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

[YCFAN]

Originally Posted by GraceMonica

I'm on my way to the Y&B club as I type! Spent a few (horrible) hours in Hollywood studios and now I'm on the friendship boat! Very excited!

Jealous big time!! Enjoy!

[natebenma]

Originally Posted by Karebear

I was just playing around on the new WDW website and I looked at the pics for the YC. It showed a room where there was a bed (queen or king) and then there was a curtain divider. Past the curtain was a day bed and what looked like a chair bed too. Past that was the balcony. Has anybody seen that room type at the YC? The curtain divider sure looked nice to have the kids on one side of it and us on the other! Just curious as I would like to request it--thanks!

Originally Posted by Karebear

Here is the link

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/re...t/rates-rooms/

If you scroll down and click on view photos under garden view or lagoon view or whatever, there are pictures. If you click through them, you will see the room. I am trying to get the actual picture copied and pasted, but it won't let me......

There is the picture you are talking about. I haven't seen this before, not sure what the room category is.

[Ninja Mom]

Originally Posted by pixarmom

Just wanted to add that we usually have two ADRs per day, no dining plan and think CL is a good value for our family if the additional cost is $100/night or less. The convenience factor is HUGE for us. (I significantly underestimated that factor before we stayed CL, but the ease of stopping by the lounge for breakfast, snacks, coffee, etc. - especially with three kids - just can't be beat.) So first, we factor in the value of that convenience.

The cost of breakfast for a family of five can become significant and we really only need something quick to get us going in the morning until our lunch ADR.

On more recent trips, we started taking an afternoon break to swim or shop. Nice to have drinks, chips, treats, etc. available in the afternoon. We occasionally grab a favorite snack in the parks, but it's less frequent with CL. More savings. And for our family, it prevents my husband from going to BC Marketplace and overbuying a bunch of packaged snacks that are likely to be wasted in the end anyway.

The evening appetizers are GREAT, especially with kids. I usually have a glass of wine, and my husband has wine or beer. It's great for our kids to get a healthy snack before our dinner ADR, so we never arrive at dinner really hungry and if our youngest falls asleep at dinner - no problem. The club lounge food is some of the healthiest our youngest and middle son eat on vacation! Veggies, fruit, cheese, rolls, etc. We order FAR less at dinner because we had that snack - and it was relatively healthy. So that's additional cost savings, as long as you're not on the dining plan.

And we don't eat dessert right after dinner, but it's nice to have that option later in the evening. When our youngest asks for something in the park, we just suggest checking out the club lounge and they always like that idea. More savings.

Originally Posted by Me!Thatswho

We stayed at the BC CL in August, and, after loving it, we're going to be visiting the "dark side" for the first time in a mere 8 days. When we booking CL, we were a little skeptical of the savings potential because, after all, its more than the standard room rate.

For the last 4 or 5 trips to the world, we always did the DDP complete with the daily routine of snacks, a QS & a TS. After visiting DL in 2011 which has a different system for DDP (it's merely a prepaid voucher system with no actual savings), we ate a different way. Instead of pre-planning ADRs for the entire trip, we agreed to 2 TS options that we really wanted, and went with the flow for the rest. We were there for 6 days - we ate a our 2 ADRs, we did a walkup for a 3rd TS, and the rest of the days we snacked or ate at QS. Also, we didn't buy breakfast. Instead, we bought packages of bagels (they actually sell them by the 1/2 dozen retail for the cost of 2 from the kitchen) from the GC store. In total we had about $120 left in our food budget (we calculate our budget based on estimated cost of WDWs DDP). Needless to say, we were floored.

So, when we returned to WDW in Aug, we applied our strategy from DL to see how things turned out. We were there again for 6 days. We ate at 4 ADRs (one for each of us, including the Biergarten - which I absolutely love but always end up paying about $200 due to the beer!) and 2 dinners at QS. Thanks to the CL, we didn't pay for breakfast, coffee, snacks, water, a few sodas, dessert, or adult beverages for the entire trip. Plus, one of our ADRs was breakfast, and a 2nd was lunch. On one of those days, we enjoyed appetizers and chips, which constituted a light dinner, and another we managed to get a walk-in table at Beaches & Cream.

Now for the math: For CL, we payed about $100 more per night than we would have with a BC GV. (FYI: we had a DV 35% discount). For the DDP (3 adults, 1 child), it would have cost about $1,800. So, $1800-$600 = $1300. For our 4 ADRs, we paid oop ~$650. Leaving $550. Finally, we spent about another $300 on QS. Amazingly, we came home with full stomachs (I, unfortunately, gained about ~8lbs - but its Disney, so why not!) and with just about $250 left in our food fund.

Going forward, we will never stay non-CL ever again.

What they said!!

My husband, who is notoriously tight with money, came to the inescapable conclusion that if you are booking a room with the 35% discount you will (depending upon how you eat) either break even on the costs or come out ahead and that's with NO dining plan and 1 table service or 2 counter service meals every day.

The next time we stay deluxe I really want to stay at Club Level again and I almost fainted when he agreed with me. (He NEVER agrees with me about spending money at Disney) The thing that you have to understand is that you are paying more for your room by staying Club Level but you are spending less on food in the parks and at the hotel food courts. This balances out to spending less or the same amount over all for that same Disney trip (depending on how many restaurants you eat at)

The thing that you can't factor in to the money plan is the ease and convenience. It was so great to get off the Dining treadmill, where you had to stop what you were doing and schlep to a restaurant. Club level is a great solution for people with small children.

So ditch the dining plan. Pay out of pocket for table service/counter service meals (1 table service per day and any additional counter services needed to supplement that day's dining) and see how you make out. We had breakfast in the Club lounge, did a table service for lunch (more savings at lunch!) and had appetizers and later desserts in the lounge. We were so stuffed from the table service lunch that nobody wanted to eat a big dinner anyway. The appetizers and desserts were perfect (appetizers at 5.... hit the parks, come back later for desserts and drinks! )

We have annual passes so we were also able to score a Tables in Wonderland discount card (20%) but my husband didn't factor that into his cost estimate.

Don't forget, you are not just using the lounge for breakfasts and appetizers. There are also all the bottles of water ($2.50!!!) and sodas and beer, wine and cordials that you are saving money on. Remember how hot it gets in the summer and how people drink like camels in WDW. THAT's where the savings are versus buying in the parks.

Now.... I hear those of you who are saying what about Green Grocer? We can get the crap delivered, blah, blah, blah.... Yes you can, BUT at premium prices with a minimum order and a delivery charge tacked on. AND Green grocer sure ain't warming up the appetizers or cleaning the plates for you!

~NM

[Wood Nymph]

Club level would not work for us. There is just two of us and I like bacon for breakfast. Although the snacks and other drinks would be nice, at the end of the day, it doesn't substitute for a real meal. This is probably a great option for a family, but I don't see how it would be a savings for just two people.

[Dis703]

YCFAN, Disneymomx7 and natebenma, thanks for the info on the Albatross cruise. I think my four year old will absolutely love this!

Just wondering though when and how do I book it? I didn't see any info about it on the Disney website. Do I call the number for specialty cruises? And how far in advance? We will be at the BC in May.

Thanks again!

Heather

[TeenaS]

Originally Posted by Wood Nymph

Club level would not work for us. There is just two of us and I like bacon for breakfast. Although the snacks and other drinks would be nice, at the end of the day, it doesn't substitute for a real meal. This is probably a great option for a family, but I don't see how it would be a savings for just two people.

If you drink more than two drinks each a day and you can do without your bacon every morning (personally, to spend $15-20 on breakfast per person each day is way too much for me), it pays even for two people. However, if you aren't going to be at the resort all that much and instead leave early and don't get back to the resort until after 10 each night, then it certainly does not pay. For me and my husband, it pays! We only go into the park for dinner at night and we spend all day at the resort so with the breakfast, snacks and food at night, along with drinks throughout the day and before bed, it definitely is worth it! Keep in mind there is no food court at the Y&B so you can't just go and order bacon like you could at Port Orleans, etc.

[Wood Nymph]

Originally Posted by TeenaS

If you drink more than two drinks each a day and you can do without your bacon every morning (personally, to spend $15-20 on breakfast per person each day is way too much for me), it pays even for two people. However, if you aren't going to be at the resort all that much and instead leave early and don't get back to the resort until after 10 each night, then it certainly does not pay. For me and my husband, it pays! We only go into the park for dinner at night and we spend all day at the resort so with the breakfast, snacks and food at night, along with drinks throughout the day and before bed, it definitely is worth it! Keep in mind there is no food court at the Y&B so you can't just go and order bacon like you could at Port Orleans, etc.

I would need a huge room discount to even think of it.

And I need a gluten-free diet, which makes club level less appealing.

[Karebear]

Originally Posted by natebenma

There is the picture you are talking about. I haven't seen this before, not sure what the room category is.

Thanks for the post natebenma! Does anybody know what this curtain divider room type is? Thanks!!

[DisneyMomx7]

Originally Posted by Dis703

YCFAN, Disneymomx7 and natebenma, thanks for the info on the Albatross cruise. I think my four year old will absolutely love this!

Just wondering though when and how do I book it? I didn't see any info about it on the Disney website. Do I call the number for specialty cruises? And how far in advance? We will be at the BC in May.

Thanks again!

Heather

I made the reservations right through Disney Dining. With all the problems of the new website I would just call. Hope your four year old loves it - that's the same age my grandson was and he tells everyone it was his favorite part of the Disney trip!

[DisneyMomx7]

Originally Posted by BusyMom2Three

Hello!

We booked BC for Feb 27-Mar 5, but I have a concern about the scent used there, something I just learned about. Some of our family have asthma, allergies and/or sensitivity to scents. Is the scent they pump into the lobby strong, and is it noticeable in the rooms as well? I for one can't even handle the smell of fabric softener or scented laundry detergents, and even burning a Scentsy bar in our home causes my DS to start coughing.

Thanks!

I've never smelled the scent in the rooms. My dd has asthma and never has a problem with either the YC or BC lobby scent.

HTH.

[ocalla]

Originally Posted by DisneyMomx7

I've never smelled the scent in the rooms. My dd has asthma and never has a problem with either the YC or BC lobby scent.

HTH.

You can smell it in the lobby the second u walk in the door. But I haven't smelled it in the rooms . ABD being very sensitive to smells, I wouldn't be able to sleep there if it was in the rooms

Hope that helps!

[Dis703]

Yay, DS is booked for the Albatross treasure cruise May 22nd. He is going to LOVE it!

Just some info to share. My DS has food allergies so I asked the CM what kind of snacks they offer now and she told me they stopped doing any food on the cruise. She told me to double check when I drop him off and sign the waiver but that at this point they are no longer doing a snack.

Heather

[MarinaD]

Originally Posted by TeenaS

If you drink more than two drinks each a day and you can do without your bacon every morning (personally, to spend $15-20 on breakfast per person each day is way too much for me), it pays even for two people. However, if you aren't going to be at the resort all that much and instead leave early and don't get back to the resort until after 10 each night, then it certainly does not pay. For me and my husband, it pays! We only go into the park for dinner at night and we spend all day at the resort so with the breakfast, snacks and food at night, along with drinks throughout the day and before bed, it definitely is worth it! Keep in mind there is no food court at the Y&B so you can't just go and order bacon like you could at Port Orleans, etc.

What other perks are included w concierge level?

[TeenaS]

Originally Posted by MarinaD

What other perks are included w concierge level?

Dedicated CMs outside the lounge to assist with anything you need. Itinerary Planning Office to make all your reservations before you arrive. Turndown service. Bathrobes. If you go on the Disney website and check out the rooms at a deluxe resort, it will tell you what comes with booking club level. For me, it's mainly the convenience of sodas, drinks, snacks, breakfast, bottled water throughout the day.

[Ninja Mom]

Originally Posted by MarinaD

What other perks are included w concierge level?

Check in was a relaxing experience. We were brought upstairs by a staff member, seated in nice soft chairs offered a beverage while a staffer checked us in and asked about certain preferences like wake up calls, housekeeping times, etc.

We had access to a wonderful staff that would provide many different types of assistance, like with reservations at restaurants or shows or special events. You simply had to communicate to them a request or state a problem and they were on it!

There were robes in the room which were perfect for using st the pool when it was slightly chilly out.

I heard other people request certain beverages or wines and the staff would get them if they weren't out. One lady did ask for Champagne but she was told that that was not something they had so you have to keep it with in reason.

I just liked knowing that if there was a problem or a question I had I could depend upon the Club Level staffers to offer assistance while I went to the parks and stopped worrying about it.

I'm sure there are more things but since it was my first time I don't have all that much experience with a varied CL experience.

~NM