Back from 5 Nights at BWV!

[tigger2esq]

A couple of observations
1) When we tried to change the day of our trash and towel service they told us we couldnt without a charge. first time I ever had this happen
2) we had a 2BR and a studio. My parents were staying in the studio. the day after their trash and towel service they got a complete room cleaning! dont know how THAT happened...(I did check the bill and we were not charged...)
3) there was a ton of painting going on around the hotel. but it wasnt that distracting.
4) While we Ended up with a room over the main entrance/parking lot... we didnt mind too much because we could actually see some of the fireworks from the balcony. I was just excited we were CLOSE TO THE ELEVATOR unlike the 4 mile walk last January!!
5) ok--whats with the boat to MGM? it has to be the stupidest WDW transportation option from the Boardwalk ever devised. I suppose it is nice for those who dont mind it taking over an hour to get there but they should REALLY have another option for those of us who do. The one night we attempted it--we waited over 20 minutes for a boat only to have one show up standing room only. We decided that the only way you get a seat is to get on the boat on its way to EPCOT. They really need some direct service. The next 2 times we went to MGM we just walked... took us less than 15 minutes.
6) I have been going to WDW since 1976. the one thing I always loved about the parks was how clean the restrooms were. This trip I would have sworn I was at Six Flags etc. They were DISGUSTING. paper everywhere. clogged and unflushed toilets (dont people know how to FLUSH? seriously...) Thank goodness I have a 2 year old. The baby care centers were a godsend.
7) my all time least favorite attraction in WDW has always been Alien ENcounter...followed closely by Body Wars and Star Tours. (something to do with my somewhat clausterphobic tendancies etc.) my DH convinced me to go into the "new and improved" Stitches Great Escape. Afterwards I looked at DH and actually said--I liked the original better. Was it me or is that attraction just plain stupid? LOL
8) I FINALLY made it to the WWTBAM Hotseat. after countless times being in the top 10 it happened. I thought I was going to pass out and was shaking I was so nervous (I dont think I was that nervous during my first jury trial!!). used all my lifelines on one stupid NBA question (16k point level). had to take a wild guess on the 32k and blew it. it was a blast and I cant wait to go back!
9) the Boardwalk is still my all-time favorite place to stay. I dont think I will ever stay anywhere else. When Kendall is older we may try to spend a trip at the Beach club so she can play at StormaLong Bay but otherwise--we are at BWV to stay! I just love being able to walk to MGM and EPCOT, love all the restaurants. Love just strolling around the lake at night with all the lights. *sigh* welcome home...

 

[bavaria]

5) ok--whats with the boat to MGM? it has to be the stupidest WDW transportation option from the Boardwalk ever devised. I suppose it is nice for those who dont mind it taking over an hour to get there but they should REALLY have another option for those of us who do. The one night we attempted it--we waited over 20 minutes for a boat only to have one show up standing room only. We decided that the only way you get a seat is to get on the boat on its way to EPCOT. They really need some direct service. The next 2 times we went to MGM we just walked... took us less than 15 minutes.

I too tend to walk BW-MGM, and even walk Intl Gateway - MGM if it's not too hot. I was at BW in April when the dock was closed for repairs, and they had a bus to MGM - it was great! Just a few minutes to get back and forth. Unfortunately, they failed to remove the signage at the bus loading area at MGM once the dock was repaired, and I waited a long time before realizing that the busses no longer ran to BW.

The boats were a great idea, but factoring in all the stops, walking is the way to go if you can manage it!

 

[Granny]

(snip)the Boardwalk is still my all-time favorite place to stay. I dont think I will ever stay anywhere else. (snip)

I must say, I didn't think this was going to be your final observation after reading your post. I'm glad that the things you noted in no way detracted from your enjoyment of BWV!

I think the boat is what it is...a leisurely, slow way to get to EPCOT/MGM. It is certainly not the most efficient way but it is a nice alternative. If nothing else, it adds to the ambience of the Crescent Lake area.

Hmmm....boat rides to theme parks. I knew there had to be something that BWV and VWL had in common for me to like each one so much!!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Wow Renee, I couldn't agree more on every single point, that Post could have been written by me almost word for word. My last trip I was close to the elevators at BWV for the first time in 4 trips, what a bonus. I hate those stupid boats from BWV and avoid them at all costs but I adore the Resort and convenience of being near enough to walk to MGM/Epcot. Hated Alien encounter and agree that the new version is just as bad if not worse. The bathrooms have definitely gone waaay downhill at WDW, commented on it more than once last trip (end of April). Yeah what is the deal with folks who can't even flush a toilet??? But still, there were always those sorts around and the bathrooms never looked like this, Disneymust have cut back staffing there. And lastly, I too got into that hot seat. I was in January of this year-and was so freaked out that I actually made it (after getting close numerous times I had resigned myself to the fate of never making it), that I forgot all about my lifelines and messed up by blurting out the wrong answer on the $16,000 question. Duh me!


It was fun reading your post.

Mar'

 

[DebbieB]

Part of the toilet problems might be that the automatic flushers don't always flush. I seen an attendent moving the door in and out in an attempt to get the flush to go off. Some people might not realize that there is a button to get it to flush or don't want to touch it. Then you might come across a bathroom with the "old fashioned" flush and people don't realize it's not an automatic.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

HI tig,
I agree about that Stich encounter...I actually liked alien E, but the new one is just plain stupid. Yuck!

I have a daughter named KENDALLE....yours is 2, mine is 23.
When she was named, we knew of no one with that name. Now it is cropping up here and there. My Kendalle Elise loves her name! Bet yours will too!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I think the boat is what it is...a leisurely, slow way to get to EPCOT/MGM. It is certainly not the most efficient way but it is a nice alternative. If nothing else, it adds to the ambience of the Crescent Lake area.

Hmmm....boat rides to theme parks. I knew there had to be something that BWV and VWL had in common for me to like each one so much!!

I agree...I don't think they're intended to be quick....just leisurely. We usually walk.

Thanks for the report, though! I love BWV!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Thanks for the trip report! I just love DVC trip reports

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I agree...I don't think they're intended to be quick....just leisurely. We usually walk.

Thanks for the report, though! I love BWV!

I understand that the Friendship boats are not supposed to be fast but they seem to be as slow as humanly possible. I guess I am not the most patient person on earth but I don't understand why, when the boat picks you up at Epcot, it has to be docked for 10 minutes or more before it even starts to get moving to the BWV. The monorail and buses don't do that, they pick you up and they go. I could deal with the boat being "leisurely" if it didn't dock for so long before it gets going again from Epcot.

Unless I am dying hot I never take that boat from Epcot to BWV, I find it too annoying to wait wait wait. For those of you who like it, enjoy, it's just not for me.

Mar'

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We usually only take the boat if we're exhausted from MGM and don't feel like walking (and obviously aren't in too much of a hurry LOL). I don't believe we've ever taken the boat to or from Epcot.

Perhaps they wait a while at certain docks so as to not get on top of or schedule-confused with the other Friendship boat that is running at the same time? Who knows...just a thought.

 

[SnowWitch]

What NBA question to you blow it on, just curious?

 

[MiaSRN62]

I have been going to WDW since 1976. the one thing I always loved about the parks was how clean the restrooms were. This trip I would have sworn I was at Six Flags etc. They were DISGUSTING. paper everywhere. clogged and unflushed toilets

I have to agree with you on this one. We were most recently there in 11/04 and 2/05. The bathrooms were horrible in the parks. Not just the toilet area, but the sink/vanity area as well. And didn't have that usual air freshener smell. Just sad

I agree...I don't think they're intended to be quick....just leisurely. We usually walk.

Agreed. There's definitely alot of walking involved when staying at the Epcot resorts. We've had trouble when we traveled with my senior mil---particularily during the summer. It was just too much for her. We preferred the boats when she was along with us. So it was nice to have that option.

 

[tigger2esq]

I have a daughter named KENDALLE....yours is 2, mine is 23.
When she was named, we knew of no one with that name. Now it is cropping up here and there. My Kendalle Elise loves her name! Bet yours will too!

We actually named Kendall after her daddy. (my DH's middle name is Kendal) I hope she likes her name when she gets older. It was a tough decision. We wanted her name to be somewhat unique but not "out there" . I have been hearing it more and more these days.

 

[tigger2esq]

What NBA question to you blow it on, just curious?

Actually the NBA question I edned up getting right (on a total guess after using all my lifelines!) It was --what team did Larry Johnson retire from in 2001. The audiuence was fairly evenly split among the 4 choices, so I went to 50/50 which left the Bulls and the Knicks. I phoned a stranger and ended up with a woman from NEW ZEALAND! (who knew nothing about the NBA! go figure! LOL!) so I took a wild guess and got it right!

the quesiton I missed was the next one. It asked what recreational vehicle did Wally Byer (?) make popular in the 1930's -- I had it narrowed to 2 answers (Airstream and Winnebego) but could not for the life of me remember what an Airstream was--I kept thinking airplane as in GULF STREAM--so I picked the Winnebego ...)

 

[jnrrt]

We have a neice named Kendall.

The first time we stayed at BWV we took the boat to MGM and it was nuts. I didn't realize it would also stop at Y/BC and S/D and then go to MGM. So the next time we walked, even with a toddler and a preschooler. I just have a problem waiting in the morning.

Now at night, we did take it home from Epcot once, and man, we were SOOO tired, it was great, and I didn't even notice it wasn't moving for the first 10 minutes !

Now if someone can explain to me why BWV often has to share busses with S/D and Y/BC, and it seems like you always stop at all of them both going and coming ("Why're we never first, Mommy?" says my daughter), it'd be nice. Normally I don't mind waiting a bit, but when your 2 year old is too short to see out the windows and is turning green with carsickness because of all the turns, it can dim the magic just a bit .

 

[NMW]

Great trip report, thanks for sharing!

 

[tigger2esq]

One more comment on the boat thing---I have to agree that the one night we rode it with the baby "for fun" and we actually had a nice ride (it was around 8:30 so it was practically empty). It did stop for a LONG time at the MGM dock. couldnt figure that one out since there was NO ONE around and there was another friendship boat close behind. On the return trip we just got off at the Swan/Dolphin and walked back to the BW. My big issue is that it takes so LONG, does not have enough seating during "peak times" (the one night we left MGM the line was HUGE--i figure the people at the back would ahve to wait for 3 boats to come by before getting on one...) If they just had a bus run back and forth it would be HUGE. DH and I and my parents are big walkers so we would always prefer to walk. However, we had my MIL with us on this trip who made the walk back one night but would be unable to walk it every time (hence the need to take WDW resort transportation at least some of the time). we tried to drive over the one time but I swear by the time we got to the car at BWV, drove over, parked, took the tram to the entrance etc... it was about as long as the darn boat ride!! LOL!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Renee - I wonder if there is someone on the Transportation Board, specifically someone who works for Disney, that can explain the rhyme and reason for the long pauses at the docks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, 2 people on the same thread who made it to the hotseat! Good for you guys!

I enjoy the boat rides and always take them always dream about being a boat driver or just look at the scenery. Walking isn't easy for me, but the Friendship Boats make my day!

Bobbi