Trip Report w/family at BCV

[Mickey'sApprentice]

So...here are some nighttime Epcot pictures.

We then went back to the room to make it to Animal Kingdom the next day.

We got to Animal Kingdom early and only stayed until after lunch. I was beginning to need a break, and the kids wanted to go into the pool. Our day at AK was really as Disney had designed it though.

We spent a lot of time in the Oasis. We saw some birds with baby chicks in a nest that was just 2 or 3 feet away from us. We proceeded to the Safari and then went through the Pangani (Gorilla) trail. This trip was all about the animals.

After a good break...everyone was thrilled (NOT) to learn that we scheduled supper at Epcot.

 

[dvc at last !]

Loved your pics esp. Epcot Illuminations.
Where was your ADR ?

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We went to the Garden Grille. We were up top and didn't have a great view of the rotating restaurant. The characters were fine. The food was fine. I must admit though...it was my least favorite Table Service for the week.

 

[dopeygirl76]

Great TR - we stayed at BCV for the first time in Dec 09 and did not get to use the pool due to much cooler weather than we thought...but we did LOVE the resort and hope to stay again when we can swim.

I will warn DH about the whirlpool though - he cannot swim.

 

[SusieBea]

More please.

 

[dvc at last !]

We have never been to the Garden Grille. Guess you can take that on off your "to do " list. More...

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

So...we are back at Epcot...AGAIN!

Check these out!

The troops are getting restless. So of course, I have a very full day at Magic Kingdom scheduled for the next day. That is an excellent choice. Its the best park for the day, etc. etc. So, of course Sis with her 2 lovely children...point out that the trip is half over and we have not gone to the studios.

But.. but...we have a dining reservation at Whispering Canyon for the next night. Me and DH have a breakfast ressie at Kona. But...but...that reschedules Magic Kingdom to an early EMH day...which is bad for us since we never seem to quite make early park entry.

So...we cancel our Whispering canyon reservation to eat fast food that evening, and postpone mine and DH's breakfast until the following morning. We had originally said that we would pay out of pocket for our breakfast on our final Saturday morning so cancelling Whispering Canyon worked out perfectly on the dining plan.

OK...so on to the Studios.

The big news here is that we got our fast passes for Toy Story Mania and then stood in the stand-by line to ride it. Yep, we rode TSM TWICE!!

This is one awesomely cool ride!!

Afterwards Sis and the kids decided to wait in line to see Woody from Toy Story. I looked and saw the 40 minute wait and said no way! Luckily, we were practically in front of "One Man's Dream" i.e., the Walt Disney museum. It was pretty obvious that Sis's family were as thrilled about One Man's Dream as we were with waiting 40 minutes to see Woody. So...off we went.

Of course, this is hubby's favorite picture.

Afterwards, we see some stuff together. We see the muppets, go to the extreme stunt show, and eat lunch at Pizza Planet. This was pretty good except we had eaten at Pizzafari the day before.

Anyway after lunch, I was getting pretty tired. At that point...Sis and family who were very happy to wait in lines all day decided that they wanted to wait 30 minutes to ride the backlot tour. OK, I really don't like the backlot tour. Its a long story...but geez...I really don't like this ride. My dislike is totally unwarranted as my dislike goes back to my honeymoon when there was a 2 hour boring walking and standing tour connected to the backstage tour.

So...when they insisted...we said adios for the day. Dh and I used our fastpasses for Toy Story Mania and left Disney Hollywood Studio. Ok, so I'm holding out a bit. Dh wanted to leave because he wanted to attend Welcome Home Wednesday. (We've been members since '06 and had never attended.)

So...we got on the boat and I headed back to Beach Club Villas while he headed to the Atlantic Dance Hall and to visit our beloved Boardwalk Villas.

Here are some Boardwalk pics!

Hubby commented about how really great the Atlantic Dance Hall looked on the inside. I told him that I had seen pictures of it over on the weddings board. It seems that a lot of people choose Atlantic Dance for their wedding receptions.

 

[Sammie]

Thanks Sammie!

It looks like I went straight to the wrong place. I now wonder how I would have enjoyed the rest of Stormalong Bay!

Next time try the area between the lazy river and the whirlpool, its not very deep and has the small water falls. That is my favorite area to kinda hang out.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

After hubby got back from Welcome Home Wednesday, we started hatching a plan. We were under the impression that Sis's family was going to stay at Hollywood Studios. Sis had called to ask about the counter service places in Hollywood Studios. My Disney iPhone apps came in handy all week.

I asked hubby what he thought about trying to snag a last minute reservation at Biergarten. We thought about having dinner, going to see the Rolling Stones cover band and watching illuminations. It would be a nice for us to have to ourselves.

Before I had a chance to call for the impossible to snag reservation...Sis called. They had gotten the kids fast food in Hollywood Studios, and wanted to know if we would eat fast food with them in World Showcase at Epcot and go watch the Rolling Stones cover band. Yeah! That's a great idea!!! No really, it was a good plan. We wouldn't have gotten into Biergarten anyway.

Dh and I walked on over and met Sis and family at the International Gateway. Then we started talking about where to get our quick World Showcase meal. We seriously considered getting the fish and chips. My BIL seriously considered the Japanese. I kind of thought about something from Morocco. Sis then mentioned how much we had all enjoyed the French Counter Service. It was so yummy! So France it is!!! I had never been to the French counter service before this trip, and have only known of its existence for a short time. Now, I've eaten there twice. The quiche and the ham and cheese croissant are both fantastic! I enjoyed the cheesecake and Sis enjoyed the Napolean. I did not care for the Creme Brulee.

Anyway...on to "Satisfaction." (The Rolling Stones cover band.) OK, I had been to festivals that had bands that only sung covers, but I had never been to a concert with a band trying to LOOK and SOUND like one particular band. Would it be cheesy? Would I enjoy it?

Overall, yes you could tell that it was not Mick Jagger or Keith Richards, or the rest of the stones. They did a good job though. I enjoyed it. I'm not a huge Stones fan, but recognized all of the tunes. They did about a 45 minute set. There was plenty of seating. I left wishing that we could still be there for the Bon Jovi, U2, or Chicago cover bands. That has more to do with my age and music taste however. The Stones are really a bit before my time.

Here are some pictures.

We stayed for Illuminations, Again. It was great, again. We watched from next to American Theater. Next time, I think I would enjoy watching from Japan.

Next up...finally back to MK.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Next time try the area between the lazy river and the whirlpool, its not very deep and has the small water falls. That is my favorite area to kinda hang out.

Thanks Sammie!

 

[Princess&CowboyMommy]

Lovin' your trip report and pics. Can't wait to see more!!

By the way - any chance you have the front and back pics of the weekly Beach Club/BCV events for while you were there? I haven't seen one in a while and we're set to go to BCV in December and I'd love to see a recent one (I know things change with seasons - just curious )

 

[dvc at last !]

Next time try the area between the lazy river and the whirlpool, its not very deep and has the small water falls. That is my favorite area to kinda hang out.

Thanks. Will look for this area in October when we are at
BVC for the first time.

 

[dvc at last !]

The last set of Epcot Illuminations fireworks are super -
such explosions !
Sometimes leaving and doing what you want at WDW is a good thing. Everyone appreciates each other again. And it is ok to eat at the same places more than once as long as you enjoyed it.
I dislike early breakfast reservations cause we stay at the parks
or at the pool late. Having DVC and a kitchen we usually have breakfast in the resort.
I have never been to a Welcome Home Wednesday. I have heard of it, but what is it about ?
More vacation TR.....

 

[Disney Princess]

I'm enjoying it so far! It is hard to NOT go into Epcot when you are staying so close. We find that we finish a lot of nights with Illuminations because it is just so darn convenient while at BWV!

 

[Sammie]

Thanks. Will look for this area in October when we are at
BVC for the first time.

its this area, its a little quieter than other areas.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3312923578_4551425696.jpg

 

[Disney Spaz]

Just found your trip report and am loving it. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics.

 

[misled3]

Do you have any photos of your room we are staying @ BCV for the first time in October and had heard the rooms are very worn. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Thanks guys!

I'll write more tonight!!

The room was totally great. Our view...not so much. Don't be worried about the room. At any resort...there are good rooms and worn rooms.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Ok, back to the trip report...

Sis changed the plans for Wednesday because they wanted to go to the Studios. I had specifically put MK on Wednesday because it was considered the best day by tourinplans.com.

Anyway, dh and I got our Kona breakfast ADR changed to Thursday and already had a dinner reservation for the Crystal Palace.

Dh and I got up bright and early and took a bus to MK so that we could get to the Poly. As we got off the bus and headed to the resort monorail...we saw that people were gathering around for the opening ceremony at MK for early EMH. I thought...grree--aatt we are going to be MK on earlly EMH day and not go to early EMH.

Dh and I thought about skipping Kona. We decided to keep our ADR just to keep our ADR. It was outside the DDP, but we can be dependable to a fault. We said we would be at Kona...so we went to Kona.

So...I got the Tonga Toast...YuM! and Dh got the french toast.

After breakfast, me and 50 Brazilian students decided to go to the restroom. Now I know that Florida in July is very hot and people do sweat, but at the hotel at 8 o'clock in the morning. ??? I know there are cultural differences and all...but PLEASE...take a bath people.

Anyway...dh and I get to the MK and head to fantasyland. I thought this would be a great area to see with my nephews...but they haven't even gotten up yet. We see Peter Pan, Philharmagic, Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White. As usual...I hope to get the "Doc" mine train since I am writing my dissertation. Well, our train comes in and alas...I get sneezy. I promised myself that next time I will actually be Doc and will wait for the Doc car. Afterwards we went to Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents. As we headed to Pecos Bills...we saw that the Diamond Horseshoe was open.

Dh and I had first seen the Diamond Horseshoe show on our honeymoon back in 1992 and had a great time. So, ok...we have nostalgia. We walked in to find sandwiches and salads. We both ordered sandwiches and sat down. They were very cold sandwiches, and not particularly good. We should have kept going to Pecos Bills. Anyway...we ate and headed on our way.

We then went to the Country Bears. This was something that my husband wanted to watch with my sister. Sis's father-in-law is named Buford. We saw this with her 3 years ago. She laughed so hard she snorted at the musical number "Momma Don't Whup Little Buford...just shoot him instead." Anyway...they were still at the room, or swimming or something.

After that...it was time for Dh's haircut. He had read on the DIS that you could make ADRs so he had...and then he changed it. Anyway...he got the haircut..dh can be so handsome!

So...we decide to go back to the room. We laughed and wondered if Sis and family would get off the bus as we hopped back on it. Ok, that didn't happen. We got on our bus and gave them a call. They were still at the hotel.