Redemption...largely credited to our DVC membership.

[skylynx]

Just came back from a trip to Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House) to celebrate the 15th anniversary of my husband and I meeting each other during a Disney Institute training course. I've been a bit melancholy and resigned about learning to love Disney differently post FP+ and found that our DVC membership made this much easier to do.

Maybe this was just a charmed visit, but despite the fact that our room was over two tenths of a mile from the lobby (according to my FitBit) we had the most spectacular animal activity outside our balcony nearly every time we went out! Balconies and patios are one of the things I love best about DVC. I know you can pay cash for those rooms, but it is a big plus of DVC accommodations to me because we are PERCHERS and love to sit on our balconies wherever they are!

We have discounted DVC annual passes (another perk) and decided not to kill ourselves on this trip trying to go rope drop to drop dead at the end of the day. We spent a lot of time enjoying Jambo House sharing wine on our balcony, eating dinner at Boma, having cocktails at Victoria Falls, listening to the ladies at Boma singing in the morning as we left to go to a park for our MID DAY fast passes (no early morning wake up.) We swam in the pool, bubbled in the hot tub, admired the artifacts in the lobby, and talked to all the guides about the animals we saw. I love Animal Kingdom Lodge and feel so lucky to own there!

The parks were not terribly crowded, and as we always try to do something new each trip (which is getting a little harder as we've been fortunate enough to visit a lot, thanks to DVC) we got a walk up reservation to Via Napoli in Epcot on our actual anniversary day and got to use our DVC discount there, too! The Dockside Bar at the Boathouse, the Crew Club at Yacht Club and Trader Sam's Grog Grotto were other firsts, though we were big fans of the Disneyland version of TS's already. We'll get to stay at the Poly for the first time one night pre-Disney cruise, because of our DVC membership.

I know DVC visits don't always go as well as ours did, but this time there were no diapers hiding behind the curtains, leaks on the floor, broken refrigerator doors, grouchy cast members or missing linens. Our Magic Bands worked every time, our FP times were flawless, and we got a front row table at the Spirit of Aloha luau. Even the weather was perfect. I still don't love having to plan where I'm going to eat six months in advance or even having to choose a park months out, but I still love going to Disney and trips like these offer some redemption for those that don't go as well, which for us have been blissfully few and far between.

Our extended trip report with pix is here, if anyone is interested!

 

[suebeelin]

It's nice to know sometimes things go perfectly! Wonderful story!

 

[freediverdude]

It's true that I think the vast vast majority of people's trips go well and smoothly, it's just that because of online forums and review sites and such that we get to hear every complaint or bad experience. On to the next trip!

 

[DISNEYSC]

It was very refreshing for a report that highlighted the good you found in your trip. I'm sure there were some not so perfect things there too but - just like life- you find what you are looking for right?

Thanks for your post and trip report!

 

[ziravan]

The main reason we bought DVC is because of reports that it could change the way we do Disney. It sure has.

I've been an owner about a year, and I'm going back for my fourth time this year. For next year, two more are already booked and another planned.

Friends, family, and co-workers, "You're going again!?!"

Yes, I am.

 

[deedisneydream97]

We also had a stellar trip, just back from BWV. We spend a lot of time on our deck, too. We always have a "resort only day" and still like getting to the parks early and leaving before lunch, having lunch at the pool, going back to a park or another resort for dinner. Or just having something simple in our room for dinner and then going out and about.

It was nice to read your post. DVC has changed my leisure life. I never would have done the cruises I've done, nor gone to Hawaii twice. We've met lots of people from all over....mostly while floating around in the pool. We love talking DVC with other DVCers.

Our room was also spotless. I have definitely seen an improvement our last few visits.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulation on your anniversary!

 

[skylynx]

Thank you! We figured since the day we met (a Sunday) fell on a Sunday this year, we should definitely return to the scene of the crime, so to speak. Our lives changed so utterly that day; Disney brought us together and there's no stopping us coming back!

 

[LisaS]

What a great post. Thanks for reminding us all why AKV is such a wonderful place to stay! I'm glad your trip turned out so well.

 

[Cee]

Wonderful!

 

[mort1331]

What a horrible post!!!!, I go to these boards to read all about peoples bad experiences, what went wrong, where the crash was.
Now this all sunshine and happiness.
How am I supposed to feel great about my trips that have all been wonderful and splashed with pixie dust, when other people post nice stuff.
UGGH I guess we are not the only ones that have great trips.


Just kidding of course, glad you can share in the joy we have each and every time we go.
and Happy Anniversary!

 

[TeeterTots]

Beautifully stated! Happy anniversary! I'm looking forward to reading your trip report!

 

[skylynx]

Thanks! The link's at the bottom of my original post. I added some pictures right afterwards. I used to write trip reports all the time but was really uninspired for a while. I love to read happy trip reports, too!