Boardwalk or OKW with 4 year old ?

[Flaming Homer]

Want to try out renting points to stay at a studio between November 29 - December 2. OKW studio is 8 points per weekday, Boardwalk Studio is 9 points per weekday. Any recommendations which is best for a family of 3 with a 4 year old ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JustineMarie]

We are on a waitlist for BWV studio for those exact dates and we haven't had any luck yet. I say go for OKW. My 4 year old liked it there very much - and this was before the new pool/slide was done so I'm sure your little one will love it there. We have reservations there right now and will cancel them if our waitlist ends up coming through, but I am just as happy staying there if it doesn't.

 

[CarolMN]

Since you are renting, I'd tell the owner to take whatever is available when he/she calls for the reservation.

You may have a tough time getting those days at all for this year since the 7 month window has already opened. There are probably waitlists for some or all of those days at both resorts. Most owners will not want to tie up their points hoping a waitlist will come through - there are many other opportunities for them to rent points that won't need a waitlist.

FWIW, you are going to find it difficult (virtually impossible) to get a standard view studio for that time at the BWV. There are definitely waitlists for those already. Best to plan on a Preferred View - Pool/Garden. Those are 12 points per weekday night.

Sorry to be pessimistic - the dates you have chosen are very popular times for DVC members to use their points. The standard view studios book up as soon as the 11 month window opensfor the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Best wishes -

 

[vernon]

You'll have a great time at either resort. For preference it would depend a little on how well your 4Y old sleeps. If he/she's particularly fidgetty, you may prefer to have a real bed for them as opposed to the pull out sleeper sofa, although at that age I doubt it will make that much difference. OKW has two "proper" beds in the studio, BW would be one queen sized bed and a Q sized pull out sleeper sofa.

With just a point difference on cost the finance doesn't really come into things, if you were having to pay 12 points against 8 I would definately go for the lower points cost.

The main difference in the two resorts is the ambiance, OKW is very laid back and relaxing , BW tends to feel a little more "happening" particularly if you get one of the rooms that opens onto one of the busy walkways or the BW itself. I'm sure the rooms are well sound proofed, but if you or your child is a light sleeper that might be a factor.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I have stayed at both with my kids and I would vote for BWV no doubt!!!

The buses that run through OKW go through some of the parking lots and they go FAST!!

The walk from the bus to the room can be a long ways - outside at OKW - in BWV at least you are inside

At BWV you can walk or boat to Epcot and MGM - saving you a bus ride - you have to ride a bus everywhere at OKW

at Boardwalk you can walk pretty quickly to the front desk, shops, restaurants, etc - not so at OKW

In my opinion everything at BWV is more convenient and there is more to do - I would go to OKW if you want to be left alone and not take advantage of any of the amenities

Without a little one these issues would be less pronounced but I found it to be huge on my visit last week when I stayed at OKW -

 

[DisBeliever]

Boardwalk...more excitement for the lil ones. It will tire them out nicely!

 

[RWishbone]

No doubt about it- The BW. I have four young children and there are so many reasons to choose the BW but I think the best is the walk back from EPCOT or even MGM at night. When everyone else is fighting to get out the front entrance of EPCOT - to wait for a bus and then to ride a bus and then to walk to your unit - you will be taking a relaxing stroll out the England/France entrance. You will be "HOME" whole others are just reaching the EPCOT exit. Hands down - THE BOARDWALK.

 

[Aneille]

I can't comment on which is better (I've only stayed at BW) but I can give you my experience at the BW with my 2 children (3 and 1).

We loved the BW. We went with my parents as well and really liked the short walk to Epcot and my kids loved the boats to the parks. The adults liked that at night even though we were back at the hotel we could sit out longer at the BW and get an ice-cream etc or even just have a beer and the kids enjoyed the atmosphere. The oldest got her hair done and really enjoyed the carnival games. One of the things my oldest is looking forward to when we go back is riding those bikes.

And I really liked that if we were too tired to go to a park we could find something to do and always see the fireworks from the bridge or if we felt like it take the quick walk to Epcot and watch the whole deal.

So for us we loved the BW. With little ones its sometimes hard to feel like your an adult if you can't go out at night because the kids are spent and the BW was a nice combination for us. Kids enjoyed the atmosphere and so did the adults. And everyone was happy.

 

[thelobstershanty]

As another poster stated, your chances of getting a standard view at BWV, this late are pretty slim. A OKW studio will be the cheapest with BWV, BCV and VWL being the same number of pts, about 3-4 more per night, then OKW.
Considering the age of your child, I would try for VWL. This resort is just a boat ride away from MK (where you will probably spend a great deal of time due to your child's age) and it is right next door to FW campground which has tons of stuff for little ones to do. Also it is located closest to the largest number of character meals--something else the little ones love.
My next choice would be BCV because of the location, but mainly because of the pool. With only one child to watch, SAB is very enjoyable. Sit in the section that is zero depth entry and has a sandy beach for your child to play. Most of the little kids love this. You can even get a bucket and shovel included in a kids meal at the snack bar. BCV will also give you a great location to Epcot, MGM and the boardwalk (which is nighttime entertainment in itself).
BWV would be my third choice. It also has the advantage of being close to 2 parks and has a great Community Hall with many free activites. But your child is a little young to really appreciate all the Community Hall has to offer. The main pool slide is great, but again might be a bit too much for a 4 yo. We love the BWV,it is our favorite DVC resort. But for a family with a 4 yo, I think VWL would be the best choice due to the close location to MK or BCV because of the pool.
OKW would be my last choice. OKW's studio would provide you with 2 queen size beds and an new pool sliide. But the location is not as easy to get to parks and dining options. Especially if you do not have a car, and are planning on using a stroller for your 4 yo. You will have to use buses to get everywhere. This means taking the child out of the stroller, folding it up, carrying the child, stroller and bags onto the bus and then repeating the whole thing again when you get off the bus, in order to get to your room. If you are not in one of the 2 buildings with elevators, you will then have to carry child, stroller and bags up staircases to reach your studio. Also there are not any nighttime resort activites to do at the resort like VWL, BCV and BWV have.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

We just returned from OKW with our 4year old and we had a great time!

He loved the new sandcastle pool slide and he was the perfect size for it. It took him a few trips to the top and back to get up his courage to go down but when he finally did it, he loved it!!!

We were in bldg 56 which is at the back of the resort right beside a small playground and the quiet pool. It was nice to have an option to swim with few people and the buses were running all the time.

I can highly recommend OKW. If you are looking for a variety of restaurants on site, this may not be the choice but we found the boat ride to DTD really nice and OKW is just a short drive to many fast food restaurants such as Chilis and Macaroni Grill, Mac Donalds, Taco Bell etc.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[abeyst]

I vote for OKW, too. DS6 and DD2 have a great time at the pool. They love playing in the sand by the pool and playing on the playground. The wait staff at Olivia's was VERY attentive to them every morning when we had to go get Mickey waffles and bacon! And they love riding in the bikes and taking the boat to DTD.

 

[tjkraz]

I have stayed at both with my kids and I would vote for BWV no doubt!!!

I, too, have stayed at both, and would choose OKW over BWV.

The walk from the bus to the room can be a long ways - outside at OKW - in BWV at least you are inside

There are 5 bus stops at OKW. There are very few rooms more than 2 minutes walk from a bus stop. At BWV it takes you longer than that to reach almost every room in the resort.

At BWV you can walk or boat to Epcot and MGM - saving you a bus ride - you have to ride a bus everywhere at OKW

Methinks you're trying to have your cake and eat it too with this argument. In your last point you mentioned that at "at least you are [walking] inside" as a PRO for BWV. Now you're pointing out that in order to reach two of the four theme parks you MUST walk OUTSIDE for 15-20 minutes with toddler(s) in tow.

We were at BWV last week and most definitely found this to be the most negative aspect of our trip. We'd much rather take that 2 minute walk to the bus stop and then ride 15 minutes in air-conditioned comfort to reach the parks.

We also found the bus service to be rather lacking at BWV. Even though the Boardwalk is near two theme parks, that still leaves two more theme parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney for which you must rely on the busses. BWV shares bus routes with the Dolphin and Swan. Even with the multiple stops at OKW, the OKW busses are definitely quicker at making the rounds than the Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin busses.

at Boardwalk you can walk pretty quickly to the front desk, shops, restaurants, etc - not so at OKW

Depends on where you are at either resort. OKW has some rooms that are close to the Hospitality House, and others that are far away. At BWV there are many rooms that are a long distance from the ESPN club or Bakery, and yes, you do have to go outside to reach them. OKW guests always have the option of hopping on an internal bus to reach the HH if they don't want to walk.

Another big plus for OKW is the parking situation for those with a car. You walk out your villa door and can be at your car in 30 seconds.

At BWV the self-parking lot is about 1/4 mile from most guest rooms. DVC members get free valet parking, but there you're losing time while they retrieve your car and it will cost you a few bucks in tips every time you get the car out.

 

[SoCalKDG]

There are 5 bus stops at OKW. There are very few rooms more than 2 minutes walk from a bus stop. At BWV it takes you longer than that to reach almost every room in the resort.

It took us 3 minutes to get to the Lobby of the BWV from a room that was 3/4 of the way down the BW, another two minutes to either the bus or boat dock, while 3-4 minutes was standard to any bus stop. So really they are the same distance. A couple rooms at either could get you a 6-7 minute walk.

We were at BWV last week and most definitely found this to be the most negative aspect of our trip. We'd much rather take that 2 minute walk to the bus stop and then ride 15 minutes in air-conditioned comfort to reach the parks.

Be on a A/C boat to Epcot and be there in 5 minutes. Can't beat that. Or leaving Fantasmic with a huge crowd? Just walk home. Plus a boat ride is much more fun than a bus ride.

We also found the bus service to be rather lacking at BWV. Even though the Boardwalk is near two theme parks, that still leaves two more theme parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney for which you must rely on the busses. BWV shares bus routes with the Dolphin and Swan. Even with the multiple stops at OKW, the OKW busses are definitely quicker at making the rounds than the Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin busses.

Never waited more than 5 minutes at BW in April, and only one additional stop so we'd be at MK or AK in 10-15 minutes. OKW can have 5 stops. Luck plays a huge part in Bus travel when it comes to waiting time. Plus folding up strollers that have 2-3 items, plus a sleeping child can be a pain, no need to do that if you go to MGM or Epcot from BW.

Depends on where you are at either resort. OKW has some rooms that are close to the Hospitality House, and others that are far away. At BWV there are many rooms that are a long distance from the ESPN club or Bakery, and yes, you do have to go outside to reach them. OKW guests always have the option of hopping on an internal bus to reach the HH if they don't want to walk.

Long distance like 5 minutes? How long does it take to get to the ESPN club or bakery from OKW?

Another big plus for OKW is the parking situation for those with a car. You walk out your villa door and can be at your car in 30 seconds.

At BWV the self-parking lot is about 1/4 mile from most guest rooms. DVC members get free valet parking, but there you're losing time while they retrieve your car and it will cost you a few bucks in tips every time you get the car out.

Did you know you can call down ahead and have your car waiting? First class service. Your on vacation. Valet is the only way to go. OK, if your going to use your car most of the time, advantage goes to OKW for parking.

Other BW advantages over OKW:
Number of places to eat within walking distance
Main pool access or Community hall by walking under 3 minutes
View
Night life if you want


P.S. Just having some fun with you TJKRAZ. OKW is our third favorite resort behind BWV and BCV and is the only one we'd consider staying at besides the Epcot resorts. If we need the xtra room, OKW is the way to go.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Methinks you're trying to have your cake and eat it too with this argument. In your last point you mentioned that at "at least you are [walking] inside" as a PRO for BWV. Now you're pointing out that in order to reach two of the four theme parks you MUST walk OUTSIDE for 15-20 minutes with toddler(s) in tow.

At BWV - you always have the option to take the bus instead of the walk -

the real question is do you have a stroller or not - if you are using a stroller - the bus system is a total pain!!! You are better having a car or staying at a resort where you can get to as many parks as possible without using a bus!!

 

[CarolMN]

At BWV - you always have the option to take the bus instead of the walk -

No, you don't. There is no bus service to EPCOT or MGM from the BWV. The alternative to walking to those two parks is the boat. You can wheel your strollers directly on to the boat.

the real question is do you have a stroller or not - if you are using a stroller - the bus system is a total pain!!! You are better having a car or staying at a resort where you can get to as many parks as possible without using a bus!!

I disagree with this, too. If you drive to the MK, you have to fold up the stroller to fit it into the car and to ride the tram up to the ferry or monorail. If I have to fold up the stroller, I'd just as soon as do it to get on the bus, get dropped off at the entrance and be done with it. IMHO, waiting to catch a ferry or a monorail with tired stroller-age people is just as bad as waiting to catch the bus. Then you hae to walk to the tram and fold up the stroller and go to your car. Lots more trouble (IMHO) than just getting on the bus and getting off at the resort. YMMV.

We do drive to the AK from the BWV when we have a car - but that's because we seldom stay more than a few hours at a time and bus service during mid-day is infrequent (compared to the mornings and park closing).

Best wishes -

P.S. I still think the OP's decision will come down to price and availability for the reasons I posted above.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The walk from the bus to the room can be a long ways - outside at OKW - in BWV at least you are inside

This is not the first time this comment has been made over the years regarding walking to the OKW bus stop. Just my 2 cents. BWV/BCV make a point of saying it's a long walk to the bus stop at OKW (outside). This is my home resort and I hardly think it's an issue ? "Long ways" ? I've just never experienced this. Busses go fast through OKW ? Never experienced this either.
I find it especially strange to complain about, when BWV/BCV owners praise the fact that they are within "walking" distance to Epcot/MGM. Now that's anywhere from a 10-20 min walk depending on your room location and which park you're going to. I stayed at BWV in 2003 so I know from experience. Took us about a 15 min walk from our room to Epcot and even longer to MGM. Not sure I see the perk here ? It's a long walk especially in the heat and if you experience a sudden downpour----makes the walk seem even longer especially with small kids. I'd prefer the air conditioned busses. I just don't see how some people can put down a 2-3 min walk to a bus stop at OKW (and often it's even less than this ! Had about a 20 sec walk this past Nov from our room), yet it's totally fine to have a 20 min walk to MGM each way ? Seems sort of contradictory
That being said, I feel the VWL would actually be the best with a 4 year old but that's gonna be very tough to get for early December. I know when my kids were little we spent the majority of our time at the MK (not Epcot or MGM) and the boat launch at the WL is very convenient. But then again, it's probably about a 5-10 min walk from the VWL room to the boat launch (part inside/part outside).

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is not the first time this comment has been made over the years regarding walking to the OKW bus stop. Just my 2 cents. BWV/BCV make a point of saying it's a long walk to the bus stop at OKW (outside). This is my home resort and I hardly think it's an issue ? "Long ways" ? I've just never experienced this. Busses go fast through OKW ? Never experienced this either.
I find it especially strange to complain about, when BWV/BCV owners praise the fact that they are within "walking" distance to Epcot/MGM. Now that's anywhere from a 10-20 min walk depending on your room location and which park you're going to. I stayed at BWV in 2003 so I know from experience. Took us about a 15 min walk from our room to Epcot and even longer to MGM. Not sure I see the perk here ? It's a long walk especially in the heat and if you experience a sudden downpour----makes the walk seem even longer especially with small kids. I'd prefer the air conditioned busses. I just don't see how some people can put down a 2-3 min walk to a bus stop at OKW, yet it's totally fine to have a 20 min walk to MGM each way ? Seems sort of contradictory
That being said, I feel the VWL would actually be the best with a 4 year old but that's gonna be very tough to get for early December. I know when my kids were little we spent the majority of our time at the MK (not Epcot or MGM) and the boat launch at the WL is very convenient. But then again, it's probably about a 5-10 min walk from the VWL room to the boat launch (part inside/part outside).

I totally agree. Long hallways and half a block walks (and those are the longest ones) to the bus stop are nothing compared to having to walk to MGM or Epcot from BWV or even BCV. The beauty of DVC is that we have some great resorts and some great choices. Just because I like one and someone else prefers another does not make either one of them better or worse. Disney has done a very good job of making sure easy to access transportation and accessibility is provided for EVERYONE. If you don't mind walking 15-20 minutes to get to a park instead of waiting 5 minutes and taking a 10 minute bus ride, then you have that option. If you can't or don't want to walk, you can take a boat or a bus. BTW, I find the boats from BWV and BCV to be maddeningly slow. I do understand why folks walk instead of taking the boats. When we have gone that route, we can always get to our destination walking long before the boat has even completed half the route.

 

[Flaming Homer]

Thanks for everyone's input. As most of you have correctly guessed, availability is an issue. So far I can only confirm @ OKW and waitlisted at BWV (which I'm told would be next to impossible to clear as that's the time for Christmas lights). Thanks for the recommendations of other resorts, but as this is my first visit to a DVC property, I would really prefer to do it as cheaply as possible. Once hooked......

Thanks again.

 

[CarolMN]

Nothing wrong with OKW - you'll have a great time!

Best wishes -

 

[kathleena]

Both resorts are very nice first class resorts. Disney amenities are just a bus or car ride away from each. As BWV is my home resort I know it best so will offer a few observations. All OKW owners when I compare to OKW, please note - I am not reporting negatives, only differences.

1. Close to the kiddie pool - walking distance - as opposed to maybe having to take a bus or car or walk a longer distance to the HH.
2. Option of a walk over to BC Sandcastle Club for the kiddie should you want a night out or a dinner alone.
3. BW entertainment - kids really love the jugglers and card tricks etc. What a wonderful way to spend an hour in the evening. And if the weather is bad - they perform in the lobby.

Have faith with the waitlist - it has worked many times for many people!