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

[gwynne]

May have to try one... they should have Disaronno ones!

Good suggestion!

 

[diskids2]

Hi folks...just returned from our first visit to the BC....had a blast! Everything was wonderful...in fact, so great that we wanted to return for our Easter trip. Then I looked it up! For 8 nights standard view room for four was coming in around $7500 with 5DPH. I don't know if I can justify that. Although I WANT TO!!!!!!!

 

[Koh1977]

She just turned one on 7/11. Her hair is out of control: blond, curly and looks like she stuck her finger into an electrical socket.

HRH turned 1 in May and hers is dark and wavy and constantly in her eyes.

 

[bookgirl]

She just turned one on 7/11. Her hair is out of control: blond, curly and looks like she stuck her finger into an electrical socket.

Just realized, Lily will get a birthday slushie every year for free.

 

[scottmel]

So off topic of BC YC and honestly BC YC is what keeps me coming back to WDW! Thinking of maybe DL in 2013 instead? So afraid I will regret this.....ANyone try DL and if so what did you think? Feel free to PM me!!

 

[TeenaS]

So off topic of BC YC and honestly BC YC is what keeps me coming back to WDW! Thinking of maybe DL in 2013 instead? So afraid I will regret this.....ANyone try DL and if so what did you think? Feel free to PM me!!

Been there twice. Was something I always wanted to see. Went once with Jeanne and once with my best buddy. Disneyland is soooo crowded and smushed all together. California Adventure can be done easy in one day and same with Disneyland. Our third and fourth days we went and did Hollywood excursions and even went to that "U" place. It's nothing like WDW and I personally will never go back for a "vacation". I might go again if I were in LA for something else ... especially since I don't have to buy a ticket to get in. I certainly would never spend money to go again. I certainly prefer Florida!!

 

[scottmel]

Been there twice. Was something I always wanted to see. Went once with Jeanne and once with my best buddy. Disneyland is soooo crowded and smushed all together. California Adventure can be done easy in one day and same with Disneyland. Our third and fourth days we went and did Hollywood excursions and even went to that "U" place. It's nothing like WDW and I personally will never go back for a "vacation". I might go again if I were in LA for something else ... especially since I don't have to buy a ticket to get in. I certainly would never spend money to go again. I certainly prefer Florida!!

So behind on this thread Teena but I just noticed Lily is due!! Have a wonderful wonderful time with your family. I will check back for pics! thanks for the DL info...I am sorting of feeling the same way....I am so afraid to spend alll that and a loooooong flight to boot and be ":eh" on it......Ok moving on! 2013 BC!!!

 

[Couchy]

Princess Lily (and Jeanne too of course) are on their way. I hope we don't hear anything about a baby getting kicked off Southwest for screaming!!

I'm running around like crazy trying to make sure everything is Lily proof. And of course the vacuum died dead. Bob's working on it but it looks like we'll have to add a vacuum to the shopping list tomorrow. Jeanne, Lily and I have to go out and buy two weeks worth of Lily food, diapers, etc. I have enough for two days but I wanted to make sure we get the right stuff so the three of us will go shopping tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow night is Ohana's for dinner ... Jeanne's favorite.

Thursday is the first trip to Typhoon Lagoon.

Friday is Magic Kingdom (AM only) and her first haircut.

I will have Jeanne send pictures to Dee so you can share along with "Princess Lily's First Trip to WDW".

And I big thank you from Jeanne, Bob and I (and of course the Princess herself if she could talk) for all the many gifts and cards that have been sent for her first birthday. Tonight we will celebrate!!!

Sound like soooo much fun! Princess Lily will love every moment

 

[stepdisney]

I will be at YC from 8/20 - 8/25 after Portofino Bay 8/15 - 8/19
Please add me to the list. Thanks!

Also,
Is there anywhere to get a burger at YC/BC? I can't really read the menus at the pool place. Also, is there anything for sale at the resorts that has Yacht club or beach club? I would love to have a coffee mug and a key chain.

Thanks.

 

[KerriL]

At the place in MK? My DD15mo has long, dark hair (never lost any when she was a baby and we have yet to cut it). What do they do for their first haircut? Anything special? Cost?

Here is DFB before and after his first haircut last December. The cost was $18.00 plus tax and gratuity. You also will receive the Mickey ears with "First Haircut" embroidered on it.

 

[mmtwinmama]

So off topic of BC YC and honestly BC YC is what keeps me coming back to WDW! Thinking of maybe DL in 2013 instead? So afraid I will regret this.....ANyone try DL and if so what did you think? Feel free to PM me!!

We went end of June 2010. Stayed very near DL (walking distance). We did 3 days which was enough. DH liked it better. He likes how compact it is and how you can come and go as you please without relying on transportation. I enjoyed it, but not as much as WDW. With that said, the Indiana Jones ride became my new favorite and the World of Color show beats F!, Wishes, Illuminations by far IMO. I would go back just to see that alone.
Our trip started out due to the NY Yankees playing at Dodgers Stadium (DH is a Dodger fan, while I am a Yankee fan) which does not happen often. We did DL, the game, Sea World, US (not a fan... Orlando was much better), SD Zoo, LegoLand and a SD Padres game. It was a great trip! I would not go just for DL, but would do it again, but head North.

 

[Avenger117]

I will be at YC from 8/20 - 8/25 after Portofino Bay 8/15 - 8/19
Please add me to the list. Thanks!

Also,
Is there anywhere to get a burger at YC/BC? I can't really read the menus at the pool place. Also, is there anything for sale at the resorts that has Yacht club or beach club? I would love to have a coffee mug and a key chain.

Thanks.

Beaches and Cream at YC/BC sells burgers. Its a pretty neat old diner theme. As far as Yacht Club coffee mugs, you should be able to find those at the Yacht Club's gift shop Fittings and Fairings. I know I saw Yacht Club water bottles and I think I saw coffee mugs too.

 

[sndral]

So off topic of BC YC and honestly BC YC is what keeps me coming back to WDW! Thinking of maybe DL in 2013 instead? So afraid I will regret this.....ANyone try DL and if so what did you think? Feel free to PM me!!

Actually, being a CA native I grew up going to DL. We are up north, and DL is a 5-6 hr drive and mom took the whole family @ least once a year - wonderful times.
They are very different experiences, IMO. I've read that Walt bought so much land in Florida to avoid the asphalt jungle that sprang up around DL. Since the redo, several years ago now, it's much nicer @ DL than it used to be but even in the old days we always stayed in the mini DL bubble @ the DL Hotel and never ventured across the parking lot to the 'good neighbor' hotels. These days my son and both nieces are based in SoCal, so DL is a day trip or weekend sort of thing. We enjoy comparing subtle details in the rides between DL and WDW and of course I love Indy - which beats Dinosaur by a long shot (they're the same track/design I've read.) I would allocate 3 days to DL - staying @ the iconic DL Hotel or the Grand Californian, and then do southern CA, Knots Berry farm, San Diego (both zoos,) maybe the water park place ( I boycott, due to my philosophical view re: Orcas in captivity, but that's another issue.)
I wouldn't try to replace a WDW vacation w/ DL, but I would include it as part of a California trip.
First time I ever visited WDW we did a cruise (big red boat) and then WDW, met a nice family on the cruise and agreed to meet up on x day at x time "by the Matterhorn" - which is how I learned about one difference between MK and DL.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I will be at YC from 8/20 - 8/25 after Portofino Bay 8/15 - 8/19
Please add me to the list. Thanks!

Also,
Is there anywhere to get a burger at YC/BC? I can't really read the menus at the pool place. Also, is there anything for sale at the resorts that has Yacht club or beach club? I would love to have a coffee mug and a key chain.

Thanks.

Both Beaches and Cream and Hurricane Hannah's have fantastic burgers.

As for BC/YC merchandise I got a frig magnet and a windbreaker there last week with the BC logo. They also had polo shirts, t shirts and luggage tags. Might have more but that's what I remember.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Nope, our youngest is 11. And I double checked our reservation and it definitely says party of 5 with all our names listed. This will be our 4th time staying club level at YC/BC with a group of 5, we've always been lucky to get a daybed, even though they always say no guarantee.

That is wierd because we were also told by CRO that a party of 5 couldn't book gv cl or lv cl at either BC or YC. Even when you do check online they don't even offer it to you. We were told only sv cl or a deluxe room.

I was nervous about the sv cl room but we lucked out and had a room with a great view of the back entrance to BC and a sideway view of Crescent Lake.

 

[barbliny]

Okay, can't stay hiding anymore - I'm getting too excited - guess it must be the fact that August starts tomorrow

We are going to the Beach Club - CL GV 8/15 to 8/22 - splurging on this vacation since my girls are getting older - and we'll be empty nesters (at least during the school year!!) a year from now

Picked the BC (our previous fave is AKL) because of all of the great friendly chatter about it on this board. The Epcot location will work great for us since I like the fact that it's so easy for our girls to get around by themselves.

Think club level will give us a lot of flexibility and extra 'living space' - teens can really burn through a lot of money on impromptu food!!

We're going into this with no ADRs - we are usually more 'fluid' travelers and have a base plan, but go with the mood. Only meal we're planning is Boma - always a must do for us. We're not big TS people at WDW, maybe once per day - we're also more of a late lunch family - so one big meal a day suffices. We rent a car so it's easy to eat off-site sometimes, along with DTD and the other Disney hotels.

And in response to 'what about Disneyland' for a vacation ...

we've been twice and love it for it's own merits. But, it is a totally different feel and vacation than WDW. It is not a destination by itself that can sustain a week-long vacation. You can do the parks and ride things multiple times in 2 or 3 days. We always combine with other places.

First trip was San Diego/La Jolla for 2 days (Radisson), Howard Johnsons outside DL for 3 days - this is a neighborhood hotel that gets you perks at DL, and is simply a 5 minute walk to the park, it is an 'upscale' HJ if that makes any sense - and they have even redone it since we were last there, and then we finished with 3 days at a golf resort with a kids club in Carlsbad. A perfect vacation!!

Second trip - we stayed at the Hilton in Huntington Beach it is right across the street from the beach and a 5 minute walk to the 'main strip' of restaurants and shops outside the beach. It is also about a 20-25 minute drive to DL - so we combined a beach vacation with DL.

What we love about DL - Indiana Jones!!! the Matterhorn, we actually like Space Mountain better in DL than WDW, California Dreamin'.

I think if you're a Disney park lover, you should do DL - just understand that it's not as 'enveloping' as WDW and you will need other things in your vacation other than DL.

 

[Scott MC]

Yahoo! Guess what came in the mail!

It's so close I can taste it....and by "it," I mean the Grey Goose Slushies.

This brings me to two questions I thought I'd throw out there.....

1. All this talk of Lily getting her first haircut (shut up...so cute!) reminded me that I'm going to be due for a haircut when we're at BC. Any thoughts on Periwigs? Specifically....what does a man's haircut cost? And more importantly....will they do the Mickey sparkles/sequins like they do in the MK?

2. We're flying in on Saturday night, and our BC reservation doesn't start until Sunday morning, so we got a room at the Hyatt at MCO (which I've always wanted to try). Our original plan, thanks to Samantha Brown (of Travel Channel fame), was to rent a car, just for a few hours and drive to "The Wine Room" in Winter Park. Did anyone see the episode where she went there and got herself tanked? It killed me! Anyway, DP's eyes popped out of his head when he saw that, so we planned to go there. Now that we really think about it, we see that we don't land until 5:35, and by the time we deplane, get our luggage, check-in to the Hyatt, get to the car rental place and get on our way, it'd probably be in the 7:30-8 range and the restaurant is supposedly at least 30 minutes away. So we're thinking that we should scratch that and just stay at MCO. I believe they have a rooftop pool that we plan on using, and we're wondering if any of you have any suggestions for upscale-ish dining right at MCO. Any thoughts?

 

[georgiasmom]

You guys are so great on this thread, that I thought I would reach out to the parents out there. I have a very tall 4 year old daughter who will ride anything from the "thrill" standpoint, but I think some of the themeing might scare her, so I am trying to figure out what rides will be ones that we should avoid. She will not be scared of the ride themselves (the faster, the spinnier, the better in her book). I have heard Dinosaur is pretty dark and scary and Tower of Terror before the drops could be rough. What other rides should I worry about?

17 days until we wake all three girls up with the news that we are leaving for the Beach Club!!

Dinosaur scared the %$#^&* out of me and I am over 10x her age

A

 

[mmtwinmama]

Okay, can't stay hiding anymore - I'm getting too excited - guess it must be the fact that August starts tomorrow

We are going to the Beach Club - CL GV 8/15 to 8/22 - splurging on this vacation since my girls are getting older - and we'll be empty nesters (at least during the school year!!) a year from now

Picked the BC (our previous fave is AKL) because of all of the great friendly chatter about it on this board. The Epcot location will work great for us since I like the fact that it's so easy for our girls to get around by themselves.

Think club level will give us a lot of flexibility and extra 'living space' - teens can really burn through a lot of money on impromptu food!!

We're going into this with no ADRs - we are usually more 'fluid' travelers and have a base plan, but go with the mood. Only meal we're planning is Boma - always a must do for us. We're not big TS people at WDW, maybe once per day - we're also more of a late lunch family - so one big meal a day suffices. We rent a car so it's easy to eat off-site sometimes, along with DTD and the other Disney hotels.

And in response to 'what about Disneyland' for a vacation ...

we've been twice and love it for it's own merits. But, it is a totally different feel and vacation than WDW. It is not a destination by itself that can sustain a week-long vacation. You can do the parks and ride things multiple times in 2 or 3 days. We always combine with other places.

First trip was San Diego/La Jolla for 2 days (Radisson), Howard Johnsons outside DL for 3 days - this is a neighborhood hotel that gets you perks at DL, and is simply a 5 minute walk to the park, it is an 'upscale' HJ if that makes any sense - and they have even redone it since we were last there, and then we finished with 3 days at a golf resort with a kids club in Carlsbad. A perfect vacation!!

Second trip - we stayed at the Hilton in Huntington Beach it is right across the street from the beach and a 5 minute walk to the 'main strip' of restaurants and shops outside the beach. It is also about a 20-25 minute drive to DL - so we combined a beach vacation with DL.

What we love about DL - Indiana Jones!!! the Matterhorn, we actually like Space Mountain better in DL than WDW, California Dreamin'.

I think if you're a Disney park lover, you should do DL - just understand that it's not as 'enveloping' as WDW and you will need other things in your vacation other than DL.

Ok, you freaked me out a little! We are also BC CL GV with the same exact dates!! LOL! Then, I go on to read about your DL trip! We also did HOJO and then a Carlsbad hotel. Small world!

 

[pixarmom]

I will be at YC from 8/20 - 8/25 after Portofino Bay 8/15 - 8/19
Please add me to the list. Thanks!

Also,
Is there anywhere to get a burger at YC/BC? I can't really read the menus at the pool place. Also, is there anything for sale at the resorts that has Yacht club or beach club? I would love to have a coffee mug and a key chain.

Thanks.

Welcome, Step!!!! Just wanted to add to Robyn's post regarding Beaches N' Cream and Hurricane Hannas - great burgers at both! If you have any difficulty reading the HH menus, I'm happy to repost or zoom in - I took several around the Epcot resort area and have them in iphoto. As for merchandise, they offered really cute new YC and BC merchandise when we were there in April. Definitely a key chain and maybe a coffee cup.

So off topic of BC YC and honestly BC YC is what keeps me coming back to WDW! Thinking of maybe DL in 2013 instead? So afraid I will regret this.....ANyone try DL and if so what did you think? Feel free to PM me!!

I was born in CA, and DL was my original home park. I've been going there since I was two years old and our last visit was in March of this year. I do like DL, I'm very nostalgic about it and I think everyone should try it at least once. But I definitely prefer WDW. As others have mentioned, DL is surrounded by Anaheim and caters quite a bit to day visitors. (For example, my mom grew up nearby and went there on dates as a teenager.) I really prefer the dining options, resorts and overall atmosphere at WDW.

One of the main reasons we return to DL is that it's close to my favorite place in the world - Newport Beach. If you go to DL, I highly recommend at least a day trip to Newport! Here's the Newport thread I created earlier this year: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2895078.

The other thing I recommend is the Grand Californian Hotel. We often stay in Newport and visit DL for a day or two, but I prefer to spend at least a week at our beach house rental in Newport and then stay on-site at DL for a few nights. Many locals will say that it's best to stay off-site because the Good Neighbor hotels are just as close and far less expensive. For us, it's not just about proximity (although you can't get closer than GCH) but atmosphere. As a WDW vet, it's kind of different to walk city streets on the way to the park, even if the walk isn't far. So when we go for a few days and stay at GCH, we stay on Disney grounds the whole time. If GCH isn't offering a good rate, I'd try the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier - both on-site.

Another great thing about DL is that nobody wakes up early there. So if you get to the gates 30 minutes before rope drop on a 7am Magic Morning, you may be there alone. That's how we were selected to open the park in the summer of 2010. The park was nearly empty for the first 2-3 hours in the middle of the summer!

That is wierd because we were also told by CRO that a party of 5 couldn't book gv cl or lv cl at either BC or YC. Even when you do check online they don't even offer it to you. We were told only sv cl or a deluxe room.

I was nervous about the sv cl room but we lucked out and had a room with a great view of the back entrance to BC and a sideway view of Crescent Lake.

Welcome Home, Robyn!!!! But really sorry to hear about your niece - you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

And I heard the same regarding BC GV CL - Disney is very smart to limit parties of 5 to either SV or deluxe when booking BC CL - not enough GV rooms with a daybed to do otherwise. Great to hear about your SV CL room. If we upgrade from our regular GV in October (hoping for AP discount) then I think that's the room category we'll book.