What changes have you noticed at the Beach Club?

[DVC Grandpa]

My wife and I spent most of November in the Beach Club Villas. It was the first time since November 2005 that we were able to spend that much time. The biggest change was that “take outs” at places like Beaches and Cream, Yacht Club Galley and Crew’s Club Lounge is no longer available . Beaches and Cream only offers soft drinks and ice cream on there take out menu. Hurricane Hanna’s is the only place available for take outs, limited as it is. The
Crew’s Club Lounge does not even offer a burger and fries, they have replaced with selections from Yachtsman Steakhouse menu. Yacht Club Galley offers a burger and fries on the lunch menu but does not allow take outs and it is not offered on the dinner menu. Vacationers like ourselves who have extended stays, an occasional “take out” is desirable. During our stay we visited the Contemporary which has a very nice “take out” facility as does the Polynesians Captain Cook’s and the Grand Floridians Gasparilla Grill with its offering of 24 hour service. We felt cheated, angry and resentful in that we were offered only “cold” sandwiches at the gift shop or as one cast member in Beaches and Cream said “you can always order from room service” (at $ more). The Pepper Market Food Court at Coronado Spring was our nearest choice for a variety of offerings which we could “take outs” and frequented often. I would think that the Yacht and Beach Club would offer no less than the Contemporary, Polynesian or even Coronado Springs

 

[eliza61]

Unfortunately Grandpa,
I was one of the folks who wanted the "take outs" at Beaches & Cream to go. (sorry) Since it is so small, they only place to pick up your take out was that little side part where you pick up the ice cream. Every thing else flow out onto the sidewalk. It was becoming a bear to walk past the place. Hurricane Hanna's is much more condusive to take out IMO so I wish they would have a better selection.

 

[global_mom]

We recently had the same experience with wanting take out. Beach Club was extremely limited in the "to go" area in the gift shop and they did not have selections that the kids liked. We did do Hurricane's but that is not something that I would want to do more than once. We really enjoyed Mara at AKV and got our food to "take out" on seveal occassions. It was so nice to go back up to the villa and relax to eat our meal even if it was a hamburger and a Mickey bar.

We wont choose BC again largely due to the food situation. But we do really like the resort, we are not putting it down, just need different food options.

 

[Doctor P]

Don't blame the resorts and don't blame DVC. This is a function of the dining plan. My understanding was that too many people were trying to game the system and/or arguing about the system in terms of trying to use takeouts from table service restaurants as counter service meals, as well as in an effort to avoid the appropriate tips. In addition, with the restaurants busier, takeouts became less appropriate from a kitchen management standpoint. At least that is the story I have heard, whether accurate or not.

 

[DebbieB]

BW doesn't have much either. Some cold sandwiches from the bakery and the pizza window.

 

[global_mom]

Don't blame the resorts and don't blame DVC. This is a function of the dining plan. My understanding was that too many people were trying to game the system and/or arguing about the system in terms of trying to use takeouts from table service restaurants as counter service meals, as well as in an effort to avoid the appropriate tips. In addition, with the restaurants busier, takeouts became less appropriate from a kitchen management standpoint. At least that is the story I have heard, whether accurate or not.

I dont know about the relation to the Dining plan, dont really see where that would be the culprit. Seems that some resorts just a have food arrangement that works better than others. Of course, it is personal opinion as to what works best for each family. We love Poly and AKV and POR for the counter service/"to go" breakfast/snack items. Love the way these resorts are set up. It is easy for the kids to get what they want and easy to get items to take the room. Decent selection at all 3 places. We have yet to go to the Pepper Market but it sounds like they also have a good selection.

I always hate to see people abusing the system and it never even ocurred to me that anyone would try to get take out from a table service and count it as a counter service. What will they think of next?! it certainly seems that it would be difficult for TS restaurants to do take out and it makes perfect sense to disallow that option. Still not sure, however, how that would affect the lack of counter service options unless a guest is looking for a more "high end" take out option.

 

[jodifla]

I dont know about the relation to the Dining plan, dont really see where that would be the culprit. Seems that some resorts just a have food arrangement that works better than others. Of course, it is personal opinion as to what works best for each family. We love Poly and AKV and POR for the counter service/"to go" breakfast/snack items. Love the way these resorts are set up. It is easy for the kids to get what they want and easy to get items to take the room. Decent selection at all 3 places. We have yet to go to the Pepper Market but it sounds like they also have a good selection.

I always hate to see people abusing the system and it never even ocurred to me that anyone would try to get take out from a table service and count it as a counter service. What will they think of next?! it certainly seems that it would be difficult for TS restaurants to do take out and it makes perfect sense to disallow that option. Still not sure, however, how that would affect the lack of counter service options unless a guest is looking for a more "high end" take out option.

Oh, it was definitely the terrible, horrible DDP that ruined the takeout service for the rest of us.

ALL the restaurants used to do takeout until the jerks tried to use their precious DDP credits as CS instead of TS.

 

[global_mom]

Oh, it was definitely the terrible, horrible DDP that ruined the takeout service for the rest of us.

ALL the restaurants used to do takeout until the jerks tried to use their precious DDP credits as CS instead of TS.

Wow - you obvioulsy dont like the DDP! Like I said above, it is a shame that anyone would try to use a CS credit for TS take out, that just does not make sense. A few bad apples can ruin a good thing but it is not a reason that some resorts are set up with a "better" counter service/takeout option than others.

I dont think that the OP was exclusively referring to getting take out from TS restaurants as he referenced the very nice take out at CR, POly and GF.

 

[jodifla]

Wow - you obvioulsy dont like the DDP! Like I said above, it is a shame that anyone would try to use a CS credit for TS take out, that just does not make sense. A few bad apples can ruin a good thing but it is not a reason that some resorts are set up with a "better" counter service/takeout option than others.

I dont think that the OP was exclusively referring to getting take out from TS restaurants as he referenced the very nice take out at CR, POly and GF.

Very true, global mom. I despise what the DDP plan did to Disney dining, which was just getting really good after the dismal 70s and early 80s!

You used to be able to order at OKW Goods to Go and get Olivia's food. But the DDPers wrecked that, saying they were ordering from CS and and fought over using TS credits.

Haven't gotten over it. Don't think I ever will!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Very true, global mom. I despise what the DDP plan did to Disney dining, which was just getting really good after the dismal 70s and early 80s!

You used to be able to order at OKW Goods to Go and get Olivia's food. But the DDPers wrecked that, saying they were ordering from CS and and fought over using TS credits.

Haven't gotten over it. Don't think I ever will!

I have noticed that most of the restaraunts have "dumbed down" their menus....almost like the same things at each restaraunt for TS, like steak, some kinda chicken, penne pasta dishes, always salads and soups. The counter service you would expect the same types of foods, not at all the TS restaraunts.

 

[bavaria]

I too miss the ability to do takeout, as I am often working in my room and like to have a meal while working or sitting on long conference calls. I feel the loss especially because I don't find anything to eat on the OKW counter service menu.

Having said that, I WILL compliment the CMs at BC Hurricane Hannahs. There is no veggie burger or hot veggie item on their menu, but they usually cheerfully offer to run over to Beaches and Cream to get a veggie burger patty which they then prepare for me. (THEY offered to do that, I never asked them to get me a burger, by the way...)

Sadly that iniative and flexibility is gone at most locations, as 'rules' have tightened and the many suffer for the few who abused the system.

 

[manning]

Looks like off-site eateries are looking better and better.

 

[eeyore45]

We were there in Sept - and Kona's (at Polynesian) and California Grille (Contem) both let us take it "to go"... we had to wait our turn in ordering, and when it was ready, they brought it to us (and we were on the DDP - used it as TS, would never have thought to try and use it as a CS - really? People did that and Disney couldnt show them the contract that listed CS places and TS places?)

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[global_mom]

We were there in Sept - and Kona's (at Polynesian) and California Grille (Contem) both let us take it "to go"... we had to wait our turn in ordering, and when it was ready, they brought it to us (and we were on the DDP - used it as TS, would never have thought to try and use it as a CS - really? People did that and Disney couldnt show them the contract that listed CS places and TS places?)

Thanks for the heads up!

This is what I was amazed to read in the above posts. Why would Disney allow them to use a CS credit for a TS meal even if they did not eat that meal in the restaurant?

It is a shame but it still seems like a few "party wreckers" blew it for everyone else by abusing the system. The DDP in its entirety did not cause the removal of "take out", the abusers caused the removal.

 

[OntFamily]

This seems to be more of a function of DVC resorts in general (incluidng Deluxe resorts that are shared with DVC), than BCV.

I was at BW last year, and the food situation there is TERRIBLE (we walked over to BCV to eat at Hurricane Hanna's). There is no CS location (only pre-made sandwiches at the Bakery and pool bar).

OKW seems to be the only DVC resort with good CS.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We enjoy the options at SSR. They have hot counter service to go with a daily special. Then there are the options at DTD. We like Earl's, Bongo's WP Cafe and FoodQuest at DisneyQuest. We've even taken the boat to POR to dine at their food court. SSR is also close to POP and they have alot of options. It is no further to walk to the DTD eateries from SSR than it is to walk from BWV to BCV or vice versa or to the Epcot restaurants.

We did not appreciate the offerings at BCV or BWV. I can make a cold sandwich in my room and it wont be on that crusty bread that my kids or dh dont like. We love B&C and we normally lunch there, because I have found the burgers at HH are not the same. I do enjoy the poolside at SAB.

I think Contemporary has alot of options (prior to construction) and we like to do CS there also when in the area.

AKV is a little better with MARA, they seem to have a full CS menu.

 

[rinkwide]

...Why would Disney allow them to use a CS credit for a TS meal...

Last month we were in Beaches & Cream and a woman had a fit when the waiter wouldn't let her pay with a CS voucher. She insisted the meal should only cost a Counter Service credit because she was sitting at -- you guessed it -- the counter. The sad part is, she was freaking out so loudly that the poor waiter was eventually forced to give in and let her do it.

 

[Olaf]

The sad part is, she was freaking out so loudly that the poor waiter was eventually forced to give in and let her do it.

That's ridiculous. I wish that poor CM had stuck to their guns. I would have.

 

[Beca]

I agree with Liferbabe! I attended the annual meeting at BCV a couple of years ago, and the GM of the BC stated that the "no to go" change would be happening because the demand for take out food at B&C had become so great that the grill capacity could not keep up. He said they had looked into expanding the grills in the restaurant, but that the cost was ridiculously high due to venting. He said that the building was simply not capable of supporting the appropriate venting without major, extensive renovations (If I remember correctly, he had suggested taking out the arcade and enlarging B&C).

He said that table turnover at B&C had become MUCH slower because the grills were full of to go orders. This increased the wait times at B&C, and thus increased the number of to go orders, as guests did not want to wait an hour to eat in the restaurant when they could order food and eat at SAB. He felt that patrons at B&C were suffering because of the delay in food arrival times. I'm sure the waiters at B&C are much happier with the change as well....more table turnover equals more money in their pockets.

However, the GM promised that Hurricane Hanna's would have the SAME quality food as B&C...and, I do not see that at all. Nevertheless, I do think BC has a lot of good food choices when compared to some of the other deluxes. Yes, some are better....but, many are not. Overall, I am happy.

 

[MdmMim]

The Portobello Yacht Club at DTD has great take out. I shop for awhile, then stop in to place my order when I'm on my way back to my room. They always take very good care of me.