Had A Great 1st Trip Home!

[auntsue]

We just returned (Sat) from eight wonderful nights at the BWV and we were not disappointed. Considering we bought over two years ago, we wondered if it might not be as great as we remembered. It exceeded our expectations.

We were in a 1BR Pref, room 4046, one hallway down from the elevator. We booked at exactly the 11 month window but did not request BW view. I didn't want to ask for too much. We requested near elevator/non-smoking and got both. We really enjoyed our view of the Luna pool, Tower of Terror, the Earful Tower, and the lights of the Sorcerer's hat.

With the balcony door open, there was noise from the pool area, but with it closed, it was minor.

We loved the hotel and the fact that it was so close to Epcot and MGM. We didn't feel we gave up anything by not staying at the YC. The Christmas decorations were gorgeous and the lobby was lovely.

Our biggest complaint was the boats. There were not nearly enough. One morning on the way to MGM, it filled up with people from BWI & V, then it only picked up about 20 people from a huge line at Y & B, and then when it picked up about 15 people from Swan & Dolphin's long line, one of them said he was waiting 50 minutes! The boat captain asked him to please tell the front desk and to also please put it in writing. It was poor all week. On the last day of the trip I had to walk back from MGM for fear of missing my ride to the airport. I am not a fast walker, and no boat ever passed me on the way. Far too few boats.

While we found the parks to be fairly crowded, you could tell attendance was down because when we went to our first breakfast in AK, there were empty tables and we got right in. Two years ago we had about a 20 minute wait after checking in, and the place was mobbed. This seemed to be the norm for breakfasts, but we did have to wait to be seated each night at dinner. Of course, the fact that we had 16 people to seat might have had something to do with that. Overall, we found all the dinners to be pretty crowded, and all the breakfasts to have empty tables.

On Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday the MK was mobbed. Ordinarily we would have avoided that park at all costs, but that was the day we got our family pictures taken in the Rose Garden. That was very nice, expensive, but nice. We won't get them for 4-6 weeks, probably not in time for Christmas.

Security checking seems to be a lot more efficient at the MK than at MGM. What a bottleneck! They need to move the tables back farther from the turnstiles. One morning, I waited over 25 minutes to get through and I was by myself with just a purse. They need to work on that system. However, it wasn't a total waste of time, because I met Glicki from these boards. I had my green ribbon hanging from my puse and she just happened to be standing behind me. We had a very pleasant conversation to pass the time away.

We had a wonderful trip and we patted ourselves on the back for making the right decision and buying at the BWV when we did. We certainly haven't been as pleased with all of our purchases over the years. We loved it. We're going back in May, our first time ever going within a two-year span. That's what DVC and an AP can do for you.

BTW, old news, but they gave us 465 days on the AP's when we turned in our vouchers, so we just may get four trips out of them. That's something to get excited about.

Any questions?

 

[kda]

Glad you had such a great trip! What's the deal with 465 days on APs? Did I miss something?

 

[Doctor P]

Glad you had a nice trip!

 

[Beth]

kda.

Disney is running a special on AP's right now - adding on 100 extra days for anyone who purchases or renews between now and December 30th. It's available to FL residents, only. Though there's been some talk on some of the other Board's that it had been made avaialble to non-FL residents, as well.

Looks like auntsue got lucky!

 

[scootert]

Who did you contact about your picture session in the rose garden? This is something DH and I have talked about for several years -- we'd love to have a "portrait" in one of the gardens. We'd appreciate any information you can offer. Thanks

 

[dianeschlicht]

I hope we get the extra days on our APs when we turn in our vouchers in January! I too thought that was only for residents of Florida, but I'll take it if they are offering!

 

[ahoff]

You were right down the hall from us, we were in a studio, 4066. Great location, but after experiencing a 1br at WL for the last few days of our stay, we will probably never get a studio again. Unless it would be just the two of us.

Never used the boats, my wife did one day on the way back, but got off at the Swan and walked. I just thought it was more pleasant to walk. And quicker!

 

[auntsue]

Scootert,

About the photo session...I don't know if this is what you are looking for.

It was one hour in the Rose Garden right in front of the Castle. We only used 35 minutes and by then they had taken every conceivable grouping we could think of...all 16 of us, individual families, children groupings, four main siblings, with spouses, etc. It seemed endless. It cost $375 for 15-25 people, $325 for 9-14. The photographers (2) were very nice and very patient. As it was explained to me, we will get 5X5 proofs in some sort of a folio. If we want enlargements or anything, that will be additional. I don't know if I felt it was worth the money, but it was the first, and probably will be the only, time we have ever all vacationed together, so from that point of view it was worth it to me.

The phone number for this is 407-827-1578. If you have any specific questions, ask away.

Ahoff,

Did you have a green ribbon? I looked everywhere, even on the porch with the rockers, and saw none. Did you get to the meet on Friday? We were scheduled for breakfast and dinner every day, so it was impossible for us to make it. I bet it was great fun.

The kids always got off at the Swan whether on the bus or the boat. We were never in enough of a hurry to do that. Didn't you just hate being the fifth stop on the buses? That was a bit of a drag. At least with the boats, there were only three stops.

Didn't you think that the buses went awfully close to the back of the BCV? We were thinking that if you were sitting out there on your balcony, you would be breathing-in bus fumes, big time. There wasn't much room there to work with.

We loved the 1BR and since we have been sleeping in a king-size bed for over 30 years, we would find it pretty hard to sleep in a queen. Did you use your jacuzzi?

Beth,

I didn't know the 465 days was for Florida residents only. The CM made it sound like everyone got it. It was a pleasant surprise since I wasn't expecting it. I actually was not planning on renewing with the Nov 02 expiration date. I thought I'd skip a year, but with Feb expiration, I think I'll try to squeeze in that fourth trip, then I might as well renew with the discount.

Diane,

I think Beth might be right. I think they are only giving 465 days until the end of the year, but who knows, you might get lucky. We did.

 

[ahoff]

We didn't have any green ribbons. Also never made it to the meet at the pool, we checked out of the BW on Thursday and moved to the WL, where we met a coworker from home, and spent the day with them. Never made it back to the BW, and we checked out on Saturday. So, for those that made it, how was the meet?

The only bus we took was from the MK, and there was one for the Swan and Dolphin, and one for BW and Y&BC. We took both buses, depending on what was at the stop, but liked the Swan bus better, as it was a quicker way home. Never took the boats at all, there was always a line to get on. Plus it was quicker to walk. The boat went a little faster, but was still in sight when we got to the pool area, where we went in.

My wife went to use the jacuzzi once, but we couldn't get it to work. We called maintenance, and they came and fixed the switch on the side. But by then we were off somewhere else, and never got to use it. Maybe next time.

Good point about the bus route being close to the BCV, there won't be much of a veiw from that side!

 

[Kath816]

Where can you get the A.P.s with the 100 extra days? We're going on WL on Jan. 5th to celebrate our 25th Anniversary , and I will go to a Disney Store if I can to buy mine this month for that deal. Or can you direct me to the posts discussing this?
Thank you all for your help fellow members!