First trip - Beach Club (7 days late Aug)

[Goofy's Muse]

Cast: DH and me (both 40-something); had been to Disney in ’86 for 3 whirlwind, dawn-to-dusk mostly Epcot days (half day at Magic Kingdom seemed enough to us then); stayed off-site at that time; had no burning desire to return and figured we’d pay our dues at the obligatory “take your kids to Disney” point in our lives.

Kids: DD(13), DD(11), DS(10), all totally convinced they were the only kids in the US (possibly the world) who had never yet been to Disney.

Outcome: An 8-day, 7-night magical stay at the Beach Club concierge level… We loved it so much that we’re already planning a return trip to “the World”! But that’s not how it all began…

The Planning: It’s probably hard for many of you to relate to someone like me who started out as very skeptical that a trip to Disney with kids would be anything short of stressful. I’m sure that’s why we waited until we were long past the diaper and stroller stage. Once we decided the time had come, we looked at our calendar and realized the most manageable time for a visit would be in late August – hazy, hot and humid, for sure, plus hurricane season. After browsing a couple of books on Disney, I was immediately overwhelmed and confused with all the choices and possibilities. Our one-week of family vacation each year is something we all look forward to and I was so fearful that both the planning and the trip itself would be stressful and exhausting.

Early on we decided that staying on-site was the way to go for us. Aware that DH and I were also celebrating the 30th anniversary of our first date this summer, we began to see this vacation as an opportunity for celebration. So from that point forward we looked for ways to relax and enjoy our planning, rather than stressing about it. Based on pictures and descriptions as well as convenience to the World Showcase (my personal favorite), we chose to stay at the Beach Club, which seemed so reminiscent of our early dating days at the beach and boardwalk. And keeping with that theme of maximum convenience, we opted to try the concierge service. What a gift that turned out to be! When we booked our trip, we had no idea about the ins and outs of planning a Disney vacation. But the IPO staff made it so easy for us to sketch out our plans, adjust them as necessary (this began happening more once we discovered the DIS
), and they offered many suggestions to complement our own ideas.

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Sunday – We chose to stay at an airport hotel on the night before our 7 am Sunday flight – the Park-and-Fly deal worked well for us. Landed in Orlando at just after 9:30 and were greeted by our driver. Note: Kids with their mouths wide open as the white stretch limo pulls up for US! This was an extra splurge, but what fun! Arrived at Beach Club around 10:45. We were pleasantly greeted by Hyacinth at the concierge desk, who brought us a cold drink and also informed us that though our room wasn’t quite ready, we’d been upgraded to a lake view room! At the time we’d booked in February, there were no water view concierge rooms to be had for a family of five, so we were absolutely thrilled with this news! Had a nice lunch at Beaches & Cream and changed for a swim in the famous Storm-Along-Bay. Yes, we all did the slide (some of us multiple times!), but we all really loved the sandy bottom, the whirlpool, the waterfall, and the lazy river area, too. By 2 PM our room was ready and though we had a hard time dragging the kids out of the pool, we were also anxious to see our room. And what a room it was – it absolutely brought tears to my eyes! Gorgeous full balcony; perfect view of the Boardwalk across Crescent Lake! And on the desk were the autograph books, pens, and World Showcase Passports we’d ordered for our kids along with some surprises – balloons, candy, autographed pictures and a boxed “Happy Anniversary” pin to start our Disney pin collection. I couldn’t help noticing some ominous clouds from that balcony, though, and by 4 PM there was a soaking rain. Was kind of worried that my dollar store ponchos wouldn’t hold up in a storm like this, but we trekked out to World Showcase anyway for our dinner at San Angel, which we really enjoyed. That night as we explored Mexico, then Norway, then China (those acrobats are truly amazing!), then Germany, I was really glad we’d brought spare sneakers for everyone (those shoes were definitely not going to dry overnight)! By 8:30 the rain tapered off to drizzle and though the kids were fading fast, we watched Illuminations for the first time on top of the bridge that spans the International Gateway. What a show! I’m certain my son was asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. We dimmed the lights in the room (LOVE those dimmers!), grabbed a cordial from the concierge lounge and enjoyed the first of many wonderful moments on our balcony – love those twinkling lights on the Boardwalk!

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Mon – Early wake-up call from Mickey to begin our first Magic Kingdom day! Decided to take a taxi to be sure to make it in time for our 8:05 PS at the Castle for breakfast. This was one event that we’d felt perhaps our girls were too old for but with some encouragement from Alana at the IPO Office, we reconsidered. And she was right – this turned out to be a true highlight for our girls! The castle is just beautiful and walking down Main Street for the first time in relative quiet was unbelievable! We were visited by Belle, Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella and Mary Poppins at breakfast, and we all did manage to eat as well! Fairy Godmother was seated in the throne downstairs and she was charming. By 9 AM we moved on to Fantasyland to do the classics like Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White, and the Carrousel as well as Mickey’s Philharmagic, which turned out to be a family favorite! Because crowds were low, we were able to move on to the Haunted Mansion and also Splash and Big Thunder Mountain before 11. While in Adventureland, we got autographs from Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, as well as Jasmine (DS13’s all time favorite!), the Genie and Jafar. Our longest wait of the morning was IN Pirates of the Caribbean which “stopped” for about 10-15 minutes in the “storm scene”, which nearly unraveled our son! Swiss Family Tree House was actually a nice diversion for him after that. Our plan was to leave MK by early afternoon for a swim break, but the kids couldn’t resist a stop in Tomorrowland. We got a FastPass for Space Mountain, grabbed a light lunch at Cosmic Ray’s, caught Carousel of Progress, then rode Space and the TTA before heading back to the resort around 2:30. The kids were split between just settling in for snack and movie break in the lounge or swimming, but as the lightning started to fly, the choice became moot. It never did end up raining though the pool did close due to the lightning threat. Around 5 we checked out the evening offerings in the concierge lounge figuring there were few days we’d be at the resort for “happy hour” time. The kids were thrilled with mac & cheese and “Uncrustables”; we enjoyed several dips with veggies & pita, cheeses, creamed spinach, and DH enjoyed a tortellini and pork hot dish; and of course, our wine. We had a 7 PM PS at the Flying Fish which was excellent – good food and our server Eugene was very gracious. Our kids enjoyed their first-ever chocolate soufflé for dessert which was a hit! After a nice stroll on the Boardwalk, we called it a night…

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Tues – An Epcot Future World morning after a breakfast in the concierge lounge (a great plus for us – we had many a breakfast there). Enjoyed Test Track (a lot!); Mission Space (though only the kids completed the full mission as it was too early to risk a bout with motion sickness); Spaceship Earth; the Living Seas, Honey I Shrunk the Audience plus a stop at the character bus. (Side note: I’d highly recommend NOT losing an eyeglass screw in the Living Seas, but if you do, be sure to be lucky enough to purchase the last available eyeglass repair kit in your resort’s gift shop. ) Following a light lunch (Hurricane Hannah’s) and swim break (they were filming for the new vacation DVD at Storm-Along Bay which fascinated our girls), caught the boat to MGM in time for the tail end of the afternoon parade (not the plan, but that’s how it goes sometimes). Let’s just say that MGM can be a disorienting park for newcomers, especially post-parade time on an early entry day (what was I thinking??) After a few false starts, we made our way to Muppets 3-D (which was fun) and then headed to Hollywood & Vine for an early dinner (Fantasmic package). The kids loved the buffet (there was a good fillet of beef with burgundy sauce that night). After dinner we had time for Indiana Jones, the Great Movie Ride (longish wait for this one), and the Little Mermaid show (loved this). Decided to find our seats for Fantasmic about 40 minutes early and were glad we didn’t wait longer – that stadium certainly gets packed! The weather was looking ominous and as we donned our ponchos through the drizzle (then rain), we just hoped the show would go on as planned. And it did! DH and the kids just loved this show; I liked it too though it wasn’t my favorite. Lingered a while too long in the shops post-show and almost missed the last boat back to the resort!

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Wed – Mid-trip and thus time to fulfill DS(10)’s #1 choice – a water park day. Though he favored Blizzard Beach, we favored what he hoped might be a shadier choice, Typhoon Lagoon. Started with a terrific breakfast at the Cape May Café – wonderful service, good food, and outstanding character interaction with multiple visits from Goofy and Minnie. Arrived a TL just after 10 and crowds were already building (we just couldn’t manage another very early morning). We all enjoyed the Storm Slides and the tube slides, and of course, that wave pool. But watch those glasses! (Anyone notice a trend here?) Both DH and I lost prescription glasses which we were fortunate enough to find before they got crushed – believe me, straps are no guarantee! DH and DD(13) chose to “swim with the sharks”, a definite highlight. I chose the lazy river, but frankly it was just not lazy enough on a hot August day! What’s with all those kids RUNNING through the lazy river?! Lunched at the Leaning Palms (but egad… watch those birds!!) and left around 2:30 for a rest at the resort prior to our 5:30 PS at Le Cellier. We chose Le Cellier for our anniversary dinner as it was reminiscent of the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec where we got engaged. But in the true spirit of plan, plan, plan, then adjust, adjust, adjust, DS(10) fell ill at the restaurant. So… we kicked into plan B with DH and the girls completing their Epcot evening, while DS and I took the boat back to our resort (with my dinner boxed to-go – what a dear server we had that night). I was never more grateful to open the door of my room and settle my son in his bed. And then as I glanced over to the desk, I noticed the most beautiful bouquet of flowers on it! DH had arranged for the delivery to coincide with our anniversary dinner! So with silverware provided by Mark at the CL desk, I managed to eat my meal through teary ears and counted my many blessings. Though not the evening we’d planned, I have to admit it was peaceful watching the world go by from my gorgeous balcony as my son slept off a day of too much heat, sun and excitement. My girls and husband eventually returned with stories and pictures of their meal and dessert (“Chocolate Moose”) and the countries they’d visited, though they skipped getting their passports stamped because they “wanted to do that with their brother”. “…Ohana means ‘family’, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten…” Yes, DH and I felt VERY lucky that night as we watched the twinkling lights from our balcony…

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Thurs – Slept in a bit, but went to Animal Kingdom as planned because everyone (including DS) woke up feeling fine. Again the kids couldn’t resist those character visits, especially Lilo and Stitch! Walked the Gorilla Falls trail prior to our FastPass Safari time. Hit the safari at noon on a very hot and sunny August day (against all advice, I know), but we were amazed at the variety of animals! Stopped for a cooling lunch break at Tusker House (good food, good entertainment) and then proceeded on to Flights of Wonder, The Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Kali River Rapids. (Mental note for next time: Please put on poncho even if it’s sunny, hot and you’ll look like a dork – sopping wet doesn’t begin to describe the Kali experience!) Went on to see the Festival of the Lion King (phenomenal show – I really LOVED this one!) and the Jammin’ Jungle Parade (also very entertaining)! DH and DD(13) checked out Bug’s Life and then joined the rest of us in exploring Discovery Island and the Oasis until park closing. Dinner that night was at Boma and as we walked through the lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the first time, we were truly dazzled by its beauty. (This has now become DD(11)’s dream resort for next summer, joining DS(10) who had said prior to this trip that his dream would be to wake up and see giraffes out his window…) Boma did not disappoint – delicious food and friendly service. After dinner we explored the outdoor viewing area and were so impressed by the CM who actually phoned in to the Education Center to find an answer to our son’s question about the length of a giraffe’s neck. (Little do they know that my son could keep that phone line busy all day long with his questions! ) We wrapped up our evening with a trip to Disney Quest where we planned to spend an hour or two but instead closed the place! Met my dear Sis (kid’s favorite Aunt) there and we all had a blast, especially those who braved the virtual roller coaster (those videos alone were worth the price of admission, though admission was “free” for us with the UPHs)! Apparently my own performance on several attractions provided entertainment for the folks in line (OK, I admit it… I DO talk to myself quite a bit!). Yes, that was one late night…

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Fri – MGM morning after sleeping in a bit. Rock ‘n Roll roller coaster was first on the kids’ list but was down for the morning, then the afternoon, and well… we gave up waiting. They were disappointed but decided to “just put it on the list for next trip” (at some point, a next trip just became a given…) Did Tower of Terror. Not sure why I missed the motion sickness warnings for this one, but what a mistake it was for me and I’m sure the hot day didn’t help! I just could not get my bearings – used to be able to ride everything before I had kids! The kids and my DSis managed fine, of course. Almost thought I’d have to bail for the day, but we managed to get the last 6 seats in Millionaire and the A/C revived me somehow. Did a walk-in lunch at Mama Melrose (which everyone enjoyed) and afterward the kids met up with the Toy Story characters, including the Green Army Men who had great fun with our son! Walked through One Man’s Dream (for DH) and had terrific seats for Beauty and the Beast (great show with a great “warm-up” performance by the “Four For A Dollar” a capella group). Enjoyed a swim break back at the resort prior to dinner at Spoodles. What a great meal we had there – wonderful appetizers, great server! After dinner we suggested taking the monorail to MK to catch Wishes – we’d not done either yet. We were planning to see Wishes (and the Spectromagic parade) Saturday night, but this seemed like a better alternative than waiting for the coaster that “still might open”. The kids were lucky enough to be able to ride with the monorail driver (only a 5 minute wait for that treat)! I had not expected to be WOW’d by Wishes – I DO love fireworks and expected to like these a lot, but what a powerful show! The music and the voice track are just amazing! We really didn’t engineer a spot for viewing, despite all my research. We just stopped mid-way on Main Street with the castle dead-on. Totally amazing – just had to have that music. So glad I didn’t wait till Saturday night – couldn’t wait to see it again!!

To be continued...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Sat – (Background: About two weeks prior to our departure, we learned that my DBro and his family (favorite cousins) were taking a last-minute trip to FL and Saturday turned out to be our “overlap day”. So with some last-minute magic compliments of the IPO staff were able to juggle our Saturday PSs to accommodate a full-day at MK on Saturday.) Began with early breakfast at the Crystal Palace (Pooh is a family favorite)! We loved this breakfast – thought the food, service and character interaction were all wonderful, and what a pretty place to boot! The kids went on to have their fill of Tomorrowland first, then Fantasyland (characters and all), Frontierland & Adventureland (lunch snack at Pecos Bill). Then the group split – some to Liberty Square, others to the train and Toontown. By now we were ready for a lengthier break. My kids had had their hearts set on Chef Mickey’s, so that’s where we spent our last dinner. The napkin dance came as an unexpected surprise to them and we enjoyed all the characters, especially Mickey and Donald who we’d not yet seen. After dinner we returned to the park and consensus was we just HAD to ride the train and see Philharmagic one last time. Didn’t stake out early seats for the parade, but it was visible from our vantage point near the castle. The kids were hoping for one last ride on Space Mountain before Wishes, but we opted to ride the TTA instead – how beautiful at night! We stopped on the Tommorrowland bridge to watch Wishes, hoping to see Tinkerbell fly and we did. Just hated to leave the park that night…

Just one more day...

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Sun – We’ve almost come full circle. The plan was to close our trip at Epcot just as we’d started it, but first we watched the dawn break from our balcony. Just as beautiful in the early morning hours as at night! After checking our luggage, had to visit Test Track one last time, and the kids lingered in several shops choosing their first collector pins. We had several countries the kids still wanted to visit and they had Disney dollars they still wanted to spend. We were lucky enough to see both the Living Statues at Italy and the Candy Lady at Japan (she is awesome!) It was another bright and sunny day (the first day that I’d chosen not to carry the ponchos) and wouldn’t you know it, the weather turned downright ugly by 2 PM and there were limits on how long we could “wait it out” in Morocco without risking missing our plane! Our “chariot” came for us at 3:30 PM. DH was excited to get upgraded to an Excursion limo; the kids were just excited that they each had their own spot to “stretch out”. Our flight home on Song skirted tropical storm Gaston in SC, which limited most in-flight satellite reception and food service. But the on-flight music trivia game was a go and provided great entertainment for my kids (and others as well). Apparently DS(10) was in first place for much of the trip due to fast-fingered wild guessing, and ended up in second place overall!

And so… it’s been just over a month since our return. Back-to-school, back-to-work, back-to-reality. But we have some great memories and really are planning for our return to Disney. Just tonight I was having dinner alone with DD(11) and she mentioned out of the clear blue that she thought our Disney trip was her best-ever vacation. I think we all agree...

 

[even1]

Goofy's Muse,

What a lovely trip report!! I remember our first stay at Beach Club in much the same way and I'm sure you will be sampling other WDW resorts in the future!!

The great thing about WDW resorts is that each resort has it's own charm that can only be experienced by staying there. The only problem is that you fall in love with every one of them! You will always find new things to see and do as it actually takes MANY vacations to accomplish this feat.....

Here's hoping that your future trips are even more magical than your first.

Eileen

 

[Pattymouse]

Absolutely a great report. Thank you for taking the time to write it. I really enjoyed!

Pat

 

[BCV23]

What a wonderful trip report. I don't read many but am so glad I read yours!

I love your mantra of plan, plan, plan and then adjust, adjust, adjust. I think that is truly the key to a great WDW vacation. I'm in awe that you did some a great job of planning your very first trip!

 

[KerryCM]

Great trip report. I am so glad you had such a wonderful time!

 

[steveanddonna]

Beautiful trip report! You have the same mindset as DH (captainconcierge) and I - plan everything, then be flexible. Glad your 1st Disney experience as a family was Magical.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I agree with Donna's comment! Done like a true concierge family! Thank you for sharing your reports with us!

 

[Disney01]

Did your 11 year old and 13 year old daughters get autographs also? I'm hoping my 11 year old is not "too old" when we go!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

Originally posted by Disney01
Did your 11 year old and 13 year old daughters get autographs also? I'm hoping my 11 year old is not "too old" when we go!

Disney01, Absolutely yes!! Believe it or not, I totally underestimated my kids' sheer delight in meeting the characters, getting pictures, and getting autographs. They willingly waited in lines (which fortunately were not too long) -- I think the longest was Ariel -- 20 min. I had not planned on spending any time doing this! The girls absolutely loved meeting the princesses at CRT, but even my son mugged for those photo ops with the princesses! My son was first in line after the Pooh characters at the parade in the Crystal Palace and our whole table of 6 got into the napkin dance at Chef Mickey's.The kids also loved the Epcot Passports.

Maybe it was because they were first-timers. I prefer to think they just got caught up in the magic! Their Dad, GoofyJoofy, also got several pictures taken with with his fave (Goofy, of course)! DD(13) did say she wished she'd have seen her all-time favorite, Jasmine, at a younger age, but she was no less excited to meet her at age 13. The characters were all so dear to my kids and never once made them feel "too old" -- in fact, many of the characters were downright playful with our kids. Kids grow up so fast these days... as a mom it was so wonderful to see my kids check their inhibitions at the door!

And to even1, Pattymouse, BCV23, KerryCM, steveanddonna, and #1hockeymom -- Thanks so much for your kind words ! My best find before our trip was to learn about the DIS -- what a great group of fun, supportive and knowledgeable folks you all are!

 

[Steffy]

Goofy's muse,

Thank you so much for sharing your trip. I am so glad you had such a nice time.

And thank you for sharing that great line... plan plan plan then adjust adjust adjust. My firend is also a first timer and she is all stressed out.

I have felt like a fly on the wall as I watched your DH plan your trip on the LL thread. It was such a delight. I am so happy for you and your family. This was truly a dream come true.

 

[Minniespal]

Great report ~ Thanx for sharing.

 

[samnbilly]

Great trip report. I look forward to spending part of my stay at the BC concierge level this trip and it was wonderful to hear all of the details. I can't believe you've never been to Disney before-you sound like a pro. Its so wonderful you're going again.