Boardwalk or AKL during F&W

[Sandite]

Question for ya'll. We are heading to Disney in October during the Food and Wine Festival. We are renting DVC points so we are looking at BW or AKL.

Main issue being my hubsand is a Disney hater So I'm trying to make him finally like Disney this trip. Problem is he dislikes crowds and Disney transportation. I thougth BW would be good because of walking distance to Epcot and DHS (his favorite is Epcot), but I am afraid it is going to be so super busy that it won't be relaxing. Also I have heard bad stories about the buses to MK being really really full since they sometimes share buses.

Any advice from people who have been to BW during that time? I have only been to value resorts or AKL so hard for me to know what to expect.

Thanks

 

[SarahInMN]

I would definitely vote Boardwalk if the Food and Wine festival is the focus of your trip.

The Epcot resorts (and Swan + dolphin) are within walking distance and super convenient to Epcot. Food and Wine only really is crazy busy on Saturdays but the other days are totally manageable crowd wise at Epcot.

As a sidenote about availability, we own DVC points at Beach Club (so we can book at 11 months at our home resort vs 7 months at other resorts) and most of the rooms at Beach Club DVC get booked up very quickly during Food and Wine by people who own points at Beach Club. I mention this because you referenced renting Boardwalk points - you may want to book soon before the 7 month window opens up in March for Food and Wine.

If you decide to not stay at a DVC but want to stay at an Epcot resort, book soon - I've seen other people posting that Beach Club is already booked up during certain times in October.

We love staying at the Epcot resorts which is why we bought Beach Club - it's just so convenient!!

 

[spiceycat]

would add OKW to your list.

Why? well when stayed at OKW in Oct - the bus service for Epcot was excellent. much better than expected.

you can probably get OKW.

Now would not recommend AKV - it is great and lovely - but it sounds like you want to do the parks. AKV is bus only like OKW - and much further away.

now love BWV (standard rooms) - own there. so walking to Epcot is not a big problem. depends upon where your room is walking to studio is also doable.

have a problem with that clown in the main pool - so will not do preferred - lagoon/pool views.

You want something not Disney - but close enough - sounds like OKW

 

[Missyrose]

Boardwalk would definitely be the choice during F&W. But before you talk your DH into the resort, make sure there's availability via renting points. Many, many BCV and BWV owners own at those resorts specifically for this event. And since you're way past the booking window opening, there's a chance there isn't availability for the dates/villa size you want.

 

[roydavid7771]

BWI, hands down. Much closer walk so you can stagger back after a night of drinking in EPCOT!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I LOVE AKL and have never stayed at the BW - but if I were choosing a resort for the F&W - I would most definately pick BW!

 

[mmmears]

I LOVE AKL and have never stayed at the BW - but if I were choosing a resort for the F&W - I would most definately pick BW!

Same with my family -- we love AKL and haven't tried BWI... But I totally agree about picking BWI if we were going to the F&W.

 

[Lynn57]

I stayed at Boardwalk during F&W last year and loved the convenience. It wasn't overly crowded, but if your are going to rent points, you need to do that before the 7 month window opens up.

 

[Sandite]

Thank you all so much for your input! I think just having the option to walk even if it is crowded is worth it, so there is always that option to use no transportation! He is crazy, but we love him

Thankfully we already have one room booked for most of the nights and the other room is on waitlist for BW. So the lady I am renting from is hoping once March hits some movement will happen on it.

I know after staying at AKL last trip that for sure will never go value again. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dh is not a huge Disney fan. He is getting better though. Dd and I 'dragged' him to WDW, stayed at the Polynesian, back in '03. That was his second trip. We visited the BW area. He stood there, on the boardwalk, looking at the resort and said, and I quote, "If I could stay here all the time, I would buy that vacation club thingie. But, only here!!!'' 3 months later, we were DVC owners at BWV!!! Sight unseen!!!
He has stayed at Pop and wasn't a fan..so promised he wouldn't have to stay there again. We did buy BLT and he has stayed there once and that was okay.
But..he loves BWV!! He loves being able to walk to both Epcot and DHS. He likes the feel of it...it isn't overly 'Disneyfied' as he calls it!!! He likes to eat, so there are a lot of good restaurants that we can walk to from BW.

I love AKL/Kidani. It's one of my favorite places to stay. I would actually buy DVC there but I'm the only one in my family that likes it that much. Dh says it's pretty and all, and he likes to watch the animals, but he says it's just too far away from everything. He likes to work in the room for a few hours every day,,,and because AKL is so far out there, it takes longer to get to and from parks. Which annoys him since he has the patience of a gnat!!!!

I would go with BW...so nice to be able to just walk over to Epcot. I love going at that time of year!!!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Out of those two i would pick BW hands down since it is in walking distance to EPCOT. I would really pick any of the EPCOT resorts bc of this great plus.

Have a great trip!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Out of those two i would pick BW hands down since it is in walking distance to EPCOT. I would really pick any of the EPCOT resorts bc of this great plus.

Have a great trip!

 

[LSchrow]

ditto what others said:
definitely, BWV (we went to WDW for years, stayed at almost every resort, but it wasn't until BWI/BWV vacations that DH finally started really enjoy going).

the likelihood of actually getting BWV is not so likely tho (we've been on a BWV studio, BW view waitlist since the end of nov 2012 for oct 12-14, 2013; booked one of the last pool/garden views for those days). the WLs for all size BWV villas, and all views started filling up last november, and you would be at the bottom of it.
most likely would be a 1bdrm, preferred pool/garden view if you decide to WL.

and yes, it is fantastic just strolling to EPCOT for a grey goose slushie, or DHS for TSM....sitting outside BRG grill, people watching and soaking in the atmosphere some ppl have complained about the buses, but we've had pretty good experiences with them (excluding DTD bus at night). we even had an MK bus (NO one else got on, even at the other stops) all to ourselves last october

 

[rpcvpanama]

If you DH really hates crowds then I would strongly suggest avoiding Epcot on the weekends. We were at WDW last year for F&W and Epcot was a mob scene on the weekends...we hated it and Epcot is our favorite park. That being said, many do enjoy F&W but definitely not for us, will definitely think twice before going that time of year again.

 

[Sandite]

Fanastic News!!! We got BW Garden View two rooms for the first four nights of our stay. So just WL for the last 2! Hooray for a reservation number!!!!!!

 

[GAN]

That's great news- you're going to have a great time!