Boardwalk vs. Beach Club

[buck0086]

We are BLT members but just returned from a great stay at the Boardwalk Villas. We are wondering how BWV would compare to Beach Club? I'd love some personal feedback as well as any sites that might provide some of the basic information. Thanks.

Buck

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We have stayed at both BWV and BCV.

There are pros and cons to both.

Keep in mind that we are biased to BWV.

Here are just a few things to think about:

Boardwalk pros
Boardwalk views (awesome!)
Standard points -- with views as good or better than BCV views.
Fun Atmosphere
Pool better for small children
Villas are the main part of the resort, and not an afterthought.
Better access to boats if Disney walking is a hassle
Better access to walking to DHS, or good compromise to walk to both Epcot and DHS, if you like to walk.
Excellent pool slide.

Boardwalk cons
Must walk outside [possibly in rain] to reach restaurants
Some consider BW View rooms noisy.
Inconvenient parking
Scary clown feature at pool


Beachclub Villas Pros
Better restaurants
Awesome pool !
Closer walk to Epcot
Easy access to parking
Movies on the beach

Beachclub Villas Cons
SAB may not be best choice for young children
Views are not spectacular.
Walks can be a bit much from pool to room when you are dripping wet.
I personally don't care for the bankette style table set up in the villas.

As for style, these resorts are very similar, but do have some differences. I think that BCV have a certain SNow White feel to them that seems a little creepy to me.

Another thing about style...some people would consider the gilded glitz of BWI/BWV to be gaudy, while Y&BC has a much more understated "true" elegance.

As far as purchasing: we love the standard and boardwalk view points. We would probably choose standard Beach Club to Boardwalk - Preferred view. As others have said, getting a BCV room is harder to get than a BWV room. However, getting a standard or boardwalk view room is harder to get than a Beachclub room. If you can plan far enough ahead to get the std. or boardwalk views then consider purchasing at BWV. BCV is smaller than BWV, which makes it more expensive. IF swimming is your thing...by all means...go with BCV. My Sis & BIL & sons are swimmers. Views do nothing for them. If they purchase, it will be at BCV. Oh yeah, the dues are a little higher at BWV, but not much.

Personally, we like the view, but don't swim, and needed to save money up front. We also enjoy the atmosphere at the more gaudy Boardwalk.

 

[Plutofan]

From a pool stand point we prefer Beach club. Both resorts are in a great location.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Boardwalk pros
Boardwalk views (awesome!)
Standard points -- with views as good or better than BCV views.
Fun Atmosphere
Pool better for small children
Villas are the main part of the resort, and not an afterthought.
Better access to boats if Disney walking is a hassle
Better access to walking to DHS, or good compromise to walk to both Epcot and DHS, if you like to walk.
Excellent pool slide.

Boardwalk cons
Must walk outside [possibly in rain] to reach restaurants
Some consider BW View rooms noisy.
Inconvenient parking
Scary clown feature at pool

Ive only ever stayed at BWV and I couldnt have put it any better than this.

 

[Laurabearz]

I also agree with MA's summation... but must add BelleVue Room to the lists of Pro's for BWV and the chaos at Valet as a Con

HUGE BWV fan here and my family and I are staying at the BCV next week (after a long hiatus) so I'll have more thoughts on the differences when we get back. We found the pool to be overwhelming for our young kids (they were 1,3,5 at the time, they are now 12, 10 and 8 and I am the hero for booking 'the big pool')

But ya know... Honestly... over the next 20-30-40 years of vacationing you should try them all. Each has it's own charm and quirks

 

[scauzilloc1121]

The pool slide at BWV is the tackiest pool slide I have ever seen. Why do you want to watch children and young adults come sliding out of a clown mouth. It reminds me of a clown throwing up children! Plus the pool at BWV, I just found out, does not have fill up station for drinks, somewhat inconvenient for those of us who purchased the cups.

 

[brianbyard]

My family just got back from the Beach club for our first stay home and it was fantastic! We have aour DD and DS with us (ages 7 and 5) and they loved SAB. We really didn't find the pool to be too large as we just picked an area and stayed within it for a period. On one occasion we spent several hours at the slide area and some additional time near the "beach". Kids loved it. We also really enjoyed the quitet DVC Villa's pool late in the evenings.

On a couple of occaasions we wlaked over to the boardwalk and ate dinner. I personally can't stand the pool at the boardwalk but I would enjoy the boardwalk views.

I vote Beach Club, Great pools and close enough to the action of the boardwalk and epcot.

 

[rocketriter]

The rhythm of the two resorts is different. BCV has a more laid-back "barefoot" feel. BWV is more energized. Both are wonderful in their own way.

 

[mjc2003]

I never quite understand when people describe SAB as being not ideal for little kids. We have two little kids; what could be better than a large, sand-bottomed kid pool that is only about 2-2.5 feet deep with a sandbar in the middle for kids to build sandcastles?

Is it simply b/c there are other pools adjacent to the kid pool? Our kids stay in the kid pool and love it.

We pool hopped at BWV one day last year and left after 20 minutes. The two pools are incomparable. The only knock I can come up with for SAB is the distance to the big slide.


I also like the fact that BCV is much smaller, and much easier to navigate. There are pages of posts on these boards detailing the "horrors" of the lengthy walks to far away rooms at BWV; with two small kids, I don't want to walk any further than I have to since I am usually herding kids, pushing a stroller and sporting a backpack.

To each their own. We do like to walk over to the Boardwalk at night, and in general we are firmly in the camp that believes there is no better location than the Epcot resorts, and being within walking distance to two parks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

For me, it's strictly weather that causes me to book one over the other. I book BCV when I know I'll be swimming a lot, and BWV standard view for other vacations that I want to be near Epcot, like NYE!

I just don't "see" the difference in hustle and bustle. For instance, the standard view rooms that are by the pond have a beautiful view that relaxes me. True, don't get them all of the time, but still..I've gotten them many times. They come with the long walk!

Bobbi

 

[marie1981]

The pool slide at BWV is the tackiest pool slide I have ever seen. Why do you want to watch children and young adults come sliding out of a clown mouth. It reminds me of a clown throwing up children! Plus the pool at BWV, I just found out, does not have fill up station for drinks, somewhat inconvenient for those of us who purchased the cups.

Actually, bring your mug. You just show it at the bar of the pool and the bartender give you a glass of the soft drink of your choice.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I also agree with MA's summation... but must add BelleVue Room to the lists of Pro's for BWV and the chaos at Valet as a Con

HUGE BWV fan here and my family and I are staying at the BCV next week (after a long hiatus) so I'll have more thoughts on the differences when we get back. We found the pool to be overwhelming for our young kids (they were 1,3,5 at the time, they are now 12, 10 and 8 and I am the hero for booking 'the big pool')

But ya know... Honestly... over the next 20-30-40 years of vacationing you should try them all. Each has it's own charm and quirks

The Belle Vue Room is a little more cozy than the breezeway at BCV. There are other little nooks in both BCV and the actual BC...but overall, I like them both equally in that respect.

Oh...I forgot to mention...BWV has a community hall!!!!

and where is the fitness center at BCV? I have no idea. Is it in BC?
The fitness center and game room is very convenient at BWV.

 

[bobbiwoz]

..
and where is the fitness center at BCV? I have no idea. Is it in BC?
The fitness center and game room is very convenient at BWV.

The Fitness center is pretty close to Beaches and Cream! It's on that walkway that connects YC to the BC that runs along SAB.

 

[Sandisw]

We have stayed at both and I like each for their own reasons. We are doing BWV again this summer, but have a BW view this time and have a feeling that is going to push BWV over BCV.

We loved how easy it was to walk to Epcot from BCV and liked that we could go to the Marketplace in the AM to get coffee in our mugs really easy. At BWV, its not quite as convenient for this with having to go to the BW bakery.

We did stay in the summer, but DD had no interest in going to SAB and really preferred (and so did I) the quiet pool at BCV. Last time at BWV, we didn't try the pools (only there for 2 nights). This summer, we plan to and will have a better idea about that.

Either way, we love both for the ease of walking to parks. We prefer not to rely on transportation and staying at these allows us to easily get to two parks. We then split our stay with BLT so when there, we have the ease of walking to MK. That only leaves us having to drive to AK and DTD (if we plan to visit that).

Can't go wrong, IMO. We are considering adding on and are leaning toward BWV, simply because of the views that we can get. DH would enjoy those better than what is available at BCV.

 

[moredisneyplease]

The pool slide at BWV is the tackiest pool slide I have ever seen. Why do you want to watch children and young adults come sliding out of a clown mouth. It reminds me of a clown throwing up children! Plus the pool at BWV, I just found out, does not have fill up station for drinks, somewhat inconvenient for those of us who purchased the cups.

My kids (boys 3 and 6) absolutely LOVED the Kiester Coaster!!!!!!!! the roller coaster slide with the clown puking kids is what brings us back again and again. they love it so we go!

 

[ShuisFan584]

I've stayed at BWV and BCV and would easily stay at both again! In fact, I just bought 200 points at BWV a few months ago.

As far as pools go, BCV wins hands down for me. I love how big it is, and the fact that it has a sand bottom. But overall, I prefer BWV (which is why I bought there). I'm all about the view. The first resort I bought into was AKV since I love sitting outside watching the animals from my balcony. BWV is my second favorite to AKV because I love sitting out over the Boardwalk and just watching all the people. There's also much more to do at the Boardwalk as far as food and entertainment. But then again, if you stay at BCV, the Boardwalk is just a short walk away.

Either way, you can't go wrong with either resort.

 

[culli]

I never quite understand when people describe SAB as being not ideal for little kids. We have two little kids; what could be better than a large, sand-bottomed kid pool that is only about 2-2.5 feet deep with a sandbar in the middle for kids to build sandcastles?

Is it simply b/c there are other pools adjacent to the kid pool? Our kids stay in the kid pool and love it.

We pool hopped at BWV one day last year and left after 20 minutes. The two pools are incomparable. The only knock I can come up with for SAB is the distance to the big slide.


I also like the fact that BCV is much smaller, and much easier to navigate. There are pages of posts on these boards detailing the "horrors" of the lengthy walks to far away rooms at BWV; with two small kids, I don't want to walk any further than I have to since I am usually herding kids, pushing a stroller and sporting a backpack.

To each their own. We do like to walk over to the Boardwalk at night, and in general we are firmly in the camp that believes there is no better location than the Epcot resortrs, and being within walking distance to two parks.

We are huge BCV fans and are at BWV with my Mom at a BCV studio. We are a family of 6 with 4 kids age 1-8yrs. I tell you the BWV is really starting to get closer to BCV as my FAV.

I totally agree with you on why people think SAB is bad for young children. That is what makes it one of our favorites for the young kids to have zero depth and lots of sand to play in, plus the little pool in the pirate ship.

With that said while BCV is actually smaller if you combine it with the Yacht/Beach hotel trafic the area gets busy. We have a room overlooking the quiet pool and community hall. The pools at BWV I find refreshing, not having sand in all places on my body, easy clean up when you get out. The community hall is nice, kids love going there. Plus all resorts (just started last week) have the outdoor movies.

I really find the BWV pool much more relaxing then SAB. My kids love the clown slide and whoever designed the kids leaving the pool area walk across the main "walk way" to get to the pirate ship should be fired. That really worries me with the kids out of sight for that long and so much going on at that walkway. I woner if was the same person who designed BWV with only one set of elevators?

BTW why do they call them quiet pools? I don't see anywhere posted about that. I have heard some posts about people getting in arguments about that issue. So I checked around and saw nothing posted, just says no lifeguard kids under 12 supervised by an adult.

 

[Tinker74]

Actually, bring your mug. You just show it at the bar of the pool and the bartender give you a glass of the soft drink of your choice.

Wow really? Thats great to know!

 

[LSchrow]

We own at both BWV and BCV (added on at BCV sight unseen, thinking that it would be similar to our beloved BWV).
after multiple stays, we found that we just don't care for BCV tho: while a pretty resort, the pool gets way too croWded (our kids and our nephews love to swim, and could only wade in the mass of ppl), noisy lobby and common areas, and severely lacking views.

We felt the BWV had much more to offer (we intend to sell our BCV points and buy more BWV). definately try it for yourself though - everyone is different

 

[culli]

Wow really? Thats great to know!

yes they use the bar "gun" but besides soda they only have pomegranate lemonade for kids.