2011 Yacht & Beach Club FAQ, Part II

[nannette]

Below is the updated November 2011 list... anyone else going in November.. any changes to be made to the list??? Let me know!! We'll be there before we all know it!!

Dee this list is current and matches the list on page one so no need for any changes there unless someone else is added or makes a change to this list.

Thanks
~Nannette


YACHT AND BEACH CLUB NOVEMBER 2011 LIST

jazzgirl Oct-27-Nov 4 BC CL
LMO429 Oct 27-Nov 4 BC
travelgoddess Oct 28 - Nov 5 YC CL (20th Anniversary)
Mississippianna Oct 29 - Nov 5 BC
ClareH37 Nov 8 - 14 BC CL
cocoabean1 Nov 11 - Nov 18 YC CL
micknme Nov.13 - 19 BC CL LV (split stay)
weswife Nov 13 - Nov 20 BC CL
Mommato2boyz Nov 17-19 YC CL (following Dream cruise)
Avonlady1001 Nov. 17 - Nov. 20 BCV
Nannette Nov 17 - Nov 27 YC (platinum plan)
Barnhill9586 Nov 18 - Nov 26 BC
smithgrandchild Nov 19 - Nov 25 BCV
Texasfan Nov 19 - Nov 26 BC
LaurieN Nov 24 - Dec 3 BC
gumby013 Nov 25 - Dec 1 BC
WendyWuWu Nov 25-Dec 3
kraeurb Nov 27 - Dec 4 BC
Luvmarypoppins Nov 28 - Dec 4 BC

~Nannette

 

[DrMomof3]

We're heading down 8/22 and are booked in a studio at Animal Kingdom for 7 nights. I was thinking of switching to the Yacht Club since I have heard such great things about it. We're a family of 4, 2 kids (5, and almost 2). We love AKL and have stayed there several times. What would you do??

I'm so torn of which hotel to choose, I keep going back and forth....

My biggest concerns are the crowds at the pool and lack of counter service..

Thank you for any input!!

I have never stayed at AKL, in part because it seems remote to me and we don't usually have a car. The convenience of going to 2 of the parks without having to fold up the stroller is priceless, in my opinion (last summer we stayed at BCV with 3 kids - ages 6, 4, 2 - and 2 strollers!). We were there during the same week you are going. The crowds everywhere were low (that's not to say that Toy Story Mania was a walk-on or anything but the lines were generally reasonable). The pool was never crowded - the bigger issue for us was daily afternoon thunderstorms that made using the pool during our break difficult.
We usually get a grocery delivery from Garden Grocer so we have snacks and breakfast foods in the rooms, juice boxes and water bottles, etc. Last year we were in a villa so we had a kitchen but I still think we would have been fine. We made nightly dinner ADRs in Epcot (early, of course!) and loved the convenience of walking over there.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. My Dad is scheduled for surgery today to replace heart valve. I appreciate all the support and will update you.

Love, BLTtinkerbell .

Sending prayers for a successful operation and an easy recovery!

Amanda

 

[nannette]

Wow don't miss a day on this thread!!! Just caught up!!! Sometimes work just gets in the way...sigh

~Nannette

this is a chance to check the ticker again.. I'm getting dangerously close to double digits :

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!

 

[pixarmom]

We're heading down 8/22 and are booked in a studio at Animal Kingdom for 7 nights. I was thinking of switching to the Yacht Club since I have heard such great things about it. We're a family of 4, 2 kids (5, and almost 2). We love AKL and have stayed there several times. What would you do??

I'm so torn of which hotel to choose, I keep going back and forth....

My biggest concerns are the crowds at the pool and lack of counter service..

Thank you for any input!!

Hello and welcome! You'll find several posters on this thread who have stayed at both BC/YC and AKL. We're now on that list, too! And we have three boys - our youngest is a pre-schooler - so we can compare the resorts with little ones in mind!

We liked many things about AKL and would return for another short non-parks visit. Jiko, Sanaa and the AKL/Kidani pools were huge selling points for us. But you can't beat the location of BC/YC with kids - especially small children. The ability to walk to two parks is wonderful - nothing like strolling that stroller right out of that park and to your room (or on the boat, if you prefer.) We also love the proximity to the other Epcot resorts - staying at one gives you easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment (excluding pools, of course) at BC, YC, BWI, Swan and Dolphin.

Regarding your two concerns:

1) If you look on the front page of this thread, you'll see lots of information regarding counter service at BC and in the Epcot resort area. In my opinion, the counter service options in the area are great - and I definitely prefer them over Mara. Just to recap, Hurricane Hanna's and BC Marketplace have very nice menus, and counter service is available 24 hours a day just minutes away at Picabu (at the Dolphin.) There are also a variety of options at the Boardwalk and if you have park hoppers, the World Showcase offers some of the best CS options at WDW.

2) I know some posters have mentioned crowds at SAB. We've stayed at BC many times and all our stays have been during the months of January, February, March and July. I'm pretty sensitive to crowds (not a fan of MK at night for that reason) and I've never thought SAB was too crowded - even in the middle of the afternoon in July. We loved the Kidani pool (just stayed there over Memorial Day weekend) and consider it our second favorite WDW resort pool. I don't think SAB is any more crowded than the Kidani or AKL pools, and because of the size of SAB, it may even be less crowded. Granted, we don't use lounge chairs, so I can't comment on the relative lounge chair availability.

Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Tink1073]

Thank you both for your replies! Such a tough decision! My son is so set on AKL, but I know he'd be happy anywhere. I'm not looking to walk too much, I'll be 28 weeks pregnant while we're there, but not having to fold the stroller does sound nice! We've stayed at the Swan too, so we've eaten at Picabu. How long is the walk to Picabu from YC?

 

[pixarmom]

Thank you both for your replies! Such a tough decision! My son is so set on AKL, but I know he'd be happy anywhere. I'm not looking to walk too much, I'll be 28 weeks pregnant while we're there, but not having to fold the stroller does sound nice! We've stayed at the Swan too, so we've eaten at Picabu. How long is the walk to Picabu from YC?

Then it sounds like the boat might be a better option for you than walking! They have always allowed us to stroll our stroller right onto the boats! I'd say the walk from YC to Picabu is 10 minutes or less, and it's very pleasant. Three routes - you can either take the bridge OR you can take the path that "hugs" the Dolphin OR you could take the boat at YC to the dock at the Swan/Dolphin. We stayed at the Dolphin for one night in May and spent lots of time over at BC/YC. Here are a few photos that show the proximity (we usually took the path that "hugs" the Dolphin):

I took these photos standing in the same spot - on one side, the Dolphin:

On the other side, the path to YC:

 

[MickeyT]

I did learn my lesson and backed up the thread last weekend, so if we are closed without notice, we should be up and running in no time.

Thanks again Dee....You're the best.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. My Dad is scheduled for surgery today to replace heart valve. I appreciate all the support and will update you.

Love, BLTtinkerbell .

Hope all went well BLTinkerbell. In our thoughts and prayers.

Here's a question which I hope you veteran's at YC can answer, please!! I just booked a special tour at MK for 9:30 am on 8/4. Early Magic Hours are on that day as well. The gal in reservations said, "YC has an exclusive bus to MK starting at 7 am and will get us there in plenty of time." Can anyone confirm?? My only concern with staying in the EPCOT area is the bus transportation.

If your tour is at 9:30 you should be fine on the bus. As several have said on here if you have an early ADR or tour you may opt for taxi. Well worth the $$$ spent

Lol the one time I didn't go to page one and I got busted Thanks very much for your suggestion. We are staying CL. I would prefer a full balcony and we are not doing the parks this trip so I will take your advice and wait.

One (well, another) advantage of checking in CL is you don't do it in the regular checkin line. You will be ushered upstairs to the CL desk where they will go over your room assignment and tickets while you sit. You can ask your questions then. And I would assume they could check and see if anything else was available if your room did not suit you(?).

We're heading down 8/22 and are booked in a studio at Animal Kingdom for 7 nights. I was thinking of switching to the Yacht Club since I have heard such great things about it. We're a family of 4, 2 kids (5, and almost 2). We love AKL and have stayed there several times. What would you do??

I'm so torn of which hotel to choose, I keep going back and forth....

My biggest concerns are the crowds at the pool and lack of counter service..

Thank you for any input!!

Done both. Love both. Agree fully with what pixarmom said.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Surgery over and all went well! Now praying for quick recovery. Thank you for all the support.

 

[scottmel]

We're heading down 8/22 and are booked in a studio at Animal Kingdom for 7 nights. I was thinking of switching to the Yacht Club since I have heard such great things about it. We're a family of 4, 2 kids (5, and almost 2). We love AKL and have stayed there several times. What would you do??

I'm so torn of which hotel to choose, I keep going back and forth....

My biggest concerns are the crowds at the pool and lack of counter service..

Thank you for any input!!

YC is my favorite resort hands down and AKL is my worst one. I have tried AKL for short stay 3 times and just so not me. There is no comparison beteen the 2 resorts. I have been to YC in the height of the summer and never experience these crowds that people seem to write about. Always get a chair, etc. Love Love SAB. We are back in 2 weeks!!!!

 

[nannette]

Surgery over and all went well! Now praying for quick recovery. Thank you for all the support.

Happy to hear this! Praying for a quick and easy recovery.

~Nannette

 

[madhatters]

Hiya, getting very excited now just 4 days left until we arrive at BC for our 2 week stay, does anyone have any idea what movies will be playing on the beach for August or will I have to wait and see

 

[Katesdad]

does anyone have any idea what movies will be playing on the beach for August or will I have to wait and see

Keep checking the first page of the thread (either this one or the new one since we'll be moving in a few days). Dee is great about updating the information. Movie list for August should be available next Monday or Tuesday. Have a great trip.

 

[Katesdad]

Sorry, but here's another question--has anyone ever received a free upgrade from a garden view to the next level?

Sorry but I couldn't resist, if you want to make sure you have a water view, go ahead and book it. Don't expect Disney to give away rooms, it happens, yes, but not as often as it is made to sound here on these boards. I'm one of those hundreds of thousands of visitors that over the last 30+ years have only received what I reserved and have been very happy to be in the most magical place on the earth.

 

[disadventurer]

I think so! Last year, the APs we purchased for two WDW trips sent us on four trips instead - they are sneaky! For a quick trip last summer, we booked standard view (tried to switch to CL before the trip, but there was no availability.) Because the trip was so quick and we were ready to take any room BC assigned to us without discussion, we used on-line check-in. This was the only time we've ever used it, because we were truly ready to grab our keys and go.

When we arrived in our room, it looked like an upgrade to us! But given the grab-and-go nature of on-line check-in, I never confirmed the category when were at BC. But I'm not sure which category it was, or which category it would be now.

Nice pic--thanks for sharing. Getting pretty excited! Not exactly sure what a water view means--pics really do help determine if a waterview is what we are looking for.

 

[LMO429]

Yay! in less than 3 months I will be at the beach club! I can not wait!!!!!!!!!!!! I am all for rushing the summer in order to do so.

 

[disadventurer]

Sorry but I couldn't resist, if you want to make sure you have a water view, go ahead and book it. Don't expect Disney to give away rooms, it happens, yes, but not as often as it is made to sound here on these boards. I'm one of those hundreds of thousands of visitors that over the last 30+ years have only received what I reserved and have been very happy to be in the most magical place on the earth.

Yes, I guess the boards really make it seem free upgrades happen often. Nice to see pics of water views and what it really means. Did request the GV Wedding Gazebo as you mentioned. We are very excited and thanks for your input!

 

[pjean710]

It seems both hotels are pretty much identical. Are there any real benefits to choosing one over the other aside from decor choice?

 

[Tink1073]

I did it! I made the switch from AKL to YC!! We're all very excited to try a new resort! Only 25 more days!!!

 

[natebenma]

I did it! I made the switch from AKL to YC!! We're all very excited to try a new resort! Only 25 more days!!!

Yeah!!!

Do you want to be added to the page 1 Guest List? What are your exact dates?