Just back from BWV

[gracelrm]

We just got back from a short trip to WDW. We arrived on Fri. Dec. 17th and stayed that night at POR. We added that day onto our trip and were out of points so we stayed there the first night. When we arrived at 4:30 - the line for check-in was incredible. I told DH that I was afraid it would take 1 hour to check in and we were trying to get to MVMCP. However, there were so many CM working that the line moved very fast. I was probably finished checking in within 20-25 minutes. We unloaded and rushed off to our first ever MVMCP. It was quite crowded and we had three Disney tickets, but the others were from Ticketmaster - so we had to wait in the really long line at guest services to get the "other" tickets transformed into Disney tickets. I was surprised to find people selling tickets near the line - some even for a loss! MVMCP was great and we all had a good time.
Saturday we slept in a little as we had traveled and were tired. Our ideal plan was to be able to check in to BWV before noon and watch our favorite team play basketball from the room. Plan B was to watch the game from ESPN and hope the kids would be good for that long in a sports bar! So, off I went to BWV to try and check in at 9:30, while the family was packing up at POR. There were only a few people in line and the wait to check-in was very short. The CM began keying in my information and told me it was my lucky day! Our room was ready AND it was a great view! I was so excited - I could have jumped over the counter and hugged her. Plan A was happening! I ran up and checked out room 4022 and it was great room overlooking Luna Park Pool. Drove back to POR, got some beignets,went to the room and we made a powdered sugar mess and then packed up and headed to BWV. It was our first ever stay at BWV and we thought the room was fine. There were a few nicks and chipped paint in the room, but hey, I have small kids and my house isn't perfect either! The kids started unloading their stuff to make the living room suit their plans and DH and I watched the basketball game. It was a really close one - but the luck went our way again and we won! Saturday night we ate a Spoodles - it was okay - but not great and went to Epcot for awhile. The Illuminations fireworks were really something with the "Peace on Earth" ending.
Sunday, we went to MGM during the day and MK that night. We went to Liberty Tree Tavern for the character supper and had a good time. Crowds were managable on Sunday. Monday, we went back to MK during the day and went to MGM to see the Osborne Lights that evening. WOW, that was pretty amazing. We had supper that evening at Hollywood and Vine (another first time dining). When we got back to the room, there was a message that they would be "testing" the NYE fireworks at MGM between 10:30 and 11:30 and sorry for any inconvenience. So we heard the first blast around 11:00 and hopped out on the balcony to watch - another little lucky bonus on our trip!
Tuesday would be our last full day there and we spent the day at Epcot. We did quite a few things in FW and then headed back to WS. Ate lunch at Biergarten and enjoyed it. At 3:30 we went over to the Member Mixer and had cookies and cider. We had told our youngest son the entire trip that we would see Mickey and get his autograph at the DVC mixer and he was pretty excited about seeing Mickey. When we arrived, the line was really long - but we stood there and we were about to get to see Mickey and Minnie when the CM said they would be leaving and returning in 30 minutes; but never fear Chip and Dale would be there. Well, we'd seen Chip and Dale about 10 times this trip and DS was so sad. But, the line started moving really fast and our luck held out a little longer. We saw Mickey and Minnie and got an autograph. Life is good!
We went to the Candlelight Processional Tuesday night ( another first for us) and really enjoyed it. Overall it was a terrific trip and I'm so glad we had relatives cancel out on us and leave us with points in holding. I guess all things work out in the end! Merry Christmas to everyone!

 

[JudithM]

What a wonderful trip report! I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing!

 

[MJTinNH]

Sounds like you had a great trip. Thank you for posting!

 

[dizfanz]

thanks for the post. I will be at BWV in 8 days. Can't wait.

 

[jennymouse]

hmmm, wonder what special basketball team that would be?
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[gracelrm]

Jennymouse - GO CATS! Good to know others understand why we'd sit in our room in WDW and watch basketball! Actually as we were leaving BWV's after the game a CM asked us why so many people had on UK attire that day. He said we were the third or fourth family he'd seen that day. We explained that true Blue fans didn't care where they were - they'd still be wearing the blue.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

What a fun trip; I really enjoyed your report!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours

Lisa

 

[disynut]

Just had to add---GO CATS!!!! Can't remember exactly what game that was---but was it the UKvs. UL? Patrick Sparks(who is from my hometown) had a huge game that night and we were extrememly proud!

 

[gracelrm]

Disynut - that was the game. Wouldn't have missed it for the World - not even WDW! We followed Sparks at WKU for two years and are really happy to see him at UK - especially after winning that one for us! I met some DVCers at Vero Beach in Oct. of 2001 or 2002 and they were from Mberg Co., could that have been you?

 

[disynut]

unfortunately that wasn't us in vero---we've never been. someday maybe!

i'll have to tell dh about the other dvc uk fans!

i was napping on the couch with our 3 mo old during that game, but got to wake up to see the end---it was great --if we had been in wdw we would have been watching it too!

 

[dianeschlicht]

THanks for the great trip report! Sounds like the luck gods were with you on this one!