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

The villa was just perfect…I had read some horror posts/htreads about the lack of newness, already seeming run-down, dings, bangs, stains, etc…but we had none of that. Yes you could see some minmal wear and tear and a little mildew in the master shower but no more than my shower at home. The space was great and it was wonderfully used…here we are loving it and making ourselves at home.

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a spot for shoes by the "front door"

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hanging up laundry...I used those 3 in 1 Purell sheets and did laundry about 5 times including a load of towels...YAY for in room W/D

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hooks in the Master

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sunglasses ledge...this was under a great pix (sorry how did we not take a picture) but in the foyer...we'd put our camera there, Matt's wallet...just like at home

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a reading nook on the couch

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our first breakfast in the villa

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Nathan loved looking out the living room window each morning after he slept in the comfy chair bed

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decorating the door...the only 1 I saw btw...but we did see some decorated windows...dang we should have brought the Chesire cat from the girls' b-day party...and I can't believe I didn't take more pix of the door...I did hang up the other b-day balloon and a thanksgiving sign too...the MP's and kids loved the decorations helped them find the room easy.


Check out many of the special touches and details
the artwork:

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this was in our elevator vestibule

special touches:

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this was left in the master after our mid-stay full cleaning and when Matt and I took over the master, Matt's Mom was too cute she put in back on the bed for us.

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Mickey's everywhere:

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Complaints…very few.

For several of our first days, a Mousekeeping cart was parked outside our door

Some things that would be helpful to our stay:

A step stool…the bathroom vanities were very high, too hard for Naomi-Ruth to reach

A 2 qt pitcher…Jennifer (Native NYer) mentioned they only had a small one in the 1 BR…well same thing in the 2BR…had to make small batches of lemonade for Naomi-Ruth, worked out OK.

Hooks in the hall would be great for hoodies/bags

More kitchen table seating…for a family of 6 a bar stool at the island or another short stool for the table would have been helpful. For the 2 times we all ate at the same time, 1 of had to kneel or stand.

Safety netting for the balcony railings….would be a nice touch.

We used the vacuum a few times, Matt joked it was a remnant from the COP set. But it worked fine.

Need a few more empty trash bags…after eating take-out from the CS at CR in there you had to dispose of it and Matt had to find a trash bag from somewhere else the 2nd time.

The shower in the 2nd bathroom and I assume the hall (3rd bath) was very, very hard…almost like needles and the shower curtain would waft in on you…made showering a little challenging.

But the space was HUGE it was like staying in a small condo, tons of storage, which was great! Wasn’t tripping over stuff and for me I loved how I could find a space for everything… kept in tidy and uncluttered….YAY!


Now before I move on to ammenties, the pool, and transportaion let me finishing telling you about the luggage and my final thoughts on resort switchting….


So we were up in our room and the luggage arrived shortly after I came. Everyone just love the space. (Although Matt’s Mom said before I came up…the master was too big for them they didn’t need that space…

WHAT?!?


I am offering you this great room, privacy, etc and you don’t want it…no way…you’re going to bunk down in the 2nd bedroom w/ the little girls????...it frustrated me. Of course they stayed in the master till Wed morning and half the time, Matt’s mom ended up napping and resting in the room w/ the door closed.

Now when bell services came up they didn’t have my tote bag from the morning or the Disney plastic shopping bag…the poor guy had to go back down and get that. And of course the pieces delivered were the things I dropped off at POP that morning and the MP’s suitcase…go figure. But the bags I needed w/ food for Naomi-Ruth and the girl’s changes of clothes had yet to leave POP. It was after 4 pm by the time I had put away the groceries and got what I could organize.

It was getting late and I was tired, flustered…Nathan was starting to lose it, he was bored…nothing was structured at this point and my original plans were quickly slipping away….we were suppose to be going to Epcot for dinner, go on a few rides and see some of WS WITH the MP’s….but then Matt’s Mom is tired and doesn’t want to go….she had barely done anything yet…Matt and I were disappointed…but I think she was upset… because she didn’t like how I got upset w/ Nathan and discliplied him over an issue w/ Naomi-Ruth….

He, Bekah (and Matt somehow) each go plastic swords from CRT and they had been playing/fighting w/ them….Nathan was getting worked up over what are we doing when are leaving, I’m hungry…etc….if I was thinking clearly which I wasn’t…as I was tired and not feeling well, stressed our luggage wasn’t here…I should have made him some ceral…but I had him sit in the 2nd bedroom alone to chill….something he just wasn’t able to do quite yet this trip….

Well then I hear him yell out. He was in the living room, Naomi-Ruth hit him w/ a sword in front of my mil and then he was flipping out…I took the sword from Naomi-Ruth and scolded her and then took the other swords away and put them up on a high shelf…then Nathan lost it. I lost it. Matt’s Mom “interfered” and well…..it just all went screwy. Matt then had Nathan in the other room trying to get him to listen and calm down, but he was beyond reason at this point…I had blown up and said We/ He is not going anywhere…that Matt and I started arguing….can you see where this going…ah you spectrum Mom’s know all too well….eventually we all pulled it together and left to head to EPCOT…I tried to apologize and help Matt’s Mom understand…but she kept saying he didn’t do anything…yes he didn’t initially…but …oh well.

Now somewhere in the midst of this…Matt called back down to bell services as they were suppose to receive a call from POP when someone was bringing our bags…still no luck at almost 5 pm. We headed over to the park around 6 pm…the girls in dirty clothes….oh well.

The luggage finally did arrive while we were gone, I don’t know what time…but we got back after 9 pm. I got the rest of our stuff all put away and got to bed by 11:30pm…I was exhausted…and so not in the Disney mood….

Oh I should mention the alarm clock in the 2nd bedroom was an hour fast and it took Matt a few tries to fix it…and he didn’t adjust his clock watch for the morning alarm…and hence we massively overslept the next day….


Up NEXT: the pool, a sandwich, a movie, and a boat ride…

Thanks for reading as always,


J~​
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jillyb
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....

If I'd have thought about it I certainly would have!

I can "hear" the frustration in your post. And I know exactly how you felt...been there done that! I would have handled the situation with Nathan and Naomi-Ruth like you did and if MIL had interfered while I was disciplining, Clay would have been asked to handle his Mom! LOL Wish we had seen ya'll at Epcot that night.

Can't wait to hear about the next day because that means you meet me (if I've got my dates right! LOL)!
 
Oh, Julie!

Just reading your report of your first two days makes me sad for all of you! I'm sorry things exploded (luggage, your MIL, Nathan, etc).

If it's any comfort, this happens to everyone at some time over some thing! (Ours was on check-out day!)

The pics of BLT are just wonderful. We stayed there last November ('09) and I just loved it. I'm hoping to stay again but this time in a LV (we had standard view with view of the marina, so it wasn't bad).

And how could someone not want to be in the Master Bedroom??? I mean, you guys would have gladly taken it but you gave it away as a gift -- MP's should have been jumping with joy over that!
 
Love all the pictures of your 2-bedroom villa at BLT! So pretty and any space with Mickeys all over it wins marks in my book! :thumbsup2;)

What an absolute nightmare with the luggage! Glad it all finally arrived -- I would have been flipping out!

Love your "MK view" :laughing: What a cute idea!

Sorry to hear about the MIL "interfering." I have had that problem before -- mine always wants to "explain" to the kids why they are getting in trouble when I just want them in their rooms cooling off. :headache:
 

Oh Julie. I am so sorry for the hectic, crazy luggage situation and Nathan's meltdown. Having someone interfere is never a good thing. Especially when you know your children best.

I love all the detailed pictures you took of the room and the artwork. I'm not a big fan of "modern" art, but Disney did a good job.:thumbsup2
 
If I'd have thought about it I certainly would have!

I can "hear" the frustration in your post. And I know exactly how you felt...been there done that! I would have handled the situation with Nathan and Naomi-Ruth like you did and if MIL had interfered while I was disciplining, Clay would have been asked to handle his Mom! LOL Wish we had seen ya'll at Epcot that night.

Can't wait to hear about the next day because that means you meet me (if I've got my dates right! LOL)!

have a little more to tell about the resort, but the Dismeet's are coming up...I'm not exactly going in chroniclogical (msp?) order here, but I'm excited to tell of it too.

Oh, Julie!

Just reading your report of your first two days makes me sad for all of you! I'm sorry things exploded (luggage, your MIL, Nathan, etc).

If it's any comfort, this happens to everyone at some time over some thing! (Ours was on check-out day!)

The pics of BLT are just wonderful. We stayed there last November ('09) and I just loved it. I'm hoping to stay again but this time in a LV (we had standard view with view of the marina, so it wasn't bad).

And how could someone not want to be in the Master Bedroom??? I mean, you guys would have gladly taken it but you gave it away as a gift -- MP's should have been jumping with joy over that!


Love all the pictures of your 2-bedroom villa at BLT! So pretty and any space with Mickeys all over it wins marks in my book! :thumbsup2;)

I agree!

What an absolute nightmare with the luggage! Glad it all finally arrived -- I would have been flipping out!

Love your "MK view" :laughing: What a cute idea!

thanks

Sorry to hear about the MIL "interfering." I have had that problem before -- mine always wants to "explain" to the kids why they are getting in trouble when I just want them in their rooms cooling off. :headache:

Oh Julie. I am so sorry for the hectic, crazy luggage situation and Nathan's meltdown. Having someone interfere is never a good thing. Especially when you know your children best.

I love all the detailed pictures you took of the room and the artwork. I'm not a big fan of "modern" art, but Disney did a good job.:thumbsup2

most of those shots Matt took...oh I don't like modern art either...but Disney art :thumbsup2

in re to the meltdown and my mil "interferring"....she didn't actually DO anything...she just didn't get it, and questioned what I and Matt said/did. It has been hard on our family but especially for Matt's Mom to truly understand what it means for Nathan to be Autistic...not seeing him often enough or only seeing him have meltdowns on occassion is hard for anyone to view as Matt and I being honest or fair when it comes to stopping it or disclipling but it's not a matter of that...it's a matter of so much more. Very hard to explain. I love my mil a ton, and we have had some really good conversations about how I feel being a Mom of 3 special needs children (although she may not agree)...unless you live each day or parent this child each day...you can not fully grasp the challange of discliplining and there is no grey area for Nathan...just black or white...something she just can't see. It's OK, little by little...she get's it and sometimes so do I :hug:
 
Oh I so get what happened.....perfect storm of an ASD kid on the verge of a meltdown, a mom with too much on her plate at the moment and too many "parents" around at the same time.

I think my mother still thinks that Liam is going to "out-grow" his autism and that it's just like a delay and he'll catch up. Neither set of grandparents has seen a true meltdown...you know the ones where your kid is just gone.

Now for a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking......because we all didn't see it when we were helping you plan. Going to Pop the first day/night, then going to the park the next day and checking in to BTL created two First Days. And everyone knows the first day is the worst and you ended up with two! The only thing that would have helped would have been if you took your luggage with you in the cab (which I swear was the original plan when you were going to send Matt over from Pop to check-in, no?)

....well I was going to write more but mine is about to meltdown...
 
That pitcher is too tiny for a 1 bedroom and definitely too small for a 2 bedroom. It's the same size as my father's big coffee mug :lmao:

I :love: the art in the villa. It just works at BLT. And the mickey heads are EVERYWHERE.

You didn't have stools at the island? There were two stools at the island in our 1 bedroom. We were on the outside of the "C" overlooking the walkway, monorail, and lake. I read somewhere on the DVC boards that the rooms on the inside of the "C" have a laundry room, but a smaller living area and the rooms on the outside of the "C" have a the W/D in a closet and a larger living area, including the two stools at the island. At first, I wasn't happy with a room on the outside of the "C." But after a couple of days, I really loved the location. We were on the same side as the walkway to the CR, so all we had to do was take the elevator down. My nephews really enjoyed watching the monorail zip by and the CMs set up the movie on the beach.

I am so sorry about the meltdown and the entire chain of events. :hug: And I agree with Heidi. You had two first days and that's always stressful. Would you ever do a split stay again? Or did you find it too much? We've done a split twice and probably will NEVER do it again.

Looking forward to your next update :goodvibes
 
I really like what Heidi said about 2 first days. Very sorry about the luggage. We are doing 2 nights at POP then transferring to Kidani-I am crossing my fingers it goes smoothly. I am glad you got to go to Epcot.
 
Yay, all caught up.

Sorry about the meltdown. Everyone else has pretty much said what I was going to say so I'll just say sorry and hopefully getting to a park calmed everyone down.

I am sure it wasn't fun being sick either. When we took my MIL with us in 2008.....I had the worst head cold. It was hot and I was just so miserable....then Gabriel got sick. Ughhhhhh

Can't wait to read more!
 
Oh I so get what happened.....perfect storm of an ASD kid on the verge of a meltdown, a mom with too much on her plate at the moment and too many "parents" around at the same time.

ahh the too many parents syndrome...we have that issue even when it's just Matt and I ;)

I think my mother still thinks that Liam is going to "out-grow" his autism and that it's just like a delay and he'll catch up. Neither set of grandparents has seen a true meltdown...you know the ones where your kid is just gone.

we went through the "out grow" thing too...

Now for a bit of Monday morning quarterbacking......because we all didn't see it when we were helping you plan. Going to Pop the first day/night, then going to the park the next day and checking in to BTL created two First Days. And everyone knows the first day is the worst and you ended up with two! The only thing that would have helped would have been if you took your luggage with you in the cab (which I swear was the original plan when you were going to send Matt over from Pop to check-in, no?)

....well I was going to write more but mine is about to meltdown...

yes it did become 2 first days...something I think I knew in my head...but didn't actually plan how it would effect all....in hindsight, we should have done things a bit diffrently...but well you know how that goes. I honestly don't remeber how we were going to deal w/ the luggage back when the split stay thing came to be...but if we didn't request for the luggage to be stored overnight I honestly don't think it would have been an issue.

That pitcher is too tiny for a 1 bedroom and definitely too small for a 2 bedroom. It's the same size as my father's big coffee mug :lmao:

:rotfl:

I :love: the art in the villa. It just works at BLT. And the mickey heads are EVERYWHERE.

I don't have a "modern home" but I'd love some in my house, especially the blankets

You didn't have stools at the island? There were two stools at the island in our 1 bedroom. We were on the outside of the "C" overlooking the walkway, monorail, and lake. I read somewhere on the DVC boards that the rooms on the inside of the "C" have a laundry room, but a smaller living area and the rooms on the outside of the "C" have a the W/D in a closet and a larger living area, including the two stools at the island. At first, I wasn't happy with a room on the outside of the "C." But after a couple of days, I really loved the location. We were on the same side as the walkway to the CR, so all we had to do was take the elevator down. My nephews really enjoyed watching the monorail zip by and the CMs set up the movie on the beach.


really...hmmm we were right near the walkway too. just a few rooms down from the elevator on that side and down to the 5th and across we go. it was breezy on the bridge. Had to remember to put my lipgloss on AFTER crossing that, as my hair would stick to my face. ;)

we didn't have stools and I vaugly thought there were stools in the model we toured last yr...but yes our laundry room was spacious...you can tell a bit from the picture I think. It didn't occur to me the living space was smaller, we never had an issue w/ it. but the stools would have been nice


I am so sorry about the meltdown and the entire chain of events. :hug: And I agree with Heidi. You had two first days and that's always stressful. Would you ever do a split stay again? Or did you find it too much? We've done a split twice and probably will NEVER do it again.

Looking forward to your next update :goodvibes

I really like what Heidi said about 2 first days. Very sorry about the luggage. We are doing 2 nights at POP then transferring to Kidani-I am crossing my fingers it goes smoothly. I am glad you got to go to Epcot.


so in regard to split stay again....probably NOT unless truly neccessary...but I'd do it so differently...not mess w/ the luggage. still let bell services take it and you'd have to plan your switch day as a break day or partial day.

for me I am very much about getting the room ORGANIZED...I guess it can make or break my trip...not really being able to do that...which I was worried about from the get-go did catch up to me (w/ the other issues), my stress ended up messing w/ everyone else...I'd have to face it totally different...good luck w/ your switch MaryAz...try not to pack too much into that switch day. I was trying to creat this "experience" for the MP's...and I should have realized from the start when they were just not going to be able to manage it...I should have let that expectation go...

they said they had fun, and I should just be happy w/ that


Yay, all caught up.

Sorry about the meltdown. Everyone else has pretty much said what I was going to say so I'll just say sorry and hopefully getting to a park calmed everyone down.

by Day four things got better...the back end of trip was almost GREAT!

I am sure it wasn't fun being sick either. When we took my MIL with us in 2008.....I had the worst head cold. It was hot and I was just so miserable....then Gabriel got sick. Ughhhhhh

Can't wait to read more!


yep the night before we leave my sil :headache: goes and tells my mil I have a bad URI and that get's my mil all worried...she actually called and told Matt I shouldn't fly sick I could get worse...am I really still going to go?....

um yeah! I don't care if my ears are messed up till next June...I would have still gone!...not ideal, but it was ok
 


Beyond the villa rooms at BLT there is so MUCH more….let’s start w/ the pool!

I was really hoping we’d get down there a little more often, but 2 times we did and hey swimming outside in Nov…that is just not something you do in Chicago.

The pool is set up w/ 4 areas…the deck w/ pool bar and ping pong table; the main pool w/ big slide and a kiddie slide. It is not very deep at all and has a zero depth entry on one side. Vests are available. There was always plenty of chairs available and lots of tables too. I would guess in the summer it would be much more crowded. The slides are also only open when lifeguards on are duty. There is a small beach area and the picnic/grill area too. Plus the toast shaped hot tub and a kiddie spray area. Now I never actually went in the pool(s) due to my ears, but Matt and the kids enjoyed it, especially the younger too. Oh and BTW you can go to the pool or community center w/out an adult at age 12.

We made it to the pool on Monday in between going to a park and then HDDR and again on Thanksgiving day.

Here are several pictures from our trips down.

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they have a dance party daily w/ games, music and more...here are the girls getting into it:

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One of coolest things about staying at BLT is seeing Wishes of course from the bridge/walkway to CR, from the elevator vestibules and the Top of the World Lounge. Plus we got to see/hear the EWP just about every night from the windows/balconies.

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We (at least Matt & I) watched Wishes a total of 6 times this trip….2 from the park, once from CR/bridge, from the elevator vestibule in our pajamas, from the monorail and from the Top of the World Lounge But I only have pictures from MK of Wishes...and I don't think our pictures of the EWP turned out...but I know I video taped it...so you'll have to wait for that fun later!

At CR they play a movie nightly on big screen in between the two resorts, we watch Pocahontas on Thanksgiving night:

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Another great thing about staying on the bay and near a monorail resort was the extra transportation choices:

We used the boat from CR twice…once to FWC and once to WL

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here it comes

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Views of BLT from the boat heading back to the dock at CR:

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cont next post...​
 
We used the Monorail a ton! Here are some fun pix of our many trips on this cool machine plus pix of the Tron-orail.

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These 3 pix are actually on the way to Epcot after the "meltdown"...see all was better

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Rachel and Naomi-Ruth being all COOL....
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Lastly you all know how much I love BLT sandwhiches and I just had to eat one while staying at BLT….and that I did:

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Ok so it was a TBLT...but close enough and it was delicious...they have it at Contempo Cafe at CR...I ate in twice...that is YUM FUN in my book

Thanks for reading as always,

J~

Up NEXT: mini TR about VEGAS (my 4 day trip starts tomorrow) and back to Disney w/ some Dismeets: a two week safari and the two Rachel’s
 
Rachel is the spitting image of you! The pic of Naomi-Ruth just cracks me up! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

I wanted to ride the Tron monorail just to say we rode in it but we never got around to it.

Have a great time in Vegas!
 
Slipped a bit behind... but that means I got to read two updates today!! :cool1: I totally get the whole meltdown thing... My mom butts in, but luckily my MIL doesn't - which is probably why I like having her around so much! ;)

BLT looks amazing!!! We love the space we get in our timeshare condos but I'm so jealous that you get the space & you get to jump on the monorail right outside your door! Awesome!!

Hope you have a ton of fun in Vegas!! :goodvibes
 
Missed commenting on your previous installment. I think we all SO get the meltdown situation. My MIL likes to comment to us too :sad2:.

Loving all the pics. Now I really want to stay at BLT sometime. That Tron-o-rail is too cool. Daniel would LOVE it but I doubt it'll still be around in June. Mairead will be excited to hear she can go to the pool on her own unfortunately she probably won't since she wouldn't have anyone to be with. :rotfl:
 
Julie, I completely agree with JillyB, Rachel looks just like you!!:cutie:

The details of your photos are great (did Matt take these too?):goodvibes I especially love the one of you and Nathan together. It makes me smile!
 
Thanks for sharing pics of BLT and the pool area -- I wish I was there now! I love the boat and monorail.

You just got to eat a BLT @ BLT (or close by)
 
Great pictures of all the fun recreation and transportation choices at BLT! So convenient!

Love the picture of you eating your BLT -- just perfect for where you were staying! :laughing:
 












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