Who/When/Where:
Who: Sue (54), DVC member
SB (55), my husband
Dates: July 3 6, 2013
Travel Method: Personal car
Resort: Disneys Villas at Wilderness Lodge Resort (VWL)
Experience: Very experienced (only 5th stay at this resort)
INTRODUCTION:
During this trip I will reach 600 nights spent in a dvc resort since becoming a member in 1997. Only 10 of those nights were at this resort, so obviously VWL is not a favorite <g>. For me the location stinks, the parking lot is a mile from the rooms, and I dont like that you have to go all the way to the regular Wilderness Lodge to check in. Beyond that, the resort is ok. The color scheme reminds me of the resort at Hilton Head, and the rooms are nicer than the rooms at regular Wilderness Lodge (thank goodness). I booked this resort this time for one reason only I couldnt get Bay Lake Tower at for all 3 nights at 7 months in advance. My only purpose for this trip is to see the 4th of July Magic Kingdom fireworks (first time for me), but I had no interest in seeing them from inside the park with hordes of other people. I figure from VWL its an easy boat ride to the Contemporary, where I can watch from any number of places. Top of the World Lounge at BLT is not one of those options on July 3rd and 4th, but thats ok Im sure itll be mobbed up there at fireworks time!
Staffing in SBs department is still not 100%, so even 3 days before the trip we were unsure if hed be coming down for any portion. His normal days off are Thursday & Friday, but hes scheduled to work Thursday (the holiday). Were happy about that, as itll give him a comp day he can use during Food & Wine Festival! As it stands right now if he only works 8 hours that day hell be finished at 3:30 and will drive down to join me since hes off on Friday. If he has to work 12 hours, hed not get off work until 7:30pm, and since hes usually asleep very early on his 12-hour days he might be better off staying home Ill leave it up to him. He has to be back at work at 7am Saturday morning under either scenario. UPDATE he gets off work at 3:30 and will join me for the last half of the trip <g>.
Since Id figured this would be a solo trip I didnt make any meal reservations. The absolute last place I want to be during the day is in the theme parks this time of year (due to the heat/humidity), so I figure this will be a relaxing short trip. I have 3 nights to see the MK fireworks, so if rain interferes one night Im still ok. Ill only have 2 full days here, so I figure on July 4th Ill hang out at the beach or pool at the resort, and on July 5th head to Typhoon Lagoon for the morning. There are menu items at both Roaring Fork and Contempo Caf that look good to me (or that I know I really like), so meals are covered. Ill also bring some wine, crackers and cheese for lazy time reading on the balcony (or indoors if its too hot out there).
On arrival day Im looking forward to meeting Jenny from the dvctalk list. She and her adult daughter will be stopping by the resort after dinner at the Grand Floridian. She also graciously invited me to a barbecue the next day at Ft Wilderness, which is a possibility depending on the weather and whether SB can make it in time. At some point I hope to check out Character Premiere at the Premium Outlets near WDW either on my way in Wednesday or on my way home Saturday. I wouldnt mind walking around Magic Kingdom some evening, just to see how crazy it is, but with only having 3 nights I dont see a good time to do that unless I do it Friday.
The plans so far are:
Wednesday 7/3: Drive to WDW, Meet Jenny, Fireworks
Thursday 7/4: Beach or pool, SB arrives, Fireworks
Friday 7/5: Typhoon Lagoon, Fultons Crabhouse, MK?
Saturday 7/6: Outlets, Drive to Gainesville
DAY 1 Wednesday 7/3/13
Who: Sue (54), DVC member
Plan: Drive to WDW, Meet Jenny, Fireworks
Actual: Thanks to a slight change of plans with a friend at work, I was out the door at 11:45 instead of noon. This put me at Wilderness Lodge by 1:45. I parked in the Villas parking lot and of course once I got out of the car the light drizzle turned into a steady downpour of rain. The main thing I hate about this resort is the long walk from the parking lot to the Lodge and then to the Villas its really ridiculous! I trudged up the hill with an umbrella, pulling my luggage behind me. Once inside the lobby my umbrella was a dripping mess, but there wasnt much I could do about that. I hung it from the luggage handle and had to let it just drip on the floor.
Check in went quickly and my studio was ready. After getting my packet I decided to detour to Roaring Fork briefly and was able to see the Wilderness Salad (it had appealed to me on the online menu). It looked good, so I may purchase it during this stay. Roaring Fork was not too busy, which is a good thing since its so tiny. I checked the cupcake situation and decided to buy a carrot cake cupcake, since its the only way Ill eat carrots <g>. They didnt have any boxes there, so I put it on a plate and went to the cash registers. I asked the cast member if they had any of the cupcake holders and she said shed get one then told me my order (just the cupcake) was $13.83. Now Im the first to admit Disney is overpriced for many things, but $13.83 shocked even me <g>. The cupcake wasnt the size of a Volkswagen, after all.
When she returned with the plastic cupcake box I asked when cupcakes rose to $13.83 and she realized shed rung a chicken sandwich into the register just before I got there, so she took that off and my cupcake was a more reasonable $4 and change. I trudged back up to the lobby and over to the Villas, where I entered the elevator with a man and his 2 noisy little kids. He asked what floor I needed, and I had no idea. I told him the first 2 numbers of my room, and he told me thats the 3rd floor! Its been so long since Ive stayed here I forgot the numbering system.
The only request Id made was near the elevator, and Im just around the corner from the elevator. My studio faces the front walkway, with bus stops beyond. Its not particularly scenic, but the other side just has really tall trees so this is fine. It was a little after 2 by now, and everyone knows 2pm means General Hospital <g>. I turned on the tv and was horrified to find live coverage of the George Zimmerman trial. Its like Casey Anthony revisited, lol! I flipped channels until I found the other ABC, since a mindless soap opera is more interesting than a trial.
During a commercial I went back out to the car to get the cooler, and although it was sunny on my way out there as soon as I reached the car it started to rain again. I grabbed another umbrella from the car, and walked back to the Villas. I had everything unpacked and put away by 3pm, and got to see most of General Hospital. Thanks again to my friend Joy who had emailed to warn me about the trial coverage, lol! I cut a sliver of the carrot cupcake and its very good even if the cream cheese icing reduces the healthy factor <g>.
I went out for a walk around the resort to take some photos. This really is a pretty resort, and Id forgotten how relaxing it seems here. In the Villas lobby another guest showed me the hidden Mickey, which is an actual Mickey figurine. Id never seen it before, and its doubtful anyone would unless they knew to look for it! The pool is pretty small, but the pool at the main resort is also small. On the beach I saw a hidden Mickey made by the vehicle that rakes the sand each morning. There were also a couple ducks sleeping under chaise lounges, but no signs of people. I think this will be my spot tomorrow! The main pool has 2 hot tubs (Villas pool has 1 hot tub) and of course they were overrun with young unsupervised children. I dont typically use the hot tubs so its no skin off my nose, but I can understand why so many adults are aggravated by the number of kids playing in them.
At this point I was getting hungry but wasnt sure what I wanted, and it was only a little after 4pm. Territory Lounge opens at 4:30, but there really wasnt on the menu that appealed to me today. Most likely SB and I will head to Contempo Caf tomorrow night, so I dont need to go there 2 nights in a row (especially since I order the same thing every time). Eventually I noticed cognac glazed chicken lollipops on the Territory Lounge online menu and decided that was a possibility. I figured Id get a Wilderness Salad afterwards if I needed something later. So, around 4:45 I walked over to the main Lodge (theres a covered walkway) with my kindle and sat at a table inside Territory Lounge.
The lounge is just outside the entrance to Artist Point, over the sloped hallway down to Roaring Fork. Although it had just opened, a few tables were already occupied, and others came in while I was there. I grabbed a table in the corner since it had 2 comfortable easy chairs and 2 regular table chairs. I was a little low to the table, but it was comfortable for sitting and reading. I checked the menu and rather than chicken lollipops they had Asian fried boneless chicken in a thai ginger sauce so I decided to give that a try, along with a glass of the Riesling. The chicken was good, and easy to eat after dental work. It was mildly spicy, with a good flavor. I took some of it back to the studio for another time.
It was very pleasant sitting in there reading, eating, and sipping wine. With my Tables in Wonderland it came to $17.55 with discount and tip. I was back in the studio shortly after 6 and watched the local news. Id seen earlier that the boat service will be suspended between 8:20 and 9:30, so I decided Id catch a boat to the Contemporary at 8. That gave me almost 2 hours to relax at the resort before I needed to be anywhere.
Jenny texted me just after 7 and we agreed to meet at the Wave Lounge rather than here at the resort since Id be needing to leave so soon. I left the studio and caught the small boat, which went to Fort Wilderness first and then continued on to the Contemporary. I always enjoy riding these little boats! The sky looked very ominous and as I got to the building I felt a couple drops of rain, but the downpour started just after I got inside that was lucky! It absolutely poured for a short while, which left standing water everywhere.
I went into the Wave Lounge but didnt see Jenny so I texted to see where they were. They were just parking the car, so I met them in the lobby and we ordered drinks at the bar, which we took into one of the seating rooms off the bar. Its not the most attractive lounge lots of blue, and must be themed to be under the waves. The 2 side rooms were mainly used by people waiting for their table in the restaurant to be ready, so it was easy for us to find a spot to sit and chat. Jenny came with her adult daughter Lauren, and both were delightful people to spend time with.
Just before 9 we went upstairs for the fireworks, and I was surprised to find the observation deck on the 4th floor closed off with a wall and locked door! So, we went out onto the sky bridge to Bay Lake Tower and the fireworks started almost immediately. We could hear the music, which was all patriotic songs rather than the Wishes soundtrack. The fireworks lasted for quite a while, and were very pretty. Disney certainly knows how to put on a fireworks show! When it ended we said our goodbyes and headed out separate ways. They offered me a ride back to the resort, but I knew Id be the first stop on the boat and I enjoy the boat ride. It was very nice of them to offer, though!
I went out to the dock and waited for the boats to start running again (about 10 minutes). The first boat to arrive was headed to the lodge, and another boat would be coming to take guests to the campground. It was a short but very pleasant ride, and I got off the boat shortly before the Electric Water Pageant started. I always love that, so I stopped on the beach to watch and take a few pictures. When that finished, I went up to the studio and ate another part of the carrot cupcake before settling down to finish todays report.
Today was a really terrific day! Im enjoying being at this resort for a change of pace, and everything Ive done so far has been great. By avoiding the parks I havent encountered any crowds or waits for anything, and even the sky bridge wasnt that bad. Tomorrow I plan to take it easy and enjoy the resort before SB arrives, then might see the fireworks again with him unless hes too tired to stay out that late after working all day and driving down here.
DAY 2 Thursday 7/4/13
Who: Sue (54), DVC member
SB (55), my husband
Plan: Beach or pool, SB arrives, Fireworks
Actual: I went to bed just after 11 last night, and was awakened shortly after midnight when my neighbors got home. I could hear Mommmmmm being said by what sounded like a couple of elementary school aged daughters, and Mom answering them. They werent screaming or overly loud the soundproofing just sucks (like at Old Key West). This does cause me to rethink any plans to come back here, as I cant stand being disturbed by neighbors.
I woke up again briefly around 3:30 but fell back asleep and didnt wake again until 6:30. Since it has been so rainy at home recently I got up, put on running clothes and headed out for a run/walk along the nice paved path to Fort Wilderness. Its 2.5 miles round trip, but I didnt go all the way to the end. I turned around once I could see the Fort Wilderness buildings, so I probably did 1.75-2 miles. It was almost like running at home (except much prettier), with deer watching me go by. Theyre so pretty!
Back in the studio I used the microwave to cook and egg and a slice of bacon, then made my cappuccino to enjoy while spending time online. SB called to discuss plans for later, and (not surprising) said for the holiday (today) hed rather have a real meal than something from Contempo Caf. He suggested Texas Roadhouse for ribs, lol, so I agreed. Well zip over there as soon as he gets here, and should be back in plenty of time to have a drink before the 9pm fireworks. We could even drive to Contemporary, but most likely well enjoy the boat ride and hope to time it for Electrical Water Pageant too.
Around 9:30 I headed out to the beach here at the resort. As I passed through the Villas pool area it was already pretty busy, with most chairs in the sun taken. The shady area was empty. However, this is a pretty small pool area, so it doesnt take much to make it look somewhat busy. I was disappointed to find NO pool towels in the bin really Disney??? You cant stock pool towels on perhaps the busiest day of the summer?? I walked over to the main pool area and grabbed a few towels from that bin, then went onto the beach.
One other woman was on a chaise lounge at the end of the row, so rather than being rude/clueless like some people Ive seen, by taking the chair closest to her, I set up camp most of the way to the opposite end. I was shocked by the breeze out there gusty, not humid, and it really made it very comfortable! I expected to struggle to last 30 minutes out there, but ended up spending almost 3 hours. Lots of clouds blew by overhead, so the periods of actual sunshine were frequently interrupted, so between that and the breeze it was beautiful! In fact, during real cloudy periods it was almost chilly at times. I could hear the geyser going off each hour, but couldnt see it from the beach. I did some reading, and watched the boats going by. It was a very pleasant morning except for a woman who chain-smoked further down the beach but thankfully she didnt stay long. I would have had to move if she settled in for the long haul!
Back in the studio I opened the bottle of wine Id brought (I saved the water bottle I drank on the beach, to take the leftover wine home) and cut up some cheese and crackers for lunch. I didnt want anything from Roaring Fork and didnt want to spend the time it would take to get to Contempo Caf, since SB & I would be going to dinner by 6. SB called again around 1:30, saying he wasnt feeling hungry and maybe we shouldnt go to Texas Roadhouse. LOL, whatever Id prefer to skip it since Im not crazy about it anyway (they do have excellent ribs) but since hes only here for a short time Ill go along with whatever he prefers.
At some point I took my shower and got dressed, then around 4:30 I took my phone & kindle to sit downstairs in a comfy chair in the Villas lobby area. I chose a cushioned rocking chair right in front of a fireplace, and the fire felt great after the air conditioning in the studio! It was really pleasant down there, except for the occasional noisy guests clomping through on the wood floors, sounding like elephants!
SB arrived around 5:45 and I met him outside to give him his parking pass. The parking lot was almost full, but he managed to find a spot. We dropped his things in the studio and then walked over to Roaring Fork to check out the menu. They have 2 food stations in here, with separate items and lines at each one. The one with burgers had a ridiculous line, so fortunately the bbq pork sandwich hed decided on was the side with the shorter line. Thats also where the salads are made, so it worked out well for me to get the Wilderness Salad. While in line he was bitching about the prices, given the size of the sandwiches being made. However, he loved both the sandwich and my salad, and later decided it wasnt bad after all, lol! The pork really was very good, and the salad was not bad either. He also had a can of beer and we got a bottle of water, so the total check was $26 and change about the price of 2 cupcakes, lol!
While eating he kept talking about going to the Magic Kingdom to see the fireworks from there, but when we got outside it was obvious it would be raining soon. We waited for the boat and when we got to Fort Wilderness we learned the boat was being pulled out of service and they were sending one of the larger enclosed boats for us due to lightning being within a certain distance. The big boat came quickly and we sat out front but were told we couldnt sit out there (due to lightning).
At the Contemporary we decided to have a drink and let the storm pass through, so we went to the Wave and sat at the bar. SB got a beer and I had a glass of wine, and we sat there for about an hour or so. The tv on our side was re-showing the Nathans hot dog eating contest so we watched that disgusting spectacle, lol! Its amazing how many people show up in person to see it. Its also amazing (and disgusting) that the winner ate 69 hot dogs with buns in 10 minutes. Yikes!
Just after 8 we decided to try the Magic Kingdom, knowing we could just turn around and walk back if it was too crazy to get inside. We walked over, and I noticed people were already lined up at the railing at Top of the World (almost an hour before the fireworks). I guess they dont realize the fireworks are UP in the sky. You dont have to be at the railing to see everything well <g>. Lots of buses were arriving to the Magic Kingdom, and all were standing room only. Ferry boats were unloading huge crowds also.
I expected it to be a nightmare getting in, but I breezed right through bag check (had my choice of empty lanes) and we had no wait at the turnstiles either. Once we came under the train station we saw the mob. It was almost 8:30 and people were several bodies deep everywhere, sitting waiting for the 10pm parade already. Main Street was completely packed, and they were having people exit through a backstage area since they couldnt get down Main Street. We found a spot to stand next to the water fountains, across from the Emporium. When the fireworks started at 9, we realized the Emporium was blocking too much of our view since we were so close to it, so we moved back towards the train station and had a much better view. We couldnt see the castle at all, but thats ok. We had fireworks in front of us, over the roof of the Emporium, and also had them behind us.
The fireworks were great, but over with in just 15 minutes. As soon as they ended we exited the park and hopped on the waiting boat back to Wilderness Lodge. It filled to standing room only, but we had seats. It was pretty warm on there with all the bodies, though. It didnt leave until almost 9:30, and we were back at the Lodge around 9:35.
We walked over to the beach and stopped to watch a little of the 2nd National Treasure movie on the big outdoor screen. I didnt understand why I wasnt hearing and seeing the Electrical Water Pageant, but I assumed it was all the boat traffic getting people out of Magic Kingdom making it hard to get the floats into position. It finally did start, and we watched it then went up to the studio.
We hear lots of fireworks from other places it cant all be Disney! One thing I hope we dont hear is the people in the room next door tonight! Were in for the night, ready to share the rest of the carrot cupcake and hopefully go to bed around 11 or so. Today was a nice relaxing day very enjoyable. Tomorrow were thinking well spend the morning at Typhoon Lagoon, then might visit DisneyQuest before our late lunch at Fultons Crab House.
DAY 3 Friday 7/5/13
Who: Sue (54), DVC member
SB (55), my husband
Plan: Typhoon Lagoon, Fultons Crabhouse, MK?
Actual: We were up just after 6 and hung out in the studio for a while. Thankfully I never heard our neighbors last night. After our showers we dressed for Typhoon Lagoon and walked over to Roaring Fork for breakfast. We shared the bounty platter, and between the 2 of us finished most of it. This is a big breakfast (eggs, bacon, hash browns, sausage, biscuit and 2 pancakes. I cant imagine one person eating it all, but Im sure it happens. While eating SB suggested we just stay here and use the pool, and since I knew Typhoon Lagoon would be very crowded I agreed. We can visit Typhoon Lagoon right before Labor Day weekend, when the crowds will be much smaller.
We finished eating by 8am and grabbed a couple chaise lounges out by the main pool. Its nice out there when its not busy! We were fairly close to the geyser, and would get sprayed by the water blowing in the wind each time it erupted. At one point SB went to the hot tub for a while and when he came back he said hed tripped and fallen a bit. He seemed ok, though. Later he got up to go into the pool, and stepped backwards onto the ledge and lost his balance. He waved both arms and fell backwards into the pool with a splash, lol! I snickered and the couple down the row from us saw it all too SB told them he just learned to walk last night <g>. At some point he went back into the pool again, this time without falling or stumbling. I joined him for a while, and then somewhere after 10 we walked over towards the beach.
SB went up to the studio and I enjoyed a chaise lounge at the edge of the water until it started raining. At first it was just a light mist, but then it became a steady downpour, so I picked up my stuff and went to the studio. SB had already taken another shower and was watching the Zimmerman trial (give me a break, lol). I took another shower, and when I came out the sun was shining but it was still raining. Now Im really glad we didnt go to Typhoon Lagoon, assuming its raining over there. The rain didnt last long, and since SB was getting hungry we decided to do lunch first. We drove over to Downtown Disney and didnt have any problem finding parking spaces near Fultons.
It was about 12:30 and we were seated right away, up on the second floor. Its real pretty here, with lots of windows. Our table was right at the windows. After we were seated it rained again, off and on several times until a big black cloud passed through. Our server was very good, and it was a nice relaxing lunch. SB had beer and I had a german Riesling. For lunch he had the New England clam chowder and the fried seafood platter. I chose the spinach salad, which was huge and very tasty. We were both happy with our choices, and neither of us had any room for dessert. With Tables in Wonderland it was $56 and change. Without the glass of wine and 2 beers it would have been considerably less!
It was sunny again, so we drove down to the West Side and entered DisneyQuest. I asked him if he wanted to make a virtual space mountain, and he didnt. He thought DisneyQuest was for kids and really didnt want to do anything. The big stuff had 20-35 minute waits according to the tip board, so that turned me off as well. He said hed rather go to a park or just go back to the resort, so we left even though I dont think we were even there 5 minutes! Now I know we dont need to bother coming back here.
There really wasnt a park we WANTED to visit, so we headed back to the resort. I put my swimsuit back on and went to the beach, while he watched some of the Zimmerman trial. I was out there less than an hour it was comfortable thanks to a strong breeze. After I came inside it clouded up again, and SB decided to head home, hoping hed avoid the worst of any rain. Soon it was raining here again, but as usual today it didnt last long. Its just enough to be annoying if you were trying to do anything outside!
A little after 4 I decided to get out of the studio for a while, so I walked over to the boat dock. I planned on riding the boat to Ft Wilderness and then the Contemporary, but when it arrived the pilot said he was headed to the Contemporary. I didnt realize, but the 2 boats on this route run in opposite directions. At the Contemporary I browsed through the shops and found a new style Mickey swimsuit that interested me. The tops and bottoms are sold separately and the bottoms were all either small or XXL, so that wasnt going to work.
Eventually I hopped on the monorail and browsed around the Polynesian, finding more of those swimsuits. This time the tops were either S or XL or XXL. They have a fitting room and the S fit, but I wanted to try a M. They didnt have any out back, so I bought what Id tried on, figuring Id keep looking for a Medium.
Next stop was the Grand Floridian, and I was kicking myself for leaving the camera in the studio since I would have taken some photos of the new dvc resort. Its really coming along (opens in October), but the balconies look so shallow (not deep)! Ive seen the models though, and theyre gorgeous inside. I checked the shops at Grand Floridian for the swimsuit, but they didnt have any. After this I rode back to the Contemporary, and they had a medium top, so I tried it on and then went to the register to swap with the top Id purchased at the Poly.
While I was making my way through the monorail resorts it rained a little here and there, and it was raining again now. I waited a few minutes for it to let up, then walked out to the dock. Both boats arrived at the same time, and I thought about riding back the long way (Ft Wilderness first), but more people were headed that way and I knew that boat would be more crowded. With the rain, I wanted to sit towards the center of the boat to stay dry. As we approached the Wilderness Lodge dock it started to pour, but tapered off to a light rain by the time I disembarked the boat. The pilot/captain had said this particular boat has been in service since the opening of WDW, 42 years ago. He said it has over 165,000 hours of service, which is more than any other boat on Earth. Interesting! Disney certainly got their moneys worth on that one, lol!
I walked into the main Lodge building and stopped at Territory Lounge for a repeat of my first dinner here (glass of Riesling and the Asian boneless chicken). Once again I chose a table with a couple comfortable chairs, and read my kindle. The wine and chicken were very good, and just like last time I took several pieces home in a small box. By the time I left it had long ago stopped raining, but it was pretty humid. I got back to the studio about 7:30 and combined tonights chicken with what was still left from the first night, then watched the second half of General Hospital on SoapNet.
I finished the photo album on Shutterfly earlier today, and dont plan to add any more at this point. The url is http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...ZNGTdm2bMWjGig
At 9 I put some cappuccino powder in my refillable mug and took it outside while I wandered around. I went to Roaring Fork and added hot water to make cappuccino, and was out on the beach around 9:15 to sit and wait for the Electrical Water Pageant one last time. Tonights movie is Angels in the Outfield, and quite a few people were watching. Its nice to have a resort show something other than cartoons! Each night theyve had good attendance at the movie. I no sooner stepped onto the beach when it started to rain again. This is getting really old!
I moved to a table with umbrella behind the pool bar, and sat under the big umbrella and played games on my kindle until just before 9:30. The rain had stopped, so I put a towel on a chaise lounge and sat there to wait for the pageant. Soon several others joined me along with a few hungry mosquitos who bit me without me knowing they were there. The ELP started right on time, and was enjoyable as always. When it ended I went back up to the studio, said goodnight to SB (he called just as I got back), and finished up todays report.
Today was another nice relaxing day its hard to believe this trip is almost over already. Tomorrow I plan to go for a run and then hit the outlets on my way home.
DAY 4 Saturday 7/6/13
Who: Sue (54), DVC member
Plan: Outlets, Drive to Gainesville
Actual: I slept really well again, other than a brief period when I could hear my neighbors. Their magical express envelope was on their door yesterday, so they must be leaving today also. Its too bad the resort cant loan you something to put over that connecting door to block out the noise.
I was up around 6:15, got dressed and went for a run. This time I went all the way to the end, and realized it was only a few steps further than where I turned around the other day. I didnt see any deer this morning, but did pause to let 2 armadillo waddle across the path. They arent exactly attractive animals! I forgot to mention, the night we walked to the Magic Kingdom we had a big RAT cross the walking path while we were still in the Bay Lake Tower parking lot (near the security shack). I was shocked this sucker was big, had the ugly long tail, and didnt remotely look like Mickey!
After my run I went up to the studio and showered, then started gathering up my stuff. I made my cappuccino and settled down to relax online for a while. Around 8:30 I called the front desk to ask where my express checkout was. The cast member told me theyve been emailing them lately. She checked and told me they didnt have my email. Of course they should have, since I entered it when I did the online check-in and Id received my paperwork via email. I gave it to her again, and received my bill via email a couple minutes later.
It was just after 9 when I left the studio boy it would be nice to have more time here! I drove to the Hess station at Downtown Disney to fill up the gas tank, then went to Premium Outlets (the one near WDW) and parked in the garage. My only must do is Character Warehouse so I walked there to see what they had today. It turned out to be a wasted trip.
Id originally thought about having breakfast at Earl of Sandwich first, but then decided that was more than I wanted. I arrived at the outlets about 20 minutes early, and was sort of hungry, so I stood in line at Subway in the food court (Starbucks was the other choice and it was mobbed). They were ridiculously slow, got my order wrong, and it was cold by the time I got it (3-inch flatbread with bacon, egg & cheese they forgot the bacon). I got it just as the stores opened at 10, so I wolfed it down outside and then went inside. I was back outside walking to my car by 10:15 <g>. A friend wanted me to look for a kitchen item, but they didnt have anything from the line she liked.
Leaving, Id planned to zip down I-4 and pick up the turnpike from there, but it was almost a parking lot in both directions. Id figured with it being Saturday I wouldnt experience traffic, but perhaps its the holiday weekend theme park crowd or people headed to Daytona for the race tonight (but that only explains traffic headed east not west). In any event, I HATE I-4 and dont want to be on it in traffic so I drove through Disney property with their multitude of traffic lights and went home via Western Way.
The rest of the trip home was uneventful, other than some unnecessary slow-downs on I-75 due to people hitting their brakes and causing a chain reaction. I did make a stop at the Russell Stover Outlet, and was home by 1pm.
This turned out to be a much nicer trip than expected, in just about every way except the connecting door and the seemingly endless rain showers at times <g>. SB loved this resort, saying it may be his new favorite. Ill see if I can get it next 4th of July, so we can come back again. I couldnt believe how comfortable it was out on the beach, with such a nice breeze! Just yards inland though, it was hot & humid. I really liked Territory Lounge for a glass of wine and appetizers, but its not likely Id travel here from another DVC resort (maybe from Bay Lake Tower or Grand Floridian, where no driving is required) so thats another reason to stay here again. I wasnt impressed with the Wave Lounge dont like their wine list full of really dry white wines. The holiday fireworks were nice, and I always enjoy the Electrical Water Pageant. Aaahhh, wish I was still there <g>.
My next trip isnt for almost 2 months (7.5 weeks), which is a little longer than normal for me but during the hot summer I dont mind not being there as often. Ill start with a dental appointment in Ft Myers, then move to the concierge level at Jambo House for 6 nights. SB should be able to join me for a couple nights at the beginning, and then Chris & Amanda have a studio for the Sat/Sun nights, so it should be fun.
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Sue (Holland) Rayford, July 3-6, 2013, Villas at Wilderness Lodge
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