Boardwalk grand villas questions

[crusader]

I am hoping to resolve some questions for anyone familiar with the BWV grand villas -

I've been reading that these were under renovation - is this still the case?

Are the balconies usually clean or in need of a powerwash!

Where exactly are all 7 located. (specifics greatly appreciated)

Which provide the best view of the fireworks - for which park!

Which provide the easiest walk to get to anywhere within the resort - ie elevators/pool/boardwalk/boat launch.

If you needed to get an adjacent studio would that be possible?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PamOKW]

I can't answer specifics but I can tell you generally.

The GV are located with Boardwalk views. To get a boardwalk view you sacrifice being near the elevators. I'm sure they do their best to keep the balconies clean but the birds are an on-going problem at WDW. If you let them know there's a problem, I'm sure they will do their best to resolve it. The fireworks view would be of Epcot or, possibly, MK in the far distance. The studio would not be able to have a connecting door but they would do their best to give you one in the same general area.

 

[crusader]

Thanks Pam

Do you (or anyone else) happen to know why it is so difficult to obtain information regarding the location of the grand villas? For example, if I am on the boardwalk facing the resort - which balconies are they? I understand that there are 5 one story and 2 two story units.

Also, is there any work still being done on them (any currently unavailable) and what is the story about the birds?

thanks

 

[cindy_k]

Hiya (my long Grand Villa Story)

At my last stay in the world I stayed at the Boardwalk on the Fifth floor. We had a two bedroom with a Boardwalk view that was VERY FAR from the elevator.

One day on my hike down the hall I passed a workman painting the Double Doors to one of the Grand Villas. This room while not next to the elevators, it was not what I would concider a Long walk from the Elevator.

I asked him as I passed if I could look inside. He allowed me too. The Villa was spacious inside with a Laundry room the size of the Master bathroom in a 1 bedroom.
There were 2 bedrooms on one end and the master bedroom on the other end of the suite. (Picture a rectangle with the bedrooms at the farthest ends) The Laundry Room was on the Master Bedroom side of the Villa.

The 2 bedrooms shared a bathroom I think, and there was an extra door to the hallway, down near the two smaller bedrooms.
The two bedrooms each had 2 either double or queen size beds in them.

I didn't look at the balcony because that was were the work was going on. There was all kinds scaffolding out there.

There was a living room area and a dining room area setup in the middle of the suite where the kitchen was.

As for the fireworks, I also had a Boardwalk view and could see from my balcony the fireworks for Illuminations every night.

I found Boardwalk to be a strangely setup hotel. It has only one Elevator. You need to walk back to that central Elevator to get anywhere. If the Villas are all stacked on top of one another, the walk to that Elevator won't be terrible.

The elevator is the easiest way to get to the pool, you take it to the bottom floor, not the lobby and you come out right by the doors to the pool. And from there it's around the corner and a short walk to the boat launch that takes you to MGM and EPCOT.

I hope this helps... I have never stayed in one, but the spaciousness of the suite was amazing.


Cindy in NY

 

[mickey7861]

I stayed in studio #5059 with a great Epcot view. The grand villa down the hall from me was really just a short walk from the elevators. The balcony would be on the 5th floor directly over the Screen Door and other shops.

 

[crusader]

Thank you both -

Your replies have been extremely helpful! It sounds as if you both may be referring to the same villa on the 5th floor. I have also read about a third floor grand villa with a great balcony.

Since there are only a total of seven, I wonder if a few of them are stacked.

Cindy mentioned work being done during her visit - I am curious as to when this was. Hopefully they have completed the project!

Thanks again!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I have never stayed, but I think some of BWV GV's are two floors. Which are more popular?

 

[crusader]

I have read positive reviews for both room types. Most favored the one story GV - which has a longer balcony and a bathroom within the master bedroom. (from what I can determine, the two story GV seems to have the master bath separate from the bedroom)

I have never stayed at the BWV, but am planning a trip with my extended family in 2003. (large group hence the GV interest)

As you can see, I am hoping to gather as much information as I can.

 

[drusba]

If you have been to Boardwalk, the Grand Villas are all located over the main courtyard and boardwalk, basically above Wylands Gallery and running around the corner over the main store (all parts of that store which includes the General Store, Character Carnival and Thimbles and Threads). Located in the same area are dedicated studios and 1BRs. The 2BR's over the boardwalk are over the Big River Grill and run to over the DVC store (where the last units that are actually over the boardwalk end). The walk to any of the GV's is not very long but some, over the courtyard and the corner where the main store starts are quite close to the elevator. The renovation (inside and out) for all those units is done. The balconies all looked like they needed repair until they just did them between Jan and May and thus they will not look like they need a powerwash. Best fireworks view (of Epcot Illluminations -- none face MGM) would be those actually overlooking the boardwalk rather than the courtyard. In fact the closer you get to the 2BR units (and the Big River Grill) the better the view is of upper level fireworks at Epcot. You can get a studio in the same area and possibly next to a GV.

If you are unfamiliar with BW, go to the map on this site to see where Wylands and the main store are: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/boardwalk.JPG

Also, before jumping to a GV (which would be ideal for a large group) understand that total points for two 2BR's are less than the GV. If you want ultimate luxury with a huge room to entertain then the GV is the choice. If you what you have is more than the 12 allowed in the GV but no more than 16, and you want to put two different groups together, have four bathrooms total and have the ability to allow separation if needed of the studio bedroom from other rooms in the 2BR, then consider the 2 2BR's.

 

[TerriBelle]

We stayed in a 2 floor GV last October. It's 1st floor balcony was 1/2 of the balcony over the store where the big white columns are. There was a second balcony on the second floor but only for one of the rooms. The other bedroom only had a window. We did not have a problem with the elevators. We discovered the stairs that exited near the Waylan Gallery and used these to quickly get to the boats & boardwalk.

We were able to watch the fireworks every night from our balcony. It was a nightly tradition! My kids will be very disappointed this year when we are at the BCV and can't watch the fireworks from our room! (Life's tough!)

 

[RWishbone]

Hi Terribelle - We have a group staying at the BW GV in January. Would you suggest that we try to get a 2 floor or a 1 floor GV? Are there any GV's that are not overlooking the BW - ie looking over the Courtyard? To me it would be disappointing to spend all those points and not have a Boardwalk view. Thanks for any responses..Rich

 

[TerriBelle]

RWishbone,

We tried to get a 1 floor unit because my boys were 3 and we thought it might be easier not having to worry about the steps. It is hard to make requests because there are so few GV. I think when we checked at the desk they told us that no one was checking out of the 1 floor units that day. We really liked the 2 story unit and the kids enjoyed the stairs. The bedroom that does not have a balcony has a small landing with french doors that looks into the tv area.

I thought that all the GV overlooked the BW but I could be wrong. I know there was a 2nd 2 story unit next to ours but the mirror image. I believe there was a 1 story unit directly below us.

You will love the GV!

 

[MicheleC]

I also saw a GV on the 5th floor and it looked really beautiful. It was not too far from the elevator and faced the boardwalk. My room was 5001 which was a 1br (last room on the floor) so it was an extremely long walk from the elevator but what a great view of the fireworks. I found this discussion interesting because in 2005 (our 10-yr. wedding anniv.) we plan on renewing our vows at Disney and I wanted to figure out how many relatives we could get to bring along if we banked and borrowed points for one of these huge rooms--it would be so awesome!