Decorating BWV Balcony?

[VLee]

We will be there Octo 5 -12 and have a Boardwalk View 1 BR.

What is the size of our balcony and can we decorate it with lights while there?

 

[mom2of2]

if you want to decorate it with lights go ahead. A string of 100 ought to do it

 

[Debi]

Hello!

In order to get further replies to your question, I'm moving this to the DVC Planning board.

Happy planning!

 

[keishashadow]

just wondering why you'd want to?...already lots of neon on the BW

Seriously, know many enjoy this practice; i worry about malfunctioning electrical cords, fire...even bugs crawling in a crack of slider where a cord might be run thru to the room. doesn't take much for them to get a foothold in FL

There was a thread some time ago (halloween or Xmas time) as to the actual rules & regs prohibiting the practice; might want to do a search.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[crisi]

just wondering why you'd want to?...already lots of neon on the BW

Seriously, know many enjoy this practice; i worry about malfunctioning electrical cords, fire...even bugs crawling in a crack of slider where a cord might be run thru to the room. doesn't take much for them to get a foothold in FL

There was a thread some time ago (halloween or Xmas time) as to the actual rules & regs prohibiting the practice; might want to do a search.

Enjoy your trip!

I don't worry about that, but I don't like it. I like looking at what the Imagineers designed, not people deciding to drape their balconies with tacky lights shaped like martini glasses.

 

[drusba]

Rules and regulations in the official documents that you receive when you purchase prohibit putting decorations, hanging towels, putting up temporary fixtures, etc., to any balconies. Those are in the rules both for appearance and safety's sake. The balconies are fairly small.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The only DVC resort I have ever seen much decorating at is OKW, and then only at Christmas holiday time. That is a bit different though. OKW has a community feel to it, while the Boardwalk is an "attraction" all by itself. I don't think you would be allowed to do that at BWV.

 

[beachblanket]

Per drusba, DVC policies prohibit doing what you describe.

Even if they didn't, per keishashadow's points, there are no outlets on the balcony and running an extension cord through an open door is not only unsafe, it is not going to work well in early October when you still need AC.

I can't recall if the balconies have an exterior light fixture. If they do, you conceivably could get power out there by using a socket adapter (below) screwed into the bulb socket:

All that stated, again, you can't put up decorations of any sort on the balcony. And for good reason (which crisi touched on): decorations (including light strings) on balconies are tacky and potentially intrusive to those around you.

As example, we're going to be in a Boardwalk view villa next February. One of the greatest delights of that will be is sitting out on our darkened balconies at night, watching the nightlife, Illuminations etc. I would be really annoyed if the party in the villa next to, above or below me spoiled that by throwing a bunch of light onto my space - in fact, if they did, I'd be on the phone to front desk faster than you can say "shut 'em off now."

 

[VLee]

To all who so graciously responded..thanks.

But it was a simple question, so a simple yes or no or pointing to the regs would have sufficed. I don't care about your opinions on your views of tacky, etc. Your other comments are your opinions.

 

[Inkmahm]

To all who so graciously responded..thanks.

But it was a simple question, so a simple yes or no or pointing to the regs would have sufficed. I don't care about your opinions on your views of tacky, etc. Your other comments are your opinions.

There were several balconies decorated at BWV when we were there last December. Some of the trees that are donated to the share program (another thread here on the DIS) also come with lights in the box to decorate your balcony. We didn't do it last year because there was no outlet. But others must have figured out a way because there definitely WERE Christmas lights on the balconies.

 

[beachblanket]

There were several balconies decorated at BWV when we were there last December. Some of the trees that are donated to the share program (another thread here on the DIS) also come with lights in the box to decorate your balcony. We didn't do it last year because there was no outlet. But others must have figured out a way because there definitely WERE Christmas lights on the balconies.

So the mystery deepens. Disney ignores published policy during the holidays? Is that only during Christmas, or do they also overlook the rules and allow illuminated plastic Easter bunnies? How about flashing Leprechauns? Do they also allow animated piñatas on Cinco de Mayo?

Whatever. As for how the Christmas balcony lights/trees were done, given the lack of an exterior outlet (the fact Disney intentionally didn't put ones there should be telling us all something), the "Mickey Mouse" approach would be to run an extension cord through the door, requiring the latter to be at a minimum kept slightly open, which must make the villa feel real cozy on a cold December night Those less technologically challenged (you know, guests whose party includes someone who is "handy") probably employed the existing outdoor balcony light as a power source, employing the sort of hardware I showed a picture of in my earlier post.

 

[Inkmahm]

So the mystery deepens. Disney ignores published policy during the holidays? Is that only during Christmas, or do they also overlook the rules and allow illuminated plastic Easter bunnies? How about flashing Leprechauns? Do they also allow animated piñatas on Cinco de Mayo?

Can't tell you about any of the other holidays because I've only been at BWV for Christmas. If I had to guess, there are probably people who decorate for Halloween, too.

Here's the thread for the Christmas trees and "other" decorations for the room/balcony:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1504281

 

[dianeschlicht]

There definitely ARE outlets on the OKW balconys, so maybe that is why we see more lights there during the holidays. Last time, I called the resort directly and asked if it was okay to put lights on the OKW balcony, and they said yes.

 

[bobbiwoz]

People at BWV did have lit pumpkins on their balconies last October. They sell them in the Screen Door.

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

Disney policy is no, however for the guests who are there are on the actual date of a holiday, then sometimes they allow it.

If in doubt call and ask they will tell you policy.

 

[mjy]

To all who so graciously responded..thanks.

But it was a simple question, so a simple yes or no or pointing to the regs would have sufficed. I don't care about your opinions on your views of tacky, etc. Your other comments are your opinions.

I don't think I've ever seen a simple yes or no to any question on these boards. We are all so Disney crazy that you will get lots of opinions and, somewhere between the opinions, will be the yes, no, or maybe.

 

[MissMet]

I was there last Dec too & did see a lot of balconies decorated at most of the resorts & I thought it was adorable! I stayed at OKW, they had a lot of decorated balconies, but on my visit to the BW I saw quite a bit as well.

FW is the best for Christmas decorations. I like to rent a golf cart to see them all. Not only at the camp sites & trailer hookups but also the cabins.

I doubt you'll have an issue with decorating. The people who make those rules are the high ups in the offices who never visit the resorts. No one at the resort will tell you not to decorate, although they may state the official statement if you ask, but no one will tell you to take them down, unless they're offensive or maybe shinning into your neighbor's room.

There were several balconies decorated at BWV when we were there last December. Some of the trees that are donated to the share program (another thread here on the DIS) also come with lights in the box to decorate your balcony. We didn't do it last year because there was no outlet. But others must have figured out a way because there definitely WERE Christmas lights on the balconies.