Boardwalk booking suggestion

[RichPensacola]

We had a trip planned in September at CBR but are canceling it. With that said I am looking at booking in March and it has always been a dream to stay at the Boardwalk. It will be me, my gf, my mom, a 10 yr old and 3 yr old. From what I have read, it sounds like the studio's at BW will be too cramped. So what would you guys suggest booking so that we are comfortable. Also how would you suggest booking? through the site or renting points etc. I found DISboards this year and it has been helpful so I figured I would ask the pro's. Also we're planning on 7 days at the park (2 travel, 5 there).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

That's an interesting question regarding what room accommodations might work best for your group. I would think a studio is way too cramped. I'm even wondering if with your family make-up, a 1BR could be too small. I believe the 1BRs at Boardwalk have space to sleep 4 - a kind bed in the master bedroom and a pull-out sofa in the living room. Sleeping 5 could be tough, even with 2 youngsters. A 2BR would be great (sleeps 8), but probably very expensive and more room than you might require! So it might depend on how amenable the girls are to sleeping on the floor. A big advantage (at least we think it is) of the 1BR or 2BR is you have an in-room washer and dryer - it can make packing requirements easier sometimes.

I don't have experience with renting points, but many people do it and save money - and also get their rooms booked a little earlier (if you find a person to rent from and give more than 7 months notice). During a normal spring, March would be the Flower and Garden activities at EPCOT, and BW would be very popular for the ability to walk into EPCOT - not sure if that will be as important March or 2021, but I sure do hope so!

It cannot hurt to check with a rental company to see if renting points might be a good fit for you, and what it would cost. You are now approximately 7 1/2 months to 8 months from your desired dates. And if you can find an owner at BW looking to rent, the availability prior to the 7-month mark would be much greater. At 7 months, all DVC owners can book at BW. Best of luck with your plans. I know how disappointing it is to be cancelling upcoming fall trips this year. Looking forward to more normal times again!

 

[Marthasor]

Why not just book a standard room at BWI?

 

[RichPensacola]

Why not just book a standard room at BWI?

From what I read they are still cramped. I wanted some extra room but not too much and the 2 BR that sleeps 8 is pricey

 

[cvjw]

Get 2 studios. No way I would put 5 people in a BWV studio - it is simply too small.

 

[kaytieeldr]

From what I read they are still cramped. I wanted some extra room but not too much and the 2 BR that sleeps 8 is pricey

Book two.

 

[Fitzwoman27]

We use to travel with my mom, husband and two kids . we slept with little one in king bed with us. Mom and ten year old in pull out couch. Sometime 10 year old would sleep on sleeping bag if no sleeper chair. One bedroom will be fine.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Yeah technically you could sleep all 5 in a studio. Two in the bed, two on the pullout and the youngest on the murphy bed. I would worry though about 5 people in one bathroom. If you can deal with that though so you can save money it may be a good compromise. I would suggest that you look up videos on tours of the studios so you can see what they are like. You can also find videos on the one bedroom etc.

 

[soniam]

If you rent points, be sure to investigate what the refund policy is, if there is one. In the past, DVC points rental has often been absolutely non-refundable. COVID may or may not have changed that. I am at BWV right now in a non-refundable studio and will probably be at BLT in November, again in a non-refundable studio. You don’t want to feel pressured to go if you are not ready. I didn’t attempt to argue for a refund though.

 

[Marthasor]

From what I read they are still cramped. I wanted some extra room but not too much and the 2 BR that sleeps 8 is pricey

Maybe price out the deluxe - CL room on the resort side. Not cheap, but it's going to give you more space than a standard room or studio.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Who do the kids belong to? If they are the girl friend's kids, they are not going to want to sleep in a studio with your mother. If they are your kids, they might not mind. If they sleep with the gf and you sleep with your mom, how would that work out? What would mom say? Studios do not connect to other studios at BWV, so you might be on different floors, different wings, different sides of the building. Book at two bedroom villa with a party that size. The one bedroom will not have a bed for the fifth person and you would have to provide that bed, plus any bedding and towels yourself. A twin sized air bed might work. Any larger would be hard to place on the floor. Reminder that there is only one small bathroom in the studio (sink outside the tub/toilet room).

If a two bedroom is out of your range, try a family suite at family suites at AoA or a Ft Wilderness Cabin.

 

[Eastern]

Maybe price out the deluxe - CL room on the resort side. Not cheap, but it's going to give you more space than a standard room or studio.

I don't know how the prices will be for those rooms as CL is currently suspended, but in normal times, the price for that deluxe room will be about $700-800/night while a std room would be more like $300-400 so I would be more inclined to get two std rooms.

**Just looked and right now the rack rates showing for March 2021 are outrageous. I think I'd wait. Deluxe room, CL $1,281/night. Std view, std room, $773. Just fyi I book BWI a lot and I typically pay (with some kind of discount) around $300/night for std view.

 

[Eastern]

Just another option for OP, I know you stated BWI and BWI is one of our favorite resorts, but when prices are high we book POFQ. We love this resort and the convenience of food court/bus stop being near every building. And there is a boat to Disney Springs. I would get two rooms there as the max per room is 4.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just another option for OP, I know you stated BWI and BWI is one of our favorite resorts, but when prices are high we book POFQ. We love this resort and the convenience of food court/bus stop being near every building. And there is a boat to Disney Springs. I would get two rooms there as the max per room is 4.

POFQ is closed for probably the rest of the year.