BWV fans - NOW I get it! (long)

[Dreamfinder2]

We just got back from a six-day stay at BWV... our first trip home to this particular property. We were a group of 10, so we qualified as a Grand Gathering. If you're looking for a critical screed against BW, you may move on to the next thread, 'cause babe, you ain't gettin' it here. One thing, perhaps, but even outside the realm of what Disney can do ... it was H-O-T. The heat index was 100+ our last two days there, and there was a couple of times I thought I'd spontaneously combust. Maybe as a DVC member perk, we can have the parks hermetically sealed in geodesic domes. Otherwise -

We had an absolute blast. While I could go on and on about the park and dining experiences (for instance, we did the International Dinner and Dessert Buffet with Illuminations - just splendid), I'll reign those in. I might just say that four of our party had either never been to WDW or had been many years ago. To see the expressions on their faces ... they just beamed with excitement. And, as an amazing plus, the six teenage girls got along, didn't whine, and conducted themselves like the young ladies they were raised to be.

But our villas - we had 2033 (a 2BR lockoff) and 2037 (a studio). We put the four oldest teenage girls in 2037; the other couple took the studio/2nd bedroom side of 2033; the two younger teenage girls took the sofa sleeper in the living room; and DW and I took the master (hey, it was our points!)

We were on the lobby level; our room was directly above the boardwalk character shop. It was impeccable, no grunge or grime in sight, and I looked ... nary a speck. BUT - and I shudder to share this --

THERE WAS A LIGHT BULB OUT IN THE MASTER BEDROOM! In the floor lamp beside the reading chair! Yes, it's true! It's the apocalypse! A sign of impending doom and the end of DVC as we know it. Oh, the humanity!

Oddly enough, a phone call took care of it within five minutes. Planes didn't drop from the sky. The polar ice caps didn't melt. Disney management didn't strap the wayward maintenance people to the pillory.

No, folks, BW turned out to be a bright, fresh-scrubbed morning world ... to watch the sun rise over Epcot, to see those solitary joggers pass by beneath our balcony, to watch other guests laden with muffins and danish coming from the bakery, to hear those squeals of delight from the little kids with their parents in tow, headed for the buses or boats... it just doesn't get any better. For us, it was a little bit of heaven. And yes, we were greeted with "welcome homes," and the front desk CM's were oh-so gracious.

There's no way we could've treated our friends to this experience without DVC. While our family has been to Disney scores of times - I think we're in the triple digits - to be able to share this made it fresh for us all over again. I can still see one of the girls, who at 15 was having her first Disney experience, and her eyes sparkled as she took it all in. She was just radiant. When we were in the Magic Kingdom, I pointed out the "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey. I told her what a little boy had said, when his mother asked him if he knew who that was. "That's Mickey Mouse and his daddy," he had said, and upon hearing that, tears welled up in her eyes. She "got it."

I believe. I believe in pixie dust, and in one man's dream, and the joy of being with friends and family. I will grant you that I am guilty of looking for the best in all things, and if that is a shortcoming, then I am content with it, and all the more joyous because of it.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that the magic still exists. It enshrouds you like a vapor. On your next visit, take a moment to relish this very special gift, and try not to smile. I dare ya!

 

[Laurabearz]

 

[Terry S]

Thank you Dreamfinder2! I am sitting here in tears!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the report! Glad you had a great time!

Did you notice if they are doing any work where the DVC models used to be?

I'm wondering about your room numbers. Were you on the second floor? The lobby is on the second floor, the boardwalk is the first floor (rooms next to the pools).

 

[jekjones1558]

Love your report! People with your outlook on life are the BEST! Thanks for sharing.
Jean

 

[diskat]

Great report. I loved it.

 

[WDWLVR]

Glad to hear you had a great time. We love our Boadwalk home!

 

[rinkwide]

Bravo DF2!

Hope you have many more trips like that.

 

[tjkraz]

Very nice post. Thank you!

 

[ArRzrbk]

That was one of the best trip reports I've ever read! Far too often on these boards the littlest things that go wrong with a trip are blown way out of proportion. And for a worrier like me, reading posts like that is no fun They make me question my decision to buy into DVC, my home resort, etc.

But reading your post was a joy And the way you reminded all of us that we are very, very lucky to be a part of such a great "club" was so clever. Yep, things do go wrong, but you're right...gota keep them in perspective. I'd much rather be looking at a scratch on the table at my Disney Vacation club resort while on a great vacation in Florida than on my own table sitting at home!

I can just hardly wait to take my first trip to my Disney "home." At this point, we're looking at 2006 - waiting for the two babies to get just a little older. They're 3 months and 2 years now, and I think that might be too much of a challenge for this new mom and dad. But when we do go, you can rest assured a blown blub or bit of dust in our room won't get us down.

Thanks again for the great report!

Char a.k.a. ArRzrbk

P.S. What's a "Grand Gathering." Any perks associated? Planning to do one of those myself with my family! Thanks in advance for the information

 

[msdis]

Sounds like a perfect experience one and all. I got goose bumps reading your report. Makes you feel so good to share such a magical place, doesn't it? I argee with Jean, reading something like this is so refreshing. It's like the evening news, we know there is bad and evil in the world but just once you'd like to hear about nothing but good! Thanks for sharing your trip.


Ummmmm......Jean................I see retirement is suiting you both just fine.

 

[wisbucky]

Thanks for the great report. I am glad to see another person with a positive outlook on DC.

 

[MJTinNH]

Glad you had a wonderful trip! We love BWV too! Thank you for posting!

 

[minster22]

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful experience!!You captured in your post exactly what the "magic" of WDW is for me. You must have just loved being able to share the magic with friends and family!! In October DH and I are taking DS (26 years old and been many times to WDW but not to BWV...first trip as DVC members) and DS's GF, who has never been to WDW. She is as excited as can be and only wants to go to WDW with me since I am so in love with it!! I hope our trip is just as magical!!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Well, duh. I just corrected the room numbers. Yep, we were on the 2nd floor, which is the lobby level.

Re the Grand Gatherings, aka Magical Gatherings, here's a link:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/experience/experienceLanding?id=MagicalGatheringsExperiencePage

and here's another, which may be more helpful:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...s/ggLandingPage?id=GrandGatheringsLandingPage

I wouldn't call anything available a true perk, since they cost, but they are only available to groups of 8 or more adults.

I didn't see any construction, and honestly, I didn't notice what was going on in the old sales center. There was a DVC sign still up, such as you would see at kiosks in the parks.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Welcome home! We'll be staying at BWV soon, with the BW view. I can't decide if I should ask for the 2nd floor to not have to deal with the elevator, or the 5th floor in hopes of a better view. What would you suggest? Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Another Dis Veteren has seen the light. And I don't mean the one at the end of the long hallway. Great report. Thanks.

HBC

 

[Dreamfinder2]

CADreaming, just for the heck of it, I walked all the way to the end of the hallway on our floor from the elevators and back again, which was a good way to limber up in the cool before attacking the parks.

If you look at the villas side of BW from the lake, the tallest "building" is the one with "The Boardwalk" in lights at its peak. Right above the Boardwalk shops you'll see three large arches. Our balcony was the arch on the right. The balcony was so big you could've had a square dance on it. Not only was it long, it was deep - I'm guessing a good 12'.

We just lucked into that one. The view was just fine, and we were never bothered by any noise. We were so zapped at the end of each day I could've slept well in the parking lot, on the pavement with no pillow.

 

[Poohs Pal]

Everyone needs to have your outlook on DVC and WDW and they would be able to really enjoy their vacation. Thanks for the nice report. Susan

 

[BuzzandWoody]

I'm smiling as I am grabbing a box of tissues.

We have our first stay at BWV in Dec.

Thanks for the great report!