MargaretJ
06-05-2003, 09:19 PM
Cast: MargaretJ – Disney Veteran
Matt 14yrs – Disney Veteran
Suzi – Disney Newbie
John 15yrs – Disney Newbie
Eric 14yrs – Disney Newbie
David 7yrs – Disney Newbie
Dates - May 24th-28th with friends
May 29th-June 3rd Matt & I
Resorts – Coronado Springs & Animal Kingdom Lodge
Matt & I had planned our vacation to begin the day after school was out so we could get the last use of our Annual Passes. Suzi & her children had heard Matt & I talk about Disney for years & knew of our love (OK obsession) with Disney World. Suzi asked months ago if we minded if they came with us on part of our Vacation so they could get the most bang for their bucks. So the planning begins. I knew we would not be in our rooms much since we would try to get in as much as we could in 3 days so no sense in getting a Deluxe Resort. We picked Coronado Springs & I got us 2 Connecting guaranteed rooms with my work discount. Note if you have 4 children & 2 adults Disney will guarantee connecting rooms. About 2 months before the trip I decided to see how much it would be if I booked the second half of our Trip at Animal Kingdom Lodge. With my discount the price was very reasonable so I switched the reservation for Matt & I to 5 nights at Coronado Springs & 5 nights at Animal Kindgom Lodge.
We plan on driving down early on Saturday May 24th in Suzi’s Suburban & since they will be leaving on the morning of the 28th I set out to find a reasonable rental for me. I needed something close by to Disney but also something I could return to Atlanta that would not cost me an arm & a leg. I lucked out with Avis – I picked the car up at the Hilton in Downtown Disney & returned to a location about 3 miles from my home. Cost for the week $189.00.
Saturday morning rolls around & we are piling into Suzi’s vehicle about 730a. I have goodie bags for all & passed them around as we begin the drive. The trip down goes very fast & after stopping along the way for lunch & a switch in drivers we make it to Disney before 3p. This was the 1st time I had driven a Suburban & I was a bit nervous because it is so large but it handles really well. Just as I am driving onto I-4 it begins to rain but by the time we pull up to Coronado Springs the rain has stopped. Check-in is very smooth & of course our rooms are ready but they are in the Rancho section. I am disappointed as these rooms have been booked for 6 months. We did get the Connecting Rooms but wished we were closer to the Food Court. It is just not very convenient to jump a bus to use your refillable mugs. Funny thing that happened as we were parking – I was not comfortable trying to park the Suburban in the small parking slot so Suzi & I quickly traded places. Just as Suzi was beginning to make the turn a woman in another vehicle tried to pull into the Parking Place. We motioned that we were already pulling in & she shot us a bird! I am sure this lady thought she would never see us again but turns out she is in the room next to us! I am sure she wished she had kept that finger to herself, ha ha.
We quickly unpack the car & get a bit settled in the room before we head out to Downtown Disney. I have a PS at Rainforest Cafe for 530p & good thing too. When we got there they took us in 5 minutes, the wait without a PS was 1hr 40minutes. I had $100.00 worth of Rainforest Café Gift Certificates so told all that the 1st $100.00 was on me. We were a bit disappointed tonight as some of the food was not up to par. Some items were cold & the wait for our food was quite long. Our waiter while nice was seen far & few times. The tables around us turned 2 & some 3 times before we finally got out of there. Our bill was $120.00 & had the gratuity already added in. This explains the absence of our waiter. He knew he had his $20.00 tip so why bother. I spoke to the Manager but did not get any satisfaction. I guess they figure they really do not need return visitors. We then shopped around Downtown Disney for a bit before heading to Winterland Summerland Mini Golf. Due to the discount I get on Disney rooms they had to book my rate as a package this year so we got 6 free Mini Golf tickets. Unfortunately it began to Lightning, after about 20 minutes, so they had to give us Rainchecks. We did not get to use them with our friends this trip but did manage to use them with some of our Disney buddies later in the trip.
Finally back to the Resort to finish unpacking & to set the alarm for 630am so we could make Early Entry at Magic Kingdom.
Matt 14yrs – Disney Veteran
Suzi – Disney Newbie
John 15yrs – Disney Newbie
Eric 14yrs – Disney Newbie
David 7yrs – Disney Newbie
Dates - May 24th-28th with friends
May 29th-June 3rd Matt & I
Resorts – Coronado Springs & Animal Kingdom Lodge
Matt & I had planned our vacation to begin the day after school was out so we could get the last use of our Annual Passes. Suzi & her children had heard Matt & I talk about Disney for years & knew of our love (OK obsession) with Disney World. Suzi asked months ago if we minded if they came with us on part of our Vacation so they could get the most bang for their bucks. So the planning begins. I knew we would not be in our rooms much since we would try to get in as much as we could in 3 days so no sense in getting a Deluxe Resort. We picked Coronado Springs & I got us 2 Connecting guaranteed rooms with my work discount. Note if you have 4 children & 2 adults Disney will guarantee connecting rooms. About 2 months before the trip I decided to see how much it would be if I booked the second half of our Trip at Animal Kingdom Lodge. With my discount the price was very reasonable so I switched the reservation for Matt & I to 5 nights at Coronado Springs & 5 nights at Animal Kindgom Lodge.
We plan on driving down early on Saturday May 24th in Suzi’s Suburban & since they will be leaving on the morning of the 28th I set out to find a reasonable rental for me. I needed something close by to Disney but also something I could return to Atlanta that would not cost me an arm & a leg. I lucked out with Avis – I picked the car up at the Hilton in Downtown Disney & returned to a location about 3 miles from my home. Cost for the week $189.00.
Saturday morning rolls around & we are piling into Suzi’s vehicle about 730a. I have goodie bags for all & passed them around as we begin the drive. The trip down goes very fast & after stopping along the way for lunch & a switch in drivers we make it to Disney before 3p. This was the 1st time I had driven a Suburban & I was a bit nervous because it is so large but it handles really well. Just as I am driving onto I-4 it begins to rain but by the time we pull up to Coronado Springs the rain has stopped. Check-in is very smooth & of course our rooms are ready but they are in the Rancho section. I am disappointed as these rooms have been booked for 6 months. We did get the Connecting Rooms but wished we were closer to the Food Court. It is just not very convenient to jump a bus to use your refillable mugs. Funny thing that happened as we were parking – I was not comfortable trying to park the Suburban in the small parking slot so Suzi & I quickly traded places. Just as Suzi was beginning to make the turn a woman in another vehicle tried to pull into the Parking Place. We motioned that we were already pulling in & she shot us a bird! I am sure this lady thought she would never see us again but turns out she is in the room next to us! I am sure she wished she had kept that finger to herself, ha ha.
We quickly unpack the car & get a bit settled in the room before we head out to Downtown Disney. I have a PS at Rainforest Cafe for 530p & good thing too. When we got there they took us in 5 minutes, the wait without a PS was 1hr 40minutes. I had $100.00 worth of Rainforest Café Gift Certificates so told all that the 1st $100.00 was on me. We were a bit disappointed tonight as some of the food was not up to par. Some items were cold & the wait for our food was quite long. Our waiter while nice was seen far & few times. The tables around us turned 2 & some 3 times before we finally got out of there. Our bill was $120.00 & had the gratuity already added in. This explains the absence of our waiter. He knew he had his $20.00 tip so why bother. I spoke to the Manager but did not get any satisfaction. I guess they figure they really do not need return visitors. We then shopped around Downtown Disney for a bit before heading to Winterland Summerland Mini Golf. Due to the discount I get on Disney rooms they had to book my rate as a package this year so we got 6 free Mini Golf tickets. Unfortunately it began to Lightning, after about 20 minutes, so they had to give us Rainchecks. We did not get to use them with our friends this trip but did manage to use them with some of our Disney buddies later in the trip.
Finally back to the Resort to finish unpacking & to set the alarm for 630am so we could make Early Entry at Magic Kingdom.