Which resort, CR or BC, would you recommend for a family with two adults and three kids (3,5,7)? It is for a early/mid-March trip prior to a
Disney Cruise. 6 nights, 4 day non-hopper tickets, so 1 day per park.
We were just at the Poly in late August and loved it, both the convenience and resort, but want to try something new. These two resorts are the best deals for our dates.
WE have stayed at both multiple times. Our favourite of the two would be the CR, however we also like the BC. It really depends upon what you are looking for in the resort and your room.
Rooms:
The CR has Larger rooms, sometimes much larger. BC rooms are variable in size, but no regular rooms in the BC are as big as the CR standard rooms. Some BC rooms only have two queen beds, no daybed. AT the CR almost all rooms are the same size and all have a daybed. In the BC you may have a small, standing room only "Juliet" balcony. If staying CR you will have a large balcony if staying in the tower, sliding glass doors that open to a rail on the second and third floors of the garden wing, a patio if staying garden wing and are on the ground floor. I have stayed in the larger BC rooms and in the smaller BC rooms. I have stayed in all room categories and views at both resorts as well. No rooms in the BC are as large nor as comfortable as the rooms in the CR, IMO.
Pool:
The pool at the BC is huge and winding. It is lots of fun but can be a nightmare for parents watching three kiddos. The entrance to the slide requires exiting the pool area altogether and crossing the public thoroughfare around the lake to Epcot and DHS. So the pool is either an attraction or a problem depending upon how you and your children will be in that environment. The CR pool is very plain. It does have a splash area and a nice slide, but there is no theming. We enjoyed the pool anyway. It has nice views over the lake and has never been crowded when we have been there. It is easy to keep track of little ones.
Dining:
There is great dining available at either the BC or the CR. We personally like the dining options at/near the CR better. Quick service is a weakness at BC, IMO. They do have the Marketplace, but we are not fans. It seems inconvenient and we just haven't found the selection to be very good. OTOH, the Contempo Cafe has great food and is a convenient place to get a nice quick meal or snack. Cape May Cafe (character buffet) and Beaches and Cream (soda shop/hamburgers) are options at the BC. The CR has Chef Mickey's, The Wave, and The California Grille. From the BC you can walk to either the YC, BWI, Swan or Dolphin for their dining options. All have some good choices. However, from the CR you can take a boat to the WL (great dining options!) or FW (Hoop Dee Doo!) or you can take the monorail to the Poly or the GF. The Poly and the GF have really good dining options that surpass the option in the Epcot resorts, IMO. As you have already stayed at the POLy, you are probably quite familiar with the offerings there.
The BC is next to Epcot and WS, but if you don't have PH tickets then that isn't an option.
Access to parks:
We think that the transportation benefits of staying at the CR are second to none. You have the monorail or a walking path to the MK. You have monorail access to the Poly and GF and you have monorail access to Epcot (via a transfer at the TTC). You have boat access to the WL and to FW. You do take a bus to DHS and the AKL. However, you are a 5 minute walk to the MK bus stop, which gives you direct bus access (no transfer) to every WDW resort on property. No other resort has that level of near direct access to almost everywhere on property.
The BC has walking distance/boat access to both Epcot and DHS. That is very nice and convenient. The location for these two theme parks is awesome! Buses to the MK and AK. Bus to a theme park and then transfer to a resort bus to get to any WDW resort other than the Epcot resorts.
The resort common areas/getting around:
The BC has all the rooms under one roof, but distant rooms are a long walk along confusing convoluted hallways. We found it easier to walk everywhere outside. The CR tower has its elevators in the middle of the building. walking from your room is very easy and along a relatively short hall to the elevator bank. Some people have complaints about the elevators but we have never had any problem (either waiting over long or having a problem getting on). The tower is compact so everything seems conveniently nearby. Even the Garden wing has a covered walkway to the main building and no rooms are very distant. The CR has a fourth floor deck area to watch Wishes from the resort, which is nice. The BC is on the walkway around the Epcot resorts and is conveniently close to the BWI to go and watch the buskers over there during the evening.
Theming:
The theming is subtle at both these resorts, IMO. Everyone's opinion on theming is subjective so it is probably best for you to look at both and decide for yourself. Many people do not like the theming at the CR. I didn't either until I stayed there. Now I think that it is awesome. Neither one has the WOW! theming that you get at the Poly, IMO.
Good luck choosing! These are two really nice and convenient resorts with lots to recommend them!
My bottom line: I would recommend the CR.
