Tips for First Stay @ BCV

[mcr5298]

Our home resort is OWK. We have stayed at VWL and BWV, but have never stayed at BCV.

We start our single digit dance tomorrow.

We are a tad bit worried about the cold weather, but so looking forward to this vacation that we'll tough it out.

Any tips or hints for our first stay at BCV?

 

[MrShiny]

The pools are heated, so don't be too afraid to take a dip, even if it's a little cool.

Beaches & Cream - Kitchen Sink. 'Nuff said.

 

[disneyri]

BCV Resort Configuration
An exploratory tour of the Beach Club Villas reveals the floor plan for this resort complex. There appear to be four general views available, with some variation within each view type- depending on which floor and location of the room. I have NOT personally experienced each view from the different villas and am basing my assumptions on the apparent likely view from each area.

All smoking villas are on the 4th Floor and are noted in the summary. The public laundry room- with free use of washers and dryers- is located on the 4th floor. Each floor has an ice and vending machine room. There are two elevators. One near the main entrance and another near the far end of the quiet pool area. There are multiple stairways on each floor.

Smoking rooms are noted with an S and dedicated 2BR villas are noted by a *. Rooms grouped together by a – are lock-off 2BR’s with the lower numbered room the Studio. The view is noted by a 1), 2), 3), or 4). The actual configuration and view of the rooms is speculation on my part, as I’ve actually seen the interior of only one room (#545- which is a 1BR lock-off). There are some dedicated Studio and 1BR villas. These are noted by a #.

1) The Pool View rooms all look over the quiet pool. All of these rooms are even numbered (but not all even numbered rooms have this view).

2) EPCOT views all have a view towards the park. Some have a view of Spaceship Earth and some have a view towards World Showcase- with an opportunity to see the Illuminations fireworks. These rooms face towards the roadway to BWV, but have reasonable landscaping blocking much of the traffic. Traffic noise may be apparent from the room balcony, but should be minimal from inside the villa itself.

3) BC Courtyard/Epcot Views look out on the nearby Beach Club. The lower floors will have a view of the resort and the surrounding landscaping. Upper floors (4 and 5- possibly 3) will likely have a glimpse of some Epcot structures and most all should have a glimpse of the Illuminations fireworks.

4) BC Courtyard/MGM/BW Views look out on the nearby Beach Club. The lower floors will also have a view of that resort and the surrounding landscaping. Upper floors (4 and 5- possibly 3) will likely have a glimpse towards BW, Swan, Dolphin and Disney/MGM Studios. From the 5th floor (possibly the 4th also), you may be able to see ToT, Earffel Tower (at Disney/MGM) and Blizzard Beach in the distance. There is also a view of Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion and France’s Eiffel Tower. The Illuminations fireworks are NOT visible, but the sound is very evident and the explosion flashes are very apparent.

In this BCV map:
1) is Blue
2) is Green
3) is Red
4) is Yellow



1st Floor- all villas are Non-Smoking.

1) 102*, 104*, 106-108, 110*, 128-130, 134*, 136-138, 154*, 158*, 166*, 168*, 170-172, 174-176, 178* .

2) 153*, 155*, 157-159, 161*, 163-165, 167*, 169-171, 173-175, 177*

3) 120-122, 124*, 125, 127-129, 131*, 133*

4) 101*, 103-105, 107*, 123*, 139*, 141*, 143-145, 147-149, 151*

2nd Floor- all villas are Non-Smoking.

1) 202*, 204*, 206-208, 210*, 228-230, 234*, 236-238, 254*, 258-260, 266*, 268*, 270-272, 274-276, 278*

2) 253*, 255*, 257-259, 261*, 263-265, 267*, 269-271, 273-275, 277*, 240*, 242*, 244-246, 248-250, 252*

3) 220-222, 224*, 225, 227-229, 231*, 233*

4) 201*, 203-205, 207*, 209*, 219-221, 223*, 239*, 241*, 243-245, 247-249, 251

3rd Floor- all villas are Non-Smoking.

1) 302*, 304*, 306-308, 310-312, 314#, 316#, 328-330, 334*, 336-338, 354*, 358-360, 366*, 368*, 370-372, 374-376, 378*

2) 353*, 355*, 357-359, 361*, 363-365, 367*, 369-371, 373-375, 377*, 340*, 342*, 344-346, 348-350, 352*

3) 320-322, 324*, 325, 327-329, 331*, 333*

4) 301*, 303-305, 307*, 309*, 319-321, 323*, 339#, 341*, 343-345, 347-349, 351*


4th Floor- Smoking Optional Villas are noted by S.

1) 402*, 404*, 406-408, 410-412, 414#, 416#, 428-430S, 434*S, 436-438S,454*, 458-460, 466#, 468*, 470-472, 474-476, 478*

2) 440*S, 442*S, 444-446S, 448-450S, 452*S, 453*, 455*, 457-459, 461#, 463-465, 467*, 469-471, 473-475, 477*

3) 420-422, 424*, 425S, 427-429S, 431*S, 433*S

4) 401*, 403-405, 407*, 409*, 419-421, 423*, 439*S, 441*S, 443-445S, 447-449S, 451*S

5th Floor- all villas are Non-Smoking.

1) 516#, 528-530, 534*, 536-538, 554*, 558-560, 566#S

2) 540#S, 542*, 544-546, 548-550, 552*, 553*, 555#S, 557-559, 561*, 563*

3) 525, 527-529, 531*, 533*

4) 539*, 541*, 543-545, 547-549, 551*


As always, I would NOT suggest requesting specific rooms when making reservations. Requests of smoking preference, a view, area or floor are easiest to meet and provide the resort with some opportunity to meet requests. Disney resorts do attempt to meet requests (in the order in which they were received), but cannot guarantee any request.

 

[rocketriter]

Eat several of your dinners at Epcot. Some of the best restaurants can be found there. You can spend much of the day at any park you choose, come back to BCV for a nap or a cocktail or a snooze, then walk over to Epcot for supper. Best of all, while the rest of the crowd queues up for transportation after the fireworks, you can saunter home on foot.

 

[Lars624]

We'll be making our first trip to BCV at the same time you'll be there & my kids are named Megan & Matthew too

 

[mcr5298]

Thanks for all of the wonderful input. We already have many of our PS's booked!

1/29 Dinner Flying Fish Cafe
1/30 Breakfast Princess Storybook Breakfast (1st Time! )
Dinner Palio (Swan) (1st Time! )
1/31 Dinner Narcoossee's (1st Time! )
2/1 Breakfast Fresh (Dolphin) (1st Time! )
2/2 Dinner California Grill
2/3 Breakfast Boma
Dinner Restaurant Marrakesh (1st Time! )
2/4 Breakfast Concourse Steakhouse (1st Time! )
Dinner Jiko
2/5 Breakfast Boatwright's

My DH and I have been to Disney World about 16 times together since 1997. We are very excited to be trying several new restaurants! We do know many of the tips of doing Disney already, even with 2 children under 2!

 

[Disney Doll]

We LOVE the BC!!!!!!!!!! Love the location, love the "theme", love the decorating.

Swim in Stormalong Bay if it is at all even remotely warm enough. It is a wonderful pool complex!!!!!

Have a meal or a sundae at Beaches & Cream. It is a cute little place, and I love the waitstaff there! Say hi to Darlene the waitress!!!!! She's a gem!!!!!

Avail yourself of being close to Epcot by enjoying some evenings there. There is nothing like the World Showcase at night.

If you're steak people, The Yachtsmen Steakhouse is a great meal! Le Cellier in Canada is also a lovely place for steak.

Enjoy strolling the boardwalk one or two nights. They have some great entertainers there, right on the boardwalk itself.

Jellyrolls is a fun place to spend some time. The pianists are amazingly talented.

Chciken wings at the ESPN Club. Ask for Dawson to be your waiter.

 

[sandieb]

If you have a free evening, order pizza from Papa Johns as have a pizza party by the quiet pool. It is so relaxing! Later stroll over to Beaches and Cream for dessert! Sandie

 

[Tigger031266]

BCV is my favorite!
1 use SAB everyday
2 Play in the sand every evening
3 walk to epcot and watch illuminations every evening
4 Get ESPN to go (pickup)
5 take walks along the BW
6 dont forget BAC

Without a doubt BCV is the best. Best location, best pool, best restarants, Best Character meal, best views, best decor, closest to lobby...

Its weak points - Points (it takes too many), rooms can have quality issues