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Old 26 Jan 16, 10:21 PM  
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onion2803
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*Winds In The East...* Aug 15 Clarion Inn LBV, BCV, AKV and the upgrade at HRH!

Hotels...Clarion LBV, BCV, AKV, HRH


As we were lucky enough to be in Orlando for just under 4 weeks, we (read: me) decided to fiddle about with our stay and book some extras…we ended up staying mostly at the Clarion Inn LBV, with a 1 night stay at BCV using DVC points bought from another Dibber, and 2 nights at AKV, again using Dibb DVC points. We also had a 2 night stay at the end of holiday, at HRH, but received the most AMAZING upgrade ever!

... (Thanks to google for pics as I seem to have lost most of mine!)

Clarion Inn LBV
As I mentioned earlier, we had stayed at Rosen Inn @ Pointe the year before and had really enjoyed (what little) time we’d spent there. The rooms were spacious and clean which was all we needed. It was a little far out from Disney though and we’d commented on how nice it would be to be within walking distance of Disney Springs so had eventually decided on Clarion Inn LBV for this year after much research.

It was lovely…really, really nice. Would totally recommend it. The pool is small but no one was ever in it, and there are two to choose from. The grounds were lovely, with fountains and ponds around. I can’t comment on the lobby area as we were hardly ever there…we didn’t use the bar as Bear doesn’t drink, and we didn’t venture into the shop at all.
We ate breakfast here twice as part of our Virgin deal - it was nice enough, not something i’d be happy paying for though. Same with the free dinner we had…I think we may have had a second tea that night as there wasn’t a great deal of choice on the buffet.







The rooms were really spacious and clean, and had a fridge, microwave and coffee machine that we used as a kettle for tea




We don’t want for anything more so it was perfect for us…not luxury but not basic either. Maids were there every day changing the bedding and towels. We had all kinds kept in the safe (money, passports, laptops, tablets) and never had any problems there either. Within a 5-20 minute walk (or 2 min drive) there were loads of restaurants and shops. And of course, Disney Springs is only a half hour walk away. We didn’t end up walking there though due to the heat, and the drive was very quick down Hotel Plaza Bvd and around Disney Springs. Traffic was horrendous one Saturday night so we took a secret shortcut away from DS towards SSR…i was super proud of myself for puling that detour off!

All in all, it was great - we’re staying there again in September this year, and the following September after that!

Beach Club Villas
We rented some points from Dibber AMackay for our stay here (super helpful, wish other Dibbers would stop renting his points though as i’m trying to make it to the 7th month window in Feb and he’s running out seriously though, he was great!) as we’d seen the park hours for our third night at MK - EMH until 2am! I couldn’t pass that opportunity up!

We picked BCV as we’d already stayed at WL and had rented points from another Dibber for AKV further on in the holiday…plus, Stormalong Bay…need i say more! I was super excited for our stay but to be honest, I don’t think i’d repeat it in a hurry. The first room was smelly and was so loud from the building works nearby, and after we were eventually moved to another, it was just a bit drab for us. We like the WL/AK darker theme though so i suppose its just not to our taste.





I’d ordered some packages to be delivered, and had confirmation that they arrived a few days before but the check in CM sent us all over the place looking for them. They were eventually located 2 hours later and I was given a stern talking to about writing the address in the correct place on the box Erm…i didn’t send them to myself?! Irony was that they’d been sent from Disney Store! I didn’t really appreciate that to be honest, it really wasn’t my fault either…left a sour taste in my mouth regarding the CM’s.

Anyway, Stormalong Bay was fab but completely overcrowded so I didn’t enjoy that too much either…and we struggled to find any shady spots to sit in both mornings.

I know it sounds like I’m having a right moan, but I just think we chose the wrong time to visit (August!) and I was probably a bit grouchy and overtired. A storm rolled in during the afternoon so i hotfooted it to the rocking chairs overlooking the pool and had a very peaceful few hours reading my book whilst the rain pelted down…not a screaming child in sight!

We did enjoy the proximity to Epcot and HS though, I can understand why people choose to stay here…it was lovely popping to the parks just to grab a snack!

Overall, I wouldn’t rush back to stay. YC looks gorgeous though so maybe a hotel stay rather than DVC stay would be better. I think we stayed during a really busy time and had an older room so don’t let me put anyone off!

Animal Kingdom Villas
Again, we were able to rent points from another Dibber for our stay here… JontyBFC, who was also exceptionally helpful!
We actually booked one night with him and decided to book a second night whilst we were out in Orlando…we used Glen at Dream DVC for the second night, another seamless transaction that i would recommend.

Bear was so excited for this stay, he loves the animals.



Check in was an absolute nightmare to be honest, the CM literally couldn’t have cared less. She didn’t give us our Magic Bands, anything to do with our DxDDP booking, a map of the building….zilch. I was raging as she really spoilt the magic…I’ve never had an issue with a CM before but this one really irked me. I should’ve complained but did the British thing and misplaced my back bone I waited until she’d left the desk and scurried over to ask for a map and our DxDDP credits and Magic Bands from another CM. All in hand we set off to find our room…my word this hotel is big! We were in Jambo House and it felt like we’d been walking for days but the time we arrived. Was worth the trek though as we had a Savannah view room and some resident giraffes





We didn’t have any park plans for the next few days as I wanted to make full use of the pools…so off we went. There were plenty of loungers and shady spots too. It was gorgeous, my fave pool so far! Lots of wasps though, so I obviously made a holy show of myself screaming and scrambling about!

We also took in the Kidani pool which i think is more suited to families with young kids as there’s a huge splash zone and a little water slide, the pool doesn’t get too deep either.



I LOVED our stay here…so much so that we have a week booked using DVC points for this September! Our room was again really spacious, the bathroom was lovely! and our balcony looked over to a little gang of giraffes and zebras so Bear was very happy!



Hard Rock Hotel
Well. I don’t even know where to begin with this stay!

We originally booked a two night Club Level stay here as part of our Virgin package - we stayed in 2014 for 1 night to make use of the FOTL passes and had been upgraded to Club on arrival which was a lovely surprise! We both really enjoyed Club Level so decided to pay for it this time round.

We arrived around 9.30am (same as 2014…this might be key to getting upgraded?) after disembarking a cruise in Port Canaveral at 8ish. Bear gave all our luggage over to bell services before taking off to drop the car back at Holiday Inn round the corner. I trotted inside to check in and sort our FOLT passes out. I queued at the Rock Royalty desk but another girl called me over once she was free…to this day she might be my fave person ever!

She was tapping away and asked if we’d stayed before, I told her about our last trip and the lovely upgrade we’d received. She then said she had to make a call, i wasn’t really listening as i was looking at all the posters and memorabilia as you do, so when she said we’d like to give you an upgrade I thought Virgin had fluffed up and not booked us into Club. She said have you ever seen the Graceland before? I think there must have just been a blank look on my face as she started laughing and called a guy over from bell services to take our luggage up…she handed him the key and said she’d call me in 10 minutes on our room phone. All very suspicious!

So up we go in the lift and down the same corridor we’d been on in 2014, only to come to a halt outside two double doors…with a very dramatic fling of the doors, we were inside…and i burst into tears! Shame!

It was unbelievable…she’d put us in the presidential suite….i just couldn’t believe it! He took me on a tour of the rooms (rooms! more than one!) there were TWO KITCHENS?! who needs two kitchens?! There was a massive living space and dining table, office, three bathrooms, bar, and then through to bedroom there was huge fireplace (…in Orlando, really!) and walk in wardrobe, and into the bathroom there was this immense glass wet room that shared the fireplace and had a pool for a tub.
I can’t believe how lucky we were even as i type this! He said they charge $4000 a night, so i made a mental note not to overstay check out time by so much as a second!

Bear arrived shortly after and was in stunned silence for 10 minutes…what a perfect way to end our holiday!








Obviously, I only have amazing things to stay about HRH as we’ve had two completely unexpected upgrades in less than a year! But the hotel itself really is beautiful. The pool is fab and had an acoustic singer on for most of the day which was so relaxing! I didn’t drink near enough cocktails at the pool bar as i was always desperate to get back up to the room, but they are seriously yummy.



The walk to Universal/City Walk is lovely too, through a little wooded area but there’s also a boat you can take.
I can’t comment on the standard rooms as we’ve yet to see one, but I heard they’re very much the same as the Club level rooms…very spacious again, super comfy bed and gorgeous bathroom.

As for CL itself…breakfast is continental but there is plenty to choose from, and occasionally some mimosa’s snacks throughout the day are crisps, biscuits, chocolate and nuts, with the fridges stocked with cans of coke and sprite and water. During the evenings they serve alcohol, you don’t have to tip but I only had a ten on me so gave that and i swear my glass was permanently filled to the brim without me leaving my chair. Food offerings include some hot items, plenty of veggie sticks and humous, cheese and meats and crisps. We had the chicken skewers, mac&cheese balls, chilli…all very nice. They do a dessert hour too but we never really bothered with that.

I soooo recommend HRH! Wish we were going back again this year

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Old 26 Jan 16, 11:29 PM  
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mazzadee
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Wow lucky you to get such a wonderful up grade must have made your holiday even more special!
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Old 27 Jan 16, 12:49 AM  
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Gusgusmummy
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Eh WOW ! How lucky are you guys !
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Old 27 Jan 16, 01:22 PM  
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Sparksy72
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That suite at HRH is AMAZING! Well done you!
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Old 27 Jan 16, 01:28 PM  
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mrmoo123
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OMG how lucky are you! That room looks amazing and to get it for free... well done!
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Old 1 Feb 16, 02:50 PM  
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onion2803
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Ahhh thank you...I was so shocked, but it was a wonderful way to end our holiday. Was made up when the weather turned bad that night, as we had excuse to head back to room and play Elvis monopoly

I think I'd definitely recommend checking in around 9.30am...seems to work for us!

Thanks for reading xx
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