DeeCee735
"How Do You Know of the Key?"
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2001
- Messages
- 3,890
Hi! Just back from 3 nights/4 day trip with my BF. Had a studio at BWV, my home resort. My friend is not an owner (yet). We were in room 5059, fifth floor (obviously), over Wyland Galleries. It was a preferred view, not BW view, although as all of you who have stayed there know, it has a great view up the BW toward ESPN, and the Epcot "ball" can be seen, as well as the fireworks over the BWI. Room was in very very good condition. 2 mugs were missing, and the tub facet dripped a little. Nothing big at all - nothing in life is perfect after all! They had just washed the carpet so it smelled really clean too!
We did not do the parks this visit. Since it was a girlfriend weekend and husband and kids stayed home, we didn't feel the need. (Well, we did get a little "tug" to go, but it was sooooo hot). We decided to do many other things as well.
Day 1:
We checked in on Thursday at about 1 p.m. Room was not ready and we were hungry, so we went to the Big River Grille and used a TS on DDP (first time using DDP). Food was very good and so were the beers! (not included on DDP). We were very full, with the appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee!
We checked into our room after our long and relaxing lunch, and got ready to go over to POR, where I had a horse and carriage ride reserved for us. I love this resort, it's very very pretty. Horse/carriage ride was around POR & French Quarter, and it was lovely, we really enjoyed it. The grounds are beautiful for both resorts. We took a nice walk around the area after the ride, and got on the boat for a ride over to DD for some shopping. All in all, a very good day. We couldn't eat anymore after that huge lunch, so we had that days quick service meal for the next day.
Day 2:
Slept in, walked over to BW Bakery and used our first quick service meal for an egg sandwich/coffee/chocolate milk. They give you two drinks and a sandwich - not dessert - at BW Bakery. Not that we wanted dessert with breakfast. We dined outside and watched the BW wake up. Very nice, very humid. We decided to "resort hop" for the day, so we took a cab (I'm spoiled) over to Wilderness Lodge. My friend has not seen any other resort outside of Coronado Springs & BW, so it was fun to be able to "share" some of the awesome resorts! We originally had lunch ressies for Whispering Canyon, but we decided to sit out by the pool bar and toast our friendship some, so we cancelled our ressies, and winged it with the meals. After relaxing by the pool bar for sometime, we took the boat over to the Contemporary, looked around there, (yes, there is building go on by the lake!). Took the monorail over to the Poly - I really love this resort. My friend was tired and hot, so we skipped walking the grounds and asked if we could get a table in Kona Cafe. We were able to sit and have a somewhat late lunch. Meal was very very good. We used our second TS meal and again, so much delicious food, what with the appetizer, entree, dessert and non alcoholic bev (I used mine for coffee and drank ice water with my meal). Yum.
Went back to the room and spoiled ourselves with a nap (she's got 3 kids, I've got twins - naps at home are very few and far between)! Woke up very late, still very full, and opted not to eat dinner, went over to Jellyrolls and had a great time! I love that place! $10.00 cover. Last time I was there it was $7.00.
Note: EVERYTHING IS GOING UP UP UP IN PRICE! Boarding on RIDICULOUS!
One day one park is $75.00, no discount for going in late in the day - all the more reason to skip it completely.
Day 3:
Used a counter service for bagels and coffee and chocolate milk for breakfast. I like the way we worked the meal plan (still no snacks). It was very very hot, humid and STILL, not a breeze to be had. We were perfectly happy with hanging by the pool. So, there we sat and talked and laughed. We bobbed on noodles in the pool and snacked on stuff we bought with our grocery stop on the way to the BW on check in (used Tiffany Town Car, their prices didn't go up and their service was very good). If I was with my family, I'd used Magical Express, but since it was a "pampering" best friends trip, we splurged. Stopped at Publix on the way over for a few "essentials".
After yet another nap, we headed over to AKL. I really wanted her to see this most gorgeous resort and I hoped we get into BOMA, as we couldn't make a ADR, it was walk ins only. Got there around 6:30. Her jaw dropped when we walked in, and that was when she decided she wanted to take the tour before we left on Sunday! We checked in at the podium at BOMA. I said to the girl "in light of it being year of a million dreams, can you make a little magic and get us a table for 2?" She said "yes, Mame"! I was thrilled, since Boma is very much at the top of my list. We took the beeper, as she said about an hour, and headed out to the viewing area and a walk around that gorgeous pool. My friend was in love with the whole place. It was steaming hot out by the savannah, so we only stayed long enough for some pics of the animals, and headed in to enjoy the lobby and the lounge. We didn't wait long to be seated and the dinner was everything I hoped it would be - delicious and plentiful! I couldn't even think about eating dessert!
After dinner we spoke to a DVC rep and had an appointment set up for Sunday morning before we got picked up for the airport. Headed back over to DD, one of my friends fav spots - she likes Westside alot.
Day 4:
We still had one counter service meal left over, but wanted to save it for lunch so we used all those unused snacks at the BW Bakery. Now when I booked DDP over the phone, they told me only coffee, tea, soda, milk or popcorn or chips could be used as snacks. But at the Bakery I was able to get a fruit tart, cinnamon roll, two coffees, and two milks - using all of our snacks for a breakfast (sort of). It worked out great.
We had DVC van pick us up and headed over to the preview center at SS. I was VERY unhappy and taken aback (as was my friend) at our "greeting". My guide is an at home guide now, so we were given a woman named Ann. Her first thing to say to my friend after hello, was "you were here in 04 or 05 and you and your husband were given all the information in great detail". First off, her husband wasn't with her, and it was 03 or 04. Second - an opening like that reaked of, "don't waste my time". She quickly and abruptly went over the way the point system works and that was it. My girlfriend said something like, it doesn't seem like you have the time, so I will be brief.....and explained that her husband was not with her last time, doesn't want to deal with the "smeal", just the facts and that while affordability is priority she is very interested in AKV, but if Ann doesn't have the time, she'll leave it be. Then Ann said something like, Oh no, of course I have the time, and only then offered to show her the models, and go over the papers with her. She never even mentioned financing options until I asked on behalf of my friend. We felt very unwelcome. I think that Ann took a look at the notes and saw that my friend looked at it a couple of years ago, money was more of an issue then, and assumed she wasn't serious at all (which would be a waste of OUR time too). I think she could have gone about the whole thing in a much different way, more positive, more welcoming. My friend took all the info home to go over with her husband - things are somewhat different for her financially than they were 4 years ago, and AKV stole her heart! Ann should have considered that, because now if my friend choses to purchase, she's going to ask for a different guide. I felt terrible that she was treated any less than someone looking to buy 1000 points for all cash. A sale is a sale, and a person is a person, have some class for pete's sake.
Anyway, end of report - gotta get up for work. Hope you enjoyed it.
We did not do the parks this visit. Since it was a girlfriend weekend and husband and kids stayed home, we didn't feel the need. (Well, we did get a little "tug" to go, but it was sooooo hot). We decided to do many other things as well.
Day 1:
We checked in on Thursday at about 1 p.m. Room was not ready and we were hungry, so we went to the Big River Grille and used a TS on DDP (first time using DDP). Food was very good and so were the beers! (not included on DDP). We were very full, with the appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee!
We checked into our room after our long and relaxing lunch, and got ready to go over to POR, where I had a horse and carriage ride reserved for us. I love this resort, it's very very pretty. Horse/carriage ride was around POR & French Quarter, and it was lovely, we really enjoyed it. The grounds are beautiful for both resorts. We took a nice walk around the area after the ride, and got on the boat for a ride over to DD for some shopping. All in all, a very good day. We couldn't eat anymore after that huge lunch, so we had that days quick service meal for the next day.
Day 2:
Slept in, walked over to BW Bakery and used our first quick service meal for an egg sandwich/coffee/chocolate milk. They give you two drinks and a sandwich - not dessert - at BW Bakery. Not that we wanted dessert with breakfast. We dined outside and watched the BW wake up. Very nice, very humid. We decided to "resort hop" for the day, so we took a cab (I'm spoiled) over to Wilderness Lodge. My friend has not seen any other resort outside of Coronado Springs & BW, so it was fun to be able to "share" some of the awesome resorts! We originally had lunch ressies for Whispering Canyon, but we decided to sit out by the pool bar and toast our friendship some, so we cancelled our ressies, and winged it with the meals. After relaxing by the pool bar for sometime, we took the boat over to the Contemporary, looked around there, (yes, there is building go on by the lake!). Took the monorail over to the Poly - I really love this resort. My friend was tired and hot, so we skipped walking the grounds and asked if we could get a table in Kona Cafe. We were able to sit and have a somewhat late lunch. Meal was very very good. We used our second TS meal and again, so much delicious food, what with the appetizer, entree, dessert and non alcoholic bev (I used mine for coffee and drank ice water with my meal). Yum.
Went back to the room and spoiled ourselves with a nap (she's got 3 kids, I've got twins - naps at home are very few and far between)! Woke up very late, still very full, and opted not to eat dinner, went over to Jellyrolls and had a great time! I love that place! $10.00 cover. Last time I was there it was $7.00.
Note: EVERYTHING IS GOING UP UP UP IN PRICE! Boarding on RIDICULOUS!
One day one park is $75.00, no discount for going in late in the day - all the more reason to skip it completely.
Day 3:
Used a counter service for bagels and coffee and chocolate milk for breakfast. I like the way we worked the meal plan (still no snacks). It was very very hot, humid and STILL, not a breeze to be had. We were perfectly happy with hanging by the pool. So, there we sat and talked and laughed. We bobbed on noodles in the pool and snacked on stuff we bought with our grocery stop on the way to the BW on check in (used Tiffany Town Car, their prices didn't go up and their service was very good). If I was with my family, I'd used Magical Express, but since it was a "pampering" best friends trip, we splurged. Stopped at Publix on the way over for a few "essentials".
After yet another nap, we headed over to AKL. I really wanted her to see this most gorgeous resort and I hoped we get into BOMA, as we couldn't make a ADR, it was walk ins only. Got there around 6:30. Her jaw dropped when we walked in, and that was when she decided she wanted to take the tour before we left on Sunday! We checked in at the podium at BOMA. I said to the girl "in light of it being year of a million dreams, can you make a little magic and get us a table for 2?" She said "yes, Mame"! I was thrilled, since Boma is very much at the top of my list. We took the beeper, as she said about an hour, and headed out to the viewing area and a walk around that gorgeous pool. My friend was in love with the whole place. It was steaming hot out by the savannah, so we only stayed long enough for some pics of the animals, and headed in to enjoy the lobby and the lounge. We didn't wait long to be seated and the dinner was everything I hoped it would be - delicious and plentiful! I couldn't even think about eating dessert!
After dinner we spoke to a DVC rep and had an appointment set up for Sunday morning before we got picked up for the airport. Headed back over to DD, one of my friends fav spots - she likes Westside alot.
Day 4:
We still had one counter service meal left over, but wanted to save it for lunch so we used all those unused snacks at the BW Bakery. Now when I booked DDP over the phone, they told me only coffee, tea, soda, milk or popcorn or chips could be used as snacks. But at the Bakery I was able to get a fruit tart, cinnamon roll, two coffees, and two milks - using all of our snacks for a breakfast (sort of). It worked out great.
We had DVC van pick us up and headed over to the preview center at SS. I was VERY unhappy and taken aback (as was my friend) at our "greeting". My guide is an at home guide now, so we were given a woman named Ann. Her first thing to say to my friend after hello, was "you were here in 04 or 05 and you and your husband were given all the information in great detail". First off, her husband wasn't with her, and it was 03 or 04. Second - an opening like that reaked of, "don't waste my time". She quickly and abruptly went over the way the point system works and that was it. My girlfriend said something like, it doesn't seem like you have the time, so I will be brief.....and explained that her husband was not with her last time, doesn't want to deal with the "smeal", just the facts and that while affordability is priority she is very interested in AKV, but if Ann doesn't have the time, she'll leave it be. Then Ann said something like, Oh no, of course I have the time, and only then offered to show her the models, and go over the papers with her. She never even mentioned financing options until I asked on behalf of my friend. We felt very unwelcome. I think that Ann took a look at the notes and saw that my friend looked at it a couple of years ago, money was more of an issue then, and assumed she wasn't serious at all (which would be a waste of OUR time too). I think she could have gone about the whole thing in a much different way, more positive, more welcoming. My friend took all the info home to go over with her husband - things are somewhat different for her financially than they were 4 years ago, and AKV stole her heart! Ann should have considered that, because now if my friend choses to purchase, she's going to ask for a different guide. I felt terrible that she was treated any less than someone looking to buy 1000 points for all cash. A sale is a sale, and a person is a person, have some class for pete's sake.
Anyway, end of report - gotta get up for work. Hope you enjoyed it.
