May 12, 2007 -- Taking the Magic to the Mediterranean -- 14 day Repo Cruise!

[padalyn]

Erik, that sounds like lots of fun. I didn't realize that all the DVC resorts could actually fill up like that. Wow!

Has anyone stayed at the Beach club resort? We saw it on TV this week and thought it may be fun to try.

We are doing the DVC cruise - there are NO DVC rooms available from 10/25 until 10/29...this is the FIRST time I have ever been told no space!! We are also waitlisted for a 1 BR at the Beach Club Villas for the 5 days before the cruise....

No, we will not have a car unfortunately....and besides we really hate driving. Using AirTran is a very quick and very cheap ($69)

Check Jet Blue out as well...the are having a sale for 59.00 each way - you might be able to do a broken trip - ATL to MCO then MCO to JFK.

Kelly, the Beach Club is lovely...and they have the best of all the pools. However, if you don't own at Beach Club it has been our experience that it is nearly impossible to get a reservation there...especially if you want to stay for more than a couple nights. I would argue that it's the single most popular of the resorts currently available...perhaps it will slow down a bit when Animal Kingdom Lodge starts to give it a run for its money!! I was literally talking to the DVC folks yesterday who advised me that if we ever want to stay in AKL Villas...at least in the first 3 years or so...that we should be doing day to day calls....like rather than wait til the 11 month window for your checkOUT day and then make a reservation for the full week prior to that day...instead you need to call at the 11 month window of your FIRST day of your anticipated trip and make a one night reservation, then call back first thing the next day and add a night and so on and so forth until you've booked your whole trip...which sounds like a HUGE pain in the a@# to me! ...but apparently he said it's very common and probably the only way to assure you'll be able to get a string of days in a row in one resort. He also said that he anticipates that people who don't own at AKL Villas and try to book there using the 7month villa can pretty much forget it until at LEAST 2009 and possibly even a year or 2 after that. YIPES!!

I beg to differ - we have had no trouble getting reservations at BCV, and we were just checking for AKV and were told there is space during the week for this year. One has to be flexible - the hassle of doing the one day at a time stay means that one may have to change rooms EVERY DAY.

So, I won't get my heart set on getting into the Beach Club, but will give it a try early on the first available morning.

Be sure to try the Boardwalk also...they are just as close (one boat stop earlier actually) and the rooms are a little nicer in my opinioin. I am not a fan of the Beach Club (I own there...just don't like the feel of the place)

We really like the San Angel Inn (Mexico) and are usually OK with Nine Dragons (China), too. We've always wanted to try Teppenyaki (Japan) and the Garden Grill (the Land)...and Hadley convinced me just last week that we should try Le Cellier (Canada), too because they have good chicken and amazing Pretzel Bread. I definitely realize that in this case I'm a beggar....and as you know, they say we can't be choosers, too!! So we'd definitely take whatever we can get...but those are our favorite restaurants.

The Land is one of my favorites. Le Cellier is booked completely until Mar of 2008 (for every meal!!), Please include Morocco in your search - a small treasure...good food, fast service, and great fun (Sorry Erik the belly dancer won't do much for you, but Stacey and I LOVE watching her!!!). We never have trouble getting in there! Everybody must think the food is really spicy or something...strong flavors, but not hot.

I am not sure who commented about 37 pounds of pins...but I am a lightweight in the pin world!! I use my carryon to move them around, since I have lugging that much weight in that type of heat. I see people coming in with 3 and 4 full sized luggage bags of pins. I am SURE they are NOT flying!!!

Also - don't forget the 30 day cancel window...a lot of rooms free up at that point. Many people book then change their plans. I am hoping this is the case for the post cruise rooms. we have premium points used at Port Orleans, but I am hoping for WLV or something closer to the MK - we are doing the Not So Scary party again.

 

[ssnyder]

Really? Everyone told me it woudl be about a 90 minute drive. Besides, I'm gonna make Jason do the actual driving. I'm going to play iwth the radio and talk!!

It takes us a little less than 2 hours, depending on traffic. That is from San Diego, but we have to drive north for a while through Temecula before we can cut across on 215 North to Highway 60. We also avoid rush hour and try to arrive before noon.

Curt and I will be in Palm Springs at the same time (November 9 and 10). Maybe we will be able to see you there. We will be there from around noon on the 9th until a little after noon on the 11th.

 

[tig82174]

Check Jet Blue out as well...the are having a sale for 59.00 each way - you might be able to do a broken trip - ATL to MCO then MCO to JFK.


I beg to differ - we have had no trouble getting reservations at BCV, and we were just checking for AKV and were told there is space during the week for this year. One has to be flexible - the hassle of doing the one day at a time stay means that one may have to change rooms EVERY DAY.

How strange. We have tried to book Beach Club every single time we have travelled so far and we have never been able....the only thing we've ever gotten close is once they told us we could stay there ONE night (a saturday) and then move for the rest of our trip...which didn't seem worth it. Must be we're trying at the wrong time...but we called all 3 times at exactly our booking window.

I will have to check into the one call day thing. The guy I spoke to on the phone said that as long as I told them on the FIRST day that I called what I was doing and that I planned to call every day consecutively for a certain number of days that they could make a note of it, hold our letter of confirmation until the entire stay is booked and that we'd be guaranteed our stay in the same room for the duration of the trip. Is that not accurate?

Also we tried to get a room in AKL villas for this upcoming trip in Dec. and it's all booked up and the guy I already wrote about what the guy told me...he made it sound like getting space in AKL Villas was goign to be very hard at least until the new buildings are done (2009) because right now they are booking DVC stays in a very limited number of spaces that have been converted in the Lodge itself.

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

One more vote for Morocco! We eat there every time, and the live entertainment, music and belly, are very good.

 

[Scott H]

How strange. We have tried to book Beach Club every single time we have travelled so far and we have never been able....the only thing we've ever gotten close is once they told us we could stay there ONE night (a saturday) and then move for the rest of our trip...which didn't seem worth it. Must be we're trying at the wrong time...but we called all 3 times at exactly our booking window.

I will have to check into the one call day thing. The guy I spoke to on the phone said that as long as I told them on the FIRST day that I called what I was doing and that I planned to call every day consecutively for a certain number of days that they could make a note of it, hold our letter of confirmation until the entire stay is booked and that we'd be guaranteed our stay in the same room for the duration of the trip. Is that not accurate?

Also we tried to get a room in AKL villas for this upcoming trip in Dec. and it's all booked up and the guy I already wrote about what the guy told me...he made it sound like getting space in AKL Villas was goign to be very hard at least until the new buildings are done (2009) because right now they are booking DVC stays in a very limited number of spaces that have been converted in the Lodge itself.

Erik, You are right on for the DVC Day by Day booking, I have done it in the past for those very popular time of the year i.e the first part of December. Kinda of a pain but it works.

We gto an AKV stay during the WDW marathon for a week and it was not a prob.

 

[Scott H]

Also got the word that the Medal for the 13K TZTOT is really KEWL. Can't wait.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hey! This group was slowing down and not so cahtty before I left. What gives with making me catch up on so many pages after my trip??!!??
It's good to see so many of you posting again. There is way too much to catch up on but here goes a shot at soem of it:

Congrats to the runners. I was wilting just walking in the Florida heat, I cannot imagine how you did it.

Repo returners: It is so nice to hear from all of you again. I am glad you all seem to have enjoyed your trip. But, on the selfish side, I am glad WE got the high energy trip (and the fun weather--I actaully loved our rough seas in May).

We had a great trip to WDW (minus bus issues--I am no longer a fan of WDW transportation). It was so wonderufl to spend a few days with Erik and Jason (I wish it had been longer). And it was fun to run into Michelle and Anna. Thank goodness Anna saw me-I was so busy keeping track of our group and trying to figure out what was up with the astornauts schedules that I nearly walked into her and hadn't even noticed (so sorry Anna, this is no reflection on you at all). We were thrilled to see her. Next Spetember we hope to stay 7-9 days and we will not have my in-laws until the last day (I think--plans change) so hopefully we will have more time to plan a few real get togethers with all of you who live and work in the area.

Erik: You have NEVER been to WDW at Christmas time????? It is the very best time of all there. Do everything Anna said (including getting to at least the monorail resorts to see their decorations--the more resorts the better). Also, I agree Morroco's restraunt is YUMMY and usually much less crowded than anywhere else (and we enjoy the belly dancer also). Have you ever stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter? Personally I like that one better than riverside (we have stayed at both). We are probably going to stay in the French Quarter next September.

Okay, I have to stop chatting with all of my friends now and do that two weeks worth of laundry in the suitcases

 

[milestogo]

Hi guys, well it’s been a busy couple of weeks here, we began all of our new and updated lectures (one about all the pop culture/tabloid girls getting in trouble with DUI.) Saturday we went to see Ave. Q – what a riot that was – man did we laugh! Then we went straight to Steakhouse 55 (formerly Granvilles) at the DL hotel for a huge meal. Then we strolled into the park to sit at the bandstand (Carnation) to watch the big band/swing dancers and fireworks.

Scott, went to Disney outlet on Sunday and they won’t have the marathon t-shirts for another month or two. So, I’ll keep looking.

 

[tig82174]

hey all....well our landscaping project is almost finished (should be finally done today!).....so per Scott's request, I thought I'd post some "before" shots here...and then later tonight or tommorow I'll post the after shots. So here goes:

This is our house when we first bought it. (We only own the left half of the building....it's duplex townhouse) You can see there wasn't much landscaping to speak of at all actually except an ugly topiary and some low growing flowers.

Here are some pictures of the house once the project was started but before the plantings were put in. You can see that we literally ripped out EVERYTHING and had our landscaper start building some small retaining walls, expand the planting beds, and we had a rock formation/water feature installed.
Shot from the front:

Shot from the side:

Shot of the side of the house taken from the rear (showing the rock water feature):

Shot of the back of our house including our back deck/porch:

 

[nanaguide]

Erik, your place looks so neat. What a change landscaping can do. You guys will really enjoy it.

Scott, I told my friends it will be your birthday at the race so you need to save some "breaths" to blow out the candles on your treats. Everyone here is really getting excited about this brand NEW race. A friend ordered a pin for me, plus the glow-in-dark t-shirts, and the "kewl" medals. This race should be a winner. I got in 13 miles this mornig - feel good and I definitely used the stick to rub out the sore spots.

Ok Ken, I got ahead of myself. I will say prayers for you next week. Have a great time!!!

 

[Scott H]

Hi guys, well it’s been a busy couple of weeks here, we began all of our new and updated lectures (one about all the pop culture/tabloid girls getting in trouble with DUI.) Saturday we went to see Ave. Q – what a riot that was – man did we laugh! Then we went straight to Steakhouse 55 (formerly Granvilles) at the DL hotel for a huge meal. Then we strolled into the park to sit at the bandstand (Carnation) to watch the big band/swing dancers and fireworks.

Scott, went to Disney outlet on Sunday and they won’t have the marathon t-shirts for another month or two. So, I’ll keep looking.

KEWL, Thanks Muchas, don't go out of your way.

Erik, Looks good we just added a decorative fence to our place over the weeknd and yesterday I got an addition for our water feature.

Anna, Not till the stroke of Midnight have I made another trip around the sun

Great job on the training, you will kick my buttfor sure. just 2.7miles this morning. Have a 5K on Sat.

 

[Scott H]

DVC at DL Press relase today

 

[milestogo]

Well, Here it is on our news tonight and in our newspaper!

The news report just came on about DVC at GC - they showed the area and that it will be completed in 2009. All the characters were there shoveling in their work clothes - very cute.

Disneyland to expand Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, add time-shares
By Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times
September 18, 2007

Disneyland Resort announced plans today to add 250 units to its luxury Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, including its first 50 time-share offerings on the West Coast. The lucrative Disney Vacation Club time-share business already has 350,000 members, but 86% of them live on the East Coast; the addition of 50 two-bedroom units in Anaheim marks a push to expand the business in California. Sales, profits and membership have doubled since 2003, said Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club. "We want to expand business aggressively," he said. "We believe we should be going west." With only 50 villas scheduled for completion by 2009, there is clearly more room for growth. In Florida, the company offers more than 2,000 units at seven resorts -- six at Walt Disney World and one in Vero Beach. An eighth vacation club is in Hilton Head, S.C. Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle joked with Lewis today: "I don't believe California and Anaheim should ever be below what you do in Florida. So that's the marker, man, you need to start working toward it." The 2.5-acre expansion is expected to create 300 union construction jobs and 100 hotel jobs. The cost of joining Disney Vacation Club starts with a minimum $16,700 one-time purchase price, plus annual maintenance fees of at least $600. Members then buy points and use them to determine where, when and for how long they stay. The average purchase price is $26,000, which buys a two-bedroom unit for one week each year. "This expansion underscores our commitment to growing and investing in both the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort Area," said Disneyland Resort President Ed Grier. He noted that the resort had change significantly since 1995, when there was one theme park, one hotel and one "very large parking lot." Today, the resort has two theme parks, three resort hotels and Downtown Disney, an entertainment, dining and retail venue. The resort area contributed $80 million in bed tax revenue to Anaheim last year and accounted for 54% of the city's tax revenue.
Email travel-feedback@latimes.com




from the OC Register:

ANAHEIM – Disney is planning to expand the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, its high-end lodge in the Disneyland Resort, by adding about 250 units, including the first vacation-ownership villas, the company is expected to announce today. The expanded hotel would grow by 2.5 acres, stretching south of the hotel that opened in 2001 alongside Downtown Disney and Disney's California Adventure theme park. The Grand Californian already has 745 rooms. The first Disney Vacation Club units on the West Coast – 50 two-bedroom-equivalent villas – would be part of the new area. The club is a vacation-ownership program that includes other Disney locations and associated members. "This expansion underscores our commitment to growing and investing in both the Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Resort Area," said Ed Grier, Disneyland Resort president, in a prepared statement.
stully@ocregister.com

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

DVC at DL Press relase today

Did you call your guide yet

Debbie

 

[Scott H]

Did you call your guide yet

Debbie

Even before the press release and are on the list

 

[tig82174]

OK here are our after pictures. This is what our landscaping looks like now and it's all very new....it'll be even better, we're sure, once it all gets established and starts to fill in!

And this is a close up of our water feature/fountain with all it's plantings:

 

[Scott H]

Erik, it looks great, well done.

 

[milestogo]

Oh Eric, that came out beautiful! How will the plants hang on through the snow? Will they rebound right after?

 

[DizzneyDAnn]

Nice job, Eric and Jason! It will be so nice for you to arrive home every day and see your very welcoming yard.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Erik and Jason,
The yard looks fantastic I am so glad to see a functioning fountain It seems everything fell into place beautifully.