2012/2013 Beach and Yacht FAQ- Closing Soon- New Thread Started- Don't Post Here

[Angeejoe]

I love the idea that we can walk to Epcot and DHS. I think DHS has some of the same rides as DL and I have read that the food is marginal, so we may not spend a lot of time at DHS. I know that we will need to take the bus to AK. How close is the Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom. We have reservations at Boma. How easy is it to get there from AK?

I think we will skip DTD. I have read multiple horror stories about the transportation to DTD. With only 7 full days I think we will concentrate on the parks and the resort. We'll do DTD another time.
Jan

I feel that the dining choices are just so so at DHS, except for the Brown Derby which is delicious!

 

[RWathen]

I've been reading everyone's post and loving all the information and stories!! I don't post much, but I like to every once in a while to see my "countdown". Wish we were heading out tomorrow, but the anticipation is lovely.

Ryan

 

[Danex]

Hi everyone I'm new to the boards and totally loving it.

My family has been to WDW twice before in July 2009 and July 2012 and we are hoping to go back in July 2014 and stay at the Beach Club so thank you so much for all the wonderful information posted in this thread

My DS will be 18 next year and doesn't want to go on holiday with his parents anymore so it will be me, DH, DD16 and her BFF16. As we can't afford two rooms, I am toying with the idea of staying Club Level so that we could use the lounge as an extension of our room, so that my DH and myself have somewhere to go while the girls would be getting ready, to give them extra privacy.

We are coming from the UK so will be there for at least 14 nights, possibly 16 nights, so the cost of upgrading for those nights is substantial. What im wondering (yes im getting to it, sorry for the long story lol) is how busy the lounge gets in July, we would be arriving 1st July?

My DH doesnt want to spend all that money upgrading to Club Level if the lounge is going to be totally packed and we are not going to get any use out of it. Can anyone help? Thanks so much

 

[MickeyT]

Is there some advantage to a gazebo view room at YC? Can you see the water from those rooms, or is it just a prettier garden view than others?

I think you can see water from most of the gazebo rooms albeit at an angle (as in sticking your head out and looking left or right.

Hi everyone I'm new to the boards and totally loving it.

My family has been to WDW twice before in July 2009 and July 2012 and we are hoping to go back in July 2014 and stay at the Beach Club so thank you so much for all the wonderful information posted in this thread

My DS will be 18 next year and doesn't want to go on holiday with his parents anymore so it will be me, DH, DD16 and her BFF16. As we can't afford two rooms, I am toying with the idea of staying Club Level so that we could use the lounge as an extension of our room, so that my DH and myself have somewhere to go while the girls would be getting ready, to give them extra privacy.

We are coming from the UK so will be there for at least 14 nights, possibly 16 nights, so the cost of upgrading for those nights is substantial. What im wondering (yes im getting to it, sorry for the long story lol) is how busy the lounge gets in July, we would be arriving 1st July?

My DH doesnt want to spend all that money upgrading to Club Level if the lounge is going to be totally packed and we are not going to get any use out of it. Can anyone help? Thanks so much

Welcome Danex.

Ah. Love you UK visitors. Most of you stay those long visits that we would all envy. Not necassarily your trip over though.

As you might expect the lounge does get quite crowded at peak timees. 8-10 in the am and when it opens in the evening are the worst. We usually go early in the am and if we are there for the evening opening we usually carry our food back to the room.

 

[natebenma]

Happy Valentines Day Friends!!!

 

[EagleScout]

Has anybody experienced toddlers being provided toys and/or blocks at SAB? Another general travel website made reference to that. The only thing i knew about was the hh kids meals being served in a sand pail with shovel. Related to that, do there tend to be extra sand toys available for use, or is it best to plan on bringing one's own or buying the hh meal? Thanks as always (and happy v day)!

 

[rusty4]

Has anybody experienced toddlers being provided toys and/or blocks at SAB? Another general travel website made reference to that. The only thing i knew about was the hh kids meals being served in a sand pail with shovel. Related to that, do there tend to be extra sand toys available for use, or is it best to plan on bringing one's own or buying the hh meal? Thanks as always (and happy v day)!

When we were there last Feb. there were at least 20 or more pails and shovels in the sand for kids to play with. Not sure if that is the norm or if we just got lucky.

 

[ocalla]

I've been reading everyone's post and loving all the information and stories!! I don't post much, but I like to every once in a while to see my "countdown". Wish we were heading out tomorrow, but the anticipation is lovely.

Ryan

I keep trying to remind myself the same thing.......................

 

[ocalla]

Happy Valentines Day Friends!!!

Right back at ya!!!

 

[natebenma]

It will now & forever be called the MMP! I needed a name for it!!! I am looking at the diff between the Standard BC rooms and the Standard Club Level...for now..I may bump it up, but I feel like if I am not planning I am wasting time! LOL!!So,...We usually go the full week before Thanksgiving, which is the 16th for us this year! Hopefully if they put out room only discounts I will be able to snag one!! Fingers crossed!!

I'll pencil you in for November to the Be Our Guest list on Page 1. Let us know when your plans solidify.

Thank you so much for all the great information. It has been so helpful in planning our first trip to WDW. I have made reservations for a vacation to WDW 2 or 3 previous times, but we have always had to cancel for one reason or another. 2 weeks ago I decided to take advantage of the spring sale. We have booked a 8 night stay at BC CL 5/17-5/25. I am so excited. I have booked the standard dining plan but after reading the recent discussion I am planning on canceling. It will just be my DH and myself, we are not big dessert eaters, so I just don't think we will get our money's worth from a dining plan.

We are young active grandparents that live in Southern California. My very first REAL paying job was at Disneyland. I have been an AP holder at Dland since my adult children were young one's! WDW has been on my "bucket list" for years and it looks like 2013 is going to be the year that I finally can cross it off my list.

I would love to hear from others who have been to Disneyland what are "must do's" @WDW. We will not have a car.....we are leaving the driving to Mickey.

Jan

Jan!

I'll add you to the Be Our Guest list.



Sounds like you have received some great advice from some of our DL/DW experts.

Thank you so much for all of this wonderful information! I have been lurking on the boards for a while now. I plan on staying at the BCV from July 21-27 and cannot wait. I am a die hard disney girl but I am bringing a few first timers so it should be fun showing them the magic of disney Can I be added to the Be Our Guest list?

to this forum and the DIS!!!

I'll add you to the Be Our Guest list.

:

Should be fun showing some newbies around.

Hi everyone I'm new to the boards and totally loving it.

My family has been to WDW twice before in July 2009 and July 2012 and we are hoping to go back in July 2014 and stay at the Beach Club so thank you so much for all the wonderful information posted in this thread

My DS will be 18 next year and doesn't want to go on holiday with his parents anymore so it will be me, DH, DD16 and her BFF16. As we can't afford two rooms, I am toying with the idea of staying Club Level so that we could use the lounge as an extension of our room, so that my DH and myself have somewhere to go while the girls would be getting ready, to give them extra privacy.

We are coming from the UK so will be there for at least 14 nights, possibly 16 nights, so the cost of upgrading for those nights is substantial. What im wondering (yes im getting to it, sorry for the long story lol) is how busy the lounge gets in July, we would be arriving 1st July?

My DH doesnt want to spend all that money upgrading to Club Level if the lounge is going to be totally packed and we are not going to get any use out of it. Can anyone help? Thanks so much

Glad you are finding this forum helpful!

We have already started listing people for 2014, so I'll pencil you in on the Be Our Guest list.



My family has only used the lounge from 7 am to 7:30, and it was definitely not crowded at that time. Don't know when it starts getting busy in the morning, but others have indicated after 8 am.

It is busy when the appetizers come out at 5, too.

When we have stopped by in the evening for a late night sweet, the lounge was empty.

During the late morning and afternoon, I would expect the lounge to be uncrowded since most guests will be at the parks or the pool.

.

 

[natebenma]

I've seen some pics of the deluxe CL rooms at BC but can't seem to find info about how much bigger they are than standard rooms. I noticed the deluxe CL rooms at BW actually have an additional queen sofa and can hold more people, but BC is still only 5. Just wondering if the size difference will make it worthwhile.

Also, since there are only something like 7 deluxe rooms, do these book fast or are they not that popular? I can't be certain we'll be able to do CL at all until much closer to our trip but if we do upgrade for our last few nights I'm thinking of trying for deluxe. Just wondering if I'm dreaming to think there might still be one available upon arrival or within a week or two before. If it matters we'll be there the third week of May.

TIA!

Bumping this up, although I'm not sure if anyone will know how quickly these rooms book.

Some of the posters here have stayed in a Deluxe room, hopefully they can give some sense of the size difference between these rooms and regular rooms.

ETA: Have you looked at the pictures from the Deluxe Room thread? The link is on Page 1, I think both under the Club Level Posting and the Beach Club Room posting.

 

[Danex]

Welcome Danex.

Ah. Love you UK visitors. Most of you stay those long visits that we would all envy. Not necassarily your trip over though.

As you might expect the lounge does get quite crowded at peak timees. 8-10 in the am and when it opens in the evening are the worst. We usually go early in the am and if we are there for the evening opening we usually carry our food back to the room.

Thanks for the welcome!

The plane journey over isnt great but its totally worth it once you're there

We are normally early risers and would probably be at the lounge for breakfast starting at 7am. Is it normally hard to get a seat at that time? I know we are going at a very busy time but we have no choice with school schedules and my DH wants to enjoy the Sounds Like Summer concerts in Epcot

Im totally sold on CL but my DH is taking some convincing to spend the extra money. Thanks again

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for the welcome!

The plane journey over isnt great but its totally worth it once you're there

We are normally early risers and would probably be at the lounge for breakfast starting at 7am. Is it normally hard to get a seat at that time? I know we are going at a very busy time but we have no choice with school schedules and my DH wants to enjoy the Sounds Like Summer concerts in Epcot

Im totally sold on CL but my DH is taking some convincing to spend the extra money. Thanks again

We posted at the same time! I had to edit in your welcome, and I answered your exact question! See above.

Not busy from 7 am to 7:30 am in my experience. Our two club level experiences were the second week in July.

 

[AliceIn]

Bumping this up, although I'm not sure if anyone will know how quickly these rooms book.

Some of the posters here have stayed in a Deluxe room, hopefully they can give some sense of the size difference between these rooms and regular rooms.

I think they are slightly larger, and are corner rooms. Some of them have more than one balcony (I think one has a patio and is on the first floor, and there's another one that has only standing balconies). One thing that has discouraged me from wanting to get one is that they are not located on the club level. I'm not sure that the extra cost is worth it if it's not as convenient. You could get lucky and get one of the 4th floor rooms, but I think one of those is also the standing balcony only rooms as well.

 

[natebenma]

Just an FYI- I will be away for a few days next week. I'll be around today and tomorrow. Although it is not a trip to the World, it is a much anticipated getaway. I’ll fill you all in when I return.




MickeyT is in charge in my absence- listen to him and play nice everyone!!! He will try to keep track of the new friends who join our merry band over the next week.


I have updated the Be Our Guest list, so I would appreciate it if everyone would look it over so I can make any necessary corrections before I leave.


Post 15: Be Our Guest list


@ Mike:

I'll do one more sweep of the thread tomorrow morning, and then I will hand over the reins.

It doesn't matter to me how you track our new friends- you can either copy the existing BOG list and bold any new entries, or just list the new guests and I will input them when I get back.

Thanks so much!


Oh, and Mike, if you get a chance, could you fix the space in the IPO email address while I am gone?? Muchas Gracias!

.

 

[MickeyT]

Happy Valentines Day Friends!!!

Oh crap....I knew I was forgetting something..... (Just kidding)

 

[Couchy]

Happy Valentines Day Friends!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day

When we were there last Feb. there were at least 20 or more pails and shovels in the sand for kids to play with. Not sure if that is the norm or if we just got lucky.

I have always seen sand pals and shovels lying around the kid sand pool everytime I have been



DH and I are getting very excited. We will be sailing the Wonder in 2 days

 

[logpey]

Leaving this Sunday, possibly Saturday evening, for my happy place! Can't wait to try out "The Beach Club Resort for FIRST time!" I will definitely be checking on the DIS, if anyone has any question or pics they want taken! Woot... But nervous about my Princess half, scary but fun.....:0

 

[logpey]

DD is now 15! We are celebrating her Sweet Sixteen while at Disney at our lovely Beach Club resort this July.

She is a good eater as is my DH, but we snack so much (mickey ears ice cream, dole whips, Caramels in Germany, pretzels, on and on and on because after all it's vacation!) and usually want to share a dessert, that we can get away with sharing a meal every now and then!!!

We have been to Disney SEVERAL times, and have never gotten the dining plan. DH doesn't like to be tied down to "well, we have to have a nice meal otherwise we are wasting money on this dining plan". As for myself, there are times that all I want is a bowl of soup for my meal (Sanaa is a perfect example, I LOVE, LOVE their tomato soup.) so using a meal credit for a $6 bowl is kind of nuts.

I'm sure the plan is a good thing for many families, it just isn't for us.

That's exactly the way I feel with DDP!!! But maybe I'll give it a try in the future)

 

[bigAWL]

I've never done a dining plan. Whenever I looked at it and did my own calculations, I could only justify it if we were doing a lot of character meals. What I noticed (and I haven't looked at it in a couple years now) was that the cost of the adult dining plans weren't saving that much off the regular menu prices, unless you always ate the expensive meals at the expensive restaurants, or unless you were always going to get that dessert anyway. And pretty much the same for the cost of the kids meals, except in the case of character dining (specifically the ones that only require 1 TS credit)... where the cost of paying out of pocket for a kid at a character meal is much greater than the cost of that child's dining plan TS credit for the day.

So my rule was: "Lots of kids? Lots of character meals? Then take a close look at the dining plan."

The other thing to think about... if your plans change and you end up leaving one meal on the table (so to speak), you may have ruined any savings you had hoped to get.

As far as just doing it so you know your meals are paid for and you can relax about dining... I completely understand that. But I do love the idea that someone else posted earlier (I think it was on this thread?). Take the money you set aside for the dining plan and put it on a gift card. I guess you could concievably run out before you had planned to, but it's much more flexible.

And one more plug for the TIW card before I shut up. If you qualify for it, and you are planning a good number of days within a 12-month period, it can be a great deal.