2011 Beach & Yacht Club FAQ

[DrMomof3]

I'm going to offer a different opinion. In 2009, we stayed at the Polynesian and we were the 1st stop. Even so, we will NOT be using ME this time around. The wait at the airport was awful! So long, and so hot, I thought my DH was going to lose it! Not the way I wanted to start a vacation. I'm going to book a car service this time. Not sure if it will be better, but there is no way I'll ever get him on that bus line again.

I should have said that we used DME going TO Disney in August and, despite being the 1st stop, it took a long time. We must have just missed a bus or something because we waited and waited. Then my DH came alone and it took a solid 2 hours to get from MCO to BC. I don't think he'll ever ride DME again! We took a car service back to MCO that trip. For our Jan trip (we stayed at Poly - I feel like I cheated on BC), I booked a car service both ways. There were 7 of us and we got a luxury van complete with car seats and a DVD plus the grocery stop. It was nice! I think it was about $135 round trip.

Amanda

 

[creativeamanda]

Teena--Thanks so much for the update! You are still in my prayers and will stay there. Again, it is truly a blessing to have doctors you can trust.

 

[Greyhound22]

We'll be at BCV from March 20-25

 

[Sue M]

I'm going to offer a different opinion. In 2009, we stayed at the Polynesian and we were the 1st stop. Even so, we will NOT be using ME this time around. The wait at the airport was awful! So long, and so hot, I thought my DH was going to lose it! Not the way I wanted to start a vacation. I'm going to book a car service this time. Not sure if it will be better, but there is no way I'll ever get him on that bus line again.

We had the exact opposite experience with DME & Poly. We arrived late afternoon, around 4 ish. When we got to DME, we had a short wait, no more then 15 min before boarding the bus. There were only 4 families on the bus, and we were the first stop, at Poly. I was surprised at how quickly we got to The Poly.

Mostly we've had good experiences with DME. The only thing I didn't like was last time going back to MCO, we stopped at another resort before heading to MCO, and seemed to wait quite awhile, for some inconsiderate people who were late and held up the entire bus. I was a bit worried about getting to my flight, even though DME picks up 3 hrs before flight time, You must be at the airport 2 hrs before flight. MCO security lines can be awful long.

 

[BCV23]

New mugs are at the Marketplace this morning.

 

[ocalla]

Is the DME bus different for YC and BC?

We stayed at YC last July, and were on the bus with other resorts (don't remember which ones), but YC was the first stop!!

We had NO wait at the airport, in fact we walked straight on the bus after they scanned our pass. I kind of felt bad for the others staying at the value resorts as the line looked horrible.

I'm just wondering if DME will be different because we are trying out BC this year?

I may even try using a different service?

 

[jmamom]

We had the exact opposite experience with DME & Poly. We arrived late afternoon, around 4 ish. When we got to DME, we had a short wait, no more then 15 min before boarding the bus. There were only 4 families on the bus, and we were the first stop, at Poly. I was surprised at how quickly we got to The Poly.

Mostly we've had good experiences with DME. The only thing I didn't like was last time going back to MCO, we stopped at another resort before heading to MCO, and seemed to wait quite awhile, for some inconsiderate people who were late and held up the entire bus. I was a bit worried about getting to my flight, even though DME picks up 3 hrs before flight time, You must be at the airport 2 hrs before flight. MCO security lines can be awful long.

I think much of our bad experience was due to the fact that we arrived at around noon on a Saturday. The lines for every resort group were very long. People were just sitting on the floor in line, with all their carry on's everywhere, little children tired, hungry, and whiny (ok, that was me), and it was sooo hot and humid in there!
So, even though we would probably have better luck this time (arriving on a Wednesday), there is no way my husband would take a chance on it. We'd much rather wait for the luggage than wait for the bus again. We'll see in August if we are right!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I have experienced ME many times over the years and I have to say it can be a real crapshoot. On average I'd say we've had no major issues, but there have been trips when we've waited quite a long time at the airport for a bus to arrive. From what I've noticed it seems the routes can vary based on demand. I remember one year we were the only people waiting in our particular line so they just stuck us on a bus that had space. I've been on ME buses before that have stopped at four different resorts, other times I've been on buses that were almost empty and only making one stop. The best scenario I've experienced is the times we've walked straight thru the line to the bus without stopping, which surprisingly enough has happened more than once. The only time I remember waiting a ridiculously long time was for pop century. And that was largely due to the fact we had about a hundred teenagers in line ahead of us. All in all we still prefer ME over taking a car service. Our kids are old enough now that they can play video games or listen to their iPods while we wait, and they actually consider the bus ride to be fun. They love to watch the movie on board and the driver always makes our entrance under the WDW sign exciting. We had to take a car service in July to Portofino and we actually missed riding the bus. Not to mention I hate shelling out a hundred bucks for a ride.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I just realized that three weeks from this exact moment we will be on ME headed to the BC

 

[sjs314]

I think much of our bad experience was due to the fact that we arrived at around noon on a Saturday. The lines for every resort group were very long. People were just sitting on the floor in line, with all their carry on's everywhere, little children tired, hungry, and whiny (ok, that was me), and it was sooo hot and humid in there!
So, even though we would probably have better luck this time (arriving on a Wednesday), there is no way my husband would take a chance on it. We'd much rather wait for the luggage than wait for the bus again. We'll see in August if we are right!

What day and time you arrive has a lot to do with your ME expierence, the first time I ever used ME back in 2006, also a Saturday around noon, the check-in line was horrible, the bus was packed, it took nearly 2 hours to get from MCO to AKL which was the last stop.
Our last trip in 2009 we arrived on a Tuesday and had no wait the bus only had maybe 10 people total on it and we got to OKW in no time.

Just changed our dates so will arrive on a Wednesday this trip and hopeing it is not crazy busy

 

[pmdeve]

Teena - So glad to hear you found the right doctor for you. I know that having a doc that you have faith in really helps. Good luck to you on the 10th. All of our good thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[elliefusmom]

Ok.. what about this? I procrastinated on getting my flights and ended up spending WAY more than I should have (plus have a 4 hour layover in Vegas!) and don't arrive till 11:50pm. I have been told that ME runs 24 hours??? And that we will get our own luggage. My question for you guys is.. should we just get a cab? How much quicker would we get to BCV? We will all still be on Pacific Time so we won't be THAT tired...but 2 hours to get there???

 

[TeenaS]

Ok.. what about this? I procrastinated on getting my flights and ended up spending WAY more than I should have (plus have a 4 hour layover in Vegas!) and don't arrive till 11:50pm. I have been told that ME runs 24 hours??? And that we will get our own luggage. My question for you guys is.. should we just get a cab? How much quicker would we get to BCV? We will all still be on Pacific Time so we won't be THAT tired...but 2 hours to get there???

A cab can cost you with tip around $70 ... I'd take DME and use that $70 for a massage or a few drinks at SAB!

 

[elliefusmom]

A cab can cost you with tip around $70 ... I'd take DME and use that $70 for a massage or a few drinks at SAB!

Thanks Teena! That's exactly what I was thinking!!! Good luck on your surgery and I will look for you in 4 weeks when we are there!

 

[Marlton Mom]

Ok.. what about this? I procrastinated on getting my flights and ended up spending WAY more than I should have (plus have a 4 hour layover in Vegas!) and don't arrive till 11:50pm. I have been told that ME runs 24 hours??? And that we will get our own luggage. My question for you guys is.. should we just get a cab? How much quicker would we get to BCV? We will all still be on Pacific Time so we won't be THAT tired...but 2 hours to get there???

The other thing is that I think you Can NOT use the baggage handling the ME provides if you don't take the ME and ditch it for a cab. Since ME can take X amount of time to deliver your bags to your room you may want to 1) check your bags without using ME and then pick them up yourself at the airport and THEN hop on the ME with your bags so you have them first thing in the morning
OR
2) pack a carry on that has all your next day clothing, toiletries etc and just wait until ME delivers your bags according to their schedule....

I hope that helps.....
Marlton Mom

 

[doccoc2002]

Everything went good and I'm scheduled for surgery on 3/10. We'll go up early that day, leaving the house around 5:30 AM. We'll have to spend the night there but will be able to come home the following morning if all goes as planned.

That Mayo Clinic is amazing. I'm feeling very confident they will help me through this little bump in the road (as my surgeon there calls it). As of now, I'll start radiation about a month later locally for about six weeks, five times a week. She (my doctor) said the only side effects are tiredness and some burning (like sunburn). I will probably also have to be on that cancer drug for five years which will make me have hot flashes again ... thought I was done with them (darn it).

Thank you all for all your well wishes. It really really helped! And I know you'll help me through the rest of this. I really really appreciate it!!!!

And please, if anybody you know gets the news I got after their mammogram, please please make sure they go to a breast specialist and not a general surgeon, and also, go to a place like the Mayo that has a huge section of the hospital devoted just to breast cancer. There are plenty of great breast places out there. Don't make the mistake I did and go through what I went through for the first two months!!!! Learn by my mistake!

Thanks Teena...I am 33 and just got my first mamogram after I had an ultrasound and the Dr. wanted to see more. I've had a lump but I thought it was due to breastfeeding and what not. They found a couple areas of calcium clusters...I honestlt have to say when he started talking about 8 out of 10 it's nothing I think my mind went blank!
I have an appointment with an ARNP to get me registered and another exam and then they will schedule a biopsy hopefully for that week, they said they could do it if it was going to be a certain kind of biopsy then I will have another appt a week later to read the results. Of course, they said my age was on my side.
I can not tell you that reading what you are going through has help me.
I will be prying for you on the 10th...

I just turned 41, and personally, I am beginning to worry about the whole process of getting a mamogram....I really ,really don't like invasive tests and I have a very low threshold for pain. I am very anxious when it comes to new things and medical tests scare the bejeesies out of me.....I have been throwing around in my head that I bet my time for a mammogram is coming.....yet, I am trying to just think of ways I can get out of having to go through it! YES, I know it can be a life-saving test, and logically I KNOW I should not even question it.....but I am just scared, scared, scared. I wish I could just have it done ultrasonically, no smashing the twins between two plates flat as a pancake!! I don't know.....I don't like procedures at all, they really send my mind into overdrive....I need to be healthy so I can get myself through my 50's, 60's, and perhaps even 70's without outside medical intervention!!! Yes, I am a hospital-phobic..... I pray nothing serious happens to me, as I would be the WORST trauma patient ever!!
You are so brave.... Keep up the positive spirit, it is so refreshing!

I am 33 and just had my first mamo...it honestly didn't hurt I like you was extremely nervous to get one and dreaded the appt, but I am so glad I finally did it. Hopefully what they found(calcium deposit clusters) is nothing but you never know. Get it done. I had to get a special mamogram for where the lump was and that was a little uncomfortable but it was done and over pretty fast...I have to get another next week when they do a biopsy so the needle will go into the spot they are concerned about.

 

[HockeyMomR]

New mugs are at the Marketplace this morning.

How fun! and you are still there! That is even more fun.

I just realized that three weeks from this exact moment we will be on ME headed to the BC

So jealous have a great trip. Love Disney this time of year, the weather is amazing.

A cab can cost you with tip around $70 ... I'd take DME and use that $70 for a massage or a few drinks at SAB!

Yes, excellendt advice. Before DME we always used a Town Car service. Now it is great to save that $100+ for other things.

 

[MCK588]

Previously stayed at BC in a fabulous room that I thought was an upgrade...but now that I am planning my second stay, it looks like that room was a regular standard room. For us it was perfect: ground floor, corner room, facing the quiet pool, easy access to Epcot and we could walk outside to the main resort/lobby areas instead of the endless hallway maze.

Now I am reading that there are new categories and I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are any more ground level standard rooms left? I think the room I had was a hidden gem and I hope I was the only one that thought so and it's still considered standard!!!

 

[HockeyMomR]

MCK588 - the new categories standard vs. garden view. The old categories were just standard and water view. The standard rooms are now rooms overlooking parking, roofing etc. The garden view category is just that - view of gardens or a more desirable view than standard. Can you change to "garden view"? For the little cost difference the garden view would give you a better chance.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I think at BC, any room that faces the quiet pool is considered a waterview.

Funny thing is that rooms at YC that face their quiet pool are considered gardenview.