BC Villa Balconies Question

[Pluto1976]

Hi All,

Well the wife and I have decided we really need to buy into DVC after seeing how much we spend each year on Deluxe stays. This means as the official Disney planner I get to research more Disney stuff!

I'll be making a ton more postings asking for advice so here goes the first question:

The DW, DD (10), and myself really enjoy spending time on the balcony and just relaxing. How are the balconies at BCVs?

We took a quick walking tour of the BCV this past November and I thought I saw allot of them facing trees and the trees were pretty close to the balcony. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

We were just there - although we always have stayed on the pool side - but I didn't notice any big trees close to the building on the Epcot side of the resort - maybe a few would be towards the end of the building, but my recollection is that it's pretty open. Trees might block your view towards Epcot but they weren't right up against the building.

 

[Tdisney]

The side facing epcot does have trees as the view but they are not right on top of you. The balconies are not the biggest either but still our favorite place to stay.

 

[jade1]

We were on the 4th floor and the trees were not too bad. Zoomed in.

 

[Pluto1976]

Awesome PIC!

Thanks for the replies and reassurances about the view from the balconies. Of course, there is a follow-up question given the information provided:

Can you specify the type of view you want when reserving your villa?

Right now BCVs is in the lead with this information. AKVs are running second and BWVs are holding third.

 

[wdwfanatic316]

You can make a request such as "woods" view, near elevator, etc but it's not guaranteed.

We stayed at BCV last Nov. for the first time and loved it! We had a view of the EPCOT ball off the balcony- it was great!

Also, here's a thread about BCV views:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2318094

Good luck with your decision!

 

[robertdangelo]

Here is a site with maps and balcony views of BCV: http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/
Click on the room # to see pics from balconies.

 

[jade1]

Awesome PIC!

Thanks for the replies and reassurances about the view from the balconies. Of course, there is a follow-up question given the information provided:

Can you specify the type of view you want when reserving your villa?

Right now BCVs is in the lead with this information. AKVs are running second and BWVs are holding third.

Thanks, we always "request" a pool view. We are fine with those, but still rarley get that either. The above pic was from a room we got with a "pool view" request.

 

[crisi]

Honestly, if view is really important to you, DVC isn't a great choice. Some views can be booked (like savannah view or boardwalk view or magic kingdom view), but most resorts can't. There are a lot of not great views at DVC. And even in the bookable "good view" categories, there are rooms that are not great instances of that view.

I've had very poor luck getting requests met. Some people have been more fortunate.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You can make a request such as "woods" view, near elevator, etc but it's not guaranteed.

Really-you can finally request "Woods" view? Whenever I've tried it, MS always tells me "There's no such view"(Huh? It's my favorite) To the OP, please be aware that I've been in many BCV studios and have found that the size of the balconies varies a lot. I've had balconies so big, I could party with at least a dozen of my closest friends there. On the other hand, I've had balconies so tiny that it was a good thing I was solo-2 people would have a hard time fitting comfortably. And since that balcony was enclosed and had a solid wall on the lower portion, it could make you feel a little claustrophibic. I've never had a balcony with trees super close, though.

 

[Pluto1976]

Thanks for the continuing information about the views. I am reading all of it and taking it in before our purchase.

It sounds like the balcony type and view could vary allot at the BCVs. Would that be a fair estimate? Also, if you really don't like your view can you go complain and receive a transfer or would this be less likely to happen then when at the cash-resorts?

I must say though that the picture posted and the views shown on some of the websites that have been posted seem pretty nice so I think it just might be depending on luck how good the view is.

Score is: 1st place: BCV, 2nd place: AKV, 3rd place: BWV

Thanks!

 

[princessbride6205]

I really like BCV but after our recent stay I'm not sure if we would add on there. The location and the pool are wonderful. But the views/balconies can vary so much. We had some trees and a service road for our view. I like that at other resorts, you get a "discount" for a less desirable view. A standard view room at the Boardwalk requires less points than a room at BCV (no view categories). If I'm going to get a view of a road, I like to use fewer points. Whereas, at AKV, I can spend the extra points and get savanna view.
BCV is great, but if view and balconies are a gamble - you never know what you're going to get.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Here are photos of our fifth floor "woods" view. The balconies were the smallest we've had at DVC and were solid. DH sat out there for a phone call or two but I didn't spend anytime out there b/c it wasn't real comfortable. I thought the view itself was ok. Just would have preferred to be able to see it while sitting down!

 

[DISNEMOM]

We were on the 4th floor and the trees were not too bad. Zoomed in.

WOW, I LOVE THAT PICTURE.....I ALSO LOVE THE BOARDWALK!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Hi All,

Well the wife and I have decided we really need to buy into DVC after seeing how much we spend each year on Deluxe stays. This means as the official Disney planner I get to research more Disney stuff!

I'll be making a ton more postings asking for advice so here goes the first question:

The DW, DD (10), and myself really enjoy spending time on the balcony and just relaxing. How are the balconies at BCVs?

We took a quick walking tour of the BCV this past November and I thought I saw allot of them facing trees and the trees were pretty close to the balcony. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks!

Honestly, if view is really important to you, DVC isn't a great choice. Some views can be booked (like savannah view or boardwalk view or magic kingdom view), but most resorts can't. There are a lot of not great views at DVC. And even in the bookable "good view" categories, there are rooms that are not great instances of that view.

I've had very poor luck getting requests met. Some people have been more fortunate.

BCV has no "great" views.

Heed Crisi's words of wisdom.

 

[Pluto1976]

Thanks DISNEY_FIX and CRIS for the information about the balconies.

The views from most of the villas do seem to leave a bit to be desired. This is one reason why AKV and BWV are also among the possibilities for us to buy into. Any thoughts or feedback on either are appreciated!

Another thing I was considering was ease of getting what we want. For example, I think Kidani is cool looking but would prefer to be in Jambo house so the 11-month would help there. Again though, any feedback from you experienced DVCers is welcomed!

Score: 1st: BCV (holding on but competition is coming, 2nd: AKV, 3rd: BWV (Charging forward though)

 

[crisi]

Thanks for the continuing information about the views. I am reading all of it and taking it in before our purchase.

It sounds like the balcony type and view could vary allot at the BCVs. Would that be a fair estimate? Also, if you really don't like your view can you go complain and receive a transfer or would this be less likely to happen then when at the cash-resorts?

I must say though that the picture posted and the views shown on some of the websites that have been posted seem pretty nice so I think it just might be depending on luck how good the view is.

Score is: 1st place: BCV, 2nd place: AKV, 3rd place: BWV

Thanks!

IF a room is available (and it probably isn't) you can pay a room transfer fee (and I don't know what it is) and transfer. DVC operates at near 100% capacity, particularly at BCVs, its unlikely a room would be available for you to transfer into.

Also remember that most people take pictures and post pictures of good views. Sometimes they have their camera pointed sideways leaning over the balcony and zoomed in for "that view." Somewhere out here there is a thread of bad views - windows that look into other rooms, rooms that overlook the dumpster, roof views, rooms where the view is completely blocked by trees or where all you see is parking lot.

 

[Pluto1976]

I want to make sure I understand this so I gotta ask. If I am a DVC member and check-in my room and for whatever reason decide I would like to be transferred to another room, they will charge me?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I want to make sure I understand this so I gotta ask. If I am a DVC member and check-in my room and for whatever reason decide I would like to be transferred to another room, they will charge me?

The definitive answer I've found, based on my research, is "It depends". I've only asked for a new room when the one assigned was HA, and once I was told we'd have to pay (for the whole 5 minutes it took us to discover that it was HA, "Oh, no-a bathtub isn't a guarantee."), and once I got profuse apologizes for their "error" and no mention of charging us to move. However, moving for view reasons-I would think it depends on everyone's mood, but expect that for a request to move for view reasons you might get charged. That's why I always go armed with as much knowledge as possible about the resort and the specific rooms (like which ones are HA, etc.). And at BCV, they'll show you a resort map so you can see where the room is. You can print that info off www.parkinfo2go.com, I think.
I've been to both BCV and AKL, and for me it's a toss-up as to which I prefer.

 

[jade1]

It sounds like the balcony type and view could vary allot at the BCVs. Would that be a fair estimate? Also, if you really don't like your view can you go complain and receive a transfer or would this be less likely to happen then when at the cash-resorts?
Thanks!

Reading this, I would never recommend BCV for you. If a view is that important you should select a resort that has guaranteed views-ones that you agree you can live with. I would go with BWV BW View, or BLT MK view-although some love BLT Bay Lake View.

We have had great views at BCV, but thats purely a bonus to all the other great things about BCV-but we checked in at 6AM one Sunday (11 months out ressie) to find that 2 (TWO) dedicated 2BR's were being vacated that entire day. I think there are only about 25 of these anyway. It was either "canal" or "woods". We took canal which was great-really pool view actually. But to think I could walk back to check in a demand some kind of change would be impossible obviously.