culli
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2008
- Messages
- 1,194
Got back from an early May trip in a BCV studio stay - just Dad and the boys ages 4 and 3. Here are some random thoughts:
1. Boy has DVC spoiled us - I really really miss staying in a 1 or 2 br villa. The studio is nice and I'm not saying I'm too good for a studio but I really missed the kitchen and extra room. We don't do any commando trips and like to let the kids relax in the room and play with their toys. Hint: to save money we pack disney toys and clothers (like new swim suits) we bought at target or walmart when we go, then give them to the kids spread out through our stay. Saves cash, and it scratches their itch for wanting stuff in the stores.
2. I hate eating out except on occassion so cooking for 7 days in a microwave got old quick. The kitchen is so nice and one of the main reasons to go to DVC. We don't cook anything fancy but eat decent meals and find that much less work than trying to hit restaurants. And too much work to try and eat semi healthy.
3. Missed the in room laundry, yes they have them at resort but hard to do with being the only adult and 2 young ones. We do LOTS of laundry when we travel to save on packing etc - we are a family of 6 (7 when Nana Culli goes with us) so laundry and kitchen BIG PLUS.
4. I also own Wyndham and got a bonnet creek 3 br for some friends and our trips over lap. They are a family of 4 with a 8 yr old and 4 yr old boys plus they had Grandma with a scooter on the trip. They had a great time but did say it was not the easiest to get around to the parks and wish they stayed on site with us. Much cheaper to stay at Bonnet Creek but we are an on site family and don't see us staying off site. I know many people rant and rave about bonnet creek and claim it is so much better than DVC.........but as close to on site as you can get........it is NOT ON SITE! We actually do everything we can to stay at the EPCOT resorts becasue we love to walk and the access to 2 parks is great.
5. DVC has got us to just kick back and enjoy disney, even our young kids are laid back. "Dad the long is too long we can come back later"....what 4 year old says that!?!??!!? I tell everyone when they go to go at the kids pace let them dictate what you do (within reason). 2 differernt families came back and said the best advice I gave them was rent or bring a double stroller. The other was they kept telling themselves "take a deep breath and remember what Culli told you.....go at the kids pace". People thought I was crazy going with two young high energy boys on vacation much less DISNEY! I had no more issues than I would have had I been at home. We had a blast like we always do, I would have liked some more adult interaction but it was not a big deal at all.
6. WOW is DISNEY awesome, so relaxing and fun. It just puts me in a special wondeful mindset.
7. Amazing how nice people are to you if you are kind to them. Just having a smile on your face and being polite goes a long way.
8. Baby Joggers - City Series double strollers and hands down the best, plus a must have at Disney.
9. I love that my boys think the monorail is a ride. I walked from our villa through EPCOT and was in MK in about 45 mins (might have been less but I'm going off my memory) plus the boys consdiered that they got two rides already with the monorail. Shhhhhhhhh don't tell them it is not a ride! I only rode the bus once the whole 7 days there and that was coming home from extra magic hours one night from MK. The hard part was having the stroller and keeping the boys awake.
10. Boys love playing in the sand - I think they invented beach hockey one night at the movies on the beach.
11. Boardwalk pizza is not that good, but hits the spot when you have not had a pizza in awhile AND SICK of cooking in a microwave.
12. Love garden grocer and that they WILL deliver me beer and I don't have to be there when they show up to have an ID.
13. Leaving Disney sucks.......I think my whole family could live there.
14. Soarin is an awesome ride..........just love that
15. I hope I never have to go durring prime time.
16. Can't wait for our next trip, thanks for letting me ramble!
1. Boy has DVC spoiled us - I really really miss staying in a 1 or 2 br villa. The studio is nice and I'm not saying I'm too good for a studio but I really missed the kitchen and extra room. We don't do any commando trips and like to let the kids relax in the room and play with their toys. Hint: to save money we pack disney toys and clothers (like new swim suits) we bought at target or walmart when we go, then give them to the kids spread out through our stay. Saves cash, and it scratches their itch for wanting stuff in the stores.
2. I hate eating out except on occassion so cooking for 7 days in a microwave got old quick. The kitchen is so nice and one of the main reasons to go to DVC. We don't cook anything fancy but eat decent meals and find that much less work than trying to hit restaurants. And too much work to try and eat semi healthy.
3. Missed the in room laundry, yes they have them at resort but hard to do with being the only adult and 2 young ones. We do LOTS of laundry when we travel to save on packing etc - we are a family of 6 (7 when Nana Culli goes with us) so laundry and kitchen BIG PLUS.
4. I also own Wyndham and got a bonnet creek 3 br for some friends and our trips over lap. They are a family of 4 with a 8 yr old and 4 yr old boys plus they had Grandma with a scooter on the trip. They had a great time but did say it was not the easiest to get around to the parks and wish they stayed on site with us. Much cheaper to stay at Bonnet Creek but we are an on site family and don't see us staying off site. I know many people rant and rave about bonnet creek and claim it is so much better than DVC.........but as close to on site as you can get........it is NOT ON SITE! We actually do everything we can to stay at the EPCOT resorts becasue we love to walk and the access to 2 parks is great.
5. DVC has got us to just kick back and enjoy disney, even our young kids are laid back. "Dad the long is too long we can come back later"....what 4 year old says that!?!??!!? I tell everyone when they go to go at the kids pace let them dictate what you do (within reason). 2 differernt families came back and said the best advice I gave them was rent or bring a double stroller. The other was they kept telling themselves "take a deep breath and remember what Culli told you.....go at the kids pace". People thought I was crazy going with two young high energy boys on vacation much less DISNEY! I had no more issues than I would have had I been at home. We had a blast like we always do, I would have liked some more adult interaction but it was not a big deal at all.
6. WOW is DISNEY awesome, so relaxing and fun. It just puts me in a special wondeful mindset.
7. Amazing how nice people are to you if you are kind to them. Just having a smile on your face and being polite goes a long way.
8. Baby Joggers - City Series double strollers and hands down the best, plus a must have at Disney.
9. I love that my boys think the monorail is a ride. I walked from our villa through EPCOT and was in MK in about 45 mins (might have been less but I'm going off my memory) plus the boys consdiered that they got two rides already with the monorail. Shhhhhhhhh don't tell them it is not a ride! I only rode the bus once the whole 7 days there and that was coming home from extra magic hours one night from MK. The hard part was having the stroller and keeping the boys awake.
10. Boys love playing in the sand - I think they invented beach hockey one night at the movies on the beach.
11. Boardwalk pizza is not that good, but hits the spot when you have not had a pizza in awhile AND SICK of cooking in a microwave.
12. Love garden grocer and that they WILL deliver me beer and I don't have to be there when they show up to have an ID.
13. Leaving Disney sucks.......I think my whole family could live there.
14. Soarin is an awesome ride..........just love that
15. I hope I never have to go durring prime time.
16. Can't wait for our next trip, thanks for letting me ramble!
did I mention we love Spaten
Having those 1&2brs really does spoil you, doesn't it? My DH & I are going down for a last-minute anniversary trip at the beginning of Aug. and since our points are already reserved for other upcoming trips 
goodvibes) we were able to get a studio at OKW with the AP 40% off room-only rate. We haven't stayed in a studio in years but I know just being at WDW is the main thing. Glad you had a great time with your boys and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
