Beach Club or Boardwalk?

[Janilou2012]

I am planning on buying in to the DVC next year. We usually travel in December through February each year. I have researched all the different DVC resorts. In the past, we have stayed at WL, POFQ and CB (loved them) also cabins at FW, Coronado Springs and PORS - okay but not my favorites.
Our favorite park is Epcot, hands down which is why I'm leaning toward purchasing at either Beach Club or Boardwalk but which one? We often do travel with our grandchildren but not always. They love swimming when they do come along. I'm torn between the two! We will be buying enough points to have a 1-2BR villa to have a kitchen because eating in for breakfast is a must for our budget. I would love to go back to Wilderness Lodge too sometimes. It was so beautiful.

So I would love some feedback on the pros and cons of each of these two resorts! I just can't decide.

 

[Kidanifan08]

We are owners at AKV, but we have stayed at BWV a few times and BCV once. The only pros that I can think of for BCV are SAB (which is a big pro in many people's minds) and being right out the back door of Epcot. OTOH, BWV has the proximity to two parks, standard and boardwalk views, all of the activities on the boardwalk and the dining. Plus, if you ever think you would use a GV, BCV doesn't have them. Depending on the time of year, you could probably get in at BCV for the grandkids (as long as it is not during F&W).

If we ever buy more points, it will be at BWV . . . love the place!!

 

[Janilou2012]

Awesome information and very helpful. Thank you so much. .

 

[jekjones1558]

To the previous information I will add that BCV has closer parking than BWV. Kids in our family love Community Hall at BWV and BCV doesn't have one. You can enjoy the nightly entertainment on the BW by walking over from BCV but it surely is closer from BWV (or get a BWV room and watch from your balcony in your pajamas!). BCV has dedicated 2 bedrooms and BWV does not.

 

[disneynutz]

I am planning on buying in to the DVC next year. We usually travel in December through February each year. I have researched all the different DVC resorts. In the past, we have stayed at WL, POFQ and CB (loved them) also cabins at FW, Coronado Springs and PORS - okay but not my favorites.
Our favorite park is Epcot, hands down which is why I'm leaning toward purchasing at either Beach Club or Boardwalk but which one? We often do travel with our grandchildren but not always. They love swimming when they do come along. I'm torn between the two! We will be buying enough points to have a 1-2BR villa to have a kitchen because eating in for breakfast is a must for our budget. I would love to go back to Wilderness Lodge too sometimes. It was so beautiful.

So I would love some feedback on the pros and cons of each of these two resorts! I just can't decide. ��

You need to stay at the resorts to know what you are buying or risk making a mistake.

You could rent a reservation, buy SSR to use as test points to learn about the DVC and resorts or buy your best guess knowing that you will possibly sell and buy a different resort later.

Buying isn't a final transaction that you are committed to for life.

Bill

 

[TravelMommy]

Beach Club Marketplace, Storm along Bay is one of our main draws. We spend a lot of time in the quiet pool. The relaxed Beach Resort feel. Everything in close proximity to resort amenities. I could go there, not even step foot in a park and have had a great vacation. We are partial to DVC/BCV, but that being said you really do need to stay/evaluate both resorts and compare what would be best to you. You Tube has a lot of great resort specific videos you could start with. They both are in great proximity to the Boardwalk which is great! I don't think you could go wrong with either one. Good luck in your resort search!

 

[robndani]

We have stayed at both and like both. A few main points:

1) Stormalong Bay pool at BCV is the BEST in Disney.
2) the Marketplace in very convenient at BCV (especially if you do refillable mugs), while you have to go out to the Boardwalk at BWV.
3) There is a Kids Club right at BCV if your grand kids would like that, but there is a Community Hall at BWV.

I would lean towards BCV. Everything is "there" while BWV feels more like a regular hotel (a VERY nice one) because you have to go to Boardwalk for all dining and most shopping.

 

[MaryJ]

We own at both VWL and BCV. We purchased VWL first and it is still our favorite, but we bought a resale at BCV primarily for two reasons:

1) Proximity to Epcot. We come to WDW every year for F&W (will be there Saturday!) and we like being able to walk back to the resort from Epcot, especially after the Party for the Senses.

2) We currently have 4 grandchildren and will have 6 before the year is over. All of them (so far) love the water and we looked at the pools at both BCV and BWV and felt like Stormalong Bay was something they would really enjoy. That being said, they have yet to stay at BCV because their parents love VWL so much! Maybe one day we'll make a trip with just them and leave their parents at home!

 

[1SickPupe]

I prefer the pool at Boardwalk. Fewer children and no sand bottom.
BWV has more room availability and it is closer to Disneys Hollywood Adventure Park. Epcot is still very close.
I don't like that BWV shares the bus transportation with Swan and Dolphin but I don't think it's the worse resort for bus transportation.
I like the layout of the Boardwalk stores and restaurants.
Tough choice but I would lean towards BWV.

 

[disBOBney]

While I own at bc and couldn't imagine purchasing at bw, based upon your inquery I would say choose bw. BCV is the second most expensive resort to own, (behind vb), is closer to HS and not much further from Epcot than BC. The reality is that everything is subjective, but, imo, if you are saying you want a full kitchen so you can have breakfast for budgetary reasons, choose the less expensive bw.

 

[maburke]

We own both, and love both for different reasons, most of which have been mentioned here. One thing I will add is that, as great as Stormalong Bay is, it can be a challenge if you've got kids that tend to run off. It's very spread out, hard to see lots if places, and the entrance to the slide is at the baby pool, completely separate from the main pool.

 

[Janilou2012]

Thank you to everyone! I really appreciate the feedback and I'm going to get on YouTube and do some more research! I've walked through BeachClub and along the Boardwalk but of course that's not the same as staying there.

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you to everyone! I really appreciate the feedback and I'm going to get on YouTube and do some more research! I've walked through BeachClub and along the Boardwalk but of course that's not the same as staying there.

Why are there so many resales? My guess is that some of the sellers didn't stay at the resorts before buying.

Bill

 

[DougEMG]

One thing I liked about staying at the BCV was that when it is pouring rain out (like it did on our last trip this Sept) you can still go out for a walk to the marketplace and restaurants without getting wet.

The big advantage that BWV has for me is the standard room point costs which are basically 30% cheaper than staying at BCV.

 

[msteddom]

Please, please, please try before you buy!!!!! I thought I would adore BCV for all the reasons others do. I was ready to buy! But I rented points there one trip, and it just didn't click. However, I totally fell in love with BWV! I bought there, and haven't regretted it for a second!!!

 

[disneynutz]

Please, please, please try before you buy!!!!! I thought I would adore BCV for all the reasons others do. I was ready to buy! But I rented points there one trip, and it just didn't click. However, I totally fell in love with BWV! I bought there, and haven't regretted it for a second!!!

Exactly!

Bill

 

[skier_pete]

I'm bringing this up because I always hear how great Stormalong Bay is, but you rarely hear anything about the Boardwalk pool.

I haven't stayed at either place yet, but last week we were there, and we "pool hopped" to use the Boardwalk pool for a break from Epcot. This was a nice perk of owning DVC, but I have to say the Boardwalk Pool is extremely BLAH. The waterslide is decent, but the pool isn't very big nor particularly nicely themed. The resort itself feels right on top of the pool too.

Honestly, I like the Carribean Beach pool and the Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter pools all better than this pool. (And AKL pool beats it by a mile and a half.) So if pool-time is important, it's gotta be BCV of the two.

On the BWV plus side, the other thing to mention is people talk about how "close" BCV is to Epcot, but we walked back and forth to the BWV pool, and quite honestly the walk was certainly less than 10 minutes and a very nice walk. BCV is probably a bit closer than BWV, but it's not that big a difference.

 

[crisi]

I'm bringing this up because I always hear how great Stormalong Bay is, but you rarely hear anything about the Boardwalk pool.

I haven't stayed at either place yet, but last week we were there, and we "pool hopped" to use the Boardwalk pool for a break from Epcot. This was a nice perk of owning DVC, but I have to say the Boardwalk Pool is extremely BLAH. The waterslide is decent, but the pool isn't very big nor particularly nicely themed. The resort itself feels right on top of the pool too.

Honestly, I like the Carribean Beach pool and the Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter pools all better than this pool. (And AKL pool beats it by a mile and a half.) So if pool-time is important, it's gotta be BCV of the two.

On the BWV plus side, the other thing to mention is people talk about how "close" BCV is to Epcot, but we walked back and forth to the BWV pool, and quite honestly the walk was certainly less than 10 minutes and a very nice walk. BCV is probably a bit closer than BWV, but it's not that big a difference.

It isn't that big of a difference - especially if you don't take the "short cut" back to your room a BCV - if you go through the lobby and around, it seems nearly as long.

My kids preferred the BW pool. They really didn't like SAB. I think SAB can be an awesome pool - we used it when the kids were little and the zero entry and kiddie slides were great (SSR is also a good pool for both of those) where the BWV pool is really bad for little kids. But once the kids reach "supervised independence" SAB is grey hair inducing while the BW pool is relaxing. And my kids liked the BWV better (when we stayed at BCV when they were 12 and 13 because they'd outgrown the "supervised" part of independence and we thought they'd love the pool - we had to hop back to BW for the pool )

 

[Janilou2012]

Please, please, please try before you buy!!!!! I thought I would adore BCV for all the reasons others do. I was ready to buy! But I rented points there one trip, and it just didn't click. However, I totally fell in love with BWV! I bought there, and haven't regretted it for a second!!!

Thanks for the warning! Just how difficult is it to book other resorts at the seven month window point if you are traveling in early December or early January? As I said I have stayed at Wilderness Lodge and loved it but I so love Epcot and the idea of staying within walking distance is very tempting. How do you rent points?

 

[Msmithmd]

Thanks for the warning! Just how difficult is it to book other resorts at the seven month window point if you are traveling in early December or early January? As I said I have stayed at Wilderness Lodge and loved it but I so love Epcot and the idea of staying within walking distance is very tempting. How do you rent points?

Early January reasonably easy as long as you don't literally mean New Year's Day.

Early December the most difficult time of the year.

Renting points occurs two ways. One, direct from a member- see the rent/transfer thread (must be logged in on Disboards to see.) Two, contact a rental broker. David's, a board sponsor, is quite well regarded.

A general statement is that renting direct from an owner may save you $1-4 a point, versus renting via a broker, but the broker adds some assurance/guarantee to both parties. Whereas renting privately (even with a contract) is essentially a truly blind faith agreement, so there is at least a small degree of "buyer beware."

The vast majority of DVC owners renting points privately are reputable. But there are occasional cases of scams- a current criminal trial in my area of the country on this exact practice, involving sham DVC reservations, is going on right now.