Jecca
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2001
- Messages
- 362
We just got back from our 5-night stay in a studio at BCV. Just thought I'd post some of my observations:
1. We got in close to midnight on Christmas night, so my expectations on the room we'd get weren't especially high. We ended up with a wheelchair-accessible studio JUST off the elevator on the 5th floor (525). I loved being so close to the elevator. Last time we arrived that late, we ended up as far away from the elevator as possible, so this was a welcome change. But I'll never do a wheelchair-accessible unit again, and I use a wheelchair. For me, the "conveniences" aren't worth it. First off, while we liked the large bathroom, I missed the big vanity. We had almost no room for our toiletries on the pedestal sink. Also, instead of the usual closet, we had a larger-than-normal entertainment center that had "closets" on either side of the tv. The thing was monstrous and took up an enormous amount of room in an already-cramped space. I have to say that I was happy we at least had a bathtub. Honestly, I don't think I could have managed without it. The absolute worst thing, though, was the bed. It was lowered, obviously, and that did help me out. But I could literally feel the springs coming through the mattress. And forget about trying to sit on the edge of the bed - you'd end up on the floor. The thing offered absolutely NO support, and was horribly uncomfortable. I don't think we got one good night's sleep. I was also disappointed in the balcony. We had a "closed" balcony, which I dislike because I feel like it makes the room sort of dark, but also it was tiny - especially for the fact that it was in a wheelchair-accessible unit. I could BARELY get out there, and my wheelchair is pretty small.
2. The resort itself was lovely. The decorations were beautiful, as always, and there was that smell in the air. That smell that I always associate with WDW. Can't pinpoint what it is, but I love it. The gingerbread display at the Beach Club was very similar to the one I saw there two years ago, but we went to see the ones at BWV and the Yacht Club and they were very different. Loved the Boardwalk one, but the display at the Yacht Club was awesome. Just adorable.
3. We ate at some really good places, but nowhere new for us: Spoodles was good, but we haven't been there in a few years and it isn't as good as I remember it. They didn't give us the hummus and pita to start, and I missed it. Ohana was delish, but the service was abyssmal. Just horrible. Our main server was nasty, and that was when he came around, which wasn't that often. Thankfully, our secondary server was great, and we compensated him for it. Beaches and Cream was wonderful as always, although is it just me or does it ALWAYS smell sorta like spoiled milk in there...?
4. We did the Candlelight Processional dinner package on the 26th, which was an absolutely freezing night. The show was fantastic - love that Gary Sinese! The music and narration just give me chills. We ate at Rose and Crown and were lucky enough to get a table outside AND under a heater. So we were VERY warm, while everyone around us was shivering. Which leads me to...
5. ILLUMINATIONS! This is my #1 favorite thing at WDW, and it was made about a million times better with that holiday ending. I was speechless with my hand over my mouth. Honestly, I don't know how they're going to follow this up next year, unless they do the same thing again. We saw the show again two nights ago from the wheelchair-accessible seating between the Lights of Winter and Canada, and it felt like the fireworks were literally going to fall on your head. Awesome, and definitely worth waiting an hour and a half for.
6. We went to see the Osborne Lights and I thought they were good, but not as good as they used to be. It just didn't seem as long as it was on Residential Street. I used to feel like the lights were interminable. But this time it was basically two street lengths, and that's it. Spectacular, but not enough.
7. We weren't planning on going to Magic Kingdom at all, because when we were there two years ago at this time, we literally got stuck in a traffic jam in Fantasyland. It was literally scary. But since the park was open until midnight, we decided to go after our late dinner at Ohana. We arrived at the park at around 10:15 pm with one goal: to see Mickey's Philharmagic. My DH hadn't seen it yet, and I really wanted to see it again. Spectromagic was winding its way through the park when we arrived, so we waited it out a while on Main Street, and then headed through the Emporium and out the other end. We were in Liberty Square when it ended, and gunned it to Fantasyland. We were in and out in about 15 minutes. Waited a while, and then went right in. The show was great - love that one. So since we had all this time left, we headed to Tomorrowland to ride Buzz Lightyear. The CM who loaded us told us we could stay on as long as we wanted to, so we took advantage and rode three times in a row. We probably could have done two more before midnight, but we decided to give our thumbs a rest and got off. On our way out, we decided to check out Stitch's Great Escape and got in just at midnight. It was definitely cuter than it used to be, but still on the dark and scary side, especially for the little ones. A few kids needed to leave in the middle. Beware.
Ok, I think I've gone on long enough. We really enjoyed this trip. We were originally planning on going back for a week in the summer, but have now decided to drive down for a shorter stay at OKW (our first), followed by a trip down for the Food & Wine Festival to celebrate our 5th anniversary. I hope we can get a room!
1. We got in close to midnight on Christmas night, so my expectations on the room we'd get weren't especially high. We ended up with a wheelchair-accessible studio JUST off the elevator on the 5th floor (525). I loved being so close to the elevator. Last time we arrived that late, we ended up as far away from the elevator as possible, so this was a welcome change. But I'll never do a wheelchair-accessible unit again, and I use a wheelchair. For me, the "conveniences" aren't worth it. First off, while we liked the large bathroom, I missed the big vanity. We had almost no room for our toiletries on the pedestal sink. Also, instead of the usual closet, we had a larger-than-normal entertainment center that had "closets" on either side of the tv. The thing was monstrous and took up an enormous amount of room in an already-cramped space. I have to say that I was happy we at least had a bathtub. Honestly, I don't think I could have managed without it. The absolute worst thing, though, was the bed. It was lowered, obviously, and that did help me out. But I could literally feel the springs coming through the mattress. And forget about trying to sit on the edge of the bed - you'd end up on the floor. The thing offered absolutely NO support, and was horribly uncomfortable. I don't think we got one good night's sleep. I was also disappointed in the balcony. We had a "closed" balcony, which I dislike because I feel like it makes the room sort of dark, but also it was tiny - especially for the fact that it was in a wheelchair-accessible unit. I could BARELY get out there, and my wheelchair is pretty small.
2. The resort itself was lovely. The decorations were beautiful, as always, and there was that smell in the air. That smell that I always associate with WDW. Can't pinpoint what it is, but I love it. The gingerbread display at the Beach Club was very similar to the one I saw there two years ago, but we went to see the ones at BWV and the Yacht Club and they were very different. Loved the Boardwalk one, but the display at the Yacht Club was awesome. Just adorable.
3. We ate at some really good places, but nowhere new for us: Spoodles was good, but we haven't been there in a few years and it isn't as good as I remember it. They didn't give us the hummus and pita to start, and I missed it. Ohana was delish, but the service was abyssmal. Just horrible. Our main server was nasty, and that was when he came around, which wasn't that often. Thankfully, our secondary server was great, and we compensated him for it. Beaches and Cream was wonderful as always, although is it just me or does it ALWAYS smell sorta like spoiled milk in there...?
4. We did the Candlelight Processional dinner package on the 26th, which was an absolutely freezing night. The show was fantastic - love that Gary Sinese! The music and narration just give me chills. We ate at Rose and Crown and were lucky enough to get a table outside AND under a heater. So we were VERY warm, while everyone around us was shivering. Which leads me to...
5. ILLUMINATIONS! This is my #1 favorite thing at WDW, and it was made about a million times better with that holiday ending. I was speechless with my hand over my mouth. Honestly, I don't know how they're going to follow this up next year, unless they do the same thing again. We saw the show again two nights ago from the wheelchair-accessible seating between the Lights of Winter and Canada, and it felt like the fireworks were literally going to fall on your head. Awesome, and definitely worth waiting an hour and a half for.
6. We went to see the Osborne Lights and I thought they were good, but not as good as they used to be. It just didn't seem as long as it was on Residential Street. I used to feel like the lights were interminable. But this time it was basically two street lengths, and that's it. Spectacular, but not enough.
7. We weren't planning on going to Magic Kingdom at all, because when we were there two years ago at this time, we literally got stuck in a traffic jam in Fantasyland. It was literally scary. But since the park was open until midnight, we decided to go after our late dinner at Ohana. We arrived at the park at around 10:15 pm with one goal: to see Mickey's Philharmagic. My DH hadn't seen it yet, and I really wanted to see it again. Spectromagic was winding its way through the park when we arrived, so we waited it out a while on Main Street, and then headed through the Emporium and out the other end. We were in Liberty Square when it ended, and gunned it to Fantasyland. We were in and out in about 15 minutes. Waited a while, and then went right in. The show was great - love that one. So since we had all this time left, we headed to Tomorrowland to ride Buzz Lightyear. The CM who loaded us told us we could stay on as long as we wanted to, so we took advantage and rode three times in a row. We probably could have done two more before midnight, but we decided to give our thumbs a rest and got off. On our way out, we decided to check out Stitch's Great Escape and got in just at midnight. It was definitely cuter than it used to be, but still on the dark and scary side, especially for the little ones. A few kids needed to leave in the middle. Beware.
Ok, I think I've gone on long enough. We really enjoyed this trip. We were originally planning on going back for a week in the summer, but have now decided to drive down for a shorter stay at OKW (our first), followed by a trip down for the Food & Wine Festival to celebrate our 5th anniversary. I hope we can get a room!
