2011 Yacht & Beach Club FAQ, Part III- DO NOT POST HERE- Summer/Fall

[heatherbabydoll1]

Tina, first I want to tell you I am praying for you and good luck.


I need some input. Because of my recent unexpected extra hospital stays, financially we are probley not going to be able to stay at BCV the whole time. I wish that we could combine discounts. I have the 40% off room and need free dinning also. If I had both I could afford this trip. My co pays are just to high, and the goood Lord says pay debts first!

So we normally stay at French Quarter and I saw free dinning just got extended. So to save money I thought of the bulk of the trip there and two nights at BCV.

But do I have to have two deposits for split stays? I hate the idea of changing hotels but got to get the cost down alot.

The only other thing I thought of was seeing if they can move us to a standard room at BC no club and even go down to regular dinning.

I am so stressed I promised my little man the SAB and he is so understanding to everything but I don't want to go back on a promise. Any ideas?

 

[DrMomof3]

Hi Everyone,
All these wonderful pictures and talk has made me want to book another trip to BCV for next year. Our last trip was last September but since my daughter is getting married in 6 weeks, we won't be able to go to Disney until next year.

We love to stay at BCV. Does anyone know how far out you can book a reservation at BCV if you you're not DVC member? We've stayed there the last 2 years but I can't seem to remember how far out you can book.

Thanks for your help.

We booked at BCV (cash, not DVC) about 7 months in advance. And we booked at BLT for later this month in January (also about 7 months in advance). I can't say if they were available earlier because we didn't try.

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

3. Is there any chance of having any walk-ins in the restaurants on property in the evening or for breakfast? Since it is our first time I don't want to overload with the eating and would like to leave some options open!

Thanks so much for your help.

One idea is to go to Guest Services in whatever park and ask what reservations are available. We do this at Epcot all the time. When we arrive in the morning we go on a few rides and then stop at Guest Services to make a lunch reservation. While Le Cellier has never been available that way, we have gotten other nice choices.
I'm sure this would work at the other parks, too.
We have done walk-ups at a few places in the past (not recently). We had success with Kona Cafe at the Polynesian which isn't a bad choice if you're at MK that day.

Amanda

Amanda

 

[Feckless]

One idea is to go to Guest Services in whatever park and ask what reservations are available. We do this at Epcot all the time. When we arrive in the morning we go on a few rides and then stop at Guest Services to make a lunch reservation. While Le Cellier has never been available that way, we have gotten other nice choices.
I'm sure this would work at the other parks, too.
We have done walk-ups at a few places in the past (not recently). We had success with Kona Cafe at the Polynesian which isn't a bad choice if you're at MK that day.

Amanda

Amanda

I know this was answering another person's question, but this was great information! I think I have a handle on most of it, but it is the ADRs that are confusing me. I really don't like the idea of having to be at a certain park at a certain time this time around since I am trying to reform my commando ways. LOL For all you BC veterans, do you just make the majority of your ADRs for WS? I definitely want Ohanas (DS + meat on a stick = win) because I would like to wander down to the Poly beach after for Wishes. Other than that, I know we will do a lunch and dinner at Cape May (but not on the same day by the size of the buffet I saw in the pics!) since we are staying there, and I also know we will be doing Via Napoli and Tutto Italia (since DH is 1/2 Italian). I have no urge to brave Le Cellier with my savages I mean kids.

And THANKS for the tip to call and ask for the discount to be applied to the BC even if it isn't listed! The dates on the promotion I was sent were for this November and we are going in May, but hopefully I will get something that can be applied...

 

[Feckless]

And my ticker starts with an 8!!!!!

When I got it, it started with a 10!!!!

 

[natebenma]

There is a great offer for a BC Club Level Standard View room which we could use. Now I am a little bit concerned that we could end up with a view to a roof top or something similar.

Or are their no such bad view rooms at the Beach Club as all the Club Level rooms are on the upper floors?

Water view rooms are not available but that would not be an issue but if we would have a view to a roof that would ruin our trip.

Unfortunately, standard view is truth in advertising at the BC and YC. If you book standard, you WILL have the view of a rooftop and/or parking lot, including at club level.

We had club level room 5670 which was standard view. This is what we saw looking left, straight out of the balcony and to the right.

But we also saw some of the high Illuminations fireworks and we had an excellent view of the MK fireworks off to the left every night.

 

[tnkrbell]

Disney's Beach Club Resort is a hidden gem in Walt Disney World! I must say, when I booked this resort for our family of five for a week, I was not sure if I was going to like it. I live in the northeast, so staying at a beach club resembling Cape May or Martha's Vineyard was a vacation spot my family would enjoy on weekends, not something I would pay $$$$ and drive 18 hours to reach! I wondered how this resort would compare with the magic disney offers at their other resorts. Well...
It was not love at first sight but a very subtle to an exploding, wishes fireworks, kind of love...
When we arrived the gateman asked our name and was very kind when he said welcome home When we pulled in front to unload our luggage and check in, Samantha greeted us by using our family name and walked me inside to the front desk, I held back tears, (This trip we had a garden view room however I have stayed concierge level at other WDW resorts and we were never greeted like this.) It went down hill from there yet I can not blame the cast members at the BC but the misinformation I was given from the call center when the reservation was made. To make a long story short, we added a day to the beginning of our trip, so this gave us two separate reservations which in turn we had to switch rooms on our second day. Forgive me, but I can not remember her name but she works at the front desk and has dark skin with dark medium length hair and she was AWESOME!!!!!!! She searched and searched the rooms at BC, made calls but the resort was at full capacity and could not get us into a room we didn't have to move from. She said to see her in the morning, she arrives at 8:00a.m. and I will not be disappointed. That night I called over to the Polynesian to check availability and was all set to leave BC for the remainder of our trip in the morning. We couldn't unpack anyway and I was reluctant about this resort from the beginning.
Morning came and I said, lets give BC one more try today... it was the best decision I made all trip. Dark haired girl gave us the most fabulous room, ground level just a few steps away from Epcot AND it was ready by noon! Thank you, thank you, thank you dark haired girl! Our room was fabulous, spotless and whatever we requested from housekeeping we were given.
Throughout our stay our teenage boys enjoyed the fitness club and the pool area and Cape May Cafe (best mac and cheese in the world) for dinner, beaches and cream for milkshakes and sundays and the pool area restaurant for burgers and hotdogs. Everything from food quality to service was exceptional! The restrooms by the pool area are spotless and the waitstaff is great when you don't want to get up from your lounge chair. Everyday we had a different question for concierge and everyday we had someone different who answered our questions so pleasantly without making us feel we were a bother... (you know the song, "Be Our Guest" ?? this must be their motto/philosophy.)
I can not put into words how grateful I am for the service we received when we stayed at the Beach Club. From the cast members, to the spotless rooms, to the most amazing "pool day" at a resort I ever had in WDW, Thank You! Me and my husband are the average american family who both work two jobs to be able to afford a vacation and now they have spoiled us so much I don't think I can ever stay anywhere else. This resort is amazing! I was so wrong in thinking this resort could not offer the magic compared to other WDW resorts. Its not a WOW in your face kind of magic but its found in the cast members, the scent in the lobby and the overall character of the resort whom I think actually has a soul but you have to stay here to understand it.

Thanks for the awesome report!! Im glad you had such a great trip!!

 

[natebenma]

Another YC question..

I was reading a thread from 2010 that mentioned staying in one of the 'refurbished' rooms. Have only some of the YC rooms been refurbished, or are they all updated?
Thank you!

~Sarah

All of the BC and YC rooms have been updated/refurbished in the last couple of years (2008 and 2009, I believe). New bedding, flat screen tvs, etc

I am not sure sure about what has been done recently at BCV.

 

[pixarmom]

For all you BC veterans, do you just make the majority of your ADRs for WS?

Hi Feckless! I know this might sound kind of strange, but ADRs have actually helped us tone down our commando ways! We used to only make dinner ADRs, but when we started making two ADRs per day, it forced us to sit down and take it easy a little more during the day - not just at the end!

Most of our dinner ADRs are in Epcot or the Epcot resort area when staying at BC. So our new routine is rope drop, back to the resort in the mid- to late afternoon, snacks in the club lounge and ADR in Epcot or the Epcot area around 7pm. Love Via Napoli, Chef's, Garden Grill, La Hacienda Le Cellier and Bluezoo. I also like Rose and Crown, but that's not unanimous in our family. My experience at Tutto before kids was always fine. But with kids . . . well, Tutto hasn't been the most kid friendly experience on property, which is funny because CMs everywhere else - including signatures - are wonderful with our kids and very welcoming! In case you're considering it at all, Le Cellier has been GREAT for our kids - friendly CMs, kidcot stop right outside the entrance, not too quiet, great pretzel bread and cheddar soup - kind of looks like a castle inside. Pre- and post cruise later this month, we have Flying Fish, Il Mulino and Yachtsman.

OK - that turned into a mini dining review. I'll stop there. Happy Planning!

 

[tnkrbell]

Hey all-

We are heading down in 2 weeks from today and just had a few quick questions.

1) While I know there are no "set times" for SAB (I did read the FAQ, I promise), can those who have been down there recently share the hours of operation for the pool and Hanna's for their trip? I gotta think end of July/beginning of August times hold true for mid-August (but I won't "count" on them...just getting an idea). We were at the BC last May and I believe everything closed down at 9 or 930, and was hoping they stayed open later during the peak summer season with the heat and all.

2) While we have ADR's for just about every night (and a few breakfasts too), we left one night open on our trip. We are a large group (8) and don't have a great idea of what we want to do that night ( we were thinking we'd do AK that day and either grab a bite there as the park was closing or figure it out when we got back to the resort)...I know a poster a few pages back spoke about Cape May for walkups, but does anyone have experience with dinner walkups at either the Boardwalk spots, or even into the World showcase? Just looking for some ideas to keep in mind.

3) For those who have been down there recently, how has the weather been? I've been tracking it through accuweather and all that and looks like there has been a lot of rain...has it been persistant or just the standard PM thunderstorms? And while the temperatures themselves don't seem to be out of whack with expectations from past years, has it felt unusually oppressive down there this year (I'm in the NE, so no stranger to humidity, but I just know the reports of the horrible heat in the south and wasn't sure if it extended down to the Florida coasts).

Thanks all!

Figure rain almost every afternoon in the summer here, BUT one street can have rain and a street over sun so as they say "if you dont like the florida now just wait a minute"

 

[Tinkerbell's mama]

Tina, first I want to tell you I am praying for you and good luck.


I need some input. Because of my recent unexpected extra hospital stays, financially we are probley not going to be able to stay at BCV the whole time. I wish that we could combine discounts. I have the 40% off room and need free dinning also. If I had both I could afford this trip. My co pays are just to high, and the goood Lord says pay debts first!

So we normally stay at French Quarter and I saw free dinning just got extended. So to save money I thought of the bulk of the trip there and two nights at BCV.

But do I have to have two deposits for split stays? I hate the idea of changing hotels but got to get the cost down alot.

The only other thing I thought of was seeing if they can move us to a standard room at BC no club and even go down to regular dinning.

I am so stressed I promised my little man the SAB and he is so understanding to everything but I don't want to go back on a promise. Any ideas?

Heather I also got 40% off. I booked Garden View for 10 nights. I called today just to see if free dining would be a savings. It was I got back $166 back. I know it's not much but it was cheaper for a family of four. I would just call and ask maybe you will save some money. Good luck!!! BTW I hope you are feeling better!!!
Jen

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Teena, Thoughts and prayers for your quick recovery.

 

[nannette]

And my ticker starts with an 8!!!!!

When I got it, it started with a 10!!!!

It goes fast!!! Before you know it you'll be making ADR's! My ticker started at over one year. I made the reservations last August for our November trip, and now my ticker almost says 2

Happy Waiting!!!

~Nannette

 

[Marlton Mom]

One idea is to go to Guest Services in whatever park and ask what reservations are available. We do this at Epcot all the time. When we arrive in the morning we go on a few rides and then stop at Guest Services to make a lunch reservation. While Le Cellier has never been available that way, we have gotten other nice choices.
I'm sure this would work at the other parks, too.
We have done walk-ups at a few places in the past (not recently). We had success with Kona Cafe at the Polynesian which isn't a bad choice if you're at MK that day.

Amanda

Amanda

While we were at LeCellier for our ADR's the podium was always clogged with people searching for an opening right then and there and the staff was very remorseful to have to tell them there was not going to be anything available, even if they waited for hours in the hopes of scoring an open slot.

LeCellier is so popular and so good it's the one dining reservation that no one wants to ditch.

~ Marlton Mom

 

[Marlton Mom]

Unfortunately, standard view is truth in advertising at the BC and YC. If you book standard, you WILL have the view of a rooftop and/or parking lot, including at club level.

We had club level room 5670 which was standard view.

But we also saw some of the high Illuminations fireworks and we had an excellent view of the MK fireworks off to the left every night.

Here is my garden "View" room 4532 Don't get me started......



The view from Beach Club room 4532 by Marlton Mom, on Flickr

 

[natebenma]

Here is my garden "View" room 4532 Don't get me started......



The view from Beach Club room 4532 by Marlton Mom, on Flickr

Botanically speaking, what are those lovely red blossoms and that beautiful brown twiggy foliage?

Sorry, it looks like I am getting you started.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Botanically speaking, what are those lovely red blossoms and that beautiful brown twiggy foliage?

Sorry, it looks like I am getting you started.

Those "lovely" 'red' "blossoms are DEAD LEAVES and the brown snarly branches are from the tree know as "WayPastIt'sPrimeAnd NeedsToBePRUNEDorBetterYetRemovedAndReplacedWithAGarden"

That would be the Latin name BTW....
SNORT!
~MM

 

[LovintheLodge]

Botanically speaking, what are those lovely red blossoms and that beautiful brown twiggy foliage?

Sorry, it looks like I am getting you started.

Okay...first I saw Marlton Mom's picture and comment regarding her 'garden' view which made me laugh (as many of your posts do MM!!). Then I read this and cracked up again!

Hey MM, you sure you didn't 'zoom' in on that 'foliage'?? I know you are quite the photographer!

I have to 'dig' through my photos from my standard view last year. I recall Teena calling my view 'pebble beach'. I have to tell ya, for standard, the view was good.

Kerry

 

[GoGoBeans]

Unfortunately, standard view is truth in advertising at the BC and YC. If you book standard, you WILL have the view of a rooftop and/or parking lot, including at club level.

We had club level room 5670 which was standard view. This is what we saw looking left, straight out of the balcony and to the right.

But we also saw some of the high Illuminations fireworks and we had an excellent view of the MK fireworks off to the left every night.

Rooftops aside, I'm more surprised at how small those juliette balconies are. I knew they were not full, but I didn't realize how TINY they are. Guess I should ask for a full balcony in my request.

Sorry to hear about all your troubles Teena. Quick recovery vibes for you.

 

[natebenma]

Those "lovely" 'red' "blossoms are DEAD LEAVES and the brown snarly branches are from the tree know as "WayPastIt'sPrimeAnd NeedsToBePRUNEDorBetterYetRemovedAndReplacedWithAGarden"

That would be the Latin name BTW....
SNORT!
~MM