Sj's mini-trip report

sleepyjeff · 08-22-2007, 10:22 PM

Just got back from WDW yesterday......it's kinda still a blur but I'll do my best here to hit the high/low lights:

PORT ORLEANS RESORT; FRENCH QUARTER: My first stay at a moderate resort. I liked it. We got a room on the third floor of building #2 facing the pool. Convenient to everything! The room was very clean and was kept that way by our wonderful maid thru out our entire stay. She poured on the shampoos and little towell animals(it pays to tip daily) and even figured out after only one night, without us saying anything, that we like our top cover folded down at the foot of the bed(wow; mind reading or very observant?) The fridge in the room was a nice surprise.....last year we stayed at the Grand Californian and were only allowed about 7" of space inside the honor bar for our perishables but here we got an entire mini-fridge--yay! The pool was dreamlike and a lot bigger than what it appears to be in pictures(most pics show the dragon slide portion of the pool which is just one of 4 lagoons breaking away from the main swim area). Life Guards watch the pool until 10PM but the pool stays open until past mid-night. Loved the boat journey to Downtown Disney along the Sassagoula River. It takes about 20 minutes and even offers a close up glimpse of the old Treehouse Villas....the boats also can be taken up to the Riverside Resort area but we never did this.

RAGLAN RD. IRISH PUB: We ate here not knowing what to expect. WOW! This was some of the best food We'd ever had. I had the Salmon appetizer which was sliced super thin and served cold with a lemon squeeze...wonderful! For dinner I ordered Kevins Heavenly Ham......this had to be the best ham I've ever had at a restaurant(replacing the one I had on my honeymoon 12+ years ago at the Sands Regency in Reno)

SPLASH MOUNTAIN: I can't put my finger on why but I enjoyed it more than the Disneyland version.....it can't be the queue(Disneylands is far superior) and I don't think it is the drops. The story maybe? Anyway, we all loved it and went down it again, and again, and again.

BIG THUNDER: Again, the queue was wanting compared to Disneylands but the ride seemed to be a tad better; I don't know why but I really liked it.

SPEEDRAMPS: Yes! Disneyworld still uses speedramps. I was giddy everytime I got to go up one.

IT'S A "PRETTY" SMALL WORLD: Best surprise of my entire trip......Saw that there was no wait for It's a Small World and convinced my son(11 years old and too cool for school) to go on it with me. I was blown away. Disneylands version is charming but the MK's version is downright Beautiful! With the lights reflecting off the water of the fully flooded showbuilding and all of the dolls freshly painted(seemingly at least) it was like drifting into a dream world. I've never been a huge fan of Small World...but I am now.

SUPER TROOPERS: Never, ever been to DisneyWorlds DownTown Disney at nighttime before this trip. We arrived via boat launch and when we reached the open water of Lake Buena Vista I couldn't believe my eyes. This entrie eclectic collection of strange and wonderful buildings lit up by neon, xeon, and on and on lights....lights everywhere even dozens shooting up into the sky. I was shocked at myself for being so impressed by so much hap-hazardness; but I was. After a little exploring We had dinner at Planet Hollywood which was ...interesting if not a bit too loud(maybe I am getting too old) The food was not too bad though and the kids loved my surprise of buying them Planet Hollywood T-shirts.

EXPEDITION EVEREST: I sort of tricked the kids into riding it(told them it was just like Big Thunder) and boy were they mad at me after it was over......in retrospect I suppose I should have told them about what happens after the dead end--but I wanted it to be a surprise Anyway, they got me back by refusing to go on Space Mt. even though I assured them it was no where near as scary as the EE.....why don't they believe me

THE (NOT SO) MAGICAL BUS: I opted not to rent a car this trip. I thought I am staying on property and they have buses, monorails, and boats that go everywhere....why would I need or want the inconvience of a car. Well, first of all those buses make lots of stops and sometimes you end up standing for 20 - 50 minutes. Secondly not every destination is served directly by one bus......sometimes you're going to have to get off the bus and onto another one...which also may make several stops. Worse of all, sometimes they just don't show up. Most of the time a bus came within 20 minutes....but we did have a couple of waits that exceeded 45 minutes. One journey took us, from start to finish, 80 minutes. Made us late for dinner ressies at the Contemporary Resort(the good people there seated us fairly quickly in spite of our being late bless their hearts). I might consider renting a car next time but there are downsides to that too so who knows....maybe I'll just stay at the Polynessian Resort where half of the prime destinations are directly connected via speedy monorail.

TOMORROWLAND: Beautiful but could do without Stitch and the laughfloor...yuck to both. Carousel of Progress, believe it or not, was a favorite of my Son and his best friend. Note to Disney company; these guys are your target audience and your future...they liked this attraction far more than your pathetic attempts at synergy ala Stictch/laughfloor/and even Buzz. Take Note!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN: Queue blows Disneylands out of the Water but beyond that this attraction is a pale copy of the original.........although the speedramp at the end was very nice

__________________

wendybeth · 08-22-2007, 11:05 PM

Oh, alright. I'll go, then. Even if the humidity ****s up my hair.

Thanks for the mini-report, SJ!

sleepyjeff · 08-23-2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Oh, alright. I'll go, then. Even if the humidity ****s up my hair.

Thanks for the mini-report, SJ!

That was one of the oddest things about our trip.....the humidity. I was expecting it to be very hot(and it was) and very humid with heavy showers every afternoon.......no showers all week and the last two days, even though the temps were in the 90's, the humidity was quite low and we even had a gentle cool breeze those last two days

Snowflake · 08-23-2007, 07:17 AM

Great report, this tempts me to brave the heat and humidity, too.

LSPoorEeyorick · 08-23-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepyjeff

SPLASH MOUNTAIN: I can't put my finger on why but I enjoyed it more than the Disneyland version.....it can't be the queue(Disneylands is far superior) and I don't think it is the drops. The story maybe? Anyway, we all loved it and went down it again, and again, and again.

I think, for me, it's the pacing. You hit the story pieces at a better speed, or they're better placed, or something. Hard to explain, but yeah, it just works better!

flippyshark · 08-23-2007, 11:05 AM

Glad you had a good time. i have to agree with you on the transportation issue. I'm afraid that whole mess is badly broken. If I was da king, that's an area I would put lots of resources onto. Ultimately, it would be great if buses could be replaced by sexier options like monorails, people-movers, even trains and boats. (I know, dream on) Cramming into a bus after a 50 minute wait is simply a miserable experience. Even when the buses are not crowded and are running on time, they're still a decidedly unmagical conveyance.

Yes, I do think our Splash Mountain wins because of a coherent and well-paced narrative. If only our hopping Brer Rabbit effect ever worked. (He's supposed to bounce by across from the Brer' Bear Springs A Trap scene.) I haven't seen this bit work for years.

Stan4dSteph · 08-23-2007, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the report. I'm looking forward to staying at POFQ this October. It's one reason I haven't really tried so hard to get the best moderate deal; most of the cheaper rates are for POR or CBR.

madmonkeygirl · 08-23-2007, 11:58 AM

Hmmm weird. Last time i stayed at the same resort was Oct 2001 right after 9/11. Our room was just a three minute walk to the nearest bus stop. Where i can say that we never had a wait longer than 10 minutes for the first bus and never had more stops than say 2 getting us to the park of choice for early morning entry in plenty of time. Sorry to hear about the transportation issue but our stay there was just magical as far as buses go.

I love WDW's version of Splash Mt way better than DL. I think it's timing and storyline over ours. Biggest let down was removing Alien Encounter with Stitch (haven't been on Stitch nor do i want to). All i can say is Alien Encounter made me cry on my birthday at WDW...lmao

Makes me long to go back. (Maybe next year when a certain rock band tours)or else maybe for a birthday or something.

Prudence · 08-23-2007, 11:59 AM

We've never even tried the buses, but we do like the Monorail from MK to EPCOT.

madmonkeygirl · 08-23-2007, 12:05 PM

I think the buses also depend on time of year and how crowded it is. Off season when we were there was amazing. The only drawback was leaving at the end of the night but even then we had maybe a 2 bus wait and there were only a few times we had to stand with our stop not too far into the trip.

The monorail rocks seriously from MK to Epcot. We used that many many times and we also took the boat twice i believe. Once getting us to MK for early morning entry even way too early lmao...

08-22-2007, 10:22 PM	#1
sleepyjeff Go Hawks Go! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parkrose Posts: 2,632	Sj's mini-trip report Just got back from WDW yesterday......it's kinda still a blur but I'll do my best here to hit the high/low lights: PORT ORLEANS RESORT; FRENCH QUARTER: My first stay at a moderate resort. I liked it. We got a room on the third floor of building #2 facing the pool. Convenient to everything! The room was very clean and was kept that way by our wonderful maid thru out our entire stay. She poured on the shampoos and little towell animals(it pays to tip daily) and even figured out after only one night, without us saying anything, that we like our top cover folded down at the foot of the bed(wow; mind reading or very observant?) The fridge in the room was a nice surprise.....last year we stayed at the Grand Californian and were only allowed about 7" of space inside the honor bar for our perishables but here we got an entire mini-fridge--yay! The pool was dreamlike and a lot bigger than what it appears to be in pictures(most pics show the dragon slide portion of the pool which is just one of 4 lagoons breaking away from the main swim area). Life Guards watch the pool until 10PM but the pool stays open until past mid-night. Loved the boat journey to Downtown Disney along the Sassagoula River. It takes about 20 minutes and even offers a close up glimpse of the old Treehouse Villas....the boats also can be taken up to the Riverside Resort area but we never did this. RAGLAN RD. IRISH PUB: We ate here not knowing what to expect. WOW! This was some of the best food We'd ever had. I had the Salmon appetizer which was sliced super thin and served cold with a lemon squeeze...wonderful! For dinner I ordered Kevins Heavenly Ham......this had to be the best ham I've ever had at a restaurant(replacing the one I had on my honeymoon 12+ years ago at the Sands Regency in Reno) SPLASH MOUNTAIN: I can't put my finger on why but I enjoyed it more than the Disneyland version.....it can't be the queue(Disneylands is far superior) and I don't think it is the drops. The story maybe? Anyway, we all loved it and went down it again, and again, and again. BIG THUNDER: Again, the queue was wanting compared to Disneylands but the ride seemed to be a tad better; I don't know why but I really liked it. SPEEDRAMPS: Yes! Disneyworld still uses speedramps. I was giddy everytime I got to go up one. IT'S A "PRETTY" SMALL WORLD: Best surprise of my entire trip......Saw that there was no wait for It's a Small World and convinced my son(11 years old and too cool for school) to go on it with me. I was blown away. Disneylands version is charming but the MK's version is downright Beautiful! With the lights reflecting off the water of the fully flooded showbuilding and all of the dolls freshly painted(seemingly at least) it was like drifting into a dream world. I've never been a huge fan of Small World...but I am now. SUPER TROOPERS: Never, ever been to DisneyWorlds DownTown Disney at nighttime before this trip. We arrived via boat launch and when we reached the open water of Lake Buena Vista I couldn't believe my eyes. This entrie eclectic collection of strange and wonderful buildings lit up by neon, xeon, and on and on lights....lights everywhere even dozens shooting up into the sky. I was shocked at myself for being so impressed by so much hap-hazardness; but I was. After a little exploring We had dinner at Planet Hollywood which was ...interesting if not a bit too loud(maybe I am getting too old) The food was not too bad though and the kids loved my surprise of buying them Planet Hollywood T-shirts. EXPEDITION EVEREST: I sort of tricked the kids into riding it(told them it was just like Big Thunder) and boy were they mad at me after it was over......in retrospect I suppose I should have told them about what happens after the dead end--but I wanted it to be a surprise Anyway, they got me back by refusing to go on Space Mt. even though I assured them it was no where near as scary as the EE.....why don't they believe me THE (NOT SO) MAGICAL BUS: I opted not to rent a car this trip. I thought I am staying on property and they have buses, monorails, and boats that go everywhere....why would I need or want the inconvience of a car. Well, first of all those buses make lots of stops and sometimes you end up standing for 20 - 50 minutes. Secondly not every destination is served directly by one bus......sometimes you're going to have to get off the bus and onto another one...which also may make several stops. Worse of all, sometimes they just don't show up. Most of the time a bus came within 20 minutes....but we did have a couple of waits that exceeded 45 minutes. One journey took us, from start to finish, 80 minutes. Made us late for dinner ressies at the Contemporary Resort(the good people there seated us fairly quickly in spite of our being late bless their hearts). I might consider renting a car next time but there are downsides to that too so who knows....maybe I'll just stay at the Polynessian Resort where half of the prime destinations are directly connected via speedy monorail. TOMORROWLAND: Beautiful but could do without Stitch and the laughfloor...yuck to both. Carousel of Progress, believe it or not, was a favorite of my Son and his best friend. Note to Disney company; these guys are your target audience and your future...they liked this attraction far more than your pathetic attempts at synergy ala Stictch/laughfloor/and even Buzz. Take Note! PIRATES OF THE CARIBEAN: Queue blows Disneylands out of the Water but beyond that this attraction is a pale copy of the original.........although the speedramp at the end was very nice __________________ __________________ River Guardian-less
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08-22-2007, 11:05 PM	#2
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	Oh, alright. I'll go, then. Even if the humidity ****s up my hair. Thanks for the mini-report, SJ! __________________
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08-23-2007, 07:17 AM	#4
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	Great report, this tempts me to brave the heat and humidity, too. __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
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08-23-2007, 11:05 AM	#6
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Glad you had a good time. i have to agree with you on the transportation issue. I'm afraid that whole mess is badly broken. If I was da king, that's an area I would put lots of resources onto. Ultimately, it would be great if buses could be replaced by sexier options like monorails, people-movers, even trains and boats. (I know, dream on) Cramming into a bus after a 50 minute wait is simply a miserable experience. Even when the buses are not crowded and are running on time, they're still a decidedly unmagical conveyance. Yes, I do think our Splash Mountain wins because of a coherent and well-paced narrative. If only our hopping Brer Rabbit effect ever worked. (He's supposed to bounce by across from the Brer' Bear Springs A Trap scene.) I haven't seen this bit work for years.
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08-23-2007, 11:33 AM	#7
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Thanks for the report. I'm looking forward to staying at POFQ this October. It's one reason I haven't really tried so hard to get the best moderate deal; most of the cheaper rates are for POR or CBR.
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08-23-2007, 11:58 AM	#8
madmonkeygirl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 764	Sj's mini-trip report Hmmm weird. Last time i stayed at the same resort was Oct 2001 right after 9/11. Our room was just a three minute walk to the nearest bus stop. Where i can say that we never had a wait longer than 10 minutes for the first bus and never had more stops than say 2 getting us to the park of choice for early morning entry in plenty of time. Sorry to hear about the transportation issue but our stay there was just magical as far as buses go. I love WDW's version of Splash Mt way better than DL. I think it's timing and storyline over ours. Biggest let down was removing Alien Encounter with Stitch (haven't been on Stitch nor do i want to). All i can say is Alien Encounter made me cry on my birthday at WDW...lmao Makes me long to go back. (Maybe next year when a certain rock band tours)or else maybe for a birthday or something.
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08-23-2007, 11:59 AM	#9
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	We've never even tried the buses, but we do like the Monorail from MK to EPCOT. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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08-23-2007, 12:05 PM	#10
madmonkeygirl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 764	Sj's mini-trip report I think the buses also depend on time of year and how crowded it is. Off season when we were there was amazing. The only drawback was leaving at the end of the night but even then we had maybe a 2 bus wait and there were only a few times we had to stand with our stop not too far into the trip. The monorail rocks seriously from MK to Epcot. We used that many many times and we also took the boat twice i believe. Once getting us to MK for early morning entry even way too early lmao...
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