CindeBella
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2005
We recently returned from our WDW trip and had a nice time. As always, we love BWV. Our son wasn't feeling well one morning so we couldn't make our fast passes. After speaking with a nice man at the front desk, he issued us 5 anywhere/anytime passes for that day. Also, after receiving notification at the last minute that MK would be closed one evening due to a private event, he was not able to guarantee the fireworks would be on schedule. We had reservations for California Grill at 9pm with hopes for viewing them from the deck (we do this each trip). He rescheduled for the following evening but could only get us in at 7:30pm and told us the fireworks would be at 9pm. They were at 10pm so we ended up missing them because the kids were tired and wanted to go back to the resort.
As for the room - unfortunately, we were unable to book a lock-off with a boardwalk view but given a garden view for the same points. I wouldn't have minded so much if there weren't work trucks blocking the lake each day but would have rather saved the points and booked a standard view. On a positive note, it was nice to see the hallways and rooms were updated but, unfortunately, my husband to adjust the dishwasher door each time it was used. Luckily, this wasn't often. Unless something changed and I am unaware, housekeeping is supposed to clean once for stays over 7 nights. We only received towel service once.
The good: For the parks, we were excited to experience Star Wars weekends again. My husband and sons especially love the special souvenier shops dedicated to the films. Epcot is always enjoyable and we love everything about the park. My husband and I dined at Monsieur Paul for the first time and loved it! We always return to the Japan restaurants because the food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Also, had a great time at Animal Kingdom and MK.
For the not so good I suppose: Don't misunderstand, we had a great trip but these are a couple of things we noticed. Maybe it's just us, but it seemed the cast members weren't quite as friendly. I wonder if it was the heat or maybe because our kids aren't small any longer so they're not as friendly? We were in line for Test Track and our boys were laughing and talking and not paying close attention when the cast member needed to repeat which numbers to stand on. She became noticably frustrated when she had to repeat the numbers a couple of times and kept rolling her eyes. Another instance, my daughter and I arrived at MK for our Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast reservations and upon scanning our Magic Bands, I smiled at the young lady at the stand but she wouldn't crack a smile and looked on. I understand everyone has bad days. There were a couple of other instances as well. Don't get me wrong, there were wonderful cast members as well but we've never encounted that behavior in all of the years we've been visiting so it came as a shock. Maybe we were just lucky before? One evening, we were celebrating my husband's birthday at Flying Fish and a large group came in with crying kids and they sat them right next to us. Our server was wonderful, as usual, and completely understood our request to move and was apologetic although not his fault. It sucks that you spend $170 for a dinner for two and have to listen to tired, crying kids... I felt bad for them also. They were tired and wanted to sleep. When my kids were small and began to cry at a restaurant, I promptly took them out of the dining room and if it persisted, we ordered carry out.
Just another thought.. does anyone else find it difficult to stay on a tight schedule due to fast pass times? There were a few times we wanted to do something else but the thought of standing in line for our favorite rides for 2 hours+ made us go anyway. I miss the days of getting up, deciding which park to visit, getting FP and having a (somewhat) leisure day. School just got out, the last thing we want to do is be on a tight schedule again. With our two oldest in high school, we can't take them out of school for vacations any longer. Our choices are Spring Break, a short trip after mid-terms in the fall or in late May.
We had fun, as always, but the "magic" didn't seem to be there as it once was.
As for the room - unfortunately, we were unable to book a lock-off with a boardwalk view but given a garden view for the same points. I wouldn't have minded so much if there weren't work trucks blocking the lake each day but would have rather saved the points and booked a standard view. On a positive note, it was nice to see the hallways and rooms were updated but, unfortunately, my husband to adjust the dishwasher door each time it was used. Luckily, this wasn't often. Unless something changed and I am unaware, housekeeping is supposed to clean once for stays over 7 nights. We only received towel service once.
The good: For the parks, we were excited to experience Star Wars weekends again. My husband and sons especially love the special souvenier shops dedicated to the films. Epcot is always enjoyable and we love everything about the park. My husband and I dined at Monsieur Paul for the first time and loved it! We always return to the Japan restaurants because the food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Also, had a great time at Animal Kingdom and MK.
For the not so good I suppose: Don't misunderstand, we had a great trip but these are a couple of things we noticed. Maybe it's just us, but it seemed the cast members weren't quite as friendly. I wonder if it was the heat or maybe because our kids aren't small any longer so they're not as friendly? We were in line for Test Track and our boys were laughing and talking and not paying close attention when the cast member needed to repeat which numbers to stand on. She became noticably frustrated when she had to repeat the numbers a couple of times and kept rolling her eyes. Another instance, my daughter and I arrived at MK for our Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast reservations and upon scanning our Magic Bands, I smiled at the young lady at the stand but she wouldn't crack a smile and looked on. I understand everyone has bad days. There were a couple of other instances as well. Don't get me wrong, there were wonderful cast members as well but we've never encounted that behavior in all of the years we've been visiting so it came as a shock. Maybe we were just lucky before? One evening, we were celebrating my husband's birthday at Flying Fish and a large group came in with crying kids and they sat them right next to us. Our server was wonderful, as usual, and completely understood our request to move and was apologetic although not his fault. It sucks that you spend $170 for a dinner for two and have to listen to tired, crying kids... I felt bad for them also. They were tired and wanted to sleep. When my kids were small and began to cry at a restaurant, I promptly took them out of the dining room and if it persisted, we ordered carry out.
Just another thought.. does anyone else find it difficult to stay on a tight schedule due to fast pass times? There were a few times we wanted to do something else but the thought of standing in line for our favorite rides for 2 hours+ made us go anyway. I miss the days of getting up, deciding which park to visit, getting FP and having a (somewhat) leisure day. School just got out, the last thing we want to do is be on a tight schedule again. With our two oldest in high school, we can't take them out of school for vacations any longer. Our choices are Spring Break, a short trip after mid-terms in the fall or in late May.
We had fun, as always, but the "magic" didn't seem to be there as it once was.
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