Hi all, Happy New Year!!
We arrived home this morning from our 16 night stay at WDW. The weather could have been better, but we still enjoyed ourselves immensely and I shed a little tear yesterday when we were packing up our studio at SSR.
Yes we stayed 16 nights in a studio and we lived to tell about it! Actually I would do it again in a heartbeat, to be able to stay 16 nights during Prime season. (At least while the boys are still young)
We drove since it was such a long stay and it was great to have that many days between the drive because we didnt dread it this time.
Ok on to the Resorts:
We checked into VWL on Dec. 16th for our 10 night stay in a studio. We arrived around 11 am and our check in was very efficient. Our room was ready around 2 pm.
The main Lobby was very nicely decorated and the tree was Huge! It was kind of vast to me, but my Ds's liked the big screen TV seating area behind the bell desk.
Our studio was very well stocked, clean and in a good location. It was 2503 NS and it had a courtyard view with the Inn rooms across from us. The exit stairs were right outside our door. (exit only, no re-entry)
I was VERY impressed with the amount of storage and the size of the studio at VWL. We (okay I) packed for the different weather, Holiday decorations, gifts, food, etc. and our VWL studio had so much storage space, large closet, drawers in the vanity and kitchenette, cubbies, deep dresser storage I was kicking myself for not packing more! LOL Dh refuses to allow anyone to handle our luggage (small price I pay for 16 nights in the world LOL) so he was glad I didnt pack more, BUT I could have!
We did bring our stroller, which came in handy for bringing things in from the parking lot and taking laundry to the first floor laundry room. The laundry was very convenient and I liked not having to leave the building to do laundry.
We went to MVMCP the following evening (Dec. 17) and had a great time. We had a 4:40 PS at Liberty Tree Tavern. Dh and the boys were not impressed. I liked the turkey and dressing and the rolls, but on a whole, I didnt think it was worth $90.
I followed Tourguidemikes touring plan and although it was sold out, the last night, and a friday night we followed the schedule and did everything we wanted to do and had front row for the parade. There was one time we got off schedule during the fireworks (in Fantasyland) and it was craazy! Using TGM we were able to avoid the large crowded areas so we quickly got back on track!
I was even able to purchase the pins, T-shirts, and photo frame. For us, it was worth it, but I can see how it would have been frustrating for the legally sane that don't have OCD! LOL None of us cared much for the snickerdoodle type cookies, but the Hot Cocoa made up for it, and we drank plenty of it.
VWL gave us a calendar of activities (tip: the utility panel in the studio is metal and makes a great place to post activity calendars and PS's with magnets. The entry door is wood). They had something planned each night, from cast choir, visiting bell choir, tree lighting (we missed this) and Santa on Christmas Eve.
The weather was not great and since this was not a must do or see anything trip (loosely planned to my standards) we just went with what we felt. Dh and the boys mostly felt DQ, I felt Christmas decorations and activities. Needless to say, we didnt spend much time in the parks. After MVMCP, we did one more day at MK and hopped that evening to EPCOT to see Illuminations and the awesome finale. Caught a glimpse of the CP but I will do that without kids. We spent 2 days at Blizzard Beach (one of which was rainy but warm and BB was empty). We also did 2 days at US/IOA.
My Ds's (5 and 7) and Dh love Disney Quest and it is their Theme Park of choice. Anyplace I can get cheesecake and internet access is high on my list too, so we spent alot of time at Disney Quest, including Christmas evening which had to be the most miserably cold and wet day out of the 16 we were there. DQ was very crowded that night.
Although it was cold most evenings, the pools were heated and the hot tubs were hot, so we usually took our evening dip and then visited the WL lobby so the boys could watch a few shorts on the big screen, before going to bed. We also started a new WDW nightly routine of having Hot Cocoa and popcorn before bed. (Ds's loved this)
As far as dining options at WL we had planned to eat at WC but we passed (although the dinner smelled very good when we walked thru the lobby at night) and the Roaring Forks didnt appeal to us and we will definitely try APoint in the future but didnt this trip.
Ds's I found to be very picky eaters and not really willing to try new things. Normally I can get them to eat a few bites but not at WDW prices so I prepared alot of meals in our studio to ensure they were eating properly. I really didnt mind and was amazed at the amount of variety I was able to come up with using the microwave and my early christmas gift the Mickey Waffle maker. (Loved Loved the Mickey Wafflemaker!) I did make 2 grocery runs to Target during our stay but that was the extent of my off site shopping which was a feat in itself! To think being at WDW during the busiest shopping season would save me money!
Im sure if you are still with me, you need a break so I will add to this report and I'd be happy to answer any questions.
We arrived home this morning from our 16 night stay at WDW. The weather could have been better, but we still enjoyed ourselves immensely and I shed a little tear yesterday when we were packing up our studio at SSR.
Yes we stayed 16 nights in a studio and we lived to tell about it! Actually I would do it again in a heartbeat, to be able to stay 16 nights during Prime season. (At least while the boys are still young)
We drove since it was such a long stay and it was great to have that many days between the drive because we didnt dread it this time.
Ok on to the Resorts:
We checked into VWL on Dec. 16th for our 10 night stay in a studio. We arrived around 11 am and our check in was very efficient. Our room was ready around 2 pm.
The main Lobby was very nicely decorated and the tree was Huge! It was kind of vast to me, but my Ds's liked the big screen TV seating area behind the bell desk.
Our studio was very well stocked, clean and in a good location. It was 2503 NS and it had a courtyard view with the Inn rooms across from us. The exit stairs were right outside our door. (exit only, no re-entry)
I was VERY impressed with the amount of storage and the size of the studio at VWL. We (okay I) packed for the different weather, Holiday decorations, gifts, food, etc. and our VWL studio had so much storage space, large closet, drawers in the vanity and kitchenette, cubbies, deep dresser storage I was kicking myself for not packing more! LOL Dh refuses to allow anyone to handle our luggage (small price I pay for 16 nights in the world LOL) so he was glad I didnt pack more, BUT I could have!
We did bring our stroller, which came in handy for bringing things in from the parking lot and taking laundry to the first floor laundry room. The laundry was very convenient and I liked not having to leave the building to do laundry.
We went to MVMCP the following evening (Dec. 17) and had a great time. We had a 4:40 PS at Liberty Tree Tavern. Dh and the boys were not impressed. I liked the turkey and dressing and the rolls, but on a whole, I didnt think it was worth $90.
I followed Tourguidemikes touring plan and although it was sold out, the last night, and a friday night we followed the schedule and did everything we wanted to do and had front row for the parade. There was one time we got off schedule during the fireworks (in Fantasyland) and it was craazy! Using TGM we were able to avoid the large crowded areas so we quickly got back on track!
I was even able to purchase the pins, T-shirts, and photo frame. For us, it was worth it, but I can see how it would have been frustrating for the legally sane that don't have OCD! LOL None of us cared much for the snickerdoodle type cookies, but the Hot Cocoa made up for it, and we drank plenty of it.
VWL gave us a calendar of activities (tip: the utility panel in the studio is metal and makes a great place to post activity calendars and PS's with magnets. The entry door is wood). They had something planned each night, from cast choir, visiting bell choir, tree lighting (we missed this) and Santa on Christmas Eve.
The weather was not great and since this was not a must do or see anything trip (loosely planned to my standards) we just went with what we felt. Dh and the boys mostly felt DQ, I felt Christmas decorations and activities. Needless to say, we didnt spend much time in the parks. After MVMCP, we did one more day at MK and hopped that evening to EPCOT to see Illuminations and the awesome finale. Caught a glimpse of the CP but I will do that without kids. We spent 2 days at Blizzard Beach (one of which was rainy but warm and BB was empty). We also did 2 days at US/IOA.
My Ds's (5 and 7) and Dh love Disney Quest and it is their Theme Park of choice. Anyplace I can get cheesecake and internet access is high on my list too, so we spent alot of time at Disney Quest, including Christmas evening which had to be the most miserably cold and wet day out of the 16 we were there. DQ was very crowded that night.
Although it was cold most evenings, the pools were heated and the hot tubs were hot, so we usually took our evening dip and then visited the WL lobby so the boys could watch a few shorts on the big screen, before going to bed. We also started a new WDW nightly routine of having Hot Cocoa and popcorn before bed. (Ds's loved this)
As far as dining options at WL we had planned to eat at WC but we passed (although the dinner smelled very good when we walked thru the lobby at night) and the Roaring Forks didnt appeal to us and we will definitely try APoint in the future but didnt this trip.
Ds's I found to be very picky eaters and not really willing to try new things. Normally I can get them to eat a few bites but not at WDW prices so I prepared alot of meals in our studio to ensure they were eating properly. I really didnt mind and was amazed at the amount of variety I was able to come up with using the microwave and my early christmas gift the Mickey Waffle maker. (Loved Loved the Mickey Wafflemaker!) I did make 2 grocery runs to Target during our stay but that was the extent of my off site shopping which was a feat in itself! To think being at WDW during the busiest shopping season would save me money!
Im sure if you are still with me, you need a break so I will add to this report and I'd be happy to answer any questions.
I like my sweets, but It seems to me that food should not be the major attraction and should complement the attractions. It's easy money though, like taking candy from a baby! LOL
I really need more points) We'll staying at SSR this trip, but I'm really missing VWL. Sounds like you all had a great time at both places. I've got one of those dollar store shoe hangers, I'll have to find some mesh pop ups. I think those would work great, and we are driving so I could just throw them in the car on the return trip. When you say $1 store, are you talking about a Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or some other $1 store? I might need to go look for some of those soon! Thanks for the report!
