OK, this was the last of the Jan/Feb 04 whirlwind of Orlando tour
Feb 25, I flew down to Ft Lauderdale to pick up the family (DW, 2 DS's, MIL) and drive them back in the minivan (that was down in Florida since Jan 18 arrival at AKL) to WDW - BCV
Feb 25 weather in FLL was amazingly wet and rough - our flight was almost 1hr delayed as FLL airport closed in the afternoon and we had to circle close to the Bahamas a couple of times before getting clearence to come to FLL. The turbulence was pretty rough and some people had some protein spills. This is one of the reasons why I go for the Fruit Plate Meal....
Landed at FLL, proceeded quickly to passenger pickup since I was late - turns out the family was caught in the weather on I-95 which ground to a halt - they got off and headed down US-1 around 20mph average speed so they arrived at FLL after me.
Anyways, we got moving along about 2hrs after my original scheduled arrival time but we were in decent spirits all considering since we were going to WDW!
I drove along I-595 over to Florida's Main Street (Turnpike) as I-95 was jammed. Took the turnpike right up to Osceola Parkway over into WDW and then up to BCV. Traffic on the turnpike was a little heavy but moved quite well especially once we moved north of Boca Raton area.
We arrived at BCV about 7:15pm or so and received a welcome home at the Gate - the valet/bellhop staff was virtually non-existent so we proceeded to procure one of the luggage carriers.
Went inside to check in - room was ready - received a lukewarm welcome home but it was quiet so I was chatting up a couple CM's whilst waiting for the keys, paperwork etc.
We received room #224 - I asked one of the CM's to show me where it was and they produced THE SECRET BCV ROOM MAP - I have heard of its existence but never seen it before
The CM after some work (she was not familiar with the BCV side) located the room and showed me how to get there. #224 is close to the main elevator at the end of a short hallway.
So we loaded up the luggage carrier and proceeded to the room - hakuna matata - no worries, no hurries.
The room was in very good shape with some minor nicks but that was not the issue. There was a good 30% of the listed kitchen equipment missing and for only a 3 day/2 night stay we did not feel up to calling HK to replace (yes we were lazy).
However we had a bonus! Prior occupants had left behind a Disney Donald Duck coffee mug (bonus) and some chicken noodle soup (double bonus!). We called HK to see if they would be able to locate the prior occupants who then called the Front Desk who advised they had checked out of BCV entirely and there was no way to find them. So to us it was kismet and good fortune to be long one coffee mug and a bunch of chicken noodle packages.
#224 is a dedicated 2BR with 1Q and a couch in the studio portion. I still do not understand the BCV thermostats - seems like they are too sensitive and always blowing cold or hot air even when the temperature is very close to the set temperature - sometimes I wished we could just turn them off!
#224 has a woods/wetland view - partial view of illuminations - right next to the stairs that exit between BCV and BC to the right of the covered path - was able to walk around the back of BC to the exit/entrance right next to Epcot.
We went to SAB (MIL took care of the kids) about 9:15pm that evening - was about 66 degrees outside and it was great virtually having the pool to ourselves. We were the only people in the lazy river and whirpool areas. We also went down the main slide in the dark which was tons of fun!
DW went into the whirpool area by herself and was tossed so fast that she bashed into the wall a couple of times before getting into the right area of the current
We stayed at SAB until the lifeguards kicked us out for the night. After we wanted to get something to eat at the Bar indoors at BV but the kitchen area closed at 9:30pm so darn it we had to go to Beaches and Cream for a yummy chicken soup and illicit dessert (life is so unfair
)
On Thursday, the weather turned pretty cool - high was in low 60s - MIL went to MK for EMH - loved it - we went to Epcot and then back to BCV for a swim, lunch and nap - it was pretty darn cold at SAB and DS #1 and I pretty much had the run of the pool to ourselves.
Thursday night we went up to CR Steakhouse for dinner (was very good - they split up the main dish for DW and I and the food was quite good plus DS#1 loves the CR resort) and then had a monorail ride 2x around the resort circuit which was very relaxing.
Went back to BCV very relaxes and content with the day's activities - a low key day by our standards.
Friday, I took DS#1 to AK for EMH - we rode KS, walked the PFT, walked the MJT, went to the Discovery Island trails, spoke to some CM's who had animals on display and then hoofed back out of AK back to BCV to make checkout time and drive to MCO. I drove the family to MCO helped them check in and to the security line and then left.
I was supposed to start driving to Toronto but could not resist going back to AK for the balance of the day. The temperature that day was about 53 degrees for the high :scared1
Went back to AK, attended FOTLK, walked the MJT again but slower, danced in Africa to the beat music played by the entertainers, did some shopping at the Mombasa Marketplace, watched the parade and then was on the last truck out for KS around 5pm closing the park - the Giraffes were waiting on their exit road to go back to their pens by this time.
Left Africa slowly - was the last guest to leave and then wandered out through the Oasis very slowly and left AK just before 6pm - by now temp was down to 47 degrees
Left AK about 6:15pm and started the long drive back to Toronto
thanks
jaysue
Feb 25, I flew down to Ft Lauderdale to pick up the family (DW, 2 DS's, MIL) and drive them back in the minivan (that was down in Florida since Jan 18 arrival at AKL) to WDW - BCV
Feb 25 weather in FLL was amazingly wet and rough - our flight was almost 1hr delayed as FLL airport closed in the afternoon and we had to circle close to the Bahamas a couple of times before getting clearence to come to FLL. The turbulence was pretty rough and some people had some protein spills. This is one of the reasons why I go for the Fruit Plate Meal....
Landed at FLL, proceeded quickly to passenger pickup since I was late - turns out the family was caught in the weather on I-95 which ground to a halt - they got off and headed down US-1 around 20mph average speed so they arrived at FLL after me.
Anyways, we got moving along about 2hrs after my original scheduled arrival time but we were in decent spirits all considering since we were going to WDW!
I drove along I-595 over to Florida's Main Street (Turnpike) as I-95 was jammed. Took the turnpike right up to Osceola Parkway over into WDW and then up to BCV. Traffic on the turnpike was a little heavy but moved quite well especially once we moved north of Boca Raton area.
We arrived at BCV about 7:15pm or so and received a welcome home at the Gate - the valet/bellhop staff was virtually non-existent so we proceeded to procure one of the luggage carriers.
Went inside to check in - room was ready - received a lukewarm welcome home but it was quiet so I was chatting up a couple CM's whilst waiting for the keys, paperwork etc.
We received room #224 - I asked one of the CM's to show me where it was and they produced THE SECRET BCV ROOM MAP - I have heard of its existence but never seen it before
The CM after some work (she was not familiar with the BCV side) located the room and showed me how to get there. #224 is close to the main elevator at the end of a short hallway.
So we loaded up the luggage carrier and proceeded to the room - hakuna matata - no worries, no hurries.
The room was in very good shape with some minor nicks but that was not the issue. There was a good 30% of the listed kitchen equipment missing and for only a 3 day/2 night stay we did not feel up to calling HK to replace (yes we were lazy).
However we had a bonus! Prior occupants had left behind a Disney Donald Duck coffee mug (bonus) and some chicken noodle soup (double bonus!). We called HK to see if they would be able to locate the prior occupants who then called the Front Desk who advised they had checked out of BCV entirely and there was no way to find them. So to us it was kismet and good fortune to be long one coffee mug and a bunch of chicken noodle packages.
#224 is a dedicated 2BR with 1Q and a couch in the studio portion. I still do not understand the BCV thermostats - seems like they are too sensitive and always blowing cold or hot air even when the temperature is very close to the set temperature - sometimes I wished we could just turn them off!
#224 has a woods/wetland view - partial view of illuminations - right next to the stairs that exit between BCV and BC to the right of the covered path - was able to walk around the back of BC to the exit/entrance right next to Epcot.
We went to SAB (MIL took care of the kids) about 9:15pm that evening - was about 66 degrees outside and it was great virtually having the pool to ourselves. We were the only people in the lazy river and whirpool areas. We also went down the main slide in the dark which was tons of fun!
DW went into the whirpool area by herself and was tossed so fast that she bashed into the wall a couple of times before getting into the right area of the current
We stayed at SAB until the lifeguards kicked us out for the night. After we wanted to get something to eat at the Bar indoors at BV but the kitchen area closed at 9:30pm so darn it we had to go to Beaches and Cream for a yummy chicken soup and illicit dessert (life is so unfair
)On Thursday, the weather turned pretty cool - high was in low 60s - MIL went to MK for EMH - loved it - we went to Epcot and then back to BCV for a swim, lunch and nap - it was pretty darn cold at SAB and DS #1 and I pretty much had the run of the pool to ourselves.
Thursday night we went up to CR Steakhouse for dinner (was very good - they split up the main dish for DW and I and the food was quite good plus DS#1 loves the CR resort) and then had a monorail ride 2x around the resort circuit which was very relaxing.
Went back to BCV very relaxes and content with the day's activities - a low key day by our standards.
Friday, I took DS#1 to AK for EMH - we rode KS, walked the PFT, walked the MJT, went to the Discovery Island trails, spoke to some CM's who had animals on display and then hoofed back out of AK back to BCV to make checkout time and drive to MCO. I drove the family to MCO helped them check in and to the security line and then left.
I was supposed to start driving to Toronto but could not resist going back to AK for the balance of the day. The temperature that day was about 53 degrees for the high :scared1
Went back to AK, attended FOTLK, walked the MJT again but slower, danced in Africa to the beat music played by the entertainers, did some shopping at the Mombasa Marketplace, watched the parade and then was on the last truck out for KS around 5pm closing the park - the Giraffes were waiting on their exit road to go back to their pens by this time.
Left Africa slowly - was the last guest to leave and then wandered out through the Oasis very slowly and left AK just before 6pm - by now temp was down to 47 degrees
Left AK about 6:15pm and started the long drive back to Toronto
thanks
jaysue
