Beach Club vs. Wilderness Lodge Villas

[njmomboys2]

I know this will probably cause a heated debate...and is like asking which one of your children you like better...but looking for opinions on where to stay in July.

We haven't stayed at either and currently have a reservation for July 22-28 at Beach Club (home resort) in a studio but might want to switch over at the 7 month window to Wilderness Lodge Villas. We really don't like to split our stay so that is probably not an option for that. When I called member services this morning at this point there is availability at WL but that of course could change in a few weeks.

Any thoughts? Our boys are 12 & 7 are seemed to be fine with either. My husband and I are leaning toward Wilderness Lodge but am torn. We have stayed at Boardwalk and love the location plus Stormalong Bay looks fantastic.

Thanks!!!!

 

[tiggercrew]

Personally I don't think you could go wrong with either one. We have stayed at VWL many times and only once at BCV and we enjoyed both places. My personal favorite is VWL and I think my family probably feels the same way, right up until the time you ask them which pool they prefer and then BCV will win out.

If you think your family will be spending a great deal of time at the pool, maybe opting for BCV would be better this year...you could always try VWL next year...that's the beauty of DVC and knowing you'll be back again.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Muushka]

I am a strong proponent of trying to stay every where at least once. I have stayed at DVC resorts that I thought I would not care for just for the opportunity to try something to be able to make that judgement. I did not think I would like BCV at all because we had stayed at BC and did not like it. We loved BCV. And so glad we gave it a try.

I won't get on my VWL soap box about how great it is, that is something you will have to find out for yourself! Let us know what you decide. Either place, you can't go wrong.

 

[beccasmom]

We've not visited WL yet, so I can't offer an opinion. The thing to consider, IMHO, is where your family will be spending time. The WL is close to the MK. BCV has Stormalong Bay (a huge deal to most kids I know! ) and you are a walk/watercraft away from Epcot and MGM. The BCV area is close to a great variety of restaurants.

July is a very busy time. Staying closer to where you'll be spending the majority of time is important in terms of transport - it saves time and transfers and gives you more park time. This is especially important during busy seasons, unless you have a car.

 

[disneydenisel]

We just stayed at both BCV and VWL, and loved them both for different reasons. I actually like the bus transportation better at BCV, and if the weather had been warmer, I'm sure SAB would have been a big hit. We like walking to EPCOT and the boat to MGM, too. Oh, and Beaches and Cream in the summer has got to hit the right spot !

VWL was so cozy and friendly and warm. The CMs were super nice. The sofa bed was very comfortable (I should get one for home, it was that nice).

Like someone else said, stay at one this year and one next. You can't go wrong at either, both are outstanding choices. You are lucky to have your confirmed ressie at BCV. If you try and change at 7 months out and VWL is available, why not? You can always get BCV at 11 months out next year.

You'll have a magical time wherever you stay!

 

[Granny]

I agree that you really can't make a bad choice here.

My vote would be to stay at BCV. You indicate it is your home resort but you haven't stayed there yet. I think you might want to take the opportunity to stay there and get to know your home resort with its various charms and amenities.

On future trips, I agree that sampling other DVC resorts is a great idea. But I think everyone should start out with their home resort. Many people find that their first DVC memories can create an emotional tie to a place and it might as well be your home resort.

Also, for the time of year you are going, you will probably get in a fair amount of swimming. And it's hard to beat SAB as a great pool. We love VWL, but the main pool is not particularly large and can get overcrowded in the summer.

Good luck, and rest assured you can't make a poor decision.

 

[Muushka]

Silly me, I missed the part where they had not stayed at BCV yet. Yup, BCV this time for sure. VWL another time!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would stay at the BCV this time. I think your boys are fine with either because they haven't experienced SAB yet! They're at a great age to enjoy that to the hilt.

Bobbi

 

[dgaston]

Another vote for BCV given the ages of your boys. Create time to spend at SAB. Even in my mid-50's I go down the slide a few times!

 

[eliza61]

Boy, this is a problem I'd love to have. Since I'm with every one else, you can't go wrong with either on. Decide by which park you like better. Mk or Epcot. WLV is close to the MK and BCV's you can walk to Epcot.
Any help?

 

[skelooch]

I'm kind of partial to BCV as you can see from my sig, but I did stay at VWL once this past May and really liked it alot. I had a ground floor room (which I would never get at BCV) and it was as close to the quiet pool and main pool as you can get. The main pool isn't SAB, but it's pretty nice. Probably will be tough to get a chair there during the summer, but then again it's almost impossible at SAB. I would definitely stay there again some day. There are 2 great restuarants there in Wispering Canyons and Artist Point which we go to all the time.
I would recommend having a car if staying at VWL because I don't think the transportation is quite as good there. But then I would have a car no matter where I was staying, it's just so much more convienent.
I'm sure you'll be happy with whatever you choose.

 

[pbharris4]

BCV..the kids (and you) will love SAB! VWL will stukk be there next time. Both are nice. SAB has the slide, zero entry, lazy river (I loved that part), whirlpool that swirls you around, sandy bottom, a shallow area for kids with sand, waterfalls, and sometimes a game of water volleyball is going on.

 

[cocoswife]

Although we are new members, I can compare YC and WL for you. We did a split stay there last July. Let me start by saying that we love the WL, we love its location, transportation, theme, recreation and the CMs.We spent the first 4 days at the YC and the last 4 days at the WL and we wished we had never left the YC. The last week of July was extremely crowded and being able to walk to Epcot or take the boat to MGM was a great advantage.If we were too hot or if it was too crowded we could go to back to SAB for a swim. When we moved to the WL, when we got back to the resort for a swim, the pools were so crowded it was impossible to find a lounge chair and the water was very hot. For the first time we regreted staying there, everyone made me promise that on our trips over the summer we would only stay at the BC or at YC.While the WL is absolutely beautiful it is more of fall,winter or spring hotel.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We just split our stay......as we always do. Four nights in each. I prefer to view them as our Epcot/MGM vacation and our MK Resort area vacation.

I know, I know......splitting isn't for everyone. So ask your self these questions.

Do you plan on spending more time in Epcot/MGM than in the MK?
Do you plan on spending a lot of time in the pool?
Are food options very important to you?
Are you a big fan of pastel, beachy decor?

If the answer to these questions is YES, than go with the BCV. Access to Epcot and MGM is great. Between the YC/BC, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin and Epcot next door the food options are limitless. Stormalong Bay is wonderful. All these things make BCV a wonderful choice. Given your kids ages, I suspect there is a lot they like in Epcot and MGM, and they will definitely want to swim. So BCV is tempting.

Do Mom and Dad want to stay the most relaxing resort on property that is just a short boat ride away from the MK?
Will you be spending more time in the MK than Epcot/MGM?
Kids want to rent a Sea Raycer?
Ever want to be transported to the warm browns and reds of the calming Pacific NW?

Well, head for the VWL. The Hidden Springs pool/hot tub is a great place to get away from it all. Anyone say Spa for a massage? The boat access to the MK is wonderful. Whispering Canyon is nice, as is Artists Point, but even the refurbished Roaring Forks is limited. With a DVC or AP discount the WL is the best place to rent a Sea Raycer to have fun on Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Best $22 for a half hour you can spend......oh, and that even hold for the kids . If woodsy, relaxed decor is your style this is the place.

As other have said, you can't go wrong with either.

 

[spiceycat]

I love them both - they are both great resorts.

but for summer - BCV wins - that pool SALB is pretty wonderful. during the summer your kids can take full advantage of it.

of course you may not like that suggestion. How would you feel if one second you could spot your child in the water and the next second you couldn't?

SALB is a big pool.

are your boys good swimmers?

both resorts have a beach.

 

[crisi]

With BCV I'd ask a few questions:

1) Are your kids both strong swimmers? SAB is a very cool pool, but it isn't an easy pool to watch your kids at. Its one where you are better off with kids either young enough that you are right on top of them all the time, or old enough that you can say "be back here at 2:00." (My youngest is seven and I'd pick a different pool this year yet for her - probably next year she'll be a strong enough swimmer - and be able to tell time and be a little more responsible).

2) SAB is a really cool pool and you'll do lots of swimming in July - but so will everyone else. The pools can get really crowded in July and you may be better off saving your pool focused trip to a time when there are fewer crowds in the pools (but I hate crowds and think swimming in December is nice). Especially over the summer months, a lot of people book the Y&BC specifically to get lots of pool time.