AKL LITE II - We're #2, but we try harder....

[brookelizabeth]

And the weather is gorgeous for you! I made sure of it!

Thanks-it WAS veryyyyy nice weather!!

OK, I am asking for major good thoughts and PD for our older DD on Thursday.

I hope you hear from your daughter soon on the news. Sending lots of prayers, thoughts and PD her way.

Has anyone of you been tempted by the new offer for 2009? I am seriously considering taking advantage of it... 7 days for the price of four and 200 $ gift card just sounds like such a fantastic deal!

YES! VERY TEMPTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although I'm going in 19 days now. I am a little bummed. I called first thing this morning to book a room and AKV is all booked up

However, they were able to find 2 nights for me at VWL. One night on points and the other a cash ressie. I'm fine with that, I've never stayed at Wilderness Lodge and i'm excited to try something new.

WL is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! We stayed in the regular rooms and loved it! The decorations weren't up yet, I can only imagine how more stunning everything will be with them. It's a very peaceful resort. We explored the Villas area as well-simply stunning. I took a ton of pics, I will post them here for you in a little while.

We went over on Tuesday for Castle Lighting, and it is more glorious than last year. Anyone want to see pics? If so, let me know, and I will upload them. But you will have to wait.

Today is my ****th birthday , and I am being dragged to the Mall for a shopping spree and then to The Flying Fish for a celebratory dinner with Phil and Ben. Yay!

The Castle lighting was amazing!! DH and I loved it. Henry oooooohed. I have a ton of pics too, which I will share sometime soon.

And happy (belated) birthday to you! I hope your shopping trip and dinner were fantastic!

The Mall: a rare occasion for sure. I get there maybe once a year! Otherwise, Target! There's nothing like a gallon of milk and a Mossimo top for $5 on sale!

I couldn't agree more!

ahh man,..........you gals exercise?!.................

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!

Brookelizabeth, welcome back! Great news about becoming a DVC member! We are all looking forward to the full story and of course the pictures. It's great that you had a good trip. I think bumps happen on every trip, it's just important to not let them spoil your experience.

I will be writing a TR, just haven't gotten that far. I had a name for the TR all picked out, but it just doesn't fit anymore. I could call it something like "Me and Pepto-Bismol: Best Friends Forever" but I don't think that just sounds too appetizing... Or how about: "I hate Northwest Airlines". Or, "Learning the bathrooms at the World" Or, "Yes, my baby smells like vomit."

Oh the adventures!

On a happier note, we literally took over 2,000 pictures! Almost every step was photographed it seemed!

 

[brookelizabeth]

To help Cinderella1122 out, here are some VWL pics. Same architect as AKL, so it sorta relates, right?

A pathway to the Villas pool area:

The villas-so beautiful:

The pool. It DID seem on the small side, but even in the middle of the day, a VERY warm day, there was only a few people in it. You can't really tell in the picture, but there are neat "bubblers" in the water.

Right outside the main door to the lobby area were these neat chairs.

The breathtaking chandlier and ceiling in the lobby area:

Around the lobby there are carvings of different animals. I know the whole "animal head on a wall" thing can be creepy, but these were not!

Off the lobby there are tons of little rooms and nooks with fireplaces and comfy chairs. A perfect place to relax and read, sit and chat, or just take a little snooze!

Those rocking chairs are HUGE! I curled up in one as soon as I saw them.

The elevator area:

Okay, and to be back ON topic, here is a quick preview of AKL (if you happen to notice the orange crane in the background, there was some lodge "spiffying up" while we were there):

 

[RachelTori]

Hey brookelizabeth! Happy to hear you had a great trip.

Congrats on the DVC membership! WELCOME HOME!!! Wishing you many happy years of WDW vacations!

Is there a story behind the purchase that we will learn about in your TR? I'm always curious to hear when the bug bit (it doesn't take much though, does it?!!! ) Wondering if you went knowing you were going to purchase, thought you'd check into it on this trip to see if it was feasible, OR just got caught up in the moment and went for it!!! You have now joined the many thousands of happy DVCers!

Can't wait to read your TR!

Loving your pictures!

 

[BensMom]

Thanks-it WAS veryyyyy nice weather!!


WL is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! We stayed in the regular rooms and loved it! The decorations weren't up yet, I can only imagine how more stunning everything will be with them. It's a very peaceful resort. We explored the Villas area as well-simply stunning. I took a ton of pics, I will post them here for you in a little while.


I will be writing a TR, just haven't gotten that far. I had a name for the TR all picked out, but it just doesn't fit anymore. I could call it something like "Me and Pepto-Bismol: Best Friends Forever" but I don't think that just sounds too appetizing... Or how about: "I hate Northwest Airlines". Or, "Learning the bathrooms at the World" Or, "Yes, my baby smells like vomit."

On a happier note, we literally took over 2,000 pictures! Almost every step was photographed it seemed!

So, does this mean we will see pics of all the bathrooms at WDW, the plane and the baby puke!?

 

[CJsMom]

Hey everyone!
We are back and had a great trip (despite a few 'bumps' along the way)! I need to catch up on the thread here, but wanted to share a new picture I'll be adding to my siggy soon...

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pilferk, I guess I won't be needing your Villa in 2013 (or whatever year it was!) because we will have our own!!!!!!!

I have lots of pics to share, I will get up them uploading to Photobucket soon and share the love.

-Brook

That is exciting!!!!

 

[John's Mom]

Welcome back, Brook! Congrats on becoming a DVC member!

Great pics! Can't wait for more!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Hey everyone!
We are back and had a great trip (despite a few 'bumps' along the way)! I need to catch up on the thread here, but wanted to share a new picture I'll be adding to my siggy soon...

pilferk, I guess I won't be needing your Villa in 2013 (or whatever year it was!) because we will have our own!!!!!!!

I have lots of pics to share, I will get up them uploading to Photobucket soon and share the love.

-Brook

Congratulations!!!!!! Wow, what a great souvenir!

 

[Tig-girl]

Brookelizabeth, great minds think alike! Congratulations on your purchase!!
We too joined DVC last week and are looking forward to staying in Kidani Village, once it is completed. Where did you get that neat AKV icon? Mind if I copy it? Have you figured out the point system yet.....so much information!

 

[Donald is #1]

Tig-girl and brookelizabeth, congratulations on joining DVC!

 

[PADISFAM]

Tig-girl and brookelizabeth, congratulations on joining DVC!

Ditto from me! Home!

 

[Tig-girl]

Thanks! It's so exciting......and a bit scary
So much to learn, so much to read, hoping I don't make any mistakes when booking. But it's going to be great, and we are very excited.

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks! It's so exciting......and a bit scary
So much to learn, so much to read, hoping I don't make any mistakes when booking. But it's going to be great, and we are very excited.

You'll have an awesome time! I have only been a member since May '07 and I am already spoiled. If you have any questions, please don't be afraid to ask.

 

[PNO4TE]

Tig-girl and brookelizabeth, congratulations on joining DVC!

Welcome back, brookelizabeth... I can't wait to read your TR!

 

[Tig-girl]

Thanks Donald! You may be sorry you said I could ask you questions though....
How many trips have you taken with your DVC points so far? I'm hoping that since my oldest DS is living there now, I can go down a few times a year. I'm going to have to practice stretching those points!

 

[RachelTori]

Brookelizabeth, great minds think alike! Congratulations on your purchase!!
We too joined DVC last week and are looking forward to staying in Kidani Village, once it is completed. Where did you get that neat AKV icon? Mind if I copy it? Have you figured out the point system yet.....so much information!

Congrats and WELCOME HOME to you too, Tig-girl! We've been members for 3 years and it's still as exciting and wonderful as the day we joined!! It's pretty easy to get the hang of points, banking, etc. It only gets complicated if you do add-ons that aren't the same home resort or same Use Year. Oh! You and Brookelizabeth need to add this new word to your vocabulary: ADD-ONITIS (yes, it WILL strike eventually!!!)

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks Donald! You may be sorry you said I could ask you questions though....
How many trips have you taken with your DVC points so far? I'm hoping that since my oldest DS is living there now, I can go down a few times a year. I'm going to have to practice stretching those points!

Let's see. First of all I have already done a couple of add-ons so that I can stay in a 1 BR for at least a week each year. I have just completed my third DVC trip with my fourth trip coming in 3 weeks. My trips have been:

Oct 2007 - OKW 2 BR for long weekend (Thursday -> Monday) using Developers points

May 2008 - AKV Concierge studio for long weekend (Thursday -> Tuesday)

Nov 2008 - AKV 2 BR Savanna View for long weekend (Friday -> Tuesday)

Up-coming

Dec 2008 - BWV,SSR,BCV 1 BR for 11 nights

Basically, I am using my 2007 & 2008 points all in this year. After my December trip, I will have about 40 points left in my 08 UY

 

[John's Mom]

Brookelizabeth, great minds think alike! Congratulations on your purchase!!
We too joined DVC last week and are looking forward to staying in Kidani Village, once it is completed. Where did you get that neat AKV icon? Mind if I copy it? Have you figured out the point system yet.....so much information!

Congrats on your DVC purchase!

 

[Tig-girl]

I'm afraid I don't know what an "add-on" is yet....but it sounds like I should be afraid?

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm afraid I don't know what an "add-on" is yet....but it sounds like I should be afraid?

An add-on is when you decide that you need more points either at your home resort or another resort and hence "add-on" more points.

 

[Tig-girl]

An add-on is when you decide that you need more points either at your home resort or another resort and hence "add-on" more points.

Ahhh, I see. Well, truth be known, we kind of already did that!
We decided on a number of points, then the next day decided we should get more, so we had to call right away and change them before the contract was written up! So I'm hoping we have enough to hold us, but who knows!
Thanks for the clarification.
I can say that member services has been very helpful so far. I hope the cheery and helpful nature of the people on the other end of the phone continues.