Boardwalk vs Animal Kingdom

[Aubsmama]

We will be renting DVC points the first week of Dec 2018. There will be 7 of us going (my parents, my hubby, me and our 3 girls ages 24, 11 & 6). This will be our first time renting DVC. We are trying to decide between AK and BWV 2 bedroom villas. I love the look of AK but I love how close BWV is to EPCOT. Any suggestions?

 

[Marionnette]

We will be renting DVC points the first week of Dec 2018. There will be 7 of us going (my parents, my hubby, me and our 3 girls ages 24, 11 & 6). This will be our first time renting DVC. We are trying to decide between AK and BWV 2 bedroom villas. I love the look of AK but I love how close BWV is to EPCOT. Any suggestions?

A lot may depend on what's available when you try to book your rental. That's a very high-demand period for DVC villas.

You can't go wrong with either. AKV for the savanna views and the 3 bathrooms in the Kidani 2-BR villas. BWV for the easy access to Epcot and HS, plus the great variety of dining options all within walking distance. If you plan to go thru one of the rental agencies, then I would go with AKV just because it's a larger resort and your chances of success are greater. But if you are going to start looking for an owner with points to use for a private rental, I think that I would favor the BWV rental.

 

[hakepb]

The 1st week of December is typically the highest demand week of the year for DVC points bookings, so make sure you are lining up booking exactly 11 months out. Kidani would probably be the most available of the 2 choices.

Kidani would have a better equipped 2BR with its 3 full bathrooms (vs 2 in BWV or Jambo) and the sleeper chair in the living room is an extra bed that may may help sleeping arrangements.

BWV has an obvious proximity advantage to Epcot and DHS. AKV is an amazing experience if you plan to spend time enjoying the resort, especially if your family loves watching the animals.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm going to point this out on the off chance that OP is not aware -
Animal Kingdom has villas in 2 different buildings.
The 2 BR in Kidani Village has 3 bathrooms.
The 2 BR in Jambo House has 2 bathrooms.
You book one or the other.
Savanna View versus Standard View is also a booking category, and determines the number of points required.

I assume OP is aware of the bed/sofa bed/sleep chair count.

The real issue is: how much time do members of your group spend sitting on the balcony or looking out the window?

For me it's very little, so I prefer Boardwalk for its convenient location.

I love watching animals and can spend an hour just watching the gorillas over at the Animal Kingdom theme park - but the two times I stayed at Jambo House, I spent a total of about 5 minutes looking out the window.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm going to point this out on the off chance that OP is not aware -
Animal Kingdom has villas in 2 different buildings.
The 2 BR in Kidani Village has 3 bathrooms.
The 2 BR in Jambo House has 2 bathrooms.
You book one or the other.
Savanna View versus Standard View is also a booking category, and determines the number of points required.

I assume OP is aware of the bed/sofa bed/sleep chair count.

The real issue is: how much time do members of your group spend sitting on the balcony or looking out the window?

For me it's very little, so I prefer Boardwalk for its convenient location.

I love watching animals and can spend an hour just watching the gorillas over at the Animal Kingdom theme park - but the two times I stayed at Jambo House, I spent a total of about 5 minutes looking out the window.

I agree with this. I've stayed at both and while AKV is beautiful and unique, I really prefer the location of BWV (I enjoy the theme, there, too!). No amount of animals walking by my room will make up for the convenience of BWV and the amount of amenities and restaurants within walking distance of the resort. We've stayed at AKV/AKL twice, but both of those were for short stays and the focus of the trip was to enjoy the resort and focus on AK/AKL activities. BWV, IMHO, is much better located for heavier park touring. Certainly, if you can't get BWV, AKV is a great resort and I wouldn't hesitate staying there. It just wouldn't be my first choice for a longer, park-heavy vacation.

 

[happymommy]

I agree also. I've stayed at the AKL 3 times, and the AKV (Kidani) once. Multiple stays at the Boardwalk Inn as well as villas.

Although the AKL is beautiful, I don't like the location. Also I didn't care for the long walk to the Mara from Kidani. The Boardwalk's location is so much better.

 

[Aubsmama]

Thank you all! I didn't realize that week was the most requested for DVC. That's a little scary. Would the last week in November be better?

Hopefully we can book something. I was leaning towards AKL but now BWV is looking better. The location would be really hard to beat.

 

[ToddlerMom311]

Thank you all! I didn't realize that week was the most requested for DVC. That's a little scary. Would the last week in November be better?

Hopefully we can book something. I was leaning towards AKL but now BWV is looking better. The location would be really hard to beat.

We are going the last week of November this year on rented DVC points. We are staying at the Boardwalk 2BR garden/pool view. We did not book until February and there was still availability.

I think you are right on track to be thinking about it now if you plan on going through a broker. I had tried to go through a dvc rental broker in late January, but there was a long waitlist to find an owner with points. I got nervous about availability and found an owner on here and so far it's been a great experience. I was also debating between BWV and AKL. I'm happy with my decision, especially with the holiday festivities at Epcot and HS that time of year.

As to when to go, I think that whole time period in general is heavy DVC so a week may not make too much of a difference. However, keep in mind that the first week of December is generally "Pop Warner week" where the cheerleaders will be there in droves.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I have never stayed st AKL, but am a DVC owner at BWV. I can attest that the location of the BW is fantastic. You can walk to two parks and you have your own buses to AK and MK. With all the holiday festivities going on at Epcot, it is great to be located within walking distance. Personally, I think it is the best location to stay.

 

[Deb & Bill]

All two bedroom villas at BWV are lockoffs. Meaning a combination of a studio (one queen bed, one double sleeper sofa and a bunk sized murphy bed) and a one bedroom (one king bed, one queen sleeper sofa). The studio portion will also have a kitchenette. Plus a door to the hallway (and a set of doors between the two units that you can leave open or close them).

The last week of November will not be any easier than the first week of December. You would be better off renting directly from a BWV owner than going through a broker.

And with Kidani Village, you can get both a lockoff or a dedicated (real two bedroom villa, with one king bed, one queen sleeper sofa, twin sized sleeper chair, two queen beds) with the extra full bathroom near the entrance to the unit.

 

[Aubsmama]

We are going the last week of November this year on rented DVC points. We are staying at the Boardwalk 2BR garden/pool view. We did not book until February and there was still availability.

I think you are right on track to be thinking about it now if you plan on going through a broker. I had tried to go through a dvc rental broker in late January, but there was a long waitlist to find an owner with points. I got nervous about availability and found an owner on here and so far it's been a great experience. I was also debating between BWV and AKL. I'm happy with my decision, especially with the holiday festivities at Epcot and HS that time of year.

As to when to go, I think that whole time period in general is heavy DVC so a week may not make too much of a difference. However, keep in mind that the first week of December is generally "Pop Warner week" where the cheerleaders will be there in droves.

I'm really nervous about renting DVC points from an individual which is why I think we will go through a broker but like you said, there will be a long waiting list. Do all DVC properties have a long waiting list or mainly AKL and DBV because they are the least expensive?

 

[ToddlerMom311]

I'm really nervous about renting DVC points from an individual which is why I think we will go through a broker but like you said, there will be a long waiting list. Do all DVC properties have a long waiting list or mainly AKL and DBV because they are the least expensive?

AKL had a significant waitlist - I think there were 15-20 people ahead of me waiting for an owner. BWV had about 5 people waiting, but the availability there is more limited.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'm with everyone else regarding the convenience of Boardwalk. That location might be the best of any of the resorts on Disney property. We rented a 2 bedroom there last December and absolutely loved it! When we are at other resorts, we are at the bus stop an hour before rope drop just to make sure we get to the park on time. At Boardwalk, we left 15 minutes before rope drop at Epcot and were still in the very first boat for FEA. International Gateway is a huge game changer in getting in Epcot. It is so much calmer and low key, plus we have always been let in a couple of minutes before the main gate. Can't argue with that! The walk to DHS is absolutely gorgeous, as well, and very quick. For that one, we left 20 minutes before rope drop and were still there in plenty of time. It was nice to walk down to the boardwalk for some evening entertainment and then be able to just head back to our room rather than get a taxi to our resort or a bus to Disney Springs and then a bus back to another resort. We loved it so much we are hoping to rent points and stay there again in the fall of '18. Highly recommend Boardwalk.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm really nervous about renting DVC points from an individual which is why I think we will go through a broker but like you said, there will be a long waiting list. Do all DVC properties have a long waiting list or mainly AKL and DBV because they are the least expensive?

The problem isn't just that AKV and BWV are high-demand for rentals. BWV is high-demand - period. You're not just competing with other potential renters for those villas. You're also competing against owners who want to use their points for their own stays. And as an owner, they have a bit of an edge over a renter because the agency has to:

A. Have someone who owns at that resort already on their list when your booking window opens.
B. Do a search to see if there's availability for your dates.
C. Contact the owner(s) to see if they can book the stay.
D. Hear back from the owner(s) before releasing your info. to one of them to make the reservation.
E. Hope that availability has not disappeared in the interim​

While the agency is fiddling around with all of that, owners who want to book for themselves are online at 8 AM 11 months in advance, booking those high-demand villas (or they began "walking" their reservation a few weeks earlier). In the case of AKV, where there there are a larger number of villas, your chances of success are increased because there are more units and the potential for more owners with points they want to use for a rental.

BTW, don't even budget for an AKV Value villa. There are not a lot of them and they go very quickly. The same goes for BWV Standard View villas.

There's no harm in putting your request for both at an agency. I believe that they allow up to 3 preferences in your request.

 

[BigredNole]

I have been to both and love them for different reasons. There are not too many places you can stay and have wild animals right at the resort. Unless able to book a very specific Savannah view, I would go with the least expensive option at AKL. There are so many activities and things to see at AKL. The one thing that will be a big difference is the travel times. MK is quite a bit away. BWV's advantage is location. Nothing is far from this resort. Walk to Epcot and DHS. There is so much to see and do on the Boardwalk at night. The best thing about the resorts is that you can visit any of them without staying.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

For what it's worth, we went through David's Vacation Rental last year. We sent in a request on February 8 for a 2 bedroom at Boardwalk Villas starting on December 6. We secured the reservation on February 9. As long as you book far enough in advance, I don't think it should be too much of a problem. Maybe be willing to have a Boardwalk Preferred as well as Boardwalk Standard. As I understand, the standards are harder to come by. The preferred room we had was great, though, with a gorgeous view of the pool and Tower of Terror.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For what it's worth, we went through David's Vacation Rental last year. We sent in a request on February 8 for a 2 bedroom at Boardwalk Villas starting on December 6. We secured the reservation on February 9. As long as you book far enough in advance, I don't think it should be too much of a problem. Maybe be willing to have a Boardwalk Preferred as well as Boardwalk Standard. As I understand, the standards are harder to come by. The preferred room we had was great, though, with a gorgeous view of the pool and Tower of Terror.

It just depends on whether David has BWV owners wanting to rent points or not. Otherwise you wait until seven months out when all points are equal and hope for the best. Especially for early Dec. In your case, he must have had a BWV owner ready to rent out points.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

It just depends on whether David has BWV owners wanting to rent points or not. Otherwise you wait until seven months out when all points are equal and hope for the best. Especially for early Dec. In your case, he must have had a BWV owner ready to rent out points.

We were also able to get Beach Club Villas for just short of 2 weeks this coming January/February. So excited for that stay!

OP, I honestly don't think it is going to be terribly difficult to get a BWV 2 bedroom then, but maybe also consider having a couple of other choice just in case. Obviously AKV might be one you consider and, if you love the location of Boardwalk, maybe consider Beach Club Villas.

 

[Marionnette]

We were also able to get Beach Club Villas for just short of 2 weeks this coming January/February. So excited for that stay!

OP, I honestly don't think it is going to be terribly difficult to get a BWV 2 bedroom then, but maybe also consider having a couple of other choice just in case. Obviously AKV might be one you consider and, if you love the location of Boardwalk, maybe consider Beach Club Villas.

TBH, I think a BWV 2-BR is harder to get for the first week of December than you realize. All BWV 2-BR villas are lock-offs, meaning that they are a combination of a 1-BR and a studio with a connecting door. Whenever a studio is booked, it takes a 2-BR villa out of inventory and leaves a 1-BR in its place. Studios are very popular at BWV with Standard View being the most frequently requested due to their low point requirement. The BW View is the second most-popular because of, well, the view! The G/P view will always be the very last to book up because they take the same number of points as the BW View but don't have the same wow factor.

There's a huge difference between booking BCV in Jan./Feb (a relatively low-demand DVC period) and trying to get a BWV villa for the high-demand period of early December. As @Deb & Bill pointed out, you were fortunate that David's had a BWV owner already lined up when you submitted your request. That's not always the case and a lot of potential renters come away with nothing for that time period because of a lack of either DVC owners or poor availability. That's not to discourage the OP from trying. It's just to point out that the chances of success are greater at one of the larger DVC resorts (OKW, SSR, AKV).

 

[hakepb]

We were also able to get Beach Club Villas for just short of 2 weeks this coming January/February. So excited for that stay!

OP, I honestly don't think it is going to be terribly difficult to get a BWV 2 bedroom then, but maybe also consider having a couple of other choice just in case. Obviously AKV might be one you consider and, if you love the location of Boardwalk, maybe consider Beach Club Villas.

Jan/feb is completely different than Nov/Dec for DVC bookings.
Look at some actual numbers for BWV studios (where a 2BR is a studio+ 1BR)

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...tudios-some-1-bedrooms-prepared-2015.3419112/

At 7 months out, there were no studios in Nov and Dec. vs
Jan/Feb that still had some 7 month availability.