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

[brajfamily]

We have no idea what to do now!!! Trying to weigh everything out and can't figure out the best scenario. Our kids love the slide and we do spend a good amount of time at the pool. But we also love the location of BC. My biggest concern is how crowded the pool will be with that section closed off. It is such a big piece of SAB and so many teens and adults are in that area, plus all the chairs, tables, etc, it makes me think that the rest of SAB will feel VERY crowded. Thoughts???

Also, what are thoughts on BWI? I am thinking that pool would be as crowded given it's size and all the BC/YC guests going there....

don't know what to do....

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Teena - Is the circled section part of pool #1 & therefore part of the closure? Or is it simply the Sinking Sands & over to the slide? I can't tell if that walkway divides the pools or just goes over... I'm guessing the walkway goes over & that area will be closed.

Thanks!

+1 on this question! I was looking at some Youtube footage and it looks like the water goes under the walkway and it's all connected but I'd love to be wrong on that.

 

[TeenaS]

Teena - Is the circled section part of pool #1 & therefore part of the closure? Or is it simply the Sinking Sands & over to the slide? I can't tell if that walkway divides the pools or just goes over... I'm guessing the walkway goes over & that area will be closed.

Thanks!

Man I wish I could have done that ... I'm such a computer dummy. The circled part is part of "Pool #1" and will be drained. It's all one big pool ... it's hard to tell because of the bridge that crosses over it. We (the CMs) were originally told from B&C and over to the slide exit. That's why I walked to the pool area with the manager and she pointed out that the whole thing is one large pool and has to be drained.

 

[scottmel]

We have no idea what to do now!!! Trying to weigh everything out and can't figure out the best scenario. Our kids love the slide and we do spend a good amount of time at the pool. But we also love the location of BC. My biggest concern is how crowded the pool will be with that section closed off. It is such a big piece of SAB and so many teens and adults are in that area, plus all the chairs, tables, etc, it makes me think that the rest of SAB will feel VERY crowded. Thoughts???

Also, what are thoughts on BWI? I am thinking that pool would be as crowded given it's size and all the BC/YC guests going there....

don't know what to do....

We stayed at BWI in 09 and hit the lotto b/c THEIR slide was down and we were shuttled to SAB and ever since have stayed at YC. BWI pool is lame. No other way to put it. Slide however is faster and better than SAB per DH. However it is not a big pool and is crowded with BWI guests so I can't imagine the spillover with SAB folks in it. HOWEVER think about it - small kids and families will likely stay put at SAB. IT is going to be the older kids wanting the slide so they might come over to BWI but I can't imagine a lot of people taking advantage of it b/c honestly the BWI pool is rather zippo in comparison.

 

[Marlton Mom]

OK, I have a BB questions for the experts out there...

If I am staying at an All Star resort as part of a school group, since the reservation is not in my name, would I still be able to book a bounceback to another Disney resort during my stay?

While staying in my cinder block barracks at All Stars Movies I booked a bounce back to POFQ and I hope to upgrade it to the BC!!!

So...YES YOU CAN!!!!

~MM

 

[TeenaS]

Ok guys ... haven't even changed since I got home from work. Gotta eat dinner and then bed. I'll try to answer any other questions tomorrow morning before going in to work.

P.S. Hurt my back Wednesday. Had a fight with my vacuum cleaner ... long story but the vacuum won. I feel soooo old today between my lower back and feet hurting. Thank goodness my hours haven't switched to ten hour days yet!!! I need my happy place to heal - Castaway Cay. Hurry up April 13th!!! Hey, now there's an idea, instead of worrying about the pool, everybody that's going to be there 4/13-20, cancel and come with me on the Disney Magic!!!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Man I wish I could have done that ... I'm such a computer dummy. The circled part is part of "Pool #1" and will be drained. It's all one big pool ... it's hard to tell because of the bridge that crosses over it. We (the CMs) were originally told from B&C and over to the slide exit. That's why I walked to the pool area with the manager and she pointed out that the whole thing is one large pool and has to be drained.

Thank you for confirming.

 

[natebenma]

Good question. I've been told (but that doesn't mean it's true) that as long as you are listed on the reservation (so when a CM at the reservation center pulls up your room and sees your name as staying in that room - even though the reservation is not in your name), you can book a bounceback. Give it a try and report back your findings. I'm curious too!!!

Cool! Thanks!

Now I can book and cancel with no penalty if I do it within a certain number of days, right, or I can book with dummy dates and then change to other eligible dates can't I?

I've been crossing my fingers for a PIN (with no luck), but doing this did not even occur to me until LMO429 posted the BB question.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Cool! Thanks!

Now I can book and cancel with no penalty if I do it within a certain number of days, right, or I can book with dummy dates and then change to other eligible dates can't I?

I've been crossing my fingers for a PIN (with no luck), but doing this did not even occur to me until LMO429 posted the BB question.

MAKE SURE YOU: Book a room only and not any kind of a package!!!

The room only ressie has a 5 day prior cancellation where as the package that the CM's will try to sell you has to be paid off 45 days prior!!


~MM

 

[msdroz]

Hi there, I was curious if children are allowed in the hot tubs. I've been at various locations where the hot tubs are super warm and children are permitted to participate. However, a super hot jacuzzi won't work for our 5 year old obviously Thanks in adavance!

 

[Marlton Mom]

Cool! Thanks!

Now I can book and cancel with no penalty if I do it within a certain number of days, right, or I can book with dummy dates and then change to other eligible dates can't I?

I've been crossing my fingers for a PIN (with no luck), but doing this did not even occur to me until LMO429 posted the BB question.

I don't know about changing the dates for the bounce back offer. I would definitely check on that and confirm the information with another CM just to make sure. You know how the phone reservations CM's can be with misinformation.

Also, if you are changing resorts from an original Bounce back offer I think it depends on if the new resort has Bounce Back offer slots available. From what I understand, Disney only sets aside so many discounted rooms per time period so if the BB slots are sold out for the new resort you won't be able to get in and you'll have to keep calling to see if there is an opening..

Again this is my understanding of how it works....

~MM

 

[vinotinto]

Two questions for the BC/YC experts...

We are planning a split stay with two nights at POR and then two nights at YC (primarily for SAB). On the morning we move from POR to YC, I'm hoping we can check-in and use SAB even before our room is ready. Has anyone done this?

We did this in October. Arrived around 1:00/1:30 pm. Room was not ready until 4 pm. We changed in the locker room of the fitness center and headed to the pool for a couple of hours.

 

[maminnie]

What a disappointment. We usually travel in the winter months and seem to hit a pool and or slide refurbishment almost every time we come as this is when they generally are refurbished. Thought we would try April this year and enjoy more pool time and less park time. Surprise....another pool and slide closure. The part that is closed is a a very large part of SAB and generally where all the pool activities take place. Last time this section was closed there were big walls up closing the section off and making the area all chopped up and the parts open were packed as were the Boardwalk and leisure pools. I think the closure really takes away from the whole style and feel of the resort. We really enjoy watching and partaking in all the activities that go on around the pool area. It really is a shame for those of us who will encounter this in the month of April as it is generally such a great pool month. With no notice there really isn't much time to react either and make changes. Pretty unfair.

 

[JanetMom]

I'm back from a wonderful stay at the YC! It is an amzaing resort and we had a wonderful time.

It has been a rough adjustment back to reality today. Our flight was supposed to get in at Midnight, but we didn't get back home until 2:30 am due to many Air Canada delays.

We have had renovations going on while we were gone, so when we got home we had no bathroom and our place is coated in plaster dust. After spending much of the day cleaning we are now able to use our bathroom and have made some minimal paths through the renovation chaos. We hope to have our place painted and back to normal by mid-week, but today has been one of sleep and work and not enough time for Dis posting!

I've downloaded my pictures and will be working on a trip report as soon as possible, but in the meantime I'll give you some initial information.

First off, the pool construction while we were there didn't deter anyone from enjoying SAB. It was a hub of activity all week. I wouldn't worry about one of the pools being closed, there are still plenty of pool areas to enjoy.

As for Bounce Back, here is the offer that was in our room.

Here is the March activity schedule (Dee - let me know if you need me to email this to you as a separate image file)

Other information that was in our welcome packet included park hour info.

I was also pleased to see this flyer regarding the missing pool noodles. It seems that there is interest in finding them.

I will get started on my trip report as soon as our renovations settle down.

 

[Wee Annie]

Teena - Is the circled section part of pool #1 & therefore part of the closure? Or is it simply the Sinking Sands & over to the slide? I can't tell if that walkway divides the pools or just goes over... I'm guessing the walkway goes over & that area will be closed.

Thanks!

Okay, I'm feeling like a total idiot, but why can't I see a "circled section"? Even called my daughter over and asked her if she could see one (she said no). Perhaps it's the rising panic inside me that's blinding me. Please tell me that the "circled section" is not that very large section of pool close to the Beach Club and next to the two hot tubs (please). I really hope I'm wrong on that one. If it's that section, it means that what appears to be over 50% of SAB will be drained for our entire stay. As my daughter just said when I asked her what she thought, "well the pool is pretty much the most important part of the hotel for us." We're so close to our vacation and I so don't know what to do. I chose BC (the first time for us) for two reasons: SAB, and the location. But SAB was the primary reason. I can deal with a slide and a small portion of the pool being closed, but if it's over half the pool....

I can only imagine how crowded the other side will be. And who will want to sit next to the section that is drained? Everyone will be crowded into the other half.

I'm just so disappointed. We were looking at this trip as being our last one to WDW for quite a while. I'm truly a "glass half full" "make the best of it" (really!) kind of person, but this is truly disheartening. When we are at WDW we pretty much only spend the mornings in the parks, and the entire afternoon at the resort and the pool. Please, if anyone has been there when such a large section of the pool has been closed, can you talk me down and tell me that it really won't affect our enjoyment of the pool? Anyone? I'm ready, willing and able to be convinced. You all did such a great job at making me feel better when I just thought it was the pool slide and the section of pool at the base of the slide. And then when I thought it just that up to the sinking sands area, I also was okay. But please tell me that there's not a lot more of the pool that will be shut down. Or that it will be okay .

 

[maminnie]

Unfortunately it is my understanding that it is the entire area that the slide emptys into. That would be from the slide exit all the way to the two hot tubs. The solid structure in the middle is a bridge and there is water running underneath it (part of the same body of water). So it appears based on Teena's post that this whole area will be drained and closed. I have experienced this refurbishment before and when they drain that area, it is the whole area as it is one body of water. Very disappointing to say the least as this was to be more a relaxing sit by the pool type trip for our family rather then being at the parks every minute of every day! Oh well....

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Another question for anyone who's been there when such a large portion of the pool is drained - was there a lot of construction noise? I'm already picturing being sardines in the open area, I'd hate to think there'd be jackhammering or other noise on top . Ugh, I just don't know what to do. BWI isn't even available for our dates so that switch is out and moving to a monorail resort would cost a lot more not to mention having to scramble to switch around our Epcot centric plans.

 

[firstmickey]

Can someone tell me the dates the pool refurb is going on? I've tried to look through the thread and all I can see is sometime in April.

Thanks!


Ok....Nevermind...I found the dates

April 9-23rd.


We arrive on the 26th so hopefully it will be done!

I feel badly for those of you who will be there during this time!

 

[smillerguy]

Teena

Thank you for your infromation on the pool. If I could I would give you a foot rub for your hard work! I am disappointed as my 10yo son loves playing volleyball at SAB pool and 8yo daughter loves all the games they do in that area. Maybe I should jsut book a trip on Magic instead. At least now I know what I am working with.

I think the week of Easter will be very high crowds and was planning on lots of down time at the pool. the BWI pool is nice but on the smaller side and I can't think it could accommodate all the extras.

I am thinking of keeping my dates for April 6 but checking out on April 9 or 10 and finishing up our week at another resort. now I just need to figure out what is available. Really don't want to do a split stay but it is either that or unhappy husband and kids so I'll deal with repacking and moving luggage. We will have a car so it won't be that bad.

 

[Angel16]

We are booked for The Beach Club CL standard room in September. I have a couple of questions. Where does the evening offerings items come from? What kinds of items do they serve?

Does anyone have recent pictures of the lounge offerings? I would love to see what all is served during the day. Anyone stayed CL recently?

Thank you so much,

Angel16