We originally had ressies Sat to Sat at BWV, but wanted to be there when the family arrived on the 6th so I called and was able to get a 1 BR at OKW for the 5th. Having no idea it was marathon weekend, I was disappointed nothing was available at BWV, but boy, were we ever blown away by the OKW accommadations. We were doen Turtle Pond Rd. in Building 38 on the third floor overlooking a pond and the golf course. The view was beautiful. I've read about the size of the OKW rooms, but always thought to myself, yeah right, how much bigger could they really be! Well, we couldn't believe our eyes. I didn't want to leave the balcony. It was huge! We must have sat there for over an hour talking about how gorgeous the room and view were. WOW! Very, very nice!
After we were able to tear ourselves away from the balcony, we drove to Epcot, walked through it and went to dinner at The Flying Fish. Excellent, as always. We then decided to go to Beaches & Cream for dessert. That never happened. I fell getting off the boat and had to sit on the ground for about 30 minutes until the paramedics came. They insisted that I not get up. The boat captains stayed with me the whole time and they had to call for another boat for all the passengers. (Sorry if you were on that boat.) Anyway, I was very banged up with an egg sized bump on my knee and a badly scraped elbow. The paramedics patched me up and Marie the night manager from the Beach Club had someone drive us back to our car at Epcot, then we followed him back to OKW. I hobbled up the steps, took some Tylenol PM and went to bed.
The next morning we ate at Olivia's, another great find, then went off to check-in at the BWV about noon. Our room 2103 was ready. It was a standard 1 BR, in the second set of hallways. We looked out at the bus stop and drive up entrance. It had a balcony the length of the room, but it sure didn't compare to the one we just left. The family made it in safely, using DME from the airport. No problems whatsoever. Rooms were ready, the kids were 2 doors down in a studio 2099, and my sister and BIL were in a 1BR Pref 5091. Everyone scattered and we met up at the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights. Always a treat. From there we headed over to Teppanyaki for dinner. The chef was great, the food was okay, not terrible but not fabulous. We were the DDP, it worked out well financially.
Sunday we went to Donald's Breakfastasaurus. The only reason we went there was because I wanted the magnet picture for the fridge. We buy the photos, no magnet. The kid looks at me like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Definitely disappointing. Also, no characters came for the entire meal, as we were getting ready to leave , they come one after another. With the youngest, 18, it was no big deal, but I think that's the last of Donald's for us. Lots of fun cheering on the marathoners after breakfast. Next the kids went on EE, not anyone's favorite, they all prefer RNR but it was closed this trip. Then we all went on Kali River twice, absolutely no wait. That was so much fun! We got soaked but planned it so the adults could go right to the bus. The kids stayed, it's great to be young. Later on we met up at Concourse Steakhouse before going to EMH at MK. We got our desserts to go, never ate them. A lot of food. Went to EMH, everyone loved the new POC, but we sat in the water for about ten minutes, that's never happened before.
Monday it was "Do your own" dinner. Molloie and I went to 50's Prime Time. Got the pot roast, not to our liking, and the smores. No problem with the DDP. The four that ate in Mexico were stuck at the table for at least twenty minutes while they were trying to work out the DDP. It came back as "No plan." A manager had to get involved and call the BW. It worked out, but it was time-consuming. The boys ate at Sci-Fi. They also had trouble using their DDP. Eventually it worked, but we had problems all week. Took part in the EMH at MGM and were able to walk into Fantasmic at 8:15 for the 8:30 show. That was awesome. We were dead center, as opposed to in the far right dining section where we always sit. It was not filled. There were about five empty sections, never saw that before.
Tuesday everybody chilled out. Met up at the Brown Derby for the Fantasmic show dinner. Paid OOP because we didn't want to waste two credits. It was excellent! Went to Fantasmic again, sat on the far right, and loved it just as much as the night before.
Wednesday started the day off at Cape May Cafe. A lot of fun, and good value for the money. Paid OOP and used the DDE for the 20% discount. Got some cute photos, lots of character interaction all throughout the meal. Had a great time. Scattered throughout the day, met up at Le Cellier at 7:05. Another interesting thing that happened at least three times was that when we checked in at dinner, we were told our time was 15 minutes later. I never understood how that could happen three times. I keep meticulous records. Anyway, the food was excellent though service was a little slow. We missed Illuminations.
Thursday, last full day with the eight of us. Met up with everyone at the Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner. Two credits, but in our opinion, worth it. Delicious! More problems with the DDP, more calls to the BW, finally resolved.
Friday everyone checked out and put their carryons in our room. Met up with everyone at 1:15 where five of them caught the DME back to the airport. Later that evening, DH, BIL and myself had dinner at Alfredo's, very nice, haven't eaten there in awhile, was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. Saw Illuminations one last time, then BIL bunked with us for the night before driving him to Fort Lauderdale the next morning.
All in all it was a fantastic trip. Now that the kids are grown, it's quite a bit different than in the past, but no less enjoyable.
I have to agree with everyone who says the DDP is too much food. We have always eaten at a Table Service place for dinner so that did not change for us, but often we weren't even remotely hungry for lunch. We left four Counter Services and one Snack on our plan and everyone else had leftover credits as well, but after debating whether to get the plan again, I think we will because it pays for itself if you do the Table Service dinners, even with no desserts.
This was a great time to go. Low crowds, most of the big rides were less than 30 minute waits with the lesser ones often being walkups. It was such a great trip that there's talk we may all go again same time next year. Now that we no longer live next door, it's nice to know that we'll always have Disney.
Any questions? Feel free to ask.
After we were able to tear ourselves away from the balcony, we drove to Epcot, walked through it and went to dinner at The Flying Fish. Excellent, as always. We then decided to go to Beaches & Cream for dessert. That never happened. I fell getting off the boat and had to sit on the ground for about 30 minutes until the paramedics came. They insisted that I not get up. The boat captains stayed with me the whole time and they had to call for another boat for all the passengers. (Sorry if you were on that boat.) Anyway, I was very banged up with an egg sized bump on my knee and a badly scraped elbow. The paramedics patched me up and Marie the night manager from the Beach Club had someone drive us back to our car at Epcot, then we followed him back to OKW. I hobbled up the steps, took some Tylenol PM and went to bed.
The next morning we ate at Olivia's, another great find, then went off to check-in at the BWV about noon. Our room 2103 was ready. It was a standard 1 BR, in the second set of hallways. We looked out at the bus stop and drive up entrance. It had a balcony the length of the room, but it sure didn't compare to the one we just left. The family made it in safely, using DME from the airport. No problems whatsoever. Rooms were ready, the kids were 2 doors down in a studio 2099, and my sister and BIL were in a 1BR Pref 5091. Everyone scattered and we met up at the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights. Always a treat. From there we headed over to Teppanyaki for dinner. The chef was great, the food was okay, not terrible but not fabulous. We were the DDP, it worked out well financially.
Sunday we went to Donald's Breakfastasaurus. The only reason we went there was because I wanted the magnet picture for the fridge. We buy the photos, no magnet. The kid looks at me like he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Definitely disappointing. Also, no characters came for the entire meal, as we were getting ready to leave , they come one after another. With the youngest, 18, it was no big deal, but I think that's the last of Donald's for us. Lots of fun cheering on the marathoners after breakfast. Next the kids went on EE, not anyone's favorite, they all prefer RNR but it was closed this trip. Then we all went on Kali River twice, absolutely no wait. That was so much fun! We got soaked but planned it so the adults could go right to the bus. The kids stayed, it's great to be young. Later on we met up at Concourse Steakhouse before going to EMH at MK. We got our desserts to go, never ate them. A lot of food. Went to EMH, everyone loved the new POC, but we sat in the water for about ten minutes, that's never happened before.
Monday it was "Do your own" dinner. Molloie and I went to 50's Prime Time. Got the pot roast, not to our liking, and the smores. No problem with the DDP. The four that ate in Mexico were stuck at the table for at least twenty minutes while they were trying to work out the DDP. It came back as "No plan." A manager had to get involved and call the BW. It worked out, but it was time-consuming. The boys ate at Sci-Fi. They also had trouble using their DDP. Eventually it worked, but we had problems all week. Took part in the EMH at MGM and were able to walk into Fantasmic at 8:15 for the 8:30 show. That was awesome. We were dead center, as opposed to in the far right dining section where we always sit. It was not filled. There were about five empty sections, never saw that before.
Tuesday everybody chilled out. Met up at the Brown Derby for the Fantasmic show dinner. Paid OOP because we didn't want to waste two credits. It was excellent! Went to Fantasmic again, sat on the far right, and loved it just as much as the night before.
Wednesday started the day off at Cape May Cafe. A lot of fun, and good value for the money. Paid OOP and used the DDE for the 20% discount. Got some cute photos, lots of character interaction all throughout the meal. Had a great time. Scattered throughout the day, met up at Le Cellier at 7:05. Another interesting thing that happened at least three times was that when we checked in at dinner, we were told our time was 15 minutes later. I never understood how that could happen three times. I keep meticulous records. Anyway, the food was excellent though service was a little slow. We missed Illuminations.
Thursday, last full day with the eight of us. Met up with everyone at the Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner. Two credits, but in our opinion, worth it. Delicious! More problems with the DDP, more calls to the BW, finally resolved.
Friday everyone checked out and put their carryons in our room. Met up with everyone at 1:15 where five of them caught the DME back to the airport. Later that evening, DH, BIL and myself had dinner at Alfredo's, very nice, haven't eaten there in awhile, was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. Saw Illuminations one last time, then BIL bunked with us for the night before driving him to Fort Lauderdale the next morning.
All in all it was a fantastic trip. Now that the kids are grown, it's quite a bit different than in the past, but no less enjoyable.
I have to agree with everyone who says the DDP is too much food. We have always eaten at a Table Service place for dinner so that did not change for us, but often we weren't even remotely hungry for lunch. We left four Counter Services and one Snack on our plan and everyone else had leftover credits as well, but after debating whether to get the plan again, I think we will because it pays for itself if you do the Table Service dinners, even with no desserts.
This was a great time to go. Low crowds, most of the big rides were less than 30 minute waits with the lesser ones often being walkups. It was such a great trip that there's talk we may all go again same time next year. Now that we no longer live next door, it's nice to know that we'll always have Disney.
Any questions? Feel free to ask.
Nice report. Sounds like you have teh family thing down right....give everyone their OWN accommodations!
I agree--once all the runners were gone, it sure was a great week to visit Disney! 
