2011 Yacht & Beach Club FAQ, Part II

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I just finished my Beach Club survey from our stay last month. It was the same as the Yacht Club survey. We did a 3 way split with the Grand Floridian and they asked us about that too, but not a seperate survey for that resort.

I commented on a few problems. I think I wrote about them before. How no matter when we came back to the room it was never made up by 3. We had a really short hall and I never knew why it took her so long, maybe because we were the last room. I did comment that I didnt ask for a specific time each day for the room to be made up as Ii never knew what our plans would be.

I also wrote about my issues with the boat ramp at the BC/YC dock and the problem with the wide wheelchair.

Also commented on the less than stellar food at our Captains Grill dinner.

And lastly...I asked them if they would bring back BINGO at the pool!

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Does anyone happen to know if BCVs ever open up?

We have connecting rooms booked at BC for late August, but it would be great if we could get a 2BR Villa.

Alas, they are all booked up.

Any tips or tricks or magic words to snag one?

 

[jen_uk]

I don't want any problems when i hopefully will only have the need of just a few hours.

Has anyone used the BCV internet? How does it work? Is it still 10.00 for a day? Any problems?

Thanks!

I used the internet there on my trip in 2008, it was a bit slow but otherwise fine, not sure on the cost as I'm DVC so it was free. If the internet goes down you could go to one of the internet centres and use it there, I think there is one at the Boardwalk which is a short walk away.

 

[creativeamanda]

Well, got my Beach Club survey card in the mail today and I immediately went online to fill it out. Why do I feel like I just left the BC all over again?

 

[kldmom2000]

I commented on a few problems. I think I wrote about them before. How no matter when we came back to the room it was never made up by 3. We had a really short hall and I never knew why it took her so long, maybe because we were the last room. I did comment that I didnt ask for a specific time each day for the room to be made up as Ii never knew what our plans would be.
!

That's the one thing that usually disappoints us too.... we've only had it happen a few trips where we happen to get the room that gets made up last-one time it was always around 4 We generally go in the summer months, so we always take the mid-day break. Naps were out of the question of course

I just double-checked the hours for the week we're there in July and within the last 2 weeks since I last checked, they extended the hours @ MK and DHS! Instead of closing at 11pm each night, it's now midnight & 1am (and EMH's go til 3am ) My girls (ages 8 and almost 11) are BEGGING to stay until 3am.... LOL! I don't think so! We're rope drop people, so I don't believe a rope drop would be happening 6 hours later! DHS is now 10pm instead of 9.....

24 more days til our Beach Club trip!!! Tomorrow's the last day of school here!

 

[kldmom2000]

Cape May breakfast cost???? We're not doing the DDP this year as our older DD is a Disney adult @ age 10 and will still only order chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, etc... from the TS restaurants. I can't justify spending $47.99 a day on her food Instead, we opted to splurge & do club level and do 3 TS non-buffet restaurants. We hadn't planned on Cape May (a usual must-do every trip), but my 8 year old was crushed when she heard we weren't going to eat our traditional last-day breakfast there On allears they have it listed as $26.99/$12.99.... but holiday pricing for July will probably make it more $.... anyone just back that can confirm the pricing? Thanks so much!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well, got my Beach Club survey card in the mail today and I immediately went online to fill it out. Why do I feel like I just left the BC all over again?

just wondering if you commented on anything negative? I feel bad but I did have 3 specific things I commented on in our Beach Club survey.

 

[YCFAN]

9 more days and I am checking into BCV

Just have to get through this very tough week...my MIL passed away on Sat. so we have the wake and funeral to get through. She had COPD and was suffering with her breathing for many, many years. Even though it was inevitable it is very hard to see anyone pass.

This vacation will be very needed to bring some happiness and joy to the family (My husbands 2 brothers and their families are staying at SSR so it will be good for all of them).

Happy to have something good to finally look forward too!

I lost my father two days before Christmas this past year. We then spent New Year holidays in WDW. It didn't change things but it was a way to get through it. I hope your vacation brings comfort to you and you and your family make memories together.

 

[YCFAN]

I've been off of the boards for a few days and it took me an hour to catch up!! My son thinks the noodle family is hilarious!!!

 

[creativeamanda]

just wondering if you commented on anything negative? I feel bad but I did have 3 specific things I commented on in our Beach Club survey.

I had nothing negavtive regarding the Beach Club, but I did have negative comments about the dining plan. My son, who weighs about 65 pounds, is 10 years old. Now, I understand that some 10 year olds are bigger than others, but if you want a truly prepaid package, which is what I like with Disney, that includes the dining plan in some shape or form.

The regualr dining plan was way too much food for my son. In one location--Le Cellier--we ended up asking them for a child's meal (spaghetti), which they obliged and charged to us at an adult price. This was the only place that was the least bit helpful about that particular problem. I would love it if Disney allowed you to select the child's plan for some children and adult plan for others. I have not problem with paying adult tickets for his age--he was tall enough and utilized a great deal of the bigger attractions, but to expect a 65 pound kid to eat a 12 oz ribeye really is pushing it, imo.

I know I could have chosen to to do the dining plan and probably aved more money, but I like not having to worry about things.

Otherwise, I had no problems with the Beach Club itself.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Searched around for this answer..but not successful...and then I thought others may wonder too.....how far of a walk is it from Beach Club to the Boardwalk area - is it better to go past Yacht Club or around the lake?

If you check out Google Earth you can see that there is a bridge right at the very end of the BC building. This is the side toward Epcot's international gate. If you go straight along the path you will get to the Epcot international gate. If you turn right and take the bridge over the canal that conveys the friendship boats you are on the path to the boardwalk and before you know it you'll be at ESPN on the Boardwalk. In Disney distances it's not too far, maybe like walking from the far edge of France to the opposite end of Morocco.

Well, got my Beach Club survey card in the mail today and I immediately went online to fill it out. Why do I feel like I just left the BC all over again?

I was having Disney Dreams for at least 5 nights after our return and I would wake up in the morning thinking we were still at the BC, only the bed (at home) was much more comfy.

Now I wake up screaming with dreams I'm being chased by a vacuum cleaner!

~ Marlton Mom

 

[MickeyT]

Thanks! What handy dandy internet tool did you use? I'm usually pretty net savvy but couldn't find one. I even tried Google Earth.

Map My Run...com...It's a tool (you have to register but its free) you find the map and use the map tool to chart your course and it tells you the legnth of your run. Takes a little work but it does work. Plus you can save the run. Good luck!

 

[Marlton Mom]

We discovered this little secret when we rubbed a bottle that had washed up on the shores of Crescent Lake. A genie popped out, hit us over the head with the bottle and said:

How to make housekeeping work for YOU!

Step one. Pick up the phone and hit that button on there that says 'housekeeping'.

Step two. Tell them what time you would like to have your room made up. Perhaps you would mention that you will be out of the room from this time period to that time period and that you would really appreciate if the room could be made up during your absence. You can even ask for certain requests like more pillows or extra hangers. At one point we had 31 hangers in the room being put to good use thanks to housekeeping.

Step three. Be sure to say please and thank you!

Step four. Cram the genie back in the bottle before he decides to hit you over the head again. He's a little chubby, so expect a struggle. If you have a 'Zebra Dome' handy, cram that in the bottle first. The genie is partial to them and will go after it like a fly on horseradish.

Step five. Put that bottle in recycling! Don't even think about trashing up that lake!!

I promise you this will work.... and housekeeping will LOVE you for it. You can call any time of day and a member of the staff will make sure they get the message. Housekeeping starts answering their phones at about 7 am, at least from what I experienced.

We communicated our needs frequently to housekeeping, whether it be for more towels or pillows or hangers or even for a "Sharps" container for my medication needles. They very happily and quickly accommodated our requests.

I will mention that we did not have the same person making up our room each day. When I picked up on that, I realized that I COULD LEAVE A NOTE WITH MY REQUESTS ON THE TIP ENVELOPE I WAS LEAVING EACH DAY. This worked for things like extra wash cloths and stuff that they were putting in the room everyday like the shampoos, etc..

So the key here is to find a genie.

That genie will tell you to communicate your needs to housekeeping.

Only then will they know how to specifically make YOU happy and they will do that to the best of their ability!

I promise.

Marlton Mom

 

[creativeamanda]

We never had issues with Mousekeeping at the Beach Club. But I must say, that on the most part, we are not very picky about over cleanliness or anything of the sort. I am sure there are legitamite complaints, and I don't want to diminish them, but there are also those who care more than others about having a spotless area. We're more of "Meh, it'll be okay." I'm sure there were times we could have made a complaint, but it just never occured to us.

 

[Katesdad]

So my first question to all you BC experts is, as a UK visitor can we use the online check-in service, or is it only available for people travelling from within the US?

Coming to the colonies from the mother land should be no different than if you were a true Yankee. However, as has been pointed out in this thread on many occasions, unless you truly intend to just pick up your package and go you should probably just wait and check in when you arrive. Especially if you have made any specific requests and want to inquire as to whether they have been granted or not. Hey, you've traveled from a land far, far away, why not take a few extra minutes to make sure all is well with where you are staying?

Happy planning!!

 

[Katesdad]

I don't want any problems when i hopefully will only have the need of just a few hours. Has anyone used the BCV internet? How does it work?

Nice thing about where you are staying, you are very close to a convention hotel (Swan/Dolphin). Take the internet out for a spin when you arrive. If you aren't happy with the connection or the speed, take a short walk to the S/D and use the business center to hook into your two hour class. You'll probably get a better connection than you would in your room. I know you'll have to get out of your pajamas to do this, but hey, it's just for a few hours.

Connection cost in Dec. 2010 at the YC was $12 per day if my memory serves me correctly but then that's subject to change as with all the other price increases WDW has been putting in lately.

Hope all goes well with your upcoming tests.

 

[MIDisFan]

We will be checking in at the YC in a few weeks and I was wondering how to handle tipping for turn down service. Last year at the Poly we made it back to the room in the middle of the day and left the tip. Since it was the last part of a spilt stay we didn't hit the parks as much. I don't think we will be able to make it back to the room before turn down service.

 

[Katesdad]

Only then will they know how to specifically make YOU happy and they will do that to the best of their ability!

True statement MM, something I have been doing more of lately (guess I'm getting a little more demanding in my older age, before I just had the "Akunamatada" attitude). Seems if you are polite and courteous when asking for things the results will often be what you are hoping for. Come on, sing it with me, "Just a spoonfull of sugar....."

Leaving notes with the room tip has also been a very successful way for me to communicate with the mousekeeping crew.

 

[Katesdad]

We will be checking in at the YC in a few weeks and I was wondering how to handle tipping for turn down service.

I'm assuming you'll be CL? Not sure if turn-down is available if you aren't as I've never asked for it(Tenna, any thoughts?). However, a few posters have suggested leaving two envelopes, one for mousekeeping and one labeled for "turn-down" service. Hopefully the mousekeeper doesn't get greedy and take both.

 

[LaurieN]

Map My Run...com...It's a tool (you have to register but its free) you find the map and use the map tool to chart your course and it tells you the legnth of your run. Takes a little work but it does work. Plus you can save the run. Good luck!

I just started using map my run, I find it very helpful I didn't realize I could pre-chart where I want to walk. Thanks for the tip, now I am going to go play around with my app before the kids wake up.
Laurie