First DVC Trip!!! 11/10/2012

[homeatssr]

Hi all...After lurking on the boards for my previous trips, I've finally decided to register and post!!! I can't believe I'm starting with a pre-trip report for my first post

A little about us: There's DH(we'll call him Dopey), myself( a little bit of Tink, w/ a little bit of Grumpy mixed in), DS11(Goofy), DD9(Belle w/ a little bit of Tink's spunk), and DD4(the Beast(mostly because that's his favorite).

We are bringing DH's parents along for our first DVC trip, which we just booked today. We will be staying our first night in a 2BR villa at SSR, our home resort. Then, we will be switching to 2 studios at BCV for the remainder of our stay. The kids, as of right now, just know about SSR. They don't know we'll be switching to BCV, their first choice. We're hoping to keep that part a surprise for the next 7 months.

Here's what we still need to decide:

Do we wait-list BCV for our first night so we don't have to switch hotels?? Part of me would like to keep that night at SSR, since it is our first trip and our home resort. Plus, then we'll know right away exactly what our DDP arrangements will be.

If we end up with the 2 separate reservations, do we want to add the dining plan for the first night? We will be doing the deluxe dining plan for the first time over for the BCV nights!!! yes, we realize it's a lot of food, but we're planning on quite a few signature experiences.

Where do we want to eat????? We have so many places that we have been to and love, so many new places that we want to try!!! Decisions, decisions. At least they're fun decisions to make!!

Well, thanks for reading my thoughts so far, at 7 months out. Any tips for a DVC newbie???

 

[homeatssr]

So, I think I've talked DH into leaving the reservation as is, with the first night at SSR. We're not going to waitlist BC for that night. I'm thinking we'll actually try to spend some time at the resort that day, and also walk over to DTD. We just need to decide on what, if any, dining plan to add for that night.

7 months seems so far away, even though we were just there 7months ago and that doesn't seem like it was that long ago!

 

[antnyh]

Congrats on your first trip "Home". Ours was last March and we loved it. Our home resort is BLT. I just love the freedom that DVC gives you. I am along for the ride here so post away.

 

[homeatssr]

Thanks...So excited

 

[homeatssr]

So, we've made another decision. We are on our own for lunch our first day. Then, Dopey's parents are going to take us to dinner that night. So, we won't get the dining plan for the 1st night reservation.

Now, the next decision. Do we want to do a park at all that first day, or enjoy the sites at SSR and DTD? Where DO we want to eat that day?

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Hi! SSR is our home resort too, and it was the first place we stayed as DVC members! We love that resort! (we love BCV as well!)

You could definitely spend that first day exploring the resort/DTD! The new pool area is supposed to be cool, too. We have always enjoyed the Artist's Palette--the QS at SSR. The CMs there have always been so great and have fixed different things for us based on foods we liked.

You'll have a blast on your first DVC trip...make sure you video the "Welcome Home"!

 

[homeatssr]

We have always enjoyed the Artist's Palette--the QS at SSR. The CMs there have always been so great and have fixed different things for us based on foods we liked.

You'll have a blast on your first DVC trip...make sure you video the "Welcome Home"!

I'm really starting to look forward to it. I didn't even look up the Artist's Palette menu yet. We drive and get there early, so we'll have all day. Did I mention I can't wait????

 

[AuroraRose]

"Welcome Home!" Even though our homes are AKV & GCV, our first stay as DVC members was at SSR!! (There was no room at AKV when we booked) It was a pretty awesome experience, and we loved it there. The boat rides over to DTD were one of our favorite perks of that resort!

Can't wait to hear all about your trip! Subscribing!!

 

[homeatssr]

It's nice to have people that understand how I want to think about the trip details every day. Even Dopey, who loves Disney as much as I do, doesn't understand why I'm thinking about it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

It's nice to have people that understand how I want to think about the trip details every day. Even Dopey, who loves Disney as much as I do, doesn't understand why I'm thinking about it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

I completely understand that!! I am constantly in a planning/thinking/thinking about planning . I love reading PTRs because it gives me so much more excitement!

Excited to hear your plans!

 

[eaj1228]

So, we've made another decision. We are on our own for lunch our first day. Then, Dopey's parents are going to take us to dinner that night. So, we won't get the dining plan for the 1st night reservation.

Now, the next decision. Do we want to do a park at all that first day, or enjoy the sites at SSR and DTD? Where DO we want to eat that day?

Joining in!! My family had our first DVC stay last year and it was a split stay between SSR and BCV as well. Both are amazing resorts.

If you decide to spend your first day at SSR and DTD I can't express my love for Wolfgang Puck's Express and Earl of Sandwich enough. Wolfgang Puck's was a huge hit for my family and was a more relax quick service where the food was brought to us like a TS meal. Earl of Sandwich is awesome as well.

Where are you traveling from? I am flying from the west coast and my family decided to make the first day of our trip a non park day. Traveling can be so exhausting and in my experience it is easier to enjoy the parks after a good nights sleep. One of the joys of having DVC is knowing you will be back and you don't need to rush and see everything a once.

 

[homeatssr]

Joining in!! My family had our first DVC stay last year and it was a split stay between SSR and BCV as well. Both are amazing resorts.

If you decide to spend your first day at SSR and DTD I can't express my love for Wolfgang Puck's Express and Earl of Sandwich enough. Wolfgang Puck's was a huge hit for my family and was a more relax quick service where the food was brought to us like a TS meal. Earl of Sandwich is awesome as well.

Where are you traveling from? I am flying from the west coast and my family decided to make the first day of our trip a non park day. Traveling can be so exhausting and in my experience it is easier to enjoy the parks after a good nights sleep. One of the joys of having DVC is knowing you will be back and you don't need to rush and see everything a once.

We LOVE WPE!!! Here is what I'm trying to figure out with regards to DTD and meals, etc... My theory is that I'd like to get DTD "out of the way" on that first day since we are right there. We usually stay at POR, so we've spent a lot of time there. I just feel like once we go to BCV, I'd prefer not to have to go back to DTD. However, as of right now, between all of us, there is a request for T-Rex and Fulton's for meals this trip. So, do I try to fit them both in? Or do I try to talk everyone into one of the other signatures that we're not yet planning on instead of Fulton's??

On that note, here are the restaurants that we want to go to as of now:

California Grill, Narcosse's, CRT, Fulton's

Kona, O'hana, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Cape May bfast, Cape May dinner, Sci Fi diner, Liberty tree lunch, T-Rex, Yak & Yeti

Other maybe choices: Boatrights(we love this, at least from our trip 2 years ago) Beaches/Cream, Turf Club

I would love it if DIsney would release their November hours soon. That would maybe help to see it all more clearly

Thoughts????

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

We LOVE WPE!!! Here is what I'm trying to figure out with regards to DTD and meals, etc... My theory is that I'd like to get DTD "out of the way" on that first day since we are right there. We usually stay at POR, so we've spent a lot of time there. I just feel like once we go to BCV, I'd prefer not to have to go back to DTD. However, as of right now, between all of us, there is a request for T-Rex and Fulton's for meals this trip. So, do I try to fit them both in? Or do I try to talk everyone into one of the other signatures that we're not yet planning on instead of Fulton's??

On that note, here are the restaurants that we want to go to as of now:

California Grill, Narcosse's, CRT, Fulton's

Kona, O'hana, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Cape May bfast, Cape May dinner, Sci Fi diner, Liberty tree lunch, T-Rex, Yak & Yeti

Other maybe choices: Boatrights(we love this, at least from our trip 2 years ago) Beaches/Cream, Turf Club

I would love it if DIsney would release their November hours soon. That would maybe help to see it all more clearly

Thoughts????

My first thought is. . .YUM!! I totally agree with you on getting DTD "out of the way". We always try to do DTD on the first night. If we get there again, yay. . .but it not, we didn't miss it!

We are doing Fulton's for the first time on this trip! I'm excited to try it! I've never met a seafood that I didn't like!

Beaches & Cream is scrumdiddlyumptious! I love that place! The No Way Jose sundae with peanut butter is awesome! They also have really good cheeseburgers and fries!

'Ohana (both breakfast and dinner), Cape May (both breakfast and dinner), and LeCellier are among our very favorites, and DS loved T-Rex.

I completely understand what you mean--it's so much easier to plan when they release the hours! You should be getting close to ADR date, right?

Have fun planning!!

 

[homeatssr]

I completely understand what you mean--it's so much easier to plan when they release the hours! You should be getting close to ADR date, right?

Have fun planning!!

We're about a month out, so that's another whole month to drive myself crazy rethinking everything at least 30 times

 

[homeatssr]

So, I was looking at another site and he took a lot of pictures of Biergarten. Until last night, I've never had any interest in that restaurant. Now, the kids are very interested and I am too. Just what I needed, another one to add to the list when I'm supposed to be narrowing it down!!!!

 

[homeatssr]

Park hours released for my week(except for AK hours) Woohoo! Can start penciling in ADRs

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Yay!! Time to start the "Serious" planning!!

 

[AuroraRose]

Park hours released for my week(except for AK hours) Woohoo! Can start penciling in ADRs

Woohoo!! I love seeing where everyone is planning to go eat, although sometimes it makes me start rethinking my own and wondering if I should add this or that... haha!! Of the choices you have, we have been to California Grill, O'hana, Le Cellier, Cape May, Sci Fi Din In, Yak & Yeti, and Biergarten. 'Ohana is one of my favorites and where we're going for our anniversary dinner on our upcoming trip, and Biergarten was requested by the menfolk, so we're doing that as well. I am contemplating a Le Cellier meal as well, only because when I went I was feeling sick so I didn't really get to enjoy my meal.

Good luck with the ADR's!! Can't wait to see what you choose!

 

[homeatssr]

Question: Will we still be allowed to use Stormalong Bay Pool on our checkout day?

 

[eaj1228]

Question: Will we still be allowed to use Stormalong Bay Pool on our checkout day?

I am almost certain you can use Stormalong Bay on checkout day. As long as you have your room key you will be fine.