Result!!!

[mrsminniemouse]

DH decided he had enough time off work to squeeze in an extra trip to WDW using the add on we bought, the 100 bonus points plus a bit of borrowing!

We wanted 14 nights from April 30 but could not get flights, I was told this is because the prices increase on May 1. Thanks to a recommendation to someone here ages ago (cannot remember who, sorry) I tried Funway and they had Virgin flights from Sun 1 May, so we cut one night off the end as DH has to return to work on the Monday, and booked it! Thanks to that person who told me about Funway! Funway were GREAT! They answer the phone immediately, no hanging on or annoying menus. We got a good price, £1739 for 2 adults, 1 child, an upgrade to a jeep plus fully inclusive gold insurance! This is better than Virgin quotes for other dates in May, even with a Frequent Virgin discount. We wanted Virgin so we could get the Flying Club points, after this flight we will have enough for a free flight next time. Woo hoo!!!

Anyway, as we have booked late they could not allocate us 3 seats by the window together on the plane. Virgin hold back 40% of seat allocation until the day. So do we need to get there early or do Twilight check in to get the 3 by the window? I was also thinking if we order the child booster (DD will be almost 2) doesn't that have to go by the window? It did last time I think.

I was amazed that MS were able to offer 1 beds at all WDW DVC properties except BCV for May 1 for 13 nights. We chose VWL for close proximity to MK. I have eaten there but know little of it. Any tips? Please tell me we will love it there! Any trip reports or photos would be much appreciated!

Also any tips on which days to avoid which parks? I guess May 5 will be chaotic in MK due to the kick off of the birthday celebration.

Isn't an unexpected last minute trip exciting? So glad I ordered the PAPs and DDE card early for September now!!!

Thanks for reading!!!
A very excited Mandy (Why am I up so early....oh yeah, need to start PLANNING!)

 

[Hilary]

Great planning!

 

[KayleeUK]

Brilliant - we are there in the same time frame. the early part of our trip is at the VWL check out this info about WL - there is a video tour to look at there.

We are avoiding all parks on May 5th and going shopping instead

 

[Miffy2003]

Oh that is great news!!

Here is a bit from my recent trip report to give you a little description:

Today we are heading to the Wilderness Lodge as we all want to have a look round and I need to visit the shop as I want to pick up something nice for a friend and this is her favourite resort. After this we are meeting some Dis friends for lunch at the Rose and Crown.

We catch the bus to the MK and soon arrive and transfer to the boat, which takes us to the Wilderness Lodge. It’s funny to think this is the same view we had the other night when we took our Wishes Cruise – the scenery looks completely different in the daylight. The Shoe Tree we spotted on the way fascinates the girls – they had been shown this on their Pirate Cruise and were pleased to point it out to us. I must say that the boat is a very pleasant way to travel and the breezy day wakes us all up!

We enter the WL and it is a very impressive place! The lobby has a huge “wow” factor and this resort joins the Poly on my list of places to stay at. I’d rate my chances better here than at the Poly as there is a DVC building at the WL, and it is significantly more affordable than the Poly in any case. We spend quite a bit of time checking out the lobby and the various eating and drinking spots.

Artist Point looks lovely; I can just imagine a nice drink in the bar here, followed by a meal at AP and then a nice relaxing time in front of the fire admiring the lobby. This is a fantastic place. We visit the shop which we’re pleased to see has quite a lot of resort specific merchandise and we have fun choosing a a few things for our friend.

Having not had breakfast we decide to try out Roaring Forks (it’s too close to lunch to go for a full breakfast at Whispering Canyon Café which would have been my first choice). After the food court at ASMo the Roaring Forks is very small but nicely snug and it all adds to the themeing of the resort I feel. We saw a model of one of the Disney Cruise ships and I took this photo for Mandymouse (Mandy) and Florida Sun (Sue)

We head out of the resort via the covered walkway (this is a nice touch!) and wait for a bus to Epcot. The bus seems to take a while to get to Epcot as it goes via Fort Wilderness, which is very close as far as the boat goes but seemed quite a long way by bus.

We loved the boat ride to the MK from here; a lovely way to travel. The WL itself is beautiful!

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks so much Miffy. Cannot wait to have a pic with the totem pole. What is the shoe tree?

DD nearly 2, will love the boat rides. SHe was just 16 months last trip and she is so much more aware now. She knows all the characters and even does impressions of Donald Duck!

Thanks again,
Mandy xxxxxx

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Mandy,

The shoe tree - well I never would have spotted this but my sharp eyed DDs did. I think the fact that they were shown it on their Pirate Cruise helped too though!

As you are going from the MK towards Fort Wilderness / Wilderness Lodge by boat, it is on the right before you dock. I'm useless at distances but I'd say maybe 300m before you dock?

It's nothing very exciting - a tree that has lots of shoes "growing" on it rather than leaves. There aren't that many but it was one of those little things that some children (mine!!) were very entertained by.

Have lots of fun!!

Karen

 

[iankh]

Have you checked the "Unofficial Guide" for best and worst days for the various parks? It actually breaks it down my month and day. Might be worth popping into a bookstop to look at the 2005 edition.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks Ian. I have the 2005 UG but as this trip is out of the blue when I read it I did not look at these dates and then forgot about the chart!!! Wonder if the new EMH schedule will have changed things though?

Thanks so much!!

Mandy

 

[iankh]

Mandy,

Good point about the EMH. You can check for updates to the official guide at www.touringplans.com. That's the author's site, and I think they do publish updates to the book there.