2011 Beach & Yacht Club FAQ

[Sue M]

Question about balconies at BC. I've booked a GV room, and requested a full balcony. Are all the Dormer type balconies on the top floor CL?
I hated these type balconies - the ones you can't see out unless your standing up. We had one at WL. I prefer a balcony I can see out, to enjoy the view. Just wondering, I know it's not guaranteed I'll even get a full balcony.
I guess I could live with a Dormer balcony if it came with some pixie dust, and a gold card

 

[bzzelady]

I happen to know that there are some 4th floor, garden view rooms (not club level) with dormer balconies...

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Thank you all so much for your prayers and kind words.

Right now I feel like we're one step forward, two steps backward mode.
Saturday my mom looked a lot better, even though we know what a tough road lies ahead of her. Saturday night her blood pressure started falling drastically so today they are doing an echo of her heart to make sure there isn't fluid around the heart - they are also worried the infection may have gotten to her heart. They are also doing another ultrasound of her leg to make sure they got all the fluid out of her knee when they did the surgery.

If, and that's a big if, we can get all these medical problems fixed I am going to bring her to my house to recuperate and stay after she gets her knee replaced again.

If she is able to come here we are going to have one of those stair glider chairs installed so she won't be cooped up in one room. I'm going to move one dd out of her room and she can share the huge bedroom with her sister. We are not looking at this as permanent (my mom can't stand the thought of not going back to her own home) but we'll do it for as long as it takes.

Please keep her in your prayers.

Dee - Have a wonderful vacation!

Teena - things do definitely change! There are twelve years between my one ds and my dd. I felt like an idiot at Babies R Us because there were sooo many things there that I never had with the first floor - and never even heard of. Even when my dgd was born a year and a half ago there were even more new things! Have fun!!!

 

[kelleigh1]

Beach Club November 25 - December 1st!

Following it up with a 3 night cruise on the Dream!

I would love to see a trip report since we are hoping (praying) to be at the Beach Club those same dates but in 2012.

 

[Sue M]

I happen to know that there are some 4th floor, garden view rooms (not club level) with dormer balconies...

Yikes! Well I'll hope for a full see out balcony. Fingers crossed.

 

[chimo2u]

Hi to all

We've been home a week and I wanted to come back to give you my thoughts about the BC portion of our trip (I wrote a complete review of my thoughts a couple days ago on the main resort board)....I thought I would just post the BC portion here for those that may have been wondering how we found the resort. We had a great time and I am thankful that we had the chance to spend this time together and make some great memories

I am glad we had the chance to experience the BC and I am glad I chose to venture out of our comfort zone to try something new. With that said, I don't think Beach Club is for us. My son and I just didn't feel the "magic" there and we often mused that we missed our favourite AKL!

Don't get me wrong, BC is a beautiful resort, and the pool is wonderful, but it was just lacking something for us. Perhaps it didn't help that I actually felt I did MORE walking there than when I stayed at AKL! I don't know what it was ....
With regards to the walking, to me, I felt the walk over to Epcot WS/ and then over to future world was just a LONG walk and quite tiring after spending all day walking in the parks!

The service at the BC was Wonderful!! I loved being welcomed home in the club lounge when we came back, and the CM's made our stay pleasant by talking to us and getting to know us during the week! There was a sweet surprise of balloons and chocolate bars in our room for my son's and my birthday celebration! That was a lovely bit of "pixie dust!" and made both our day!

I am so glad that I had the chance to meet our sweet and lovely Teena... that was wonderful! I really enjoyed meeting her and putting a face to a screen name!

After my first day and feeling exhausted, I had the opportunity to chat with Teena in the lobby about my thoughts. (I was seriously considering switching back over to our favourite AKL. However, after talking to her and letting her know my feelings about all the walking wiping me out, and my dining plans for the remainder of the trip, I decided to take Teena's advice and stick it out at the BC for our trip.

4 of our remainder meals where in Epcot, and the Beach Club was definitely handy for our ADR's! I guess I should add that, I love Disney transportation and neve found the bus rides a deal breaker when I stayed at AKL in the past....I am someone who really enjoys the bus ride from the resort/parks and back, and I love the chance to relax on my way to and from the parks. I loved AKL prompt and efficient bus service on both our previous trips!

Yes, perhaps because of how tired I was from all the walking at the BC, my experience was impacted by that factor a little more than if I had adopted a walking plan to prepare for the physical demands of this type of vacation, but that's my own fault for forgetting how much walking is involved and not sticking to a serious walking program at least 6 months prior! I will know better next time!

FINAL VERDICT: The Beach Club was fun, clean, friendly but it just didn't hit our heart like AKL did. There are so many resort options at WDW and I am glad I tried it so I could know for myself how the resort fit us. I won't say that I will NEVER be back, but I will say that it is not my new favourite.

My next trip won't be for another 5 yrs and it will be a couple's only trip with my better half to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary -- I think we might either try the Polynesian for something new, or go back to our family favourite (AKL CL)
With that said, however, we still had a wonderful time and made many happy memories during our week at the BC!

~ Marie

 

[MickeyT]

Thanks for the report Marie.

Isn't that what makes WDW great. We can all have our favorites and enjoy other 'favorites'. It is funny because what you see as negative and positive at both resorts others see just the opposite. I personally love them both!

 

[kelleigh1]

Just finished reading through every post. You don't even want to know how long that took. This place is definitely like a family and I look forward to being adopted.

Teena: Best wishes for a successful journey through your cancer treatments. My Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and it was a rough road, but I am happy to report that she was given a clean bill of health about 6 months ago.

Robyn: Thoughts are with you and your family! I get the sense that when you need to "escape" for a brief time, this is the place you can come. It sounds like this is a great support system and it makes me happy to know that even this group of virtual strangers is here for you during this time. True Disney Magic!



To all those who have posted their thoughts, suggestions, tips, questions, etc. on this thread. Thank you so much! We are looking at our next trip being in late 2012 and I get the feeling I will be spending a lot of time here while we plan. YC/BC looks amazing!

Marie: thank you for your honest opinion. I know exactly what you mean when you say you didn't "feel" the magic. Our first stay (hubby and I) was at POFQ and we loved it. Our last trip was at CBR and as much as we wanted to love it, we just didn't. We didn't feel the magic that we felt at POFQ. Some people (usually Non-Disney people) just don't get it, but it's a real feeling. And like someone else said, that's one of the great things about WDW and all the resort choices...one persons favorite is not someone else's, but there is something for everyone.

 

[pixarmom]

Welcome, Kelleigh1! So glad you're joining us!

Robyn, thanks for the update - we're thinking of you and your family.

Marie, we looked for you in the club lounge - we must have been stopping by at different times! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Mickey T, I'm with you - great to have so many choices and to enjoy the variety at WDW. And funny how positives for one family can be negatives for another. We LOVE walking and I could (and I guess, do!) walk miles and miles at WDW and not stop until three minutes before I fall asleep! We definitely prefer the short walk out of the International Gateway at the end of the night to a bus (or even monorail.) But then again, I was the crazy lady posting last summer about walking to/from BC and DHS in the summer heat, even when a boat was waiting in the dock!

 

[nannette]

Just finished reading through every post. You don't even want to know how long that took. This place is definitely like a family and I look forward to being adopted.

Teena: Best wishes for a successful journey through your cancer treatments. My Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009 and it was a rough road, but I am happy to report that she was given a clean bill of health about 6 months ago.

Robyn: Thoughts are with you and your family! I get the sense that when you need to "escape" for a brief time, this is the place you can come. It sounds like this is a great support system and it makes me happy to know that even this group of virtual strangers is here for you during this time. True Disney Magic!

To all those who have posted their thoughts, suggestions, tips, questions, etc. on this thread. Thank you so much! We are looking at our next trip being in late 2012 and I get the feeling I will be spending a lot of time here while we plan. YC/BC looks amazing!

Marie: thank you for your honest opinion. I know exactly what you mean when you say you didn't "feel" the magic. Our first stay (hubby and I) was at POFQ and we loved it. Our last trip was at CBR and as much as we wanted to love it, we just didn't. We didn't feel the magic that we felt at POFQ. Some people (usually Non-Disney people) just don't get it, but it's a real feeling. And like someone else said, that's one of the great things about WDW and all the resort choices...one persons favorite is not someone else's, but there is something for everyone.

Welcome!! Happy Planning!

~Nannette

 

[Sinderelly]

Hi to all

We've been home a week and I wanted to come back to give you my thoughts about the BC portion of our trip (I wrote a complete review of my thoughts a couple days ago on the main resort board)....I thought I would just post the BC portion here for those that may have been wondering how we found the resort. We had a great time and I am thankful that we had the chance to spend this time together and make some great memories

I am glad we had the chance to experience the BC and I am glad I chose to venture out of our comfort zone to try something new. With that said, I don't think Beach Club is for us. My son and I just didn't feel the "magic" there and we often mused that we missed our favourite AKL!

Don't get me wrong, BC is a beautiful resort, and the pool is wonderful, but it was just lacking something for us. Perhaps it didn't help that I actually felt I did MORE walking there than when I stayed at AKL! I don't know what it was ....
With regards to the walking, to me, I felt the walk over to Epcot WS/ and then over to future world was just a LONG walk and quite tiring after spending all day walking in the parks!

The service at the BC was Wonderful!! I loved being welcomed home in the club lounge when we came back, and the CM's made our stay pleasant by talking to us and getting to know us during the week! There was a sweet surprise of balloons and chocolate bars in our room for my son's and my birthday celebration! That was a lovely bit of "pixie dust!" and made both our day!

I am so glad that I had the chance to meet our sweet and lovely Teena... that was wonderful! I really enjoyed meeting her and putting a face to a screen name!

After my first day and feeling exhausted, I had the opportunity to chat with Teena in the lobby about my thoughts. (I was seriously considering switching back over to our favourite AKL. However, after talking to her and letting her know my feelings about all the walking wiping me out, and my dining plans for the remainder of the trip, I decided to take Teena's advice and stick it out at the BC for our trip.

4 of our remainder meals where in Epcot, and the Beach Club was definitely handy for our ADR's! I guess I should add that, I love Disney transportation and neve found the bus rides a deal breaker when I stayed at AKL in the past....I am someone who really enjoys the bus ride from the resort/parks and back, and I love the chance to relax on my way to and from the parks. I loved AKL prompt and efficient bus service on both our previous trips!

Yes, perhaps because of how tired I was from all the walking at the BC, my experience was impacted by that factor a little more than if I had adopted a walking plan to prepare for the physical demands of this type of vacation, but that's my own fault for forgetting how much walking is involved and not sticking to a serious walking program at least 6 months prior! I will know better next time!

FINAL VERDICT: The Beach Club was fun, clean, friendly but it just didn't hit our heart like AKL did. There are so many resort options at WDW and I am glad I tried it so I could know for myself how the resort fit us. I won't say that I will NEVER be back, but I will say that it is not my new favourite.

My next trip won't be for another 5 yrs and it will be a couple's only trip with my better half to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary -- I think we might either try the Polynesian for something new, or go back to our family favourite (AKL CL)
With that said, however, we still had a wonderful time and made many happy memories during our week at the BC!

~ Marie

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! We are staying at the BC for the first time in May. It was so hard choosing a resort then we changed our minds a few times. We really want to try them all and hope we find that one most magical place. We stayed at POFQ last Sept and loved the resort. This time we are doing a split stay POP and BC. I have always wanted to stay at POP and try a deluxe.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Welcome, Kelleigh1! So glad you're joining us!

Robyn, thanks for the update - we're thinking of you and your family.

Marie, we looked for you in the club lounge - we must have been stopping by at different times! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Mickey T, I'm with you - great to have so many choices and to enjoy the variety at WDW. And funny how positives for one family can be negatives for another. We LOVE walking and I could (and I guess, do!) walk miles and miles at WDW and not stop until three minutes before I fall asleep! We definitely prefer the short walk out of the International Gateway at the end of the night to a bus (or even monorail.) But then again, I was the crazy lady posting last summer about walking to/from BC and DHS in the summer heat, even when a boat was waiting in the dock!

Right there with you! We often walk over to DHS. I love walking over to EPCOT for dinner! I like to walk, even in the summer. Of course I'm not a big bus fan.

 

[chimo2u]

Hi Pixarmom! I looked for you in the club lounge too...but I didn't know who I was looking for, My son and I preferred to take it a little easier this time and slept until about 9 am....then we got up and showered and had breakfast just before the lounge was closing for breakfast...usually around 10 am 'ish. We managed evening appetizers once. Most of the rest of the time we where in the parks, and at Epcot for dinner. Most evenings we ended in DHS! Sad we weren't able to connect. I did like the BC, but as I said, I just was not used to all the walking involved, it was really hard on me. Beautiful resort though and I would not hesitate to stay there again sometime in the future

~ Marie

 

[littledreamer7]

Robyn - praying for your mom!

Teena - baby shopping is so much fun, but I can never get over how little ones take so much stuff

Just got back from a mom and I trip to San Francisco, but oh so ready to get to WDW and BC! We made it to double digit numbers as a countdown now and that's exciting!

Angie

 

[ntikos]

Gotcha Sue....BC-YC or BCV?



Love adding days!

MickeyT

Just booked BCV last week

August 8th thru the 14th!

 

[eeyoreland]

Question about balconies at BC. I've booked a GV room, and requested a full balcony. Are all the Dormer type balconies on the top floor CL?
I hated these type balconies - the ones you can't see out unless your standing up. We had one at WL. I prefer a balcony I can see out, to enjoy the view. Just wondering, I know it's not guaranteed I'll even get a full balcony.
I guess I could live with a Dormer balcony if it came with some pixie dust, and a gold card

Hi, there. We're back home a week now, but spent the last three nights of our trip at BC. Just asked DD and she seems to think only the lower level(s) had the type of balcony you're looking for. We were GV on the 4th floor and she said you couldn't see out unless you were standing. I guess at 16 she has a better memory than I do! I will share with you that we stayed in room 4584 and it had a full balcony. The GV wasn't much to write home about, but ... we could see Illuminations from our room every night and it was awesome. Just thought I'd share.

 

[bean bunny]

Despite attempting to try a new resort - Boardwalk - with 75 days to go we switched over to the Yacht Club today. We had two amazing trips there over the past year and we just couldn't imagine not being there again when we return in May. Apparently the YC has a strong pull Due to the late booking on the code we have a water view (truthfully view isn't important to me and we'd be happy with a standard view.) I requested a "quiet location" no idea if that will be something they can honor or not in early May but can anyone give me an idea of what the potential views would be for this type of room? Our preference would be to not be viewing the pool - more because I'm afraid of lots of noise...

 

[dlander]

Great thread! I really appreciate all those who help to put it together. It helps me get excited about our trip. We will be at BCV June 17 - 21.

 

[Sue M]

Hi, there. We're back home a week now, but spent the last three nights of our trip at BC. Just asked DD and she seems to think only the lower level(s) had the type of balcony you're looking for. We were GV on the 4th floor and she said you couldn't see out unless you were standing. I guess at 16 she has a better memory than I do! I will share with you that we stayed in room 4584 and it had a full balcony. The GV wasn't much to write home about, but ... we could see Illuminations from our room every night and it was awesome. Just thought I'd share.

Thanks for the info! Maybe I should add to my request, I want to be able to see out of the balcony
At least with a GV you aren't looking out on a parking lot or a roof! Which is really why I booked GV. A lake view for sure would be nice, but more $

 

[Sue M]

Hi to all

We've been home a week and I wanted to come back to give you my thoughts about the BC portion of our trip (I wrote a complete review of my thoughts a couple days ago on the main resort board)....I thought I would just post the BC portion here for those that may have been wondering how we found the resort. We had a great time and I am thankful that we had the chance to spend this time together and make some great memories

I am glad we had the chance to experience the BC and I am glad I chose to venture out of our comfort zone to try something new. With that said, I don't think Beach Club is for us. My son and I just didn't feel the "magic" there and we often mused that we missed our favourite AKL!

Don't get me wrong, BC is a beautiful resort, and the pool is wonderful, but it was just lacking something for us. Perhaps it didn't help that I actually felt I did MORE walking there than when I stayed at AKL! I don't know what it was ....
With regards to the walking, to me, I felt the walk over to Epcot WS/ and then over to future world was just a LONG walk and quite tiring after spending all day walking in the parks!

The service at the BC was Wonderful!! I loved being welcomed home in the club lounge when we came back, and the CM's made our stay pleasant by talking to us and getting to know us during the week! There was a sweet surprise of balloons and chocolate bars in our room for my son's and my birthday celebration! That was a lovely bit of "pixie dust!" and made both our day!

I am so glad that I had the chance to meet our sweet and lovely Teena... that was wonderful! I really enjoyed meeting her and putting a face to a screen name!

After my first day and feeling exhausted, I had the opportunity to chat with Teena in the lobby about my thoughts. (I was seriously considering switching back over to our favourite AKL. However, after talking to her and letting her know my feelings about all the walking wiping me out, and my dining plans for the remainder of the trip, I decided to take Teena's advice and stick it out at the BC for our trip.

4 of our remainder meals where in Epcot, and the Beach Club was definitely handy for our ADR's! I guess I should add that, I love Disney transportation and neve found the bus rides a deal breaker when I stayed at AKL in the past....I am someone who really enjoys the bus ride from the resort/parks and back, and I love the chance to relax on my way to and from the parks. I loved AKL prompt and efficient bus service on both our previous trips!

Yes, perhaps because of how tired I was from all the walking at the BC, my experience was impacted by that factor a little more than if I had adopted a walking plan to prepare for the physical demands of this type of vacation, but that's my own fault for forgetting how much walking is involved and not sticking to a serious walking program at least 6 months prior! I will know better next time!

FINAL VERDICT: The Beach Club was fun, clean, friendly but it just didn't hit our heart like AKL did. There are so many resort options at WDW and I am glad I tried it so I could know for myself how the resort fit us. I won't say that I will NEVER be back, but I will say that it is not my new favourite.

My next trip won't be for another 5 yrs and it will be a couple's only trip with my better half to celebrate our 25 wedding anniversary -- I think we might either try the Polynesian for something new, or go back to our family favourite (AKL CL)
With that said, however, we still had a wonderful time and made many happy memories during our week at the BC!

~ Marie

Thanks Marie for sharing. We are looking forward to our first BC stay in Aug.
We haven't stayed at an Epcot area resort yet, so we decided on BC.
I have stayed at a few WDW resorts, and I find each one has something special to offer. So looking forward to exploring BC and enjoying SAB. In Aug, it should be a wonderful break from the parks.