idratherbeinwdw
02-02-2006, 04:53 PM
Town car arrived right on time to pick me up to take me to Kennedy Airport, which is only about 10 minutes from my house on Long Island. I had printed boarding passes at home, and Jet Blue has a new area solely for people who got their passes online in advance. I was checked in in about 2 minutes, it was great! I brought my laptop and there was a free wifi area in the airport, so after I went through security I played around on my computer until it was time to go. The flight was uneventful, although it did leave about 20 minutes late.
Arrived in Orlando at about Noon. there was Sam my usual limo driver from Tiffany Town Car, waiting for me. Someday if I go without luggage I may try DME, but I am too much of a control freak to wait for luggage, and I don't like to leave the resort as early as DME wants you to, so for now I am sticking with the town car. I also like to make a grocery shop (and yes I know about wegoshop, but I llike to pick my own stuff). So we stopped at Publix, and I got to BWV at about 1:15. My room was not preassigned, and the cm at the front desk gave me a few choices. I really like the top floor, so I chose a 5th floor room. It was a preferred 1BR. (I booked it kinda late, would have rather had standard or bw, but oh well). This was the first time my room was to the left as you exited the elevator. It wasn't all the way at the end but it was about 3/4 of the way down the hall. The view from the room was Swan, Dolphin, mgm and crescent lake/canal. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/5012View.jpgI was a little disappointed, because the room had only one balcony, off the living room, none in the bedroom. But it didn't bother me enough to go ask for a change, I liked the location and the 5th floor. My bags arrived promptly, and after putting away the things that were perishable I rushed out to catch the first Off Kilter show of the day, which started at 2:30.
I just made it to the OK stage as the Boys were playing the first song. Much to my chagrin, one of the main members, Jamie the bagpiper, was not there. He had a stand in, a fiddler guy named Jason. Well at least my favorite member, the bass player with the phenomenal voice, was there, Mark. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/Mark.jpgThey did a great show, and afterwards I went to say hi to them. Since I go so often they recognized me and said hi, and asked how I was. BTW they recognize a LOT of people, half the show is spent nodding and smiling hello to various audience members. I recall when they were barely known, evidently their popularity is growing. I asked if Jamie would be out all week, and happily was told no, he'd be back tomorrow.
My plan was to see all 5 OK shows that day, but to take breaks and do a couple attractions as well. So I walked over to Soarin at 3 when the show ended and got a FP. Return time was 6-7. Then I walked back to BWV to unpack the rest of my stuff, eat some lunch and chill for a few. Before I knew it it was time for the 4PM OK show, so off I went. It was hot, weather in the low 80's, but not humid. Beautiful day. In fact it did not rain once the entire trip, that is definitely a first for me at WDW! Watched the 4 PM show, it ended at 4:30, the next was at 5:30. I looked around the canadian pavillion and the shops there for a little less than an hour, then went back to get a good seat for the next OK show. After the show I walked over to soarin to use the FP. I had ridden in CA and during the soft opening at WDW last year, as well as later in the year once it was officially opened, and I was looking forward to doing it again. I'd never been in the 3rd row before, and while of course I enjoyed myself I have to say the front row rocks! I don't like seeing the feet hanging down in front of me, it spoils the illusion. Plus there were 2 people who kept swinging their feet, which I found really distracting. If I could have reached I would have smacked them! :)
After soarin' it was back to--you guessed it! Off Kilter again. I was hoping to time it so I'd ride soarin and still make it back to the 6:30 OK show, and it worked out perfectly. As always they did a great job, but I did miss the bagpipes and the chemistry between Jamie (the piper) and Mark (the lead singer/bass player). The show ended a little before 7, and I walked over to the UK and looked at the shops there until 7:30, then went to see the last OK show of the day.
I had ressies at Shula's for 8:30. I went back to my room and put on my "business casual" slacks and then walked over to the Dolphin. I found it confusing to find the restaurant (this was my first trip to Shula's), because there is a sign with an arrow indicating restaurants, but when you follow that sign it takes you to other eateries in the Dolphin. I finally realized I had to go up an escalator to get to Shula's. Wow what a place! I was seated right away. They come around with a cart showing you the various steaks they have. The menu is printed both on a football (yes a real football) and in the usual way. The football was cute, but it was much easier to read the regular menu. My only complaint (other than it being uber dark in there!) was, unless you got the filet mignon, ALL the steaks were HUGE! I cannot possibly finish a 22 oz or bigger steak. But I wasn't in the mood for the filet mignon, so I got a 22 (or was it 24?) oz ribeye. It was pricey, and there was no way I could eat the whole thing, but boy it was sooooooooo good! I got the lobster bisque, which was also yummy, to start, and as a side a double cooked potato (baked potato, innards scraped out, cheese added, then put back in and cooked again with the cheese, really good). I did not feel in the least that I was overlooked or treated differently as a single person by the way, the staff was friendly and attentive. I was stuffed so I figured I would have dessert later in my villa.
I waddled back to BWV, and there was a really good magician/comedian on the boardwalk. I have seen him before, I don;t recall his name, but he wears a long checked purple coat if that helps anyone, LOL. He did a couple of cool tricks, the best being retrieving a $100 bill that was written on by a volunteer, out of the center of an apparently freshly cut orange. He also did a thing where he gets out of a strait jacket, and some card tricks.
Just before 10 I headed back to the villa and made myself a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream, using double chocolate brownie ice cream. I walk so much at WDW that I never watch my food intake there like I normally would. No matter how much I eat at WDW it seems I never gain weight. Then I put bubble bath in the jacuzzi and got comfy in there for a while. I always bring candles, so I lit them up and soaked for a while and relaxed. Hopped in the shower to get the soap off and then it was time for bed. The next morning I wanted to be at the MK for opening, so I called for a 7:30 wake up from the mouse. Fell asleep right away.
Wow this is getting long! I'll try to synopsize a bit more for the remainder of this report. To be continued! :beaniepro :blueflowe
Arrived in Orlando at about Noon. there was Sam my usual limo driver from Tiffany Town Car, waiting for me. Someday if I go without luggage I may try DME, but I am too much of a control freak to wait for luggage, and I don't like to leave the resort as early as DME wants you to, so for now I am sticking with the town car. I also like to make a grocery shop (and yes I know about wegoshop, but I llike to pick my own stuff). So we stopped at Publix, and I got to BWV at about 1:15. My room was not preassigned, and the cm at the front desk gave me a few choices. I really like the top floor, so I chose a 5th floor room. It was a preferred 1BR. (I booked it kinda late, would have rather had standard or bw, but oh well). This was the first time my room was to the left as you exited the elevator. It wasn't all the way at the end but it was about 3/4 of the way down the hall. The view from the room was Swan, Dolphin, mgm and crescent lake/canal. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/5012View.jpgI was a little disappointed, because the room had only one balcony, off the living room, none in the bedroom. But it didn't bother me enough to go ask for a change, I liked the location and the 5th floor. My bags arrived promptly, and after putting away the things that were perishable I rushed out to catch the first Off Kilter show of the day, which started at 2:30.
I just made it to the OK stage as the Boys were playing the first song. Much to my chagrin, one of the main members, Jamie the bagpiper, was not there. He had a stand in, a fiddler guy named Jason. Well at least my favorite member, the bass player with the phenomenal voice, was there, Mark. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/Mark.jpgThey did a great show, and afterwards I went to say hi to them. Since I go so often they recognized me and said hi, and asked how I was. BTW they recognize a LOT of people, half the show is spent nodding and smiling hello to various audience members. I recall when they were barely known, evidently their popularity is growing. I asked if Jamie would be out all week, and happily was told no, he'd be back tomorrow.
My plan was to see all 5 OK shows that day, but to take breaks and do a couple attractions as well. So I walked over to Soarin at 3 when the show ended and got a FP. Return time was 6-7. Then I walked back to BWV to unpack the rest of my stuff, eat some lunch and chill for a few. Before I knew it it was time for the 4PM OK show, so off I went. It was hot, weather in the low 80's, but not humid. Beautiful day. In fact it did not rain once the entire trip, that is definitely a first for me at WDW! Watched the 4 PM show, it ended at 4:30, the next was at 5:30. I looked around the canadian pavillion and the shops there for a little less than an hour, then went back to get a good seat for the next OK show. After the show I walked over to soarin to use the FP. I had ridden in CA and during the soft opening at WDW last year, as well as later in the year once it was officially opened, and I was looking forward to doing it again. I'd never been in the 3rd row before, and while of course I enjoyed myself I have to say the front row rocks! I don't like seeing the feet hanging down in front of me, it spoils the illusion. Plus there were 2 people who kept swinging their feet, which I found really distracting. If I could have reached I would have smacked them! :)
After soarin' it was back to--you guessed it! Off Kilter again. I was hoping to time it so I'd ride soarin and still make it back to the 6:30 OK show, and it worked out perfectly. As always they did a great job, but I did miss the bagpipes and the chemistry between Jamie (the piper) and Mark (the lead singer/bass player). The show ended a little before 7, and I walked over to the UK and looked at the shops there until 7:30, then went to see the last OK show of the day.
I had ressies at Shula's for 8:30. I went back to my room and put on my "business casual" slacks and then walked over to the Dolphin. I found it confusing to find the restaurant (this was my first trip to Shula's), because there is a sign with an arrow indicating restaurants, but when you follow that sign it takes you to other eateries in the Dolphin. I finally realized I had to go up an escalator to get to Shula's. Wow what a place! I was seated right away. They come around with a cart showing you the various steaks they have. The menu is printed both on a football (yes a real football) and in the usual way. The football was cute, but it was much easier to read the regular menu. My only complaint (other than it being uber dark in there!) was, unless you got the filet mignon, ALL the steaks were HUGE! I cannot possibly finish a 22 oz or bigger steak. But I wasn't in the mood for the filet mignon, so I got a 22 (or was it 24?) oz ribeye. It was pricey, and there was no way I could eat the whole thing, but boy it was sooooooooo good! I got the lobster bisque, which was also yummy, to start, and as a side a double cooked potato (baked potato, innards scraped out, cheese added, then put back in and cooked again with the cheese, really good). I did not feel in the least that I was overlooked or treated differently as a single person by the way, the staff was friendly and attentive. I was stuffed so I figured I would have dessert later in my villa.
I waddled back to BWV, and there was a really good magician/comedian on the boardwalk. I have seen him before, I don;t recall his name, but he wears a long checked purple coat if that helps anyone, LOL. He did a couple of cool tricks, the best being retrieving a $100 bill that was written on by a volunteer, out of the center of an apparently freshly cut orange. He also did a thing where he gets out of a strait jacket, and some card tricks.
Just before 10 I headed back to the villa and made myself a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream, using double chocolate brownie ice cream. I walk so much at WDW that I never watch my food intake there like I normally would. No matter how much I eat at WDW it seems I never gain weight. Then I put bubble bath in the jacuzzi and got comfy in there for a while. I always bring candles, so I lit them up and soaked for a while and relaxed. Hopped in the shower to get the soap off and then it was time for bed. The next morning I wanted to be at the MK for opening, so I called for a 7:30 wake up from the mouse. Fell asleep right away.
Wow this is getting long! I'll try to synopsize a bit more for the remainder of this report. To be continued! :beaniepro :blueflowe