"Visiting Home" for the First Time - A PTR ... And Now a TR!!!

[joelp]

Waiting for lunch to digest a bit before tackling the yardwork - so instead of reading other threads, I decided to start a PTR ...


We closed on our AKV 100 pt Dec UY contract August 14, and got all our member info (after a call to Member Admin) August 23 during my lunch break at work ... So after my post-work run (it had a nice calming effect ... ), I sat down in front of the computer and logged on as a DVC Member for the first time!!!


We bought a fully loaded contract resale - with all 2010 and 2011 points banked, so we had 100 pts to use by this Dec ... In prep for this, I had a spreadsheet set up with possible trip dates (so the DD wouldn't miss more than a day of school ...) and flight times/costs ... ...

I'll spare you the gory details, but by minimizing luggage and seat charges, I got a flight on Spirit from Atlantic City to Orlando for the 3 of us for less than $600 round trip for Nov 15-18 (all the other dates were at least $250-$300 more ...).

The question was: would any DVC rooms be available?

The answer: Yes!!


After about 30 minutes checking a whole bunch of possibilities, we were down to three options: 1 - 3 nights in the same 1 BR at SSR, 2 - spend the first night in a Treehouse at SSR, then switch to 1 BR at SSR, or 3 - a couple of different "room switch" possibilities at AKV ...

Points weren't an issue - we had 100 to use or lose (or rent ...)

I was leaning towards the Option #2 - how often would we get a chance to spend a night in a SSR Treehouse?

But the DW thought we should spend our first DVC trip at our home resort, and the DD just wanted to stay at AKV (because it's AKV!!) so we'll be "Visiting Home" for our first trip ... [or as I kid the DW - "We've bought a retirement home in Florida!!" ]

So we decided on Kidani - but now I have a problem, because we're spending our first night in a 2 BR Savannah View ... ... and then moving to a 1 BR Standard ... so the DW and DD may be a bit disappointed after we move ... ... AND -

- we may have to book 2 BR Savannah rooms from here on out ... and that's kinda hard to do with only 100 pts per year ...

As for the Cast Of Characters - see the siggie ...

Time to mow now ...

I'll be back ...

[kato0627]

Welcome to DVC!!! We are South Jersey too =) You will love AKV, a great resort.

[beansf]

Hi there! We just bought DVC ourselves. I am trying to figure things out. I look forward to seeing how your trip goes. We bought 160 at AKV, but our first trip will be to Grand Californian in March.

[joelp]

A really quick update: one of our Waitlists came through last night ...

Goodbye 2BR Savannah View ...

Hello 1BR Kidani Savannah View for all three nights ...

Now we won't have to change rooms ... will have a Savanah View for all three nights ... ... will have used 99 of the 100 "use or lose" 2010 UY banked points ...

... and the DW won't be "spoiled" by that first night in the 2BR Savannah View - and then "let down" by switching to a 1 BR Standard View ...

Since the DD will want to live in the pool (let's hope for warm mid-November Fla weather!! - I've already done the 70-degree, steam coming off the pool, early December swim-thing with the DD ... ), can anyone suggest a good room location?

Thanks!! ... and here's some PD for you ...

[joelp]

A really, really quick update: Our DVC Membership Cards arrived in the mail yesterday!!

[joelp]

I have a few minutes here (I hope ... ...): the DD is auditioning for a play Tuesday night and the DW needs to take a "head shot" of her ... If this post comes to a screeching halt somewhere mid-sentence, you know there's been "trouble in River City" ... !

We have our tentative, draft, work-in-progress plans drawn up (more or less ...):

Thursday Nov 15 - our flight arrives at MCO 8:30 pm, so I figure we'll be at Kidani Village by 10-ish, and in our "home" by 10:30 ... Check out the resort a bit, then early to bed, because early the next morning ...

Friday Nov 16 - we're off to Universal Islands of Adventure, where the DD and DW can get their fill of Hairy Otter and Fiends ...

If any of you have any IoA and HP suggestions, they'd be appreciated - we've never been there ...

Saturday - sleep-in (for us, that's about 7 am ... ) Then it's over to DTD for some shopping and lunch - where we should meet up with the DW's cousin Claire (from Tampa) for lunch. Claire plans to head over to the MK - while we head back to Kidani for some pool time, activities, animals, etc. - with dinner at Sanaa (ADR already made ) Claire may or may not spend the night with us ...

Sunday - maybe a quick a.m. dip in the pool before checking out (leaving our bags with Bell Services ...). Then its over to the MK (which we will not enter ...) to jump on the Monorail for a spin to (and around - but not in ) Epcot ... and then back to tour the "monorail resorts", check out the Christmas decorations (they should be up - right?), and have lunch ...

And then back to Kidani to catch the ME bus to MCO around 6:30, for our 9:30 flight back to NJ ... And hopefully the DD will sleep on the plane (Benadryl?? ) - because she has school Monday morning (but the DW and I won't be going to work ... ) -

But we won't be in WDW, eithor ...

That's the basics, more or less, in theory ...

And no WDW theme parks this very short trip ... although - one could consider AKL/Villas a theme park in themselves ...

Until next time ...

[DisneyRegulars]

Loving your trip report, can't wait to here more about your impressions of IoA.

[joelp]

Thanks for reading!!

[joelp]

Sorry I haven't been keeping up here ... you know how it is this time of year!!

Actually, I did post a week or so ago - but the formatting got all messed up somehow, and I haven't had time to redo it.

Anyway - before I head off for a run and then my traditional "last minute shopping", I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!

And for those of you interested in a different kind of TR - Santa has started making his rounds!!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track.html

[joelp]

Happy Boxing Day (where the DW's put everything you got them for Christmas into boxes, drive to the mall, and exchange it for what they really wanted ... )

Continuing with the saga ...

I had planned on arriving at the IOA entrance by 8:15 at the latest - and we were there by 8 ...

Bought tickets and got in line ... Actually, we started the line ...

It was an overcast day, a touch of rain threatening, a tad on the chilly side ... and the Friday between "Jersey Week" and Thanksgiving ...

I suggested that we head back to City Walk and check it out for a bit, but the DD wanted to be the first in line, so we stayed put:




Which was a decision that would shortly pay off ...

[joelp]

After about 15 minutes a CM came over and we chatted with him a bit ... and then another one came by and we chatted with him ... And the next thing we know, he asks us "How would you like to be our Family of the Day and open the park for us?"

was how the DW and I responded!!

The DD on the other hand:

But we convinced him Danielle would be fine, she was just being a little shy - and so they opened the gates (just for us!!) and in we strolled ... for a quick picture ...




... and as you can see, the DD was not all that happy about the situation ... why? ... But every once in a while, "shy" Danielle rears her uncooperative head ...

The CMs wanted Danielle to read a short blurb opening the park - but she didn't want to do it ... (they really wanted a kid to open the park ...) - even after about 10 minutes of cajoiling and some attempted bribery on my part!

So I took the microphone and was getting ready to read it ... The CMs told me to go ahead ...

When Danielle took the mic out my hand, switched it on - and "on cue" and much to our amazement (especially the CMs!) she nailed the "opening blurb". I mean - she just didn't read it: she read it like it was lines from a script - she NAILED it!!

And the CMs had these incredibly large, much relieved and incredulous smiles on their faces - they couldn't believe it!

So we asked Danielle what was that?!? "It's acting," she replied. "It's what I do. I can turn it on - and turn it off."

Which left us four adults speechless ...

And with some handshakes, "Thank Yous", and a few amazed shakes of the head, we headed into the Port of Entry ...

[rmcildw2m]

AKV is my favorite resort as well . One day I will own there.

[catherines_mama]

I hope you finish before I go. We do a really quick trip soon to AKV and i'm REALLY excited. Reading yours to get ready!

[catherines_mama]

For the record, I leave today and you are not done! ;-)

AKV here I come!!

[joelp]

Originally Posted by catherines_mama

For the record, I leave today and you are not done! ;-)

AKV here I come!!

Well - maybe I'll finish this TR before you get back!!