Boardwalk vs. Beach Club

[buck0086]

Wow! Lots of great perspectives. I truly appreciate the information! It is really helpful!

Buck

 

[PoohsFan1]

I am so glad I found this thread. We are taking my ILs in January and are trying to decide on BCV or BWV. We have recently just returned from a very nice stay at BCV and loved everything about it (however we are bit more biased towards BCV since it is one of our favorite resorts), on the other hand, we would like to try something new so we are leaning towards going to BWV. My ILs have stressed on the fact that they want to spend most of their time at Epcot so one of these two resorts is the most natural answer. We are looking into reserving a BW view (2 studios) but not sure what our chances are going to be at our 7 month mark....crossing my fingers.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

We would never stay at boardwalk because we prefer a quiet low key vacation. I don't know how people sleep with all that noise. Beach club is laid back and relaxing!

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

We would never stay at boardwalk because we prefer a quiet low key vacation. I don't know how people sleep with all that noise. Beach club is laid back and relaxing!

 

[photobob]

We would never stay at boardwalk because we prefer a quiet low key vacation. I don't know how people sleep with all that noise. Beach club is laid back and relaxing!

Don't necessarily agree with the boardwalk comment. A few rooms on the boardwalk maybe noisy but the vast majority aren't. Agree totally with the laid-back atmosphere at the beach club assessment, I am here right now!

I've stayed at both and a like the BCV resort better, but I like the BWV resort area better.

 

[nickspace]

We like BWV because of the excellent clown.

 

[Corinne]

Our home resort is the VWL, which I love, but our very first stay on property many years ago was at the YC so we have always been fond of the Epcot resort area. IMO, the location is the best. We do prefer the BCV over BWV but we have had a difficult time getting a room there.

I personally do not care for the clown pool at the BWV. It is really crowded and noisy there. We only go over to get drinks and bring them to the quiet pool. This past week the quiet pool was pretty busy too! The food choices are very limited at the pool bar, we prefer Hurricane Hanna's at Stormalong Bay.

I do not care for having to go to the boardwalk for everything. Another con is the lack of a quick service place (the Boardwalk Bakery just does not "do it" for me). I prefer the Marketplace.

A pro for the BWV is the number of points for a standard view--many of the rooms at the BCV are standard views! Overall, I prefer the BCV, but I honestly don't think you can go wrong either way!

 

[jade1]

BCV has dedicated 2BR's, 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom is a huge plus for us.

 

[buck0086]

Is there much of a difference walking to DHS and Epcot from either BCV or BWV?

Buck

 

[LSchrow]

We would never stay at boardwalk because we prefer a quiet low key vacation. I don't know how people sleep with all that noise. Beach club is laid back and relaxing!

this is a perfect example of why everyone should try a resort themselves - we've stayed at both repeatedly, and find the BCVs waaaaay too noisy and chaotic (lobby, hallways, pool, etc) for us . at the BWVs, we always find the lobby, hallways, pool, and rooms to be significantly more quiet and relaxing. the street performers are out on the BW itself in the evening, but one has the option of going there to experience the excitement that goes along with the "noise", or hang out in the quiet and elegant lobby, the many nooks and crannies throughout the resort, etc (we initially loved the beautiful BCV solarium, but found a 1/2 hour of quiet reading impossible - it apparently became a great place to play hide and seek - where one sibling punches the other when found, and crying ensues, chases around the furniture, ball throwing, and almost any other "outdoor" (imho) game.

btw, we normally stay BW view, and find we still get a more restful sleep, than at the BCV (the only resort where we experienced yelling and screaming in the hallways, pounding on doors, etc, very early in the AM, and very late at night - every single trip there ). to us, BWV is more for those who are there to enjoy the resort itself, lounge around (quieter pools; the main pool has activities, but there are still lots of chairs and less noisy nooks), read a book and/or have quiet conversations (many spots for this; two of my favorites are the balcony off the back of the lobby, and the comfy nook under it), have a drink and make new friends (belle vue lounge), community hall, etc
try each, and decide though - what someone else prefers, might not be for you

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

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.

I'm with you on this! I always wonder the same thing. I loved SAB for my 2 and 5 yrold at the time. They could stand up, played on the sand and it is completely separated from the deeper water, unlike at Kidani village where it all flows into each other. I personally didnt care for BWV much, their pool is not ideal for little kids, and i thought their pool was rather boring. The rooms are very similar at BCV and BWV though.

 

[Corinne]

Is there much of a difference walking to DHS and Epcot from either BCV or BWV?

Buck

I know I read here all the time how it is closer to walk to Epcot from the BCV, and technically, I suppose that is true....you are closer to DHS if you are at the BWV too, but for all intents and purposes I think it is all the same.

 

[buck0086]

I also had some persons say that the walk from BWV to Epcot was lengthy. I thought it was short, perhaps just a little longer than the walk from BLT to MK? In any case, I love being able to walk to a park rather than rely on any other form of transportation!

 

[Sammie]

In reference to SAB and little kids. If you have kids young enough they will be happy to stay in the shallow play area, then it works.

If you have one that is not a swimmer and wants to play there and one that is a swimmer, it can be a hard pool to manage.

Also I find it someone alarming that the deepest part of this pool, 8 feet is right next to the shallow kids area.

Also the fact the the entrance to the main slide is across a very busy walkway, that has bikes and surreys on it, is not the best setup for young children.
Also that it is impossible to see the spiral staircase to the big slide and the bottom of the slide.

 

[sgtpet]

I enjoy both. Good comparison. You can't go wrong at either location.

 

[buck0086]

I also had some persons say that the walk from BWV to Epcot was lengthy. I thought it was short, perhaps just a little longer than the walk from BLT to MK? In any case, I love being able to walk to a park rather than rely on any other form of transportation!

Can anyone offer some thoughts on this? Thanks.

Buck

 

[jmpurdy]

10 minute walk to Epcot. Love being able to walk to 2 parks. Nothing like it. Stayed at BWV for the first time in January and we are hooked now on staying at this location. We are trying BCV in January 2012 for comparison. Longer walk to DHS, but so nice to walk alongside the water. Even with small children, we loved pushing them in a stroller and walking and not having to wait for a bus.

 

[jade1]

Can anyone offer some thoughts on this? Thanks.

Buck

BCV entrance to IGW EPCOT 500 yards
BWV boat launch to IGW 650 yards
BLT entrance to MK 830 yards

Furthest room at BCV to EPCOT 625 yards
Furthest room at BWV to EPCOT 1000 yards
Furthest room at BLT to MK 925 yards

Ave room at BCV to EPCOT 560 yards
Ave room at BWV to EPCOT 825 yards
Ave room at BLT to MK 877 yards

For comparison, EPCOT front entrance to the lagoon (past SE) is 630 yards. From the bus drop at EPCOT out to the lagoon is 975 yards.

 

[JWG]

BCV entrance to IGW EPCOT 500 yards
BWV boat launch to IGW 650 yards
BLT entrance to MK 830 yards

Furthest room at BCV to EPCOT 625 yards
Furthest room at BWV to EPCOT 1000 yards
Furthest room at BLT to MK 925 yards

Ave room at BCV to EPCOT 560 yards
Ave room at BWV to EPCOT 825 yards
Ave room at BLT to MK 877 yards

For comparison, EPCOT front entrance to the lagoon (past SE) is 630 yards. From the bus drop at EPCOT out to the lagoon is 975 yards.

So, what you're saying is, we all accept the long walk from the bus stop but the shorter walk from the hotel seems unbearable? Or am I just speaking for myself

I love the walk from BLT/CR to Magic Kingdom yet despise the walk from BWV lobby to end of the hall rooms. I'm off kilter.

 

[Candace]

BCV has dedicated 2BR's, 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom is a huge plus for us.

This is a huge plus for us also. I hate asking an adult to sleep on a pull-out sofa.