freaking about BC

[maxsmomamy]

Thanks, I didn't think of it like that. We have 3, um, rambunctious kids- we are sure to add to the noise level ourselves!

 

[grumpyvet]

I have stayed at the BC twice and have only good things to say about our stay!! Our rooms both times were clean, comfy and quiet. The first time we got a full balcony which was super cool, second time a teeny one...not as great but it was hot and muggy, so wouldn't have used it much anyway.

The Lobby is usually chaotic...but wasn't expecting a library!! Each AM there were members of MouseKeeping demonstrating how to make towel animals. ONe very patiently walked my DD7 through making a towel mouse!!

Lilo and Stitch were often in the lobby playing Limbo or some other game with kids in the afternoon.

I only used the MarketPlace for refills and it was convenient!!

Proximity to Epcot is the most magical thing of all.

We are trying the BW in December...and I am freaking about that decision...thinking I should have done the BC!!! You will like it!!!

 

[Reginak]

We loved the BC! It was great! We went in Febuary and it was very peaceful; the only time that the lobby was a little "chaotic" was in the mornings during the character breakfast at Cape May. It was absolutely beautiful. We never even tried SAB. My son loved the small playground and the beach (he lives for dirt).

In early Dec., we usually have dinner in Epcot (since it is often the only park open after 7:00 pm) or go over to the Boardwalk (the Flying Fish and Spoodles are wonderful) then come back to the BC to sit on the beach or our balcony. Our room was always clean and in great condition.

The above posters are right: for every complaint that you read on the boards there are hundreds that are pleased with the resort. Think about how many each of those hotels service every week and what a tiny fraction of the hotel guests the complainers on Disboards represent. I am sure that you will love the BC like we did. I don't know if it will be your favorite resort, but neither will you until you try them all.

Regina

 

[jerseygal]

Yacht Club, Beach Club..Now thats a hard one!!

They seem so comparable its hard to decide!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yacht Club reviewers say they are so comparable, yet I read one post that said Yacht Club is geered more to conventioneers...This post said that if a large convention happens to be going on, that some areas are dedicated just to the convention folks..

Any comments on frequence of conventions at YC???? YC almost seems more conducive to "older kids"???????????????


Thnx.

 

[maxiesmom]

Don't worry. We've stayed at BC a few times and have always enjoyed the stay. My guess is the bad reviews are coming from pretentious, selfish individuals who can't stand to be around kids, and think that they should be treated better than everybody else. I've seen them in action.

Or people like me who liked the resort, but didn't like the fact that there is no real food court. Or the fact that they close StoramAlong BAy down relatively early at night. Or didn't like the fact that the bus rides to MK and AK are long, as you share a bus with the whole boardwalk area. Stilll I would stay at the Y&B again, but make sure I had my own car.

 

[eliza61]

Have not stayed at BC, but just have one word of warning since you said you were new to the boards. In my experience, for every person who voices a dislike about a hotel at WDW, you will find two who love it. In recent weeks, I have seen rave reviews of BC in some discussions. So, just keep that in mind as you read.


--Daneen

Daneen, you are so right. One man's champagne is another man's poision.

OP, we are a family that loves the BC (as you can tell by my signs at the bottom). We love the decor (bright and a bit nautical). We love that they don't have a food court. (I absolutely detest food courts) I've never waited more than 25 minutes for a bus and sharing one with another resort is so far down on my list of things to worry about, it's not even on my radar.
It was the resort that finally prompted us to buy into the DVC. We have excellent service and the cm's have always been friendly. One time we requested some thing from housekeeping and it was a bit slow but mousekeeping was great. Never, ever thought the describe it as worn looking. Location can't be beat.
I wouldn't worry, you've picked a great resort.

 

[robinb]

I think I feel a bit stuck with the choice- never was it on my list of desired resorts- but according to reservations, it's one of the only choices I have for our dates. (We are going Nov 28- Dec 4th) We spent two weeks in New England last summer and spent so much time at the beach- no matter how wonderful everyone says the pool is, its not a selling point for us- we are over the beach scene. I think it's probably going to be too cool to swim then anyhow. Having a family of 5, we have to do a delux resort- though the idea I've seen about staying at a value resort with 2 rooms is interesting- but I feel backed into a wall about BC. It was their choice- not mine. Anyhow, if we must spend the $,then I want to feel good about the resort- just not warm fuzzies yet.

Hmmm ... I see that you might not really want to go stay at the Beach Club. You are not restricted to only Deluxe resorts, although they are nicer. You could book 2 rooms at a value or moderate resort. You could also rent points from a DVC owner and stay in a 2-bedroom at Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge for not a whole lot more than you are paying for 1 room at the Beach Club. You could also fit in one of the new 1-Bedrooms over at Animal Kingdom Villas as most of them (Standard and Savannah Views) now sleep 5. With a 1-2 bedroom DVC villa you get the added added bonus of a full kitchen and a washer and dryer in your room.

Here's more information on renting points: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29 . You will have to find someone who owns the resort where you want to stay since your dates are within the home resort booking window (more than 7 months out) ... although I have to warn you that early December is a VERY popular time for DVC owners.

I looked over on Mousesavers at the Beach Club for your dates (http://www.mousesavers.com/beachyachtclub2008.html) and it shows that 11/28 and 11/29 are $390 each and then 11/30, 12/1, 12/2 and 12/3 are $370 each ... add the 12% tax onto it and you're spending $2531 total or $421 per night with taxes. You can use that number to compare how much it would cost you to stay somewhere else. I find it confusing when I add it all the package elements into the equation. Just to compare, a 2BR at Saratoga Springs near Downtown Disney would be 233 points. The average price per point to rent is $12, so your cost for a 2-BR (no taxes on DVC rentals) would be $2796 or $466 per night. For only $40 more per night you get 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room! A 1BR at Animal Kingdom Villas is only 200 points or $2400 or $400 per night. You would be saving money and you would have one bedroom, a kitchen and a living room!

Anyway ... that was probably too much information for you, but I thought that I would put it out there .

 

[maxsmomamy]

Thanks Robinb! You did so much research for me I am flattered that all you folks are interested in making a strangers vacation better! I have done some research also on renting points, but BC prices can't be beat- renting is at least $1000 higher. Maybe next time? I am starting to come around to BC- I called reservations last night because I was really bummed, but she managed to cheer me up and promised a great time at BC. I guess I'm being silly--- we are going to have some family fun at the parks!!!! and my kidaloos are couning on me- can't let them down by having a tantrurm

 

[momtwo4]

We had a wonderful experience at BC last November. We loved the atmosphere, the pool was great, walking to epcot was wonderful.
Have a great vacation!

 

[daneenm]

Yacht Club reviewers say they are so comparable, yet I read one post that said Yacht Club is geered more to conventioneers...This post said that if a large convention happens to be going on, that some areas are dedicated just to the convention folks..

Any comments on frequence of conventions at YC???? YC almost seems more conducive to "older kids"???????????????

Can't comment on the frequency of conventions. When we stayed in August, there looked like there were some big groups of mostly adults that could have been from a convention. To be honest, we didn't even think twice about them. We saw one group leaving for the boats at the marina and one just walking through the lobby. I think they have a separate wing that caters to conventions. So, in my experience, nothing to worry about.

As for being geared toward older kids, I'm not sure I would agree. Our children were 6 and 10 when we went and they loved every second of it! We saw many families with smaller children (especially playing in the sand bar area of SAB) and they seemed to be having as good a time as we were. We like having the YC Galley right downstairs (if we had to eat food court more than a couple of times, we would not be happy campers - just not typically our style). You have a fridge in your room where you can keep some stuff for a quick breakfast or snacks (you can buy items at the BC) and that works just fine for us.

--Daneen

 

[monica31671]

How old are your kids? You can put a family of 5 in POR Alligator Bayou section because they have 2 double beds and a trundle bed if you still have a young child that will fit on the trundle.
Just throwing out another idea so you don't feel backed into a corner with BC.
Has anyone mentioned the family suites at All-Stars? (I read all of the posts, but I can't remember.)

I stayed at YC last May and loved the location since Epcot is my dad's favorite resort. YC/BC seemed like one big resort to me. My family did miss the foodcourt option and kept running over to BC Marketplace.
I think people feel like BC is noiser because of all of the kids in the lobby for Cape May Cafe in the mornings. It's Disney World. People should expect tons of kids!

 

[LSchrow]

My guess is the bad reviews are coming from pretentious, selfish individuals who can't stand to be around kids, and think that they should be treated better than everybody else. I've seen them in action.

or they simply have different opinions than yours.

OP~ do consider doing as others have said: try calling back. we do prefer the YC to the BC (& we're not "pretentious, selfish", plus have kids that felt the same). we find YC more subdued (kid friendly, but not noisy), & the full balconies are a big draw.

both the good & bad reviews are based on individual experiences & preferences, your experiences will definately differ from the others. & y'know, if we based our resort stays on what other ppl liked all the time, we would probably just stay home .
soooo, try making a list of what you like about the BC, & make a few plans with those in mind: maybe plan to rent a surrey bike at the BW, watch a movie on the beach, walk over to EPCOT just for Illuminations, eat the "kitchen sink", chat with Art, etc.
sometimes, having specific plans to look foward to helps to get past the uncertainty.
hth

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I'm sorry but I had to laugh when you said "beach club prices can't be beat"

That's a great way to have a positive attitude! I don't think I'll ever feel that way about any deluxe resort at WDW, the prices seem insane to me. Even with our AP discount I still have a hard time justifying the high cost.