Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom and SSR People

[Lynn5700]

I have stayed at SSR and love it. We were in Congress Park...see if you can request it.. we had dtd view. we loved the location. The bus stop was like right outside our building.

Have not stayed at AKV yet.

 

[mmmagic7754]

We loved our BWV standard view,here are a couple pics
looking to our right

looking straight out from deck

We were only 5 doors down the hall from the elevator

 

[rutgers1]

Thanks again for all of the replies. I just booked the second half of our trip at the 7 month mark today. For half we are staying at SSR (the preference that we put in was Springs), and for the other half we are booked at the Boardwalk with what dvcmember.com refers to as garden/pool view. I actually thought that I had booked standard when I called, but I guess I was given garden/pool.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Next time you call MS, request that you get a water view at the Springs. We stayed there, LOVED the location, and had a beautiful view.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We loved our BWV standard view,here are a couple pics
looking to our right

looking straight out from deck

We were only 5 doors down the hall from the elevator

We've stayed in both BW View and standard view rooms at BWV. I think they are both great. Like the pp said, she was really close to the elevators, and that lovely shot with the rainbow is one of the worst views from a standard room. Its really not that bad at all. Our std. studio was probably 2 or 3 doors down. It still beat EVERY view I've ever had a WDW non-DVC resort. Then again, my view luck changed when I joined DVC.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We loved our BWV standard view,here are a couple pics
looking to our right

looking straight out from deck

We were only 5 doors down the hall from the elevator

Was this a studio? Our only standard view experience was a 1 bedroom across from the elevators on the third floor. It was not so nice....this gives me hope!

 

[spiceycat]

standard view is less points and definitely like it better than the main pool view or BW view.

the one time we had a bw view - loved the view - now I know it was not true - but everytime out on the balconies (and I love balconies) - felt like we were being watched. It was creepy.

that say others just love it.

love the standard view all the fun of BWV with a discount.

=----------

Springs is not my favorite - Grandstand is the first bus stop and it just about as near the CH as Springs - and it is the FIRST bus stop.

also love Congress Park but walk alot to DD - if you don't stay somewhere else.

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akv - been there 3 times - one in standard view (pool), and twice in value view. love it!

you can definitely see the animals. the big difference you have to leave your room to see them. every floor in each wing has windows generally 3 or 4 big windows per hall. that you can see the animals at - somehow no matter how silent or inside I was got the feeling the animals knew I was there.....

as much as love animals and I do - it is not worth the extra points to have the savannah view - very, very much in the minority on this one.

stayed in all 3 places and love AKV, like BWV and SSR.

 

[El&Asmom]

Next time you call MS, request that you get a water view at the Springs. We stayed there, LOVED the location, and had a beautiful view.

We had that same view in the Springs at SSR and loved it. We also took that bridge to I believe the Paddock section and got off there coming back from the parks. That way we didn't have to go all the way around to the Springs stop and get off last. We never had to stand on a bus when getting on the last stop at the Srpings, but it was Sept and slow. It is a great resort.

 

[DisFlan]

We've had a duck pond view the last three times we've stayed in a standard view at BWV. It's quiet and actually quite nice - no traffic noise from the main drive. You get views of the pond (with a small fountain), the canal and boats going to DHS - and the ducks. We don't mind it at all. We actually prefer the duck pond SV to the preferred boardwalk and non-boardwalk views. We had a "stinky" preferred view a couple of years ago. A tree blocked any view we might have had of the main pool and it was a bit noisy. And we find the boardwalk view to be a bit hectic for us - but tastes vary.

I guess what you'd be happiest with mostly depends on how much you want to feel "in the middle of the action", or if you like a quiet retreat after a busy day. But I have to add that no matter what the view, we've never had a bad stay at BWV.

DisFlan

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've had a duck pond view the last three times we've stayed in a standard view at BWV. It's quiet and actually quite nice - no traffic noise from the main drive. You get views of the pond (with a small fountain), the canal and boats going to DHS - and the ducks. We don't mind it at all. ...

DisFlan

We had this view last week and we both enjoyed it immensely!

Bobbi

 

[rutgers1]

I think MS is going to kill me, but when I called today to book the one day that they wouldn't let me book yesterday (since I could only book 7 days at this point due to the 7 month rule), I had them switch me to standard view since I didn't hear any horror stories here. In fact, from what I read in this thread, the standard view seems very nice.

I was able to get Boardwalk at the 7 month mark very easily. When I expressed shock at the ease, the woman pointed out that Kidani, BLT and Treehouse Villas are making booking much easier for the other properties. That made sense since there will be more inventory than owners over the next couple of years.

 

[DisFlan]

I was able to get Boardwalk at the 7 month mark very easily. When I expressed shock at the ease, the woman pointed out that Kidani, BLT and Treehouse Villas are making booking much easier for the other properties. That made sense since there will be more inventory than owners over the next couple of years.

I think the only time either BWV or BCV might still be harder to book at 7 months will be during the fall Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. The short walk or boat ride to Epcot makes them a great place to stay during this event. After trying out a number of wines at the kiosks (or a couple of Grey Goose slushies), the boat ride back is very handy.

DisFlan

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

I Boardwalk view villas. See signature pic! We've stayed in all view types, standard, pool/garden & Boardwalk. As long as I have the points to do it, I'll be booking Boardwalk view every trip.

 

[spiceycat]

We've had a duck pond view the last three times we've stayed in a standard view at BWV. It's quiet and actually quite nice - no traffic noise from the main drive. You get views of the pond (with a small fountain), the canal and boats going to DHS - and the ducks. We don't mind it at all. We actually prefer the duck pond SV to the preferred boardwalk and non-boardwalk views. We had a "stinky" preferred view a couple of years ago. A tree blocked any view we might have had of the main pool and it was a bit noisy. And we find the boardwalk view to be a bit hectic for us - but tastes vary.

I guess what you'd be happiest with mostly depends on how much you want to feel "in the middle of the action", or if you like a quiet retreat after a busy day. But I have to add that no matter what the view, we've never had a bad stay at BWV.

DisFlan

plus this view is near the back door - so you don't have to go thru the lobby unless you want too.

the buses and your car are just out the door. So is Studios. Epcot is a little futher.

love it!

 

[mmmagic7754]

Was this a studio? Our only standard view experience was a 1 bedroom across from the elevators on the third floor. It was not so nice....this gives me hope!

Yes, it was a studio

 

[mmmagic7754]

We have a standard studio at BWV booked again for the end of May. We also have 4 nights at Kadani and 4 nights at BWV then driving over to do a 7 night cruise

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

BWV standard views are very nice-- you do overlook the driveway, but the trees hide a lot. I didn't mind it one bit! The best part was that we could see the buses come and go from our room and when we saw that the MK bus just past, we made sure we were out of the room in 15 minutes to catch the next bus. The walkway out to the bus stop was really quick it took maybe 2 minutes max-- which was really nice when your tired!! (We were on the 1st floor once and the 5th floor the other time. Depending on what room you are in you have a nice view of illuminations too. And the BW Inn is very nice.



When we were on the 5th floor our room was near the elavator and it was noisy because the ME luggage would arrive every 1/2 hour and be unloaded and when the trucks backed up they would beep beep beep beep .

 

[MinnieGi]

I love my "stinky" standard views at BW!! Lets see this past trip we were first floor facing the entrance which meant I had a nightly view of the top of the Illuminations fireworks and I could let my kids go outside to play on the grass everyday as if it was our backyard!! Across from my villa door on the inside was the door leading out to the quiet pool and community hall! That pool was much warmer than the clown pool when we were there in Nov. Oh and there was also an outside entrance door around the corner from our villa that faced the front and made it a short walk to our car!!!

We have stayed pool view, BW view and standard before and although I do like all the views, if I'm not willing to spend the points for a BW view I always go standard!!!

 

[CarolMN]

I think MS is going to kill me, but when I called today to book the one day that they wouldn't let me book yesterday (since I could only book 7 days at this point due to the 7 month rule), I had them switch me to standard view since I didn't hear any horror stories here. In fact, from what I read in this thread, the standard view seems very nice.

I was able to get Boardwalk at the 7 month mark very easily. When I expressed shock at the ease, the woman pointed out that Kidani, BLT and Treehouse Villas are making booking much easier for the other properties. That made sense since there will be more inventory than owners over the next couple of years.

I'm sure that's true, but August has always been one of the easier times to book BWV (and VWL & BCV) at the 7 month mark. I still think you were lucky to get a SV, but it is not unheard of for members to get them at the 7 month mark for August. Maybe with BLT and AKV, it will happen more frequently.

We prefer the standard view units over the preferred view units - IMHO, the SV rooms at the BWV are a great value. Lower points and the same great location that allows yo to walk to two major parks.

While most SV units do overlook the resort entrance, there is nice landscaping between the villas and the black topped areas. Some of those rooms even have a view of the EPCOT higher level fireworks (Ask for an upper floor across from the bus stop if that appeals to you). If you are able to handle stairs (traveling without strollers, wheelchairs or ECVs), the SV rooms are convenient to the pools, the pathway to DHS and the parking lots - no need to travel to the lobby first to get to those places.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Dean]

I skimmed through so if I missed much, I apoligize. Other than Pat, I didn't seem much info to address the difference between SV and PV at BWV. I know there were a lot of positive posts for SV. IMO, the PV units are marginally to NO better than the SV and thus NOT worth the points. Unless you really care about being pool side AND get your request, it really means nothing. Might as well save the points and go SV if you have the option. I suspect DVC will adjust the points at some time in the future raising BW view points and lowering slightly PV but we shall see.