July Trip Sprinkled Pixie Dust: Twins, Minivan & DVC 10/4 - The last day!

[disneydreamingdebby]

All good things must come to an end...we headed to Epcot for some last rides and a great trip to MouseGears.

The infamous Boardwalk chair:

Carousel

Our room from the boat

Imprinting Epcot before we leave:

The drive home included some threatening weather.

Then a beautiful sky...as we drove off into the sunset leaving the most magical place until next time...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Writing this trip report I thought much about which was my favorite resort.

I loved Animal Kingdom! I did think it was a dark resort, though. Even the pool area was surrounded by shade. It was hard to find a chair in the sun, but thinking about it, I am unsure if it wasn't overcast when we were at the pool.

The Mara was a wonderful counter service and the gift shop was fantastic. The bus service was always excellent...no complaints with it.

The pools were very nice, both at Kidani and Jambo House. The resort was terrific.

Beach Club

Didn't love the pool area. It was neat, but not really conducive for an overprotective mom. I like to see my kids at all times. The pool area was too big to do this and relax. It was fun to swim with them and do the slide, but overall, I can't say that I enjoyed this pool.

The gift shop was okay and did have a "counter" type option. We didn't frequent it though. The Cape May Cafe clam bake was good, and the breakfast with the characters was good. Neither of these was exceptional, so they are not high on the must return to list.


Boardwalk

Loved the location's view (we had a Boardwalk view.) Community Hall was a huge hit with our kids. Boardwalk bakery was delicious for lunch (didn't have breakfast there.)

Pool was nice. Kids enjoyed it, and I could relax without worrying about them.

BC and BW: The location to HS and Epcot was great, but I didn't enjoy the boat service as much as bus service. It seemed that we waited for boats more than we waited for buses. I loved the WS entrance and how we were nearly always the only people there.

The downside is that we had to walk across the park for our girls. I think I would enjoy the location better if we were on a couples only vacation.

I think of the three resorts Animal Kingdom was the best fit for our family.

 

[mgsmom]

What a fun trip report! I hate that your trip is "over" - I really enjoyed it.

I'm glad you gave a "run-down" of resorts and what you liked about them. I thought about doing Boardwalk Inn or Beach Club before I found the cabins over at the Fort. We definitely found our home there. I never really considered AK because I thought it would be a pain to have to take a bus everywhere - sounds like that worked out great, though!

I wondered about the buses vs boats over there too - that's good to know about, too.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love that you got a pic with DD sitting in that creepy chair!

What a great trip! Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Jasmine loved AKL...she loved sitting on the balcony in the afternoon before we would leave for dinner and just stare at the pool area.....I was with you...I found it a little dark! I did enjoy the pool though, I thought it was gorgeous, but unless we got there early we never had a chair in the sun either

I am sad to see your TR come to an end, I thoroughly loved reading it!!! Thanks so much for sharing

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Dh let me know that I told all of you the wrong info. I went back and changed it...but we actually ate our Flame tree in Restaurantosaurous. =)

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We will have to stay at Jambo House one of these trips, after Christmas that will be the only DVC resort at Disney left for us to try! Based upon your report I can't wait!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

What a fun trip report! I hate that your trip is "over" - I really enjoyed it.

I'm glad you gave a "run-down" of resorts and what you liked about them. I thought about doing Boardwalk Inn or Beach Club before I found the cabins over at the Fort. We definitely found our home there. I never really considered AK because I thought it would be a pain to have to take a bus everywhere - sounds like that worked out great, though!

I wondered about the buses vs boats over there too - that's good to know about, too.

Thanks for reading. I can start a pre-trip report soon. (Okay, just kidding... maybe a trip report for Jan.)

Love that you got a pic with DD sitting in that creepy chair!

What a great trip! Thanks for sharing it with us!

I totally thought of you when I took the Creepy chair shot...you made a comment on someone's thread about it...okay it is creepy that I know that!

Jasmine loved AKL...she loved sitting on the balcony in the afternoon before we would leave for dinner and just stare at the pool area.....I was with you...I found it a little dark! I did enjoy the pool though, I thought it was gorgeous, but unless we got there early we never had a chair in the sun either

I am sad to see your TR come to an end, I thoroughly loved reading it!!! Thanks so much for sharing

Thank you so much for reading. I think AKL has such a great feel to it. I can't wait to read your report!!!

We will have to stay at Jambo House one of these trips, after Christmas that will be the only DVC resort at Disney left for us to try! Based upon your report I can't wait!

I will have to check on where you are staying at Christmas. I opted for Jambo instead of Kidani bc I thought it would be better to be near food with my kids. (The one is intolerable when she is hungry - blood sugar issues maybe. ) We tried the three to start trying all of them. If we can get it (not likely), we are going to try BLT in Jan. DH can't get vacation during the nonpeak times approved until 60 days out. I am just hoping we can get a room at any DVC resort with only 60 days out during the value season. We want to try OKW this summer.

I think I read that you LOVE BWV. Are they your favorite? Can you rank the resorts - 1st, 2nd, etc? I'd love to hear your opinion.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'll rank for you, but I'm kind of mushy and wishy washy....

1. Beach Club I just love this place. It's home. Although I wish they would renovate, it's looking a little rundown... We love SAB. We love the Epot/DHS location. Hotel type atmosphere.

2. Boardwalk Theming! Location! Refurb! again hotel atmosphere.

3. BLT Location can't be beat for the Magic Kingdom. Theming is lacking.

4. Kidani Huge villas! Savannah view! Wonderful theming. Drawbacks, you can walk forever to your villa if you don't have a rental car. No counter service. We didn't use the pool as we were there at Christmas.

5. SSR Beautiful grounds, close to DTD and possible to walk over. We do like it here! Maybe would like it better if we had a rental car.

6. Old Key West Spacious Villas, very laid back feeling to the common areas. We enjoy ourselves here! Maybe would like it better if we had a car.

I think the main difference that Marc and I have on this is BLT would be last on his list.
This Christmas we are staying at Beach Club for the first five nights, moving to POR for the weekend to save points then to VWL for three more nights. I'm anxious to see how it is there! We'll have a 1br at each of the DVC resorts.
I'll get a report started when we get back!

 

[MagicShell]

You're on your way home?! I have really enjoyed reading about your trip and looking at all your pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Minnie824]

I just read thru your whole trip report today and I had to comment on something...the peanut butter cake! We went in July this year and stayed at BCV as well and I had that cake twice, and took pictures of it as well. It is the best cake ever! I even called them to see if they'd ship me one, but sadly they wouldn't. Looks like you had a great trip!

 

[onescgirl]

I LOVE your night pictures at Boardwalk & your firework pics are awesome! I would really love to stay there one day.

We are not big day parade watchers either & that was a funny pic of your family waiting for you while you were taking pictures of the parade!

It was neat reading your 2009 TR. That is so cool that your girls were able to ride up front in the Monorail. They don't allow that now, so at least your girls will always be able to say they did it.

I have really enjoyed reading your TR. Since I have twins too around the same age, it made it even more interesting to me watching them enjoy the world!

You'll have to look at my TR when we go to Epcot. We had to get the 'American Dream' float after seeing your girls with one!

I'm glad that ya'll had a great trip, but I'm sad it's over!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Thanks for reading! I am enjoying Queens' and onescgirls' reports now. I am also anxiously awaiting 15 days until DH can get Jan dates approved for our upcoming trip. I have the plane tickets; just no room reservations! UGH!

So, I am excited to see which DVC resort we will be visiting. I will have to write a trip report when we return. I don't know that I have too much to write about before we go!

 

[tinkerbell60]

Thanks for reading! I am enjoying Queens' and onescgirls' reports now. I am also anxiously awaiting 15 days until DH can get Jan dates approved for our upcoming trip. I have the plane tickets; just no room reservations! UGH!

So, I am excited to see which DVC resort we will be visiting. I will have to write a trip report when we return. I don't know that I have too much to write about before we go!

How exciting!! We do not have any trip planned right now and it is making me nuts. I cannot wait to read your new trip report. Keep us posted!!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hi there Wendy! I am so glad we have a countdown going. My friend just returned from a visit 10/31 to 11/3 that I helped plan out (including touring plans) hehe and I just helped another friend book a May trip. We still have to work on her ADRs and touring plans.

I think I would be going nuts planning others's trips but not ours!

I probably will start a PTR just to be able to chat with my dis friends!!

How are you? How are the kiddos? Big year for DD, right? Isn't she a junior? That's the grade I teach. Not so fun for parents, though. SAT, college search, tough academic year for kids.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Hi there Wendy! I am so glad we have a countdown going. My friend just returned from a visit 10/31 to 11/3 that I helped plan out (including touring plans) hehe and I just helped another friend book a May trip. We still have to work on her ADRs and touring plans.

I think I would be going nuts planning others's trips but not ours!

I probably will start a PTR just to be able to chat with my dis friends!!

How are you? How are the kiddos? Big year for DD, right? Isn't she a junior? That's the grade I teach. Not so fun for parents, though. SAT, college search, tough academic year for kids.

I am helping a friend plan a trip too. At least it keeps me up to date! We will not be back before summer. This is a tough year for DD - which is one reason we are not going to Disney over spring break - instead we are doing some college visits and she is getting her wisdom teeth out.
Time is flying by - I cannot believe the holidays are almost upon us!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Wisdom teeth - no big deal for some, but a nightmare for others. I hope it is the former! Summer will be here before we know it. I am glad you said that your next trip will be summer. I was worried that it might be longer.

Is dd looking at local schools or ones farther? Has she decided on a major? Such hard decisions for 16/17 year olds.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Wisdom teeth - no big deal for some, but a nightmare for others. I hope it is the former! Summer will be here before we know it. I am glad you said that your next trip will be summer. I was worried that it might be longer.

Is dd looking at local schools or ones farther? Has she decided on a major? Such hard decisions for 16/17 year olds.

I know, I hope it is no big deal. We are doing it in April, because I did not want to juggle vacation, band camp, senior pictures, and a few other summer events around it.

She would like to do early childhood education, and is looking at schools within a 2 hour radius of home - mostly the state schools.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I can speak for WCU- I am alum. It is in a nice area--we live 5-10 minutes away from the campus. I know about ten girls and a couple of boys there as freshman and sophmores (taught them.) At least one is eled major. If you want to pm me any questions, I can share whatever I know. I might be able to comment on other schools in a PM. I can also ask former students for honest opinions.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I can speak for WCU- I am alum. It is in a nice area--we live 5-10 minutes away from the campus. I know about ten girls and a couple of boys there as freshman and sophmores (taught them.) At least one is eled major. If you want to pm me any questions, I can share whatever I know. I might be able to comment on other schools in a PM. I can also ask former students for honest opinions.

Thanks Debby! That is still a little far for us......hoping to stay on the western side of the state.