2011 Beach & Yacht Club FAQ

[natebenma]

Hi everyone! Just back on Saturday from the most fabulous trip! A quick intro to my family...Me, DH, DS (12, almost 13 and oh so full of 'teenager-ness') DD 10 who has CP and is in a wheelchair. Kara

Hi Kara- thanks for your really wonderful report!!! I am so glad you had such an amazing trip. I'm sure you deserve a break- and I can somewhat relate- I have one of those 12-year-olds-going on obnoxious!!! I hope the pixie dust has followed you home.

BTW I am trying to convince my family that it is pixie dust residue building up on my entertainment center, which is why I avoid cleaning it...

What room were you in? It sounds a lot like the room we had (and loved) in 2009: Room 5631.

Gonna send you a PM with my e-mail- I haven't posted info lately, but on my first trip meeting Teena, I brought her a photoalbum of some guests who post on this board (along with a their screennames and avatars). Every once and awhile I refocus on the project. It is a nice thank you to her for all the help she gives and a wonderful keepsake of the friends she has made at the Beach Club.

Talk soon- Dee

 

[TeenaS]

Hello everyone! We are heading to BC June 25 thru July 2!! So very excited and a little nervous. As you can see by my signature, we're WL people. Can't find a single thing wrong with that resort and we're a little nervous to try something new. But...dh has always been dying to try out BC and we had dinner at Cape May on our last trip which just made him want to try it even more. My children will be 12 and 16 on this trip (actually this trip is one week after ds turns 16) and they are both wanting to try something new. We are major resort people. Our days usually consist of park at rope drop, head back to resort around noon, swim until around 5pm or so and head back out for the evening. Because of this we're thinking it can't get any better than SAB...right? Not big fans of Epcot, but I'm hoping to try a different approach with that park this time since we are so close. But we are huge fans of DHS!! Looking forward to this thread in the months leading up to our trip, and meeting Teena. Great job on the info guys!

Try it with an open mind and I think you'll love it!! A funny story about Epcot: My daughter about a year and a half ago brought boyfriend (in their late 20's) to visit. They came to work with me and knew to be back in the BC lobby at 6 PM when I'm ready to leave. The first day, no problem. The second day they were going back to Epcot again because I told them about Kim Possible and they wanted to try a mission. We live about an hour away and at 6 PM, my feet are killing me and I'm very tired from standing all day. Love my job but at 6 PM, I want to get home!! 6 PM came and went. 8 PM they come running into the lobby looking like little kids who did something wrong ... we all know that look! They had been doing Kim Possible missions in Epcot all afternoon until 8 PM ... having so much fun they totally forgot about the time. So, Epcot has lots of things to do that people don't even think about doing. Is Kim Possible for everyone? No. But for a certain type of person (obviously one like my daughter -- she's a second grade teacher and always loved puzzles and scavenger hunts), it is sooooo much fun. I personally love just walking around the countries and hitting the different shows (music, comedy, etc.). And with all the restaurants over at Epcot and being so close to the BC, it's great to do other parks in the mornings, hit SAB all afternoon and walk over to a different country for dinner each night.

 

[natebenma]

Does anyone have a labeled SAB map?

You probably saw this response on the other thread- skelooch has given me permission to post this on Y&B board so I will put it up onto the front page! Isn't this awesome!!!

 

[Karalynn]

Hi Kara- thanks for your really wonderful report!!! I am so glad you had such an amazing trip. I'm sure you deserve a break- and I can somewhat relate- I have one of those 12-year-olds-going on obnoxious!!! I hope the pixie dust has followed you home.

BTW I am trying to convince my family that it is pixie dust residue building up on my entertainment center, which is why I avoid cleaning it...

What room were you in? It sounds a lot like the room we had (and loved) in 2009: Room 5631.

Gonna send you a PM with my e-mail- I haven't posted info lately, but on my first trip meeting Teena, I brought her a photoalbum of some guests who post on this board (along with a their screennames and avatars). Every once and awhile I refocus on the project. It is a nice thank you to her for all the help she gives and a wonderful keepsake of the friends she has made at the Beach Club.

Talk soon- Dee

We were just down the hall a bit in room 5709. I have lots of pictures from the balcony, eventually I will get them uploaded and figure out how to post them on here!

Got the PM, and PM'd ya back!

 

[natebenma]

I haven't posted info lately, but on my first trip meeting Teena, I brought her a photoalbum of some guests who post on this board (along with a their screennames and avatars). Every once and awhile I refocus on the project. It is a nice thank you to her for all the help she gives and a wonderful keepsake of the friends she has made at the Beach Club.

OK- it appears that if you click on someone's screenname (Natebenma) and select "Send e-mail to Natebenma", the DISboards will forward an e-mail to me and provide a link so I can e-mail you back without disclosing either* of the e-mail addresses. This will be a great option for anyone who wants to send me pictures for Teena's photo album. Dee

* Edit- I just looked closer and it does disclose the sender's (your) e-mail.

 

[sjs314]

At it's worse, it's rare to have more than 6 people ahead of you in line. And I'll be totally honest, I think it's faster to NOT do an on-line check-in.

I have been debateing about doing online check-in, so I may just take your advise and wait till we get there, since it is our first visit to BC.......

We were arriveing on a Monday until we added a day at the beginning of our trip so now we will be coming in on Sunday as it stands now.

Thank You again Teena

 

[ClareH37]

Added!

~Nannette

Fantastic, thanks Nannette

 

[doccoc2002]

Moved our trip up 4 days...
So, we now will be going

Sept 20-Sept 28
Airfare was cheaper those days saving us over $500...YAY!!!!!

Now, off to call Disney and change our info...and add our flight info...
It seems so real now, that I have flights scheduled!!!

Now, Are Tuesday's a good day to check in we will be getting off the plane at 9:50am ? Will it be crowded?

 

[creativeamanda]

So, Teena, what you are saying is that it is best to check in early if arriving on a Sunday? We are arriving on a Sunday--staying the night before at Comfort Suites Lake Buena Vista. I was thinking of doing checkin at 7:00am.

 

[mtmbyck]

We're there a Thurs and fri. Are there generic activities you could send me that occur these days? Crafts, poolside games, etc.

 

[doccoc2002]

So, I just switched my dates and with out realizing I am booking an extra night...
I swear it was on accident

I also asked her to add the daybed on request and she tells me that all Yacht Club rooms have daybeds...ummmm Noooo I tell her I was told(didn't mention my trusty friends on the dis) that I am to request a daybed cause not all the rooms have them...They she procedes to read to me that garden rooms have 2 queen beds and a daybed but she will request it for me and not all request are a guarentee I tell her I know but I just want to have it on there.

You would think that Disney would hirer people who know about there resorts!!! I know they are a hired outside company but still they should know something maybe they could take some classes...Oh well!

I am just excited not only are we going earlier but we are staying a day later...now I need to wait til March 24th to make my ADR's but I have to go and switch them around now!

 

[natebenma]

Moved our trip up 4 days...
So, we now will be going

Sept 20-Sept 28
Now, Are Tuesday's a good day to check in we will be getting off the plane at 9:50am ? Will it be crowded?

So, Teena, what you are saying is that it is best to check in early if arriving on a Sunday? We are arriving on a Sunday--staying the night before at Comfort Suites Lake Buena Vista. I was thinking of doing checkin at 7:00am.

doccoc2002- I can't imagine that it will be busy at all around 11-11:30 on a Tuesday in September. It is the middle of the week and schools will have just resumed, so that should cut way back on the crowds.

Amanda- I think Teena said that Sundays are the busiest days, BUT worse case scenario, probably during the busiest time of the year, would be about 5-6 people in line. And that would happen infrequently, I would think. Early Sunday should be no problem- you would be checking in before most of the airport traffic arrives.

Teena correct me if these assessments are wrong.

 

[sjs314]

So, I just switched my dates and with out realizing I am booking an extra night...
I swear it was on accident

I also asked her to add the daybed on request and she tells me that all Yacht Club rooms have daybeds...ummmm Noooo I tell her I was told(didn't mention my trusty friends on the dis) that I am to request a daybed cause not all the rooms have them...They she procedes to read to me that garden rooms have 2 queen beds and a daybed but she will request it for me and not all request are a guarentee I tell her I know but I just want to have it on there.

You would think that Disney would hirer people who know about there resorts!!! I know they are a hired outside company but still they should know something maybe they could take some classes...Oh well!

I am just excited not only are we going earlier but we are staying a day later...now I need to wait til March 24th to make my ADR's but I have to go and switch them around now!

Congrates on getting your air fare and adding a day I need to go check JB today to see if their new fares are out yet, I have to book JB since we have credits to use but I keep entertaining the idea of adding another day or two and once I book the air that will lock us into our dates.

 

[cepmom]

So, I just switched my dates and with out realizing I am booking an extra night...
I swear it was on accident

I also asked her to add the daybed on request and she tells me that all Yacht Club rooms have daybeds...ummmm Noooo I tell her I was told(didn't mention my trusty friends on the dis) that I am to request a daybed cause not all the rooms have them...They she procedes to read to me that garden rooms have 2 queen beds and a daybed but she will request it for me and not all request are a guarentee I tell her I know but I just want to have it on there.

You would think that Disney would hirer people who know about there resorts!!! I know they are a hired outside company but still they should know something maybe they could take some classes...Oh well!
I am just excited not only are we going earlier but we are staying a day later...now I need to wait til March 24th to make my ADR's but I have to go and switch them around now!

ITA!! When I called to book our May trip to the BC, I told the CM, 2 adults, 3 kids etc and asked to price out some deluxe resorts; he told me only the Contemporary could accomodate 5 in one room I very politely told him, I was sure that most deluxes could fit 5 in one room, so he checked and sure enough, he told me BC could accomodate 5!! Who knew????

 

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone! My DH and I are going to Disney from 9/30-10/8 for Food and Wine and MNSSHP and were booked at Animal Kingdom Lodge...as much as I would LOVE to stay there and was really excited about it, the Beach Club just wouldn't leave my mind and kept nagging me...we stayed there on our Disneymoon this past May and we loved it, and I really wanted to stay again! So after weeks of thinking about it, I made the switch today! 8 nights at the Beach Club, I can't wait!!!

We booked a Garden View, because honestly, I don't really care about view, but I do care about a balcony! I requested a full balcony, and the CM told me the BC doesn't have them! I politely told her that half of the Beach Club has full balconies, and the other half has standing balconies, and that when I was there in May, I had a full balcony! She seemed grateful to me that I told her, she said she didn't know that because she never stayed there! And she said someone who works there told her that none of the BC rooms have full balconies because of the style of the building, isn't that strange! I hope I get my request!

I cannot WAIT to be back at the Beach Club, we had such a great time there in May, but our trip was only 5 days, so I feel I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. I still would love to try AKL someday, but with this trip, since we will be going to Epcot a lot because of Food and Wine, it just makes more sense to stay in the Epcot area!

 

[DW1sttimer]

I can't wait. I'm sitting surrounded by 4 feet of snow like most New Englanders...May can't come soon enough. I'm so excited for this trip. It's a big deal for us. We have NEVER stayed on site. I've only been to Disney once as a child and once as an adult. We are taking our 1st trip with our 3 kids and I'm WAY more excited than them. I know May will come QUICK too. I'm completely overwhelmed with all the stuff to think about but WOW, this is so exciting.

We upgraded to garden view. Now does Disney have these room discounts every year in off times? We probably couldn't have booked otherwise. The kids club the BC runs at night..do you have to reserve that in advance? If DH and I just wanted to go out alone one night could we book it that day?

The sunken treasure drinks look GREAT.

 

[PittPantherfan]

We will be there at the end of the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT. Any "must sees" from anyone who has been there during this festival?
It is zero degrees outside at my home tonight so I couldn't resist dreaming of the Florida Sunshine!!

 

[littledreamer7]

@DW1sttimer - I'm the same way. We haven't been in 5 years and I am way more excited than the kids lol and they are excited!!

 

[MickeyT]

You probably saw this response on the other thread- skelooch has given me permission to post this on Y&B board so I will put it up onto the front page! Isn't this awesome!!!

Wow Dee. Haven't seen this shot before.....Sent me into a serious 10 minute stare/trance. Thanks skelooch.

Just wanted to say hello and welcome to all our new family. We're growing!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I can't wait. I'm sitting surrounded by 4 feet of snow like most New Englanders...May can't come soon enough. I'm so excited for this trip. It's a big deal for us. We have NEVER stayed on site. I've only been to Disney once as a child and once as an adult. We are taking our 1st trip with our 3 kids and I'm WAY more excited than them. I know May will come QUICK too. I'm completely overwhelmed with all the stuff to think about but WOW, this is so exciting.

We upgraded to garden view. Now does Disney have these room discounts every year in off times? We probably couldn't have booked otherwise. The kids club the BC runs at night..do you have to reserve that in advance? If DH and I just wanted to go out alone one night could we book it that day?

The sunken treasure drinks look GREAT.

I'm no expert, but I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm always much more excited than the rest of the family too. But just wait till they get there and experience the "Disney Magic"! They'll be just as excited the next time as you are this time - even if it takes 20 years to get back. That's the magic of Disney - it really hooks you in.
Have a wonderful trip!
And BTW - we've always managed to snag some type of discount. Most of the people on these boards will say that they never pay rack rate - they always take advantage of some sort of discount. Who knew?!? I can say I didn't until I accidentally stumbled upon the disboards.
We've booked the child care both in advance and on a "walk up" basis. However, if you know you'd like to use them in advance for something special, I'd book it ahead of time. We've also been turned away without advance reservations, unfortunately.

We will be there at the end of the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT. Any "must sees" from anyone who has been there during this festival?
It is zero degrees outside at my home tonight so I couldn't resist dreaming of the Florida Sunshine!!

Again I'm no expert, but I can commiserate with you about this weather!
We did Flower & Garden once with our grandchildren. The grounds were just spectacular. They had some gardening "demos" with experts that I enjoyed snippets of - since I'm the gardener in the family - but the rest of the family wasn't too interested in those...
The grandchildren - probably about ages 2 & 5 at the time - were enthralled by the butterfly garden/house. (They had an "enclosed" area with butterflies, cocoons, and pupea (?sp?). I thought it was hotter than Hades in there and couldn't wait to get out after about 5 min! Guess it all depends on what you're interested in.
Enjoy the Florida Sunshine when you get there!