BCV or VWL

[MAC3]

Hi Everyone,

I asked on the DVC board now I'd like to hear what you all think. Family and I decided to go to WDW next Thanksgiving (arriving on T-day) for 5 or 6 days.

We have a friend that will be going down at the same time but staying longer and @ BWV. We are booking our home resorts for 11 month window accessibilty.

This may be the only time we get to go to WDW for the decorations also the first time we will be there the same time as our friend.

So my question is if you had the choice, would you stay @ VWL for the decorations, or BCV to be closer to our friend & everything else?

Thanks,

 

[lovesdisney44]

I'd probably stay at the BCV and be near my friend and everything else. You will also be very close to see all the decorations at the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club.

You can always stop at the Wilderness Lodge and see the decorations if you want.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures or videos, the decorations are AWESOME!

 

[swilphil]

Even without the friend factor, I'd choose BCV for SAB and the location. My second choice would be BWV. You can go over to WL for dinner at Whispering Canyon--fun if you have young kids or the Artists Pointe if you don't. Since this is the first time you've been able to meet your friend there, I would say try to stay as close as possible.

I love staying in the Epcot area, and both Beach Club and Boardwalk are great resorts--much more deluxe than WL in my opinion. I've heard these resorts have nice holiday decorations too. I don't know when the Christmas festivities at WDW begin, but I believe Thanksgiving is late in Nov. this year. Perhaps you also will be able to experience Osborne Lights at MGM and the Candlelight Processional at Epcot--both close by BCV and BWV.

 

[lovesdisney44]

I was there Thanksgiving and the week after in 2001. All Epcot Resorts were decorated and so was WL and Grand Floridian.

The Floridian has a HUGE gingerbread house. (So big, in fact, that cast members are inside selling gingerbread cookies.) If you can, make a trip to see it.

Also, I highly recommend the Osborne Festival of Lights - everything you've seen or heard just doesn't do it justice. It was something my family will never forget. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party was fun too, but Osborne Lights is my favorite

 

[Bracho]

I have stayed at the Beach Club a few times and have enjoyed my stay each time...SAB is great and even though everyone and their mothers are trying to sneek into the pool area and it was packed most of the time, I still had a great time, but I have never based a resort stay on the pool.

I know from experience that staying in different resorts when you are traveling with family and/or friends is very hard on everyone when planing gets involved... the girls need a few extra minutes, the guys are in a rush, the buses are late, the parties miss eachother...ya..ya..ya.... over and over again. I love the Wilderness Lodge and own there myself but if I couldn't have my group together at VWL or WL, I'd move to where the balance of the group would be. It just takes alot of the junk out of a vacation that could cause a little tension (and tension is anti-vacation).

Each of the resorts are wonderful during Christmas, if you don't want to go to some of your favorites without a reason other then to see the place, then plan a dinner like at Artist Point, then walk around after dinner... it's worth the trip and Artist Point is a great place to enjoy a good meal.

So I guess the bottom line is, if I had to choose, even though I love VWL.. I'd go with where everyone else is to avoid problem and it would make everyone happy...

Good Luck and let us know what you do!

 

[sters]

I'd go to the BWV, not just to be near my friends, but to be in the middle of the Chritmas action.... candlelight processional at Epcot and the Osborne lights at MGM. I'd imagine the BWV would also be nicely decorated.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by sters
I'd go to the BWV, not just to be near my friends, but to be in the middle of the Chritmas action.... candlelight processional at Epcot and the Osborne lights at MGM. I'd imagine the BWV would also be nicely decorated.

I gotta agree with that. Also, think of this-what's the chances of you and your friend having such a trip to WDW in the future? Now what's your chance of staying at VWL in the future?

 

[MAC3]

All great points! I am thinking that making the ressie 11 months @ BCV and then trying to get BWV @ 7 (if at all possible).

I guess the only reason why I was thinking the VWL was because of how so many marvel at the decorations. But we are talking Disney here so I imagine each resort is decorated in a special manner.

We are going to try to attend MVMCP & Candlelight procession. I am hoping that the Osborne lights will be on for next year.

Thanks Everyone,

 

[goofy4tink]

I was booked at VWL, in a studio, for this coming Thanksgiving. I was really thrilled to be there because it's so beautiful during the holidays. Well, after our August trip, in a studio at BWVs, I came home and called to see if there were any one-bedroom units at VWL for my time-frame. Nope, but they called me two days later and told me they could give me BWV one-bedroom instead. I was actually quite happy with this since I fell in love with Epcot at holiday time. We will probably spend a great deal of time in WS this trip, enjoying the various countries. I would go with one of the Epcot resorts if you can.

 

[lovesdisney44]

MAC3 -

I see you mentioned you'd do Osborne next time. Didn't know if you were aware or not, but Osborne Festival of Lights if free. It's in the backlot section so if you hit one park in the morning and go to MGM in the evening, you'll see it. It's really AWESOME!

Have a great trip, whatever you do.

 

[MAC3]

Thanks!!

I was just reading up on it on ALLears. I wasn't aware that t was free. I know trying to cram in all the holiday stuff in the last few days is going to be hard. We want to do it all since we will not be back again at that time of the year until my DD is out of high school.

Maybe I will have to take my DD out of school for 3 days instead of 2 like planned.

 

[lovesdisney44]

I say if you're already there, take your DD out the extra day. You really won't regret it. We took our kids (8th and 4th grade at the time) out of school for 5-1/2 days and we don't regret it. Once they're in high school, it's too hard for them to take time off. I know the next time we'll get to see the Holiday decorations won't be untill they are both out of highschool (6 more years!)

Is your DD still in grammar school?

 

[MAC3]

Gee lovesdisney44,

If I didn't know any better I'd think you were my friend Sheila (that we are going with)? J/K....

My DD12 will be in 8th grade when we go. I wouldn't worry about it if she was generally a strong student, but she slacks (she only does what has to get done, nothing extra) so her grades aren't as good as they could be.

That's about the only thing that worries me. I also know it will be the only time we will be able to do this. I could change my mind and keep her out the extra day. I'll work harder to help her catch up.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[lovesdisney44]

Mac3

Good luck with your decision. Whatever you decide, you'll have great time! Does your school allow homework in advance? Our "school policy" says no advance homework, but most of the teachers give it to them 1-2 days in advance anyway. My son did his math on the plane on the way there and back.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Split your stay.....that's what we've taken to doing. It's what we'll be doing this year. Post Thanksgiving trip will be 3 nights BCV and 4 nights VWL.

We own at VWL primarily so we can stay there at this time of year. It is wonderful. The decorations, the atmosphere......it is the best for the holidays. Plus, the boat access to the MK for MVMCP is great.

Of course the Epcot resorts, with their great decorations (but not as good as WL) and proximity to the Candlelight Processional and Osborne Lights is great.

Splitting your stay gives you the best of both worlds.

 

[MAC3]

lovesdisney44

I believe I just read in the handbook no work will be given out in advance. We used to take her out in grade K-2nd until a teachers sent a lge manillia evelope full of work with only 5 marking days left in the year. Child was swamped.

After that we started taking our vacations in June/July. I know it's crowded & hot but we are used to it. But we don't have to do the commando thing anymore so 5 or 6 days is fine. I think she'll be fine workwise too.

DisneyKidds,

We usually do switch resorts but it's when we stay longer. DVC points are precious so to get the most out of them we start our stays in a moderate on a Wednesday for 4 days and then switch to our home on Sunday. But for only 5 days DH will kill me if he has to move that quickly!

Thanks for all the suggestions though I appreciate it,