Trip Report Makin' Memories....One More Time! *COMPLETED*

Makin' memories
Makin' memories
Takin' pictures is makin' memories
Catchin' little pieces of time
Makin' them yours and makin' them mine
Great vacations and celebrations we love to hold near and dear
And when we're makin' memories
Happy days can reappear!

@amjt660 it seemed a little presumptuous of me to include Three Peat in the title of this trip report. A more accurate term might be Repeat, considering this is my third TR in three months. I am fearful that my WDWMagic friends may be weary of me.

But for @Big Hair and anyone else who wants to follow along, Welcome! I truly love reliving our great (and not-so-great) vacation memories through writing these reports. As always, your comments and observations are much appreciated!

So c'mon everybody, here we go........

Cast: Tuvalu, Woody and Em
Dates: June 17-25, 2017
Resorts: Port Orleans Riverside and Polynesian Village ('cause let's be honest......you can take the girl out of the Poly, but you can't take the Poly out of the girl!)

(Does this picture make you woozy? It is an appropriate representation of my Pandora experience.)

Stick around to discover what memories we made!

 

[MinnieM123]

Our bad luck continued when we opened our door to an unmade room. Every other day this week our room has been made up before lunch

Just thought I'd mention that this is becoming standard all over. Other posters have commented on the same thing, and it didn't seem to matter whether it was a value resort or a deluxe. Even at the Swan (not a disney-owned hotel), my room wasn't made up until well after 2:00 in the afternoon.

I miss the old days when rooms were cleaned prior to noon.

 

[Songbird76]

Just thought I'd mention that this is becoming standard all over. Other posters have commented on the same thing, and it didn't seem to matter whether it was a value resort or a deluxe. Even at the Swan (not a disney-owned hotel), my room wasn't made up until well after 2:00 in the afternoon.

I miss the old days when rooms were cleaned prior to noon.

When we were staying at CBR last year, we had a couple of days where they didn't even clean. We'd come back in the afternoon for a nap and the beds would still be unmade, no new towels, etc and they must not clean after a certain time because we'd leave again around 3 or 4 and come back in the evening and it still hadn't been done. I think it only happened twice in a 10 day stay, but still.

 

[fractal]

Em was hungry.
My stomach was rumbly.
"I can eat," Woody said.

An early lunch was in order. We saw that Flame Tree BBQ opened at 10:45 am. We joined the short line at 10:40 am.

At 11 am (and with a long line of guests now behind us) Flame Tree looked like this:
View attachment 221322

"HELL-O, IS ANYBODY WORKING HERE TODAY?!!"

A few moments later CMs began sauntering over to the registers. Others slowly rolled up the shutters.

"SO NICE OF YOU TO FINALLY SHOW UP!"

(Okay, so no one actually said those things but trust me, we were all thinking it!)

By the time we had our food it was almost 11:30 am. We'd waited 45 minutes for a quick service lunch and we were only 4th in line.

We chose to sit in the eagle vs. snake pavilion. You do know that the theme of Flame Tree BBQ is predator vs. prey, don't you? And that each seating pavilion has a different theme?

Well now you do.

View attachment 221323

Note the lanterns.
#1
View attachment 221325

#2
View attachment 221326
Eagle for the win!

The food was fresh and flavorful. Em chose the half chicken, Woody the turkey sandwich and pulled pork sandwich for me. Plus an unexpected treat ~ 3 bags of purse grapes!!
View attachment 221324
(Well one bag didn't make it into the purse. I ate it. )

Lunch finished, we were ready to get our pool on. I stopped by Guest Relations on our way out to get a replacement Tables in Wonderland card (my 3rd this year.) None of the QS restaurants have been able to read my card. I had the same issue in February. All the CMs complain about the poor quality of the TiW card stock. If you order TiW at least a month before your vacation, you are mailed a plastic TiW card (like a credit card or Disney ticket.) But if you purchase TiW on site, you are given a paper card.

Apparently it must be cheaper to print several paper replacement cards than ONE plastic card.

The Poly bus was just pulling in as we reached the stop. Our delight was short-lived when we ended up waiting over 20 minutes for the next-shift driver. "I overslept," was his excuse to the driver waiting to be relieved. Add the 20 minutes back to the Poly and it was a long ordeal.

Our bad luck continued when we opened our door to an unmade room. Every other day this week our room has been made up before lunch. Em and I hurriedly put on our swimsuits. Woody decided to stay out of the sun and took a book to the lounge. Thankfully the mousekeeper came sometime during the two hours we were out of the room.

I did NOT know the "predator vs. prey" tidbit! It's one of my favorite areas to explore. Thanks for the info.

 

[Tuvalu]

I miss the old days when rooms were cleaned prior to noon.

I miss the old days too.....in So. Many. Ways.

When we were staying at CBR last year, we had a couple of days where they didn't even clean. We'd come back in the afternoon for a nap and the beds would still be unmade, no new towels, etc and they must not clean after a certain time because we'd leave again around 3 or 4 and come back in the evening and it still hadn't been done. I think it only happened twice in a 10 day stay, but still.

That was inexcusable!

I did NOT know the "predator vs. prey" tidbit! It's one of my favorite areas to explore. Thanks for the info.

Happy to help. I didn't want to spoil the other seating areas for those who like to discover on their own.

 

[wdisney9000]

I miss the old days too.....in So. Many. Ways.

Here is what I dont get. I t seems each trip over the last two years that our check in time gets later and later. I recall years ago when we arrived at 11 am or noon our room would be ready. Our last several trips it has been almost 4 pm when we finally got the text, (sometimes we havent even gotten the text). It seems to be common in many TR's as well. So what exactly is Mousekeeping doing all day? If they are not cleaning guests room, and it takes until 4 pm to have rooms read,...what the heck are they doing? Snacking on leftover Entenmanns Doughnuts from @lostpro9het 's room? lol

 

[Tuvalu]

Here is what I dont get. I t seems each trip over the last two years that our check in time gets later and later. I recall years ago when we arrived at 11 am or noon our room would be ready. Our last several trips it has been almost 4 pm when we finally got the text, (sometimes we havent even gotten the text). It seems to be common in many TR's as well. So what exactly is Mousekeeping doing all day? If they are not cleaning guests room, and it takes until 4 pm to have rooms read,...what the heck are they doing? Snacking on leftover Entenmanns Doughnuts from @lostpro9het 's room? lol

Two words ~ staff reduction. Each mousekeeper now has more rooms to service (info came from a manager). Details like informing when a room is ready for new guests slip through the cracks as the housekeeper scurries on to the next task. (Reason you don't get a "room ready" text.) Add a language barrier to the mix and things can get slowed down further.

But I like your donut snacking hypothesis better!

 

[sheriffwoody]

Here is what I dont get. I t seems each trip over the last two years that our check in time gets later and later. I recall years ago when we arrived at 11 am or noon our room would be ready. Our last several trips it has been almost 4 pm when we finally got the text, (sometimes we havent even gotten the text). It seems to be common in many TR's as well. So what exactly is Mousekeeping doing all day? If they are not cleaning guests room, and it takes until 4 pm to have rooms read,...what the heck are they doing? Snacking on leftover Entenmanns Doughnuts from @lostpro9het 's room? lol

I wouldn't be surprised if they have cut the staff back, so maybe that's why. I mean less people + same amount of rooms = longer time to clean. Just a guess though.

 

[sheriffwoody]

@Tuvalu you beat me to it

 

[riverside]

Em was hungry.
My stomach was rumbly.
"I can eat," Woody said.

An early lunch was in order. We saw that Flame Tree BBQ opened at 10:45 am. We joined the short line at 10:40 am.

At 11 am (and with a long line of guests now behind us) Flame Tree looked like this:
View attachment 221322

"HELL-O, IS ANYBODY WORKING HERE TODAY?!!"

A few moments later CMs began sauntering over to the registers. Others slowly rolled up the shutters.

"SO NICE OF YOU TO FINALLY SHOW UP!"

(Okay, so no one actually said those things but trust me, we were all thinking it!)

By the time we had our food it was almost 11:30 am. We'd waited 45 minutes for a quick service lunch and we were only 4th in line.

We chose to sit in the eagle vs. snake pavilion. You do know that the theme of Flame Tree BBQ is predator vs. prey, don't you? And that each seating pavilion has a different theme?

Well now you do.

View attachment 221323

Note the lanterns.
#1
View attachment 221325

#2
View attachment 221326
Eagle for the win!

The food was fresh and flavorful. Em chose the half chicken, Woody the turkey sandwich and pulled pork sandwich for me. Plus an unexpected treat ~ 3 bags of purse grapes!!
View attachment 221324
(Well one bag didn't make it into the purse. I ate it. )

Lunch finished, we were ready to get our pool on. I stopped by Guest Relations on our way out to get a replacement Tables in Wonderland card (my 3rd this year.) None of the QS restaurants have been able to read my card. I had the same issue in February. All the CMs complain about the poor quality of the TiW card stock. If you order TiW at least a month before your vacation, you are mailed a plastic TiW card (like a credit card or Disney ticket.) But if you purchase TiW on site, you are given a paper card.

Apparently it must be cheaper to print several paper replacement cards than ONE plastic card.

The Poly bus was just pulling in as we reached the stop. Our delight was short-lived when we ended up waiting over 20 minutes for the next-shift driver. "I overslept," was his excuse to the driver waiting to be relieved. Add the 20 minutes back to the Poly and it was a long ordeal.

Our bad luck continued when we opened our door to an unmade room. Every other day this week our room has been made up before lunch. Em and I hurriedly put on our swimsuits. Woody decided to stay out of the sun and took a book to the lounge. Thankfully the mousekeeper came sometime during the two hours we were out of the room.

There must have been something in the air that week at AK. Earlier that week we were there and had pretty much the same experience at Yak & Yeti that you did at Flame Tree. The CMs actually seemed irritated that they had to open the place. We also waited for quite some time b/c they didn't open on time.

 

[wdisney9000]

Two words ~ staff reduction. Each mousekeeper now has more rooms to service (info came from a manager). Details like informing when a room is ready for new guests slip through the cracks as the housekeeper scurries on to the next task. (Reason you don't get a "room ready" text.) Add a language barrier to the mix and things can get slowed down further.

I wouldn't be surprised if they have cut the staff back, so maybe that's why. I mean less people + same amount of rooms = longer time to clean. Just a guess though.

Prices go up, staff gets reduced. smh

 

[Tuvalu]

Prices go up, staff gets reduced. smh

It's all about GREED.

 

[Tuvalu]

There must have been something in the air that week at AK. Earlier that week we were there and had pretty much the same experience at Yak & Yeti that you did at Flame Tree. The CMs actually seemed irritated that they had to open the place. We also waited for quite some time b/c they didn't open on time.

#blamepandora

 

[lostpro9het]

Snacking on leftover Entenmanns Doughnuts from @lostpro9het 's room? lol

Pffft...

 

[imahistorygeek]

Pffft...
View attachment 221503

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con't

Back in our room Em's new purchases for her classroom were displayed on the bed. The character pillows (in addition to tsum-tsums) are a big hit with third graders.

We got cleaned up for our early dinner ADR. Em did not want to be up late, knowing she had the 3:20 am Tragical pick up to look forward to.

Jumped on the monorail and arrived at our destination in no time ~ the California Grill. Yeah, we've been here before......

We were seated at a window table in a section new to us. Honestly, we have never had a "bad" table at Cali Grill....though some are better than others.

Our view:

Our server made sure the riff-raff was kept away from Shirley and Co.

 

[Tuvalu]

I don't know why we even look at the menu since Em and I always order the filet. Woody is a filet guy too, but he has been known to breach out and try other selections. The appetizers change regularly so I guess that in itself is a good reason to glance over the menu.

Our server was EXCELLENT. He was very knowledgeable about the wine list and menu and paced the meal well. He was also very likeable ~ conversing enough to be friendly but not overbearing. When I mentioned how much I like the lavender focaccia, he wasted no time in bringing our bread basket!

The "good stuff" is hidden under the rolls. I have no idea if the rolls are good or not....I am too busy inhaling the focaccia. Lucky for me, Woody and Em prefer the rolls. The floral taste in the focaccia is too heavy for them.

The entrees are very filling yet we always seem to find ourselves tempted with an appetizer. Tonight was no different. We picked a good one.......the BLT flatbread.

The three of us made quick work of this beauty!

The family that orders the same entree stays together. Or something like that. Woody decided to be a filet guy again. The only downside to this meal (for me) was the broccolini.

 

[Plowboy]

We. Just. Didn't. Get. It.[/QUOTE]

That's my biggest fear (if you can call it that). We haven't seen the movie and don't know a thing about the premise. (Kind of like the whole star wars thing. I vaguely remember seeing the first two movies when they came out in theaters. All the subsequent ones with all the other characters are lost on me). I did however watch a youtube vid of the "river" ride and am mildly interested but not to the extent that I would wait in a long line. Possibly a fast pass.

 

[Tuvalu]

As full as we were, we still ordered dessert!

Woody had the blueberry cheesecake. He really liked it.

Em agreed to share the fritters with me. I am so glad she did for two reasons:
1) I could never eat an order by myself and so would have passed on getting them
&
2) The fritters ~ always a CG dessert staple ~ have been taken off the menu! (Learned that the hard way on our July visit.)

Our server noticed the "anniversary celebration" on our ADR. He brought us a champagne toast for 3 (so thoughtful of him to include Em) and a cupcake.

Boston chocolate cream cupcake. To die for. I would have sacrificed the fritters just for this!

(Chef, can we get this cupcake put on the menu? Please??!!)

 

[Zipadeelady]

WHAT!! FRITTERS OFF THE MENU!!

I've had my CG meal picked out for months and that is the desert I have to have!! Do I need Shirley status or can I just beg for them?

 

[susan lees]

Em was hungry.
My stomach was rumbly.
"I can eat," Woody said.

An early lunch was in order. We saw that Flame Tree BBQ opened at 10:45 am. We joined the short line at 10:40 am.

At 11 am (and with a long line of guests now behind us) Flame Tree looked like this:
View attachment 221322

"HELL-O, IS ANYBODY WORKING HERE TODAY?!!"

A few moments later CMs began sauntering over to the registers. Others slowly rolled up the shutters.

"SO NICE OF YOU TO FINALLY SHOW UP!"

(Okay, so no one actually said those things but trust me, we were all thinking it!)

By the time we had our food it was almost 11:30 am. We'd waited 45 minutes for a quick service lunch and we were only 4th in line.

We chose to sit in the eagle vs. snake pavilion. You do know that the theme of Flame Tree BBQ is predator vs. prey, don't you? And that each seating pavilion has a different theme?

Well now you do.

View attachment 221323

Note the lanterns.
#1
View attachment 221325

#2
View attachment 221326
Eagle for the win!

The food was fresh and flavorful. Em chose the half chicken, Woody the turkey sandwich and pulled pork sandwich for me. Plus an unexpected treat ~ 3 bags of purse grapes!!
View attachment 221324
(Well one bag didn't make it into the purse. I ate it. )

Lunch finished, we were ready to get our pool on. I stopped by Guest Relations on our way out to get a replacement Tables in Wonderland card (my 3rd this year.) None of the QS restaurants have been able to read my card. I had the same issue in February. All the CMs complain about the poor quality of the TiW card stock. If you order TiW at least a month before your vacation, you are mailed a plastic TiW card (like a credit card or Disney ticket.) But if you purchase TiW on site, you are given a paper card.

Apparently it must be cheaper to print several paper replacement cards than ONE plastic card.

The Poly bus was just pulling in as we reached the stop. Our delight was short-lived when we ended up waiting over 20 minutes for the next-shift driver. "I overslept," was his excuse to the driver waiting to be relieved. Add the 20 minutes back to the Poly and it was a long ordeal.

Our bad luck continued when we opened our door to an unmade room. Every other day this week our room has been made up before lunch. Em and I hurriedly put on our swimsuits. Woody decided to stay out of the sun and took a book to the lounge. Thankfully the mousekeeper came sometime during the two hours we were out of the room.

It's interesting that the days we are later leaving our room mousekeeping are always waiting for us to leave and when we want a rest in the afternoon room not ready . Go figure!!