Our little thread of BIG Resort Changes~2013 Spring RC installment

[letthewookiewin]

OMG!!!

Smash Mouth is going to be playing Eat to the Beat the 28th-30th!!! Danimal LOVES them and is going to be SOOO excited to see them!

That sounds cool. I'm sure y'all will have a great time.

Morning everyone!!! Will try to catch up latter this morning! Hope everyone has a great morning!!

HUGS,
Melissa

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Have a great morning yourself.

Hello Loves!!!

Just checking in from the YC!!!

Guess who I met last night??? Yup! The beautiful I_Heart and family!!!

I checked out her room...but I'll let her tell you about that one!!!

We are having a wonderful trip!

Oh, and can you tell me if this is GV or LV?? I know it's not the SV we booked...

Whatever it is...it's gorgeous and far more than the roof I was expecting.

We ate at Captains Grille last night....unfortunately, that one is heading up into our ranks right there along with Chef Mickey and Akershus (neither of which we like)

Incredibly slooooooow service, and the food was just meh. It took us 2.5 hours to get out of there...

But, we have one of our favorites today - Via Napoli!!! So yay!

Dani- did you get your answer to your BB question??? I have it in our room and can post a pic if you need it!

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!!

DH is already talking about our next trip, and we have 7 days left of this one....he's got it oh so bad!!!

Love the pics!! I'm glad y'all are having a great time!!

Good Morning My morning routine is now as follows, get up go bathroom, take Bella out, put on coffee, feed Bella, Check Jet Blue, .........I am gonna be nuts by time I buy our return flights I priced out AKL this morning too "if" we were to add on a day or two because of airfare which is what I would love to do and might be able to convince Bob to do a spilt "if" we just spent the time at the resort. Yes I am ploting. I totally blame Krystal

I hope you can convince him to do it.

I was reading on the free dining thread, and someone posted the dates they normally have it and when they offered it. I can't find the post now, but it seemed like it usually was announced the first week in May, which is the week I will be working my friend's at home day care. Hopefully, I can check it before I leave and can be on the phone with Disney on the way to her home the morning it is offered.

 

[letthewookiewin]

JM asked me a question this morning while we were waiting for his bus. I can assume an answer, but I thought I would get a more solid answer. I'm going to ask over at the BC/YC thread, but I know several of you have stayed there and might know the answer.

This morning I was looking on my phone while we were waiting for the bus. I noticed that today, we are 140 days from checking in at the BC. I told JM this and he said, "ya know, I'm going to miss something about that Pop place." When I asked him what it was, his answer was, "the hot chocolate was so easy to get to. The place we're staying at has hot chocolate that's easy to get to, right mom?" I looked on AllEars and they don't have it listed in the Beach Club Marketplace, and I know if he can't get it at the Beach Club Marketplace, I'll just bring some and make it in the room.

 

[sjs314]

That sounds cool. I'm sure y'all will have a great time.



Have a great morning yourself.



Love the pics!! I'm glad y'all are having a great time!!



I hope you can convince him to do it.

I was reading on the free dining thread, and someone posted the dates they normally have it and when they offered it. I can't find the post now, but it seemed like it usually was announced the first week in May, which is the week I will be working my friend's at home day care. Hopefully, I can check it before I leave and can be on the phone with Disney on the way to her home the morning it is offered.

I haven't even mentioned it to him yet, I have hinted about a million times about ("what if the air fares drop past our current dates") but you know I don't think he even heard me
We had a trip booked in a 1 Bdrm Villa in Jambo in 2010 with my 40% pin I had rec'd taking my eldest DS & Ddil but then DS got a job after being unemployed for over a year and the boiler died so we cancelled.
I will get back there yet!

 

[babyberger]

Quick catch up this morning....

Wookie - I hope the free dining is announced before you work for the week, or like you said you can get on the phone before or after work.

Koh - my kids are older and were so excited for the bunk beds at WL, but then when we got there they decided they didnt want them I know most kids love them and my have before on cruises, etc, but for some reason they didnt like the ones at WL (which will be the same ones at AKL). I am still pulling for CR though

Shelia - I love your plotting I hope your morning routine doesnt last long and you can get some cheap airfare

Candace - Enjoy Via Napoli!!! I miss it now that Steven is GF. Sorry Captains Grille wasnt all you expected, that is a total bummer. We only had breakfast there and that was fantastic. It looks like you do have a water view You will know for sure what the category is when you get the bill at the end of your stay. Ours definitely said water view even though we only paid for garden view. So glad you got to meet i_heart last night It sounds like maybe she got some I guess we will have to wait for her to pop in and tell us

Dani - Smashmouth, that is a blast from the past, LOL!!! I hope you get some relief at the dentist today Oh and I commented to you on the CR thread, I really do think you will be happy.

KOOK - I saw you sneak in here somewhere. So do you have something to tell us

peteykirch - I like the updated itinerary

Hello Lacey, Cynthia, Linda, Shelia, MAGIC, Janet, Jeanette and everyone else I am missing


Melissa

 

[Koh1977]

JM asked me a question this morning while we were waiting for his bus. I can assume an answer, but I thought I would get a more solid answer. I'm going to ask over at the BC/YC thread, but I know several of you have stayed there and might know the answer.

This morning I was looking on my phone while we were waiting for the bus. I noticed that today, we are 140 days from checking in at the BC. I told JM this and he said, "ya know, I'm going to miss something about that Pop place." When I asked him what it was, his answer was, "the hot chocolate was so easy to get to. The place we're staying at has hot chocolate that's easy to get to, right mom?" I looked on AllEars and they don't have it listed in the Beach Club Marketplace, and I know if he can't get it at the Beach Club Marketplace, I'll just bring some and make it in the room.

I *think* they had hot chocolate (near the coffee on the left side with the rest of the fountain drinks), but I'm not 100% sure...

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[letthewookiewin]

Wookie - I hope the free dining is announced before you work for the week, or like you said you can get on the phone before or after work.

Thank you. I hope so as well. I would almost rather they wait another week to announce it, so I don't miss it.

I *think* they had hot chocolate (near the coffee on the left side with the rest of the fountain drinks), but I'm not 100% sure...

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That is what I assumed. I just have to make sure. He said he was willing to change to the Pop Century just to make sure he can get hot chocolate in his refillable mug. I'm like, "umm no, mommy will bring hot chocolate from home and we will make it in our room before that happens." I am willing to change resorts if they are 100% happy with the BC, but the Pop Century is not on the list of resorts I would be willing to change to.

 

[Koh1977]

Thank you. I hope so as well. I would almost rather they wait another week to announce it, so I don't miss it.

That is what I assumed. I just have to make sure. He said he was willing to change to the Pop Century just to make sure he can get hot chocolate in his refillable mug. I'm like, "umm no, mommy will bring hot chocolate from home and we will make it in our room before that happens." I am willing to change resorts if they are 100% happy with the BC, but the Pop Century is not on the list of resorts I would be willing to change to.

In many ways, I loved BC (and DS did too), but I was thinking it was more convenient to Epcot than it really was...therefore, we were doing a lot of running back and forth that was not relaxing in the least...if it were just DH and I and/or during F & W, I would definitely stay there again!

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[MAGIC...itis!]

I stayed at the AKL quite a while ago, it was nice, and I'd easily stay there again, but the lack of transportation is a big negative to me, unless I was to rent a car for the week.

Petey, I pride myself on being clear as mud, but in my post to you I was just suggesting making a portion of a day trip itinerary to the AK/AKL area, and not your actually staying at AKL. True, AK/AKL isn't so easy without a car, but since you'd take a bus to AK from your resort anyway, it would be just a quick bus over to AKL for breakfast and back again to AK.

AKL:

Sanaa .... we always start with the bread service. Our first time there we tried a sample of various different breads but weren't crazy about a couple of them so now we stick to the plain naan. Then we get slow cooked in gravy .... we've tried most of the choices except the lamb and have liked them all. The butter chicken is the least spicy. If it's DD and I this is all we get and share it all. If we have someone else with us we add in vegetarian sampler. This has always been enough for 3.

Mara .... my favorite there is the African stew.

Jiko .... haven't tried it yet but it's on my list.

Boma ... really enjoyed it but we ate there so much that I kind of got burned out on it. We've only done breakfast once but really enjoyed it.

As for zebra domes I'm one of the few that really don't like.

DD and I will be at AKV for seven nights in Oct/Nov .... plans include dinner at Sanaa, breakfast at Boma, and for the first time lunch at Sanaa on a pool day.

So there's my review of the food at AK .... more than you asked for!!!

Thank you so much for your AKL dining option preferences and reviews. This is basically a new frontier for us other than Boma breakfast. We had Jiko booked in March but cancelled . I am taking copious notes here. Ooooooh, and I'm looking forward to checking out your favorite pool music at OKW in Aug!!!

_________ __________

mousemommy1: Love your room view. I see water, so it must be water view. So glad you are enjoying the YC. Yep, it's a different vibe than WL, and both are really great resorts with their own charms. Enjoy the joy!

WDWKOOK: Hi, any new noodling around with your ressie?

koh1977: That price difference you quoted AKL vs. CR Dxl is a big deal. And if you are just as psyched for it, then I'd say do AKL this trip for sure. Are you MK people or equal opportunity WDW people? IMO, that makes a big difference in your final appraisal of AKL vs CR, and in your ultimate satisfaction post-vacation.

 

[Missoutandabout]

Good morning!

Candace: I would say that's a Water View room. I think Disney classifies any room which can see even a puddle as Water View. That's definitely no puddle though! Sorry about Captain's Grille. Like Melissa, we really enjoyed it for breakfast... although service was "laid back" when we were there. We were leaving that day so we didn't mind so much. Glad you and lovely I_Heart got to meet! Speaking of...

I_Heart:

Marie: Positive thoughts to you guys, ALWAYS.

Wookie: Do they have photos of the Marketplace menu on the first posts of the BC thread? I think they might. Could check there and see if you spot hot chocolate.

Melissa: How'd the Betty Crockering go yesterday? You are a baking goddess. (You have to say that with a British accent, by the way, like: "Gaah-DESS".)

Dani: Oooooooh, SWEET! I certainly wouldn't mind listening to Smash Mouth as I drink my way around the world.

Sheila and Koh: Hmmm. I may just have to go price out AKL. Ya know, just to check and all.

GG: Thanks for the pool review! That's a relief... the pool thing would be the biggest worry for us but it seems like the pools are quite large at AKL. Although, saying that about all these pool worries, we're actually booked at CR! I have a feeling a little person I know is going to bring up SAB non-stop this trip.

Ginny: I hope you guys weren't affected by the horrible storms.

Jen, Lacey, Magic, DetTigs, Petey, Sue, Christine and the Kookalicious!

~~----------------------~~

I'm kinda at the moment. The house is a "tip" as the ol' hubs would say (though never TO me or he'd get an earful). My parents arrive in a couple of days to help celebrate the kiddo's birthday. I've got to get thinking about her cake. YIKES!

 

[babyberger]

Miss - I guess I missed that both your parents were coming! When did that happen? Wasn't your dad not wanting to come???

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[Koh1977]

MIss - thanks for reminding me!! I need to get a cake ordered for DD's birthday!! (She will be 2 and decided on a Minnie Mouse birthday).

I am excited about AKL too even though my TA says savannah view is the only worthwhile view at AKL in his opinion. And we are big MK people, BUT DS really likes all the parks actually. We spent a lot of time doing the Agent P thing at Epcot last year and he wanted to go back to Kali Rapids at AK last year but it didn't work into the schedule at all. And even with SAB, we didn't have much time to enjoy the resort which I keep saying I want to do. Thinking maybe being at AKL would force us to do just that. Especially if I can convince DH to stay an extra night and build in a strictly resort/pool (maybe DTD for dinner) day in between park days. And the buses don't sound like they're any more horrible than the others.

If we add a day, we'd still save $100 staying at AKL and we'd have 7 nights instead of 6.

If we stick with 6 nights, we'd save about $600 staying at AKL.

And who's to say we wouldn't get any pixie dust thrown our way and end up with a savannah view anyway! (Not that I would mind the pool view though)

It really is looking better and better, even with giving up a bigger room (because really, when will we be in the room, especially if we're at the CR?) and within walking distance of the MK...10 minutes is still 10 minutes in the heat and humidity of August. I would much prefer being on an air conditioned bus I think!

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[WDWKOOK]

Is Jeanette working/studying/resort changing/tending to sick kiddos?



Linda! I am very late with this, (and in my extended thread absence, probably completely omitting other well wishes, condolences, regrets, advice, etc... to many other RCs) But, I think you did the right thing regarding your mother's cancelation. Going on the trip that weekend without her, knowing her condition, would not have made for an enjoyable weekend. It's no fun mixing in unpredictability with a special birthday vacation and then having to cancel, but you did he right thing under the circumstances.

Yes, my noodle is noodling, see below.

Good to know! Danimal is very excited to try it out. His list of reasons for staying at CR are:

-First stop on buses
-He loves the arcade and gift shop
-Same resort as Chef Mickey's (we don't even eat there every trip so I have no idea why this is a priority )
-"We always try new resorts so why not try the Contemporary?" (another fallacy )
-Pool looks really cool
-Snack shop at the pool

The WALKWAY! The WALKWAY! Does he know he can walk right over to THE MK?! And, he can take the boat right over to WL and FW - can't do any of that from the Poly

OMG!!!

Smash Mouth is going to be playing Eat to the Beat the 28th-30th!!! Danimal LOVES them and is going to be SOOO excited to see them!

Have you told him yet?

YC is really beautiful! We love the location, we love our room. The CMs have been wonderful!!! We still feel that WL may be our home, but the YC is wonderful and we would not hesitate to stay here again!!!

I just HAVE to ask - if you could only book Regatta Club or Old Faithful Club for your next trip (assuming prices were the same), which would you choose? Also, have you had any trouble getting a seat in the lounge? Have you heard any of your neighbors while in your room? Thanks!

I think your view might be a Garden View. I thought the Water Views were either facing SAB or facing Crescent Lake? I once booked a GV at YC/CL and they upgraded us to a room facing SAB which I disliked because it was so noisy. I had requested a wedding gazebo view, but I didn't get that and was 'upgraded'. But, we did get a room without a connecting door which I requested.

KOOK - I saw you sneak in here somewhere. So do you have something to tell us


Melissa

I'm not very subtle, am I? It's like therapy over here

Well, since you kindly asked and since you were lurking on the WL thread, you know that a split may be in my future - but not this kind

Thought I'd have no problem with 11 nights Atrium Club, but then I had second thoughts about not splitting. Still would love BLT, but still no one bedroom LV available. So I'm torn between WL and YC. We've done both, but DH hasn't tried YC and he loves being near Epcot. But, I know that their lounge is small and I have more fear of the unknown over at YC compared with WL. It's all so familiar over at WL, but, we have been staying there A LOT and a little change might be good. Then there's Candace's comment about WL still being 'her home,' which didn't help me feel more confident about staying at YC/CL.

Calling all RC therapists - any thoughts?

and the Kookalicious!

~~----------------------~~

I'm kinda at the moment. The house is a "tip" as the ol' hubs would say (though never TO me or he'd get an earful). My parents arrive in a couple of days to help celebrate the kiddo's birthday. I've got to get thinking about her cake. YIKES!

Well, you know how we all really love Yuck E. Cheeses around here, so why not have your parents meet you there then straight to the hotel they go!? Tip or no tip, they'll never be the wiser

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Hey kook WL is my "home" too .... well with a little AK thrown in!!! I can't believe that I won't be there on my Oct/Nov trip! But there will be time there .... lunch at WCC, legal pool hopping, and of course rocking chair time!

 

[sjs314]

KOOK If I had to choose My pick would be WL, WL just feels comfortable, more so than YC

 

[disneydreamin247]

kook I did tell him and he is muy excited! He also can't wait to stay at CR. It's like a dream trip for him!

I would choose WL. I just don't feel the love for the EPCOT area.

 

[babyberger]

Wookie - did you get the answer on the BC/YC thread? We never went to BC marketplace while we were at YC so I have no idea. LOL about Pop Not being on the list I have to say that was the one drawback of YC, lack of CS in the actual resort. I think that is why I love CR so much now.

Koh - I totally agree with you! i told DH that I would like to go back to YC without the kids for F&W. I love the resort and area but you are right I think it's a better location without kids. They were not thrilled with the walk to Epcot, although I love the convenience of the IG.

MAGIC - did you move the July res yet?

KOOK - you always confuse me when you write Linda then what you say doesn't make sense to me and I realize you mean MAGIC I am hopefully going to meet the wonderful Linda/MAGIC this summer As for your split....I see you back at WL, it is your home. You know I love YC but we didn't stay CL there so I can't comment on it. How is DD feeling about this split???

HUGS, Melissa

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[letthewookiewin]

In many ways, I loved BC (and DS did too), but I was thinking it was more convenient to Epcot than it really was...therefore, we were doing a lot of running back and forth that was not relaxing in the least...if it were just DH and I and/or during F & W, I would definitely stay there again!

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Even though I showed him on a map that it wasn't far, the DH refused to walk to Epcot. He said that we walk enough in the parks, he's not walking to one.

Wookie: Do they have photos of the Marketplace menu on the first posts of the BC thread? I think they might. Could check there and see if you spot hot chocolate.

You my lovely are a genius!! I went to the BC/YC thread, and clicked on the link on the first page for the post about dining at the BC/YC. In that post, it had a link to a BC Marketplace photo thread and they had a picture of the hot chocolate machine. I assumed they would have the same set up they had at the Pop Century, but you know what they say about assuming.

I'm kinda at the moment. The house is a "tip" as the ol' hubs would say (though never TO me or he'd get an earful). My parents arrive in a couple of days to help celebrate the kiddo's birthday. I've got to get thinking about her cake. YIKES!

I hope you have a good, stress-free time with your parents.

MIss - thanks for reminding me!! I need to get a cake ordered for DD's birthday!! (She will be 2 and decided on a Minnie Mouse birthday).

I am excited about AKL too even though my TA says savannah view is the only worthwhile view at AKL in his opinion. And we are big MK people, BUT DS really likes all the parks actually. We spent a lot of time doing the Agent P thing at Epcot last year and he wanted to go back to Kali Rapids at AK last year but it didn't work into the schedule at all. And even with SAB, we didn't have much time to enjoy the resort which I keep saying I want to do. Thinking maybe being at AKL would force us to do just that. Especially if I can convince DH to stay an extra night and build in a strictly resort/pool (maybe DTD for dinner) day in between park days. And the buses don't sound like they're any more horrible than the others.

If we add a day, we'd still save $100 staying at AKL and we'd have 7 nights instead of 6.

If we stick with 6 nights, we'd save about $600 staying at AKL.

And who's to say we wouldn't get any pixie dust thrown our way and end up with a savannah view anyway! (Not that I would mind the pool view though)

It really is looking better and better, even with giving up a bigger room (because really, when will we be in the room, especially if we're at the CR?) and within walking distance of the MK...10 minutes is still 10 minutes in the heat and humidity of August. I would much prefer being on an air conditioned bus I think!

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With that kind of math, it makes changing so much easier. That is why I don't do any more Disney math. I know we could pay less at a different resort, but the DSs and I are so looking forward to SAB.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hey kook WL is my "home" too .... well with a little AK thrown in!!! I can't believe that I won't be there on my Oct/Nov trip! But there will be time there .... lunch at WCC, legal pool hopping, and of course rocking chair time!

But is this LEGAL rocking chair time?

You are a true Lodge lover and I can't believe you won't be at a Lodge in the Fall - what's up with that

KOOK If I had to choose My pick would be WL, WL just feels comfortable, more so than YC

But you loved BWI, right? Yes, I absolutely know what you mean about WL being extra cozy and comfortable - you're absolutely right

kook I did tell him and he is muy excited! He also can't wait to stay at CR. It's like a dream trip for him!

I would choose WL. I just don't feel the love for the EPCOT area.

Oh, I hope the BB works out. And, I know just what you mean about Epcot not feeling as magical. It's so great walking to Epcot and DHS, but there's so much concrete, the resorts are so close together and they don't have any lakes or lagoons in the backyard or enough trees in the front, not to mention no train whistles

 

[WDWKOOK]

Wookie: Do they have photos of the Marketplace menu on the first posts of the BC thread? I think they might. Could check there and see if you spot hot chocolate.
:

I do on the BWI thread - probably from the same source - pixarmom!

You my lovely are a genius!! I went to the BC/YC thread, and clicked on the link on the first page for the post about dining at the BC/YC. In that post, it had a link to a BC Marketplace photo thread and they had a picture of the hot chocolate machine. I assumed they would have the same set up they had at the Pop Century, but you know what they say about assuming.

She is a lovely genius and I'm glad you found your hot chocolate. It's often the little things, the familiar things that mean a lot to us on vacation

KOOK - you always confuse me when you write Linda then what you say doesn't make sense to me and I realize you mean MAGIC I am hopefully going to meet the wonderful Linda/MAGIC this summer As for your split....I see you back at WL, it is your home. You know I love YC but we didn't stay CL there so I can't comment on it. How is DD feeling about this split???

HUGS, Melissa

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Sorry about the Lovely Lindas mix-up. I almost met MAGIC on our August trip, but I think we were arriving the day she was leaving and we were on Living with the Land while she was at DHS or was that Janet? I missed both of them that day, I think

DD and I stayed one whole night out of 8 at YC/CL. We were supposed to do an AKL/YC-CL split, but after a day at YC, I missed CR too much. It just didn't feel right 'over there.' So I went into the CR and asked if I could switch to any room and the GM immediately booked us CL and we switched over. DD thought I was slightly nuts - wasn't the first, won't be the last. For this trip, DD would prefer CR the whole time, but DH is happy to split and I think it's like two vacations in one when you split.

 

[Missoutandabout]

Miss - I guess I missed that both your parents were coming! When did that happen? Wasn't your dad not wanting to come???

I hope you have a good, stress-free time with your parents.

I think me saying to my dad, "I'll just tell Miss M you're not coming" really made him feel like a complete heel. So, now they're both coming. They both agreed to be nice to each other on the ride out; I won't take bets on how long that deal will last.

Well, you know how we all really love Yuck E. Cheeses around here, so why not have your parents meet you there then straight to the hotel they go!? Tip or no tip, they'll never be the wiser

If they're not on their best behavior, I'm dropping them both off at the local hotel. That's after they both spend a minute for each year of age in the "Time Out" chair.

MIss - thanks for reminding me!! I need to get a cake ordered for DD's birthday!! (She will be 2 and decided on a Minnie Mouse birthday).

Awwww, I've seen some VERY cute Minnie cake ideas whilst perusing cake pictures for Miss M. Minnie!

The WALKWAY! The WALKWAY! Does he know he can walk right over to THE MK?! And, he can take the boat right over to WL and FW - can't do any of that from the Poly

This has got me to thinking... (can you smell the wood burning all the way out in NoVa?)


What do you ladies think -- in the event of not being able to procure an ADR for California Grill -- about taking the boat over from CR to WL for dinner at Artist's Point? Would Artist's Point be a nice anniversary meal on our first night?

You my lovely are a genius!! I went to the BC/YC thread, and clicked on the link on the first page for the post about dining at the BC/YC. In that post, it had a link to a BC Marketplace photo thread and they had a picture of the hot chocolate machine. I assumed they would have the same set up they had at the Pop Century, but you know what they say about assuming.

I didn't want to swear to it but there's such a wealth of info in that thread, I had a feeling there were menu pics. (You'd think, as many times as I've read through it, I'd know for sure. ) It kinda reminds me of another buncha threads run by a couple ladies we know...