MEK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 8, 2005
[/COLOR]Good Morning DIS friends. I am about to start ANOTHER trip report. They are becoming a way of life for me.
Let's see.....2 summers ago I started with Our "Better Late Than Never" trip to Vero Beach and SSR.
6 months later DH and I experienced our first solo trip at SSR in December.
Fast forward to June 09 when we took the family and my delightful nephew LJ to "Kick It" at Kidani.
Three short months later DH and I headed back to "Play It" at POP for free dining. We upgraded to Deluxe dining and celebrated our 20th anniversary.
In May 2010 we traveled to "Wheel and Deal" at the Villas of Wilderness Lodge with our friends Chuck and Cathy. I had some health "issues" during that trip which prohibited me from drinking alcohol, thus putting a damper on the festivities because I missed out on the Cinco de Mayo meet. We also missed a good portion of the epcot flower and garden festivities. I am not exactly sure why that happened. Poor planning I guess. At any rate, it was a fun trip and we experienced a lovely new resort. We also experienced Cirque and I tried out for American Idol. Thanks to all of you who followed me on that TR!
That brings me to my current trip. One that I shared with my GF and coworker Jen (Ducky 4 Disney). Keeping with my current TR theme I was going to title this TR "Bebopping at BLT" (B....B....get it?), but I kept hearing a little voice in my head saying, "Wow - you keep inching yourself closer to the castle".
If you think about it, it makes sense. Last May I stayed at WL which allowed me boat access and a wonderful view of the castle (from the top of the roof). But BLT allowed me a full view of that castle and my own private walking/running path (which I happily shared) to the MK. Every time I walked into our BLT room I thought "WoW. I am really close to the castle!"
So...How did this trip come to be?
Well, Jen and I have worked together for at least 7 years. It is pure coincidence that we both happen to be Disney freaks. Jen was very well established in the ways of Disney when I met her. I was a novice. I had just finished my first trip to Disney (2002) when I started working at my current place of employment. In 2003 I booked that "one last trip to Disney". That was around the time I met Jen. She kept saying, "You're not done yet" and she was right. After a few more trips to Disney she offered me rental of her DVC points (at an awesome rate I might add) and that's when I feel in love with SSR. It took me another year or two to eventually buy there, but it was a great decision.
So....how did this trip happen? Well last spring Jen was planning to go to PA school. She was supposed to start on September 20th of this year. In joking, I said to her, "You need one last trip to Disney before you start school. I'll go with you. I am planning to go sometime in the fall anyway".
By the end of the day our Girl's Trip had been planned. Jen booked 4 nights at BLT, lake view (which ended up much more than that - but more on that later). When Jen made the reservation we were only a few days shy of 180 days so by the next week our ADRs were settled and booked.
Unfortunately, Jen decided to defer PA school for another year, but that did not quell either one of our desires to see Disney. Before long we decided to arrive one night early and stay at POFQ. Our 4 night trip had become a 5 night trip with the click of a mouse on the SWA website. Yeah Us!
So that's the background. Our trip dates were September 11th to September 16th with one night at POFQ and 4 nights at BLT. It was a really awesome trip and there is a lot to be said for going to the world with someone who loves Disney as much as you do. We weren't commando. We took time to smell the roses and experience the other monorail resorts. We booked a special tour and we experienced MNSSHP. We also had a special Dis meet. But more on all those things later.
Here's a few pictures.........
Here's Jen, happy that we are finally on our way.
Here's me...the one on the right....during last May's trip to the world. Sorry I don't have any pictures of me uploaded to photobucket yet. I suspect Jen has more pics of me than I do. And, of course, our photopass CD is not back yet. Also - a few of you commented on my last TR that you liked that shirt I was wearing in this picture. I lost it!!!!! That's right! I never saw it again after the May trip. I think I must have left it there.
So on September 11th at 10am I was clearly packed on ready to leave for the airport. As you can see I am seriously overpacked for a 5 night trip.......
Here is my new little disney bag that arrived the day before departure. Thank you amazon.com.
And thank goodness for these guys and SWA's policy of bags fly free.....
Up Next....DAY 1...Departure Day and DME Rockstars!
Let's see.....2 summers ago I started with Our "Better Late Than Never" trip to Vero Beach and SSR.
6 months later DH and I experienced our first solo trip at SSR in December.
Fast forward to June 09 when we took the family and my delightful nephew LJ to "Kick It" at Kidani.
Three short months later DH and I headed back to "Play It" at POP for free dining. We upgraded to Deluxe dining and celebrated our 20th anniversary.
In May 2010 we traveled to "Wheel and Deal" at the Villas of Wilderness Lodge with our friends Chuck and Cathy. I had some health "issues" during that trip which prohibited me from drinking alcohol, thus putting a damper on the festivities because I missed out on the Cinco de Mayo meet. We also missed a good portion of the epcot flower and garden festivities. I am not exactly sure why that happened. Poor planning I guess. At any rate, it was a fun trip and we experienced a lovely new resort. We also experienced Cirque and I tried out for American Idol. Thanks to all of you who followed me on that TR!
That brings me to my current trip. One that I shared with my GF and coworker Jen (Ducky 4 Disney). Keeping with my current TR theme I was going to title this TR "Bebopping at BLT" (B....B....get it?), but I kept hearing a little voice in my head saying, "Wow - you keep inching yourself closer to the castle".
If you think about it, it makes sense. Last May I stayed at WL which allowed me boat access and a wonderful view of the castle (from the top of the roof). But BLT allowed me a full view of that castle and my own private walking/running path (which I happily shared) to the MK. Every time I walked into our BLT room I thought "WoW. I am really close to the castle!"
So...How did this trip come to be?
Well, Jen and I have worked together for at least 7 years. It is pure coincidence that we both happen to be Disney freaks. Jen was very well established in the ways of Disney when I met her. I was a novice. I had just finished my first trip to Disney (2002) when I started working at my current place of employment. In 2003 I booked that "one last trip to Disney". That was around the time I met Jen. She kept saying, "You're not done yet" and she was right. After a few more trips to Disney she offered me rental of her DVC points (at an awesome rate I might add) and that's when I feel in love with SSR. It took me another year or two to eventually buy there, but it was a great decision.
So....how did this trip happen? Well last spring Jen was planning to go to PA school. She was supposed to start on September 20th of this year. In joking, I said to her, "You need one last trip to Disney before you start school. I'll go with you. I am planning to go sometime in the fall anyway".
By the end of the day our Girl's Trip had been planned. Jen booked 4 nights at BLT, lake view (which ended up much more than that - but more on that later). When Jen made the reservation we were only a few days shy of 180 days so by the next week our ADRs were settled and booked.
Unfortunately, Jen decided to defer PA school for another year, but that did not quell either one of our desires to see Disney. Before long we decided to arrive one night early and stay at POFQ. Our 4 night trip had become a 5 night trip with the click of a mouse on the SWA website. Yeah Us!
So that's the background. Our trip dates were September 11th to September 16th with one night at POFQ and 4 nights at BLT. It was a really awesome trip and there is a lot to be said for going to the world with someone who loves Disney as much as you do. We weren't commando. We took time to smell the roses and experience the other monorail resorts. We booked a special tour and we experienced MNSSHP. We also had a special Dis meet. But more on all those things later.
Here's a few pictures.........
Here's Jen, happy that we are finally on our way.
Here's me...the one on the right....during last May's trip to the world. Sorry I don't have any pictures of me uploaded to photobucket yet. I suspect Jen has more pics of me than I do. And, of course, our photopass CD is not back yet. Also - a few of you commented on my last TR that you liked that shirt I was wearing in this picture. I lost it!!!!! That's right! I never saw it again after the May trip. I think I must have left it there.
So on September 11th at 10am I was clearly packed on ready to leave for the airport. As you can see I am seriously overpacked for a 5 night trip.......
Here is my new little disney bag that arrived the day before departure. Thank you amazon.com.
And thank goodness for these guys and SWA's policy of bags fly free.....
Up Next....DAY 1...Departure Day and DME Rockstars!