BCV Tips and advice needed

[mwstar]

This will be our first time at BCV. For all of you who have been before, can you give some advice?

1. Have you rented the mouse boats from BC/YC? Where all can you go in them?

2. Stormalong Bay tips?

3. What not to miss at BC/YC?

4. Has anyone had their portrait done at BC?

5. What not to forget to bring from home?

Thank you for all the advice!!!

 

[gonzalj1]

I'll answer what I can...


1. Have you rented the mouse boats from BC/YC? Where all can you go in them?

Never have. Sorry.

2. Stormalong Bay tips?

Get there early or later in the day (dinner time) . A lot has been posted here about folks reserving lounge chairs with towels and leaving for what seems like hours. This is frowned upon by many but the CMs seem to be hit or miss in making sure folks are actually in the pool area.

Also, you have to do the water slide!!!

3. What not to miss at BC/YC?

Beaches and Cream. Literally the best cheeseburger I have ever had. Also, try and get to the Cape May Buffet for dinner if you're a seafood lover.

4. Has anyone had their portrait done at BC?

5. What not to forget to bring from home?

The usual, sunscreen etc.

 

[wdwstar]

1. Have you rented the mouse boats from BC/YC? Where all can you go in them?

you can drive the watermice to the swan/dophin , mgm and over by epcot, not under the bridge to epcot. they will give you safety lessons and rules , they will also show you the map where you can go and where you cannot go, there are safety boats out on the lagoon to help you if you need it.

2. Stormalong Bay tips?

bring a cooler with drinks and snacks, you can bring a clear intertube to ride the lazy river so you dont have to rent them, clear only.

3. What not to miss at BC/YC?

Beaches and Cream & yacthman steak house(everthing is ali cart, sharing is a great idea)

4. Has anyone had their portrait done at BC?


NO, but we have seen many portraits being done and they are wonderful, we even talked about having the our DDs done together, but never had time, i do know you have to make an appointment.

5. What not to forget to bring from home?


plastic ziplock bags, like the quart/gallon they always come in handy for something, cooler bag, plastic hanging shoe bag ( i hang it in the closet, everyone gets a row or 2, i put deo, tooth brushes/toothpast, makeup, hairbrushes/combs, hair products, hair ties, playing cards,snacks/candy, what ever else my family needs to bring,lol.lol......
i even have dh trained to put the car keys/wallet in his row when we get back at night, so he can find them or he cant forget them.

i dont like to have all that stuff piled on the bathroom counter, looks to mess for me, plus when someone says where is this or where is that i can just say the shoe bag instead of me looking for what they need .

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

3. What not to miss at BC/YC?

The walk/run around Crescent Lake is great. It is about 8/10 of a mile and you get a chnace to check out the Boardwalk area too.

HBC

 

[mwstar]

I'm glad to hear you can take the boats over by MGM. Is is worth it?

 

[goofy4dvc]

If you have a car, the best place to rent watermice is at WL or Contemporary. You can cruise faster and further on the two lakes - Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. The lake at BW/BC is just too small to really take advantage of the watermice.

If you're planning to do several loads of laundry, you might bring some extra laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets. I bring envelopes addressed to housekeeping to leave tips in. I bring extra hangers because there are never enough for all our shirts/tops, etc.

 

[SSRex]

1) I agree that renting the watermice (new Searaycers) at Magic Kingdom resort offers more room to roam, but do you know the current minimum ages & rules. I have read conflicting information on whether a 14 year old can now drive them alone. They already did when they were 12, but someone said the rules had changed. Then Vacation Magic said 12 years old again, so what gives? does anyone know if there are 2 sets of rules depending on which lake/resort you are renting them from? Please advise.

2) We did the tip envelopes for housekeeping when we stayed at a FT. wilderness Cabin, but I thought I had read that DVC villas did not take housekeeping tips and even if they do, we'll get one Trash and Towel on day 4 of 5, so that does not seem like much.
Does anyone else either tip or not tip for Trash & Towel service?

 

[helenabear]

Originally posted by mwstar
I'm glad to hear you can take the boats over by MGM. Is is worth it?

I have done both at YC/BC and the MK area... and truthfully, no it isn't worth it to me to take the boats out there. It isn't bad, but it is sooooo much more fun doing the boats at Bay Lake/7 Seas Lagoon. It was worth it to me this time since I was able to get a friend out and hopefully hooked on them though... she says she can't wait until December to do them at MK However if you are a little more leary of taking a boat out, YC/BC is a good starting point... tons less "traffic" on that waterway.

 

[skelooch]

mwstar,

I've stayed at BCV 7 times so far, 8th coming up in Nov.

1.If you really want to rent the watermice, do it at WL. The boats are very slow at BC, and you can't go very far.

2.There's just nothing bad to say about SAB, I've never been there when it's crowded though,such as the summer.

3.Yachtsman's Steakhouse.

4.My DDIL had my Granddaughters portraits done there. I'm not sure how many artists there are but the one that did theirs was very good. My DIL gave here a photo to work from when we arrived and she worked on it for several days, it was neat to stop by when she was working on it to see the progress. She finished it about 1:30am the day we were leaving. Turned out great , it's hanging in their living room. Cost was $300. That's for one Portrait.

5.Money, We also bring one of those soft coolers and pack drinks and snacks for the parks works out great and can save you some of the first item. If your going to have a car (and I highly recommend it), you can pick up everything you'll need at Publix.

 

[mwstar]

Thank you for all the wonderful tips. Can't wait!