9 days 2 resorts FREE Dining Christmas Lights & a bouncing Tigger who stole my heart

We did like the BWV's. I'm not sure that I'm over the moon about it, but it was nice. We rented points from a DVC member to stay there (stayed in a studio), so cost wise was about the same as our previous year at CSR. Our requests of close to the elevator and village green area were both met so that was nice, as you've probably read a lot about people complaining of the long hallways. DH liked it, but said he'd rather stay at CSR again instead. I, however, like you would like to try somewhere else.

I think reading these boards you dream up too much of how you think it's going to be, and then it just can't live up to that. Or else it could be that our first trip with DS to CSR last year will always be the most magical in our memory beings it was his first visit to the world. Another factor this trip was MIL went with us too, so that made the trip very different from the last as well.

I did have a problem trying to check-in for our flight with AT since we don't use ME, and instead take our luggage out to the rental car until we leave. Something to do with me needing to pay the baggage fees when I checked us in. I was told to go over to the business center to access the internet. Well after I get to the business center the CM there informs me it'll be $10 (I think) for 10 minutes, and another $1 per page printed. I was so upset not having been told this before I got all the way over there. I mean come on, I told the lady you get free internet access at Hampton Inn's for pete's sake. She said yes, but this is Disney. She ended up only charging me I think $4 for the pages I printed. So that was rather frustrating.

The pool was fine too, but we're not huge swimmers. We did use it one day for an hour or so. I was able to go over to the community hall and get a life vest for DS, and he really enjoyed the slide.

The walk to EPCOT is I would say around 10 minutes and 20 minutes to DHS. This was one of the things I was most looking forward to was being able to walk to both parks, but in the end ehhh. I mean you'll be walking all day once you get there so do you really want to add a 20 minute walk on first. And the boats are even slower.

We didn't care for ESPN club, but MIL wanted to eat there. I wanted BRG. We had breakfast one morning at the BW bakery, sat outside there. It was good, they let us buy an egg only for the price of just a croissant for DS to eat like a scrambled egg. But the place was so busy that after we'd been through the line once, and found we wanted something else we decided to forget it. Nothing else there close for breakfast. It's nice at CSR with the McDonald's down the road, although that place gets rather busy too.

We had more ADR's this trip too then last, and it seemed like we were always trying to get somewhere else. This trip we ate at CM, O'hana and 1900 PF (both breakfast and dinner) so maybe we would've been better off staying in that area. But those were places I just had to eat this time so maybe that'll be a lesson to me to eat closer to where we're staying. But on the other hand, BW options are limited.

So is any one resort perfect?!? Probably not.......

We had a huge check-in line for CM too, and there were people who didn't seem to understand the line and would head right on up to the podium. UGH! The characters seemed more rushed to me there than last year at CP. The germaphobe thing's funny, that's what DH thought of the napkin twirling :scared1: all those germs flying through the air. So now that we've done CM, we probably won't go again until we've been to others we haven't. Tusker house and O'hana for breakfast.....and I don't even have another trip to plan at the moment.

I've actually been tossing around the idea of heading to DLR in Cali next instead of back to Florida. Have you looked into that at all? I've read a lot and it's very different.

LOL the picture of you two on ToT it looks like you've got white knuckle grip on that handle! HAHA! I can't say anything as I've not rode it since 1995.
 
:lmao: Of course you found them at Star Tours! Where else!

Wasn't Lights Motor Action closed last January? We didn't see it but I thought it was because it was closed. I can't remember? No matter- we'll try and see it in 2 weeks!!!! :woohoo:
 
Awesome update on DHS Shelly. Great pics of the stunt show and your ride pics too. Cool that you had short wait times too! Keep up the good work! - Sea

Thanks Sea! :)

We did like the BWV's. I'm not sure that I'm over the moon about it, but it was nice. We rented points from a DVC member to stay there (stayed in a studio), so cost wise was about the same as our previous year at CSR. Our requests of close to the elevator and village green area were both met so that was nice, as you've probably read a lot about people complaining of the long hallways. DH liked it, but said he'd rather stay at CSR again instead. I, however, like you would like to try somewhere else.

I think reading these boards you dream up too much of how you think it's going to be, and then it just can't live up to that. Or else it could be that our first trip with DS to CSR last year will always be the most magical in our memory beings it was his first visit to the world. Another factor this trip was MIL went with us too, so that made the trip very different from the last as well.

I did have a problem trying to check-in for our flight with AT since we don't use ME, and instead take our luggage out to the rental car until we leave. Something to do with me needing to pay the baggage fees when I checked us in. I was told to go over to the business center to access the internet. Well after I get to the business center the CM there informs me it'll be $10 (I think) for 10 minutes, and another $1 per page printed. I was so upset not having been told this before I got all the way over there. I mean come on, I told the lady you get free internet access at Hampton Inn's for pete's sake. She said yes, but this is Disney. She ended up only charging me I think $4 for the pages I printed. So that was rather frustrating.

The pool was fine too, but we're not huge swimmers. We did use it one day for an hour or so. I was able to go over to the community hall and get a life vest for DS, and he really enjoyed the slide.

The walk to EPCOT is I would say around 10 minutes and 20 minutes to DHS. This was one of the things I was most looking forward to was being able to walk to both parks, but in the end ehhh. I mean you'll be walking all day once you get there so do you really want to add a 20 minute walk on first. And the boats are even slower.

We didn't care for ESPN club, but MIL wanted to eat there. I wanted BRG. We had breakfast one morning at the BW bakery, sat outside there. It was good, they let us buy an egg only for the price of just a croissant for DS to eat like a scrambled egg. But the place was so busy that after we'd been through the line once, and found we wanted something else we decided to forget it. Nothing else there close for breakfast. It's nice at CSR with the McDonald's down the road, although that place gets rather busy too.

We had more ADR's this trip too then last, and it seemed like we were always trying to get somewhere else. This trip we ate at CM, O'hana and 1900 PF (both breakfast and dinner) so maybe we would've been better off staying in that area. But those were places I just had to eat this time so maybe that'll be a lesson to me to eat closer to where we're staying. But on the other hand, BW options are limited.

Thanks for the BWV report. It's always fun trying new resorts.

Sorry your trip didn't go quite as planned. I sometimes too feel rushed if we have too many ADR's. That, among other reasons, is why we aren't going to do the DDP next time.

That stinks about them charging you to do your online check in. They aren't supposed to charge you to use the internet to just do that. Anything else, yes there is a charge. But that is supposed to be free.

We have walked to/from Epcot and the BW many times and enjoy the walk. I don't think we would walk to DHS, unless we were feeling really energetic! :rotfl:

I think there are a lot of dining options in that area with the BWI, YC, BC, and Epcot all right there. If we stay in that area we will be sure to take advantage of those restaurants rather than doing all the running around to eat at other places.

We had a huge check-in line for CM too, and there were people who didn't seem to understand the line and would head right on up to the podium. UGH! The characters seemed more rushed to me there than last year at CP. The germaphobe thing's funny, that's what DH thought of the napkin twirling :scared1: all those germs flying through the air. So now that we've done CM, we probably won't go again until we've been to others we haven't. Tusker house and O'hana for breakfast.....and I don't even have another trip to plan at the moment.

Tusker House and Ohana are fun too! :thumbsup2

I've actually been tossing around the idea of heading to DLR in Cali next instead of back to Florida. Have you looked into that at all? I've read a lot and it's very different.

I have thought about going to DL someday. It looks so quaint and fun. But the kids just aren't up for the long flight. I'm not sure I am either actually! :laughing:

LOL the picture of you two on ToT it looks like you've got white knuckle grip on that handle! HAHA! I can't say anything as I've not rode it since 1995.

I was holding on for dear life!! :lmao:
 
:lmao: Of course you found them at Star Tours! Where else!

Wasn't Lights Motor Action closed last January? We didn't see it but I thought it was because it was closed. I can't remember? No matter- we'll try and see it in 2 weeks!!!! :woohoo:

I know, they didn't get far -- to Star Tours and the Star Tours gift shop! :rotfl:

I don't think LMA was closed in January. I know the Backlot Tour was. We just usually rotate and watch either Indy or LMA, we don't usually do both since they both take up some time.

I can't believe your trip is getting so close!!! :woohoo:
 

Wow a 5 minute wait for TOT--lucky you! I don't think we ever waited in that short of a line for TOT. Thanks for the report of Lights, Motors, Action! We have never seen that show, but we want to see it in March.
 
Wow a 5 minute wait for TOT--lucky you! I don't think we ever waited in that short of a line for TOT. Thanks for the report of Lights, Motors, Action! We have never seen that show, but we want to see it in March.

Yeah, we really did luck out. I never saw the wait for TOT over 10 minutes on either day we were there. The wait said 5 minutes that day, but I don't think we actually waited at all. You can see in our ride photo that all the seats weren't even full!

I hope you enjoy the LMA show. Be sure to get there early! They really pack the people in there.
 
Great update!! I'm glad DS10 is a fan of ToT now. Great luck with the single rider line at RnRC!! :thumbsup2

You did have great seats at the LMA show - we just saw it last April for the first time so I recognized thing, but your view was much closer up than ours.
 
Not sure why my pictures are 2 different sizes. . . :confused3 I am using 2 different photobucket accounts since I have so many pictures. But I thought I uploaded them to the same size on both accounts. I really don't like the HUGE pictures. Especially of me! :eek: Too close up I guess!! :rotfl: Oh well, I'm not re-uploading them now. It took WAY too long the first time.



That's weird, because I can only see some of your pictures and our company blocks all Photobucket pictures on our PC's.
 
Yay for 5 minutes wait at TOT and riding together on RNRC! That was an awesome few minutes you had there.:goodvibes

Your seats were very good for the LMA show-- I saw it for the first time last time we went and we had seats way up. Yours were much better.

Can't wait to see where you spent your last credits.....popcorn::

Jo
 
was that Herbie in LMA? we have never seen the show before - but DD loves Herbie!
 
Yay! I'm all caught up, again...Totally love the pic of you and Tigger and my DS and I are having a blast reading along...getting him 'pumped up' :woohoo:
 
Great update on CM and another fabulous day at your favorite park :lovestruc

And SCORE!!! 5 minute wait for RnRC!!!!:rockband:

I also can't wait to see where your last credits were spent! popcorn::

MORE PLEASE!!:goodvibes
 
Great update!! I'm glad DS10 is a fan of ToT now. Great luck with the single rider line at RnRC!! :thumbsup2

You did have great seats at the LMA show - we just saw it last April for the first time so I recognized thing, but your view was much closer up than ours.

Thanks Amy! :goodvibes

That's weird, because I can only see some of your pictures and our company blocks all Photobucket pictures on our PC's.

Hmm. . . that is weird. :confused3

Yay for 5 minutes wait at TOT and riding together on RNRC! That was an awesome few minutes you had there.:goodvibes

Your seats were very good for the LMA show-- I saw it for the first time last time we went and we had seats way up. Yours were much better.

Can't wait to see where you spent your last credits.....popcorn::

Jo

Yes, we had some awesome luck with TOT, RNRC, and LMA, especially considering the park was more crowded than it had been earlier in the week. :yay:
 
was that Herbie in LMA? we have never seen the show before - but DD loves Herbie!

Yep, that is Herbie! Looks like you better take your DD to see LMA! :thumbsup2

Yay! I'm all caught up, again...Totally love the pic of you and Tigger and my DS and I are having a blast reading along...getting him 'pumped up' :woohoo:

Thanks! :goodvibes I'm so glad you and your DS are enjoying! :cool1:

Great update on CM and another fabulous day at your favorite park :lovestruc

And SCORE!!! 5 minute wait for RnRC!!!!:rockband:

I also can't wait to see where your last credits were spent! popcorn::

MORE PLEASE!!:goodvibes

Thanks! :) Yes, it was another awesome day at DHS that's for sure! :woohoo:

More to come!!
 
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What a great memory!


That was the first thing DS10 said to me when we picked them up later -- that he forgot to take food pics! :laughing:

Aw, that's so cute! :lovestruc


But I will definitely not be getting up at 6:00AM 6 months out to make an ADR at LeCellier again!

So disappointing, especially when you had been so looking forward to it!


Little did I know we would be so far away that we would need to take a bus to get to the pool, gift shop, restaurant, etc.

OKW is gorgeous, and I really want to stay there someday, but I had no idea it was so sprawling and huge!



Lot of empty seats. Where was everyone?

Phew, finally caught up!
 
I have officially spent my entire morning reading your TR and NOT doing housework... this DIS thing is addictive! Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories for those of us stuck at home. Enjoyed it!!!!
 
Friday November 13th continued ~


After the Lights Motors Action stunt show was over we walked out onto the Streets of America. I remembered there was a snowglobe that I was thinking about getting earlier in the week at the Backlot gift shop. So we walked in the back entrance of the store and I got it!

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That is the 3rd snowglobe in my Disney Snowglobe collection! One is bigger and has the castle inside. The other is smaller and is MK themed with the castle as the base and Mickey inside. And now I have this DHS themed one! Next trip my mission is to get an Epcot themed snowglobe! :thumbsup2

I remember that right by that gift shop was a meet & greet with Mike & Sulley. It had about 10 families in line when we were there Tuesday. I peeked in and today it had only about 5 families in line. So we jumped in! The boys hate to wait in character lines. They even thought this one was long. :rolleyes: We waited about 10 minutes or so and when the family in front of us got to the front they put up a rope and said that the characters were going on a little break and that Sulley was done for the day, but Mike would be back in a few minutes. So I snapped a few pics of Sulley before he left. And we got to see Mike about 5 minutes later.

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After the boys had done their meet & greet we started to walk away. Then Mike came walking towards me waving his arm kind of creepy! :scared: Everyone in line was laughing! :rotfl:

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I'm glad we got in there when we did, the line was now growing fast.

After that we walked down the Streets of America and made our way to the exit and said good-bye to DHS until next time. :sad1:

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We got on the OKW bus after a very short wait and made our way back to the resort. We were the only ones on the bus. Which wasn't unusual, most of the OKW buses were very empty. I'm thinking most people know to take a car there!

The boys were checking out that day's purchases on the way back.

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We went back to our room and rested for a short bit.

This was the huge landing at the top of the stairs to our room. The kids took advantage of this area for a good old fashioned lightsaber battle later on that night!

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They played with their new toys on the balcony.

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Then we all got changed into our swimsuits and put our clothes on top of them since we had to take a bus to the pool. We hoped on the first bus that came, made our way around to all the stops, and got off at the last stop - the Hospitality House. We had decided that we were just going to spend the rest of the day/evening at OKW, so I went to the concierge desk to see if we could get a dinner ADR at Olivia's. I had only read one review of this restaurant on the DIS, and it wasn't that good. So we weren't expecting much, but that was okay. We just wanted a relaxing night. And just like most of OKW, Olivia's was empty too. We could have any time we wanted. So I got that taken care of and we headed to the pool.

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DH and DS8 had gone to get DS a life jacket and when they did the CM's told them about the "Un-Birthday Party" they were having in the Community Hall at 4:00 and invited them to come back for it. So we spent about an hour in the pool. The water temp was very comfortable and we had a nice time. Until we got out. The dang wind had picked back up and we were freezing!! One of the boys grabbed for a towel off the chair and there went my shirt, right onto the wet ground. :eek: Nice. Now I am about 16 miles from my room and all my clothes are wet. So I dried it off the best I could and we headed for the community hall for the party. The party ended up to be kind of lame. The kids were bored. Not just my kids, all the kids. It was still a nice little thing and the kids had a nice time and they got free donuts out of it. We all did actually!

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Continued. . . .



Some pictures of the main area ~ Hank's Rentals, the Community Hall, Goods To Go, Olivia's, the bar, etc. ~

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After that we headed for the bus stop to go back to the room and get cleaned up for dinner. Some pics on the way back to our room ~

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Up Next: OKW gift shop and dinner at Olivia's!
 
What a great memory!

Thanks! :)

So disappointing, especially when you had been so looking forward to it!

Yes, it was quite disappointing. :sad2:


Lot of empty seats. Where was everyone?

Phew, finally caught up!


I'm not sure where everybody was! The park seemed more crowded that day than it was when we were there earlier in the week, yet the ride lines weren't any longer. :confused3 I don't know, but I sure was liking it! :thumbsup2

Glad you are all caught up!


I have officially spent my entire morning reading your TR and NOT doing housework... this DIS thing is addictive! Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories for those of us stuck at home. Enjoyed it!!!!

WELCOME to the DIS and to my TR!! :goodvibes

Glad you are enjoying the TR, thanks for reading. I know, the DIS can be addictive. My housework definitely gets neglected when I am on here! :rotfl:
 
Great update Shelly! :thumbsup2 I'm sad that your TR is coming to an end. :sad:


I guess I'm just out of it when it comes to all these characters. When you said "Sulley" I thought it was going to be the pilot who landed the jet in the Hudson River! I was thinking, "Man, he's been all over TV, and now people are standing in line to see him at Disney!" So, who are these characters and what are they from? When your kids are in their 20's you lose touch with all this stuff. ;)

OKW really is a pretty resort! So tropical and beachy, which I guess is the idea. ;) The pool looks really nice, too. But where were the swimsuit pics which we just know you have but aren't sharing? :laughing: Are you glad that you tried OKW even though it was only for a couple of nights? And where do you think you will stay next time? Going deluxe in 2010???

Looking forward to your review of Olivia's!

And I love the DHS water globe! :thumbsup2
 












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