A No Snooze Bar Christmas, Harry & Mickey are Waiting..it is done

[vleeth]

I'm learning so much from your report. I think I might want to do Chef Mickey now. And while I'm excited to see the CP and the different Santas...I didn't even know about the story tellers. Sorry you missed them.

 

[momabaarjo]

Definitely Not Sleeping Under the Boardwalk​

Goo is delighted that we are taking a water taxi to our resort, it was the least I could do after I rushed them from the front entrance to France in under 15 minutes. As we make our way around the bend of the canal from Epcot we enter into Crescent Lake and make a slight turn to the left, there before us is the Boardwalk.

Finally, I got to exercise my wants on this trip and stay in a place that I feel in love with on my first trip. For those of you who did not follow my PTR, I wanted to find a resort that would basically cater to location (especially on NYE) that was within our budget. I had stayed previously at POR, and while the resort was nice enough it just did not scream “once in a lifetime vacation.” I had the kids look at hotels (pretending that we would be going sometime and I was just dreaming) and they ended up liking the POP, but that would mean 2 rooms for my family of 5 which was out of our budget…so it looked like POR was going to be the place until I learned about renting DVC points. At first, that too was out of our price range until I learned that DVC is a little lax on the number of people in a room and that my family could stay in a 1 Bedroom at the BW without raising an eyebrow. So I began stalking DVC rental threads late January (knowing the 10 month window for booking would be midFeb) and finally found a person renting out their points for a reasonable price with references. We made arrangements and she called the first day of her booking window, and we got the reservation. I was so excited, I managed to secure a villa for only $200 more than staying at POR the same time period! Plus, I get my location and a deluxe resort!

As we pull up to the BW the kids are mesmerized by the atmosphere in front of them, they cannot believe that this is the same place we were this morning checking in. I am stilling feeling down after looking at the map and seeing where we are, I hoping for some of that Disney Pixie Dust and maybe get an upgrade from standard to water view, but according to the map we are going to see parking lot. Oh well…I am not going to let “no view” bother me, besides with the touring plan I have in store the next 8 days there is no time to sit and enjoy a view from a room!We leave the Friendship launch behind us

and head up the stairs of the BW, into the lobby, and into the 1 set of elevators for the entire resort! When we reach the 4th floor we step out and around the corner to what looks like an endless hallway. I tell the kids to begin looking for room 4123, the endless hallway is really endless Boo exclaims.

Note: It really is a long way down to our room and that is a big complaint with people staying at the BW, but it was really never a huge problem for us…of course we managed to find a couple short cuts. Goo finds our room number and we enter.

The first thing I am struck with is how light and airy the room feels (lots of windows and light paint)…just like you would expect the seaside to fill. From the hallway we enter a large living room/kitchen. This room looks nothing like the floor layout plans I have looked at, nor does it look like any of the pictures I have seen of BWV rooms. This room is HUGE with 3 separate balconies off the living/kitchen area, what?

The kids instantly check out all the balconies, and I am of course right behind them...did I mention there are 3 balconies? Hanging of all balconies we find that we do have a water view… and looking to our right there is…can it be?

The Tower of Terror at DHS. I had no idea that we were this close to DHS. And we can even hear the ride sounds and people screaming! Hey, this might be not so bad after all. The living room has a couch that folds out into a queen sized sleeper, which Ab and Boo are going to be using (and we brought a mat for Goo to sleep on or sleep with us in the bedroom)...but later tha night after unfolding the couch it ended up being big enough for all 3 and have room to spare. Making our way into the master bedroom there is a door leading into a separate shower, commode, and vanity area.

Stepping inside the master bedroom doorway is another door to the right that leads into a big jetted tub, vanity and huge walk in closet.

The masterbed room is quiet large, sporting a king size bed (which according to our plan will be dad's & Mom's) and another balcony…which the kids race out past us to check out.

Leaning over this balcony…is that?

 

[momabaarjo]

Yes there is the top of Epcot. I can see the American Pavilion, Morocco and Japan! (I promise to show you later the unzoomed images...but I can't find them right now!)

NOTE: Since our stay I did a little research about our room because it was nothing like what I expected. Come to find out we ended up staying in what is one of the PRIME/MOST REQUESTED/LARGEST ROOMS in all of the BWV…and it is a standard view. This room and the 3 below it have the same floor plan (but not nearly the same view as the top floor). If you look at the map, you see that the BWV adds another wing right after our room. We are on the corner of moving from one wing to the other wing, hence the odd shaped room that really is not so odd shaped…the bay window style curve you see in the picture. I GUESS WE GOT SOME MAJOR PIXIE DUST, cause wait till you see what happens tonight!

We call for our luggage to be brought up and we spend the next hour or so unpacking and getting settled. Maybe not having Storytellers was a great way to start off our trip. I even start a load of laundry

before I tell everyone it is time to get back on a plan and head back to Epcot. As we make our way down the endless hallway back to the elevator the kids start bugging us about…

 

[momabaarjo]

So sorry you missed the storytellers. I so now the pain of having a touring plan and having it crushed.

Very excited for checking out your room! Hope it's amazing!

I am sad that we missed the storytellers, but in the end it worked out well...although I was looking so forward to them...

waaaaah. Heartbreaking about the storytellers. How in the world did the date slip by you since you were SOOO organized?
anyway....knowing you, you will work up a spectacular Plan B. I can't wait to hear what ya'll end up doing all day. Maybe a big huge rest/pool day?

I have no idea how I missed this...I guess I was just assuming that the last storyteller day would be the same day as the last CP.

I can't believe you missed the storytellers! Yikes! At least you have CP to look forward too. And you are close to your resort, so that is good.

Great photos of your "French" family in France.

We look at home in France, dont we?

Australia?? I have always wanted to go there! How exciting. My kids love cruising, they just finished their second cruise last month. They have been known to say that they would prefer cruises to Disney. But, lately they really want Disney. And after the last cruise, we would all like a little change. We hope Disney will be great. I haven't been in 10 years.

My kids are dying for a Disney Cruise...and I had Jeff talked into it...Then the Native American Style Boy Scout/Girl Scout Dance Troop that they have become a part of in January is going to Australia next summer. It is a great opportunity, but I was really wanting another family trip.

I have been lurking and reading along, loving your TR. I had to comment on this one!! I had tears in my eyes when you realized your plan for the day was ruined. I know what it is like to have your plans changed at the last second. All that time you spend planning and then you have to come up with Plan B on the fly. Ug!!! Hope you still enjoyed this day and that the rest of your plans work out!

Ahh...thanks for shedding a few tears with me! I know I shed a couple that morning!

I'm learning so much from your report. I think I might want to do Chef Mickey now. And while I'm excited to see the CP and the different Santas...I didn't even know about the story tellers. Sorry you missed them.

Glad that my trip report is helping you plan a great trip for your family. The different Christmas stories happen throughout all the countries...even the non-Christian ones have storis that are simialiar. As you will see the CP is NOT TO BE MISSED...

 

[BrerMama]

Oh my gosh! What a gorgeous room! Enjoy that "3 kids sleeping in the same bed" thing. I had to laugh at the idea of asking my kids to do that.

Can't wait to see what's next!

 

[momabaarjo]

Oh my gosh! What a gorgeous room! Enjoy that "3 kids sleeping in the same bed" thing. I had to laugh at the idea of asking my kids to do that.

Can't wait to see what's next!

I had not even planned for them to sleep together...they did it themselves and we did not have a fight the entire trip about it. I guess that bed was huge or they were really tired....

I had a mat in the suitcase for Goo and figured that he would end up in the king sized bed with us...but they all wanted to sleep together...yes, mircles at Disney do happen!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

It's so nice when your vacation starts out with major Pixie Dust. I hope you got sprinkled a time or two more during your stay.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Pixie Dust is a great thing!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I got up this morning, just like I do every school morning and got myself around. Then I woke the kids...only to find that Goo is in no shape to go to school today...looks like a day of breathing treatments (which are rare in our house)...so I called in sick. Not what I planned to do today, so here I am while he sleeps working on some digital scrapbook pages for our trip...

 

[momabaarjo]

Digital Scrapbook Pages for TR Chapters:

Who Cares About Santa When You Have...

 

[momabaarjo]

Digital Scrapbook Pages for:

Parseling Our Way Into Hogwarts: Castle Outside

 

[momabaarjo]

Digital Scrapbook Pages for TR Chapters:

Jokes & Sweets: A Boy's 2 Favorite Things-Part 1

 

[mommytominnie]

Woop, Woop!! I am all caught up now. The BW looks so pretty and I am loving your room!! I looked briefly into renting points from DVC for our August trip and I chickened out. I got scurred Now I wish, I had really given it a chance.

While we were there in December, I had planned to listen to the story tellers but never did. Princess was on the hunt for charactors and I always thought we would just go back and do the story tellers later and we never did. Sorry you weren't able to see them either.

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[lovethattink]

You are going to have to teach me how to digital scrapbook!!

Yes, your room is so different from the other 1BR BWVs I've been in. The set up seems more similar to that of OKW with an open plan. I love it!! Congrats on scoring the jackpot!! Great view too!

 

[Disneychix]

Wow is all I have to say about your room!!! I've never seen a roomwith views like that

 

[jcc0621]

I followed you over from the Universal Boards. Can't wait to read the rest of your report.

Great score on the room. Sorry you missed the storytellers though.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[annmarieda]

I am so sorry you missed the story tellers. If it makes you feel any better... I only caught 2..and we were there DURING and had lots of time.

I do think you got some pixie dust with the room though. WOW!!! Very pretty.

Love the scrapbook pages

 

[petals]

Luvin all the updates.. We were supposed to go to Chef Mickey's but didn't happen Your room looks great and great views.

I'm learning so much from your report. I think I might want to do Chef Mickey now. And while I'm excited to see the CP and the different Santas...I didn't even know about the story tellers. Sorry you missed them.

The Santa's and storytellers are all the same thing. They were calling them storytellers when we were there because some of the countries don't have Santa.

 

[momabaarjo]

Ugh...the one time I decide to type my update directly into DIS it sends it into cyper no where and I have to start all over again...

 

[Nalshersmom]

Your room looks amazing. I am so going to have to look into renting DVC points the next time I go without free dining! I love the views, space, and washer and dryer convenience. We will be staying in the cabins at Fort Wilderness. We also have a family of 5 making it harder to find a room that is affordable.