2011/2012 Beach & Yacht FAQ, Part IV- DO NOT POST- see new 2012 thread

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

And Jes, if you're undecided on view and want something in between, you might consider a garden view at BC and a pool view at AKL. Both are just a few dollars more per night, but help to avoid those parking lot views.

BC: I know there are different views of the BC garden view rooms, but we book that category. The garden view at BC may not be landscaped (sometimes it's just trees) but we prefer that over standard. And as you mentioned, there can be other benefits - like fireworks views above the treetops!

AKL: I absolutely loved the pool view at AKL - good location, close to the pool, and I'd actually prefer to overlook the pool at AKL than the animals on the savannah. There are so many viewing spots throughout the resort, so a pool view may be a good compromise if you're not sure how much time you would be spending in your room.

We're definitely doing savanna view at AKL. The kids decided that one. Just undecided on the BC view. We'll be doing CL, so I don't know how much time we'd be spending in the lounge vs SAB vs Epcot, etc. We had the balcony room at the very end of the hotel just before the bridge to Epcot. Loved that view and location! Thanks for the tips!!

 

[jenneth79]

To start, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We're still recovering from cooking for 12. (Martha Stewart I am not....)

I'm glad to see that Lily is still completely adorable! Thanks for sharing the Christmas pics!

Dee, I made it for 4 months....but I caved, and told Mike about our February trip on Christmas Day.

We also found out that we're not traveling to the UK this year (Olympics and lack of hotel rooms) BUT this means we're going to do F&W in October! Super excited and we're already debating between BC and YC for the first few nights of our trip. This time will be a split stay between Boardwalk and another resort, as we were offered two free nights there (and come on, who turns THAT down?)

I think most of the France bodies are due to Grey Goose Slushy overload. If you think about it, most people start out at Mexico with one of those frozen Margaritas. Then, just when they finish chugging that Margarita the Aquavit shots from Norway starts calling their name. Now that Aquavit tastes nasty but "Oh look! There's Germany and they have those giant liters of BEER!!!" Chug, chug, chug!!! It takes you until Japan to finish that beer from Germany but you HAVE been wondering what Sake tastes like, so you give it a shot. MEH! It's warm and sort of tasteless and you don't see what the point was but OH LOOK! THERE'S THAT CART WHERE THEY SELL THOSE French SLUSHIES!! They have two flavors so you have to try both... RIGHT???

These are the people who are laying on that lawn by France! Usually they are tucked up under some shade with their arm over their eyes. If you get close enough you can hear them wondering out loud how Disney can make a lawn spin.

~MM

This is EXACTLY why my husband has come up with the "start in Canada and end in Mexico" plan. That way, you can at least pass out under a table in La Cava and be less obvious as a body.

I really love POFQ. It's my (and the family's) top choice for a moderate hotel. I've really spent a lot of time looking at the other moderates and I still can't see any reason to try a different one.

The advantages that POFQ has, in my opinion, are that it is smaller and more intimate than the other moderates. This means that you don't have to catch a bus to get to your resort's food court or pool like at the larger moderates if your room happens to be located in the resort's hinterlands.


As much as I'd love to stay at the BC I don't think we are going to have that kind of money again any time soon. Knowing that we have a place like POFQ takes the sting out of that reality. I know you're going to just love staying there so relax and start planning!

~Marlton Mom

Ditto ditto ditto! POFQ has been a favorite resort of mine for a long time, and I would quickly recommend it to anyone.

Hi all. Firstly, I wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas as well as a happy new year. Christmas truly is for the children and it was very sweet seeing the pictures of Lilly under the Christmas tree!


Anyway, I have completed my ADR list as my 180 day point came and went on December 21st. We are going to be on the deluxe dining plan. As I pointed out previously, our plan is to enjoy 2 credit experiences every full day we are at the resort (June 18-28). So here is our full list. This going to be quite a trip for us!

Arrival day: Rose and Crown
Day 1: Cinderella's Royal Table/California Grill
Day 2: Via Napoli/Hoop De Do
Day 3: Sci-Fi Dine In/ Brown Derby
Day 4: Donald's Safari Breakfast/Narcoossee's
Day 5: Flying Fish
Day 6: Yachtsman
Day 7: Biergarten/ Le Cellier
Day 8: Citrico's
Day 9: Whispering Canyon/ Spirit of Aloha
Day 10(departure day): Coral Reef

So, it's kind of too late to turn back now on these. Do you think these choices are as good as I think they are? There are some days where we will be playing lunch by ear and we're planning on putting out two kids (7&11 when we go) into Sandcastle Club for a "date night" on the Citrico's evening.

I think they're great choices, enough for the kids and the adults to all find things to enjoy! California Grill and Le Cellier were our two favorite dinner spots, and I've heard nothing but good about Citricos, though we have yet to try it. CRT is great for the kids, and the food at the Brown Derby is vastly underrated. You're going to have an amazing time!

 

[MickeyT]

Hi all. Firstly, I wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas as well as a happy new year. Christmas truly is for the children and it was very sweet seeing the pictures of Lilly under the Christmas tree!


Anyway, I have completed my ADR list as my 180 day point came and went on December 21st. We are going to be on the deluxe dining plan. As I pointed out previously, our plan is to enjoy 2 credit experiences every full day we are at the resort (June 18-28). So here is our full list. This going to be quite a trip for us!

Arrival day: Rose and Crown
Day 1: Cinderella's Royal Table/California Grill
Day 2: Via Napoli/Hoop De Do
Day 3: Sci-Fi Dine In/ Brown Derby
Day 4: Donald's Safari Breakfast/Narcoossee's
Day 5: Flying Fish
Day 6: Yachtsman
Day 7: Biergarten/ Le Cellier
Day 8: Citrico's
Day 9: Whispering Canyon/ Spirit of Aloha
Day 10(departure day): Coral Reef

So, it's kind of too late to turn back now on these. Do you think these choices are as good as I think they are? There are some days where we will be playing lunch by ear and we're planning on putting out two kids (7&11 when we go) into Sandcastle Club for a "date night" on the Citrico's evening.

Great list. We've done all except Donald's Breakfast and Yachtsman. All of our favorites are on your list.

 

[focusondisney]

Well, I tried calling the WDW merchandise phone no. No go on ordering the YC shirt. She said those had been "discontinued". Told her this was brand new & she said she doesn't have any info about it yet. Did not offer to transfer me to the YC store.

Don't have time to call the YC now & not sure I want the shirt bad enough to have a hassle trying to get it. But if I do call & get to order it, I'll post here.

 

[bookgirl]

Marlton Mom, I'd love to hear your thoughts on POFQ - that's where I'm staying with our youngest son in April (it's on the bucket list and this is my chance with only two of us traveling instead of five.)

Thinking of trying the orange GM slushie, but it's hard to imagine anything can be as good as the GG . . .

I really loved POFQ and that's my choice of where to stay if I can't swing BC.

The boat ride to DTD, is so relaxing and much easier than the bus hell that is the only choice at just about every other resort.

I am a picky eater but found plenty of stuff to eat at POFQ, and more stuff that I didn't eat but would have felt comfortable ordering. (being picky you'd think that I would love basic food court food, but no I don't like hamburgers, pizza, or chicken 'parts' chicken nuggets).

The buses are sometimes shared with sister resort PORiverside, but POFQ is the first stop, so no worries.

It has a sister resort a mere 10 minute walk away with TS resturant, Food Court with different menu options and two more pools.

The small resort feel was very comfortable and literally I was 1 minute from bus, food, boat or pool. (building 5)

There is a good thread here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2650040

and the OP on that thread has a great website

www.portorleans.org

While that thread is not so jovial or active as the BC thread it is still a great resource.

 

[kelleigh1]

I actually posted a whole reply about POFQ yesterday and then my computer decided to go on vacation and it didn't post. LOL

Seems like it's a favorite among the BC/YC family too. It was the first place that hubby and I stayed together at WDW. We had planned to visit all the mods. Last trip was CBR and we were just not impressed and didn't feel the Disney magic. We both LOVED POFQ and we were wishing we'd stayed there again. Our next trip is the big splurge to YC, but if we go back to staying at Mods, I think POFQ is going to be our home resort. We should still try POR and CSR, but I just have a feeling that POFQ will be our first love.

It's quaint, relaxing and it's like an oasis in the middle of Disney. Because let's face it, every now and then we need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. POFQ lets you do that.

And the boat to DTD...I loved it. You're floating along through area of Disney that you can only see on that boat ride. I highly recommend POFQ for anyone wanting/needing to go MOD.

 

[pixarmom]

We're definitely doing savanna view at AKL. The kids decided that one. Just undecided on the BC view. We'll be doing CL, so I don't know how much time we'd be spending in the lounge vs SAB vs Epcot, etc. We had the balcony room at the very end of the hotel just before the bridge to Epcot. Loved that view and location! Thanks for the tips!!

Got it! If my kids decided on a particular view, I'd be sold, too! (And I have to admit my love of the pool view is related to the fact that I love water views - so that was my means of getting a "water view" at AKL!) Good luck with your BC view decision!

 

[pixarmom]

jenneth, kelleigh, and bookgirl, thanks so much for the additional POFQ info! We just added a couple nights to our stay, and I'm happy to see so many BC fans identify POFQ as a good alternative. Our stay is during part of Easter week, so holiday season rack rate is pretty high at BC/YC - it's quite different from my AP rate during value season! I thought about a value, but the last time I booked one (thought our boys might like to try ASMovies in March 2010), I ended up switching back at BC.

 

[hill6]

jenneth, kelleigh, and bookgirl, thanks so much for the additional POFQ info! We just added a couple nights to our stay, and I'm happy to see so many BC fans identify POFQ as a good alternative. Our stay is during part of Easter week, so holiday season rack rate is pretty high at BC/YC - it's quite different from my AP rate during value season! I thought about a value, but the last time I booked one (thought our boys might like to try ASMovies in March 2010), I ended up switching back at BC.

We stayed at POFQ three years ago and I loved it. It had the feeling of a smaller resort which I throughly enjoyed. Also half the size of the other moderates.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Got it! If my kids decided on a particular view, I'd be sold, too! (And I have to admit my love of the pool view is related to the fact that I love water views - so that was my means of getting a "water view" at AKL!) Good luck with your BC view decision!

Darn kids!!



Well, I just got off the phone with CRO and booked our rooms for our May/June trip!! I'll show everyone the plans tomorrow, and if I get a thumbs up, I'll call back to make our deposit. I think I got everyone's wishes in, though, so we should be good to go.

We're doing two nights at AKV-Jambo (one-bedroom, savannah view), two nights at SoG (ground floor, poolside) and four nights at BC (standard, CL...but I'll probably give in and switch to lagoon view )!! So excited!! I'm a month behind on making reservations, so I'm spending this evening figuring out our whens and wheres and sending them off to IPO in the morning (if I can resist trying to find them myself online tonight ). Now, I just need the second semester to fly by us!

Oh, and it's a surprise for the kids!! They think I'm planning our December trip!

 

[dcd34]

I've talked to a number of guests that did it and the children loved it. I've never had any bad reviews.

I get reviews all the time from our Sandcastle Club. The parents complain to me that once they use it for their children, the kids want to go back every night because they had so much fun.

I have a DD who will almost be 4 on our trip next month. Will they allow her on the Pirate cruise? (She is pretty mature and potty-trained).

Also, the sandcastle club age is 3 and up, right?

 

[TeenaS]

I have a DD who will almost be 4 on our trip next month. Will they allow her on the Pirate cruise? (She is pretty mature and potty-trained).

Also, the sandcastle club age is 3 and up, right?

Disney Cast Members provide a supervised dining and entertainment club for children ages 3 - 12 featuring games, activities, movies and a chance to make new friends.
Dinner is available nightly featuring all your children's favorites and is included in the cost of the service.

Pirate Cruise is 4-12 only.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Disney Cast Members provide a supervised dining and entertainment club for children ages 3 - 12 featuring games, activities, movies and a chance to make new friends.
Dinner is available nightly featuring all your children's favorites and is included in the cost of the service.

Pirate Cruise is 4-12 only.

I pretty much act like I'm 12, even though I'm 48. Do you think I could sneak on board? I'll row the boat for a couple of turns too....

~MM

 

[TeenaS]

I pretty much act like I'm 12, even though I'm 48. Do you think I could sneak on board? I'll row the boat for a couple of turns too....

~MM

Go for it!

 

[dcd34]

Disney Cast Members provide a supervised dining and entertainment club for children ages 3 - 12 featuring games, activities, movies and a chance to make new friends.
Dinner is available nightly featuring all your children's favorites and is included in the cost of the service.

Pirate Cruise is 4-12 only.

Thanks, Teena. DD3 will be very disappointed about the cruise.

I'm hoping the Sandcastle club doesn't require advance reservations, because we won't know our schedule for a date night until we get there. Since we're going in late January, I'm assuming it won't be as crowded as it would other times of the year.

 

[Feckless]

I'd love to try a date night but my kids are notorious for hating all kid's programs and babysitters. LOL. I'm hoping they may relent since their cousins are going, and when they see it! My DD will be 11 1/2 so it's our last chance! LOL. I've heard so many awesome thngs about the Sandcastle Club... Last time we left the kids in childcare in a hotel was in a very well reviewed family hotel in Toronto when the kids were 6 and 8. They were horrified since the babysitters there were making jokes about pushing the kids out of the high windows in the hotel! Havent been able to get them back anywhere since. Imagine!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We were able to get same day reservations at the Sandcastle Club in July. Not guaranteed but you should have a pretty good chance in January.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and hopefully has a wonderful New Year.

I'm holding my breath about the announcement on Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special. Right now we're planning on booking the Dolphin for ten nights end of July/beginning of August. If the announcement is about a good discount I'll be switching that over to BC in a split second. Of course this year it will have to be a gv (non CL) room but I just hope that we'll be able to do BC.

Since we took a financial hit this year right now it has to be the Dolphin or POR so I'm putting all my BC eggs in the New Year's Eve announcement!

 

[jenneth79]

We were able to get same day reservations at the Sandcastle Club in July. Not guaranteed but you should have a pretty good chance in January.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and hopefully has a wonderful New Year.

I'm holding my breath about the announcement on Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special. Right now we're planning on booking the Dolphin for ten nights end of July/beginning of August. If the announcement is about a good discount I'll be switching that over to BC in a split second. Of course this year it will have to be a gv (non CL) room but I just hope that we'll be able to do BC.

Since we took a financial hit this year right now it has to be the Dolphin or POR so I'm putting all my BC eggs in the New Year's Eve announcement!

Forgive me my ignorance, but what is this special announcement you're referring to? We're planning a few days in October and I'm hoping for a discount to come out....so any info would be really appreciated!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

No one knows for sure what the special announcement is - all we know is that they are going to announce it on New Year's Eve on the Dick Clark Special.

I really HOPE it's a good discount, but who knows??? Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Aliceacc]

Thanks, Teena. DD3 will be very disappointed about the cruise.

I'm hoping the Sandcastle club doesn't require advance reservations, because we won't know our schedule for a date night until we get there. Since we're going in late January, I'm assuming it won't be as crowded as it would other times of the year.

Is there a cancellation penalty? If not, why not reserve your best guess now?