BCV v. BWV

[Baklava]

We're looking at Food and Wine next year. We'll book at our home resort 11 months out but at 7 we'll be looking at the possibility of an Epcot resort.

We'll be a group of adults plus one 7 year old. She'll want one evening at a kid's club. Can she use Sandcastle Club if we're at BWV or can you only use the clubs if you're staying at that resort?

HusbandMan wants BWV because it's closer to DHS. I want BCV for Stormalong Bay. BWV is fewer points. BCV is closer to Epcot which is where we'll spend most of our time, although we will do all 4 parks.

What do you love or hate about those resorts? We will in a group but our family is just 3 adults and 1 child. We'll be looking at a 1 bedroom or a studio depending on how much vacation time DH can take.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Anyone can use Sandcastle Club -- not just those staying at that resort.

I think it'll really be based on availability at 7 months more than preference. Either is nice.

 

[lizhutch424]

I haven't stayed at either BWV or BCV yet, but I would consider the possibility that you might have to stick with your home resort just in case those are not available at 7 months.

We are going to F&W this year. I booked 2 studios at our home resort (Poly) with the intention of switching to a 2BR at BWV or BCV. We're still on the wait list and I would be surprised if it opened up.

 

[BillPA]

Both BW and BC are very difficult to get during F&W. Std at BW I would give you less than 1% chance. BC 2 BR w/ 2 Q also about 1%.

 

[Baklava]

I haven't stayed at either BWV or BCV yet, but I would consider the possibility that you might have to stick with your home resort just in case those are not available at 7 months.

We are going to F&W this year. I booked 2 studios at our home resort (Poly) with the intention of switching to a 2BR at BWV or BCV. We're still on the wait list and I would be surprised if it opened up.

Oh yes. The plan assumes we'll end up at the Poly. We'll waitlist the Epcot resort(s) if necessary, but ultimately we'll be happy at the Poly, or we wouldn't have bought there. This one trip is Epcot oriented, though, so we'll be hoping. Then we just have to debate one studio or two. If two, DS (will be 19) will get one of his own in exchange for some babysitting.

 

[drusba]

Be aware that getting either BWV or BCV during Food & Wine at 7 moinths out is usually difficult. You mention BWV is lower points than BCV which indicates you will be seeking BWV standard view. For Food & Wine, its standard and boardwalk view studios and 2BRs very often fill within 60 seconds after the 11 month window opens on line at 8 a.m. eastern. You can sometimes find a pool/graden view studio or 2BR open for two or possibly even three consecutive days and 1BR a little longer but even that needs luck. BCV is similar in that you can sometimes find things open 2 or possibly 3 days in a row but you need some luck even for that and if seeking more, your hopes may rest on wait list.


Moreover, even if you can find something you may want at either at 7 months out, you will need to book it immediately, because anything open at 8 a.m. on line at exactly 7 months out for that time of year can be gone very quickly. In other words, the decision you should be making is not whether you want either BCV or BWV but simply which one you are going to look for first when you go online exactly 7 months out at 8 a.m. to do the booking. All have low probaliity but BWV standard or boardwalk view will have the lowest portability of your possible choices and thus you should be considering whether you will try for BCV or BWV pool/garden. What you will need to do is keep checking when you get near your time using the DVC website's Resort Availability Tool to see if either is open for the time you want when you are getting near that time and thus concentrate on the one that may actually have some chance come the day you can make the reservation, whether it is BCV or BWV..

 

[Baklava]

Moreover, even if you can find something you may want at either at 7 months out, you will need to book it immediately, because anything open at 8 a.m. on line at exactly 7 months out for that time of year can be gone very quickly. In other words, the decision you should be making is not whether you want either BCV or BWV but simply which one you are going to look for first when you go online exactly 7 months out at 8 a.m. to do the booking. All have low probaliity but BWV standard or boardwalk view will have the lowest portability of your possible choices and thus you should be considering whether you will try for BCV or BWV pool/garden. What you will need to do is keep checking when you get near your time using the DVC website's Resort Availability Tool to see if either is open for the time you want when you are getting near that time and thus concentrate on the one that may actually have some chance come the day you can make the reservation, whether it is BCV or BWV..

And that's why I'm asking about preferences 16 months out instead of 7. We really do understand that it's a long shot, but we lucked into a long shot for our first stay and we figure it can't hurt to try. We assume it will be a waitlist and it may not pan out. We'll be wait listing our first choice at 8 am (that's Eastern, right?) and seeing what pans out. We'll be happy at the Poly if nothing else comes through. We wouldn't have bought there if it wasn't enchanting.

Thank you for the tip on checking the availability tool. That hadn't occurred to me but it makes perfect sense. We'll see what's open (if anything) at 7 months and 1 day and adjust as needed.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We're looking at Food and Wine next year. We'll book at our home resort 11 months out but at 7 we'll be looking at the possibility of an Epcot resort.

We'll be a group of adults plus one 7 year old. She'll want one evening at a kid's club. Can she use Sandcastle Club if we're at BWV or can you only use the clubs if you're staying at that resort?

HusbandMan wants BWV because it's closer to DHS. I want BCV for Stormalong Bay. BWV is fewer points. BCV is closer to Epcot which is where we'll spend most of our time, although we will do all 4 parks.

What do you love or hate about those resorts? We will in a group but our family is just 3 adults and 1 child. We'll be looking at a 1 bedroom or a studio depending on how much vacation time DH can take.

I'll just go making an assumption you'll have a choice, but agree it will likely just come down to grabbing any availability you can find, if any.

But, what I like about BWV - location with easy walk to both DHS and Epcot. I'm a huge fan of keeping transportation under your own walking control and you can do that for two parks at BWV. Nice, quiet coffee spot at the lounge in the morning. Boardwalk Bakery. And, actually we think the slide at the Clown pool is more fun than the SAB pool and you don't have to leave the pool area and cross a walkway to get to it. Also, there tend to be better views, even if it's pool/garden, that you get. And - for Epcot the boat makes it's last stop there before Epcot and it's the first stop leaving so if you don't want the slightly longer walk vs BCV it's a nice option. If you can do stairs everything is also pretty easily accessible. If not then having the one bank of elevators can extend your walks to/from the room considerably. It has our favorite community hall too.

BCV - access to the quiet pool is very good and they now have the pool table in the game room but the community hall closest is at BWV. Of course the kids club which is more important for you is there. I like the Marketplace and it's convenient to the Villas. SAB is nice, although more removed than the main pool at BWV is for the Villas. Short walk to Epcot but the downside is DHS is much less walkable. Crew Cup lounge at YC is one of my favorite lounges and it's closer to BCV than BWV - for the most part. And I prefer the health club at BCV over BWV.

 

[Baklava]

I'll just go making an assumption you'll have a choice, but agree it will likely just come down to grabbing any availability you can find, if any.

But, what I like about BWV - location with easy walk to both DHS and Epcot. I'm a huge fan of keeping transportation under your own walking control and you can do that for two parks at BWV. Nice, quiet coffee spot at the lounge in the morning. Boardwalk Bakery. And, actually we think the slide at the Clown pool is more fun than the SAB pool and you don't have to leave the pool area and cross a walkway to get to it. Also, there tend to be better views, even if it's pool/garden, that you get. And - for Epcot the boat makes it's last stop there before Epcot and it's the first stop leaving so if you don't want the slightly longer walk vs BCV it's a nice option. If you can do stairs everything is also pretty easily accessible. If not then having the one bank of elevators can extend your walks to/from the room considerably. It has our favorite community hall too.

BCV - access to the quiet pool is very good and they now have the pool table in the game room but the community hall closest is at BWV. Of course the kids club which is more important for you is there. I like the Marketplace and it's convenient to the Villas. SAB is nice, although more removed than the main pool at BWV is for the Villas. Short walk to Epcot but the downside is DHS is much less walkable. Crew Cup lounge at YC is one of my favorite lounges and it's closer to BCV than BWV - for the most part. And I prefer the health club at BCV over BWV.

I think I'm swaying toward BWV. If not this trip, maybe another. We went into this with the intention of always being happy with the Poly, but wanting to try other resorts, and *mostly* we travel at less impacted seasons than this trip. January was excellent at WDW and we like to hit DLR when the maximum number of kids are in school. (We did score mid-December at the Grand Californian this year though. Yay!)

 

[crisi]

If you can get a BW Standard View or Boardwalk View (and if you want a one bedroom, there is a small chance it might be available) grab it, they aren't available often.

Then if you can get BCV, grab that, because it is the next least likely to show up at seven months over the course of your ownership.

Then BWV Preferred view. Its the most likely to be available.

I think your chance of a studio at any of them is really rare, but a one bedroom might be. And I'd simply go in the order that - from watching - seems to be the order of popularity - because you may not get those opportunities again.

 

[Granny]

I think it'll really be based on availability at 7 months more than preference. Either is nice.

 

[CarolMN]

Hate to pile on, but you may also have to consider the possibility that you will end up with no reservation - or more likely, one at a resort other than the Poly, BCV, BWV, BLT or VGF.

'm assuming you will need to cancel the Poly studios to get the points you will need to book the 2 bedroom. There will be several members hoping to book the Poly at 7 months, so any room(s) you cancel may be grabbed up before you can re-book them if your BCV or BWV reservation isn't available. It will be a much less "nerve-wracking" switch if you have enough points to hold the Poly reservations until the BCV or BWV reservation is secured.

Good luck!