Taking off for BLT in 5 hours...

[Snurk71]

DW picks up DD9 from school in about 3 hours to surprise her that we're taking her to WDW to celebrate becoming DD10 tomorrow - DD thinks she's getting picked up for doctor's appt. This will be our 2nd stay at BLT, first in a studio (LV). We'll see how the 3 of us react to all of the things I've read about the infamous BLT studio.

We're just going for the weekend - coming back home Monday afternoon.

 

[soxyes]

That is awesome!!!

I wish we were closer and could do that a bit easier (the drive is too long for impatient me and the airfare for four of us is usually too expensive for just a weekend).

Have a great trip!

 

[lvloopingbag]

Have fun!

 

[ccsmith312]

How fun! I'm so jealous! Hope you have a great time!

 

[The B Team]

That sounds like a wonderful surprise. We surprised our DD on her 7th birthday with a trip.

 

[smjj]

Great surprise. I am sure you will enjoy. We will be right behind you(in 51 days that is). Staying in a grand Villa with our kids and grandkids. Ten of us in all. Wish is luck...smjj

 

[cseca]

How FUN!!!
Don't forget to record her reaction when she figures out where you guys are headin...
Have a wonderful time!

 

[mousefan1972]

That is great. Have fun and happy birthday to your DD!

Hmm, dr's appt or WDW?? That's a tough one!

 

[Micca]

Awesome! Have a terrific time.

 

[spiceycat]

have a great trip!!!

LV can be great. make sure Disney knows you are celebrating - sometimes might get you a better room.

 

[Disney Princess]

to DD!!! What a fun way to celebrate. Be sure to post back how she reacted and how much fun you all had!!

 

[Snurk71]

Well, DD was quite surprised when we told her we had to leave for the airport in 20 minutes. She kind of freaked out (in a good way), and just ran up to her room to get stuff that she wanted to take. So the suprise was a great success - we even got a VW Beetle on the Alamo mid-sized aisle (DD's favorite vehicle, even though she had never been in one).

We didn't get checked into BLT until a little after midnight. We landed about 10:00, but wanted to take care of our APs and TIW last night during Epcot EMH (open until 12:00). Both MS and a CM that works Guest Relations said there would be at least one outside window open at least 30 minutes past the last ride time - and included when EMH ran. Well, not at Epcot last night. We got there and the outside window had already closed (a little before 11:00). Thankfully security let us in the park without a ticket or room key (we stopped off at Epcot right from the airport) to take care of things at Guest Relations inside the park.

We're in a studio this time - 8th floor smack in the middle of the U facing out to the pool and lake. Maybe we're easy to please kind of people because the studio isn't anything like we feared from some DIS posts. Sure it's smaller than the 1BRs we've stayed in. But we're getting by fine with the 3 of us. The bathroom/kitchenette thing doesn't bother us either (at least after one day). I will echo what I've seen a couple others mention over the past year - there is a TON of storage space in these studios.

With regards to the room condition, again- it seems fine to us. There are little things - like some white marks on the end of the TV stand/dresser thing, there's a small tear in the inside shower curtain, rust on the shower hooks. But it's nothing that is so distracting that it's affecting our stay.

We had a good morning in MK. Got in early for some pictures and breakfast at CP - seemed like the food was the best we remember for some time (yes, the breakfast lasagna is gone). We let DD pick everything to do since today is her Bday (including 3 rides in a row on Big Thunder) - we can tell she was enjoying it. Crowds didn't seem very bad, but boy is August hot. So we left about 1:00 (popcorn and ice cream for lunch) to give DD her Bday presents and hit the pool for a couple hours. DD's bday dinner spot is Cape May tonight - both her and my favorite Disney restaurant. Don't know what we're doing after that - MK is open until 1:00 am with EMH.

So far, great trip. Ask if you have any questions and I'll see if I happen across the answer.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

Well, DD was quite surprised when we told her we had to leave for the airport in 20 minutes. She kind of freaked out (in a good way), and just ran up to her room to get stuff that she wanted to take. So the suprise was a great success - we even got a VW Beetle on the Alamo mid-sized aisle (DD's favorite vehicle, even though she had never been in one).

We didn't get checked into BLT until a little after midnight. We landed about 10:00, but wanted to take care of our APs and TIW last night during Epcot EMH (open until 12:00). Both MS and a CM that works Guest Relations said there would be at least one outside window open at least 30 minutes past the last ride time - and included when EMH ran. Well, not at Epcot last night. We got there and the outside window had already closed (a little before 11:00). Thankfully security let us in the park without a ticket or room key (we stopped off at Epcot right from the airport) to take care of things at Guest Relations inside the park.

We're in a studio this time - 8th floor smack in the middle of the U facing out to the pool and lake. Maybe we're easy to please kind of people because the studio isn't anything like we feared from some DIS posts. Sure it's smaller than the 1BRs we've stayed in. But we're getting by fine with the 3 of us. The bathroom/kitchenette thing doesn't bother us either (at least after one day). I will echo what I've seen a couple others mention over the past year - there is a TON of storage space in these studios.

With regards to the room condition, again- it seems fine to us. There are little things - like some white marks on the end of the TV stand/dresser thing, there's a small tear in the inside shower curtain, rust on the shower hooks. But it's nothing that is so distracting that it's affecting our stay.

We had a good morning in MK. Got in early for some pictures and breakfast at CP - seemed like the food was the best we remember for some time (yes, the breakfast lasagna is gone). We let DD pick everything to do since today is her Bday (including 3 rides in a row on Big Thunder) - we can tell she was enjoying it. Crowds didn't seem very bad, but boy is August hot. So we left about 1:00 (popcorn and ice cream for lunch) to give DD her Bday presents and hit the pool for a couple hours. DD's bday dinner spot is Cape May tonight - both her and my favorite Disney restaurant. Don't know what we're doing after that - MK is open until 1:00 am with EMH.

So far, great trip. Ask if you have any questions and I'll see if I happen across the answer.

Sounds like you're having a great time! I just booked BLT Lake View studio for 3 nights and one night w/MK view. This will be our first time there and as DVC members. We are a family of 4, do you think we will be able to fit comfortably? I am still in the convincing stages with my DH. He is not easily convinced. Thanks

 

[peabody58]

Make sure you treat that studio well - DW and I will be there in 2 weeks for our first DVC trip. And by the way, were just a few miles south of you in Clinton. Be sure to check out my band at Winners 9/10 (night before we leave)!! Enjoy!

 

[Sandisw]

Sounds like you're having a great time! I just booked BLT Lake View studio for 3 nights and one night w/MK view. This will be our first time there and as DVC members. We are a family of 4, do you think we will be able to fit comfortably? I am still in the convincing stages with my DH. He is not easily convinced. Thanks

I stayed in a studio last summer for 2 nights with my 3 children--DS 21, DD 17, and DD 14. We managed okay but I don't think I would do it for an extended time.

If your children are younger, then I think you will be fine. We kept our suitcases near the lock off door, out of the way and it worked out nicely.

My DD 17 even slept on a pool raft that we brought with us that we could fit between the bed and the TV.

Have a great trip!

 

[Snurk71]

Had a delicious Bday meal at Cape May last night (we'll be having another one there for my Bday in a couple of months) - and me and DW ate too much as usual. I know it's not a traditional clam bake and new englanders don't think the seafood is high quality, but we love the place - even the pizza was okay to almost good. This was our first time since they added the lava cakes - so rich and good (I had 2, as well as 2 oreo bon-bons - me likey the chocolate).

After dinner we walked over to Epcot. DD wanted to do a Kim Possible mission, but they were out of missions at 7:00 (I guess this is pretty popular now). So DD said she wanted to ride Soarin' - even with the posted 60 minute wait (TouringPlans said 33 min). We ended up with a great ride - DD ws dead center in row 1 (top row). But note to selves - don't ever ride Soarin' standby after 7:00 at night. All of the people that had FPs from earlier in the day were coming back and they were keeping the FP line short. So we were at least 90 minutes standby, and didn't often move at all for 10-15 minutes at a time. We got out at 9:00 when Illuminations was starting and wanted to get out before it finished - we've had to fight the upstream crowd before needing to exit through the IG. We made it fine. It was showering last night, but that's about the only rain we've seen so far (knock on wood).

Oh, I had a turn on the pullout last night (DW took it the first night - DD gets the main bed since it's her Bday trip). We both think it's fine - no bar or raised hump in the middle, and the mattress is plenty firm for us. There was only one sheet on the pullout though (serving as the fitted/mattress sheet), with a blanket in the closet. I don't know if that is right or not. I sleep hot, especially after I overeat for dinner like I did, so I was fine.

DD said not to wake her up this morning (she's still asleep). So we've missed EMH AK (DD doesn't really AK that much anyway), and will soon miss rope drop for MGM and Epcot (her two choices for today - not sure which she wants). Oh well, this is her trip. The crowds haven't seemed that bad, and we're back for a week in 2 months for my Bday. So things will still be here.

We'll eventually go somewhere today...

 

[Snurk71]

I forgot to mention one other the thing - the water. We've been on the old Brita filters for years - couldn't even hardly stand to brush our teeth with water from the sink. But I'm hardly noticing the sulfur taste at all this trip. I'm actually drinking straight from the tap - in the room and in the parks - and I try to drink a gallon of water a day.

This is making life a lot easier, as it was always my responsibility to run the water through the Brita into our own water bottles - stocking them up at night and in the morning.

 

[Snurk71]

tower of terror 10 times in honor of DD turning 10 this trip

 

[cseca]

WOW!
Sounds like your DD had a b'day of her life so far...

tower of terror 10 times in honor of DD turning 10 this trip

no need for sick bag?

 

[Snurk71]

no need for sick bag?

No sick bag, but DW and I were getting a little tired after so many trips. At about ride 4 or 5 a CM that had seen us going so many times said we should go for 13. At that time we thought it was a joke, but DD was up for it. So we convinced her to cut it off at 10 for her 10th Bday trip. I think we did 3 or 4 before lunch, and then did 6 or 7 straight after lunch. We've ridden TOT over 50 times now, and DD actually caught someone's hat TWICE. The first time one fell in her lap. The second time she had her hands up in the air and felt a hat in her hands all of a sudden. She thought that was the best.

DD didn't get up until after 9, and we didn't get to the park until after 10:00. The commando in me has a little anxiety every once in a while (we always open the parks). But I'm getting by it and enjoying it. It probably helps that we're coming back in 2 months.

DD and I took one last ride to Endor, and drew Stitch at the Animation Building. That was about it for MGM for us - we did have lunch at 50s (enjoyed it).

We had dinner at O'hana last night (DD's 2nd favorite place), and again had really good quality food. I think DD had 5 or 6 potstickers. DW commented on the steak - it seems like we always get well done (burnt in her words). But we actually had medium rare - even a couple of pieces were probably rare (too rare for us to even eat).

We had some pretty good rain last night, and DD didn't want to go back out. So we went through the Contemp shops and spent a little time at Comm Hall (DD colored a sun catcher and we played some foosball). She rented out WALL-E, and fell asleep about 11.

We're headed to Epcot today (sometime). DD wants to do some rides and a Kim Possible mission. We have lunch scheduled for Les Chefs. Then DD wants to do pool games, Park Fare for dinner, and then maybe MK (EMH til midnight tonight).

Oh, we think someone pooped in the BLT pool yesterday. We came back in the afternoon and no one was in the pool - and weren't for quite a while.

Still having a really good trip...