OLD THREAD: 2012 Beach and Yacht FAQ, Part 2- May, June and July DON'T POST HERE!

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

Hi Everyone...Just switched my GF ressie over to BC (due to all the construction/closures when im there) and im so excited to be spening my solo trip at the BC now..cant wait for SAB another other tips or advice for a solo traveler staying at BC? Look like i'll be spending my day catching up on this thread

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Robyn- just wanted to wish you safe travels and a FANTASTIC trip!!!

Not sure how much you will be able to check in here in the day or so before you leave.

Thanks Dee!

As you can guess I'm in crazy mode right now.

Finished packing the kids - getting ready to take the dog to the groomers and today's schedule is pack for me, pack all the "extras" (toiletries, ponchos, water fans etc.) finish super cleaning the house and I have to take ds to get new sneaks and socks!

Of course the worse part is getting DH to pack. I have to supervise because the one time I told him he was totally on his own to pack, he ended up with 12 shirts and two pairs of shorts! Never again.

I'm so excited though I can hardly wait.

Thanks for your helpful US/IOA tips - we haven't been there since 2006. I'm a little nervous about staying at Royal Pacific (dd picked it). The other two times we were there we stayed at HRH.

Can't wait to check into BC and smell that wonderful lobby smell again (and of course see Teena again)!

 

[scottmel]

Have a great trip, Robyn!!! As a side note, I priced out my 2013 pkg for mid June at YC. No availability...Seriously? A year out? I am going to recheck again today..

 

[TeenaS]

Have a great trip, Robyn!!! As a side note, I priced out my 2013 pkg for mid June at YC. No availability...Seriously? A year out? I am going to recheck again today..

Must be a convention then.

 

[Aliceacc]

We leave in 20 days, and I'm so excited I can't stand it!!! Fortunately, my 12 year old is a lot like me, and is always waiting for an opportunity to "talk Disney." She tells everyone she can that our resort has a MAP for the POOL!!!!

 

[tinacaplan]

Hi Everyone...Just switched my GF ressie over to BC (due to all the construction/closures when im there) and im so excited to be spening my solo trip at the BC now..cant wait for SAB another other tips or advice for a solo traveler staying at BC? Look like i'll be spending my day catching up on this thread

\

Probably a good thing for two reasons:

1. The Beach Club is just so amazing!

2. We stayed at the Poly while they were refurbing the slide and part of the Volcano itself and it really had an impact on our trip.

So...if you couldn't stay at YC/BC for whatever reason, where would you stay instead?

I'm already thinking about a 2013 trip (and that 2014 cruise I mentioned a few pages back), and (1) YC/BC may not be in the budget and (2) we like to try different resorts, so we're thinking about where we might like to stay next year if we can go back.

So far we have stayed at POFQ and CBR. Loved POFQ, not so much CBR.

We've stayed at CSR twice, SSR, the Poly, and the Beach Club. We loved CSR. The pool is fantastic, if you're a pool person, and we had excellent bus service both times we were there. I should also say that we went to CSR during President's Week, making the bus service even more impressive. the rooms are very modern-looking and have recently been refurbed. They also have queen beds. My only caveat about CSR is that while every CM we encountered was professional and efficient, they were not particularly magical. They didn't go out of their way to be upbeat or really helpful or anything, which is something I noticed at the BC right away.

I liked SSR well enough, but I was staying on a friend's points, so how can you complain about a free room at Disney??

 

[tinacaplan]

Poor Princess Lily gets two birthdays to celebrate. This weekend in Vegas for friends and family that live there and then on 7/31 when she arrives in Florida. What a life!!! And thank you to all of you that have left gifts for her - they are here waiting for her Florida birthday party. She is certainly spoiled. I wish all of you were going to be at the BC on August 7th when Princess Lily checks into the BC and discovers SAB! It would be wonderful if you all got to meet her (and Jeanne too of course).

Happy Birthday Mike! I wish you were at the BC to celebrate!

Happy Birthday to everyone! As an only child, I got very spoiled with multiple birthday celebrations!

Richard is the greeter Tuesday through Saturday. So it was probably Richard who your son talked to. If you're around Sunday or Monday, I'll be there. I'm not taking time off again until August 5th and 6th (when Jeanne and Lily are visiting). I'm also working Friday 7/20.

Thanks. It will be nice to remember his name! My son, in particular, loved him. We'll be there Sunday and Monday. We check-in a week from tomorrow.

 

[lucysmom]

Our favorite moderate is the Dolphin. They give great discounts to teachers and nurses, if that helps. But, what I like best about the Dolphin is that it is a deluxe at a moderate price. You still get the same transportation options and still have easy access to Epcot, DHS, Boardwalk, and all the great restaurants as when you stay at the YC/BC. The grotto pool system isn't SAB, but I think it is the second best pool system in WDW. The rooms are nice, with balconies that have super views. Oh, the beds are called heavenly, and they really are. Okay, the soaps don't have little Mickeys on them, but if that is what you need to get a Disney fix, then bring your own. I think the Dolphin is a super hotel. Check it out. I would definitely pick it before a WDW moderate.

 

[Scott MC]

Good Morning Everyone!

So, I'm always one to admit when I'm wrong, so I'm going to put on my big-boy pants and do it right now.

I always cringed a little when I saw those threads on the main board that went something like: "Just switched from Poly to CR-Will I be disappointed?" or "Switched from POR to POFQ-Will I like it there?"

I would think, "Well, you go to the site, look at pics, come here, look at pics and discussions and make a decision. You should know what you're getting yourself into. It didn't seem like rocket science to me.

That's my confession. I am shamed, because I'm currently in the same boat.

My DP and I had booked 2 nights at BC before our week-long BW stay. We booked a GV room. I've read enough on here to know that the extra $$ for GV is well worth it. So today, AP discounts for our trip became available and I got on the phone. After waiting about 30 minutes on hold, I got to chat for a while with a lovely, patient and magical CM. She got me an extra 3% (we already had 30% off) or so off my BWI stay (score!) but there were no discounts available for BC GV rooms. We already have 30% off from the general discount, but we were secretly hoping to bump up to CL-GV once AP rates came out. My CM had standard views CL and non CL at BC and YC, water views CL and non CL at BC and YC and CL-GV at YC....all at 35% off. In the end, I chose (nervewracking, as DP is at work, and I had to hope he'd be ok with this) a SV-CL room at BC. We'd like to stay at the YC sometime, but this time, we're really wanting to try BC. So the good news is...we're now staying CL!!!! The nervousness is giving up the GV.

Ugh! I'm that person! I'm going to ask it. <<<deep breath>>>

Will I like a standard view room?

Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with them?

Are there any requests I could make?

Teena?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nannette]

Good Morning all you YC/BC Fans.... Below is the rest of 2012 FREE Dining schedule! These are the same dates that were released for VISA card holders earlier.

Not all nights are included however, you must check in on one of the following available dates:

September 30 – October 4, 2012
October 19 – November 1, 2012
November 9 – 15, 2012
November 23 – 29, 2012
December 10 – 13, 2012*

~Nannette
*

 

[natebenma]

I'm a day late with the birthday pictures. I was having technical difficulties. Still not sure what was wrong and why I couldn't copy off the pictures Teena sent me.

It seems like only yesterday that Lily turned one, but can you believe she is driving already?!?

 

[catho72]

One week from today we'll be checking into BC! I am so stinkin' excited! I feel like that boy on the WDW commercials...."I'm too excited to sleep!". Seeing as how our flight leaves next Thursday at 6am and we need to be out the door by 3:30am, I don't think I'll get much sleep Wednesday night!

Is it sad that I've already begun getting things together to be packed?

Have a magical day, everyone!

 

[natebenma]

Hi Everyone...Just switched my GF ressie over to BC (due to all the construction/closures when im there) and im so excited to be spening my solo trip at the BC now..cant wait for SAB another other tips or advice for a solo traveler staying at BC? Look like i'll be spending my day catching up on this thread

Glad to have you joining us here.

Let us know your dates if you would like to be added to the Be Our Guest list on Page 1.

I love solo EPCOT time, and you are perfectly positioned for that!

Good Morning Everyone!

So, I'm always one to admit when I'm wrong, so I'm going to put on my big-boy pants and do it right now.

I always cringed a little when I saw those threads on the main board that went something like: "Just switched from Poly to CR-Will I be disappointed?" or "Switched from POR to POFQ-Will I like it there?"

I would think, "Well, you go to the site, look at pics, come here, look at pics and discussions and make a decision. You should know what you're getting yourself into. It didn't seem like rocket science to me.

That's my confession. I am shamed, because I'm currently in the same boat.

My DP and I had booked 2 nights at BC before our week-long BW stay. We booked a GV room. I've read enough on here to know that the extra $$ for GV is well worth it. So today, AP discounts for our trip became available and I got on the phone. After waiting about 30 minutes on hold, I got to chat for a while with a lovely, patient and magical CM. She got me an extra 3% (we already had 30% off) or so off my BWI stay (score!) but there were no discounts available for BC GV rooms. We already have 30% off from the general discount, but we were secretly hoping to bump up to CL-GV once AP rates came out. My CM had standard views CL and non CL at BC and YC, water views CL and non CL at BC and YC and CL-GV at YC....all at 35% off. In the end, I chose (nervewracking, as DP is at work, and I had to hope he'd be ok with this) a SV-CL room at BC. We'd like to stay at the YC sometime, but this time, we're really wanting to try BC. So the good news is...we're now staying CL!!!! The nervousness is giving up the GV.

Ugh! I'm that person! I'm going to ask it. <<<deep breath>>>

Will I like a standard view room?

Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with them?

Are there any requests I could make?

Teena?

Thanks in advance!

Congrats! It is TOTALLY worth giving up the GV for CL! (for me, anyway)

From some of the SV CL rooms, you can see some of the fireworks from Illuminations and in the room we had in 2010, you could also see the fireworks from MK every night. A lot of the views look over the parking lot in the front of the BC, which I didn't think was too bad.

As far as suggested requests- if a full balcony is important, make that a priority request. Close to lounge/elevator is another, if that is something you would like.

 

[cindydare]

Good Morning Everyone!

So, I'm always one to admit when I'm wrong, so I'm going to put on my big-boy pants and do it right now.

I always cringed a little when I saw those threads on the main board that went something like: "Just switched from Poly to CR-Will I be disappointed?" or "Switched from POR to POFQ-Will I like it there?"

I would think, "Well, you go to the site, look at pics, come here, look at pics and discussions and make a decision. You should know what you're getting yourself into. It didn't seem like rocket science to me.

That's my confession. I am shamed, because I'm currently in the same boat.

My DP and I had booked 2 nights at BC before our week-long BW stay. We booked a GV room. I've read enough on here to know that the extra $$ for GV is well worth it. So today, AP discounts for our trip became available and I got on the phone. After waiting about 30 minutes on hold, I got to chat for a while with a lovely, patient and magical CM. She got me an extra 3% (we already had 30% off) or so off my BWI stay (score!) but there were no discounts available for BC GV rooms. We already have 30% off from the general discount, but we were secretly hoping to bump up to CL-GV once AP rates came out. My CM had standard views CL and non CL at BC and YC, water views CL and non CL at BC and YC and CL-GV at YC....all at 35% off. In the end, I chose (nervewracking, as DP is at work, and I had to hope he'd be ok with this) a SV-CL room at BC. We'd like to stay at the YC sometime, but this time, we're really wanting to try BC. So the good news is...we're now staying CL!!!! The nervousness is giving up the GV.

Ugh! I'm that person! I'm going to ask it. <<<deep breath>>>

Will I like a standard view room?

Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with them?

Are there any requests I could make?

Teena?

Thanks in advance!

I would not hesitate to give up GV for SV-CL. We had a SV-CL room last year and booked another one this year. Like Dee said in her post, our SV-CL room overlooked the Porte Cochre, it was a corner room (right next door to the lounge), and we could see higher Illuminations fireworks from the Juliet Balcony and window on that side of the room, and MK fireworks from the window behind the daybed that faced the Porte Cochre.

My family really enjoys the lounge and if I tried to book a non-CL room, I'd be in big trouble!

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Cindy

 

[cmcadoo66]

So...if you couldn't stay at YC/BC for whatever reason, where would you stay instead?

I'm already thinking about a 2013 trip (and that 2014 cruise I mentioned a few pages back), and (1) YC/BC may not be in the budget and (2) we like to try different resorts, so we're thinking about where we might like to stay next year if we can go back.

So far we have stayed at POFQ and CBR. Loved POFQ, not so much CBR.

I hope I don't have to dodge any bullets for this, but have you considered the Swan and Dolphin? You're truly getting BC/YC quality rooms at a fraction of the price... And you're staying right next door!

With us activating our APs this trip, we are planning several trips in the next year. There is no way we can justify spending the $ on a deluxe resort for every trip we take so we are considering the Swan or Dolphin. It keeps us in the Epcot area within walking distance to our two favorite parks and that is a major consideration for us. You still get the EMH and the transportation so for us this is a no brainer and the Swalphin will be our BC back-up!

Thanks Dee!

As you can guess I'm in crazy mode right now.

Finished packing the kids - getting ready to take the dog to the groomers and today's schedule is pack for me, pack all the "extras" (toiletries, ponchos, water fans etc.) finish super cleaning the house and I have to take ds to get new sneaks and socks!

Of course the worse part is getting DH to pack. I have to supervise because the one time I told him he was totally on his own to pack, he ended up with 12 shirts and two pairs of shorts! Never again.

I'm so excited though I can hardly wait.

Thanks for your helpful US/IOA tips - we haven't been there since 2006. I'm a little nervous about staying at Royal Pacific (dd picked it). The other two times we were there we stayed at HRH.

Can't wait to check into BC and smell that wonderful lobby smell again (and of course see Teena again)!

You seem to prepare for a trip like I do. Not just the packing for everyone but wanting my house super clean when I leave! It just means one less thing I have to do when I get back!

Have a safe trip and a wonderful time!!

 

[KerriL]

I'm a day late with the birthday pictures. I was having technical difficulties. Still not sure what was wrong and why I couldn't copy off the pictures Teena sent me.

It seems like only yesterday that Lily turned one, but can you believe she is driving already?!?

She is gorgeous!!

 

[jakeybake]

I'm a day late with the birthday pictures. I was having technical difficulties. Still not sure what was wrong and why I couldn't copy off the pictures Teena sent me.

It seems like only yesterday that Lily turned one, but can you believe she is driving already?!?

She is adorable! So so cute!

One year flies by so fast!!

Jay

 

[TeenaS]

Good Morning Everyone!

So, I'm always one to admit when I'm wrong, so I'm going to put on my big-boy pants and do it right now.

I always cringed a little when I saw those threads on the main board that went something like: "Just switched from Poly to CR-Will I be disappointed?" or "Switched from POR to POFQ-Will I like it there?"

I would think, "Well, you go to the site, look at pics, come here, look at pics and discussions and make a decision. You should know what you're getting yourself into. It didn't seem like rocket science to me.

That's my confession. I am shamed, because I'm currently in the same boat.

My DP and I had booked 2 nights at BC before our week-long BW stay. We booked a GV room. I've read enough on here to know that the extra $$ for GV is well worth it. So today, AP discounts for our trip became available and I got on the phone. After waiting about 30 minutes on hold, I got to chat for a while with a lovely, patient and magical CM. She got me an extra 3% (we already had 30% off) or so off my BWI stay (score!) but there were no discounts available for BC GV rooms. We already have 30% off from the general discount, but we were secretly hoping to bump up to CL-GV once AP rates came out. My CM had standard views CL and non CL at BC and YC, water views CL and non CL at BC and YC and CL-GV at YC....all at 35% off. In the end, I chose (nervewracking, as DP is at work, and I had to hope he'd be ok with this) a SV-CL room at BC. We'd like to stay at the YC sometime, but this time, we're really wanting to try BC. So the good news is...we're now staying CL!!!! The nervousness is giving up the GV.

Ugh! I'm that person! I'm going to ask it. <<<deep breath>>>

Will I like a standard view room?

Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with them?

Are there any requests I could make?

Teena?

Thanks in advance!

I'm being perfectly honest ... the standard views are pretty bad. They are a roof or parking lot. That being said, at night, if you get one of the standard view CL rooms that face the front of the resort, you can see the fireworks from Magic Kingdom. What I would do at check-in is ask if you can pay for an upgrade to garden view. There might be one available and you would probably be happier there if you actually look out at the view.

However, I suggest you really think about it. Are you really planning on sitting on your balcony much? If you have small children that are napping or if you get up earlier than the rest of the family and want to sit on a balcony while they are still sleeping, then yes, you will probably not be happy with a standard view. OR, are you like me? Check in and go to the room, walk out to the balcony and if it's a nice view, I say, "Wow, nice view" and then walk back into the room and unpack and then (1) go to a park, (2) head to SAB, (3) get a shower, or (4) go to bed. Honestly, I'm only in the room long enough to unpack, shower, change clothes and sleep and during those times I normally close the drapes and never look out at the view or lack of view again. So, give me the ugliest view at the resort, I'm not there for the view. And you are on the club level floor so any snacking, etc. I normally would do in the lounge itself.

 

[Ninja Mom]

Have a great trip, Robyn!!! As a side note, I priced out my 2013 pkg for mid June at YC. No availability...Seriously? A year out? I am going to recheck again today..

Perhaps the convention booking staff is "holding rooms" to see how many they will need for their convention schedule. I'd keep checking and I hope you get lucky! Here is some Pixie dust!

Good Morning all you YC/BC Fans.... Below is the rest of 2012 FREE Dining schedule! These are the same dates that were released for VISA card holders earlier.

Not all nights are included however, you must check in on one of the following available dates:

September 30 – October 4, 2012
October 19 – November 1, 2012
November 9 – 15, 2012
November 23 – 29, 2012
December 10 – 13, 2012*

~Nannette
*

Remember to compare the costs of the free dining discount versus a room discount (if you can get one!) when staying at a deluxe. This is strictly a numbers game as you have to consider the total number of people in the room on the dining plan, calculate that discount for free dining and compare it to the amount that you would receive from a % off discount on the room.

The bottom line is to KEEP WORKING THOSE DISCOUNTS!!

Good luck everybody!!

Oh my gosh! How cute!!

So good luck to everybody leaving on their trips.

Kelly, Our family loves POFQ as a moderate. The buses pick you up at the single resort bus stop first before heading to POR so you pretty much always get a seat. We also love the fact that every building is close to the food court and pool and that boat to DTD is divine!! We love the style of POFQ too.

THE FOLLOWING IS A NINJA MOM UPDATE:
beep, beep, beep, beep....

I'm excited because I booked airfare yesterday on Southwest. Having a lot of time until our December trip really has given me the time to think about how I want to arrange this trip.

One of the things that I think is really a drain is our getting up at 2:30 in the morning to catch a plane drill. I decided to bag that this trip, go down the day before and check into Pop for 1 night and hit DTD and the hotel pool for an easy day. The buzz word for this December vacation will be RELAX!!
We'll transfer to BC on Sunday and away we go! I'm hoping that I'll be able to swing a discount and upgrade the one night at Pop to POFQ!

I am also happy to report that I am starting to feel like my old self 7 weeks post cancer surgery. I am the impatient type so I have a ton of things to do with the kids now that they are home for the summer and I am happy to report that I am now able to hit the pool and hopefully lay down a butt beating in Marco Polo. They are all getting older so I have a feeling my Marco Polo glory days are OVER! I went to the doctors this week for a post surgical check up and they were all laughing at my impatience and ordering me to take it easy. Don't those Doctors know I've got some living to do!?

This is Ninja Mom signing off!

 

[Scott MC]

Congrats! It is TOTALLY worth giving up the GV for CL! (for me, anyway)

From some of the SV CL rooms, you can see some of the fireworks from Illuminations and in the room we had in 2010, you could also see the fireworks from MK every night. A lot of the views look over the parking lot in the front of the BC, which I didn't think was too bad.

As far as suggested requests- if a full balcony is important, make that a priority request. Close to lounge/elevator is another, if that is something you would like.

I would not hesitate to give up GV for SV-CL. We had a SV-CL room last year and booked another one this year. Like Dee said in her post, our SV-CL room overlooked the Porte Cochre, it was a corner room (right next door to the lounge), and we could see higher Illuminations fireworks from the Juliet Balcony and window on that side of the room, and MK fireworks from the window behind the daybed that faced the Porte Cochre.

My family really enjoys the lounge and if I tried to book a non-CL room, I'd be in big trouble!

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Cindy

Thanks for the tips! I'm feeling better about the choice. We're definately not giving up CL! There is one more thing to think about though. I've always wanted to stay at the BC. BUT for about $8 more...total...we could go CL-GV at YC. I think the YC is beautiful...and I love that we'd have a guaranteed garden view and (correct me if I'm wrong) a guaranteed full balcony at YC. I know Teena calls it "the dark side" and I can see why, but I'm now trying to decide if the promised gv and balcony might be worth the changeover. Also...it'll be just DP and I (celebrating an anniversary) and the YC seems less crowded (lobby and CL lounge) and more quiet. Hmmm. It's a nice problem to have isn't it! It's certainly stressing me out though! It's not like we won't be back and can try the BC another time...right? Right???

And maybe Teena can come over just that one day and greet us? Right? Right???