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

[natebenma]

What time does the ferry boat from the beach club start that goes over to the boardwalk? also, where can I find where the EMH and later hours are for the days we are there next year?? thanks everyone for your help.

The boat from the YC to the BW is part of the EPCOT, resort hotel, DHS route. I'm not sure exactly what time the boats start in the morning. On an 8 am opening at DHS, we took a boat at 7:30, but I"m not sure if this was the first boat of the morning or not. Or if they run this early on regular 9 am openings. Anyone know?

As far as when/where the park hours and EMH info will be posted, I copied this from a sticky on the Theme Park forum:

Park Hours for:

January - posted in July (year previous)

February - posted in August (year previous)

March - posted in September (year previous)

April - posted in October (year previous)

May - posted in November (year previous)

June - posted in December (year previous)

July - posted in January

August - posted in February

September - posted in March

October - posted in April

November - posted in May

December - posted in June


Basically the park hours are now being posted 180 days or so ahead .. roughly in line with the ADR (Dining Reservation) 180 day policy.

For Park Hours

Here on the DIS at..
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm

You can view park hours for your trip by entering your dates on the Disney World Website HERE

"Month at a Glance" park hours are also available at the Disney World Website. Hover over the "Plan" tab and select the park you're interested in. Then just change the month and click on the day for details. Some parades and fireworks times are NOT updated here yet.

 

[Laffites Landing]

Thank you Dee!!!!

It worked! Ok, here is my first question. Does anyone here have an opinion on travel insurance? I booked my trip and am probably going to add trip insurance to it. Pretty good idea? It just seems like it would be a way to provide piece of mind to what will be (for us) a long and expensive trip.

Thanks again Dee....

 

[Laffites Landing]

PS- How are you doing with all the acronyms?

Forgot to respond to this. I understand most internet acronyms. I would like a clarification on what the D means in front of the DW, DS,DD, etc...

I think it means "Disney" as in "Disney" Daughter for DD but I am not 100% sure.

Thanks,

Allen

 

[TeenaS]

Forgot to respond to this. I understand most internet acronyms. I would like a clarification on what the D means in front of the DW, DS,DD, etc...

I think it means "Disney" as in "Disney" Daughter for DD but I am not 100% sure.

Thanks,

Allen

You got it right.

 

[natebenma]

Thank you Dee!!!!

It worked! Ok, here is my first question. Does anyone here have an opinion on travel insurance? I booked my trip and am probably going to add trip insurance to it. Pretty good idea? It just seems like it would be a way to provide piece of mind to what will be (for us) a long and expensive trip.

Thanks again Dee....

Nice!!!

I usually book my travel insurance either through AAA (in store) although on a recent trip I booked online directly with the insurance company AAA uses- Access America for their Trip Assist Family Care Comprehensive plan

When we travel in winter, it helps to alleviate worry about unexpected illness or weather issues disrupting our plans.

 

[natebenma]

Forgot to respond to this. I understand most internet acronyms. I would like a clarification on what the D means in front of the DW, DS,DD, etc...

I think it means "Disney" as in "Disney" Daughter for DD but I am not 100% sure.

Thanks,

Allen

It also can mean "Dear" but once in awhile, to me, it means "Dumb@ss". Sorry DH! J/K

 

[jaceraden]

I just got schooled again thanks to the Y&BC thread!

I thought the D in dh, dd, ds meant dear or darn (depending on the frame of mind) but I like DISNEY better!!!

 

[Laffites Landing]

Thanks for the responses, Teena and Dee.

It appears that both I and the DW were right. Yee Haw.

Anyway, I appreciate the responses and thank you all for indulging me on my plans. All plans eventually include the Yacht Club so I guess in a way, it is appropriate to post it here.

As a Disneyland veteran, I have spent countless hours and trips to Disneyland and DCA. In fact, my family and I are going for my birthday November 5-7 and to make it special, we're staying at Paradise Pier Hotel.

This will give us the ability to experience "Magic Mornings" on my actual birthday of November 6th for the first time for us. This is just added information about where our family is coming from. When we go to Walt Disney World, we hope to have experiences which are different (in some ways significantly different) than what we experience out here in California.

Given that information, I wanted to tell people that I'm hoping to visit a series of attractions that don't exist out here as well as visiting some for comparison's sake. I am also hoping to experience amazing dining options. In fact, from my standpoint, the dining is almost more important to me than the parks (though my kids might disagree).

Anyway, here are my plans for day 1/2. Let me know what you think. Please realize we have to get our ADR's first (December 21st, it turns out) so all of this is subject to change.

We will be getting to Orlando sometime between 2-5 PM on Monday June 18th. We will be booking through Magical Express to take us from the airport to the resort. My hope is that we will be settled into our room sometime between 4-6 PM. We are staying club level at the Yacht club so my first question is, what exactly happens when we get to the resort? Do we get greeted (unfortunately not by Teena) and then taken to club level to check in? We really want a day bed so my son and daughter don't have sleep in the same bed. Is this going to be an issue? I'm working with a travel agent so I guess I'll just tell her so she can put it on the request.

Anyway, that brings me to the next part of my trip. I'm hoping the kids can spend about an hour or two in Storm Along Bay and then I'm planning on hitting the last show of the Hoop-De-Do Musical Revue. My question is where will I get my tickets, assuming I have booked already (and I should be booking that show sometime next week)?

So we will be going to Hoop-De-Do on our first night. My plan was (assuming a 9:30 show) to take a bus from the YC to the Magic Kingdom at 8:00 and then take a boat to the Ft. Wilderness Cabins to see the show hopefully well in advance of the actual opening that night. Is this a good plan? I know the HDD (getting into those acronyms!) is going to be testing earlier shows into February so I will adjust my plans if this continues.

I guess that's enough questions for now. After these get answered, I'm sure I'll have a bunch more for you guys on my next post!

 

[LoraJ]

I have seen the DD, DH, DW etc. used all over the Internet on different forums since the mid-90's that have nothing to do with Disney. It is either Dear or Darn depending on your tone. Never heard of it being Disney before. Must just be a Dis thing but would not apply on ivillage, cruise critic, etc.

 

[MickeyT]

Thanks for the responses, Teena and Dee.

It appears that both I and the DW were right. Yee Haw.

Anyway, I appreciate the responses and thank you all for indulging me on my plans. All plans eventually include the Yacht Club so I guess in a way, it is appropriate to post it here.

As a Disneyland veteran, I have spent countless hours and trips to Disneyland and DCA. In fact, my family and I are going for my birthday November 5-7 and to make it special, we're staying at Paradise Pier Hotel.

This will give us the ability to experience "Magic Mornings" on my actual birthday of November 6th for the first time for us. This is just added information about where our family is coming from. When we go to Walt Disney World, we hope to have experiences which are different (in some ways significantly different) than what we experience out here in California.

Given that information, I wanted to tell people that I'm hoping to visit a series of attractions that don't exist out here as well as visiting some for comparison's sake. I am also hoping to experience amazing dining options. In fact, from my standpoint, the dining is almost more important to me than the parks (though my kids might disagree).

Anyway, here are my plans for day 1/2. Let me know what you think. Please realize we have to get our ADR's first (December 21st, it turns out) so all of this is subject to change.

We will be getting to Orlando sometime between 2-5 PM on Monday June 18th. We will be booking through Magical Express to take us from the airport to the resort. My hope is that we will be settled into our room sometime between 4-6 PM. We are staying club level at the Yacht club so my first question is, what exactly happens when we get to the resort? Do we get greeted (unfortunately not by Teena) and then taken to club level to check in? We really want a day bed so my son and daughter don't have sleep in the same bed. Is this going to be an issue? I'm working with a travel agent so I guess I'll just tell her so she can put it on the request.

Anyway, that brings me to the next part of my trip. I'm hoping the kids can spend about an hour or two in Storm Along Bay and then I'm planning on hitting the last show of the Hoop-De-Do Musical Revue. My question is where will I get my tickets, assuming I have booked already (and I should be booking that show sometime next week)?

So we will be going to Hoop-De-Do on our first night. My plan was (assuming a 9:30 show) to take a bus from the YC to the Magic Kingdom at 8:00 and then take a boat to the Ft. Wilderness Cabins to see the show hopefully well in advance of the actual opening that night. Is this a good plan? I know the HDD (getting into those acronyms!) is going to be testing earlier shows into February so I will adjust my plans if this continues.

I guess that's enough questions for now. After these get answered, I'm sure I'll have a bunch more for you guys on my next post!

Welcome Laffites Landing!

Club Level check in is one the best parts of staying CL. You really feel special that they usher you in, take care of your baggage and personally escort you to the check in desk. There you sit in a big comfortable chair while the process is complete.

Do request the daybed. If you do not get it I understand you can request a rollaway bed if the kids really want to be apart. Never have used one but I think it folds up during the day and can be pretty much stored out of the way.

As far as touring plans I really feel each family is different. Our family would never try to do HDD on our first day. We like to ease into the stay. Rest on the first night and hit the parks full force the next day. Now you may still be on west coast internal clock so it may not bother you. Not sure if you're familiar with the Unofficial Guide and touringplans website but I do buy both of these to help with the planning.

Have fun planning and let us share in the process. You are in the perfect place.

 

[natebenma]

Welcome Laffites Landing!

Club Level check in is one the best parts of staying CL. You really feel special that they usher you in, take care of your baggage and personally escort you to the check in desk. There you sit in a big comfortable chair while the process is complete.

Do request the daybed. If you do not get it I understand you can request a rollaway bed if the kids really want to be apart. Never have used one but I think it folds up during the day and can be pretty much stored out of the way.

I just wanted to add that you will likely be greeted by name as you exit the ME bus and head to the YC lobby and you will be escorted to the elevator for the checkin at club level. How do they know it is you? Magic, of course!

I've never been to the HDDR, so I can't really help with suggestions for that. Can concierge print the tickets? You could email IPO (itinerary planning office- CL) and ask them. Will IPO be making your ADRs and show reservations or are you doing that on your own?

 

[TeenaS]

I just wanted to add that you will likely be greeted by name as you exit the ME bus and head to the YC lobby and you will be escorted to the elevator for the checkin at club level. How do they know it is you? Magic, of course!

I've never been to the HDDR, so I can't really help with suggestions for that. Can concierge print the tickets? You could email IPO (itinerary planning office- CL) and ask them. Will IPO be making your ADRs and show reservations or are you doing that on your own?

The concierge can print your HDDR tickets.

 

[JanetMom]

Welcome Laffites Landing!

As far as touring plans I really feel each family is different. Our family would never try to do HDD on our first day. We like to ease into the stay. Rest on the first night and hit the parks full force the next day. Now you may still be on west coast internal clock so it may not bother you. Not sure if you're familiar with the Unofficial Guide and touringplans website but I do buy both of these to help with the planning.

Have fun planning and let us share in the process. You are in the perfect place.

I agree with MickeyT, and would suggest you not do HDD on the first night. You should just make plan a nice dinner reservation somewhere relaxing, and maybe plan a quick stop at a park after dinner.

We learned this lesson the hard way in 2007. We booked the Poly Luau for our first night, figuring we would relax at our room for a bit and then go to the Poly. Well, when we got to our resort (WL) we thought it wouldn't hurt to pop over to the MK for a few minutes first (mistake). We went into the MK, rode Space Mountain and then tried to leave. There was a parade so getting out of the park was challenging, then it started to rain so everyone around us was getting cranky. Eventually we made it to the Luau in plenty of time, but after the travel day, checking in, and a brief park visit we were really tired. So tired that we didn't enjoy the Luau and left before dessert.

For our 2010 trip we scaled plans back. We were staying at CR and decided to just make a reservation at the Liberty Tree. I thought we left ourselves plenty of time - plane landed at 1 pm, dinner reservations were for 5. By the time we checked in at the CR we were cutting it really close for the reservation time, so the CL staff had to rebook us for a later time slot, thankfully they got us in. But again, just more stress than we needed on day 1.

For our upcoming trip (not coming quickly enough! ) our plan is to land around 1, getting us to to the resort by 4ish (or earlier), and then we will relax until our dinner at the Yachtsman at 6:30 pm. Given how close we are to Epcot we may be tempted to check out a bit of the WS, but mostly we plan to just wander around the boardwalk followed by a relaxing dinner.

 

[JerseyGirl53]

As in K cups???? Inquiring minds REALLY want to know!!

Sorry I did not respond right away...even though I am home from WDW, I am at my Dad's. Anyway, it is not a Keurig (wish it was). It is a Cuisinart coffee maker and uses flat pods, like Senseo (hope that is the correct spelling). I did not try the new stuff because we were CL and I drank the coffee there. Also, we did not get any tea pods, if that is what you like.

 

[Feckless]

We have a similar plan for our first night. We are planning to arrive about 1, and I'm making a 7:15 pm reservation for Biergarten for the extended family that's going. I know the kids will want to immediately get in SAB and will not come out until dinner!

 

[rusty4]

What time does the ferry boat from the beach club start that goes over to the boardwalk? also, where can I find where the EMH and later hours are for the days we are there next year?? thanks everyone for your help.

I love Josh's website for info on this. I print it all out for the time we are going to be there and thake it with us. He gives you parks to avoid or your best bets and explains why. He has reviews for things in there as well. HTH's

http://www.easywdw.com/

It also can mean "Dear" but once in awhile, to me, it means "Dumb@ss". Sorry DH! J/K

My DH thinks it means something even worse for him. Something that ends in "head". I don't even use that so where he gets that from I have no idea.

I agree with MickeyT, and would suggest you not do HDD on the first night. You should just make plan a nice dinner reservation somewhere relaxing, and maybe plan a quick stop at a park after dinner.

We learned this lesson the hard way in 2007. We booked the Poly Luau for our first night, figuring we would relax at our room for a bit and then go to the Poly. Well, when we got to our resort (WL) we thought it wouldn't hurt to pop over to the MK for a few minutes first (mistake). We went into the MK, rode Space Mountain and then tried to leave. There was a parade so getting out of the park was challenging, then it started to rain so everyone around us was getting cranky. Eventually we made it to the Luau in plenty of time, but after the travel day, checking in, and a brief park visit we were really tired. So tired that we didn't enjoy the Luau and left before dessert.

For our 2010 trip we scaled plans back. We were staying at CR and decided to just make a reservation at the Liberty Tree. I thought we left ourselves plenty of time - plane landed at 1 pm, dinner reservations were for 5. By the time we checked in at the CR we were cutting it really close for the reservation time, so the CL staff had to rebook us for a later time slot, thankfully they got us in. But again, just more stress than we needed on day 1.

For our upcoming trip (not coming quickly enough! ) our plan is to land around 1, getting us to to the resort by 4ish (or earlier), and then we will relax until our dinner at the Yachtsman at 6:30 pm. Given how close we are to Epcot we may be tempted to check out a bit of the WS, but mostly we plan to just wander around the boardwalk followed by a relaxing dinner.

Now you have me rethinking going to DTD for our first day. We would arrive at BC around 1pm. We were thinking of an hour or so at DQ and then on to Lego store for DS's 8th bday. Then AK the next day which is our least favorite park. Maybe we should stay around our resort instead and go to the BW resort. Then save DTD for later on Sunday or skip AK altogether. DQ is a bonus on our tickets so we are not paying for it. That is why we thought we might check it out.

 

[BCV23]

Lafittes Landing, I think going to the Hoop on the first night is a great plan! (Sorry to disagree MickeyT and Janet). When our children were small, we always stayed at the Polynesian and went to Minnie's Luau on our first night. It was a perfect way to get into the WDW mood and the Hoop is far better than the Luau IMO.

If you book it, they will tell you how much time to allow. Unless it has changed, they also tell you to be there half an hour early. This allows for checking in and having a family photo taken. If you want to skip the photo, there's no need to be there quite that early but you don't want to cut it too close. When the doors open, everyone is seated quickly and the action begins. Great fun although I've heard it has changed a bit recently.

Have a great WDW experience.

Marlton Mom, we've never stayed at POFQ, but taking the basket out has worked for me at the Polynesian, GF, Y&BC, AKL as well as with full size coffee makers in the villas at BCV, AKV, THV, SSR and BLT. Also has worked at hotels in many other places. Oh, and I do take off the lid, too, until the water has boiled. I also watch it at the beginning to make sure the water is not sputtering all over.

Teena, have fun on your cruise. We're leaving on one the very next day! Can not wait!!!

 

[natebenma]

Now you have me rethinking going to DTD for our first day. We would arrive at BC around 1pm. We were thinking of an hour or so at DQ and then on to Lego store for DS's 8th bday. Then AK the next day which is our least favorite park. Maybe we should stay around our resort instead and go to the BW resort. Then save DTD for later on Sunday or skip AK altogether. DQ is a bonus on our tickets so we are not paying for it. That is why we thought we might check it out.

The great thing about these options is that you don't really need to decide until you get there- what's the weather, is everyone just having a great time at the resort, do you want to get out and start enjoying some Disney fun, are you just too tired from your travel day?

I know this sounds like blasphemy for die hard planners, and I am a full-fledged card carrying member of the club, but one of the things that made our last Disney trip so fantastic was having a bunch of options in the afternoon/evenings, so we could choose what we felt like doing.

 

[LaurieN]

Would anyone know approx. how far the walk is around the lake? Or is there another place for jogging/walking in the area? I'm an early raiser and love to take advantage of the quiet/alone time both for exercise and to clear my head.
Thanks,
Laurie

 

[natebenma]

Would anyone know approx. how far the walk is around the lake? Or is there another place for jogging/walking in the area? I'm an early raiser and love to take advantage of the quiet/alone time both for exercise and to clear my head.
Thanks,
Laurie

I recently found this map on some website- hope it helps