[Franco54]

So, we are off, first stop Providence R.I. for the first time to catch our flight on Southwest, the early morning hours I typed up our boarding passes and I am glad I did, airport was jammed up with people and flight was overbooked. But the flight was fine and we touched down at 9:30 a.m. at MCO. Trotted off to Budget to pick up SUV, I had read earlier in the week that Ford had some problems with thier Escape and that was the car we were to get, but we got an upgrade to a Blazer and it was fine bigger for sure. I had signed up for thier fastbreak program (no waiting in line) and we were in the car within minutes. This trip I let our oldest do all the planning and for months he was hard at it. The boys 13&10 knew of course it was Grumpy's final say on it, but to my relief very few changes on what we were doing had to be made. So, we are off to SOG, and with 1 solid year of waiting on it to be done, and reading on some othersites, with all the naysayers having nothing good to say about it, we were off to see for ourselves. I was taken aback on the size of it, much larger than I thought. My doubts were easing as we drove into the front drive, the front of the setting was great, waterfalls at the front entrance was well done, landscapping was farther along then we thought, things were looking up! Upon entering and going to the front desk, just a few people ahead of us, things were quiet and the CM's looked like they knew what they were doing. When I showed my military ID, she said they had me down wrong in the computer. I guess I have two proper ways of being charged. One is as a 100% disabled veteran and one as my paygrade when I left. The paygrade was the way to go, $25.00 a day less X 13 days!! Made me Very happy! Bagboy showed us the way to our room, it was in the new section hallways were all clean and well attened. Our room was just great! Everything was fresh and clean and BIG! Balcony was my Savior on quite a few occasions! (I am a PTSD poster child, I am on several medications for stress, axiety) so on those days when I need to regroup and need to be alone. Not an easy task at WDW !! But I degress, my sprits were rising everything was looking great!! The two restaurants that were open were o.k.At Evergreens we had a pretty good burger plate and it was a nice setting. The service was slow it looked to me that they were just getting thier feet wet with what to do. They were slow but they were trying very hard so that was a plus. The Garden Gallery we did one morning for breakfast, basic offerings not bad but nothing special, I could see that in time things would work out in all thier restaurants. One thing we thought was a problem, maybe we are alone with this but the parking garage was TIGHT!! We think the engineers missed a number or two, Helena my wife would never be calm enough to do the parking in there, it really is tough. I would be interested in other opionions on the parking. Over all considering what they have been doing I would give the SOG resort a solid A, I was very happy! We used the pools they had small by disney's standard but were just fine, whirlpool was at least 104 all the time and clean, When we had a few hours to kill enjoyed both. As I said the rooms were big and clean, two queen size beds and a sofa/bed, a small fridge was big enough for water, soda and an occasional Amstel Lite! For the most part we had the same cleaning lady everyday, I had asked for the room to be cleaned bewteen nine and ten in the morning so if we wanted a rest (Mainly Old Grumpy) everything would be done. I am a stickiler for things being clean, I looked for things I could whine about, but everything was fine. At the end of our stay I sought out Pearline in person to praise and tip her she was quite surprised! The boys Leonardo and Daniel had us hitting the parks early, we've got it down pretty good now, we do all the big rides and shows as early as we can and then do all the minor things at our liesure and taking a break in the afternoons. We did the first 31/2 days at Disney and then on Monday we started our two days at Universal. I know most of you are diehard Disney fans and good for you, but in it's on way we like it as much as we do Disney. It being alittle more on the edge. we did not get to do the Mummy but Shrek was great as all the rides were. We had lunch one day at NBA City, basketball being the youngest boys favorite. So, I got him an Orlando Magic shirt with his favorite stars number on it, and then got him another one with our pet name for him on it. McWACKY, he loved it! With one more field trip planned by the boys we were off to Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay. This was another fine little park, Daniel has been getting groomed by me to take over for me in riding the big rides with Leonardo, with a constant smile he has no fear.Helena and I still do a few of the rides (Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain) but the Coasters are for the boys. Was a little disappointed with the animals at Busch, not much to see. You could see more on a tour for $60:00 per person extra, but I told the boys we would put the Animal show on TV when we got back home! That Pepsi deal with Busch turned out to be pretty good, we got decent food for lunch and tonic later that came to about $55.00 for the four of us. We had lunch and a dance show to boot. One side light to having two capable boys is that we could let them go on there own some times to the parks and DisneyQuest with no fears, something we would not do elsewhere.Food wise, we ate like condemed men. While at home, we watch what we eat, the boys and myself are at the YMCA several times a week, but on vacation, Eat, Drink and be merry for tomorrow??? We ate off proberty alot and had some nice meals. International Drive was all pretty new to us it's quite a scene. From Popeye's chicken for lunch, Charlie's Steakhouse for a great dinner, Bahama Breeze was excellent (except for the calamari) We had a short bad experience at the International Lighthouse Lobster Feast. But it was one of the funniest times we had. We walked in only to find a man we guessed to be the owner, who needed to clean up a bit, he seated us without fanfare or a smile. We were a little shaky when we looked at the silverware which was dirty and all the fork tines were bent in every direction. Our seats were next to a tank of cloudy water with one poor lobster looking like he wanted a sign telling us to kill him and put him out of his misery. At that point, we got up, thanked the owner and left. We laughed for hours about it. We left and went up the street to the Boston Lobster Feast. It was much cleaner, many more people and smiles on the workers faces. Although I am a Native Bostonian and a seafood snob, My lovely wife from Brazil has never done lobster in this fashion. At a whopping 105 pounds she wanted to Pig Out on them. The lobsters barely legal size were alittle chewy, but were hot and there was plenty of them. fried clams were o.k. desserts o.k., I stayed away from oysters on the half shell they smelled alittle funky. Giordano's for pizza again was o.k. but they need to come to Boston's Northend to really know pizza! All of the meals at Disney were excellent. California Grille as good as ever, Hollywood&Vine (Dannyboys favorite) Cape May for breakfast always good. First time for Cape Mays Dinner Buffet and we liked it alot. The clams, mussels, shrimp took a beating from me, and the Yachtsman Steakhouse was again a fine meal. Crystal Palace was our first time it was also a good breakfast.Was disappointed with Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, the food was on our table before we were even comfortable. It seemed to be nuked, was very bland, a cut above Chef Boy Ardee, no return visit. So, there it is my friends from DC, all in all our best family vacation ever! I have been warned, no more vacations for awhile. Four trips to Disney in two years each one longer then the others! Little does she know, I am looking into a Christmas Cruise for 2005!!!

[lisalovesmickey]

Thank you so much for the TR. I am a die hard WDW fan but I agree that Universal is mandatory while in the area.

I am glad your family had a good time!

Thanks a bunch!

Lisa

[crystalrp]

Thanks for sharing Franco! Sounds like a busy, yet enjoyable, trip for all!

[Dana]

Franco -
It sounds like the trip was a blast. I am so glad you and your family got to experience all that stuff while there. Thanks for reporting!

[MagicalMoments]

Originally Posted by Franco54

I have been warned, no more vacations for awhile. Four trips to Disney in two years each one longer then the others! Little does she know, I am looking into a Christmas Cruise for 2005!!!

Wish my DH thought like you!! Little does my DH know I am planning Oct 2004.

[mickaholic4077]

It sounds like you and your family had a great time!! I hope you get to go on the cruise. Maybe I'll come to see you off,as I live 30 miles from Canaveral!!!!!

[mmouse67l]

Great report Franco!! Glad to hear such good things about SOG. Thank you.

[tinkerbell]

Thanks for a wonderful trip report !!! I am so happy that everything was so magical for you!