BCV or BWV or more AKV?

[Donald is #1]

OK, I'm thinking about an add-on at either BCV, BWV, or AKV. Currently I own at AKV. The positives for an additional add-on at AKV are:
1) All my points at one place with the same contract
2) I will have enough points for 8-10 nights in a 1 bedroom each year
3) I will have enough points in 2 years for most seasons for a grand villa for 7-8 nights

On BCV & BWV, EPCOT is my favorite park. But I have never stayed at either one yet. Best case, I won't be able to stay there until December. I think that between BCV and BWV, I am leaning towards BCV but I could be swayed either way. Advantage = 11 months for F&WF.

So please tell me your opinions.

edited to add:
On AKV, I love staying there. I love to sit on my balconny and see the animals. I also don't mind the bus service and like that fact that it doesn't share buses with other resorts.

On BCV & BWV, really the main advantage here would be F&WF. However, if I could get one of them at the 7 month window every couple of years, it would be good enough for me.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We own at 5 DVC resorts and the most at one resort is 250, BWV. I don't hesitate to bank/borrow so we could get a BC at VB or a GV at BWV. Will you want a GV at AKV? We have 140 AKV points. There are 3 seasons that with banking and borrowing we could get a GV for 5 weeknights. I fully intend to do that one year.

The convenience of going to Epcot from BCV or BWV cannot be overstated imo. If you have a preference for one over the other, I would go with that feeling and buy an add on there that will give you home priority for F&W.

Bobbi

 

[Donald is #1]

Will you want a GV at AKV?

My heart says yes I would like a GV at AKV but my head says that I probably woudn't need one. If my oldest nephew was younger then I would probably use one, but he will be 16 in April. So most likely he won't want to join us at WDW. So we could fit into a 2 bedroom even if both of my sisters came and one of them brought their family.

What are your thoughts on BCV versus BWV? In reality, SAB isn't a priority for me. I am leaning towards BCV because it is closer to Epcot and has lower maintanence.

 

[drusba]

You have another key factor when buying points. AKV's end date is 2057, BWV and BCV is 2042. I own at both BWV (long time) and AKV (last year). I won't buy anymore points at Disney prices at BWV because of that end date difference (AKV is higher dollars but for that end date difference, price is really better than BWV). If you want boardwalk or standard view it is best to own there, otherwise you can usually get BWV preferred view at 7 months many times of year.

 

[Disneypapa]

I would do an add on at Beach Club or Boardwalk based on your preferences for Epcot and gaining the 11 month window somewhere other than AKV.

JMHO.

 

[Donald is #1]

If you want boardwalk or standard view it is best to own there, otherwise you can usually get BWV preferred view at 7 months many times of year.

When have you or haven't you had luck getting BWV preferred view at 7 months?

On the length of contract, I can definitely see the advantage of AKV. It definitely was a factor in my decision for my inital AKV purchases.

 

[DVC Mike]

I would add-on at BCV or BWV rather than add more at AKV. BCV has a great location and SAB, and BWV has the BW view rooms.

 

[JimC]

AKV -- probably the better long term value and you did not say you had to have the 11 month booking advantage for BCV/BWV. I would buy at BCV over BWV if I had to choose between the two.

 

[starbox]

I'm going to go with wait until you've stayed at BWV/BCV once. I think you'll immediately know if you want points there or if AKV just feels more like "home".

The reason I say this is that BWV is VERY different from AKV. It's got a totally different vibe. You'll either love it tremendously or realize you're just fine without owning there. Personally, I've been an absolutely terrible judge about which DVC's I'll prefer or not-prefer prior to actually staying at each one.

 

[ebenmax]

We have contracts at three resorts - our larger one at SSR but two smaller ones at BCV and VWL for 11 mo advantage -both of which we have already used. No problem booking BCV for spring break and VWL for Christmas.

It sounds to me like an add-on at either EPCOT resort is your best bet. . .you love EPCOT, plus it sounds like you will not really ever need/use the GV option at AKV.

Some people argue to own all of your points at one resort, but we do not want to risk not getting into certain resorts at particular times of the year.
If you want BCV for F&W, I would suggest owning there.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I'm going to go with wait until you've stayed at BWV/BCV once. I think you'll immediately know if you want points there or if AKV just feels more like "home".

The reason I say this is that BWV is VERY different from AKV. It's got a totally different vibe. You'll either love it tremendously or realize you're just fine without owning there. Personally, I've been an absolutely terrible judge about which DVC's I'll prefer or not-prefer prior to actually staying at each one.

Care to elaborate? I know you at least love Vero Beach!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

BCV seems to be more valuable on the resale market. SAB was a huge factor in our decision to buy there. The existence of dedicated 2 bedrooms with 2Q's was the other deciding factor, BWV doesn't have either, dedicated or any 2 bedrooms with 2 Q's. Right now, our DGC are young 3, 4 and 5 and don't realize the importance of staying in the room. A lock off 2 bedroom is asking for trouble imo, for a few years at least. I'm planning a Girlfriend week in March '09 and, BWV fills the bill EXCEPT that the 2 bedrooms only have 2 real beds! This is a real hangup for me, but I bought into DVC with open eyes, I knew it would always bug me.

For DH and myself, it's the SV points that sold us on BWV. We've had GREAT family gatherings for adults there. The lower points and excellent location are wonderful, and the SV points has allowed us to book studios, and 2 bedrooms for the families that come. We have a SV studio for a NYE week this year

When we bought in '03, we had the choice of BWV and BCV...we chose BWV because of the lower points. Before we bought BCV ( summer '07) we were able to get into BCV for the Flower and Garden time, we did this for 3 years,changing over from BWV, and so, we never felt deprived in not having any points there. Having DGC changed it all.

You seem to be hedging your need for a GV, so I would go with either BCV or BWV for your add on. I really do like them both. The pictures on the walls in the studios of BCV look just like the homes/ocean road in Cape May, and the atmosphere of BWV reminds me of the boardwalks that I love in NJ

Bobbi

 

[starbox]

Care to elaborate? I know you at least love Vero Beach!!

Well - actually, I bought with the intention of using about 1/3 of my points at a beach resort. I expected that I'd like VB and HHI equally but that the fact that HHI is a mere 4.5 hours away vs. 11-12 hours for VB would greatly tip the scales in favor of HHI.

Let's just say that I am, at this very moment, wearing a VB tshirt and sweatshirt jacket, that I look at VB pictures every time I open my fridge or wash my hands, and that my facebook icon is of me @ VB...............

Other than that, I would have bet money VWL would be my favorite DVC because I'd eaten at the WL and drooled over the lobby/landscaping. I found that it did not really fit the way I vacation. I was restless.

I thought I'd like OKW more than SSR - but the opposite was true. Thought SSR would be my least favorite resort and it's in my top three.

I thought I'd find AKV too quiet/removed but found it to be a perfect match for our vacationing style.

Actually, BWV is probably the resort I was the closest to right about. I thought I'd really like it and I did. BUT - the reasons I thought I'd like it were off-base, and I ended up liking things I did not expect to.

I thought I'd love the pool, park access, and the much-lauded walking path to EPCOT.

I actually found the walking path to be a mixed-like/dislike. We are early morning park-goers and I hated the way the back entrance gets you to the good rides after all the front entrance people. I did like being able to walk in mid-afternoon or just to dine. Overall - I found the access to all Disney "stuff" to be generally on the frustrating side - especially transportation to AK (my favorite park). Did not like the shared busses at all.

I really did not like the pool.

BUT -

I absolutely loved the Boardwalk at night. I did not even know all that stuff existed prior to staying there. I LOVED it. In fact, I loved it so much that I did not bother going to see any nighttime parades or fireworks shows at any of the parks. Words can not describe how much I loved it except to say that it really was like a fantasy-world that magically came to life at dark.

I also absolutely loved the view. Never thought I was a room-with-a-view sort of girl before.

In the end, it's a place I'd absolutely want to stay again but for a couple of nights just to soak up the atmosphere of the resort itself vs. a week of wanting to experience more general Disney activities/dining. Luckily, a couple of nights at BWV fits very nicely as one bookend of a trip to VB!!!!!!!!!


So - I am a big believer in TRY THEM FIRST!!! You won't know what you like until you do.

I'll also say that I liked every single resort when I stayed there. I've never posted a negative trip report because I've always appreciated what each resort has to offer. It's only after looking back and comparing one to another that I can see which resorts were the best "fit" for our family's idiosyncracies and touring rhythm.

 

[Donald is #1]

starbox, thanks for the explanation. I really understand what you mean. Maybe I should stay with my original plan, add on to AKV now and then once I have stayed at BCV and/or BWV decide if I want a small add-on. Your comments about the buses to AK & MK are exactly some of my concerns.

Here is my story (maybe I should learn from my own history ). During May of last year, I split my stay between SSR & AKL. I had done a lot of research prior to my trip and had decided that I would buy DVC during the trip. Well, I started off in SSR and found that I enjoyed it. I did have a rental car so the size didn't really bother me. I was staying in the Paddock area in the building closest to Congress Park. Well, each morning I walked to the Springs and thought how relaxing SSR was. I did the DVC tour while I was at SSR and spent my time debating between SSR and AKV. I had read many reviews of the bus service at AKL and how people thought it was out of the way. Anyways, 1/2 way through my trip, I checked into AKL and went to my Savannah view room. Within 5 minutes of watching the animals out my balcony my decision was made. AKV it was. Since then I have also stayed at OKW and I enjoyed it. But I am glad that I own at AKV.

On the AKV bus service, I didn't find any problems with it. I like that it doesn't share buses with other resorts and I didn't find the bus rides to be longer than any other resorts.

 

[Donald is #1]

Everyone thanks for all of your opinions! That's why I love these boards. So after much thought on your comments and my responses to your comments, I have decided to add on to AKV now and then wait until I get to stay at BCV and BWV before I make a decision. The point that made the decision for me is that I have not stayed at either of the EPCOT DVC resorts yet and do I really want to spend alot of money when I haven't stayed there. The other factor was the buses to the other parks. I think that I really want to see what the buses are like to MK and AK from these resorts before I make the jump.

I called my guide this afternoon but she wasn't there. She normally works Sundays so it will be interesting to see how quickly she calls me back.

Thanks again everyone! You all helped me immensely!