Trip Report THE ONE WITH THE FRIENDS IN FEBRUARY; Feb 16-23, 2019 *COMPLETE*

Hi all. Just returned from our February break trip and I can’t wait to share it with you!
First things first.....

THE WHO:
We have some friends we go away with every other February break.
In 2017 we did a Royal Caribbean cruise:

In 2015 we stayed in a grand villa at AKL:

And in 2013 we did the Disney Dream:

Sorry, no matching shirts. We were still feeling each other out

So who do we have?
( @Rista1313 pay attention!)

Me
Husband-Ant
Son-AJ, 15
Son-Dre, 13
We have another son, X, who was at school and did not come with us but makes a guest appearance, or two

Our friends
J tall bald and male
L short blond and fun
3 out of their 4 kids
Son-T, 17
Son-R, 13
Daughter-H, 12
Their oldest is away at college.

THE WHERE
We stayed in the Saratoga Springs Treehouse villas. Love them!!! More later!

I think that is all you need to know for now.

2019!

 

[Billy6]

Awesome! I've done the sea racers quite a few times, great fun...And that "no phone" thing, just don't let the patrol boats notice you take pictures... Ehemm...but safety first..!!

 

[Darstarr]

I'm glad that you were able to write the letters supporting the CM's but at the same time still express your feelings about how the whole experience was a disappointment and that Disney did not advertise the Party boat experience properly. I'm always big on telling Disney when they exceed expectations with something but I also believe that unless the guest expresses their displeasure with bad experiences, things don't get corrected. It looks like all the kids had fun out on the boats!

The kids (and Ant) had so much fun on the Sea Raycers. Our next stay will be at BLT so we will need to carve out some time to do them again!

 

[Darstarr]

Following !!

Excellent! And welcome!

My son and husband played the circle game when DS was a teen- I dunno what they called it- but they didn’t hit gently! It was an all out war lol- which usually led to a headlock. They have always been that way- rough housing- they probably still do at work! Silly boys! I laughed so hard when I saw this picture.

Ha HaBoys. My friends with girls have NO idea!

Awesome! I've done the sea racers quite a few times, great fun...And that "no phone" thing, just don't let the patrol boats notice you take pictures... Ehemm...but safety first..!!

I hear you but.....no way was I starting any (more) trouble! Next time, when we are paying customers.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

We headed towards Buzz. T was Googling high value targets. Ant, being as competitive as he is, was right there with T.

I guess AJ was not as competitive as T.

Best picture I ever took!

No galactic heros this time.

I thought this was cute. Not cute enough to wear...

Then we went for something to eat.

I play volleyball against a guy who sounds just like Sonny. Cracks me up so much. And he has no idea who Sonny is. That part is sad to me.

Best chicken! And the left overs went into my splash mountain ziplock baggie!

 

[MinnieM123]

The kids (and Ant) had so much fun on the Sea Raycers. Our next stay will be at BLT so we will need to carve out some time to do them again!

I've ridden on those Sea Raycers twice (quite a few years in between). They're fun! I made sure I followed all the rules, and I didn't go too fast (I'm chicken ... ). What also struck me about them, is just how small you feel in them, when other larger watercraft pass by.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/ Feb 19 cont

The kids wanted to do Buzz again. L, Ant and I wanted cinnamon rolls from Gastons. On the way there I was checking MDE for FPs. There was a Voyage of the little mermaid FP and it was next door to Gastons so I nabbed it. We went in and got the cinnamon roll I have been craving since December.

While I waited I sat

Sooooo not happy with the cinnamon roll. Geez people, it is not that hard. Sweet dough, cinnamon, butter, sugar and icing. This had some brown stuff in the middle which I think they were trying to pass off as carmelized sugar but it was the consistency of pudding. If I want pudding I will order pudding!!!!
Epic fail!!!!!!!
Epic!

We headed toward the little mermaid.

But something was amiss. It was down! Yay! That means...
Multi experience Fast Pass!!!

I sent a group text to the kids to meet at space mountain. They were at buzz so mo problemo!

Hair emergency. Ant was at least paying attention.

When we got off I checked MDE again. It still had a multi experience FP for all of us. We jumped in line for buzz. (Before the FP disappeared)

Ummmm

That would be me!!!

(Haaaaa Maui you’re so awesome!)

Ant caught up in the next room.

The CM who gave us the stickers was all “how did you do it?”
Really? Have you never googled “high value targets on buzz” and then hit those high value targets??

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

T was more determined than ever.

But not AJ.

AJ was the steerer. Is that a word? All T had to do was concentrate on scoring while AJ drove. What a couple of knuckleheads!

Success!!!! Galactic hero!

J made it back and decided to join his son, the galactic hero.

These two.....well......um......
I got nothing.

All of these were done with that one multi experience FP from VotLM!!!
Venelope is not the only glitch.

 

[Songbird76]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

I then turned my attention to the recreation booth. Our Driver from December was there. She did not seem thrilled to see me even though I was happy to see her. I said, “you got in trouble didnt you?”
Quick refresher: while arguing (it was not a discussion) with dvc supervisor Krista on the phone once I returned home, I said “dvc scr**** me and the marina staff knew it”. Krista started lecturing me how CM’s aren’t suppose to bad mouth disney or dvc. I tried to explain that Driver did not bad mouth anyone but Krista wasnt hearing it.

So here I am looking at Driver and I knew Krista got her in trouble. I asked, “did you get in trouble?” Her response, “I cant say.”
Sounds like a yes to me!
I tried to explain the conversation with Krista and how she miscontrued what I was saying and how I tried to set her straight. I asked Driver how I could fix this. “Well, tell my supervisor here what really happened.”
I told her. I didnt know how much it would help so I asked what else I could do. Driver said I could go to the Contemporary front desk and write a letter/note on her behalf.

They had work to do so L and I grabbed a couple drinks from the pool bar (that bar is pretty small and nasty for such a large resort) and sat in the shade. My stomach was in knots trying to remember exactly what I said to Krista. I was so worked up, did I throw Driver under the bus? I do remember telling Krista Driver did not say anything bad about the company. I reread some posts from my Dec TR, that was written soon after the conversations so should be pretty accurate.

Disney records all phone calls so Krista had the luxury of replaying it, maybe just the parts she wanted to hear? I was stuck trying to replay it in my head and was starting to doubt myself. Dark times.

30 minutes had come and gone. No kids. I could see them out on the water.
View attachment 355215

They could not use their phones so
A) useless to try to get in touch with them
B) they couldnt check the time
Except passenger H. Would she pick up? No. Would she get the text? Yes.
Tell everyone it is time to come in.
With that we see a boat take off for seven seas lagoon. The opposite direction from coming in. Ugggh

First was Ant. The adult. (LOFI)
View attachment 355216

Followed closely (too closely?) by T and H.

Then Dre. He was coming in sooooo fast. I was yelling at him to slow down !!!SLOW DOWN!!! Then the marina staff joined me in the yelling, SLOW DOWN!!! I was picturing this free 30 minute joy ride costing me 10’s of thousands if dollars to replace the sea raycer he was about to smash. He slowed in the nick of time. How many years until I have to teach him to drive?View attachment 355217
So who took off? AJ of course right?
But no, it was R who took off looking for AJ.
At that point Driver asked if we wanted her to alert marine patrol. Yes please!

Marine patrol did end up stopping AJ and telling him to get back. R gave up and came back on his own when he couldnt find him. But look how close they are.
View attachment 355220

View attachment 355221

“AJ! Seriously?! You were the only one out there wearing a watch!”
“Oops”

Please enjoy his walk of shame:
View attachment 355231

View attachment 355232

View attachment 355233

Once again, the Marina staff was awesome!

View attachment 355234

Info if anyone wants to try. The kids had an absolute blast. So did Ant

Wow....what a witch is Krista for getting the driver in trouble for something that was DVC's fault!! It sounds like they purposely do that to people, knowing the CMs can't do anything about it and will be the ones to deal with the upset guests. Did you contact DVC and complain about Krista and how unprofessional she was?

EDIT: I see you had a good conversation with Krista. But I still think it was a bit unprofessional of her to try to put it all off on the driver and not listen to you in the first place. If she had listened to you as it is her job to do, there wouldn't have been a problem. Glad it finally got straightened out though, and hopefully she learned from that experience.

 

[Darstarr]

Wow....what a witch is Krista for getting the driver in trouble for something that was DVC's fault!! It sounds like they purposely do that to people, knowing the CMs can't do anything about it and will be the ones to deal with the upset guests. Did you contact DVC and complain about Krista and how unprofessional she was?

EDIT: I see you had a good conversation with Krista. But I still think it was a bit unprofessional of her to try to put it all off on the driver and not listen to you in the first place. If she had listened to you as it is her job to do, there wouldn't have been a problem. Glad it finally got straightened out though, and hopefully she learned from that experience.

I hope she learned something too. I know I did!!! And witch is the the perfect word! Although, at the end, when I feel she REALLY understood what happened, she did apologize and it sounded sincere for the first time (in forever).

 

[Darstarr]

At the beginning of this TR I mentioned this could also be known as the one with familiar faces in foreign places. We already had a run in, two actually in the airport. Then we saw everyone at the lax game. Then we saw Ants cousins.

Well....this is freaky.
I am in MA with Dre for a lax tourny right now. Coach C (from the airport) put this team together so it is not Dre’s normal team. Last night at dinner I was talking to a woman who grew up in a town where one of my good friends from college lived. After graduation he disappeared. Long story short, she gets on face book and 20 minutes later I have his phone number. I call him. He lives 5 minutes from X’s school and was at the game we went to because his son wants to transfer there next year. He said, “I thought I saw you there but thought, no, it couldnt be you.”

It WAS me. We have plans to meet up at X’s next home game.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

While the boys were riding buzz over and over and over, L, H, R and I headed towards frontierland. R wanted to do splash. Me? Not so much, especially with a 60 minute wait. L took her two youngest to splash and I did this:

My mom always dragged (drug?) my siblings and I here when I was younger so I have avoided it forever. As I was walking by a CM was outside announcing 4 minutes to show time. Ok.

Weren't these guys on the other side of the theatre? I must be thinking of Disneyland.

When I left Happily ever after was about to start. I wasnt interested in the fireworks part. Nothing could surpass the view from seven seas. I wanted to see the castle projections. You cant see those from the water.

I found a great spot sitting on a railing on the side of Libery Square Portrait gallery? Studio?
Some people would meander in front then quickly move on once they realized the fireworks could not be seen because of the trees.

Some of these are so cool!

BTW
L, R and H did not wait 60 minutes for splash mountain. The multi experience FP worked again! And then they went to Big Thunder.

 

[Songbird76]

At the beginning of this TR I mentioned this could also be known as the one with familiar faces in foreign places. We already had a run in, two actually in the airport. Then we saw everyone at the lax game. Then we saw Ants cousins.

Well....this is freaky.
I am in MA with Dre for a lax tourny right now. Coach C (from the airport) put this team together so it is not Dre’s normal team. Last night at dinner I was talking to a woman who grew up in a town where one of my good friends from college lived. After graduation he disappeared. Long story short, she gets on face book and 20 minutes later I have his phone number. I call him. He lives 5 minutes from X’s school and was at the game we went to because his son wants to transfer there next year. He said, “I thought I saw you there but thought, no, it couldnt be you.”

It WAS me. We have plans to meet up at X’s next home game.

Wow....that is freaky, but in a good way!! There are so many people I've lost touch with that I wish I could find. That's so cool that you will get to catch up with your friend!!

 

[amjt660]

It seems that with the Cinnamon roll, the FW viewing from a boat and a few other things you could have almost called this TR:

@Darstarr gets a Do Over!!

Max

 

[Darstarr]

Wow....that is freaky, but in a good way!! There are so many people I've lost touch with that I wish I could find. That's so cool that you will get to catch up with your friend!!

I didnt want to say it but...
It is a small world (after all)

 

[Darstarr]

It seems that with the Cinnamon roll, the FW viewing from a boat and a few other things you could have almost called this TR:

@Darstarr gets a Do Over!!

Max

Yes. That is a great point!
I wish Max could also get a do over!

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont


With some of the projections you can really tell what is going on, the movie/character they are portraying. Others, not so much. At least not now. At the time with the music it makes sense.

I feel like I should know this one. Anyone?

This was an easy one. Toy story.

Up

Also, how do they do this?? Nevermind. Dont ruin the magic.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

And now for that little pixie.
The one and only....Tinkerbell

Meanwhile the boys were still playing with Zurg

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

L, R, H and I hooked back up and went on small world.

Italy is on my bucket list.

Trunk up(ish) for good luck.

Hmmm
What am I trying to tell myself? Time to go back to Aulani before that huge eyesore gets built next door???

Always get my little American friends.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/Feb 19 cont

Little mermaid was up and running so we took a ride.

I love palm trees. Have I mentioned I love palm trees?

The kids met up with Ant, J and the boys. I am not sure if they continued to do buzz or if they did space mountain. L and I opted for the barnstormer. We tried the multi experience FP which was still showing. I tapped in, green! L tapped in, blue. I showed the CM MDE PDQ and he said not to worry, sometimes it only works for the person who originally made the FP.
The wait was short.
Nice view from the line.

Crammed in the seat that is clearly made for children.

We went in here but I dont remember buying anything.

Then L and I did HM. It was dead. Sorry.
We could actually HEAR the stretching room stretch.

We had a group message going and I just checked to see what the others were doing while L and I did all this. Buzz. Then H and R joined them for SM.

After HM L and I sat and waited for the kiss goodnight.

Then we met up with Ant and walked to the bus stop just behind the others.

 

[Darstarr]

Day 4/ Feb 19 the end