Walt Disney World, Orlando

[tallcanadian]

This is for anyone thinking of going. Just a tidbit of information. It was the third week in December. My first time in Florida. I'm not a big traveller. I got to say I'm am more than pleased with Disney and Florida. The weather was perfect, low to mid 70's. I wore shorts everyday and tried to get to the pool every evening. My second morning we all took a spin off the resort to Walmart in Orlando. Palm trees were awesome. I know I sound like some kid but It's all new to me.

We stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside resort on Disney and it was fabulous. Very peaceful and you could take a boat to get to downtown Disney. Awesome. We saw all the parks, it was a workout for sure. We had the park hopper pass so we could go to any theme park, anytime. On the second evening as well we saw Cirque du Soleil. I've never seen anything like it. Well worth the money. It was an hour and a half of mind boggling entertainment. We also had the dining plan, which I recommend. I was worried that I would be hungry but I never ate so much good food. The only downside to the sit down meals that they expect and demand an 18 percent gratuity. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind tipping but when your told to, yikes. One waitress at a buffet we were at came back to our table and told us we were 2.60 cents short on her 'gratuity'. It was like 44 dollars as it was, there were 8 of us, but still. It was a buffet. She came and picked up empty plates. That's it. She wasn't even that friendly. lol.

Disney is travelled mainly by their own bus system, which is great. No hassle looking for parking, and its all free. The mono rail was very cool.

Overall it was an awesome adventure and I would certainly do it again. I love Florida and I can see now why we Canucks become snow birds. I will definitely go again.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Did you ante up the extra tip? I would have a problem. May I speak to the manager, please?

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

I threw the two bucks on the table and there was some change coming from a beer that someone in our party ordered. Overall it was a great time.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Having a good time is most important. Shorts late in December is nice too.

 

[JB]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

After visiting there twice in its first year I was convinced.

In my platform when I ran for President in 1990, or something like that, I proposed to have Disney run our government and Israel run our nat'l defense.

I have since determined that we can run our own defense, but the Disney organization is absolutely without peer in making a grouchy, claustrophobic, short tempered old man have a great time.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

For larger groups in most restaurants there is a pre-set higher gratuity (usually in the fine print on some very obscure notice).

I worked in the hospitality industry and it was the "standard" practice.

So.......bottom line..... did you have fun?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

I was recently at Disney for a Conference. Stayed in the Contemporary . . . the hotel staff was really nice. I arrived before check-in time, but that did not matter, they got me a great room with a view of the Magic Kingdom. I saw the fireworks from my balcony at night.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

For larger groups in most restaurants there is a pre-set higher gratuity (usually in the fine print on some very obscure notice).

I worked in the hospitality industry and it was the "standard" practice.

So.......bottom line..... did you have fun?

Don't get me wrong, it was an awesome experience. Most of the staff are great. We had waiters in other restaurants that couldn't do enough for you. It just takes one bad apple. But yeah, I would do it again in a minute.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

We were in Disney in 2002. Whole family went and had a really nice time. Customer service oscillated between absolutely incredible to an experience like you had with your server. In the years since, we've only found a couple of places that actually beat Disney in consistent service: The Gaylord Opryland Hotel being one, and SeaWorld in Orlando being the other.

I do agree with JB in spirit: "...but the Disney organization is absolutely without peer in making a grouchy, claustrophobic, short tempered old man have a great time."

 

[sasto]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Really glad you had a good time, tallcanadian.

I worked in Orlando for a couple months. Not for me. I quickly moved out. Going for visit? You bet!

 

[aspeck]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

We stayed on property a few years ago and did the dinner pass ... defintely the way to go. Was a great vacation, but we were exhausted on the way home! We laughed because on the transportation you could tell the families that just got there and the ones that were at the end of the week ... The fresh ones were all smilie and happy, the end of the week families were all tired out and "parked out" and ready to leave. But all were in agreement ... a great week.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Been to Disney/Orlando 9 times. First time was in 1992 last time was in 2002. Always had a great time there. Lots of people usually assume that Disney world is just for kids. Little do they know it's got something for EVERYBODY. We always stayed off the park at hotel suites on International drive. First few years were at the Residence Inn, which wasn't bad. One year was at Embassy suites, which kinda stunk. All the other times was at The Vistana Resort which was very nice, and had allot of features like on site groceries, several pools, bars/restaurants, etc. Nice having a rental car, because you can come and go as you please. Been to Universal studios, and Sea world a few times. Also took a trip out to Kennedy Space Center which was an excellent experience.

 

[Rayandrewss]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

We are glad to have everyone visit and have a good time. There is much more to central Florida than the theme parks. Take a trip sometime and get off "the beaten path". Beaches, lakes, woods & our famous St. Johns River. The fishin is outstanding here, fresh or salt. Keep comin back. I am an 8th generation native Floridian. Yes, the changes have been hard to take but we get used to it. I couldn't live anywhere else.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Someone said was 8th gen native Floridian, my wife is a native Floridian, her grampa was Bowlegs talk about off the beaten path, love the resevation only leagal human zoo in the United States. The United States love to inture it's people. Hey but they have casinos so all is good.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Hey I was down there for 2 weeks in October and it was fantastic......had my son his wife and my granddaughters aged 5 and 7 and the wife with me ....we took in Disneyworld and all the motion picture studio stuff and best of all the waterparks. We got a great deal on a house rental in Kissemee with a pool and hot tub. The food was cheap and the beer even cheaper. Everbody was friendly and the wife spent a ton of money at the outlet malls.Driving was a bit scary....probably the tourists and snowbirds like me who didn`t know where they were going and would jump lanes on the interstates without signals and take exits at the last second but I did survive it. I even got the Serviceman`s discount at Bass-pro shops when I showed them my Canadian Veteran ID.....the clerk said she would honour it because we fought in the same wars after all eh....made me feel proud! of course I didn`t mention that the Newfoundland Regiment fought against the Americans in the War of 1812 and set the Whitehouse on fire ....lol......anyways I surely will go again!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

We are glad to have everyone visit and have a good time. There is much more to central Florida than the theme parks. Take a trip sometime and get off "the beaten path". Beaches, lakes, woods & our famous St. Johns River. The fishin is outstanding here, fresh or salt. Keep comin back. I am an 8th generation native Floridian. Yes, the changes have been hard to take but we get used to it. I couldn't live anywhere else.

Wow, your ancestors must have been the first ones there in 1845!

 

[nlain]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

We used to do Disney every year when our daughter was small, must have been ten years straight, I do not think we ever saw it all as they were still adding things. We have been a few times in later years taking the grand kids. There is one thing that we learned many years ago that is still true today and that is, when you go through the gate, go straight to the back and work your way back to the front. If you do that there are quite often no lines or very short lines, go back to the room between 2 and 3 pm, rest, go back out around 6 or 7 and start at the front. Once again, shorter lines. Doing this actually makes it much easier on you and you get to see/do more without the frustration of the lines. It is a great place to go, you have fun, you get to watch people and some of the crazy things they do.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

the Disney organization is absolutely without peer in making a grouchy, claustrophobic, short tempered old man have a great time.

I should definitely get my butt down there then.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

I have since determined that we can run our own defense, but the Disney organization is absolutely without peer in making a grouchy, claustrophobic, short tempered old man have a great time.

Given the number of grouchy, claustrophobic, short tempered old men in here,(and I do include myself...) maybe we could get Disney to help with these fora (forums) ....:facepalm:

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Walt Disney World, Orlando

Who remembers the A thru E tickets? Whoa...I AM old!:facepalm: