Just back from BCV

[n2mm]

We just got home last night. Some good things and some not good things this trip.

Good:

We checked into the BCV 2 bedroom at 8:00AM on 8/16 and our room was ready!!! (first time). Both of our requests were also honored!

My daughter got picked to play the jeopardy game at WhW.

Never had a long wait for any ADR -- generally about 5 minutes even after free dining began.

Also added: We loved the central fast pass location at the AK. This was a great option and saved us from running all over the park! I hope they include this at the other parks. BTW -- it's located at the fast pass machines at TTBAB.


BAD:

I took my netbook and I never could either connect to the internet or stay connnected. I even tried going to the lobby to connect to the wireless and could not stay connected. I actually thought it was my new netbook (which worked perfectly at the WLV last month). Now that I'm home it works perfectly. We went to the front desk and asked if they were having issues and the CM didn't have a clue what I was even talking about. She said "it's free in the lobby" and we responded, "it's free in our room too" but it doesn't work. Needless to say I managed to get on for about one minute. I did a check on my netbook and it said to check with the provider.

The crowds were the worse I've ever seen after the 16th (free dining began). Waits in the triple digits for most of the big rides (180 at test track one night). Fast passes gone by noon on TSM, Soarin and sometimes TT. One hour waits on the smaller rides (even STar Tours and GMR).

The heat! I've been in August the last 4 years, but this time it was just too much for us...so no more summer trips (maybe the combination with the crowds for free dining).

SAB...evenings were the only time we could get a chair. We tried around 3:00 on Thursday, 20th, and not a chair in site. Went to the quiet pool.

Never got to eat at Beaches and Cream again. Tried waiting one evening for a table or counter for 2 and gave up after 45 minutes -- just didn't want to eat after 9:00PM by then.

Food has taken a nose-dive. We crossed Cape May and Trails End off our list. 50's Prime Time is still there, but barely along with Whispering Canyon. My family noticed the lack of fun at both of these locations. My daughter commented that neither do anything to make these places fun anymore. The food was standard and not terrible.

Sadly, my goods are few. I must note that we go to WDW 5-6 times a year, but we all agree no more June, July, August trips for us. Between the heat and the crowds, it's just not enjoyable anymore.

[sgtpet]

Do you think that your experience would have been better if free dining wasn't available?

[disneynutz]

I agree with everything you said. We are currently at OKW and seem to enjoy the resorts more than the crowded parks.

Tried the Pepper Market based upon previous reviews. The menu has changed for the worst with all of the better, more expensive items removed. The remaining was the worst food that we have ever had at Disney and the service was by a group of people who acted like they hated their jobs.

Wolf Gang Pucks Express West Side has also removed 80% of their previous menu. Coincidence that these changes occurred just in time for "free" dining?

[queendarvet]

We had the same problem with internet connections when we were there in early August. I just filled out a survey and mentioned the problems. We didn't have any problems with internet at BLT a few days later. I also agree about the chairs at SAB. By the end of the stay my kids went to the quiet pool at the villas instead. We still really loved the location of BCV though.

[n2mm]

Originally Posted by sgtpet

Do you think that your experience would have been better if free dining wasn't available?

Absolutely!! We stayed at the BCV in a 2 bedroom the same timeframe for 2007 and 2008 and we had a great time. This was the worse crowd level I've ever seen (we don't go during holidays). We were there during free dining in 2005, but haven't been there since while it was going on. I just hope it's not the same when we go in late October.

Forget to mention that the boat service from the BCV to the studios is not good. One morning we went to the dock only to see the biggest crowd ever. We knew we would not make it on the next boat (or 2) so walked, with a 2 yo and 4 yo. We got to the studios and we never saw a boat pass us. It took us 30 minutes (with the little ones who rarely ride in the stroller). WE did complain the next day and was told that they only ran 3 boats that day which lead to the long waits. We even walked back because the waits were long (and yes, we beat the boat then too --actually we stopped at BW pool bar, got 2 maragritas and walked to the BCV and still beat the boat.)

[n2mm]

Originally Posted by queendarvet

We had the same problem with internet connections when we were there in early August. I just filled out a survey and mentioned the problems. We didn't have any problems with internet at BLT a few days later. I also agree about the chairs at SAB. By the end of the stay my kids went to the quiet pool at the villas instead. We still really loved the location of BCV though.

Thank you for confirming that I wasn't just being computer challenged. My netbook is new, but we did use it at the WLV in July and it worked great and I even made dining ADRs on it then.

[Laurabearz]

Free dining really saddens me. Between that and the dining plan, they are sucking the life out of dining at disney.

Thanks for the report.

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks for the report. Are you saying you were having problems with your Ethernet connection or the Wi-Fi connection? It was my understanding that the Ethernet connection was free to DVC Members and Guests but Wi-Fi was not widely available. This may have changed since our last stay at BWV where we could not pick up Wi-Fi either.

I remember our trip last Christmas, we arrived around the 19th of December. On Dec 24th we were at Pepper Market for our 2nd time that week and watched the employees change the menus in preparation for the holiday crowds.

They increased the prices and took away the steak from the grill menu. It really is a travesty for those that pay for their dining. Especially the ones that dont know any better and are basing value on menu prices.

IMO, During the peak holidays and free dining, they bring out the troughs and the slop buckets and charge a premium for it. Even the use of TIW is being affected because of the menu price increases

We were glad that we were leaving for HHI the day after Christmas and missing out on paying extra plus the surcharges for the degraded menus.
I noticed in early June when we went back to Pepper Market, the steak was back on the menu

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

[n2mm]

Originally Posted by LIFERBABE

Thanks for the report. Are you saying you were having problems with your Ethernet connection or the Wi-Fi connection? It was my understanding that the Ethernet connection was free to DVC Members and Guests but Wi-Fi was not widely available. This may have changed since our last stay at BWV where we could not pick up Wi-Fi either.


Thanks again for sharing your experience.

It was both. We've used the free internet in our DVC room before, just recently at WLV in July (last month) and it worked perfectly. Last summer staying at the BCV my daughter had her laptop and it worked great. So when we arrived on 8/16 and I couldn't get online I thought it was me or just some minor problem. By MOnday morning I still couldn't get online, I got the screen saying it was hooking up for free (as before), but I couldn't access anything, then got the screen that I lost my connection. So I thought, maybe the ethernet cable was bad. We went to the front desk and thought we'd ask if they were experiencing any problems and the CM was not very helpful. She just said if I was having a problem I could try the WiFi in the lobby instead (yes I knew there was free WiFi along with lots of others in the BC lobby in the morning). I treked up to the lobby with my netbook and connected briefly, only to lose the connectin again. I tried daily and one evening I actually got online for about 15 minutes (enough time to checked my email). Then I wanted to check the disboards as I was missing it, and lost it again. I tried a couple of more days, only to give up. I was glad to read that others were or had experienced problems too. I just would've not been happy had I been flying SW and wanted to checkin online. The morning I departed the RAC counter was also encountering computer problems (not sure if it was related). I hope I was not the only one that complained, but the CMs sure acted like I was.

[disneynutz]

I have found that switching back a forth between wired and wireless confuses my computer. If I am using wired, I disable the WiFi. Same the other way around. FYI the WiFi in the lobbies are not free for DVC Members, only the Ethernet connection in the rooms are free.

[LisaS]

I've read reports from other guests about Internet connection problems at BCV. Rather than talk to the front desk staff, call the tech support line. We had a problem with the Internet connection at BWV and they sent someone to our room to fix it.

[DVCPAT]

Originally Posted by n2mm

Food has taken a nose-dive. We crossed Cape May and Trails End off our list. 50's Prime Time is still there, but barely along with Whispering Canyon. My family noticed the lack of fun at both of these locations. My daughter commented that neither do anything to make these places fun anymore. The food was standard and not terrible.

I agree 100%…I think our last trip has solidified my decision to travel off site for dining. I just can’t justify spending top dollar for mediocre meals. We will probably shift to only counter service meals onsite, and eat dinner offsite. I feel Disney is becoming arrogant by raising prices and lowering quality…..I don’t mind paying for quality but I feel Disney is taking me for a fool.

The Disboards should enter a new category in the menu topic selection. An OFFSITE DINING topic would attract a lot of traffic.

Disney seems to have abandon its attention to detail. I couldn’t believe the trash scattered around thunder mountain railroad ride. I thought budget cuts might be the reason, but I noticed a couple employees standing off to the side talking. Maybe picking up trash isn’t part of the job description anymore?

Another negative experience I encountered was with guest relations at Downtown Disney. I had to argue with a CM for 45 minutes just to receive a 10% discount granted to DVC members for the waterparks. I was amazed at the lack of knowledge by current Disney employees. I’m not at the point of selling my DVC contracts but I think were going to visit surrounding attractions and see what the competition in Orlando has to offer.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by n2mm

I must note that we go to WDW 5-6 times a year, but we all agree no more June, July, August trips for us. Between the heat and the crowds, it's just not enjoyable anymore.

ITA! Except for my quick 2-night trip to check out BLT last weekend, I have avoided June, July, August and September as I can't stand the heat and humidity.

[DVC Mike]

Originally Posted by n2mm

Food has taken a nose-dive. We crossed Cape May and Trails End off our list. 50's Prime Time is still there, but barely along with Whispering Canyon. My family noticed the lack of fun at both of these locations. My daughter commented that neither do anything to make these places fun anymore. The food was standard and not terrible.

While the variety of food offerings has gone down (blame "Free Dining"), I still think there are some nice places to eat at WDW. I love all the Signature Dining (although it's all over-priced), as well as some regular TS such as Sanaa, Le Cellier, Boma, Raglun Road, The Wave, and 'Ohana).

[Sammie]

Everyone please write Disney and Member Services and voice your complaints. I do think at times they listen especially now that they are in need of the revenue.

Complaints are what lead to the changes about the free dining for values getting Counter Service unless they pay for the upgrade.

Members need to let DVC know that if they are going to keep expanding they need to have a decent place for us to eat.

We ate only one meal with Disney this trip and that was WCC at WL. It was good but expensive. We ate the rest of our meals off property.