Sue Holland
07-06-2008, 01:05 PM
Who/When/Where:
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Dates: July 3 – 6, 2008
Travel Method: Personal car
Resort: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & spa
Experience: Extremely experienced
INTRODUCTION:
This year the 4th of July means a 3-day weekend from work. My theme park passes are not valid for the theme parks right now, but as hot as it is in July, the theme parks are the last place I want to be! This trip is also the only 1 out of 4 consecutive weekends where I was not flying somewhere to see SB, so when left with the choice of being home for a 3-day weekend or going to WDW for a 3-day weekend, it shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone that I’m going to WDW!
There a black cloud hanging over the trip, with the recent news that Comedy Warehouse and the other clubs would be closing for good by September 28, 2008. This was terrible news, and although Disney has been systematically destroying Pleasure Island for the past several years, it is still disappointing that they’ve chosen to close ALL of the clubs. The dance clubs I won’t miss at all, but the Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer’s Club embodied what Disney was all about – unique, high quality entertainment that isn’t your run-of-the-mill stuff you find on every corner. I guess after 19 years they discovered we all really want more shops in the area, as when can we ever have enough plush characters and pins?
This will be a resort trip, and would be perfect if only the weather wasn’t going to be hot, humid & rainy! I purposely booked Saratoga Springs because I do have access to Comedy Warehouse during the summer, and it’s so convenient to walk there from Saratoga Springs. In addition, I love the dining options in Downtown Disney (but do not need more options there, particularly at the expense of Comedy Warehouse), and enjoy the quiet pool at Saratoga Springs.
My plans will hopefully include 2 nights at the Comedy Warehouse, mornings lounging by the pool, working out at the gym each day, and dining out for breakfast and dinner. It will be low key and very relaxing, which is my idea of what a vacation is all about! There will be fireworks from Downtown Disney on the 4th, so I’ll probably watch those just to see how they are. The report might be pretty short and very boring, but we’ll see how it goes.
The plans so far are:
Thursday, 7/3: Work, Dental Appt, Drive to WDW, Puck’s Express, Comedy Warehouse
Friday 7/4: Breakfast Earl of Sandwich, Pool, Gym, Fulton’s, Comedy Warehouse, Fireworks
Saturday 7/5: Breakfast Puck’s Express, Pool, Gym, Dinner Puck’s Express
Sunday 7/6: Breakfast, Goofy’s Candy Co, Drive Home
DAY 1 – Thursday 7/3/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Work, Dental Appt, Drive to WDW, Puck’s Express, Comedy Warehouse
Actual: I started this trip with a dental appointment, but thanks to a mistake by the dental office my appointment ended up being almost 2 hours earlier than usual. I wasn’t too upset, as it just means I get to WDW earlier and have more time for this trip! Since I wasn’t sure my studio would be ready if I arrived at 2:10 I made a detour to Premium Outlets to check out Character Premiere. Doing so reminded me that last time I swore I’d never do that again, as it’s just a nightmare getting out of there during the middle of the day!
There was nothing I needed for anyone at Character Premiere, and it was too hot & crowded to browse through the other shops. I had parked in the parking garage, so I walked back over there and began the slow drive to WDW. The road handling this outlet mall is too inadequate for the # of cars on it each day. If you’re returning to WDW property you’ll have a long wait at the traffic light – today I ended up turning left and then making a legal u-turn further up the street. I believe that was quite a bit faster than if I’d stayed in line waiting to turn right.
SB called just as I got near Saratoga Springs, and I just had to laugh at his timing. The first time he called I was looking for a rest area so I could take restroom break and get something out of the trunk. Just after he called, I missed the exit – trapped by a huge semi truck. The 2nd time he called I was just pulling off at the next rest stop. Now the 3rd time was just as I needed to be off the phone to deal with the security person at Saratoga.
The security person didn’t even want to see my photo id, which didn’t bother me at all. I honestly don’t see a need for this “security” at the resorts, unless perhaps the resort is walking distance to a park & they’re trying to discourage parking cheaters. I went to the Carriage House to check in and found several cast members with no guests waiting. It’s so nice having no wait at all!
I’d requested Congress Park, and that’s what I was booked into, but it was not ready (it was almost 3pm). Nothing else was ready in Congress Park, but there was a room in the Springs. I should have just waited, but my cooler had come open in the trunk and I was concerned the little bottle of chocolate milk would spoil. I know – a stupid $1.39 bottle of milk made me take a much less desirable room! I’m up on the 3rd floor, which is nice. I’m also very close (just across the street) from the main pool & main building. However, I prefer the quiet pools and there’s not one near here. I’ll also miss the fireworks unless I walk over to Congress Park. It’ll also be a longer walk to Downtown Disney, but I always say walking won’t kill me so I really shouldn’t whine about that <g>. My balcony has a lovely view of the parking lot and the back of the bus stop – so I guess I won’t spend much time out there. Oh well, what’s done is done – time to get on with relaxing and being happy to be here!
It took just a few minutes to get settled in, and I got online while watching General Hospital. At 4 I decided it was time to eat, since I hadn’t had lunch except for some granola bark I’d eaten in the car (yummy stuff from Publix – pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, sesame seeds, almonds, mini choc chips & possibly raisins all held together like a granola bar – expensive but good).
I discovered it’s quite a long walk to Downtown Disney from the Springs, lol! I may not have taken the most efficient route, but even a shorter walk would have been long. I had the bright idea to change into my crocs since it looked like it could rain at any moment and I figured wet sneakers are no fun and it’s insane to consider driving to the Marketplace after about 9:15 am! For my trouble I got a blister on the top of each foot. I don’t know who these people are who rave about crocs but they kill me every time! They’re ok with socks, but I won’t wear socks with crocs if I’m wearing shorts!
Once I got to Downtown Disney I went directly to Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace. Since it was just a little after 4, it wasn’t very busy. I had a glass of the 41 Hands Riesling, the side Caesar, and tortilla soup. With the dvc discount it was $16 and change. I ate on the porch outside since it wasn’t overly hot, and enjoyed the meal. The wine is a generous pour, and I finished that quite a while after finishing the food. It was getting busier when I left, but it still wasn’t full.
I trudged back to Saratoga Springs. It still hadn’t rained – of course. If I’d left my sneakers on, the sidewalks would be flooded by now <g>. Out of consideration for my new blisters I stopped at the Congress Park bus stop and caught the next bus, getting off at the Springs since it’s the next stop. I made a detour to Artist Palate and picked up a yogurt parfait and brownie for later in the trip. I like that they honor the DDE here even though there’s a full service restaurant.
Back in the room I just relaxed for a while and listened to the first part of SB’s game. It ended up not raining at all, which surprised me. Hopefully it won’t rain while I’m out. A little after 7 I decided to try walking the path that comes in on the West Side end of Downtown Disney. You can pick it up outside the Turf Club, near the boat dock. Walk over the bridge that crosses the water and take a left. The nice wide paved path goes beyond the golf course and right into the West Side. It’s not a short walk, but it’s an easy one since you’re not dodging a zillion other people! Well, not until you get to the West Side <g>.
The walk took about 15 minutes or so, which wasn’t too bad at all. The West Side was very busy, and when I got to Pleasure Island I noticed the Adventurer’s Club looked pretty dark (at 7:30). I didn’t think anything of it just yet. I walked over to the Marketplace and got a sample at Ghiradelli, but will make my purchase on Sunday before I head home. Coming back to Pleasure I tried to enter the Adventurer’s Club but found the door locked. So, I had to go to Comedy Warehouse to get my wrist band.
I met up with Larry & Phyllis (local regulars) and they told me Adventurer’s Club now opens at 8pm. I used to enjoy sitting in there waiting for it to be time for Comedy Warehouse! I realize that’s not why they’re in business, but it worked for me (& Leesa) – especially when it was raining, too hot, or too cold. We passed the time sharing our thoughts on the unbelievably bad decision to close all of the clubs on Pleasure Island. Disney spent a lot of money renovating part of PI last year, and since so much of that newly renovated space has never opened I imagine they knew back then that they’d be closing the place. It’s so frustrating to be losing Comedy Warehouse.
Tonight Jamie was on the keys. The 8:00 cast was John, Mary, Krista, Brian & Christine. They opened with a poem called “Mrs. Brown killed my cat”. John & Christine did a Fill in the Blank scene set in a flower shop. Next Mary took the lead creating a song about ipods, and the others would take turns tapping the person at the microphone and replacing them to continue the song. I hadn’t seen this before, and I liked it.
They created a series of scenes where there were always 2 actors in the scene, each actor was the same character each time, but when an actor tags out another to replace him the scene jumps forward. Brian & Mary started it as a couple who just received word their son had been accepted at an ivy league school. It was very funny, and the plan to pay for it was to kill grandma (Krista). Unfortunately I missed part of it, as my phone rang buried in my bag, then rang again. I don’t think anyone around me heard it, but I did! It was SB, so I went up to the restroom since the only place I can get & keep a signal there is in the handicapped stall while I lean into the window <g>. He was in a rain delay and forgot I was at the show!
Up Your Alley was next, hosted by John as something Witherspoon. Up yours, witherspoon <g>. The topic was teenagers. Krista was a 15 year old named Amanda who goes by Chakra and had all the obnoxious entitlement teen attitude. Mary was Miss Manners for teenagers and teaches etiquette for teens. Brian was hysterical as a Rear Admiral who runs a boot camp for teens. There was a group of teens down in the front row, and he kept laying down on the stage and shouting into their faces about various things. It was a riot! After the show they got their picture taken with the cast – what great memories for them.
Overall it was a good show, and a pretty good sized crowd for the first one of the night. Between shows I visited with Mary, and then it was time for show #2. The 9:10 cast was Mary, Krista, John, Christine & Matt. This audience was quite a bit bigger, and there were a lot of people there for the first time. Good thing they came now instead of 3 months from now! Oh, but then they can go shopping.
They did Point Counter Point, where 2 actors debate opposing sides of a topic. Tonight it was John & Christine, and Matt was the moderator. The topics were gas prices, giraffe, tater mitts, bare hands & buildings. They did an excellent job – the best I’ve seen of this structure so far! Next Krista was a dead person in the morgue, Matt was the worker, and Mary came in thinking she was identifying her sister’s body. Matt & Mary started the scene, then had to reverse it, go forward & go further, reverse it again, etc. Once they finished the scene they had to do it in reverse all the way to the beginning. I can’t imagine being able to remember all of that! And Matt – how rare for a man to be able to remember anything that happened more than 10 seconds prior, lol!
The rest of the show was Disney’s newest musical, led by Christine. The main character was John as Joey the kangaroo frog. He was born in France but raised in Australia and was trying to get a visa to enter the US from Matt. Matt refused, but then since Bill Cosby was in a coma someone was needed to eat all the jello Cosby wasn’t able to eat so he would give John a visa if he ate the jello. Somehow John got hurt but without insurance the doctor at the ER wouldn’t help him. Then Matt adopted him, he got treatment and got engaged to the doctor (Krista). It was a cute musical, and a very good show.
I chatted with folks briefly after the show, then headed back to Saratoga Springs for the night. Once again I took the path along the West Side, and never saw another person the entire way (and no wildlife, thank goodness). Back in the studio I just missed the end of SB’s game, but the Comedy Warehouse was definitely more fun <g>. I ate the yogurt parfait and finished up the report, pausing to talk to SB when he called. He’s got a long bus ride ahead of him, but that’s the glamorous baseball life. I on the other hand am already in bed in my lovely Disney resort and don’t have to work for another 3 days – lucky me!
Today was a nice start to the trip. I do wish my Congress Park studio was ready when I arrived since I’ll be going over to Downtown Disney so much, but that’s a minor inconvenience. My Springs location is actually much better for going to the gym and the main building, and I might even try the main pool tomorrow since it’s so close. I’ve not heard any noise at all from the buses, which surprises me. At Old Key West there’s a lot of bus noise, so maybe these buildings are built better? We never did get any rain, which is another good thing. My dinner at Puck’s was very good, and Comedy Warehouse was wonderful.
I don’t know if I’ll get everything done tomorrow that I’m thinking of, but if so – I’ll have breakfast at Downtown Disney, spend time at the pool, go to the gym, late lunch at Fulton’s, listen to SB’s 4pm game, 1st 2 Comedy Warehouse shows, then 10:30 Downtown Disney fireworks! So much for relaxing <g>.
DAY 2 – Friday 7/4/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast Earl of Sandwich, Pool, Gym, Fulton’s, Comedy Warehouse, Fireworks
Actual: It was lights out just before midnight last night, and I never heard any noise all night long. It’s really amazing, considering how close the bus stop is, and the Magic Kingdom was open until 4am (someone said) for extra magic hour. I woke up around 6:30 and was at the gym shortly after 7. I always say this, but they need to crank up the air conditioning in there! It’s too warm for a gym. It was also quite busy, as I guess most people try to go before heading out for the day. I used the equipment, then had a nice short stroll back to the room, cutting through the main pool area. It was so nice & peaceful, with nobody around except a lifeguard cleaning leaves out of the pool.
Back in the studio I made some cappuccino and hung out online reading email for a while. Around 8:10 I left to begin the walk to Downtown Disney, this time taking the shorter path from the front of my room down to Congress Park and then to the Marketplace. As I was walking Angelo saw me and called to me, so I went over to visit with him for a while. I always look at the dvc van drivers to see if it’s him, but this time he was coming out of a parking lot and saw me first. He’s such a nice guy, and he always asks about SB and my Dad – and he hasn’t seen my Dad for over 6-7 years! Anyway, I was really happy to run into Angelo this morning, as it was a great start to the day!
As I approached the Marketplace someone had abandoned an Epcot wheelchair along the sidewalk, so I pushed it into the Marketplace and left it with a cast member. Why on earth would somebody leave it out in the middle of nowhere?? Earl of Sandwich opens at 8:30, and I got there just as the guy was unlocking the door. I ordered the caprese sandwich, and ate inside since it was so humid and warm outside. I guess I wasn’t very hungry, as I was full after the first half and took the other half back for later. Normally when I know I’m not eating lunch at a normal time I can finish the whole caprese, but maybe it was just too hot for an appetite right now.
Nothing else was open yet (shops open at 9:30) so I walked back to Saratoga Springs. Along the way I passed a young, tall, slim woman who was wearing the same tank top as me – she noticed it and said we both have good taste <g>. Seeing her coming from a distance I thought “she’s wearing my outfit”, lol. I paused at the Congress Park bus stop briefly but no buses were coming so I continued walking. Almost immediately 2 buses arrived, so I ran back and rode to the Springs since the walk would have been in direct sunlight (hot). I was surprised it was a Magic Kingdom bus and it arrived empty even though we were the 4th stop – not many got on at the Springs, either (at 9am).
I went up to the studio to get changed into my swimsuit, then went over to the main pool (High Rock Spring) by 9:30. It wasn’t terribly crowded yet, so I easily found a chaise lounge in a good location and was able to pull the chair back a bit so I wasn’t next to anyone else. It didn’t take too long for the pool area to get really busy, and people were walking around unsuccessfully looking for chairs. They even took the high chairs at the pool bar and dragged them away for a place to at least leave their stuff. This was all before 11am, so the lesson is to use a little common sense and don’t wait until mid-morning to show up at the main pool on a popular holiday! I really couldn’t feel sorry for them at all – what did they expect? I was concerned it would be too busy at 9:30, lol!
The pool was full of people too – more than I had ever seen in the pool at one time. They rarely left, either – I guess it was more comfortable in there than in the hot sun. I stayed on my lounge chair reading, except for the few times I walked over to get wet under the cool shower. Around noon I was tired of sweating so I gave my chair to some guy and walked across the street to my studio. After a shower I felt much better!
It was a little after 1, so I decided to head to Fulton’s for lunch. But, since it’s so hot I did not want to make the long walk and I was not getting in a hot car. I walked outside to the bus stop and the first bus to arrive was for Downtown Disney! Just like at OKW, the Downtown Disney buses here make a different loop. The Springs is the first stop, and Congress Park is the last, while normally Grandstand is first and Springs is last. A woman with a little girl & a stroller got on at Grandstand thinking she was riding to the main pool. We’d already been at that stop. As we were passing Springs again the driver stopped in the road only because someone was crossing the road – and the woman got up and asked to be let off. If she hadn’t done that she would have ridden to the Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, and then the 4 stops at Coronado Springs before going to some park! Another lesson – if you don’t KNOW where you’re going, ask the driver!
I got off at the Marketplace stop and stopped in Ghiradelli again for another sample (saved for later) and I bought a package of the foil wrapped chocolates for my office. From there I went to Fulton’s and was shocked to find the chicken salad no longer on the menu! I debated my options and decided to eat there anyway. A grilled chicken asian salad was on the menu now, and the only other non-seafood items were a chicken sandwich and a burger. Despite it being a holiday weekend I was seated immediately, and had a lovely table right next to the window on the upper level.
My server was very good, and nothing was rushed. I decided to try Fulton’s white wine, which is a blend of several different varieties. It was not bad, but I wouldn’t rush back just for that. They bring out a boursin cheese based spread with crab & possibly other stuff, which is actually very good with the crackers provided. They also provide the recipe. The loaf of bread was nice & warm, but not particularly outstanding at all. I decided to try the chicken asian salad, and when it came it was presented really well. It was also pretty big! I pulled out the stuff I knew I wouldn’t like (broccoli, carrots) but that still left greens, candied walnuts, water chestnuts, red peppers, mandarin orange slices, candied walnuts and 5 strips of chicken breast. The dressing was really good with everything, too.
I had just started eating when I heard my server mention milk chocolate crème brulee at the next table. There was no point filling up on salad after hearing that, lol! I ended up having more than half the salad packaged up to take with me, and then ordered the crème brulee. It was easily enough to share, but I ate every last bite. It was covered with white and dark chocolate curls, and had a pile of whipped cream dusted with cocoa powder. It was very good – but I was a bit surprised to see it was $8.95. I’m not used to desserts costing more than a counter service meal <g>. Being a dvc member saved me 20%, and I had no regrets.
After lunch I walked to the Pleasure Island bus stop and had a good 25-minute wait for a bus. I saw 3 buses for Port Orleans, 2 for OKW, and multiples for many others. The air conditioning was freezing, but after the long wait outside in the humidity it felt good at first. Our next stop was Typhoon Lagoon, and those guests getting on didn’t think the air conditioning felt good at all! The driver turned it off, lol. By the time I got back to Saratoga Springs (mine was the first stop), it was 4pm, so using Disney transportation to have lunch across the lake from the resort took just over 2.5 hours!
I missed General Hospital, but it’s being recorded at home and I can watch it Sunday. I turned SB’s 4:05pm game on the internet and listened while updating the report and reading online. After the game (they won finally) I sat on the balcony with my book & a glass (small plastic wine glass from Food & Wine festival – saved for this purpose) of wine, then at 7:15 left to walk over to Pleasure Island using the walkway to the West Side. Downtown Disney was very busy, and it was difficult maneuvering through the crowds. Cast members had carts set up to sell those lighted toy things, and there were more food & beverage carts as well.
I met Larry & Phyllis near the Comedy Warehouse, and they said they had a really hard time finding a parking space (very far away). Later when David arrived he said the same thing. I was glad I could walk! David said Disney was trying to make the traffic go one way only, but people were ignoring the cast member and just driving where they wanted to go. Tonight Carol Stein was on the keys and she had her camera with her. She wanted to take our pictures tonight, so she did that before the show – working her way down the row. Regulars Bob & Virginia were there as well, along with their adult son-in-law.
The 8:00 cast was Brian, Missy, Matt, John & Christine. Christine & Matt were a mother & son in a funny but somewhat icky Emotions scene. They had to keep changing to the emotion called out by 2 of the others while doing the scene. It ended with a sexual undertone, which was a bit weird since they were mother & son (icky). Next was Madrigal, led by Matt. The 4 tabloid headlines used were “Harry Potter goes potty”, “Brangelina’s twins born without head”, “Britney Spears is skinny” and “Barbara Walters marries Larry King”. It was very brief, but it was good. I didn’t understand why it was so short at first, but they really packed a lot into this show.
They did the Worst Occupations, and then also did Cliché. Brian was tortured until he guessed “Shoes on the table is bad luck” – it was outstanding! Overall it was a very good show. The audience wasn’t particularly big, considering the huge crowds outside. But, since most people want shops instead of intelligent, unique & creative entertainment, I shouldn’t be surprised (pardon the retching noises).
The 9:10 cast was Brian, Christine, Matt, David & Missy. Mark started a scene mowing the lawn, then gradually the others joined in one at a time, making a new scene with each new person. Then they each backed out one at a time, getting back to just Mark mowing the grass again. Next Missy started the tag team structure about earwax. 2 actors would be in the scene at any time, and the others would tag & replace someone in the scene.
Matt & Brian used 2 audience volunteers in Fill in the Blank. They were at a Tupperware party, and Brian was coaching Matt to score points with the ladies coming to the party. Next was the greeting card structure. Christine, Missy & David asked for events that don’t have a card, and then made up cards for those situations. Some of it was really funny – particularly David. He’s been a great addition to the cast. The show ran late, thanks to the moron who was taking up gobs of time telling his “embarrassing story” that wasn’t embarrassing. The first person to volunteer told about hitting a drunk with his truck while on his honeymoon. That seemed a bit sad (for the drunk at least, but he didn’t die), so this other idiot raised his hand. It started with the pump breaking on the irrigation system at his several hundred acre watermelon farm (of course we were supposed to be impressed with how BIG his farm is, just as I imagine we’re supposed think other things of his are also BIG <g>), then his wife went into labor, the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck (and he said for all this trouble it better be a boy – what the hell???), they did surgery to save the baby, 2 days later the baby has pneumonia & his lungs collapse – this was going on & on. Christine finally asked if there was a funny part, and there wasn’t. They guy went on saying the kid is fine today, blah blah blah and they went ahead with the drunk story, lol!
I was in a rush to get out of there because I wanted to be back “home” in Saratoga Springs for the 10:30 fireworks and it was now 10:10. Downtown Disney was MOBBED. In places everyone was at a standstill because there were too many people not wanting to move. People had plopped down in the middle of the walkways at the Marketplace! When I wove my way through the madness and got to the bus stop area, I saw a huge line of buses and lots of cars just gridlocked out on the roads. Nobody here was going anywhere soon! I was so glad I was smart enough to book Saratoga since these fireworks were in my plans.
Once I was past the bus stops, the rest of the walk was a breeze. I sat on the edge of the walkway along the lake and talked to SB again before the fireworks started. The fireworks were very nice – much bigger than the old Pleasure Island fireworks, and they had music playing over in Downtown Disney. I’d say they lasted 5-10 minutes, and it was a nice display. The wind was blowing towards us, but I don’t mind that kind of smoke. When the big finale ended we were showered with dead ash & other debris falling from the sky. I could feel it hit my head, so I knew when to reach up and pull the pieces out of my hair, lol.
There wasn’t a bus arriving at Congress Park so I just walked back to the Springs and went up to the studio. I wasn’t hungry so the rest of the salad and other half of the caprese sandwich is still in the fridge. I guess I’ll only eat out once tomorrow, and try to not waste the stuff in the fridge. I finished up the report, talked to SB, and hung out online until I went to bed a little after midnight. It was another great day, and I think I did everything I’d hoped to do, except for General Hospital.
Tomorrow will be more of a do-nothing day for me, and I’m looking forward to that!
DAY 3 – Saturday 7/5/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast Puck’s Express, Pool, Gym, Dinner Puck’s Express
Actual: After another good night’s sleep in my completely silent studio, I woke up around 6:45. I had some cappuccino and the rest of the caprese sandwich for breakfast, and hung out online until I walked over to the main pool just before 9:30. It wasn’t as busy as yesterday, and all of the bar chairs were still at the pool bar when it opened at 11am! I took a chaise lounge in my same spot, and took frequent showers since it was so hot. I even stood in the pool reading for a while, as even the cool showers didn’t refresh me for more than 5 minutes. Just before noon I went back to the studio to shower/dress.
While I was at the pool I’d called Disney Dining and booked lunch at the Wave for 1:35 today. I have a reservation for next trip (Labor Day weekend), but this way if it’s not worthy of a repeat trip so soon I’ll have that time available for something else. I drove over to the Contemporary, not wanting a repeat of my experience using Disney transportation to get to Fulton’s.
The security guy didn’t give me any trouble at all when I said I had a lunch reservation. I expected there might be some trouble since it’s the holiday weekend and people can walk to the Magic Kingdom from here. The new not-yet-announced-as-dvc construction showed a tree on the roof, which means they’ve got all the floors built. The walkway connecting the new building to the original tower is curvy, which looks more interesting than a boring straight line. I went out on the 4th floor observation deck to take a few photos, then went inside and browsed through part of the shops.
When I went downstairs to the Wave they seated me immediately, as it was not busy. I was surprised by how small the restaurant is – it’s not tiny, but I expected something bigger. It was very noisy for part of my time here – I’m assuming until the people making all of the noise got their food. I also don’t think they were being exceptionally rude or loud, as it was several families and none of them seemed to be shouting. I just heard way too much of kids’ conversations about bloody noses & other “boy” stuff.
My server was very difficult to understand, thanks to his accent. He seemed nice enough, but I had no idea what he was saying when he described the specials. The menu doesn’t have the wines on there, so I had to ask for a wine list. I had heard this menu was featuring a lot of uncommon wines, so it was a bit surprising to have to ask for the list. He brought it to me, and it was quite long and he stood there waiting for my decision. I didn’t recognize any of them and felt rushed so I just ordered the pinot gris that was recommended with the lunch item I was ordering.
The only thing on the menu I’d eat was the spicy chicken salad, and I had read a review by someone who had ordered it and loved it. So, with great confidence that’s what I ordered. The wine was ok – it took a few sips for it to grow on me, as it’s drier than I like. But, I’d order it again if there was nothing I liked better. It took a while for the salad to come, but I didn’t mind that as I prefer not to be rushed. When it did arrive, I was a big surprised by it’s size. Normally portions are ridiculously large, but I thought this was rather small – especially for $14.99. It was on a big plate, but it was a small portion. The chicken was in little pieces, and it looked like thigh meat. I HATE thigh meat! I tried it, and didn’t care for it. So, I ate a few bites then picked out the diced apples and basically pushed the salad around spreading it out so it looked like I ate more of it, lol. It had halves of grape tomatoes, small grapes, and the crouton-type things were itty bitty squares that were not even crisp. There was also nothing spicy about anything on that plate. It was a big disappointment, and I doubt I’ll be back here unless there’s a new menu or I’m with someone who just absolutely has to eat here or their trip will be ruined!
When I got the check the server never asked how my lunch was, and I chose not to make an issue out of it. It could have been wonderful but just not to my taste. So, I got my 20% off with the DDE and ended up paying almost $24 for the glass of wine and a few bites of crummy salad. Yep, I definitely won’t be back anytime soon! I drove back to Saratoga Springs, stopping for cheaper-than-home gas at the Hess station across from Pleasure Island. I figure coming here to fill up saves me about $.75 if you ignore the gas it costs me to get here <g>. I stopped in the studio then went to Artist’s Palate, which was mobbed. This place really is too small for this size resort! I got another brownie since the first one was gone, then went back to the studio and ate my dessert. The brownies really aren’t anything special, but I was in the mood for sweets and didn’t feel like going anywhere in the heat & crowds of Downtown Disney. I did call Disney Dining and cancel my next Wave reservation so I wasn’t preventing someone else from getting a reservation there. Even though it’s during free dining I had no trouble booking 50’s Prime Time Café to replace the Wave.
I hung out in the studio for a while, and tried sitting on the balcony but in direct sunlight it just got too hot after a while. It’ll be nicer after the sun goes down, since there’s no view to speak of anyway. By late afternoon (maybe close to 4) I felt like getting out of the room, so I decided to ride the boat between here and Old Key West.
I walked over to the boat dock, which is very convenient from my studio. A boat was there, along with a long line of people. The captain was talking to some guests in line for quite a while – the next boat was sitting out there waiting. Finally the captain stepped back and said – ok, everyone going to Downtown Disney? I said “no – OKW” and he told me to come on down and get on this boat. We were on our way, and there was a new cast member driving, being trained by the veteran. It was a slow ride, since the new guy was cautious and there were a lot of rental boats out there. Even with the little breeze caused by being on a moving boat, it was really HOT!
When we arrived at OKW, the new guy had a heck of a time trying to dock the boat. After about 3-4 attempts, he finally got it. Everyone was patient and nobody pressured him or anything. I was just out for a ride, so I didn’t care if it took him 20 times to dock the boat, lol! I got off the boat and looked in the shop, then wandered over to the pool area when I noticed another boat was already at the dock. I went back and boarded, and we left in about 5 minutes.
We stopped at Saratoga and picked up a few more people, then continued on to the Marketplace. It wasn’t as horribly crowded as it could have been, but of course it was very HOT! I decided to stop at Earl of Sandwich and I saw they had the little containers of strawberry yogurt with granola and a couple sliced-up strawberries. They’re only $1.99 since they’re so small, but I like the size. I decided to get one of those plus the same little container of fresh fruit (also $1.99). There was nobody at the side cash register, and of course the queue to order food was huge! I figured I could just cut in at the register, since there are usually gaps, but then an employee walked by. I asked about the side register, and he said it wasn’t open right now, but that he’d walk me up and cut me in at the other registers, lol! So, I didn’t really have to wait at all and was on my way $4.16 later. I figured instead of coming over for breakfast tomorrow, I’ll just eat this in the studio and then drive over to do my shopping at Goofy’s Candy Co.
I walked back through the Marketplace, stopping in Ghiradelli for a sample for later. A woman with a LOT of kids went in just ahead of me, and some of her kids were literally trying to grab a sample from the basket the employee was holding. She kept lifting it up out of their reach! I was shocked, as they weren’t foreign so surely they understand American customs and not grabbing from a stranger! Since the sample is peanut butter inside milk chocolate, the employee has to ask the parent if the child can have peanut butter before giving it to a kid.
I walked through World of Disney, more for the air conditioning than anything else, lol! There wasn’t any reason for me to stop anywhere, so I continued through Pleasure Island and then stopped at Wetzel’s Pretzels. A pretzel is just what I wanted for dinner, so I got one with no salt and used my dvc status for 20% off. If I eat any of the leftover Fulton’s salad later, that’s fine – if not, I’ll trash it. I ate most of the pretzel while walking back (sweating profusely in the heat & humidity again) along the path from the West Side. There’s another bike rack near the West Side, but I’ve never seen any bikes in this one or the one by the Marketplace. Bikes are not allowed inside Downtown Disney at all, but I guess you could ride them over from Old Key West (West Side) or Saratoga (Marketplace or West Side).
Back at Saratoga Springs I went to the studio to put my cold stuff away and drink some cold water! I used a cold wet washcloth to cool off, then laid down and got SB’s game started on the internet. Once my balcony was out of the sun (around 7:20) I poured a glass of wine and moved the computer onto the balcony so I could listen to the game out there. It was surprisingly pleasant, with a nice breeze. I only really noticed the humidity when I’d go into the studio for something and then come back outside. I’m really torn about this weekend next year. I’ve settled on Saratoga Springs again but I can’t decide between requesting Congress Park or the Springs. Both work well for me, but for different reasons.
Once it got dark I switched to the other chair to watch the heat lightning flashing in the sky. I could hear the Epcot fireworks at 9, but couldn’t see them. It was really pleasant out there – I think this was one of my favorite times of the trip, which probably sounds really bizarre considering everything else that’s here. Around 9:15 I went inside, and once the game ended I went for a walk around the resort since it was such a pretty night. I took my chances it wouldn’t rain, as the lightning didn’t seem to be part of a storm.
I started by walking to the Grandstand, once I found the path. I was shocked at how close the Grandstand pool is to the main building. Riding on the bus it feels like it’s miles away, but it’s really surprisingly close. The pool is ok, much like the other quiet pools, but it has bright red chairs instead of the brown/beige at the other pools. They also have a pool bar here, which is surprising since it’s a stone’s throw from the main pool and the other 2 quiet pools do not have a bar and are much further away. It just makes no sense to me.
From there I walked the path along the golf course, dodging the sprinklers. The path led to the main road into the resort, which I crossed and walked through the Carousel and then into the Paddock. The quiet pool here is similar to the other quiet pools, except the bus stop is directly behind it. I crossed that long bridge over the lake, then sat on a bench and talked to SB for a while. He was concerned about me walking around alone at night, but I wouldn’t do it if I was somewhere I didn’t feel safe. After we were done I went back to my studio – turns out I was sitting at the other end of my building all along. I gave him a quick call so he knows aliens didn’t abduct me or anything <g>. I microwaved the rest of the Wetzel’s pretzel and finished up the report.
Today was very relaxing – I hope to have many more days like this, particularly on solo trips when the weather is so terribly hot & humid! The only disappointment was the Wave, and that’s something I would have experienced it sooner or later. I’m glad I got it out of the way, as I can look forward to the next trip without any dining nightmares.
Tomorrow will be a short day. After picking up some things at Goofy’s Candy Co I’ll drive home so I’ve got time to go to the gym before SB’s game starts. Then it’s back work and the “real world” on Monday – yuck!
DAY 4 – Sunday 7/6/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast, Goofy’s Candy Co, Drive Home
Actual: After another good night’s sleep I woke up for the last time (this trip) around 6:30 or so. I had the fruit & yogurt along with cappuccino and finished packing up my stuff. When I looked at my bill I saw I was charged for one day of internet, but a quick phone call to the front desk got that removed. It looks like a beautiful day, but I know once I go outside it’ll feel hot & sticky! I left the studio around 8:50, loaded up the car and drove over to the Marketplace.
There were a few other people going to breakfast at Puck’s Express or doing some pin trading, but otherwise it was really deserted at the Marketplace. Earl of Sandwich opens at 8:30, Puck’s Express & Goofy’s Candy Co at 9:00, and everything else at 9:30, from what I could tell. At Goofy’s I got a custom rice krispie treat for me and one of the already-made specialty apples for Chris. I also got SB some Disney mints so he can be “Disney” in the clubhouse and drive his players crazy. The laugh at his DVC baseball cap, but he’s ok with it because he knows they don’t have a clue!
I went back to the car and began the sad but boring drive home, getting back about 12:30 – in time for the gym before his game started. Hopefully I’ll get a piece of Chris’ apple before he goes to work <g>.
This was a nice relaxing trip, and I’ll do it again as long as the holiday from work falls on either a Friday or Monday. Next year though, I’ll book through Sunday night and just drive to work in the pre-dawn hours Monday. I figure by doing that I’ll save 1-2 gallons of gas, so it’s the least I can do for our environment, lol!
The things I loved about this trip – Saratoga Springs Resort and my location in the Springs. The studio was perfect, the location was terrific, and except for not having a nice view I would gladly do it again. I never expected to be happy outside of Congress Park, but I was. Now I have 5 months to decide whether to request Springs or Congress Park for next year! My lunch at Fulton’s was good, and it was such a pretty view from up there in the air conditioning. I also loved my time at Comedy Warehouse – what a shocker, huh?
The stuff I didn’t like – the weather and the Wave. Lunch at the Wave was a bust – and very expensive considering what I got. Go ahead and give it a try if you like the menu, and I hope you have a better experience than me! There’s nothing Disney can do about the weather, short of enclosing the entire area in a climate-controlled dome! Summer in Florida is just plain disgusting, and although I love living here I cannot sugarcoat how truly awful summers are (and summer lasts from late May through early October). If you cannot deal with the occasional heat wave where you live up north – do not come here during the summer! I will be back this time next year, because the alternative is to stay home and I’m not about to do that!
The BIG negative was the news that Disney is really closing the Comedy Warehouse and the other clubs on Pleasure Island. Someone who already wrote a letter got a phone call from Disney, and was told that they (Disney) had no idea the clubs were so popular, the decision to close cannot be reversed, and we all should have written sooner. Ok, I realize their comments are absolute bull – why on earth would we write to ask them to keep the clubs open if we didn’t know they were planning to close them??? Also, they had no idea the club was popular?? How about looking at the attendance statistics that are collected each time someone’s pass is swiped to enter a club!
I’ve listed some Disney email addresses for anyone who would like to send even a brief note to Disney to let your displeasure be known about the closing of Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer’s Club, or any of the others.
Bob Iger, Vice President of Operations, Walt Disney World
Robert.A.Iger@email.disney.com
Kevin Lansberry, Vice President of Operations Downtown Disney
kevin.lansberry@email.disney.com
Barry Carlson, GM of Operations
barry.r.carlson@email.disney.com
Patsy Pederson, GM Guest Show
patsy.pederson@email.disney.com
Kris Piser, DTD Finance Manager
Kristine.piser@email.disney.com
Eric Johnason, Downtown Disney Business Relations
Eric.Johanson@disney.com
Christina Simeonides, Guest Service Manager, Downtown Disney Business Relations
Christina.M.Simeonides@disney.com
My next trip isn’t for another 53 days, since that’s the next holiday weekend. I’ll be spending Labor Day weekend at Old Key West – my first stay there in quite a while! Thanks for reading!
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Dates: July 3 – 6, 2008
Travel Method: Personal car
Resort: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & spa
Experience: Extremely experienced
INTRODUCTION:
This year the 4th of July means a 3-day weekend from work. My theme park passes are not valid for the theme parks right now, but as hot as it is in July, the theme parks are the last place I want to be! This trip is also the only 1 out of 4 consecutive weekends where I was not flying somewhere to see SB, so when left with the choice of being home for a 3-day weekend or going to WDW for a 3-day weekend, it shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone that I’m going to WDW!
There a black cloud hanging over the trip, with the recent news that Comedy Warehouse and the other clubs would be closing for good by September 28, 2008. This was terrible news, and although Disney has been systematically destroying Pleasure Island for the past several years, it is still disappointing that they’ve chosen to close ALL of the clubs. The dance clubs I won’t miss at all, but the Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer’s Club embodied what Disney was all about – unique, high quality entertainment that isn’t your run-of-the-mill stuff you find on every corner. I guess after 19 years they discovered we all really want more shops in the area, as when can we ever have enough plush characters and pins?
This will be a resort trip, and would be perfect if only the weather wasn’t going to be hot, humid & rainy! I purposely booked Saratoga Springs because I do have access to Comedy Warehouse during the summer, and it’s so convenient to walk there from Saratoga Springs. In addition, I love the dining options in Downtown Disney (but do not need more options there, particularly at the expense of Comedy Warehouse), and enjoy the quiet pool at Saratoga Springs.
My plans will hopefully include 2 nights at the Comedy Warehouse, mornings lounging by the pool, working out at the gym each day, and dining out for breakfast and dinner. It will be low key and very relaxing, which is my idea of what a vacation is all about! There will be fireworks from Downtown Disney on the 4th, so I’ll probably watch those just to see how they are. The report might be pretty short and very boring, but we’ll see how it goes.
The plans so far are:
Thursday, 7/3: Work, Dental Appt, Drive to WDW, Puck’s Express, Comedy Warehouse
Friday 7/4: Breakfast Earl of Sandwich, Pool, Gym, Fulton’s, Comedy Warehouse, Fireworks
Saturday 7/5: Breakfast Puck’s Express, Pool, Gym, Dinner Puck’s Express
Sunday 7/6: Breakfast, Goofy’s Candy Co, Drive Home
DAY 1 – Thursday 7/3/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Work, Dental Appt, Drive to WDW, Puck’s Express, Comedy Warehouse
Actual: I started this trip with a dental appointment, but thanks to a mistake by the dental office my appointment ended up being almost 2 hours earlier than usual. I wasn’t too upset, as it just means I get to WDW earlier and have more time for this trip! Since I wasn’t sure my studio would be ready if I arrived at 2:10 I made a detour to Premium Outlets to check out Character Premiere. Doing so reminded me that last time I swore I’d never do that again, as it’s just a nightmare getting out of there during the middle of the day!
There was nothing I needed for anyone at Character Premiere, and it was too hot & crowded to browse through the other shops. I had parked in the parking garage, so I walked back over there and began the slow drive to WDW. The road handling this outlet mall is too inadequate for the # of cars on it each day. If you’re returning to WDW property you’ll have a long wait at the traffic light – today I ended up turning left and then making a legal u-turn further up the street. I believe that was quite a bit faster than if I’d stayed in line waiting to turn right.
SB called just as I got near Saratoga Springs, and I just had to laugh at his timing. The first time he called I was looking for a rest area so I could take restroom break and get something out of the trunk. Just after he called, I missed the exit – trapped by a huge semi truck. The 2nd time he called I was just pulling off at the next rest stop. Now the 3rd time was just as I needed to be off the phone to deal with the security person at Saratoga.
The security person didn’t even want to see my photo id, which didn’t bother me at all. I honestly don’t see a need for this “security” at the resorts, unless perhaps the resort is walking distance to a park & they’re trying to discourage parking cheaters. I went to the Carriage House to check in and found several cast members with no guests waiting. It’s so nice having no wait at all!
I’d requested Congress Park, and that’s what I was booked into, but it was not ready (it was almost 3pm). Nothing else was ready in Congress Park, but there was a room in the Springs. I should have just waited, but my cooler had come open in the trunk and I was concerned the little bottle of chocolate milk would spoil. I know – a stupid $1.39 bottle of milk made me take a much less desirable room! I’m up on the 3rd floor, which is nice. I’m also very close (just across the street) from the main pool & main building. However, I prefer the quiet pools and there’s not one near here. I’ll also miss the fireworks unless I walk over to Congress Park. It’ll also be a longer walk to Downtown Disney, but I always say walking won’t kill me so I really shouldn’t whine about that <g>. My balcony has a lovely view of the parking lot and the back of the bus stop – so I guess I won’t spend much time out there. Oh well, what’s done is done – time to get on with relaxing and being happy to be here!
It took just a few minutes to get settled in, and I got online while watching General Hospital. At 4 I decided it was time to eat, since I hadn’t had lunch except for some granola bark I’d eaten in the car (yummy stuff from Publix – pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, sesame seeds, almonds, mini choc chips & possibly raisins all held together like a granola bar – expensive but good).
I discovered it’s quite a long walk to Downtown Disney from the Springs, lol! I may not have taken the most efficient route, but even a shorter walk would have been long. I had the bright idea to change into my crocs since it looked like it could rain at any moment and I figured wet sneakers are no fun and it’s insane to consider driving to the Marketplace after about 9:15 am! For my trouble I got a blister on the top of each foot. I don’t know who these people are who rave about crocs but they kill me every time! They’re ok with socks, but I won’t wear socks with crocs if I’m wearing shorts!
Once I got to Downtown Disney I went directly to Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace. Since it was just a little after 4, it wasn’t very busy. I had a glass of the 41 Hands Riesling, the side Caesar, and tortilla soup. With the dvc discount it was $16 and change. I ate on the porch outside since it wasn’t overly hot, and enjoyed the meal. The wine is a generous pour, and I finished that quite a while after finishing the food. It was getting busier when I left, but it still wasn’t full.
I trudged back to Saratoga Springs. It still hadn’t rained – of course. If I’d left my sneakers on, the sidewalks would be flooded by now <g>. Out of consideration for my new blisters I stopped at the Congress Park bus stop and caught the next bus, getting off at the Springs since it’s the next stop. I made a detour to Artist Palate and picked up a yogurt parfait and brownie for later in the trip. I like that they honor the DDE here even though there’s a full service restaurant.
Back in the room I just relaxed for a while and listened to the first part of SB’s game. It ended up not raining at all, which surprised me. Hopefully it won’t rain while I’m out. A little after 7 I decided to try walking the path that comes in on the West Side end of Downtown Disney. You can pick it up outside the Turf Club, near the boat dock. Walk over the bridge that crosses the water and take a left. The nice wide paved path goes beyond the golf course and right into the West Side. It’s not a short walk, but it’s an easy one since you’re not dodging a zillion other people! Well, not until you get to the West Side <g>.
The walk took about 15 minutes or so, which wasn’t too bad at all. The West Side was very busy, and when I got to Pleasure Island I noticed the Adventurer’s Club looked pretty dark (at 7:30). I didn’t think anything of it just yet. I walked over to the Marketplace and got a sample at Ghiradelli, but will make my purchase on Sunday before I head home. Coming back to Pleasure I tried to enter the Adventurer’s Club but found the door locked. So, I had to go to Comedy Warehouse to get my wrist band.
I met up with Larry & Phyllis (local regulars) and they told me Adventurer’s Club now opens at 8pm. I used to enjoy sitting in there waiting for it to be time for Comedy Warehouse! I realize that’s not why they’re in business, but it worked for me (& Leesa) – especially when it was raining, too hot, or too cold. We passed the time sharing our thoughts on the unbelievably bad decision to close all of the clubs on Pleasure Island. Disney spent a lot of money renovating part of PI last year, and since so much of that newly renovated space has never opened I imagine they knew back then that they’d be closing the place. It’s so frustrating to be losing Comedy Warehouse.
Tonight Jamie was on the keys. The 8:00 cast was John, Mary, Krista, Brian & Christine. They opened with a poem called “Mrs. Brown killed my cat”. John & Christine did a Fill in the Blank scene set in a flower shop. Next Mary took the lead creating a song about ipods, and the others would take turns tapping the person at the microphone and replacing them to continue the song. I hadn’t seen this before, and I liked it.
They created a series of scenes where there were always 2 actors in the scene, each actor was the same character each time, but when an actor tags out another to replace him the scene jumps forward. Brian & Mary started it as a couple who just received word their son had been accepted at an ivy league school. It was very funny, and the plan to pay for it was to kill grandma (Krista). Unfortunately I missed part of it, as my phone rang buried in my bag, then rang again. I don’t think anyone around me heard it, but I did! It was SB, so I went up to the restroom since the only place I can get & keep a signal there is in the handicapped stall while I lean into the window <g>. He was in a rain delay and forgot I was at the show!
Up Your Alley was next, hosted by John as something Witherspoon. Up yours, witherspoon <g>. The topic was teenagers. Krista was a 15 year old named Amanda who goes by Chakra and had all the obnoxious entitlement teen attitude. Mary was Miss Manners for teenagers and teaches etiquette for teens. Brian was hysterical as a Rear Admiral who runs a boot camp for teens. There was a group of teens down in the front row, and he kept laying down on the stage and shouting into their faces about various things. It was a riot! After the show they got their picture taken with the cast – what great memories for them.
Overall it was a good show, and a pretty good sized crowd for the first one of the night. Between shows I visited with Mary, and then it was time for show #2. The 9:10 cast was Mary, Krista, John, Christine & Matt. This audience was quite a bit bigger, and there were a lot of people there for the first time. Good thing they came now instead of 3 months from now! Oh, but then they can go shopping.
They did Point Counter Point, where 2 actors debate opposing sides of a topic. Tonight it was John & Christine, and Matt was the moderator. The topics were gas prices, giraffe, tater mitts, bare hands & buildings. They did an excellent job – the best I’ve seen of this structure so far! Next Krista was a dead person in the morgue, Matt was the worker, and Mary came in thinking she was identifying her sister’s body. Matt & Mary started the scene, then had to reverse it, go forward & go further, reverse it again, etc. Once they finished the scene they had to do it in reverse all the way to the beginning. I can’t imagine being able to remember all of that! And Matt – how rare for a man to be able to remember anything that happened more than 10 seconds prior, lol!
The rest of the show was Disney’s newest musical, led by Christine. The main character was John as Joey the kangaroo frog. He was born in France but raised in Australia and was trying to get a visa to enter the US from Matt. Matt refused, but then since Bill Cosby was in a coma someone was needed to eat all the jello Cosby wasn’t able to eat so he would give John a visa if he ate the jello. Somehow John got hurt but without insurance the doctor at the ER wouldn’t help him. Then Matt adopted him, he got treatment and got engaged to the doctor (Krista). It was a cute musical, and a very good show.
I chatted with folks briefly after the show, then headed back to Saratoga Springs for the night. Once again I took the path along the West Side, and never saw another person the entire way (and no wildlife, thank goodness). Back in the studio I just missed the end of SB’s game, but the Comedy Warehouse was definitely more fun <g>. I ate the yogurt parfait and finished up the report, pausing to talk to SB when he called. He’s got a long bus ride ahead of him, but that’s the glamorous baseball life. I on the other hand am already in bed in my lovely Disney resort and don’t have to work for another 3 days – lucky me!
Today was a nice start to the trip. I do wish my Congress Park studio was ready when I arrived since I’ll be going over to Downtown Disney so much, but that’s a minor inconvenience. My Springs location is actually much better for going to the gym and the main building, and I might even try the main pool tomorrow since it’s so close. I’ve not heard any noise at all from the buses, which surprises me. At Old Key West there’s a lot of bus noise, so maybe these buildings are built better? We never did get any rain, which is another good thing. My dinner at Puck’s was very good, and Comedy Warehouse was wonderful.
I don’t know if I’ll get everything done tomorrow that I’m thinking of, but if so – I’ll have breakfast at Downtown Disney, spend time at the pool, go to the gym, late lunch at Fulton’s, listen to SB’s 4pm game, 1st 2 Comedy Warehouse shows, then 10:30 Downtown Disney fireworks! So much for relaxing <g>.
DAY 2 – Friday 7/4/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast Earl of Sandwich, Pool, Gym, Fulton’s, Comedy Warehouse, Fireworks
Actual: It was lights out just before midnight last night, and I never heard any noise all night long. It’s really amazing, considering how close the bus stop is, and the Magic Kingdom was open until 4am (someone said) for extra magic hour. I woke up around 6:30 and was at the gym shortly after 7. I always say this, but they need to crank up the air conditioning in there! It’s too warm for a gym. It was also quite busy, as I guess most people try to go before heading out for the day. I used the equipment, then had a nice short stroll back to the room, cutting through the main pool area. It was so nice & peaceful, with nobody around except a lifeguard cleaning leaves out of the pool.
Back in the studio I made some cappuccino and hung out online reading email for a while. Around 8:10 I left to begin the walk to Downtown Disney, this time taking the shorter path from the front of my room down to Congress Park and then to the Marketplace. As I was walking Angelo saw me and called to me, so I went over to visit with him for a while. I always look at the dvc van drivers to see if it’s him, but this time he was coming out of a parking lot and saw me first. He’s such a nice guy, and he always asks about SB and my Dad – and he hasn’t seen my Dad for over 6-7 years! Anyway, I was really happy to run into Angelo this morning, as it was a great start to the day!
As I approached the Marketplace someone had abandoned an Epcot wheelchair along the sidewalk, so I pushed it into the Marketplace and left it with a cast member. Why on earth would somebody leave it out in the middle of nowhere?? Earl of Sandwich opens at 8:30, and I got there just as the guy was unlocking the door. I ordered the caprese sandwich, and ate inside since it was so humid and warm outside. I guess I wasn’t very hungry, as I was full after the first half and took the other half back for later. Normally when I know I’m not eating lunch at a normal time I can finish the whole caprese, but maybe it was just too hot for an appetite right now.
Nothing else was open yet (shops open at 9:30) so I walked back to Saratoga Springs. Along the way I passed a young, tall, slim woman who was wearing the same tank top as me – she noticed it and said we both have good taste <g>. Seeing her coming from a distance I thought “she’s wearing my outfit”, lol. I paused at the Congress Park bus stop briefly but no buses were coming so I continued walking. Almost immediately 2 buses arrived, so I ran back and rode to the Springs since the walk would have been in direct sunlight (hot). I was surprised it was a Magic Kingdom bus and it arrived empty even though we were the 4th stop – not many got on at the Springs, either (at 9am).
I went up to the studio to get changed into my swimsuit, then went over to the main pool (High Rock Spring) by 9:30. It wasn’t terribly crowded yet, so I easily found a chaise lounge in a good location and was able to pull the chair back a bit so I wasn’t next to anyone else. It didn’t take too long for the pool area to get really busy, and people were walking around unsuccessfully looking for chairs. They even took the high chairs at the pool bar and dragged them away for a place to at least leave their stuff. This was all before 11am, so the lesson is to use a little common sense and don’t wait until mid-morning to show up at the main pool on a popular holiday! I really couldn’t feel sorry for them at all – what did they expect? I was concerned it would be too busy at 9:30, lol!
The pool was full of people too – more than I had ever seen in the pool at one time. They rarely left, either – I guess it was more comfortable in there than in the hot sun. I stayed on my lounge chair reading, except for the few times I walked over to get wet under the cool shower. Around noon I was tired of sweating so I gave my chair to some guy and walked across the street to my studio. After a shower I felt much better!
It was a little after 1, so I decided to head to Fulton’s for lunch. But, since it’s so hot I did not want to make the long walk and I was not getting in a hot car. I walked outside to the bus stop and the first bus to arrive was for Downtown Disney! Just like at OKW, the Downtown Disney buses here make a different loop. The Springs is the first stop, and Congress Park is the last, while normally Grandstand is first and Springs is last. A woman with a little girl & a stroller got on at Grandstand thinking she was riding to the main pool. We’d already been at that stop. As we were passing Springs again the driver stopped in the road only because someone was crossing the road – and the woman got up and asked to be let off. If she hadn’t done that she would have ridden to the Marketplace, Pleasure Island, Typhoon Lagoon, and then the 4 stops at Coronado Springs before going to some park! Another lesson – if you don’t KNOW where you’re going, ask the driver!
I got off at the Marketplace stop and stopped in Ghiradelli again for another sample (saved for later) and I bought a package of the foil wrapped chocolates for my office. From there I went to Fulton’s and was shocked to find the chicken salad no longer on the menu! I debated my options and decided to eat there anyway. A grilled chicken asian salad was on the menu now, and the only other non-seafood items were a chicken sandwich and a burger. Despite it being a holiday weekend I was seated immediately, and had a lovely table right next to the window on the upper level.
My server was very good, and nothing was rushed. I decided to try Fulton’s white wine, which is a blend of several different varieties. It was not bad, but I wouldn’t rush back just for that. They bring out a boursin cheese based spread with crab & possibly other stuff, which is actually very good with the crackers provided. They also provide the recipe. The loaf of bread was nice & warm, but not particularly outstanding at all. I decided to try the chicken asian salad, and when it came it was presented really well. It was also pretty big! I pulled out the stuff I knew I wouldn’t like (broccoli, carrots) but that still left greens, candied walnuts, water chestnuts, red peppers, mandarin orange slices, candied walnuts and 5 strips of chicken breast. The dressing was really good with everything, too.
I had just started eating when I heard my server mention milk chocolate crème brulee at the next table. There was no point filling up on salad after hearing that, lol! I ended up having more than half the salad packaged up to take with me, and then ordered the crème brulee. It was easily enough to share, but I ate every last bite. It was covered with white and dark chocolate curls, and had a pile of whipped cream dusted with cocoa powder. It was very good – but I was a bit surprised to see it was $8.95. I’m not used to desserts costing more than a counter service meal <g>. Being a dvc member saved me 20%, and I had no regrets.
After lunch I walked to the Pleasure Island bus stop and had a good 25-minute wait for a bus. I saw 3 buses for Port Orleans, 2 for OKW, and multiples for many others. The air conditioning was freezing, but after the long wait outside in the humidity it felt good at first. Our next stop was Typhoon Lagoon, and those guests getting on didn’t think the air conditioning felt good at all! The driver turned it off, lol. By the time I got back to Saratoga Springs (mine was the first stop), it was 4pm, so using Disney transportation to have lunch across the lake from the resort took just over 2.5 hours!
I missed General Hospital, but it’s being recorded at home and I can watch it Sunday. I turned SB’s 4:05pm game on the internet and listened while updating the report and reading online. After the game (they won finally) I sat on the balcony with my book & a glass (small plastic wine glass from Food & Wine festival – saved for this purpose) of wine, then at 7:15 left to walk over to Pleasure Island using the walkway to the West Side. Downtown Disney was very busy, and it was difficult maneuvering through the crowds. Cast members had carts set up to sell those lighted toy things, and there were more food & beverage carts as well.
I met Larry & Phyllis near the Comedy Warehouse, and they said they had a really hard time finding a parking space (very far away). Later when David arrived he said the same thing. I was glad I could walk! David said Disney was trying to make the traffic go one way only, but people were ignoring the cast member and just driving where they wanted to go. Tonight Carol Stein was on the keys and she had her camera with her. She wanted to take our pictures tonight, so she did that before the show – working her way down the row. Regulars Bob & Virginia were there as well, along with their adult son-in-law.
The 8:00 cast was Brian, Missy, Matt, John & Christine. Christine & Matt were a mother & son in a funny but somewhat icky Emotions scene. They had to keep changing to the emotion called out by 2 of the others while doing the scene. It ended with a sexual undertone, which was a bit weird since they were mother & son (icky). Next was Madrigal, led by Matt. The 4 tabloid headlines used were “Harry Potter goes potty”, “Brangelina’s twins born without head”, “Britney Spears is skinny” and “Barbara Walters marries Larry King”. It was very brief, but it was good. I didn’t understand why it was so short at first, but they really packed a lot into this show.
They did the Worst Occupations, and then also did Cliché. Brian was tortured until he guessed “Shoes on the table is bad luck” – it was outstanding! Overall it was a very good show. The audience wasn’t particularly big, considering the huge crowds outside. But, since most people want shops instead of intelligent, unique & creative entertainment, I shouldn’t be surprised (pardon the retching noises).
The 9:10 cast was Brian, Christine, Matt, David & Missy. Mark started a scene mowing the lawn, then gradually the others joined in one at a time, making a new scene with each new person. Then they each backed out one at a time, getting back to just Mark mowing the grass again. Next Missy started the tag team structure about earwax. 2 actors would be in the scene at any time, and the others would tag & replace someone in the scene.
Matt & Brian used 2 audience volunteers in Fill in the Blank. They were at a Tupperware party, and Brian was coaching Matt to score points with the ladies coming to the party. Next was the greeting card structure. Christine, Missy & David asked for events that don’t have a card, and then made up cards for those situations. Some of it was really funny – particularly David. He’s been a great addition to the cast. The show ran late, thanks to the moron who was taking up gobs of time telling his “embarrassing story” that wasn’t embarrassing. The first person to volunteer told about hitting a drunk with his truck while on his honeymoon. That seemed a bit sad (for the drunk at least, but he didn’t die), so this other idiot raised his hand. It started with the pump breaking on the irrigation system at his several hundred acre watermelon farm (of course we were supposed to be impressed with how BIG his farm is, just as I imagine we’re supposed think other things of his are also BIG <g>), then his wife went into labor, the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck (and he said for all this trouble it better be a boy – what the hell???), they did surgery to save the baby, 2 days later the baby has pneumonia & his lungs collapse – this was going on & on. Christine finally asked if there was a funny part, and there wasn’t. They guy went on saying the kid is fine today, blah blah blah and they went ahead with the drunk story, lol!
I was in a rush to get out of there because I wanted to be back “home” in Saratoga Springs for the 10:30 fireworks and it was now 10:10. Downtown Disney was MOBBED. In places everyone was at a standstill because there were too many people not wanting to move. People had plopped down in the middle of the walkways at the Marketplace! When I wove my way through the madness and got to the bus stop area, I saw a huge line of buses and lots of cars just gridlocked out on the roads. Nobody here was going anywhere soon! I was so glad I was smart enough to book Saratoga since these fireworks were in my plans.
Once I was past the bus stops, the rest of the walk was a breeze. I sat on the edge of the walkway along the lake and talked to SB again before the fireworks started. The fireworks were very nice – much bigger than the old Pleasure Island fireworks, and they had music playing over in Downtown Disney. I’d say they lasted 5-10 minutes, and it was a nice display. The wind was blowing towards us, but I don’t mind that kind of smoke. When the big finale ended we were showered with dead ash & other debris falling from the sky. I could feel it hit my head, so I knew when to reach up and pull the pieces out of my hair, lol.
There wasn’t a bus arriving at Congress Park so I just walked back to the Springs and went up to the studio. I wasn’t hungry so the rest of the salad and other half of the caprese sandwich is still in the fridge. I guess I’ll only eat out once tomorrow, and try to not waste the stuff in the fridge. I finished up the report, talked to SB, and hung out online until I went to bed a little after midnight. It was another great day, and I think I did everything I’d hoped to do, except for General Hospital.
Tomorrow will be more of a do-nothing day for me, and I’m looking forward to that!
DAY 3 – Saturday 7/5/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast Puck’s Express, Pool, Gym, Dinner Puck’s Express
Actual: After another good night’s sleep in my completely silent studio, I woke up around 6:45. I had some cappuccino and the rest of the caprese sandwich for breakfast, and hung out online until I walked over to the main pool just before 9:30. It wasn’t as busy as yesterday, and all of the bar chairs were still at the pool bar when it opened at 11am! I took a chaise lounge in my same spot, and took frequent showers since it was so hot. I even stood in the pool reading for a while, as even the cool showers didn’t refresh me for more than 5 minutes. Just before noon I went back to the studio to shower/dress.
While I was at the pool I’d called Disney Dining and booked lunch at the Wave for 1:35 today. I have a reservation for next trip (Labor Day weekend), but this way if it’s not worthy of a repeat trip so soon I’ll have that time available for something else. I drove over to the Contemporary, not wanting a repeat of my experience using Disney transportation to get to Fulton’s.
The security guy didn’t give me any trouble at all when I said I had a lunch reservation. I expected there might be some trouble since it’s the holiday weekend and people can walk to the Magic Kingdom from here. The new not-yet-announced-as-dvc construction showed a tree on the roof, which means they’ve got all the floors built. The walkway connecting the new building to the original tower is curvy, which looks more interesting than a boring straight line. I went out on the 4th floor observation deck to take a few photos, then went inside and browsed through part of the shops.
When I went downstairs to the Wave they seated me immediately, as it was not busy. I was surprised by how small the restaurant is – it’s not tiny, but I expected something bigger. It was very noisy for part of my time here – I’m assuming until the people making all of the noise got their food. I also don’t think they were being exceptionally rude or loud, as it was several families and none of them seemed to be shouting. I just heard way too much of kids’ conversations about bloody noses & other “boy” stuff.
My server was very difficult to understand, thanks to his accent. He seemed nice enough, but I had no idea what he was saying when he described the specials. The menu doesn’t have the wines on there, so I had to ask for a wine list. I had heard this menu was featuring a lot of uncommon wines, so it was a bit surprising to have to ask for the list. He brought it to me, and it was quite long and he stood there waiting for my decision. I didn’t recognize any of them and felt rushed so I just ordered the pinot gris that was recommended with the lunch item I was ordering.
The only thing on the menu I’d eat was the spicy chicken salad, and I had read a review by someone who had ordered it and loved it. So, with great confidence that’s what I ordered. The wine was ok – it took a few sips for it to grow on me, as it’s drier than I like. But, I’d order it again if there was nothing I liked better. It took a while for the salad to come, but I didn’t mind that as I prefer not to be rushed. When it did arrive, I was a big surprised by it’s size. Normally portions are ridiculously large, but I thought this was rather small – especially for $14.99. It was on a big plate, but it was a small portion. The chicken was in little pieces, and it looked like thigh meat. I HATE thigh meat! I tried it, and didn’t care for it. So, I ate a few bites then picked out the diced apples and basically pushed the salad around spreading it out so it looked like I ate more of it, lol. It had halves of grape tomatoes, small grapes, and the crouton-type things were itty bitty squares that were not even crisp. There was also nothing spicy about anything on that plate. It was a big disappointment, and I doubt I’ll be back here unless there’s a new menu or I’m with someone who just absolutely has to eat here or their trip will be ruined!
When I got the check the server never asked how my lunch was, and I chose not to make an issue out of it. It could have been wonderful but just not to my taste. So, I got my 20% off with the DDE and ended up paying almost $24 for the glass of wine and a few bites of crummy salad. Yep, I definitely won’t be back anytime soon! I drove back to Saratoga Springs, stopping for cheaper-than-home gas at the Hess station across from Pleasure Island. I figure coming here to fill up saves me about $.75 if you ignore the gas it costs me to get here <g>. I stopped in the studio then went to Artist’s Palate, which was mobbed. This place really is too small for this size resort! I got another brownie since the first one was gone, then went back to the studio and ate my dessert. The brownies really aren’t anything special, but I was in the mood for sweets and didn’t feel like going anywhere in the heat & crowds of Downtown Disney. I did call Disney Dining and cancel my next Wave reservation so I wasn’t preventing someone else from getting a reservation there. Even though it’s during free dining I had no trouble booking 50’s Prime Time Café to replace the Wave.
I hung out in the studio for a while, and tried sitting on the balcony but in direct sunlight it just got too hot after a while. It’ll be nicer after the sun goes down, since there’s no view to speak of anyway. By late afternoon (maybe close to 4) I felt like getting out of the room, so I decided to ride the boat between here and Old Key West.
I walked over to the boat dock, which is very convenient from my studio. A boat was there, along with a long line of people. The captain was talking to some guests in line for quite a while – the next boat was sitting out there waiting. Finally the captain stepped back and said – ok, everyone going to Downtown Disney? I said “no – OKW” and he told me to come on down and get on this boat. We were on our way, and there was a new cast member driving, being trained by the veteran. It was a slow ride, since the new guy was cautious and there were a lot of rental boats out there. Even with the little breeze caused by being on a moving boat, it was really HOT!
When we arrived at OKW, the new guy had a heck of a time trying to dock the boat. After about 3-4 attempts, he finally got it. Everyone was patient and nobody pressured him or anything. I was just out for a ride, so I didn’t care if it took him 20 times to dock the boat, lol! I got off the boat and looked in the shop, then wandered over to the pool area when I noticed another boat was already at the dock. I went back and boarded, and we left in about 5 minutes.
We stopped at Saratoga and picked up a few more people, then continued on to the Marketplace. It wasn’t as horribly crowded as it could have been, but of course it was very HOT! I decided to stop at Earl of Sandwich and I saw they had the little containers of strawberry yogurt with granola and a couple sliced-up strawberries. They’re only $1.99 since they’re so small, but I like the size. I decided to get one of those plus the same little container of fresh fruit (also $1.99). There was nobody at the side cash register, and of course the queue to order food was huge! I figured I could just cut in at the register, since there are usually gaps, but then an employee walked by. I asked about the side register, and he said it wasn’t open right now, but that he’d walk me up and cut me in at the other registers, lol! So, I didn’t really have to wait at all and was on my way $4.16 later. I figured instead of coming over for breakfast tomorrow, I’ll just eat this in the studio and then drive over to do my shopping at Goofy’s Candy Co.
I walked back through the Marketplace, stopping in Ghiradelli for a sample for later. A woman with a LOT of kids went in just ahead of me, and some of her kids were literally trying to grab a sample from the basket the employee was holding. She kept lifting it up out of their reach! I was shocked, as they weren’t foreign so surely they understand American customs and not grabbing from a stranger! Since the sample is peanut butter inside milk chocolate, the employee has to ask the parent if the child can have peanut butter before giving it to a kid.
I walked through World of Disney, more for the air conditioning than anything else, lol! There wasn’t any reason for me to stop anywhere, so I continued through Pleasure Island and then stopped at Wetzel’s Pretzels. A pretzel is just what I wanted for dinner, so I got one with no salt and used my dvc status for 20% off. If I eat any of the leftover Fulton’s salad later, that’s fine – if not, I’ll trash it. I ate most of the pretzel while walking back (sweating profusely in the heat & humidity again) along the path from the West Side. There’s another bike rack near the West Side, but I’ve never seen any bikes in this one or the one by the Marketplace. Bikes are not allowed inside Downtown Disney at all, but I guess you could ride them over from Old Key West (West Side) or Saratoga (Marketplace or West Side).
Back at Saratoga Springs I went to the studio to put my cold stuff away and drink some cold water! I used a cold wet washcloth to cool off, then laid down and got SB’s game started on the internet. Once my balcony was out of the sun (around 7:20) I poured a glass of wine and moved the computer onto the balcony so I could listen to the game out there. It was surprisingly pleasant, with a nice breeze. I only really noticed the humidity when I’d go into the studio for something and then come back outside. I’m really torn about this weekend next year. I’ve settled on Saratoga Springs again but I can’t decide between requesting Congress Park or the Springs. Both work well for me, but for different reasons.
Once it got dark I switched to the other chair to watch the heat lightning flashing in the sky. I could hear the Epcot fireworks at 9, but couldn’t see them. It was really pleasant out there – I think this was one of my favorite times of the trip, which probably sounds really bizarre considering everything else that’s here. Around 9:15 I went inside, and once the game ended I went for a walk around the resort since it was such a pretty night. I took my chances it wouldn’t rain, as the lightning didn’t seem to be part of a storm.
I started by walking to the Grandstand, once I found the path. I was shocked at how close the Grandstand pool is to the main building. Riding on the bus it feels like it’s miles away, but it’s really surprisingly close. The pool is ok, much like the other quiet pools, but it has bright red chairs instead of the brown/beige at the other pools. They also have a pool bar here, which is surprising since it’s a stone’s throw from the main pool and the other 2 quiet pools do not have a bar and are much further away. It just makes no sense to me.
From there I walked the path along the golf course, dodging the sprinklers. The path led to the main road into the resort, which I crossed and walked through the Carousel and then into the Paddock. The quiet pool here is similar to the other quiet pools, except the bus stop is directly behind it. I crossed that long bridge over the lake, then sat on a bench and talked to SB for a while. He was concerned about me walking around alone at night, but I wouldn’t do it if I was somewhere I didn’t feel safe. After we were done I went back to my studio – turns out I was sitting at the other end of my building all along. I gave him a quick call so he knows aliens didn’t abduct me or anything <g>. I microwaved the rest of the Wetzel’s pretzel and finished up the report.
Today was very relaxing – I hope to have many more days like this, particularly on solo trips when the weather is so terribly hot & humid! The only disappointment was the Wave, and that’s something I would have experienced it sooner or later. I’m glad I got it out of the way, as I can look forward to the next trip without any dining nightmares.
Tomorrow will be a short day. After picking up some things at Goofy’s Candy Co I’ll drive home so I’ve got time to go to the gym before SB’s game starts. Then it’s back work and the “real world” on Monday – yuck!
DAY 4 – Sunday 7/6/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member
Plan: Breakfast, Goofy’s Candy Co, Drive Home
Actual: After another good night’s sleep I woke up for the last time (this trip) around 6:30 or so. I had the fruit & yogurt along with cappuccino and finished packing up my stuff. When I looked at my bill I saw I was charged for one day of internet, but a quick phone call to the front desk got that removed. It looks like a beautiful day, but I know once I go outside it’ll feel hot & sticky! I left the studio around 8:50, loaded up the car and drove over to the Marketplace.
There were a few other people going to breakfast at Puck’s Express or doing some pin trading, but otherwise it was really deserted at the Marketplace. Earl of Sandwich opens at 8:30, Puck’s Express & Goofy’s Candy Co at 9:00, and everything else at 9:30, from what I could tell. At Goofy’s I got a custom rice krispie treat for me and one of the already-made specialty apples for Chris. I also got SB some Disney mints so he can be “Disney” in the clubhouse and drive his players crazy. The laugh at his DVC baseball cap, but he’s ok with it because he knows they don’t have a clue!
I went back to the car and began the sad but boring drive home, getting back about 12:30 – in time for the gym before his game started. Hopefully I’ll get a piece of Chris’ apple before he goes to work <g>.
This was a nice relaxing trip, and I’ll do it again as long as the holiday from work falls on either a Friday or Monday. Next year though, I’ll book through Sunday night and just drive to work in the pre-dawn hours Monday. I figure by doing that I’ll save 1-2 gallons of gas, so it’s the least I can do for our environment, lol!
The things I loved about this trip – Saratoga Springs Resort and my location in the Springs. The studio was perfect, the location was terrific, and except for not having a nice view I would gladly do it again. I never expected to be happy outside of Congress Park, but I was. Now I have 5 months to decide whether to request Springs or Congress Park for next year! My lunch at Fulton’s was good, and it was such a pretty view from up there in the air conditioning. I also loved my time at Comedy Warehouse – what a shocker, huh?
The stuff I didn’t like – the weather and the Wave. Lunch at the Wave was a bust – and very expensive considering what I got. Go ahead and give it a try if you like the menu, and I hope you have a better experience than me! There’s nothing Disney can do about the weather, short of enclosing the entire area in a climate-controlled dome! Summer in Florida is just plain disgusting, and although I love living here I cannot sugarcoat how truly awful summers are (and summer lasts from late May through early October). If you cannot deal with the occasional heat wave where you live up north – do not come here during the summer! I will be back this time next year, because the alternative is to stay home and I’m not about to do that!
The BIG negative was the news that Disney is really closing the Comedy Warehouse and the other clubs on Pleasure Island. Someone who already wrote a letter got a phone call from Disney, and was told that they (Disney) had no idea the clubs were so popular, the decision to close cannot be reversed, and we all should have written sooner. Ok, I realize their comments are absolute bull – why on earth would we write to ask them to keep the clubs open if we didn’t know they were planning to close them??? Also, they had no idea the club was popular?? How about looking at the attendance statistics that are collected each time someone’s pass is swiped to enter a club!
I’ve listed some Disney email addresses for anyone who would like to send even a brief note to Disney to let your displeasure be known about the closing of Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer’s Club, or any of the others.
Bob Iger, Vice President of Operations, Walt Disney World
Robert.A.Iger@email.disney.com
Kevin Lansberry, Vice President of Operations Downtown Disney
kevin.lansberry@email.disney.com
Barry Carlson, GM of Operations
barry.r.carlson@email.disney.com
Patsy Pederson, GM Guest Show
patsy.pederson@email.disney.com
Kris Piser, DTD Finance Manager
Kristine.piser@email.disney.com
Eric Johnason, Downtown Disney Business Relations
Eric.Johanson@disney.com
Christina Simeonides, Guest Service Manager, Downtown Disney Business Relations
Christina.M.Simeonides@disney.com
My next trip isn’t for another 53 days, since that’s the next holiday weekend. I’ll be spending Labor Day weekend at Old Key West – my first stay there in quite a while! Thanks for reading!