Boardwalk vs. Beach Club

[invalid_char]

For those of you who have actually stayed at both, could you compare and contrast (the more detail the better)? We have only stayed at the Beach Club and like it, but we visited the Boardwalk lobby and it was beautiful and we are fans of both Flying Fish and Spoodles. We're not sure whether we'd like Boardwalk more, less or the same because we've never stayed there (and there's so many little things that go into whether you like a place, much less whether you want to spend the next 40 years there!).

We really can't afford to go down before BCV becomes available, and given the extra expense of BCV, it would be nice to know that we're buying it because we really like it better than BWV. So those of you who have stayed at both could really help us out a lot by describing the different atmospheres of the place! (i.e. is one atmosphere more relaxed, more interesting, etc...)

Thanks so much everyone!

 

[janiejo]

We stayed at BC before buying at BWV. The location of Y & B and BW is what sold us on purchasing at BWV over OKW, which were the only two choices back then at WDW. I personally think both properties have the same feel. They are close enough to each other that while staying at BWV, we walk over for breakfast once every trip at Cape May Cafe at BC, head over to Beaches n Cream for ice cream (yes, the BW has ice cream, too), and hit the gift shops in both Y & B club. I would imagine the BC villas will be very similar to BWV. If they are different, they may be a bit smaller, as are WL. There will not be any GV at Beach Club, either. And, based on points schedule for WL, I would guess that BC villas will take more points per night as well. I guess it will depend on if you can buy a resale at BWV when you are ready. If not, then BC is where you will need to buy. It will be interesting to see how much the points at BC will go for. Maybe that will help you decide.

 

[invalid_char]

Thanks so much for responding. Did you feel that the pool at BC was better enough to influence your decision? SAB is a nice pool, but it can get so crowded sometimes, I'm not sure whether it's a positive or not at this point!

 

[Goofy Fan]

It all depends on personal taste. I have seen both sides to all the properties, but in the end it doesn't matter as long as YOU like it!

Personally having stayed at both BWV where I own and Yacht Club in the past, I would think that BCV would prove to be a fabulous resort! Boardwalk and Y&B have similar themes centered on seashore and water. Location isn't much of a factor between the two. I would think that they are similar enough to be of comparable taste and preference.

 

[caverill]

having stayed at BWV (where we own) and seeing the construction for BCV, I believe that the views will be better at BWV.

I am not sure that any of the rooms at BCV will be able to see the lake. This would be about the same at VWL, where you can't see the lake either.

I have to agree about the number of people at SAB. Adding another large quantity of rooms will make SAB crowded. Pool hopping isn't something that we do, but once BCV are open, I don't think we will be able to anyway.

Just my opinion!

 

[ez]

It was last year at this time we stayed at yacht club for the first time. I remember looking over at boardwalk thinking, what is that...it looks so cool. By fathers day we were dvc members w/ bw as our home resort. I remember thinking that we would probably do a lot of pool hopping to SAB, but you know, WE NEVER HAVE! We are fl. residents and have already taken several mini vacations and we have fallen in love with the bw pool. My personal opinion: if you are looking to buy into dvc and love the epcot resort area, keep your eye out for a bw resale while you wait for beach club to start selling. It really is basically all the same area, you might get a better deal, and with the 11 month window at bw, you can book standard view rooms (which are still very nice) and make your points stretch further. Just my .02, I know our dvc purchase is one of the best things we've ever done. Good luck to you.

 

[TroyWDW]

My comments are similar to janiejo's note. Our experience at the BC is what led us to purchase at the Boardwalk. We looked at the recent construction of the BCV and it looks like some of the rooms will be very close to Epcot Resorts Blvd.

We love staying at the BC and we prefer SAB. There may be some interesting views of Spaceship Earth from the 5th floor rooms in the BCV. I think the location of the BCV will be perceived to be less convenient.

The location of BWV certainly made it easier to go to the Boardwalk Bakery and the Sweet Shop. I'll let you decide if this is a good or bad thing.

We found the staff at the BC to be more fun (kind of hard to quantify). I hope this intangible carries over to the BCV.

Troy

 

[Joeblack]

IMHO, the Epcot resorts are raknked:
1) Yach Club / Boardwalk Inn & Villas
2) Beach Club
I find the first two to be incredibly posh and elegant, and the second one, although it is top notch, is a bit more informal for my taste.

SAB is a nice pool but I wouldn't put it as a deciding factor over purchasing at the boardwalk considering that at BWV you can:

-Get Standard rooms and save points
-Rent a GV if you feel like it
-Get a Boardwalk and lagoon view (which I am not sure you will be able tto at BCV)
-With patience you can get a good resale price whle God only knows how much the points at BCV will be.
-You can be a DVC member now and enjoy 1-2 years of membership instead of waiting. I am sure once you join DVC in any resort you'll regret not havoind done so sooner.
-It is a great time to purchase becasue of the ridiculously low interest rates. If you put the money away and waited for the BCV to sell, what your saved money would produce would be less than the selling price at BCV.

I have heard speculation (although I don't think it will be the case), that points per room will be higher at BCV than at BWV (Again, I don't think that will be the case).

Hope this helps you make up your mind.

Joe

 

[invalid_char]

Thanks for the additional feedback! I didn't realize that BCV would not have a GV. I don't understand why they would not want to give BCV owners that option. Does anyone know how easy it would be to get a BWV GV at the 7 month window?

 

[Lisa F]

I have fairly strong feelings about the two and I hope I don't offend any beach club fans out there by expressing them (standard disclaimer there).

My husband and I first stayed at the BW Inn in may of 1999 on our first trip after our honeymoon using an AP rate. We completely, utterly, totally fell in love with the Boardwalk and that's why we bought into DVC. We had a "standard view" room which essentially looked over the bus stop on the front of the building. Nothing too exciting but nothing horrible either. It was probably one of the worst views in the entire place.

This past new year's eve we couldn't get into the boardwalk so we paid cash for 3 nights at the beach club so we could walk to epoct. Again, standard view, only this time we paid nearly $400/night for what I thought was a SUBSTANDARD view. If you climbed over the rail on our balcony, you would be able to walk on the gravel topped roof of the building below. It was just awful.

My personal opinion is that the decor at the beach club could be a lot nicer for the price level of the hotel. I thought the furniture in the rooms was just awful (though you can't judge the BCV by the way the rooms are decorated at the BC itself) and the hallways were pretty bad also. The lobby to me just felt cavernous and I felt like I was going to get lost in it. I spent about 10 minutes trying to meet up with friends of ours that were there as we were walking around looking for each other and kept missing each other. I think the lobby is a bit more intimately scaled at the boardwalk because so many of the retail services are moved out onto the boardwalk.

The other thing I LOVE about the boardwalk is that it's a destination in itself. At the beach club all we ever did was go back to our room and pass out. Ever night I'd look longingly at the bustle of the boardwalk and wish I could be over on that side watching the show that was going on for a few mintues before going to bed.

Anyway, I'm sure some of my bias against the beach club is the fact that I felt extremely ripped off for the way my room looked and partially because I love the boardwalk so much.

Lisa

 

[ez]

It sometimes is very hard to book anything at boardwalk at the 7th month window!

 

[Terry Sheehan]

Well here is my 2 cents! We have stayed at the BC twice. Honey Moon and 5th aniversity. We own at OKW and have stayed at BWV twice on points and once for cash at BWI. We love them both! (as well as our home at OKW) Each is different. The BC is closest to Epcot, my favorite park. SAB is the best swiming complex to be found anywere on property! I think BC lacks dining choices. I also think the BCV may make the place very dense. The bottom line is buy now! BWV, OKW, WLV are all great properties. I would not wait for the BCV.

Terry

 

[invalid_char]

Wow! What a wide range of opinions... from there's really no difference to I can't stand one and love the other. This is great. Thank you!