We just returned from a 7-day stay on the 29th. Great resort- awesome staff! Best and most relaxing stay- I LOVE this resort (and I thought I would hate it)....
....we had a pool view- Building 26 (2621). My kids loved the pool view- directly overlooked the pool and Broad Creek Mercantile, with a view of the marsh off to the left. My 14 year old loved flirting with the young CM's, and my younger ones (4,6,10) loved seeing the action. In all honesty, it was a little loud, especially on the morning we decided to sleep in and people were in the pool at 8 AM (people were NOT unreasonably loud- but we could really hear them). My DH was unhappy at first, but by the end of the stay really, really liked the pool view and being able to keep an eye on all the "Action". I will probably request a marsh view next year, to the disappointment of the kids.
Be sure and say "hi" to Sheree (front desk manager) and John, her husband. Sheree is a former graduate student of mine- and does a most wonderful job at the resort.
B'lou Crab is one of the finest finds by Disney- they should pay him the equivalent of an Eisner salary to keep him.We lost our old Golden Retriever about a year ago, and my 6 year old son has never really gotten over it, even though we got another black lab puppy. When he saw Shadow he burst into tears and ran away....the time and effort that B'Lou Crab took to help my son deal with his grief was priceless. My son held that silly old dog and cried, and B'Lou talked with him about loss and the "circle of life"....I was in tears by the end. My son finally looked up at me and said it was okay that his Butchie went to heaven, because that was the circle of life and B'Lou and Shadow helped him understand it all. He ended up with a postcard of Shadow which he now has framed next to his bed. B'Lou didn't have to do this for my son- but he did. A letter to Mr. Eisner about this wonderful man, as well as the rest of the wonderful staff, is in the works!
Take advantage of the free programs, especially the magic and music and story programs.....I am still in disbelief over how much we learned and enjoyed our stay. Enjoy!