Short trip, relatively short report!

[bavaria]

Note that this was a VERY last minute trip - I booked a flight and hotel on Thursday for departure Friday ie about 24 hours of planning time for the entire trip!

Planes, trains and automobiles :coolcar: – better left forgotten! My flight was the only US bound flight to leave that afternoon as the other flights were cancelled due to bad weather at the arrival location. I’ve already noted my National experience (lack of cars) on the transportation board, as well as the 45-minute wait for security at MCO on my return flight
http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2145

Weather :sunny: – brrr! Luckily I added a pair of jeans and a jacket to my suitcase last minute, as I needed them all but the last day; jeans, polo and a jacket were not enough in the evenings. I still ended up with bad sunburn. Although I was wearing a jacket, I was also wearing a shirt which left some more delicate parts exposed. Lesson learned!

Dining :chef: – I had made no ADR’s prior to departure, but was able to get a table by calling Dining each day. This was a surprise as it was Spring Break, but CMs tell me that a two top is still relatively easy to get if one is somewhat flexible. See my report on Raglan Road lunch menu on the dining board. I did go for some of my old favourites this trip, including my favourite lunch from the Mara (white bean hummus, pita chips, and zebra domes to take away)
http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2265

Accommodation :catchingz – I stayed at BWV for the first time in years, and now have a problem. I was all set to add on more OKW points, but now I may need to do a BWV add on instead!!! Room was in great shape and perfect location overlooking the main pool

The parks :doublejum – I chose to focus on Epcot and AK as it was a short trip. While it was still peak season, these parks were relatively quiet. I did venture to MK one afternoon and found the crowds – the FP line to Buzz wound outside the building.

I took some time this trip to enjoy some of my favourite rides (see my guide to riding EE for chickens on the Theme Park board).http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2326 I also just wandered around, enjoying the sights, including

Watching Devine and the ‘painters’ at AK
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/Photo_2006_4_3_23_2_56_edited.jpg
Finally found the hidden Mickey in the train village – had a ‘duh’ moment as it’s taken me years to find this one
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/bavariabavaria/Photo_2006_4_3_23_5_32_edited.jpg
Locating the rather noisy relatives of Greenban in the pond outside the Temple of Heaven in China
Visiting my old friends in the horse barn at Fort Wilderness
Completing ‘homework assignments’ for other board members (a great way to learn more about WDW!)


Overall it was a very pleasant, albeit short visit. I am no longer afraid to visit during peak season, as I have learned to use FP and focus on the entertainment and other less stressful activities.

[withdisneyspirit]

Thank you, Bavaria! I love trip reports of any length:jumpingbe

Now, I'm off to read your Raglan Rd lunch review:yummy:

[AFMom]

Sounds like you had a great time! Sometimes the unplanned trips turn out the best! I love the pictures - thank you.....
Ya know - I have some of Greenbanned's relatives outside my kitchen window lately..................They are loud!

[PoohsPal]

Great report Bavaria!! The length goes well with my surrent attention span, but still has soem great nuggets of info!

Glad you had a great trip!

[Rozzie]

so happy to hear the horse barn is still open for guests in FW. DH has never been to it, and I haven't been in years and years.

Thanks for the report---- And for the location of that darn hidden mickey, I always had trouble with it also!

ITA about peak season, I ain't scared either anymore!!:tongue:

[Colorado Belle]

Enjoyed your trip report Bavaria....esp the hidden mickey photo! thanks
How long were your flights? (for me, longer flights= more recovery time)

[bavaria]

CB, it takes me about 9 hours to get to WDW :yuck: and yet I do it several times a year!!! (that's why I try and plan my trips as add-ons to work trips when I am in the Southeast)

But my body has become very resilient to flying and time changes at least!!

Rozzie, the horse barn is still there but with a lot of signage telling guests not to pet or feed the horses, and I never see horses turned out when guests can touch them anymore. (I will admit though that I can't resist, so if you ever see a woman blowing into horses nostrils or scratching them, that's probably me!!!)

oh! one thing I did forget - there are now signs in the washrooms telling one how to wash ones hands, courtesy of Brawny towels (I guess that they are a new sponsor). Just in case any of you don't know how to wash your hands..... :scary:

[jiggerj]

I loved your report bavaria! :thumbsup: and of course the pics too- I am glad your enjoyed the BWV's Did you get a chance to check out the night time activities on the Boardwalk?

[KNWVIKING]

I envy those that get to take spur-of-the-moment trips. My "spur" equals 11 months.

Thanx for the report.

[ErinC]

Great report! I would love to be able to do spur of the moment trips, but that probably won't happen for a very long time. The weather got a little chilly that weekend. I had to break out my jeans too! Hate that I didn't know you were there at the same time as us, and wandering around DD too!

[mssparrrow]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! Glad you had a good time!

[Stimpy]

Thanks for the report Bavaria!

You are causing me some stress now though ;) I finally convinced myself that we were going to keep our ressies at BCV for November instead of trying to switch to BWV since we haven't stayed in the Villas there yet. Now I'm back to the should we or shouldn't we switch??!! And tomorrow is the day I would have to start calling. I'll be driving the rest of tha family crazy again trying to get them to commit an answer to me :)


About Ft Wilderness, we haven't been there in a long time and I thought I read somewhere that they stopped doing pony rides and the petting zoo closed? Is that still the case? Thanks!

[Ginger]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had a great time.

[bavaria]

Stimpy, sorry can't help with the BCV vs BWV decision! I thought that I had myself convinced, but look what happenend!! But then again, we do still have another 35 years to try all of the resorts.

Re Fort Wilderness: almost 100 horses still live at FW, doing all sorts of jobs (trail rides, pony rides, pulling the carriages at the resorts and in the parades, and Main St transportation)

The petting zoo is closed - there are a few goats and miniature horses there now, but the fear of disease (e coli transmission and foot and mouth) probably put an end to the larger petting zoo.

The pony rides are still there. Cost is a few dollars ($3 maybe?) for children up to 80 lbs. Note that a parent/adult (not a CM) must lead the pony; I have seen many fearful parents over the years so I do point this out!

FW is an overlooked place for down time, in my book. There is a lot to do and see: boat ride over from MK or VWL, finding the 'lawnmower' tree, lunch or dinner at Trail's End, Hoop dee Doo, campfire and movies, visiting the horses, watching the farrier shoe horses, pony rides, watching the peacocks, walk along the beach, etc etc etc.

And the guests with trailer homes have the most amazing assortment of holiday decorations I have ever seen - I believe that they compete with each other every year, and are a community similar to our DVC community.

Enjoy!

[bavaria]

Erin, sorry I missed you! Your 'live from the Lodge' report was one of the reasons why I had a hankering to go!

JiggerJ, I saw the magician on the BW - he was great, sort of a 1880's peddlar routine selling his cureall potion. The kids were very cute and it was a great show... definitely worth watching and he had a very large under 8 crowd.

[carolina_yankee]

Thanks for the post and the pics - especially of the HIdden Mickey in the model train display. I've spent way too much time looking.

Now, I need to make sure I find DeVine this trip . . .

Dirk

[mushu]

thanks for reporting

[lllovell]

Your trip sounds like one I hope to be able to take one day (when we are childless and FINALLY able to do WDW alone!!!). I am not a huge planner when we are there other than one or two meals in advance and maybe a quick check of the calendars to see which parks which days...the rest we decide as we are going along and so far it has worked well.

While I enjoy going to WDW VERY VERY much, I would make myself crazy if I planned like some do here. (but then - they would go nuts if they DIDN'T plan everything huh?)

Thanks for sharing Bavaria!

Laura

[jnrrt]

Thanks for the report, Bavaria!

I was also surprised on our trip how good it was with very little planning and at a peak time - I guess we're just experts ;) !

I am jealous, though, I've never found DeVine - I have to do that next time!

[CRSNDSNY]

bavaria -- thanks for the report and pictures. Sounds like fun to plan a trip like that at the last minute and just wing it! SO glad it worked out for you.

Do you eat at Mara a lot? What are some of your other favorites to eat here? The white bean hummus sounds great....thinking about stopping by here on our next visit.

[bavaria]

Do you eat at Mara a lot? What are some of your other favorites to eat here? The white bean hummus sounds great....thinking about stopping by here on our next visit.

I acutally like to eat at the Mara after a morning at AK. Since I only like Tusker House inside that park, it's a short detour to AKL. And I find that the resort is very quiet during the day; if you go out back to animal watch, the game spotters are usually bored and will spend a lot of time with the kids, explaining things and playing games with them.

The Mara used to serve fairly standard fare; a few years ago I suggested that they add some of the items from teh Boma buffet such as my favourite white bean hummus (it's actually red in colour; tastes pretty similar to Wild Garden brand Jalapeno flavour - made offsite, and not by WDW). Hummus and pita chips, plus zebra domes/chocolate mousse squares make a very large lunch and enough for leftovers to be put in the fridge back at my room.

The nice thing about the Mara is that you can sit outside near the pool and eat lunch, and then spend some time wandering around the resort. If you make it a late lunch, you could do the food tour of the resort (free) at 4pm (I think that it still runs)

[CRSNDSNY]

Wow! That sounds really great. I think we're going to try this....get some food and perhaps take it back to our villa.

Thanks for the idea!