Hi, friends & neighbors...I arrived at BCV this afternoon...DS flies in from law school Tuesday...we're here til a week from Monday -- 9 glorious Disney days in the midst of a VERY high stress "life phase"
(My elderly father, who'd just (in mid September) moved in to a lovely retirement complex in surburban Chicago, contracted legionnaires disease (they found it in the complex's water system; they're being great about remediation and discussing our concerns w/us)...horribly difficult...NASTY disease...my dad's been hospitalized and/or in rehab for just about a month now...and still isn't strong enough to be released...BUT he's recovering and given the nastiness of the legionnella bacteria, that is cause for profound gratitude...a number of other residents at the community also got it--somewhere between 2 and 4 (depending on who you talk to) died from it, so we do have cause for great gratitude)...
Anyway, between running back and forth to Chicago (from the Washington DC area), and crazy-busy work (I'm working on health reform), the fact that I could come down to Disney in the midst of this is somewhat miraculous...and Disney magic is in full force!
BCV is all dressed up for Christmas and it looks gorgeous...the CMs are nicer than the CMs have been in several years...they're all bending over backwards to make sure everything is to my (and other people around me) liking...it's quite the balm to my jangled spirits!
I didn't use online check-in this trip, as I had a glut of Disney Reward dollars I wanted to put towards our DDP...no line and super nice helpful CMs who tried hard to find me exactly what I wanted (I got a lovely studio on the third floor; would have preferred first floor, but I'm not complaining, and they did try...and they gave me a room right away...check-in took over 30 minutes, mostly because the computers were slow today (everywhere...I also had to wait for slow computers when I exchanged our AP vouchers for our new APs--I did our renewals before the price increase this past summer, but still got the 15 months; I couldn't be happier!)...
When I first arrived (around 1:45) it seemed pretty empty...but over at Epcot (where I was around 4), it seemed busier...not all the way to crowded, but not empty...tonight at Epcot it was what I'd call "comfortably full"...no lines at the Cantina (counter service dinner at Mexico), but only an occasional empty table...I suspect crowds will pick up as the week wears on (in fact, one of the front desk CMs at BCV said today is "the calm before the storm"...), but for arrival day it was nice...nice to not have to wait in lines--but still lots of people around so everything's open and well-staffed.
Love our room...we not only can see Illuminations, we can hear its music, too...the dancing fountain at Epcot is spectacular--colored lights to the music, but the gorgeous colored light archway leading to the big tree at the entrance to the circle to World Showcase isn't up. That's probably my favorite Disney Christmas decoration, so I was sad that wasn't there...one of the CMs selling glow sticks said it would be up after T-giving (and we're here 3 days past T-giving), so I may get to see it yet...and I plan to see the Candlelight Processional, too, which starts the Friday after T-giving...
Tomorrow morning I have to work (I love my job some days (some days I don't)...but it's nice when the work I have to do can come with me...I'd rather do it here at Disney than at home!)...then in the afternoon I'm going to meet a DISBoards friend...am thinking of doing some resort-hopping, too...since BCV is all decked out, maybe the other resorts are too...I'd like to go over to the Grand Floridian and to the Wilderness Lodge...their Christmas decorations are breath-taking! And I'll probably stop by MK, too...I've been dreaming about a Dole Whip for a month now!
Happy to answer any questions anyone might have...and will check in periodically all week...I know I love reading people's "real time at Disney" posts...hopefully mine will make some of you smile, too...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dani
(My elderly father, who'd just (in mid September) moved in to a lovely retirement complex in surburban Chicago, contracted legionnaires disease (they found it in the complex's water system; they're being great about remediation and discussing our concerns w/us)...horribly difficult...NASTY disease...my dad's been hospitalized and/or in rehab for just about a month now...and still isn't strong enough to be released...BUT he's recovering and given the nastiness of the legionnella bacteria, that is cause for profound gratitude...a number of other residents at the community also got it--somewhere between 2 and 4 (depending on who you talk to) died from it, so we do have cause for great gratitude)...
Anyway, between running back and forth to Chicago (from the Washington DC area), and crazy-busy work (I'm working on health reform), the fact that I could come down to Disney in the midst of this is somewhat miraculous...and Disney magic is in full force!
BCV is all dressed up for Christmas and it looks gorgeous...the CMs are nicer than the CMs have been in several years...they're all bending over backwards to make sure everything is to my (and other people around me) liking...it's quite the balm to my jangled spirits!
I didn't use online check-in this trip, as I had a glut of Disney Reward dollars I wanted to put towards our DDP...no line and super nice helpful CMs who tried hard to find me exactly what I wanted (I got a lovely studio on the third floor; would have preferred first floor, but I'm not complaining, and they did try...and they gave me a room right away...check-in took over 30 minutes, mostly because the computers were slow today (everywhere...I also had to wait for slow computers when I exchanged our AP vouchers for our new APs--I did our renewals before the price increase this past summer, but still got the 15 months; I couldn't be happier!)...
When I first arrived (around 1:45) it seemed pretty empty...but over at Epcot (where I was around 4), it seemed busier...not all the way to crowded, but not empty...tonight at Epcot it was what I'd call "comfortably full"...no lines at the Cantina (counter service dinner at Mexico), but only an occasional empty table...I suspect crowds will pick up as the week wears on (in fact, one of the front desk CMs at BCV said today is "the calm before the storm"...), but for arrival day it was nice...nice to not have to wait in lines--but still lots of people around so everything's open and well-staffed.
Love our room...we not only can see Illuminations, we can hear its music, too...the dancing fountain at Epcot is spectacular--colored lights to the music, but the gorgeous colored light archway leading to the big tree at the entrance to the circle to World Showcase isn't up. That's probably my favorite Disney Christmas decoration, so I was sad that wasn't there...one of the CMs selling glow sticks said it would be up after T-giving (and we're here 3 days past T-giving), so I may get to see it yet...and I plan to see the Candlelight Processional, too, which starts the Friday after T-giving...
Tomorrow morning I have to work (I love my job some days (some days I don't)...but it's nice when the work I have to do can come with me...I'd rather do it here at Disney than at home!)...then in the afternoon I'm going to meet a DISBoards friend...am thinking of doing some resort-hopping, too...since BCV is all decked out, maybe the other resorts are too...I'd like to go over to the Grand Floridian and to the Wilderness Lodge...their Christmas decorations are breath-taking! And I'll probably stop by MK, too...I've been dreaming about a Dole Whip for a month now!
Happy to answer any questions anyone might have...and will check in periodically all week...I know I love reading people's "real time at Disney" posts...hopefully mine will make some of you smile, too...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dani
