drusba
I went to Iowa once, and it was closed.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 14,854
Am currently at BWV -- till Friday, thus not likely to come back to answer any questions before we return. Just thought I provide a quick report on some things that might be of interest:
1. Parking at BW: There is now a sign outside the main entrance stating that parking in the main lot is prohibited for people just going to Epcot and MGM. They are also questioning people at the front gate to assure they are going to the boardwalk before letting them in. The net result is that the main parking lot appears to have parking available when people need it and the second lot across the street, which has no restrictions and used to be fairly empty most of the day, is now almost completely full by 10 a.m.
2. Busses and boats: For rush times, morning and around park closing, the Swan/Dolphin now has its own bus for MK and thus the one that stops at BW is shared only with YC/BC. Have had no problems with busses while here so the new bus on demand system for rush times seems to be OK (note we have a car and drive to DD so cannot report on that bus). Particularly impressive were the boats from MGM after Fantasmic (if you don't feel like walking). One boat after another kept coming (they were actually just lined up waiting to dock at MGM) so there was hardly any wait though huge numbers were there to use them.
3. BW refurbishment: Atlantic Dance is closed for refurbishment (as many may have already known) until late September/early October. The front entrance area of the lobby (where valet parking is) is being worked on (minor annoyance at most). Scaffolding is all up around the tower part of the lobby outside but that interferes with nothing. As most know refurbishment along the boardwalk on the BWV units outside begins in Sep. The need is there and some of the porch areas look like they have been primed already.
4. Buskers: someone had reported that the Buskers were gone. They are still on the boardwalk at least while we have been here.
5. Crowds: summer crowds are always heavy; however in comparison to the same time the last few years, the crowds this year are definitely lighter than usual. Mornings have usual rushes and long lines, but late afternoons and evenings at Epcot, MGM, and even MK, except on ee days, have been particularly light--example, imagine Tower of Terror in summer with only a 5 to 10 minute wait or the Pooh ride at 10 minutes. Note people may have been fooled on a lot of the rides in the afternoon by signs showing 40 minute waits when there was hardly any--they just failed to change many of the signs once the morning rush was over. AK seems heavy but still lighter than before; also it appears Sunday is becoming its light day particularly in the afternoon--all major attractions were essentially walk-ons on Sunday from 2 to 6; other days of the week remain heavy in the afternoon. Also another sign of lighter crowds: we have had no problems getting PS's for prime dinner times for any park (or other) restaurant, including those with character dinners, by calling the day before or morning of the day we want to go.
6. Smoke: the first night we were here, June 10, was one of the worst nights for smoke from distant fires. It became so thick about 10 p.m. that you could not even see the YC/BC from the BW. Second night, June 11, there was some smoke but not as a bad. Then the daily showers began -- one or two heavy ones per day usually about 5 and sometimes later-- and there has been no problem since. One storm earlier this week was quite severe, felling some trees in WDW and putting out some of the lights at MGM on the signs at the entry to the park.
7. Weekly DVC meeting: nothing but usual stock presentations at the weekly DVC meeting. However, there was an interesting comment. Someone asked when BCV would open and if it might open early. The person giving the presentation stated she could not give any information except the official view that they are scheduled for late 2002 and said she could not say anything else because they were told they could be fired for making predictions that showed up on the internet.
8. Park hours: those reduced park hours listed on the official Disney site for the summer are the real park hours. Anything listed on this site showing longer hours is incorrect.
We are in a 2 bedroom overlooking the boardwalk (above the Big River Grill); room is in excellent shape and view is the best for Epcot and Illuminations).
1. Parking at BW: There is now a sign outside the main entrance stating that parking in the main lot is prohibited for people just going to Epcot and MGM. They are also questioning people at the front gate to assure they are going to the boardwalk before letting them in. The net result is that the main parking lot appears to have parking available when people need it and the second lot across the street, which has no restrictions and used to be fairly empty most of the day, is now almost completely full by 10 a.m.
2. Busses and boats: For rush times, morning and around park closing, the Swan/Dolphin now has its own bus for MK and thus the one that stops at BW is shared only with YC/BC. Have had no problems with busses while here so the new bus on demand system for rush times seems to be OK (note we have a car and drive to DD so cannot report on that bus). Particularly impressive were the boats from MGM after Fantasmic (if you don't feel like walking). One boat after another kept coming (they were actually just lined up waiting to dock at MGM) so there was hardly any wait though huge numbers were there to use them.
3. BW refurbishment: Atlantic Dance is closed for refurbishment (as many may have already known) until late September/early October. The front entrance area of the lobby (where valet parking is) is being worked on (minor annoyance at most). Scaffolding is all up around the tower part of the lobby outside but that interferes with nothing. As most know refurbishment along the boardwalk on the BWV units outside begins in Sep. The need is there and some of the porch areas look like they have been primed already.
4. Buskers: someone had reported that the Buskers were gone. They are still on the boardwalk at least while we have been here.
5. Crowds: summer crowds are always heavy; however in comparison to the same time the last few years, the crowds this year are definitely lighter than usual. Mornings have usual rushes and long lines, but late afternoons and evenings at Epcot, MGM, and even MK, except on ee days, have been particularly light--example, imagine Tower of Terror in summer with only a 5 to 10 minute wait or the Pooh ride at 10 minutes. Note people may have been fooled on a lot of the rides in the afternoon by signs showing 40 minute waits when there was hardly any--they just failed to change many of the signs once the morning rush was over. AK seems heavy but still lighter than before; also it appears Sunday is becoming its light day particularly in the afternoon--all major attractions were essentially walk-ons on Sunday from 2 to 6; other days of the week remain heavy in the afternoon. Also another sign of lighter crowds: we have had no problems getting PS's for prime dinner times for any park (or other) restaurant, including those with character dinners, by calling the day before or morning of the day we want to go.
6. Smoke: the first night we were here, June 10, was one of the worst nights for smoke from distant fires. It became so thick about 10 p.m. that you could not even see the YC/BC from the BW. Second night, June 11, there was some smoke but not as a bad. Then the daily showers began -- one or two heavy ones per day usually about 5 and sometimes later-- and there has been no problem since. One storm earlier this week was quite severe, felling some trees in WDW and putting out some of the lights at MGM on the signs at the entry to the park.
7. Weekly DVC meeting: nothing but usual stock presentations at the weekly DVC meeting. However, there was an interesting comment. Someone asked when BCV would open and if it might open early. The person giving the presentation stated she could not give any information except the official view that they are scheduled for late 2002 and said she could not say anything else because they were told they could be fired for making predictions that showed up on the internet.
8. Park hours: those reduced park hours listed on the official Disney site for the summer are the real park hours. Anything listed on this site showing longer hours is incorrect.
We are in a 2 bedroom overlooking the boardwalk (above the Big River Grill); room is in excellent shape and view is the best for Epcot and Illuminations).
Time flies at WDW!!! 
inkbounc
