Having a GRAND time - the NEW Official GF Chat Thread PART 3

[tinklvr64]

Deb I am torn between YC and BC also-of course 2nd half of trip will be GF..I would love to hear how you liked BC I think my teens will like the proximity to the Boardwalk and DHS...did your kids love SAB?? The renovated BC rooms look great (similar to GF ) I know Channing said she liked the YC I think all of the rooms there have balconies (not sure about BC)...I'll be planning as soon as I know what the kids schedules will be next year...

Lucky you planning a few Disney trips at once

BTW still no luck for the beginning of December But I'm still trying....

This is my opinion of BC..we stayed there 2 years ago in Nov...we were disappointed. SAB was great although 2 of the days it was too cold to go in the pool. Balconies are standing room only...no joke! And the snack area is located inside the gift shop. We would not go back....although the pool is really great thats about it!

 

[BlueSkies]

This is my opinion of BC..we stayed there 2 years ago in Nov...we were disappointed. SAB was great although 2 of the days it was too cold to go in the pool. Balconies are standing room only...no joke! And the snack area is located inside the gift shop. We would not go back....although the pool is really great thats about it!

Dawn Thanks for that info...It will make my decision much easier I NEED to have a balcony...between the teens and DH all in one room the balcony is my resting place... At the GF even with just the garden view I love to sit out there (maybe with a fluffy pink drink ) enjoying the beautiful grounds,people watching oh yeah and having a little break from all of the togetherness...

 

[vbarry]

Hi guys! I thought I would chime in a little here. I do not think I would ever stay at the BC due to not having a full balcony. I would either do YC or BCV. That is one reason that I have always chosen to stay deluxe is because of that balcony. I am an early riser and nothing is better than sitting watching the world go by while sipping a cup of coffee. It is my peace while on vacation.

We have done split stays a couple of times and I do like them. I love the MK area and I love the Epcot/Boardwalk area. It is the best of both worlds. Usually we do 4 and 4 but this time we are staying 10 nights so get that extra night at each resort.

Deb- I had RPC booked for Christmas with the holiday rate. I was all for it at first but just could not stomach the cost. I just felt so guilty paying that much a night. My one word of advice is if you think you want it book it now and then change later. During my dates there is still garden view available but nothing else. At times I wish I would have just kept Sugar Loaf for something a little extra special during Christmas...but oh well. I know a lot of people say GV or RPC and nothing in between. I do not know yet so I cannot give any advice there. I will definately let you know how our GV stay is over the holidays. I guess I just feel fortunate to be able to stay at the Grand during the holidays.

Now I need to get something done. No dh and tons of laundry, grocery shopping, running the kids to tumbling practice is starting to get to me a little. I will be glad when dh is out of the field (hopefully before our trip!) so things can get a little back to normal around here. Not like he helps with any of the above but I just enjoy having an adult to talk to every now and then!

Good night everyone!

 

[tinklvr64]

Dawn Thanks for that info...It will make my decision much easier I NEED to have a balcony...between the teens and DH all in one room the balcony is my resting place... At the GF even with just the garden view I love to sit out there (maybe with a fluffy pink drink ) enjoying the beautiful grounds,people watching oh yeah and having a little break from all of the togetherness...

I agree...that is my favorite people watching from the balcony (with a pink squirrel or grasshopper ) at the GF. Def wont be able to do that at BC...no room! My mom was able to squeeze the chair from the desk on the balcony to sit but she had to sit sideways! No kidding!
I like that at the GF if i want my teens to go to MK without us they can buzz over on the monorail....

 

[tinklvr64]

V~come here for adult talk Ya the best part of the vacay is sitting sippin coffee peeps watching. I agree!

 

[mickeynut1]

This is my opinion of BC..we stayed there 2 years ago in Nov...we were disappointed. SAB was great although 2 of the days it was too cold to go in the pool. Balconies are standing room only...no joke! And the snack area is located inside the gift shop. We would not go back....although the pool is really great thats about it!

Dawn Thanks for that info...It will make my decision much easier I NEED to have a balcony...between the teens and DH all in one room the balcony is my resting place... At the GF even with just the garden view I love to sit out there (maybe with a fluffy pink drink ) enjoying the beautiful grounds,people watching oh yeah and having a little break from all of the togetherness...

I didn't realize until recently that not all BC rooms had balconies....and some are just standing room only like Dawn said . The snack shop doesn't even appeal to me....especially with it being located inside the gift shop (like Dawn also pointed out )....and it's basically just grab-n-go items with no hot food items to choose . The pool is great and my boys did enjoy it....but they only got to experience it the day we arrived as it was December when we stayed there and the pool was closed the rest of the week due to the cold weather . But DH and DS#1 went down the slide and said it was awesome......DS#2 wasn't that brave yet . I didn't end up swimming that afternoon as we only had a couple of hours until we had to get ready for dinner that night......so I sat at one of the tables and watched DH and the boys . But if you definitely have to have a balcony.....go with the YC . I think the YC is beautiful and kind of along the lines of the GF as far as being elegant....which the BC is not, I don't think .

We have done split stays a couple of times and I do like them. I love the MK area and I love the Epcot/Boardwalk area. It is the best of both worlds. Usually we do 4 and 4 but this time we are staying 10 nights so get that extra night at each resort.

Deb- I had RPC booked for Christmas with the holiday rate. I was all for it at first but just could not stomach the cost. I just felt so guilty paying that much a night. My one word of advice is if you think you want it book it now and then change later. During my dates there is still garden view available but nothing else. At times I wish I would have just kept Sugar Loaf for something a little extra special during Christmas...but oh well. I know a lot of people say GV or RPC and nothing in between. I do not know yet so I cannot give any advice there. I will definately let you know how our GV stay is over the holidays. I guess I just feel fortunate to be able to stay at the Grand during the holidays.

I think a 10 night vacation is perfect for a split stay . Part of me is saying just pick one resort and stay put for the entire time......but I am considering a split to see how I like it . I agree 100% about the RPC cost . As much as I would love to try it out, I can't go through with it . It is just way too much money for me to spend on a room . I guess now I need to decide between a split stay (GF GV/YC) and enjoy the best of both worlds like you mentioned....or choose between the GF or YC for the entire trip . Either way I'll have a great vacation and I should just be thankful that I'm able to stay at the GF or another deluxe resort .

You are going to have a fabulous time at the GF over the holidays......it is absolutely gorgeous all decorated . And to be there actually OVER Christmas is AWESOME .

 

[mickeynut1]

I agree...that is my favorite people watching from the balcony (with a pink squirrel or grasshopper ) at the GF. Def wont be able to do that at BC...no room! My mom was able to squeeze the chair from the desk on the balcony to sit but she had to sit sideways! No kidding!
I like that at the GF if i want my teens to go to MK without us they can buzz over on the monorail....

Why even have balconies if you can't even sit on them....that is totally ridiculous . I can't believe your mom had to sit SIDEWAYS . That's something they really goofed on when doing that resort .

You are braver than me because I haven't gotten to the point of feeling comfortable about letting my kids hop the monorail and head to the park while I'm still at the resort . DH doesn't think a thing about it, but I'm a worrier I guess . How do you do it???? Even though they know the parks like the back of their hand, I would be a total wreck .

 

[tete01830]

Good Morning!
I, too, am going to weigh in on the resort information! Keep in mind that I cant make a decision for myself but I am happy to give others advice!

I have stayed in RPC and SL as well as YC LV and YC LV CL. I have yet to try BC but it is in the running for my Dec trip! LOL...First, RPC needs no talk...we all know how great it is! SL...well it was my first CL stay after RPC. Did I come home and love it? No but do I now? Yes and would if it became available for my trip! Since staying at SL I have stayed at YC CL and Poly CL. The CMs are not the same as they are at GF. They do go out of their way to make your trip "grand". The food offerings are amazing at night and we were plenty full after sampling the appetizers. I didnt appreciate it when I was there.

When we stayed at YC in a LV room it was an awesome room. When we checked in, the nice CM said, "Well we have a wonderful room for you but it is a walk so if you find it too much, come and see us." So we walked and walked and walked to the room and finally got to it! She was right, it was great..nice corner room but it took forever to get to. We really didn't mind the walk at first but by the end of the week, it was a pain. There was a stairwell outside our room but because we had a double stroller, we couldn't use it. My other complaint about a regular room at YC is that there is no place close to fill your mug if you get one. In the morning, you can get coffee in the lobby but in order to get juice for the kids, I had to walk to the BC Marketplace. Hurricane Hannah also can refill your mug but they were there when I needed them and it was still a walk! I love the lobby and the gift shop. I do enjoy staying there and will go back again for sure! YC CL was very nice. We lucked out because there was a large convention going on and the higher ups were staying CL and they were never there. I mentioned to a CM that it was very quiet and she said they were gone early in the morning and we rarely saw them at night. One complaint I had was that the drinks were not in a fridge. We just brought them to the room and kept them in my fridge but still just to grab...warm! LOL Cast was nice and the food offerings were nice,too. Not the size of GF but nice. There was a soup and different hot appetizer every night and then a few standard items like cheese and crackers and a great tomato and mozzarella salad! Yummy! I will return to YC CL as well!

I want to stay BC because I have never stayed there before and if I am not going to stay CL then I want to be close to the Marketplace. I am just worries about the transportation. We normally rent a car because I like to be able to go when I want to go but this time we are trying not to. We have lucked out in the past that all 5 Epcot Resorts have not shared the bus but I have stayed at BWI when all 5, yes all 5, have shared! PITA! I would flip out if that happened again and I had no car. I thought they might have changed it but recently someone told me they saw the bus schedule at MK and it said all 5 were listed under one number...Chan maybe you can confirm this for me? My DH loves taking the boat to Epcot and HS...So do the kids!

SAB speaks for itself but if your kids are at different stages of pool fun then you might not think it is so great! For example, I have a friend that wont stay there because she has a 9 and 6 year old. The 9 year old want to do the slide over and over again but her 6 year old wont even do the small one. You have to cross the main walk way to get to the entrance of the slide. She doesnt feel comfortable letting him do this alone so either one or the other child suffers. Something to consider if you are a worrier.

Okay, now that I have written a novel. I have to get ready for the day! Talk to you all later...By the way...anyone stay in a Garden Wing room at CR??? I need some advice!

Siobhan

 

[mandymommy4]

Morning!

I just had some poptarts and they were yummy, I haven't had those in years and they might be the yummiest way to start the day!

Well from the post I have been reading you are a bunch of indecisive people! LOL!

Siobhan ~ You have me cracking up! SO have you decided yet

Gotta go! It podcast day and that means I try to fold mega

have a great day!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Mandy, I buy the LOW FAT Poptarts...once in a while I have one...I never had them as a kid so they are sooo good to me, too.

I am at the GF now...in a beautiful castle view room.

My kids won't get moving so I am here posting.

Went to the party last night. It was OK. We were set to have a BALL, but during the security line, DD accidentally knocked the camera off the counter and it totally shattered....it's done. My camera is toast and that really put a damper on the night.

Annette, I did find out about the pin board. It comes out 10:30 to 11 am and then from 6 to 6:30 pm.

We did the tea in the Garden View Lounge yesterday. It was really neat. Lucy and I had the Grand Tea and Jojo had Mrs. Potts Tea.....we all really enjoyed it. THe girls want to do it again.

OK...they are moving and need hair help. Would you believe we have lost both hair brushes? OMG.....

Anyway....ttfn.

CHanning

 

[mickeynut1]

Morning Gals


It is nice and sunny here today but COLD!!!!!! It was only 39 degrees when I took DS to school at 7:15 . I am NOT ready for winter .


Siobhan - Thanks for all your insight . I can give my advice to others too....but I can't make a decision on a resort for myself to save my life . When we stayed at the BC in December 2003 we loved it . BUT......there were two things we weren't thrilled about.....one was that there's no quick serve place like Gaspies at the GF or Captain Cooks at the Poly . I know they have the Marketplace now, but that only serves grab-n-go type items and it's located at the back of the gift shop . The second thing we didn't like was the transportation . I know you said you are afraid of the bus sharing......it was CRAZY . It seemed like we were always the last ones picked up and the last ones to be dropped off and there never seemed to be seats available . I think it may have been sharing between 4 or 5 resorts . If we do choose to stay at the YC next year, I think we'll definitely rent a car so we can avoid the bus sharing if we have to . But other than those two things (which really aren't THAT big of a deal)......we LOVED the BC . We are actually wanting to go back there the summer of 2010 so we can enjoy the pool since it was too cold to swim the year we were there .


Mandy - I LOVE Poptarts . DH sometimes eats the strawberry but I like the chocolate fudge.....yum!!!! But I try not to buy them too often because I'm the only one that likes them.....so you know what that means.....I eat the WHOLE BOX myself .


Chan - Glad you are enjoying your castle view room at the GF . I'm sorry about your camera . But I'm glad you and the girls enjoyed the tea . I hope you and the girls have a fabulous time the next couple days before coming home . Enjoy your time at the Grand .


Deb

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Good Morning! Good Morning!

For some reason I woke up around 6am, wide awake and refreshed (so RARE for me). So I have already worked out, showered and sent DS off on the bus!!

I paid off the December trip yesterday!! That always makes it feel so official for me!!! 44 Days to go!! I need to get my butt in gear though. Usually by now I have lists going of what to buy etc. I need to order my gift basket from Betsy, but am not sure what to put in it I am thinking Santa Mickey and Minnie, a Christmas ornament and the Christmas Ears. Any other ideas??????????????

Here is my thought on the BC- we stayed there in 2000, so take it with a grain of salt. My first ever trip to WDW was my honeymoon and we stayed in the GF in the Sugar Loaf building (before it was a CL building). I was in heaven When we decided to go for the Milennium (sp ) celebration, we figured all deluxes were the same, so we chose the BC for something different.

I think we had Siobhan's room!! It was a corner room, with a wraparound balcony, but it was SO FAR FROM THE ELEVATOR!! It had a king bed, which was nice, but it just didn't have the charm of the GF. I kept looking around for my chocolates on the pillow and my comfy robe! The other thing that was TERRIBLE was the transportation. It took so long to get to MK that we only went once (since this was before DS was around, we were OK with it) We spent most of our time at MGM or EPCOT since it was so much easier to get to.

During our 2006 trip, we tried to get to MK from BWI and I am not kidding when I say it took 1 hour!!! This was around 5pm. We waited 20 minutes minimum for a bus, then it went to the Swan and the Dolphin beofre MK. Until they work out the bus situation over there, we won't be back (ditto for the YC or BWI )

 

[mandymommy4]

HI Channing!

So sorry about your camera I understand because I am a picture freak.

So besides the camera incident, was the MNSSHP good? Was it crowded like it looked like it was Sunday? Did y'all get the cute $4 Mickey bags to fill with candy? I am taking my Halloween bag to church tonight for children's choir, the kids will love it, they always like my Disney stuff!

The tea sounds so fun! I want to go with my sister and Nana, totally up my Nana's alley!

I am LOL about the lost hairbrushes! You have had bad luck concerning toiletries, thats all i am gonna say!

Have fun today!

 

[mickeynut1]

Kristin.....YAY for paying off your trip . That is such a good feeling and it does make it that much more of a reality when that final payment is made and you're within that 45 day mark !!!! It won't be long......these next 44 days will fly by before you know it . No ideas off the top of my head right now.....but if I come up with any cool ideas for the gift basket, I'll be sure to let you know .

Looks like you're full of energy this morning . I got showered right after I got home from taking DS to school.....got my coffee and already put in 2 loads of .....but as far as getting moving outside the house (I need to go grocery shopping)....not too motivated yet for that . Yesterday was one of those days where I did absolutely NOTHING.....so I gotta make up for that today .


Traci.......Only TWO MORE DAYS for you....WOO HOO .


Hope everyone is enjoying their day .


Deb

 

[m&pForever]

Hi everyone!!

Don't get me started on the BC balconies and thier stated views. I've had the standing room only one...(really what is the point..) and i've had the small one where i had to move my chair when someone else opened the door to come out...

The club lounge was boring...a view of the villas and front of hotel, if i remember right, and it was a bit small.

I had one of those rooms as far from the front as possible. We only had to walk out our door down a flight of stairs and we were at the path for Epcot which was great for the walk back.

 

[mandymommy4]

MArvel~ Your bat is cracking me up!

Btw~ thanks for the surprise I got in the mail!

Happy afternoon!

I have to tell you all my DD4.... well turns 5 on Saturday, had ramen noodle and she wanted me to help her re create the Lady and the Tramp noodle kiss scene. It was so precious! She giggled the whole time

Back to the

:: Sorry Kristin, I know it is a banned thing here! lol ::

 

[princessesrule4]

Chan - Sorry about your camera! That would put a damper on things but hopefully you had fun anyway! Glad you got the castle view!!
You are probably having breadsticks, veggies and dip and are about to have scones and banana bread in an hour!! LUCKY!! Have a great time!!!

 

[BlueSkies]

Thanks for all of the BC feed back....It will have to be either a YC/GF split or just forget the split and make it all GF (most likely SL unless I get a nice discout for RPC)

Channing Sorry to hear about your broken camera What happened to your hairburshes

HI everyone!! hope your all havin a nice day

 

[Cinderumbrella]

OK, my inner teenager came out today!

I went to Abercrombie and Fitch's website to browse the sales and ended up doing some early Christmas shopping for DH! He loves their stuff (shh!! I do too!!) I also ordered a couple of sale sweaters and a new hoodie for my birthday. I just emailed DH and told him he has great taste! All he wanted to know was whether or not he had to wrap them!

Chan- I am so, so sorry about the camera. I thought ours broke at CP right after we arrived once (DH dropped it the day before), but it turned out to be the batteries. But if the zoom was messed up, this is a GREAT excuse to buy a new one!!

Since I am the queen of banning, can we not talk about Pop Tarts anymore?? (J/K!!!) I am off carbs again until the trip so I can squeeze myself back into my shorts and dresses!!! I have such a weakness for brown sugar Pop Tarts!!

Dawn! Check your PM! SW has slightly lower fares again for November but I am not sure about your dates

Tonight is the last night for soccer (Hooray!! ) But it is about 45 degrees, windy and cloudy I don't think I am getting out of the car!

TTFN!

 

[traci]

Just had to pop in and say...um...er...I mean ...scream ONLY 2 MORE DAYS AND WE'LL BE BOARDING A PLANE TO DISNEY WORLD!

Now, if I can only get through the flight (I hate to fly)....