I am going to try and write a condensed version of our Jan 9-15th stay at the Beach Club. I'll try to focus on more high and low lights, less "and then we got off haunted mansion and went to Pirates of the Carribean." So keep your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the vehicle, and here we go...
The cast: Me, 40 something mom, Disney veteran and commando. DH, 40 something dad who loves all thrill rides, always screams like a girl and puts his hands up, DS 16, mostly came for the fine dining (we now refer to him as Count Drakula as he went back to the room every afternoon for a nap and always kept the shades drawn) DS 12 who loves all thrill rides and is just not exhaustable in the World, not matter how we try.
the place: Beach Club. We have stayed here once before, plus AKL 3 times and GF once. It's a toss up among these three as to which is our favorite. They all have the plusses and minuses. We booked a standard room, I requested non smoking, room facing epcot and the woods near the quiet pool, with a full balcony. Got everything except balcony, we had even better.... ground floor. Room was in good shape, pretty clean. I highly recommend by the quiet pool. It is so nice to escape all the throngs after a day in the park. There was never more than 5 people around the pool there. Quite a difference from Stormalong Bay.
Tuesday, Jan 9th. After a "I'm too excited to sleep" night, uneventful flight and Tiffany Towncar service (always use them, they are always good), we check in early (noon) room is ready. Our park tickets have not been put on our room key, front desk tells us to go to concierge to do this. We drop our bags in the room, and go back to concierge desk. They check our cards, "Um, yes, the tickets are on here". So contrary to smart planning, we go to MK. It's seems crowded to us, but everyone assures us the crowds are very small. Do our favorites then lunch at Pecos. Can't charge to the room as we have exceeded our limit. Neat trick since we had just arrived.
Dinner is at the wonderful Le Cellier. Food, excellent, service, excellent, everything excellent. And, guess what, we could charge it to our room... don't know why... it just worked now.
Wed. Jan 10th. Epcot all day. Highlights: Soaring is excellent, and it truly is a different experience in the front row. Test track still a family favorite, Mission Space was mostly a walk on as we chose the more intense side. The other side was far more crowded. We also love poking around World showcase. We love grabbing lunch at France's counter service. The croisant sandwiches and pastries are really delicious. DH says " I just want to go into every country and see every part of it" DS 12 asks why, and DH replies "Well, because I have never really done that." DS says "Well, I have never stuck a fork in my eye, but it doesn't mean I want to do it."
Dinner at California Grill. Food was excellent, wine was laughably overpriced, service was okay. Came back to room message from front desk that we are over our limit on our card (still? again?) Call down and find out that the park tickets were not charged to our credit card, and were clogging up our credit limit. Um, okay, go ahead and charge them. Problem solved... ?
Thurs. Jan 11th. Animal Kingdom day. Arrive for preshow, which my kids hate, and then off to Everest. This is a great, great ride for those who love roller coasters. The first time was extremely scary, the next time much better. After the first ride, I told my boys I was having a heart attack, but since I was clutching my right side, they didn't really believe me. Safari fun as usual, I still think they need to lose the "Little Red" story and realize that the animals are entertainment enough.
Most exciting moment of the day... yes, it's true, I won a dream from the year of a million dreams. Get ready... drum roll.... I was the diner of the hour at flame tree barbecue. No, my meal was not comped or anything, but I did win a big, giant cupcake. Which was really nice, but, as I am now in that wonderful peri menopausal stage and am starting to speak up, I said thanks and then asked that they get me my correct order, please. I am really proud of myself because a few years ago I would have just eaten what I didn't want and not made a fuss.
A slighly chilly pool afternoon, then dinner at ESPN (huge servings of okay food, okay service). Epcot fireworks next to a gaggle of cheerleaders (go Tigers!) They then did a rather unprecipitated group hug, to which my DS 12 said "I sure would like to be in the middle of that circle of love!"
Slight mid week rants: And we are starting to notice the large groups of Brazilian teens, lead by a person waving a flag, clogging up the parks. There has been none of the rude behavior or line cutting I have read about from them, though. It just makes the parks seem more crowded.
And what is the deal with spitting? How can anyone think this is proper behavior? And does anyone ever enforce the smoking in designated areas only? Yuck!
The cast: Me, 40 something mom, Disney veteran and commando. DH, 40 something dad who loves all thrill rides, always screams like a girl and puts his hands up, DS 16, mostly came for the fine dining (we now refer to him as Count Drakula as he went back to the room every afternoon for a nap and always kept the shades drawn) DS 12 who loves all thrill rides and is just not exhaustable in the World, not matter how we try.
the place: Beach Club. We have stayed here once before, plus AKL 3 times and GF once. It's a toss up among these three as to which is our favorite. They all have the plusses and minuses. We booked a standard room, I requested non smoking, room facing epcot and the woods near the quiet pool, with a full balcony. Got everything except balcony, we had even better.... ground floor. Room was in good shape, pretty clean. I highly recommend by the quiet pool. It is so nice to escape all the throngs after a day in the park. There was never more than 5 people around the pool there. Quite a difference from Stormalong Bay.
Tuesday, Jan 9th. After a "I'm too excited to sleep" night, uneventful flight and Tiffany Towncar service (always use them, they are always good), we check in early (noon) room is ready. Our park tickets have not been put on our room key, front desk tells us to go to concierge to do this. We drop our bags in the room, and go back to concierge desk. They check our cards, "Um, yes, the tickets are on here". So contrary to smart planning, we go to MK. It's seems crowded to us, but everyone assures us the crowds are very small. Do our favorites then lunch at Pecos. Can't charge to the room as we have exceeded our limit. Neat trick since we had just arrived.
Dinner is at the wonderful Le Cellier. Food, excellent, service, excellent, everything excellent. And, guess what, we could charge it to our room... don't know why... it just worked now.
Wed. Jan 10th. Epcot all day. Highlights: Soaring is excellent, and it truly is a different experience in the front row. Test track still a family favorite, Mission Space was mostly a walk on as we chose the more intense side. The other side was far more crowded. We also love poking around World showcase. We love grabbing lunch at France's counter service. The croisant sandwiches and pastries are really delicious. DH says " I just want to go into every country and see every part of it" DS 12 asks why, and DH replies "Well, because I have never really done that." DS says "Well, I have never stuck a fork in my eye, but it doesn't mean I want to do it."
Dinner at California Grill. Food was excellent, wine was laughably overpriced, service was okay. Came back to room message from front desk that we are over our limit on our card (still? again?) Call down and find out that the park tickets were not charged to our credit card, and were clogging up our credit limit. Um, okay, go ahead and charge them. Problem solved... ?
Thurs. Jan 11th. Animal Kingdom day. Arrive for preshow, which my kids hate, and then off to Everest. This is a great, great ride for those who love roller coasters. The first time was extremely scary, the next time much better. After the first ride, I told my boys I was having a heart attack, but since I was clutching my right side, they didn't really believe me. Safari fun as usual, I still think they need to lose the "Little Red" story and realize that the animals are entertainment enough.
Most exciting moment of the day... yes, it's true, I won a dream from the year of a million dreams. Get ready... drum roll.... I was the diner of the hour at flame tree barbecue. No, my meal was not comped or anything, but I did win a big, giant cupcake. Which was really nice, but, as I am now in that wonderful peri menopausal stage and am starting to speak up, I said thanks and then asked that they get me my correct order, please. I am really proud of myself because a few years ago I would have just eaten what I didn't want and not made a fuss.
A slighly chilly pool afternoon, then dinner at ESPN (huge servings of okay food, okay service). Epcot fireworks next to a gaggle of cheerleaders (go Tigers!) They then did a rather unprecipitated group hug, to which my DS 12 said "I sure would like to be in the middle of that circle of love!"
Slight mid week rants: And we are starting to notice the large groups of Brazilian teens, lead by a person waving a flag, clogging up the parks. There has been none of the rude behavior or line cutting I have read about from them, though. It just makes the parks seem more crowded.
And what is the deal with spitting? How can anyone think this is proper behavior? And does anyone ever enforce the smoking in designated areas only? Yuck!
