Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 I believe my trip report posting style has become infamous. Anyhow, finally...after how many years?! Finally spent 3 days 2 nights hardcore on property. No more mooching off of relatives' homes, or downtown sort-of-on-property disney. Nope...I took my AP discount and stayed at Disney's Collins Avenue Resort. I mean Bay Lake Tower! Me and two relatives got a 1BR suite on the 14th floor that claimed to be a lake view but was more both lake view and contemporary tower view. I got demoted to sleeper sofa, which was not bad at all. More comfortable than other sleeper sofas. Did not enjoy all the wall measurements still written on a few of the walls in the room by construction. Maybe it was to make me feel like I was in an abandoned Miami condo that was half finished? The pool at BLT was really nice, funny thing is, I couldn't find any BLT's to eat at BLT! One of the days in the afternoon we begged the front desk at BLT for us non DVCers to see top of the world lounge. They allowed us to, only if we sold our souls to the devil, which we all immediately did. The view from up there is quite impressive, but damn is their lounge more of a closet space with seats, than a lounge. One of the nights we had dinner at California Grill. 2 things I didn't like: I'm reliving the 90s decor wise, and they need to make a stronger dress code and enforce it. I dressed up, my party did as well, a few others did it looked like, but most people were dressed to go shopping at walmart on a saturday morning. The food was great, the view was amazing, and we lucked out with no rain. Spent our time at the MK. Crowds were tolerable. It was the first time they saw the new HM queue and they too enjoyed it. The only other thing to note is while the new new mickey meet n greet looks nice on the inside, it is very bare and offers very little to entertain people. Cell phones and texting where out in full force. One of our days, I did the Epcot unDiscovered future world tour. That was pretty fun. I think the guide got some facts wrong, but we did enter backstage at soarin and got to ride. Saw some lounges and a lot of backstage stuff. Three things to note: In the backstage area of Imagination, there is a set piece "fantasy" spelled out from the original ride in the room you used to enter where every word was some sort of action. Like "rumble" would rumble, etc. Behind world showcase we saw costuming, and the Figment AA with the blocks that used to change to say "cat","rat", etc is there on a shelf, a long with some yellow jar of whatever from kitchen kabaret. Also to note the old Epcot SSE geosphere that used to be in the planters in innoventions plaza...this goes way back....it's still there at the entrance to costuming now. You can find what I'm talking about on google images. Our tour was small and we toured with a sweatshirt family from LA. The mom was decked out in her disneyland sweatshirt and pins and I'm sure she got felt up at LAX with all that metal. The kids were typical "I'm from california, a teen, and I haven't hit puberty" and acted as lifeless as a broken animatronic. Also, speaking of sweatshirters....fanbois.....we can talk about disney all day online, but please stop talking about every historical fact when you and your party are touring the parks. I was blessed to sit near a fanboy with a thick Rochester accent on PoTC and next to two fandad's who wouldn't shut up at epcot. Anyhow...enjoyed staying on property, california grill was great, the epcot tour was awesome, and yes I'll continue to play in the Hm graveyard.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt A little Devil worship never hurt anyone, right? I just got back from Walmart... I know what you're sayin! Some people just don't care. Oh well!! Glad you & your group enjoyed the stay! I love The Contemporary!!
Originally Posted By standor When I go to WDW I don't bring dress clothes. I go there to relax and have fun. Why should I have to wear a suit to dine at Disney?
Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 Call me crazy, but I guess when I'm not in theme parks or at the pool and am eating at a fine dining restaurant where the price per person is over $100 not including tax and tip;out of respect for the servers, the establishment, and myself I and my party dressed up for this special occasion. No not suits, but more than jean shorts, sandals, and sweatshirts.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Call me crazy, but I guess when I'm not in theme parks or at the pool and am eating at a fine dining restaurant where the price per person is over $100 not including tax and tip;out of respect for the servers, the establishment, and myself I and my party dressed up for this special occasion. No not suits, but more than jean shorts, sandals, and sweatshirts.>> I completely agree. If you know you're going to be eating somewhere like that, at LEAST wear khakis and a polo shirt.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 same here on dress -- for Cali grill it's always khaki's and a collar/button shirt at least..and the girls usually wear dresses - albeit nice sundresses suffice. I go to relax also and do not want to get 'dressed up' but really, is what I described really dressed up ? I hope not. And nice shoes -- I agree with if I am going to spend $125+ for dinner per person, I want to at least somewhat feel like it.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I believe my trip report posting style has become infamous.>> Not yet, my friend ... Not. Quite. Yet. <<Anyhow, finally...after how many years?! Finally spent 3 days 2 nights hardcore on property. No more mooching off of relatives' homes, or downtown sort-of-on-property disney. Nope...I took my AP discount and stayed at Disney's Collins Avenue Resort. I mean Bay Lake Tower! Me and two relatives got a 1BR suite on the 14th floor that claimed to be a lake view but was more both lake view and contemporary tower view. >> Oh, that's where the monied elite stay. Are you among the 10,769 remaining middle class Americans? <<I got demoted to sleeper sofa, which was not bad at all. More comfortable than other sleeper sofas. Did not enjoy all the wall measurements still written on a few of the walls in the room by construction. Maybe it was to make me feel like I was in an abandoned Miami condo that was half finished?>> That's part of the contemporary theming. It's artsy-fartsy ... you should know that by now. Did the place have working plumbing? <<The pool at BLT was really nice, funny thing is, I couldn't find any BLT's to eat at BLT!>> Mmm ... applewood smoked bacon!!! <<One of the days in the afternoon we begged the front desk at BLT for us non DVCers to see top of the world lounge. They allowed us to, only if we sold our souls to the devil, which we all immediately did. The view from up there is quite impressive, but damn is their lounge more of a closet space with seats, than a lounge.>> Size may not be important in some things, but a lounge with what's considered a money view of the MK should have been larger. Both times I was up there (and neither at peak times) it felt crowded when it was half empty. Can't imagine what it would be like if the place was at capacity and everyone decided they wanted to head up to see Wishes. <<One of the nights we had dinner at California Grill. 2 things I didn't like: I'm reliving the 90s decor wise, and they need to make a stronger dress code and enforce it. I dressed up, my party did as well, a few others did it looked like, but most people were dressed to go shopping at walmart on a saturday morning.>> This is typical. People are pigs today. And the DDP has contributed by sending a whole lot of the Cosmic Ray's crowd to a place they never would have dined before. Disney having a dress code is kind of like saying lawyers or politicians have ethics. It sounds nice, but tastes bad on the tongue ... <<The food was great, the view was amazing, and we lucked out with no rain. Spent our time at the MK. Crowds were tolerable. It was the first time they saw the new HM queue and they too enjoyed it. The only other thing to note is while the new new mickey meet n greet looks nice on the inside, it is very bare and offers very little to entertain people. Cell phones and texting where out in full force.>> And yet virtual queues and FP's for meet-greet-and-gropes were supposed to keep people from playing with their stupid phones. Yeah, sure. Not for datamining. <<One of our days, I did the Epcot unDiscovered future world tour. That was pretty fun. I think the guide got some facts wrong, but we did enter backstage at soarin and got to ride. Saw some lounges and a lot of backstage stuff. Three things to note: In the backstage area of Imagination, there is a set piece "fantasy" spelled out from the original ride in the room you used to enter where every word was some sort of action. Like "rumble" would rumble, etc. Behind world showcase we saw costuming, and the Figment AA with the blocks that used to change to say "cat","rat", etc is there on a shelf, a long with some yellow jar of whatever from kitchen kabaret. Also to note the old Epcot SSE geosphere that used to be in the planters in innoventions plaza...this goes way back....it's still there at the entrance to costuming now. You can find what I'm talking about on google images. Our tour was small and we toured with a sweatshirt family from LA. The mom was decked out in her disneyland sweatshirt and pins and I'm sure she got felt up at LAX with all that metal. The kids were typical "I'm from california, a teen, and I haven't hit puberty" and acted as lifeless as a broken animatronic. Also, speaking of sweatshirters....fanbois.....we can talk about disney all day online, but please stop talking about every historical fact when you and your party are touring the parks. I was blessed to sit near a fanboy with a thick Rochester accent on PoTC and next to two fandad's who wouldn't shut up at epcot.>> It all sounds MAGICal. Although for some reason it doesn't make me want to take a trip back. <<Anyhow...enjoyed staying on property, california grill was great, the epcot tour was awesome, and yes I'll continue to play in the Hm graveyard.>> Put down your plush, take off your lanyard and play in a REAL graveyard!!!
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <Size may not be important in some things, but a lounge with what's considered a money view of the MK should have been larger. Both times I was up there (and neither at peak times) it felt crowded when it was half empty. Can't imagine what it would be like if the place was at capacity and everyone decided they wanted to head up to see Wishes.> Really? I've been there for two New Years Eves, it felt busy but not overly "crowded"--minimal wait for drinks, no problem getting a stretch of wall to ourselves to watch the fireworks out on the balcony. Been there a few off-peak nights as well, and it's felt absolutely dead
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <The only other thing to note is while the new new mickey meet n greet looks nice on the inside, it is very bare and offers very little to entertain people.> Agreed. Visited last night around 11:45, so no lines, but even then I was struck by how cavernous the holding area looks--a medium-sized convention room filled with nothing but switchbacks. The moving posters are cute, for maybe 5 minutes, but I wouldn't want to do an hour in that cattle stampede. I do like the new "dressing room" area. Fits the MSUSA era, tons of easter eggs.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I do like the new "dressing room" area. Fits the MSUSA era, tons of easter eggs.>> I am still trying to figure out how toons fit turn of the century America ... and whether Disney shuts the meet-greet-and-grope during parades and castle shows or just says 'screw it ... we can have eight Mickey's at once!'
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I am still trying to figure out how toons fit turn of the century America ... and whether Disney shuts the meet-greet-and-grope during parades and castle shows or just says 'screw it ... we can have eight Mickey's at once!'<<< It doesn't... but a theater does... so... YAY! Meet and Greets on the MSUSA Mall!
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <I am still trying to figure out how toons fit turn of the century America ... and whether Disney shuts the meet-greet-and-grope during parades and castle shows or just says 'screw it ... we can have eight Mickey's at once!'> Basically, what EPCOT Explorer said. Putting aside the question of toons--magic shows were a huge deal in the aughts thru the early 20s. The posters have an almost authentic feel (before they start moving, at least) for that era. And the exterior looks great. As for the toons--well, they're in World Showcase, too, so I think we lost that battle years ago. As Walt's alter ego, I guess he fits in Walt's idealized hometown as much as anywhere--didn't care for him in HoP or Tomorrowland. No excuse for the princesses tho. The huge waiting area should help with the multiple Mickey issue. Even walking out, there's a hallway and a large gift shop, so hopefully the attendant will mention Mickey is running to catch his float.
