Just returned from 11 day BCV stay 06/16-06/27..UPDATED 04/09/10 -COMPLETE FINALLY !

[ccigliano]

Enjoying the trip report and looking forward to hearing more. Hopefully - your husband will quit soon if he hasn't already.

[Turtle31]

Originally Posted by mommyoftwinfants

Do you have any BWV tips or secrets?

Going to have to be honest .... not any secrets that will make you bring me on your trip I am sure !

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Main St

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. We are very close to purchasing DVC and trying to decide between BLT and BCV resale. I'm really enjoying all of the BCV pictures...even the hallways! Love seeing all of the little details. Looking forward to reading more!

I have alot of pictures - the place is so beautiful though - pictures just don't do it justice.

Originally Posted by rkwier

Your report just makes me smile. I can't wait for more!

I am glad so many are enjoying it !!

Originally Posted by Sandy321

Aww, so sorry your dh had to get a pak - altho I completely understand - I was hoping he found a patch or some nicorette gum!! Better luck to him next time!!

enjoying your report - I cant imagine how frightening that storm must've been - and the exercise you got going out to the boat and back!! Good thing Yachtsman got you in!! I love those au gratin potatoes - I didnt know it was a white cheddar cheese - I thought it was the greyere!!

Yeah it would have been nice if he would have told me in advance he was going to quit and I could have bought the gum or patch. At the gift shop it would have probably cost a million dollars !
Since we ate so much desert - I am thankful for the pre-dinner run now I would have never know what kind of cheese it was on the potatoes except that I looked on allears. They are so good !!

Originally Posted by kid-at-heart

Have to admire your husband for trying to quit during vacation. I hope I am not posting a taboo topic. I am an ex-smoker and a psychologist; I say, never try to quit during vacation ](unless you are on vacation by yourself). Once the family is back home (now?), your hubby might want to visit your GP and discuss ways to quit smoking. Different folks need different techniques. For me the patch worked great, not so for my husband. He eventually went cold turkey but it was rough (for all of us). A friend of mine was able to get a Rx for Prozac and the patch. She swore by the technique.

I am really enjoying your report. Keep it coming. Your kids look like they enjoyed the "rain night".

AMEN to the Bold part in the quote !! If he would have tried to continue to cold turkey it while we were on vacation I may have needed prozac !! And thank you so much for the wonderful tips - I will for sure ask him to talk to our doctor about it. His health of course is something that is very important to all of us as a family. I also have asthma really bad, so him smoking puts a whammy on both of us. He smokes outside and I have to insist he showers before coming to bed otherwise I can't sleep properly. I also think that his little experiment helped to show him how much it affects his own body, I don't think he realized how hard it would be.

Originally Posted by ShuisFan584

It's nice to hear you had such a great trip. I can't wait to see some more pictures.

After our next trip in August, BCV will be one of two DVC resorts in WDW we haven't stayed at yet. I'm hoping to stay there for my honeymoon next year (mostly because I've been dying to use that pool!)

And it's funny how you talk about already borrowing from next year. When my parents first joined, we borrowed pretty much all of the points from the next year for our first trip! My parents have never had to bank points because we always need to borrow. And yet they still think they have enough points. Luckily, I bought my own membership this past October so that we have more points to use.

The pool is unreal, the sand beneath your feet is so nice after a long day on the pavement at the parks. It had watervolley ball for my son. They used a rope - strung funoodles across the whole rope and used a large beach ball. Making it fun and possible for kids of all ages to play. My daughter loved the smaller slide at the back of the ship and she made so many sand castles.
Next year we will go in October for our 11 days, which help some since the nights are less points. And if I have to I will buy more !

Originally Posted by Mahusky

Great post cant wait to read the remaining 10 days.... I have pulled down the hand rail and am waiting for a crazy ride!!!!!

Glad you are enjoying it !

Originally Posted by ccigliano

Enjoying the trip report and looking forward to hearing more. Hopefully - your husband will quit soon if he hasn't already.

Not yet but hopefully soon. Now that he back to the "real" world he needs a few days to recover before getting hit over the head again

[Turtle31]

Day 2 : Hollywood Studios

Today we are heading to Hollywood Studios. We have a 10:05 adr for Hollywood & Vine Play n' Dine Breakfast. Everyone (except for me ) is slow to rise this morning. My DH then tells me that even though it is now 9:00am, at home it is only 7:00 - it will take him days to change to Florida time. Of course my DS hears this and continues to use it every morning....

We leave the room and head for the boat :



The boat ride takes about 12 minutes and is very enjoyable. The properties along the way are very nice.

Boardwalk:



The Swan & Dolphin
I loved the clam shell water fountain :


We arrive and head into the park. My Dh leaves us to run and get fastpasses for Toy Story Mania. We check in at the resturant and hang outside taking a couple more pictures.



Once we are inside we see Leo :

He immediatly notices that everyone in our family is wearing Orange he points to the stripes on his shirt and his shorts and gives a big thumbs up. It was very cute. My kids (and my hubby) were so impressed that we all matched.



Next June heads over our way : She also notices we all match - it was funny. Usually I don't know what to say - But I tell June that the month of "June" is my favorite month because of my birthday and a girl loves presents. She puts her hand to her mouth like she is laughing and comes over to give me a hug.



Next we meet Jo-Jo and Goliath :





The breakfast had all of the normal breakfast goodies. Nothing really sticks out in my mind as wow as far as the food. But I think breakfast is really hard to mess up. The characters danced around the resturant. And a guy with a headset representing "Johnny and the Sprites" had the kids dancing everywhere. That was fun.

After breakfast we head straight to see the Indiana Jones Show - last year for some reason it was the only show we missed, so this year it was first.



As we sit here dripping sweat, I realize we ain't in Colorado anymore !!

As soon as the show ends we all agree to find A/C -

Two hours has long since passed and DH runs down to get fastpasses for Rock n' Roller Coaster.

We meet back up at The Animation Station. We watch this funny little show about The Mulan Dragon and see some clips of characters being made. Afterwards we walk through and look at a display of all our favorite characters from the movie UP.

Little Russell:


Storyboard:



Dug:



The kids then play around on the screens making their own designs:



I notice that at the top of the room is Fro-zone and he is all alone. We run up the stairs and get a pic with him.

Here we are the Orange Family



Next, I decide it is time to get in line to meet the characters from UP :
Just as we go to enter the line- it is a 30 minute break... crap... I know that if we leave this building now we will never come back... so I urge my DH to hang out and wait. We then end up getting in to a drawing session. We end up drawing a sleepy Donald Duck. At the end - I don't know what my kids drew - My Donald Duck looked like he had smoked crack.... And my DH's looked awesome.... (geeky engineer )

When we get done drawing the line has begun again for Up.. We get in line and wait and wait.... about 90 minutes... I can't believe I am doing this....
We get up and HOORAY.... all three characters have stayed !!!



It is now 3:00 - Oh my gosh .... we are starved... and where did the afternoon go ? We decide to get back on the boat and head back to the beach club for Beaches n' Cream.

We arrive and only have a 15 minute wait for a table.



For my appetizer Onion Rings, DH gets the chili. Both are great - we are so hungry at this point. The kids eat crackers while we wait for the main course.
DH orders the burger and I order the Beef sandwich. Both kids get a boring hot dog. Everything was great.

Here are some pictures of the inside :



I loved the lights:





For desert ( the most important part !!)
Dh ordered a brownie sundae:


I ordered a No Way Jose'- this is my reason for life !



And my kids ordered the mickey mouse sundae : It was very cute, they even took the stem from the cherry and stuck it in the back to make a tail !!



After we finish our sugar high, my DH says he will head back to the room with my DD and let her rest for a little while. My son and I stay behind, to settle up the bill. We get back to room and both DH and DD are crashed out... snoring and everything... I can't believe it ! It had only be 20 minutes maybe. I then convince DS that he needs to rest a little too. Once they are all quitely resting I leave the room to take a stroll around the property.

cont'd - property pics........

[Turtle31]

I head slowly out the door taking it all in : I still can't believe we own a part of this. As I begin my walk, I take a picture of probably one of the most photographed spots.



Looking to my left : This is the Solarium from the outside:



Inside the Solarium: ( This is inside the main building.)- The TV is huge





This is the hallway that leads from the Solarium to the greater part of the Main Buliding:





When you make a right off of the long hallway you end up in the Grand Lobby :





Here are random shots taken of the outdoors:













After I am done with my relaxing walk I head back to the room to wake them back up !! Moaning and groaning they get up and we head back to Hollywood Studios for extra magic hours !!

No one is hungry at this point so we decide we are going to wing it with dinner. Eating late at Beaches n' Cream has made us a little off on the dinner.
We immediatly ride Toy Story Mania and Rock n' Roller Coaster with our fastpasses from earlier. My DD can't ride Rock n' Roller Coaster so this takes a little more time. But my son gets to ride it twice - he is a little nervous but ends up loving it just like last year.
On the way back down the street we stop at the outside counterservice place and eat nuggets and fries - I make a mental note - we are deluxe dining and eating nuggets ( we will try to avoid this at all costs in future !)

After eating we head over and watch The Journey of The Little Mermaid. One of my favorites. Just across the way at Play House Disney on Stage we notice - there is a party going on !! They are pumping the music loud and all kinds of characters are in there dancing. This was a pleasant surprise.

Streamers and bubbles are dropping from the ceiling :



Characters we missed throughout the day are here too :




Over in the far right corner they have three Cast Members making balloons for everyone - FREE !!

I decide to get this lovely Mickey Hat : Minnie dances the chicken dance with me !!



My dear kids decide to get Swords:



We stay here dancing until after midnight : Mickey and Minnie close down the party... Another wonderful day !!!




Day 3 : Epcot

[kid-at-heart]

Love the orange shirts! I think it is great that your shirts are all the same color but they do not match. I have seen family groups all wearing the same shirts and on some of the folks the shirts look good and on other family members, not so. I do believe you may have hit upon a perfect solution to identify you as a family, same color, different styles.

[mom2rb]

I'm having a love/hate thing with your trip report. I love it because I can't wait until my next trip. I hate it because I have sixty-three more days until my next trip. Seeing all your pictures is making me want to go NOW.

[JFrey4240]

I am really enjoying your trip report! We'll be at BCV on Tuesday and can't wait. Can't wait to read more!

[Maribel]

I'll be in BCV from July 12th to the 19th in a 2 bedroom villa. I'm enjoying your report in anticipation of things to come. I haven't seen recent trip reports on BCV so thanks for sharing.

[Ciciwoowoo]

What a fun trip report to read!

[wdwlver]

Love your trip report!!!

Can't wait to get there!

[Checkers]

Thanks for sharing your fun! I just love all the little nooks and crannies where you can sit and relax. Your pictures are great and I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your vacation.

[kmermaid]

Love the pics! We are heading back to our home on the 13th! Your pics are getting me syched

[Turtle31]

Originally Posted by mom2rb

I'm having a love/hate thing with your trip report. I love it because I can't wait until my next trip. I hate it because I have sixty-three more days until my next trip. Seeing all your pictures is making me want to go NOW.

I am glad you are love/hating it My pictures are making me want to go back now also.... maybe we could all just move there forever!

Originally Posted by JFrey4240

I am really enjoying your trip report! We'll be at BCV on Tuesday and can't wait. Can't wait to read more!

Lucky you - Say HI to Mickey for me !!

Originally Posted by Maribel

I'll be in BCV from July 12th to the 19th in a 2 bedroom villa. I'm enjoying your report in anticipation of things to come. I haven't seen recent trip reports on BCV so thanks for sharing.

I may have to buy more points so I can enjoy the one-bedroom villa one day. I think the huge hot tub in-room would be great. But then I wonder if I would ever have time to use it !!

Originally Posted by Ciciwoowoo

What a fun trip report to read!

Originally Posted by wdwlver

Love your trip report!!!

Can't wait to get there!

Thanks for letting me know you are enjoying it... I am having a lot of fun thinking of all the little things.

Originally Posted by Checkers

Thanks for sharing your fun! I just love all the little nooks and crannies where you can sit and relax. Your pictures are great and I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your vacation.

I was amazed at how may areas the resort has to just sit and relax. It was very cute how there were little chairs and couches everywhere for the kids too.

Originally Posted by kmermaid

Love the pics! We are heading back to our home on the 13th! Your pics are getting me syched

I hope you all have a Magical Time !!

[El&Asmom]

Great report. We just went to BCV for the first time in April and of course loved it. Though we haven't met a DVC resort yet that we haven't loved.

Enjoy your trip. The pictures are bringing back great memories.

[Turtle31]

Day 3- Epcot

We have a adr for breakfast this morning at The Princess Storybook Breakfast in Norway. We get up at about 8:30 and start to get ready to go. I am having a hard time breathing this morning when I wake up and have to use my nebulizer for my asthma before we leave. I am little bit disappointed with this because when we visited last in August I experienced complete relief from my asthma. I was hoping this year would give me the same blessing but it did not happen that way.
Once we are all ready we head out the front of the main lobby and down this walk way to Epcot.





It was unreal, we were inside Epcot in minutes. My DH takes off to get fastpasses for Soarin', and the kids and I begin walking slowly along taking pictures all the way. It was so nice to be able to stroll along and take pictures with out almost anyone around.

It was so humid, I didn't realize at first the camera fogged up !


The Rose and Crown





We finally make it all the way to Norway. DH is still off getting fastpasses so we wait to check in for breakfast. While we wait we go inside the little shop and end up buying a Jasmine crown and a stuffed Jasmine doll holding a baby tiger (the stuffed plushes were 50 % off). My son keeps a record of how much I spend on DD - because he is spending all his money on disney racers and the lego store.
Once DH gets back we check in at the podium and are seated just shortly after. My DD first has her picture taken with Belle.







After we get to the table and I have taken a few photos something seems to be off with the camera. I ask DH who is running the camcorder to take a look. He tells me that when I threw the camera in my bag the dial on it changed and it was on the wrong setting. The first pics I took were all destroyed - I was so mad ! I will continue to curse the camera through out the trip ! I knew I should have just bought one - but I want a really nice one so I have to save my pennies for a while.

IMHO - the Norway breakfast is by far the best place to see the princesses. We were so lucky even Cinderella is here this morning. We also got to meet Sleeping Beauty,Ariel, and Snow White. All my daughters favorites.





The breakfast food here is really good. Our waitress brought us Orange Juice and drinks very quickly. When she asked if we had dined here before, we told her we had last August with a nice man named Frank as our server. She said she was actually trained by Frank and he had returned home about two months ago. She said that a whole group she had come with 12 months earlier was all leaving at once, it was going to leave Disney in a bind because of so many trained people leaving at once. She decided to stay another 6 months and was really enjoying her travels. She was very pleasant.
At this breakfast a hot plate with sausage,bacon,scrambled eggs and Potato Casserole was brought to the table. They could serve just the potato and I would be okay ! There is also a cold self-serve bar. It includes many pastries, yogurt,cinnamon rolls,and biscuits with fresh jelly and fruit.
After breakfast we head outside - wow it is hot already... Our first ride is the Maelstrom, it was our first time doing this.. it was funny but I won't give anything away ! After the short boat ride we watch the movie about Norway and afterwards exit into this shop.



I am wishing I could just once be here at the right time to meet the guys from The Deadliest Catch ! But oh well can't have everything.

Thanks to my iphone and an awesome website I have the times and location of all the entertainment and characters at my fingertips. So we make our way around to some of the areas to meet some characters.



We meet Aurora in France, and Belle. Then we got to meet Jasmine and Aladdin.





This was my favorite picture:



After waiting in line to meet the characters and looking in a couple shops it was already time to head to France for lunch.

We are eating at Chef de la France. Right away my kids want to know... " Are there going to be characters ?" I tell them that there will be a surprise, so just behave !
We head into the resturant and order our appitizers and entrees. I got a salad first and then a hamburger and fries. I was not very adventurous, I know. But it was delicious anyway.
For desert Dh and I both ordered the assortment of seasonal sorbet.



Just as our deserts are served : Here comes the surprise. All through out lunch my family kept asking " What is the surprise?" Even DH was becoming impatient. He kept saying.. what if we finish before the surprise comes. It was so funny, they are the worst at waiting for anything.

Here is the surprise :



Remi comes right to our table. The french man who is with Remi is a riot. He asks Remi a series of questions and Remi shakes his head yes and no. It was so cool.





We all agreed that this was a very good lunch.

As we head outside we see a show is starting up : This was totally unexpected and so cool !







Afterwards Dh runs to go get fastpasses for Test Track and the kids and I get some water. It looks like weather is trying to brew up again.
Once we are back together we head for Japan to watch the drummers.



As the drummers take the stage the weather does not look good. One of the drummers raises his hand and screams at the sky. And they begin.



Unforunatly, the wind starts blowing hard and the rain starts. They are forced to end the show and we run into the shop for cover. We end up being stuck in the shop for about an hour. The rain then finally lets up enough that we are able to put on ponchos and convince DD to run with us to America.
We take cover inside and watch the Liberty Singers.



It was very nice. It was funny when they did the roll call, no-one from Wyoming... my hubby has two friends from there... I told him to drag them to Disney.
After the singing we watch The Show, it was nice to see the show since Hall of Presidents is closed for refurb DH got his educational fix here ! I tried like heck not to fall asleep....sorry... it was dark.. I was tired !!
When we are done the rain has almost completely stopped. We head over to The Land at this point to use our Soarin' fastpasses. This is one of my DH's favorites, among many. Next we ride The Living with the Land boat ... I always love looking for the fruit and veggies shaped like mickey.


cont'd