Clowning Around on the Boardwalk! A Wigdout Trip report

[wigdoutdismom]

It's been a busy day at the Wigd and Shocker house!
Woke up and called DVC.....
Four times!
Had no luck upgrading at BLT.
Our points were in and needing to be used.
150 by the end of the year.

So what's a Wigd to do?

We really wanted to be at BLT at least through the 4th so we could get a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks with MeMom, Jill, and the gang.
Plus the pool looks like it would be a fun one to try out!
But,
Spending that many days in a studio with points to burn, well just wasn't going to happen.
Soooooo.

First they checked my beloved.

BCV.
NO
Then BWV.
NO

Then I said whateva.

They said.
SSR or OKW

I said OKW and wait list us for BCV for the 5th through the 10th.
So there you have it.

We still have points left to use.
We can use them at Christmas.
Then we can bank some.

After the phone calls to get all of this done.
(because it really didn't go this smoothly, when I canceled part of the blt nights I opened Pandora's box with one of our small contracts that I had borrowed points out of.)
It's all ok now!

We went to watch some of my kids play soccer.
Went swimsuit shopping.
Bought Baylor's baseball shoes,
and now are on our way to an end of the year cookout for Marc's school.
I'll try to get on the updates tonight when we get home.

 

[cmskok]

Busy day, Anita!!! I cannot believe that end of year events are happening already...4 more weeks here...ugh!!!

 

[lmillercrew]

I have to say that I am SO envious of your many trips to Disney that you get to take each year. However, I think that if my family were able to do that, I would be taking many trips all by myself. My DH likes WDW, but not as much as I do.
I lovey, love, love the decor in towers!
And what a BUSY Saturday! I hate days like that. It doesn't even feel like a day off.
I don't remember if I have seen the "cruise" D&B. Hmmm... I'll have to see.

 

[IluvXU]

Okay I am not following this fuzzy points... just where are you staying for the July trip, no days at BLT now- or split stay?

 

[Happydog]

Okay I am not following this fuzzy points... just where are you staying for the July trip, no days at BLT now- or split stay?

Ditto! I don't get it either??? WigD we are waiting to get clarity!!

 

[michellem1118]

I'm not positive, but I *think* they're staying in a studio at BLT through the night of 7/4, then moving to a 1BR at OKW, with a waitlist for that portion of the trip at BCV. That's how I interpreted the update, anyway. Hopefully wigd will be back soon to clarify a bit for us.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Okay I am not following this fuzzy points... just where are you staying for the July trip, no days at BLT now- or split stay?

Ditto! I don't get it either??? WigD we are waiting to get clarity!!

I'm not positive, but I *think* they're staying in a studio at BLT through the night of 7/4, then moving to a 1BR at OKW, with a waitlist for that portion of the trip at BCV. That's how I interpreted the update, anyway. Hopefully wigd will be back soon to clarify a bit for us.

Just what Michelle said.
I'll be back on tomorrow.
I'm beat!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm caught up again...YAY!

Looks like you were hopping all over Disney! It's so much fun to do whatever strikes you.

Seeing pictures of those little stuffed animals wrapped up in blankets still makes me want one. They better still be there in September.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I really think you are going to love that Fourth of July stay at BLT, and hopefully, your waitlist will come through for BCV. Have you ever stayed at OKW?

Happy Mother's Day! I hope today is a bit more relaxing for you than yesterday was!

 

[Happydog]

Happy Mother's Day to you!!!! WigD!!!

We spent our 4th of July trip at OKW!!!! So is your trip now how many days? I lost count!!

Hope you get some relaxing Mom's Day time -- which means a day in your PJ's and Dis! -- oh and brunch or dinner thrown in

That is my day! I can't wait!!!!

 

[Native NYer]

Happy Mother's Day Anita!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Love the update.

Crazy crowded outside DHS waiting for opening. I guess that's one good thing I missed by not being able to rouse my sleeping teenagers!

So don't keep me waiting too long.........................Can't wait to hear what Mark ate!

It was just amazing walking up and seeing that crowd waiting to get in, but we did move away from the crowd when we didn't go towards TSM.
I'm updating this morning so Shula's is coming up!

The crowds were huge entering DHS! Glad you got in and out. The views from BLT are amazing. It's really great you got to share this with another Diser. Great seats for the parade and not too crowded. Can't wait to hear about your dinner at Shula's. So we have to wait to find out what Marc ordered?

Hey Vanessa! Those crowds outside DHS were ginormous!
We had so much fun with Michelle and John and they don't even seem to mind that we are "old"! I guess it's the Disney thing!
Shula's coming right up!

I know what Marc ordered at Shula's....

But I'm not telling!

You keep good secrets!

Did you notice that the decor in the BLT accent pieces (wall hangings) matched your scarf? I am guessing that's part of why you liked it!

I did not notice until you pointed that out. So wish I could say I had planned it that way.....

WOW! To both the crowd and the view!
I wanted to go to that DVC event but we couldn't squeeze it in on this short trip. Couldn't give up any park time. We will go next month if they are still doing it.
I still don't love the decor of BLT but that view is worth it, hands down!
I'm not sure if I missed it..will Julia still be working there at the end of June? I know there was talk of an extension or something??

Wow is right about both the crowd and the view!
You know, giving up the park time isn't so bad when they give you those fastpasses that you can use anytime!
We love using those because you can use them even when the passes are gone for the day!
Our dear Julia didn't get her last extension so she will be leaving next week. She was already extended once so she did get some pixie dust one time...
Her grandmother really wants her to come home so I know she is disappointed but her family is missing her.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will meet us in October for MNSSHP!

Woo Hoo! I'm all caught up! That baby gorilla is soooo cute! She's almost 10 weeks old now! I was so excited to see her too!

That baby gorilla has really grown, just saw a picture of her last week!

WOOT!! Don't you just love a great Disney parade!!! So much fun!!!! I can't wait to see what happens at Shula's...yummy!!!! You know us Kansas people and our steak!!!!!

Disney parades are just the best! Oh my gosh Shula's! Yes, we Kansans are the beef snobs aren't we?

I find those crowds at DHS far scarier than the SciFi billboard, but poor Shocker being traumatized by the alien octopus!

I had to wipe the drool off my keyboard after looking at the Bay Lake photos! What a great view and what pretty rooms! I want to stay there now! I can't wait to hear about your time there for your birthday!

As we walked up to DHS we were having quite the conversation about the crowd!
Since we were texting yesterday you know all the details about our decision with BLT....

I love the view at BLT! AWESOME!!!! What kind of DVC event did you go to?

Let's just say that DVC event was a sales event but fun at the same time!

It was a DVC member preview event... where they took us all up to the Top of the World Lounge & tried to convince us to add on more points to our memberships. They also gave away a 3-night (I think) cruise on the Disney Dream next summer... none of us won.

Exactly!

That sounds like fun! Too bad you guys didn't win the cruise! How did you hear about the event?

It was fun! We were wearing our DVC buttons and the lady at the DVC kiosk invited us...

 

[stace208]

Happy Mother's Day Anita!!

We'll get OKW ready for ya, if you do end up there. We check out early on the 3rd of July. You'll check in on the 5th, yes?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We heard about it from wigd & shocker... but when we went down to sign up for the same event they were going to, we noticed the promotional sign right next to the DVC desk @ BWV.... and then noticed the same promotional sign at nearly every DVC desk/kiosk throughout WDW. It was actually pretty hard to NOT find out about it.

Yes, just what Michelle said!

I guess I'll have to be on the lookout next time I go! I'm not sure yet when that will be. Hopefully, NYE??? or before who knows!

I hope you get to go before!

Yay, an update! Great pics. Can't wait to hear what Shocker did!

Update coming!

Yep.. the mock rooms don't do BLT justice!

The rooms are beautiful! I just gave up on the wait list, nothing was coming through....

I had a laugh at this photo, too CP!!! SO funny! Marc -- don't quit your day job.

Yeah I can't wait to try out BLT too! Really looking forward to it!

WigD WHAT a great update! Fab photos and details. YIKES on those crowds! BOOOOOO that you didn't get the carrot cake cookie!!! BOOOOO well you can try in June!!!

I am going to try for that carrot cake cooking again. It just sounds so good!
The next time we try for BLT, I'm going straight for the 1br and a less busy time!
Is Marc not convincing in that photo?

OK, OK, OK.....

Helloooo there!
Oh my gosh...Julia is so adorable!!! I love her!!! It was so funny when I walked up to her because her nametag said Judi.....I asked her if she was Julia and she was too cute...she had forgotten her tag but I knew it was her! I saw her on my very last night and she really sprinkled some pixie dust on me.
That is a great picture of you on the bus Anita and funny of Shocker by Sci-Fi...poor thing
Okay....time to start planning the next trip....I HAVE to get some more use out of my AP (rather than just using it for frequent discounts in the parks )

Tracy

They are letting such a great CM get away, I hate it that she didn't get extended!
She really loves Disney and it shows in the way she treats the guests!
I am so glad that you met her!
Can't wait to hear what you decide on your plans!

Great updates. The view from BLT is divine. I dream about that tub, a glass of wine and a view of Wishes through that window. That's how the model was set-up and boy did it work its magic on me!

Can't wait to hear what Shocker decided on at Shula's!

See? That's one of the reasons that I'm not going to keep our entire stay at BLT, we can't get a 1br, or a MK view... We need to use points and can't get that done in a studio....
So after the 4th, we are moving on....
The Shula's update is coming up!

That BLT view is amazing! It's pretty cool how you can see so far out and see all that yet-to-be-developed Disney land. The sandwiches and chocolate covered cheesecake lollipops look yummy!

Can't wait to hear about Shula's! We've never eaten at the one there, though I have eaten at the original one down here in South Florida. Good stuff!

I bet the Shula's that you ate at is about the same as the one at Disney. It's all football at the Dolphin too!
We were so impressed by the BLT layout, the food was tasty too!

Busy day, Anita!!! I cannot believe that end of year events are happening already...4 more weeks here...ugh!!!

13 1/2 days with kids here! If we don't get our end of the year get togethers done they just won't happen.
We are having a little one after school next week with my staff. Won't be nearly as big a deal as Marc's.

I have to say that I am SO envious of your many trips to Dis

ney that you get to take each year. However, I think that if my family were able to do that, I would be taking many trips all by myself. My DH likes WDW, but not as much as I do.
I lovey, love, love the decor in towers!
And what a BUSY Saturday! I hate days like that. It doesn't even feel like a day off.
I don't remember if I have seen the "cruise" D&B. Hmmm... I'll have to see.

Well, today I'm chillin out, doing laundry, the DIS, going to see my mom!
Will see the girls later....
BLT is NICE!
I'm with you though, busy Saturdays are the pits!

Okay I am not following this fuzzy points... just where are you staying for the July trip, no days at BLT now- or split stay?

Split, BLT/OKW, wait list for BCV 1br for the last portion....

Ditto! I don't get it either??? WigD we are waiting to get clarity!!

Split, BLT/OKW, wait list for BCV 1br for the last portion....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm not positive, but I *think* they're staying in a studio at BLT through the night of 7/4, then moving to a 1BR at OKW, with a waitlist for that portion of the trip at BCV. That's how I interpreted the update, anyway. Hopefully wigd will be back soon to clarify a bit for us.

You are hired as my "official" spokes person!

I'm caught up again...YAY!

Looks like you were hopping all over Disney! It's so much fun to do whatever strikes you.

Seeing pictures of those little stuffed animals wrapped up in blankets still makes me want one. They better still be there in September.

Woo Hoo, Leslie is all caught up!
It is soo much fun to go as you please! That will happen again in July on my birthday trip!
Those blankie wrapped stuffed babies are all over the place....
Is there one you want more than the others?
I could always do some shopping for you.

I really think you are going to love that Fourth of July stay at BLT, and hopefully, your waitlist will come through for BCV. Have you ever stayed at OKW?

Happy Mother's Day! I hope today is a bit more relaxing for you than yesterday was!

Happy Mother's Day to you too!
Still in my jammies, DISing and doing laundry....
After the updates will head out to visit my mom.

We have stayed at OKW three times it's really nice and we like it but it's really big and spread out. More like condos than a hotel.
We will probably rent a car if we end up there.
I love the area near the hospitality house it's so much fun!
So I would be quite happy if we got that location!
Also we have only ever stayed in a studio at OKW, never a 1br, the villas are larger so that will be a plus!
Right now, I'm getting quite excited about an OKW stay!
I'll be happy with whatever we get!

Happy Mother's Day to you!!!! WigD!!!

We spent our 4th of July trip at OKW!!!! So is your trip now how many days? I lost count!!

Hope you get some relaxing Mom's Day time -- which means a day in your PJ's and Dis! -- oh and brunch or dinner thrown in

That is my day! I can't wait!!!!

Thanks Jennifer!
Have a great Mother's Day with your family too!
We really like the laid back atmosphere at OKW, but have become so spoiled by Beach Club's location....
I think Baylor would have fun staying at OKW especially if we were near the hospitality house, he likes to go and hang out over there and he isn't going to go along on that trip...

Happy Mother's Day Anita!!!

Thank you! Do you have plans for today?

Happy Mother's Day Anita!!

We'll get OKW ready for ya, if you do end up there. We check out early on the 3rd of July. You'll check in on the 5th, yes?

Thanks Stacy! What time do you leave on the 3rd? We arrive that day...
I bet we just miss each other.

 

[Native NYer]

[\Thank you! Do you have plans for today?

Out to dinner with mom, grandma, and my aunts.
What are you up to today? Dinner?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Update time!

Before I take you to Shula's I have to backtrack...
To DHS.
To Starring Rolls.
Before we ran from the park, after we couldn't get the carrot cake cookie.
We grabbed this sandwich.
Oh My Goodness, it was pure goodness.
First I must rant.
There is a smokers alley just east of Starring Rolls.
What are they thinking.
Guests are sitting outside eating and the smoke is wafting by, polluting our air.
I'm sorry but that stinks.

Ok rant over.

Here's the sandwich.
I'll have it again soon.
Hopefully minus the smoke.

On to Shula's!

Which is at the...

This was our first time to ever venture over to this hotel. They aren't exactly Disney in my opinion so we just hadn't ever made it a priority.
Let's just say it was a very nice place!

We wandered a bit once we entered the hotel, had no clue were we were going....
In no time at all we were entering Shula's and were seated.
The menu arrived on this.

Then the Don Shula football came around and we could pick it up and play with it. Baylor would have enjoyed this!

They did bring out a traditional menu which was easier to navigate and a cart with the cuts of meat so we could see what everything looked like our server was so thorough, (she did suggest that we share our side dish/es) then we made our selections...



First came the bread.

Our server was kind enough to take our picture as we waited for our salads.

The salads came and we ate, then the steaks came....
some may think that due to looks like this.....

or threats like this....

That Shocker decided against that 48oz steak. I'd like to think that he just was making good choices and beingmart enough to know that I wouldn't be able to finish my filet and we would have more than we needed anyway.
This is what he got, the 24oz porterhouse.

So here's my 12 oz filet....

This was our side of hashbrowns, we didn't finish them, but they were soooo, good.

I'm going to say that this was a better steak than Le Cellier. The price however was very high.
We won't stop going to Le Cellier because it's good too and we love the cheese soup and the pretzel bread!

We passed on dessert at Shula's because we were stuffed.

On our way out of The Dolphin we took a couple of pictures of the lobby.

Next we met up with Michelle and John at Beach Club, I had done some shopping for Laura (ILUVXU) and then we just found a quite spot to sit and talk to our new DIS buds!

Breaking for laundry and more updating coming!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yum! Shula's looks delicious! I would love to try those hash browns someday!!!

 

[michellem1118]

Didn't we meet at the Beach Club the next night? After your dinner at.... oh wait, I don't want to spoil anything, since I'm a good secret-keeper! You had just finished souvie-shopping for Harper & the new grandbaby....

Can't wait to read more!

 

[jenjolt]

OOOH those steaks look so yummy!! Yes I can see why Shocker decided against the 48oz steak!!!!!! LOL!!

The Dolphin looks so pretty, but you are right it does not scream Disney to me so I don't think I will ever be staying there. Of course never say never, I hear they have a really nice teacher discount!

I'm looking forward to more updates!!!!