2012 Beach and Yacht FAQ ~ March, April and May ~Do Not Post Here-Old Thread

[Best Aunt]

Just got back from a great vacation at Beach Club Villas with my brother’s family. They loved Stormalong Bay, as is. To me, the construction wall just looked like a wall. No pool construction-related complaints from my family.

My brother preferred the pool at the Beach Club Villas. That had nothing to do with the construction over at SAB. As my niece explained it, “Daddy doesn’t like The Big Pool because his legs get cold walking back.”

Can’t blame Disney for that.

They all enjoyed the hot tubs. There was a difference of opinion among family members as to which hot tub was best.

To those of you who are going to the Beach Club or Yacht Club this month -- please don’t stress about the pool construction. You’ll be staying at a great hotel, and you’ll have a great time. And remember, all of us at home are jealous of you for being able to go there -- pool or no pool.

 

[JanetMom]

I'm on another work trip to Toronto - waving at Janet out my window at the Royal York!!! LOL. Glad you had a great trip and sorry you got stuck in the Air Canada delays. Could have been worse from what I saw! I was happy to have flown into Billy Bishop instead of Pearson.

Welcome to our fair city. You couldn't ask for nicer weather - it is almost as nice as Florida today.

Our flight problems weren't so bad, although if they had been worse maybe I would be stuck in Florida enjoying an extended vacation! That would be wonderful.

Flying into Billy Bishop is much better than flying into Pearson.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[TeenaS]

Hi Teena! We're bringing our luggage in the cab with us when we switch from POFQ to YC next month, but next year, we're relying on Bell Services. I know we have to be in the room for Bell Services to deliver our luggage, but do we have to be in the room for them to pick it up?

Yep, you must be there for delivery and pick-up. Only exception for delivery is if the luggage came via magical express and not with you.

 

[TeenaS]

Teena didn't mention it, but I would imagine all the pool activities will also be cancelled, unless they get moved to a quiet pool. There is nowhere open that will fit the volleyball or other pool games.

Games and activities will still go on ... not sure where but they will be happening according to what I was told.

 

[TeenaS]

Also, Teena, do they ever finish things like this early in your experience (fingers crossed)? We're leaving on Monday the 23rd, the day construction is scheduled to end. If somehow they were able to finish a couple of days early and get it up and running that weekend, I'd be a happier camper.

I'd say it's a long shot but yes, I've seen them finish up early. I've also seen rehab projects go later (mainly because of weather). I wish I could tell you something positive.

 

[TeenaS]

Quick question for anyone who has been for MNSHHP.

We had thought we'd have dinner at Cape May, then head back to our rooms to change into costumes then go to the party. Obviously, given the dinner time at Cape May, we would be late for the party. Should we change our plans and maybe do a late lunch (somewhere else since it looks like Cape May doesn't do lunch) on our MNSSHP day and get to the party early? Will we miss out on things if we show up late or will we still enjoy it just as much?

Lots of people go over to MK around 4-5 PM and have dinner there in costume. I definitely would want to be there when it starts. Remember, "time is candy"!!!! I'd cancel Cape May and try to get a reservation at Liberty Tree myself.

 

[TeenaS]

Ok guys.. I just happened upon this thread. I got info from a friend Saturday night. I called BC.cast member there transferred metro help desk. Help desk person told me the refurb is being done now and should only last 2 weeks and it won't be done while I am there.. Any truth to this?

What they are doing now (pools open but working on pipes in between the pools) is what they are talking about. The part of SAB that contains the slide exit will be going down on April 9th and they anticipate the work to take two weeks.

 

[JanetMom]

Lots of people go over to MK around 4-5 PM and have dinner there in costume. I definitely would want to be there when it starts. Remember, "time is candy"!!!! I'd cancel Cape May and try to get a reservation at Liberty Tree myself.

Mmmm. I second the Liberty Tree vote!

 

[TeenaS]

Is there any work being done at GF that would cause the monorail to close down again in April? I was thinking that if we switched, it would be our luck that they would shut down the monorail on us!

Did either of you have discounts that they were able to carry over to the new reservation? I used the 35% AP discount that is no longer valid... would they let me use that if we decide to switch?

I've gone back & forth so many times... We really want to stay at BC but DH is pretty unhappy about the situation. The prices for GF & Poly are higher than what we are currently paying. I guess I need to call.

How big are the pools at the GF & Poly?

Yes, the monorail has been going down periodically due to construction.

The two pools are not real close together at the GF. The "quiet" pool is huge!! The "fun" pool is a good size but nothing compared to SAB.

IMO, the Poly pool is one of my least favorites and is normally super crowded.

There is another thread somewhere where people actually copied the letter they received. If you have not received a letter, please call the Y&B and ask them to fax you one asap if you really want it. INSIST you talk to someone at the Y&B, not the call center.

Remember too that there is the new vacation club being built at the Grand so there will be construction going on over there in that area.

 

[TeenaS]

Hah! You guys must think I'm kinda slow! I just looked at the other thread about SAB in this forum and FINALLY see a big red circle around the area that was being discussed in the SAB pic. How strange! Wonder why I can't see that red circle on the pic on this thread??? Truly bizarre.

Teena, so hate to ask you any more questions, but do you know if the two hot tubs next to that circled area would be closed? They look to be right next to the closed area.... If BC/YC only have that other one hot tub open, that will be crammed!

Many thx!

I'm assuming ... so I may be wrong ... but I would imagine those hot tubs would be closed since water comes out of them and into the pool. That pool must be totally drained so I doubt they will have anybody near that area and have a hot tub drain into it. There are hot tubs at all the quiet pools.

 

[TeenaS]

Hi I am attending a conf from 4/29 - 5/2, my Hubs is joining me on 5/2 for a stay at the pop till the 7th but I am wondering if using SAB is allowed on 5/2? do we both need to show a room key or is just one sufficient? Thanks Michelle

If the section of SAB that is down for this work is done on time, it will be open on 4/29. Yes, both of you will need to show a key to get in. One key won't do it.

 

[TeenaS]

I have a question about beds...

Talked with DBF and the plan is to book our vacation in the next month Now this will be my first time making a request of any kind. DBF is rather tall at 6'6" and we're requesting a King Bed so he can have the extra leg room

At YC are King Beds throughout the hotel floors? I'm just wondering because I'd love to have a balcony over a patio and I have this crazy thought that king beds are only on ground floor (Don't ask why... cause I don't even know why I think that ). If my crazy thought is correct and we're on the ground floor that's fine because the bed is more important that room location (asides from the Garden View we're planning on booking... DBF is not interested in having a view of the parking lot)

A king bed is a request and therefore not guaranteed. There are very few king beds at the Y&B. Personally if I really wanted a king bed, I'd make that my one and only request. And when you check-in (do not do an on-line check-in ... go to the regular line), ask if your room has a king bed. If one is not available on that day you check in (and that's a possibility), then ask to be set up for a room change when one is available.

 

[kelleigh1]

Lots of people go over to MK around 4-5 PM and have dinner there in costume. I definitely would want to be there when it starts. Remember, "time is candy"!!!! I'd cancel Cape May and try to get a reservation at Liberty Tree myself.

Mmmm. I second the Liberty Tree vote!

So we're moving Cape May dinner to a different day and we took Ohana off the list. We're going to do a late lunch at Kona and then back to YC to change before heading to the party - early!!! If necessary, we can grab snacks at the party or CS and pay OOP.

I looked at the restaurants at MK, but none of them jumped out at us. I guess you could say that I'm something of a foodie and I'm not really into the comfort foods, so Liberty Tree didn't appeal.

 

[TeenaS]

I appreciate having gotten so much information from the DIS.. My decision to switch was because of the fact that this trip was all about SAB.. With it being our first experience there I didn't want it to be tarnished by a significant pool rehab. I am very Sad to have switched but I will make the best of it..
For those of you having asked. The reservation cast member told me that they hadn't even received the information about the rehab except for the limited amount of information that she gave me..

The information has been on our HUB (computer we all use) under "Resorts" and then "Advisories" ... it's been there for at least a week. If anybody talks to reservations and they tell you they don't know anything about this, tell them where to find it!!!!!

 

[TeenaS]

I think if only your name is on the 4/29-5/2 reservation you will be the only one with a key and all guests require a key to enter SAB. But if it doesn't add any cost to your room then just put your husbands name on the reservation as the 2nd quest so that he will actually have a key. It's not like they count heads at bedcheck, so it won't matter that he isn't actually there.

If you have a roomie during the conference, then you might have a problem. I suppose you could always add him after check in for just that one night and pay the $25 dollar upcharge for a third adult. It might be worth it to you for you both to have one day to lounge around the pool together.

You must add a person to the reservation BEFORE you check in. If you add them to the reservation AFTER you check in, then that person is listed as a day guest and their key is different. Day guests canNOT get into SAB with their day guest key.

 

[TeenaS]

that being said I do not understand why they did not do this pool work during jan, feb and early march when its cooler in florida and the crowds are lower before spring break time.

Because during the normal rehab in January, February and early March, a problem was found that was not anticipated and the contractors who do that work to fix that not-anticipated-problem, by the time they could get all the parts, etc., April 9th was the soonest the work could be done. A similar problem occurred on the actual slide a few years ago (something was found during normal rehab) and it had to come down for about a week in June. The work that needs to be done starting April 9th could not wait for next year's winter rehab.

 

[TeenaS]

OK, time to change clothes from work and grab some dinner and watch Dancing with the Stars. I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.

And for those who switched resorts, I really hope you enjoy your vacations and I look forward to meeting you when you stay at the Y&B in the future.

 

[nannette]

I'm Back!!! Had so much fun!! Although I did not stay at the YC/BC DD and I had dinner and breakfast at Captain's Grille. We love the breakfast there and had never had dinner, but we decided to give it a shot after seeing and reading MM's report... though we saw no stars it was still a very good dinner and would highly recommend this restaurant! As for breakfast it's always good! Robyn there was no key lime pie on the menu ;o( After our breakfast we walked over to visit with Teena always a pleasure to talk to you Teena!! For those of you worried about the pool... there is a very very small section closed.. most of it is open as well as hot tubs!

ok now to go back and read all I've missed!!

~Nannette

 

[ocalla]

I do hope that those considering switching resorts will re-think that option. You can't imagine how wonderful the walk is to EPCOT.....how beautiful the resort itself is......how many good restaurants are right at your fingertips.

I know we would be dissapointed in the construction too, but in no way is it a dealbreaker.

If you DO decide to switch, be sure and make plans for BC/YC on your next visit....................you will be glad you did!!!

 

[focusondisney]

I can't help but notice that Disney is doing some major spiffing up in anticipation of the opening of the new expanded Fantasyland. I know that the pool issue at Storm Along Bay is unrelated to this but I think it's safe to say that you are going to be encountering many closings and construction areas as you go around WDW. Having just gone for 5 days at the end of February I can say that when I was actually at the parks, all the construction did not seriously impact my stay because there was WAY MORE that was not under construction.... and I know that I will be back and things will be finished or different things will be closed/rehabbed.


~Marlton Mom

You know, I have been thinking along these lines. After years of reading complaints that things were "going down hill", now we have complaints because too much is being refurbed. I for one am very happy to see Disney spending some money refreshing so much of the resort. I'm willing to put up with a few tarps on Main Street & attractions being down. I might feel different if I was planning a once-in-a-lifetime- trip. But I know we'll be back next year, so I'm excited to see so much being refurbed.

Games and activities will still go on ... not sure where but they will be happening according to what I was told.

That's great news! Thanks again for the updates Teena!