Beach Club Resort or Studio Villa Room

[slyster]

Hi there...I'm super excited because for the first time ever, we will be staying at the Beach Club Resort! I would have chosen BWI Villas but their prices are a bit higher for the time we are visiting. We are two adults visiting for a week at end of August/beginning of September.

I booked a standard resort room and then noticed that the price for a studio villa room is the same price. In terms of location or amenities, is one location better than the other? I noticed the studio villa has a small kitchenette which could prove useful, but from what I read about the villas, they don't provide housekeeping for a few days.

Do both come with balconies? Are they same size? Is one building better located to amenities/restaurants, Epcot/DHS? We really are newbies and are not familiar with that whole area.

P.S. I looked into possibly renting dvc points but there wasn't anything available for the time I looked.

 

[NicoleLarson]

With Covid no one is getting daily housekeeping. If that resumes and you book through WDW then you will get daily housekeeping at both resorts.

Since its just 2 adults you may like having the couch in the villa and 1 bed. The kitchenette will provide a toaster and microwave that you wouldn't have had in the resort room. If you are driving, you won't pay for parking at the villa. Only the villas will give you a guaranteed balcony.

Only a handful of BC rooms have full balconies, more will have Juliette balconies, some have no balcony. You are theoretically closer to most of the main amenities and don't have to walk outside to a separate building (covered walkway) if you stay in the hotel. If you like the idea of the hotel room better but really want a balcony, look at YC. I think all but 1 or 2 rooms have balconies and their room reno is newer.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Hi there...I'm super excited because for the first time ever, we will be staying at the Beach Club Resort! I would have chosen BWI Villas but their prices are a bit higher for the time we are visiting. We are two adults visiting for a week at end of August/beginning of September.

I booked a standard resort room and then noticed that the price for a studio villa room is the same price. In terms of location or amenities, is one location better than the other? I noticed the studio villa has a small kitchenette which could prove useful, but from what I read about the villas, they don't provide housekeeping for a few days.

Do both come with balconies? Are they same size? Is one building better located to amenities/restaurants, Epcot/DHS? We really are newbies and are not familiar with that whole area.

P.S. I looked into possibly renting dvc points but there wasn't anything available for the time I looked.

Given COVID right now housekeeping is very limited even in the regular resort rooms. Our most recent stay in a regular resort room was they pretty much leave your room alone unless you call them for trash removal and fresh towels and that was a week long stay. They also won’t make your bed right now either.

As far as location, the BC villas are closest to Epcot compared to the regular BC resort rooms. We had balconies at BC villas but they’re not big especially compared to BWV since some of those studios have HUGE balconies.

The kitchenette is nice and we like it. We do the studios as a family of 4 and it works great for us.

I would stay away from renting points unless you have a cancellation clause where you would be covered for a last minute cancellation especially now that booking direct with Disney has no cancellation penalties.

I really think as long as you’re ok with one bed and a pull out sofa they’re really isn’t a huge difference between any of those rooms.

 

[MomOTwins]

In terms of location, the villas are in a separate building from the main resort, while the resort side in the same building as the restaurants and shop, right next to the feature pool (though the villas do have their own quiet pool). It is such a short walk I don’t think it makes a difference personally.

 

[MomOTwins]

As far as location, the BC villas are closest to Epcot compared to the regular BC resort rooms.

Not sure I agree to that. We had a room at regular BC near the quiet pool and it was as close to Epcot as you could be—we went out the side door of the building and were steps
To Epcot, whereas the DVC villa building was a ways behind us.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Not sure I agree to that. We had a room at regular BC near the quiet pool and it was as close to Epcot as you could be—we went out the side door of the building and were steps
To Epcot, whereas the DVC villa building was a ways behind us.

It def will depend on view and room type chosen but the bulk of the vllas are closer but truthfully it’s 6 of one half dozen of the other since you may have a longer walk to the lobby and pool and DHS but beach and yacht club are not big resorts compared to other resorts so it’s never crazy long walks anyway.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi there...I'm super excited because for the first time ever, we will be staying at the Beach Club Resort! I would have chosen BWI Villas but their prices are a bit higher for the time we are visiting. We are two adults visiting for a week at end of August/beginning of September.

I booked a standard resort room and then noticed that the price for a studio villa room is the same price. In terms of location or amenities, is one location better than the other? I noticed the studio villa has a small kitchenette which could prove useful, but from what I read about the villas, they don't provide housekeeping for a few days.

Do both come with balconies? Are they same size? Is one building better located to amenities/restaurants, Epcot/DHS? We really are newbies and are not familiar with that whole area.

P.S. I looked into possibly renting dvc points but there wasn't anything available for the time I looked.

A regular resort room at the Beach Club is nicer than a deluxe studio at BVC, imo, because it is a little larger, has two queen beds, two sinks in the bathroom, and many of them have a daybed. The downside is that only 50% of the BC resort rooms have the full balcony.

The benefit of the studio is the kitchenette and a guaranteed balcony, but it only has one queen bed and only one sink in the bathroom. You will get normal housekeeping - whatever that may be in August/September if you reserve the BCV studio through Disney. You will get limited housekeeping if you purchase points for the studio.

The cash reservation (through Disney) is 100% refundable while the points reservation usually isn't 100% refundable.

 

[bookwormde]

Not sure I agree to that. We had a room at regular BC near the quiet pool and it was as close to Epcot as you could be—we went out the side door of the building and were steps
V

While I do not find a relatively small difference that important, if you exit by the back door of BCV (which actually faces the walkway to EPCOT) the small gate you walk through is very close to the bridge to EPCOT. I would say you are likely about 150ft closer at BCV than the closest room at BC. Of course where your room is in the resort can have bigger impact

 

[Marthasor]

I really prefer the location and vibe of the villas. If you only need one queen bed, the villa will also feel a little more spacious as you'll have a sofa instead of the second queen. Plus you'll have a microwave and full-size coffee pot. We really love the location as you are steps to the path that leads to EP and the Skyliner, steps to the BC QS and super close to the resort bus stop. You are a little further from the feature pool, but BCV has its own quiet pool which is lovely. You will also have a balcony or a patio. I find BC to be a bit of a maze. We've stayed at all of the deluxes and most of the DVCs and BCV is my absolute favorite.

 

[Romandel]

Also with the Villas you will have access to free laundry. Not sure that is the case with the Inn rooms. Again, if doing laundry isn't your thing, than that will not matter

 

[Deb & Bill]

...

Since its just 2 adults you may like having the couch in the villa and 1 bed. The kitchenette will provide a toaster and microwave that you wouldn't have had in the resort room. If you are driving, you won't pay for parking at the villa. Only the villas will give you a guaranteed balcony.
...

If you are a DVC member or booked through DVC, you won't pay for parking. If you book through Disney Reservation Center, you will pay for parking.

 

[bookwormde]

P.S. I looked into possibly renting dvc points but there wasn't anything available for the time I looked.

you might be able to get a 1br garden view at BWV, not sure where you are price wise but you could likely get that for about $480/night weekday and it is a whole different class of accommodation if you want to splurge. Of course renting has significant risks

 

[slyster]

Wow, thanks for all your responses! I hadn't thought about laundry, but yes, being that we are going in HOT weather, I can see changing clothes a couple of times a day and needing to do laundry at least once.

It sounds like the villas are right next to the resort and within easy walking distance to the restaurants in the vicinity. Someone also mentioned with just one queen bed, the sofa offers more space. That's all we need. I also didn't know that only the villas come with balconies! I like the idea of having a coffee pot (we are big morning coffee people!), microwave and toaster for maybe a couple of mornings of breakfast in our room. Thanks for the tip on daily mousekeeping because I didn't know that either.

You all have been very helpful! This trip is already super expensive for us, otherwise I would pay the additional $350 for BWV. That's where I really prefer to be but since YC, BC, and BW are so close to each other, I'll at least attempt to save on the resort that costs the least (YC and BC). IF there are discounts later, I will definitely consider BW though.

Curious though and a little off topic...does BWV even have food, restaurants open or do they have to go over to YC or BC for sit down or carry out meals?

 

[The Mayor]

Check out these fact sheets about the BC and BCV.

https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-accommodation/beach-club-fact-sheet-deluxe-resort/
https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-accommodation/villas-at-disneys-beach-club-fact-sheet/

 

[bookwormde]

Wow, thanks for all your responses! I hadn't thought about laundry, but yes, being that we are going in HOT weather, I can see changing clothes a couple of times a day and needing to do laundry at least once.

It sounds like the villas are right next to the resort and within easy walking distance to the restaurants in the vicinity. Someone also mentioned with just one queen bed, the sofa offers more space. That's all we need. I also didn't know that only the villas come with balconies! I like the idea of having a coffee pot (we are big morning coffee people!), microwave and toaster for maybe a couple of mornings of breakfast in our room. Thanks for the tip on daily mousekeeping because I didn't know that either.

You all have been very helpful! This trip is already super expensive for us, otherwise I would pay the additional $350 for BWV. That's where I really prefer to be but since YC, BC, and BW are so close to each other, I'll at least attempt to save on the resort that costs the least (YC and BC). IF there are discounts later, I will definitely consider BW though.

Curious though and a little off topic...does BWV even have food, restaurants open or do they have to go over to YC or BC for sit down or carry out meals?

If memory serves me the laundry is on the 4rh floor, I also got lucky and got one of the studios with the 16 foot long balcony I hope you enjoy your trip

here is the best maps I have seen of the rooms

http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/

 

[slyster]

Check out these fact sheets about the BC and BCV.

https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-accommodation/beach-club-fact-sheet-deluxe-resort/
https://allears.net/walt-disney-world/wdw-accommodation/villas-at-disneys-beach-club-fact-sheet/

thanks I have seen those! I wish they updated it with Covid stuff though.

edited: I hadn’t seen the BCV one before! Thanks!

 

[slyster]

If memory serves me the laundry is on the 4rh floor, I also got lucky and got one of the studios with the 16 foot long balcony I hope you enjoy your trip

here is the best maps I have seen of the rooms

http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/

Thank you! That’s helpful!

 

[Sunshine11]

A regular resort room at the Beach Club is nicer than a deluxe studio at BVC, imo, because it is a little larger, has two queen beds, two sinks in the bathroom, and many of them have a daybed. The downside is that only 50% of the BC resort rooms have the full balcony.

The benefit of the studio is the kitchenette and a guaranteed balcony, but it only has one queen bed and only one sink in the bathroom. You will get normal housekeeping - whatever that may be in August/September if you reserve the BCV studio through Disney. You will get limited housekeeping if you purchase points for the studio.

The cash reservation (through Disney) is 100% refundable while the points reservation usually isn't 100% refundable.

This! Standard guest room 100 percent!

 

[slyster]

you might be able to get a 1br garden view at BWV, not sure where you are price wise but you could likely get that for about $480/night weekday and it is a whole different class of accommodation if you want to splurge. Of course renting has significant risks

The only reason we have cancelled and rescheduled is due to COVID. Of course, it’s most likely there will

This! Standard guest room 100 percent!

Do standard rooms come with a coffee maker? That is a big deal. I wish they had balconies though.

 

[Sunshine11]

Do standard rooms come with a coffee maker? That is a big deal. I wish they had balconies though.
[/QUOTE]


Yes, all standard guest rooms at BC have coffee makers and 50% have full size balconies and 50% have standing balconies. I would make that my only request (balcony please) in hopes of receiving same. To be honest, we don't ever use a full balcony as often as we believe we will on most trips. I find the resort side guest rooms to be more convenient than the studios/villa buildings. Either room you choose will be a great stay!