Just back from great BC trip - Any questions?

[Terry's Angels]

Hi all,


We just returned yesterday from a great stay (May 7 - May 14) at the Beach Club. We had room 4345 which faced the quiet pool with a great view of the lake and the boardwalk (I'll post pics later this week). It took us about five minutes to walk to the WS entrance at Epcot. Here is a list of my the pros and cons of the hotel:

Pros
1. Friendly CMs throughout the trip. People always said hello and were helpful with any questions.

2. Great Mousekeeping - room was well cleaned and had different towel animals each night, which I think is pretty good for a 7 night stay.

3. Room size was nice for a family of three. We had two queen size beds, but no daybed.

4. Beds were very, very comfortable. I almost always dread hotel beds but I was totally suprised and impressed with the quality of bed and pillows

5. Quiet pool and SAB were great. Well maintained and generally very nice.

6. Beaches and Cream

7. Sandcastle Club- CMs were great with dd(who was a little anxious at first about staying).

8. Super prompt bell service


Cons

1. The Bus service to TL/DTD was very, very slow. We waited for almost forty minutes for a bus and finally a driver heading to MK called to see what was going on. In general the bus service was lacking IMHO. Whenever we left MK we knew the longest line, with the people waiting for the longest time would be for YC/BC/Swan and Dolphin. I think that the BC should do better for guests. The one good thing I can say is that the bus transportation is only needed
MK,AK, DTD, TL, BB. You either walked or take the boat to Epcot or MGM.

2. Check-in time was supposed to be 3pm. However, when we called to see if our room was ready around 4pm, we were told that rooms aren't ready until after 5pm When I asked why, a desk CM told me "they are doing extra magic cleaning those rooms". I wasn't really happy about it, but we hung out in the arcade until our room was ready. Once again, I think that a hotel like this should adhere to their check-in times at least within the hour.

Overall, this was a nice hotel. We had a nice room location with good service through the entire stay. I've stayed in luxury hotels and budget hotels. I wouldn't consider the BC a true "luxury" hotel, but it was definately a very well-maintained, "upscale" resort. I would not hesitate to stay there are again but DH and DD want to stay at the Poly next time we visit WDW (probably a land/sea cruise in May 2009).

If anyone has any questions let me know, I'll do my best to answer.

 

[steelfish535]

Hi!
I have a question about the Sandcastle Club.
We'll be going next year w/DD, who will be 10. What do they have at the club? Will she be bored?

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

We have a trip planned to the beach club coming up and the only thing that I really am not looking forward to is the transportation. I've heard it is very lacking for a Deluxe.

 

[Terry's Angels]

Hi!
I have a question about the Sandcastle Club.
We'll be going next year w/DD, who will be 10. What do they have at the club? Will she be bored?

They had several computers with games, lots and lots of toys(dolls, trucks, ect.) arts supplies, disney movies. They made a key chain with lots of beads and baubles. DD(5) really enjoyed it and there were many kids of a variety og ages. My dd also went to Simba's cubhouse and preferred the Sandcastle club.

 

[Terry's Angels]

We have a trip planned to the beach club coming up and the only thing that I really am not looking forward to is the transportation. I've heard it is very lacking for a Deluxe.

I really don't have anything good to say about the bus transportation at the BC. We waited a long time for busses almost all of the time. Really it seems that Bus transportation at BC is an afterthought. I really enjoyed the hotel but I'm glad that we had a rental car.

 

[allisonswonderland]

I was at the BC the 8th-14th we probably saw each other - I was in 2629- I would however say that we never had problems with the busses, but with that being said we get up early and go to the parks during "rush hour" so I think the busses run a lot during the early morning and late at night and slow during the day. I will say that I have had problems with a DTD bus on a previous trip while staying at the BC but I was actually at the BWI stop. Our transportation problem was that each time we would walk out the bus would be there so we would have to run....after being dog tired from park roaming that was not fun...but I hated to wait for another.

 

[madalex]

We have a trip planned to the beach club coming up and the only thing that I really am not looking forward to is the transportation. I've heard it is very lacking for a Deluxe.

I have stayed at the YC numerous times over the past ten years (and as recently as three weeks ago) and rarely had issues with the buses. I can only remember one occasion several years ago where there was an unusually long wait for a bus. Don't worry too much about the bus transportation; it will likely be fine. And you only need it for two parks anyway!

 

[Wingedheart]

Could you describe the pool and water slide area a bit for me??

We are hoping to stay at BC next year. One of the major considerations is that we want to spend more time relaxing and enjoying the resort and are hoping our kids will LOVE the pool area. (Kids will be 6,10,11 at the time of our trip)

Thanks!!

 

[fla4fun]

2. Check-in time was supposed to be 3pm. However, when we called to see if our room was ready around 4pm, we were told that rooms aren't ready until after 5pm When I asked why, a desk CM told me "they are doing extra magic cleaning those rooms". I wasn't really happy about it, but we hung out in the arcade until our room was ready. Once again, I think that a hotel like this should adhere to their check-in times at least within the hour.

Over the years, although most of the time I've gotten my room earlier than posted check in, I've had this happen at resorts a few times. One time at CR we didn't get into our room until almost 7pm. It's possible that something went wrong with the room that required a really deep cleaning or a maintenance repair. I'd rather they take care of those things before I'm in the room. It can also take a lot longer if they've had a convention in house that checked out that day. Any time a hotel has a large turnover in one day, some rooms won't be ready until late. I'd rather get a room that meets my requests, and get it a little late, than to insist I get "a" room, and get one in a less desireable location.