Trip Report Cycling through Celebration, a cream cheese covered remote and the Closed Wallet Rebellion of 2016.

So last week we spent seven nights in a one-bedroom at Saratoga Springs Resort in the Congress Park section. We like Congress Park and have stayed in that section before. The walk over to Disney Springs is fun and since the new section just opened with several new shops and restaurants, we walked over several times during the week.
I think the first evening there is when I declared the wallet closed and decided to try to save a dollar or two this trip. What started it was sticker shock at some of the prices I was seeing.
But let's start at the beginning and I'll go into more detail later.
We got an early start and arrived to WDW via the 535 entrance to Hotel Plaza Blvd.:

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Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
I'll admit I'm a bit sad! The end of another excellent TR. Thank you for sharing and making me so glad we have added some resort hopping time to our trip this summer and my dh said thnx for the farm market info. He said he'll try and make it over there while I'm stuck with the boys in a water park.
 
WDWDarling

WDWDarling

Well-Known Member
Loved reading through your report and thank you so much for including the 'Ol Man Island pool pictures for me! Do you and your wife have a favorite pool to visit?

I have several new things added to my Disney bucket list now! Thank you for sharing :happy:.
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
Your TR was very different; I particularly liked the laid-back vibe of your vacation. You and your wife enjoyed so many fun activities, many of which were outside of the parks. I loved the scenic pictures from the bike rides, the introduction to Celebration (I've never seen it before), pictures of the various swimming pools, etc.

It was so pleasant reading your TR and thanks for sharing the good times with us! :happy:
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WDWDarling said:
Loved reading through your report and thank you so much for including the 'Ol Man Island pool pictures for me! Do you and your wife have a favorite pool to visit?

I have several new things added to my Disney bucket list now! Thank you for sharing :happy:.
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You are welcome. Our current favorite pool is Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club, but you can only go there if staying there or at the Beach Club Villas, it is not allowed as part of the DVC pool hopping perk.
We did have a favorite pool. In fact, it was my favorite pool we have ever been to and now it is gone. That pool was Hidden Springs Pool, the quiet pool at the Wilderness Lodge Villas. It was small, quiet and secluded and we loved it. Often, early in the mornings you could be the only ones there. It was simply bliss to us. The new construction at The Wilderness Lodge wiped it out. Right now it is a construction zone. Plans are for it to be rebuilt, but in my opinion, bigger is not always better, but I shall withhold judgement. The new pool there could wind up being the best on property. Who knows?
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
MinnieM123 said:
Your TR was very different; I particularly liked the laid-back vibe of your vacation. You and your wife enjoyed so many fun activities, many of which were outside of the parks. I loved the scenic pictures from the bike rides, the introduction to Celebration (I've never seen it before), pictures of the various swimming pools, etc.

It was so pleasant reading your TR and thanks for sharing the good times with us! :happy:
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Yeah, we are indeed different. Thanks for reading.
 
WLBound

WLBound

Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing your very different Disney trip! This is a side we don't get to see although we did do the monorail resort hop on our last trip. I also loved the little side trip to Gatlinburg. We were there last August and enjoyed The Village (breakfast at the Pancake Pantry...yum!!) and The Island. The view from the top of that Ferris Wheel is truly something.
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WLBound said:
Thank you for sharing your very different Disney trip! This is a side we don't get to see although we did do the monorail resort hop on our last trip. I also loved the little side trip to Gatlinburg. We were there last August and enjoyed The Village (breakfast at the Pancake Pantry...yum!!) and The Island. The view from the top of that Ferris Wheel is truly something.
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Thanks for reading. We go to Gatlinburg a couple of times per year but this was the first time for the fireflies at Elkmont and that was amazing.
 
Tiggerish

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member
Catching up! I've had a busy week and missed your updates.

epcotisbest said:
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epcotisbest said:
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Dusk is my very favorite time of day at WDW. It feels so relaxing and it's great for taking scenic pictures!

epcotisbest said:
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Nice photos of my home resort, Old Key West! I love that place.

epcotisbest said:
The ride back to SSR from OKW along the canal is very scenic and secluded. This is a great place to ride.

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I'll have to find that path--how do you access it from OKW?

I fully support your parks-free trip, as it showed me a few places I've yet to see around WDW. ;)
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Tiggerish said:
Catching up! I've had a busy week and missed your updates.





Dusk is my very favorite time of day at WDW. It feels so relaxing and it's great for taking scenic pictures!



Nice photos of my home resort, Old Key West! I love that place.



I'll have to find that path--how do you access it from OKW?

I fully support your parks-free trip, as it showed me a few places I've yet to see around WDW. ;)
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The canal the boats take from OKW to Disney Springs is where that path is. When the boats go down by Pennisular Road then take a left out by the golf course, the path is right there on the right of the boats headed to DS. To get to it by bike or on foot just go to the quiet pool at the end of Pennisular Road and the pathway is right there at the end, near building 55. It goes all the way to Disney Springs, coming out near House of Blues and Cirque, or, if you cross the bridge at SSR, the path takes you to SSR. Worth renting a bike and riding over there, if only for the views.
 
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cgersic

cgersic

Well-Known Member
It's truly refreshing to see a report that focuses on relaxing instead of running! Resort hopping is one of my favorite traditions and I try to schedule my first and last days for just that. I hit Fort Wilderness for the first time a couple of weeks ago and the first time taking the boat to the Contemporary from there. I will be taking my bike next time and hitting up Celebration - thanks so much for the directions and photos!
 
WDWDarling

WDWDarling

Well-Known Member
epcotisbest said:
You are welcome. Our current favorite pool is Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club, but you can only go there if staying there or at the Beach Club Villas, it is not allowed as part of the DVC pool hopping perk.
We did have a favorite pool. In fact, it was my favorite pool we have ever been to and now it is gone. That pool was Hidden Springs Pool, the quiet pool at the Wilderness Lodge Villas. It was small, quiet and secluded and we loved it. Often, early in the mornings you could be the only ones there. It was simply bliss to us. The new construction at The Wilderness Lodge wiped it out. Right now it is a construction zone. Plans are for it to be rebuilt, but in my opinion, bigger is not always better, but I shall withhold judgement. The new pool there could wind up being the best on property. Who knows?
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Stormalong Bay does look really awesome! My DH and I are are toying around with staying at the BC next year so maybe I'll get to see for myself :).

Hopefully when the WL construction is done you'll have your favorite pool back and it will be better than ever! I'm very interested to see how everything turns out once they're done.

Thanks again for sharing!
 

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