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

[MickeyT]

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

Hope you have a great experience at BC. I know it's not for everybody but our family sure love it!

And good luck with your run. I know you've been sick and hampered your training but running through WDW is the best!

 

[hiwaygal]

Unfortunately we don't qualify for TIW. We had already decided that getting gift cards and even Disney Dollars or travellers checks is one way we can "pre-pay" for many of the things we want to do down there (meals, snacks, souvenirs, etc).

Now we just have to figure out where we can get rolls of quarters down there for the pressed penny machines and we'll be good to go!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks for the Welcome!!!! I will let you know when we are definite!! Enjoy your weekend...wherever you are going!!!

 

[YCFAN]

I really wouldn't worry about whether or not I was getting a full balcony at YC. In the very unlikely event you would be put in the one room there that does not have one, just ask to be moved. I provided the room number just so people would know.

I LOVE, LOVE the TIW card. When you have a larger group and most of them drink wine or mixed drinks with their dinner it can be a huge savings.

 

[1coolnini]

I like the idea of using Disney gift cards for my own personalized version of the dining plan. Thanks to everyone for your input in helping me make a decision. I am going to spend this afternoon/evening @ DL with my valentine, so I am going to pick up our first Disney Gift Card......!

Jan

 

[hiwaygal]

I like the idea of using Disney gift cards for my own personalized version of the dining plan. Thanks to everyone for your input in helping me make a decision. I am going to spend this afternoon/evening @ DL with my valentine, so I am going to pick up our first Disney Gift Card......!

Jan

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous!!

Have fun!

 

[1coolnini]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO jealous!!

Have fun!

Thank you....we will have fun (we always do!).

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

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.


Have a great trip Dee-you deserve a break from the snow Cant wait to hear all about it when you 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!

.

 

[pamkat1820]

Question to the CL experts:


How many TS did you schedule when u stay CL. We are only planning 4 this time around. We do not have the dinning plan this time around. Cape may clam bake (must!!!) cape may breakfast with characters, T. rex and whispering canyon cafe only because we like to check out a new resort every trip.

With the selections in the lounge do u think we planned enough

We r planning HS the day we arrive -QS I don't like their TS choices

MK- we want to try BOG for QS I heard the dinner isn't all that great

Epcot we want to snack our way around but def stop at the bakery in France yum!

AKL QS for lunch again not overly excited about their TS either. We are planning Cape may for dinner this night

Hanging out at the pool one day that would be our breakfast @cape may

Day DTD =late lunch at T. rex

Last day= WL whispering canyon then the boat to MK for fireworks


Any thoughts? Good plan? Need to make changes?

 

[buzz1fan]

We are having a 2 night stay in June. Our kids like the zero entry pools and we are going just 1 day to MK. Poly only has high end rooms so that is out. What do you think about a 2 night stay here but only going to MK. On that day we will go back to resort after lunch and swim and go back to the park in the evening. How are the busses?
Day 1 we will swim and eat at resort.

 

[Ninja Mom]

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

July is busy season so it's best to have realistic expectations about how crowded Club Level is.... That being said most people dine and dash in an effort to get to the parks so you are just dealing with a continuous stream of people moving in and out primarily during the busy hours (8 am and then again at 5pm when appetizers are put out). I really think Club level will be worth it because it's like having your own gourmet kitchen complete with a top chef making delicious goodies available to you just when you really need them. Remember, if the lounge is too busy for you you can grab a tray and take your goodies to go.

Now here is the good news. There are some delicious hang out areas at the resort. The lobby can be noisy and busy so I'm not talking about that area unless it's early in the morning before Cape May opens for breakfast. What I'm talking about is the off the beaten path hideaway in the lobby of the Beach Club Villas! My husband discovered this area and he would grab a cup of something from the coffee machine in the lounge and then go hang out there on the comfy couches with a book.

To get to this area you just take the pathway that is right by the Beach Club Market Place, which is immediately off of the Beach Club lobby. It would take you less than 2 minutes to get there from the Club Level area.

There are two areas.

The first is the larger of the two areas and it serves as a low traffic pass through for the Villas. Here is a great photo:

[/url] Beach Club Villas Library by Tim Mills2009, on Flickr[/IMG]

OK, so not too bad but not so relaxing huh.... WELL there is another room very near this and it is much more intimate and relaxing. It's right off of this room in the Villas lobby and it's got a couple of sofas and it's off set from the beaten path. I couldn't find any pictures of it so this one will have to do:

Remember, there isn't a check in desk or other busy area type office in the Beach Club Villas Lobby. It's just a quiet area with the occasional Villas guest (AKA "Villains") passing through. With 5 people in our room we liked to think of this as our living room and Club Level as our kitchen. Tell your Hubby to think of the resort like this and then Club Level during the busy season is a relaxing proposition.

Right across from the Beach Club Marketplace there is also the Beach Club resort Solarium, which is literally right across the outdoor path from the Beach Club Villas lobby. (Think 100 meters away) This area can get busy with people eating at the small tables from the Marketplace. There is also an outdoor area with larger tables that can be nice to relax at. But for my money I like that (not so) secret Beach Club Villas lobby area to relax at.

I'm not too familiar with the Yacht Club but I'm sure there are areas over there too.

Just an FYI- I will be away for a few days next week.

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

.

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

I can't wait for your trip to get here! Good luck with the marathon and be sure to let us know how you made out.

~NM

 

[Ninja Mom]

Question to the CL experts:


How many TS did you schedule when u stay CL. We are only planning 4 this time around. We do not have the dinning plan this time around. Cape may clam bake (must!!!) cape may breakfast with characters, T. rex and whispering canyon cafe only because we like to check out a new resort every trip.

With the selections in the lounge do u think we planned enough

We r planning HS the day we arrive -QS I don't like their TS choices

MK- we want to try BOG for QS I heard the dinner isn't all that great

Epcot we want to snack our way around but def stop at the bakery in France yum!

AKL QS for lunch again not overly excited about their TS either. We are planning Cape may for dinner this night

Hanging out at the pool one day that would be our breakfast @cape may

Day DTD =late lunch at T. rex

Last day= WL whispering canyon then the boat to MK for fireworks


Any thoughts? Good plan? Need to make changes?

How many days are you staying? I would plan on one table service a day or possibly 2 counter services depending upon how you eat.

BTW: Another great tip I read is to purchase a lunch and or dessert at Starring Rolls at the Hollywood Studios and take it over to the ABC Commissary which has cool, quiet and spacious INDOOR seating as opposed to the 5 or 6 small outdoor tables that are always taken at Starring Rolls. Remember also that Starring Rolls only has hours from 9:00am- 4:00pm so no dinner for you!
The Menu for Starring rolls is located here: http://allears.net/menu/menu_srb.htm

We are having a 2 night stay in June. Our kids like the zero entry pools and we are going just 1 day to MK. Poly only has high end rooms so that is out. What do you think about a 2 night stay here but only going to MK. On that day we will go back to resort after lunch and swim and go back to the park in the evening. How are the busses?
Day 1 we will swim and eat at resort.

I thought the buses were fine, especially in the morning for rope drop. Disney is really kicking butt trying to get rope drop people to the parks quickly and efficiently. It's apparent that Disney transportation is implementing a more hands on approach to get resort guests to the parks on time with better monitoring. I've noticed this even during the "off hours". That being said there will always be the problem areas like the buses to/from Downtown Disney from the resorts. The buses to or from the parks were never a problem in our experience. Your mileage may vary depending upon the time of day, season and crowd levels. I wouldn't worry about it though.

~NM

 

[sjlupin]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi!

We are leaving for WDW in TWO DAYS!!!

We're staying BC CL. Our kids know we're staying at the Beach Club (we have stayed there 3 times and LOVE it), but they don't know about the Club Leve upgrade. Can't wait to surprise them!!

They also don't know we booked an Illuminations Cruise on 2/20 - DSs 18th birthday! Never done that before - should be great.

I enjoyed reading some opinions about the Dining Plan. I always feel like odd man out, but it really doesn't work well for my family - most people I tell that seem to think we're nuts. Lol. We've done it twice. I love having things paid up front and it is fun to sort of pick what you want and sample desserts, but for us being 'tied' to a TS most every day isn't great. We're much happier being a little more flexible and not eating that many TSs. And no matter how we try not to, we always feel like we over eat and feel gross. It's like 'I HAVE to have dessert'.

Sandy

 

[Ninja Mom]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi!

We are leaving for WDW in TWO DAYS!!!

We're staying BC CL. Our kids know we're staying at the Beach Club (we have stayed there 3 times and LOVE it), but they don't know about the Club Leve upgrade. Can't wait to surprise them!!

They also don't know we booked an Illuminations Cruise on 2/20 - DSs 18th birthday! Never done that before - should be great.

I enjoyed reading some opinions about the Dining Plan. I always feel like odd man out, but it really doesn't work well for my family - most people I tell that seem to think we're nuts. Lol. We've done it twice. I love having things paid up front and it is fun to sort of pick what you want and sample desserts, but for us being 'tied' to a TS most every day isn't great. We're much happier being a little more flexible and not eating that many TSs. And no matter how we try not to, we always feel like we over eat and feel gross. It's like 'I HAVE to have dessert'.

Sandy

I know what ya mean. Most people have no idea of how the numbers work for this and they actually think they are getting the dining plan for free!

~NM

 

[pamkat1820]

We are staying 7 days @ the YC CL. We have done the dinning plan 2xs b4. We are thinking if we didn't do it this time. it would free up our days more. To be more relaxed. A friend told me she called the day of, around the time they wanted to eat, to see what was available were they were at the time. It worked out for them prefect she said.

I'm afraid to do that what if nothing available.

 

[hiwaygal]

We are staying 7 days @ the YC CL. We have done the dinning plan 2xs b4. We are thinking if we didn't do it this time. it would free up our days more. To be more relaxed. A friend told me she called the day of, around the time they wanted to eat, to see what was available were they were at the time. It worked out for them prefect she said.

I'm afraid to do that what if nothing available.

Well, in reality there is ALWAYS something available. There's always something to get at a counter service place or kiosk.

We only plan a few TS meals (I'm trying to figure that out now). For our 8 nights, I'm planning 4 TS's for which I'll need ADR's (Ohana, Kouzzina, Fantasmic package, and WCC). Everything else we'll be winging it!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are staying 7 days @ the YC CL. We have done the dinning plan 2xs b4. We are thinking if we didn't do it this time. it would free up our days more. To be more relaxed. A friend told me she called the day of, around the time they wanted to eat, to see what was available were they were at the time. It worked out for them prefect she said.

I'm afraid to do that what if nothing available.

We are staying YC CL for 10 nights in April. We are going w/out DDP for the first time. We have made 5 reservations, of places we know we want to go, then we will just wing it or do QS for the rest of our meals... You could do something like that, and then know that you will have at least a few sit down meals.

 

[mommakacie]

It's such a relief to come back to this board and feel the happiness.

On our upcoming trip, we're doing a split stay so I've been following the board for the other resort, too. And man, those people are grumpy!! It's DisneyWorld, people!! Sheesh.

 

[333disneymom]

We have done the DP every time we have gone before, but we have children under 10 and we do lots of character meals. However, each year, the plan gets more expansive and I feel you have to really analyze how to "save" with the dining plan. Each increase makes it more difficult to do that. I will give people one more thing to consider - something not many people think about. What happens if one member or more becomes ill? You do not get reimbursed for missed meals and missing just one meal seriously IMO jeopardizes the value of the dining plan. In December, we had 4 members of our family ill throughout the week. We often just brought food back to the room for the healthy ones or sent only part of our crew to our ADRs. The last night, we had to order room service just to use up TS credits and we had CS credits left over. Had we not been on the meal plan, that would have been one less thing to worry about. I believe we are done with the dining plan, but each person has to do the research for their group as to whether it works for them.

 

[Danex]

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

Thanks for that, i must have just missed your reply earlier before I signed off. Looks like CL might work out well.

On the UK WDW site they have finished the free dining for 2013 offer and are now offering 35% discount for the Beach Club for this July 2013, so hopefully this will be offered this time next year for 2014 and it seems thats too good to pass up

I think for my family for next year having CL and not using the DP would be the way to go.