Sam and Emily Adventure to Disney

[DVC Sam]

Hey Everyone!


My name is Sam and I have the pleasure of working for David’s Vacation Club Rentals. This week my co-worker Emily and I, along with our boss Melissa came down to Disney to do some research!

Just to give you some back ground information, I have never been to Disney before so this week is going to full of adventures and excitement.

Each day I will keep you readers (and coworkers back home!) updated with what we do and learn each day.

Since I am traveling with my co-worker Emily, I will be covering the first few days of this trip report and she will be covering the last few days!

Alright let’s begin!

DAY 1 – A long day of travel

So the first day was a long one, we checked in to our Home Bay Lake Towers around 8pm.

[/URL
]

This resort is awesome! I love the theme and the convenience factor of how close it is to Magic Kingdom and the monorail!

So being that we were staying at Bay Lake Towers, we of course had to start the trip off with the Top of the World Lounge. The food was amazing and the fireworks were incredible. Started the trip off right!

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/IMG_0705_zpsbenw1ufs.jpg.html][/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/IMG_0703_zpsld2onnek.jpg.html][/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/IMG_0711_zpsk0h8xl10.jpg.html]

DAY 2

So today we visited Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge. Three of the resorts that I have been dying to see!

Grand Floridian was pretty much how I imagined it would be, very large and elegant!

The second you walk in the resort has a very distinct smell (A good smell of course!)



Wilderness Lodge is one of my favourites. The theme throughout is so relaxing, I could spend hours just sitting in the lobby. One of the things I did learn today was actually how close this resort is to Magic Kingdom as well! I know a lot of guests like to be on the monorail for convenience, however this resort is so beautiful and not far at all!



Polynesian exceeded my expectations I would say. The bungalows were so cool to actually see in person. I have seen so many photos, and maps of room layouts and it was a lot bigger than I pictured in my head. The plunge pool was so cool to see in person as well! Be nice to take a dip in this after a long hot day.



After visiting the resorts, we spent a few hours in Magic Kingdom. During the average work day I answer so many questions about the resorts, however I never knew much about the parks. So getting to spend time in Magic Kingdom was a great experience for me as I developed a better understanding of the different attractions, and different dining options. Oh, and we got to see the Festival of Fantasy Parade, which was incredible!


So the last thing we did to wrap up the day was have an incredible meal at Be Your Guest!

If you are looking for dining reservation ideas, I highly recommend this restaurant.

I had the Pork Chop and I am still thinking about how good it was while I am writing this. The main course and desert were both incredible. (See yummy pictures below)

[/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0922_zpstuuil8yi.jpg.html]


Our server was so kind as well, the entire service was spectacular. We even got to get our picture taken with the Beast after!! J

So that pretty much sums up the day (I could talk forever about it really) Keep posted for what tomorrow brings!![/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

 

[DVC Sam]

DAY 3

Well it’s been another busy today!

Today we picked up a rental car and visited Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Art of Animation, Port Orleans French side and Riverside. Then ended the day in Hollywood Studios!


I was very excited to see Saratoga. The reason being is because I hear so much different feedback on the resort, however if you are looking for something quiet with a lot of different amenities for everyone in the group, I highly recommend this resort. The colours are all pastel throughout the whole property and it made for a very tranquil feel.

[/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0956_zps8grmnlhc.jpg.html][/URL
]

While visiting Saratoga, we had the opportunity to see the model room for the Studios offered at Aulani. It is incredible how much detail they put into everything. Note the hidden Mickeys and pineapples on the bed.

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0937_zpspf0xzxxy.jpg.html][/URL
]

We also had the chance to see model rooms of Grand Floridian. Something not everyone knows is that the Lock off Two Bedrooms at this resort will actually sleep 10 guests. The studio has one queen, one pull out, then the Murphy bed. Then the one bedroom has a master with a king, living room with a pull out, then another murphy bed. Which makes for 10, whereas the other Two Bedrooms will only sleep 8 or 9!

Next we were off to Old Key West, and WOW! This resort is officially one of my favourites. You feel so at home, the buildings almost look like doll houses and I love it! I would have to say that if I were to stay at this resort, I would ideally want to be close to Hospitality House as I was surprised at how much they had to offer in the area. However, even if you are not near the hospitality house, the bus transportation is great! Also, helpful tip if the “Near Hospitality House” booking category is sold out, requesting building 62, 63, or 64 is always worth a shot as they are insanely close!

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0977_zpst4onxq6n.jpg.html][/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0966_zps9ufy8ozv.jpg.html][/URL
]

After these two resorts we went over to visit a value and a moderate. It was very interesting to see how the resorts differ from a Deluxe. I would say one of the biggest differences is the amount of amenities available to you when you book a Deluxe compared to a Value or a Moderate.

Alright, so after visiting the resorts we headed over to Hollywood Studios to go on some rides!

We had to stand in line for a while for the Rock n Roller Coaster, however it was definitely worth the wait! (You would think I was lying if you saw the look on my face in the picture, which I will not be including, although it was a lot of fun!)

After this ride, we went on Tower or Terror!!

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0995_zpstuag5e5g.jpg.html][/URL
]


I have to admit, I was a bit scared for this ride. Although in the end it turned out to be one of my favourites and I would absolutely go on it a million times again!


After this we got some food, (and ice cream of course) and went on a couple of more rides.

At 8:30 we went to catch Fantasmic! Note to self, get there early if you want a good spot! We arrived a little after 8 and had to go to the far end, so it took a while to get out once the show finished.

The show was absolutely amazing! I love how each park offers a different show at night. Always something to do!

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_1002_zps1ujw8prp.jpg.html][/URL
]

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_1012_zpsacf1pxlh.jpg.html][/URL
]

This next photo is also from yesterday while at Magic Kingdom, however I forgot to include it so here you go! This is Melissa, Emily, and I getting our picture taken in front of the castle!

[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_0992_zpsbkdizi7c.jpg.html]

Well that’s a wrap for the day! Stay tuned for tomorrow!![/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]

 

[DVC Sam]

Hey there! I’m the Emily that was mentioned earlier and today is the day I take over the report for the rest of our trip. Like Sam this was my first time staying at Disney, I went to Magic Kingdom for one day years ago but I’ve never stayed on property, seen any of the other parks or resorts. Needless to say this has been quite the experience. There’s so much to do and so much information to take in I don’t even know where to start!


I guess a good place to start would be the resort we’re staying at. Bay Lake Towers is such a phenomenal resort, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I can honestly say whatever expectations I did have were far exceeded. I was pleasantly surprised with how clean but cozy the resort is. The main check in area is smaller than I was expecting but gives you that “Welcome Home” vibe I was so hoping to experience while I was here. The cast members have been nothing but friendly which has just added to the whole experience. My lake view studio also added to the magic of this trip. The room I have overlooks the pool and also gives me a great view of the Electrical Water Pageant at night which has been such a bonus! I love coming back to my room and being able to sit out on my balcony to watch the show, it just adds that extra bit of magic to the day once we’re back from the parks.




Today we started the day off with a bang at Chef Mickeys. What better way to start the day at Disney than by meeting Mickey and all his friends while you eat breakfast? I’ll be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect with Chef Mickey’s. I’m normally the type to grab my food, eat quickly then move on to the next thing so character dining was never something I really thought I would do. Now that I’ve experienced it though I can honestly say I’ve had a complete change of heart. There’s something about getting a great big hug from goofy or waving your napkin around in the air with Mickey, Minnie and friends that just makes you feel like the day has started right. Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s just sets the tone perfectly for a day at Disney and if I ever get the chance to come back here I would love to eat there again.



After breakfast we were off to check out the Animal Kingdom resort. Wow, is all I can say. I’ve heard so many great things about Animal Kingdom but honestly nothing I’ve heard does the resort justice. There are so many great things to be said about Animal Kingdom but the thing that really stood out to me were the cast members. I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the Cast Members at Disney so far, but the ones at Animal Kingdom really stood out. When we went out to view the Savannahs the Cast Members outside who were there to talk about the Animals were so friendly and knowledgeable I was so impressed. It was so nice to just chat away about the Animals, the resort and pretty much anything else we could think to ask about. I also loved looking around the different savannahs and seeing all the animals roaming around. The flamingos were really fun to watch as well, they are one of the most bizarre birds.







After Animal Kingdom it was back to the resort for a bit of time to recoup and then off to check out Beach Club and Boardwalk. I really loved both resorts and could see benefits to either one. Boardwalk was so cute, I loved the atmosphere there and I thought it was so cool that it was located right on the Boardwalk. I loved walking along the boardwalk to see all the cute restaurants and shops there. I can just imagine how nice it would be to take a walk along the Boardwalk in the evening just taking your time checking everything out. I can definitely see why people like staying at the Boardwalk so much.



Next we were off to Beach Club! I thought Beach Club was so cool and I actually found it very interesting how different Beach Club and Boardwalk are, even though they are so close together. It’s hard to describe Beach Club without sounding redundant but the name is definitely fitting. As soon as we walked into the resort I felt like I had been transported right to the Beach. The smells, Music, sounds, everything made me feel like I’d look out the window and see the ocean right there. That’s one thing I’ve really loved about Disney, they make sure every detail is just right to make you feel like you’ve been taken to another place.




Then it was time to check out Epcot. I couldn’t believe all the things there were to do at Epcot! I’m so happy we got to see little bits of the flower and garden festival and I was so amazed by the topiaries they had all around.




We also got to check out test track which was actually a lot more fun than I was expecting. I’m not a big car person but it was actually so much fun to design our little car and to be able to see how well we held up compared to other people’s designs. I’m not sure I want to say anything about our other scores (they definitely weren’t something to write home about) but we did a pretty good job with making ourselves a pretty powerful little pink car. It may not have been the fastest or most ecofriendly but at least it could hold its own in one category.



Spaceship earth was another ride I was so happy I got to see. I love anything that has animatronics and even though it wasn’t the most thrilling ride, it was so cool to see everything that went into it and to think about how we were all the way in the top of the giant golf ball. I’m glad they take us down backwards though! I made the mistake of turning around in my car, and let me tell you, even though it’s dark you can still get an idea of how high up you really are.


We checked out a few more attractions and then grabbed some fantastic food over in Italy then caught Illuminations right before heading back to the resort. I wish I had gotten some pictures of Illuminations but honestly I was just so caught up in watching the fireworks that I never took the opportunity. Sometimes there are things that pictures just can’t capture and all of Disney’s fireworks shows would fall into that category. Pictures just don’t do the shows justice and it’s just one of those things you need to be able to step back and enjoy and try not to worry too much about capturing that perfect moment because you may just miss it in the process.


Well that’s all I have for today! I’ll be back tomorrow with more stories and pictures!!

 

[dlavender]

That view from the BLT looks amazing.

It's on my bucket list.

 

[DVC Sam]

Hello again! I’m back with more of the report! Today was fantastic! We started the day off with another day at Magic Kingdom. As much as I’ve loved Hollywood studios and Epcot I don’t think anything quite measures up to Magic Kingdom. There’s something about walking through the gate and seeing that castle that just can’t quite be matched.




I also enjoy people watching at Magic Kingdom almost as much as the attractions themselves. Seeing the looks on the little kids’ faces that are seeing all of this for the first time, or hearing the excitement in their voices when they see their favourite characters just adds to the Magic. On top of that there are also the amazing Cast Members and parents that just add to the whole experience. One thing that really stood out to me today was seeing Aladdin talking to a little girl, she must have been around 3 or 4, and he was sitting on the ground having what looked like a very in depth serious conversation with her. I can only imagine what must have been going through her head at that time. She seemed so in awe that she was talking to Aladdin it was just way too adorable.

The parent’s that get into the magic of Disney with their kids also add to the whole experience. I don’t think I’ll forget hearing the dad that was taking his son on the pirate treasure hunt and seemed more into it than his son was! He had the pirate voice going and was getting right into the whole adventure. I’m pretty sure he was making up additional details and elements to the story as he went and he definitely deserves some kudos for that! I’m sure he’s had some pretty long days at Disney already and to be able to keep up that kind of energy is so fantastic! I think it would be easy to get caught up in the negatives at times, especially when everyone gets tired and the days get hotter but I hope that there are enough people out there who are able to keep up that kind of positivity and energy that it gets passed along to the people around them. It’s so hard not to smile when you see other people having that much fun!

Anyway, we started our day off in Tomorrowland with Space Mountain. Let me tell you, there’s no better way to wake up than to go flying around a dark room hoping that there’s nothing coming at you that is going to take your head off. After Space Mountain we made our way over to Buzz Lightyear where along the way we found out that the humans weren’t the only people bringing their kids to the park that day.




After stopping to watch the baby ducks we got to Buzz Lightyear and it was so much fun, and I think I did pretty well!


[/URL
]


One thing I love about Magic Kingdom is the amount of stuff that is always going on. We grabbed some food at Casey’s Corner (corn dog nuggets, yum!) and took a seat on the curb to eat. As we were eating we had a little parade come by. It was nice to have lunch and a bit of a show, even though the entire time I was getting ready to catch the guys on stilts in case they fell.


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/20160412_123228_zpsjoemuzh9.jpg.html]

After Magic Kingdom we decided to take some time to go back to the resort to just relax by the pool. I would highly recommend a pool afternoon to anyone spending more than a day or two at Disney! It was so nice to be able to just sit by the pool and relax in the sun. My feet and legs definitely thanked me for that! We were also their during the “pool party” where Cast members lead games for the kids and again I was so impressed by Disney’s Cast members. The girl running the games just seemed to have endless energy and was able to keep all the kids excited and involved.


After some much needed rest we decided to make our way over to Disney Springs for dinner. I loved Downtown Disney and all the excitement there! I also love anywhere where you have lots of shopping options so maybe my opinion is a bit biased. We ate at House of Blues where I got the spicy turkey burger and let me tell you, that was exactly what I was hungry for even though I didn’t know it. It had just the right amount of spice to have that bit of a kick that I like. After dinner we went for a walk around Disney Springs and got to see some of the performers that had set up there.




This girl impressed me so much. I thought her eyes were closed but she was so good at reacting to people that came up to take pictures with her that she must have been able to see at least a little bit. I can’t imagine how much time and effort went in to her getting ready and I have no idea how she didn’t sweat all that make up off!

Now we’re back at the resort and I’ve given myself a bit of an experiment to do. I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about the pull out sleeper sofas in the DVC villas so I decided to give the one in my room a shot to see what my opinion is. So far I’m pretty impressed. It was easy enough to get the bed set up and now that it’s been set up there is still quite a bit of space left in my room. It obviously does take away some of the floor space but I can see a family fitting in here very comfortably. I can’t tell you what it’s like to sleep on quite yet, that will come tomorrow, but I’m sitting on the mattress while I write this report and so far there are no complaints. I’m very comfortable and I can’t imagine that’ll change when it’s time to go to sleep but I’ll let you know the verdict tomorrow.


[/URL
]


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/20160412_214438_zpsanpqjylu.jpg.html][/URL
]


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/20160412_214639_zps3jkvcm2i.jpg.html]


Well I think that’s all for tonight. We’re headed to Animal Kingdom pretty early tomorrow so there are definitely more stories and pictures to come! Stay tuned![/URL][/URL][/URL]

 

[KH9107]

Thanks for the awesome review! I'm loving all the pictures and can't wait to experiece these things in person!

 

[DVC Sam]

I’m back! It’s been a long day but, as expected, so much fun! We started out the day bright and early at Animal Kingdom.

[/URL
]


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_9226_zpsemrzdd42.jpg.html]

Coming up to the park it was really cool to see them putting the Avatar attraction together. So far from what I can tell it’s looking pretty impressive so I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished project!



I was so excited to visit this park, I’m a huge animal lover and I’ve really been looking forward to seeing everything the park had to offer. And also as expected I was not disappointed. We started out on Kilimanjaro Safari and there were so many animals out and about, my personal favourite was the elephants. Our tour guide was also fantastic. We were stopped a couple of times by animals that decided to rest on the road but he was great at giving us random facts and tidbits to keep everyone entertained while we were stuck.




After the Safari we decided to check out all the other animals on the Pangani trail and I’m so glad we did! I got some great pictures of the animals that were out and about and we spent a good amount of time watching the gorillas play around right by the display window.




The baby gorillas were so cute and watching them play was so entertaining. I managed to take so many great pictures of them, but in order to keep this report a reasonable length I’ll just share a few of my favourites.

[/URL
]


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_9397_zpsr8obdax1.jpg.html][/URL
]


[URL=http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/dvcrentals/media/Emily%20and%20Sams%20Trip%202016/IMG_9395_zps8kbmvg7e.jpg.html]

After that we made our way over to Expedition Everest. Boy did that ride wake me up! I had no clue what to expect going on the ride and it really has quite a few surprises for you!



We hit quite a few attractions in the amount of time we were there and I wasn’t disappointed by any of them. The Festival of the Lion King was fantastic and I’m pretty sure I’ll be singing “the lion sleeps tonight” for the next few days. I also loved the dinosaur ride even though it was actually a lot scarier than I was expecting. I ducked and tried to hide quite a few times during that ride!





After we had finished up all the things we wanted to get done at Animal Kingdom we made our way back to Bay Lake for a bit of a rest and then we were off to Magic Kingdom to finish off the trip.


Not long after we got to Magic Kingdom the rain hit…hard! We’ve had such perfect weather this week I really can’t complain that it rained right at the end of the trip, but to be honest I was worried that I wouldn’t get to catch the fireworks at the park before we left.



One thing I will say about rain though, if you’re prepared, have a positive attitude and don’t mind squelching around in wet shoes for a few hours there are some benefits to a quick downpour. Thankfully Melissa packed some rain ponchos so other than our feet we stayed relatively dry and there were definitely a lot fewer people to walk around while we made our way through the park! We made good time getting around because most people were staying under some sort of shelter, and the rides we made it to had little to no wait time. We even ended up with an entire boat to ourselves on Pirates of the Caribbean!




After a little bit the rain thankfully cleared up and we managed to find a great spot to watch the fireworks at the end of the day. What a great way to finish off this trip! We started our trip off by watching the fireworks from the Top of the World Lounge and finished up watching them right from the park. It’s amazing to see the difference between the two different ways we watched the fireworks. I loved watching them both ways, but I think my personal favourite was watching from the park. Being so close to the castle and seeing everyone around us just as in awe of the show as we were just added that little bit extra.



After the fireworks we got to experience the advantage of staying at Bay Lake, which is the very short walk from the park to your bed. Even though we were really tired it was worth that bit of extra walking to be back to the resort that much earlier. We’ve walked from the park to the resort before, but on day 6 of your trip you really appreciate the short distance that much more.


Well, I guess that’s a wrap fir this trip report. To be honest I’m a little bit sad that I typed that sentence. I feel like we just got here yesterday and now we’re already packing to leave. I’ve learned so much, had so many great experiences and made so many memories in the time we were here. I hope I’ll be able to come back again and make a whole new set of memories![/URL][/URL][/URL]