We're Back-Another Trip to BWV

[gwensgoofy]

My dh and my boys, ages 12 and 14 returned to BWV. We've been there three times over the past three years. This will be a very short trip report. I did online checkin, and noted our preference for a ground floor, just as I did when I requested the reservation through MS. I noted that we'd be there at 1030 (and kept my fingers crossed, as we've never been allowed in our room early). Online check in went well, and we were texted about our room right around noon! Didn't get ground floor, but did get first floor, which is almost as good-we don't like to wait for elevators, and really don't care if we see the fireworks. We had a standard one bedroom, and will need a 2 bedroom in the future-the boys have reached the age of sleeping in, when I'm excited to get the day started. The room was immaculate! I'm one of the weird people that wipe the room down with disinfectant wipes, and only bring in the luggage after checking for bed bugs, and I was thrilled with the room.

 

[sweetinmaine]

It's nice when everything works as planned! Glad that you had a good time!

 

[gwensgoofy]

We spent a lot of time at the pool, but made the trip to MK, Epcot, HS. BB and TL. We really prefer the water parks when we arrive around 4pm, which is totally against my early bird philosophy, but it works for our family. We've been the first family at Blizzard (2years ago, to open the park) but arriving as the lines die down, and not worrying so much about sunscreen make for a more relaxing trip. The crowd at Epcot was small, but the crowd at MK was huge! We tried to change up this trip from the past trips-shorter trips to the parks, new places for dinner, and ordering our groceries. Shorter park trips worked out well, but we've never been a family that is at the park from open to close. We usually take our main family vacation in late July, due to school and baseball schedules. The crowds appeared to be a little smaller. Lots of tour groups from Brazil, as we've always noted on past trips, though we saw some tour groups this time that were families, not just teens. Maybe I'm getting older, and cranky, or maybe I've just become more outspoken, but I directly addressed some of the kids in these groups when they were doing something I didn't agree with. I addressed line jumping when one teen tried to allow her entire group to get in front of her (all 50!) on Toy Story Mania, and they moved to the back of the line, and addressed the teens who tried to save the entire seating area in the HS counter service area at lunch. I don't think the kids realize how they are impacting others-I think they are just being teens, looking out for their friends. Both encounters went okay-the kids weren't happy with me, but they stopped what they were doing. The family touring groups were fun to interact with.

 

[gwensgoofy]

Now for a comparison, and a note about our experiences from previous years: the landscaping, which I've always noted is immaculate, and constantly maintained at the resort isn't quite as special. If I hadn't been there in previous years, I wouldn't have noticed. In past years, the bushes were always so maintained I never noted a branch out of place, and always saw the ground crew working on some aspect of the resort. We only saw them one day at this resort. The flowers in the lobby are much smaller. Again, wouldn't have paid any attention if it were my first trip, and its probably a good way to deal with the economy, just something I noted that was different. Also, does anyone remember the hours at the pool for the bar? We love hanging at the pool, either to start the day or end an early day, and it seemed like it closed earlier this year. The bar opened at 11 and was closed every day at 7pm, which is pretty early. We noted it because the kids couldn't get their mugs filled before 11 or after 7, because the bakery is too far for a fill-up. All the CMs were nice, save for one working the front of Kouzzina who was personally offended when I asked if I could order a greek salad to go, as we were having pizza night from the Boardwalk, and I was craving something green. I know, I know, room service, but they gave me a delivery time of 2 hours!

 

[gwensgoofy]

We enjoyed our dinners out, trying Boma for the first time, along with Les Chefs de France and Flying Fish. One of my ds has a shellfish allergy, and everyone did a remarkable job with this. One thing for those with shellfish allergies: the chef at Boma told us that Boma is one of the easier places to dine with this allergy as NONE of their sauces has shellfish as an ingredient. That makes it so much easier-he just had to avoid the Shellfish soup. Even Flying Fish easily accomodated his allergy. Captain's Grill at Yacht was ok-only place we went where the veggies were obviously frozen. Tried wegoshop.com for our groceries, and I am now a convert-what service! All the brands we requested, with a phone call regarding substitutions! Never again will I negotiate through the grocery store aisles-you can't go wrong with this service. Also, tried the fishing excursion, 2 hour trip out of the Boardwalk. Its expensive, at $270, but the 12y DS is an avid angler, and loved it! I'm afraid he'll add this to the must do list each year. For those that are interested our boat of 4 caught around 20 largemouth bass, the smallest being around 2 pounds.

 

[DebbieB]

My dh and my boys, ages 12 and 14 returned to BWV. We've been there three times over the past three years. This will be a very short trip report. I did online checkin, and noted our preference for a ground floor, just as I did when I requested the reservation through MS. I noted that we'd be there at 1030 (and kept my fingers crossed, as we've never been allowed in our room early). Online check in went well, and we were texted about our room right around noon! Didn't get ground floor, but did get first floor, which is almost as good-we don't like to wait for elevators, and really don't care if we see the fireworks. We had a standard one bedroom, and will need a 2 bedroom in the future-the boys have reached the age of sleeping in, when I'm excited to get the day started. The room was immaculate! I'm one of the weird people that wipe the room down with disinfectant wipes, and only bring in the luggage after checking for bed bugs, and I was thrilled with the room.

First floor isn't ground floor? Do you mean you wanted the lobby floor (2)?

 

[bobbiwoz]

It sounds like you had a real nice time. Sorry that you couldn't get the Greek Salad.

 

[gwensgoofy]

Overall, we had a fabulous time! We've learned a couple of things: a 12 yr old and 14 yr old with us means we have to move to a 2 bedroom; we really really like the epcot area (at this point at our kids ages); we still love the SAB pool (just from looking at it); 7 days still isn't enough time. So happy that we keep finding new things that are great at Disney-makes it easier to talk my husband into more points. He had such a great time, he actually broached the subject of more points himself!! Now, I just have to convince him that an extra 100 points isn't what I meant when I talked about adding on!

 

[gwensgoofy]

First floor isn't ground floor? Do you mean you wanted the lobby floor (2)?

I probably wasn't clear-we like the ground floor-walk out to the pool area/boardwalk area, but we got the same floor as the lobby, which is 2. We just need it to be close enough to the ground floor that we can easily do the steps-I hate the elevators at BWV!

 

[dan and scott]

I thought we were the only ones who prefer the ground floor.
We've been BWV owners since 98 and 525 of our 725 points are at the BW.
Sad to here they are cutting back on the floral arrangements since the give the extra punch of specialness to the foyer and grand lobby(its one of the things I look foward to seeing on each visit). Has Disney cut back on the beautifull large arrangements in the foyer??
The BW is just the BEST!!

Scott

 

[PKWallaby]

Glad you enjoyed your stay! Gotta love all the great dining choices within walking distance

 

[gwensgoofy]

I thought we were the only ones who prefer the ground floor.
We've been BWV owners since 98 and 525 of our 725 points are at the BW.
Sad to here they are cutting back on the floral arrangements since the give the extra punch of specialness to the foyer and grand lobby(its one of the things I look foward to seeing on each visit). Has Disney cut back on the beautifull large arrangements in the foyer??
The BW is just the BEST!!

Scott

My husband laughed at me because the first thing I noticed when we checked in was the floral arrangements in the lobby-they are now normal sized, like the type I would put on my dining room table (albeit, if I was trying to impress someone). I was really disappointed, but I think this is probably a way to cut back, in a way that most won't notice, and if they do, won't care. Beach Club still had the huge display, though. I absolutely love love love BWV and have decided that's where we are adding on-I'm starting to look for a resale contract now! And yes, we love ground floor-I feel so free not having to wait for an elevator! Makes it more like home.

 

[Granny]

I did online checkin, and noted our preference for a ground floor, just as I did when I requested the reservation through MS.

On-line check-in allows requests to be typed in now?

 

[gwensgoofy]

On-line check-in allows requests to be typed in now?

When I did online check-in there was a box for special requests, including ground floor. In fact, ground floor was the only one listed for location.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Love this resort so much we are adding points on there to guarentee our stay each yaer.

 

[Granny]

When I did online check-in there was a box for special requests, including ground floor. In fact, ground floor was the only one listed for location.

Interesting. When we did on-line check in for our April trip, there was a special request box but it wouldn't let you type anything in it.