Epcotbound
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2020
My family and I just returned from a split stay to make up for cancelled Xmas trip. We were there 3/9-3/18 staying at the Boardwalk and Bay Lake Tower.
Boardwalk was busier than I thought it would be based on what I had read but with spring break happening there were more people than I expected. The damage from the water leak was very obvious as we were on the third floor and walked above the damage every day. They were making quick work of it though. We stayed in a 1-bedroom both places. We had Boardwalk view and Magic Kingdom view at Bay Lake. The rooms were cleaner than some past visits we have had which made me feel more comfortable. The staff were amazing as usual but these layoffs definitely cut into the magic. There just aren’t enough of them around to handle everything and it’s not their fault. Rooms were not set up for sleeping four. Not enough pillows or blankets for 4 at either resort room nor were their enough towels. Only 3 towels in both places and our reservation was four. Cast members fixed issues quickly and efficiently as always but shouldn’t have needed to. Makes me wonder if it’s a new Disney rule as it happened in both resorts. Food choices are a major issue at Boardwalk. Thankfully Big River opened a few days prior to our arrival, otherwise the only choices are the couple of sandwiches at the bakery or Trattoria. I can tell you that for the time we were there there were no walk up reservations to be had. We had left a few days open to be spontaneous and it was a mistake at the Boardwalk. Be prepared to walk to the Swan and Dolphin for quick service options because there are none to be had at Epcot DVC resorts. Bay Lake was no issue as you could go to Contempo, hop the monorail and hit Poly or Grand for non table service. We also took Skyliner to Riviera to check it out and had lunch at Primo Piatto which was very good. Not my favorite resort aesthetically but the art work inside is awesome. New Boardwalk pool slide is better looking than I thought compared to pictures. Boat service to and from the parks and Boardwalk were fantastic, entrance into the parks super easy. The one huge downside to this trip was the buses. We only used the buses three times, twice to Disney Springs and to the Animal Kingdom. There is a new seating system, I get it, I support it, but unless half of the laid off employees were bus drivers the amount of available buses was ridiculous. One, nobody seems to know the route times to Disney Springs. I can tell you that DS buses do not run an hour prior to opening. We waited from 9-10:15 before the first bus came for DS. There were so many people that were waiting and several jumped the line that a verbal fight broke out between guests about who was there first. Fun times. Asked the bus driver to call for another bus from where I was sitting behind her while this was going down and was told they couldn’t do that anymore. At AK a single bus was running from Contemporary and there was more than three buses of people in line. Guests started to call the resort and customer service after the driver said the same thing about calling another bus in. We waited a while, much longer than I ever have before so save extra time to get where you want to go, because transportation is lackluster in the bus department. The Epcot boats were better than ever, the Cast members were engaging and old school Disney. Great experience with them. Best transportation had to be the skyliner because it’s automated, cast members directing traffic but you get on and off quickly and easily.
So let’s address the elephant in the room. Masks. I’ve seen the battles taking place and frankly I am tired of them. To paraphrase the words of Mr Pete Werner, wear your damn mask. Disney made a rule. Period. Don’t like it, don’t go. Now I will say that over 90% wore their masks with no issues or complaint another 5 tugged em up when they were told, the other 5% are the same people who smoke in the Space Mountain queue. That said most everyone was awesome. We had a great time and really enjoyed our stay and would do it again In a blink.
now some quick hits:
Lines- they are long, really long in the hot sun with little to no shade. Be prepared
Food- make your reservations @60 days or you won’t get one as there is little to no walk up table service availability and mobile ordering takes longer than you think it will so plan accordingly set it up in queues when waiting for a ride choose your pickup time window then place the I’m here while you are walking to the quick service counter. If you don’t know how to do it their are instructions everywhere online.
Transportation- It will take you longer to get to a park and home from a park than you are used to, especially if using a bus.
Cast Members- be kind, be understanding, be patient. They are doing the best they can with a whole lot less help. They still bring the magic, we had several interactions where cast members were old school Disney and oh my goodness was it amazing. Special shout out to Beaches and Cream, you made our night!!
Boardwalk was busier than I thought it would be based on what I had read but with spring break happening there were more people than I expected. The damage from the water leak was very obvious as we were on the third floor and walked above the damage every day. They were making quick work of it though. We stayed in a 1-bedroom both places. We had Boardwalk view and Magic Kingdom view at Bay Lake. The rooms were cleaner than some past visits we have had which made me feel more comfortable. The staff were amazing as usual but these layoffs definitely cut into the magic. There just aren’t enough of them around to handle everything and it’s not their fault. Rooms were not set up for sleeping four. Not enough pillows or blankets for 4 at either resort room nor were their enough towels. Only 3 towels in both places and our reservation was four. Cast members fixed issues quickly and efficiently as always but shouldn’t have needed to. Makes me wonder if it’s a new Disney rule as it happened in both resorts. Food choices are a major issue at Boardwalk. Thankfully Big River opened a few days prior to our arrival, otherwise the only choices are the couple of sandwiches at the bakery or Trattoria. I can tell you that for the time we were there there were no walk up reservations to be had. We had left a few days open to be spontaneous and it was a mistake at the Boardwalk. Be prepared to walk to the Swan and Dolphin for quick service options because there are none to be had at Epcot DVC resorts. Bay Lake was no issue as you could go to Contempo, hop the monorail and hit Poly or Grand for non table service. We also took Skyliner to Riviera to check it out and had lunch at Primo Piatto which was very good. Not my favorite resort aesthetically but the art work inside is awesome. New Boardwalk pool slide is better looking than I thought compared to pictures. Boat service to and from the parks and Boardwalk were fantastic, entrance into the parks super easy. The one huge downside to this trip was the buses. We only used the buses three times, twice to Disney Springs and to the Animal Kingdom. There is a new seating system, I get it, I support it, but unless half of the laid off employees were bus drivers the amount of available buses was ridiculous. One, nobody seems to know the route times to Disney Springs. I can tell you that DS buses do not run an hour prior to opening. We waited from 9-10:15 before the first bus came for DS. There were so many people that were waiting and several jumped the line that a verbal fight broke out between guests about who was there first. Fun times. Asked the bus driver to call for another bus from where I was sitting behind her while this was going down and was told they couldn’t do that anymore. At AK a single bus was running from Contemporary and there was more than three buses of people in line. Guests started to call the resort and customer service after the driver said the same thing about calling another bus in. We waited a while, much longer than I ever have before so save extra time to get where you want to go, because transportation is lackluster in the bus department. The Epcot boats were better than ever, the Cast members were engaging and old school Disney. Great experience with them. Best transportation had to be the skyliner because it’s automated, cast members directing traffic but you get on and off quickly and easily.
So let’s address the elephant in the room. Masks. I’ve seen the battles taking place and frankly I am tired of them. To paraphrase the words of Mr Pete Werner, wear your damn mask. Disney made a rule. Period. Don’t like it, don’t go. Now I will say that over 90% wore their masks with no issues or complaint another 5 tugged em up when they were told, the other 5% are the same people who smoke in the Space Mountain queue. That said most everyone was awesome. We had a great time and really enjoyed our stay and would do it again In a blink.
now some quick hits:
Lines- they are long, really long in the hot sun with little to no shade. Be prepared
Food- make your reservations @60 days or you won’t get one as there is little to no walk up table service availability and mobile ordering takes longer than you think it will so plan accordingly set it up in queues when waiting for a ride choose your pickup time window then place the I’m here while you are walking to the quick service counter. If you don’t know how to do it their are instructions everywhere online.
Transportation- It will take you longer to get to a park and home from a park than you are used to, especially if using a bus.
Cast Members- be kind, be understanding, be patient. They are doing the best they can with a whole lot less help. They still bring the magic, we had several interactions where cast members were old school Disney and oh my goodness was it amazing. Special shout out to Beaches and Cream, you made our night!!
