Sorta TR- 12/3-12/4/09
Judy
This isn't going to be a big TR as I only stayed one night and didn't
visit any parks. It's probably more observations than anything.
I had posted a few weeks ago that I was going to be in Orange Park, FL
and planned to drive to Orlando, visit the Premium Outlet mall and
then spend a night at POR. I used the directions that I received from
some RADPers and found my way the to mall easily. It took me about 2
1/2 hours from Orange Park. There wasn't much traffic. I was so
excited to be at the mall and the Disney outlet store. Unfortunately,
I really didn't find much that interested me. Most clothing was geared
to kids or teens. I wanted to get my mom a t-shirt but the only sizes
were too large for her. She is 5 ft tall and weighs 120.I did find my
son an ESPN shirt and then a purse for myself. I was kind of
disappointed at the choices, but I know that shopping there is always
hit or miss.
I then drove to POR. I missed the turn- as I usually do- and ended up
in DD Marketplace so turned around there and headed back. I took the
right road this time and arrived easily. I had done online check-in
and chosen a ground floor room near the bus stop. I had estimated my
arrival time as 1:30 and I actually arrived at 1:15. There were two
CMs at the Online check-in station. Both were waiting on families.
According to the couple in front of me, both families had been at the
station at least 10 minutes going over stuff. I waited 5 minutes and
then walked down to the regular registration desk. The CM there
apologized for my wait and got my materials. The couple behind me had
also gone to the regular registration desk and we both were finished
now. The same two couples were still at the Online desk. I can't
imagine what they were discussing. No one seemed upset or angry. They
just had a million questions and weren't going to leave until every
single one was answered I guess.
My room was 8536, on the ground floor, near the bus stop and right
across from one of the quiet pools. It was a very short walk to the
Ol' Man Island and the bridge to the food court area. I was quite
happy here. I unpacked and went to the quiet pool for about an hour. I
was the only one there. After a shower and change of clothes I decided
to take the boat to DD so that I could ride the Characters in Flight.
The boat ride was nice and I wanted to take some video but my new Flip
camcorder was giving me trouble.
After arriving at the Marketplace, I took another boat to the West
Side. I had noticed that the balloon was not in the sky and wondered
what was going on. According to the CM, it was too windy. Bummer- I
thought of taking the bus back to POR and then just relaxing by the
pool again, but thought that I should go to Ghirardelli and get a
sundae first. It wasn't very crowded so I was waited on and served
pretty quickly. I ate about 1/2 of the sundae before realizing that I
should have gotten a children's size. Oh, well, it satisfied my
craving for another year or more. Then, I made a bad decision. Instead
of taking the boat back, as I still had the chance to do that, I
decided to take the bus to the GF, check out the Christmas decorations
and take the monorail from there to the MK and then take a bus from
there. I should have taken the boat and then driven. The busses seemed
to take forever and the bus driver from the Marketplace to the GF was
pretty cranky. The bus went to the WL, and the GF. A few people asked
if it went to FW. No, it didn't. But the driver didn't just say that,
he kind of whined it "no the bus DOES not go to Fort Wilderness." And
when someone got on and left after realizing that, the driver said
" imagine that, someone got on the wrong bus." I just thought he was
kind of rude.
I did enjoy seeing the decorations at the GF. My parents and I always
visited there and it was nice to see it again. I looked around the
shops but didn't see anything I needed so I left.
I took the monorail to the MK and then a bus to POR. The bus was very
crowded and there was no place to go as the driver kept telling us to
move back. Then it was got dark. I had not used the bus earlier so had
no idea that POR had more than one bus stop. Luckily I did have my map
with me so I knew what stop to use. It was a pretty quick walk to my
room. I sat for awhile watching TV and then walked out to the food
court looking for supper. I wasn't that hungry but needed to eat
something healthier than ice cream and pop tarts, which was all I had
eaten so far. I ended up getting a kids meal turkey wrap with grapes
and carrots. It wasn't bad and I really felt that I needed the fruit &
veggies.
I looked around the gift shop and bought some tea for myself and
coffee for my husband. Then back to the room. I hated the fact that I
had to leave in the morning. I had hoped for my visit to be more
restful and it really wasn't. I felt like I spent too much time trying
to get from one place to another, and I did. Next time I will take my
car to DD.
On the table in the room was an ad that stated if I reserved my next
year's stay while I was still checked in this visit, I could save 45%
off a deluxe or 35% off a moderate. At first I though that I didn't
really know when I was going to be here next year, but realized I
always go to FL about the same times each year. I called the # and
asked for reservations at the GF. For some reason it was blocked off
the date that I wanted. But I was able to get the Poly. The rate was
excellent. I chose garden view- so I may be looking at the parking
lot, but that's okay. The lagoon is right outside. I also can walk or
monorail to the GF and not have to use any busses at all. I am very
much looking forward to that and have learned from this visit, what to
do and not do, in order to enjoy my time at the resort .
Thanks for reading-
Judy
Lisa Cubbon
another night and a deal. Lisa
Sandi Femino
<af65bfb5-cd62-487d...@h10g2000vbm.googlegroups.com>,
Judy <j2...@catlover.com> wrote:
> On the table in the room was an ad that stated if I reserved my next
> year's stay while I was still checked in this visit, I could save 45%
> off a deluxe or 35% off a moderate. At first I though that I didn't
> really know when I was going to be here next year, but realized I
> always go to FL about the same times each year. I called the # and
> asked for reservations at the GF. For some reason it was blocked off
> the date that I wanted. But I was able to get the Poly. The rate was
> excellent. I chose garden view- so I may be looking at the parking
> lot, but that's okay. The lagoon is right outside. I also can walk or
> monorail to the GF and not have to use any busses at all. I am very
> much looking forward to that and have learned from this visit, what to
> do and not do, in order to enjoy my time at the resort .
Great rate, Judy, That's the % for AP rates! Not bad to lock it in 1
year ahead!
So you didn't get to do Char. in FLight? I know you were wanting to try
it. Next time?
--
Judy
> In article
> <af65bfb5-cd62-487d-acb5-136c47435...@h10g2000vbm.googlegroups.com>,
HI Sandi-
No I didn't get to do the Characters in Flight. When I asked the
CM about it he didn't sound too optimistic about having it running
later on that day. He told me they would be open until midnight if I
wanted to check back but by the time I got back to my room- I didn't
want to go out again.I thought of having the front desk call to see
what the status was, but the idea kind of went in and out of my mind
and I never followed through. Next year I will try again, and
hopefully will be able to do it.
I am so excited about the 45% off rate for next year. I've never
gotten that good a price, even when I was a MKC member.
Judy
Ginny Favers
> Trip Report - 12/3-12/4/2009
>
> The busses seemed
> to take forever and the bus driver from the Marketplace to the GF was
> pretty cranky.
I never, ever, ever recommend people take a bus ride to or from Downtown
Disney. It inevitably sucks.
The bus went to the WL, and the GF. A few people asked
> if it went to FW. No, it didn't. But the driver didn't just say that,
> he kind of whined it "no the bus DOES not go to Fort Wilderness." And
> when someone got on and left after realizing that, the driver said
> " imagine that, someone got on the wrong bus." I just thought he was
> kind of rude.
They have some real jerks driving the busses. And some gems.
> I did enjoy seeing the decorations at the GF. My parents and I always
> visited there and it was nice to see it again. I looked around the
> shops but didn't see anything I needed so I left.
LOL. I never see anything I need in a Disney store. Just hundreds of
dollars of stuff I want.
> I took the monorail to the MK and then a bus to POR. The bus was very
> crowded and there was no place to go as the driver kept telling us to
> move back.
I've been in that situation before. The guy kept hollering because he
could see open space with no heads at the very back, until we had to
yell to him that it was a stroller laid down on the floor and there was
no more room to stand. Then he informed us that he was going to "let us
off easy" because the bus was "supposed to hold" some ridiculous number
of people that we hadn't yet approached. Absurd.
> I wasn't that hungry but needed to eat
> something healthier than ice cream and pop tarts, which was all I had
> eaten so far. I ended up getting a kids meal turkey wrap with grapes
> and carrots. It wasn't bad and I really felt that I needed the fruit &
> veggies.
I'm losing a bunch of weight this year and I'll be counting calories for
the rest of my life, I'm sure. I've noticed the kids meals at Disney's
counter service are all about the right size for me, and offer better
nutrition than the adult selections. I think I will be ordering more of
them on our next trip.
> I looked around the gift shop and bought some tea for myself and
> coffee for my husband.
Check out the tea selections and cast iron tea sets at Mitsukoshi in the
Japan pavilion at Epcot, sometime Judy, when you have time. I make a
pot of loose green tea with my set just about every night at bedtime.
Then back to the room. I hated the fact that I
> had to leave in the morning. I had hoped for my visit to be more
> restful and it really wasn't. I felt like I spent too much time trying
> to get from one place to another, and I did. Next time I will take my
> car to DD.
Amen, sister.
>
> On the table in the room was an ad that stated if I reserved my next
> year's stay while I was still checked in this visit, I could save 45%
> off a deluxe or 35% off a moderate. At first I though that I didn't
> really know when I was going to be here next year, but realized I
> always go to FL about the same times each year. I called the # and
> asked for reservations at the GF. For some reason it was blocked off
> the date that I wanted. But I was able to get the Poly.
WOOHOO!
The rate was
> excellent. I chose garden view- so I may be looking at the parking
> lot, but that's okay.
We lucked out and got a pool view from the building right next to the
lobby, last trip. It was an awesome room.
The lagoon is right outside. I also can walk or
> monorail to the GF and not have to use any busses at all. I am very
> much looking forward to that and have learned from this visit, what to
> do and not do, in order to enjoy my time at the resort .
>
> Thanks for reading-
> Judy
>
Thanks for posting!
~Amanda
Judy
A much-belated thank you for reading, Amanda- :-)
Judy