my little actresses! These attention hounds ate it up. It didnt seem to matter that the two older ATMs that funded this grandiose adventure grew mildly tired (to say the least) of all the attention. Those DA$$*D things where worn morning noon and night.
Off we went, wobbling antenna and all to an old favorite, Whispering Canyon. We had great casual meal as always however we unfortunately received a character visit. He was in a tall, angry woman suit, but I am confident that grumpy waited on us. The waitress actually gave us great service, but she was not into the part required at the Canyon. We had a table in the middle so we at least were treated to others receiving the special whispering canyon treatment. We still had a great time. We headed over to MK for wishes and some rides. I enjoyed the new Show ½ hour before wishes. All in all another great day.
