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Post by disney54us on Jul 21, 2023 11:26:57 GMT -5
Sounds like a great trip, glad you are enjoying.
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Post by PirateLinda on Jul 21, 2023 12:04:50 GMT -5
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time! I am enjoying reading along.
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Post by Eli's Nana on Jul 21, 2023 15:33:31 GMT -5
What a fun time! I have wondered about the Tower Studios, it's really nice to hear more about it. Thank you for sharing your trip with us!
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Post by rwethereyet on Jul 21, 2023 17:29:54 GMT -5
Tom, you are right, the pool is not that deep. Deepest spot is the far corner, closest to the other pool. It has been so hot that right now the pool is not that cool. You would think that rain would cool it down some, but it is not as refreshing as one would want it to be. I haven't ventured over to the pool with the slide yet, trying to stay away from splashing kids, so I don't know if it is any deeper or not.
Skywatcher, I have had several wait list clear at Riviera, including for nights in a Tower Studio, so don't give up.
One challenge I have had this trip and have had before is with Mousekeeping. It appears that if you have the Room Occupied sign on your door that Mousekeeping does not even knock to see if they can come in. I have been here for 6 days now and have not had my towels changed out. I stopped at the Front Desk this morning on the way out to Downtown Disney to see what the deal was and the CM said he would ask them to come and do a full cleaning. Got back and room was just like I left it. I thought maybe I had not given them enough time, so I went and did some laundry. Came back and room was just like I left it. I went downstairs again and the CM this morning had not set up anything. This CM said that they tried to come clean on Wednesday but that sign was on the door. I always thought the sign was to let them know that someone was in the room, not an actual Do Not Disturb. Oh well--my misunderstanding and no big deal. He asked what could they do and I requested that they just send up 2 sets of towels and do the cleaning another day as it was now after 5:00. I went down to Primo Piatto to see if there was anything light to get for dinner and when I came back there was a bag with 4 of each towel and one bath mat. I guess they have these prepackaged and didn't want to just bring up just two sets. Problem is, there is nowhere put all these towels because they didn't take away the used ones. Guess I learned my lesson on the door sign and will not be putting that out again.
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Post by rwethereyet on Jul 21, 2023 17:55:44 GMT -5
Friday, Back to Primo Piatto for breakfast. I wasn't sure what time they stopped serving breakfast and found myself rushing to get down there before 10:00. I made it in time and found out that they serve until 11:00. Enjoyed the Breakfast Platter and then headed back to the room to take medication and to get all I needed before heading to Disney Springs. Got to the bus stop just as a Riviera bus was pulling up and off we went. I love how close the Riviera is to Disney Springs--takes about 5 minutes to get there. Did some shopping at UniqLo--if you haven't been in there, they have very descent quality clothing at pretty good prices. That is usually my very first stop. Then I hit World of Disney and found a couple of Christmas presents. I stopped at the Corkcicle booth and picked up a new raspberry colored 30 oz. tumbler. I have a Brita with the filter, but the straw in that one takes up too much room. I also like supporting local business.
Lunch was at Homecomin' and I had to have the fried chicken, even though I shouldn't have eaten it, but this was my big splurge. I really like that place, but I think the guilt of eating something fried made me not enjoy it as much this time. It was far more than I could eat, but I did not bother bringing the leftovers back with me. I then just cruised around a little bit, I went down to TrenD and didn't find anything this trip so then I just rode around a bit more and determined it was just too hot to enjoy the window shopping so I headed back to the bus stop. I got there just as some people were getting on the Riviera bus and then I guess the driver did not see me sitting in the handicap spot on the scooter and he pulled away. Another bus came not too long after that, but we had do wait for them to do the "driver change" thing.
As stated earlier, got back to the room, found no fresh towels or anything. Headed to the laundry room and just waited for my clothes to wash and dry. It is nice they have a t.v. in that laundry room. I miss being in a one-bedroom with a kitchen and a washer and dryer, but now that it is just me traveling, I can get more than twice as many nights by booking a studio.
I stopped at the Front Desk about the towel situation on my way to Primo Piatto and now have a full cleaning this coming Sunday. In case I haven't mentioned it, I will be here until next Friday and then I am moving to BLT for 3 nights--staying just a little over two weeks this time. For two weeks, I can pass on a full kitchen and washer and dryer. I grabbed a charcuterie board and came back to the room to find the huge bag of towels. No plans to go back out tonight. Going to tidy up the room a bit and put away all the laundry I did and get a good nights sleep.
Thanks for sticking with me. I still don't know how to post pictures or I would share some of what I have taken.
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Post by BWV Dreamin on Jul 22, 2023 5:42:05 GMT -5
Great trip report. We toured the tower room. Even for two people, we felt very cramped. I love my deluxe studios. Glad it’s working out for you. Do you have much of a view? Riviera is on my bucket list!
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Post by tomandrobin on Jul 22, 2023 5:42:27 GMT -5
Those 1-bedroom point requirements grate me. The unevenness of the point distribution is nuts.....Disney math. All other timeshares a studio and 1-bedroom equal a 2-bedroom if put together. But not Disney.
I had mapped out a strategy on point usage when I retire and start coming to Disney for extended periods. To spread out my points, I was going to stay studio for a week, the Monday thru thrusday move to a 1-bedroom, then move back to a studio for 'x' number days, the back to a 1-bedroom. But who knows what we will do. We still toy with buying a house or renting short term....but having all the points and staying on property is nice. Plus there is nothing to take care of.
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Post by tomandrobin on Jul 22, 2023 5:57:30 GMT -5
Friday, Back to Primo Piatto for breakfast. I wasn't sure what time they stopped serving breakfast and found myself rushing to get down there before 10:00. I made it in time and found out that they serve until 11:00. Enjoyed the Breakfast Platter and then headed back to the room to take medication and to get all I needed before heading to Disney Springs. Got to the bus stop just as a Riviera bus was pulling up and off we went. I love how close the Riviera is to Disney Springs--takes about 5 minutes to get there. Did some shopping at UniqLo--if you haven't been in there, they have very descent quality clothing at pretty good prices. That is usually my very first stop. Then I hit World of Disney and found a couple of Christmas presents. I stopped at the Corkcicle booth and picked up a new raspberry colored 30 oz. tumbler. I have a Brita with the filter, but the straw in that one takes up too much room. I also like supporting local business. Lunch was at Homecomin' and I had to have the fried chicken, even though I shouldn't have eaten it, but this was my big splurge. I really like that place, but I think the guilt of eating something fried made me not enjoy it as much this time. It was far more than I could eat, but I did not bother bringing the leftovers back with me. I then just cruised around a little bit, I went down to TrenD and didn't find anything this trip so then I just rode around a bit more and determined it was just too hot to enjoy the window shopping so I headed back to the bus stop. I got there just as some people were getting on the Riviera bus and then I guess the driver did not see me sitting in the handicap spot on the scooter and he pulled away. Another bus came not too long after that, but we had do wait for them to do the "driver change" thing. I stopped at the Front Desk about the towel situation on my way to Primo Piatto and now have a full cleaning this coming Sunday. In case I haven't mentioned it, I will be here until next Friday and then I am moving to BLT for 3 nights--staying just a little over two weeks this time. For two weeks, I can pass on a full kitchen and washer and dryer. I grabbed a charcuterie board and came back to the room to find the huge bag of towels. No plans to go back out tonight. Going to tidy up the room a bit and put away all the laundry I did and get a good nights sleep. Thanks for sticking with me. I still don't know how to post pictures or I would share some of what I have taken. Use the app..... you can do mobile orders for Primo or at least see the hours of operation. Those corkcicle bottles ain't no joke....They are fantastic for keeping things hot or cold. We have a tumble pair we use for our coffee/tea when vacationing/traveling. The resort/hotel mugs are always to small. Traditional mugs break when traveling. The Club switched from Tervis to Corcicle products a while back, such an improvement. We have never been to Homecoming yet. Fried chicken is a guilty pleasure, but I hardly ever get it.....just some Rofo tenders every now and then, if I am out of the office and need a quick bite between meetings. I hear that Guy Fieri fried chicken sandwich is really good too.
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Post by BWV Dreamin on Jul 22, 2023 6:00:02 GMT -5
Friday, Back to Primo Piatto for breakfast. I wasn't sure what time they stopped serving breakfast and found myself rushing to get down there before 10:00. I made it in time and found out that they serve until 11:00. Enjoyed the Breakfast Platter and then headed back to the room to take medication and to get all I needed before heading to Disney Springs. Got to the bus stop just as a Riviera bus was pulling up and off we went. I love how close the Riviera is to Disney Springs--takes about 5 minutes to get there. Did some shopping at UniqLo--if you haven't been in there, they have very descent quality clothing at pretty good prices. That is usually my very first stop. Then I hit World of Disney and found a couple of Christmas presents. I stopped at the Corkcicle booth and picked up a new raspberry colored 30 oz. tumbler. I have a Brita with the filter, but the straw in that one takes up too much room. I also like supporting local business. Lunch was at Homecomin' and I had to have the fried chicken, even though I shouldn't have eaten it, but this was my big splurge. I really like that place, but I think the guilt of eating something fried made me not enjoy it as much this time. It was far more than I could eat, but I did not bother bringing the leftovers back with me. I then just cruised around a little bit, I went down to TrenD and didn't find anything this trip so then I just rode around a bit more and determined it was just too hot to enjoy the window shopping so I headed back to the bus stop. I got there just as some people were getting on the Riviera bus and then I guess the driver did not see me sitting in the handicap spot on the scooter and he pulled away. Another bus came not too long after that, but we had do wait for them to do the "driver change" thing. I stopped at the Front Desk about the towel situation on my way to Primo Piatto and now have a full cleaning this coming Sunday. In case I haven't mentioned it, I will be here until next Friday and then I am moving to BLT for 3 nights--staying just a little over two weeks this time. For two weeks, I can pass on a full kitchen and washer and dryer. I grabbed a charcuterie board and came back to the room to find the huge bag of towels. No plans to go back out tonight. Going to tidy up the room a bit and put away all the laundry I did and get a good nights sleep. Thanks for sticking with me. I still don't know how to post pictures or I would share some of what I have taken. Use the app..... you can do mobile orders for Primo or at least see the hours of operation. Those corkcicle bottles ain't no joke....They are fantastic for keeping things hot or cold. We have a tumble pair we use for our coffee/tea when vacationing/traveling. The resort/hotel mugs are always to small. Traditional mugs break when traveling. The Club switched from Tervis to Corcicle products a while back, such an improvement. We have never been to Homecoming yet. Fried chicken is a guilty pleasure, but I hardly ever get it.....just some Rofo tenders every now and then, if I am out of the office and need a quick bite between meetings. I hear that Guy Fieri fried chicken sandwich is really good too. ROFO….hahaha…you may need to explain this to some here. But their chicken is good!
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Post by tomandrobin on Jul 22, 2023 6:07:59 GMT -5
ROFO….hahaha…you may need to explain this to some here. But their chicken is good! Only the cool kids know.....
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Post by sherrih on Jul 22, 2023 7:42:47 GMT -5
I am so enjoying the trip report. Love that you get to stay for such a long trip.
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Post by rwethereyet on Jul 22, 2023 18:39:59 GMT -5
I have no idea what ROFO is, so I am obviously not one of the cool kids, but then I never was.
Hope, I am the center room of the three tower rooms on each floor. I can see the Skyliner and I can see and hear EPCOT's fireworks as well as illuminated Spaceship Earth. So pretty at night, one of the neatest things that Disney has done in a while in my opinion.
Saturday - Today's plan was to head to AK early and then leave early as my friend is picking me up to go to the Vera Bradley outlet store. As the bus driver straps me and my ECV in, he tells me that today will be the hottest day they have had in many years. Oh geez, maybe I should start checking the weather, but I usually just go with the flow. I didn't purchase Genie+, but selected my favorite things to do and let Genie arrange my day--worked out pretty good. First was the bird show--one bird flew so low his wing brushed my hair as he went by. Then a bit of shopping, then Tough to Be a Bug (again) I enjoy that so, then the new Nemo show and then lunch at Satuli Canteen-love that place. Up until now, everywhere had A/C and was very comfortable. At the bird show, I was seated right in front of a huge fan and that worked out great, too. At this point, my friend texts and she can't go this afternoon, we will do it another day, so I stayed to do a few more things. Oh, then I saw Kevin from Up cruising around-she is so adorable. The Safari had a 10 minute wait, so why not, then off to Rafiki's Planet Watch - I always enjoy that little train ride. I was amazed at the number of people taking the animation session. Now I am getting a little hot and tired of sitting in that ECV, but I wanted to get a bite of dinner instead of eating here at the Riviera again. So I stopped at Flametree and got the salad with chicken and pulled pork and apples and cranberries. It was pretty good and all I wanted in the heat. It is also nice to sit and listen to that band playing just across from Flametree. At one point, all the Flametree CMs were dancing the same dance as the entertainers and it was really, really fun to watch. I guess they have heard their set so many times they know the whole routine by heart.
So after another tour thru the shops, I headed to the bus stop. If I haven't said it before--last trip I saw a lady with a t-shirt that said "Guaranteed to go in every Disney gift shop at least twice". I need that shirt. When I got back to the Riviera, there was an ambulance and a fire vehicle (not a full sized fire truck) but I have no idea what was going on. I do know they are testing all the fire alarms in the rooms here.
It felt so good to get back to the room and get out of sweaty clothes. I think I am going to have to do laundry more often that I thought I would. It is times like this that I miss my one-bedroom. But, I love my longer stays even more, so that's that.
Taking it easy the rest of the evening, the sun and heat has zapped me out today.
Later--will I get to Vera Bradley or not that is the question.
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Post by disney54us on Jul 22, 2023 20:04:33 GMT -5
ROFO, Royal Farms, think Wawa. They are MD DE based, started moving into South Jersey to compete with Wawa. But believe it or not very well known for their fried chicken. Yes, get gas, a coffee or soda and buy fried chicken. They have huge vats they derp fry and people are lined up. So now you’re in the know. Royal Farms refers to their rewards card as ROFO and people who live in areas that have them, just say. I’m going to ROFO. Your trip sounds great except for the unbearable heat, I don’t think I could do it. I’m 5minutes from the ocean and it’s been pretty unbearable here. Keep on enjoying.
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Post by Hi from RI on Jul 23, 2023 8:50:10 GMT -5
Wow a 2 week solo stay.....I don't know if I could do that ?! Would I get lonely? I feel like I should try to do a few days alone first but would love to do 2 weeks. I assume you're AP? The longest we did was 2021-10 days when I was on sabbatical. It was wonderful end of Oct to early Nov.
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Post by BWV Dreamin on Jul 23, 2023 17:08:06 GMT -5
I have no idea what ROFO is, so I am obviously not one of the cool kids, but then I never was. Hope, I am the center room of the three tower rooms on each floor. I can see the Skyliner and I can see and hear EPCOT's fireworks as well as illuminated Spaceship Earth. So pretty at night, one of the neatest things that Disney has done in a while in my opinion. Saturday - Today's plan was to head to AK early and then leave early as my friend is picking me up to go to the Vera Bradley outlet store. As the bus driver straps me and my ECV in, he tells me that today will be the hottest day they have had in many years. Oh geez, maybe I should start checking the weather, but I usually just go with the flow. I didn't purchase Genie+, but selected my favorite things to do and let Genie arrange my day--worked out pretty good. First was the bird show--one bird flew so low his wing brushed my hair as he went by. Then a bit of shopping, then Tough to Be a Bug (again) I enjoy that so, then the new Nemo show and then lunch at Satuli Canteen-love that place. Up until now, everywhere had A/C and was very comfortable. At the bird show, I was seated right in front of a huge fan and that worked out great, too. At this point, my friend texts and she can't go this afternoon, we will do it another day, so I stayed to do a few more things. Oh, then I saw Kevin from Up cruising around-she is so adorable. The Safari had a 10 minute wait, so why not, then off to Rafiki's Planet Watch - I always enjoy that little train ride. I was amazed at the number of people taking the animation session. Now I am getting a little hot and tired of sitting in that ECV, but I wanted to get a bite of dinner instead of eating here at the Riviera again. So I stopped at Flametree and got the salad with chicken and pulled pork and apples and cranberries. It was pretty good and all I wanted in the heat. It is also nice to sit and listen to that band playing just across from Flametree. At one point, all the Flametree CMs were dancing the same dance as the entertainers and it was really, really fun to watch. I guess they have heard their set so many times they know the whole routine by heart. So after another tour thru the shops, I headed to the bus stop. If I haven't said it before--last trip I saw a lady with a t-shirt that said "Guaranteed to go in every Disney gift shop at least twice". I need that shirt. When I got back to the Riviera, there was an ambulance and a fire vehicle (not a full sized fire truck) but I have no idea what was going on. I do know they are testing all the fire alarms in the rooms here. It felt so good to get back to the room and get out of sweaty clothes. I think I am going to have to do laundry more often that I thought I would. It is times like this that I miss my one-bedroom. But, I love my longer stays even more, so that's that. Taking it easy the rest of the evening, the sun and heat has zapped me out today. Later--will I get to Vera Bradley or not that is the question. Inquiring minds want to know. Did you get to the Vera Bradley store?
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