jlovesee
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,161
Just got back from an 11 night stay, 2 nights bcv studio and 9 nights BLT std view studio, we used FP+ and did online check in, we also ran the Dopey challenge while there. I wanted to report back because of all the "horror" stories I had read about all of the above.
First, FP+, I was probably one of the biggest doom and gloom anti-fans of FP+ out there prior to our trip. We had zero problems with our magic bands (of which we had 2 sets) or with FP+. To be honest, I liked magic band more the the old key to the world card, as at least a few times a trip on prior trips I would lose it, forget it or have to dig forever to find it. Loved the aspect of less to carry and not having to dig around for my room card at the door. Also since we did four races in a row (Dopey Challenge) it was especially nice not having to carry a room card, wrist band was extremely user friendly in that situation.
As far as FP+ I really did dislike the fact that I had to jump through endless hoops to buy the pass prior to the trip, link the pass etc, THAT was a royal pain in the you know where. Also I really think there needs to be more flexibility on that end as there are many situations where for whatever reason one can't buy their ticket until they arrive. With that being said, while I did Pre-schedule most of our FPs in about 75-80% of the time we were able to re-select or re-schedule our FP the night before or morning of. I LOVED the flexibility of very simply rescheduling FP times from my IPHONE anytime anywhere. For example when I scheduled Big Thunder to close to our Crystal Palace reservation I was able to reschedule that morning for an hour later time. This ended up allowing us greater flexibility and A Lot more rides, we have never ridden Midway Mania twice on a trip. It was also less stressful with no running around the park to obtain FP. I could see some issues with setting up FP the day of at the park as the lines were long and somewhat chaotic (though I don't see availability being an issue) but my view is greatly more optimistic then it was just a few weeks before.
Onto the resorts...
beach club villas studio room 106, booked okw at 7 months waitlisted bcv which came through in about 2-3 days.
Online check in requested 1st floor that's what we got.
I was terrified from the reports I read about room condition and the plain ugly white beds, neither turned out to be true. With that being said it does appear bcv is next in line for a refurb, there were a few scuffs in the room, carpet was faded a little but nothing I would issue a complaint on. Beds had a blue "scarf" that appears to be cut from the old bedspread enough to make the bed feel made alteast (though I dont subscribe to the "germy bedspreads are deadly" theory) I really liked the theming which surprised me and of course the location couldn't be beat.
I will try to post photos when I get home.
Bay Lake Tower room 7506 (5th floor),standard view studio booked at 11 months, walked the reservation.
Online check in requested high floor, north side got 5th floor with partial view of MK
Our 1st stay at BLT 3 years ago did not go so well the room was in "pretty poor" condition shelf was broken, scuffs and scratches all over the place, lots of problems so I was a bit worried about BLT this trip too. The room overall was in ok shape, toilet paper roll was off kilter on the wall (who designed that thing anyway?!) otherwise no major problems. Full cleaning on day 4, T&T day 8 no problems. LOVED being on the 5th floor, same floor as the sky walk, did I say we loved that? We were able to see Wishes fireworks easily from the room as had a good view of Space Mountain, no view of the water pageant though but very minor considering we were only "paying" standard points. Room also had the triple sheeting instead of duvet and the look was about the same. We didnt have any issues with being cold either and it got down to about 35 one night.
Location like bcv was great! We love the monorail so it worked well. The only complaints we have are two... 1)where is the contemporary merchandise all the deluxe resorts have it EXCEPT for contemporary 2)IMHO deluxes should not be sharing buses with 3+ resorts. (going to MGM we stopped at Poly and GF too that's crazy and buses were SRO NOT at open/close)
Overall had a great time, good transportation to and for the races from both bcv and BLT (used monorail to and bus from)
Any ? Let me know and I will be happy to try to answer.
Jennifer
First, FP+, I was probably one of the biggest doom and gloom anti-fans of FP+ out there prior to our trip. We had zero problems with our magic bands (of which we had 2 sets) or with FP+. To be honest, I liked magic band more the the old key to the world card, as at least a few times a trip on prior trips I would lose it, forget it or have to dig forever to find it. Loved the aspect of less to carry and not having to dig around for my room card at the door. Also since we did four races in a row (Dopey Challenge) it was especially nice not having to carry a room card, wrist band was extremely user friendly in that situation.
As far as FP+ I really did dislike the fact that I had to jump through endless hoops to buy the pass prior to the trip, link the pass etc, THAT was a royal pain in the you know where. Also I really think there needs to be more flexibility on that end as there are many situations where for whatever reason one can't buy their ticket until they arrive. With that being said, while I did Pre-schedule most of our FPs in about 75-80% of the time we were able to re-select or re-schedule our FP the night before or morning of. I LOVED the flexibility of very simply rescheduling FP times from my IPHONE anytime anywhere. For example when I scheduled Big Thunder to close to our Crystal Palace reservation I was able to reschedule that morning for an hour later time. This ended up allowing us greater flexibility and A Lot more rides, we have never ridden Midway Mania twice on a trip. It was also less stressful with no running around the park to obtain FP. I could see some issues with setting up FP the day of at the park as the lines were long and somewhat chaotic (though I don't see availability being an issue) but my view is greatly more optimistic then it was just a few weeks before.
Onto the resorts...
beach club villas studio room 106, booked okw at 7 months waitlisted bcv which came through in about 2-3 days.
Online check in requested 1st floor that's what we got.
I was terrified from the reports I read about room condition and the plain ugly white beds, neither turned out to be true. With that being said it does appear bcv is next in line for a refurb, there were a few scuffs in the room, carpet was faded a little but nothing I would issue a complaint on. Beds had a blue "scarf" that appears to be cut from the old bedspread enough to make the bed feel made alteast (though I dont subscribe to the "germy bedspreads are deadly" theory) I really liked the theming which surprised me and of course the location couldn't be beat.
I will try to post photos when I get home.
Bay Lake Tower room 7506 (5th floor),standard view studio booked at 11 months, walked the reservation.
Online check in requested high floor, north side got 5th floor with partial view of MK
Our 1st stay at BLT 3 years ago did not go so well the room was in "pretty poor" condition shelf was broken, scuffs and scratches all over the place, lots of problems so I was a bit worried about BLT this trip too. The room overall was in ok shape, toilet paper roll was off kilter on the wall (who designed that thing anyway?!) otherwise no major problems. Full cleaning on day 4, T&T day 8 no problems. LOVED being on the 5th floor, same floor as the sky walk, did I say we loved that? We were able to see Wishes fireworks easily from the room as had a good view of Space Mountain, no view of the water pageant though but very minor considering we were only "paying" standard points. Room also had the triple sheeting instead of duvet and the look was about the same. We didnt have any issues with being cold either and it got down to about 35 one night.
Location like bcv was great! We love the monorail so it worked well. The only complaints we have are two... 1)where is the contemporary merchandise all the deluxe resorts have it EXCEPT for contemporary 2)IMHO deluxes should not be sharing buses with 3+ resorts. (going to MGM we stopped at Poly and GF too that's crazy and buses were SRO NOT at open/close)
Overall had a great time, good transportation to and for the races from both bcv and BLT (used monorail to and bus from)
Any ? Let me know and I will be happy to try to answer.
Jennifer
