2011 Beach & Yacht Club FAQ

[littledreamer7]

No -- We po' folk are staying garden view at the YC, which I had to almost rip my husband's arm off while twisting it to pay for the upgrade from standard. He's thinking $80+ more a week could be better spent. Oh SURE, I could spend it on some booze baby, but I'll just do that anyway. LOL.

We are staying GV too, looked at CL and thought about it but just don't think it works out for us. We contemplated WV too but decided to use it for souvies!

 

[creativeamanda]

Apparently, there is a group of us who need to commiserate--I think most of us who did not book CL booked GV.

 

[pixarmom]

We're going for standard view at the Beach Club... is the extra cost for Garden View worth it? (I don't even have any idea what that extra charge might be.) I know I want to request a balcony... I love that first cup of tea outside in the morning sun.
Hers's what I'm thinking... someone tell me if it sounds logical.

My kids are huge water rats. But, that said, they have lots of energy when it comes to swimming. So being a decent distance from Stormalong bay shouldn't be an issue.

On the other hand, my girls (particularly my youngest) is a morning person-- like me. So walking home from Epcot after a long day won't be her favorite part of the trip. A long treck to the room after that walk will only make her crankier.

So I was thinking of requesting a room closer to the Epcot end of the resort. Does that make sense, (Is there a doorway there that would give us late night entry) or do I want something closer to the lobby?

Oh, and something else just occurred to me. That same younger daughter has a real issue with fireworks-- as in, NEEDS to be inside, away from them. I don't know whether it's just that they're loud (she has noise reducing headphones that help a little, but still....) or whether it's the fireworks themselves that frighten her. How loud are they from the BC? (For the record, they were never an issue from our room at the Poly.)

Anyone want to offer some ideas?

First, I completely agree that the additional cost for garden view ($10 or less - we booked it for $6 more per night!) is worth it!

We've been in rooms closer to the lobby, closer to Epcot and in the middle, and I'd say that nothing is too far away from anything else. If you're close to the lobby, you can always use the "secret entrance" discussed on the front page of this thread to reduce walking time. If you are a BC guest, you can use that entrance at any time of the day/night. If you are close to Epcot, you can use the secret entrance to hop on the path to SAB (rather than walking through the resort and lobby.)

Regarding the fireworks noise, that might sway you in the direction of a "close to the lobby" request. BC is much closer to Illuminations than Poly is to Wishes. I was in the room with our pre-schooler last year when we were in a standard view room at the far end near Epcot and facing Epcot (it might be garden now.) Even with the door closed, we could hear the fireworks and the music from Illuminations well - I loved that and he slept through it, but if your daughter is really sensitive to the noise, that's something to consider.

Here's a photo from our balcony (no zoom)

Hope that helps a little!

 

[TeenaS]

Ah, good. You've given me something else to obsess about. I was starting to think about ADRs, but I'll table it (pun intended) until I get a handle on room requests.

We're going for standard view at the Beach Club... is the extra cost for Garden View worth it? (I don't even have any idea what that extra charge might be.) I know I want to request a balcony... I love that first cup of tea outside in the morning sun.
Hers's what I'm thinking... someone tell me if it sounds logical.

My kids are huge water rats. But, that said, they have lots of energy when it comes to swimming. So being a decent distance from Stormalong bay shouldn't be an issue.

On the other hand, my girls (particularly my youngest) is a morning person-- like me. So walking home from Epcot after a long day won't be her favorite part of the trip. A long treck to the room after that walk will only make her crankier.

So I was thinking of requesting a room closer to the Epcot end of the resort. Does that make sense, (Is there a doorway there that would give us late night entry) or do I want something closer to the lobby?

Oh, and something else just occurred to me. That same younger daughter has a real issue with fireworks-- as in, NEEDS to be inside, away from them. I don't know whether it's just that they're loud (she has noise reducing headphones that help a little, but still....) or whether it's the fireworks themselves that frighten her. How loud are they from the BC? (For the record, they were never an issue from our room at the Poly.)

Anyone want to offer some ideas?

Standard view will be an ugly view of a roof or parking lot. Usually upgrading to a garden view is less than $10 per day so I would definitely do that! If you request a room near Epcot, yes, there is an exit door you can use ... it is next to room 1501. However, that makes you far away from the boat to the Studios and the lobby and bus stop and SAB.

 

[pixarmom]

Janet, I love all of your plans! I'll come along with you!

 

[Aliceacc]

WOW!!!!

I have a couple months (including 4th of July and a trip upstate, where there are fireworks every Thursday night) to ponder it before rates come out.) And now that I think about it, she was OK in the shops at Epcot, and the Kiddie station at Norway, during Illuminations, so she would be OK inside a resort room.

Maybe I'll request a balcony room facing Epcot and hope for the room you got! I'm guessing that most nights we'll end up at either the MK or Epcot... as you might guess, she's not a huge Fastasmic fan. So even if my husband and the older 2 want to see it again, I could be happy hanging out at Epcot or swimming with her that evening.

 

[pixarmom]

I have never done a trip report, so I don't know the rules of the trip report board, but I see that Dee's trip report is in the "concluded trip reports" section and we can no longer post there. So we loved Dee's trip report and understand that it must end, but we're left hanging on the July issue! So Dee, what did you and Mark decide???

 

[pixarmom]

WOW!!!!

Maybe I'll request a balcony room facing Epcot and hope for the room you got! I'm guessing that most nights we'll end up at either the MK or Epcot... as you might guess, she's not a huge Fastasmic fan. So even if my husband and the older 2 want to see it again, I could be happy hanging out at Epcot or swimming with her that evening.

It was a wonderful room - we loved it! But we tend to love any room - our boys always walk in and say, "This is the best room ever!" every time.

When I went to my photobucket account, I remembered this photo I took last year. It's not responsive to anything, just a happy photo to share!

 

[natebenma]

It was a wonderful room - we loved it! But we tend to love any room - our boys always walk in and say, "This is the best room ever!" every time.

When I went to my photobucket account, I remembered this photo I took last year. It's not responsive to anything, just a happy photo to share!

Loved the Illuminations picture, too! Great color!

 

[DawnMaree]

Yep we are staying gv too, but DH would like to change to water view after seeing the videos yesterday (one showed a view of quiet pool and one showed view of the lake) I told him I would check to see what the difference in price is after informing him GV is basically looking at anything green which I am perfectly happy with myself.
I am with your DH the $ could be spent on something else like more souvieners for me

We are staying GV too, looked at CL and thought about it but just don't think it works out for us. We contemplated WV too but decided to use it for souvies!

There is a steep jump from garden view to water view. I am fine without a water view. Of course, I would NEVER turn it down if I were generously upgraded. We were upgraded to water view our last trip, first floor room. I sat on our patio that first evening with tears of joy. I'm a geek.

Apparently, there is a group of us who need to commiserate--I think most of us who did not book CL booked GV.

Yes, poor poor us to stay at a deluxe garden view only!!

 

[creativeamanda]

There is a steep jump from garden view to water view. I am fine without a water view. Of course, I would NEVER turn it down if I were generously upgraded. We were upgraded to water view our last trip, first floor room. I sat on our patio that first evening with tears of joy. I'm a geek.

Yes, poor poor us to stay at a deluxe garden view only!!

I would take a water view, but somehow I see a garden view as more of a peaceful area. Of course, after the hustle and bustle of being in Building 14 at POR, and staying at POP Century, anything will seem calmer, lol.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Apparently, there is a group of us who need to commiserate--I think most of us who did not book CL booked GV.

Yes, YES!! I booked garden view too! It was a no brainer. I think if enough of us GV-ers are in the elevator with our ziplocks, we can bum rush the crowds around the chips and dip and make a feast out of it, in fact we can just grab the bowls and make a run for the elevators.

I say we have a chips and dip meet by the garden view gazebo at YC. Those "Clubbers" will never think to look for the chips there!

Mwa ha ha!

Signed, Garden View in Marlton

 

[creativeamanda]

Yes, YES!! I booked garden view too! It was a no brainer. I think if enough of us GV-ers are in the elevator with our ziplocks, we can bum rush the crowds around the chips and dip and make a feast out of it, in fact we can just grab the bowls and make a run for the elevators.

I say we have a chips and dip meet by the garden view gazebo at YC. Those "Clubbers" will never think to look for the chips there!

Mwa ha ha!

Signed, Garden View in Marlton

Oh, and you and I are going to be there the same time--we can tag team it. You get the chips, dip, and oatmeal.

I'll get the Kaluha.

 

[Aliceacc]

Oh, and you and I are going to be there the same time--we can tag team it. You get the chips, dip, and oatmeal.

I'll get the Kaluha.

I'm hanging out with YOU.

 

[creativeamanda]

I'm hanging out with YOU.

 

[Niki in NJ]

A little late .. but my vote is July 16th Pirate

 

[Niki in NJ]

Trying to decide what to request for our upcoming YC stay. We are staying in a GV room (not club level) and right now my request is just to be second floor or higher, but I'd like to add also either wedding gazebo view (fitting since we will be getting married soon!) or view looking over the back entrance. Has anyone stayed in either of these views, or if there was another GV room you had at YC that you liked .. that would be helpful too!
Thanks!!

 

[Marlton Mom]

Need help figuring out Plan C.

Since 10 months and 23 days is far too long to wait for our trip to the YC (after all I've already figured out what ADRs I want and there isn't much more I can research as I think I have read just about everything I can on BC/YC and Epcot) I need to find a way to get to the BC or YC sooner.

Plan A - CR Fan killed this plan
I stumbled across Plan A yesterday when I noticed that CR Fan has a wonderful trip planned and it would be totally convenient for his family to take me with on their trip (in spite of the fact that they don't know me and may think I'm a crazy person ) Well you can see from his post that his family valued their luggage more than me.

Plan B - Didn't happen
Plan B was to win $50M in the lottery yesterday, but that didn't happen.

So now we are on to Plan C - Moving to the BC/YC

I figure we should just cash in all of our retirement savings and go live at the BC or YC until the money runs out. This idea seems perfect, but some challenges have come up. I know that the posters on this board, especially Marlton Mom, can come up with some reasonable solutions to deal with these three challenges.

Challenge 1 - We are only in our 40's, so there isn't enough savings to go forever and in theory we could still be alive and well after the savings run out. My husband's solution is to just eat and drink so much wonderful but unhealthy food that we shorten our life span. My solution is to simply pretend that money is not a problem and ignore any thoughts of it running out.

Challenge 2 - Our dog. We have a dog so we would need to find a place for her. We could leave her with our dog walker but that would cost money and that would eat into the number of days we could stay in WDW. We could bring her to the WDW Kennel, but that costs even more than our dog walker. We like our dog so this challenge is a tricky one.

Challenge 3 - Our son. We have a 14-year old son. I figure if he is old enough to be alone at SAB he is old enough to stay home in Toronto so he can keep going to school (and look after the dog ) Our son seems to think he should come with us. So, any Florida experts have thoughts on the Orlando school system? Will a school bus come pick him up at YC or BC?

I say there are only 3 challenges, but my husband is concerned about having a cell phone, so for him I also ask ... What type of cell phone/carrier should we get in Florida. As of now our Canadian cell phone carriers don't work in Florida or the roaming fees are ridiculous so we need to come up with a new cell phone carrier, or buy a data pack for use in Florida.

There must be a way to make BC/YC our home for an indefinite time.

OK, here is my suggestion.... as a person who is middle aged with a child I can identify with your situation. I too have come up with a plan to permanently stay at the Beach Club. This plan will more than likely work for you as well so start packin!

My plan involves living in the closets that house keeping utilizes, but only when the hotel is full. I figure that this will mesh nicely with my new job as Beach Club mattress tester. You see, SOMEBODY has to make the call that it's time for a new mattress, and that somebody might as well be me.

With fifty billion mattresses at the hotel and an indecisive mind like mine, this task could take me decades!

Next we have to consider that husband of mine. All he needs is a computer, a fridge and a mattress so we are set. As for the dog, we will just have to dress him up with outfits from one of those boutique type dog clothing stores and convince people that he is a REALLY ugly baby. This might be a challenge since he is a 65 pound collie with a very long nose but we will just have to make due! My 12 DS is a water rat so he can work at the pool, gathering up all those green buckets that litter the pool from Hurricane Hanna's.

The only real hang up in this plan is having enough money in the bank to finance the purchase of all those Ziplock bags we will be needing for our raids on the club level offerings. Hopefully this will balance out with all the money we will be saving on health care costs due to the healthy benefits of eating all that oatmeal..... and since we have access to the house keeping closets we won't have to worry about running out of toilet paper either!

So there ya go! What are we waiting for??

See ya shortly....
Marlton Mom

 

[Marlton Mom]

Oh, and you and I are going to be there the same time--we can tag team it. You get the chips, dip, and oatmeal.

I'll get the Kaluha.

Oooh! I hadn't thought about the liquor! We'll need more reinforcements if we are going to swipe the entire table, plus the liquor AND hold the elevator for the big escape.

Looks like we are going to be needing Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger and they should probably be wearing their bathing suits... but not the lime green Speedo.... we wouldn't want to lose them in the crowd with all the other Speedo wearing husbands.

~MM

 

[Sue M]

OK, I'll admit it.... I'm not staying at club level either. It seems the clubbers heard about the lime green speedo and I'm BANNED!!!!

that's ok though... sniff.....

I have a plan!

I'm going to spend the entire vacation riding in the elevators until one of those unsuspecting clubbers inadvertently takes me up to the club level.
~Then I will fill my zip lock bags to overflowing until I have enough oatmeal and hard boiled eggs to last me for the duration!

I don't need no stinkin deluxe dining plan! I got ZIPLOCKS!!!

Mwa ha ha!

~Nameless and shameless in Marlton NJ
PS. Do they take coupons up there??

Great plan, I'm there If we get caught, we'll just say we're Teena's friends.