New Beach Club Villas Photos

[Grotto]

Just returned tonight from a hectic weekend trip. Sunday morning, I wandered around the BCV construction with my new digital camera. If you're interested in seeing the pictures, they are at:

http://photos.yahoo.com/grohowsk

The first 2 pictures are of the updated map in the Beach Club lobby. It gives a nice overview of how the new building fits in next to the old. One thing I don't see on the map is a new pool. For some reason, I had thought a 3rd pool was to be added with the BCVs.

The next 10 pictures are taken from various locations around the front of the building. In one picture you can see the construction guys working - and this was on Sunday. It looks like they are planting a bunch of trees to block of the view of the parking lot. It also looks like they started building what will probably be a covered walkway between the buildings.

The next 8 pictures are taken around the point where the new and old buildings are closest together (see picture 2). Most of the back side (facing the current BC and road) has been painted.

The last 2 pictures are taken from the point where the Crescent Lake walkway and the walkway to the Boardwalk meet.

I really wanted to get some pictures of the back side of the villas along Epcot Resorts Blvd, but I didn't have enough time. Needless to say, the building is CLOSE to the road. Doesn't look like there is even much room to put in much vegetation. 4th and 5th floor views looking into Epcot will be pretty cool, though.

Talked to the DVC rep at the Beach Club desk, and she said that pre-sales will start "when the Wilderness Lodge sells out, probably in a month or so." Couldn't tell me the price, however.

Enjoy!

[CaptainMidnight]

Outstanding!!!!

Thank you so much for sharing, greatly appreciated.

[Jimbo]

I'm being prompted for a password by Yahoo! when I try to look at the pictures, and I have no idea what they're asking for. Is it possible to attach the pictures to this thread?

[AnnaS]

Great Pictures and thanks for sharing.:cool:

[leanne2255]

Just back also, and saw the construction, and was wondering what a "Preferred View" will be since it appears that the rooms do not look out into anything special. Anyone have any ideas?

[Terry S]

Thanks for the pictures.

It hard to tell from pictures but it looks like they are making some of the balconies on the villas small like the ones on the BC. You can barely walk out on those. You would think that they would have learned from the BC after everyone specifically requests full balcony. That would REALLY be disappointing. Hopfully, it is just an illusion. I know they wanted to try and make the villas look like the BC, but heck they made them green, they could have made bigger balconies.

As far as the views go, my opinion is they will not have a preferred view, they will only have one view. I don't know if anyone can confim this.

[CaptainMidnight]

I anticipate teh preferred views being similar to WLV. Too bad about the balconeys. Doen't seem like good thinking.....

[CaptainMidnight]

Maybe no pool is another cut back.

[Terry S]

I noticed when we were at BC in October, they had the new resort maps out with the Villas added that there wasn't a pool on the map, I just don't think they put it on the map, I still think there is going to be a pool. At least I hope so!!!!!

[sgtpet]

It would be appreciated if when somebody speaks with their guide to ask if there is a pool being built or not. Hopefully we then won't have to speculate and blow things out of proportion.

Thanks

[bellebook]

There will be a pool. We spoke to our DVC guide last week and he led us behind a blue curtain at the BW offices to look at a 3-D model of the BCV. Very impressive! Pool will be on the inside of the curve, nearest the former bus stop area. Will be designed same size as WLV except a doorway change makes the entrance to the bedroom nearer the front door and the round table adjacent to the kitchen will become a rectangular one with more seating available. Colors will be teals and blues, not the peach color that dominates BC lobby. Lots of interior gingerbread trim as well. The rooms to preview are actually ready (in the rooms next to the WLV set-up) but he couldn't show them to us yet! Our guide didn't seem to know if they would pre-sell and said he was a little worried because WLV will sell out in a month or so and they're closing sales offices at VB and HH to sell the remaining ones right from the main DVC offices on the BW. In a few months, there could be no product to sell and then what will the guides do? He said he was assured that Disney would "take care of them" in any event. We were able to get on a waiting list for information on any plans to sell or pre-sell BCV.

[Grotto]

Glad to hear about the pool. Bythe inside the curve, do you mean between the canal and the building? Or do you mean in the square space formed by the 2 buildings and the entrance drive?

One thing I forgot to mention, they do have the electricity on already. Many of the rooms had lights on at night.

Jimbo - not sure why you couldn't get to the pictures. I just tried it and I could still get in.

[Disnydad]

Thanks for the update, but I could not get past a password wall to see the pictures. Ah well.

[CaptainMidnight]

Glad to hear about the pool. Bythe inside the curve, do you mean between the canal and the building? Or do you mean in the square space formed by the 2 buildings and the entrance drive?

Good question. My first guess, and purely a guess was the area just to the east of the square formed by the 2 buildings. But, maybe putting it between the canal and the building will help create a little bit of a view. One side possibley Epcot fireworks, the other side a pool view.

Thanks for the information from you recent visitors (thanks bellebrook, come back often), much appreciated.

Maybe BC won't be a terrible resort. Pool as big as WL? That doesn't sound too bad. Like WLV set up? Don't they have a separate toilet closet in the bathroom? That's a nice upgrade. Still having trouble figuring out where the road is, it is interesting it is not shown on the map either. Perhaps it would show how close , maybe too close it is.

Well, each resort has its advantages and disadvantages.

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[Grotto]

Playing around with the photo editing software that came with my new camera, I drew in the road (Epcot Resorts Blvd) as it passes just east of the BCVs. If you continue south, you would pass under the canal linking Epcot and Crescent Lake and then see the Boardwalk on the west side of the road. In the other direction, the road circles around the Beach Club, then Yacht Club, and on toward the Dolphin.

I also drew in the valet parking lot. The little green dots between the parking lot and the canal represent multiple trees that look as if they were recently planted. They should help block the view of the parking lot as they fill in.

I just uploaded this picture. It's at the end of the list. Very crude, but I hope it helps.

[CaptainMidnight]

Thanks GROTTO, nice job.

[Terry S]

CaptainMidnight, I think what bellebook was saying was that the room size was the same as WVL not the pool. When I read the post the first time, I read it the same way you did, then I re-read it and I think she was talking about the room size, not the pool.

Grotto, thanks again for the pictures and for drawing in the road.

Bellebook, thanks for the added information. I am interested in purchasing points at BCV and any information helps.

[bellebook]

Yes, pool will be between canal and the buildings. If you look at Grotto's photo DSC00442, the pool will be located between the blue canal and the white printing that says Beach Club Villas. I can't comment on the size as it was only on a little model, but it did look pretty large (bigger than say, a quiet pool) and was of an amorphous shape. I think you're right: views will either be pool on one side or back of Epcot on the other.

And yes again, I was saying villas will be same size as WLV, not same size as WLV pool (which I have not seen so can't compare.) And once more, yes, the commode toilet will be closed off from the shower as in WLV set-up.

Another thing I thought of: check-ins will be at regular Beach Club, not separate: they will be constructing a covered walkway between the two facilities; and the store will be enlarged and improved to be more of a general store for groceries too.

[Terry S]

Bellebook and/or Grotto, did you notice if they have cut down some of the jungle that was on the Epcot side of the BCV? I was there in October and it seemed to me that the only thing you would see is woods. Thanks again for the information.

[Grotto]

It doesn't look like they cut out much of the "jungle" area, except for the region close to the buildings (See pictures 430 and 422). There aren't too many rooms that face that area. I don't think that the view to that area would be too bad. It will probably be the most quiet zone of the entire BCV. I'm a little suprised they didn't put the pool here.

Looking at the map, I guess there would be 4 different "views":

1) Pool / canal / parking lot
2) Beach Club / courtyard
3) "Jungle"
4) Road / Epcot

I wonder if any of these will be considered preferred?

To all of those people who can't get in to the pictures because they're being asked for a password - it seems to be a problem only if you're already logged on to Yahoo. Try typing in your own Yahoo password and see what happens. Or else log out of Yahoo and then go to the photo album.

[Grotto]

If anyone is interested, I added two old BCV photos to the album. Both are taken from the road looking at the area of the BCVs closest to Epcot. In photo "BCV3", the northern most wing of the BCV has not yet been started. This wing currently runs parallel to the bridge in the picture. In photo "BCV4", the 2 story section in the center of the picture is the small wing that extends toward the current BC. It gives you an idea of how much of the "jungle" has been cleared from next to the BCV. The wall you see on the right hand side of the picture is the corner of the longer wing extending back toward Epcot. I'm standing on the edge of the road, so that should give you an idea of how close the wall is to the street.

I updated my edited map of the BC/BCV to show the pool and "jungle" that people have referred to. The dots on the map are the places that the pictures were taken (purple dots are the old pictures, yellow dots the recent pictures).

[CaptainMidnight]

Thanks GROTTO, much appreciated. If the villas are too close to the road, maybe they can put up one of those noise barrier walls, like they do on some interstates. Probably more realistic than moving the road......

I think the location of the pool in front will help the front views, and I like the positioning of the trees to block the parking lot view.

As for the jungle, well I don't know that dense undergrowth is a bad thing, looking out into lush green tropical growth, I guess everything doesn't have to happen at once. The road and bus noice on that road is probably a bigger issue. Maybe after the light rail is brought to the resort, there will be less busses ( ;-) )

I figured the check in desk would be shared with Beach Club, that is a good way to help keep the costs down and I see as one of the big reasons to attach the resort to existing resorts, to avoid duplication of resources like those, housekeeping, maintenance, kids activity area, health club, store, etc. The romm design improvements sound great. Also makes sense to expand the store to add a few items. Probably the expensive part is staff to run the store. I have always appreciated their stocking a reasonable selection of adult beverages, for entertaining guests, as well as food items to make some snacks and meals. The selection at Vero is very good. I know its a little pricy, but can be a great alternative to restaraunt dining. And I must confess, sometimes with little ones, it is much easer on them and us to eat in.

Did they mention anything about additional resources in a new beach club lobby? I'm thinking of the WLV lobby where there is a beautiful sitting area just for the villas, and I also believe there are a couple of things off that lobby, but I can't remember. Is there a health club off the WLV area? A community room? I wonder if any of those will be a part of a common beach club villa lobby. I think I see an elevator shaft in the middle of the villas in early construction photos, perhaps the elevator walk won't be too long. If WVL is any guide, I'll bet it will be nice.

Thank you to all those providing information.



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[CaptainMidnight]

There's a great overhead picture in the latest DVC publication that just arrived. It is rather dated, it still is a construction photo, without the outside walls completed, but it shows the proximity to the road.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Anyone know if the new mock villas will be available to view at the end of the month?

Thanks!

[Grotto]

CaptainMidnight (or others):

Could somebody post the overhead picture of the BCV for those of us who aren't yet DVC members (at least not until the BCV go on sale). I'd love to see it.

[WorknFires]

I must admit, I'm not fond of the green color. The blue is just so beautiful that I've been going crazy waiting for BCV to go on sale (currently OKW owners now) but hearing ya'll talk about the too small balcony and a teal color scheme... well I don't think I'll be buying sight unseen. I've never stayed at the BC, my whole impression of it is just from the lobby and restaurant. I've never minded having a parkinglot view when staying at the Contemporary or PO so the roadway being that close probably won't bother me either, at least I hope not.

Thanks for the great pictures! I'll be there in another 34 days, maybe they'll be showing the model by then.

Cheryl :bounce:

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Great pictures! Thanks!

[EROS]

Think that I'll stick with BWV;) ;) ;)

[CaptainMidnight]

Grotto,

I've got the picture scanned and I'd be happy to send it to you. Just send me your e-mail address. Your welcome to include it with your others.

[Grotto]

CaptainMidnight,

My address is:

grohowsk@umich.edu

Thanks for the picture!

[CaptainMidnight]

Oh no.....

I've run across a major glitch.....

I am an Ohio State University graduate.....

Well, I guess with the results of the last game....

[Grotto]

Thanks for the awesome picture. Really puts the location of the BCV in perspective. As soon as I have time, I'll try and upload the photo onto my yahoo site so that all the future DVC members on this board can see it.

By the way, if anyone wants to sign my "Bring Back John Cooper" petition, just let me know.

And another thing, OSU is no longer allowed to steal good quarterbacks from my (former) hometown (Utica, MI).

[TrudyZ]

Grotto:

Great pictures! Just bought a resale at OKW this summer, now I may have to start greasing the wheels for an add on...

I see by your email address you have been "institutionalized" (as my friends who still work in the "real world" call it) too. My office is down on Hoover St. in Construction Management...

Trudy

[DebbieB]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I was looking at the one where you drew in Epcot Resorts Drive. I never realized that the underpass between the Beach Club and Boardwalk was under the canal to the International Gateway! I wondered why we sometimes heard busses as we were walking towards the International Gateway.

[Grotto]

Trudy,

I'm over at the hospital. Still in training, so I'm still waiting to join the "real world". My wife works over in the "downtown" Dexter area, at Kitchen and Stringer law office.

[Grotto]

CaptainMidnight's scan of the BCV overview has been added to the photo album on my Yahoo site, for anyone who is interested.