The MURPHYS are LIVE from the BEACH CLUB (3/26/11-4/1/11)!!!!!

[scottmel]

Enjoying the report, Erica! Can you tell me if the BC lounge is still 24 hours? I know they were test piloting that a while back. We are staying at YC CL in August (stayed there last summer and loved it). Do you prefer BC or YC?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Besides the way you thought that Cast Member reacted when you told her what happened, how else would you rate the service from their Club Level Cast Members? I ask because this August my family and I are having our first Club Level stay at the Beach Club.

Honestly I'm really not impressed with much of it. The lounge is very small, most people down there are in wet bathing suits and barefeet, piling plates with all the hot appetizers they can carry before anyone can even get a chance to get near them. Way too many little kids grabbing food with their hands, no parental supervision, etc. Dirty coffee stirrers, empty sugar packets, missing tongs, its more like the Golden Corral than a concierge lounge. There seems to be way too many people staying on this floor compared to the offerings they're providing. They bring a pan of something out (example: 20 mini egg rolls) and they are gone in less than one minute. People are standing around waiting for food. I actually feel sorry for the lounge castmembers because they seem nice and friendly but they are trying to control a zoo of chaos. I saw a CM tell a lady she needed to wear shoes and she ignored her and continued on. I saw a boy about 12 years old take off his wet sneakers, peel off his wet socks, leave them in the middle of the lounge floor and then procede to take apple slices with his bare hands. There are many small children unattended, so I'm guessing parents like to treat the lounge as free babysitting. I have been staying out of there because it really makes me angry. I swear I came so close this morning to unleashing a tirade on a boy who was about 10 years old playing in the sugar cube bowl while his mother stood right there next to him. I may sound like a snob but this is completely unacceptable to me. We've stayed on the CL at the GF, YC, WL, AKL, BWI, and Poly... this one is the bottom of the list for sure. I don't think its the CMs fault, I'm sure they don't want to play sheriff all day to a bunch of kids who really ought to know better. Or if they don't know better then their parents should know better.

I will definitely stay at the BC again, its a great location, we love being close to Epcot, we love SAB, our room has been cleaned every day by the time we return from the parks (which is HUGE in my book), but I wouldn't waste money on the CL here again. I made all my own ADRs online anyway so really we just like the use of the lounge as an added bonus. I don't want the stress of having to deal with a huge crowd every time I want a glass of water or a cup of coffee. I want a lounge that is relaxing and enjoyable for down time and I want an occasional snack that hasn't been touched by 50 kids.

Rant over Sorry about that!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Enjoying the report, Erica! Can you tell me if the BC lounge is still 24 hours? I know they were test piloting that a while back. We are staying at YC CL in August (stayed there last summer and loved it). Do you prefer BC or YC?

Yes, the lounge is open overnight. They leave out a cansiter of yogurt pretzels, trail mix, and swedish fish. The fridge has coke, diet coke, sprite, and ginger ale. No water is left out though. We asked a CM for a bottle of water for our room (he opened it and covered the top with saranwrap) and it did fit inside our mini fridge in the door compartment.

 

[scottmel]

Thanks Erica and wow the BC CL doesn't sound like for us...Staying put at YC this August...how GROSS and how disappointing. I think BC gets a hard sell as the resort to bring small kids too b/c YC is sooooo stuffy they say. HA I would take stuffy anyday...So wrong on so many levels..

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Honestly I'm really not impressed with much of it. The lounge is very small, most people down there are in wet bathing suits and barefeet, piling plates with all the hot appetizers they can carry before anyone can even get a chance to get near them. Way too many little kids grabbing food with their hands, no parental supervision, etc. Dirty coffee stirrers, empty sugar packets, missing tongs, its more like the Golden Corral than a concierge lounge. There seems to be way too many people staying on this floor compared to the offerings they're providing. They bring a pan of something out (example: 20 mini egg rolls) and they are gone in less than one minute. People are standing around waiting for food. I actually feel sorry for the lounge castmembers because they seem nice and friendly but they are trying to control a zoo of chaos. I saw a CM tell a lady she needed to wear shoes and she ignored her and continued on. I saw a boy about 12 years old take off his wet sneakers, peel off his wet socks, leave them in the middle of the lounge floor and then procede to take apple slices with his bare hands. There are many small children unattended, so I'm guessing parents like to treat the lounge as free babysitting. I have been staying out of there because it really makes me angry. I swear I came so close this morning to unleashing a tirade on a boy who was about 10 years old playing in the sugar cube bowl while his mother stood right there next to him. I may sound like a snob but this is completely unacceptable to me. We've stayed on the CL at the GF, YC, WL, AKL, BWI, and Poly... this one is the bottom of the list for sure. I don't think its the CMs fault, I'm sure they don't want to play sheriff all day to a bunch of kids who really ought to know better. Or if they don't know better then their parents should know better.

I will definitely stay at the BC again, its a great location, we love being close to Epcot, we love SAB, our room has been cleaned every day by the time we return from the parks (which is HUGE in my book), but I wouldn't waste money on the CL here again. I made all my own ADRs online anyway so really we just like the use of the lounge as an added bonus. I don't want the stress of having to deal with a huge crowd every time I want a glass of water or a cup of coffee. I want a lounge that is relaxing and enjoyable for down time and I want an occasional snack that hasn't been touched by 50 kids.

Rant over Sorry about that!

Thank you for that reply and the way I see it those issues you mentioned are more do with the guests and not the Cast Members. As long as they are friendly that's all I care about and we just ignore the guests who are not following the rules in the lounge.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Honestly I'm really not impressed with much of it. The lounge is very small, most people down there are in wet bathing suits and barefeet, piling plates with all the hot appetizers they can carry before anyone can even get a chance to get near them. Way too many little kids grabbing food with their hands, no parental supervision, etc. Dirty coffee stirrers, empty sugar packets, missing tongs, its more like the Golden Corral than a concierge lounge. There seems to be way too many people staying on this floor compared to the offerings they're providing. They bring a pan of something out (example: 20 mini egg rolls) and they are gone in less than one minute. People are standing around waiting for food. I actually feel sorry for the lounge castmembers because they seem nice and friendly but they are trying to control a zoo of chaos. I saw a CM tell a lady she needed to wear shoes and she ignored her and continued on. I saw a boy about 12 years old take off his wet sneakers, peel off his wet socks, leave them in the middle of the lounge floor and then procede to take apple slices with his bare hands. There are many small children unattended, so I'm guessing parents like to treat the lounge as free babysitting. I have been staying out of there because it really makes me angry. I swear I came so close this morning to unleashing a tirade on a boy who was about 10 years old playing in the sugar cube bowl while his mother stood right there next to him. I may sound like a snob but this is completely unacceptable to me. We've stayed on the CL at the GF, YC, WL, AKL, BWI, and Poly... this one is the bottom of the list for sure. I don't think its the CMs fault, I'm sure they don't want to play sheriff all day to a bunch of kids who really ought to know better. Or if they don't know better then their parents should know better.

I will definitely stay at the BC again, its a great location, we love being close to Epcot, we love SAB, our room has been cleaned every day by the time we return from the parks (which is HUGE in my book), but I wouldn't waste money on the CL here again. I made all my own ADRs online anyway so really we just like the use of the lounge as an added bonus. I don't want the stress of having to deal with a huge crowd every time I want a glass of water or a cup of coffee. I want a lounge that is relaxing and enjoyable for down time and I want an occasional snack that hasn't been touched by 50 kids.

Rant over Sorry about that!

Please don't apologize, at least not to this former Hoosier. I really appreciate you telling it like it is, Erika, and thanks CRRF4L for asking the question I was thinking about. It can't be easy to remind yourself of something that's disappointing while you're still there, so I appreciate you being able to tell us about it.

My CL experience is limited to the WL, YC and CR last year, but I'll tell you, the lounge is only as good as it's worst guest (and worst CM). My DH was in Afghanistan when DD and I tried out the three CLs last year. Now that he's back, I wanted him to "feel special," too so I booked the BC Deluxe room which has CL access. But what you have described is my greatest CL fear. You have much more strength than me. I probably would have switched to another resort by now. (I've done it twice before mid-trip).

It sounds like the CMs don't wield much control at the BC lounge. If they ask a guest politely to put some shoes on and the guest ignores them and there's no follow-up on the part of the lounge staff, then that sets a bad precedent and anything goes and it seems it has during your trip.

I loved the WL lounge last Christmas because it was always neat and tidy and when a guest didn't have shoes on, the lounge CM politely reminded them to put some on and didn't allow them in the lounge! The food/drinks were always replenished and there was always plenty of seating, just wish it was on the monorail and had bigger rooms. (The Deluxe room wasn't available with our military discount.)

I would love to hear how you would rank the other CLs you've stayed in. I know the BC is last on your list, but I would love to hear if any monorail resorts made it to the top of your list. I know you're busy and most importantly, you're on vacation! So I understand if you can't respond. But, thanks for your really informative LTR!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It sounds like the CMs don't wield much control at the BC lounge. If they ask a guest politely to put some shoes on and the guest ignores them and there's no follow-up on the part of the lounge staff, then that sets a bad precedent and anything goes and it seems it has during your trip.

Personally I don't think that's a Beach Club lounge issue. On various other topics I have read on here when it comes to rules it seems that the Cast Members don't want to do anything that will make the guests get mad, even though the guests are the ones who are wrong the way TigrLvsPooh has described. The way I see it some rules like what you can and can't do in a Club Level lounge needs to be enforced and even though the Beach Club Cast Members in the lounge told the guests they were wrong and etc, they shouldn't be afraid to tell them again.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It sounds like the CMs don't wield much control at the BC lounge. If they ask a guest politely to put some shoes on and the guest ignores them and there's no follow-up on the part of the lounge staff, then that sets a bad precedent and anything goes and it seems it has during your trip.

I forgot to mention that in August 2009 on the Atrium Club Level floor of the Contemporary this family staying up there invited 20 - 30 of their family or friends into the lounge and none of the Cast Members working up there said anything at the time. I remember they were being very loud, little kids of their's were running around and eating their foods along drinking the Beer and Wine that was available. So it got to the point that we took our food and drinks back to our room. Now later that night we started talking with one of the Club Level Cast Members who worked there for a few years and knew us very well, because he appologized for what happened. We then asked him how come they didn't ask these people to leave because it was obvious not everyone was staying up there. He told us they can't do this when a guest does something like this the first time, however if they tried brining all those people up a second time then they would be asked to leave. Personally we thought they should have asked them to leave right away, but that decison wasn't up to us. Instead later that same night they put two signs in the lounge in english and spanish which said access is to the Atrium Club lounge is for guests staying up there. In all our previous stays up there not once did they ever put those out.

So that goes to show not all Club Level lounges are perfect and etc. Plus you know I am being serious about that because when have you ever seen me write something negative which happened at the Contemporary.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Personally I don't think that's a Beach Club lounge issue. On various other topics I have read on here when it comes to rules it seems that the Cast Members don't want to do anything that will make the guests get mad, even though the guests are the ones who are wrong the way TigrLvsPooh has described. The way I see it some rules like what you can and can't do in a Club Level lounge needs to be enforced and even though the Beach Club Cast Members in the lounge told the guests they were wrong and etc, they shouldn't be afraid to tell them again.

I can compare the Atrium Club (August) with the Old Faithful Club (Christmas) and it was like night and day. For 8 days at the CR, I never witnessed a CM remind any guest of any lounge rules or decorum, but at the WL for 8 days, I did see a lounge staff member (not a concierge) remind a guest that they could not come into the lounge without footwear and that a child needed to use tongs to remove food from the bowl.

I felt the lounge was really well run at the WL, but at the CR I felt it was chaotic and understaffed. The concierges seemed to be running both the lounge and the desk, whereas at the WL there was a dedicated lounge staff, like at the YC.

It isn't just the CMs or just the guests that make a lounge "good" or "bad," it's a combination of both, IMHO. If some of the BC/CL guests are doing the disgusting things Erika has described, then the lounge staff do need to intervene so that those guests don't end-up ruining the lounge experience for everyone else.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I agree scottmel, I would guess that close to 100% of the rooms on this floor this week have small children. The BC is great for kids and the YC always gets the "stuffy" comments. Personally stuffy doesn't bother me, and if that means the adults go to YC and the families go to BC then it makes the decision easy to find which resort suits your needs.

WDWKOOK, here is a basic rundown of the ones I've experienced, in my humble opinion of course:

Poly CL - all around best of show for CL. Their lounge is large and has plenty of room for everyone. (love to watch Wishes there) They always have plenty of snacks and drinks, plus the Hawaii building has awesome views. The CMs there really go out of their way to make each family feel special. Here at the BC we didn't receive anything with our names printed on it, no personalized folder, no little welcome token or anything. That's a first for us.

AKL CL - beautiful lounge with a nice view looking out over the lobby and the savannah, good snacks, nice CMs. They come in 2nd place for me.

GF RPC- very posh, wonderful for a honeymoon or anniversary. Definitely in the top three. The only downside is the price. I doubt we'd ever spend that much money again unless it was a really special occasion.

WL CL - loved it! great food, super nice CMs, they surprised us with so many little thoughtful things. We really felt special there.

BWI CL - beautiful lounge but the walk from the elevator thru a rat maze of hallways was so annoying after a few days. Maybe it was just because our kids were younger and we had a stroller, I don't know. But our CL room was a really long way from the theme pool. I think we would have enjoyed our stay better if we wouldn't have had our kids with us.

YC CL - nice lounge, CMs weren't very friendly though which bothered me. But I would rank them over BC CL at this point. I think we'll try it again and see if its better next time. Like I said in my previous post, we love this area because we love Epcot!

I can't comment on the CR because our stay there was in a regular tower MK view room, not CL.

I hope that helps

 

[WDWKOOK]

Thanks Erica and wow the BC CL doesn't sound like for us...Staying put at YC this August...how GROSS and how disappointing. I think BC gets a hard sell as the resort to bring small kids too b/c YC is sooooo stuffy they say. HA I would take stuffy anyday...So wrong on so many levels..

Stuffy is sounding pretty good to me, too.

At least in August the Regatta Club was nothing like what Erika has described at the BC. While the concierges weren't real warm and fuzzy at the YC, the lounge was spotless and guests were on their best behavior.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I forgot to mention, the whole reason I've been sitting here typing so much is that we were under a tornado watch!!! A really strong storm moved thru just a bit ago. Now it has moved off to the east and the rain is tapering off so we will still be able to make it to Hacienda for dinner and Illuminations. Thank goodness its not another rain out!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I agree scottmel, I would guess that close to 100% of the rooms on this floor this week have small children. The BC is great for kids and the YC always gets the "stuffy" comments. Personally stuffy doesn't bother me, and if that means the adults go to YC and the families go to BC then it makes the decision easy to find which resort suits your needs.

WDWKOOK, here is a basic rundown of the ones I've experienced, in my humble opinion of course:

Poly CL - all around best of show for CL. Their lounge is large and has plenty of room for everyone. (love to watch Wishes there) They always have plenty of snacks and drinks, plus the Hawaii building has awesome views. The CMs there really go out of their way to make each family feel special. Here at the BC we didn't receive anything with our names printed on it, no personalized folder, no little welcome token or anything. That's a first for us.

AKL CL - beautiful lounge with a nice view looking out over the lobby and the savannah, good snacks, nice CMs. They come in 2nd place for me.

GF RPC- very posh, wonderful for a honeymoon or anniversary. Definitely in the top three. The only downside is the price. I doubt we'd ever spend that much money again unless it was a really special occasion.

WL CL - loved it! great food, super nice CMs, they surprised us with so many little thoughtful things. We really felt special there.

BWI CL - beautiful lounge but the walk from the elevator thru a rat maze of hallways was so annoying after a few days. Maybe it was just because our kids were younger and we had a stroller, I don't know. But our CL room was a really long way from the theme pool. I think we would have enjoyed our stay better if we wouldn't have had our kids with us.

YC CL - nice lounge, CMs weren't very friendly though which bothered me. But I would rank them over BC CL at this point. I think we'll try it again and see if its better next time. Like I said in my previous post, we love this area because we love Epcot!

I can't comment on the CR because our stay there was in a regular tower MK view room, not CL.

I hope that helps

Thanks for your humble opinion, it does help and this isn't even the Club Level thread!

I felt the same way about YC and WL and I wouldn't do the Atrium Club again. BWI just doesn't appeal to us and we were booked at the AKL/CL for our next trip, but a CR room opened up and I grabbed it since we prefer the MK location.

The King Kamehameha Club came in first in your list - very interesting. We were saving it for our "next, next" trip, but now you've got me thinking.

 

[camsmomE]

I forgot to mention, the whole reason I've been sitting here typing so much is that we were under a tornado watch!!! A really strong storm moved thru just a bit ago. Now it has moved off to the east and the rain is tapering off so we will still be able to make it to Hacienda for dinner and Illuminations. Thank goodness its not another rain out!!

I'm an hour away from you, and we've been under this stupid watch all day I pretty bad storm just blew through here- we're fine at my house, but my dad lost power 3 minutes away at his house. I'm hoping it went east out to sea, instead of west over to you because that was a nasty little booger.

 

[natebenma]

Hope the tornado watch ends for you soon and you can get out and enjoy some EPCOT!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Ahhhhhhhhh, grey goose slush finally!!!!!!

Just a little treat before dinner. Heading to Hacienda!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Erica,

So sorry you are having this nasty weather. That is the pits, I remember when I met you that night at Epcot a few years ago, it was a rainy trip then and it gets tough to work around!

Yep, that is a cockroach. Ugghh. We had one at POR last March. If they are not removing dirty dishes from rooms and hallways, that may explain why the roaches are coming up to the fifth floor.

We were supposed to be there this week (were there last year this same week for our kids' spring break) but had to move our trip to June. Maybe given this weather that is a good thing although it sure has been tough all week to know we should be in WDW!

Love the pics, your boys are just growing up. I have seen that "middle school face" all too often in the past few years!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Ahhhhhhhhh, grey goose slush finally!!!!!!

Just a little treat before dinner. Heading to Hacienda!

OK, now I really want to be in WDW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Wait, does this make me an alcoholic??? )

 

[natebenma]

Erika- how do the parks handle a tornado watch? Some attractions shut down? All attractions shut down? Recommendations that you stay indoors?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I can compare the Atrium Club (August) with the Old Faithful Club (Christmas) and it was like night and day. For 8 days at the CR, I never witnessed a CM remind any guest of any lounge rules or decorum, but at the WL for 8 days, I did see a lounge staff member (not a concierge) remind a guest that they could not come into the lounge without footwear and that a child needed to use tongs to remove food from the bowl.

I felt the lounge was really well run at the WL, but at the CR I felt it was chaotic and understaffed. The concierges seemed to be running both the lounge and the desk, whereas at the WL there was a dedicated lounge staff, like at the YC.

It isn't just the CMs or just the guests that make a lounge "good" or "bad," it's a combination of both, IMHO. If some of the BC/CL guests are doing the disgusting things Erika has described, then the lounge staff do need to intervene so that those guests don't end-up ruining the lounge experience for everyone else.

It was either in December 2009 or in August 2010 but one time by the elevators of the 12th floor these people had got off and I thought they were looking confused. Well a Cast Member saw them and asked why they were up there, then asked is this where they can watch Wishes? Well the Cast Member said the balcony lounge was only for guests staying up there and they had to leave right away. Now I am guessing they got up to the 12th floor because someone else was staying up there and put their KTTW card in the elevator to activate the 12th floor. So I guess those people knew what they were doing and tried to play dumb to watch Wishes and maybe even steal some food from the lounge. Anyway the point is not all the Atrium Club Level Cast Members won't let things like that slide and that's my best example.

Now besides the Contemporary the Club Level Cast Members at the Boardwalk Inn are also responsible for putting out the food and helping guests with ADR's and etc, so the Contemporary is not the only set up like that. I can tell you the Polynesian has two different sets of Club Level Cast Members. One set works down stairs at the entrance where guests check-in, make ADR's and etc, where as the other set is responsible for putting out the food and etc. So I would say they have the same set up as the Wilderness Lodge.