Resort Thread Disney's YACHT & BEACH CLUB Resorts

[natebenma]

So I came on here with an on-the-spot report from a friend who informed me that yesterday was the last day of the Hurricane Hanna's breakfast.

It was previously reported that it would run until Aug 14, so just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who was planning on it.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

So, I've never been one to believe in online check-in, because (call me crazy), I kind of like the check-in experience. When you get a good CM checking you in, you sometimes have a delightful conversation. But I did want to see what the online choices were for us at YC and Poly, and this is what I saw....

View attachment 185913


I made room requests through my travel agent, so I assume that's why they have my room location requests on file, but the pin? The account charges?
I mean my TA has my CC info...but has that already been forwarded to Disney?

I would go to front desk and check regarding your pin. I did online checkin and like you it said my pin was on file. I assumed it had kept last years pin. Well you know what they say about making assumptions!! We headed to France for snacks ( sure what else would you do when it's so very close ). Tried to pay with my band and it didn't recognize my pin. Luckily I had cash with me but I was annoyed as if wanted to use a QS credit ( free dining included with our package). I would confirm it at the resort before attempting to pay with your magicband

 

[Regan117]

The 2 bedroom villa will give you a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, two separate bathrooms, a living room area where everyone can relax, a master bedroom with a king bed, and a lot of room to move around.

The Club level suite won't be on the same floor as the club lounge, which might make it inconvenient to use the lounge if you have to trudge up there with three young kids. And it is a lot of extra cash. I love 2 bedroom villas. A lot of people love club level. So it is really up to you and how you want to plan your vacation.

This was very helpful, thank you. I am not so worried about the cost - I honestly booked the villa because I think it would be a better fit for having the 3 little kids with us. But I do love club level as well. It's just hard not knowing as much about this resort. Thanks for all the feedback. It did help! I'm leaning towards the villa....

Question: The refurb is supposed to be complete by the time we go on Sept. 17? Did I read somewhere there are now 2 queen beds in the second bedroom of all of the 2-bedroom villas?

I haven't been able to find many photos of these rooms but the floor plan looks like there is a large living room, dining area, small kitchenette area, 2 queen beds, a king bed and 2 full bathrooms?

 

[Regan117]

I would go to front desk and check regarding your pin. I did online checkin and like you it said my pin was on file. I assumed it had kept last years pin. Well you know what they say about making assumptions!! We headed to France for snacks ( sure what else would you do when it's so very close ). Tried to pay with my band and it didn't recognize my pin. Luckily I had cash with me but I was annoyed as if wanted to use a QS credit ( free dining included with our package). I would confirm it at the resort before attempting to pay with your magicband

They keep your PIN from past trips. Mine has been the same on every trip since MagicBands have been introduced, but you can reset it online in your MDE account.

I also noticed in the online checkin they now have an option for "Connecting Rooms (Guaranteed)"...that's a nice feature that they are guaranteeing connecting rooms now. It's always tough traveling with our family of 5 (sometimes more) to WDW!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Question: The refurb is supposed to be complete by the time we go on Sept. 17? Did I read somewhere there are now 2 queen beds in the second bedroom of all of the 2-bedroom villas?

I also read somewhere that they were putting two queen beds in the dedicated 2 bedroom villas. But not all the 2 BR villas have a dedicated second bedroom. Many of them have the studio attached. We have stayed at the BCV's three times. Once we had a dedicated two bedroom villa, which means there is one entry door into the villa. And twice we have received the villas with the studio attached. The studio will have two entrances, one into the villa and one into the hallway. If you get one of those then you will get the sofa sleeper and one queen bed.

 

[Regan117]

I also read somewhere that they were putting two queen beds in the dedicated 2 bedroom villas. But not all the 2 BR villas have a dedicated second bedroom. Many of them have the studio attached. We have stayed at the BCV's three times. Once we had a dedicated two bedroom villa, which means there is one entry door into the villa. And twice we have received the villas with the studio attached. The studio will have two entrances, one into the villa and one into the hallway. If you get one of those then you will get the sofa sleeper and one queen bed.

Gotcha. Hmm...that might be a deal breaker for us. Good to know - thank you!

 

[dansdad]

I also noticed in the online checkin they now have an option for "Connecting Rooms (Guaranteed)"...that's a nice feature that they are guaranteeing connecting rooms now. It's always tough traveling with our family of 5 (sometimes more) to WDW!

They are not guaranteeing connecting rooms. They have always "said" they are guaranteed, but they definitely are not. I have had 2 trips that every bit of paperwork we had said guaranteed connecting rooms. We were also told when booking that because we had 2 adults and 5 kids under 12 that our connecting rooms were guaranteed. And the one trip when we arrived at POR we were in 2 different buildings. The other trip when we arrived at BC we were on different floors and on the opposite sides of the resort. The thing is there is no mechanism in place to block off connecting rooms when booking. So when it comes time to assign rooms it's a very good possibility there will be no more connecting rooms left for a party that wants/needs them.

I could NOT believe when I saw that "connecting rooms guaranteed" was an actual option during Online Check In. It was bad enough when just the Phone CMs were making that claim.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

They keep your PIN from past trips. Mine has been the same on every trip since MagicBands have been introduced, but you can reset it online in your MDE account.

I thought it should have been the same PIN number I'd used before but it didn't recognize it on that first trip to Les Halle's so I ended up paying oop and then resetting my pin. Next time I'll make sure I have cash to hand just in case

 

[MommaBerd]

Wouldn't we get mousekeeping in the villa with a cash reservation? I don't know that the IPO would be of much benefit at this point 44 days out - we already have everything reserved as far as dining and special events. Grrr...I cannot make a decision for the life of me.

Actually @Regan117 would get daily housekeeping because they are booked at BCV on a Cash reservation.

I am SO sorry for the misinformation. I just need to be quiet about things which I don't have first-hand info. I had read that limited Mousekeeping was one of "cons" to staying DVC; I just assumed it was always the case.

 

[Regan117]

I am SO sorry for the misinformation. I just need to be quiet about things which I don't have first-hand info. I had read that limited Mousekeeping was one of "cons" to staying DVC; I just assumed it was always the case.

No need to be sorry! I appreciate your willingness to answer my question

If you book directly through Disney just like a hotel room, you get daily housekeeping I believe (that has been my experience). I would hope so, for the $800-1500/night they charge for cash reservations!!!

 

[Lisann]

And something about freestyle Coke machines.

I HATE FREESTYLE COKE MACHINES. I like plain Coke, and when you get a drink in these machines, there's always a hint of Sprite or Orange in the background. It's gross...never quite tastes right.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Okay, not sure where the heck I've been the last couple of months but I just read they closed the Margarita stand in Epcot?? I loved those frozen margaritas, in fact, my favorite was to have all 3 flavors at one time and I was so looking forward to having a few, yes, a FEW during our trip next week.

I'm so bummed .

 

[Lisann]

OK, so here's an interesting question for y'all.
I burn easily, but hate wearing a ton of sunscreen, and wearing a hat all the time on vacation (I'm thinning a bit on top and at the temples). I'm thinking for our day or 2 touring the countries of Epcot of carrying a simple black Totes umbrella to block out the sun. My DP, (Some of you know JNPants), keeps rolling his eyes and saying, "Ugh..I have to walk around with the guy with the parasol."
Thoughts? Would you smirk to see a grown man blocking out the sun w/an umbrella in the middle of August?

I know you've gotten various answers to your dilemma, I'm just chiming in. If you are going to use an umbrella, I would use a light colored or white umbrella if possible. It will reflect the heat...the black umbrella will absorb the heat and you will be more uncomfortable.

We were there once in the spring, and the amazing thing was the pool was so cold. Freezing. It took a couple of warmer days before we could enjoy. Yet, I consistently have hard they heat the pools year round.

Aside from the summer, when the sun is baking down on the pool water, the pools, if heated, will be heated to 85 degrees or such. And that can seem cold when your skin is at 98.6 degrees f.

Well, we are home. We spent five glorious nights at the Yacht Club and then three at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Never again! Yacht Club all the way from now on. I actually felt homesick for the Yacht Club while we were at AKL. It is beautiful, but nothing comes close to Yacht Club for me.

For better or worse, I wouldn't want to do a split stay anywhere on property. Done that. I love the YC!

I just got this email from our travel agent:

Due to an oversell situation at the Beach Club Resort, you are eligible for a free upgrade to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Savannah View, for your November 12-21 stay. Please let me know right away if you would like this upgrade or if you prefer to stay at the Beach Club Resort.

Thank you!
​

Do you think that's because of the Yacht Club construction? I have no desire to move to AKL since we've never stayed at BC and we are so looking forward to it...

EDIT: Oh jeez, I read it as "overall." I just noticed on rereading it says "oversell." So I guess it's not about YC construction. Nevermind!

If you wanted to move to another deluxe resort other than the AKL, you could counter offer with that. They might take you up on it.

Question: The refurb is supposed to be complete by the time we go on Sept. 17? Did I read somewhere there are now 2 queen beds in the second bedroom of all of the 2-bedroom villas?

Yes, there are. In the dedicated 2 bdrm villas (not the studio).

 

[Regan117]

Yes, there are. In the dedicated 2 bdrm villas (not the studio).

How would I know if I was getting a dedicated or a lock-off? I have no desire to stay in a lock-off...

 

[Lisann]

How would I know if I was getting a dedicated or a lock-off? I have no desire to stay in a lock-off...

You request it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Regan117]

You request it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

But requests aren't guaranteed, are they? I wouldn't want to leave it to chance. We don't like having anyone sleeping on pullout sofas. Maybe we will just go with the 2-bedroom suite. Then at least I know we have the number of beds we need and a good view/location.

 

[Lisann]

Regan117...I thought it was a bookable category?

 

[Regan117]

I thought it was a bookable category?

When you book cash through Disney it's just listed as "2-bedroom villa"...I'm not DVC.

 

[Tess]

Okay, not sure where the heck I've been the last couple of months but I just read they closed the Margarita stand in Epcot?? I loved those frozen margaritas, in fact, my favorite was to have all 3 flavors at one time and I was so looking forward to having a few, yes, a FEW during our trip next week.

I'm so bummed .

I feel your pain. . .I was so perturbed I wrote Disney to voice my displeasure. Surprisingly, I received a telephone call telling me that it would be moved up the chain of command. I feel very strongly that it was a forced closure due to the new Frozen M&G and traffic concerns, but that is only an opinion with no real basis in fact. At one point someone posted that plans had been pulled to place the kiosk elsewhere within the pavilion, yet there has been nothing begun to date.

I like La Cava margs, although the standing in lengthy queues AND the higher price not to mention the inconvenience of going inside off the WS to get one, precludes me from getting them often. The Cantina has frozen margs, but not the layered ones and they are smaller. There is also that queue to deal with since most people are ordering food.

I probably had 2 of the Fiestas each day we were in EPCOT and we are in EPCOT almost every day while there. We would often be the first to queue when they opened since it was our first stop on WS. Our entire family is unhappy with this closure. The Fiesta Margarita stand may not pour the best margarita ever, but it is one of those "traditions" that will be sorely missed.

 

[HubbDave]

So I came on here with an on-the-spot report from a friend who informed me that yesterday was the last day of the Hurricane Hanna's breakfast.

It was previously reported that it would run until Aug 14, so just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who was planning on it.

Any word of the Dole Whips that are not Dole Whips have returned?