First time trip report at BWV
here it goes:
I just returned from a great stay this past weekend (5/4-5/6) at BWV. My wife and I decided to take a last minute trip down to the World. I called member services only one week out and was lucky to snag Friday and Saturday night at BWV in a studio. We had to switch rooms (Boardwalk view first night/standard view second), but that was no big deal. I felt lucky to find anything! We treated ourselves to the Deluxe dining plan- it was a ton of food!
We arrived at MCO around 10AM and checked in at DME counter. We were lucky to be chosen to participate in the new Fastpass trial. We were given a yellow plastic card that had an RFID chip in it and then were asked to select what day we planned on being at the MK. From there we were able to pick four FPs. We were able to select two rides from block A (E-tickets) and two rides from block B (C/D-tickets) and the time of day that we wanted to use them (morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night). We selected Space and Buzz from block A (even though Buzz is not really an E-ticket), and Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion from block B and morning and afternoon for our times. After selecting the rides and times, the computer assigned us times for all the rides and sent us a confirmation email. It was really quick, easy and really cool. It was nice it assigned the rides in the order they appear in the park (HM, PP, Buzz, Space).
We arrived at Boardwalk at just after 11AM and then checked in (we did online check-in). Our room was not ready and I had some work to do, so I went to the Bellview lounge and connected to the wi-fi and got some work done. We got a text that our room was ready around 12:30PM and went and checked it out. Man what a great view (second floor)! Now I know why everyone here loves the BW view. The room was in good condition except for one burnt out light above the bed- not a big deal. I made sure to call maintenance when I checked out to fix it for the next guest.
We ran to grab lunch at EPCOT and then came back to the hotel room to take a break and go to the pool. We went to sunshine seasons and had a good meal for the money (dont worry I didnt use the dining credit on it).
That night we went to dinner at the Yachtsman steakhouse and had a great meal. The best part was the homemade mozzarella and tomato appetizer and the truffle mac n cheese- Awesome. The steak was excellent too. We then headed over to the MK and went on a few rides and then back to BWV around midnight.
On Saturday, we slept in, checked out and in and headed to an early lunch at the Le Cellier. I was able to make a reservation on Friday- must have been a cancellation. We had a great lunch there. I had the burger and soup, which both were great. I had never had the burger there before, but definitely would go back for it. My wife loved the chicken sausage appetizer. I did not like my dessert- lemon shortbread. It was no sugar added and tasted like it- will not get that again. After lunch we walked around EPCOT to check out all of the flowers and then went over to Animal Kingdom for the afternoon. We had a quick dip in the pool and then headed back to EPCOT for dinner.
Our room the second night was also in good condition, except the toaster was broken. A quick call to housekeeping and a new one was brought up. Besides missing the BW view, the room was great.
We ate at Bistro de Paris for diner and had a great table by the window to watch Illuminations. I probably had the best steak that I have ever had on Disney property (filet) and we both really liked the dessert. Great meal. After dinner we ran literally (well ok ran- took a boat and then ran again) over to the Studios before they closed at 10PM. We got in line at Tower of Terror at 9:58PM and were on the very last elevator. It was really kind of cool, it was just my wife and I and one other family of four on the last elevator. (PS There is a really cool hidden Mickey on the ride right before the drop- where the darkness splits- the other family pointed it out to us). After that headed back and called it a day.
On Sunday, we slept in again and checked out and headed to the MK to try the new Fastpasses out. We missed the first reservation (Haunted Mansion- I was up, but my wife slept in too long), so we went to the second one- Peter Pan. We went right in line, touched the Fastpass to the new scanner and it lights up green to show that all is good. A cast member was there with an iPad monitoring. It was kind of cool, when we scanned the card, our names came up and he greeted us by name and said congratulations (for the celebration attached to our reservation). Then after a break for lunch at Kona Café (try the chicken sandwich), at the appropriate times, we went to Buzz and Space Mountain for those Fastpasses. Both worked without a hitch. We also were able to pull a traditional Fastpass for Splash in between the others. I really have to say I liked the new system, but hope that they DO NOT allow you to make reservations months in advance like ADRs. I would not have a clue what parks I want to go to until a day or two before.
After that we headed back to BW and took the DME to the airport. Not so fun being at home and work again today, but we had a great and relaxing trip. This was our second trip as DVC members (purchased resale in October at AKV based on great info on this board) and love it so far. The silver lining about being home, is we are only about a month away from a week trip in June staying in a two bedroom and a studio with a group of family and friends- cant wait!
I just returned from a great stay this past weekend (5/4-5/6) at BWV. My wife and I decided to take a last minute trip down to the World. I called member services only one week out and was lucky to snag Friday and Saturday night at BWV in a studio. We had to switch rooms (Boardwalk view first night/standard view second), but that was no big deal. I felt lucky to find anything! We treated ourselves to the Deluxe dining plan- it was a ton of food!
We arrived at MCO around 10AM and checked in at DME counter. We were lucky to be chosen to participate in the new Fastpass trial. We were given a yellow plastic card that had an RFID chip in it and then were asked to select what day we planned on being at the MK. From there we were able to pick four FPs. We were able to select two rides from block A (E-tickets) and two rides from block B (C/D-tickets) and the time of day that we wanted to use them (morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night). We selected Space and Buzz from block A (even though Buzz is not really an E-ticket), and Peter Pan and Haunted Mansion from block B and morning and afternoon for our times. After selecting the rides and times, the computer assigned us times for all the rides and sent us a confirmation email. It was really quick, easy and really cool. It was nice it assigned the rides in the order they appear in the park (HM, PP, Buzz, Space).
We arrived at Boardwalk at just after 11AM and then checked in (we did online check-in). Our room was not ready and I had some work to do, so I went to the Bellview lounge and connected to the wi-fi and got some work done. We got a text that our room was ready around 12:30PM and went and checked it out. Man what a great view (second floor)! Now I know why everyone here loves the BW view. The room was in good condition except for one burnt out light above the bed- not a big deal. I made sure to call maintenance when I checked out to fix it for the next guest.
We ran to grab lunch at EPCOT and then came back to the hotel room to take a break and go to the pool. We went to sunshine seasons and had a good meal for the money (dont worry I didnt use the dining credit on it).
That night we went to dinner at the Yachtsman steakhouse and had a great meal. The best part was the homemade mozzarella and tomato appetizer and the truffle mac n cheese- Awesome. The steak was excellent too. We then headed over to the MK and went on a few rides and then back to BWV around midnight.
On Saturday, we slept in, checked out and in and headed to an early lunch at the Le Cellier. I was able to make a reservation on Friday- must have been a cancellation. We had a great lunch there. I had the burger and soup, which both were great. I had never had the burger there before, but definitely would go back for it. My wife loved the chicken sausage appetizer. I did not like my dessert- lemon shortbread. It was no sugar added and tasted like it- will not get that again. After lunch we walked around EPCOT to check out all of the flowers and then went over to Animal Kingdom for the afternoon. We had a quick dip in the pool and then headed back to EPCOT for dinner.
Our room the second night was also in good condition, except the toaster was broken. A quick call to housekeeping and a new one was brought up. Besides missing the BW view, the room was great.
We ate at Bistro de Paris for diner and had a great table by the window to watch Illuminations. I probably had the best steak that I have ever had on Disney property (filet) and we both really liked the dessert. Great meal. After dinner we ran literally (well ok ran- took a boat and then ran again) over to the Studios before they closed at 10PM. We got in line at Tower of Terror at 9:58PM and were on the very last elevator. It was really kind of cool, it was just my wife and I and one other family of four on the last elevator. (PS There is a really cool hidden Mickey on the ride right before the drop- where the darkness splits- the other family pointed it out to us). After that headed back and called it a day.
On Sunday, we slept in again and checked out and headed to the MK to try the new Fastpasses out. We missed the first reservation (Haunted Mansion- I was up, but my wife slept in too long), so we went to the second one- Peter Pan. We went right in line, touched the Fastpass to the new scanner and it lights up green to show that all is good. A cast member was there with an iPad monitoring. It was kind of cool, when we scanned the card, our names came up and he greeted us by name and said congratulations (for the celebration attached to our reservation). Then after a break for lunch at Kona Café (try the chicken sandwich), at the appropriate times, we went to Buzz and Space Mountain for those Fastpasses. Both worked without a hitch. We also were able to pull a traditional Fastpass for Splash in between the others. I really have to say I liked the new system, but hope that they DO NOT allow you to make reservations months in advance like ADRs. I would not have a clue what parks I want to go to until a day or two before.
After that we headed back to BW and took the DME to the airport. Not so fun being at home and work again today, but we had a great and relaxing trip. This was our second trip as DVC members (purchased resale in October at AKV based on great info on this board) and love it so far. The silver lining about being home, is we are only about a month away from a week trip in June staying in a two bedroom and a studio with a group of family and friends- cant wait!
