(CLOSED) The Smoking DSA's @ Resorts Info Thread

[AggieTexan]

I currently have a reservation at BWV for 4 nights next June. Looking at the maps, that seems to be a very smoker friendly resort. However, I'm drawn to the WL or the VWL, even though access to the DSAs looks "sparse" on the map. I definitely don't want to end up miles from a DSA, especially because I'm an early riser and that's where I like to sit with my coffee to wake up!

What can you tell me about the DSAs at the WL/VWL? Are there only the three that are shown on the map? If we switch, we'll be staying in a courtyard view in the Lodge, or a studio in the villas. The property seems quite a bit smaller...is it easy to get around?

 

[jamstew]

I currently have a reservation at BWV for 4 nights next June. Looking at the maps, that seems to be a very smoker friendly resort. However, I'm drawn to the WL or the VWL, even though access to the DSAs looks "sparse" on the map. I definitely don't want to end up miles from a DSA, especially because I'm an early riser and that's where I like to sit with my coffee to wake up!

What can you tell me about the DSAs at the WL/VWL? Are there only the three that are shown on the map? If we switch, we'll be staying in a courtyard view in the Lodge, or a studio in the villas. The property seems quite a bit smaller...is it easy to get around?

There are two at WL--one next to the pool bar next to the arcade. The one by the arcade is also convenient to VWL and is the one I tend to use the most. The other one at VWL is just outside the door to the Villa pool. The one next to the arcade and outside the villas have benches and are covered. The one by the pool bar has tables, I think with umbrellas but I'm not 100% sure of that. Both WL and VWL are very easy to get around.

 

[goopysolelady]

I currently have a reservation at BWV for 4 nights next June. Looking at the maps, that seems to be a very smoker friendly resort. However, I'm drawn to the WL or the VWL, even though access to the DSAs looks "sparse" on the map. I definitely don't want to end up miles from a DSA, especially because I'm an early riser and that's where I like to sit with my coffee to wake up!

What can you tell me about the DSAs at the WL/VWL? Are there only the three that are shown on the map? If we switch, we'll be staying in a courtyard view in the Lodge, or a studio in the villas. The property seems quite a bit smaller...is it easy to get around?

Fellow Texan ... just returned from BWV and will be posting photos of the DSA's in the near future...am currently downloading but had over 1000 photos and it's taking me a few days to get this done! Found BWV pretty "smoker friendly" but the resort is so vast I never really got "my directions"! We were fortunate in our room location ... there were 3 areas that were easy to get to.
Stayed at WL/VWL last year and really liked our location there. We were in a studio and I requested a villa close to a DSA. Our villa was on the ground floor; 1st entrance on the left exiting the main lodge past the arcade. Not only were we close to that "much used" location (met LOTS of nice people there!) but we were also a short walk to the lobby and the DSA close to the quiet pool. The walk to the one by the pool was a pretty long one but we used that when we returned from the MK. IMO it would all depend on the location of your villa. Main Lodge access would be a little more of a "problem" as you would have to use the elevator and some of those rooms are located a "good walk" away from the elevator close to the arcade. The location by the quiet pool is excellent for a quiet morning coffee and smoke. Will try to post BWV photos tomorrow for you and will check if I have photos of DSA's from WL.

 

[AggieTexan]

Thanks! The one by the quiet pool doesn't show on the map, so it's good to know it's there.

I seem to be making choosing a resort into one of life's major decisions...probably either one would be fine! On the one hand, I like the Epcot area, but I'm hesitant because the Boardwalk is SOOOO big & spread out. On the other hand, VWL/WL really appeals to me, but do I want to give up being able to walk to 2 parks? Then I add in the DSA quandry, and I'm just driving myself crazy!

 

[goopysolelady]

Thanks! The one by the quiet pool doesn't show on the map, so it's good to know it's there.

I seem to be making choosing a resort into one of life's major decisions...probably either one would be fine! On the one hand, I like the Epcot area, but I'm hesitant because the Boardwalk is SOOOO big & spread out. On the other hand, VWL/WL really appeals to me, but do I want to give up being able to walk to 2 parks? Then I add in the DSA quandry, and I'm just driving myself crazy!

I'm the same way and don't know/can't tell you what to decide! Love both resorts but I guess I'd have to put WL a step over Boardwalk simply because of the size and it's a little more "compact". Bus service from WL was OK...most I had to wait was probably 20 min. so time wise to get to HS would be close to the same if you took the boat from BWV. Getting to EPCOT would be a little longer than walking. You'd take the boat to CR or MK then monorail to EPCOT.
If you look at the map of BWV, our room (#5056) was located to the left of the entrance (grey area) in the salmon (?) colored area looking down on the pool(dark blue)/Leaping Horse Libations(grey) area. We were on the 5th floor. The following DSA was to the left of exiting the building (between the red/med. blue buildings). This was a nice, quiet, out of the way area. I didn't feel comfortable using this area late at night (really felt "deserted) but did during early morning and twilight.

This is the view from the bench:

This DSA is past the pool area looking over the walkway/water area to HS:

This is the DSA located at the back of the Lobby area looking out toward the Boardwalk area. I used this area at night time and on the way back from Boardwalk Bakery (morning coffee!!!). While it's also a little isolated there is an entrance to the Inn/Villas just to the right (of the bench) so it does have people coming/going most of the time. Felt comfortable here day or night and it's covered!

View looking toward Boardwalk:

Thought this was a neat view taken from the bench:

This is the view from the DSA (arcade area) outside WL:

This is taken from the bus stop. This DSA is on the right of this photo behind the trees.

This is the pathway to the above DSA (from the quiet pool area)...it would be to the right (up the steps) and to the "quiet pool" DSA.

View from the quiet pool DSA:

This is the only photo I have of that DSA. Looking at the photo the DSA area is on the left behind the trees. It's to the left of the entrance to the gym and to the right exiting the building from the lobby area:

I apparently don't have a picture of the actual DSA by the bar/pool area but I do have photos of the views! This one is looking over the main pool:

View behind the DSA:

DD may kill me for posting this but I'm sitting at one of the tables when I took this.

My favorite ... taken at sunrise. I'd get my coffee before relaxing at this DSA before starting the day:

Hope these help you decide. If you ever find yourself wanting to "get out of Houston" to the country, head west to our area, PM me that you're coming and I'll send you directions to our small town. I'd be glad to show you any other info I have on both these resorts.

 

[smidgy]

GREAT pictures, goopy!!!! thanks!!!!

we stayed at boardwalk villas, and since we were on the first floor, the DSAs were easy to get to! it can be a long walk to the elevators. (there are cement stairwells, near the dsas, and we would have used them opposed to the elevator if we were on the 2nd floor.. maybe the 3rd)

when we stayed at WL, we could still smoke in the room, so I have no experinece with that.

that being said... we have stayed at dolphin 2X BWV once and BCV once, and we LOVE the Epcot resorts!!!
we took the boat to HS (long walk), but it is SO nice to walk to epcot!!!! we wateched illum. from the bridge between UK and france, and instead of joining the "throng" rushing for the bus sstops, we quietly strolled back to the dolphin, stopping at the swan for a beer and karaokee! hubby was up crooning at the same time we would have still been on a bus!

you can walk over tot he beach and watch the dive in movie at beach club. on a nonpark night, the bridge between BW and BC is a GREAT place to watch illum!!!

despite the $10 cover charge, we LOVED the dueling pianos at Jelly Rolls!!!

in july we were at BCV. we ate lunch in france, and couldn't finish our ham and cheese sandwiches (not if we wanted to eat the dessert!). we decided.. "hey! let's just walk back to the room, put them in the fridge for tomorrow, and take a little nap!" how cool is that?

 

[AggieTexan]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for posting those. Now I have something else to obsess over!

 

[goopysolelady]

GREAT pictures, goopy!!!! thanks!!!!

we stayed at boardwalk villas, and since we were on the first floor, the DSAs were easy to get to! it can be a long walk to the elevators. (there are cement stairwells, near the dsas, and we would have used them opposed to the elevator if we were on the 2nd floor.. maybe the 3rd)

when we stayed at WL, we could still smoke in the room, so I have no experinece with that.

that being said... we have stayed at dolphin 2X BWV once and BCV once, and we LOVE the Epcot resorts!!!
we took the boat to HS (long walk), but it is SO nice to walk to epcot!!!! we wateched illum. from the bridge between UK and france, and instead of joining the "throng" rushing for the bus sstops, we quietly strolled back to the dolphin, stopping at the swan for a beer and karaokee! hubby was up crooning at the same time we would have still been on a bus!

you can walk over tot he beach and watch the dive in movie at beach club. on a nonpark night, the bridge between BW and BC is a GREAT place to watch illum!!!

despite the $10 cover charge, we LOVED the dueling pianos at Jelly Rolls!!!

in july we were at BCV. we ate lunch in france, and couldn't finish our ham and cheese sandwiches (not if we wanted to eat the dessert!). we decided.. "hey! let's just walk back to the room, put them in the fridge for tomorrow, and take a little nap!" how cool is that?

Lucky you ... ground floor! DD won't stay on the ground floor...she's afraid her little "hoodlum" will try to escape and go to the parks herself! Looking forward to staying at EPCOT resorts when DGD's are a little older. They are 8 & 4 now so MK is still their favorite park but won't be long before they're ready to concentrate on EPCOT and HS. Both are daredevils and love the fast rides ... 4 yr. old was obsessed with Test Track this year!

 

[goopysolelady]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for posting those. Now I have something else to obsess over!

That's part of the FUN of a Disney trip! Let me know if I can answer anymore questions for you.

 

[MouseKrazy]

So, here's a question!! Which resort is easier/better to get to a DSA - ASMusic or ASMovies? It seems that the DSAs are few and far inbetween, based on the map.

 

[2Tiggies]

So, here's a question!! Which resort is easier/better to get to a DSA - ASMusic or ASMovies? It seems that the DSAs are few and far inbetween, based on the map.

Music only has 3 DSA. One outside the main building, one outside Jazz near the piano pool and one way at the back behind Country Fair. If you go for regular breaks as the resort, ASMo has more DSA's. I can't remember how many but certainly easier to get to one unless you happen to get a room right near the DSA at Music. We did but it was just the way it worked out. I hadn't actually asked for a specific building but it was just as well - I never knew there were only the 3 for the rather spread out resort.

 

[smidgy]

actually, musci has 4, even though only 3 are on the map. there is one on the end of the Broadway section, inside the little fenced in "park" area.
we found it when "exploring" the resort in dec 2007, ashtray and all!
we were back there this July, thought sure it would be gone, but there it was!.

 

[marlaine]

Just got home last night from a 6 day trip. We stayed Poly Club Level.
It's just not easy to be a smoker at WDW! The Poly had a few really nicely placed smoking areas. I used the one by the quiet pool mostly. The ones by the Great Ceremonial House, Captain Cook's and by the volcano pool are nice too.
I found the smoking areas in the parks to be challenging! Every time I saw one, I stopped to have at least a 1/2 a cigarette, just because I didn't know how long it would be before I found the next one! Epcot was the easiest park for me. The DSAs were pretty close together. MK was the hardest for me. They're hard to find.

 

[2Tiggies]

actually, musci has 4, even though only 3 are on the map. there is one on the end of the Broadway section, inside the little fenced in "park" area.
we found it when "exploring" the resort in dec 2007, ashtray and all!
we were back there this July, thought sure it would be gone, but there it was!.

Oh wow, that shows how well we explored the resort We were there for 16 nights too so I have no excuse. Thanks for that.

 

[krissy2803]

Hi there!
I am looking for info on the DSA's (or lack of) at the Swan. I can't find what I am looking for. Every map I come across does not have any DSA's on them.

 

[nancyjvanwyk]

Just got home last night from a 6 day trip. We stayed Poly Club Level.
It's just not easy to be a smoker at WDW! The Poly had a few really nicely placed smoking areas. I used the one by the quiet pool mostly. The ones by the Great Ceremonial House, Captain Cook's and by the volcano pool are nice too.
I found the smoking areas in the parks to be challenging! Every time I saw one, I stopped to have at least a 1/2 a cigarette, just because I didn't know how long it would be before I found the next one! Epcot was the easiest park for me. The DSAs were pretty close together. MK was the hardest for me. They're hard to find.

I always have trouble finding the ones in Epcot. Seems they change them all of the time. Since you are just home---and I am soon leaving, can you update some of the dsa in Epcot? thank you!!

 

[efuihfjqfw]

How does it work at the pools? Is there a seperate area near the pool where people smoke? Or is smoking allowed in the pool area in general?

 

[englishrose47]

I know at Pop they have a few smoking tables near Petals bar !! The rest of the pool area is non smoking !!

 

[smidgy]

almost every pool I can think of has a DSA "near" it. the closest would be the tables by the petals bar at pop century. most are a bit further away.. oh! exectp the beach club villas pool. that has the BEST dsa ever! really pretty, benches, tables, shade, overlooking a canal, and you can see the pool, too!

 

[maryj11]

Where do we request a room to be as close as possible to a DSA at Pop Century. Ground floor is my first choice then what building and should I book preferred or standard for the closest DSA ? Is frustrating when you have to walk a mile and go up and down stairs to smoke LOL. Anyone know of any room numbers they have had close to a DSA at Pop ? Thanks for any info