1st trip home! (BWV trip report)

[Tennesotans]

Overview -- a trip of firsts

My wife and I took our first trip home to BWVs. We brought our two
nieces (9, 12) for their first trip to WDW. I think this was their
first vacation without their parents. It was all over the map -- stressful,
soothing, hot, humid, exciting, and very touching. Overall it was a
wonderful trip.

Previous to the trip I had done a bunch of internet research trying to
use as much accumulated knowledge as I could. We tried various things
from the DISBoards tips: water bottles, hippacks, midday breaks,
park transportation tips, ride strategy and on and on. We had a lot
of success -- thanks

"...we are in for a bumpy night..."

My wife escorted her nieces in from CA, I flew in from MN. I picked up
the rental car, got some groceries, and checked into OKW for our first
night. We were all drained and starved so we hit Olivia's about 10 minutes
before closing.

They youngest niece looked shell shocked -- she pretty much sobbed through
dinner. She was overwhelmed and we weren't certain what to do. After
dinner we "phoned home" and after talking with her mom we all started
watching "The Top 7 Attractions" at Disney World. This was an excellent
brochure and distracted us so we could drift off to sleep.

"...blessing number 1..."

I woke up before everyone else (a pattern for the week). I decide to go
check into the Boardwalk to get our park passes. (I was impatient visit
our new "home"). It looks a lot like the pictures ::huge grin::!

So I checked in, and our ROOM WAS READY. Woo hoo! I was really thrilled
with this. We could settle down and set up shop. So I drove back, the girls
are showered and fed. We pack up everything and move it to the Boardwalk.

I had asked for and received a room near a stairwell (I'd read about the long
hallways to the elevators). We were overlooking the Boardwalk sign and
were verrry pleased with the view. We "cased the joint" and proceeded to AK
for our first park.

We hit most of the major rides there but it was raining so we left midday.
After drying off, changing clothes and resting for an hour or so -- I raced
over to MGM to try and get some fast passes for RnR (this plan backfired, but a
cast member "fixed it") and grabbed a quick priority seating. After another
dining meltdown, my wife and my niece head back to call home and watch a DVD.
The older niece and I conquered TowerOfTerror.

"...honey, where are the keys?..."

I love water parks and apparently I love LOSING things at water parks!
Years ago I lost some nice sunglasses at a wet and wild in Texas. This
trip: the car keys -- ok, at this point *I* have a slight meltdown.
Turns out it was easily solved and not nearly as expensive as I
was anticipating. Blizzard Beach is an excellent park.

That night we have dinner reservations at Hollywood and Vine (with
priority seating for Fantasmic). I can see why buffets are popular!
We chow down, hit the movie ride, my WIFE conquers the towerOfTerror,
and we head over and enjoy Fantasmic. The nieces are starting to get
their "disney feet" by this time.

"...blessing number 2..."

I agonized over the various priority seating choices for this trip.
Should we set up dinners, or lunches, or character breakfasts?? My wife
suggested that we definately do the character breakfast at Cinderella's Castle.
This was magical: surrounded by 20+ princesses-in-training from all over
the country. My wife even teared-up!! The food and service were top notch
and our nieces got all of the various autographs and pictures. An excellent
start to our 3rd day.

We saw Mickey's PhilharMagic and rode various rides. The park was absolutely
packed and it was hot. The girls hit the mountain rides while I go talk
to a locksmith about a car key ::. He was on time, I was on time,
the new key works, crisis averted. ::whew::

I drive back, pick up the girls and we head to Luna Park pool. What a great
way to beat the heat. That night I learned why I don't need to ride
Mission: Space again ::urp::.

"..the Grand Finale..."

The first three days we had scheduled in advance. The last day was up
to our nieces. It was an E-Ticket day at Blizzard Beach, MGM, and finished
with a late night Magic Kingom ridefest to finish the trip. At 12:30AM,
we are leaving through Cinderellas Castle and who do we spot -- Mickey.
A great photo to end a great trip.

This was our first trip as DVC members and we barely scratched the surface
of whats available at BWV. I did hit the bakery for rolls on two days, and
we did try out the pool, and had dinner at Spoodles one night. Being
able to walk to MGM and Epcot is amazing. Our room was very nice and the
service was top notch.

Tennesotans

 

[Granny]

Sounds like your first trip home was a smashing success! Isn't it a great bonus (or blessing, as you describe it) to get into a room early? I never expect it, but have been lucky enough to have it happen twice now!

Great report, and glad to see that all crisis were minor and a great time had by all.

Thanks for sharing your first impressions of DVC with us.

 

[Credit Man]

Wonderful report! Thanks for posting.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

What a great trip report.
Just think - you'll have years and years of similar trips to look forward to!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

You two win the "Best Aunt and Uncle" award for the year. How nice of you to take them with on your first trip home. Sounds like you had fun.

 

[kathleena]

Thanks for the report. What a nice thing for an Aunt and Uncle to do. How was the little one the rest of the week?

Last Oct, I went with DD33, DGD8,DGS6 and DD's half-brother 10. He had some problems being away from Mom the first two nights. The first night, she let him call her and after he got off the phone he was upset. So after that happened twice, we moved the Mom calls to the morning and from then on he was OK. He just asked DD to stay with him while he fell asleep.

Hopefully this was a nice bonding experience that will stay with you and the girls for a long time.

Well, except the Mission Space part..............

 

[JudithM]

Thank you for sharing your first DCV trip - what wonderful memories from your first trip!

 

[Tennesotans]

Thanks for the kind words -- we will gladly accept the "Best Uncle and Aunt" award for 2004

My wife deserves special note: she flew out to CA to escort the kids both directions... thats a bunch of extra miles.

The 9 year old improved with each day. We have various theories (another day closer to home? became more familiar with the surroundings? better food management?).

It was very interesting... she was near meltdown territory for the flight home -- makes ya wonder?! The both are very sweet girls, the younger was just overwhelmed and scared but rose above it. Not only did she go to three parks on the last day without a meltdown, she rode towerOfTerror and RockNRollerCoaster.

It was a bonding experience. So far all the stories they've told their parents have been positive and the twelve year old has already asked about "next time." I think "...blessing number 3..." was getting out of there before the storm hit. I understand the airport shutdown three hours after my flight. Whoa. I hope everyone is safe down there!!

Thanks again

 

[MJTinNH]

Sounds like you had a great trip with your nieces! I bet if you are able to take them again, they will have improved ten fold because of this experience traveling away from their parents. You and your wife have given them memories to last a life time. Thank you for posting.

Glad you made it out before the storm hit!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Wow, you certainly are a wonderful aunt and uncle!! Thanks for sharing your report and glad you got out ok before the storm.

 

[ceejay13]

Always love to hear about the BWV. Thanks for the report!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I am so glad that the girls asked "about next time." I can see how WDW would be overwhelming in addition to being away from all that you are familiar with. Sounds like you rolled with all the punches just fine. Glad you enjoyed your trip "home". Thanks for reporting back, always love hearing about DVC first-timers experiences and impressions.

So when is the next trip scheduled for?

 

[Tennesotans]

Originally posted by RweTHEREyet
So when is the next trip scheduled for?

Thats a fascinating question -- I had purposely NOT scheduled anything until we saw how this trip went.

A) what did my wife think?!? I'm the acknowledged disney-o-phile in the family. Her being wrapped up in the moment at Cinderellas castle was a very sprecial moment for me -- the magic is there for her as well! Not that I'm expecting her to react just as I do -- I didn't want her to feel "dragged along." I think the second trip will be off site -- HHI, VB, or a trade outside of DVC. Going to the Florida Keys in the middle of winter looks great on paper

B) we have a small contract (100 pts). Its tempting to bank next years points and pay cash if we decide to go outside DVC. I don't have enough info yet to really know. This level of flexibility is a reaaal draw for us.

C) who to go with? We don't have kids (other than our "adoring" cats) -- so vacation time is a great time to go with extended family.

We are doing a good bit of recapping of the week -- what we liked -- what we'd do differently. This is the second "real" vacation we've taken in 5+ years. It was a nice surprise to see we were only SLIGHTLY over our budget (locksmith: doh! -- and apparently we like to shop for gifts on vacation lol).

We have a homepage we want to update -- I will update my "vanity" animated gif -- and you we will update the countdown clock as soon as we have our reservations

Getting us to plan and budget for this was also an attractor. Its too easy for us to "put it off for a while."

Tennesotans