Trip report to the ex-sunshine state

[savannahsmiles]

Just got back. Spent 10 days in rain. I am completely water-logged, but I am not sunburnt or dehidrated. Stayed at ASSports for the first time. My daughter loved it - much more kid friendly than Coronado Springs, where we have stayed in the past.

Highlights or favorites-

Shockwave - EXCELLENT! - much better than last years (and last years was great)

Figment - improvement! I had to drag my DD in because she remember last years boring one!

Cinderella's Surprise Celebration - Wonderful! Although I don't understand why Disney always leaves out Sleeping Beauty!

One Man's Dream - really good!

All the entertainment and shows! - There is soooo much talent!

People still don't know to get to the parks early! We left Magic Kingdom about noon one day and everyone coming in look at me like I was sick or something!

Questionables -

Chester and Hester's or whatever it is - I don't know about this one, but my daughter loved it. I definitely has that cheap amusement park feel to it.

Disney Transportation - I need this one answered for our next trip - I have nevered stayed at any All Star property before and I thought the bus service was not as up to par as the moderate or deluxe properties. Is this normal, or just a fluke?

The weather!!!! - Really bad, very rainy and it is suppose to continue for the next week! One plus though, ****no heat! ***and less crowds!

What is up with the people who purchase rain ponchos and stand inside the bathrooms!! Don't they know most waiting areas and attractions are INSIDE! Just keep moving along! Oh, well...shorter lines for me - I just can't get into the potty!

 

[Invero]

Originally posted by savannahsmiles
Disney Transportation - I need this one answered for our next trip - I have nevered stayed at any All Star property before and I thought the bus service was not as up to par as the moderate or deluxe properties. Is this normal, or just a fluke?

It really depends on how you look at it. You mentioned previously that you stayed at Coronado Springs. CS rarely is ever a busy resort, transportation wise. As such, the busses to and from the MK for example will run like clockwork every 15 or so minutes. I drove that route yesterday, and I don't think I ever had more than 25 people on my bus. Most often times, the "quieter" resorts will have more clockwork bus service. (Note the Caribbean Beach is a bit different... CBR has a tendancy to fill up before stopping at all the stops. As such, route busses are assigned so that for example, #1 & #3 go to Jamaica first, and #2 & #4 go to Martinique first)

All Stars are a totally different story. The All Stars are by far the most popular resort, numbers wise, and as such, the AS resorts recieve by far the most amount of busses. (An example... Downtown Disney will run 6-10 ASR busses, versus 2 AKLodge busses) For the MK, the busses will typically run every 10 minutes, if all goes well.

HOWEVER... Because of the large demand (which is tripled when it starts to rain), the AS busses are the first ones that fall behind, and off schedule. Also, because of the rain, and for safety for the standees, often times bus drivers will slow down during inclement weather, which can put them behind schedule.

Another thing to note... if you look between AS Sports and AS Music at about 8:00-8:30 am... you'll see about 50 busses. This is the All-Star staging area. These busses are dispatched directly from this location to the All Stars to pick up in the morning for the theme parks.

 

[Maria]

Wow... thanks Tyler! Good explanation!

Ponchos.- I went to the theater on friday night and saw a mother and a daughter wearing those yellow Mickey Mouse ponchos! Made me laugh! We´ve been having heavy rains too for the past -and following- days!

Thanks for the trip report! Sorry the weather was so bad...

:animwink:

 

[tiggerlover1971]

doesnt anyone know that us floridaians call rain liquid sunshine since the summer months are filled with afternoon showers almost everyday

 

[savannahsmiles]

Hey thanks for the transportation explanation! I did notice CBR bus lines to be extremely long! The waits always seem like an eternity when you are standing there.

I didn't mind the rain so much. It just made it difficult to enjoy the pools and waterparks - although my daughter learned that swimming in the rain is pretty fun!

 

[cm1988]

We need the rain, but...

... sorry it dampened your vacation! This was the dreariest weather I've seen in 14 years! As you noted, the parks seemed less busy as a result.

I stopped into Epcot this weekend hoping to find a "Lilo and Stitch Premiere" pin... but they had quickly sold out. No pin traders in sight, either.

Personally, I much prefer an umbrella to a poncho, though only a poncho will stand up to a downpour. I'll wait the 20 minutes for that to subside, then head out with my umbrella.

Back on thread... the water table is still down. Looking forward to those brief afternoon thunder-boomers once this miserable 'tropical wave' drifts north... or south... or anywhere, please!

 

[Maria]

Re: We need the rain, but...

Originally posted by cm1988
[B Looking forward to those brief afternoon thunder-boomers once this miserable 'tropical wave' drifts north... or south... or anywhere, please! [/B]

It´s drifting South.... tell me about it! :animwink: :animwink:

 

[cm1988]

Re: Re: We need the rain, but...

Originally posted by Maria


It´s drifting South.... tell me about it! :animwink: :animwink:

Oh, sorry, Maria. Didn't mean to wish it on you. Just don't send it back North again!!!

 

[tiggerlover1971]

I HATE RAIN I HATE RAIN !!!! ITS BEEN 14DAYS STRAIGHT AND COUNTING SAID IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS TILL THURSDAY YUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

 

[Tramp]

...we've been watching the Weather Channel diligently and can really feel for anyone in WDW or on the Yucatan for vacation...doesn't seem to be any relief although they say it will be clear by mid-week....we leave on Thursday morning and the florida weather looks promising by then but I'm inclined never to believe weather forcasts.

 

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by savannahsmiles
... Stayed at ASSports ....

I was reading this, thinking what hotel do people hate so bad that there is a nickname like ports for it? Then I realized its All Star Sports :lol:

I know its OT and stupid, but oh well

 

[Dawn S]

I don't care how much we need this rain, I am SO sick of it! It's been raining for like 3 weeks & not just a drizzle either! I moved in the rain, packed & unpacked in the rain & it hasn't stopped. Today, I went to Ft. Lauderdale to visit my dad & the water was so high on Commercial Blvd that it was coming up over top of the whole car when other cars drove past. It created a wake & no one was going over 15-20...it was just THAT high! Enough already!!!

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by Tramp
...we've been watching the Weather Channel diligently and can really feel for anyone in WDW or on the Yucatan for vacation...

:wave: I´m here....

It´s been raining too, but I guess not as hard as in Florida... we have been getting daily rain too, but three days ago we had a really heavy storm. Friday and saturday were heavy too, mostly at nights... when you want to go out... Today´s was very nice though... :animwink:

But yeah... if you were planning to go to Cancun or other beaches...forget it... :animwink:

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Re: Re: Trip report to the ex-sunshine state

Originally posted by Thrawn


I was reading this, thinking what hotel do people hate so bad that there is a nickname like ports for it? Then I realized its All Star Sports :lol:

I know its OT and stupid, but oh well

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: That's the funniest thing i've heard in a while, Thrawn! i needed it too! thanks!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Gee, Hope all that rain didn't spoil your enjoyment too much........hope the rains gone for my next visit

 

[tiggerlover1971]

whats funny is that when its raining down here its usally not raining in orlando i guess the whole state is covered in rain. yesterday it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo bad out that i snuggled in my bed and watched disney movies

 

[savannahsmiles]

The rain didn't put a "damp"er on our vacation at all. Actually, we tried out several sit down restaurants that I normally wouldn't have. We usually stick to counter service.

Our favorite was Sci-Fi. We went there twice!