Service road behind BCV

[DVCinderella]

Please forgive me if this has already been addressed...

Is anyone concerned about the service road which wraps around behind the BC? I know I've been on this road when we stayed at the BW. Depending on which bus we were on, sometimes we stopped at the Swan/Dolphin, YC/BC, and finally the BW. After stopping at the BC, the bus would make a right out of the parking lot, go through a small tunnel, and come out behind the BW.

It seems to me that the BCV are very close to this road. I'm sure Disney will "hide" the road with shrubbery, but will they be able to buffer the noise of the buses and service vehicles?

After looking at the new pictures of the BCV on the official DVC web site, I'm even more concerned. One of the pictures is an artist's rendering of the pool area. There is a large wall, which I assume is the "buffer" from the road. Disney is usually so good at immersing you in the spirit and theming of each resort. The pool looks beautiful, but I can't image being "immersed" in a beach-like atmosphere, and hearing a bus go by every five minutes.

Anyone else concerned about this?

[illumifan]

Yes, I would be very concerned about the noise factor. If anyone who is going down there soon could ascertain what the noise level is like in that area, that would certainly be helpful for those of us who cannot go down there anytime soon!

[HarrietSLP]

Liz.....thanks for bringing up this topic! During our Thanksgiving visit at WDW I noticed this service road and I was thinking at the time that the BC villas were awfully close to the road. Maybe noise won't be a factor with the buffer wall and landscaping. We might not really know till DVCers staying there give us the scoop.

HARRIET
DVC Member '96 Vero & OKW
Next trips: DVC 10th Anniversary Cruise 4/7/-4/11
Grand Floridian 4/11

[Terry S]

I believe the picture you are seeing on the site is the front of the BCV, kind of like if you were facing the front entrace of BC, this would be just to your left of that. So the pool and fencing is not by the road. Someone correct me if I am wrong. You are correct though, there is some of the resort close to the road, just not the pool area.

[DebbieB]

When we stayed at BWV in December, I drove past BCV and was surprised how close some of the units are to the road. I would not be happy with that location, especially with the points being the same as BWV preferred. Now if I could have that Spaceship Earth view shown in one of the pictures I would go for it. I wonder if there really is a room with that view.

[kem330]

The fence is a barrier from the parking lot not from the road. The pool will be at the front/side of the resort, near the canal. It looks like you will enter the resort where the old bus stop used to be - it kind of ties into the front portico of BC - the villas entrance will be to the left facing the resort

[TDC Nala]

Nope. Bring on the buses.

[LibertyBelle]

We were just over there the other day :) The villas look great (the color...seafoam green...needs to grown on me) I don't think the road will be that much of an issue. That is a public road however it is really only used by the guests (and buses) coming to Y&B and Swan/Dolphin. It is not a very busy road at night time (even in the day it is not very busy...buiser, but not that busy). The end rooms at BCV might be able to see some of the road (and maybe hear some daytime noise) but I guess we will have to wait and see when they open...Didn't look to be an issue to me as the road is not a main thoughfare or short cut to anywhere...

[Grotto]

There will be quite a few rooms that have a view of the road, as most of the back side of the building runs parallel to the road. I think the view from the room on the DVC site is real - probably from the top floor at the end of the building farthest from the Beach Club. If you went out on the balcony in this room and looked down, you would see the road.

[WebmasterDoc]

There won't be any more traffic on that road than at the BWV entry (and probably less). It is a 2 lane road, primarily used by buses traveling from BC to BWV. It has very little auto traffic.

The view of EPCOT on that side of the BCV far outweighs any road view we'll likely see, IMHO.

As stated several times already, we'll just have to wait and see!

Stay Tuned! :)

[Johnnie Fedora]

Part of the BCV will overlook a wooded area. Beyond the trees, you have the ability to see the foot traffic on its way to (and from) the International Gateway.

I think that would be a nice view.:) :cool: :)

[Grotto]

I agree with Doc, there really isn't that much traffic on this road. When I walked around the back side of BCV while checking them out, barely any cars and about 2 busses passed me in 20-25 minutes. Plus, I'd be shocked if there wasn't a whole lot of landscaping placed between the building and the road.

[LarryK]

I think the noise could very easily be a problem. After staying at OKW, which is certainly better secluded than BCV, road noise could clearly be heard from my room that backed up to the main road to Downotown disney area. If you're like me and like some freash air, I would be concerned. (Now we always request an "inside" building, don't hear a thing.

[antnee]

If they will chage the bus for the new BCV?Will they add on to the exisiting BC,YC,Swan/Dolph? That could be a long ride! It was one of the things that turned me off when we stayed at the BC in 99

[Grotto]

I don't think there will be a new bus stop for the BCV. The existing one for the Beach Club will cover guests in both buildings.

[IslandHap]

I've said it before, if the road is a problem, Disney will move the road.

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by LarryK
I think the noise could very easily be a problem. After staying at OKW, which is certainly better secluded than BCV, road noise could clearly be heard from my room that backed up to the main road to Downotown disney area. If you're like me and like some freash air, I would be concerned. (Now we always request an "inside" building, don't hear a thing.

The road that you are speaking of from OKW is a 6 lane divided highway that is the main thoroughfare, the road in question at BCV is a 2 lane road (one lane in each direction) that is typically only used by the WDW buses, the resort cast members and those that drive to the resort (it serves not other purpose than to access the resort, it is not a main thoroughfare or short cut to anywhere). It is not a very busy road by any means

[CaptainMidnight]

I've said it before, if the road is a problem, Disney will move the road.

Kewl.....


Wait a minute. I posted this and then thought I should edit.... doesn't this road have a tunnel that goes under the Epcot International Gate waterway and boats drive over the top of cars? They aren't moving that road....

[IslandHap]

The tunnel is further down. I think they'd just be cutting in on some of the Epcot "back lot" area. Anyone know for sure what's on the other side of the road from BCV?

[HarrietSLP]

Gosh! I wish my memory was better so that I could be positively correct but we stayed at The Swan around Thanksgiving and I'm thinking this road took us back to The Swan. I do remember us commenting on how close the villas were to the road. Sure wish I had a map.

HARRIET
DVC Member '96 Vero & OKW
Next trip: DVC 10th Anniversary Cruise 4/7-4-11
Grand Floridian 4/11

[PamOKW]

road have a tunnel that goes under the Epcot International Gate waterway and boats drive over the top of cars?

I don't think so....but I'm not 100% positive. There is such a tunnel over by the Contemporary that goes under the waterway that connects Bay Lake and 7 Seas Lagoon. In any case, I don't think it will be necessary to move the road. ;)

[CarolMN]

There is a tunnel - it goes under the canal the leads to the International Gateway. If you've ever taken a a bus back to the BWV from the MK, you've gone through it. The bus stops at the Swan, Dolphin, YC, BC and then BWV. The tunnel is past the BCV. On several occasions, the bus driver has commented on the tunnel and the fact that the waterway is above.

If this is the road people are so worried about, I think their worry is unjustified. There are very few cars that use it and IMHO, it's far enough away so that you shouldn't notice any "bus noise". I think the BW views over at the BWV are probably noisier. JMHO. YMMV.

[DebbieB]

I never realized that tunnel was under the waterway until someone posted a map of BCV and drew in the road and sure enough, it goes under. I often wondered why I sometimes heard busses when walking towards the International Gateway, I couldn't figure where they were at. They were approaching the tunnel beneath us! I'll have to look closer next time we're there!

Hopefully the noise will be kept out with the doors closed, but there will not be much of a view. These rooms will also probably be the farthest away from the elevator.

[CaptainMidnight]

If you think of the Epcot Lake and waterway from Crecent Lake to Epcot, there has to be a tunnel under it for the buses to drive from BC to BW as they make the loop they do. And since that waterway is right in front of the Beach club as is the international gate waterway, the tunnel entrance is pretty close to the beach club as it starts to make it's decent down to go under the water. When I rode past the villas, they seemed pretty close to the road. Hopefully appropriate landscaping, trees, and maybe a sound fence will help, but the road is there that is travelled by busses and there's going to be noise from it that is probably going to be a problem.

I'm still planning to purchase there, but this will be one of the shortcommings of the resort in my opinion.

[kem330]

Capt Midnight- I agree the road is a shortcoming-as is that ugly couch! We can only hope they will do their best to minimize its impact. I wonder if it will become a huge headache like BW SV was. I can just see all the requests now: NO ROAD VIEW! It still didn't stop me from buying 150 points there- Just not ready to give up SAB!

[PamOKW]

Learn something new every day! I knew about the tunnel but didn't realize it was going under the waterway. This road has always seemed like sort of a "secret" road so I don't think it will present a real traffic problem. Disney is pretty darn good with their landscaping also so it may "disappear". Heck, the Wilderness Lodge appears to be on a mountain because of the landscaping -- I saw it being built and there ain't no mountain there. ;)

[Grotto]

One other option would be to just close the road. BC guests and busses could exit towards the Swan - it's really not that much farther of a route to get to Buena Vista Dr. Or they could lower the level of the road to the same depth below ground as the place where you pass under the waterway, which I suspect would eliminate most of the road noise.

My best guess, though, is that they leave the road alone and it ends up not being much of a problem. Also, I'll bet there will be enough people who WANT a room on that side of the building in hopes of getting an Epcot view.

[DebbieB]

I think the problem will be with the first or second floor rooms. From there, I don't think you will have an Epcot view and will be closest to the road. You have to see it - they are VERY close to the road, much closer than the Boardwalk standards are to the driveway. Third floor or above might be OK.

[CaptainMidnight]

They put up sound baricades by interstates, they could put up the same kind of sound barrier for BC villas. Some of them are wood and look pretty nice. I doubt graffitti would be a problem.

[kem330]

I don't know Grotto, I can just see I LUV DVC carved into that barrier!;) I agree only the lower level rooms will be undesirable as the Epcot view will be great from the upper rooms so I will amend my reservations comments to: NO LOWER LEVEL ROAD VIEW.;)

[sgtpet]

Forget purchasing at BCV, how could they allow a roadway to pass by the Villas. What a huge disappointment. Forget about SAB if there is a road near by.


What a hinderence to anybody's vacation?



:jester:

[Johnnie Fedora]

Each resort has a drawback or two (or more). I don't know about you, but I spent all of 20min on the balcony at VWL when I was there last. My guess would be that most DVCers have the door shut and A/C blasting, so I doubt if noise will be a problem. I'm sure the landscapers will work a little magic. I would be more disappointed if a road was close to a HH or VB resort. I expect a higher level of noise at the WDW resorts.

[PamOKW]

I would be more disappointed if a road was close to a HH or VB resort.

Well, actually the major Florida road A1A is right outside the door of the Vero resort. ;) But, when you look out of the Vero resort in that direction, you get a beautiful view of the Indian River and the road "disappears" behind the landscaping.

Johnnie, that's something I hadn't thought of before. Once again, I think it's a "wait and see" before passing judgement on how BCV will look when completed.

I'm not sure how many of you saw BWV being built. Looking at the swamp area, one didn't hold much expectation for the beautiful resort that has appeared. ;)

[CaptainMidnight]

Forget purchasing at BCV, how could they allow a roadway to pass by the Villas. What a huge disappointment. Forget about SAB if there is a road near by.

Good point. Perhaps the poster above is right, and they will redirect the road a bit to make a larger loop a little further away allowing more distance between the villas and the road prior to going into the tunnel under the international waterway. Although, I don't know if 30 feet or so would make that much of a difference.

I spent all of 20min on the balcony at VWL when I was there last.

Well, I think you'll have to spend more time out on the balcony of BCV in order to get away from that ugly couch! I'll probably be stuck at SAB or the dedicated BCV quiet pool just to get out of the traffic noisy room.

Actually, I think it's a legitimate concern when trying to compare resorts and make a large purchase. They each have advantages. I like the room improvements and the increased interior spaces over BW.