Boardwalk vs Boulder Ridge

[Bucketfoot]

As we get closer to retirement (almost certainly by the end of 2026) and thinking we may do longer or more frequent WDW trips, I am getting the itch to potentially add another resort. We currently own VGF & AKV at WDW (as well as VDH at DL).

Our first DVC stay was at Boardwalk, which we loved. Especially the location. It also has the benefit of being in a separate area than our other two. While the food options is a negative, being so close to EPCOT pretty much negates that for me. I'm a walker and both my wife and older daughter use ECVs, so we didn't just walk to EPCOT, we walked to Hollywood Studios as well.

For Boulder Ridge the main appeal is that it is something completely different and my wife loves the idea of coming in early December and seeing the Christmas decorations. We've never seen them at BRV but have heard nothing but wonderful things about them. It would be another MK resort, but not another monorail resort and very different from VGF. The lack of being able to walk to any park is a negative here, but then we have that same negative at AKV and it is still our favorite resort (I get my walking in when we go between Kidani and Jambo).

Both are 2042 resorts and resale prices seem to be fairly comparable. So no real advantage either way there. The last thing I will add is that we are NOT studio people. Even if it is just my wife and I we will go with a 1-bedroom and for most trips it will be the family so a 2-bedroom. Again strictly from what I have read, I believe this is something that leans in the favor of BRV.

Would love any feedback from those that own or have experience with both.

 

[Pens Fan]

I'm probably not going to be any help, but I'll try. While we do not own at Boulder Ridge, we do own several contracts at Copper Creek and love it. However, prior to buying into DVC we always stayed in the Crescent Lake area as you simply cannot beat the quick and easy access to two parks. There also are so many great food options spread out among Epcot and the three Disney resorts as well as the Swan and Dolphin. Every time we were in that area we would become very nostalgic about staying there, so in the last year we decided to snap up a Boardwalk contract as well - zero regrets (well, maybe that we didn't do it sooner)!

That said, if you want Christmas at the Wilderness Lodge (it's fantastic) you pretty much have to own there - either Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek. We love that there are quality food options there as well without needing ADR's. Geyser Point is fantastic as is Territory Lounge for small bites that can easily make a meal. There is also a boat that runs between the Lodge, Fort Wilderness and the Contemporary starting at 3 PM for even more options. We also adore the boat ride over to MK - it's so relaxing. If you ever catch it during the fireworks it's magical. Though honestly, I'd recommend purchasing Copper Creek over Boulder Ridge just for the longer expiration, though it will be slightly more costly. The rooms are a bit smaller though, as they are a hotel conversion vs dedicated DVC build. Still, we find the 1 and 2 BR's plenty spacious for us.

Have you considered looking for smaller contracts and getting one at each resort? Then you could alternate years, utilizing banking and borrowing.

Yeah, sorry I knew I wouldn't be any help. They are both fantastic options - especially if you book 1 or 2 BR's. That's us as well and we rarely have any issues booking what we want at 11 months. Though the 2 BR's at Boardwalk can be problematic as they are all lock offs - especially if you want standard or Boardwalk view.

Good luck!!

 

[Wedgeout]

I’m going to suggest BWV 100%. By owning VGF, when staying there, can easily take a day trip visit to Wilderness Lodge (or any resort in that MK area). Don’t need a bed there to enjoy the many offerings and ambiance.

BWV is perfect as the add on. Tucked in midpoint to Hollywood Studios & EPCOT for walking option. Having your bedroom a short distance from the park gates, when enjoying all those festivals is priceless. (Beach Club owner).

 

[zackiedawg]

I'm sure there's going to seem like obvious bias here, since Boardwalk is my home resort...I also love staying at Boulder Ridge - so nothing negative to say about either. I would tend to agree on Boardwalk being probably the best pick for your situation as an add-on - for the main reason you mention - it gives you an option of something different than your MK resort area.

I bought Boardwalk for the same reasons you'd consider it for an add-on - ability to walk into Epcot and DHS. That was key for me. But though the restaurant choices used to be better at Boardwalk than today, it's still not terrible - in fact, it's pretty solid for table-service options. It's the quick-serve and casual options that are lacking. As you mention, having walk-in access to Epcot gives you essentially ALL of Epcot's restaurants as part of your local area options, not to mention all of Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan & Dolphin's restaurants that are all close and easily walkable...and throw in Riviera and Caribbean Beach options too, which are just a short gondola ride away.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We own at both, but based on what you have, I would suggest BWV. By owning there you would at least have a shot at getting the lesser point cost resort view. We get one bedrooms primarily, and the point savings for what used to be called standard view is significant.

 

[jekjones1558]

My DH and I bought BWV over 25 years ago. After he developed health problems, he spent many years at WDW on his scooter and he loved being able to scoot to Epcot and Studios, while I loved walking. We never stayed in studios, always one bedrooms. We loved watching MK fireworks in the distance and high fireworks at Epcot from our BW view balcony, and, as bobbiwoz said, the resort view rooms at BWV are some of the biggest bargains in DVC.
Christmas at Boulder Ridge is special and the 11 month advantage is needed so you have a tough choice. Good luck!

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you're not convinced yet, I'll give you one more reason to choose BWV-the Skyliner! If you want a change of scenery, take a trip over to Riviera, Caribbean Beach, or Pop/AoA. And do you have a park hopper? If so, there's nothing like popping in to Epcot for a meal at Les Halles, or to pick up pastries to bring back to your room and enjoy! And if you have a park hopper, you can still go to another park.

 

[drusba]

Have owned BWV since the 1990s. It has always been my favorite resort. It has ideal location to two parks and many restaurants to go to at the parks, BWV, BCV, Yacht Club, and Swan/Dolphin, and you can even take that Skyliner trip from Epcot to Riviera. The view from boardwalk view rooms is one of the best on-site views from any rooms. It is an excellent resort ...

BUT

I advise against anyone purchasing BWV these days because it has a serious availability problem. All 2BRs are lock-offs, so those disappear due to studio reservations. Resort view (formerly standard view) studios (and 2BRs) fill within moments after 8 a.m. eastern at 11-months out throughout the year. Boardwalk studios (and 2BRs) do the same throughout the high demand fall season that runs from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan, and they disappear a number of random times during the rest of the year. Even pool/garden view studios can book full right at 8 a.m. at 11-months out during very high demand times in the Fall season such as first two weeks of Dec, Christmas week particularly for any time around NYE, the Tues to Fri of Thanksgiving week, and the race weekends in Nov and Jan. Moreover, even BWV resort and boardwalk view 1BRs can sometimes disappear at 11-months out during those very high demand times during the fall season. As some have reported, you can possibly get the hard to get rooms if you wait until walkers pass by or for other cancellations, and repeatedly stalk looking for openings. My response to that is that getting a room via stalking is not certain, and does one really want to spend all that money buying points so you can spend half your life stalking for reservations?

Also, there is the refurb that is supposed to occur every 7-years, which lowers the availability of rooms while the refurb is going on. The last BWV refurb started late Sep 2023 and ended June 2024. For almost all of that time both the standard (now resort) view and boardwalk view studios (and 2BRs) that were available disappeared right at 8 a.m. at 11-months out, AND the pool/garden view studios (and 2BRs) did the same about 50% of that time. Moreover, since the completion of that refurb, BWV has had a continuing availability problem that is somewhat worse than what it was before that refurb, mainly the result of many owners having more banked points to use than they would normally have because they could not get BWV reservations during that refurb period. The next major refurb will likely be in 2030.

BRV would be the better choice today. Rooms are of comparable size to BWV. WL is an impressive resort with a super-impressive lobby, expecially during the Christmas decoration season from about mid-Nov to first part of Jan. Its only 11-month issue is that sometimes (not even every year) studios fill for some of the days in those very high DVC demand times in the fall season, such as days during the highest three DVC demand weeks of the year -- first two weeks of Dec and Christmas week. But even then it has dedicated 2BRs that remain open for some time after the 11-month window opens.

 

[Mouseforward]

dedicated 2BRs that remain open for some time after the 11-month window opens.

This is key, BW is my #1 even over BC and RIV but availability of 2 br is just miserable in the last quarter of the year. Resorts like BR with dedicated 2br give you much better chances of getting that room based on your described situation.