Boardwalk or Beach Club???

[michele3572]

We're getting close to our 7 months out date and thinking about staying at a different resort. We usually stay at BLT because it's so convenient, we have 6 kids. We've also stayed at SSR, but I don't like that it's so far away from MK, especially if we use Disney Transport.

If we stay at BLT this time we will have to buy up 24 points and we will only get the standard room. If we stay at Boardwalk or Beach Club we don't have to buy up.

Looking for pros and cons for both.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Sounds like you may be going during the food and wine festival so either one may be hard to book....BWV has more rooms so that may be open.

We own at BWV but have stayed at both many times....love,the pool at BCV but depending on the ages of your kids it may be hard to keep track of 6.....

 

[hopare]

We're getting close to our 7 months out date and thinking about staying at a different resort. We usually stay at BLT because it's so convenient, we have 6 kids. We've also stayed at SSR, but I don't like that it's so far away from MK, especially if we use Disney Transport.

If we stay at BLT this time we will have to buy up 24 points and we will only get the standard room. If we stay at Boardwalk or Beach Club we don't have to buy up.

Looking for pros and cons for both.

All of those may be difficult to get at 7 months. Have many back up plans and don't get your heart set on anything specific. They are all great resorts you can't go wrong with any of them but unless you are booking prior to 7 months options will be very limited.

 

[michele3572]

Our arrival date would be the 11th, the day Food and Wine ends. Do you think we'll have a problem booking?

 

[hopare]

Those resorts, espescially BLT and BWV standard view go very quickly. I hear 1 bedrooms are a bit easier to book, not sure what you will need. I booked a BWV 2 bdrm at 7 months ( garden view) for the last week in August. BCV was full, BWV and BLT std views were also all full. I called at exactly 9 am on exactly my 7 month date. Basically, you never know, you may be fine. I just wouldn't get your heart set on anything therefore you won't be disappointed. A few years ago I did also get a 2 bedroom lake view at BLT at my 7 month mark for a Nov trip. I was lucky I had enough points to cover it, I had my heart set on BLT and all the std rooms were booked that time too.

Good luck! All the resorts are great!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Our arrival date would be the 11th, the day Food and Wine ends. Do you think we'll have a problem booking?

After food and wine may make it easier...BWV pool/ garden might be open then..I've never tried to book at that time of year so don't have any first hand knowledge at 7 months

 

[mjc2003]

Our arrival date would be the 11th, the day Food and Wine ends. Do you think we'll have a problem booking?

No. That's a great week to go, we've done it 3 of the last 4 years. The weather is usually great (we've had a few cooler days in the low 60's but 75% of the time its 77-82.). We got BCV twice around the 7 month mark. In 2011, I got that week at BCV at 6 months for 5 of 7 nights and waitlisted the last 2, and they came through in about a week.

I would be shocked if BWV Garden/Pool isn't open.

As for which is better, both are great resorts. My thought is always that BCV has a great pool that you only use if staying there, but you can use the BW pool if your staying at either place. It's also smaller, so there's less chance with 6 kids in tow that you'll be navigating a rediculously long hallway like can be the case at BWV. We always stay at BCV, but do enjoy the Boardwalk. To us, that's the best of both worlds. We stayed at BWV once, and while it was very nice we did miss the BC pool.

Both resorts have similarly sized and themed rooms, so that's not a big factor. One other nice thing about BCV is the BCV pool is right next to the building, and our kids love going in later in the evening. It's nice having a pool right there, especially if you're on that side of the building, you can literally go from the room to the pool in a minute. If your kids are swimmers, this is something to consider.

Good luck.

 

[MiramarQE]

Those resorts, espescially BLT and BWV standard view go very quickly. I hear 1 bedrooms are a bit easier to book, not sure what you will need. I booked a BWV 2 bdrm at 7 months ( garden view) for the last week in August. BCV was full, BWV and BLT std views were also all full. I called at exactly 9 am on exactly my 7 month date. Basically, you never know, you may be fine. I just wouldn't get your heart set on anything therefore you won't be disappointed. A few years ago I did also get a 2 bedroom lake view at BLT at my 7 month mark for a Nov trip. I was lucky I had enough points to cover it, I had my heart set on BLT and all the std rooms were booked that time too.

Good luck! All the resorts are great!

Went through the DVC pitch a second time (didn't purchase 5 years ago) - Guide (David Miller) called member services while we were in the room as I was concerned about availability during the period right after Food & Wine - during that period 1 bedrooms are MUCH easier to find - even for a full week. Several available at both BWV and BCV in the 7 month window (same for the mid-May period) - studios go fast!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Went through the DVC pitch a second time (didn't purchase 5 years ago) - Guide (David Miller) called member services while we were in the room as I was concerned about availability during the period right after Food & Wine - during that period 1 bedrooms are MUCH easier to find - even for a full week. Several available at both BWV and BCV in the 7 month window (same for the mid-May period) - studios go fast!

One bedroom villas go quickly for F&W. Plus you have the half marathon on the last weekend of the F&W festival, plus you have Jersey Week and Veterans Day. You might have a problem getting your first nights.

This is the second year in a row that I could not get BCV in a one bedroom for F&W in October. A two bedroom will be harder to get.

 

[LSchrow]

BCV, if most of your kids are under 8-10yo.
BWV, if they are mostly older.

BCV has SAB, which many love (we find it too noisy, chaotic and crowded for our tastes - and yes, we own there ). the pool is large, with sandy bottom, whirlpools, "ship" slide.....non-swimmers especially love the pool (actual swimming can be difficult bc it gets crowded during warm months). Cape May also has character meals - and an excellent dinner buffet!
BWV main pool is not as large as SAB (it is shared with BW, which has its own quiet pool also), and has an old-time circus theme with clown slide. (we normally take a nearby stairwell down to the pool - very quick!). also, there is a community hall at the BWV "quiet" pool, with video games, table tennis, bike rentals, book & DVD rentals (free for DVC members), craft classes - no CH at BCV, but you can walk over (it is closer to the YC/swolphin, along the walkway to DHS, so a bit of a walk). there aren't any character meals, but there are quite a few dining options, and nighttime entertainment on the BW (carny-type games and street performers).
surrey bikes can be rented. all of the above are available if you stay at either resort (tho many will require some time to get to if at the other resort), except for the main pool at BCV/BC/YC - which is only for guests of those three resorts.

both resorts are within walking distance to EPCOT. DHS is about a 15-20 min from BWV, and about 30+ min from BCV - or you can take a ferry to/fro either

have fun planning!

 

[dano4]

We stayed at BWV last year from 05/25/12 to 06/04/12. It was our first time staying there. I was mostly impressed (especially with the view from our balcony). What's great about both of these resorts is the ability to walk to and from two of the four theme parks. Just like you thought it was convenient staying at BLT, you'll find even more convenience staying at the Epcot resorts. Walking to / from DHS offers a nice break from the crowds. I hope you have a blast whichever you choose!

 

[Corinne]

I really don't think you can go wrong either way, because for us its the location. I do think your kids would love Stormalong!

 

[michele3572]

Awesome, thanks everyone. We're leaning toward BCV as our first choice, but have backups in case we can't get it, and we can be a bit flexible with our date too. I might try for Nov. 10 and then keep going till the 13th. The pool sounds perfect for my kids, 4 of them are 8 and under and then we have 2 teenagers. My DH likes the idea of being near to Epcot and DHS too.

Jersey Week is the week before and I'm hoping with everything else wrapping up on the 10th that we might get it. This is our first November attempt, we usually go the last week of August.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Awesome, thanks everyone. We're leaning toward BCV as our first choice, but have backups in case we can't get it, and we can be a bit flexible with our date too. I might try for Nov. 10 and then keep going till the 13th. The pool sounds perfect for my kids, 4 of them are 8 and under and then we have 2 teenagers. My DH likes the idea of being near to Epcot and DHS too.

Jersey Week is the week before and I'm hoping with everything else wrapping up on the 10th that we might get it. This is our first November attempt, we usually go the last week of August.

Just a warning on Stormalong Bay. If the younger kids are not excellent swimmers, you'll need to keep an eye on them. There is a very deep, very swift current area right between the YC area and the BC area. They call it a "lazy river" but it is nothing like a lazy river. 8' deep with a pretty sharp dropoff where the current can catch you and pull you into the deep area.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Just a warning on Stormalong Bay. If the younger kids are not excellent swimmers, you'll need to keep an eye on them. There is a very deep, very swift current area right between the YC area and the BC area. They call it a "lazy river" but it is nothing like a lazy river. 8' deep with a pretty sharp dropoff where the current can catch you and pull you into the deep area.

Yup. I would never stay at BC with kids if I expected to relax at the pool at all. Besides the lazy river, the pool itself has lots of twists and turns and you can't see all of it at once. For older kids SAB is incredible, but younger ones or even older ones that aren't strong swimmers need an adult watching them constantly.

 

[Sammie]

We're getting close to our 7 months out date and thinking about staying at a different resort. We usually stay at BLT because it's so convenient, we have 6 kids. We've also stayed at SSR, but I don't like that it's so far away from MK, especially if we use Disney Transport.

If we stay at BLT this time we will have to buy up 24 points and we will only get the standard room. If we stay at Boardwalk or Beach Club we don't have to buy up.

Looking for pros and cons for both.

FYI: SSR is two miles closer to the MK than BWV or BCV.

They are fun resorts but not closer to the MK and bus transportation from there to the MK is in my opinion the worst of any resort. If your focus is Epcot or the Studios then it is a great location, I would never stay at either if my focus was the MK. BLT or VWL or even SSR and OKW are better choices based on transportation.

 

[Shellandscott]

Just to note BWV does not have dedicated 2 bedrooms BCV has 78 Dedicated 2Bdrm. If having two beds in the second bedroom or not having a door in the second bedroom is important BWV is not an option. I mention this because when we went in 2008 with a 5 & 7 yr old we could only get a "lock-off" 2 bedroom at either resort and I did not want to chance the door issue or picking which kid got a bed and which got the fold out sofa. We stayed at VWL, at the time that was the closest to MK, since we could not get an Epcot resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just to note BWV does not have dedicated 2 bedrooms BCV has 78 Dedicated 2Bdrm. If having two beds in the second bedroom or not having a door in the second bedroom is important BWV is not an option. I mention this because when we went in 2008 with a 5 & 7 yr old we could only get a "lock-off" 2 bedroom at either resort and I did not want to chance the door issue or picking which kid got a bed and which got the fold out sofa. We stayed at VWL, at the time that was the closest to MK, since we could not get an Epcot resort.

But only 25 of those 78 have two queen beds in the bedroom. The other 53 have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. They couldn't fit two queen beds in the room.

 

[LSchrow]

But only 25 of those 78 have two queen beds in the bedroom. The other 53 have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. They couldn't fit two queen beds in the room.

interesting.....
so studios, as well as the 2nd bdrm in 53 of the dedicated (that have a sleeper sofa) are that much smaller than the 2nd bdrm in 25 of the dedicated (to fit that 2nd queen bed)?

 

[CarolMN]

interesting.....
so the 2nd bdrm in a dedicated is that much smaller than the 2nd bdrm (aka studio) in a lockoff?

The studios (and thus the second bedroom of a lock off 2 bedroom) have a DOUBLE sleep sofa. The sleep sofa in the dedicated 2 bedrooms is a QUEEN size. That's the difference.