Food & Wine & Friends, or 'Wishing a Year Away'. October 2012 PTR *NEW 11/18 TR link!

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Yay for your beach trip being so close! I just said to Miguel today that I really want to go to the beach. It's so cold here right now!

I can't wait to see the shirts you design for your October trip!

 

[jenny105]

Enjoy your trip!! I'm so jealous you get to go to Disney in May. you should have to wait until October like the rest of us.

 

[Joyciemc]

Yay for your beach trip being so close! I just said to Miguel today that I really want to go to the beach. It's so cold here right now!

I can't wait to see the shirts you design for your October trip!

Vieques is less than a week away! It doesn't feel real at all... though I did just buy some new clothes for the trip.

Enjoy your trip!! I'm so jealous you get to go to Disney in May. you should have to wait until October like the rest of us.

Ben feels the same way He is seriously bummed that he can't take the time off to join us in WDW in May. Like I told him: I'll try not to have too much fun

 

[Joyciemc]

We are exactly 8 months away from our amazing, glorious, never-to-be-outdone October trip! We've been planning this trip for a year already, and time has really flown by. So when I start to whine about how slowly things are going, remind me that I just said that

I am stressing about next month, when we can call about availability at Boardwalk Villas. Here's where I stand on that:
1st choice: Split stay. First half at BLT, then move to BWV. If we would be staying for less than 2 nights, I don't want to make the move. Ben and I did a one night move to OKW last year, and checking into a hotel just to leave the next day made me sad.

2nd choice: Stay at BLT the whole time. I think I am in the minority with this one, but the more I think about it, the more I am excited to stay here! It is more points, and not as close to Epcot, but I love the idea of being on the monorail again. That was the one thing about our (not-so-great) Poly stay that I loved.

3rd choice: Entire trip at BWV. Chances of this happening are slim at best. But a week here is far less points than a week at BLT, and that means more points for a future trip! Not to mention how great it would be to be so close to Epcot for F&W!

In other WDW news, I just subscribed to TouringPlans. My plans for the May trip aren't really going to change, but it will help a lot for October!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Have a great time on your beach trip!!!

That would be awesome if you were able to split stay BLT/BWV, but either of them sound like a great choice for the whole trip too!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay, 8 months!

I hope you get to stay BWV, but a split stay, or just staying at BLT doesn't sound too bad, at least you are right on the monorail and can just hop on that to get to Epcot! Are you going to try for BCV too? They do have that awesome pool, and it's just as close to Epcot as BWV...although, I'm sure it's all booked up for F&W by now!

 

[smile4stamps]

Good Luck on getting BWV (if thats what you really want! ) I think it would be great to be there with the Food & Wine Festival so close...

I'm SO torn about which resort to aim for with my RCI exchange! My first instinct is VWL as I think the atmosphere would most suit us. However I am not sure about transportation from there to everywhere else!

BLT sometimes shows availability and I think that would be nice with monorail access...

The resorts that always show the most availability for RCI are of course SSR and OKW but I'm not sure they would suit us.

Beach Club and Boardwalk will probably have the least if any options and AKL I rarely see with openings but I know that resort is not for us either...

Do you happen to know if any of the Villas have bars by the pools for a late night cocktail or are they just at the main resort pools?

 

[amazingact21]

BWV sounds like a beautiful resort, but spending the week in one place is nice. Especially having the monorail. But, I also know how important it is to make the rest of your party happy. Sometimes, it's easier just to make the switch if it keeps everyone happy.

 

[Joyciemc]

Have a great time on your beach trip!!!

That would be awesome if you were able to split stay BLT/BWV, but either of them sound like a great choice for the whole trip too!

Our friends are excited about a possible split stay. In a few trips to WDW, they've really never had the 'on site experience' and know very little about the resorts or restaurants. So that is a huge thing Ben and I want to show them about the World!

Yay, 8 months!

I hope you get to stay BWV, but a split stay, or just staying at BLT doesn't sound too bad, at least you are right on the monorail and can just hop on that to get to Epcot! Are you going to try for BCV too? They do have that awesome pool, and it's just as close to Epcot as BWV...although, I'm sure it's all booked up for F&W by now!

BCV is a lot of points, so we never even really put it on the list... though, with a split stay, maybe it would be an option Though I really doubt there will be studios available at any of the Epcot area resorts!

Good Luck on getting BWV (if thats what you really want! ) I think it would be great to be there with the Food & Wine Festival so close...

I'm SO torn about which resort to aim for with my RCI exchange! My first instinct is VWL as I think the atmosphere would most suit us. However I am not sure about transportation from there to everywhere else!

BLT sometimes shows availability and I think that would be nice with monorail access...

The resorts that always show the most availability for RCI are of course SSR and OKW but I'm not sure they would suit us.

Beach Club and Boardwalk will probably have the least if any options and AKL I rarely see with openings but I know that resort is not for us either...

Do you happen to know if any of the Villas have bars by the pools for a late night cocktail or are they just at the main resort pools?

We looooove the WL! We haven't stayed there, but have visited a couple times and it is absolutely on our short list for future trips. I think you would really enjoy it!

OKW is a different kind of resort... after visiting Vero Beach, it reminds me of that- designed to be a more laid back type of trip.

From what I can tell, none of the pool bars stay open late, though that may be different in the busier seasons.
That's one thing we really enjoyed about our stay at Universal- options for late drinks!

BWV sounds like a beautiful resort, but spending the week in one place is nice. Especially having the monorail. But, I also know how important it is to make the rest of your party happy. Sometimes, it's easier just to make the switch if it keeps everyone happy.

Hilde & Sebastian have definitely spent the most time in the Epcot resort area (they stayed at the Dolphin on their honeymoon), so I think that is part of why that was their first choice. I really want to show them what the other resorts are like. Plus, the monorail- you can't go wrong!

 

[jenny105]

Good luck getting BWV! I was thinking about switching there too but I think I'm already driving my DVC renter crazy enough without asking her to switch me. We added on a night at AKL and have to switch rooms for one night because they didn't have the original room type we booked still available. Ah well, at least we don't have to switch resorts just for one night.

BLT looks insanely nice. I'd love to stay there too! My goal is to eventually stay in every resort. Counting AKL in October that would be 4 down - 18 to go!

 

[Joyciemc]

Good luck getting BWV! I was thinking about switching there too but I think I'm already driving my DVC renter crazy enough without asking her to switch me. We added on a night at AKL and have to switch rooms for one night because they didn't have the original room type we booked still available. Ah well, at least we don't have to switch resorts just for one night.

BLT looks insanely nice. I'd love to stay there too! My goal is to eventually stay in every resort. Counting AKL in October that would be 4 down - 18 to go!

Switching rooms in the same resort shouldn't be bad! Knowing me though, I would forget my new room and try to get into the old one

There are so many resorts I've never stayed at, and now with DVC I probably never will... I have to make a point to visit them to see what I'm missing!

 

[annmarieda]

We are exactly 8 months away from our amazing, glorious, never-to-be-outdone October trip! We've been planning this trip for a year already, and time has really flown by. So when I start to whine about how slowly things are going, remind me that I just said that

I am stressing about next month, when we can call about availability at Boardwalk Villas. Here's where I stand on that:
1st choice: Split stay. First half at BLT, then move to BWV. If we would be staying for less than 2 nights, I don't want to make the move. Ben and I did a one night move to OKW last year, and checking into a hotel just to leave the next day made me sad.

2nd choice: Stay at BLT the whole time. I think I am in the minority with this one, but the more I think about it, the more I am excited to stay here! It is more points, and not as close to Epcot, but I love the idea of being on the monorail again. That was the one thing about our (not-so-great) Poly stay that I loved.

3rd choice: Entire trip at BWV. Chances of this happening are slim at best. But a week here is far less points than a week at BLT, and that means more points for a future trip! Not to mention how great it would be to be so close to Epcot for F&W!

In other WDW news, I just subscribed to TouringPlans. My plans for the May trip aren't really going to change, but it will help a lot for October!

I can understand not wanting to do a split stay if you have to check out right away. Hopefully, the split stay works out just the way you want it too.

 

[Joyciemc]

I can understand not wanting to do a split stay if you have to check out right away. Hopefully, the split stay works out just the way you want it too.

Thanks! I hope so too! Under a month now till we know!

 

[Joyciemc]

I have the day off today (last one before we leave for Vieques Sunday!) and I am supposed to be getting stuff done around the house. But I have a really hard time not being lazy...

I'm sorta ready for the trip, in that I bought some new clothes and a bathing suit. Since I didn't do so well with the getting-in-shape thing (I haven't given up, but I ran out of time before PR!) I had to buy some stuff to wear that I felt a little more comfortable in. It's my own issue, but I am having a hard time getting excited about laying on a beach while feeling self conscious about how I look. Oh well.. it's my own fault!

On a brighter note, I got this for Ben as a Christmas present:

It's a waterproof case for our camera. This way, we should be able to get snorkeling pictures, and hopefully pictures of the Bio Bay glowing!

 

[ronnmel]

I LOVE underwater pictures, so yay! for the new case for Ben's camera.

 

[jenny105]

I need one of those! I'd love to be able to use my camera at the waterparks & pools without being worried about it getting damaged. I've been looking into buying a new camera that's waterproof but getting a case may be a little more cost friendly.

 

[smile4stamps]

I love the case for the camera!

If I decide on Discovery Cove than I will need to get one! However its looking like even with 2 weeks in FL there won't be time for that!!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay, bringing an underwater camera is going to be so much fun! I sometimes consider getting one for Disney, but then I remember, we hardly ever go in the pool, so why bother?

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

That's a really neat camera case!

Good luck with your resort decision! I can definitely see the benefit of both BLT and BWV, so I'm not sure I'd be of much help! I do think it would be nice to stay in one place, though.

 

[Joyciemc]

I LOVE underwater pictures, so yay! for the new case for Ben's camera.

He just put it in the bathtub to make sure that 1)it works and 2)it floats. on both!
I have to admit- checking that it floats was very smart!

I love the case for the camera!

If I decide on Discovery Cove than I will need to get one! However its looking like even with 2 weeks in FL there won't be time for that!!

Isn't it funny how a WDW trip expands to fill all time- even 2 weeks? I swear, there is no such thing as a long enough trip!

Yay, bringing an underwater camera is going to be so much fun! I sometimes consider getting one for Disney, but then I remember, we hardly ever go in the pool, so why bother?

I am psyched to try out the case! We don't spend a ton of time at the pool in WDW cause we always end up chased out by a swarm of kids. But we did have LOTS of fun at the Vero Beach and Hilton Head pools on our fall trip!

That's a really neat camera case!

Good luck with your resort decision! I can definitely see the benefit of both BLT and BWV, so I'm not sure I'd be of much help! I do think it would be nice to stay in one place, though.

Ben and I just had a mini-meeting and we decided that BWV is an option, too. And I think I realized that I would rather be in the Epcot area for the beginning of the trip. But I still (secretly ) hope we're at BLT for the whole thing!