Let's talk about Beach Club!!! Please?

[TxRabbit]

I proactively called to see if we needed to be moved from AKL...yes, indeed, and we are now staying at Beach Club! Stormalong Bay looks like so much fun! We are excited, going with the flow, happy to try something new...but I am FRUSTRATED! There seems to be no thread dedicated to all things BC!!

So, please, help a fellow planner plan. I need the inside scoop, the dos, the don'ts, the hints, tips, tricks, and any and all general knowledge.

We go 8/19 to 8/25. We are DW, DH, and DS6. TIA! I eagarly await...

 

[clutter]

My dd10 (8 at the time) and I stayed at the BC for 4 days two years ago. Loved it so much, I came home and bought points at BCV from the Timeshare store. So beware, it's so great it may end up costing you, too.

I wish it had better quick food options (my dd won't eat what's at the little market, which is a shame), but the location is so wonderful. It's elegant and homey at the same time, it's fun, it's just a great place.

(Of course, I'm one of 'those' DVCers that bought points at AKV, too. That's our other favorite.)

 

[spiceycat]

here is your link
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1116

the yacht club and beach club are sister resorts - so they share a link.

now if you are doing the beach club villa - that is a DVC resort and is different than the Beach club resort.

 

[PamNC]

You will LOVE the convenience of walking to Epcot and MGM or taking the Friendship. Not to mention the boardwalk area...tons to do. It's a picturesque setting for sure. Oh - and Stormalong bay is by far hands down 100% perfection of a swimming pool. The CM's are great, rooms are bright and airy. It's fabulous. Beaches & Cream is a great little soda shop with the best burgers and best ice cream treats on property. You'll love the Yachstman Steakhouse if you're a carnivore.

We've stayed at YC once, and BC 2X and all three times we've had magical, perfect vacations. In fact, we'll be at the Beach Club in 20 days from today! And we can't wait.

I hope you have a magical experience!

PamNC

 

[TxRabbit]

here is your link
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1116

the yacht club and beach club are sister resorts - so they share a link.

now if you are doing the beach club villa - that is a DVC resort and is different than the Beach club resort.

I am reading away now Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. We are staying BC not the villas. We were only offered SSR in DVC type accomodations, but I just wasn't interested, so asked about other deluxe resort opts. Very excited to get reading...thanks again.

 

[TJA]

BC is our favorite resort. We have twins, now age 4, and we've been to BC 3 times since they were born. Let me tell you, it's hard to stay anywhere else. We also love Poly, but there is just something about BC that keeps us going back. I think it's the general atmosphere there -- there is a walkway/boardwalk that forms a circle all around the water where the boat runs between MGM and Epcot. You can literally walk in to the Epcot countries in 5 minutes from BC and that is another thing we love (great dinners every night within walking distance). We are also big fans of the boardwalk and that is also a 5-10 minute walk from BC -- great restaurants, ESPN Club, entertainment (magicians, music), bakeries, ice cream, food stands, carnival activities, rent surrey bikes, etc.

Beaches & Cream is a fun place to have dessert. At night, we like to get ice cream treats and sit by the pool -- it's awesome.

Cape May has a character breakfast which really does have good food.

Marketplace has good over-the-counter food, not much of a variety though and not very much seating. As long as you're prepared to not have a typical "fast-food" place, then you will be fine. Hurricane Hannas is at the pool area and you can get the typical fast-foods there during the day.

Finally, the pool. Your child will love the sandy pool area. There is an entire pool area that has a sandy bottom and shallow water, along with mounds of sand to play in. Our girls will play in this area for an entire afternoon, and in fact each morning when we wake up, the first thing they say is "I want to go to the pool." And then they say the same thing each night before bed, LOL. I swear we could stay at the BC and never go to a park and our girls would be perfectly happy. There is SO much to do and it's easy to hang out at the resort area all day.

As you are happily reading about BC, here is a link that shows the layout of each floor if you want to get a feel for a specific room area to request. Beware that there are not many full balconies, if that is important to you. Click on this link and scroll down to the "BC" part and there is a separate link for each floor.

http://www.disneyzone.net/ResortMaps/

 

[TxRabbit]

Thanks TJA! What a great link. Having a full balcony is important. I have that request on my reservation. Also, having queen sized beds would be important. Are there really some rooms with double beds? That's the main reason we stay deluxe, DH and I need the queen! It's hard enough to adjust to the queen from our king at home! Should I add that request to our ressie too? Do you know if the patios are full sized? The one area on the map of the first floor that says these room have quiet patios sounds lovely.

 

[spiceycat]

bc has some full size balconies, some standing move only and some no balconies.

so you get all types here.

the double beds is better than before - one queen bed and love seat - much too small too sleep on. Now if you don't mind sharing your bed great - but I can't do that easily. if it is the same rooms - they got a great view of the fireworks.

walking to Epcot - go under the bridge - unless you are a walker or jogger. going up the small hill is not hard - but can be wearing doing it so often.

 

[TxRabbit]

the double beds is better than before - one queen bed and love seat - much too small too sleep on. Now if you don't mind sharing your bed great - but I can't do that easily.

I'm not sure that I understand. Are you saying that the rooms that used to have two double beds now have one queen bed and one love seat? So they would accomodate 2 people max? I just don't want to get a double bed at all. We are a 3 person ressie with DS6. So would we have a chance of getting put into a room with double beds?

 

[Geoff_M]

Two mornings ago we woke up in the BC as we spent the last two nights of our vacation there. You'll love it. SAB is the best pool at WDW and you can actually walk to the parks you are next to... unlike AKL (this fact still blows me away!). You have the Boardwalk across the way as an added bonus.

As for the beds, the standard room has two beds (queens, IIRC) and a day bed for a fifth person.

 

[TxRabbit]

Two mornings ago we woke up in the BC as we spent the last two nights of our vacation there. You'll love it. SAB is the best pool at WDW and you can actually walk to the parks you are next to... unlike AKL (this fact still blows me away!). You have the Boardwalk across the way as an added bonus.

As for the beds, the standard room has two beds (queens, IIRC) and a day bed for a fifth person.

Thanks Geoff for the reassurance. I need it. I am freaking out a little over here. I just want to enjoy our vacation, just like everyone else, and this switch is throwing a kink in the works. A hiccough in the planning, I'm feeling out of sorts. I need to let go. I just don't know a thing about that area and I feel like I am having a hard time getting info about it. It'll be okay...I'm sure. I love Disney. I am so looking forward to our vacation. I just have to get a different picture in my head, and I am having a rough time forming the picture.

 

[lovindonald]

We stayed a week at the BC and although I loved the feel of the resort and of course the pool, there were some problems with the room and the staff was LESS that accomodating. We moved to a another room after losing DSs prized possession to sleep with (BTW never to be found and they would NOT let me go to the lost and found area to see if I could find it) and it was a non-smoking room in a non-smoking wing. Unforunately the guy in the room next to us was a chain smoker and smoked non-stop on the patio. We couldn't use it at all and they did nothing about it. Once home I wrote Disney and they called me with a simple "that is too bad". When I called the woman back, she did send us one day park hopper, but quite honestly for the trouble we had gone through while there, it was not nearly enough.

 

[TAEMom]

We noticed several smokers in nonsmoking areas at the BC and saw CMs walk right by them. (To be honest, we saw this in the parks too, so it is probably a universal problem.)

I would say just be your own advocate in making sure that you are getting the service that you need. That seems to be the biggest complaint about BC. We did have some major problems at the BC in June, but in hindsight, we really should have made more of a fuss about getting them taken care of. Someone here pointed out that the problems we had could have happened at any resort, anywhere, and they are right. Our expectations at Disney are just higher.

 

[Fall1]

You will LOVE it! DH and I have stayed there 4 times, we can't seem to stay anywhere else since our first stay there in '04! The pool is amazing, the walk to the Boardwalk and Epcot area is so convienent, lunch or ice cream at Beaches n Cream is a must do!
Have a great time and enjoy your move!!

 

[spiceycat]

I'm not sure that I understand. Are you saying that the rooms that used to have two double beds now have one queen bed and one love seat? So they would accomodate 2 people max? I just don't want to get a double bed at all. We are a 3 person ressie with DS6. So would we have a chance of getting put into a room with double beds?

no the opposite. Yes I would think 2 people would be it. that say if I were solo I might have enjoyed it.

I don't know of your chances. I was very surprised to get it. all our other stays were in 2 queen beds and a day bed - this one was different. I learned to hate that room. Although it had a wonderful view of the fireworks. but I would have preferred the regular room. It was a connecting room. there were kids on the other side and they were constantly trying to get in thru that door. they kept at it until I went to their front door and asked their parents to please stop them. You have got to wonder at some parents.


oh here is a link with pictures
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/549

 

[clutter]

no the opposite. Yes I would think 2 people would be it. that say if I were solo I might have enjoyed it.

I don't know of your chances. I was very surprised to get it. all our other stays were in 2 queen beds and a day bed - this one was different. I learned to hate that room. Although it had a wonderful view of the fireworks. but I would have preferred the regular room. It was a connecting room. there were kids on the other side and they were constantly trying to get in thru that door. they kept at it until I went to their front door and asked their parents to please stop them. You have got to wonder at some parents.


oh here is a link with pictures
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/549

Were you in a studio at the Beach Club Villas, instead of the hotel, which the OP is asking about? Perhaps that's the difference. The villas would have had a kitchenette in the room, but would only have had the bed and a pull-out sofa/loveseat.

 

[spiceycat]

Were you in a studio at the Beach Club Villas, instead of the hotel, which the OP is asking about? Perhaps that's the difference. The villas would have had a kitchenette in the room, but would only have had the bed and a pull-out sofa/loveseat.

no - this was long before there was a BCV. At least the bcv have a pull out sofa. this was just a love seat. It was considered a standard room.

these were on the side on bc closest to Epcot.

 

[TJA]

Thanks TJA! What a great link. Having a full balcony is important. I have that request on my reservation. Also, having queen sized beds would be important. Are there really some rooms with double beds? That's the main reason we stay deluxe, DH and I need the queen! It's hard enough to adjust to the queen from our king at home! Should I add that request to our ressie too? Do you know if the patios are full sized? The one area on the map of the first floor that says these room have quiet patios sounds lovely.

We have never had a room with double beds. We actually had a king bed our 1st two trips at BC because our girls were in cribs. Then, last trip, we had 2 queen beds and a full balcony. Yes, I know what you mean about bed size and we had a hard time adjusting to a queen bed after being used to our king bed here at home! Let's see, I think the 1st floor patios are full sized just from walking around the grounds and seeing them; however, you'd have to double-check that because I did not research that. You are right and they look very nice -- especially the rooms closest to Epcot because they look very quiet. But those particular rooms would be a longer walk to the main pool, if that is a factor to you.

I'd really be surprised if you didn't like the BC, but I have read some negative posts and it really does shock me because we love it there. It's such a beautiful area and the sandy pool is a life-saver with little ones. Not to mention the convenience of having SO much to do within walking distance.

Here are some pictures from last month -- 2 sandy pool pictures, 1 picture of the small slide, 1 picture of our standard room view if we looked to our left:

POOL:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/tjaphotos/100_0374.jpg

POOL:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/tjaphotos/100_0315.jpg

SMALL SLIDE:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/tjaphotos/100_0337.jpg

ROOM VIEW:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/tjaphotos/100_0300.jpg

 

[ycnan]

thanks for posting the link to the pictures spiceycat!

It looks great!

 

[Geoff_M]

We noticed several smokers in nonsmoking areas at the BC and saw CMs walk right by them. (To be honest, we saw this in the parks too, so it is probably a universal problem.)

You are correct, we saw smoking all over WDW (parks, resorts, bus stops, DTD, etc.) in the two plus weeks we were just there. My favorite was one night we were walking through OKW and saw a bus parked running at the Turtle Pond stop. There were two people on board, but we noticed there was no one in the driver's seat. As we walked past I looked back and saw the CM driver standing just outside the driver's window with his back turned... taking a cigarette break!!! I can assure you it ain't just a BC thing!