Now Home! Pics added. Live From BCV and Vero Beach

[Chim Chiminy]

We arrived yesterday around 3pm after a very long drive from KY.
No line for check in. I asked if there was a choice of rooms, not expecting any. The CM left for a moment to talk to Hazel (longtime front desk CM), then returned and gave us our room assignment, no choice.
Room number 525, I was happy that it was top floor.

When we arrived in the villa, right off the elevator, something felt weird about the layout. It took me a second to realize it was HA.
The bed is low to the floor, no closet but a large storage wall unit with the TV in the middle.
Bathroom has a tub with lots of grab bars, bathroom also has lots of space for manueverability.
I didn't ask to be moved after we saw the view from the room, which is of EPCOT and MGM off to the side. We have never gotten a "choice" view, so decided to stay with the HA room.
Room was clean.

Have mostly hung out at Stormalong Bay. Love that they have games now by the pool. We played Disney trivia today and won! Our prize was a cool light up Nerf Basketball set, for my sons room.
More later, we are off to play mini golf.

 

[pixiechick]

Sounds great Liz!

I'm assuming you're in a studio? Any other differences you noticed? We've never experienced an HA room.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[justloveit]

I am homesick, have a magical vacation!

 

[cjs123123]

hello neighbor!!! we are at boardwalk right now.. just arrived today too from wisconsin!! maybe we will run into each other!! have a great trip!!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

The living space, with the bed and sofa, feels smaller than in a normal studio. It may very well just be how it is laid out though. The wall unit with the TV has small storage cabinets on either side of the TV where you can hang clothing.
THe kids wanted to watch a DVD our first night here and the DVD player wasn't plugged in. It took us about thirty minutes of manuvering about the TV to get it. We had to turn the TV as far as we could, one of us had to hold it steady while DH tried to squeeze his arm behind the TV to plug in the DVD player. It was frustrating. I cannot imagine someone with a real need for an HA room being able to do it.

Since there is no closet, we have been using a big empty space near the door to store our suitcases and shoes. It doesn't look attractive, so we try and get the door closed quickly when coming and going!

We spent most of yesterday at Stormalong Bay. Until it started to storm and they closed the pool, I think it was around 5. I had just played Disney Trivia with DS. We won! It was lots of fun, our prize was a light up Nerf basketball hoop set.
DD hung out with her grandparents at BWV. We didn't meet up with her until 6pm. Then we walked over to Fantasia Gardens for a round of mini golf. About halfway through, the skies opened up and it started raining. It didn't last long, so we just continued to play. Lots of people left the course though.
Stopped at Beaches and Cream on our way back to BCV for some ice cream. It was still packed at 10pm. We had a thirty minute wait before being seated. Ice cream was great for DH and I. He had a plain jane chocolate shake and I had the Frozen Sunshine. Kids weren't able to finish theirs. DD had a chocolate cone with sprinkles and DS had one of their sundaes. He finished about half before giving up.

We have no plans for parks this trip, but are heading out to Gatorland today.
Kids are not excited about going, but I think they will enjoy it once we are there. They are still bummed about not going to any parks.

 

[BCV23]

Have fun at BCV. Hope you get a lot of time in at SAB. Maybe the kids will forget about the parks.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

We have no plans for parks this trip, but are heading out to Gatorland today. Kids are not excited about going, but I think they will enjoy it once we are there. They are still bummed about not going to any parks.

We are thinking about going to Gatorland when we come in July. Please let me know what you think of it! We have a 9 year old DS and I thought he might enjoy it but I am not sure if it is worth the money. Thanks!

 

[jamstew]

I ended up with a HA studio at BCV last month as well since I wanted something near the elevator. It had a great balcony and would have had an awesome pool view except for the fact the quiet pool was under construction. Doing it again, I think I'd settle for being a little further from the elevator. Since it was my first stay at BCV, I didn't get an accurate portrayal of what a real studio would feel like. I also really missed having a tub

 

[BigEeyore]

Just curious - why are you not going to the parks on this trip? I couldn't imagine being in WDW and not going to the parks!
Sounds like you have a great room - enjoy your trip!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Gatorland was okay. A bit hokey, but we understood that was just part of the schtick.
We liked the gator wrestling show and my mom and daughter got their pictures with a gator after that show.
Enjoyed some of the exhibits, just walking around and looking at animals.
My DS14 was bored to tears. DD8 enjoyed most of it, but was definately ready to go after a couple of hours. We were only there for about four hours. We left after the Gator Jumparoo show, which we would have liked more without the whole "redneck bubba and cletis" storyline.

We moved over to BWV for two days, our waitlist for those days at BCV never came through. I called at the seven day mark to see if CRO had released rooms back to DVC and the CM actually talked me out of doing the switch. He didn't want to see me lose both rooms in the time it took to do the switch, made me very nervous with him going on and on about losing both and being without a room.
I didn't care as much for BWV. The room was nice, studio. We had a view of the canal and the dolphin (I think). First floor.
Didn't care for the long hallways! I felt like we kept walking and walking and walking.

Now we are at Vero Beach and love it! It is so beautiful.
Our OVIR has a full on ocean view. We are one floor above and just to the left of the Green Cabin Room.
The room is fantastic and feels huge. Kids love having a real bed to sleep in.
The sand is nice and soft, we went looking for seashells yesterday and found some good ones. Also looked for any treasure that may have washed up!
Found something that is covered in grayish covered rock, that I told DH must be a gold pipe fitting. It looks like a gray rock ring.

BigEeyore, DH agreed to the trip if I could keep it under a certain cost level since we have to come back next month for a Army conference. So, no Disney parks. We were thinking about trying Universal, but may save that for next month.

 

[BCV23]

Also looked for any treasure that may have washed up!
Found something that is covered in grayish covered rock, that I told DH must be a gold pipe fitting. It looks like a gray rock ring.

Someone (madoco???) reported that a man on his honeymoon lost his wedding ring a couple weeks ago at VB. Could you have found it? Maybe it's caked with mud and sand after being tossed in the surf. That would be so fantastic if you found it.

Have fun at Vero!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Have a great time at Vero!
Bobbi

 

[MikeJ]

Now we are at Vero Beach and love it! It is so beautiful.
Our OVIR has a full on ocean view. We are one floor above and just to the left of the Green Cabin Room.

If you go out on your balcony and look up to the right, you'll see us. We're on the 4th floor immediately behind home plate right over the GCR. There's a reception setting up on the lawn and we'll have a bird's eye view of it.

Been here since Thursday and the weather has been absolutely perfect.

- Mike

 

[uicbear]

We will be in 2 OVIRs in 2 weeks How important is it to request an upper level floor in regards to the view?

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I definately think floors three and four would have the best ocean views. We didn't have any obstructions to the view.
I am sure MikeJ had the best view! Hi Mike, great to meet you and your wife today.

The weather while in Vero was perfect and the ocean breeze refreshing.
While there, we signed our son up for Surf School and our daughter up for 2DC (disney discovery center).
DS had a blast at the surf school. He went with one other boy about his age. One of the instructors took pictures with our camera for us, so we have some great pics of him surfing! They also provided drinks and snacks for the boys.
DD enjoyed the 2DC program, although honestly I think she is at the top of age to enjoy it. They had a group of eight I think and did arts and crafts, played games, ate and watched a couple of kids shows. She enjoys meeting new kids and making new friends and really liked the games they played.
While she was at the program, we went to Capt. Hirams to eat dinner.
It was okay. I don't think any of us were overly impressed and I thought it was a little pricey for the food. View from the restaurant was great though.

I wanted to add real quick that my parents drove to Vero on Sat. just to look around and were able to get a GVIR for that night.
Their IR was huge. I don't recall the number, but you walked in and were in an area with the kitchenette and sitting area, then turned a corner and were in the bedroom area with bathroom. There was a ton of space in the room.

Now we are at Saratoga Springs, so we are really all over the place this trip.
Vero is now on our must do list, btw. We just loved the relaxed feel of the resort.

 

[MikeJ]

We were in room 2417 and had an unimpeded view of the beach and ocean, and Liz reports the same thing from the third floor.

Liz, it was great to meet you as well, and I also enjoyed meeting starbox and her DH. When we left Vero around noon Sunday Chip was still on the beach building these award-winning sand castles. And many thanks to Amy for organizing the chair swap - it was fabulous.

We just arrived home a half hour or so ago, so the trip report will have to wait until I get some sleep.

- Mike

 

[Chim Chiminy]

His sand castle looked amazing. I don't have the patience!

And yes, thank you again Amy for organizing the swap. The chairs were comfy and sturdy and the umbrella was great too. I have fair skin, so when not in the water, I am hiding from the sun!

Our check in at SSR was fairly uneventful.
We hung out at Vero until close to 3:30, just didn't want to leave. So when we did make it to SSR it was around 5. I told DH we were probably going to be assigned to the Carousels, since we were checking in later.
Sure enough, the Carousels. I asked if anything else was available. The CM went to check and came back and said no, there are no other rooms left this is the last studio, they are booked solid.
Okay.
I said, well it didn't hurt to ask. We aren't the type to have a meltdown over room assignment, but I do ask if there is a choice in room locations.
After being in the room for a few days, I realize it really isn't too bad a location. The downside is that we are driving over to swim and go to Community Hall.
We look out directly at the little Carousel pavilion. And since we are the last room by the stairwell, we hear people banging on the rails as they walk up and down the stairs.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Now that I am back home and have had time to go through the multitude of photos, I thought I would add some to the thread!

Starting off, our views from the BCV. Fifth floor, don't recall room number but it was the first one off the elevator.

Looking to the right, we see the Boardwalk and TOT. We could see parts of Fantasmic from here.

This is a zoomed in view looking slightly to the left. We could see a few buildings from World Showcase, I am curious what the big resort looking building is though. We could see nicely Illuminations from here.

A lovely rainbow after the rain.

Our stay, even though brief, at BCV has confirmed for us that it is our favorite. We loved being able to walk over to enjoy the Boardwalk or go to Fantasia Gardens.
We thought the recreation staff was the best for our whole trip, they were fantastic. Raouf was our favorite. During a rainstorm, everyone gathered in the Solarium to play games and watch a movie and he took time playing with the kids and teaching them simple magic tricks. Then the next day at the pool he remembered our kids.
You can't beat playing Disney Trivia or Bingo in the pool, it was a blast!
And Stormalong Bay can't be beat. We swam everyday from Sunday check in through our check out day on Wednesday.

We went to Gatorland, kids didn't care for it. But DD did sit on a gator!

And DS goofing around at Fantasia Gardens, an easy walk from either BCV or BWV.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

After checking out on Wed, we moved over to the Boardwalk.

This is our view from our first floor BWV studio, of course I don't recall this room number either. It was right as you turn down one of the hallways. Rooms across from us had a Luna Park view. We had canal view. And a maintenance area. In the mornings there was a vehicle parked there.

We were only at the BW for two nights before moving on to VB.

View from the bridge by the Swan/Dolphin. I think we may have been in that first red building section. Could be wrong though.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

After checking out of the Boardwalk and having lunch with my parents at Chevy's (great food BTW!), we headed on to Vero Beach.
We were so excited to be going.

This is what greeted us in our OVIR.

We don't usually have towel animals, so it was a big deal for us. Very cute.

View looking directly from our balcony, so beautiful and peaceful. It couldn't have been better for us. This room was one floor above and just to the left of the GCR.

Looking off our balcony to the left.

DD on the beach. The sand is great, water lovely. Once I thought I saw a jellyfish, but couldn't confirm it and DS didn't see it.

DS and DH on a jetski. Rental was $65 for half an hour. They were out longer, but only charged the $65. They loved it, though DS kept asking dad to slow down and keep it under 25mph. LOL.

We didn't want to leave. Two nights was not enough here.
Resort silhouette, taken around 10pm.