Did you guys miss us yet? I know it’s been a solid week and a half since my last TR. We have one summer trip left. WDW. Live(ish) TR. Let’s do this!
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Trip Report The last Summer Hurrah!
- Thread starter Loco_driver
- Start date
ajrwdwgirl
Premium Member
Have a safe trip home! I can't believe your trip is already over, it is so fun to see your adventures. Looking forward to your next trip!
We ended up with a little over two hours worth of delays, but we’re home safely. Here’s a few thoughts I have after returning to WDW for the first time in over a year.
Parks - There were reports of low crowds and empty parks in the weeks leading up to our trip. This mostly held true the first two days, but the crowds picked up big time starting Monday. I believe it was mostly due to some massive tour groups that seemed to have descended upon the parks this week. They were everywhere! We still managed to get most of our favorites done without being in the parks all day long. I did try the new LL system on our last day and managed to secure six decent LLs. we only ended up using four of them(Jungle cruise, pirates, ToT, and MMRR) before the crowds and heat ran us off. I could see myself using this once or maybe twice on a longer trip. Much better than the old genie plus system.
Having just visited DLR a month ago it was hard not to compare the two resorts. While I preferred the park experience at DLR, the “bubble” at WDW is real and I love the more relaxed vacation feel of the east coast resort. I certainly was missing that California weather though!
Resort - this was our first longer trip at SSR and we really enjoyed it. I think next time I’d probably request a room in the Springs section for preferred room or the Grandstand section for standard. Congress park was nice for watching the drone show and walking to Disney Springs, but I’m not a big Disney springs fan, and it’s a HOT walk during the summer to both DS and to the main lobby. The busses probably take the longest to get through this massive resort than any other that we’ve stayed at. We had no real issues with the exception of getting back after extended hours at MK, where we waited for 45 minutes before we could finally get on a bus. The buses also can feel crowded with people using them as a “hack” to get to DS(please don’t be those people).
Golf - this was my first time trying the courses at WDW. The service reminded me of the Disney of old. Absolutely top notch CMs at both courses we tried. They were constantly out and about with cooling towels and water on those hot mornings. If you’re a golfer I’d highly recommend any of the WDW courses. The green fees with our DVC discount were comparable if not a bit cheaper to similar courses in the Orlando area.
A has taken on a new role at school as a girls basketball and softball coach, so we’re going to be pretty much limited to summer trips going forward. It’s hot and wet during summer, but we’re grizzled old veterans and know to enjoy that midday break during the summer to save your sanity!
We’re trying to squeeze in a short trip during the fall(but having no luck so far), but our next big trip will be next June when we’ll spend a few days at WDW with a Royal Caribbean cruise sandwiched between(hence the APs @Tuvalu ). Until then I’ll be around enjoying seeing all of you having fun during your travels.
See ya next time!
Parks - There were reports of low crowds and empty parks in the weeks leading up to our trip. This mostly held true the first two days, but the crowds picked up big time starting Monday. I believe it was mostly due to some massive tour groups that seemed to have descended upon the parks this week. They were everywhere! We still managed to get most of our favorites done without being in the parks all day long. I did try the new LL system on our last day and managed to secure six decent LLs. we only ended up using four of them(Jungle cruise, pirates, ToT, and MMRR) before the crowds and heat ran us off. I could see myself using this once or maybe twice on a longer trip. Much better than the old genie plus system.
Having just visited DLR a month ago it was hard not to compare the two resorts. While I preferred the park experience at DLR, the “bubble” at WDW is real and I love the more relaxed vacation feel of the east coast resort. I certainly was missing that California weather though!
Resort - this was our first longer trip at SSR and we really enjoyed it. I think next time I’d probably request a room in the Springs section for preferred room or the Grandstand section for standard. Congress park was nice for watching the drone show and walking to Disney Springs, but I’m not a big Disney springs fan, and it’s a HOT walk during the summer to both DS and to the main lobby. The busses probably take the longest to get through this massive resort than any other that we’ve stayed at. We had no real issues with the exception of getting back after extended hours at MK, where we waited for 45 minutes before we could finally get on a bus. The buses also can feel crowded with people using them as a “hack” to get to DS(please don’t be those people).
Golf - this was my first time trying the courses at WDW. The service reminded me of the Disney of old. Absolutely top notch CMs at both courses we tried. They were constantly out and about with cooling towels and water on those hot mornings. If you’re a golfer I’d highly recommend any of the WDW courses. The green fees with our DVC discount were comparable if not a bit cheaper to similar courses in the Orlando area.
A has taken on a new role at school as a girls basketball and softball coach, so we’re going to be pretty much limited to summer trips going forward. It’s hot and wet during summer, but we’re grizzled old veterans and know to enjoy that midday break during the summer to save your sanity!
We’re trying to squeeze in a short trip during the fall(but having no luck so far), but our next big trip will be next June when we’ll spend a few days at WDW with a Royal Caribbean cruise sandwiched between(hence the APs @Tuvalu ). Until then I’ll be around enjoying seeing all of you having fun during your travels.
See ya next time!
MinnieM123
Premium Member
Thank you for your TR. You and your wife looked like you were both having a ton of fun!
Great TR TY!!
Tiki Traveler
Well-Known Member
Thank you for taking the time to document both your trip! Golfing seems like another great activity at DW!
I’ve read that school will start in just a few weeks for many states. Western New York schools don’t start until around Labor Day. I guess it helps spread out some of the Disney visitors!
I’ve read that school will start in just a few weeks for many states. Western New York schools don’t start until around Labor Day. I guess it helps spread out some of the Disney visitors!
lindawdw
Well-Known Member
What a fun TR!!! You and A always seem to have such a good time together at WDW and DL. I agree with your analysis about the park feel of both parks. I think some of the attractions at DL are so much better than WDW but the overall bubble feel just can't compare to WDW. Sorry to hear that you won't be able to vacation outside at WDW outside the summer months as we can't handle to heat in the summer in Florida, but I'll enjoy following along whenever you make it back. If you somehow make it back in the Fall, we'll be there the third week of October!
A has to report for work next Monday, classes start the following week.(August 12).Thank you for taking the time to document both your trip! Golfing seems like another great activity at DW!
I’ve read that school will start in just a few weeks for many states. Western New York schools don’t start until around Labor Day. I guess it helps spread out some of the Disney visitors!
Thanks! We’ll be on property 06/11-06/13 and then 06/21-06/23 next year!
We did book a trip. We’ll miss you by about a month. 11/23 - 11/26. Thanksgiving week. We’ll be packing our patience!
Tuvalu
Premium Member
That would definitely make sitting in traffic a little more tolerable!
lindawdw
Well-Known Member
Most definitely. You have to wear your patience pants for that traffic!
joshsprincess921
Well-Known Member
Great report! Which ship will you be sailing?
Josh and I are going on Utopia in January. It will be my first Royal experience.
We did not like Carnival. Maybe it didn't help that we did DCL last year, but won't do Carnival again.
Still made the best of it and had a good time, but I am excited for Royal.
Josh and I are going on Utopia in January. It will be my first Royal experience.
We did not like Carnival. Maybe it didn't help that we did DCL last year, but won't do Carnival again.
Still made the best of it and had a good time, but I am excited for Royal.
It’ll be on Adventure of the Seas. It’s a voyager class so it’s about the same size as the older Disney ships. We sailed the voyager last summer and thought it was great. We’ve sailed Harmony of the seas which is an oasis class like utopia. Loved it, tons of onboard entertainment. Royal has a lot more laid back vibe than carnival does IMO. Less of a party vibe.
Make sure to reserve seats for the shows when it becomes available!
riverside
Well-Known Member
Awesome TR!! So glad I finally got a chance to read it!!
We’re planning on June also but not sure of our dates yet.
We’re planning on June also but not sure of our dates yet.
That is perfect!!
R loves that course!! I hope he decides to play it again soon!!
Why, just why do they do that? Many times I have had to call for regular or I go right to the lobby & ask for it.
Thoughts on this course? And, is that the 9 hole one?
Fun and somewhat challenging. There are two holes that they have had to modify due to Floridian way construction and course redesign, but it didn’t hinder our round at all. The course is really beautiful and has a lot of native wildlife. Most of the time we forgot we were on Disney property(until the hole that’s right by the construction). I thought the CMs here were a little more friendly than at LBV. It is not the 9 hole walking course, that’s oak trail.