Funny you mention the rooms by the road. . .guess where our room was?
I was just there one night (joined
Luv who had been staying with friends in Club Level at BC), and when we checked in around 8:30 a.m., there was a room open, or we could have waited for our request (high floor overlooking pool) to be available. As it was just one night, we jumped at the ready room. Naturally, it was a road room close to the bridge over the water so the buses, trucks, and cars echoed off the water a bit. It didn't bother us given we were there just that sole night, and during the day we were at MK during the morning and SAB early that p.m. before the rains came. Still, we'd stay there again. In fact,
Luv said the next time we opt to go for F&W, we should go on a waitlist for BCV. Agree.
To repeat an earlier observation re: pool construction at WL, it seems to be a major affair. We're talking front-end loaders, backhoes, jackhammers, dozens of workers, framing for a what appears to be new sidewalks, and it appeared that the actual main pool was being dismantled in some areas as at least one jackhammer operator seemed to be taking down a pool wall. I will say that I'm glad we didn't have VWL booked during this time as it was noisy, even inside the lobby near the back entrance and all the way down to RF. I can only imagine folks with rooms abutting the construction area are not happy. Yikes! Hopefully, when all the work is done the effort will be worthwhile.
For those interested in such things, below are some highlights and lowlights from the trip:
HIGHS
- Crowds. While WDW is never uncrowded, the difference in crowd size most days vs. our trip in early August was noticeable. We spent a morning at AK and literally walked on every ride without a wait. We did EE three times straight in 20 minutes and could have continued at a similar pace but decided to move along. MK would get crowded by 11, as usual, but even that was not quite at the summertime pace. Both Epcot and DHS were equally less teeming with people.
- F&W was fun and, again, not terribly crowded the times we went.
- Spending alone time with
Luv. Our last two trips to WDW involved other family members, and while we love them dearly, we appreciate having time to just the two of us.
- VGF*. Gorgeous resort. Friendly staff. Great view of 7 Seas Lagoon, Poly, Wedding Pavilion, and CR. I liked it well enough to place it tied for second with BLT for fave DVC resort--
Luv places it just behind BLT. Parking there is wonderfully close, too. *See
LOWS below.
- Jiko. Due to various reasons, Jiko had fallen off our to-do list the past few trips. This time, we would not be denied. It was as special and inviting as we remembered, and the food was the best of the trip. Best dish of the trip? The wild boar tenderloin appetizer. Stunningly good.
- Artist Point. Back to its former glory of a decade ago? Not quite. Better than three years ago? Absolutely. The buffalo dish has now swung back to being a quality dish again. It's buffalo three ways (sausage, hash-style, and filet), and the filet was perfect. I doubt we'll see just the filet alone again (too expensive we were told), but the entire meal was good from start to finish.
LOWS
- Rain. A stationary low settled across FL the entire trip, bisecting the state just north of Orlando. In short, it trapped all the tropical weather over Orlando, Disney, and points north and east meaning we had lots and lots of rain, even by Florida standards. One day, parts of Volusia County had 8 inches in 6 hours. The golf courses on Disney property were shut down a few times because there were ponds and lakes on the fairways. We had dinner at Monsieur Paul's one night and got drenched. . .even with umbrellas and ponchos.
- Speaking of Monsieur Paul's. It wasn't a bad meal, just uninspired. When you're doling out big bucks to eat at a signature restaurant, you expect food that impresses. While tasty, the food wasn't exceptional. My duck was cooked correctly (medium rare) but the fat in the skin wasn't rendered, thus was rubbery.
Luv's scallops were perfectly cooked but small (only five of them, too) and swam in a pool of lifeless green puree composed of lettuce, corn, and a touch of cream. Both dishes came out lukewarm, as well. The ambience was also average mostly because the dress code isn't enforced there, either. I realize this is a hot-button topic for some, but when you're plunking down nearly $200 for a meal, it's disconcerting sitting next to 1) a woman in running shorts and t-shirt, 2) a man in a camo cap that he wore the entire meal, 3) men and women in ragged shorts, 4) men and women in tank tops, and 5) a man and woman sitting next to us dropping f-bombs. We were the only couple there in anything approaching dinner attire (simple dress for
Luv, slacks/shirt for me). Yeah, yeah, I know MP's is in a park, and it was raining cats and dogs that night, but why have a dress code at all if you're not going to enforce even one bit of it?
- MagicBands*. Okay, in all fairness, they mostly worked as advertised, but when they didn't, it was a pain. We checked into VGF, spent too long getting our bands set up (half an hour), only to find they didn't unlock the door to our room. I went back downstairs and waited another 20 minutes to have them set up only to find out that night that charging privileges hadn't been loaded though I confirmed they were before leaving. *When we got back to VGF that night around 9, there were no CMs to be found. They close down there, apparently, and no one showed up until 7:30 the next morning. So, you are left with having to walk over to the main building if you need help. Not convenient.
- Leaving.
the pot a little.
at me
It each his own. I don't deny it needs a refurb especially the hallway rugs but I personally like that it's set back from the main resort making it quiet. Well maybe not quiet if you get a room on the road but I don't spend much time on the balcony so that doesn't really bother me. Love that the parking is so close to the building too. You can all stay at BWV (not my taste) & I'll stay at BCV then everyone will be happy. 
