BCV vs BWV?!? HELP!!!

[chanty]

Hi all,

All this time, I was focusing on having our stay at Boardwalk Villas. Now, I'm going through some posts and start hearing about Beach Club Villas.... OK!

I've seen a few pics of BCV... a few posts...

I need you people to tell me all about your experience at both of these sites and compare them if you can

Does BCV have a foodcourt? I know they have refillable mugs... Does BWV have refillable mugs too?????

Help!

Thanks!

 

[Hopefully]

I have not stayed at Boardwalk Villas, but I have stayed at BCV 3 times. We love them. They are the closet accomodations to Epcot, if that matters to you. Some of the Boardwalk Villas are closer to MGM, if you are walking. I have read many posts complaining about the distance of some of the Boardwalk Villas from the elevators. I don't think this is as bad at the BCV.
At the BCV you can use Storm Along Bay, a fabulous pool complex, perhaps the best on property.
None of the Deluxe properties have food courts like the Moderates and Values have. They have more sit down restaurant choices. The BCV do have the new Marketplace. You can fill your mugs, and there are "grab and go" type breakfast and lunch, as well as dessert choices.
Hope this helps.

 

[VickiVM]

I have stayed at both and truthfully - I didn't notice any remarkable difference between the two. We enjoyed both DVC properties. If you're really into the pools, then I guess BCV wins in that category because of SAB. BWV is part of the Boardwalk Inn whereas BCV rooms are in a separtate wing of Beach Club. I would say you can't go wrong with either one - both lovely resorts!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We just got back from our 1st trip home and stayed at both so I could try them out as I too heard so many good things about the BCV.

BWV is our home resort and we had a boardwalk view this time. I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed sitting on the balcony watching the boats come in and watching all the activities on the boardwalk. The boardwalk has a more festive atmosphere to it. The noise wasn't too bad and we had a great view of illuminations from our room. The BW also has EsPN, The bakery, outdoor seating at some of the restaurants, a candy/ice cream shop, Pizza take out with some tables outdoors near the lake, Jellyrolls and lots of vendors doing hair wraps, and portraits etc. I really fell in love with the BWV and I was so glad we bought there.

We moved to the BCV for just 1 day, I wanted to stay there so we could go swimming at SAB and see how the BCV compared to the BWV. However, the weather didn't cooperate so we never got to try SAB. The BCV has a very nice relaxing beach atmosphere, however, I was a little disappointed that the actual villa's were in the back of the resort near the entrance. I didn't feel like part of the action like we did at BWV. Our view from our studio was the street, which we wouldn't really have minded except that it cost more to stay there than the bwv for the same standard view room. However, SAB is awesome. I really wished we could have tried it. The walk to Epcot was short once we got on the main sidewalk, but our room was near the back parking lot so it took awhile to walk from there to the Epcot walkway (however, if your room is closer to the hotel section than the walk is short). The new market place was very nice and had the refillable mugs, a deli counter and an gelato counter too, but than again, I thought the shops at the boardwalk had more merchandise to choose from.

In summary, my family really loved the boardwalk and have no desire to stay at the beach club again except maybe to try SAB.

If your having trouble deciding do a split stay, The bw will transfer your luggage over to the BCV. We had our luggage 10 minutes after checking in at 3;30.

 

[moonshadow]

My DW and I have stayed at both villas. They are both great resorts but again we would have to say that we enjoyed the BCV more.

It is true that the Boardwalk has all those interesting shops and restaurants but the thing to remember is that they are totally accessible to you if you stay at the BCV. It is really just a short walk or boat ride from the BC to BW.

So if at night you want to take in the action at the Boardwalk just walk right over there and do it. During the day you can use SAB, which again is only available to BC guests where as the Boardwalk is open to everyone.

Remember these are both Epcot resorts. They surround the same lake so everything is close at hand. The BCV has SAB and is just so peaceful and has some nice places to eat (Beaches and Cream, Yachtman's Steak House, Hurricance Hannahs). It is also a close walk to Epcot. Basically by staying at the BCV you get all the benefits of that resort while having both the Boardwalk, MGM, Epcot at you disposal.

It is true that the BCV is behind the BC but it is literally a 2 minute walk from the BCV into the BC. Once inside the Marketplace is right there for coffee, snacks, gifts etc.. or you can walk through the lobby and either go to SAB or take a left turn and visit Epcot or the Boardwalk.

Again both at great resorts and you really can't go wrong with either. Have a great time with either one you choose.

 

[theflowerladee]

We have also stayed at both, and I would agree totally with the last post.
We prefer bcv, although the bwv are very nice also. but the bcv you have all of the amenities as well as a short walk to all the bwv has to offer. if
pool is important to you the bcv 's sab is nicer and you can poolhop to the
bwv. but you cannot go from bw to sab. I would vote bcv. have a magical time.

 

[keishashadow]

Have you checked out the AllEars resort section for the slideshows of resorts.

When staying @ Del.'s, mostly miss the Values' food courts & the centralized ability to grab a quick bite.

 

[KarenP99]

We've stayed at both, and prefer BWV over BCV. They both are the same to me in convenience, cleanliness & quick food (not great)...the pool at BCV clearly wins, but we just liked the overall "feel" of BWV better. Very warm, inviting, cozy BCV more cool, airy, open.

You will not be disapointed either way!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We have also stayed at both, and I would agree totally with the last post.
We prefer bcv, although the bwv are very nice also. but the bcv you have all of the amenities as well as a short walk to all the bwv has to offer. if
pool is important to you the bcv 's sab is nicer and you can poolhop to the
bwv. but you cannot go from bw to sab. I would vote bcv. have a magical time.

You can't pool hop unless you're a DVC member.

We also went rounds and round about which resort to stay in. I soleley based my decsion on the pool and view. My kids will be 8 and 2, which I don't think you have any. Where I'm sure DS would love SAB. It would be difficult with him and DD. Where at the BW, I know they would both love the pool. We also based our preference on view . We have a guaranteed BW view and figured once the kids go to bed DH and I can sit outside with a couple drinks.

We are renting points for the first time. Hopefully this will go well and we'll rent at the BCV next year. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Disney Doll]

Speaking as an adult without children to cnsdier in terms of keeping an eye on them in the pool, I would choose BCV for the mere fact that then you can swim at Stormalong Bay. It is a fabulous pool complex. It is large and stretches out over a huge area, so if minding small children is an issue, then it is probably not a good choice to go there, because I could easily see how you could quickly lose sight of a child. The BCV have a lovely quiet pool area as well though.

Other than the pool, the basic amenities of both hotels are the same. They are both deluxe level resorts, so they offer that level of service. They are both within walking/boating distance to MGM & Epcot. They both have access to the Boardwalk. The BCVs don't have a food court, but they have a market-style thing in the gift shop where you can get quickie type meals. In years past, the Ebb Tide lounge (next to the cape May cafe in the lobby) also had a breakfast bar set up in the AM where you could get coffee , pastries etc...like continental breakfast. Since they redid the gift shop though, they ma have stopped that...I haven't stayed there lately. The themeing of the hotels are different , of course. The Boardwalk is a tad bit more "formal" or maybe Victorian...they are trying to give the air of the 1920's Boardwalk era, I think. It is quite lovely though. The BCVs are a bit more beachy, airy, casual.

If you were standing on the lagoon side of the BCVs, looking at the resort, the villas are all the way to the right, closest to Epcot. If you though of the Beach Club and the villas as an "L", the villas are the shorter piece of the "L"...they kind of run from the lagoon toward the parking, in a perpendicular manner. The BCVs are not big views...an Epcot view gets you a view of the road as well. I personally prefer a pool or wodded view. There is a shortcut to the villas whe walking back from Epcot of the Boardwalk...there is a gate off the walkway just after you go down the incline from Ecpot (it will be on the right-hand side of the walkway) that brings you in the back along some of the ground floor rooms and then to the entrance. Just follow the sidewalk.

 

[Terry S]

We have stayed at both and much pefer the atmosphere and themeing of the BCV. Our family just prefers the relaxed beach theme to the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk. Maybe that is because we were awakened every night from our boadwalk view room from the boardwalk games. The other issue we had was when it was raining and we wanted to go from the room to a restuarant or store we had to go out in the rain. AT BCV you can go to the store or a resturant completly covered from the rain. As others have stated though they are a 10 - 15 min walk to each other and you can't go wrong either way. Both resorts are beautiful.