Boardwalk Villas questions

[Missy Bruin]

Hey everyone Missy and family here.We are heading home to the bwv on june 25th-july1st.My family and i are so exicted we can hardly wait.Well see you all soon.MISSY AND FAMILY.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We just returned tonight from our first stay at BWV. We really enjoyed the resort, although we missed Saratoga Springs! Be prepared for very long hallways! The quiet pools are wonderful and were warmer than the Luna pool. We really enjoyed having lunch on Sunday at the Big River Grille, it was one of our favorite dining experiences. We also enjoyed the character breakfast at Cape May. I agree with another poster, the stairwells can be a quicker way to get where you need to go. We even took it at night after a long day at the parks, up four flights, to save walking down that hallway! Also, be sure to keep track of the time after Fantasmic. The boat only runs for one hour after official park closing. Since Fantasmic starts at park closing, by the time we exited the amphitheater and then did some shopping in the park, the boat dock was closed. The walk is not bad but at 9:45 at night there was nobody on that path but us which made me a bit nervous. The walks between MGM and Epcot are a piece of cake. Also, allow plenty of time to make ADR's if you are using the buses, they stop at the Swan/Dolphin too and sometimes Yacht and Beach Club as well. It can take awhile! Enjoy your stay, we certainly did.

 

[Glorydaz]

ok, going to pack something lime green, just in case I get to meet any of you!! my daughter and I will be at BWV from 5/10 thru 5/13 and we will be having breakfast at Spoodles on Saturday at 8:45am......maybe we'll run into each other! we too are staying in a 1 bedroom.....first trip home as DVC'rs

Michelle

 

[beachblanket]

If you are planning on being at Epcot at opening (which you should do if you have any intent of riding Soaring more than once), do not walk or take the boat. The latter will have you entering Epcot through the International Gateway, which will put you at a serious disadvantage in getting to Soaring quickly right when the park opens.

Instead, spend $7-8 on a cab from BW to the main Epcot entrance. At opening, that will let you go in with the crowd that gets to walk straight to Soaring (try to be towards the front of said group; CMs control that area and don't let anyone run).

When you get to Soaring, do NOT walk right in with the crowd. Instead, STOP, go to the left and get fast passes for your party BEFORE entering. That way, you'll get to ride and already have in hand a "ticket" to your later second ride...heh heh heh

 

[DrTomorrow]

The BW street entertainers are particularly fun for the children; the magicians they have there always draw a crowd, and they often include the young ones in their tricks....

 

[disneycrazycatlady]

I am an early riser so while my family is still sleeping- I take a jog around the lagoon between 7-8AM every morning. It is so quiet and peaceful and there is usually a handful of people walking and/or jogging around the lake. Sometimes I stop at the BW bakery before returning to the villa and bring back breakfast.

On a rainy afternoon we spent a couple of hours playing boardgames in the lounge/bar between the villas and the inn. I think we played checkers if I remember correctly.

We also like to take a hidden mickey hunt in the BW lobby and in some of the restaurants on the Boardwalk.

If its not too hot- we like to rent a surry bike and take a family ride around the lagoon- going up and down the hills can be hard if you're not in shape- we laughed alot doing that.

 

[slp87]

If you are planning on being at Epcot at opening (which you should do if you have any intent of riding Soaring more than once), do not walk or take the boat. The latter will have you entering Epcot through the International Gateway, which will put you at a serious disadvantage in getting to Soaring quickly right when the park opens.

We entered from the IG on our trip in March and didn't feel like we were that far behind everyone else. We grabbed FP then waited in the stand by line. We only waited about 20 minutes and our FP time was about 10:00.

 

[crisi]

We entered from the IG on our trip in March and didn't feel like we were that far behind everyone else. We grabbed FP then waited in the stand by line. We only waited about 20 minutes and our FP time was about 10:00.

We did the same, only strolled right over to Test Track once we had our Soarin' fastpass. Because EVERYONE wanted Soarin first, the Test Track line was short. By the time we were off Test Track, we could grab a TT fastpass and hit Soarin. We didn't feel like we lost much time.

And we rode Soarin' twice (and could have easily ridden it three times with another Fastpass), without a problem during Food and Wine. Busier times of year may be different, and, of course, you have the current "its newest" problem.

 

[beachblanket]

We did the same, only strolled right over to Test Track once we had our Soarin' fastpass. Because EVERYONE wanted Soarin first, the Test Track line was short. By the time we were off Test Track, we could grab a TT fastpass and hit Soarin. We didn't feel like we lost much time.

And we rode Soarin' twice (and could have easily ridden it three times with another Fastpass), without a problem during Food and Wine. Busier times of year may be different, and, of course, you have the current "its newest" problem.

I sense you were both lucky. Anyone who tracks regular reports from recent Epcot guests who try entering from the International Gateway at park opening sees the following stated again and again:

- because the small CM staffing and minimal number of gates, if there is anything more that a handfull of guests at the International Gateway at opening (which outside slower seasons is usually the case), the entry line really slows down.

- Also, for those checking their watches, the International Gateway entry often opens "late" (a few minutes after official official time, which is counted down by the second at the main gate). If you are trying to get to 'Soarin right away, those lost minutes are critical.

- The walk from the International Gateway to the 'Soarin entrance is significantly longer than the walk from the latter to the front gate (check out the difference in the map below; 'Soarin entrance is inside the Land Pavilion.

Guests at the Epcot main gate at opening get to line up right in front of Space Ship Earth; those hundreds (or thousands if the park is busy) of visitors are almost twice as close to Soaring as those entering from the International Gateway; trust me, there's no contest as to who gets their first. While that's not critical during very slow seasons, it is at all others times - if you want to ride 'Soarin more than once.

 

[kellyf2626]

Last August, we lined up at the IG entrance prior to opening. They let you in the park, and then you line up at a rope once you are in. When they let the rope down, we booked it over to Soarin' - and we were surprised at how many people were already there!! We had to wait in line about 20min - but it wasn't that bad.

 

[slp87]

I totally agree that the walk is longer, but I was hearing that they weren't even starting bag checks until 9:00, so I was interested to see what happened on our trip during the heavy spring break crowds. We reached the IG at 8:45, went through the bag check and were let through the turnstiles. We were allowed to the top of the hill where it was roped off. The CM at the top let us enter the park at 9:00.

 

[beachblanket]

Last August, we lined up at the IG entrance prior to opening. They let you in the park, and then you line up at a rope once you are in. When they let the rope down, we booked it over to Soarin' - and we were surprised at how many people were already there!! We had to wait in line about 20min - but it wasn't that bad.

We did Epcot last August too (around the 23rd I think). At that time, WDW overall was on the lower side of what I'd describe as "moderately" busy (the calm before the "free dining storm' that started towards the end of the month.

Anyway, we were staying at BWV and did my "take a cab to the main Epcot entrance" strategy. At rope drop, we were near the front of the mob heading towards 'Soarin, whose pace again is contolled by CMs who are in essence leading the cow herd towards the attraction.

We got there with probably the first 150 people or so. I quickly grabbed our fast passes before we entered the queue, which was already at 25 minutes. By the time we exited the attraction, it was up to 50, and when we returned an hour and a half later (after doing other attractions) to use the fast passes, it was up to over 2 hours.

Again, exactly how important it is to be at 'Soarin right at opening if you want to "double dip" varies on any given day. However, I would generalize that if you want to do that during anything outside of very slow seasons, you are again better much better off doing the cab/main gate strategy.

To put this in larger context, the Epcot IG is a wonderful resource for BWV or BCV guests - when they are leaving Epcot, travelling during very slow seasons or only entering after 11am to just do the WS. However, if your park touring plan even comes close to what we all like to call "commando," don't enter Epcot through the IG!!!!