Who is ready to take their hubbie and kiddos to resies at The Grand Flo!
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Pre-Trip Virginia UFO Bigfoot
- Thread starter wdisney9000
- Start date
Zero Dark at the Boardwalk. Good morning!
It was an interesting shift yesterday going from Universal to Disney. Some quick thoughts on Universal experience.
C and I seriously enjoyed it. From the resort to the parks, it was an all around excellent experience. Staying at Loews Royal Pacific and having Express Pass was worth every penny. We will definitely do club level again as well. We are planning a trip in December and considered trying Hard Rock or Portifino and perhaps we may, but at the moment we're leaning towards Royal Pacific again. The staff was just amazing and genuinely friendly. We loved Jake's (restaurant) and Bula , the poolside lounge. Amd the tropical vibes were soooo relaxing.
The parks were just as great. Universal side seems more action packed to us. Every turn you take your in a different area and we loved the San Francisco and little Italy areas. It felt like Streets of America from MGM studios, but bigger and better.
Islands of Adventure is our favorite. For me, it was hands down due to Velocicoaster and C loves Forbidden Journey. We rode it 4 times! The park has a much more relaxed feel to it.
Being back at Disney now definitely feels like home. It always will be. 30+ years of memories will be hard for Universal to ever catch up to. We've just felt less and less appreciated by the "new" Disney over the last few years. The cut backs and non stop price increases are getting old. When it takes more time to build one attraction then it took to build all of Epcot in the 1980s, it's kinda sad. They blame any and everything on covid.
The CM's are truly a saving grace. Seeing our good friend Mrs Marlene (manager at Boardwalk) when we checked in yesterday was a perfect start to this trip. She walked out from the back and when she saw me, she called me over to her. She's the manager and has a ton of things going on at any moment but she stopped what she was doing and welcomed us just like family, not a dollar sign on a spread sheet.
We've made many friends with CMs over the years and they are a big reason We love this place. The little things like watching the Friend Ships cruise by as I sip my coffee watching the sunrise (which is what im currently doing), strolling the Boardwalk and enjoying the music, the smells of walking down MSUSA, getting a 1664 and a macaroon with C in France pavilion, and spending time with friends and family here has and will continue to be the main reason we feel "home" when we're here.
@harleebug and her husband are here with us. We actually met on these very forums several.years ago. Now they live in Georgia and are our best friends and this is our second trip together at WDW! If it hadn't been for Disney, we wouldn't have met. That's the magic of Disney. What Walt created has transcended normal amusement park and become something that's hard for me to put into words. It's bigger than just one concept. You either get it, or you don't.
Im glad to have all of our extended Disney family here on these forums. So many kind and amazing people. We are all a unique breed! Now, Let's go Brandon! And we are heading to HS!
Sorry for long rant. Here's some more pics!
It was an interesting shift yesterday going from Universal to Disney. Some quick thoughts on Universal experience.
C and I seriously enjoyed it. From the resort to the parks, it was an all around excellent experience. Staying at Loews Royal Pacific and having Express Pass was worth every penny. We will definitely do club level again as well. We are planning a trip in December and considered trying Hard Rock or Portifino and perhaps we may, but at the moment we're leaning towards Royal Pacific again. The staff was just amazing and genuinely friendly. We loved Jake's (restaurant) and Bula , the poolside lounge. Amd the tropical vibes were soooo relaxing.
The parks were just as great. Universal side seems more action packed to us. Every turn you take your in a different area and we loved the San Francisco and little Italy areas. It felt like Streets of America from MGM studios, but bigger and better.
Islands of Adventure is our favorite. For me, it was hands down due to Velocicoaster and C loves Forbidden Journey. We rode it 4 times! The park has a much more relaxed feel to it.
Being back at Disney now definitely feels like home. It always will be. 30+ years of memories will be hard for Universal to ever catch up to. We've just felt less and less appreciated by the "new" Disney over the last few years. The cut backs and non stop price increases are getting old. When it takes more time to build one attraction then it took to build all of Epcot in the 1980s, it's kinda sad. They blame any and everything on covid.
The CM's are truly a saving grace. Seeing our good friend Mrs Marlene (manager at Boardwalk) when we checked in yesterday was a perfect start to this trip. She walked out from the back and when she saw me, she called me over to her. She's the manager and has a ton of things going on at any moment but she stopped what she was doing and welcomed us just like family, not a dollar sign on a spread sheet.
We've made many friends with CMs over the years and they are a big reason We love this place. The little things like watching the Friend Ships cruise by as I sip my coffee watching the sunrise (which is what im currently doing), strolling the Boardwalk and enjoying the music, the smells of walking down MSUSA, getting a 1664 and a macaroon with C in France pavilion, and spending time with friends and family here has and will continue to be the main reason we feel "home" when we're here.
@harleebug and her husband are here with us. We actually met on these very forums several.years ago. Now they live in Georgia and are our best friends and this is our second trip together at WDW! If it hadn't been for Disney, we wouldn't have met. That's the magic of Disney. What Walt created has transcended normal amusement park and become something that's hard for me to put into words. It's bigger than just one concept. You either get it, or you don't.
Im glad to have all of our extended Disney family here on these forums. So many kind and amazing people. We are all a unique breed! Now, Let's go Brandon! And we are heading to HS!
Sorry for long rant. Here's some more pics!
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Im late for everything. You're my kinda gal, lol!!! Thanks for joining us!
Very, very late to the party.
If I may throw in my two cents, I whole-heartedly agree with your take on the current state of the "new" Disney. Some of the changes that have taken place in the last several years are disappointing. The nickel and diming, the elimination of certain entertainment and services, the constant price increases, I know it's a business, but come on, when is enough enough? I wonder what Messrs Disney would think?
Certain cast members really do make a difference. You can tell who the "old guard" are when you talk to them versus the one's that are new. If it weren't for the fact that we're not really "coaster people" we'd maybe try Universal as well.
Enjoying the TR. Carry on.
Love your rant @wdisney9000. I haven’t shared this on the forums but here goes. In August my two kids and I fled New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Ida. The usual 9 hour drive took 18 because of the evacuation traffic. My wife stayed behind to care for her father and Uncle who refused to evacuate.
Upon arriving at Pop Century at 3:30 am, security checked my ID. Seeing we were from Louisiana, the officer asked how we were holding up and asked if the house was prepped for the storm.
Fast forward a couple of days. Our hometown got wrecked. It was a couple of days before I could contact my wife and she said she was leaving to go stay with family in another part of the state and that I should extend our stay at Pop. I did so and went to the front desk only to see if it were possible to remain in our room so I wouldn’t have to lug all of our stuff to another room.
The cast member was amazing. We got to talking and asked the kids if they were having a good time. I explained that we evacuated and I wasn’t even sure what my job status was, so park passes we not in the budget. She stepped away, and when she came back she had put two park passes on our room key cards. Free of charge.
I started crying in the lobby and if Covid wasn’t a thing I’d have hugged her.
That’s why Walt Disney World remain home for us.
luvinthemajik
Well-Known Member
Now that's the sort of thing that restores your faith in humanity.
Thank you for sharing.
I was gonna include you as one of our magical friends bit i figured after last night's ball game I was on the sh*t list, lol. Jk.
Darstarr
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Too soon…I was gonna include you as one of our magical friends bit i figured after last night's ball game I was on the sh*t list, lol. Jk.
We got to HS for rope drop early admission. We banged out RoTR, ToT, RNR, Star Tours, Smugglers Run
and TSMM
C made some random excuse to go into the gift shop on Sunset. I realized moments later that it was the shop connected to Pandora! She thinks she's slick!! She had a mission in mind. And it was to shop.
And shop she did. She worked quickly. Her eyes became steely Grey and her hands were cold as ice. I slowly turned around and....she permed me!!
Oh wait, thats Troop Beverly Hills.
C did something far more terrifying. She was.....at the counter making a purchase!!!
And shop she did. She worked quickly. Her eyes became steely Grey and her hands were cold as ice. I slowly turned around and....she permed me!!
Oh wait, thats Troop Beverly Hills.
C did something far more terrifying. She was.....at the counter making a purchase!!!
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I nearly forgot, we also stopped at Baseline for drinks and a snack.
We headed back to the room for an afternoon break. C,E, and L headed down to the pool. I headed out in search of some swimming trunks since I forgot mine at home. Surely the resort gift shop would have some.
I arrived at the Screen Door gift shop and they had no swim trunks. They did however have a plethora of merchandise for
The NBA Experience. You know, the project from Disney Springs that is no longer in existence.
No swim shorts, but PLENTY of basketballs. Smh
Just what every family needs when visiting the store at Disney's Boardwalk Resort!
I arrived at the Screen Door gift shop and they had no swim trunks. They did however have a plethora of merchandise for
The NBA Experience. You know, the project from Disney Springs that is no longer in existence.
No swim shorts, but PLENTY of basketballs. Smh
Just what every family needs when visiting the store at Disney's Boardwalk Resort!
luvinthemajik
Well-Known Member
SMH! At you racing thru this trip report!
Good thing too; as your Mom, naturally,I bet with you, " over", keep up the great work.
Looks like lots of fun.
Katiekitten
Well-Known Member
Sounds like your trip is off to a great start! I'm looking forward to hearing about the rest.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
I love love loved the Royal Pacific when we stayed there in 2019. Their staff was SO amazing. My autistic kid was having a real tough time that day because he hadn't been able to get chocolate cake for dessert like he expected, and they called around until they found him a giant chocolate cupcake, and let us have it for free. All we did was explain the situation and ask if there was anyplace nearby where we could get him chocolate cake. And the whole resort is so relaxing and beautiful. I've considered Hardrock for the proximity, but it's hard to beat the serenity of RP. I'll still take WDW over Universal because I don't do thrill rides and we only went to Universal for me to get my Harry Potter fix and for my husband to do the thrill rides, but I did love the resort there...We've only ever stayed at CBR at WDW, but I'd take Royal Pacific over that any day if it were at Disney.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
Oh that made me cry. That is such a sweet story. That is the kind of thing that keeps people coming back. Thank you for sharing the story!
What a great story. Thanks for sharing!
I trekked over to Y&BC and neither had swimsuits. I joined the rest of the gang at the pool.
The lifeguard blew the whistle and we figured it was due to weather, but he said there was "unscheduled maintenance". A few moments later all the lifeguards were standing in one spot looking down into the pool where they had identified the problem.
One of them left the group and walked past us and i asked if "a Caddyshack moment" had occurred?? He laughed but couldn't answer the question, but he didn't say no, lol.
A few minutes passed and they eventually fished out a dark tubular object. It definitely looked like pooh, and I'm not talking abkut Winnie, lol. Luckily, a quick examination determined it was just a piece of foam, hahaha. They blew whistle and gave the all clear to swim. Then it started raining. We left shortly after.
We hit Epcot for some snacks.
Then TT before heading back to the room and calling it a night.
The lifeguard blew the whistle and we figured it was due to weather, but he said there was "unscheduled maintenance". A few moments later all the lifeguards were standing in one spot looking down into the pool where they had identified the problem.
One of them left the group and walked past us and i asked if "a Caddyshack moment" had occurred?? He laughed but couldn't answer the question, but he didn't say no, lol.
A few minutes passed and they eventually fished out a dark tubular object. It definitely looked like pooh, and I'm not talking abkut Winnie, lol. Luckily, a quick examination determined it was just a piece of foam, hahaha. They blew whistle and gave the all clear to swim. Then it started raining. We left shortly after.
We hit Epcot for some snacks.
Then TT before heading back to the room and calling it a night.
One quick note.
It was absolutely wonderful at Universal not having to wear a mask at all! Even when you're indoors you don't have to wear one.
It's definitely better at Disney than earlier this year when the CMs were all over you if your mask one millimeter below the tip.of your nose but there are still a few that seem drunk on the power.
I was walking into the restroom in Galaxys Edge and before I I entered, a CM said in an extremely passive aggressive fashion, "you need to put your mask on" as he flicked his finger at the mask sign. I wasn't even in the restroom yet. Just walking towards it.
It was absolutely wonderful at Universal not having to wear a mask at all! Even when you're indoors you don't have to wear one.
It's definitely better at Disney than earlier this year when the CMs were all over you if your mask one millimeter below the tip.of your nose but there are still a few that seem drunk on the power.
I was walking into the restroom in Galaxys Edge and before I I entered, a CM said in an extremely passive aggressive fashion, "you need to put your mask on" as he flicked his finger at the mask sign. I wasn't even in the restroom yet. Just walking towards it.
CaptainAmerica
Premium Member
Test Track vehicle creation is open again?