beach club vs boardwalk

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I Boardwalk Villas!

DH and I had fallen in love with the magic of the Boardwalk several years ago, so purchasing there was a no brainer.

However, I recently left my job of 10 years. Taking off for a week is not going to be as easy for me as it was, and we will need to take trip centered around weekends for a while.

We were thrilled to schedule a Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon nights standard studio at BWV! It was inside the 7 month mark. When we looked at the points charts, our only choices were OKW or BWV-Standard.

Anyway, the standard room option can come in real handy.

 

[crisi]

To me they are the same resort with one difference for each resort

Both are easy walks to Epcot and little longer walks to MGM.
Both have access to BW Entertainment, Beaches and Cream, and all the Epcot area restaurants.
Both have a similar style of decoration in the rooms.
Quibbling over the extra short walk from Epcot, or the fact that B&C is at BCV or that BW has the Boardwalk entertainment, is all a little silly to me - we walk between the resorts several times each trip.

The differences:

Beachclub has SAB and you can't hop there. If that is important to you, own there.

Boardwalk has standardview/boardwalk view and Grand Villas. If that is important to you, own there.

 

[2tink4u]

You are right, there are quite a few similarities. I think the quiet after the street performers and the walk back to BC will settle the children. I think the BW is easier to book at the seven month window. I think the availability of SAB guaranteed when I want it will be great. I think I could save points staying at BW and would enjoy the view. I think I would be happy at either but the advantage of booking the harder to book resort at this stage with DS7 and all the childrens activities would serve me well. My guide has no BC points to sell at this time, I would be wait listed till whenever. I would save money at BW no doubt. If I don't book at 11 months I may have to settle. I like the idea of room service for breakfast and a character meal at my resort and daycare there also. I also like street performers and the party atmosphere. I'm really lucky because I now know I have picked the 2 best resorts!!!! When traveling with the little ones from my family, I feel you can't beat Wilderness, but otherwise this is the place to be. I will try for a reasonable deal at the BC, knowing that in 10years there will be another resort to top the hot list.... (and everyone will be trying to go there). If I wait and it doesn't materialize I will buy BW and oh poor me, how sad, I'll have to stay at BW,,,NOt.... YOu guys have been great and we have debated this to death. But I loved it!!! I can't wait to be an owner and hang on the DIS with all of you. Being a world traveler and hanging out on the forums for trip advisor, there are very few places that have as good and knowledgeable people to represent them. Disney has the greatest fans ever!!!!!Thanks for your time. Chris

 

[rie'smom]

My thoughts-BWV has great views and BCV has a great pool. Kids grow up and the pool isn't a big deal anymore. The view is still great even after the kids are grown. You can get more pts. at BWV (right now I have 300) and that's important to me. I want to be able to book at least a couple of nice trips each year in a nice room. Hopefully, DH will give me 150 more pts by next summer. I have addonitis pretty bad.
If you've decided on BCV, that's great. Both resorts are nice and convienient. Have a great time!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I like the idea of room service for breakfast and a character meal at my resort and daycare there also.

Just to clear this up, BWV has room service.

 

[2tink4u]

Sorry, you are right.... I love the BW too. How can you not after all these great stories..... and information. I just think my family is a little young for it. My son would never sleep with al the excitement. However, I still may end up buying there...

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

See, that was one of my thoughts on BWV also. Sure, the excitement and "feel" of it is nice, but what about when your little ones have to go to sleep? Now, it may not be an issue--I've never stayed at BW, I don't know. But I figured at BCV, the Boardwalk is only a short walk away, so we can enjoy the atmosphere and then go back to the (comparative) peace and quiet of our BCV. But, we also have a situation where we have a fairly wide range of kids (12 years down to 20 months), so we're likely to split up quite a bit in general. And DD12 is disappointed that the dance hall is only for adults.

I think no matter what you decide, there's bound to be a "grass is greener" feel. Most of us call it a form of addonitis! We hope to do a split stay next year (AKL and BCV) and will probably be kicking ourselves for not buying AKV! Even though we had valid reasons for choosing not to--I'll still wish we had!

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

I think it sounds like you are sold on BCV!

I own at both and love both, but the one I love the most is the BCV. The biggest reasons for that is the BC Marketplace and SAB.

If they added a quick service like the marketplace, I would be much more torn between resort choice!

One very big reason to own at BWV is to get the standard view rooms, which are difficult at times, impossible at others to get at the 7 mo window.

Good luck finding the right contract

 

[crisi]

Sorry, you are right.... I love the BW too. How can you not after all these great stories..... and information. I just think my family is a little young for it. My son would never sleep with al the excitement. However, I still may end up buying there...

Remember that 30 years is a long time.

We didn't buy BCV - in part because we bought resale before BCV closed so there wasn't a BCV to buy unless we went through Disney. We tried going through Disney, but by the time a guide called us back we had money down on a BWV resale. In the end, I'm really glad we don't own BCV because my kids are too young for it - the pool that most people love I think is a a grey hair inducing child trap - you can't sit in a lawn chair and drink a Mai Tai and watch your kids at SAB - you are either with your kids or you probably can't see them from where you are.

Now, granted, even that period is short - my son is now nine and my daughter eight - and its only been a few Mai Tai years so far (when they were three and four or four and five we needed to be in the pool with them) and their is a light at the end of the tunnel on needing to track them at the pool - another four years or so and I won't need to watch them - and they may actually show up for dinner when they are told. And there are probably parents who have more parents than children at the pool, and want to be in the pool with their kids and not making extensive use of the pool bar.

 

[tink4ever]

This is truly a hard decision. When we were looking into DVC BWV was just sold out and they started selling VWL. We bought VWL in 2001 and it has become my all time favorite. However my DH loves, loves, loves the BCV. We just bought a resale there and now he is very happy. Now whichever resort we stay at it is our very favorite place to be. My DD and I stayed at BWV in Sept. Let me tell you it was nice but I will probably never stay there again. Our room was 273 steps from the elevator. They have very long hallways and although the Boardwalk is nice you can visit it very easily from the BCV. Well good luck with your decision and my advice is to buy where you love.

 

[2tink4u]

I know what you mean about the pool. Not a problem for us, my ds6 has swam with stingrays and snorkeled the Caymans and jumped off the mast of a pirate ship into 40 feet of water. We are seriously water people. He's begging to dive... We'll see.. But when he couldn't swim it was tough. Money does talk, and any where in Disney is good place to be. With that said, this has been the most awsome thread and you guys are great. I love Disney for this reason also. I'm waiting for the right contract if It doesn't materialize then it's BW for me.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Just buy BOTH! Figure out how many points you need...half it...buy which ever resort comes up first....then add on the other. They are both truly wonderful resorts. You won't be unhappy with either of them, but if you are truly this conflicted...buy them both.

 

[keishashadow]

we added on @ BW-sight unseen, primarily for the location and lower standard point cost p/night (especially since we knew family members would be looking for reservations ).

we booked a 5 nights @ BCV in Oct. '06; as a recon mission before we got on the waiting list to add on.

While we luved SAB, we had a very unfortunate infestation issue (not necessarily the infestation-to be expected in buggy FLA-especially when bone-head guests leave the balcony doors open ); BUT management's abysmal response to fumigation request. To me, that was a deal breaker & the Disney Executive offices agreed 100% & indicated that the manager on duty would be dealt with "severely".

I assume it was an isolated incident (since I haven't read any like reports here). However; it just goes to show that all it takes is one badly handled customer service issue and all the pixie dust flies out the window. Not sure if I'll ever get DH to return to the BC.

 

[DVC Mike]

Just buy BOTH! They are both truly wonderful resorts. You won't be unhappy with either of them, but if you are truly this conflicted...buy them both.

That's what I finally did. While somewhat similar, there are just enough differences for me to justify owing at both.

 

[2tink4u]

I think that would be more complicated. If you could book what you want at 11 mos in your home resort I would agree. However, points to one resort can be used at 11 months and the second at 7 or change resorts. Way to difficult for me. KISS keep it simple stupid. I can't take the possibiltiy of having to change resorts in the middle of a trip. That is a deal breaker for me. We are not buying enough points to guarantee the avoidance of this. However, I think now that I will be happy whichever way the deals go.

 

[elgerber]

I think that would be more complicated. If you could book what you want at 11 mos in your home resort I would agree. However, points to one resort can be used at 11 months and the second at 7 or change resorts. Way to difficult for me. KISS keep it simple stupid. I can't take the possibiltiy of having to change resorts in the middle of a trip. That is a deal breaker for me. We are not buying enough points to guarantee the avoidance of this. However, I think now that I will be happy whichever way the deals go.

Actually what you do is alternate resorts every other year. You bank the points from one resort, so that the next year you have a full set, and then you borrow points from the other resort. So if you have 75 of each, you bank BC so that next year you'd have 150 for a whole stay, and this year you'd borrow the 75 from BW so you have 150 for a whole stay this year.

While not for everyone, I just wanted to point out how it can be done without changing resorts etc.

 

[vettechick99]

I have stayed numerous times at the BWI, BC and BCV (never at the BWV though). I really love them all, but we continue to book at BC/BCV because it's a shorter walk to Epcot. That's the only reason. I'm lazy!

You can't go wrong with either, I don't think! Good luck with your decision.

 

[patnrunz]

We bought at SSR in 2004 and we have come down 5 times already and planning on a 6th in May 08, yet we have only stayed at SSR once. All the other times were used at other resorts. ( 8/04 BCV, 1/05 SSR, 1/06 VWL, 7/06 OKW, 10/07 BWV, our 5/08 visit is currently 1/2 at VWL 1/2 at SSR)
The stay we had at F&W this year was at boardwalk, so it is possible to trade into other places. I think it comes down to timing & luck.
If you buy at one you can book it 11 months out for F&W, and then stay your other visit in a less prime time at the other non-owned resort.

Hi - I have aquestion for you comparing BW to SSR. We are going next fall and was considering SSR over BW (which we love) to try to squeeze an extra night out of our points. Could you compare the 2 resorts for me? Why have you not stayed at SSR more than once?

I would appreciate it Thanks!

 

[hygienejean]

Hi! I own at BWV. I recently bought a resale after renting points there 3 times. My kids are 1, 5, and 7. We LOVE BW! We don't find the nightlife too exciting or loud. It is just right.

A few weeks ago we stayed at the BCV in a 1 bedroom. Got it right at the 7 month mark during the F&W fest over Columbus day weekend. We really like the BCV too. The pool was tdf. Especially great with the 1 year old.

I too was torn about where to buy. I ended up buying at the BWV for these reasons:
Boardwalk veiw and standard veiws available if I want
Resale cost was quite a bit cheaper.
Great pool and kiddie area, super slide for the kids
Location!

AND we figure we can still get BC at times at the 7 month mark.

The BIGGEST reason?
****I was able to buy more points at BWV that I would have been able to at BCV.

I love both resorts so we are very happy!

Good luck with your descision!

 

[2tink4u]

Okay, the thing about SSR is it is soooo big and you have to take the buses everywhere. I, do not like the buses and will do most anything to avoid them. AT BC/BW I can take the boats, which I love, or I can walk. Walking is good. Also, I can get access with a little work to monorail to go to MK. Therefore, buses are absolutely only for the AK. Which I can live with. If you know yourself, then you can kinds figure out where you will be happy. Also, price isn't cheap for SSR, No real grab you incentive for me personally.
Happy Hopping.