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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 10, 2024 20:24:18 GMT -5
It's been a year since we've been home so it's great to be starting up our new annual passes. We do a year-on year-off so we've had some time away... but it's like we never left.  This is just the first of our "40 days and 40 nights of Disney" we have dreamt up for the year! So far I've found it's weirdly not busy! We're seeing short waits everywhere all week. The heat keeps people away maybe? I dunno but I'll take it. It has been hot, but the storms have been staying at bay so nothing really throwing things off. Today we were supposed to get rain at 4, then 5, then 6, and didn't till about 7 and even then only a short burst. This trip we're using our good ole DVC points. It's great to have the washers everywhere cuz it's been in the 90's nonstop. You come home and have to change your clothes every time. We stay in 2Bs, and started this stay off in a Treehouse Villa, which we really love. It's so much space that the kids can spread out and it feels really comfortable. We used the time to catch up on the first two Acolyte episodes. Even tho we had a car, we still took the bus everywhere from the treehouses. Something about leaving the car behind is really nice. And we found we can walk back from the Grandstand easier than taking the loop bus. Depends when you come back. In the morning to afternoon, the buses take the Grandstand route. But by around dinner, they switch to going to the Springs stop first (reverse). We learned to maximize this pretty well. This evening we're at our own BLT where we got a wonderful bit of pixie dust since we can watch the MK fireworks from our upgraded TPV room.  It's a beautiful night. The storm's passed, so it's fireworks as usual. Glad that they've gone back to Happily Ever After. Off to go watch, so cutting this short! |
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 10, 2024 21:42:42 GMT -5
Continuing on after the show and a walk down to the circle pool to watch the electric water pageant go by...
They're running the circle pool a good foot low on water. Is this the drought? Or too risky to have it regular depth? Rivers are all low too. THV / PO boats are not even running. You can see the waterline in the shore; it's way low. I haven't seen an OKW boat go by either... but I haven't been watching too closely for that.
While we were at the THV we also took the long walk all the way to Disney Springs. This was a good hike that isn't for anyone not ready for a "long walk". The part going past the Cirque was blocked off so you had to take an alternate path that made it more parking lot and less river stroll. But we made it. Going home we just took the bus!
As usual we front-loaded our trip with too many restaurants, so we were in food overload getting steaks and seafood everywhere, but now we're to the point where we cancel a few things out and just go w whatever. We got pizza at Flippers... which is hard to order at a THV cuz they'll only deliver to the main SSR building but at BLT it's easy.
Been to Epcot twice and have yet to check out the new Moana features! We've just been really busy...
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Post by baymaxfan on Jun 10, 2024 22:07:04 GMT -5
Enjoy the lower crowds!!
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Post by amdev on Jun 11, 2024 6:05:27 GMT -5
I just read somewhere that they've had to suspend boat services to/from OKW/SSR/Port Orleans due to low water levels. Maybe that's why you haven't seen any boats. Enjoy your trip!
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Post by PirateLinda on Jun 11, 2024 6:35:04 GMT -5
The boats haven't been running since the beginning of May. We were there May13th to the 21st. The boats stopped running the week before due to low water levels.
Your trip sounds wonderful! Enjoy!
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Post by captjacksfamily on Jun 11, 2024 6:41:43 GMT -5
We have had very little rain in May all of the ponds in Central Florida are extremely low. That is suppose to change this week with rain every day. Currently it looks like the real heavy stuff will go south of us but they are still talking 5+ inches for the week. Hopefully that will help get the levels up.
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Post by helenabear on Jun 11, 2024 6:49:12 GMT -5
I just hope the rain isn't so fast that it causes flooding. It was very dry when we left. Fire warnings were put up the day before we left.
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jun 11, 2024 8:33:51 GMT -5
The boats haven't been running since the beginning of May. We were there May13th to the 21st. The boats stopped running the week before due to low water levels. We were there in the beginning of May and the boats were running, but I guess this explains why toward the end they had signs "boat not available" |
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 11, 2024 11:36:24 GMT -5
It is looking like some rain should come, but if it's anything like today, not a ton. Typhoon Lagoon is virtually empty. I would never do a moonlight magic again if days are like this! Pool closed for an hour or so but opening up again shortly and should be good for the day. I figured it would be swamped here... hot summer day, but no. Having a shack is awesome!
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Post by sherrih on Jun 11, 2024 19:51:57 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear good reports on the treehouses. We're staying there in Oct because it's a good choice for a party size. I realize they may not be for everyone, but I figured it's worth a try and less points than a grand villa when we don't need that much space.
I do hope when the rain comes it doesn't flood. We've all seen pictures of that!!
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 12, 2024 14:41:10 GMT -5
We adore the treehouses. They're really neat. It's a way to be on Disney property yet somewhere truly unique. Fits a bigger family and is a really comfortable place to be. The treehouse pool is so much fun cuz you can bring floaties, and you have the SSR pool there if you want. I don't buy in to the you have to drive everywhere if you stay here... it just takes learning the buses and how to use them. We stay here every couple years, which if you think about it, means we probly won't be back for a couple years. Hmm. Yesterday we did eventually get rained out at Typhoon Lagoon. One of those rain not till 2pm... 3pm... 4pm type days, till they called it (early) around 4. Disney did credit us back for the cabana, which was awesome considering we hung out there just playing games in our cabana all day. It was a really great temp and nice out, just the thunder / lightning kept tapping in every 30 min so we didn't get cleared to go back in. Today we did the DVC Tiana's Bayou preview, which was really cool. Totally opposite day, rain said all day, but it's completely held off. It's pretty much random weather and the forecasts mean nothing! Later we have Ohana for dinner and then the MK is open late so we'll see if we want to head back to the park or back to the room for a bottle of wine! |
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Post by MinnieMom on Jun 13, 2024 13:00:43 GMT -5
It's been a year since we've been home so it's great to be starting up our new annual passes. We do a year-on year-off so we've had some time away... but it's like we never left. This is just the first of our "40 days and 40 nights of Disney" we have dreamt up for the year! .... WOW! 40 days and 40 nights of Disney? That sounds like a fantastic summer vacation! Thanks for taking us along via TR - I'm very much looking forward to this entire adventure (virtually)! |
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 13, 2024 18:37:05 GMT -5
Final conclusion - the weather reports are completely useless. After getting rained out from the water park on the day it wasn't supposed to rain, the last two days have been brilliantly clear despite predictions of thunderstorms. LOL. Long day! We hit up the Animal Kingdom in the morning, rode Everest and Dino a few times, then jumped over to Hollywood where we did I think Slinky, Toy Story a few times, and then EPCOT where we rode the Rat, had dinner, and used our early Guardians Virtual Queue. We were going to hop to the MK to round it out, and we had like 4 G+ things lined up for MK but we were ready to go home! So we didn't use them. This is the only time in a long time we tried G+ and did not find it really worth it. You get the one 7am ride, then not till 11, 1, 3, etc so you can't really use it throughout the day. On the flip side, we waited standby for many things and the lines just went fast. Like Ratatouille was posted at 70 min and I swear it took like 30. Nothing beats common sense, like going early and staying late. At both times you can repeat-ride everything your heart desires. Unseasonally low crowds all week. Restaurants were easy to get into. None were a wait. We walked in to Brown Derby for lunch without a reservation and they had plenty of room for us. There's a big crowd at MK waiting to get in now since it's a party night. Another good reason to avoid MK for the evening. All in all a long trip, great DVC stay, and everything everywhere worked out just right. Cast members were awesome everywhere -- really. Oh and we got to do the Wild Africa Trek and Tiana Bayou preview too which were a lot of fun! I hear Tiana went down a lot today, but our day went just fine. We were in the 1pm opening day group. Around 12:30 we got there, joined the line, and shortly after they let us all in. Short wait in line and we were on! It was very organized. |
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Post by fuzzylogic on Jun 13, 2024 19:03:01 GMT -5
I'm going to add... I never feel taken advantage of here. Things are expensive, but there's no hidden fees, no one trying to swindle me.
For example we stayed at a resort we like in Destin on the way down... And when you check in it's like another $120 for this room and $75 for that one... because they'll "waive the parking fee for me for the room that doesn't have a car" as if that's a favor to not charge me for something that I'm not using! And the other fees were just stupid for a room we prepaid for to lock in the price months ago. Having to pay more at the door. Credit card fees abound at non-Disney resorts and restaurants.
With Disney-- Our Typhoon got rained out, they credited us back for our shack. We didn't use our G+ all day, they verified we didn't use it, and they said sure we'll credit you back. Restaurants are fair, and most cost about what we'd spend around home. A little less even w our discounts. We spent a lot here, but I think Disney cast members really stand up for their product. This builds consumer loyalty...
My feet are dead after today! Great way to end. Don't know yet if we want to send the kids out for one more Virtual Queue in the morning or just pack up and go. We'll see! We do plan to stop and see Inside Out 2 on the way.
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Post by helenabear on Jun 14, 2024 10:44:28 GMT -5
I feel similarly about pricing of food and hotels. It's one thing if there is a transient tax or parking in a city that struggles with space for it, but all the resort fees and extras get old. I'm glad Disney walked back on parking fees.
Food prices I feel the same here. My zoo probably charges more for foods than similar at Disney so i think we're doing okay.
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This is just the first of our "40 days and 40 nights of Disney" we have dreamt up for the year!
It's a beautiful night. The storm's passed, so it's fireworks as usual. Glad that they've gone back to Happily Ever After. Off to go watch, so cutting this short!
