Our 1st/2nd/3rd/4th trip to the 'World, kinda sorta, May 11 - 18, Boardwalk Inn

The Cast is:

Returning for a second time: Me, the trip planner extraordinaire (or also you could call me the "hook up").
Returning for a third time: My Mom (the first time was just two half days in the parks, she went with my stepdad on a conference visit with his work and they stayed at the Dolphin)
Returning for the fourth time (we think): My Stepdad. He's been three times prior, he thinks, and after visiting the Grand he recalled he had indeed stayed there for a couple of nights for work, and also the Dolphin and probably the Contemporary. Apparently these work trips are work afterall- WHO could stay at the Grand and not REMEMBER? LOL. Anyway, he had only been to the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT parks, and this was his first vacation to WDW.
Arriving for her first time ever: My Grandma (aka Great Grandma or GGMA for short).

Flew via: United (boo-hiss), took advatage of DME to and from the airport

Transportation: just Disney's free transportation

Stayed at: The Boardwalk Inn. We had a deluxe room, these rooms are all club level.

Pre-Getting There:
As I shared on the boards, this trip was a short planned event. It sprang out of the fact that me/DH/my kids/my sister/my mom all went to WDW back in Jan/Feb for our first trip ever! We did a split stay- just me and my family at the Cabins for 5 nights, then switched to a 2 BR Villa at Kidani Village (AKL). I went back and forth with my mom (grandma)- and she insisted, just insisted, she thought 4 nights/5 days was plenty. She had been once before and stayed at the Dolphin for a three night trip. This was a business trip with my stepdad at a big banking conference thing and they only went to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. She was convinced, prior to February, that she did NOT want to see DHS at all. I got tired of arguing, and with the way all things worked out, really wanted part of the trip for "just us" anyway. I have done DLR with big big groups and the bigger the group the more hectic and stressful things can get. So, 4 days it was. And I did a lot of planning for that trip- ADRS and a general itinerary for each park and a day by day plan. Everyone really enjoyed the resort we stayed at, the parks, and the dining arrangments.

Well, my mom loved it so much.... they decided to use the week vacation they had in May to go back! While this was in the deciding stages, they mentioned it to my hubby at a dinner and he said "take my wife and save money"! It was a bizarre thought at first. I honestly have (still) only hopes to be able to maybe plan a return trip MAYBE in December of next year... if... DH still has his job (he works for a TWDC affiliate). His industry has constant turnover and change, so I can't get my hopes up, but the discounts are what really helped our first trip even happen. Anyway, my parents warmed to the idea and I figured that YES indeed I could manage a week away from the DH & kids. Shortly thereafter, my Grandma (GGMA) was asked to go and she was up for it. Back story is that a year ago :crying: in February, while we were in Disneyworld in fact, marked the 1 year of my grandpa's passing. My Grandpa was always extremely phobic of airplanes from his time in the service in WWII and he refused to fly. All their vacations over the year were driving or train. So, though they made it to Branson, MO a few times, and DLR... WDW was out of the question.

I'm so so glad that my Grandma got to come. It made the trip really special, and I am even crying as I write this. She's nearing 80 and has had quite a few health issues to navigate over the years- both knees, and needs two surgeries- she needs a hip replacement and cataracts removed. She had to move out of the home she was in for close to 20 years after my grandpa passed because even though it was just a double-wide mobile home, it was more than she could keep up with on her own. She was always a knitter and crocheter but has had to give those things up because of pretty bad arthritis, and more recently neuropathy in her hands and feet secondary to her Diabetes. She has to take insulin now for the diabetes. My point is, things are harder for her now in life, and I've already had to say goodbye to all of my grandparents, she's the last one I have left. I was also glad not to be a 3rd wheel and to have some extra company.

So, my parents went back and forth deciding where to stay. Ultimately, between my Stepdad really wanting a view of the water and a balcony and two TVs (LOL), my mom wanting a pretty view, and my insisting that we not stay at a super spread out resort for Grandma (was a good call, far better call than they realized), the deluxe room at the Boardwalk Inn was the perfect fit. At first my mom was upset that we were "paying" for concierge level and "more food". I had a sneaking suspicion that the breakfast just down the hall would come in handy- see I made the mistake of making my grandma wait for breakfast once and that was all it took for me to learn! Don't mess with a diabetic's breakfast! Turned out, breakfast was PERFECT.

Ok, less rambling. Bottomline, we flew direct from SFO to MCO via United. I was not impressed. In Jan/Feb we flew Southwest (for $212 per person round trip btw!!!) and I was fine. I don't fly often and have almost always flown SW. Their deal is a no-frills, low cost type of service. I thought United would be more upscale. WRONG. Their seats were so cramped. They offered free drink service, but not a single snack- no even peanuts. Not on a 5+ or almost 6 hour flight. They charge extra baggage. We left 3 hours later, since it was direct, but arrived at virtually the same time in MCO. Hungrier and out of more money (ok, I was super cheap and just fit all my stuff into my carryon's to avoid checking a bag and extra fees). TBH, I didn't have the luxury of spending more out of pocket other than just for my flight, dining plan and part of tips. If we go back, I think we'll just go with a stop over and save $ and have more foot space.

Day 1: So we arrived in MCO on Saturday May 11 around 5:45. Made our way to DME, and I was still explaining that we really DID NOT have to claim our bags and that YES, Disney REALLY WOULD bring them to us. To our room even. We didn't wait long, maybe 5 minutes to board DME, and we had our 4 parties loaded on pretty quick, and within 10 minutes we were off to the 'World! We lucked out, The Boardwalk was the first stop on our DME bus. We were greeted at the front door, I gave my last name, and we were escorted up to to the 4th floor concierge desk. They had all our info printed out and were ready to go. We had requested 4th floor. My research had lead me to understand that there are 10 deluxe rooms total at BWI, half on the 4th floor and half on the 3rd floor. For ease of getting around, we had requested 4th floor. We got room #4255, the first deluxe room on the left immediately past the Innkeeper's club door. The Steeplechase suite was just two doors down.

Our Room: It was nearly identical to photos online. It has a mini-fridge and coffee service. A fullsize closet, the standard bathroom but with the separate double vanity. There were two Queen beds and the front part of the room was similar in layout to a standard room. Where the far wall of the room normally would have been was where the "extra" part came in. There was a 2nd flat screen tv on the wall, a full size sofa-sleeper and a cushioned sitting chair, plus a coffee table, end table and lamp. It was a little lviing room that opened up to a small balcony. The balcony had enough space for two patio chairs and a small table. The view from the room was stunning. Our room was over the Seashore Sweets shop and directly below us was where the magician would perform each day and night.

We got our carry on stuff settled and we freshened up and then it was time to head right out to our first dinner reservation I had made at the Cape May Cafe for 7:45. Even though I had been in the Boardwalk Inn once briefly (we parked at the BWI and walked through to the boats to head into EPCOT for dinner one night) I hadn't really realized how close to EPCOT it was or just how easy it was to walk to/from the Beach Club. It was perfect timing- the thunderstorms had just stopped. I enjoyed the Cape May seafood buffet ALOT. I love crab and everyone else enjoyed the food very much. A stand out was the seafood salad- chock full of crab and lobster and scallops. The service was just average, but we didn't have to wait- they were ready to seat us despite it being pretty busy that night. We took the time after dinner to walk around and check out the StormAlong Bay pool area and we walked to the boat dock at the Yacht club to take the boat back to the Boardwalk. Once back to the Boardwalk, we got a surprise when we walked in to check out the Wyland Gallery- Wyland himself was there that night, signing and taking pictures! By the time we got back to the room our luggage was there. All in all, a very easy and smooth going trip there!