2014/2015 Beach and Yacht Club FAQ, Friends & Fun, Sept 2014-Mayl 2015

[thisismyusername]

Does anyone know the latest on placing gift cards on your account upon check in. Honestly, I don't mind going down to the Front Desk every so often, but would LOVE it if I could just load them all on there when I check in. Last year....I was able to do that...the year before only a limited amount. So I am not sure what's going on now?

Like so many things at Disney, it just varies on what CM you get. I've had ones who will pre load them, and others who insist I come down the night before we check out.

 

[Wood Nymph]

It looks like the Yacht Club is participating in the Streamlined Check in - since I just got it.

Online Check-In Service
Congratulations!

Your online check-in is complete. Your reservation has Streamlined Check-in, just show your ID at the designated location in the resort lobby. Look for the logo. If your room is not ready upon your arrival, we will send you a notification to 7xxxxxxxx4 as soon as your room is ready.

I got Streamlined check-in for the Wilderness Lodge, too. It wasn't there the first time I went through the online check in process a few weeks ago, but it showed up this time when I went through it again tonight.

This will be great as long as we like the room location and the MB works to open the door. I wonder how you get the activity schedule and other stuff they usually hand you at check in?

 

[gorjus121]

It looks like the Yacht Club is participating in the Streamlined Check in - since I just got it. I got it for the Wilderness Lodge, too. It wasn't there the first time I went through the online check in process, but it showed up this time when I went through it. This will be great as long as we like the room location and the MB works to open the door. I wonder how you get the activity schedule and other stuff they usually hand you at check in?

Is streamlined checkin different from the usual online checkin?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Wood Nymph]

Is streamlined checkin different from the usual online checkin?

I haven't followed the discussion threads on this, but it is explained pretty well by this person posting on this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52105936&postcount=4

If you do regular check in, you have to wait in line - and it can be a longish line. Then the castmember has to check all your info, get your charging to the room info, explain how everything works - opening doors, charging with magic bands for example. Plus info on transportation, park hours, EMH, lifeguard hours at the pool, yada yada. Doing all this with everyone in line takes time, but is necessary with newbies.

Online check in gathers all the info they need to create your account and is designed for repeat visitors that don't need all the info. You just pick up a packet with basic info and a map to your room and go. You can still ask questions if needed, but info won't be given unless you ask for it.

Streamlined check in is the same as online but all you get is your room number. Show your ID to prove you're the right person, and get a room number and be on your way. If you need to pick up Magic Bands, or ask a ton of questions, or a first timer, don't use this option.

First timers should use regular check in. First time visitors to THAT resort, might want to.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

I just checked mine also and the streamline check-in came up too. Curious how this will go!

 

[LindyWebb]

So yesterday I decided to make the change. Thanks to everyone for their insight. We were going to stay at two studios BCV for me and dd and ds in one. The other studio was only for two night when my parents were joining us. As I mentioned earlier I didn't realize the kitchen would be different for the one bedroom villa and the studio. Once I saw the difference and compared the cost it made much more sense for us all to go into a BC room. My parents are only staying 2 nights and the savings for us all ended up being almost 2000$. However, it was very very confusing and complicated to do this. I was on the phone for 57 minutes. Thank goodness for a long distance plan. Because my parent are only staying two night they couldn't figure out how to do it. At one point they wanted to do day passes, but then I couldn't link the FP plus for us all. Then they were saying they had to pay for the seven day tickets in order to link them. They ended up doing a room only reservation and my parents are in the room reservation for seven days. We don't have tickets linked to the reservation because you can't buy 7day passes for some and 2 for another. I felt like we went around in circles and finally I was transferred to someone else. This person claimed to get everything I wanted, tickets I could link together and a reservation to connect dinning to. At the end I casually asked about a dining plan. I had thought about it for me and my kids. Apparently you can't add a dinning plan for a room only reservation (no idea why). I was so frustrated at that point I didn't even care. I had to pay for almost half the trip too because it was a room only reservation you pay more up front, plus I had to buy the tickets outright. Thank goodness for Amex.

At this point I just hope it all works. So far only one ticket of the five paid for shows up on MDE. I just didn't have the patience to call tonight so I will on the weekend.

Please change my BOG from BCV to BC garden view. I would be curious to hear if anyone has done a reservation like this in the past.

 

[Wood Nymph]

So yesterday I decided to make the change. Thanks to everyone for their insight. We were going to stay at two studios BCV for me and dd and ds in one. The other studio was only for two night when my parents were joining us. As I mentioned earlier I didn't realize the kitchen would be different for the one bedroom villa and the studio. Once I saw the difference and compared the cost it made much more sense for us all to go into a BC room. My parents are only staying 2 nights and the savings for us all ended up being almost 2000$. However, it was very very confusing and complicated to do this. I was on the phone for 57 minutes. Thank goodness for a long distance plan. Because my parent are only staying two night they couldn't figure out how to do it. At one point they wanted to do day passes, but then I couldn't link the FP plus for us all. Then they were saying they had to pay for the seven day tickets in order to link them. They ended up doing a room only reservation and my parents are in the room reservation for seven days. We don't have tickets linked to the reservation because you can't buy 7day passes for some and 2 for another. I felt like we went around in circles and finally I was transferred to someone else. This person claimed to get everything I wanted, tickets I could link together and a reservation to connect dinning to. At the end I casually asked about a dining plan. I had thought about it for me and my kids. Apparently you can't add a dinning plan for a room only reservation (no idea why). I was so frustrated at that point I didn't even care. I had to pay for almost half the trip too because it was a room only reservation you pay more up front, plus I had to buy the tickets outright. Thank goodness for Amex.

At this point I just hope it all works. So far only one ticket of the five paid for shows up on MDE. I just didn't have the patience to call tonight so I will on the weekend.

Please change my BOG from BCV to BC garden view. I would be curious to hear if anyone has done a reservation like this in the past.

Were you trying to add your parents to your room for just two days of your trip?

If you make a room only reservation then you have to pay for the first night when you make the reservation. If you want to add tickets to a RO reservation, then you have to pay in full for the tickets when you buy them.

If you want to add the dining plan then it becomes a package and the whole thing gets rebooked.

 

[Susiec]

What is the best advice one can give about the YC resort? First time ever staying here or deluxe level.

 

[Wood Nymph]

What is the best advice one can give about the YC resort? First time ever staying here or deluxe level.

If you are in the section of the YC that is closest to the boat dock and lake, use the exit door that is located near the laundry room when going just about everywhere except maybe the lobby and the buses. There is an elevator there and the stairs. The exit door is right where the smoking sign and laundry room are on this map, close to the boat dock. Using this door will save you a lot of walking. The only time we stayed at the YC we had a room close to this exit door. We almost never went into the lobby,

Dee has posted pictures and more information about the secret exit in this post:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=51446112&postcount=13

 

[Ninja Mom]

For example, if you see Ninja Mom on the list at the same time as you, you may want to take precautions. Wish I had!

What Dee is saying is that you might want to use a Condominium if Ninja Mom is staying on the same dates as you.

~NM

 

[diskids2]

I was just there (YC) and loaded gift cards onto our room. I only did $1000 but they didn't mention a limit to me. Have a great trip!

Like so many things at Disney, it just varies on what CM you get. I've had ones who will pre load them, and others who insist I come down the night before we check out.

Thank you!

 

[disneybounddd]

Any news on when renovations on the Club Level lounge will be completed? I will be staying at Beach Club for the first time in December this year and it will also be the first time that my family and I stay at Club Level, we are so very excited!

 

[Katesdad]

What is the best advice one can give about the YC resort? First time ever staying here or deluxe level.

Sue gave you probably the best tip of all when staying at the YC. Also, if you look at the link she provided you will get some really good information. If your room choice is GV, I personally recommend the "gazebo veiw" request becaue that gets you a great view and somewhat close to the "secret entrance". Look over the first two pages of this thread for some other useful information on the YC/BC. I hope you have a great time here!

Katesdad

 

[Nanna24]

Are there any updates on the status of the
BC refurbishment? We are staying there the last week of Oct. to the first of November. Is there any chance that some of the refurbished rooms will be available by then?

 

[TeenaS]

Are there any updates on the status of the
BC refurbishment? We are staying there the last week of Oct. to the first of November. Is there any chance that some of the refurbished rooms will be available by then?

The fifth floor starts the room rehab in October and I'm guessing that the entire floor will be down for about a month.

 

[cgulls]

The fifth floor starts the room rehab in October and I'm guessing that the entire floor will be down for about a month.

That timing concerns me. We're currently booked for YC CL in February. That rate could conceivably have them doing YC CL around February, right? (yes, I know somebody has to be affected)

 

[Best Aunt]

Well, I was trying to do a double quote and then edit it, and it gave me an error message, so I give up.

Everyone return to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

[Nanna24]

Thanks for the reply. Do you have any suggestions for a floor request? We have a GV ressie. Beach Club will be our first on property stay and I don't really know what kind of requests are offered other than the full balcony and an upper floor. Are there any other choices that can be requested at the ten day mark? I've read a mixed bag of reviews about room conditions. Due to medical issues our family has not been able to take a vacation in the last twenty years. My daughter had a brain tumor and my husband has had heart problems. I really want it to be a wonderful time for us and genuinely appreciate the wealth of information that I have gained from those of you sharing. TIA

 

[TeenaS]

That timing concerns me. We're currently booked for YC CL in February. That rate could conceivably have them doing YC CL around February, right? (yes, I know somebody has to be affected)

No way. The Beach Club will still be going on in February and from what I've heard it could be a year or more before they get to the Yacht side.

 

[flortlebap]

Here right now.

There's a very yappy dog on our floor, sounds too small to be a service dog, which is odd as I thought it was pet free?!