Trip report

[towels]

Just got back from 8 days at WDW. We stayed in the Poly. Half the trip was hot and sunny, the rest was very very soggy with lightening storms.
Last time we were there was in December 07 and we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although the convenience of the Poly to the TTC and monorails to MK and Epcot was cool, plus seeing Wishes from across the lagoon from our room was awesome, the staff just didn't seem as friendly. (We had to call multiple times throughout the trip because mousekeeping forgot things- one time they even forgot to pick up their tip) I think some of it could be the staffing cuts, but we had dinner at Boma, and the staff at AKL was still pleasant, so I'm not sure.
I noticed a few other budget measures here and there. Most of the time, they'd only fill half the monorail since there was only one host + driver to open all the gates, etc.
Not sure if this is new, but late night calls to resorts are handled by a central call center rather than actual front desks at the resorts.
Part of it was probably the pouring rain, but the rotting corpse of Pleasure Island was pathetic. The Celebration street party was just a DJ in a booth talking to almost no one on the ground.
Flower and Garden was nice, though I expected more butterflies in the butterfly house. Crowd levels went from very busy to nearly empty, based on weather. Even so, seeing Soarin' and Toy Story Mania was challenging. Evening Extra Magic Hours on rainy nights are fantastic times to do rides though.
Still wasn't enough time to do everything though. Just means it's time to start thinking of when to go back...

[thedisneyman]

Thanks for sharing towels.

I think it's not just the economic situation that is effecting Disney's level of service/quality, they've been cutting back for years. I always wonder if someone that's never been there and doesn't have an idea of what 'Disney Service' thinks of the Disney service level.

Sounds like you still had a good time, how can you not It's Disney!!!!

[DisneyDave]

My tribe and I were at the WDW for 8 days last year. It was my first time back since before EPCOT was built!

We stayed at the All Star Music Resort, and the service was AMAZING! I agree with the Rain comment, we had a bit of rain and it was great at keeping the locals away... more time for rides!

Thanks for sharing the trip report! If you have any great photos, we'd love to see em.

DisneyDave...

[towels]

Yeah, my son was staying at Pop Century and had better mousekeeping service. He got a towel animal every day. We didn't get one except for when we checked in.

[towels]

In a happy coincidence, I was able to tack on a couple extra days to a business trip and ended up back in WDW for a day and a half last month. Weather was again a factor as it was about 100+° each day. My convention, at the Marriott World Center ended Saturday about noon, and I debated getting a half day park pass ($65) or just doing Disneyquest ($40 something) but I decided just to save money and accomplish a couple things I didn't get done last trip.
I had lunch at the new T-Rex restaurant. If you've been to the Rainforest Cafe, just imagine a prehistoric version. Tip: You can avoid a wait by just eating at the bar- full menu is available.
Then I hopped a bus over to Pop Century for a piece of the Tie Dye Cheesecake. I remember getting cheesecake almost daily on the dining plan in 2007, but not so much this year.
Then I went back to Downtown Disney, did a little, no, a lot of browsing and shopping, then picked up a Earl of Sandwich to take back to the hotel for dinner.
Sunday I caught a cab to my new hotel, the Swan. My room wasn't ready, so I left my bags with bell services, my number at the desk, bought my one day park hopper and caught the bus to AK in time for rope drop. By the time I was at the end of the Kilimanjaro Safari, the hotel called to say my room was ready. The Flights of Wonder show I had on my Missed in May list didn't start for a couple hours, so I just caught a bus to DHS. There I got a FastPass for Toy Story Mania, rode the Great Movie Ride (one MiM down), then walked back to the Swan, as heat and hunger were starting to get to me.
I checked in and found my family had sent me a nice Father's Day gift via the Disney Florist. Thoughtful, but I had to figure out how to fit a 3' mouse in my luggage now.
I walked over to the Big River Brewing Co on the Boardwalk for a lunch of Mint Iced Tea and Beer Cheese Soup. Mmmm. Boardwalk was pretty quiet, what with the heat. I walked over to Epcot (the Friendships were just taking too long) and did some more shopping. As busy as it was, most people were sensible enough to stay inside, as even the Gran Fiesta Tour had a line. I headed back to DHS to use my Toy Story Fastpass, then watched Muppets (dear to my heart). I decided to cancel my reservation I'd made for Nine Dragons (online! Neat!) and try the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station at MK, which I'd never seen open before, but was listed on the times guides. I hopped over to MK for dinner (yuk) and was That Guy in the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Back on the monorail to Epcot to see Illuminations from right by the International Gateway at 9:00. Then back on the monorail to MK just in time for Wishes and the Spectromagic Parade.
Extra Magic Hours ran till 3 AM (!) so I was able to catch a lot of Fantasyland rides and Buzz Lightyear Spin before heading back to my hotel around 2 AM.
A lot of back and forth, and some things still undone (Flights of Wonder, Impressions of France) but the EMH until 3 made for a more relaxing 4 parks in 1 day adventure. I was also able to use the photopass coupon I'd received and forgot to use in May.