Need "How to do Laundry 101" for BCV please

[Simba's Mom]

I've never done laundry at WDW before, but probbably will have to next trip. Where's the laundry at BCV? Free? What's the best/worst time to get a machine? I was kind of thinking of doing laundry in the morning-putting laundry in when I get up, then going back to my room (do people stay or go back to their room-if go back, how long?), then putting it in the dryer and going back to my room (again, how long). My biggest fear is that I'll go and not be able to get a washer because they're all being used. Does this happen? If so, what time of day is most likely? I would guess afternoon would be a busy time. Any experiences? Sorry so many questions, but I've never done laundry there before and I'm so afraid of wasting vacation time waiting for a machine or having my laundry stolen!

 

[Caskbill]

I'm assuming you're going to be in a Studio and that's why you're asking. All the 1-B/R and 2-B/R units have the washer and dryer right in the villa.

At BCV I think the laundry room was on the 4th floor. It won't be crowded because the only people needing to use the common laundry area will be those also staying in Studios. I remember there's a TV there but forget how many washers and dryers.

Washing machines and dryers are free. No charges to use the machines, but you must either bring your own soap or you can purchase from the vending machine.

You should be able to go back to your room while your clothes wash or dry. Just be sure to be considerate of others and get back to take your clothes out of the machines by the time they finish.

Have a great trip.

 

[colleen costello]

I am laundry-obsessed and constantly do laundry while on vacation. I can't help it... dirty clothes BUG me. We stayed in a BCV studio last summer, #412. The laundry room was virtually across the hall. I didn't realize it was the only one. It is located just off the first elevators of the Villas.

I did laundry late at night as well as in the afternoon while the kids swam. There are perhaps 3 washers and maybe 4 dryers. SOme were always available.Everything was in working order. They put a tv in there during our stay. There are tables for folding and supplies for sale. I bring my own Tide!

 

[jel0511]

I just got back from BCV and we stayed in a studio. The laundry room was HORRIBLE!!!! It was always crowded, and people seemed to be generally annoyed at it. There are TWO washers and 4 dryers, and the dryers take around two cycles to get your clothes dry. I did go down one morning around 7AM, and it was empty, but didn't do laundry, since we were on our way out, just wanted to find it. I tried to do laundry around noon when we returned for lunch, full. I kept going back and forth every 30 minutes or so(time of one wash cycle) and it took me until 2PM to be able to get a washer. People do multiple loads at a time, so the machines do get tied up for sometime with one person. DH, I and the kids hung out at the quiet pool while I was doing laundry and I went up every 25 minutes or so to check on things. No one stays, unless waiting for their load to finish. I did 3 loads of laundry, luckily no one came in while I was using both washers!!! I was finished with the laundry by 4:00 after all the ups and downs, etc. DH and I thought this was the WORST part of staying in the studios, and wil never stay in one again.

 

[KarenB]

We had no problem when we were at BCV over Christmas. Our room was 416 and I think it was even closer than the room colleen mentioned. I would do laundry about 10:30 or 11 pm. Nice thing about our studio is that I could sneak over in my PJ's and check on my clothes.

I thought it was very clean, only one other person in there most times, never had to wait for a washer or dryer. As for the drying time, I usually did smaller loads so they would dry faster.

They were free..had the coin slots but didn't need to put anything in them. Soap was for sale, but we usually take along the Surf tablets and dryer sheets.

Have a terrific time!
Karen

 

[DoeWDW]

We were in room #414 for 2 weeks in early July and were also right across from the laundry room. I am an early riser but the rest of the family tends to sleep in. I'd wake up around 6, put a load of laundry in each washer and stay there to read, so as not to disturb my sleepyheads.

The washers take about 30 minutes (the top loader takes 21 minutes and the front loader takes 25-30 minutes). I also brought the laundry tablets from home. The dryers usually need 2 cycles (about 30 minutes each cycle) to dry. I tend to set them on low to avoid scorching the clothes. I also brought dryer sheets from home.

I did this 3 times while on vacation. There was NEVER anyone else in there from 6 AM to 7:30 AM.

Many people tend to vacation Saturday to Saturday so I've found over the years that laundry rooms are least crowded on Sunday, Monday & Tuesday. As you get to Wednesday and Thursday they are busier and Fridays seem to be the busiest days.

If your room is far from the laundry room, there are usually wheeled carts in the laundry room for helping transport all those clothes around. When we drive to Disney I take 2 laundry baskets - one for whites and one for darks. Everyone sorts their dirty clothes as they take them off. That way I have the baskets to make lugging the laundry around easier.

Good luck!!

 

[mommystieg]

We were at BCV in June and I did laundry twice during our stay. There are only 2 washers and 4 dryers and the dryers take forever. I went once in the afternoon and there was only 1 other person there. I also went once in the evenings right before the parks closed and by the time I got back to change my clothes from the washer to the dryer there were 2 or 3 other people waiting. I didn't find it problem to put the clothes in and then go back to the room--nobody bothered our stuff.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the help everyone. Now add to my vacation planning-Tuesday, December 9, do laundry first thing in the morning. Hope everyone else doesn't have this plan too!