Grandpa Mohawk Spring Escape (Blogging Live Until May 9th)

[BroganMc]

Hi guys,

We're back! Just wanted to let you know my dad and I are back home in the World. It's been a long winter (2 blizzards in a week?!) and lots of stuff to get through to get here. But we made it to Florida yesterday.

As usual I've resumed by blogging of the trip. You can find it at www.grandpamohaw.com/blog and a Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/broganmc (for when I can't get to a computer).

You're welcome to read and participate (just send me a comment or Tweet).

Our tinerary this trip is:
Marriott offsite for a week, 3 days at BLT, 7 days at SSR, and 3 days in Cocoa Beach.

So far I've posted all about our trip down Sunday/Monday via Autotrain & a sleeper car. If you wanted to know what that is like, read on.

 

[kikiq]

So glad to have you back!!! We'll be in the World May 1-4 and looking for you and Grandpa Mohawk. I'm a tad jealous because until the doctor clears my dad, there won't be that little old asian man with us with the loud aloha shirts. I'm so looking forward to your blog!

 

[BroganMc]

So glad to have you back!!! We'll be in the World May 1-4 and looking for you and Grandpa Mohawk. I'm a tad jealous because until the doctor clears my dad, there won't be that little old asian man with us with the loud aloha shirts. I'm so looking forward to your blog!

Aww, I'm sending happy thoughts your way then. My dad got called in for an angiagram last week by his doctor. We spent a miserably wet & cold day in a DC hospital, but he ended up getting the all clear.

We'll be at SSR during your trip. (April 29 - May 6) Where are you?

 

[kikiq]

We'll be at SSR during your trip. (April 29 - May 6) Where are you?

We're staying at OKW this trip. But my DH is making noises that he wants to be "home" SSR. Last summer, we tried BWV, the DDs loved it, DH not so much, missed his SSR. Caught up on your blog, my DH is with you, he feels so at home when he's walking around SSR.

 

[LisaS]

I'm looking forward to your reports. I hope you and GM have a great trip!

Jusk an FYI: you are missing a "k" from your link: www.grandpamohawk.com/blog

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Alright! I'll be following you.

 

[BroganMc]

I'm looking forward to your reports. I hope you and GM have a great trip!

Jusk an FYI: you are missing a "k" from your link: www.grandpamohawk.com/blog

Oops, nice catch. Thanks!

 

[BroganMc]

We're staying at OKW this trip. But my DH is making noises that he wants to be "home" SSR. Last summer, we tried BWV, the DDs loved it, DH not so much, missed his SSR. Caught up on your blog, my DH is with you, he feels so at home when he's walking around SSR.

Maybe we'll bump into each other at DTD. I have a feeling a little late night pubbing will be on tap for Saturday night when the guys join us. Unless your DH escapes and we find him wandering over to SSR. It's funny how you get to love a certain place.

GM joked when we pulled into town that we needed to go check on all our homes here. (We count 3 Marriotts and 3 Disney resorts as ours now.) GM's just hoping I bond with Grande Vista a bit more. We're spending the day here soaking up the atmosphere. Maybe a movie tonight at DTD.

 

[littlestar]

Maybe we'll bump into each other at DTD. I have a feeling a little late night pubbing will be on tap for Saturday night when the guys join us. Unless your DH escapes and we find him wandering over to SSR. It's funny how you get to love a certain place.

GM joked when we pulled into town that we needed to go check on all our homes here. (We count 3 Marriotts and 3 Disney resorts as ours now.) GM's just hoping I bond with Grande Vista a bit more. We're spending the day here soaking up the atmosphere. Maybe a movie tonight at DTD.

Hi BroganMc,

Enjoying your trip report as always. My daughter and her husband are at Grande Vista this week, too. They sent me pictures yesterday from the Copa Loca pool. Grande Vista is not my favorite Marriott either - I like Cypress Harbour. Cypress Harbour has always reminded me of Disney's Old Key West resort - a restful laid back Florida atmosphere.

 

[kikiq]

Maybe we'll bump into each other at DTD. I have a feeling a little late night pubbing will be on tap for Saturday night when the guys join us. Unless your DH escapes and we find him wandering over to SSR. It's funny how you get to love a certain place.

Look for him in the mornings with his refillable mug...I know, I know, there's a coffee maker in the villas. But that's his thing, he's not picky about his coffee and loves the refillable mug. I know he'll head over to SSR from OKW. In fact, tonight he was talking to me about renting bicycles and cruising around SSR.

 

[BroganMc]

Look for him in the mornings with his refillable mug...I know, I know, there's a coffee maker in the villas. But that's his thing, he's not picky about his coffee and loves the refillable mug. I know he'll head over to SSR from OKW. In fact, tonight he was talking to me about renting bicycles and cruising around SSR.

Tell him to keep an eye out for the girl in the wheelchair with the feather hat or the old guy with the purple mohawk. It's our thing too. We like to roll outa bed, grab our mugs and get refills for morning walks. Early morning walks before the sun gets blazing hot. Like 7-8am. We always make it back to AP around 9-10am for cold drinks and breakfast.

Gotta go pack. We're moving over to Bay Lake this morning. First time we've ever been there. Hope our points are worth it. Sooo glad we didn't book last night in hopes of EMH at MK. It rained hard all night. Terrible tstorms. It just keept lightning outside the window all night. Storms are south of us now.

 

[BroganMc]

Settled into BLT. Disdney is so cool. Have a Lake View room but we get views of the castle and space mountain too. Accessible rooms are layed out very differently from the model.

Pictures and more detail later. Tea in 20 min.

 

[kikiq]

Settled into BLT. Disdney is so cool. Have a Lake View room but we get views of the castle and space mountain too. Accessible rooms are layed out very differently from the model.

Pictures and more detail later. Tea in 20 min.

Need the pictures, always have to have the pictures. I'd like to stay at least once at BLT, but DH isn't interested. Maybe your pictures will tempt him.

When are you moving over to SSR? Saturday can't come soon enough.

Chris

 

[Mr_Potts]

I'm really enjoying your posts! I am a new convert to the Grandpa Mohawk fan club! I've never stayed at a non-Disney timeshare in Orlando but that Marriott looks pretty nice. You were lucky to hit Celebration for that pie festival. Looking forward to your impressions of BLT. We stayed there at Christmas/New Year and loved it. Keep up the good work!!!

Mr Potts (David)

 

[BroganMc]

Some pics...

Here is our studio room 7914 of BLT 9th floor North section:




The accessible bathroom takes up the entire side of the room where the model kitchen is. It's huge. As large or larger than a SSR HA bathroom.





Yes that's a bathtub and shower in the same room. Nice touch tending a variety of needs. Now if only the bed was an inch or two higher.

Oh and this is our view (looking straight out and a tad to the right):




The "lake view" we paid for (look to the left on the balcony):

View from the elevator lobby on this floor:


View of the pool complex from the other side of the elevator lobby:

 

[Mr_Potts]

It was great reading about your first day at BLT. I know how it feels travelling with people who have no notion of packing light! Did you give bell services a dollar for every bag, even the little ones? I usually do. You aren't the only one to have trouble with key card access into the big glass doors at the lobby. When I was there the doors weren't working at all several times. Once a cast member let us in a service entrance just to the right. Another time we had to use another entrance further down on the right. So even when you belong in the inner sanctum sometimes you can't get in. I haven't done the tea at the GF in many years. That's going on the top of my list next time. Have you checked out the names on the Tempo Fountain yet? It's great to see the clever things our fellow DVCers write. Enjoy Day 2 at BLT--can't wait to hear more about it. Art least someone is having fun while I toil at work!

 

[BroganMc]

Nope can't say we have even found the Fountain let alone studied it. That's on the list for today.

As it is, even though both of us woke up early this morning, we both wanted to nap instead of go out for breakfast. So I cancelled our reservations and we ordered room service.

GM's not really into the whole room service thing, but my mom and I used to love it. I do it for her and just ignore his complaints. (He's eating my leftovers now and rejoicing over all the little condiments and things they brought me, anyway. Silly man.)

Oh and he woke up counting all the things he loves about this place. Loves the bathroom. Loves the comfy bed. Loves the view. It's all a lovefest with him. He's so predictable. He starts out hating a place then adores it 24 hours later. Man resists change like the plague.

Oh and yes, we did tip $1 per bag. Next time I'm hoping I can get my dad down to one suitcase instead of 3. How we're gonna manage 4 adults in a studio this weekend is beyond me. I'm sure I'll be going out alot to get some space. Maybe doing a bit of grumbling too. But we spent all our points last year on bringing the family and introducing my cousin's parents to the World. Next year my siblings want to come back for another point-sucking Grand Gathering. They loved it so much (I did too). They wanted to do it this year, but I'm really all tapped out.

 

[Mr_Potts]

The ability to order room service is a great feature of staying at BLT. My first trip to WDW was in 1979, and we stayed in one of the garden wings of the Contemporary (not sure if it was the one demolished for BLT). A very generous aunt took all her nieces and nephews. I was the oldest of the kids (13) and stayed in a room with the rest of the boys. When it came time to check out dear aunt was horrified by the room service bill. We were ordering things like full pork chop dinners at a whim whenever we felt hungry. The moral is take advantage of it if you can! It's vacation.

Glad to hear GM is no longer possessed by the spirit of Grumpy and is finding things to love at BLT. My stepfather is a bit that way. He called maintenance about three times while we were there, but after we got home he did nothing but rave about the place. I heard one of the guides say that before BLT was announced as DVC, the DVC members had nothing but good things to say about it. But after it was announced, DVCers did nothing but complain! I don't think that's true but certainly new resorts need to work out some of the kinks.

We did three adults in a Beach club studio last summer. The key is to get one or two people to shower at the health club! Looking forward to the next post.

 

[Brenle]

Glad to read another GM trip report. My kids still remember meeting you and your dad a few years ago at SSR. They spotted your dad right away from the photos you had posted on this site.

What great views at BLT! The room looks beautiful. And nothing beats staying in a new resort!! We were hoping to stay there this year but we decided to head back to SSR. But we love it there so no complaints here.

Waiting to read more.

 

[BroganMc]

Glad to read another GM trip report. My kids still remember meeting you and your dad a few years ago at SSR. They spotted your dad right away from the photos you had posted on this site.

What great views at BLT! The room looks beautiful. And nothing beats staying in a new resort!! We were hoping to stay there this year but we decided to head back to SSR. But we love it there so no complaints here.

Waiting to read more.

Brenda! Hey girl! I think you were also our first official Grandpa Mohawk fan too. You should get a button or something. When are you headed back to SSR?

We love it there too. It's our full time Disney home. We'll be back on Thursday for a week. Every trip I suggest we try staying full time somewhere else but GM insists we go back to SSR at least part time. I still love the pool there and now we have so many pals amongst the staff.

Next day's report coming tomorrow morning. Today we did:

• breakfast in the room (room service)
• afternoon at the pool (met up with Scott, former SSR activities coordinator)
• dinner at the Wave
• dessert at Top of the world lounge for fireworks

.

The place is really growing on me. Now I'm bushed.