It seems like a really cool place, but I don't know many cast members who spend much/any time there.... Is it likely we'll get time to go and hang out there? Or will we just spend all our free time at the Parks (which I wouldn't complain about! )
I'd imagine you can do what ever you like with your days off, like grocery (i typed grog originally) shopping, relaxing at Mickey's Retreat, exploring the parks, visiting WWOHP... stuff like that. perhaps get some friends together and spend an afternoon at MR, see if you like it.
From what i remember, its really just a park with a little lake and a few tennis courts and similar-we (me and my friends) only went there once and that was to sit on the grass and eat out lunch one random day-apart from the football pitch, there is nothing there that isnt also in the commons or a theme park/resort hotel. As for having time-well, your free time is your own. If you work a shift that starts late enough or finishes early enough, and on your days off, do what you want really. Of course the appeal of the parks will wear off relatively quickly, so you will often spend your days shopping (both for pleasure, when you have the money, and out of necessity when you need food), hanging out with friends anywhere, often in the pool at the commons, or in their apartments, and if you work food and beverage( and as merch, but not as much as in f&b where you move around a lot more, often in the sweltering outdoors carrying heavy plates of steaming food and running in and out of a kitchen for 12 hours-and Merchies get a lot more random days off from what i remember in f&b), quite often sleeping (as good as the job is, there are days when you will be beyond exhaustion point). Im not saying you wont go to the parks a lot, because you will, but after working in them it will definately become less of an event, and you will often find yourself going to a park simply to use a particular restaurant, or go to a single shop etc, rather than spend an entire day there (some days the idea of going to a theme park will send you running a mile with a high pitched scream on your lips)
I believe that the idea of the "appeal of the parks wearing off relatively quickly" is just one opinion. Personally, I loved going into the parks on my days off / before work / after work and seeing the fireworks, going on my favourite rides and trying something new. I never got bored. Obviously there were days that I chose to spend relaxing at a disney resort or at our own accommodation, but I wouldn't say the disney novelty ever wore off.
Dont forget exploring the resorts - renting out motor boats etc, visiting busch gardens, sea world, universal, the mall, minature golf, the cinema, aquatica, riding tandem bikes, charity events, housing events, restaurants etc - even if u do get bored of the disney parks theres loads of other stuff there Mickeys retreat didnt appeal to me - the pools were never open
Thanks for all the info Did any of you guys bother / are you bothering with annual passes to any of the other parks / activities? I think I might invest in one to Universal... Did you get to go to Busch Gardens at all? It's one of my favourite parks I'm assuming it'll be easier to wait to see what my shifts are like once I get there, before I start any road trips! What was your favourite thing to do on your days off? Thanks again guys xx
If you wait til you're there, I believe at certain places you can get special discounted tickets for Universal if you are a Florida resident (if you can prove you're living there by showing something with your disney address on it). If anyone else offer more info on this, please help me out as I'm not too sure! As for Busch Gardens, there is a bus that goes there every day from the Premium Outlets which is a short walk from three of the disney housing complexes. You can get a variety of tickets that cover Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Aquatica etc as they are all owned by the same people. My favourite thing to do on my days off was to go to one of the nicer disney resorts, such as the Grand Floridian, and relax by the pool bar with a cocktail in hand (or non-alcoholic one for under 21s). I hired a speedboat a couple of times for a bit of fun on the Lagoon, and stayed to watch the fireworks from the beach in the evening.
the Universal pass is definately worth buying-i think i paid $90 for an entire year, and you get your moneys worth on a single ticket after about 2 visits.
I got universal annual pass and a seaworld/busch gardens one - got to buisch gardens prob 10 times in the year - free transport from premium outlets right across from the commons so no prob with getting there on a day off - universal and seaworld again prob did 10-15 times and again really easy to get to - 25c ride on i-ride trolly either way and then a short walk if going to universal or right outside when going to seaworld
That all sounds amazing!! I just can't wait =D really want to buy a Universal annual pass. Just for Harry Potter World... August is too far away!
Thanks for all the info guys; it really does sound incredible - only 7 months and 2 days until I get to experience it for myself! Just another quick question: What's the deal with resorts? Do we just get to wander in and use the facilities - because that would be awesome! Or are there time / date restrictions involved? xx
Just wander in when you want! To most resorts Of course some are a little more restricted, Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary for example, where you can't use the pools without having a room key. But the majority of others, including the Grand Floridian, are fine with you wandering in.
you can-infact some days when we wanted to go for a swim but couldnt be bothered going to a water park, thats exactly what they did. Some of the resorts, as stated above, occassionally send someone round asking to see your room ID, but thats rare and the worse they would say is you cant be here. If you notice them walking around, just go for a walk and come back 20 minutes later.
