MOJoe
06-26-2009, 04:02 PM
The Force Is With Us - June 13th
It's always a melancholy chore, gathering all our belongings and packing the suitcases for the trip back home. But we have had a wonderful trip, with many surprises and only minor hiccups. And even though i don't feel like we have pushed it, we are tired and ready to go home. But first, one last treat.
I felt that we should have a good breakfast to help get our long travel day started. So we have ressies for Cape May with Minnie, Donald and Goofy. We are seated almost immediately, as the restaurant was not busy. The food is good, but it's the Characters that are the real reason to come here. They put on a good show, and took their time with us. This was a great way to end our stay at the Beach Club.
Our ME bus departs at 1:00, so i thought we had time for one last look at Epcot or even the Studios. But the one hitch in our trip prevented us from that. As i brought our luggage to the ME counter, the CM's asked if i had my confirmation codes for the baggage fees. "No." "Well that's why the ME packet was delivered to your room yesterday, so you could have this done before now." they said. Sure enough, buried in the middle of the packet was some instructions and a phone number. "I guess i should have read this more thoroughly." i say. I get my cell phone out and call. So does the CM. I get put on hold and so does she. "Does this take long?" "It can, especially at this time of day." Another CM chimes in. "I've been on hold 30 minutes before." Yikes. More groups show up, and several have the same problem. I guess i should have known this needed to be taken care of. But this is my first trip where additional fees were added, so i was ignorant of how the process worked. Well the process didn't work, as after 20 minutes i am cut off. Seconds later the CM is cut off as well. I go the the front desk and try to solve the problem there. The manager even gets involved, but it's useless. I go back and try to get my luggage off the cart so i can pay at the airport, but too late - it's gone. I'm stuck. We have 4 phones on hold trying to get through. We get cut off and try again. After an hour, the CM gets someone on the line. The person on the other end only wants to give one confirmation number per call, but the CM pleads our case. Finally it is settled. And i am a mess. "I need a drink." i tell Minnie.
It's too late to go anywhere now, so we send the boys to the arcade to wipe out the free game credits we have. Of course they come back, needing more money. Meanwhile Minnie and i just relax. We get that drink and sit in the Solarium until it's time to go. "How about this hotel?" i ask Minnie. "The best." she says. "Sure hope we can come back." "Me too."
Final Thoughts
Thanks for following me and my family again. And thanks to Intercot for this forum. I enjoy writing these reports, so i can print them and look back at a later date. It really helps keep these great memories alive. So to end, here are my final thoughts.
The Beach Club. Wow. I'm spoiled now. The incredible convenience to some of my favorite things is wonderful. Want a Grey Goose Slush? I can go and be back to the room with one in less than 10 minutes! But even without that, the atmosphere here is the best. Here i feel i am in the heart of Disney World, yet relaxed and laid back. The pools, the rooms, the views, the sand beach, the background music, all work together providing you with the most enjoyable, relaxing experience i have ever had in Disney. I could go on and on about this resort.
June Weather and Crowds. We got to the world just as it was beginning to heat up and get crowded. The first few days were very pleasant, and the parks seemed very uncrowded. We did use the UG best days, which may have helped. By the end of our trip, however, the heat was a factor. And the crowds on Friday at MK were huge.
Transportation. Our average wait had to be only 8 minutes. Only once did we wait 15 minutes for a boat. We saw one leave as we were exiting the Studios, so we waited for the next one. The only exception was the last night at the MK bus depot, which the most crowded i have ever seen any bus stop. Still, we were home in less than 1 hour.
Food. Not one complaint from anyone. The quality was top notch. Yak and Yeti take out was the only place i don't care to try again. 50's Prime Time and Tokyo Dining are winners. And of course, Le Cellier is now on our must list, that is if we can get that coveted ressie.
Cast Members. I saved the best for last. Early in this vacation i got the feeling that the day before i arrived there must have been a meeting. "Times are tough, so do all you can to show our guests we appreciate them" could have been the topic. Everywhere, throughout the parks, CM's seemed to go out of their way to help make our day special. They seemed happier and more helpful than ever. And even though i must have the lukiest 10 yr old son in the world, we can't be the only family that was given a few extras. Disney is a fabulous place for a family vacation, but when you boil it all down, it is the people that make it the extraordinary place it is.
Thanks again for your replies, and until next time, May the Force Be With You.
Joe
It's always a melancholy chore, gathering all our belongings and packing the suitcases for the trip back home. But we have had a wonderful trip, with many surprises and only minor hiccups. And even though i don't feel like we have pushed it, we are tired and ready to go home. But first, one last treat.
I felt that we should have a good breakfast to help get our long travel day started. So we have ressies for Cape May with Minnie, Donald and Goofy. We are seated almost immediately, as the restaurant was not busy. The food is good, but it's the Characters that are the real reason to come here. They put on a good show, and took their time with us. This was a great way to end our stay at the Beach Club.
Our ME bus departs at 1:00, so i thought we had time for one last look at Epcot or even the Studios. But the one hitch in our trip prevented us from that. As i brought our luggage to the ME counter, the CM's asked if i had my confirmation codes for the baggage fees. "No." "Well that's why the ME packet was delivered to your room yesterday, so you could have this done before now." they said. Sure enough, buried in the middle of the packet was some instructions and a phone number. "I guess i should have read this more thoroughly." i say. I get my cell phone out and call. So does the CM. I get put on hold and so does she. "Does this take long?" "It can, especially at this time of day." Another CM chimes in. "I've been on hold 30 minutes before." Yikes. More groups show up, and several have the same problem. I guess i should have known this needed to be taken care of. But this is my first trip where additional fees were added, so i was ignorant of how the process worked. Well the process didn't work, as after 20 minutes i am cut off. Seconds later the CM is cut off as well. I go the the front desk and try to solve the problem there. The manager even gets involved, but it's useless. I go back and try to get my luggage off the cart so i can pay at the airport, but too late - it's gone. I'm stuck. We have 4 phones on hold trying to get through. We get cut off and try again. After an hour, the CM gets someone on the line. The person on the other end only wants to give one confirmation number per call, but the CM pleads our case. Finally it is settled. And i am a mess. "I need a drink." i tell Minnie.
It's too late to go anywhere now, so we send the boys to the arcade to wipe out the free game credits we have. Of course they come back, needing more money. Meanwhile Minnie and i just relax. We get that drink and sit in the Solarium until it's time to go. "How about this hotel?" i ask Minnie. "The best." she says. "Sure hope we can come back." "Me too."
Final Thoughts
Thanks for following me and my family again. And thanks to Intercot for this forum. I enjoy writing these reports, so i can print them and look back at a later date. It really helps keep these great memories alive. So to end, here are my final thoughts.
The Beach Club. Wow. I'm spoiled now. The incredible convenience to some of my favorite things is wonderful. Want a Grey Goose Slush? I can go and be back to the room with one in less than 10 minutes! But even without that, the atmosphere here is the best. Here i feel i am in the heart of Disney World, yet relaxed and laid back. The pools, the rooms, the views, the sand beach, the background music, all work together providing you with the most enjoyable, relaxing experience i have ever had in Disney. I could go on and on about this resort.
June Weather and Crowds. We got to the world just as it was beginning to heat up and get crowded. The first few days were very pleasant, and the parks seemed very uncrowded. We did use the UG best days, which may have helped. By the end of our trip, however, the heat was a factor. And the crowds on Friday at MK were huge.
Transportation. Our average wait had to be only 8 minutes. Only once did we wait 15 minutes for a boat. We saw one leave as we were exiting the Studios, so we waited for the next one. The only exception was the last night at the MK bus depot, which the most crowded i have ever seen any bus stop. Still, we were home in less than 1 hour.
Food. Not one complaint from anyone. The quality was top notch. Yak and Yeti take out was the only place i don't care to try again. 50's Prime Time and Tokyo Dining are winners. And of course, Le Cellier is now on our must list, that is if we can get that coveted ressie.
Cast Members. I saved the best for last. Early in this vacation i got the feeling that the day before i arrived there must have been a meeting. "Times are tough, so do all you can to show our guests we appreciate them" could have been the topic. Everywhere, throughout the parks, CM's seemed to go out of their way to help make our day special. They seemed happier and more helpful than ever. And even though i must have the lukiest 10 yr old son in the world, we can't be the only family that was given a few extras. Disney is a fabulous place for a family vacation, but when you boil it all down, it is the people that make it the extraordinary place it is.
Thanks again for your replies, and until next time, May the Force Be With You.
Joe