I had a BLT for Thanksgiving with a little Holiday & Birthday Cheer:NEW END & new PTR

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for an update!!! So cool that you were able to catch a glimpse of Spaceship Earth as you were coming into Orlando. They should fly by Disney for all flights! I agree with you about the size of the value rooms -- with a family of four (two being older kids), it can feel really tiny!

Isn't that just like kids to want to buy souvenirs immediately? My two are always like that -- especially Connor!

Love the pictures of Naomi-Ruth on the mini-monorail and in the pool!

I am a little nervous about the resort switch and the luggage.

 

[tigerdragon]

I'm looking forward to reading more of your TR! We're considering a trip during Thanksgiving week next year and I'm interested to read about your experiences for the week.

Can't wait for the next update!

 

[Native NYer]

Great start!
Pop looks like such a fun resort for kids.
I hope your luggage issues were resolved quickly.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great update Julie!!

Not sure how I'm always first... I saw the email that you'd updated with a link to your TR & I jumped right on the computer. Good timing I guess.

Pop looks like it served it's purpose... I stayed there when I went with my mom in 08 and it was fine for the two of us. I definitely wouldn't want to stay there with the family - especially since we're used to a large condo. I was impressed with the buses though... since POP doesn't share they were pretty efficient.

Glad you decided to get your toes done... they came out great.

I hope the luggage situation worked itself out! I'm sure the stress of moving took it's toll... hopefully it wasn't too bad!

CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT BLT!!!!!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Julie! I'm a little late, but I'm here! I'm so looking forward to this TR!

First...your vacation toes are FABULOUS!! I definitely approve!

Pop looks like fun! I love all the big icons and bright colors. It looks like NR was having the time of her life in that pool!

Matt questioned your Disney judgment?? Silly man!

 

[mousescrapper]

I'm here!
The photos are adorable.
Can't wait to read all about your trip.

welcome aboard Jennifer!

I'm here!!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!!

(Everytime we passed BLT I thought of ya'll )

I feel the same for your's...and aww that is sweet!

Great update! Looks like the kids had a great time in the pool. I'm sure you must of loved waking up to cold Chicago weather and then being in a warm pool just a few hours later.
I think I might try POP one day for a quick weekend. When Disney releases those rates of $54 a night, it's hard to say no.

thanks Barbara, yes it was a preety funky thing to be swimming outside in Nov and yes I agree those low rates are a great steal when you can jump on it...and you being so close

Looking forward to your TR.

I'm in the far south suburbs of Chicago.....I have 4 children (3 boys, 1 girl). All 3 boys are on the spectrum (2, ages 17 and 5 are HFA. My 10 year old falls more into the moderate part of the spectrum).

Elizabeth

Hi and Elizabeth....thanks for introducing yourself! I will touch alot on the challanges my children had this trip...both of the twins are on the spectrum, and it took them a little longer this trip to ease in...

Great first day! I am just jumping inside wanting to know about your first experience at BLT. I know you LOVED it! We had our first time at BLT in Dec. 2009. It was fabulous! Not much to complain about. A light and the blinds quit working but maintenance was quick and so nice when they came. So actually nothing to complain about! We had a standard view and at night we were able to lay in bed and watch the fireworks! We get to go home in September!!

thanks it was a really good day...I will do another post on the "night out" Matt and I shared that first night too! Getting to BLT real soon...it was fabulous! sweet on watching fireworks from bed!!!

mmmmmm A blt sounds good right now. loving the trip so far.

yumm right! it is my FAVORITE sandwich and Stitch626...my son would love your name

Yay! You've started!

I loved that you decided to start out nice and easy with some R&R at the pool(s). And good job staying strong on the pins and plushies! Way too much trip ahead of you to start buying souvies just yet!

thanks Kathy...the pin trading for Nathan was a bit obessive at times... but he mellowed out as the trip progressed. We only came home w/ 2 new plush...I am proud of me holding firm

So sorry your ears got messed up... hope they're better for Vegas (Baby!)

Kathy

my left one is still a bit goofed up...so I'll just grin and bear it, cause hey I'm going on another trip

Great start Scrappie...I really like the style of this report!

thanks Heidi trying to take some of the pressure off myself to have this "perfect" TR....

I'm sure that you explained ME fine to your in-laws....I bet they weren't prepared for how quickly you go from being on a plane to being on the bus headed for the resort.

I agree...even w/ giving them the plans...it still was "what are we doing?" "where are we going"... I didn't want to dictate the trip...just guide...but overall I am glad they came especially for the kids. the things they did they enjoyed and they each one of those great classic Disney moments they're sure not to forgot!

I'm with you on the Value resorts...I think they'll good for a max of maybe a family of 2 adults and one grade school aged child. But POP does have one of the best food courts!

it was a good foodcourt...we ate there twice...good options and super huge...though what's w/ the huge tv's

Great start -- and cute family! I am anxious to hear about your BLT experience with kids. We'll be there next fall.

hi and

coming up super soon....we took advatage of a lot the resort offered and the proximity to MK and monorail is ...be hard to stay anywhere else

I'm here! Glad I didn't miss too much!

Hi Anne Marie...nope you didn't just getting started!!!

Looks like a good first day. It always takes us a day or two to get in the groove, I think the kids just need time to adjust to the new surroundings and pace of WDW.

yes that's how we like it...too bad I didn't really realize how much the resort switch was going to cause stress on me and especially Nathan.

Good for you on staying strong on the souvies. We instituted a rule a few trips back that nothing is bought until we have been to each park once which is usually a good part of the way through the whole trip. That way they can see what is available everywhere before they spend 'their' money.

oh wow now that I couldn't do...I am impressed

Can't wait to hear all about BLT. Someday I hope to stay there.

Oh you MUST!!!!

Hurray for an update!!! So cool that you were able to catch a glimpse of Spaceship Earth as you were coming into Orlando. They should fly by Disney for all flights!

I know it was so fun everyone on the plane trying to look out the windows...to see it!

I agree with you about the size of the value rooms -- with a family of four (two being older kids), it can feel really tiny!

it was good for what we needed that 1 night...but a longer stay would have been tough for us

Isn't that just like kids to want to buy souvenirs immediately? My two are always like that -- especially Connor!

yep...though I did too

Love the pictures of Naomi-Ruth on the mini-monorail and in the pool!


there are some really good ones still to come...

I am a little nervous about the resort switch and the luggage.

me too

I'm looking forward to reading more of your TR! We're considering a trip during Thanksgiving week next year and I'm interested to read about your experiences for the week.

Can't wait for the next update!

Hi and

I'll start on the BLT posts this week....crazy one for me as my husband and I are traveling on Friday for 4 days to Vegas...plus I have to work 3 days this week...speaking of I need to leave soon. Be back soon. I'll give you some good ideas about the crowds!

Great start!
Pop looks like such a fun resort for kids.
I hope your luggage issues were resolved quickly.

thanks....it is a really cool place...I loved all the fun stuff around. the luggage issues....

Great update Julie!!

Not sure how I'm always first... I saw the email that you'd updated with a link to your TR & I jumped right on the computer. Good timing I guess.



Pop looks like it served it's purpose... I stayed there when I went with my mom in 08 and it was fine for the two of us. I definitely wouldn't want to stay there with the family - especially since we're used to a large condo. I was impressed with the buses though... since POP doesn't share they were pretty efficient.

it did! we used the buses to and from DTD...I have more on that later...but it was....

Glad you decided to get your toes done... they came out great.


thanks and they still look good for Vegas!!!! maybe they will be in tact for our trip too

I hope the luggage situation worked itself out! I'm sure the stress of moving took it's toll... hopefully it wasn't too bad!

it's coming soon....let's just say the bell service desk at CR and I became good friends....


CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT BLT!!!!!

soon...soon....

Hi Julie! I'm a little late, but I'm here! I'm so looking forward to this TR!

no you are just in time!!!

First...your vacation toes are FABULOUS!! I definitely approve!

thanks I knew you'd love the pix

Pop looks like fun! I love all the big icons and bright colors. It looks like NR was having the time of her life in that pool!

OMG she did and she equally if not more loved the BLT pool too

Matt questioned your Disney judgment?? Silly man!

yeah right hih?

be back soon w/ BLT stuff

J~

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Hurray for your TR starting! I love the mini-monorail picture of Naomi-Ruth!

I am truly sorry to hear about your ear trouble on the plane. I hope your cold didn't plague you throughout the trip.....

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on BLT! And, if you ate one.

 

[MaryAz]

Good start. Sorry about your pooe head on the plane!! We are doing POP for 2 nights before moving to Kidani. Just the 2 girls and I-they are excited!!

 

[jillyb]

Originally Posted by Charleston Princess
Hurray for an update!!! So cool that you were able to catch a glimpse of Spaceship Earth as you were coming into Orlando. They should fly by Disney for all flights!

I know it was so fun everyone on the plane trying to look out the windows...to see it!

So did the plane list to one sid when everyone tried to look out the window???!!

 

[mousescrapper]

So did the plane list to one sid when everyone tried to look out the window???!!

yeah right...we were on the right side to see it...it reminds of taking the train into Chicago, the tracks go right by my parents home and our kids are always like "there is Grandma and Ja-Ja's house" one time these people sitting behind us went looking out the window

 

[jillyb]

yeah right...we were on the right side to see it...it reminds of taking the train into Chicago, the tracks go right by my parents home and our kids are always like "there is Grandma and Ja-Ja's house" one time these people sitting behind us went looking out the window

 

[mousescrapper]

It is the morning of Day 2 and we need to get over to CR to check-in for BLT, plus I need to get the girls up to the Castle for BBB between 8:15 and 8:30 am….

We wake up a little late…side effect of me sleeping HORRIBLY…the room was fine, bed pillows were fine, noticed a little exterior noise of passer bys and some plumbing noise…but I just didn’t sleep due to the nasty head/chest cold I was dealing w/ and my ear issues from the plane…plus Matt was sawing some logs….

I went into a bit of a panic mode, but still wanted to do this sweet surprise for Naomi-Ruth it was her birthday….stay tuned for that fun thing!

We got out of the room by 7:20 ish and luckily a Mears Van Cab was right out front…Matt took the kids to snatch it while I dealt w/ our luggage. Now we had 4 pieces already in storage from the day before and I was checking 1 more suitcase, a duffle bag, and Matt’s (locked) laptop bag and a blanket (brought from home). I am telling the “dude” at bell services we are switching resorts to BLT and these 3 items need to be put w/ our other 4 bags…even tell him the number on my first luggage claim tag AND that one more bag will be coming later this morning from another room (the MP’s bag)…please deliver everything to the CR bell services…

This is when I should have know there was going to be an issue….he says to me

“how do you spell that?”

As well late Friday night…it dawned me that we’d be back to BLT before 3 pm and they said the bags wouldn’t be delivered till after that…and I need the girls change of clothes, so they are not wearing the Princess dresses all day. Well since we were running late and this guy never even heard of BLT or how to spell it ….I just took my new claim tag and ran to the cab as Matt was calling me to hurry.

It will all work out right?

Now the cab ride to CR went perfect…quick and easy. He dropped us off in front of CR and we paid him $25 (including tip)…

Now checking into CR for BLT went super smooth. We also checked 1 other tote bag at CR that I no longer needed after checking in.

I had my DVC member button on and received my first “welcome home”

YEAH!!!!!

BTW which Disney hotel on property has earned 13 stars?


So now we went off for our MK morning

Here we are on our first WALK to MK from BLT/CR:

Here is a view of one of the monorails stopped along our way:

when we were done there around 1 pm (I think)…we walked over to BLT for our first official look and:

welcome home

These are the pictures as you enter the "foyer" to the lobby:

And we settled in the lobby for a few minutes

Matt asked if someone could see if our room was ready as we still hadn’t received a text it was yet. KIM BLT doesn’t have a full service lobby only a DVC rep/host for the hotel info and a few other CM who work the Top of the World Lounge (explain more of that soon)

We found out it wasn’t and not sure when it would be either…so we went to the Community Lounge just down the hall. Which you need your room key to enter (or and you need your room key to enter BLT (any entrance) plus the gated pool.

I was surprised how small it was for such a large resort, but I guess not many people use it at the same time. There were 2 other families in there when we first arrived, one left shortly. The kids sat right down and started playing Wii and computer games

Bekah also played foos ball w/ grandpa

Matt then asked to use a courtesy phone to check on our luggage arriving and was told it was here (at CR bell services) YAY!

Or so I thought….

I decide to go over there, access our bags and get the girls change of clothes plus drop off the bag of gifts the MP’s bought a few of the kids. I leisurely walk over there and they direct me to the outside door area, where another CM brings me back but our luggage is no where to be seen except the tote bag I dropped off this morning. I ask if I can leave the large plastic WDW bag w/ that, and he said sure. Now I go back over to the main bell service area it is sometime after 2:00 pm at this point.

And as I am trying to explain to them my situation and find out why they thought our bags were here…I start to have a massive coughing fit…flustered by the luggage, embarrassed by my coughing, I ask where a drinking fountain is, but instead they bring me some nice cold water from the back (probably from a water cooler, which they refilled for me twice)…I like them!
The lady helping me determine’s that 4 pieces of luggage had arrived from POP, but since I didn’t know what my inlaws suitcase looked like I didn’t think that was there…she was on the phone w/ bell services at POP trying to locate the other luggage did my inlaws pice get sent over…etc…etc…it took awhile and of course our room wasn’t ready so that seemed to complicate things. But just as we finally determined the other luggage I stored overnight was located and would be brought over hopefully in an hour. I receive a text about 3:15 pm our room was ready. Room # 8429. Cool!

They tell me they will deliever up the bags they have plus our garden grocer order that had arrived way earlier in the day ( had said between 2-4 and they delieverd just after 12 pm) good thing they put stuff in the fridge and freezer down there.

So I called Matt and told him our room was ready to head up and take some pictures!!! I finished up w/ bell services and headed over there. I texted Anne Marie (irish dancer) on my way…

Now when Matt headed up the elevator he didn’t bother looking at the sign saying what floor coordinated w/ which sets of room numbers so he got off at floor 8…but that wasn’t high enough.

We were on FLOOR 14

in the inner C…that’s the top floor on that side. I couldn’t believe our luck for our first stay. I had requested high floor 7 or above and an even room number hoping to catch a glimpse of MK…so 1 request granted isn’t half bad…hehehe

So I (we) have arrived:

​

 

[jillyb]

Oh my goodness! What a nightmare with the luggage! I would have been like you...worried because the guy at Bell Services was so clueless...but in too much of a rush to have time to sort it out and hope for the best. Glad it all got straightened out. Can't wait to see pictures of the room!

BTW: I'm dealing with the cold and coughing fits at the moment. I'll be glad when this crud is gone.

 

[mousescrapper]

Let’s take a tour, shall we…

The 2 BR villa

Living room

Master bed room

Master bath

2nd bedroom

And the all important view

I made our own MK view:

cont. next post:​

 

[Marshay]

Hey, Julie!! I made it over to the new report!

I love the pic of Mickey and Minnie at the airport! Great visual.

Naomi's pout is picture-perfect.

You can tell that Naomi-Ruth is just loving playing with her daddy in the pool.

I also love Bekah's pic in her BBB hair/dress playing foosball.

Sorry to hear about the luggage troubles.

I agree with the values -- good for a night or two but I admit I'm spoiled by DVC and all the room they have.

You did NOT make a bad choice at all with DVC! I know you guys loved it!! Now to experience all the resorts! We have 2 more (DWL and OKW) to do on-property and love each of them for different reasons.

But BLT beats them all, I think!

 

[Native NYer]

Oh there was a lot of luggage confusion
That definitely makes split stays unappealing.

Yay for a room on the 14th floor! And the view is great. We had a MK and LV in August, and preferred the lake view. The MK view is great, but you also see the parking lot. The lake is so much more relaxing And I love the MK view you made. Too cute!

Isn't the space in the villas just great?

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yay - you finally made it to your room - it's gorgeous!!!

I hope the luggage showed up soon!

Also can't wait to hear about the fun morning at MK!! The girls look great.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Let’s take a tour, shall we…

How Stunning! I honestly agree with a PP, that view would be VERY relaxing!

I made our own MK view:

Love that!!
​

I could imagine why you didn't get into the "Disney Groove" until the third day, you were running around like a chicken with her head cut off! And a sick little chickie to boot. I'm hoping that we see you feeling better!

 

[jillyb]

Love the room and what an awesome view!!

 

[mousescrapper]

Oh my goodness! What a nightmare with the luggage! I would have been like you...worried because the guy at Bell Services was so clueless...but in too much of a rush to have time to sort it out and hope for the best. Glad it all got straightened out.

it turned out to be a pain...and I'm not even done w/ the whole story yet...

BTW: I'm dealing with the cold and coughing fits at the moment. I'll be glad when this crud is gone.

ugh I hear you....be glad your not in Chicago we are barely topping 20 degrees out right now

Hey, Julie!! I made it over to the new report!

YAY! Marsha is in the house

I love the pic of Mickey and Minnie at the airport! Great visual.

Naomi's pout is picture-perfect.

You can tell that Naomi-Ruth is just loving playing with her daddy in the pool.

I also love Bekah's pic in her BBB hair/dress playing foosball.

thanks for all the sweet comments about my pix...I love the Mickey and Minnie shot too...I was quite clever at 7 am

Sorry to hear about the luggage troubles.



I agree with the values -- good for a night or two but I admit I'm spoiled by DVC and all the room they have.

yes I am spoiled for sure too...1 time is all it took


You did NOT make a bad choice at all with DVC! I know you guys loved it!! Now to experience all the resorts! We have 2 more (DWL and OKW) to do on-property and love each of them for different reasons.

But BLT beats them all, I think!

I'd love to try out multiple ones too...but the proximity and transportation for BLT makes choosing something else hard...but I do get to stay at AKV next month w/ the Spectrum Moms

Oh there was a lot of luggage confusion
That definitely makes split stays unappealing.

yes the switch itself wasn't too bad but luggage and trying to get organized was the issue....it may not have been so bad if we didn't split up our luggage...that is where the problem occurred. I was never mad w/ bell services...but know I know better

Yay for a room on the 14th floor! And the view is great. We had a MK and LV in August, and preferred the lake view. The MK view is great, but you also see the parking lot. The lake is so much more relaxing And I love the MK view you made. Too cute!

I was stoked!!!! I agree the parking lot isn't too fun during the day, but at night that castle is just too cool to look at!

Isn't the space in the villas just great?

It was crazy good!!!!

Yay - you finally made it to your room - it's gorgeous!!!

I know it was a long wait...but so worth it!!!


I hope the luggage showed up soon!

more to that saga coming soon

Also can't wait to hear about the fun morning at MK!! The girls look great.

that will be later...have to wait for my PP pix to come...you just get a mini sneak peek for now

I could imagine why you didn't get into the "Disney Groove" until the third day, you were running around like a chicken with her head cut off! And a sick little chickie to boot. I'm hoping that we see you feeling better!

it was lousy....and I think cause I was having trouble getting into the Disney mood...made it harder to get there.

Love the room and what an awesome view!!

thanks Jill!!! too bad you didn't text me when you passed by...if we were there I could have invited you up....



sorry all I didn't get the other post up...starting having tech difficulties hope to get it up today!