AKV vs BWV: Your opinions??

[JLa01844]

I'm already getting ahead of myself for next year's vacation even though we have 6 months left until this years!!! Reason being, I plan on booking about 11 months in advance renting DVC points. Unfortunately, this year we were to late into the season for anything to be available renting DVC points.

I love the theme-ing at AKL and the animals are a definite perk!! Now BWV would be my other choice. I don't love the "theme" there but it is really nice. The location can't be beat however. Being right on the Boardwalk, the ability to be within walking distance to Epcot, DHS and all the other hotels (for ease of eating at resort restaurants)in that area seems like it may better than busing it every where from AKL.

If you've stayed at these resorts, what is your opinion? Does the ease of Boardwalk trump AKL? Is AKL a great experience and worth the extra bus rides?

It is just 3 of us, 2 adults and 1 toddler. So rooms would just be studio size. Epcot is DH and my favorite park. We love World Showcase, I can't imagine what an awesome trip we'd have if we were so close to it! Then again...AKL is so neat! LOL. You see why I'm asking for help??!!!

 

[momof2cutegirls]

I totally get this! In 2010, we rented points & stayed at BWV. We love Epcot & that was a big draw for us. We would be checking in on a Sunday but arriving into town on Saturday. I was going to get a cheap Orlando hotel on that night. Found some last-minute points here on Dis & ended up with a AKV Kidani room for that one night only.

AKV Kidani was amazing! It seriously took my breath away! Our girls, 7 & 9 at the time, were in heaven! It is theming that all ages will understand. We didn't use the pool but checked them out (both of them) & were impressed. That night we did go to DTD & it took forever on the bus. We did the night-vision animal viewing as well...so neat!

The next day, we switched over to BWV. While my husband & I loved the decor & theming, it was not something young kids will really understand. Location was perfect, & we found ourselves at World Showcase many evenings. Pool & slide were a blast! We had a car but never used it & walked or took boats or the bus everywhere.

Wth that bing said, we are returning this fall & staying at Kidani for the week. Will again have a car as back-up. We will miss BWV but are excited to try something new. We are definitely carving out more resort time as I think there is more to do at AKV.

So I know this doesn't answer your questions & probably confuses you even more, but you really can't go wrong with either. With the addition of Beach Club, BWV & AKV are really the only resorts that interest my family! Have fun!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Is a split stay an option for you? I love AKV more than some in my family, and often do a solo stay at AKV. Next weekend we'll (7 of us 4 adults, 3 children) will be at BCV, which is wonderful, but I head to Jambo house for the rest of the week, mostly solo.

Especially since you love the International part of Epcot, I wouldn't want to give that up, the convenience, even for AKL!

 

[hakepb]

They are both great resorts. Kidani has the animals and I think, a better water play area for a toddler. But BWV has great park proximity, especially if you have a stroller as you can roll onto a boat instead of folding up on a bus.

Both have a similiar negative as neither resort is a great place to use DDP CS credits.

 

[PetePanMan]

your kids would love the kidani water play area

 

[goofy4tink]

I guess it depends on the person. I love AKL....both Jambo and Kidani. I was so excited to show my dh and dd this resort. BUT....while dd loved watching the giraffes from our balcony, she was underwhelmed. And dh merely said he didn't want to stay there again..just didn't care for it.
But, they both love BWV...our home resort. We love the ability to walk to both Epcot and DHS. It's nice to have the other resorts, S/D/YC/BC, within easy walking distance as well. But, the thing I do miss is the ability to just head to the food court and grab something quick. You can do that at AKL but not at BWV. Yes, there is the Boardwalk Bakery, but it's just not the same as Mara at AKL.

If I had to make a choice, it would be BWV. I love the theming there...love the music that plays out on the boardwalk. I love being so close to the two parks.

 

[Sandisw]

Just came back from a 4 night stay at AKV in Jambo House. I am a BLT/BWV fan all the way but booked this trip only in March so my favorites were not available.

The resort itself is beautiful and the feel of this resort, compared to BWV is different and definitely has the WOW factor.

For our trip, since we went to relax and enjoy the pool with the parks being for meals and night time visits for rides/shopping (with rides being secondary) it was a wonderful place to be.

I am not a fan of the buses but was going to give it a try--until the night before we left and then we rented a car. We used it for everywhere except MK, which we took the bus.

While the bus ride wasn't too bad, I was glad we had the car and missed the convenience of BWV and BLT. Being able to simple walk to/from the parks, for us, outweighs the benefits of the atmosphere of the other resorts.

Both are great so I think it comes down to the reasons for the trip and what you will be doing--if its about the parks, go with BWV--if its about the resort, then giving AKV a try might be fun.

Goodl uck!

 

[Splashboat]

We love World Showcase, I can't imagine what an awesome trip we'd have if we were so close to it!!

You pretty much said it all right there. The ability to easily go back and forth from World Showcase to the BWV is priceless to us. We find we don't spend nearly enough time at the World Showcase when we stay elsewhere. As others suggested, a split stay might work really well for you if you don't mind the move.

 

[quinnc19]

I think AKV appeals more to slightly older kids so I vote BWV now. It will also be more convenient to return to your room for naps.

 

[Hunnypaw]

You pretty much said it all right there. The ability to easily go back and forth from World Showcase to the BWV is priceless to us. We find we don't spend nearly enough time at the World Showcase when we stay elsewhere. As others suggested, a split stay might work really well for you if you don't mind the move.

Ditto!


Next time we will split our time and stay at AKV as well... both are great!

 

[mjlass11]

Just returned from AKV.....had a great time but forgot how long it takes to get to the other parks. We all love the World Showcase and could eat at one of them every day (with TIW of course) , and never seem to spend as much time as we'd like there. Thus, I would vote for BWV.

 

[travelbug]

I stayed at AKV for the first time in Feb. this year. While I loved it there and am really glad that I tried it out, I found myself really missing the location of BWV and BCV that I've become so used to. I love not having to rely on buses for 2 of the parks. Walking back and forth to EP and HS is so convenient.

What I've kind of decided for the future is that I'll stick with BWV or BCV for longer stays (most of my stays are 7-9 days), but maybe try out other resorts occasionally on shorter visits. I do want to try VWL one of these times.

 

[jekjones1558]

I adore BWV and we own most of our points there. We already have rooms booked there for Oct. and Dec. of 2012 and Feb. of 2013. We always book a BW view room. The location is just ideal.
That having been said, I did a solo trip to Kidani a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. I am actually trying to switch our Oct. trip Kidani so that DH can try it out. The serenity of the place really grabbed me. And I can't wait to take the kids in our family to the Kidani pool area.
If you are planning on spending lots of time in the parks, then I guess I would go with BWV for the convenience. If you are planning a laid back vacation with more time hanging around the resort, then I would go with Kidani.

 

[drusba]

We are owners at both BWV and AKV. Views are of importance to us and those two resorts offer number one and two as best on site, boardwalk view at BWV and savanna view with the animals at AKV. With BLT, you can also possibly get a very good view but it has a serious issue because too many of the rooms, including too many with MK view point cost, have downright lousy (and thus a rip-off point wise) views and you get no guarantees of getting the rooms with a good view like you do with boardwalk view at BWV and savanna view at AKV. The fourth best view on site, SSR's Congress Park rooms overlooking the lake to Downtown Disney, is also not guaranteed although you usually get that area if you request it.

Studios at AKV and BWV are about the same size (except the "values" at AKV are much smaller) and thus neither has a size advantage for a studio; if you were getting a 1BR or 2BR, Kidani has the ones with extra bathrooms and an extra 100 sq ft of space. AKV's balconies are larger than most at BWV.

BWV has ideal near-park location allowing you to walk (or boat if you desire) to two theme parks. It also has one great advantage that AKV loses on hands down: with BWV you are within walking distance of about two dozen table service and buffet restaurants (Epcot resorts and parks). Moreover, since you can walk back to room you can do dinner at Epcot with a close to 9 p.m. reservation and stay until 11 when the restaurants actually close and you essentially have an almost empty restaurant and at least two people waiting on you at that time. You can then walk back through a deserted World Showcase to your room.

Nevertheless, AKV has three excellent restaurants, Jiko, Sanaa (which I consider perhaps the best on site) and Boma, and also a counter service which BWV does not have. For pools it is more or less a draw. Jambo has the nicest of the three because there are lots of areas to find shade, but Kidani has the elaborate kids play area. BWV's main pool is fine but not as nice as Jambo.

If you have a car, BWV offers the worst self-parking because you often end up far from room and sometimes it can be difficult to find a space. AKV Kidani offers the best self-parking because you are right under the building and can always park near an elevator that is not too far from your room. Jambo always has plenty of spaces but you can end up with rather lengthy walk there.

As to bus service, we have found AKV's to be very good with usually few delays. With only two resort stops, the trips really are not long; AK is only 8 minutes and the others 20 to 25. BWV's bus service is in my view the worst that exists on the planet. You share with Swan and Dolphin and sometimes also with YC and BC (making 5 stops in total). Trips can often be very long and we have found with BWV that delays are far too often the rule rather than the exception. It seems normal there to be waiting for a bus and 4 buses for Downtown Disney will come by and none for the theme parks for 30 minutes or more. We have had too many times there where we have had to wait for a bus to show up to return from MK for 50 minutes or more and when the bus shows up the driver is never even aware there was any delay. You can only be thankful that you don't need a bus for two of the parks.

You do not have a wrong choice and ultimately you will need to flip the coin and decide.

 

[disneyobessed]

We have stayed at both and as for theming... AKV much better. I had a 10 9 and 3 year old with me and they loved AKV. We also had a car which made life much easier. As for location, you cant beat BWV... we prefer BCV much more though.. Its closer to Epcot which is where we spend most of our time and you cant beat SAB Pool!

 

[sleeperclan]

We are divided--DH prefers BWV; I prefer AKV! Since EPCOT is a favorite, I'd go with those that recommend BWV. Being able to walk or ride the boat there was really convenient. DH loved being able to go out and stroll the Boardwalk in the wee hours of the morning and get something once the Bakery opened up. But, you can't go wrong with either resort

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is a split stay an option for you?

I'm with Bobbi on this one. I really don't envy your decision. I've done several split stays between the Epcot resorts, then AKV, trying to decide which I love better and I decided-those two make a great split stay. While at the Epcot area, I'm always walking over to WS, around Epcot, etc. and after several days get pretty sore feet. Then several days at AKV is a perfect way to chill-mostly hanging around, watching the animals, maybe taking occassional short trips to the parks (mostly in the morning when the animals aren't out).