2013 Beach and Yacht FAQ, Fun & Friends: Don't Post Here- New Thread Started

[BringingUpDisney]

Just to sum it all up...

Positives:
Everything BC - CL, mouse keeper Stella, SAB, proximity to Epcot and DHS, full balcony and daybed, quiet location of room 5706, smell when you walk in the door, room in great condition. Seeing Teena's smiling face. Lounge staff for keeping the food and beverages coming.
Choosing to go without dining plan.
TS choices- cape may, hoop, ohana, garden grill
Decision to get up early and leave parks early

So-so's:
Disney buses- mostly SRO and packed when we were on them.
CL desk CMs- just didn't seem real excited about being there- this was early on but I did recognize ones I saw last time as week went on and they were good. I asked for a map to get somewhere and was told they were out- which is ok but was offered no alternative or that she would try to find one.
Fill in mouse keeper when Stella was off- missing items that needed restocked such as washclothes, in room coffee. Stella was great- room always was well stocked and extra touches.
Going in June - we think we prefer spring/jan/feb

Not-so-goods-not much to mention- not really things that Disney can control:
Space mountain staff outside allowing a mass of people to assemble at park opening and not indicating which mob was the fast pass mob or the standby mob. People were in the wrong mob. This was going on while 4 cms were chatting and unaware of the chaos developing. Toy story has a good system for organizing the chaos at opening.
People not remembering which finger they used the first time entering and then not listening to the cms trying to help them gain entry.
Men sitting comfortably on the bus when women were struggling standing with their kids-thankfully not me but other women, I gave up my seat before some men would even offer.
Busy times in the lounge and people not seeming to want to make room for others. I know the lounge should be bigger and it is anyones right to be there if you paid for it, but sometimes just lounging in the lounge when people are standing and eating isn't particularly mannerly.

Misc tips:
Use the Lines app- it really helped us navigate the parks. We found it to be fairly accurate.
Take plenty of clothes this time of year for frequent changes. Definitely would recommend athletic/running type of quick dry gear.
Hats are helpful.
Kudos to detergent pods- worked well for us.
Choose comfy footwear- I am a proponent of good sneakers, the pavement is very hot. None of our group had any foot issues. Be practical and don't worry about being fashionable. Saw many fashionistas hobbling around with sore feet by midday.
Drink lots of H2O. Kept checking my kids for nice clear light yellow urine (my younger 2). I know this sounds gross but it is a good way to make sure they are drinking enough.
Get up early and get to the parks.
Stay CL -it is so worth the extra $$

Well on the drive back I think I found our next family adventure, white water rafting the New Gorge River in West Virginia. We stopped there for lunch break on our drive to see the western hemisphere's largest arch bridge. The rafters looked like they were having a blast and no ECVs to run up your ankle or over your kids.

For those still planning-have a great trip and enjoy! I would be happy to answer questions. Will post room pictures.

Thanks for the great report! Which lines app did ypo use?

 

[BringingUpDisney]

Can't.hardly.wait! We'll be arriving at BC on Wednesday. I'm so looking forward to this trip. Even DH told me tonight, he's burned out and can't wait to log out. This is HUGE from my hubby. He is computer programmer and logged in 24/7. Anything with "connectivity" is being locked away!

Have a fantastic "unconnected" trip!!!

 

[Simba's Girl]

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

I was really disappointed in the BC after reading all the great and informative posts in this thread. The staff at the BC should all be forced to go through the entire training process again, as the level of incompetence was almost comical.

Our KTTW card worked, then it didn't work. Walked all the way to Epcot to find out the tickets were not linked to the card. Had to go back to the check-in desk get new cards, went back to Epcot finally got through the Gateway only to find out that the cards would not give out Fastpasses at any ride.

After a long conversation on the phone with the Check-In desk did they finally send someone to meet our family to give new cards that finally worked! I liked SAB and the location proximity to Epcot and HS as well a Beaches and Cream, but compared to the staff and rooms at Contemp the BC does not hold a candle.

I will say after staying at Contemp,BC,Poly,Riverside and GF, I really think the Disney does cater more to the guests at the MK resorts.

So sorry about your troubles.

Can you elaborate on the MK resorts and catering to those guests more please?

 

[Aliceacc]

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

I was really disappointed in the BC after reading all the great and informative posts in this thread. The staff at the BC should all be forced to go through the entire training process again, as the level of incompetence was almost comical.

Our KTTW card worked, then it didn't work. Walked all the way to Epcot to find out the tickets were not linked to the card. Had to go back to the check-in desk get new cards, went back to Epcot finally got through the Gateway only to find out that the cards would not give out Fastpasses at any ride.

After a long conversation on the phone with the Check-In desk did they finally send someone to meet our family to give new cards that finally worked! I liked SAB and the location proximity to Epcot and HS as well a Beaches and Cream, but compared to the staff and rooms at Contemp the BC does not hold a candle.

I will say after staying at Contemp,BC,Poly,Riverside and GF, I really think the Disney does cater more to the guests at the MK resorts.

I'm so sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.

I've got to say, though, that the BC has my eternal gratitude for their help last year. On the day before we were due to leave, my husband ended up in the ER. They were seriously considering admitting him (and in fact he spent 5 days in the hospital when we got back home.) but they released him that evening. And the BC CMs couldn't have been any more helpful!!! They did absolutely everything possible to make things easier on him and on us. I can't think of a single thing that they could have done, but didn't offer to do without a request from us.

We never had bad service at the Poly-- the CMs there were a delight. But when the chips were down last August, the BC CMs came through for my family, and really salvaged the end of our vacation.

 

[natebenma]

page 147-151

Had to LOL when I read this. Ocalla, we live in northwest LA and are going to WDW June 27th and I've been jokingly saying I'm keeping fingers crossed for a cool front We aren't EMH people normally but we may need to this trip.

Have I welcomed you to the thread? If not,

Is your stay at BC/YC/BCV or elsewhere?

Just to sum it all up...

*snip*

For those still planning-have a great trip and enjoy! I would be happy to answer questions. Will post room pictures.

Thanks for all of the great live reports, the wrap-up posts and tips!!!

Yayyyyyy! With all you do for us on the BEST DIS board thread, it's about time!

So wish I could see you...though I did meet 'Flat Dee' at the first DIS Meet!!

Kerry

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

That is so sweet!!! Thank you, and all of the others, who helped to share in my one-month-milestone excitement.

I would love to meet you for real, too! Flat Dee is okay, but she is really one-dimensional. I have a lot more personality!

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

I was really disappointed in the BC after reading all the great and informative posts in this thread. The staff at the BC should all be forced to go through the entire training process again, as the level of incompetence was almost comical.

Our KTTW card worked, then it didn't work. Walked all the way to Epcot to find out the tickets were not linked to the card. Had to go back to the check-in desk get new cards, went back to Epcot finally got through the Gateway only to find out that the cards would not give out Fastpasses at any ride.

After a long conversation on the phone with the Check-In desk did they finally send someone to meet our family to give new cards that finally worked! I liked SAB and the location proximity to Epcot and HS as well a Beaches and Cream, but compared to the staff and rooms at Contemp the BC does not hold a candle.

I will say after staying at Contemp,BC,Poly,Riverside and GF, I really think the Disney does cater more to the guests at the MK resorts.

So sorry to hear about the issues you had with your stay. There is absolutely no excuse for the systems issues that a company as large as Disney continues to exhibit!

 

[ella6599]

Thanks for the great report! Which lines app did ypo use?

I know I'm not who you're asking- but I'd guess they probably used Lines from touringplans.com We used it last time for our spring break trip, and it was the smoothest trip we've ever had! We recommend it to anyone that we hear is going to Disney, and will be using it again in August!

 

[HBGdancermom]

Thanks for the pic. It made me smile

Me too!!

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

I was really disappointed in the BC after reading all the great and informative posts in this thread. The staff at the BC should all be forced to go through the entire training process again, as the level of incompetence was almost comical.

Our KTTW card worked, then it didn't work. Walked all the way to Epcot to find out the tickets were not linked to the card. Had to go back to the check-in desk get new cards, went back to Epcot finally got through the Gateway only to find out that the cards would not give out Fastpasses at any ride.

After a long conversation on the phone with the Check-In desk did they finally send someone to meet our family to give new cards that finally worked! I liked SAB and the location proximity to Epcot and HS as well a Beaches and Cream, but compared to the staff and rooms at Contemp the BC does not hold a candle.

I will say after staying at Contemp,BC,Poly,Riverside and GF, I really think the Disney does cater more to the guests at the MK resorts.

I am so sorry about your bad experience on vacation. I can guarantee we would have been none to happy to get to a park and have the keys not work.

Do you feel like this was a problem specifically related to BC and their CMs? Do you feel it would have been handled differently at Contemp? I know there were lots of computer issues in general the past few weeks. I am glad they sent someone to Epcot to fix everything for you. I have heard so many wonderful reviews about BC it just surprises me.

I am also curious why you feel like the monerail resorts cater more to the guests as well. Thanks!

I'm so sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.

I've got to say, though, that the BC has my eternal gratitude for their help last year. On the day before we were due to leave, my husband ended up in the ER. They were seriously considering admitting him (and in fact he spent 5 days in the hospital when we got back home.) but they released him that evening. And the BC CMs couldn't have been any more helpful!!! They did absolutely everything possible to make things easier on him and on us. I can't think of a single thing that they could have done, but didn't offer to do without a request from us.

We never had bad service at the Poly-- the CMs there were a delight. But when the chips were down last August, the BC CMs came through for my family, and really salvaged the end of our vacation.

Wow that is great! Glad it all worked out!

 

[MickeyT]

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

.

Hate you had a bad stay. I've had this same problem at the BC. And SSR. And CR. No fun when your tickets/keys don't work. And really hate your issue wasn't resolved quickly.

Hope your next trip is magical.......

 

[MickeyT]

 

[Wood Nymph]

Just returned today from split stay 6/10-16 at Contemp and BC.

First I will NEVER do a split stay again!! As the new computer software really fouled things up!

I was really disappointed in the BC after reading all the great and informative posts in this thread. The staff at the BC should all be forced to go through the entire training process again, as the level of incompetence was almost comical.

Our KTTW card worked, then it didn't work. Walked all the way to Epcot to find out the tickets were not linked to the card. Had to go back to the check-in desk get new cards, went back to Epcot finally got through the Gateway only to find out that the cards would not give out Fastpasses at any ride.

After a long conversation on the phone with the Check-In desk did they finally send someone to meet our family to give new cards that finally worked! I liked SAB and the location proximity to Epcot and HS as well a Beaches and Cream, but compared to the staff and rooms at Contemp the BC does not hold a candle.

I will say after staying at Contemp,BC,Poly,Riverside and GF, I really think the Disney does cater more to the guests at the MK resorts.

I'm sorry to hear that you had so much trouble with your KTTW card. FWIW, my daughter had similar problems with her card when we stayed at the WL in February.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

As someone who ALWAYS wears flips; I have the Sanuk and they are TERRIBLE once wet... a soapy material seeps and squishes out and all of the cushioning is gone. Of course this happened while walking around a theme park one day But...I did buy a second pair to wear only on sunny days I couldn't recommend them for the parks, though.

That's good to know because I have been thinking of getting a pair of those. I'm a huge fan of the Nike flip flops and have numerous pairs of those.

 

[ocalla]

KTTW cards are having so much trouble at all the resorts!! I have read more trip reports that have similar issues with them.

so sorry this happened to you.

I have also been reading several reports of Monorail issues??? Anyone here have problems with that?

Mike: Thanks for the "back side" pic I bet if you zoom in, there are not many smiles on the folks sitting there waiting for DME.

Dee: While in Nola this past weekend, I saw a nice couple wearing Mickey shirts. of course DH asked her about Disney and told her how crazy we were about it. She said the they ALWAYS split there time between "the other Park" and Disney!! She has stayed at all the "other" resorts, and has a hard time picking her fav between Portifino and Hard Rock!! I can't wait to read your reports!!!

 

[Willows909]

Are the BC GV rooms located throughout the BC? Just trying to figure out a request... I am staying on resort, no parks this time. And would like to spend most of our time at the pool/pools. Thoughts as to what we should request? Thanks!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Are the BC GV rooms located throughout the BC? Just trying to figure out a request... I am staying on resort, no parks this time. And would like to spend most of our time at the pool/pools. Thoughts as to what we should request? Thanks!

If you look at the map of the BC/YC resorts, you will see that the BC is built in such a way that almost all the rooms on the side of the resort that faces Crescent Lake would be classified lagoon/water view. Some of the rooms in this section would be classified as garden view, but I'm not sure which ones. Most of the garden view rooms would be along the side of the resort that is closest to Epcot and that little section of the resort that has rooms overlooking the courtyard area between the BC and BCV. We had a garden view room on our last trip and it was right above the exit door by the Marketplace, the door where people exit if they want to sit at the tables or if they want to walk to the BCV's from the BC. It was nice to people watch, although my favorite views are of the woods between BC and Epcot. The rest of the rooms on the parking lot side would mostly be standard view. I'm sure that there are some odd exceptions, too.

 

[PittPantherfan]

Thanks for the great report! Which lines app did ypo use?

We used Lines from touringplans.com related to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

 

[Willows909]

So...looking at the map to the right would be going towards Epcot? Are we talking near the quiet pool (although not facing it) ? For some reason this GV thing is a bit confusing... Thinking of just requesting a full balcony and letting the reservation fall where it may

 

[Wood Nymph]

So...looking at the map to the right would be going towards Epcot? Are we talking near the quiet pool (although not facing it) ? For some reason this GV thing is a bit confusing... Thinking of just requesting a full balcony and letting the reservation fall where it may

Yes, going to the right is Epcot. I would put the full balcony as the number one request. We have gotten free upgrades to a water view room about 50% of the time.

 

[Willows909]

Wood Nymph...That's what I will do! Not hoping for up grade to water view in July...thinking that won't happen...but nice surprise if it did! Thankyou for your help...I love this forum!

 

[MickeyT]

We used Lines from touringplans.com related to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

PittPantherfan-

Thank you so much for your detailed report. We are such kindred spirits. And this coming from a SCClemsonfan! I read your report to my wife (who all but refuses to touch a computer) and the whole time she was saying "That's us"! "That's us"!...... (Except for that having kids thingy )

Just shows how Disney can bring folks from different parts of the country, heck the world for that matter (right SueM ) together.

Once again, thank you!

 

[catho72]

Happy Monday everyone!


We arrive in 26 days! Not that I'm counting or anything.....

Who wants to take my almost 14-year-old and me swimsuit shopping? Anyone, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

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