drusba
I went to Iowa once, and it was closed.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 14,858
See update in this thread after intial report from last week.
We are currently at BWV -- midst of 12 night stay in 2 2BR's with numerous family members. Rooms are over the quiet pool, OK view, nothing spectacular. We were going to have over the boardwalk but when we arrived I took a look outside first. The two bedrooms are over the Big River Grill and the DVC store. There is scaffolding over all the Big River Grill rooms taking them out of service and the ones over the DVC store have the awnings removed, look like the outside has been primed for work and would look at partly the scaffolding over the Grill so made a quick decision to switch request at check in and they gave us the quiet pool. Weather has been typical summer hot with a couple daily showers until today when it rained most of the day. Some items that may be of interest:
1. Outside renovation of rooms at BWV is likely to continue through the year and possibly into next year. Right now it is half the Luna park area and the Big River Grill area over the BW. Neither really interferes with much except to take a lot of rooms out of service (which could be part of the reason for some having trouble getting BWV). They will be moving down the BW to the DVC store area and the rest of the Luna Pool area. They also have to do all the standard view area which is likely to begin after the above mentioned are done. All internal work appears done including new carpeting in the hallways. There is no more work going on the BWI side. (BWV quiet pool area where we are is all done and rooms are in excellent condition.)
2. Walked around and walked inside the new BCV. Impressive. Room doors are and look like wood. Small lobby area and drawing room across from it look nice with some large bookcases here and there. The quiet pool looks like a normal quiet pool, much like BWV's. As far as views go, no one should get their hopes up of having many Epcot views. A lot of rooms face in the general direction of Epcot but between the resort and Epcot are a huge number of very high trees and that is everyhwere on that side of the resort. It is practically a Wilderness Lodge woods view. Some rooms on the top floors may be able to see parts of Epcot. The quiet pool view side won't be bad except for some rooms at the very end (past the rooms built over the canal) that are directly overlooking the parking lot which at that point is right below the end of the building. The other end of the resort actually comes very close to the rooms at the end of Beach Club (those just before heading over to Epcot). The walk to Epcot and to the main BC pool is not going to be of any real length at all.
3. Couldn't get close to Disney Institute area but work is going on in full force in that area. However, there is absolutely nothing going on at the Eagle Pines area, indicating that construction is on hold there.
4. Reports of larger than normal crowds are a misconception. Overall crowds are no bigger than usual this time of year but there are differences. MK is much more crowded everyday of the week (even Sundays) than I have ever seen it at this time of year (fastpasses for key rides are running out by the afternoon). However, Epcot is much less crowded everyday of the week than I have ever seen it this time of year. Perhaps this is one of those effects Disney did not count on when it decided to save a few bucks and kill early entry. Apparently a lot of people who might have gone to Epcot on Tuesday and Fridays with ee aren't going at all now (in fact last Friday was one of its lightest days of the week). MGM seems about normal for this time of year, as does AK. MGM is not following its prior ee patterns as Sunday was not a heavy day but last Monday was perhaps its most crowded day of the week (this past Saturday was light).
5. Though I am going only on memory, it seems that Disney has found one way to make up for lost revenue--restaurant prices appear to be 10 to 15% higher than I remember them from last year.
6. They have been opening Timekeeper for several hours daily but not Carousel of Progress. The new Journey into Imagination is much better than the disaster they had even though they retain the same theme; Figment is everywhere.
7. They search all bags and containers at all park entrances. It is done in a friendly way and everyone cooperates. Nevertheless be prepared for long lines at park opening times. Also be prepared to be patient with hotel front desk personnel and a lot of store clerks in the park and resort stores. They are training a huge number of new employees and thus checking in, getting info and buying merchandise can take longer than you are probably used to and the person you are dealing with won't necessarily have quick answers to your questions. All employees we have run into, veterans and trainees have been very friendly.
8. Was not that impressed with the new Blast show at the American outdoor theater at Epcot. OK once but wouldn't go again. Lots of horns--my daughter's comment was that it proves there is life for some people after playing in high school marching bands.
9. Transportation seems no worse or better than last year. As they did last summer, Swan/Dolphin has its own bus to and from MK and thus BW shares only with YC/BC. We did have one interesting ride back from MK at night. The bus driver was new and for a long time we drove around for what seemed like forever when she finally admitted she could not find the YC (the first stop). So those of us who knew how to get there gave her continuous directions.
That's all for now. Note, don't expect questions to be answered any time soon as I am not likely to hit the boards again until after I return home.
Dateline June 23, 2002-- Further report upon return:
Well we are back (Friday night) and can add the following:
A. The Florida drought--remember hearing about it? Well, we can happily report for Florida, the ducks, and anything that swims, that the drought is over. Beginning last Sunday evening (June 17) and continuing until we left (and even after from what I have learned), it rained ... and rained ...and rained. I was waiting for Pooh and friends to come floating by just like out of the story. It rained at least 12 of the 24 hours everyday. And it was not your light rain. It poured for hours on end. The ducks were swimming down the streets of the parks and resorts. Ten inches of rain in just under 5 days. I have never seen it rain so continuously for so many days in Florida anytime of year. It was something called a "tropical wave" that would not go away and as much as we tried to wave it bye-bye it refused to depart. On Thursday we were at Animal Kingdom when it started to pour about noon. We were just within one of the shops and a group that was apparently having their first day at WDW were debating whether to challenge it or wait it out. I looked at them and said, "Based on the last few days if you plan to wait it out out, you might be here until December." True to the overall experience it continued to pour until 11 p.m. on Thursday. And guess what--that man made river in AK rises; it didn't overflow but it was getting there. It got so wet that when you walked out somewhere onto the grassy areas at the resorts you sunk into the ground. I stepped off the path from BW to MGM and my shoe got stuck in the ground. Florida went from drought to flood warnings.
B. Though the rain set back activities somewhat we had a fairly hearty crew including a number who thought the greatest thrill was doing Splash Mountain several times when it was pouring (I personally passed on that one). The people I feel for are those first timers who were there for that week--many kept asking the CM's to tell them when it was going to stop raining. CM's know a lot but they seldom had an aswer for that one.
C. Both Timekeeper and Carousel are open now part of the day (12 to 6) and likely to continue through the summer months.
D. Crowd sizes continued to be a lot heavier than normal for this time of year in MK (even during the rain), but again Epcot was much lighter than normal and MGM and AK seemed about normal. As one of ours commented, the crowds were so heavy and lines so long at MK that the women needed fastpass for the restrooms. For those veterans, you will know what I mean by crowded when I found Country Bears to have 60 minute waiting times after 4 to closing on Tuesday and Wednesday.
E. They seem to be working harder (or more often) than I remember from last year to keep the park streets and bathrooms clean.
F. Repairs at Boardwalk--further to above--they actually have the rest of Luna Pool and boardwalk to do and then all the canal view rooms and standard views; when they will actually get to the standards is a question the manager I talked to could not answer but that portion, like Luna pool, will be done in segments.
We had 12 total and enjoyed even despite the rain.
We are currently at BWV -- midst of 12 night stay in 2 2BR's with numerous family members. Rooms are over the quiet pool, OK view, nothing spectacular. We were going to have over the boardwalk but when we arrived I took a look outside first. The two bedrooms are over the Big River Grill and the DVC store. There is scaffolding over all the Big River Grill rooms taking them out of service and the ones over the DVC store have the awnings removed, look like the outside has been primed for work and would look at partly the scaffolding over the Grill so made a quick decision to switch request at check in and they gave us the quiet pool. Weather has been typical summer hot with a couple daily showers until today when it rained most of the day. Some items that may be of interest:
1. Outside renovation of rooms at BWV is likely to continue through the year and possibly into next year. Right now it is half the Luna park area and the Big River Grill area over the BW. Neither really interferes with much except to take a lot of rooms out of service (which could be part of the reason for some having trouble getting BWV). They will be moving down the BW to the DVC store area and the rest of the Luna Pool area. They also have to do all the standard view area which is likely to begin after the above mentioned are done. All internal work appears done including new carpeting in the hallways. There is no more work going on the BWI side. (BWV quiet pool area where we are is all done and rooms are in excellent condition.)
2. Walked around and walked inside the new BCV. Impressive. Room doors are and look like wood. Small lobby area and drawing room across from it look nice with some large bookcases here and there. The quiet pool looks like a normal quiet pool, much like BWV's. As far as views go, no one should get their hopes up of having many Epcot views. A lot of rooms face in the general direction of Epcot but between the resort and Epcot are a huge number of very high trees and that is everyhwere on that side of the resort. It is practically a Wilderness Lodge woods view. Some rooms on the top floors may be able to see parts of Epcot. The quiet pool view side won't be bad except for some rooms at the very end (past the rooms built over the canal) that are directly overlooking the parking lot which at that point is right below the end of the building. The other end of the resort actually comes very close to the rooms at the end of Beach Club (those just before heading over to Epcot). The walk to Epcot and to the main BC pool is not going to be of any real length at all.
3. Couldn't get close to Disney Institute area but work is going on in full force in that area. However, there is absolutely nothing going on at the Eagle Pines area, indicating that construction is on hold there.
4. Reports of larger than normal crowds are a misconception. Overall crowds are no bigger than usual this time of year but there are differences. MK is much more crowded everyday of the week (even Sundays) than I have ever seen it at this time of year (fastpasses for key rides are running out by the afternoon). However, Epcot is much less crowded everyday of the week than I have ever seen it this time of year. Perhaps this is one of those effects Disney did not count on when it decided to save a few bucks and kill early entry. Apparently a lot of people who might have gone to Epcot on Tuesday and Fridays with ee aren't going at all now (in fact last Friday was one of its lightest days of the week). MGM seems about normal for this time of year, as does AK. MGM is not following its prior ee patterns as Sunday was not a heavy day but last Monday was perhaps its most crowded day of the week (this past Saturday was light).
5. Though I am going only on memory, it seems that Disney has found one way to make up for lost revenue--restaurant prices appear to be 10 to 15% higher than I remember them from last year.
6. They have been opening Timekeeper for several hours daily but not Carousel of Progress. The new Journey into Imagination is much better than the disaster they had even though they retain the same theme; Figment is everywhere.
7. They search all bags and containers at all park entrances. It is done in a friendly way and everyone cooperates. Nevertheless be prepared for long lines at park opening times. Also be prepared to be patient with hotel front desk personnel and a lot of store clerks in the park and resort stores. They are training a huge number of new employees and thus checking in, getting info and buying merchandise can take longer than you are probably used to and the person you are dealing with won't necessarily have quick answers to your questions. All employees we have run into, veterans and trainees have been very friendly.
8. Was not that impressed with the new Blast show at the American outdoor theater at Epcot. OK once but wouldn't go again. Lots of horns--my daughter's comment was that it proves there is life for some people after playing in high school marching bands.
9. Transportation seems no worse or better than last year. As they did last summer, Swan/Dolphin has its own bus to and from MK and thus BW shares only with YC/BC. We did have one interesting ride back from MK at night. The bus driver was new and for a long time we drove around for what seemed like forever when she finally admitted she could not find the YC (the first stop). So those of us who knew how to get there gave her continuous directions.
That's all for now. Note, don't expect questions to be answered any time soon as I am not likely to hit the boards again until after I return home.
Dateline June 23, 2002-- Further report upon return:
Well we are back (Friday night) and can add the following:
A. The Florida drought--remember hearing about it? Well, we can happily report for Florida, the ducks, and anything that swims, that the drought is over. Beginning last Sunday evening (June 17) and continuing until we left (and even after from what I have learned), it rained ... and rained ...and rained. I was waiting for Pooh and friends to come floating by just like out of the story. It rained at least 12 of the 24 hours everyday. And it was not your light rain. It poured for hours on end. The ducks were swimming down the streets of the parks and resorts. Ten inches of rain in just under 5 days. I have never seen it rain so continuously for so many days in Florida anytime of year. It was something called a "tropical wave" that would not go away and as much as we tried to wave it bye-bye it refused to depart. On Thursday we were at Animal Kingdom when it started to pour about noon. We were just within one of the shops and a group that was apparently having their first day at WDW were debating whether to challenge it or wait it out. I looked at them and said, "Based on the last few days if you plan to wait it out out, you might be here until December." True to the overall experience it continued to pour until 11 p.m. on Thursday. And guess what--that man made river in AK rises; it didn't overflow but it was getting there. It got so wet that when you walked out somewhere onto the grassy areas at the resorts you sunk into the ground. I stepped off the path from BW to MGM and my shoe got stuck in the ground. Florida went from drought to flood warnings.
B. Though the rain set back activities somewhat we had a fairly hearty crew including a number who thought the greatest thrill was doing Splash Mountain several times when it was pouring (I personally passed on that one). The people I feel for are those first timers who were there for that week--many kept asking the CM's to tell them when it was going to stop raining. CM's know a lot but they seldom had an aswer for that one.
C. Both Timekeeper and Carousel are open now part of the day (12 to 6) and likely to continue through the summer months.
D. Crowd sizes continued to be a lot heavier than normal for this time of year in MK (even during the rain), but again Epcot was much lighter than normal and MGM and AK seemed about normal. As one of ours commented, the crowds were so heavy and lines so long at MK that the women needed fastpass for the restrooms. For those veterans, you will know what I mean by crowded when I found Country Bears to have 60 minute waiting times after 4 to closing on Tuesday and Wednesday.
E. They seem to be working harder (or more often) than I remember from last year to keep the park streets and bathrooms clean.
F. Repairs at Boardwalk--further to above--they actually have the rest of Luna Pool and boardwalk to do and then all the canal view rooms and standard views; when they will actually get to the standards is a question the manager I talked to could not answer but that portion, like Luna pool, will be done in segments.
We had 12 total and enjoyed even despite the rain.
. (Anyway, I'm thinking that it will be at least January before they get to the standard view rooms).
