The 2009 Yacht & Beach Club FAQ Thread

[TeenaS]

During a recent stay at the Yacht Club we had a garden view. Our balcony faced the gazebo which is lovely. We saw weddings and enjoyed the fact that the room was close to the lounge and a short hallway that only guests with rooms in that area go down so there isn't much noise. You can actually see the lake from the balcony in this area.

That is a beautiful view absolutely. However, there is no guarantee you can get a real garden view.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Has anyone seen the Disney Dooney and Bourke handbags at the BC and YC shops? Just wondering where they are and what kind of selection is there. Also, did you see lots of ladies using them on your WDW trip? I saw pics on another thread and think they are really cute!

on Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies's Community Board there's a long running thread about the purses, come join us!!

 

[WDWjen]

I am sure this has been hashed out in this thread somewhere and I have read most of it, been subscribed to it since the beginning even, but if you wouldn't mind humoring me if you have some knowledge ...

Standard view BC CL vs. Standard view YC CL?

I think we've decided to do one of them at the tail end of the next trip we are planning, just for 3 nights with an emphasis on sticking around the resort and enjoying my boys' favorite pool in the world.

Are the food offerings the same at both lounges? Are the alcoholic offerings the same as well? Are the lounges the same size? I've heard that BC's lounge is really small for the number of people they are expected to accommodate - is YC similarly under-sized?

Here is the biggest piece of it for us: a balcony and nice view is important to us. Water view CL (at YC only, I think BC water view rooms only allow 4?) is out of our budget. I understand that the chances of getting a full balcony at BC on the 5th floor are much higher than standard view on the other floors so that is great. But, of BC and YC, does one have a higher percentage of real "garden" view CL rooms? By that, I mean trees, courtyard or ANYTHING other than roofs/parking lot.

Considering deluxe room CL at BC too because that would give us a view we'd be thrilled with, but that also cuts our chances of a full balcony down to about 50%, correct?

Thanks for any thoughts.

just my opinion, but with 3 kids I'd choose the beach club over the yacht club. they are both great and both connected.. but the beach club seemed more kid friendly. we just got back from 7 nights at the BC (got upgraded to a suite and club level!) and we loved it! but walking back from the pool in bathing suits and carrying our pool noodles etc.. I felt more at ease w/my three kids in the BC lobby than the YC. might just be b/c there was a convention at the YC and there were a lot of people walking around the lobby fully dressed in work clothes!

hope that helps.. at least you know with the 2 resorts you really cant go wrong!!

 

[jenjersnap]

During a recent stay at the Yacht Club we had a garden view. Our balcony faced the gazebo which is lovely. We saw weddings and enjoyed the fact that the room was close to the lounge and a short hallway that only guests with rooms in that area go down so there isn't much noise. You can actually see the lake from the balcony in this area.

I've stayed at BC twice and YC once, with standard view, and so far have gotten lovely non-parking lot views - at BC the woods toward Epcot with SE peeking out and at YC in the quiet pool courtyard (which I was assured was NOT an upgrade). It will be just my luck that I will pay for the upgrade to CL and get an atrocious view.

 

[jenjersnap]

Y&B club lounges have the exact same offerings. We are the same resort. Same cast members, same managers. The sizes are pretty much the same since the BC was enlarged.

What is more important for you, full balcony or view? Personally I'd go with the deluxe room at the BC but you are correct that you could get a patio or a standing balcony. But the views are nice in those rooms. If you are going for a full balcony and that is the most important thing for you, I'd go with the YC. However, the "garden" views on club level on both sides are really "standard" views and in my opinion (and remember, this is must my opinion), both have fifty percent pretty ugly standard views and you have an equal chance at both the YC and BC to get those ugly views. At the BC standard view club levels, about 95% of them have full balconies so you would most likely get a full balcony there too.

There is absolutely no way you can guarantee to get a nice view and a full balcony at either resort by booking a standard view or deluxe view club level. The only way you can guarantee a full balcony and a nice view is to book the water view club level at the Yacht Club.

If it were me, hands down, absolutely with no hesitation, I'd go with the deluxe room at the Beach Club but that's me - that way I would be guaranteed a larger room and a nice view. I'm sure you can ask the next five people on this thread and they will most likely pick something different.

Thanks, Teena. I guess B&YC have to have SOME small downside to them or they'd be too popular to book! I am leaning toward the deluxe rooms because a relaxing view has the edge in my mind though, honestly, we'd be so disappointed without a balcony. We'll request it and cross our fingers!

My other concern about the deluxe rooms is, of course, lack of proximity to the lounge. I am concerned about breakfast time - are there trays available to take some coffee, juice and cereal back to our room if there isn't anywhere to sit?

 

[brerroadrunner]

We just got back from eight days at BC CL. I was stressing over a room with balcony, small lounge, view etc. like many of you are doing. Here is my opinion and like Teena, this is just my opinion.

We went to relax and enjoy the resort as we have been to Disney many many times with the kids and this was just DH and me.

I wanted a full balcony with a view to see Illuminations but didn't really want to pay the top tier price so we went with standard view and took our chances.

Our room was small. Smaller then when we stayed YC CL. The beds did not seem queen size. I immediately asked if they had anything with a king available but no luck there. We had trouble regulating the room temp. Too hot or too cold. Never just right We stayed with this room which had a full balcony overlooking the front entrance. We could see the Epcot ball. Yes there was a roof below.
.

All in all it really didn't matter. We used the balcony and window very little.
For the extra cost for view, I would save the $$$ and do a special meal.

Yes the lounge was small compared to YC and Poly. Only once or twice did it pose an inconvenience.The food offerings were great and plentiful. We got anything we asked for, an extra beer or wine for the room, a bottle of water, etc. They remembered us and would ask if we wanted something. They were so nice. I was worried we would be disappointed with the food, but we weren't. Since we stayed close to the hotel, the lounge food was enough for us some days. If you miss having a full breakfast, here's a tip. We took a croissant and split it and put the sliced hard boiled egg in it and made a sandwich. It was good! And I loved the fresh pineapple. Nescafe coffee not so good.
We had a really great time and Mousekeeping and IPO staff were all great. I highly recommend the BC CL.

I had one pet peeve though and maybe I notice this because my kids are now grown. Some of the little ones that visited the lounge would be unsupervised at the food counters and used their hands a lot instead of the utensils, touching a lot of the food. As a matter of fact I noticed a lot of adults doing the same. One more item, some folks and kids still come to the lounge dripping wet in swim attire even though in the brochures you are given at check in requests you do not do this.

This was my trip to BC CL and my opinions. We had a great time and DH hardly complained about anythig which is a first. I hope you all have a wonderful time at BC or YC

 

[pinkxray]

I've been trying to read as much as I can on this thread, but seems much easier to just post a question than read every post. I know it says kids must be able to swim without a swimming device to use the big slide. I thought I have read others say their kid has gone down with a life vest. My daughter is five and I know she would love it but she isn't able to swim on her own yet.

 

[MagicPrincess]

does anyone have any pictures of the BC deluxe room? What is different about it? How many of those types of rooms are available? (just wondering if they book up fast) thanks!

 

[jenjersnap]

There are 6 deluxe rooms. Down this page there are pics of one of the rooms: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1858494&highlight=3691&page=60

does anyone have any pictures of the BC deluxe room? What is different about it? How many of those types of rooms are available? (just wondering if they book up fast) thanks!

 

[DrMomof3]

I did it! I officially booked our trip to BCV for August!!! We'll be staying in a one bdrm villa. We've never stayed at BC or BCV. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

 

[LMO429]

I did it! I officially booked our trip to BCV for August!!! We'll be staying in a one bdrm villa. We've never stayed at BC or BCV. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

that is so exciting you are going to have an incredible time I love the beach club ENJOY!

 

[klinlin]

I've been trying to read as much as I can on this thread, but seems much easier to just post a question than read every post. I know it says kids must be able to swim without a swimming device to use the big slide. I thought I have read others say their kid has gone down with a life vest. My daughter is five and I know she would love it but she isn't able to swim on her own yet.

My youngest was 4 1/2 and although he could swim on his own, I was a little worried about the slide. They allowed no life vests, or parents catching at the bottom.

 

[jenjersnap]

My youngest was 4 1/2 and although he could swim on his own, I was a little worried about the slide. They allowed no life vests, or parents catching at the bottom.

This was our experience in Fall, 2008 as well.

 

[jenjersnap]

Ok, I finally made up my mind and booked a deluxe room at the BC for December. Even got a 40% pin code discount so I am happy as a clam right now. You'll likely be seeing me a lot around here.

 

[DrMomof3]

Ok, I finally made up my mind and booked a deluxe room at the BC for December. Even got a 40% pin code discount so I am happy as a clam right now. You'll likely be seeing me a lot around here.

Isn't the pin discount awesome? We got the same one and that helped me to convince my DH! I'm going to be here planning a lot, too.

Amanda

 

[littlelulu33]

I have a question when we were at Disney in Dec. I booked BC Villas with bounceback an got a 45% discount for Sept 4-12. I booked a studio becuase this trip is my DH, myself and DD who will be 4 at the time of the trip. I requested a lagoon view--I am hopeing for a view of illumanations DD is usually in bed by 7 or 8 and we miss it.
Do you think that if I were to book a non villa room we would have a better chance of getting to see Epcot and fireworks etc. It would cost a little more to move to a non villa room the discount is less. Is there a better chance for a upgrade at a non villa room maybe CL?
The other thing does anyone know what this means on our conf. that I got it says Beach Club Villas--OLD is OLD a code for something or is it a older style room
Thanks

 

[Poly-Anna]

Last year we stayed YC CL for the first time and are going back to WDW in October. I was just going to book YC CL again, but our DS (6) thought he might like BC better (we had stayed at BC the year before). Which club level of the 2 did you prefer? Is BC CL smaller than YC CL? We had a great view that overlooked the front entrance at YC last time even though we booked standard. Thoughts!

Sorry Teena, didn't see your post on the previous page til afterwards. Still opinions welcome.

Actually I just checked out the pictures on Allearsnet of the new BC lounge and I could be wrong, but it looks a bit larger then the YC lounge. The food area seems larger if I remember correctly. True?

 

[BCV23]

I did it! I officially booked our trip to BCV for August!!! We'll be staying in a one bdrm villa. We've never stayed at BC or BCV. I can't wait!!!

Amanda

Ok, I finally made up my mind and booked a deluxe room at the BC for December. Even got a 40% pin code discount so I am happy as a clam right now. You'll likely be seeing me a lot around here.

Congratulations to you both.

jenjersnap, we've never stayed in a BC deluxe room but they look great!

Amanda, with three little ones I think you will love the space of a 1 BR as well as the w/d and full refrigerator.

I have a question when we were at Disney in Dec. I booked BC Villas with bounceback an got a 45% discount for Sept 4-12. I booked a studio becuase this trip is my DH, myself and DD who will be 4 at the time of the trip. I requested a lagoon view--I am hopeing for a view of illumanations DD is usually in bed by 7 or 8 and we miss it.
Do you think that if I were to book a non villa room we would have a better chance of getting to see Epcot and fireworks etc. It would cost a little more to move to a non villa room the discount is less. Is there a better chance for a upgrade at a non villa room maybe CL?
The other thing does anyone know what this means on our conf. that I got it says Beach Club Villas--OLD is OLD a code for something or is it a older style room
Thanks

There is no lagoon view from BCV.....it's tucked in behind the BC. I would call back and request Epcot side if I were you. I think about half of BCV gets nice view of the upper fireworks of Illuminations. None get a complete view. Teena might have an idea about the % of BC rooms that get the same view. There are quite a few there, too. We've had rooms that do. They were not rooms facing the lagoon however. Like the villas that afford a view of Illuminations, they were the rooms on the side of the resort toward Epcot. I'll attach a photo that a DISser posted that might help. In any case, it is not like seeing Illuminations in the park. Maybe you could take turns staying with your little one so you each get a chance to see it in the park and enjoy the short walk back to your villa.

As for upgrades at BCV, since you booked through DRC, there is a chance for an upgrade but it's probably very, very slim. The villas stay pretty full.

I don't know what that code means but it is not an old style room.

http://mosa.unity.ncsu.edu/photos/misc/epcotdvc.html

 

[cocoabean1]

Isn't the pin discount awesome? We got the same one and that helped me to convince my DH! I'm going to be here planning a lot, too.

Amanda

I've never heard of a "pin discount", what is this? What kind of discounts do you get?

 

[DrMomof3]

I've never heard of a "pin discount", what is this? What kind of discounts do you get?

Disney mailed me a postcard with a 15 digit pin code on it. The postcard said to call disney to find out what discounts I was eligible for. Apparent the pin is only good for me. I got a 40% discount off deluxe resorts (it was 30% off moderates and 20% off value). I had read up on disboards different methods to get Disney to send a pin. I ordered the vacation planning DVD, played around on the website with different vacation packages, etc.

I'm super excited for a kitchen and washer/dryer. We stayed at the Contemporary in December (which was great, too!) in a regular room. We were only there for 4 nights so I figured we'd be fine without the amenities of the villa. Until my youngest vomited all over all of us during landing. I spent the 1st night of our vacation in the laundry room. It's so much easier to just throw a load in the washer and go to bed!!!

Amanda