[ranedrops]

Hi Guys. I had to gather myself together to write this TR - Usually we head down to WDW in Sept to October but this year we decided to go down in August with some 4 other parties.

Last year we had a blast, vacation was perfect. We usually stay at the FQ but booked CBR this time to try something new...

Day 1 - Checked in at airport and got our boarding passes at 6:00AM. Hmmmm, why are the seats changed than what I had booked? Seems the airline overbooked the entire flight by so much that they decided to change our plane to a larger one and split everybody up. Not only were we split up, but the entire flight had adults separated from children, families separated, etc - After boarding everyone played musical chairs trying to swap with others to get near their families. We were stills separated but at least some of us were together. That squared away finally we are off.

Arrive early into Orlando - We wait about 10 minutes for ME and get separated on the bus because their are no seats together, but we are going to WDW so everything so far is forgiven.

First stop CBR - We wait app. 45 minutes to check in - the place is packed. Never seen so many people checking into a resort at once - Wow. We check in and wait for our other parties. We had requested Jamaica or Aruba about 5months ago when we booked. We had all our ressies linked so we could be near each other. However, 2 of us get Barbados, the other room is in Aruba.
We inquire as to why this may be and are told that a "large party" needed a block of rooms near each other so they gave them our rooms - Hmmm, last time I checked we were a party as well.
OK - we let it go, drop our bags in our room and head to Epcot.

It is hot out - I've been to WDW in August before but don't remember it being THAT hot. We grab lunch and catch some shows. Dinner is at the Coral Reef at 5:00 - Dinner was nice, everyone had a good time. We leave CR and end up in rain. Rain finally subsides right before Illuminations - we had a great spot for the fireworks - so close we felt the heat and all had ashes on us when it was over. By now it is 10, I've been up since 2:00 AM so and head back to CBR for the kids to swim.

Our room in Aruba is missing a bag from ME. They called hours ago for it and it still hasn't arrived. We go into our room to change for the pool and find their bag in our room - they had a different last name - why it is in our room???

The quiet pool is quiet but not too clean - icky things afloat in the water - the bathrooms at the pool aren't too clean either. I won't go into details and spare grossing you guys out.

We call it a night -

[ranedrops]

Day 2 - We get up early to head out to MGM. As we are getting ready to go we notice things in our room that aren't what you'd expect from Disney. I must say I love WDW - the FQ was beautiful, All Star Sports was nice as well - but I'm getting kinda unhappy with my room in CBR - Day 1 we spent no time in the room - but the night of Day 2 is when we started to notice.

We wait about 25 mintues for a bus. Bus is already full so we cram in. MGM is crowded and HOT - Oh, I forgot to mention that on the morning news they mentioned how Florida was having their records broke that summer with the heat - oh lucky us.

We head in the Great Movie Ride, Little Mermaid, Animation Station
and of course the Honey I shrunk the Kids playground. it's awfully hot and people were pretty rude. Cutting in line, bumping into you, etc, etc - I always heard people complain but never really experienced it, wasn't fun.

Sci-Fi for dinner. The food is ok but we go for the atmosphere. Reminds me of when I was young..er. Knew I was getting old when my kids asked what a record player was.

We head down to Fantasmic but it is standing room only so we decide to catch it another night - did I mention it was really crowded? I am realizing I'm never returning to WDW in August again.

Okay - back to the hotel. We figured we had to be inthe older section of CBR but there was garbage still on the ground from the day before...dead leaves all over, doesn't seem as well maintained as the other resorts.
We try and call it an earlier night...That's when we notice things about our room that were scarey.


Day 3 - Up early to make the opening to MK. We are pretty disappointed with our resort but decide to try and stick it out. We head over the bus stop and wait 35 minutes for a bus to MK. Needless to say I miss the opening by 5 minutes.

My daughter makes friends with some ducks she names Quackers 1 and Quackers 2 - (by the end of the trip we had Quackers 3,355,444)



Head down to Adventureland - POTC, Jungle Cruise, etc. It got pretty hot - crowds were huge.

Waiting on line for Snow White's Scarey Adventure a woman is in the row ahead of us getting ready to go on. She calls out and 2 people show up and cut in line to get with her in the front, then another 4 show up, then another 3, then another 4, then some guy and a baby..she really had at least 15 people cut everyone in line to get on the ride with her. People were complaining saying things to her, I thought there was going to be a riot...how rude but this seemed to be how it was at almost every ride.

Crystal Palace for dinner - We are taken in within 10 minutes of our ADR. Dinner was good. Oh, Tigger says everything is ok - all those legal problems in the past are cleared up - he gave a big thumbs up.



Electric light parade at night was nice. We head out before fireworks - too hot, too many people.

[Dana]

om with the woman in line. Should would have had me in her face. I was ready to "throw down" with a woman who bumped me out of the way to get into AK..lol I HATE when people do that and alert CMs every time I see it...wait in line like the rest of us!

[GrumpyDad]

Wow, Sorry to hear about the pool and bathrooms. I think that Disney may be having a rough time of it during the summer as the place was neat and tidy when we were there in January.

[Jen]

I hear ya on the HOT...never again in August I say!!!


Sorry 'bout CBR...I've always heard such wonderful things about it...maybe because it was so busy???

Like the pictures...looking forward to more!

[mickeymotto]

I second the never in August again! Way too hot and way too crowded for us.

Sorry to hear about your troubles at CBR. Hope the trip gets better for ya.

[dznylvr]

I want to know more about the scary things at the resort.
Sorry you haven't enjoyed CBR so far in your trip.
I am excited to read more, and I hope things look up for you later in your trip!

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by dznylvr

I want to know more about the scary things at the resort.
Sorry you haven't enjoyed CBR so far in your trip.
I am excited to read more, and I hope things look up for you later in your trip!

I agree. We need to hear what went on with the room.
Also, did all of you many people navigate the parks as a group or did you split up?

[Daisee]

Sorry to hear about the "bumps" on your trip. Seems to me that when they are THAT crowded, there are going to be issues. Unfortunately we plan and plan and pay and pay.. and expect NO ISSUES!! Guess it doesnt always work out like that huh?!!


OH yeah.. what happened with your room?

[emamasa]

i have this sneaking feeling we'll be seeing quackers too!! my kids can spend the longest time looking at an ant on the sidewalk, so the ducks will be their bestest friends in no time, i'm sure!!

sorry to hear about the bumps, hope that it gets waaaayyy better!!

[woohoo]

Wow- I have had those vacations too- read my report from FEB!!! LOL-
I was not thrilled with CBR either... we had the same issue with being seperated from the rest of our group there and were put in opposite ends of the building in the end after complaining. I swore I would never go when school was out again and that was in June when we did that- the heat and the lines and tired kids just dont mix- if it was not my kids being crabby it was someone elses and that was just as annoying!

[ranedrops]

Originally Posted by dznylvr

I want to know more about the scary things at the resort.

I took pics of my room of all the problems. The room had issues plus the quiet pool, and the rounds. I don't want to go into details or post the pics though. I WDW and feel bad, but we were really disappointed.

[ranedrops]

Day 4 - Since I've already spoken with the maid and had no change in the condition of our room, we decide to make it a point to see a manager that afternoon. We meet up with our family bright and early to go to Animal Kingdom. Left our room at 8:15 so we could catch the opening. We waited 50 minutes for a bus to go to AK, to say we were a little agggravated was fair. The CM at the bus stop gives a fast pass & calls for more buses. The buses come but pass us because they are full already. GRRRRRR
Of course we miss the opening AGAIN.

We finally get to AK, we've lost our other parties who had been on the full buses passing us. We decide we are definitely seeing a manager when we return to CBR. I am at the point of tears between the room, the pool & the buses. My kids hate the place and are complaining.

We head to the safari and try to make a better day of it. We get to see some elephants...



Another elephant...



Flamingoes...



And a Zebra...

[floridaorange19]

Originally Posted by ranedrops

I took pics of my room of all the problems. The room had issues plus the quiet pool, and the rounds. I don't want to go into details or post the pics though. I WDW and feel bad, but we were realy disappointed.

oh my, if you don't post the pics, at least cough up some details please! i was thinking about CBR (due to limited availability) for the week before thanksgiving or thanksgiving week...... last minute ressies don't give you much choice for resort and CBR is available. but if there are scary things i will have to figure out alternate plans!!

[ranedrops]

We catch a ride on Dinosaur - which I must say I am not the ride kind of person. I asked soemone how it was and they told me it was slow with one drop....hmmmm, someone lied to me
The Birds of Wonder show was nice. We meet up with the rest of our party and head out to PH to Epcot. Dinner is in Canada. Very good dinner, pleasant waitress...we are much happier but no one wants to return to CBR. We all decide to head back and speak to a manager.

The manager at CBR was nice. We explained everything and that we were not happy with CBR at all. We have been really disappointed and aggravated. He agrees to move us out of CBR and into the Coronado for the next day.

To sum it all up this pic depicts basically how first half of our vacation went...



We are hoping Coronado brings a change...