These are NOT the rooms that I paid for! 3 Resorts in 10 days - Trivia Answers 9/3

[emmysmommy]

Yay lots of updates!!

My comment and your response is waaayyy back so I am not gonna quote it and just say, we are so incredibly excited for our wedding and trip, it is getting so close and I am just going crazy with all little details and ordering everything else I need! I definitely want to do a TR, I just have no clue where to begin, I was thinking of doing a PTR but I don't know if I will have much time so I am gonna probably pick some ideas from all of you lovely ladies I follow when I start mine and not to highjack your thread but I had a question for you about BLT, I hope you don't mind I remember you talking about a thread or site that suggested what floor or rooms to request to get the best TPV there, I was wondering if you remembered by any chance?

I would love to hear all about your wedding trip even if you want to just do a quick summary of the trip... that's the beauty, it's all up to you!!

Here's the thread that is on the DVC board:

I am definitely in love with AKL, the whole resort is just beautiful, the details are amazing. I can definitely understand how you and Em got caught up watching the animals. Boma looks wonderful!! We have a breakfast ADR there and I cannot wait!
Yak & Yeti also looks great, (we are eating there too lol) WONTONS! Yum!! EE is so fun, I am glad you escaped the rain, I also feel the way you do, I only like to get wet by my own choice
Love the Dinosaur photo and Em's Ariel shirt is super cute!!
Alright think I covered it all!! Can't wait for the Yatch Club check in update!!!! :

Hi Nicole! I hope you love your Boma breakfast. It really is a beautiful place.

Yay for eating at Y&Y - I hope you like it too.

See you understand the getting wet thing - I want to be in control of when/where!

Wow you were busy today updating!!

You and Em are so cute! You always dress the cutest, I look like a slob at the parks! haha!

I love your ride pic, its funny!

Rachel, I completely disagree with you looking like a slob!! You have such cute Disney T's in your photos! Plus you are just so darn cute anyway.

I have so enjoyed catching up on your adventures this Sunday morning and next will be off to check out the dining report. Some random comments...

How weird is that airline rule about photos for personal use only? Is it a safety thing? That they don't want published photos available for "study?"

Scary huh?

What an awesome flight crew you had! And thank you for your son's - and your family's- service.

Awww, thank you. I just spoke with my son today so I'm a happy mom!

The wrong bus?!? Absolutely love the shot you took of the boy looking out at the welcome sign. I bet he had a magical trip.

Thanks for mentioning that Stacy has updated her spiel with New Fantasyland. It is so weird but we pretty much watch Stacy nonstop while in the room.

Not weird at all!! My DH doesn't get it. He has no idea why we would be tuned into watching her when there are "regular channels."

So glad you enjoyed AKL! Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures.

Thanks! I think our plan to stay at AKL worked to our advantage so we were able to dine at a new restaurant and make sure we had AK park time.

Shew! I thought I had fallen WAY behind, but you are being slow- which totally works to my advantage!!!!

I MISS AK!!! And you have just about convinced me to stay at AKL. But not the next trip… I want Catie to really enjoy that resort. I LOVE that you dragged your feet. I swear, one day I want to just go to Disney and tour all the resorts. I think that is probably one of the biggest things I miss out on each trip. I want to spend time exploring the resorts and seeing what they have to offer!

And for the love of all things Disney- I WILL watch a Bug's Life on my next trip! That's right. I have never seen it! Can you believe it??? I know, I know…

Yes Christen - you have to try AKL some day. I think the girls would enjoy it.

It is so hard to build in "down-time" since you figure you've paid to see the parks therefore obligated. Argh!

Yes, take the 15 minutes next time and watch Its tough to be a bug! It can be scary for kids so not sure Catie or Cortlyn would enjoy it. Definitely cute though.

You guys really seem to have enjoyed AKL. I know we'll need to stay there eventually; it looks so beautiful. Plus Boma breakfast looks delicious! I'm really curious to see what kind of rooms you guys get next. The suspense is getting to me .

Hi there OranageJuice! Thanks for reading. I noticed that you will be at BCV this fall - how awesome. I love that area.

Yes, Boma was great - so many wonderful choices.

I will be posting about our room next.... stand by.

I sure do have a little gold pass like that!! Sadly it's expired now and I'm not sure if I'm going to get another AP or not!

Yay for lots of updates, gotta love AK, glad you avoided the rain! I also LOVE yak and yeti, those won tons! To DIE FOR!!

hi katt! The only reason we have the gold pass is because we live by D-land and try to go to WDW at least twice a year. Otherwise... it wouldn't be for us. Even an AP is awesome since you go so often.

YES, those won tons are amazing!!

What a cliffhanger to leave us on!!!

Great day, the food in Yak and Yeti really looks yummy. I really want to try there but it didn't make our ADR list as we didn't think we'd be in AK around a meal time. Maybe next time!

Really good photos of the animals and savannah's too.

Hi Lisa!! Ha ha! yes, I had to take a break somewhere... seemed like a good place!

It took us several trips before we made it to Y&Y and longer still before we made it to AKL to stay. My only obstacles to trying all the resorts and dining is time and $.

Ha, I love the look on Em's face with the wonton dessert from Yak & Yeti. That dessert is so good, it's totally worth going there for just that. Your creeper picture of the lady's shorts/legs made me laugh, and the blue skirt you wore to AK was super cute.

- Juanita

Hi Juanita! Em certainly was enjoying the won ton in that photo!

Sometimes women just notice how perfect other womena are - and secretly hate them! Thanks, that skirt came from Forever21.

It was a crazy week and I have another busy one coming up, but I got all caught up!!!

I enjoyed seeing the pictures of DL. My one and only visit there was as a sophomore in high school, so it has been a couple of years since that trip. I don't remember nearly as much as I want to from that trip.

Oh, you young pup! I have that problem for so many things that I wish I remembered better.

Enjoyed reading the review of the meal at Jiko and seeing both of your awesome food pictures! Meal looked spectacular.

Thanks!

The theming of AKL and AKV is just so incredible! Like you pointed out, the details are simply amazing!

Boma is my favorite Disney restaurant (dinner). I loved hearing about your breakfast there. Ben and I dined there for breakfast once and really enjoyed it, but it is tough for us to get there in the mornings since we hit the parks first thing. The restaurant not crowded during our meal and our waiter was begging us to let him bring something to us. Ben asked for some bacon, and the waiter brought a heaping plateful.

I completely understand about timing for breakfast... we've cancelled several Boma breakfasts because we are the opposite... we don't get moving early. Due to my family of course, not me!

Glad you were able to make it to AK for a little bit.

I love the color of Em's shorts!

yes, blush pink - shorts courtesy of Forever21!

Bummer about your photopass pictures. Did you try to contact photopass support to see if they could find your pictures? They lost our photos in front of the guitar at RnR, the only time I have seen a photographer in that location, but they weren't able to locate them

Oh, I never thought about that! You have good advice.

Your Yak & Yeti lunch looked great. Fantastic choices!
It was AWESOME!

about your Dinosaur picture.

I am eagerly awaiting your next update!

Dee for my next update, please feel free to use any of the photos or if you want me to send them direct to you if easier just let me know. I think I have room in my PM box - not sure if you do.

 

[emmysmommy]

Sunday February 24, 2013: Day 5, Part 6​

This is the post that primarily defined my TR title. I'm not sure how Disney can just randomly mess with people like this but lets just jump in and I'll share the whole tale!

Remember this time... it will be important in a minute!!

We took the bus from AK to YC/BC and walked in the entrance to behold the gorgeous lobby!!

For some background...We had booked a pool/water view Club Level room. Weve stayed in a similar room at Beach Club in 2010 so we pretty much knew what to expect. When staying Club Level a Cast Member typically welcomes you by name when you arrive and checks you in at the concierge desk on the Club Level. We were arriving on the Disney bus and didnt feel the need to announce to the registration clerk that we indeed were staying CL so we need to be checked in upstairs. We walked up to the desk and I showed my ID and simply said that I was checking in under that name. The CM punched his computer and then picked up his phone and placed a call I'm assuming to the CL desk. I wasn't paying much attention since I was trying to squeeze off a few photos of the lobby since it was relatively deserted. However, I heard him say that the suite guests had arrived. Thats an odd way to describe CL. Poor guy, I thought he was a rookie and was confusing CL with a suite. He played it cool and didn't really say much.

Random photos while the guy was on the phone:

Flashback.... at approximately 10:30 that morning, an annonymous CM
randomly decided to choose us to stay in room 4157.... What's wrong with room 4157 you ask?? Hang on......

They sent another sweet CM down to fetch us, perceivably to finish our check-in process upstairs. We were escorted to the 5th floor and while we were awaiting our room keys the gal checking us in said that she hoped we didnt fight over the king bed. No, no fighting for us, we share nicely. Then she said, There are also 2 queen beds. Hmmm.... I'm trying to imagine the room configuration for that. Then the other CL gal chimes in and says that Celine Dion has stayed in that room. Huh? More confusion and we weren't quite sure what to expect at this point. I know they gave us a print out of all our dining reservations and told us the Regatta Club lounge hours but I seriously don't recall much of that conversation at this point.

Quick take more photos while they are getting more paperwork since I am now very nervous and don't know what to do!

Flowers and candy... sounds like gifts for a date!

Our "arrival photo"

We were given our gold room keys for room number 4157. After the CMs took our arrival photo we proceeded to the elevator and down to the 4th floor and this mysterious room 4157.

Knowing that we had an upgrade, we videotaped the reveal. However, the video is not that great and youll have to forgive my inability to complete sentences and the fact that I needed a tissue but ...well, see for yourself HERE.

And for anyone who is unable to view the video.....

Photo below......these are my original first photos not in exact order but more photos will follow in a separate post.

This is the Admirals Suite - a 2 bedroom, 2 ½ bathroom Club Level Suite.
Within the 2,017 square foot space are the following:
§ Formal dining room with seating for 6
§ Living Room complete with faux fireplace and a game table with chairs (the table had chess pieces and pull out drink holders)
§ Hard wood floor sunroom with 5 port holes and an entertainment center with TV
§ Kitchenette with fridge, microwave, and sink with coffee maker and Kurig (shutters can close off this space from the dining room and it had a separate entrance via the kitchenette)
§ Master bedroom with 4 poster King bed with beautifully luxurious linens and duvet 3 closets in the Master and an entertainment center with TV. The remote had an LED display!
§ En suite bathroom with 3 separate vanities, 6 jet spa tub, walk in shower, separate toilet room with bidet AND a phone (not sure who you would call when nature is calling??), a bathroom scale (really?? Im on vacation, I dont see the need!) The Spa H2O bath products included mint foot rub and body wash.
§ Secondary bedroom with 2 Queen beds and a full bathroom (standard pool view room) and its own entry door
§ Double entry doors into the formal hard wood floor foyer with glass chandelier and credenza (there was a doorbell that had a pleasant chime.)
§ Powder room off foyer
§ 4 balconies 3 full balconies with chairs and small table and 1 standing balcony
§ Club level access

More Photo tour:

I'm going to lose track of which pictures I have posted I'm sure!

As I so inadequately said in the video How does this happen?
We didn't have long to luxuriate in our surroundings as we had to get to dinner with our friends. Our intent was to immediately go to the CL lounge and hug someone but time didn't permit for now.



Next TR Installment >>>​

 

[BlueBayou]

What a COOL pixie dust moment! Just splendid!

 

[emmysmommy]

What a COOL pixie dust moment! Just splendid!

Thank you! It was pretty astounding.

 

[natebenma]

I had to read!!! What a spectacular room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so very happy for you!!! I love that they played it cool checking you in.

I really appreciate the permission to use the photos. I should be able to copy them from here, but if I do need some, I'll email you.

 

[BridgetR3]

OH WOW!!! That's an amazing upgrade!!!! How wonderful!!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

That was so cool! And saying that the suite looked sooo nice both on photos and video is probably an understatement. So happy that you got some pixie dusts. Heck, why just limit yourself to one bed? I would have taken turns sleeping in each one of the beds to get the full experience of the suite.

How were the views from the balconies in the Celine Dion Suite?

 

[pattiken]

Omg!! What an amazing upgrade!..ok the video brought tears to my eyes too lol..I like your comment about Disney ruining your plans, I wouldn't want to leave there either. This is when I'm sure you wanted your whole family there with that kind of space.. You could have thrown a party lol
Celine dion suite.. Love it...way to go Disney random awesome pixie dust

 

[lobsterkmd]

That is amazing!!! I loved the video. How did you know the exact time/ take a picture of the time??

So beautiful and so special!!!

 

[wiigirl]

Amazing!

 

[emmysmommy]

I had to read!!! What a spectacular room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so very happy for you!!! I love that they played it cool checking you in.

I really appreciate the permission to use the photos. I should be able to copy them from here, but if I do need some, I'll email you.

Hi Dee! Now you can fill your spot for this room on the VP/Pres Suites thread!! I have a lot more photos but will try to pick the best of each room/view.

OH WOW!!! That's an amazing upgrade!!!! How wonderful!!!

Yes!!

That was so cool! And saying that the suite looked sooo nice both on photos and video is probably an understatement. So happy that you got some pixie dusts. Heck, why just limit yourself to one bed? I would have taken turns sleeping in each one of the beds to get the full experience of the suite.

How were the views from the balconies in the Celine Dion Suite?

Ha! Yeah, I thought about sleeping in each bed but that Master bed was so luxurious. Em slept in the sunroom one night.

I will post photos of the view from the balconies next - 2 faced the courtyard and 3 the lake.

More to follow.

Omg!! What an amazing upgrade!..ok the video brought tears to my eyes too lol..I like your comment about Disney ruining your plans, I wouldn't want to leave there either. This is when I'm sure you wanted your whole family there with that kind of space.. You could have thrown a party lol
Celine dion suite.. Love it...way to go Disney random awesome pixie dust

Thanks Patti. The room did change our plans a little but yes, it was pretty crazy. I posted on FB that we had room at the dining table for 4 more people so it would have been so cool to have the whole family there even if my boys are not Disney fans. I felt so inadequate having the room since it would have been such a magical upgrade for a couple - especially someone on a honeymoon or anniversary.

That is amazing!!! I loved the video. How did you know the exact time/ take a picture of the time??

So beautiful and so special!!!

Thank you! As for the timing of the photo.... again, just random. I take photos of the time at certain points in the day to mark places for my trip report. Kinda odd but I go by my photos so much for the TR that I know when we arrived or left somewhere.... so another words, there's really no reason I had the photo other than around that time we were getting ready to leave AKL.

Thanks for following along!!

 

[emmysmommy]

Amazing!

ooops! you slipped in there!! YES. It deserves this dude >>>

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Amazing, Brenda! I absolutely love the video. I am crying here with you! I said it on Barb's thread but I will say it again. I can't think of two people more deserving of such a special treat! Looking forward to the rest of the pictures!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Wow, score on the upgrade! So this was just a random pick a guest to upgrade or did you find out how you were the lucky ones? Great either way.

 

[emmysmommy]

Amazing, Brenda! I absolutely love the video. I am crying here with you! I said it on Barb's thread but I will say it again. I can't think of two people more deserving of such a special treat! Looking forward to the rest of the pictures!

Awwww Vicki - thank you! I feel a little silly with the raw video footage but it's what it was. More photos to follow.

Wow, score on the upgrade! So this was just a random pick a guest to upgrade or did you find out how you were the lucky ones? Great either way.

Hi there Tricia! I seriously tried to see who we could thank and they never told me. It was just a random thing.

 

[YCFAN]

So happy for you on the upgrade!!!!!

I booked this room a few weeks ago for our July 2014 trip. Can't wait to see the pictures of the view from the balconies. I was actually going to ask you if you took any and you beat me to it! I love sitting on the balconies at YC!

 

[Gin0818]

I have been a long time lurker and reader of your trip and dining reports and now I'm finally commenting That is such an awesome surprise and I can't wait to read about the rest of your stay at Yacht Club since my daughter and I will be staying there in August.

 

[marDgreen88]

Um... WOW! That is beyond amazing!!! This is what happened to us when we were randomly upgraded from a 1br lake view to a 2br MK view at BLT... we were like... WHAT?! And don't worry, I cried too!!! It's so sweet of Disney to do this, and they don't even expect anything. Amazing. Yall deserved that!

 

[momabbate]

Hi just starting reading your tr this weekend. Only on page 8, so I need to keep reading. I normally don't post anything till after I get caught up, but here I am. I love your writing style. I did my first mother daughter trip back in 11. and my daughter is hinting I need to figure out when our next one will be. But what got me to post early is to thank you for your sons service. My son is also in Afghanistan. His first deployment so still getting use to it. Is always nice to hear that people appreciate the families of our soldiers.

Decided to edit instead of another post. Wow on upgrade. Glad you got to see the Disney Magic! I know I would be crying too. Hope the magic continues!

 

[jmm476]

That is a beautiful room, and square footage wise- larger than my house! Amazing pixie dust!


I'm a little bit behind, so I wanted to also comment on your Time at AK. How strange that you didn't get the pictures on your photo pass... I wonder how often that happens?

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