We are just back from a quick 4 night trip, from December 20-24. Overall, we had a fun time, and packed so much into our 3 1/2 park days. We stayed at the Beach Club for the first time, and our reservation was for a standard room. We loved this location, and walked many times to and from Epcot, and once to and from Hollywood Studios. Using the International Gateway is amazing, and is such a more relaxed feel from the main entrance.
I wanted to share a bit about a standard room, and 2 different locations that we had.
While we were still at the airport in the morning before our flight, I got a text that our room, 3722, was ready. My only request had been for a full balcony. We had 5 people on our reservation originally, but at the last minute our 2 older kids opted to not go, so it ended up just being 3 of us. I was able to find a picture of our room view, and it was not good. While this room had a balcony, you really wouldn't want to sit on it because you were essentially on the roof. So, I called the number provided, and just asked if there was anything with less of a roof view. I also mentioned that we could either do a King or 2 Queen room, since we were now a party of 3. We would also go without a balcony, and wouldn't be arriving until late afternoon. The person I spoke with was not only not helpful at all (her response was "Well you DID book a roof or parking lot view"), her attitude really put me off. She said that there wasn't anything better as a standard room. We agreed to just live with it, as we wouldn't be in our room a ton.
The location of 3722 is generally good, once you find the staircase located by Cape May, but what was vastly the worst part was that you could hear the noise from the bus stop out front constantly. Because the parks were open late and also very early, it was crazy annoying. We even brought our own fan, and we could still hear that loud bus brake noise.
In the morning, I went downstairs at about 8 a.m. and asked if there was anything else available that was quieter. The hotel didn't feel full at all, and sure enough, a much better room was available immediately, and we moved our things to room 3681, which was also a standard room with a full balcony and 2 queens and a daybed. This room was great! Nice view, above Cape May with a staircase right around the corner. Very quiet, except during the afternoon when the pool party was going on, but we thought that was fun.
I have no idea why they put us in that first room and wouldn't move us when this much nicer one was available in the same category. A huge miss on their part, because it really turned us off from staying there again.
Service was below average. Our room was not cleaned at all. The first full day they came so late that we were getting ready to head out to dinner so we just grabbed fresh towels from them. The second day they never came at all, but we just let it go because we were leaving in the morning. Our safe malfunctioned one day, and it took close to an hour for a manager to come to fix it, which is so frustrating to just sit and wait for them.
I get it that it's a busy time of year, but after paying premium holiday prices to stay there, we expected better. We are not people with unrealistic expectations, and this certainly didn't ruin our trip by any means, but clearly they have some service issues there.
We were lucky to have some nice warm days, and that pool is great! Loved the sand bottom, and that it has shallow areas for little kids, but also deep areas.
I've included a couple pictures of 3722 first, and then 3681.
View attachment 211716 View attachment 211717
with full balcony
to the thread and posting on the DIS.
