DVC Mike Live from BWV/SSR (3/7-3/15/09)

[sb127]

The pictures are awesome! Your trip reports are always the best.

 

[dtheboys]

I wish you would stay another week or two...I just love looking at the photo's you take for us!!!
THANKS for posting them

 

[DVC Mike]

My DW really enjoyed the Behind the Seeds tour, as she is planting a garden in the back of our house. Boy, did she ask a lot of questions!

My DW snapped a picture of this charming and attractive DVC member who is named Mike, and happens to be staying at BWV/SSR.

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My DW enjoys all the flowers at Epcot

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The Stormalong Bay rehab at YC on an overcast afternoon

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[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for the great trip report and pictures! The prep for the F&G is great to see. We'll be there in May for my first return trip for that festival since 2001 - can't wait!

 

[paulh]

great photos,stormalong bay,are they making the lazzy river a bit more shalow?as its a bit deep even for me
Paulh

 

[work2play]

Did I read that right?? There must be a great story that goes with the 20 add on contracts?? How many points is that! I assume there is already a thread on Mike's DVC add on contract adventure! All through Disney, or some resales?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the flower pics!!! You are whetting our appetite for that wonderful Flower and Garden Festival trip we will be taking in May!

 

[podsnel]

I LOVE the flower pictures- they are all so vibrant!! Also getting me psyched to see them on my May trip. I also literally looked at your pics, then looked at my dead NJ garden and wondered, "where would I put the Mickey head"?

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Taking tours too! I'm getting more jealous by the minute!

Actually I'm just looking forward to when my kids are grown and DH and I can travel like that. (Don't get me wrong, doing Disney with kids is great and I don't want it to go by too fast! Just picturing what my future is like...)

Just wondering...do you go anywhere that is not Disney? With all those points, I wonder if you have time. Do you exchange for travel elsewhere? (We only use non-Disney timeshares to do that!)

 

[DVC Mike]

Did I read that right?? There must be a great story that goes with the 20 add on contracts?? How many points is that! I assume there is already a thread on Mike's DVC add on contract adventure! All through Disney, or some resales?

Yep, 20 add-ons (all direct from Disney) for a total of 1,000 points. We manage to use each and every point.

 

[Brave teacher]

Yep, 20 add-ons (all direct from Disney) for a total of 1,000 points. We manage to use each and every point.

I WISH!

 

[DVC Mike]

Well, we had dinner at the Il Mulino New York Trattoria. Let's just say I'm a bit surprised it's categorized as Signature Dining, as it doesn't compare well with our usual round of Signature Dining Suspects (Jiko, Cali Grill, Flying Fish, Yachtsman, Citricos, Artist Point or Narcoossee's).

The restaurant itself looked very nice. I had the Pasta Fagiolo soup, followed by the Tottellini All Panna. It was good, certainly a step above Olive Garden.

My wife asked to speak to the chef due to her food allergies, but (just like Chefs de France), the chef did not appear. Instead, our waitress relayed my DW's allergies and then returned and said she can't have anything on the menu, as every single sauce used Soy. She asked for just a simple plate of broiled or grilled vegetables.

What she received was a plate of a bunch of overcooked (soggy) green vegetables swimming in butter. Needless to say, she was not thrilled.

We won't be returning.

Here is Mrs. DVC Mike's official review:

My first impression of the hotel itself was that it looked and smelled crisp and clean, as did the restaurant. The lighting is very much to my liking. We were taken to our table where I announced to the waitress that I have many allergies and handed her a short note that my wonderful husband had printed up for all of the restaurants in hopes of eliminating confusion. She politely took the note and said that she would take it to Chef. About five minutes later her waitress partner came back to the table and explained that everything in the restaurant was unsuitable for my consummation as ALL prepared sauces etc. have soy, not most, but ALL. I would like to point out that the Chef never came to our table.

Off course they were happy to discuss options. I told her that I was hoping that some simple grilled or broiled veggies could be made and after a few minutes of bouncing thoughts back and forward we came up with broiled tomato with broiled mozzarella and some sauteed veggies in LIGHT butter sauce, we were well on our way!

When the dish came to me at first glance all was well, quite frankly I was hungry and the broiled tomato with mozzarella smelled and looked outstanding. After I had settled my hunger I started really looking at my dish. I quickly realized that the veggies were all green with no contrast, over cooked, a bit soggy and swimming in a butter sauce at the bottom.

Now to most vegetarians soggy veggies soaking in a pile of butter is very unappetizing, especially severed by a restaurant that claims to be "signature". It simply was not appealing to look at and by the first half of the meal all I could taste was the butter. By the time Mike had finished his dinner I had left half my meal on the plate and it just sat there looking like a pile of green soggy buttery goop. That being said the tomato and mozzarella was very good. But the most exciting part of my dinning experience was the square bottom bag they gave me to take my tomato home in.

To be fair the waitress did give me a card so that in the future I could call ahead to speak with the kitchen staff so that they could maybe make a special sauce for me which I thought was very nice of them. I just do not understand how a restaurant that is so close to Disney, that claims to be signature could not offer me one thing in the kitchen biased off of ONE of my allergies, forget the other seven. Topping that off with well over cooked veggies swimming in butter. I just do not get it, sauteed veggies is kitchen 101, for any restaurant. Needless to say I thanked them for the bag and walked out ready to let everyone on the boards know that you had better call ahead if your allergic to soy, otherwise nothing on menu is available to you.

 

[DVC Mike]

Tonight is our last night at BWV. We check out in the morning. When I originally planned this trip, we were scheduled to head home tomorrow. Now, due to some of those developer points from our BLT purchase, we are staying 4 more nights at SSR.

Every time we stay at one of our home resorts, I ask my DW which of them is her favorite. The funny thing is she always tells me the name of the resort we're currently staying at.

This trip, she praised BWV and said it was her favorite. Last trip, it was VWL, and before that, BCV and before that AKV. You get the picture. I guess each of our home resorts offers a unique experience, and we're glad to stay at all of them.

 

[theostwalts]

Tonight is our last night at BWV. We check out in the morning. When I originally planned this trip, we were scheduled to head home tomorrow. Now, due to some of those developer points from our BLT purchase, we are staying 4 more nights at SSR.

Every time we stay at one of our home resorts, I ask my DW which of them is her favorite. The funny thing is she always tells me the name of the resort we're currently staying at.

This trip, she praised BWV and said it was her favorite. Last trip, it was VWL, and before that, BCV and before that AKV. You get the picture. I guess each of our home resorts offers a unique experience, and we're glad to stay at all of them.

Hey Mike,

Glad you are enjoying your vacation. Be glad you have a few extra days. It's cold and rainy back here in NC!!!

Maybe it will clear up before you have to head back.

 

[bbluvsdis]

You said you are doing KTTK tour this week.If you have never done the tour before it is really special. My DH and I were there in October and had Evelyn as our guide. She was great. So much info and well worth the time. Enjoy! I'm looking forward to our first stay at BWV in May.

 

[LisaS]

Every time we stay at one of our home resorts, I ask my DW which of them is her favorite. The funny thing is she always tells me the name of the resort we're currently staying at.

I can relate! I have the same reaction after each DVC stay.

I'm sorry that Mrs. DVC Mike had such a disappointing dinner. Overcooked veggies swimming in butter...

 

[minster22]

Just want to thank you for sharing your trip in such a fabulous way with all of us!! My time at WDW is spent very similar to yours and I am enjoying very much hearing about your dining experiences and looking at your incredible photos! Boardwalk is our home resort and also my favorite resort and those photos sure make me homesick....thanks for taking the time to do this!!!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Sorry that your meal at Il Mulino wasn't very good. I think I'll cross that place off of our to-do list now. I don't think I'd enjoy that very much. Hopefully the rest of your dining experiences on this trip are good ones.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Hiya Mike! I feel bad that your wife & you didn't have a better signature dining experience. Also, the experience of Chefs de France seems to leave a less than desireable taste in our mouths as it did for your wife. Maybe not so much in food (we also are awaiting our first experience of WDW & the dining it has to offer... as I have stated so many times before- LOL) but in customer service... One of our biggest musts in dining out- I can forgive food discretions at times when the customer service is above par. That is, customer service from all venues of the establishment. An effort must be made to accommodate all guests, even at the last minute. It sounds as though you had everything very organized and together so any eating establishment could have catered to her needs. That was just disappointing to hear, Mike. I don't have either of those on our ADR schedule for April and now will be changing our choice for July. (Chefs de France) We will try Yachtsman or Le Cellier- two other choices we thought we would eventually get to on a future trip.
Also, on a higher note, the pictures of the character topiaries are wonderful as are the flowing gardens with the Mickey heads. I am so excited that our first trip will be during Flower & Garden Festival time frame- My favorite season for the weather and all of the wonderful colors that Spring brings and my B-day is also in April. I can't wait to get there. Thx for taking us along on your journey.
Oh! & Yes, what ostwalt had mentioned. The past week has been so beautiful and then Thursday started the downturn, got a bit chilly & overcast and then Friday with the rain. Today was rain and very chilled, almost an icey feeling it was so cold. Be thankful you are there. We hope that this turns around soon and we get some 60's, 70's and maybe even 80's in the weather.

 

[granmanh603]

Mike thanks for the review...and sooo sorry about your wife's dinner, not a good sign if they can't cook veggies...
Just wanted to say that last night we wandered over to DTD and it was so packed we decided to take a boat ride down to PO and that the Treehouse Villas are lit up at night and you can see the inside. I would have taken a picture but have no idea of how to post it... but thought you might be able to.
Oh I have been reading and showing my DH your reports while you have been down here and now every day he asks "What did DVC Mike do/eat today?" LOL