My wife and I just got back from 3 days at WDW. We stayed at Pop Century and here are a few random observations from our trip, March 23-25.
The Good:
Pop Century: Simply wonderful. This was our first time staying at a value resort. It was friendly warm, whimsical, and brand spankin' new. The cast members we delt with were all friendly and helpful. Love the way the place looks. Love the rooms. Didn't try the food court but it looked pretty good.
Crowds: They're back! I don't wanna hear anyone talking about poor attendance. I know it's peak season but it was so great to see the parks full again.
Nemo at living seas: I'm not sure if it's this or just the season but the Living Seas were packed today. Everywhere families were crowded into the research areas looking at all the exhbits... and the kids were actually interested. I might be just a comercial movie tie in... but it worked.
Spring Training at Wide World of Sports: We went to the Braves-Cardinals game. This was one of the best baseball experiences I've had. Being up close to the game action was just great. The facility is just awesome, very cozy. I loved when foul balls are hit into the crowd how they play the seagulls from Nemo saying "Mine Mine Mine Mine". :lol:
Sam: Sam was the best part of the trip. Sam is a cast member at Yachtmen's steak house. We'd just come from a not so great experience at Epcot and we in kinda a bad mood. He took the time to look up some info about us, knew we were from Atlanta. He told us stories about how he used to hang out in atlanta when he graduated college (a year before my wife was born). The service was just perfect and the food was unbelievable. And to top it all off, he brought my wife a red rose as we were paying our bill. Disney magic at it's best.
The bad:
Drunk guests: We've been going to WDW twice a year for 5 years now so it was bound to happen sooner or later, and with the crowds I guess the was to be expected. But Tuesday night, we were in front of Canada behind the popcorn stand when a group of 6 or so young inebriated Canadaians came up 5 minutes before Reflections of Earth and starting singing O' Canada very loudly. I mean like I hope they hear us in Italy loud. Made a lot of the guests around us, especially the ones with young children, rather uncomfortable.
Cast members that continue to serve alcohol to said drunk guests after the fireworks have started: The show starts and the young male cast member keeps pouring them beer! Another female cast member came over to stop him but he told her,"just let me finish this group and I'm done". Halfway through the firework they started singing again. I had to yell at them to knock it off and one of them asked me if I was serious. It was at that time the cast member working the popcorn stand finally noded and told them to keep it down. Am I the only one that thinks there's something SERIOUSLY wrong with this picture?
Water at the Living Seas: Something is leaking. The carpet in the pre-show theater was soaked from the screen to the second row of seats today. Also had the right most hydrolator shut down because of it.
Wind: Ok I know Disney can't control the weather... yet. But Monday night we were out on the Comtemporary roof top observation deck to watch Wishes. It must have been a steady 15 mph COLD wind. BRRRRRRR
The Ugly:
Park maintenance during guest hours: Servicing the Imagination windows with a cherry picker during this morning at Epcot. It looks like they are replacing the weather stripping. Does this really have to be done during guest hours?
Leaving the rail service truck out on the rails on the MK railroad: It was parked right at the switch on the siding going back to the train shed. Just sloppy to leave that out like that.
Cast Members leaving back stage doors propped open: Saw it today at the Malestrom and at the Living Seas. Again just sloppy. But at least now I know for sure that the seacabs are still in place at the Living Seas.
Anyway... that's my trip. Overall we had a great time but just a few things need some more pixie dust.
The Good:
Pop Century: Simply wonderful. This was our first time staying at a value resort. It was friendly warm, whimsical, and brand spankin' new. The cast members we delt with were all friendly and helpful. Love the way the place looks. Love the rooms. Didn't try the food court but it looked pretty good.
Crowds: They're back! I don't wanna hear anyone talking about poor attendance. I know it's peak season but it was so great to see the parks full again.
Nemo at living seas: I'm not sure if it's this or just the season but the Living Seas were packed today. Everywhere families were crowded into the research areas looking at all the exhbits... and the kids were actually interested. I might be just a comercial movie tie in... but it worked.
Spring Training at Wide World of Sports: We went to the Braves-Cardinals game. This was one of the best baseball experiences I've had. Being up close to the game action was just great. The facility is just awesome, very cozy. I loved when foul balls are hit into the crowd how they play the seagulls from Nemo saying "Mine Mine Mine Mine". :lol:
Sam: Sam was the best part of the trip. Sam is a cast member at Yachtmen's steak house. We'd just come from a not so great experience at Epcot and we in kinda a bad mood. He took the time to look up some info about us, knew we were from Atlanta. He told us stories about how he used to hang out in atlanta when he graduated college (a year before my wife was born). The service was just perfect and the food was unbelievable. And to top it all off, he brought my wife a red rose as we were paying our bill. Disney magic at it's best.
The bad:
Drunk guests: We've been going to WDW twice a year for 5 years now so it was bound to happen sooner or later, and with the crowds I guess the was to be expected. But Tuesday night, we were in front of Canada behind the popcorn stand when a group of 6 or so young inebriated Canadaians came up 5 minutes before Reflections of Earth and starting singing O' Canada very loudly. I mean like I hope they hear us in Italy loud. Made a lot of the guests around us, especially the ones with young children, rather uncomfortable.
Cast members that continue to serve alcohol to said drunk guests after the fireworks have started: The show starts and the young male cast member keeps pouring them beer! Another female cast member came over to stop him but he told her,"just let me finish this group and I'm done". Halfway through the firework they started singing again. I had to yell at them to knock it off and one of them asked me if I was serious. It was at that time the cast member working the popcorn stand finally noded and told them to keep it down. Am I the only one that thinks there's something SERIOUSLY wrong with this picture?
Water at the Living Seas: Something is leaking. The carpet in the pre-show theater was soaked from the screen to the second row of seats today. Also had the right most hydrolator shut down because of it.
Wind: Ok I know Disney can't control the weather... yet. But Monday night we were out on the Comtemporary roof top observation deck to watch Wishes. It must have been a steady 15 mph COLD wind. BRRRRRRR
The Ugly:
Park maintenance during guest hours: Servicing the Imagination windows with a cherry picker during this morning at Epcot. It looks like they are replacing the weather stripping. Does this really have to be done during guest hours?
Leaving the rail service truck out on the rails on the MK railroad: It was parked right at the switch on the siding going back to the train shed. Just sloppy to leave that out like that.
Cast Members leaving back stage doors propped open: Saw it today at the Malestrom and at the Living Seas. Again just sloppy. But at least now I know for sure that the seacabs are still in place at the Living Seas.
Anyway... that's my trip. Overall we had a great time but just a few things need some more pixie dust.
