Just Back - 2 Weeks @ WDW!

[lovesdisney44]

Hello Fellow Disney Aholics! Just back from 2 weeks at Walt Disney World. We stayed 2 nights at Allstar Sports, 5 nights in a 2 bedroom at Saratoga Springs Resort with a view of Downtown Disney, 2 nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge Concierge (we did the Sunrise Safari), and then 5 nights at the Beach Club Villas in a studio. We used Disney's Magical Express, and had the resorts transfer our luggage at each of the 4 resorts. We also did Early Entry and tried the Evening Extra Magic Hours. We also used the Disney's Dining Experience Card that offers a 20% discount at most sit-down restaurants. Does anyone have any questions? I'd love to answer!

[G2-4T]

Come on -details! Two weeks, what a trip [though it had to be hot - I watched the temps since we were actually hotter than Orlando-area for quite some time this month]

Ok, SSR, how was it staying there? On the old Institute land I think, I never went there but do you know how much was reused and how much was new?

AKL - got photos from the crack-of-dawn safari or the fancy concierge area? I imagine that was nice.

BC Villas - actually thinking of staying there, how was it, space, theme, etc.?

Photos from all of the hotels, would be slick if you can, esp. the hoighty-toighty AKL area and the new SSR.

[lovesdisney44]

Come on -details! Two weeks, what a trip [though it had to be hot - I watched the temps since we were actually hotter than Orlando-area for quite some time this month]

Ok, SSR, how was it staying there? On the old Institute land I think, I never went there but do you know how much was reused and how much was new?

AKL - got photos from the crack-of-dawn safari or the fancy concierge area? I imagine that was nice.

BC Villas - actually thinking of staying there, how was it, space, theme, etc.?

Photos from all of the hotels, would be slick if you can, esp. the hoighty-toighty AKL area and the new SSR.

Ok - here's some details! It was hot, but not too bad - the humidity was worse. (Actually, it was being hot and sweaty and having the rain ponchos stick to your skin like glue!) That what is was like the whole first week - ex. watching Wishes @ MK in rain ponches as it was all but downpouring. The second week was much better - hot and humid, but no rain. (No ponchos - yea!!)

As for SSR is was beautiful. I really don't think there's anything left of the Institute. It looks like everything was bulldozed and re-built brand new. The fireworks everynight @ Downtown Disney were horrible. They were puney (small) and only last for about 60 seconds! The view of Downtown Disney and all the lights was great, though. We were by the quiet pool across from Downtown Disney. There was a walking path to DD right behind the quiet pool, and it was a nice walk. As far as the 2 bedroom was concerned . . . the team of Disney Vacation Club room planners really need to stay in the rooms they design. Granted, they look great and the bedrooms are spacious, but the living area is soooo tiny! There were 8 of us and only 2 people (maybe 3 if one was was a toddler) could sit on the couch and there was one comfortable chair. The other seating was 2 table chairs and the bench where you eat. There was no way 8 people could watch TV comfortably together in that space! We were all playing "musical chairs" to get the best seat every time someone got up to use the bathroom or get a drink. It became quite comical!

AKL - Awesome resort! The sunrise safari actually didn't even leave the resort until 7:30 a.m. - so it was more of a sun-up safari, but definately worth it! We saw a ton of animals close up, but no giraffes, guess we saw those from balcony. The concierege level wasn't that hoity toity at all! Very down to earth, laid back atmosphere. The staff were EXCELLENT. We got to know a few of the people who replenesh drinks/food and they were sooo nice. The jury is still out as to whether we think Concierge level is worth the extra money though.

Beach Club Villas - nice resort - GREAT pool, as I'm sure you know. We had a studio overlooking the quiet pool on the 4th floor. It turns out it was right by the elevators and the laundry. We really got lucky, as I think there's only one laundry in the whole building! (GASP! ) Maid service was a little dissapointing - when we checked in and when they did trash and towel service, they kept shorting us towels. Being 4 of us, we actually do need 4 wash clothes - man, it was like pulling teeth. They kept telling me if I wanted any more than 1 more wash cloth (we got 3) that we'd have to pay for a whole towel package. Never had that problem at OKW, Boardwalk, or Vero Beach. I digress. We walked the 3 minutes to Epcot every night just to watch Illuminations, how great is that?!

As far as pictures go, I didn't get a chance to get a good digital camera before we left, so my pictures (5 rolls in all) are waiting to go to Walmart to be developed.

I hope I answered some of you questions, G2-4T. If not, keep 'em coming!

[QuickGold]

Sounds like you had a great time

[lovesdisney44]

Sounds like you had a great time

You're @ Disney, not working, not cooking, and not cleaning - how can you not have a great time, right?!

[QuickGold]

Sounds like you had a great time

You're @ Disney, not working, not cooking, and not cleaning - how can you not have a great time, right?!

Good point

[mikesatregis]

Wow - I was going to post about my spectacular week at disney Animal Kingdom Lodge but you have me beat hands down. Sounds like you had a great time.

One cool thing is when we arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge they upgraded our room to a savanna view for free! Bonus!

We also tried the dining package - that worked out great for us - on average we saved 10-15 bucks a day I think. Perhaps more - I didn't actually write it all down.....

We also had a great time of course.

-Mike

[lovesdisney44]

Wow - I was going to post about my spectacular week at disney Animal Kingdom Lodge but you have me beat hands down. Sounds like you had a great time.

One cool thing is when we arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge they upgraded our room to a savanna view for free! Bonus!

We also tried the dining package - that worked out great for us - on average we saved 10-15 bucks a day I think. Perhaps more - I didn't actually write it all down.....

We also had a great time of course.

-Mike

Mike - 1st of all - welcome to the boards - you'll enjoy it here! Second, we only stayed for 2 nights at AKL. We did have a great time, but don't think the extra money for concierge level was really worth it. Don't get me wrong, it was nice and all, but the $200 extra per night could have been better spent on awesome meals and souveniours! We had an Arusha Savannah view. The view was great, but I think we probably just as easly could have paid for a regular room with a request for that view. We asked for a room with bunk beds and got at handicapped room with 2 queen beds instead. We made the best of it and I slept with my DD and my DH slept with our son. But, since it was handicapped, we only had one sink and no extra comfy chair to sit in like a standard room has. Oh well . . .

So, how was your trip. What animals did you see from your balcony? Did you eat at Boma or Jiko's? Of course we want to know the details!

[G2-4T]

Great report, thanks! I can't believe how much cash they sunk on the Institute idea - not exactly what I go to Disney for and obviously most people agree! Sounds like an adventure with the seating but for a smaller crowd it sounds like it would work out.

Someday I'll stay at AKL - did you use the buses at all? It is just so far from the other parks, that has been my holdup since the prices are coming down on their rooms.

And the Beach Club info really helped since we've looked at that with 5 people - still a toss up between that [and the quick Epcot/MGM walk/boats] or Wilderness Lodge [and the frequent MK boats]... I've never had a problem with extra blankets/towels - strange...

Sounds like you had a blast - one last question, crowd lowdown - how was it in the heart of summer?

[lovesdisney44]

Someday I'll stay at AKL - did you use the buses at all? It is just so far from the other parks, that has been my holdup since the prices are coming down on their rooms.

And the Beach Club info really helped since we've looked at that with 5 people - still a toss up between that [and the quick Epcot/MGM walk/boats] or Wilderness Lodge [and the frequent MK boats]... I've never had a problem with extra blankets/towels - strange...

Sounds like you had a blast - one last question, crowd lowdown - how was it in the heart of summer?

Since I read on posts about the long bus ride - it was a really looooong ride from the MK to AK; we decided that since we were only staying at AKL for 2 nights that we'd just go to Animal Kingdom on those days. It worked out great!!!! It was only a 2 minute bus ride! It seemed like the buses for the other theme parks came on a regular basis, but we never tried them out.

If you know you'll be going to MK alot, then you might want to stay at the Wilderness Lodge (Awesome place). We did notice one thing this summer, the small boat that used to take you to the Lodge is now a bigger boat that is at a bigger dock. The dock is shared with the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Camp Ground - it did look like they each had a boat of their own though . . . I'm not sure. When we stayed at the Beach Club, we took the boat the MGM {took the bus back} and walked every night to Epcot (it's that close! ) If you stay @ the Beach Club - when you come back from park on a bus, exit at the Swan or the Dolphin and walk to your resort. It's much less hassle (and a pleasant walk) than the bus service stopping at the Dolphin, Swan, Boardwalk, Yacht Club AND Beach Club.

Regarding the crowds and heat. The heat was what you'd expect in July in Florida . . . hot and humid. We got out into the park early, hit the pools back at the resort in the heat of the day, and then headed back out in the parks in the evening. Made for a more pleasant trip. The crowds were crazy! No matter when we went, it was packed - especially if was an early entrance morning. And the evening for the extending evening hours were even more crowded! (Animal Kingdom was ok, though) I've never seen it so crowded ALL DAY LONG! One one of the last days on the trip we decided to try a park OTHER than the early entry one and got there at the 9:00 a.m. opening. It was Epcot - and that worked out really well - not too crowded until about 10:30 a.m.

Hope this helps - are you planning a trip soon?

[mikesatregis]

The room was great! The savanna view was awesome as a free upgrade though I would have been disappointed had I paid the extra $60 a night for it. I was wondering if they always gave that room out as a "free" upgrade because of where it was situated. I saw a couple of Giraffe's once or twice and a Kudo (spelling?) but I'd say 90% of the view was obscured by tree's. There was a small little circle between the trees you could see through - and if something happened to wander into your view you were lucky. The room itself was great - two queen beds a desk and two chairs - plus a little table on the balcony with a couple of chairs too.

We did eat at the hotel restaurant with the buffet - was that Boma's? I may have the names backwards. I liked it a lot - there were lots of stuff to try that I certainly wouldn't have the opportunity to eat every day. I especially liked a seafood stew and watermelon rind salad. By the same token though there was plenty for those "meat and potato" eaters as well. My son was even able to get Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches!

The buses overall were great - the furthest park was Magic Kingdom but Disney seemed to know it and ran extra buses. We always got a seat. Strangely enough - the longest wait was to Animal Kingdom! Even though the whole ride was only 4 minutes (or less) it seemed like the bus never came. We took that bus 6 times and 3 times we had to stand it was so crowded and every time we waited 15-20 minutes. Maybe it was just bad luck - not sure. We usually never have a problem with the buses.

The crowds weren't awful - this was our 9th trip to WDW and it certainly wasn't the worse I've seen it - but not the best either. We usually go in the summer (my wife is a teacher so its hard to get away during the school year) and this time was a bit more crowded than average.

Getting back is always a bit of a bummer though..... Nothing to put in my countdown timer yet. And when I do the days left are so high. But - you can't go every day I guess.

[lovesdisney44]

We did eat at the hotel restaurant with the buffet - was that Boma's? I may have the names backwards. I liked it a lot - there were lots of stuff to try that I certainly wouldn't have the opportunity to eat every day. I especially liked a seafood stew and watermelon rind salad. By the same token though there was plenty for those "meat and potato" eaters as well. My son was even able to get Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches!

The buses overall were great - the furthest park was Magic Kingdom but Disney seemed to know it and ran extra buses. We always got a seat. Strangely enough - the longest wait was to Animal Kingdom! Even though the whole ride was only 4 minutes (or less) it seemed like the bus never came. We took that bus 6 times and 3 times we had to stand it was so crowded and every time we waited 15-20 minutes. Maybe it was just bad luck - not sure. We usually never have a problem with the buses.

The crowds weren't awful - this was our 9th trip to WDW and it certainly wasn't the worse I've seen it - but not the best either. We usually go in the summer (my wife is a teacher so its hard to get away during the school year) and this time was a bit more crowded than average.

Getting back is always a bit of a bummer though..... Nothing to put in my countdown timer yet. And when I do the days left are so high. But - you can't go every day I guess.

We want to try Bomas next time. We got a sampling of some soup and a dessert there when we went on the free tour of the 2 restaurants. We ate at Jikos as an extra special treat and it was definately worth it! Sorry about your bus wait - go figure - the closest park with the longest wait. When we went to AK we usually were at the bus stop at 8:30 in the morning, so the wait was very short and we did get a seat. I guess we were lucky.

I see this past trip was your 9th - This past was our 7th and we're taking the kids out of school for 2 days during Presidents week (a Chicago school thing) and coming to Disney to do the Wine and Food Festival. My DH and I did it last year for our 20th Anniversary. This year we're taking the kids and my in-laws. (Thank goodness for Southwest Airlines Ding Fares! ) It seems like you can never have enough trips planned to Disney, ya know?!

[jkm8113]

Two weeks. I am so jealous. I hope that one day I can do the same thing, but probably not until I retire.

We like SSR, too. Actually we like all the DVC resorts.

Do you have your next trip planned yet? Last you posted, you didn't, but that has been a while now.

[mikesatregis]

It has - feels like a very long time.

I dont currently hava firm date but were thinking the last week in Aug 07. I've heard its quiet in WDW then. Have you ever been there around then?

2006 a "no vacation" year so I'm very looking forward to this next trip.

[lovesdisney44]

Two weeks. I am so jealous. I hope that one day I can do the same thing, but probably not until I retire.

We like SSR, too. Actually we like all the DVC resorts.

Do you have your next trip planned yet? Last you posted, you didn't, but that has been a while now.

jkm8113 - Not sure if you were asking me or not, but I'll answer anyway.

Yes, we are planning a trip for 6 days this June to meet up with my brother, his wife and their 2 kids. (before our kid's annual passes expire - my DH and my passes expired in October . . . it's a long story) We are staying at the BCV. DVC is great that way . . . in my opion, our accomodations are already paid for, and with Southwest Airlines Ding Fares, it really help us out a lot as far as being able to squeeeeeze in some extra trips. We are also planning on a week right after Christmas . . . airfare as a gift from "grandma and grandpa."

So, it sounds like you are a DVC member also, where is your home resort?