Sue's May BWV Trip - Day 1 of 5

[wdw1972]

DAY 1 – Friday 5/23/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member

Plan: Work, Drive to WDW, Spoodles, Epcot

Actual: I wasn’t in the mood to be at work AT ALL today, and left at 11:45 for a change! The news had been reporting that AAA was saying traffic would be light this holiday weekend since gas prices were so high, and it really was lighter except right near WDW. I made excellent time, and decided to stop at the outlets first since someone had recently reported seeing DVC member merchandise there.

They have a new parking garage here, which is a good thing. It’s quite a hike from the stores, which could be a bad thing. The entrance was right near the Character Premiere though, so it could have been far worse! I looked around but didn’t see a single dvc item, and nothing else really caught my eye except for this one display they had just finished stocking. It had frames on one side but the other side had framed 4-parks coin sets. There was a photo, along with 4 silver-colored coins, one from each park. I thought one of my department heads would like it, so I now have the first “work” Christmas gift out of the way!

I headed back to the garage after buying the coin set, as I don’t come to WDW to shop at outlets I can find anywhere. As usual, it was a pain getting out of there, and even worse at the end of the road where it’s always backed up. Whoever designed this place really didn’t provide for the volume of people who would be leaving and heading towards I-4.

Once I was on Disney property I knew I would not be leaving again until I left to go to work on Wednesday. The security person at the Boardwalk resorts was terrific – very friendly, smiling, and she said “welcome home” twice. How unlike Sgt York or whatever the power-trip guy is called over at Saratoga, lol! I found a close parking space, but that’s really a relative term since the entire parking lot is miles from the front entrance! But, I don’t have the patience to wait for valet to bring my car up, and after having to wait a long time for my luggage (from bell services) last year I will drag my own stuff up from the parking lot. Maybe it was the laptop plus the gallon jug of water, but my stuff weighed a ton! I also had a birthday gift bag, which got partially mangled. I stopped about 3 times going up the hill to switch hands, and then finally arrived in a sweaty mess at the check-in counter. I had a short wait, so I fanned myself and tried not to drip on the pretty floor.

The cm checking me in was also very nice, and when she saw my room was way at the end of the hall she looked to see if there was anything closer. I told her if there was, fine but if not it won’t kill me to walk. She did find a room a bit closer – it’s right near where the hallways split off, instead of being next to Jelly Rolls. I asked about the guest laundry, and she said she thought ours was closed for renovations. Yuck – normally I don’t need to do laundry, but after I get home from this trip on Wednesday I leave Friday to go see SB – and I have plans for 1 of the 2 nights I’ll be home. She did say if I have to use the laundry on the Inn side, to stop at the front desk and they’ll reimburse me since dvc members don’t pay. I did ask her about the free internet – specifically whether guests using my points when I’m not present would get it for free. She said they’re told to tell us it’s only for the member, but she also said she thinks they have no way of knowing/checking and any reservation made with points would get it free.

When I got up to the studio, I was pleased to see it is a dedicated studio. This means there is no connecting door to a 1br villa (or any other unit), and in that space there’s a small daybed. I don’t need the daybed, but I’m thrilled to not have the connecting door! My balcony overlooks the carnival games out on the boardwalk, and I have a clear view of Spaceship Earth when I’m in bed. I unpacked & go settled, then decided to try this internet thing!

At first I couldn’t get on, but when I called I learned my information just hadn’t crossed over yet. At no time did anyone ask who I was, or ask for any member numbers or other numbers. So, I think the front desk cm is right – if it’s a points reservation, whoever is in that room will get the internet for free. I know some people out there are thinking it should only be the actual member, but I totally disagree. I don’t “get” the need to be superior over non-members, and that’s just how it comes across when I read some of the posts. Where I feel superior is on the last day when instead of having to pay $400/night for this studio I pay nothing, lol!

It was just after 4 and I have a reservation at Spoodles for 5:05 so I decided to just hang out in the studio for a while. It was getting dark, then I heard lots of thunder, and finally it started to pour. I was glad to be inside! Hopefully by the time I finish dinner it will have finished raining. If not, I can listen to SB’s game since his team plays at 6 tonight.

I updated the report and dealt with some work stuff, then headed for Spoodles shortly before 5. The rain was letting up, but it was incredibly humid and sticky outside. This is always my first trip of the year where I have miserable uncomfortable weather. It’ll be like this until the late Food & Wine trip!

to be continued...

[wdw1972]

continued...

Spoodles had their doors open, so I went inside and checked in, then waited for them to start seating at 5. While I was waiting a family with 2 kids in a stroller arrived – one fine, one a screecher (not crying, just making obnoxious noise). I was seated at a table for 2 near the open kitchen, and chose the seat to look at the rest of the restaurant. This is a noisy place, but that’s ok – it’s restaurant noise and very appropriate. I could hear a screamer shout out every so often, sometimes followed by what sounded like an adult shushing him. There had to have been at least a dozen kids in high chairs or just past high chair age in the restaurant, and all were perfectly behaved except for this one who just penetrated the ears of everyone in the place. There’s really no excuse for the parents to have not taken him out of there.

My server was very nice, but shortly after I was seated a party of 12 was seated at the big table next to me and that was in her station as well. That meant that after I placed my order I never saw her again until I was finished eating. I never got the bread that I saw being delivered to other tables, either. While I had her she was great, but it wasn’t smart to give her a 12-top so soon after they put me in her section. The party of 12 included 5 or 6 small kids, all of whom were quiet – I never heard a peep from that table! One of the servers did have to bring 2 of them back to the table and tell the adults that the kids could not play in the walkway – what is wrong with parents these days?? I’m glad he did something about it – that sorta surprised me since this is Disney we’re talking about lol!

I ordered a glass of pinot grigio (I like their sangria but refuse to pay $7.95 for that). The tomato buffalo mozzarella panzanella (or something like that) was my plan, and I toyed with the idea of the greek salad as well – thinking the panzanella was small. My server thought 2 salads wasn’t the best idea, and said the panzanella wasn’t very big. I decided to try the lamb kebab appetizer instead, since I’d thought about that whenever I’d looked at the menu online.

Pretty soon the tomato & mozzarella panzanella thing came, and it was quite large in my opinion. It had a couple of herbed crouton bread things, along with 3 large pieces of tomato (about ¾ of a tomato), 3 large pieces of mozzarella, and a little bit of field greens. It was absolutely delicious, and I’ll be back for this again! The lamb kabobs came very quickly, and it was a plate with some cold couscous (yuck) and 2 small lamb kabobs. I tried a bite, didn’t like it, tried another bite, didn’t like it, and pushed the plate aside. It was all I could do to eat the panzanella, and I wasn’t about to waste stomach space on the lamb! I ate every last bite of the panzanella, and when my server stopped by I let her know I was finished.

She offered to take the lamb off my check, even though I told her there was nothing wrong with I other than me not liking it. I appreciated her taking it off the check, though – that was a nice surprise (and at $8.99 it saved me quite a bit). I gave her my DDE card and room key, and after she was gone for a while she came back and said the room key wasn’t working. I gave her cash, then headed upstairs to the front desk to see what was going on. The cast member there couldn’t see any reason why it didn’t work, but she printed me a new key anyway.

On my way in I’d stopped at Bellevue Lounge and got a wineglass from the bartender, so I went up to the studio to drop that off and get my sunglasses since it was now sunny outside. With the sun came the heat – it was really HOT walking to Epcot! I decided to ride Test Track, since I was already feeling like a mess. I figured the wind in my hair couldn’t do any more damage today, at least. The single rider line was posted as 15 minutes, and it was probably almost that long. But, I didn’t have anywhere I needed to be yet, so I figured what the hell. It was fun, but the people in the back row were saying it wasn’t worth the 40-minute wait they had. I would tend to agree with that assessment!

After Test Track I headed out to World Showcase, starting on the Mexico side. In Germany I went to Sommerfest and saw they sold wine there so I ordered a glass plus a cup of ice. I should have just got the ice and then went to the wine store as the wine here wasn’t as good as what I get at the store. I wandered over to the USA and saw a very small crowd for the Gary Puckett concert. There was 10 minute to wait, and I got a really good seat right in the center. It filled up more by 7pm, but there was plenty of seating even at the last minute.

The concert was good – again, I recognized most of the songs. I think I listened to him last year and enjoyed it, too. I didn’t enjoy it as much as BJ Thomas’ concerts, or David Cassidy’s last Food & Wine Festival. I also noticed they don’t have Mary as the voice of Epcot anymore – some male voice does the announcements. What’s up with that???

When the concert ended I decided to leave – I just didn’t feel the desire to catch the next show, unlike when I saw BJ last month. Plus, SB’s only night game this weekend is tonight, so I wanted to catch the end of that. On the way out I stopped at the bakery in France, and for once the line wasn’t out the door! I got a crème brulee and a chocolate chip cookie, and brought them both back to the resort. I was surprised the crème brulee is only $3.50 – that’s a bargain!

It was a warm, sticky but quick walk back to the Boardwalk. It’s so nice being so convenient! Up in the studio I put the crème brulee in the fridge, found SB’s game online, and worked on the report. Just before 9 I took the crème brulee and sat out on the balcony to watch the fireworks from Illuminations. I was surprised when I went outside – it was so noisy out there from the people down below. When I’m inside with the door closed you’d never know anybody is out there at all! I’m right above some outdoor seating for Big River Grill, which is where I was on my very first BWV stay many years ago. It was still warm, but it was beautiful with the lights reflecting on the water. Unfortunately with the noise outside I couldn’t hear the rest of SB’s game very well. I did bring my really long internet cable (25 feet or so – thanks for the tip Donna), so I can take the laptop on the balcony, on the bed, and even into the bathroom (although that is totally not going to happen, lol).

Where else but at WDW can I be struggling to listen to SB’s game while watching fireworks and hearing a piano player on a bicycle playing songs down below?? The fireworks were pretty, and the crème brulee was tasty but so filling. I really should have done without that, but it sounded good at the time & doesn’t keep overnight in the fridge. I posted the report, talked to SB for a while, then turned in at a reasonable hour.

Tomorrow I’ll probably head to Animal Kingdom for extra magic hour, figuring I can ride Primeval Whirl and then do the safari before going over to Epcot. The backup plan is Magic Kingdom if I don’t get out in time for an 8am park opening!

[AZeno]

Wow. I'm exhausted and hungry :hahahaha:


You did seem to get a lot in for one day, and the studio view sounds fantastic.

[hallyho]

Great trip report. Keep'em coming.
Makes me anticipate my trip in three weeks even more.
Bobbi

[CRSNDSNY]

Busy day! Sounds like you got a nice room.

The tomato & mozzarella panzanella is making my mouth water...I really enjoyed it in Dec.

[disneyfreak89]

I did ask her about the free internet – specifically whether guests using my points when I’m not present would get it for free. She said they’re told to tell us it’s only for the member, but she also said she thinks they have no way of knowing/checking and any reservation made with points would get it free.

At first I couldn’t get on, but when I called I learned my information just hadn’t crossed over yet. At no time did anyone ask who I was, or ask for any member numbers or other numbers. So, I think the front desk cm is right – if it’s a points reservation, whoever is in that room will get the internet for free.

Thanks for asking Sue :D I feel much better now.

Great report so far! Looking forward to tomorrow! :teleport: