Update -Random thoughts - Y I love DVC...here now

[culli]

We are here now at BCV and here a few random thoughts I have about DVC.

1. Yes the rooms are not always pristine and for the price they should be, our fridge is beat up but it works. But I really don't care about those things, room was pretty clean and that is all that really matters to me.
2. It was in the 95 range yesterday so my daughter and I went to SAB, she is 7 and meets friends easily. I just sat back and enjoyed being relaxed. We are not worried about going to parks, we will get there eventually. The rest of the family joins us today (5 and 4 year old boys, newborn and wife) we talked and this will be more of a resort/pool vacation to just relax. We did this last year at the Marriott in Branson (boy nothing we wanted to there that is for sure!) about same time of year and didn't leave resort except for groceries, we had a blast. Pool like 8 hrs a day. BCV is a nicer resort and pool (rooms not as nice at DVC) WITH THE opportunity to do the parks and BW etc.
3. Even though yesterday was very low key we still ended up sleeping in, doing SAB twice for a total of 4+hrs, went to DHS, and MK until 3am with EMH. I know doesn't sound low key and MK was crazy packed, we got there about 10pm. We just walked around and did things like carousel of progress, phillarmagic, etc that didn't have long waits. Just love strolling thru the parks and taking it in with NO STRESS, and this is with princess crazy 7 year old.
4. We are here on DVC pts and an RCI exchange, MS was great to deal with didn't make us check in/out, slide new keys under door no hassles (so far at least).
5. It is amazing how when you are laid back good things seem to happen, just roll with the punches. We expected to wait 30mins for a bus to MK, we stroll up the bus stop and it was packed, 5mins later we are on the bus. On the way home about 2:30am we wander to the bus stop and literaly when we go to the yacht/bcv stop the bus comes in. We were also the last ones to see the princess tent before they closed and see mickeys/Donald and Minnie's house. Wander to Peter Pan and super crazy line, we get fast passes go to country bear jam (boy that was painful but my daughter liked it), got some ice cream and then back to Peter Pan. Hard to explain but now we go with a "hey whatever" attitude and we just have a relaxing time here. The APs help too, but it seems we just know how to avoid the crowds and when to hit certain rides and where to go when. We don't do a lot of planning it seems to just be instinct or 2nd nature. The odd things is the kids have that same attitude.
6. Basically it is a family vacation that could be done at any resort in the US with all the Disney stuff available for you to do. We have been able to score round trip airline tickets usually around $200 -$230, that is cheaper than anywhere else we can go.
7. It is raining now and I can't imagine being in hotel room, heck it is 12:30 and my daughter is still sleeping!!! I'm sitting in LV and watching ESPN and typing this - sorry to ramble.......but it is titled RANDOM thoughts.
8. Tonight the family shows up probably in time to wander in to EPCOT and watch fireworks maybe do a few rides. Catch a movie on the beach and/or do the BW entertainment and of course a few good beers!!! For those who read my ramblings before know that I love my beer (Germany Spaten is my favorite), forces me to work out!!!

Well if you got this far hopefully I didn't bore you back to sleep. BTW startours is still open I think until Sep 3 (they had the big ceremonial closing last week).

 

[Nikisha421]

No you didn't bore me and happy to hear that you are enjoying your DVC purchase...

 

[culli]

Oops sorry just noticed I put this in planning and I meant to put in the mousealleanous - sorry Moderators!

 

[Disney Princess]

I wasn't bored. It sounds like you are having fun with your one-on-one time with your daughter! I hope you continue to have a relaxing time when the rest of your family joins you. Congrats on the newborn!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Loved It!

My random thoughts exactly!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Sounds like you are having a great time. Hopefully it will stay as relaxed once the rest of your gang gets tere. Have fun

 

[adminjedi]

We love our BCV too!


We like the laid back days as well, few hours at the pool, easy paced visit to the parks. Stay enough days and you have enough time to do it all and still feel like you had time to relax!

 

[kmermaid]

Awesome post, sounds like it came from DH. We have our BCV for about 4 yrs now and I'm just now starting to experience the wind down type of vacation. Realizing I don't have to experience everything on a trip and just chill out. And your right the family follows right along. I also agree its easier to do when you have APs.

 

[quirty30]

No joke about EMH at MK last night - the crowds were insane until about 1AM. We probably saw you on Carousel of Progress. The only major attraction we hit was Space Mountain and it was late - I think 12:45AM. We waited about 25 minutes - before midnight the wait was 80 minutes and we chose "lesser" attractions.

 

[PHILCT]

We love the BCV too.

Counting down the days to next month's vacation.

Can't wait to buy our refillable mugs, grab a snack at the Marketplace, put on my bathing suit and Crocs and head down to Storm Along Bay, and feel like a privileged person when the cast member puts on my SAB wrist band, buy a pool doodle, and then jump into the lazy river portion of SAB.

Followed by an ice cream waffle cone at Beaches N Creme.

Repeat every day ! And visit the Parks in the afternoon or evenings.

The Good Life !

Enjoy your stay !

 

[SLM]

Sounds like a great vacation-and congratulations on the new baby!

 

[culli]

Sounds like a great vacation-and congratulations on the new baby!

Thank you for the kind words........ironically we found out my wife was pregnant the day after we got home from Disney last October. It was a "surprise" but a very very pleasant one!!! My Daughter's first trip to Disney before she is 3 months..........mine was when I was 19 and that was when I was in the Corps and we went to Disneyland. First trip to the world I was 28, yeah my kids are spoiled but they are worth it.

 

[Sandisw]

How fun!!! We just got back two weeks ago and it seems like forever!! I love reading trip reports as it helps the time past.

I know what you mean about relaxing and no longer worrying about things. I think that is the best thing about DVC. You see what you see and you just don't worry.

Look forward to hearing more throughout the trip!

 

[javamom]

Sounds like you are having a great time!

 

[culli]

Ok we had some "holding points" so I spent 2 days at BLT in a std studio to use them up- with 3 of the kids 7, 5 and 4 year olds. Wife and newborn stayed back at the BCV.

1. People who can stay in studios - god bless you, we are too spoiled now that we got into timeshares. Everywhere we go we get condos with full kitchens and room to move. It was just 2 days and I was tripping over the kids etc. It would work for a comando trip or couples but we just try to have a laid back feel. You know "welcome home" type thing.
2. For MK BLT is awesome, we timed it perfect. Check in at 10am and room was ready! They had late night EMH that 1st night so went late and walked back to BLT no waiting for bus. Slept in next day, hit the community center as a huge down pour hit, cleared up hit pools for about 4 hrs. Drove back to BCV to have dinner in villa (real kitchen helps!). Went back to BLT community center, then up to the top of the world for fireworks. This morning was early EMH (we are not morning people) WOW was that great. Got on everything right away a few fast passes and quick walk home to BLT before the rain hit. I still prefer the late night EMH but for now understand the hype is about the early EMH.
3. Don't realize how important ridding "a small world" is to your trip until they close it for rehab and you can't go Actually pretty sad as this is first trip we have not ridden it!
4. Found a cool hidden mickey on Peter Pan - I have been looking and looking for one at that ride and finally found one! I'm not one to read where the hidden mickey's are, I like to find them. You would think you wiould get sick of ridding the same rides especially the kid rides but I always find something new.
5. For those who bought into BLT for the "contemp" feel etc - you will not be disappointed. Not our favorite but it is growing on me. I really love the feel and style it gives me "euro" styling. But I also now understand what people mean by brushing your teeth and making breakfast/coffee at the same time!
6. Being away from the BW area for a few days makes me realize how for our family it is by far our favorite. Except my 7 yr old daughter who claims BLT is her favorite......better get her DNA tested
7. Every time I come to Disney and run into certain types of people I realize "you can't fix stupid".
8. 1st time I did a rental car, it is a nice luxury but not a necessity. IF I can score one cheap again I will do it.
9. Typing and feeding a newborn is not easy.
10. When will people figure out that there is a right and left to a walking area? Just doesn't flow one way? I love the looks of people who pin you to one side and won't let you through. I just keep walking we have a big stroller and well I just don't have time for ignorance - again "you can't fix stupid". Oh yeah what is up with people just stopping in the middle of a crowded walk area
11. EHM is probably the best perk Disney offers. I think people who don't utilize at least a few times per trip are missing out.
12. Planning is overrated - we just go with the flow. The only real planning we do is trying to hit EMH. Maybe a character thing but only because it requires ressies.
13. APs are awesome - don't know how long I can afford them as we know need 5 and soon it will be 6!!! Might have to do every other year trips or something
14. As an ex hockey/rugby playing former-jar head I can be intimidating if I need to be.........someone just needs to remind my kids of that I'm becoming less effective as the years go by
15. Just say no to the kids, it is never enough anyway so you will eventually have to say no. So just start off by saying no.
16. Changing a newborn diaper and typing is harder than feeding them and typing
17. zero depth pools are the bomb and every dis resort should have them. Well every place I go to should have them!
18. Never vacationed much until the last few years, wish I would have started LONG TIME ago........but very glad I started when kids are so young. Vacations are very UNDERRATED
19. Well 19 is our "family number" so I'm done boring you - here is hopping everyone enjoys their DVC as much as we do and leave you with one of my favorite things Disney: