BCV vs. BWV poll

[Dean]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
This is where I'm confused. If BWV are worth more, isn't that like saying that BWV would sell for more dollars per point than BCV? If this is what the OP is saying, I don't agree. The fewer points needed to stay at BWV standard view would be off-set by the extra per point price. What am I missing?

In 10 years when both are long since sold out, I suspect it will.

 

[nuthut]

While the standard view option at the BWV is nice, remember that the BCVs have SAB.

 

[invalid_char]

This whole question assumes that the 2 resorts are otherwise equal, which I do not believe that they are.

BCV has the advantages of:

1) SAB. The value of this pool is underestimated imo, especially now that only BC, BCV, and YCers can use it and crowding is therefore no longer a problem.

2) only a 3 min. walk to Epcot. The resort is so close you feel like you are a part of Epcot, which is both convenient and magical.

3) You can choose whether or not you want to be a part of the action at night. I agree that there is more action at the Boardwalk; however, most of the time we would rather retreat to a very quiet, country club type atmosphere. It is easy enough to walk over the bridge if we want action.

I think the fact that DVC can sell BCV at $80+ pp in a down economy is a testament to how much value there is in this resort. (Remember, many -- if not most-- people who purchased BCV knew they could have bought BWV for significantly less and chose not to.) SAB has very broad appeal and BCV location can't be beat. When I talk to most families (not just DVCers) about what they want in a Disney resort, view is usually not a high priority. Most BCVers are out enjoying the resort and not wishing to spend a lot of time hanging out on their balconies anyway.

I also don't think any of the views at BWV are that compelling anyway. If I'm going for a view with genuine beauty, I'd probably check out AKL or maybe VWL. When we went to BCV we had a view of Spaceship Earth and the fireworks and the view and noise from the road were blocked by vegetation. Is this so inferior to BWV?

Yes, you can save points with a standard view, but you have to book at the 11 month window and this is just one of many strategies for saving points. You could also buy VB points very cheaply, be flexible about when you go, and get into a nice on-site resort at the 7 month window. So, some would argue that VB is the only way to go because it is most point efficient, but this would assume that VB is an equivalent resort to the on-site resorts and I do not believe it is.

So, again, I don't think the question makes much sense unless you assume that BCV and BWV are otherwise equivalent. Only if you believe they are equivalent does the standard view make BWV worth more, just as VB cheapness would only make VB a better buy if it were otherwise equal to the on-sites.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Here are my $.02.................

Is BWV "worth" more because of the standard view? If this means would I pay a higher resale per point price to get the availability of a standard view I would say yes. The question is, how much more? I would certainly pay a dollar or two more per point for a BWV resale if I wanted to make use of the standard view.

If you were to buy 200 points it would cost you $200 -$400 more at the time of purchase. However, those points might get you 9 nights in a BWV standard view 1 br where those 200 points would only get you 7 nights in a BCV 1 br. So, while you might pay more up front, 2 extra nights a year for 40 years is worth a lot more than that small incremental cost up front. I'm just not sure how much more people would be willing to pay up front.

I do think that BWV provides more "value" than VWL and BCV because of the standard view. We own both BWV and VWL. The fact that your points can get you more nights at BWV than at these resorts makes it a great value. Throw in the fact that we have had "views" at the VWL that are worse than many of the standard BWV views..........well, don't get me going on that . Not that we would trade our VWL for anything. If we could only own one it would be VWL. The theme can't be beat, and the atmosphere during the holidays......priceless. Can't wait to get "home" next week.

If you want my opinion, DVC got greedy in not having a "standard" view at VWL and BCV. The varying views at these resorts certainly screams that there should be a standard view, but they knew people would buy either way, so why let people stretch their points .

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by invalid_char
So, again, I don't think the question makes much sense unless you assume that BCV and BWV are otherwise equivalent. Only if you believe they are equivalent does the standard view make BWV worth more, just as VB cheapness would only make VB a better buy if it were otherwise equal to the on-sites.

I believe both are great resorts in their own right and any differences are subtle. I am not downgrading any resort, only making comparisons between them. I do however believe that if BWV and BCV were selling now at the same price with the current advantages and disadvantages of each, BWV would outsell BCV. The main advantage BC has over BW is the SAB connection. The difference is distance to Epcot is minimal. I believe that more members prefer the overall location of BWV than BCV, that the views overall are far better for BW than BC and that the standard view options effectively makes BWV a cheaper resort to own because one has the option of the same stay for less points.

That doesn't mean that everyone feels that way. Some would buy BCV if all options were new and available through DVC just like some would buy WLV, VB, OKW, etc. I'm having trouble coming up with a fair poll to look at this as there are more owners at BWV but more new buyers will be at BCV.

 

[WDWguruDH]

I am a BWV and VWL owner, have stayed at BCV and voted no to the increase value due to Standard View. I did not vote no because I don't like BWV, it is my favorite resort and our preferred place to stay, but we don't use the Standard View option. We just like BWV better, as some will like BCV, VWL, etc better. We would buy BWV over BCV, even if it were a little more, but not because of the standard view.

 

[WDW JKL]

and special thanks to those that provided comments/rationale for your vote.

I understood that there are many tangible and intangible variables for the comparison. That's why I posed the question so narrowly by focusing on the Standard View Option only and limiting to BCV vs. BWV. I figured that BCV and BWV are more closely matched on most variables compared to other DVC resorts. I see that the poll results favor the notion that BWV is worth more purely on a mathematical basis. However, it's also evident from the comments that there are diverse views on the definition of "Worth". I am glad that there are multiple resorts to choose from.

This was my first poll and it was very informative.

 

[bwvmary]

So - at BWV you can pay the same as at BCV and GUARANTEE that you will not have a parking lot/highway view, OR you can pay fewer points for the same size room in the same location.

Something for everyone. There's got to be some value in there somewhere.

I was thinking about changing my summer 2003 ressie (BWV, standard view, 2-BD) to a BCV ressie. I have decided against it, as DH does not really want to try BCV, and I am afraid that I'll get one of those highway view rooms you talk about. I'd never hear the end of it. He has at least a dozen reasons why he would prefer to stay at BWV. At least as it is, I have made an 11 month ressie and requested what I want. I know before I get there that it will be std view, so I won't be disappointed. I just hope it's one of those std view rooms with the great view of the Epcot fireworks that I got last time. That was great - couldn't believe it was "standard".

 

[colleen costello]

I haven't stayed at BWV yet, so I didn't know about how to answer this poll. It occurs to me, though, that for a points bargain, you can't beat OKW. The rooms are all big, the views are all nice, and best of all, the points you save mean ANOTHER TRIP TO FLORIDA!

We switched from BCV to OKW for our March 2003 trip because one of our party has trouble walking. At OKW your vehicle is right there -- a real plus for a grandparent. What is extra special is that we saved so many points over the 8 nights that I am definitely going back in the summer of 2003. OKW is a real steal!

I do not appreciate that BCV charges the same points for all its rooms. The views differ hugely. I don't think a room with a view of that stinky service road is worth the same as a room with a view of the beautiful quiet pool. That's just my opinion, but I really think location does matter. For folks who care little about views, the service-road-room could save them a few points. I think it is great that Disney acknowledged this at BWV and adjusted the points accordingly.

 

[PKS44]

I think the point is that other than the SAB and the std view options BCV and BWV are comparable--similar location same points for preferred view...thus a cleaner comparison than the old tired resort debates....that SAB is the only thing people are bringing up as a distinguishing value for BCV drives home the point that discontinuing poolhopping there was necessary to prop up the value of BCV- not the thus far unseen crowding issue that they claimed.

For the record OKW points are not that much lower than std view BWV points.

Paul

 

[DeeP]

I really like both BCV and BWV very much and I never thought of comparing the 2 resorts with BWV giving you more bang for your buck because you can get standard view rooms at lower pt per night on a schedule very similiar to OKW, but when you think about it, it does make sense, if you are only looking at it from a dollar and cents point of view. Also even the standard view rooms at BWV have much better views than many of the rooms at BCV, but BCV does have SAB and that is a biggie. I also never thought about the ending of SAB pool hopping being tied to using this as a selling pt for BCV and not due to overcrowding, but who ever posted that theory, I have to agree with also.
I think BCV and BWV are about as similar as 2 DVC resorts can get and they are both wonderful resorts located in one of the prime spots on property and both offer the same amenities and convenience so even if the standard view option at BWV does make a contract there slightly more valuable in the years to come, it won't be that much more valuable.

 

[MinnieGi]

As someone who is shopping around for DVC, we are mainly focusing on a BWV resale b/c of the "standard" points option. So yes, I think it gives BWV a little more value for your money. Possible BWV ownership gives us an 11 month advantage for a great location with the possibility of a longer vacation b/c of "standard" point values.

Ten years from now when BWV and BCV are on the resale market, I think the "standard" point option will give BWV a higher resale value. Now I'm estimating only a few more dollars per point, but still minimally higher.

 

[Dean]

I'll go one step further and say that side by side in 10 years BWV would outsell BCV even without the standard view option. Again, it's not a knock on BCV only giving BWV a slight edge overall to the greatest number of potential members, IMO. I'd give both a slight edge over WLV followed by OKW even though OKW is my favorite personally. It remains to be seen how SS will fit in and even if EP will happen.

 

[Richyams]

I have to agree completely, each and every word with Dean. He expressed every single thought I have about it completely.

So again:

I'll go one step further and say that side by side in 10 years BWV would outsell BCV even without the standard view option. Again, it's not a knock on BCV only giving BWV a slight edge overall to the greatest number of potential members, IMO. I'd give both a slight edge over WLV followed by OKW even though OKW is my favorite personally. It remains to be seen how SS will fit in and even if EP will happen.

 

[colleen costello]

Is it possible for a non-BWV-owner to ever get one of the standard-view rooms at BWV? It seems like it might be at an "off" time.

Just curious. I love obsessing about how to save points...

 

[bwvmary]

If you call at 7 months window or after and waitlist for a std view, you have a shot. I have gotten it a couple of times. I have always reserved what was available - preferred view - then waitlisted for std view. The important thing I found was to be very clear that I only wanted the std view if I could get it for the whole time. I did not want to move!

 

[bicker]

One thing to keep in mind is that even the off-season isn't really off-season for DVC: Since points change by season, the load is spread more evenly over the year, as compared to hotels. Also, there are special events that attract certain people. I know, for me, I always reserve a room for the last week in January, in case I get to go to my industry's annual convention (held at the Epcot resorts). Of course, I didn't get to go next year (2003) so I switched over to VWL -- and a standard-view 1BR suddenly became available just four months out. So there is always a chance that the wait-list will work.

 

[Wes]

bump