BC or BW

[elastigirlfan]

Which one is better? We have two girls ages 8 and 10. Thanks.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Better is all in the eye of the beholder.

But if your girls like to swim, Beach Club is probably the better choice.

 

[jackmac]

This is guaranteed to get a discussion going. I own at Boardwalk but I'll be at Beach Club next week. Both are great resorts, have their own styles and you won't go wrong with either.

Pools: Stormalong Bay is the best pool at Disney, but it's hugh. You can easily lose sight of people. It has a great slide and a sand bottom. The lazy river is very nice, but deep and fast moving. Not really a place for an unsupervised child. The Boardwalk pool is very nice, has a great slide (a large clown face) and is smaller. Both resorts have very nice quiet pools.

Restaurants: Beach club may have the edge. It has Cape May Cafe there, with a character breakfast and it also has a place to have a more informal breakfast. Boardwalk has the bakery, a short walk outside and Spoodles does a nice breakfast. Meal choices for dinner are equal, Flying Fish and Spoodles vs Yachtsman Steak house and Cape May.

Location: Both great locations. Boardwalk is closer to MGM and an easy walk from the villa's. It's also a quick walk to Epcot, less than 10 Minutes. Beach Club is closer to Epcot, but not significantly.

I guess what it comes down to is both are great and a easy walk to each other. I like the Boardwalk lobby better, but you don't live in the lobby. I would choose eithor without giving it a second though. Let the availability determine your choice.

One note, the Boardwalk has rooms that overlook the Boardwalk. This can be a selling point. The view is very nice but can be noisy if the doors are left open early in the evening. Noise is not really a problem unless you sleep very very lightly. Boardwalk villas also have standard view rooms which are less expensive.

 

[elastigirlfan]

This is guaranteed to get a discussion going. I own at Boardwalk but I'll be at Beach Club next week. Both are great resorts, have their own styles and you won't go wrong with either.

Pools: Stormalong Bay is the best pool at Disney, but it's hugh. You can easily lose sight of people. It has a great slide and a sand bottom. The lazy river is very nice, but deep and fast moving. Not really a place for an unsupervised child. The Boardwalk pool is very nice, has a great slide (a large clown face) and is smaller. Both resorts have very nice quiet pools.

Restaurants: Beach club may have the edge. It has Cape May Cafe there, with a character breakfast and it also has a place to have a more informal breakfast. Boardwalk has the bakery, a short walk outside and Spoodles does a nice breakfast. Meal choices for dinner are equal, Flying Fish and Spoodles vs Yachtsman Steak house and Cape May.

Location: Both great locations. Boardwalk is closer to MGM and an easy walk from the villa's. It's also a quick walk to Epcot, less than 10 Minutes. Beach Club is closer to Epcot, but not significantly.

I guess what it comes down to is both are great and a easy walk to each other. I like the Boardwalk lobby better, but you don't live in the lobby. I would choose eithor without giving it a second though. Let the availability determine your choice.

One note, the Boardwalk has rooms that overlook the Boardwalk. This can be a selling point. The view is very nice but can be noisy if the doors are left open early in the evening. Noise is not really a problem unless you sleep very very lightly. Boardwalk villas also have standard view rooms which are less expensive.

Jackmac, thanks for all of your advice. Since you own at Boardwalk can you tell me if we can fit 5 comfortably in a room, me, my hubbie, my Mom, and our two girls. Thanks.

 

[jackmac]

There are 3 basic types of rooms at the Boardwalk Villa, which would be your best bet.
A studio is basically a hotel room with a double bed and a pull out couch. Good for 2-3 people, maybe 4 if they are children.

A 1 bedroom unit is your best alternative. It is a large living room / dining room area with a small kitchenette. The living room has a pull out couch that sleeps 2 and area for a Aerobed (which Disney will not supply). The bedroom is a king sized bedroom with a chair and a TV. There is a hot tub area with a vanity next to the bedroom and there is a walk in closet next to the hot tub area. There is also a bathroom with a large shower. This would sleep your party nicely.

A 2 bedroom unit is a 1 bedroom and a studio connected by a door. All units have balconies. I prefer ground floor units so that you can walk right out to the pool.

You can rent these through disney or you can rent through the DVC Rent Trade Board. Renting through the boards is cheaper, about $10 to $12 dollar per point. The price also fluctuates by the day of the week with Friday and Saturday nights being about 2x Sunday through Thurs. Also if you rent through the boards you don't pay the room tax (about 10%). This is all good but you also don't get the security of going straight through Disney. I know that many people rent successfully and have had great success.

Good luck in your decision. By the way, in a 1 bedroom you and your husband can have some privacy and have your mother and the 2 girls in the main room.

Here's a link to the DVC Boardwalk Page:
http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortLanding?id=BoardwalkVillasResortLandingPage

 

[elastigirlfan]

Thanks for the quick reply Jackmac!! I really appreciate all of your comments and suggestions.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Five people in one room is very tight! The regular BWI & BC rooms can officially accomodate your group, but one bathroom is scarey The regular rooms have two queen beds and a daybed (very small) The Villa studios and one bdrm can only hold 4 people (plus one infant) so you will not fit there. The 2bdrm holds up to 8 people. They are huge, but they are very expensive.

Jackmac - we have similar tastes! I own BCV but will be staying at BWV in two weeks!

If I had to pick one over the other for the OP, I would go with BC due to SAB and dinning options. Have a great trip.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I prefer the Boardwalk on the basis of theme, but the Beach club is my second favorite in the Epcot area. I love the Boardwalk because of the landscaping in the courtyard area and around the quiet pool, the way you can see Illuminations through the window in the concierge lounge, the pretty rooms, and the old fashioned-ly elegant lobby. I just think it's a lot of fun being right ON the boardwalk rather than across the lake from it.

I warmed up to the Beach club after doing a trip to Cape Cod, but I find the theming of the Boardwalk slightly more inviting. I'm not a big Stormalong Bay fan because of the intense potential for splashing there..I've gotten some pretty intense "waves" of water thrown my way in the deep/ current area from unsupervised kids. I like to have fun in the pool but I don't like getting caught in water fights or crazy-style swimmers. I have found the atmosphere at other deluxe pools, including the Boardwalk's, to be a bit more calm and prefer that, even though I have a child myself. I do continue to like SAB and staying at the Beach or Yacht club for a change, but considering I also prefer restaurants over at the Boardwalk, I just usually up end staying there.