Just back from BCV /long

[NHmouse]

Just got back last night from a 7 day stay at BCV. here is our review!
Sunday arrived and checked in after waiting in a rather long line at 2:00PM Room was not ready. We were given a card with a number to vcall and Meagan who checked us in told us it should be ready in about an hour. Valets had our bags so we walked around the resort which was extremely busy and then waited in the common room over at the villas. At 3:00PM called and were told the room was ready #103. nonsmoking and nonhandicapped as I had requested. It overlooked the courtyard between the villas and the hotel next to the main lobby entrance. The room was clean and very cold when we went in. We promptly changed into our bathing suits and went to Stormalong Bay. The place was packed and there was not an empty chair to be found or so it seemed. There were many chairs with a single pool towel on them and no personal items at all. After circleing the pool twice DH and I took two chairs which contained these towels, removed the towels and settled in. (Noone came back to claim the chairs!) I did observe some people with absolutely no regard for the property leaving trash used towels and cigarette butts all over! The kids loved the pool! We ate an early dinner at beaches and cream it was busy but we opted to sit at the counter which got us in right away!
Monday: Got up and we were out at the bus stop at 7:55AM to go to MK the bus came at about 8:05 and we were off. The crowds were horrendous!! From about 11:00 AM on the waits for rides were 65minutes splash mountain, 60 minutes big thunder. We are used to fall so this really shocked us. AFter fighting the crowds until about 1:30 we again went to the pool the kids were in line for the slide and out of nowhere lightning seemed to strike right above the slide! Let me say that the pool was empty before the lifeguards could blow their whistles! We had PS for O'hannas at 5:40 so we left our room at 4:45 to take the bus to MK and the monorail to the Poly. We waited at the bus stop for 25 minutes when the bus arrived it was 3/4 full but we managed to get on. Then we proceeded to boardwalk where we sat for over 30 minutes while the driver made people squish together like sardines to get a wheelchair bound person on. The driver seemed to be clueless how to secure this person! We then went very slowly to MK, the whole trip took over 65 minutes and by now it was raining again Pouring actually and we ran for the monorail station ( IT WAS 5:40) the thunder and storm were terrible and the transportation syatem was shut down. We waited there until 6:45 when we realized that we were too cold to stand the air conditioning at dinner and with no transport to the poly in sight we ran to take the bus back to BC. Again there seemed to not be enough busses! The kids were very sad to miss the dinner. Back at BC there was no place to eat! The resort really doesn't have enough places to dine!!
Tuesday
We went to AK and used fast pass to ride and see all we wanted, Primevil Whirl broke down just as we were about 10th in line! A goood day overall though. We got back and found a message from the BC concierge (we were staying in 1BDR villas 8/17-22 and then a lagoon view concierge room 8/22-24. They wanted to know if we wanted to stay in our villas for the whole stay and in return we could have concierge access for the rest of the stay! Of course we said yes and this was a little bit of pixie dust! We went to the member day at boardwalk but the BBQ was cancelled(it was pouring!)
Overall We liked BCV the room was nice! The BC is a beautiful resort however the planners didn't put in enough thought in to the capacity for dining! The transportation was horrible!! The busses were few and packed! We prefer our home resort VWL .

 

[SheriB]

NHmouse,

I'm glad you had a good trip overall, despite the few downfalls. I definitely agree with you about BC not having enough places to eat. Even between YC and BC, there should be one or two more counter-service type places, and another restaurant. You could easily go over to BW, but who wants to in the pouring rain? Welcome back to reality.

Sheri

 

[KyBill]

Glad you had a good trip with just a few bumps in the road. We always have a car and don't have to put up with the uncertainty of the busses. Regard the dining at BCV. You do have the ability to go to the Yacht Club and also the Boardwalk.
We stayed at BCV last fall and had ressies at the FF. It rained a ton and we cancelled out. I went to the concierge desk at BC and they arranged for us to eat at the Yachtman's Steakhouse and we could walk over there without getting in the rain.
With the kiddos you probably were looking at something that cost less. But Boardwalk offers a couple at less cost. Also the Swan-Dolphin complex.
Sorry you missed O'Hana's. We have been there several times with our kids and grandkids and always enjoyed it.
Our DD and SIL and kids are new members of BCV and will be going for the first time in about 6 weeks.

 

[mrsdon]

Welcome back.
I bet it was great to stay in one room for the entire trip.

 

[mickeyc]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. We stayed at the VWL begining of Aug. and the transportation system needs improvement. On one occassion we waited 45 min. to take a bus to MGM. Never experienced this prior at WDW and when we brought it to the attention of the bus driver he was not very helpful. Again unusual for Disney.

Overall I think that the transportaition system needs improvement. I recently participated in a WDW survey and we hit this point hard. We still enjoyed our trip!!

 

[PamOKW]

Sounds like you had some "extenuating circumstances". I'm not sure but I think the really bad storm day you mention, was also the same day where I read another trip report that indicated there was a tornado very near WDW. That person was even held indoors in a building at MGM until the threat passed.

The lightning hitting near the slide was also unusual. They have radar installed at WDW that lets them know when storms are in the area/on property. They usually err on the side of caution closing the pools. This one must have just popped up on them. Glad to hear no one was hurt.

 

[Regina]

It's funny that you compared the transportation to VWL and felt the latter was better. We stayed at the VWL in July, and we kept saying "the buses at OKW are 1000x better than this."

I'll never understand the need for the bus that just goes to and from Ft. Wilderness. I also don't know why a bus was needed to go back and forth to the Ticket & Transportation center when there are boats/buses that go to each of the parks as well. Other than one night when we stayed for the last performance of Spectro and barely made it to the last boat on time, I don't see the need for it.

And I'll never, ever know why Disney has guests staying at Deluxe resorts share bus transportation with other resorts.

One thing, no matter where we're staying, we usually grab a cab when going from one resort to another. It sounds like you stepped into the Twilight Zone when you tried to get to the Poly.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

They have radar installed at WDW that lets them know when storms are in the area/on property.

Didn't know that.

You might have a point about needing more eating places, Beaches and Cream can get pretty crowded. Yacht Club Galley is also a nice alternative that's not too $$$. When all else fails, there is room service. There are also some nice eating alternatives at the Dolphin, which I believe has 10 restaraunts, it's pretty close. One place is open 24hrs, and has some convenient store items if needed late at night. Of course there's no way to get there and stay dry.

 

[jcanary]

there is also the option for delivery. When we were there and the bbq got cancelled we called Pizza hut for pizza and bread sticks. they were there in 20minutes and we were happily eating in our villa. It was delivered to the entrance way so we never got wet.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

One thing, no matter where we're staying, we usually grab a cab when going from one resort to another.

Interesting approach, we haven't tried that. Sounds like the way to go for important reservation times. Although our first approach would have been trying th bus to monorail as well. Unfortunate lesson to learn. Thanks for sharing so that we might avoid the problem, especially if weather is brewing (sp?).

 

[beccasmom]

I'm glad that your trip was a good one overall. I agree that the bus transportation over at BCV is far from optimal. It is probably ok at slower times of the year, but in the summer and at holidays, watch out! I am sort of dreading the opening of SSR (even though we plan to stay there!) because my fear is that OKW will be sharing a loop with SSR. I well remember sharing with the villas during OKW's early days and the rides seemed endless.

I also agree about the number of places to eat at the Beach/Yacht Club complex. The Yacht Club Gallery is ok as is Beaches and Cream (which is too small for the crowds that always seem to be there). Cape May Cafe is great, but if you have seafood allergies in your group as I do, it is not really an option. We've gone over to the Boardwalk on most occasions as the variety is somewhat better there (pizza, ESPN, brew pub). A nicely-themed food court-style restaurant would be a great addition and add some "affordable" variety at the B/Y Club complex.