I had so many thoughts rolling around in my head from this trip and so many people asking me thoughts and tips from this time, I figured this was the best way to spit it all out.  So here goes.  If there is any bouncing around, I apologize.  I will try to keep it organized but I came back to a Sh*%  Show at home, life, and M’s 5th birthday party, Thanksgiving, Christmas New Years…well you get the point.  My brain isn’t what it used to be.

Summer/Fall 2016 we purchased DVC (Disney Vacation Club) via resell and then shortly before our trip added a 25 point contract direct.  Let’s me just say, I’m in love.  I NEVER thought I would be able to stay in the hotels/rooms that we were in.  Each one was different and amazing.  It’s basically buying a coupon, I know.  But it works for me and my family.  And if asked if I would do it again, the answer is YES!  This trip was everything I wanted (If only Disney would have gotten their calendar correct and had the Christmas party start on our last day it would have been perfect).  Perfect?  No.  But awesome none the less.

Upon arriving at the airport after dropping off our car at Globe parking, I went to check our bags in and realized my wallet was not in my purse.  Thank God we were early…however the taxi driver I swear couldn’t have driven slower.  I had Dan’s phone to communicate to everyone because he had also called me an Uber as I was running away from them trying to get to any vehicle that could drive me home.  However, Dan’s phone locked me out and I couldn’t log back in after I got home found my wallet. In the meantime, Dan and my parents had searched all bags looking for the wallet, and were unable to get in touch with me!  All turned out well though.  Wallet was retrieved and vacation mode resumed after my heartbeat finally settled back into rhythm.

The plane was full and M was bouncing off walls with excitement.  Thankfully I had packed a small pack of Legos which she and Dan built on the ride (Tip: Pack a paper plate if bringing Legos on the plane. Helps them to not roll around; however there is still a Lego head floating on some Southwest airplane…).  After arriving at MCO and checking into the Magical Express (How fabulous is it that you don’t have to pick up your bags and take them to your room??) we were on our way to Bay Lake Towers.  Check-In was a breeze and the staff was excited to give Mom and Maddy both their Birthday pins.  I snuck up to the room while Dan, Mom, and Dad distracted Maddy and put a bag of little gifts, a note from Tinkerbell, and some pixie dust on the bed.  I then snuck back out and waited at the door until everyone came up.  Our room was ready first so we went up to check out the view.  Who doesn’t want to open their balcony door and see the castle and rides like right there?  It was amazing.  After putting away the few things in our carry-ons we went down to the Quick Service restaurant in the Contemporary.   Not bad, but certainly doesn’t have the options that Pop Century has (another one of our favorites).

After a quick meal at Contempo Café, we went over to Magic Kingdom to make sure everything was set up for the girl’s Annual Passes and our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets. My mom, Maddy, and I are going back in May, so it made sense for us to buy the AP and not buy separate tickets for both trips.  Also, with the discounts and Memory Maker that comes along with it, the Pass is just a good deal for us.  We then jumped on a bus to Disney Springs and planned to browse around for a while.  And grab ice cream.  That is a requirement on all vacations for us.  Lots and lots of ice cream.

The next morning after another amazing breakfast at Chef Mickey’s as it was super cold and not yet pool weather we did some resort visiting.  We went over to the Grand Floridian, and then over to Wilderness Lodge.  At the Grand Floridian we visited the location of the statue for the little boy who lost his life last year.  Broke my heart again for that family.  Such an awful tragedy at what is supposed to be the happiest place on earth.  At Wilderness we checked out the pool and the beautiful lobby.  Hoping to stay there soon.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party was later that night.  It was wonderful.  The lines were light (except for the usual subjects of Mine Train and Peter Pan), the candy was beyond plentiful and the atmosphere was awesome.  Dan, me, Mom, & Dad “Disney Bounded” as Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, & Donald and Maddy was an adorable Pluto, because as she said, “Someone needs to be Pluto!”  For those that say it’s crowded and not fun…you are just a Debbie Downer!  Those parties are awesome and I really think the fireworks for Halloween are better than any at other times.  Love the Halloween Party!  Remember if you are going to these “Parties” you can usually get in at a little before 4pm and stay until close, but the party doesn’t officially start until 7pm.

Off to Epcot for Mom’s birthday the next day.  And speaking of Birthdays…this trip was to celebrate both Mom and Maddy’s.  With the birthday buttons and the “Birthday Princess” sash Maddy got on her birthday there were lots of well wishes and free desserts for both of them.  I will say Mom had had enough attention by mid-day on her birthday but my kid (who is just like her mom) celebrated all week long.  At every park and at every hotel.  This was I think our first day ever that it didn’t rain on our Epcot parade per say.  I swear it rains every time we are there.  We did a bit less of the “Future World” part of the park and spent more time walking around the countries.  I feel like our girl’s trip we will do this even more.  We did ride the new Frozen Ride, and Dan and Dad pouted because Test Track was again closed that night due to a break down.  That night we popped over to the Boardwalk for wonderful birthday dinner at the Flying Fish.  One of the best steaks I have ever had.  And I’m not a huge red meat person.  But it was soooo good.  I will say we didn’t stay to see all of Illuminations that night.  I love the concept of the show, but it is one show overall that I can give or take.

The next day was pool day and ‘Ohana for dinner.  It was semi warm so we did head to the pool that afternoon after a quick monorail trip over to Epcot for the girls to ride Test Track.  M loved it.  And this was another perk of our AP.  In and out for two rides, filled up our popcorn buckets and back to the pool in about an hour and a half.   We realized that we were at Disney World the same time as Dan’s cousin and our reservations at ‘Ohana were 5 minutes apart.  We couldn’t have done that if we tried.  No seriously.  ‘Ohana reservations are hard to get!  Thankfully the staff was able to seat us together, although I feel like they thought we were not telling the truth, but I swear we had no idea that they were going to be down there and only found out thanks to Facebook.  M and Avery loved celebrating their birthdays at dinner that night!  Afterwards we headed over to the Poly beach to watch the light parade on the water then back to the hotel to watch the fireworks from our room.  I have to say.  That was one of the best parts of being at Bay Lake Towers/Contemporary.

Maddy’s Birthday was spent at Magic Kingdom and was a beautiful, fun day.  We rode all her favorites, she got to do Bibbity Boppity Boutique, and we had dinner at the Crystal Palace.  She loved BBB and we would do it again.  We brought her own dress (bought off of Etsy as she doesn’t like “itchy” dresses) and they did her hair, makeup and nails.  It was a full day even though we had to leave the parks by 7pm because of the Halloween Party that night.  We again got to watch fireworks from the room and got ready for our next day at Universal.

Our day at Universal started with an Uber trip to the park.  We did not yet have a rental car so it was the easiest way to get there and back.  We enjoyed the day at both parks taking the Hogwart’s train between the parks.  Most of the day was spent in the Harry Potter areas.  I borrowed a magic wand from our friend (Thanks Spence!) for Maddy to use at all the magical areas.  They are super cool but expensive if you don’t go to Universal often so it was great that we could borrow one.  We really really enjoyed that day, but I will say we are still Disney people.  At least until Maddy gets a little older.  There aren’t enough rides to keep Maddy interested at this age.  And Dan and my Dad aren’t roller coaster fans so that limits you a lot.  For older kids and roller coaster fans though I could see how you would just be amazed!  We Ubered back to Disney Springs for dinner that night and then back to the hotel.

The next day Dan was off to the airport to pick up our rental car.  By mid-morning we were packed up and off to Vero Beach after a stop at Disney Springs to use our last dining credits and snack credits.  They thankfully were able to transfer some of our luggage and hold it at the Polynesian until we got back.  That is the hard part about a split trip.  Lots of stuff.  Even with free laundry services, there is lots to take when you are staying for 12 days.  And Disney for us requires stuff.  Hats, bows, ponchos, food (because we snack in the room and parks and still take stuff in for Maddy), light up stuff etc.

At Vero we had two awesome days at the pool with an amazing view of the ocean in both of our rooms.  We ate the first night at their restaurant that was in the hotel and Dan, Maddy, and I ate at a great local Mexican restaurant.  The day before we left it was rainy and cloudy in the afternoon so we headed into the town.  Let me just say on a Sunday afternoon in off peak season it was not worth it.  We did hit a local brew pub on the way back to the hotel.  That night we played miniature golf as we had already done the campfire the night before.

Annnnddd we are back off to Disney World.  The Polynesian was awesome.  We got there early and our room wasn’t ready so we headed to the pool after lunch in their quick service restaurant.  I will say like at Contemporary, the quick service was “ehhh”.  Not awful but nothing to write home about.  I coaxed my kid to go down the slide at the pool because she loved the one at Vero but she was not a fan of this one.  It is a tube and it is dark.  Oh well.  She did try and that’s all that matters.  We also found that we like the quiet pool at the Poly too.  It was close to our rooms, had mug refills and zero entry for Maddy.  M loved the pull down bed with Lilo and Stitch on it and since all 5 of us were in one room, Dan and I took the pull out couch for two nights.  I will say they weren’t as bad as I was expecting from what I had heard.  The room was a little tight with 5 of us, but the amazing walk in shower made up for it!

I do have to review our in room meal that night.  We got ‘Ohana served in room.  We ordered for 2 Adults and got enough food for all 5 of us.  More than enough.  If you couldn’t get a reservation at the restaurant I would say this would be an okay way to get ‘Ohana but personally, I wouldn’t do it again.  Food was luke warm, and it just wasn’t the same.  People rave about being able to order ‘Ohana to their room.  We were just “ehhh” again.

Our last day in the parks was spent open to close at Magic Kingdom.  Seriously.  I have never seen the “Kiss Goodnight” before but we saw it this trip.  We rode all the rides we like at least once, and many multiple times.  We did go back to the hotel mid-day to hang at the pool.  It was a nice break and was possible because we were on the monorail.  I don’t know how people do it when you have to take a bus back and forth to the hotel.  To me that is a waste of time.  You spend so much time in transportation when you could have just found a quiet spot at the parks to relax.  Oh well…to each his own!

On our final day after checking out and checking into our airline, we headed to ‘Ohana for our final character meal.  Another one I wouldn’t recommend.  The food was okay, but I felt we had better food and character interactions elsewhere.  Also, if this is one you go to regularly you will notice they no longer bring out bacon.  You can ask for it though for no extra charge.  We won’t be going to this one again.  But we like to try at least one new restaurant each time we go.  We have our favorites, but we try hard to branch out when we can!

On the note of DVC…Here are a few things I would recommend if you are new to DVC.  We had no dirty room issues.  You see it pop up a lot on Facebook groups and blogs, but there was no issue for us.  I’m sure that some of these people have had real issues, but sometimes I think people forget it’s a hotel.  And they try to keep it as clean as they can, but it’s still a hotel.  Also before we went I had a fear of lack of storage in the rooms because of FB groups.  At both Bay Lake and Vero we had tons for all 3 of us.  Poly was a little more limited due to the pull down bed and there were 5 of us in the room.  I feel that that is the only place I could have used some temporary shelving (which I brought but at that point we were only there for 2 nights so it stayed in my suitcase) hanging in the closet.  Other things I wish I would have had or glad I did have…liquid hand soap (I hate the bar soap to wash my hands…especially with contacts), paper/plastic cups (they had paper plates…why not cups?), a hair towel (as DVC doesn’t get towel service daily having that extra towel was great), a soap dish for the shower.  One big thing we had which I will not bring next time is pool noodles.  Lots of the pools had them and they just ended up being a pain.  Two more things that I was really looking forward to was the Top of the World lounge and the Beach at the Polynesian.  I was not overly impressed on either.

This trip was overall purely amazing.  As my one shirt says, “In my favorite place with my favorite people”.  I truly was.  I saw my baby be super brave and try new things and have an amazing birthday, was able to watch my Dad tear up as he opened the room in Vero with that great ocean view, and while my mom isn’t one for lots of attention I know she loved the well wishes on her birthday and that amazing meal that night.  As for Dan and I…we are just blessed to be able to take them and make these memories.