AKL or BWV

[Everyyeardisney]

We are planning our next trip and cannot decide where to stay. We are taking another family with us for their 1st trip to Disney. We will be staying in a 2 bedroom. We have always wanted to stay at BWV. We have stayed at SSR, OKW, and AKL Kidani Village in 2 bedrooms before. We are trying to decide between staying at AKL again or trying BWV. I know AKL and I think the themeing will be great for the wow factor for a family who has never been. We are hesitant about stay somewhere we have never stayed before. We are trying to make the family we are taking with us have a very magical trip. Can anyone give me pros and cons about BWV? Thank you for your help!

Nicole, mom to

 

[thebigman65]

I can only speak for us.....but we were in the same scenario....our good friends took us down last year....for our first visit and we stayed at AKL.....it was a wonderful trip and was truely magical.....so much so that when we came down this past Dec and we bought into DVC....there was no question that it would be AKV.....BWV is nice.....but in my opinion.....AKL/AKV Rules!!

 

[dvc deernut]

Hi our home resort is boardwalk and ssr. In 12 years we have only stayed at boardwalk once. We like okw and akl better but when we stay at akl we like jamba better. I guess our opinion about pros for bwv would be the location. If this is there first visit you can cut times by staying at boardwalk since its so close to epcot and hollywood studios. Thats a con with us about akl. Its the farthest away and the buses take longer. Not as frequent as okw. The wow factor is a pro at akl nice pool which is open i think 24 hours. The food is fantastic at boma and kikos and sanaa. I think for us the only pro for bwv is the closeness to the 2 parks. Thats why we usually get a 2 bedroom at okw and okw is less points better transportation and location. I guess a con at bwv would be the view for us. We like the atmosphere better at okw and akl and even ssr. I think a con at akl is you must plan your time better. We are taking our son his wife and there 2 kids its the first time for his wife and 2 daughters. We go in 3 weeks. We are staying at okw in 2 bedroom because of transportation location point value and atmosphere. We have booked meals at boma and sanaa. They can see the animals and get the wow facter that way. I know you asked about bwv and i think ivegiven more reasons to stay at okw

 

[Disneypirate85]

We LOVE BWV! Its central to 2 Parks plenty of restaurants and Depending on where you stay can watch Illuminations from your Lanai! Staff has ALWAYS been very helpfull if there was any type of issue.
Animal Kingdom is a nice Resort, and should be tried once,. But its just not the Boardwalk! Nightly activities for the kids, games, and just a nice stroll around the lake to BC and Yaht Club.....come on July. Shawn

 

[hansel1]

BWV = location

AKV = beautiful decor

 

[BWV2001]

BWV is a great place and would certainly make for a magical trip. Besides the great location, it has a fun, lively pool area, the BW area at night with the magicians/jugglers is fun, and the lobby is beautiful. There are great restaurants to try, as well. And being able to walk or boat to 2 parks is so much more relaxing than always depending on the busses.

 

[drusba]

We own at both. BWV 2 bedrooms are smaller than Kidani but close to the same size as SSR and Jambo. If size is an issue, Kidani is definitely the better.

At 7 months out getting BWV standard or boardwalk view (the best) are difficult and often impossible. Pool/garden views, usually available at 7 months most times of year, are usually fine but not as impressive as looking at animals at a savanna view at AKL (only boardwalk view tops that). At AKL, savanna and often standard views are usually easy to get at 7 months out but value can be difficult and concierge is usually impossible.

AKL as you are aware is busses to everywhere and its bus system is usually good. BWV is walk or boat to Epcot or Studios. Walk to Epcot is about 8 minutes and Studios about 20 to 25 (a little over a mile). Boat runs Epcot to BWV to YC/BC to S/D to Studios to S/D to YC/BC to BWV to Epcot. Thus short ride to Epcot either way (6 minutes) but long one to and from Studios (25 to 30 minutes). However, as veterans know you can easily walk over a bridge from BW to S/D boat dock and get the boat there to Studios or get off there coming back which makes the trip fairly short. Busses elsewhere, and its bus system is one of the worst -- shares with S/D (2 stops) and sometimes also with YC/BC (another 2 stops) and every time I have been at BWV there has been always at least two times when we had to wait for the bus to return from MK more than 40 minutes.

Other than its bus system, BWV is ideal. Main pool is very good but its big clown above the slide can sometimes frighten little ones. With the Epcot resorts and the two parks, you are within walking distance to about 20 restaurants. All rooms were just recently refurbished and thus look like new. You have some entertainment on the walk at night, ESPN (no ressies) is a good place for quick order burgerrs and like food and watching sports, Big River Grill (also no ressies), for burgers, steak sandwiches and the like and local brewed draft beer. Flying Fish is a good upscale restaurant. Have not yet been in the other restaurant which recently replaced Spoodles (I am still in the denial stage because I really liked Spoodles). No counter service restaurants but can get some quick things in the bakery and its ice cream/sweat shop is very good. Best buffet around and one of best on site is Cape May at BC.