A Tale of Two Resorts

[keishashadow]

Much anticipated trip back to the motherland for Mr. Keisha, self & youngest DS, was wonderful...fulll of firsts (some great, some gross); overall a winner.

Part One - Arrival/BCV:

10/08; Sunday

Arrive in sunny Orlando raring to go, have been up since 4:00a.m. Glad we're using ME, board bus immediately & patiently wait while trip to BCV takes 1-1/2 hours due to stops @ Carib. & BWV. Finally, @ checkin desk by 2:00 p.m., studio not ready, off to Epcot. So sweltering, decide to check on room status, yipee - it's ready. Return to resort & get rewarded w/sweet view of Epcot/eiffel Tower, etc. Grocery order (including water) MIA. Forgot to pack change of clothes in carry-on - doh!

DS clamors for MK pm emh, off we go to enjoy 1st DP meal, Crystal Palace. Our 1st experience here, waited 1/2 hour but, it was worth it. Amazing variety of salads, everything fresh & well-prepared. Despite the buffet, DS eats 1st turkey leg that evening...unable to use CS credits as we did in June.

Trudge back to room around midnight & find wall covered in roaches

. Front desk basically sez "so sad too bad", no other rooms @ the inn, mgr not avail despite paging & voice mails, etc. spend night in chair hunting them down & sending them to their happy place while DS & DH sleep like babies.

10/9; Monday

Wake up to find my new pair of Crocs has failed me & I've got a huge blister on ball of foot. Another 1st, glad I brought moleskin - it works, glad I listened to mom & packed it.

Spend couple of hours in am retrieving confirm of grocery delivery & attempting to track down mgmt re roach issue. Finally, go to lobby & bell services grabs a trainee to deal w/me. Promised that pest control will take care of problem & housekeeping will call me when the deed is done. Finally, late start to MGM.

Decide to go for broke & try TOT (fear of heights), my new fav! Big crowds, decide to leave early to check on pest issue. Return to resort around 2:30 p.m., same trainee states housekeeping called me (nope!), all is well, groceries are in room; off to SAB. Poolscape is cool (need more hot tubs like all WDW resorts); water very chilly, DS bails early. Sand bottom feels good on the tired feet.

Waited in long line @ Epcot Guest Services to exchange MNSSHP tix to tomorrow (supposed to rain buckets on thurs), mission accomplished.

Dinner @ Coral Reef (excellent food & waitstaff), snagged a window seat, lots of great pics, interacted w/a diver - priceless.

Ran back to studio (DS said he didn't know I knew how - only if a bear is chasing me or Illum is beginning my dear lol) & had excellent view & could hear the soundtrack - yeah! slept w/one eye open looking for my little friends.

Oct. 10, Tuesday

Back to MGM around 9 to revisit TOT, lunch @ backlot express (yuck - hate the CS @ MGM).

Cancelled Tony's, too hot for Italian food & ate late lunch @ ESPN. Reuben & Hamburger were good, once again, stuffed.

Bagged our costumes for MNSSHP (me - minnie w/my new fav pumpkin ear hat; DH - Capt Morgan & DS - Moe the Bartender from the Simpsons). 1/2 wait for bus to MK watching the luv bugs have a good old time @ bus stop, interesting hearing all the parents explain the birds & bees to their kiddos.lol

Forgot one of our cameras, stopped on main st & bought a disposable for $20; shocked to find the CM a friend of middle DS from our hometown working there on an internship - Hi Kelly!

Party very crowded. Glad to see that CMs were starting to usher out non wristbanded guests & kept announcing on loudspeaker that time was limited to purchase their tix...good work WDW.

Great photo ops, especially like the Haunted Mansion Herse & hitching ghost shots, may actually buy them - 50% deal, works for me. The show @ castle was lame IMO, at least it had Donald in it.

Grabbed a spot for parade a bit too late in Frontierland across from VIP, tuff to get any good pics. The headless horseman flys by, cool. Esp. liked the pirate float & grave digger routine w/shovels. Did think the parade was very short, glad they repeated it later.

Fireworks were absolutely phenomenal, have never seen anything quite like it; alone well worth the price of admission. Made me want to come back on Thurs.

Went for broke & bought event merchandize (tshirt, pin sets, etc.) DH nearly fainted when he saw the receipt. I kept telling him it's an investment, yeah - right.

Stitch Elvis show was fun @ Cosmic Rays. Disappointed to see the roitissere chicken off the menu, same old burgers/chicken strips, disappointing.

Snagged lots of candy w/o even trying. Poor DS felt like Charlie Brown, he got mostly raisins.

Oct. 11, Wednesday

So far, so good, no roaches, think they're departed - woo-hoo!

Late start to MGM, I am addicted to TOT...it breaks down @ the end & we have to climb down a ladder (snag two different FPs for our trouble).

Fantasmic pkg @ Mama Melroses (yeeeeeeeech, run away fast...hands down worst meal EVER @ WDW). the half empty restaurant should have been a give away I suppose. Will certainly return to H&V next trip. Where can I begin, needed knife to cut into the bowl of spaghetti (commented to waitress, she said they all look that way???). DH med steak is incinerated, looked like liver. Osso bucco was fatty & tasted like beef pot roast. Gelatto was off-tasting too...oh well.

Fantasmic crowded, sick of the wave after 1/2 hour. Unfortunately, our water screen malfunctioned & limited our enjoyment factor but, still fun. Dashed off early to grab the boat back to BCV.

Think DS liked the ducks that ride the front of the boat the best...go, figure.,

Oct. 12, Thurs

MK am EMH (do you hear the groans, wake up!!). Park wasn't too crowded, got lots accomplished, esp. repeat rides of Splash Mt. Weather cloudy few sprinkles here & there.

ate lunch @ Columbia House (where's the bread bowl for the soup?).

Lines for POC were 45 min. long...they need FP IMO. Did get lots of pirate loot from the gift shop...arrrrgh.

Picked up rental car @ Dolphin, no fuss, no muss; got upgraded to SUV.

Quick dip in SAB & off to DTD for dinner @ Capt. Jacks. No wait, they're all booked up (when did they start taking ADRs?). Promised DH lobster, will have to pay up @ home.

Shopped our way around to Planet Hollywood, navigating construction @ PI. In line behind tour group (quite a few of them about this trip); same tale, do you have ressies? Despite them telling us an hour wait, we were seated; cheek to cheek to the next table in less than 1/2 hour. Shockingly, food was very good - far better than last time we ate there. Steaks were huge & tostados & desserts very good.

Time to head back to room & pack up for move to CR tomorrow.

DS collapses early, DH & I watch Illum then classic Disney cartoons, drifting off to sleep...now, that's romantic.

Stay tuned, I'll bore you some more.

 

[pumba]

COME ON.......this is not boring at all......thanks for taking the time to post this.....and everything sounded great EXCEPT THOSE BUGS>........if I saw one ....just one infant bug they would have to put the bed in the lobby....GROSS.....thanks again

 

[OhMari]

Nice report. I felt like I was speed reading, lol.

I have adr's for Mama Melrose Fantismic package. I wonder if I should cancel and go with Holly wood &Vine.

 

[keishashadow]

Nice report. I felt like I was speed reading, lol.

I have adr's for Mama Melrose Fantismic package. I wonder if I should cancel and go with Holly wood &Vine.

You're right it does, think I was buzzing on 2nd pot of coffee when I wrote Part 1, lol.

All the restaurants had people milling around outside waiting for their ADRs this trip, except Mama Melrose's. Do think it's a tip-off. DS thought the flatbread was decent though...nothing special IMO but, the decor of the restaurant is so cute, it's a shame the food isn't better. Really didn't think you could mess up a bowl of spaghetti. Perhaps we just hit a bad night?

We've always enjoyed H&V buffet, usually on our list every trip with or w/o fantastic pkg. DH & sons aren't too daring in their tastes, I like a little variety (spare me from the chicken tenders please!); always satisfied there, although the atmosphere is diner-like @ best; sorry we skipped it.

My 1st trip report, glad I attempted it so I'll have a record for my own files to help with future planning...details seem to get fuzzy after a while.

Part II tomorrow

 

[keishashadow]

Part 2 or We Saved the Best For Last!

Friday, Oct. 13:

No tricks today, despite the Friday the 13th jokes from my DS...we're moving to the CR today!!!!

Mousekeeping banging on the door @ 8:00 a.m., are we ready to leave yet? Uh, no, not quite - we'll let you know...guess she missed the do not disturb sign.

Express bill also missing, okay - I call the front desk & ask that it be delivered. They state it already has been, nope - please send us another.

Finish packing & getting excited, still no bill by 9:00 a.m. Another call to the front desk, they insist the 2nd one was delivered too. I indicate that I'm ready to depart ASAP but, not before I get a copy.

Decide to call the CR just in case our room is ready...OMG - it is, hurry - time to go before they give it away to someone else.

By 9:30 a.m. I admit defeat & trudge to concierge desk to get copy of the bill...what is wrong w/BC mangement?????

On our way to CR, I'm practically bouncing in my seat (family doesn't know I changed room from Standard to Tower MK view). I plant them in the lobby chairs (quite comfy despite their modern appearance) and enter the line. New clerk, earning her ears, took almost 1/2 hour to process our check-in; while I got more anxious by the minute...couldn't believe I didn't think up a way to actually announce the surprise.

Finally, I just told them we had to take a detour thru the lobby to back door, then headed for the elevators. DS has the biggest smile ever when he realized his dream of a MK view was about to occur. DH appeared to be in shock but, I think he was hurt I kept a secret from him . Some secrets are good IMO.

Anyway, we had a room on the 8th floor near the south end. It was the most striking room. The decor was beautiful. Luv the sinks...wish I had the bathroom @ home. The beds were so comfy, I didn't want to leave the room.

I cannot describe the magical view from the balcony

, most impressive...CR will always be my first choice @ WDW. Never have I spent so much time on the balcony, always something to see. The lights of the MK were fantastic to watch & what a view of wishes. So sad that my camcorder decided to finally die this trip before I was able to capture it.

After an hour in our room, we drug ourselves away to check out the new Nemo ride @ Epcot. Fun to be able to hop on the monorail & zoom away. Nonexistent line for Nemo, very cute - geared to younger kids but, family friendly. Rode it a few times, skipped Crush talk...way too long of a line. Too bad the ride doesn't drop you off directly to the show.

DS wolfed down another turkey leg, Soaring was already giving out FP for after 5:00 p.m. Did Honey I shrunk the Kids, Figment & Mexican boat Ride & it was time to depart in order to make Chef Mickey's on time.

Enjoyed our dinner w/Mickey & friends, always great fun. Sort of rushed through it to get back to our balcony lol.

Saturday, Oct. 15

Went to Epcot Again today to finish up what we missed yesterday.

It was much more crowded, even the Nemo line...guess the word got out to local AP holders. Waited 45 min. to ride Soarin before 10:00 a.m., worth it though.

Ate lunch in Japan, DS likes the ter. chicken & shopped our way out of the park. F&W caused it to be just jammed, hard to enjoy the ambiance with so many people milling about.

Finished the day swimming & lounging in the hammocks on the lake & grabbed sandwiches @ snack bar. Poor DH got a whopper of a headache & retired early.

Interesting to see the fence up around North Blg. getting ready for DVC I hope?

Last night to enjoy the fireworks, really amazing.

Sunday, October 15th

Time to pack up the SUV & walk over for one last day @ MK before we leave for home. Surprised how quick the walk is.

Walked on Splash Mt. & Big thunder RR several times, even the wait for Space Mt. was short.

Had a short wait for lunch @ CP (very sim to dinner menu, w/o shrimp & prime rib; they had flank steak & ham) & got to watch the family parade. Nice idea, the guys shaking pom-poms were so funny to watch...they were really getting into the spirit, quite a turn out.

Sadly, it was time to leave...we'll be back!

 

[mlill]

I cannot describe the magical view from the balcony

, most impressive...CR will always be my first choice @ WDW. Never have I spent so much time on the balcony, always something to see. The lights of the MK were fantastic to watch & what a view of wishes. So sad that my camcorder decided to finally die this trip before I was able to capture it.

I feel the same way about our stay at the CR! It was magical. I LOVE the new decor and the room was big enough for all 5 of us! And those beds! Weren't they the most comfortable things ever?!? I'm glad that your family had as good of a time there as we did! It goes by so quickly, doesn't it? Great TR! Thanks for writing it!

-Michelle