7/13-18 at BCV

[mmmcq]

This was a short trip but we crammed a lot in.

Day 1 - We arrived in Orlando via Providence, RI without 7 or our 9 suitcases. We were at the airport 1.5 hours early and yet we barely made our flight. It took us an hour to check-in curbside and 45 mins to get through security. This was not one of our better days on Southwest Airlines. The luggage eventually arrived around 9pm that evening.

We always start our trip with lunch reservations at San Angel Inn in Mexico at Epcot and we ask for and/or wait for a waterside table. This way while we're waiting for lunch our girls can take the ride around and around to their hearts delight.

After lunch we went clockwise around Epcot and managed to get in Maelstorm at Norway and see some acrobats at China before the rains came. We had no umbrellas or ponchos with us.....cus they were in the missing luggage...so we headed back to the hotel. Later that evening we ate dinner at Chefs de France and saw Illuminations from our table. We had a great server...

Day 2 - We were a bit disorganized getting out in the am since our luggage had arrived so late the night before. We had an 8:50 PS for the Norway Princess Breakfast. It took longer than expected to get through the crowd waiting at the Epcot Resort gate and security line. We were 10 mins late for our reservation and they turned us away. They did the same with another party behind us. Yet they seated a party while I stood at the podium waiting to speak with them. We were a bit perturbed....but left to get Fast Passes for Test Track and catch a bite of breakfast on the run.

We went over to the MK and did a few things, but the rain caught us 3 times and we gave up and went back to our hotel. We had an early dinner at Tepanniki Grill and then went over to VWL to take a fireworks cruise with another DIS Board member. It rained throughout the cruise and the smoke clouds hid some of the best fireworks....but it was fun all the same.

Day 3 We had 9:00 am ressies for Cinderella's breakfast and I made sure we were on time. Ironically, a woman in front of me confessed at the podium that she was here on the wrong day (a day ahead) and they still seated her - ahead of us! The breakfast was nice, but we don't need to do it again anytime soon.

DH and DD 3yr old rode Dumbo and carousel and then we faked a trip down to the wishing well where we were to meet a pixie group whom I had hired to put my DH on a 20th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt. Unfortunately, our happy plans were derailed when my 13yr old DD accidently left her pin trading bag with Pal Mickey inside on the bench at the wishing well. It was stolen within 3 minutes and was not recovered. We put on our Happy Faces and took on the challenge which involved going aound the park from ride to ride and finding clues. It was fun, but it was too hot to be magical. We concluded the chase with a small, silly vow renewal at the wishing well and I gave my DH a massage at the YC Health Club and some DVC merchandise. The rains came again and we headed home after getting drenched. Later when the rain subsided we took a couple of "mouse" boats out on the Epcot Resort area lagoon.

We finished the day with dinner and the "kitchen sink" at Beaches N' Cream after visiting the activities at the DVC Member Day. Late Tuesday my DH and two older DD's went to E- night from 11pm - 2 am and had a great time riding all their favorites with little or no crowds and no heat! Minnie Mouse and I went to bed!

Day 4 - We were late getting to MGM because several family members were sleepy....wonder why. We got Fast Passes for Rock N Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Minnie Mouse saw Bear in the Big Blue House and Little Mermaid. We traded off seeing "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It". Then we had a late lunch at Prime Time Cafe. I hid my veggies under a napking and got "yelled" at. Great day with a good recovery from our late arrival. We headed back to the hotel to swim and had an early reservation at California Grille - our favorite WDW restaurant. Great dinner, great server (Chip) and then we bought new pins and a backpack for my depressed DD while minnie mouse watched the monorails passing through the hotel.

Day 5 We went back to MK, but forgot that it was "early entry" day and the fast passes for most things were into the late afternoon before we arrived at 10am. We rode the cars at the Speedway twice, Dumbo, Pooh and Buzz Lightyear before heading back home by 12noon. It was too hot to wait in line. My older girls had their hair put in full braids at Periwig salon at the Beach Club. We swam for several hours and then we went back to Alfredo's in Epcot for dinner. We had an 8pm ressie but were seated late, so we sent the girls out front to watch Illuminations. We had a great dinner (risotto, fettucine and chocolate mouse were scrumptious) and another great server, Marco.

Day 6 We packed before 9am, left our bags with the valet and headed back to MGM. We rode Rock N'Roller Coaster twice, played Millionaire again and minnie mouse saw Big Blue Bear again and Kermit's show. Then we had lunch at the Sci Fi Cafe before heading back to Storm Along Bay for one more swim. We changed and headed to the airport for an uneventful trip home.

Already making plans for next April.

 

[tinawv]

Great trip report. It sounds like you had a little bad luck, but still managed to have a great time. You stated that Southwest didn't have all your luggage upon arrival. Did you change airlines or was it a direct flight? I have always heard that there is a better chance of your luggage being lost when changing airlines. Lost or misplaced luggage is always my worst fear when flying. You think it would be crashing. lol


Thanks for the great info.

 

[CarolA]

I would have asked for a manager if I had been turned away for being 10 minutes late. The industry standard is 15 minutes and considering the back up at the gate!!! Plus it is not like the PS guarantees you seating on time so Disney needs to play this both ways! 10 minutes is very resonable!

 

[mmmcq]

I'm a task master when it comes to being places on time, so I know we were barely 10 mins late for the Princess Breakfast at Norway. Ijust couldn't drag my DH, toddler and carriage any faster thru the crowd at the resort entrance to Epcot. The hostess at Norway insisted they were absolutely full. How that could happen unless they overbooked or let folks in without reservations is beyond me, but I was too mad to fight with her. I'll call WDW central reservations eventually to discuss it with them, especially since the woman in front of me at Cinderella's castle was seated a day early!

The luggage issue couldn't be helped. We've flown Southwest before and in fact had been at the airport three weeks early for a week long trip to AZ. We were at the curbside check-in 1.5 hours early and had no problems. This time the line was al most an hour long inside the terminal and 45 minutes outside. Then the line at the security check-in was just as long. We ran to make our direct flight, but only our car seat and one bag got on the plane. When we landed at Orlando we were told that 5 others had not made the flight and that lots of luggage had been put on a second flight. Don't know what was up that day, but I will consider other airlines even with steeper fares for our next trip.

All in all, it wasn't our best trip.....but we always have fun no matter what. My kids and DH always manage to get me smiling again even after my plans go awry.

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for posting ~ Sorry about your breakfast, Itseems very unfair being turned away for being only 10 minutes late!!!

 

[Tinkbell]

Sorry about the breakfast. I can't believe they turned you away! Do you ever use the bus transportation at the BC? If so, what did you think of it?.

 

[mmmcq]

I was upset that we were turned away from the breakfast because it seemed so arbitrary, especially since they sat the 3 people who came in at the same time.....so they were late too. I wasn't sorry about missing the breakfast since we had done it last year. I just wouldn't have made the whole family rush for nothing. And I posted this as a notice to others going in the future......BE ON TIME OR ELSE!

We tend not to use the bus sytem. We rent a car for flexibility. We walk into Epcot and take the monorail to MK. If we have dinner reservations at California Grille - we drive. Otherwise we just walk to Epcot and take the bus to MGM. We didn't go to AK this trip, but probably would have driven. With our 3 yr old and her carriage...it's just easier to put it in the car without even folding it up! It's hard enough getting onto the tram from the parking garage.

Another tip......I shouldn't even publish this.....but we discovered that you can drive over to the Polynesian in the am, leave your car and take the monorail directly to the MK without having to go thru the TTC. They just let us into the resort with our DVC parking pass on the dash board. We had watched the MK fireworks from the Poly beach the night before on a whim and decided to be bold and drive back in the am. WE were only at the MK for 2+ hours so they probably didn't even notice the car. It probably would have been more transparent if we'd left the car there for 6+ hours. But it might be an option...... We'll try it again.

 

[tammydel]

mmmcq
I just have to say what a great attitude you have. You had some set backs that definitly would have derailed others on their vacation. It sounds like you and your family did not focus on the troubles that you had, but on the fun you could still have.

It just goes to show that if you decide to have a good time, you can no matter what happens!
Tammy
P.S.
I'll be home at BCV on 8/3 and I can't wait!

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for posting this great report. Love your attitude about the bumps in the road.

 

[mmmcq]

I'm no angel.....I got really, really cranky and angry at the time of the bag disappearance.....but it took 5 mins to realize I could either let it ruin the day and trip...or move on. I'm no saint. I have a really good temper and I said a few things to the kids and my DH that I wish I had swallowed, but they were just as angry. They just don't verbalize like I do.

But when you spend so much time, effort and $$$ getting to WDW you can't just blow it off because of some jerk who isn't a good person. That's the way life is. I've certainly met my share of them.

Believe it or not....after having a tooth pulled this am, my two older DD's and some neighbors and I are off to another amusement park right now. We must be nuts!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there ~

What a great attitude you have ~ many people would let something like the missing pal mickey & pin trading gear ruin their trip ~ not to mention being turned away from a princess breakfast, I think everyone who reads your report will admire you for that!

I have a couple of questions. How was the bus transportation from BCV to the parks? Did it take a long time with many stops at other resorts?

Also, how was stormalong bay...? any problems getting chairs, were they issuing wristbands and checking?

Thanx for your report ~ glad you had a nice time and are heading back in the spring 2004.

>>^..^<<

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I do know that when we made our PS for CRT a few years back the CM on the phone made a BIG point to tell us not to be even one minute late. He said Michael J Fox was 10 minutes late to this breakfast(with his kids) and was not allowed in! Not sure if this is true, but it sure scared us into arriving before 8 for that 8:05 ps! We did PSB last month and I do remember seeing a few upset families who were having to wait or being turned away. I don't know what was going on. Perhaps they have overbooked this place and that was their way of getting out of the jam!? I guess with these popular hard to get PS's, it is a good warning to others not to be late. I know we were 5 minutes late to 'Ohana's and it did not matter- but they were not full either. Had the best time there too. I'm sorry you all missed out at PSB. Glad you made the best of everything.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I was wondering if the OP's credit card was charged for the PSB since the meal must be guaranteed to a credit card? If so, that seems particularly harsh if the OP was just a little late.

 

[mmmcq]

Originally posted by >>^..^<<
How was the bus transportation from BCV to the parks? Did it take a long time with many stops at other resorts?

Also, how was stormalong bay...? any problems getting chairs, were they issuing wristbands and checking?
>>^..^<< [/B]

We didn't use the busses at all this trip, not really on purpose, but we didn't venture far offsite and we took the car twice (once to California Grille for a late night reservations and once to the Polynesian). Otherwise we took the boat to MGM or the monorail to MK via Epcot. Our youngest DD really loves the transportation at WDW best! The busses for the most part are too cumbersome with her carriage and all her stuff (extra clothes, etc).

SAB was crowded and lounge chairs were a rare commodity, but we always found upright ones and then eventually moved into a lounge chair when they became available. Even though the chairs were full, the pool itself wasn't overcrowded. They were using the "colored wrist band" ID's for BC/YC/BCV guests until 5pm which seems to keep the overall population at a reasonable number mid-day. We spent as much time at the BCV quiet pool as we did SAB.

SuzanneSLO & BibbidiBobbidiBoo - With respect to the Princess BF at Norway. I don't think they actually charge you upfront like they do for CRT, which we did on Wednesday. And I know they didn't make as a big a deal out of being late as they did with CRT. I distinctly remember them saying be early for CRT or else and we were. We weren't late for the Princess BF on purpose, but I just don't understand how they can overbook. Honestly when we got there, I was less interested in the princesses than I was in getting fed so we could be on our way for the rest of the day.

And really, I was less upset about the missed PS than my DH was. I walked away and decided not to make an issue of it, he wanted to argue the point with the CM. I told him it wasn't worth the trouble. But of course, being the turkey that I really am.....I used the opportunity to remind my DH and older DD's that when I go thru the trouble of getting up at 7am to make these ressies for the family 3-6 mos in advance......I wish they would honor my request to get their bodies out of bed early enough to make the reservation. They got the message........ I will talk to CRO sometime this week about why this happened. I just haven't been in the mood!!!!

I think we have also agreed as a family to skip the breakfasts next year. If we do anything it will be Chef Mickey's at CR because our almost 4yr old is obsessed with the MonoRail.