Just back--online check-in, crowds, BCV

[TinkGirl]

We just got back from our spring break trip and have to go back to school tomorrow. I'm a teacher. We stayed at BCV in a 2 BR March 15-21. A few thoughts: online check-in worked great for us. Because we had never stayed at BCV and view did not seem to be an issue there, we had no special room requests. We just hoped our room would be ready when we arrived (I thought we'd be there by 11:30, but ME didn't get us there until 12:30). When we walked into the BC lobby, a staff person escorted us to the online check-in area at the desk, which was the only place that had a line. She went behind the counter and got our folder so we did not have to wait at all. Everything was inside, and it took less than a minute. Our room was ready, so we were happy. We did have to go to concierge to purchase park tickets. The villa was clean--loved the 2 BR! The kids definitely picked at each other less because we had so much space. Now that they are teens, we will probably always do 2 BR. Crowds: We've been to WDW in January during marathon week and in June, and I think this is the most crowded we've seen it. We followed the best park guidelines, and it still did not seem to make much of a difference. We always get to parks around 9:00 and avoid those with EMH. DHS was packed Tuesday (best park-no Fantasmic or EMH). We got inside the park by 9:10. My husband waited in a 30 min. line for a TSM fastpass, and the kids and I went straight to TT and RRC, which had 45 min. waits already. It happened to be my son's birthday, so we exchanged his first choice of a Fun Card for the fast passes. Yes, they are giving 8 now--4 from each group. We didn't even use all the Daisy's. The crowds were a little disappointing. Even in the summer, we can be assured of at least an hour of low crowds in the morning--not this trip. Downtown Disney was so packed Thursday night that we couldn't even walk. Our ME driver said they were transporting 22,000 people yesterday. 11,000 out and 11,000 in. We still had a great trip. The weather was perfect, and we spent a lot of time in Stormalong Bay. Dining Plan: Now that we have teens, they want food instead of souvenirs. We tried the dining plan, which was a big hit. Fun to order whatever we wanted and to get so much food! We probably spent about the same amount of money, but we got a lot more food. It was nice not to be pulling our wallets out for every meal/snack.

 

[quentina]

We just got back from our spring break trip and have to go back to school tomorrow. I'm a teacher. We stayed at BCV in a 2 BR March 15-21. A few thoughts: online check-in worked great for us. Because we had never stayed at BCV and view did not seem to be an issue there, we had no special room requests. We just hoped our room would be ready when we arrived (I thought we'd be there by 11:30, but ME didn't get us there until 12:30). When we walked into the BC lobby, a staff person escorted us to the online check-in area at the desk, which was the only place that had a line. She went behind the counter and got our folder so we did not have to wait at all. Everything was inside, and it took less than a minute. Our room was ready, so we were happy. We did have to go to concierge to purchase park tickets. The villa was clean--loved the 2 BR! The kids definitely picked at each other less because we had so much space. Now that they are teens, we will probably always do 2 BR. Crowds: We've been to WDW in January during marathon week and in June, and I think this is the most crowded we've seen it. We followed the best park guidelines, and it still did not seem to make much of a difference. We always get to parks around 9:00 and avoid those with EMH. DHS was packed Tuesday (best park-no Fantasmic or EMH). We got inside the park by 9:10. My husband waited in a 30 min. line for a TSM fastpass, and the kids and I went straight to TT and RRC, which had 45 min. waits already. It happened to be my son's birthday, so we exchanged his first choice of a Fun Card for the fast passes. Yes, they are giving 8 now--4 from each group. We didn't even use all the Daisy's. The crowds were a little disappointing. Even in the summer, we can be assured of at least an hour of low crowds in the morning--not this trip. Downtown Disney was so packed Thursday night that we couldn't even walk. Our ME driver said they were transporting 22,000 people yesterday. 11,000 out and 11,000 in. We still had a great trip. The weather was perfect, and we spent a lot of time in Stormalong Bay. Dining Plan: Now that we have teens, they want food instead of souvenirs. We tried the dining plan, which was a big hit. Fun to order whatever we wanted and to get so much food! We probably spent about the same amount of money, but we got a lot more food. It was nice not to be pulling our wallets out for every meal/snack.

Where is the online check in located....I cannot find it at DVC Member home page.

Kim

 

[Brenle]

Sounds like you had a nice time. We're debating using online check-in at BCV this May. You did answer one question I had - if the park passes were already loaded onto your card.
Funny, EMH parks always work out well for us. Maybe it has more to do with the time of year we're there.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Does the birthday card fastpass now mean you could get one for all the donald rides instead of choosing 2--so you could use it for TSM, RnR and ToT? My daughter turns 14 on our DHS day but we had pretty much decided to let her have the gift card after seeing what the fastpass restrictions were, but if it's changed we might reconsider.
Robin M.

 

[TinkGirl]

The online check-in pops up 10 days before your vacation. On the DVC website, go to "view vacation details." It will be under where you can enter celebration info. As far as the birthday fast passes, yes, you can do 4 of the Donalds. We did TT twice, and RR and TSM once each. It was well worth it with the crowds. They gave us the actual fast passes with the date stamped on it instead of a card to put in the fast pass machines. I was glad because the machines were mobbed. It would have been difficult to get to them, especially for TSM.

 

[kmermaid]

The online check-in pops up 10 days before your vacation. On the DVC website, go to "view vacation details." It will be under where you can enter celebration info. As far as the birthday fast passes, yes, you can do 4 of the Donalds. We did TT twice, and RR and TSM once each. It was well worth it with the crowds. They gave us the actual fast passes with the date stamped on it instead of a card to put in the fast pass machines. I was glad because the machines were mobbed. It would have been difficult to get to them, especially for TSM.

I hope the BD fastpass is like this when we go in July. I made a deal with DD who is turning 12 that if she chooses the FP instead of the merchandise card I'll give her $75 disney dollars that I will have from my disney visa reward. I think it would be the best choice with the crowds, we aren't patient people and have never gone in the summer.

Where was your 2bd located? We have a 2bd lockoff, but i added a day at the end and could only get a 2bd dedicated for the last day. Hopefully my waitlist will come thru so we don't have to move.

 

[disneygal55]

Do they give you fast passes for everyone in your group?

 

[TinkGirl]

We were in room 242. It was a dedicated 2 BR with a queen and sofa bed in the 2nd br. Our view was of the service road, but we could see Illuminations from the balcony. Off topic, but our ME bus pickup time was 4:10 a.m., and there were people cleaning the public areas at BCV at that hour. Wow! In answer to another post, all 5 members of our family got 8 fast passes each. It was fun walking into a full park with all those fastpasses.

 

[photobob]

Obviously spring break is in full swing. Most schools in Alabama were on break last week. I say most because we don't have a statewide week that all kids are out of school anymore, but last week was the week most were out.

 

[ddhoeg]

ITA on the crowds last week. We got there on Friday the 20th around noon. We went to DHS and still got FPs for TSM, rode TofT 6 times, and RR three. The crowds were very minimal and using FP made things easy. By Sunday, the parks were insane and wait times exceeded the predictions I saw on touringplans.com!! The wait was 35 minutes for IASW by Monday afternoon. What a change over a few days.

Glad you had a great trip!! What a great way to spend a birthday!

 

[dsbarnes]

Hi everyone,
I am knew to this but I was wondering if anyone knows what 8 birthday fastpasses you get for EPCOT- we are going this weekend and the touring crowds say it will be an 8 and it is by husbands birthday....thanks, sheila

 

[TinkGirl]

There is an informational thread at the beginning of the theme parks strategies board that tells all about the birthday fastpasses and the attractions to chose from in each group. It would be well worth it there--passes for Soarin' and Test Track are tough to get and/or the return time is hours later. Have fun!

 

[granmanh603]

We have been here since 3/3 and crowds were fine. Last Sat Sun the throngs arrived...it must be like it is as Christmas....fast passes were gone everywhere early in the day. we were at EPCOT on Tues and fast Passes were gone for everything and there were waits were 120 min on Soarin and 90 on TT and 60 on MS. everywhere we went it was packed...

 

[Cyndibear]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! We usually go in early January and September. Crowds are low for us at that time too. We are bracing ourselves for crowds when we go in May. It's nice to hear thay you enjoyed the Dining plan too! We used it when you got apps and desserts and just loved it! We just use the Wonderland Card now (DDE).

Thanks for sharing!!

Cyndi

 

[meyernl]

Crowds: We've been to WDW in January during marathon week and in June, and I think this is the most crowded we've seen it. We followed the best park guidelines, and it still did not seem to make much of a difference. We always get to parks around 9:00 and avoid those with EMH. DHS was packed Tuesday (best park-no Fantasmic or EMH). We got inside the park by 9:10. My husband waited in a 30 min. line for a TSM fastpass, and the kids and I went straight to TT and RRC, which had 45 min. waits already. It happened to be my son's birthday, so we exchanged his first choice of a Fun Card for the fast passes. Yes, they are giving 8 now--4 from each group. We didn't even use all the Daisy's. The crowds were a little disappointing. Even in the summer, we can be assured of at least an hour of low crowds in the morning--not this trip. Downtown Disney was so packed Thursday night that we couldn't even walk.

This is so interesting. We got there on the 15th and left the 21st as well. On Saturday, the 21st, we went to Epcot for my daughter's birthday. It was dead. Hardly any wait on anything. We went to Animal Kingdom on Wednesday and it was the most crowded I have ever seen it. We ate at T-Rex in DD on Thursday at 5:30 pm and walked right to a table with 11 people - no waiting. It was not crowded at all while we were there. We got ice-cream at Ghiradelli's after our meal in under 15 minutes. It is so interesting how different experiences can be during the same week.

 

[disneygal55]

With the birthday passes do you have to use the eight passes in one park or can you use them in a second park?

 

[gmboy95]

Obviously spring break is in full swing. Most schools in Alabama were on break last week. I say most because we don't have a statewide week that all kids are out of school anymore, but last week was the week most were out.

I am happy to be from the northeast...we have vacation in april, and last year we where there and the crowds where not bad...lots of massachusetts and NY people

 

[TinkGirl]

With the birthday passes do you have to use the eight passes in one park or can you use them in a second park?

They are only good in that one park for that day. You have certain attractions to choose from--4 from one group with the most popular attractions (Donald's) and 4 from a group with "B" list rides/shows (Daisy's). We didn't use all the Daisy's.

 

[disneygal55]

Thanks TinkGirl! We will be in WDW this October celebrating my DH's birthday so will probably utilize the fast passes. Not sure if we'll use the online check-in option at BCV though. I'm a little paranoid about losing this precious reservation {a reservation at BCV during food and wine festival is like gold}!