Just back - 4 nights BCV, 3 nights HRH w/ 3 yo - any questions?

[Rash]

June 7 - 14. Had a fantastic time! These boards really helped in planning for WDW with a 3 year old. Hopefully I can give back a little by answering any questions. Our itinerary was:

Sat: Arrived at BCV at 9:30 pm. Went to Boardwalk for beers and ice cream (for or daughter).

Sun: Animal Kingdom in morning, afternoon nap, back to AK for Jammin' Jungle Parade. Stormalong Bay at night.

Mon: Character Breakfast at Cape May Cafe in BCV. MGM in morning, afternoon nap, back to MGM for Stars and Motorcars Parade. Fantasmic Dinner Package - Brown Derby for dinner, Fantasmic at 9 pm.

Tues: Magic Kingdom in morning, afternoon nap, Stormalong Bay, then dinner at Rose and Crown 7:40 pm - watched Illuminations from there.

Wed: Princess Storybook Breakfast, the Magic Kingdom ALL DAY without a break (our daughter was too excited to sleep). Share a Dream Come True Parade. Off to Hard Rock Hotel.

Thurs: Islands of Adventure in morning, afternoon nap, then more IOA until closing. HRH pool until 11 pm

Fri: Universal Studios in morning, afternoon nap, them IOA until closing. Dive-In Movie at HRH pool until about 10:30 pm

Sat: Had about an hour in IOA before leaving for airport.

Wow - after typing it out it seems like we did commando style, but in actuality, it was a very relaxed pace. We just decided to do whatever our daughter wanted, and as it turned out, she had more energy than us! She often watched TV in the room while we napped, but it was still good to get away from the crowds and let her wind down for a couple hours.

Must have items to take to the parks IMHO include a misting fan, snacks (we took granola bars), drinks (we took Capri Sun), water bottles with waist clips, umbrella stroller with sun shade and storage bin (about $12), hat, suntan lotion, extra camera batteries, extra CF memory for digital camera (I filled 512 MB), sunglasses (for the kids too), baby wipes, cell phones or two-way radios, band-aids (my sandals eventually did bad things to my feet, I couldn't go on without the band-aids reducing the friction!), and a small toy for your child (to keep them occupied while your battling the crowds). My wife and I carried this all in two waistpacks and the storage bin in the stroller. It was really no burden at all, and I can't tell you how much easier our days were having these items handy.

Again, I'll be glad to answer any and all questions!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there.. sounds like an action packed trip...

I have a few questions for you,

How was your room at BCV?

How was the bus transportation to DAK & MK?

How was Stormalong bay - any problems finding chairs?

How was your room at the Hard Rock?

What did you think of Front of the Line access?

What movie was playing at the Dive in Movie?

Thanx!

>>^..^<<

 

[Dancind]

Sounds like you really preferred IOA to US. We're that way, too, but my DD is 12! Guess you didn't stop at the Curious George area at US, or you'd have been there a lot longer. Diana

 

[luvaladdin]

What did you think of the Universal parks? I went last month with two teens and I thought it was okay, I preferred IOA because there were lots of chances to get wet and there was Spiderman (the best ride ever made). I thought there wasn't a lot to do at the Studios and we found ourselves going on the same rides over and over. I probably wouldn't go back to Universal for a long time. I feel like I'm in the minority on this one, so wondering what you thought. Although we did love the HRH and front of the line.

 

[Rash]

- We stayed in a studio at BCV. Decor was nice, very clean and new. Nothing special as far as layout since we were in a studio. This was our first time at BCV - we loved the resort, very relaxing.

- No problems with bus transportation to any parks. The most we waited was 15 minutes after just missing a bus. Usually one arrived within 5-10 minutes.

- LOVED Stormalong Bay. Our daughter couldn't get enough of the sandy part of the pool, and we appreciated having Hurricane Hannahs close by! Really no problems finding chairs.

- We love the Hard Rock. We were in a standard room view, got a great rate through entertainment card. The rooms are much bigger than your usual hotel room, and the decor is modern but sophisticated. We've gone to WDW/Universal 3 years in a row now - we've stayed at 3 different Disney resorts, but we always stay at the Hard Rock when at Universal. The pool is fantastic, the atmosphere is laid back and fun, it's a luxury hotel, and it's a 5 minute walk to the parks. Other than some below average service issues, it's a perfect resort for us.

- As mentioned above, this is our third year in a row staying at HRH, so front of the line is not new for us. I absolutely wouldn't do it any other way. On several occasions the normal wait would have been 45-60 minutes - we got right on. My daughter LOVED The Cat in the Hat ride, and we were able to do 4-5 times in a row (she insisted) because of FOTL.

- The movie was Dumb and Dumber. It didn't matter to us - our daughter just liked lounging in the pool with daddy watching a movie!

 

[Rash]

You're right - we do prefer IOA over US, although with Shrek 4D and Jimmy Neutron, we spent more time at US than we though we would (we actually hurried over to US from IOA at 7pm one night to do Shrek and Jimmy one more time thanks to FOTL - believe it or not our 3 YO DD LOVED Shrek and Jimmy). We never did get to Curious George, mainly because she wore herself out at Woody Woodpecker, and later she wanted to go back to Suess Landing at IOA! Oh well, now we've got something new to try next time!

 

[Rash]

We definitely prefer IOA over US. I agree with you on Spiderman - I can't get enough of that ride. I also LOVE Popeye's Barges (or whatever it's called). And call me crazy, but I LOVE Suess Landing, particularly Cat in the Hat. I think the theming there rivals anything at Disney - it's like you're actually in a Dr. Suess book.

I also agree with you on US, although it was a bit more fun with a child since they don't really have a sense yet of how hokey JAWS is for instance. As far as the attractions at US, they don't really compare to IOA for adults, but our daughter loved ET, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron, Woody Woodpecker, and some characters were around (Rugrats, Sponge Bob) so we were there for awhile. The previous two years my wife and I went with another couple and no kids, and we spent very little time in US. The attractions there don't make you want to ride them again and again like the ones at IOA. Shrek 4D is pretty cool though - we did that 3 times. Also, given the choice between US and a couple hours at the Hard Rock pool bar, I'll take the pool bar!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi - thanx for all the extra info, I am staying at Hard Rock soon and I and so looking forward to it.

We loved the Cat in the Hat ride too... such good fun, but that song from 1 fish 2 fish gets in your head.

>>^..^<<

 

[Rash]

I am so jealous that your going soon...I wish we were still there. Have a great time!

Luckily my daughter didn't want to ride 1 fish 2 fish (don't know why - she loved Dumbo, essentially the same ride) so I wasn't exposed to the song!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Aww Rash - don't be jealous - you will be back again and it's going to be hotter than Hades in August...

the Dive in Movie sounds so cool - can you really see and hear it okay from "in" the pool?

One fish, Red fish - Up ..Up... Up
Two fish, Blue Fish - Down ...Down ....Down

>>^..^<<

 

[Rash]

still jealous...

You can see and hear the movie just fine. It's a huge screen and, being the Hard Rock, they're not afraid to crank up the volume.

 

[Simba's Mom]

At BCV, what was the room # of your studio? View? How was the airconditioning?

 

[Rash]

We were in 476, pool/parking lot view, A/C was fine. Not much of a view, but very convenient access to self-parking area. Quiet also, which was our main priority.

 

[Connears]

We arrive on Sun 6/22-26 at BCV and then off to HRH for one night. Glad to here good reviews of both as it is our first time at both.
Connears

 

[Rash]

So jealous.... have a great time! Make sure you have a Sweet Home Alabama (or two) at the Beach Club Pool Bar at Hard Rock. I can still taste it like it was just last week...oh yea, it was.

 

[dmonroe]

I'm so glad to hear good things! We're doing 2 nights at HRH before moving to BCV for 6 nights in September. These are 2 new places for us; and I can't wait to see it all!

BTW, what in a Sweet Home Alabama? I might need to have one or two!

 

[Rash]

You know, I don't remember exactly what's in a Sweet Home Alabama - I think it's rum, cranberry, and pineapple juice? All I know is, have two when you first arrive, and you'll slip comfortably into vacation mode!