First Dis With The Kids! Food Reviews And A Non-commando Disney Trippie Dvc Style!

[bunkkinsmom]

Hello All, and welcome to my first trip report. Here is the pre-requesite cast of characters: Dad in Law - REALLY young at heart, vivacious, whimsical, ready for the teacups even on queasy stomach. Mom in Law - always over prepared, sweaters in the purse, amazing caretaker, and STUNNING for a grandma. Sis in Law - Excited to be here, but VERY VERY queasy, here in the park and down with the stomach flu! Hubby - Swears he's not in charge, but so is, also ready for the teacups. DD1 - It's all about Tink. DS - It's all about Buzz. DD2 - It's all about her. Oh, and then there's me - It's all about the family!

So I rented points for our first family vacation. I don't think I can say who I rented from, so we shall call him Don. Completely fictitious. Anywho, Don got us a GRAND VILLA AT OKW!!!! yes, Don is the MAN!! We added the Dining Plan 3 weeks before arrival with no problems. To add to the adventure, we took the Amtrak down. Actually, great trip. However, I would not do it without help. 3 kids, 2 parents, we are outnumbered. But with all of the help we have, it was a breeze. Overnight trip from Raleigh, arrived on time and had a great ride. We went a little overboard on the ride from Amtrak though. With 8 of us plus luggage, we decided to get a limo to the resort. Yes, it was extra $, but Grandma had never been in a limo, so it was worth it!

We arrived at OKW around 1130 am, and our room was not ready, so we headed to Downtown Disney to eat. I heard so much about Earl of Sandwich, I was READY to give it a shot, to say the least. So we rolled on in (pun intended, as Grandma and Granddaddy are in ECVs). Uh, line is an understatement! It was chaos in there! I thought that maybe we should go around the corner to Wolfgang Puck Express and check it out. We got great seats outside and in the back. I had the Roast Beef and Cheddar, hubby had the Beef Melt and they were both FAN - FLIPPIN - TASTIC!! We hung out, picked up our stroller swap at POP, and headed back to check on the villa. It was ready (Thank you Andy!) and we headed up. OH..........MY..............GOODNESS!! Can I just tell you that the Grand Villas at OKW are AMAZING! Beautiful, clean, awesome!

We headed to dinner at Chefs de France for our 630 ressie. Our service and food were fantastic, and we headed out to watch Illuminations. YAWN......more tomorrow if anyone is listening. Must sleep.........

 

[SunnieRN]

awesome start! Looking forward to more! Did your parents take thier ecv's on the boat or the bus to dtd?

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Good Morning! We actually took the ecv's on the boat, and the cast members were GREAT! Very accommodating and super nice. So far everyone has been. We ran into a medicine snag of sorts on the second day, and talk about service! Granddaddy needs nitro just in case with the rides and stuff, but of course, left it at home. We checked at the OKW concierge, they gave us a form, and we took off for MK. When we arrived, we went to City Hall with the now completed form, called the Dr's office, faxed the form to Turner Drug and went about our way. When we returned to OKW to get ready for our Puck reservations, the medicine was already delivered. OUTSTANDING! The service here really is incredible. However, little teaser, our lunch at Express was MUCH better than dinner at Wolfgang Puck Cafe. More on that later, we are off!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

So first day at MK. We went to Cindy's Carousel, and rode Cindy's horse! Very cool, there were 3 or 4 families in front of us, but they didn't pick that horse. Then Granddaddy, DS, DD1, and Hubby waited FOREVER for the Tomorrowland Speedway. I kept thinking, "We could do this at home! Let's go to the Haunted Mansion!" But it's not about me, it's about the kids. I must've said that to myself a thousand times! At this point, DSIL was VERY ill. I walked her back to the buses and then caught back up with everyone.

That night for dinner we had ressies at Puck's Cafe. We took the boat over and our captain was nice enough to stop at west side for us so we didn't have to take a water taxi. Chris was our waiter, and he was super nice! The bread and chips that were brought to the table were OUTSTANDING! Now, let me just say that hubby and I are big sushi eaters! The special of the day sounded wonderful, so I ordered it. I wasn't very hungry and it seemed like it wouldn't be a lot of food. Besides, we are used to paying $16 for a good roll back home. Hubby got the flank steak, and the inlaws got tortilla soup because they weren't very hungry either. Although a VERY small portion, the soup was good. The flank steak was nearly inedible. I have been in restaurants for 20 years, and I know that flank is not the best cut, but this was really bad. When we brought it to Chris' attention, he just said it was supposed to be that way. The sushi was 6 pieces and not very flavorful. All in all we had 1 steak, 2 soups, 1 sushi, 2 kids meals. No alcohol. And with the DVC discount (we paid oop for this meal) our total was $91. We won't be back. Goofy's Candy Company however, a whole different experience!

On to Goofy's, and it was everything the masterful Dis'sers said it was! I am STILL eating my pretzel rods! The next day was Studios day. We actually talked my daughter into riding TOT! It was awesome! But before that, I have to take a quick tear jerker break:

Everytime we go out to eat, my son says, "Mommy, are we going to Pizza Planet?" and I have to say "No, son, not today." To which he replies, "Aw, maybe later?" and I say "Yes, baby, maybe later."
TODAY MY SON ATE LUNCH AT PIZZA PLANET!!!!!
He looked at my hubby and said "Thanks daddy, this is the coolest place ever!" **SIGH**

OK, back to studios. Road RNR with the inlaws, and that was great! The street performers were outstanding, and we had a blast! Dinner at HoopDeDoo, and it was exactly what we expected. Cheesy, the kids and DIL loved it! Food was good, and we got back exhausted. Today.........rope drop at MK, BBB, and breakfast with the princesses!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

How sad is this, I am bumping myself.

 

[pheathers24]

I'm waiting for more.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Ok then, here we go. Yesterday was a very Magical day. It was all about me and my oldest. We left everyone else at the Villa, and headed to MK for rope drop. We were on a mission, only one thing we wanted........Tink. We made rope drop, headed to Mickey's Toon Town Fair, and that's when I realized that I had forgotten one very important fact..........Toon Town doesn't open until 10. Now, normally that would not be an issue, but we had Breakfast with the princesses ressies at 10:20. In Norway. UGH! So I asked my little Pixie what she wanted to do, and she chose Tink. So we waited, and guess what? We were FIRST IN!!!! YEA!!!!!!! Tink was awesome, and cute, and feisty, and very tinkish. My little pixie just beamed! So worth the wait! Then we were off, racing to Norway, through the Magic Kingdom we ran, up the hill to the Monorail to the TTC, down the hill and back up the hill to the Epcot side of the Monorail, through the turnstiles, past the ball across the bridge, hang a left, pass Mexico, and WHEW. Norway. We made it in about 35 minutes, which was a very big deal because we did not want to lose our table. We had the Belle photo and then off to our table. The princesses came over INSTANTLY! We met Snow White, Mulan, Aurora, and JASMINE!!! We loved her! My pixie was wearing a black tshirt with a pink glittery skull and crossbones wearing a tiara on it's skull. Jasmine loved it! She said she was a rebel too, not snooty like the other princesses, and she liked to sword fight! I think she's my new favorite.

You would think that was the end of the rushing, but did I mention we had ressies at BBB at the Castle at 1230? Back to the monorail, down the hill, up the hill, back on the monorail, through the bagcheck, through the turnstiles, up main street, into the castle and WHEW.....Bibbidy Boppity.
Guess what costume she picked.............you got it, Tink. The CM at the front desk was from the college my Dad just retired from, so a little conversation at the desk and we were off. We were escorted back to the curtain area where my pixie was told to say "Bippity Boppity Boo" and they flung the curtain open and there was her wardrobe. She gasped! We got dressed, got our FGIT, and spent the next 45 minutes being transformed. The fgit next to us was singing all of the songs and she was INCREDIBLE! Anyway, my pixie was beautiful, so much so that people were taking pictures of her and kids were yelling TINK TINK!!!!! all day. Proud mama, proud proud mama!

By this time the rest of our party had caught up to us and we were off to spend the afternoon in the MK. We did Splash Mountain with my son and it was his first roller coaster ride....he loved it and got soaked! Did the teacups again and Magic carpets with the baby. We then ran into Captain Jack Sparrow! My son was so very impressed! He got to be a part of the show!!! Captain Jack was most gracious and we moved along. I don't know if I've mentioned, but so far every ride has been 10min wait or less. Very little waiting.

Ok, dinner at Ohanas. If you like Brazilian Steakhouses, and I do, you will love Ohanas. Lots of meat. Meat meat meat. Potstickers and wings were awesome, shrimp was spicy, noodles were great. But people, the dessert. Just get the dessert, that's all I'm saying. We went out to the beach to watch Wishes over the Castle and it was very very nice. If you are honeymooning, kanoodling, cuddling, whatever it is two people do when in love, watch Wishes on the beach of the Poly. It's very nice.

Today, Animal Kingdom - Tonight, Fantasmic!!!

 

[CRSTEPHE]

Enjoying your TR. My family is from Benson, NC (just down I-40 from Raleigh). How many points were required for the Grand Villa? I have a 7 night trip scheduled at AKL in June, but a villa would be so cool--also, do you pay the same price for the DDP if you rent points?

Looking forward to more ....

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Enjoying your TR. My family is from Benson, NC (just down I-40 from Raleigh). How many points were required for the Grand Villa? I have a 7 night trip scheduled at AKL in June, but a villa would be so cool--also, do you pay the same price for the DDP if you rent points?

Looking forward to more ....

Yes, DDP is the same. You have to add the DDP at least 48 hours prior to arrival and you pay for it when you check in. This trip required 276 points I think. However, we are in a Grand Villa, it's bigger than my house. Depending on how many you have going and their ages you could down size. For instance, if it were just hubby and the kids and I, we could do a one bedroom no problem. The pullout is a queen and my kids are little. AKL one bedrooms have the pullout queen AND a pullout twin sleeper chair. As my kids get older, we would require a 2 bedroom. Also where you stay affects how many points as well. You are going during a season that will cost more points and staying at a "high point" resort. You can check out point charts online. I am not sure of the exact address, just google DVC Point Charts. We are pretty fortunate that we can pick up and go this time of year and we really don't have any problem taking the kids out of school, so this works for us. Also, we wanted a resort with not so many kids around, so Old Key West has been nice, and it is fewer points. I hope this answers your questions, neighbor! If you have anymore, I will be happy to try and help! The guy I rented from, we will call him Don, might be looking to rent more in April. If you are interested I can put you in touch with him. That would be a 2 month window and I wouldn't bet you would get AKL, but you could try.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

So yesterday was wet. Very wet. We walked on EVERYTHING!! Kali, Safari, even EVEREST!! You should see the shot of my 6 year old on Everest If you look beside "terror" in the dictionary........

We ate lunch at Flame Tree, and I know everyone here raves about it, but ick. Was not good. Let me rephrase that. I had the Beef Sandwich, and it was very good. Everyone else had ribs and they hated them. I will agree that the key lime pie dessert was also not very good. Then it started POURING. I am totally OK with that, I love the rain. Took off my shoes and walked from Everest to Camp Minnie Mickey. LOVED IT! However it was very cold inside Festival of the Lion King and my kids were soaked, so that was no good. By the time that let out and we hopped a bus to OKW, it was 6pm. We had missed our 445 Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic ressie, and we were starving. We elected to skip Fantasmic (so not my idea) and just eat at the resort to stay dry and warm. Waited until 730 for a table at Olivias. Brahim was our server and he was wonderful. At my table we had the Meatloaf, Prime Rib, and NY Strip and everyone was VERY happy with their food. Brahim even made my oldest "Artist of the Day" and made everyone clap for her!!! She was sooo embarrassed.

Then back to the Villa and off to bed. I am up early today because in 48 minutes they will be here to pick us up for the DVC TOUR!!!!! YEAH!!!!! Reservations are for Liberty Tree, but who knows where we will end up. I will let ya'll know how Bay Lake Towers is looking, Until later.....

 

[CRSTEPHE]

Thanks for the info on the points. I'm going to check on how many would be required and then head to the DVC rental board!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

No worries, I hope you have a fantastic time!