Have you been "Bitten" by the Concierge "Bug"? aka The LIZARD LOUNGE!

[lindeyspol]

DF--what an amazing trip you have planned! For now, I'll have to make do with the countries at EPCOT. Definitely should've done Europe before kids. Now, who knows when we'll find someone to watch the kids long enough. We will love hearing all about the planning and of course, the pictures! How exciting for your daughter.

Kris--I definitely say Jiko. And not just because that's the night we will most likely be there----Sat the 4th at 8. It is such a beautiful setting and I would definitely try out both restaurants while you are there. The South African wines are very good too.

BT---sorry to take so long getting back to you about those dlx sav/conc rooms. Debbie explained it and it sounds like the concierge rooms are in the closest clusters of rooms and the deluxe savannah are further out on the wings. We'll be checking in fairly early so hopefully we can find out where my parents are and change if necessary. Yes, I still have "suite" on the brain but since we are paying my brothers way and for upgrades for parents it probably isn't in the cards for this year. Actually, I'm kind of glad they didn't have availability so I wasn't tempted!

Anyone know when we should see Dec hours? I would like to plan for dinner the last night at Chef Mickeys before going to the room to see Wishes.

Happy Monday!

 

[cajunfan]

Good morning fellow lizards!

Thanks for all the info BT! And thanks to Janet2K for the wonderful pics!

BTW BT, why not a suite! It would give MIL a little privacy should she want/need some, and you know that you would LOVE it!

GoofyJoofy...love the suggested name for a new "suite" thread

BT...tell me dates, and we will resort hop to AKL next summer! Never tried resort hopping yet...I am always up for new experiences!

 

[minniesota]

Looking for some advice...

Called on the Dec. 3-7 dates and found the following availability:

YC garden view CL
BC garden view or water view CL
BWI standard
GF LV
AKL deluxe savanah or savanah

We will be at BCV and a GF suite in Oct. with lots of family. This is just me and DH. I'd love to try BWI CL or AKL CL but no availability. OK lizards, what would you do? I'd like to do MVMCP and CP - will spend most time at Epcot but also a lot of time at the resort for R and R! Any suggestions or is there something I'm not thinking about? Thanks so much!

 

[tammy]

Hey Lizards,

We are finally back from WDW. We were stuck there for a extra week. But, had a wonderful time.

We stayed at AKL, POFQ, HRH and Pop Century. I absolutely loved the AKL, cannot wait to stay there in the future for a little longer. Didn't care for the POFQ. We stayed at HRH last year but I wasn't blown away this year, will try one of the others next year. I loved the Pop Century, I didn't think I would like since I have become a hotel snob. LOL.

We had a great time. Any questions, ask away.

Glad to be back.

 

[ead79]

DF! That sounds like a FABULOUS treat of a trip! I know I would stop at Harrod's for sure! The funny thing about the Virgin Atlantic "flying suites" is that I'm such a tense flyer that it would be a total waste of money for me. I can grab ahold of the armrests for dear life and pray from coach or first class just as easily. I'm sure you will love the pampering experience though.

originally posted by sfbank
ead79--thanks for the input. I just can't decide. We stayed at the WL this past June but I was soooooooooo homesick for the Boardwalk. I just thought it would be neat to stay at the CR for a couple of days since we will be going to MVMCP and we usually spend at least a day and a half at the MK. I know I have a little time (ha!) to decide, but I like having everything in order, even over a year ahead of time!!

sfbank, the scenario you mentioned is one of the main reasons I also like stay-splitting. It's nice to get to try something new and still know that you'll also get to stay at an old favorite. Takes away that buyer's remorse, LOL! I'm JUST like you--I like having all my plans in order well in advance. Go ahead, ask me where I'm staying in 2006, LOL!

tammy, Welcome back! It's funny, but I really like Pop Century too! It's just got such a neat idea for a theme. I always thought that POFQ sounded nice too--if you don't mind my asking what did you not enjoy?

 

[tammy]

Elisabeth: I wasn't crazy about the theming but I loved the beinets, absolutely delicious. I wanted to return to AKL so badly. Loved, loved, loved that place. My son is going to apply to the Orlando Culinary Academy so I will be spending alot of time in Orlando over the next 2 years. What a shame, huh?

 

[GoofySuse]

minniesota...Beach Club concierge...Epcot at your fingertips and they are wonderful in concierge...my favorite...

 

[lovesdumbo]

Originally posted by minniesota
Looking for some advice...

Called on the Dec. 3-7 dates and found the following availability:

YC garden view CL
BC garden view or water view CL
BWI standard
GF LV
AKL deluxe savanah or savanah

We will be at BCV and a GF suite in Oct. with lots of family. This is just me and DH. I'd love to try BWI CL or AKL CL but no availability. OK lizards, what would you do? I'd like to do MVMCP and CP - will spend most time at Epcot but also a lot of time at the resort for R and R! Any suggestions or is there something I'm not thinking about? Thanks so much!

Did you check on Poly CL? I think the Poly is a really relaxing and romantic resort. Just love the beach & tiki torches and you can walk to TTC for the direct monorail to Epcot. You'll love MVMCP and CP and the lights at Epcot (between World Showcase & Future World) are beautiful. I haven't seen Osborne lights but I'm sure those are great too.

Well DD started Kindergarten last week. Hopped right on the bus without looking back to see the tear in Mom's eye. DS started preschool today. A few hectic weeks for us as we get into the new routines.

I think I'll start packing soon.......

 

[sfbank]

ead79--where are you staying in 2006?? Have you stayed at the Contemporary? Just wondering!!

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

GoofyJ and TammiMcmann, it turns out it's the Y & B marina that is undergoing rehab starting Dec 9. That is why some of you are having problems booking the illuminations cruises then. They hope to be finished by the 14th. I've been told the pontoons themselves do not undergo rehab as WDW has them on lease for a certain period.

 

[TammiMcMan]

CD, thanks for the update. I've never done a cruise, are they the only marina's available? For some reason I thought that Boardwalk had one, but it might just be for the resort/park boats. Of course we're arriving in Florida on the 9th and leaving on the 13th, so we might be out of luck. I'm going to have Amy keep my request in the system though, just in case something happens.

Hmmmm, what's next on my list then? Oh yes, a Christmas tree. I saw that they are now available on the Disney Florist website. I'm checking in with them to see how far in advance I have to order and what the specifics are for the personalized add-ons. My kids are going to be so surprised.

Off to pick up my son at soccer practice, I think I'll just grab a cold drink and a quick snack before I go.

Tammi

 

[GoofyJoofy]

Originally posted by minniesota
Looking for some advice...

YC garden view CL
BC garden view or water view CL
BWI standard
GF LV
AKL deluxe savanah or savanah

This is just me and DH. I'd like to do MVMCP and CP -
will spend most time at Epcot but also a lot of time at the resort for R and R! Thanks so much!

minniesota - We were just at BC CL in Aug and really LOVED it. Very close to Epcot. Great pool to relax at or have fun in. The lounge is very nice, since its small and intimate. And if you luck out and get a full balcony, well there is nothing like sitting on the balcony at night, sipping your cordial, with your loved one, watching the evening lights (I speak from personal experience).
It also gives you great access to the Epcot country restaurants, the Boardwalk restaurants (Flying Fish, Spoodles, ESPN Club) and the BC and YC restaurants (Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cape May, Yacht Galley, Beaches & Cream). YC would also give you the same.

Others here have said that the BWI is very romantic. And others will say the victorian style of the GF is pure romance. Still others think AKL is very romantic.

Since we have only experienced the BC so far, that's all I can speak about. I would think that any of the Epcot resorts (BC, YC, BWI) would be great if you plan to spend most time at Epcot.

I have never stayed at the AKL, but it seems remote to me.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Just a quick wave hello to everyone and a welcome back to Tammy! Oh, I am so glad you enjoyed POP! With your comments and Elizabeth's I do think I picked the perfect quickie resort for our last trip of the *APyear!








*APyear>>noun; plural- apyears;deluxe PAPyear! The time in which a dismember measures their trips, and the amount of trips taken while using the same AP.

(yes, I probably need to get some sleep and go to bed early tonight!)

 

[ead79]

sfbank, we're hopefully going to stay at the AKL CL in December 2006. We have invited my best friend and her husband (who gets along with my husband wonderfully) to join us, so hopefully that will work out. If they join us we probably won't split our stay (so they won't have to pay two deposits), so AKL CL it is. I haven't stayed at the Contemporary yet, but it's on my list! It's actually the only deluxe I haven't tried yet, so I simply must get there some day!

Debbie, Pop Century is a lot of fun! We really had a nice stay. We actually moved there for the last night of our honeymoon just to try it out (it had opened only 6 days before). We just adjusted our expectations a bit (since we were moving from a garden suite at the BWI), and were thrilled with the unique theming and great service! Here are some pictures to get you even more excited, LOL! So true about the APyear too! Funny how that works!

Pop Century Pictures

 

[storybookmum]

Does the lounge have Boma's house juice in it (I think that would be the West African Frunch?)? It sounds wonderful.

Just saw a description of Boma's breakfast....I had to slap myself as I considered a PS there....NO we are eating in the lounge, that was my justification for the upgrade!!!!!

DH would kill me if I lost more park time for another restaurant before we got there, too....argh, it looks so great.

I swear, this Disney trip, from my itinerary, is starting to look like it's all about the rooms and the food...somewhere we'll squeeze in Splash Mountain....

The funny thing is, I'm making almost all the PSs at resorts (so I can get a subtle chance to lobby tour for the Christmas decorations). We have CRT, Crystal Palace and the Teppanyaki Grill, in 8 days of PSs....everything else is at resorts.

Tell me I can get the nice juice in the lounge, please? If not, then blast it, I'll just have a sit at Boma for a few minutes and get one (might that be available as an option in a refillable mug???)

Kris

UPDATE: I love my DH! I was telling him about Boma's breakfast, and he saw the menu and was all for it; he had a great idea! We want to surprise the kids with AKL, you might recall. He thought it would be perfect to check out of POR, throw our stuff in the car, having told the kids it was our last day, and then head over to Boma for breakfast. But then at breakfast, or afterwards, as we check out some lookout locations, and they're oohing and aahing, we'll let them know we're staying for two more days at AKL! Isn't he the best?

 

[minniesota]

Thanks for the input, GoofySuse and GoofyJoofy!

I was able to get AKL CL our last two nights but not the first two. So I was thinking maybe we could spend the first two nights at BC CL or YC CL and do all of our park stuff, then spend the last two nights just relaxing at AKL. I know DH would love AKL - I've been sold as a result of the Lizards!

Or should we just stay in one place for the 4 nights? We almost always split our stay but it's usually a week. Has anyone split stay with 4 nights?

Also, does anyone know the difference between BC CL and YC CL? And what about the garden view versus water view? What kind of view do you get with garden view at either resort?

Thanks for your input. I can't believe DH has agreed to go again in Dec. since we'll be there in Oct. so I want it to be really special for him. Maybe he'll catch the concierge bug!

 

[ead79]

storybookmum, I love your idea to surprise your kids! Plus, that breakfast at Boma is delicious! Be sure to try the brioche (it's like french toast). We actually eat a lot of our meals at the resorts too--it seems that some of Disney's best restaurants are at their resorts. Some of our favorites are Kona Cafe, Artist Point, and 'Ohana.

minniesota, as long as you don't mind moving (not getting to unpack fully, etc.), then I think your stay splitting idea is a good one. I would do it. I have stayed CL at the YC, and in a regular room at the BC, so I can tell you the small differences I noticed. Both resorts have had their rooms redecorated/refurbished pretty recently, so that's nice. All the rooms at the YC have full balconies or patios (1st floor), whereas some of the rooms at the BC have full balconies and some have little mini-balconies (big enough for only one person to stand on at a time, no furniture). The YC rooms have a chair with an ottoman, and the BC rooms have a small daybed. I would describe the BC's theme as being more casual (but still nice, don't worry!) and "beachy" and the YC's theme as being more nautical and upscale (think teak floors like old cruise ships). It really comes down to personal preference, and I prefer the YC (not that the BC isn't nice, LOL!). I think that garden views can vary a lot. There are some garden view rooms at the YC that overlook the little wedding gazebo. I'm sure they are very pleasant views. Water views either overlook Stormalong Bay or Crescent Lake (BoardWalk area).

 

[minniesota]

ead79 ,
Thanks for the input. We have actually stayed at both YC and BC and do prefer YC- but since we are thinking about concierge, I was just wondering if there are differences in that area. Are the garden view concierge rooms on a concierge floor, for example, and if so, what is the view? I definitely like the idea of a balcony where we can sit and watch the world go by! We have had a room overlooking the wedding gazebo - it was one of our favorites!

Anyone else have info about YC CL versus BC CL?

 

[lovesdumbo]

Originally posted by storybookmum
Isn't he the best?

He sure is! I'm still hoping that this trip in Oct will convert DH! I've got lots more PS's planned because I know I've got to keep him fed if I'm going to keep him happy! And I plan to start off on a good note by bringing a really nice lunch with us for the plane. (Any suggestions on gourmet picnic ideas?-I was planning on the frozen individual slices of pie for him for dessert....) We do have a PS for Boma for breakfast-I think he'll love the food and the relatively quiet non-character meal. I'm trying to figure out how to sqeeze in dinner at Boma too.

Elisabeth-Loved your Pop photos. I've shared them with my friend who in staying there while we are at WDW in October. I think she & her DD(5) who ususally stay offsite will LOVE it! I've already got PS's at Kona & Ohana for dinner.

 

[Kimberle]

Hi,

Quick question about check-in. I don't check in at the front desk correct? But how do I get up to the 14th floor without a card? Do I just tell one of the bellmen?

TIA!