The Murphy's are LIVE from BWI and BLT!! - January 6-13!!!

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey everyone!


Had a great day at Epcot! Now we are checked in and waiting for dinner at Teppen Edo. Not many people here today, when we got off Soarin around 6:00 they were still giving fast passes to come back at 9:00. Longest line I've seen is Test Track for 80 minutes. I will try to upload more pics tonight. The wifi in our room is horrible. Like dial up speed. So most pics will have to wait until I get home Sunday. If you've been following my tweets and/or Foursquare you've seen some pics and reports all during the day today. We've had a lot of fun for sure!

My wheels are already turning for the next trip.

Tomorrow we check out of BWI and head to BLT. Should be exciting!!!!

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[Jasperann]

How difficult is it transferring to a different resort mid trip? I am not sure it is something I would do with the four kids but maybe on the trip with just my oldest.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

How difficult is it transferring to a different resort mid trip? I am not sure it is something I would do with the four kids but maybe on the trip with just my oldest.

It's not too bad. I think if you are going to spend at least 3-4 nights at each resort and you don't mind having a day to be sort of "homeless" for a good chunk of the day then it can be fun. I agree with you I wouldn't do it with four kids, that seems like too much repacking and unpacking, but for us it goes fairly smoothly since our boys can help with packing and luggage, etc. Usually we either take a taxi with our luggage along with us, or we do the luggage transfer service. It just depends on how we feel about it. Tomorrow I think we will transfer the suitcases but take everything else along with us to check-in. Then we'll just leave it with bell services until the room is ready. I think it can be fun to do a split stay between an MK resort and an Epcot resort.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Here's a look at the temporary bakery on the boardwalk as well as some construction pics at the bakery itself:

 

[Jasperann]

I really hope they put in a self service drink station in there. It looks like they are really adding on to it... I'm so excited to see the finished product when we go.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey everyone!!! What a full day this has been!!! Packing up and moving from BWI to BLT , when we arrived there was some kind of issue with our room. Somehow wrist bands were added to it so they had to cancel and rebook us. I was at the desk for close to an hour but luckily once we finally for checked in the room was ready! We are on the first floor looking towards the marina and the lake. It's a nice convenient location. I have tons of pics on photobucket plus tons more to upload. We have been at MK all day and now we are waiting for our table at Be Our Guest.

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[TigrLvsPooh]

I think when we return to the room tonight we can step right out on our patio to see the electrical water pageant.

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[Jasperann]

I think when we return to the room tonight we can step right out on our patio to see the electrical water pageant.

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I love the electrical water pageant we seen it a couple times on our first trip. Because we stayed at Fort Wilderness we even seen it on a boat ride back to the campground too. Sounds like the perfect room to have.

Can't wait to hear about BOG.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Good morning! Sitting out front and waiting for a bus to AK. I tried to upload pics in the room last night but the wifi kept shutting me down. There are lots of iPhone pics on my photobucket account though.

I probably won't have many updates the next couple of days because of the marathons. We are here with a lot of family. But I'm always happy to answer questions if anyone has any.

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[Jasperann]

Have a fun time!

 

[jackglick]

While you are in WDW, did you happen to notice if the 2013 graduation hat is out? Thanks.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey everyone!!! Just successfully uploaded over 500 pictures to photobucket!

http://s59.beta.photobucket.com/user/ekmurphy12/library/Disney January 2013

We've been in a bit of a whirlwind here the last 24 hours. We've had some mixed experiences here at BLT. Tonight we had the opportunity to watch Wishes from the Top of the World Lounge which was great...the view is amazing up there!!!! But my overall opinion of this resort is starting to diminish. As you know we had an hour long check-in experience yesterday in a very under-staffed and crowded lobby. But we were pleased with our room once we got it. The studio is very, very small, probably the smallest room (not including the sq ft of the kitchen) I have ever stayed in anywhere on property without a doubt. Don't let the total sq footage fool you because once you take out the kitchen the actual room is teeny tiny. I would not recommend it to anybody with more than 2 or maybe 3 people max. It is way too cramped for 4 especially for a woman like me who travels with a lot of luggage! . Our suitcases are literally stacked in front of the door and my toiletries are all in the kitchen. There is a tiny narrow passage from the hallway to our beds (we have to crawl into them from the foot). I sort of feel like I'm camping in a motor-home. The bathroom is similar to one you'd find on an airplane, very convenient if you want to brush your teeth while sitting on the toilet. HA HA Just kidding... sort of! But our view is really nice for standard, we can see the EWP and the high fireworks of Illuminations right from our bed... and the walk to MK is so easy and fast. I just really don't understand why they couldn't have made these studios larger. I think the bedroom area needs to at least be the size of a value resort ... I feel very claustrophobic if the curtains are shut. Luckily being on the first floor helps to not feel trapped in a tiny space.

We have family upstairs in a 1 bedroom villa and it is a nice size. Definitely if you have kids that is what you want. It has a large living room/kitchen area with huge windows. Awesome views, nice furnishings, great floor plan.... Really nice.

I would highly recommend checking the contents of your room when you arrive because I didn't realize until tonight we had no back-up supplies of toilet paper or kleenex anywhere, I thought logically they would be under the bathroom sink, but no .... and I checked everywhere, even the kitchen and closet. I called housekeeping, never got anyone to answer, it just rang and rang... then I called "front desk" and told them we urgently needed toilet paper and also told them about cleanliness issues... she was very apologetic and said toilet paper would be right there and also she would have a manger call us right away. We waited about 45 minutes, then I decided to walk down to the lobby to see if someone could help me. I found a nice lady working the check-in desk for Top of the World Lounge who went to hunt down some TP. While waiting the front desk manager came out and asked if I needed anything. Uh oh, he is gonna regret that question!!!! I told him my issue with not having toilet paper and then expanded on our one hour check-in nightmare followed by a room that had empty rum bottles and leftover groceries. I told him I expect more from a Disney resort. I expect my room to be clean when I arrive. Toilet paper should be something the mousekeepers check when they clean the room above all else, and the box of tissue we had was already down to the orange color and folded into a triangle. So to me it just shows sloppy work. I told him I am aware that when I call from my room it is going to a call center but it is frustrating when someone tells you they are going to send someone and nobody comes. He apologized and said he would have housekeeping come tomorrow morning to get the booze bottles and grocery leftovers out of our room... I told him I didn't want my brother-in-law to be penalized when the room was like that when we checked in (he's the DVC owner who booked all these villas for the family). Also I explained to him that my husband is running tomorrow and we are going to bed and would be putting the do not disturb sign up for the night so please radio housekeeping to not bring the toilet paper. He says sure no problem. So I go back to the room to go to bed.

HA!!! As I was typing this a man just came with toilet paper (90 minutes after the call). Banging on the door even with the do not disturb sign hanging and woke up DH. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, sorry to rant. I just have high expectations, and when a room sells for close to $500 a night (that's the cash price tonight) I expect someone to care about my needs. I want a clean room, I want toilet paper, I want housekeeping to answer the phone, really that isn't asking too much.

The kids are at the Studios (EMH) with their cousins and I'm sitting here in the dark trying not to disturb my runner So I better say goodnight for now!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

While you are in WDW, did you happen to notice if the 2013 graduation hat is out? Thanks.

Nope, didn't see any

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Sorry these are sort of blurry, took them with my phone

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Studio villa:

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm LOL'ing right now because I have been tip toeing around here in the dark trying to be so quiet not to wake DH and the dang EWP just came by on full blast and woke him up! OOPS!!!!!!!

We have the perfect view of it from our room!

 

[jackglick]

thanks for your reply. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Good luck to your DH with the marathon.

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks for the report and sorry to hear of the issues at BLT. That's especially tough after you've just spent a few days with the amazing BWI CL CMs! Wow - that's one tiny room. It looks much smaller than our staterooms on the Wonder and Dream. Thank goodness it's a patio room and the sliding glass door is large - can't imagine how a studio on a higher floor must feel.

Hope your runner had a good run this morning!

 

[Jasperann]

That is a really tiny room!! Especially for what the room cost per night to rent with money. Guess I will not be staying in one of them rooms. Although that resort really isn't on my list of places I want to stay.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Good morning

I said I wouldn't fly on marathon day again but guess what? I did. Lol

We have been on our ME bus for almost an hour and we are just passing the MK parking lot. People are pretty close to rioting and taking over this bus. Ha ha!!!!

We had a fantastic trip Other than those minor issues at BLT we really have had a wonderful time. I would definitely stay there again but just not in a studio.

I have over 600 pics and videos on my photobucket site now if anyone wants to see. The rest will be up tonight.

The weather this week was amazing!!! Highs in the 80's with no rain at all. Absolutely gorgeous. Never even wore our long pants or jackets. A huge difference from last years marathon trip with freezing temps.

There was a sign at the Main St bakery last night saying they would have temporary service at the Tomorrowland Terrace. Just thought I'd pass that tip along.

Any questions about BWI CL or BLT?

MK was awesome last night. Everything was a walk on. Even space and BTMRR. Really the crowds were minimal all week. The only long lines I saw were Test Track, Soarin, Toy Story, and Enchanted Tales with Belle. I would say those 4 are the ones to get your fast passes for early.

Gf villas are really coming along. And the Snow White coaster has made a lot of progress even just since we saw it in November.



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