Food, Fun and Sun-Live Trip Report

[petbren]

Hi Fellow Canadians.
This is our first time to Disney with a laptop, so I am going to try to post a live trip report
DD(12-"almost 13 Mom), DS(15) and I are here at the Millenium Hotel, in Beautiful Buffalo.
DH joing us on Monday afternoon as he could not get the weekend off from the Hospital.
Hotel is fine, seems in worse shape than when we stayed two years ago.
Not really worth the $125 CAA rate but what can you do
I came to understand later why we had to sign a form stating we would not bring Hockey Sticks in the hotel--big group of hockey kids/parents here but they did settle down by 12:30.
Our flight leaves at 10:50am-much later than usual, so we were able to sleep in a bit. I, however, could not sleep. The alarm will go in a few minutes to wake kids, then we will go down for breakfast.

More later

 

[petbren]

Breakfast was good, nothing special but good.
Heading down for shuttle now.
Can't wait for some Florida sunshine

 

[bababear_50]

Have a wonderful trip!
I'm headed down tonight and can't wait for a bit of sunshine.

Hugs Mel

 

[Disney_Mama]

Love live trip reports Safe travels.

 

[Disney_Mama]

Oh... and I love your Avatar.

 

[petbren]

Oh... and I love your Avatar.

Thanks, love me some Dexter

 

[petbren]

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to my "live" report.

Bus picked us up at Millenium at 9am, checked in, through security and sitting comfortably by 9:35
Boarded a bit early. Could have been earlier but for people who don't buy early bird check in (SWA) or don't know the procedure for getting the boarding passes 24 hours ahead
Waited for the usual "would anyone be willing to move seats so this family can sit together" crap, then we were off.
No flight issues, on ME quickly, off at BWV second stop, picked up on-line check-in package (still haven't read through it) and WOW, room was ready at 2:35
We have a 1 bedroom standard view, here is the view.

This was taken very early this morning--man I love it when the clock "springs ahead" when you are on vacation

More on our day later.

 

[mtmbyck]

Petbren, how do you add photos? Are you urging them in a photbucket first or can you somehow send direct to this board? You picked an awesome week to come. Been here 3 days and it is going to be sun and 80's for the next 7 days with less than 20 percent chance of rain. And floridians are complaining about that!!!

Looking forward to your report.

 

[petbren]

Petbren, how do you add photos? Are you urging them in a photbucket first or can you somehow send direct to this board? You picked an awesome week to come. Been here 3 days and it is going to be sun and 80's for the next 7 days with less than 20 percent chance of rain. And floridians are complaining about that!!!

Looking forward to your report.

Yes, beautiful weather
I hadn't posted photos in awhile either, so forgot. Yes, I use photobucket--I already had an account but easy to set up.
Go to the photoboard here, and you will find a link with a great video tutorial with step by step how to post.
There are so many Canadians here, we should have had a get together at Jellyrolls or somewhere.

 

[phabric]

I will be looking forward to more of your live reviews.

You did not take long to go through security at the airport.

We have never done online check in before. Can you explain what you do once you are at the resort.

 

[iluvwesties]

Wishing I was there too! enjoying your reports

 

[iluveeyore]

Can't wait to hear more - DD and I got back last week for our 'before March Break' trip - looking forward to hearing how the crowds are for the Canadian March Break.

 

[TheBig2na]

My Jealousy Runeth Over. I hate when others are there and I am here. Have fun though for us. We can live vicariously through your trip report. hahahaha

 

[petbren]

I will be looking forward to more of your live reviews.

You did not take long to go through security at the airport.

We have never done online check in before. Can you explain what you do once you are at the resort.

I did online check in through my site for DVC, not sure how to do it if you're not DVC. When we got to BWV, I just went to the counter marked ONLINE check in and the Cast Member handed me my package, with our room keys etc. and I went up to room as it was ready. Reports here are that doing the online check in does not make your room ready early, but in our case it just worked out
I promise to post more later tonight. DH just arrived, and we are going out to do mini-golf at Fantasia

 

[petbren]

Ok, so continuing with Saturday.....
Room was ready, so threw our carry ons into room, left DS there and DD and I hoofed it to Dolphin to pick up rental car.
I had reserved a standard SUV as our almost 10 year old van is in need of replacing, and I was hoping to drive something I was considering buying. On the advice of the attendant, I got a Ford Explorer Limited. Nothing I would have ever considered before but I looooove this vehicle Now, it took me awhile to figure out how to drive it, including driving down the resort road with my hazard lights on 'cause I couldn't figure out how to turn them off, but now I am use to it, it's fantastic. It has every gadget known to man, including what every Floridian needs-dual heated seats
Enough about my new vehicle option.
Back to BW, pick up DS and head out for dinner. We decided not to get DDP this trip as DH was not joining us 'till 3 days in, and I like to have 2 appetizers rather than a full meal often--we'll see at the end if it was a better move or not.
On recommendations from the board, I picked Bahama Breeze. We loved this place. Beautiful outdoor patio, a guy playing live guitar and great food. DS declared the ribs the best he had ever had, and he is a rib guy. We were there quite early-5pm, but I can see as the evening wore on, it would be packed.
From resturant, over to Walmart for groceries, and other stuffdrinking1)
then back to the room to unpack--luggage was there, and sleep>

Up next, Sunday at EPCOT--Flower and Garden Festival and The Guess Who Concert

 

[petbren]

Sunday

Up early--did I mention I love Day light Savings Time
Walked over and just missed rope drop.
Felt like I was back at the farm as we were corralled up the ramp to Soarn
Huge line for Fastpass and Standby time said 20 minutes, so we opted for that. It paid off as they were looking for a party of 3 and we were escorted ahead of a bunch of people--wait time maybe 10 minutes. After ride, no line for Fastpass so we got some for later.
Here are a few photos of the topiaries around for Flower and Garden Festival--really cute, I need some of these for my front yard--my neighbours would just s#@t

more to come

 

[mtmbyck]

Great pics. Isn't the weather awesome? We are thinking of heading to Jellyrolls for St Pattys Day. Just DH and I obviously.

So you did ME and then rented the car at Dolphin? Did you do it right at the hotel. I love that idea. I hate having to get all of the luggage and line up for a car at MCO.

Where is Bahama Breeze?

 

[petbren]

Great pics. Isn't the weather awesome? We are thinking of heading to Jellyrolls for St Pattys Day. Just DH and I obviously.

So you did ME and then rented the car at Dolphin? Did you do it right at the hotel. I love that idea. I hate having to get all of the luggage and line up for a car at MCO.

Where is Bahama Breeze?

Yes, that's what we did with rental car-have done this before too. That way ME gets to cart my luggage, not me.
The Bahama Breeze we went to is at 8735 Vineland Ave. It's just a few minutes from the outlet mall too

 

[petbren]

So, on with Sunday finally
After riding a few rides, we made our way to Biergarten for a 1pm lunch.
This is one of my kids favourites so I kept it in the rotation.

We had a server who said this was her first day, but she turned out to be one of the best we have had there.

I'm not a beer drinker, but it just didn't seem righ to go there and not have one.

With DVC discount , tax and tip,total was $100

From there we went back to Future World to use Test Track fastpasses and do a bit more looking around then headed back to the American Pivillion for The Guess Who. I scored a front row seat-left of center My kids thought it was going to be a lame old man concert, but they were shocked. They put on a amazing show even without Cummings and Bachman.
The lead singer was throwing out guitar picks and DD got one, that made her evening.

Here is the one thing we stood in line the longest for.

Stayed to watch Illuminations-nobody does Fireworks/light shows like Disney.

From there, back to the room to relax a bit and SLEEP

 

[petbren]

Monday
DH is to arrive about 2pm today, so we head out to the Prime Factory Outlet Mall-arrive just as it opens at 10am
My goal was to get some athletic wear at Lulu Lemon, and a purse at Coach. DD had another adgenda of stores she wanted to hit, and DS just wanted to stay at the hotel(no such luck). He actually got a lot of stuff at Timberland, and Hurley, so he was happy
Lulu had just junk-some yoga pants that were a good price-$59-$79 but weird styles, no headbands and not one hoodie
Walked into Coach, and found the 40% off section, and wow-they were giving out coupons for an EXTRA 30% off of everything
DD ended up with a small cute purse for herself and I got 2 beautiful ones for myself-total $243 taxes in
Before we knew it, DH was texting that he was at the ME counter, so we hightailed it back to BWV.
Decided to go to another recommended off site resturant, Orlando Ale House. This was your typical roadhouse/sports bar--lots of sports on numerous tvs--it was OK, but nothing I would rush back to.
We got back and walked back to Fantasia mini-golf, then over to Beaches and Cream for dessert.

We take a picture if you get a hole-in-one--here's a sample of the madness

On the way back to BWV