ford family
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2000
- Messages
- 3,398
Just back from a week at BWV where we had a really excellent time, two adults, two children (15 y o girls).
We were in a 1 bedroom standard view (4101) which was close to the stairs for the pool, short walk to the stairs for either Disney-MGM or the bus stop (we never rent a car at Disney). Arrived about 7:30 pm (Delta via Cincinnati) and was able to drop the first and last day for the UMP. Had requested and received a non smoking high floor room. Only sour note was that our grocery order had been mislaid. The store saved the day by letting us select what we needed and then delivering it to the room whilst we were at dinner. Still think the Jacuzzi bath is a waste if space, another shower and toilet would be far more useful.
Did a mixture of old and new things as usual.
Some comments/thoughts.
MK with AE down we were able to enjoy COP and Timekeeper instead. Had a great character lunch at Crystal Palace, very good value. Thought Philarmagic was superb, saw it twice. BTMRR was down as planned but we did not get to ride Splash Mountain or JC because they were either down or the fastpass wasnt working and the queue was too long. Very busy on the Sunday, must remember to avoid that next year.
Disney-MGM- did the backlot tour for the first time in five years, the changes are good. Pity the animation tour is down but we enjoyed the sales pitch for Haunted Mansion. Also enjoyed the changes to ToT, less predictable. Did Fantasmic dinner package with Hollywood and Vine having had a poor meal at Brown Derby last year. The buffet was very good although the service was poor.
Epcot Loved Mission Space, rode it twice on both the days we were there, no queues! No problem with the spinning/vertigo and this from somebody who wont ride the teacups at MK. Kept doing SE in case they shut it down that ride epitomises Epcot for me. Didnt go to the Living Seas as last year it looked almost closed down. Ate in Japan (great tempura) and Mexico, both good meals. Experienced the food and wine festival for the first time, okay but a bit disjointed. I had imagined it was all in one place, the side turning after Canada where they had the millennium stuff? Disappointed with the "new" China film, only a small part has been updated. Still enjoy it but had different expectations.
Animal Kingdom Nothing new except for the roof over the Lion King show. See they fired the guy on the Safari who said little reds okay and replaced him with an animatronic elephants bum. Still think the carny stuff is poor but rode PW a couple of times. Ate at Pizzasafari which was mediocre.
Downtown impressed with the new DVC resort, they have got a lot of work to do by May though. Having been a fan of the DI (fairway villas) in our pre DVC life we know how good the location is. Ate at House of Blues, the food was excellent but we didnt like the style of the restaurant. Ate at Wolfgang Pucks (West side) and enjoyed the food and the experience. Went to the Adventurers Club again. Good fun but overcrowded so left after the preliminaries and the mask room part.
Elsewhere had a fantastic meal at Cape May as usual. Also ate at Spoodles and Beaches and Cream. Visited the Wilderness Lodge, very impressed with both the hotel and the villas. Had brunch in the Whispering Canyon café. Good food but too weird for us, wont go there again. Went to the members meeting in Community Hall. Very well attended, they had to turn people away. I heard that BWV was full whilst we were there.
Overall the weather was great, the parks not too crowded. Soon be time to book for next year.
ford family
We were in a 1 bedroom standard view (4101) which was close to the stairs for the pool, short walk to the stairs for either Disney-MGM or the bus stop (we never rent a car at Disney). Arrived about 7:30 pm (Delta via Cincinnati) and was able to drop the first and last day for the UMP. Had requested and received a non smoking high floor room. Only sour note was that our grocery order had been mislaid. The store saved the day by letting us select what we needed and then delivering it to the room whilst we were at dinner. Still think the Jacuzzi bath is a waste if space, another shower and toilet would be far more useful.
Did a mixture of old and new things as usual.
Some comments/thoughts.
MK with AE down we were able to enjoy COP and Timekeeper instead. Had a great character lunch at Crystal Palace, very good value. Thought Philarmagic was superb, saw it twice. BTMRR was down as planned but we did not get to ride Splash Mountain or JC because they were either down or the fastpass wasnt working and the queue was too long. Very busy on the Sunday, must remember to avoid that next year.
Disney-MGM- did the backlot tour for the first time in five years, the changes are good. Pity the animation tour is down but we enjoyed the sales pitch for Haunted Mansion. Also enjoyed the changes to ToT, less predictable. Did Fantasmic dinner package with Hollywood and Vine having had a poor meal at Brown Derby last year. The buffet was very good although the service was poor.
Epcot Loved Mission Space, rode it twice on both the days we were there, no queues! No problem with the spinning/vertigo and this from somebody who wont ride the teacups at MK. Kept doing SE in case they shut it down that ride epitomises Epcot for me. Didnt go to the Living Seas as last year it looked almost closed down. Ate in Japan (great tempura) and Mexico, both good meals. Experienced the food and wine festival for the first time, okay but a bit disjointed. I had imagined it was all in one place, the side turning after Canada where they had the millennium stuff? Disappointed with the "new" China film, only a small part has been updated. Still enjoy it but had different expectations.
Animal Kingdom Nothing new except for the roof over the Lion King show. See they fired the guy on the Safari who said little reds okay and replaced him with an animatronic elephants bum. Still think the carny stuff is poor but rode PW a couple of times. Ate at Pizzasafari which was mediocre.
Downtown impressed with the new DVC resort, they have got a lot of work to do by May though. Having been a fan of the DI (fairway villas) in our pre DVC life we know how good the location is. Ate at House of Blues, the food was excellent but we didnt like the style of the restaurant. Ate at Wolfgang Pucks (West side) and enjoyed the food and the experience. Went to the Adventurers Club again. Good fun but overcrowded so left after the preliminaries and the mask room part.
Elsewhere had a fantastic meal at Cape May as usual. Also ate at Spoodles and Beaches and Cream. Visited the Wilderness Lodge, very impressed with both the hotel and the villas. Had brunch in the Whispering Canyon café. Good food but too weird for us, wont go there again. Went to the members meeting in Community Hall. Very well attended, they had to turn people away. I heard that BWV was full whilst we were there.
Overall the weather was great, the parks not too crowded. Soon be time to book for next year.
ford family