Buy BWV or BCV

[AstroBlasters]

We recently went through the same BCV vs. BWV exercise. We have stayed in both (fairly recently) and it was a tough decision for us. We chose Beach Club.

The specific stay we wanted points for is a 1BR for a few nights around NYE. Neither was available at 7m this year (well...BWV G/P was technically possible with walking+overborrowing, but it might as well have been unobtainable), so 7m availability was kind of moot for us.

Here's our breakdown of thinking:

General moot points (for us)

• 7m availability, see above
• Points charts
  • BWV G/P & BW views and BCV are close enough to make no meaningful difference
  • BWV SV is definitely lower, though we'd probably elect for BoardWalk View at BWV
• Dues
  • They're really similar currently, and while future dues are hard to predict, I expect BWV to be slightly lower longterm as BWV might be able to get away with avoiding a future hard goods refurb
• The pools
  • SAB is very cool, but we're simply not pool people
• The walk to DHS
  • We're not going to walk to DHS

Beach Club Advantages (for us)

• Slightly shorter walk from EPCOT back to the room
  • See amusing-to-me story below about this*
• Slightly shorter walk to the Skyliner (which we might take to DHS, or to Topolino's)
• Typically shorter walk to the parking lot where we park (we drive to most places at WDW)
• Slight preference for the current in-room theming
  • Potential upside with a hard goods refurb in 6-7 years
• Preference for BCV 1BR layout vs. BWV 1BR layout
  • BCV bedroom door arrangement in a 1BR is much, much better
    • This is more of a BWV con, but I'm trying to avoid a list of negatives, but that BWV 1BR bedroom door is so annoying
  • Preference for the BCV 1BR bathroom layout
• Preference for BCV's quick service options
  • BWV's Pizza Window and Bakery are fine, but menus are limited
• Easier to find a contract in the size range we wanted (140-150pts)
• I think we just prefer being at Beach Club a little bit more

BoardWalk Advantages (for us)

• The views
  • We really like BoardWalk view, find it way better than any BCV view (most of which would qualify as Standard View, imo)
    • On the other hand, losing the BW view booking race at 11m and having to book G/P was a real risk for us as it was only available for our stay this year via walking at 11m
      • G/P might be our least favorite view in all of DVC as the odds of a decent-to-us view are low and the points are exactly the same as the vastly preferred-to-us BW
  • Standard View available if we ever want to save on points that trip, or wanted to risk it for a -123 room
• Grand Villas exist
  • We knew we were going to buy slightly too many points for our needs, as we wouldn't need the full points allotment every year depending on how the calendar fell...and it might have been possible to splurge on a BWV GV once every few years
• Slightly prefer the exterior theming
• Upfront cost is slightly lower (typically)

As others have pointed out, if you're a family of six then you should be seeking a 2BR. For 2BR specifically, BWV has a distinct disadvantage: all BWV 2BR are lock-offs, so you're competing with (often very aggressive) Studio-seekers in addition to 2BR-seekers for booking. At some times of year it's unlikely you'll have success booking Standard View or even BoardWalk View without ramping up your own aggressiveness.

I would lean to BCV for this reason alone, if I were in your shoes.


* During a recent stay we were staying at another resort but had parked at Beach Club for the day (I won't answer how) and finished our day at EPCOT to watch fireworks. As we were walking back past the Skyliner queue we got to the 'shortcut' gate at Beach Club and politely asked if we could get to the gate.

A grumpy gentlemen didn't understand our request and thought we were asking to cut the line, "line starts way back there!" while he pointed to a line that extended to the pathway to Beach Club's lobby.

Someone in his group leaned over to him and said, "I think they're staying here" and gestured at the gate.

"OH! ...oh..." as, I'm guessing, he realized that he had a long queue ahead of him just to take a Skyliner while thinking we were already "home".

They REALLY need to increase BW view and decrease P/GV. Ridiculous that they are the same.

But, you didn’t mention that Beach Club also costs a fair amount more!

On a 150pt or larger contract it could be a $30pp swing or $4500.

 

[CarolynFH]

They REALLY need to increase BW view and decrease P/GV. Ridiculous that they are the same.

Yes, it’s really too bad that when they created the BWV points chart, they didn’t realize that BW view would be so highly desired that guests would have meltdowns at the front desk when they didn’t get their request that the Preferred view they booked have a BW view. It was several years before they split Preferred into P/G and BW view, and I guess they didn’t want to do the math necessary to raise the points cost for relatively few BW view (the seven GV take up a lot of that part of the resort) and lower the P/G view while keeping total points the same.

 

[ehh]

They REALLY need to increase BW view and decrease P/GV. Ridiculous that they are the same.

But, you didn’t mention that Beach Club also costs a fair amount more!

On a 150pt or larger contract it could be a $30pp swing or $4500.

I didn't mention that because that wasn't my experience! When we were shopping, the asking price difference was just $5-15/pt more for BCV.

DVC Resale Market's blog post of average prices has a ~$15/pt (± $3) difference for the last year or so: https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/dvc-resale-average-sales-prices-for-may-2024/

In the latest ROFR thread here it looks like someone did get a BWV contract comparable to my BCV contract at $30/pt less than what I paid--but I chose not to negotiate at all. And that BWV contract appears anomalously low.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I didn't mention that because that wasn't my experience! When we were shopping, the asking price difference was just $5-15/pt more for BCV.

DVC Resale Market's blog post of average prices has a ~$15/pt (± $3) difference for the last year or so: https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/dvc-resale-average-sales-prices-for-may-2024/

In the latest ROFR thread here it looks like someone did get a BWV contract comparable to my BCV contract at $30/pt less than what I paid--but I chose not to negotiate at all. And that BWV contract appears anomalously low.

Even at $15pp on 150 points that would be a $2250 difference on the upfront buy in…. on 300 points a $4500 difference….so not an insignificant amount.

Although I feel that Boardwalk can be had at more of a deal at the larger contract sizes than Beach Club. Beach Club owners seem to think their contracts are dipped in gold.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

The walk to the room seems long and boring, with the exception of Minnie talking in the elevator.

When you're by yourself late at night coming back to room that voice can be super creepy! Mickey too!

What...just me?

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

When you're by yourself late at night coming back to room that voice can be super creepy! Mickey too!

What...just me?

We usually stay on our BCV points at the holidays so I think I’m too delirious from the piped in gingerbread scents to notice then…but we managed to clear a waitlist for a late winter MM trip and I was so startled, like I heard a (very cheerful) ghost.

A few other points that are hopefully actually helpful to the OP— BCV has no magical view rooms, it’s woods at best, as far as I know. BWV seems to have more/better dining options from 9-11pm, based on our last few trips. We love the little ice cream to go window at BCV’s Beaches & Cream—but the waits there can be long on a nice day. We also love that BCV has its own cozy lobby/rec room areas that are charming but usually empty.

I would not buy BWV unless at least one of the following three things are true:
- you are booking a 1 bedroom
- you don’t mind pool/garden view point charts
- you are a masochist who is willing to invest time/energy/stress in booking (often walking) a room because you’ll be competing with commercial renters for standard and boardwalk view studios/2BR, and flexible or prepared for occasional disappointments.

I currently would like more Crescent Lake points, but can’t justify paying $20-30 more per point for BCV, and I don’t want to split between BCV and BWV because then it’s hard to actually book larger rooms with longer stays.

I don’t think anybody should buy at either property if they don’t plan to own it to $0 in 2042, but I think BWV might be more susceptible to price swings (drops) if DVC ever cracks down on commercial renting, because I suspect BWV is disproportionately owned by for-profit renters (because the value proposition is so good if you can buy it around $100!).

 

[TheDailyMoo]

I don’t think anybody should buy at either property if they don’t plan to own it to $0 in 2042

That's us for sure! I'm one of the few that likes the idea of an exit strategy in 2042. Who knows where we'll be in life by then. Can always buy more points to add to my 2057 AKV. Or maybe that'll be enough Disney by then. Or maybe we'll only go enough to justify paying cash prices. Or they'll have Ai build a theme park in the chips they implant in our brains...who knows!

 

[AstroBlasters]

That's us for sure! I'm one of the few that likes the idea of an exit strategy in 2042. Who knows where we'll be in life by then. Can always buy more points to add to my 2057 AKV. Or maybe that'll be enough Disney by then. Or maybe we'll only go enough to justify paying cash prices. Or they'll have Ai build a theme park in the chips they implant in our brains...who knows!

That’s why a little 55pt BWV contract was perfect. 165pts every 3 years gets us a 2BD for 3 nights when we still have that “Yeah! We’re on vacation! Gumption” and then we head on over to VGF Villas for the rest of the trip for some peace and quiet. (maybe pop over to POLYT for some night life!)

 

[intamin]

That’s why a little 55pt BWV contract was perfect. 165pts every 3 years gets us a 2BD for 3 nights when we still have that “Yeah! We’re on vacation! Gumption” and then we head on over to VGF Villas for the rest of the trip for some peace and quiet. (maybe pop over to POLYT for some night life!)

The nightlife at Poly:



Pretty sure there’s a tiki torch somewhere in there

 

[TheDailyMoo]

The nightlife at Poly:

View attachment 869332

Pretty sure there’s a tiki torch somewhere in there

The funny thing is Poly is actually super quiet feeling when you're on the DVC side. I would sit on my balcony in Pago Pago and barely see anyone walk by. It's obviously only when you get to the Great Ceremonial house and the Lava pool that things get crazy.

 

[Chili327]

The funny thing is Poly is actually super quiet feeling when you're on the DVC side. I would sit on my balcony in Pago Pago and barely see anyone walk by. It's obviously only when you get to the Great Ceremonial house and the Lava pool that things get crazy.

Good to know.!!

 

[AstroBlasters]

Good to know.!!

After 3 nights at AbracadaBAR, I think a few nights without people will be OK….

 

[TheDailyMoo]

After 3 nights at AbracadaBAR, I think a few nights without people will be OK….

I adore Abracadabar. In fact I even often think about that restroom with the great themed hallway leading to it!

 

[matt and beth]

The nightlife at Poly:

View attachment 869332

Pretty sure there’s a tiki torch somewhere in there

It’s because people hold the gate open for people coming from TTC. Pool and fireworks can get super busy

 

[Noodlez]

The funny thing is Poly is actually super quiet feeling when you're on the DVC side. I would sit on my balcony in Pago Pago and barely see anyone walk by. It's obviously only when you get to the Great Ceremonial house and the Lava pool that things get crazy.

It was my first visit as an owner last week and I didn't see this anywhere! The pool was great and the lobby had a lovely vibe. We tried 'Ohana which was busy, but no more than most onsite restaurants. Transport was easy and never full. Maybe there's a specific time of year that the issues occur? Our balcony at Tokelau was so peaceful and relaxing. I found SSR far noisier and busier!

 

[AstroBlasters]

The nightlife at Poly:

View attachment 869332

Pretty sure there’s a tiki torch somewhere in there

So…… freaking….hilarious….

 

[Genie+]

We recently went through the same BCV vs. BWV exercise. We have stayed in both (fairly recently) and it was a tough decision for us. We chose Beach Club.

The specific stay we wanted points for is a 1BR for a few nights around NYE. Neither was available at 7m this year (well...BWV G/P was technically possible with walking+overborrowing, but it might as well have been unobtainable), so 7m availability was kind of moot for us.

Here's our breakdown of thinking:

General moot points (for us)

• 7m availability, see above
• Points charts
  • BWV G/P & BW views and BCV are close enough to make no meaningful difference
  • BWV SV is definitely lower, though we'd probably elect for BoardWalk View at BWV
• Dues
  • They're really similar currently, and while future dues are hard to predict, I expect BWV to be slightly lower longterm as BWV might be able to get away with avoiding a future hard goods refurb
• The pools
  • SAB is very cool, but we're simply not pool people
• The walk to DHS
  • We're not going to walk to DHS

Beach Club Advantages (for us)

• Slightly shorter walk from EPCOT back to the room
  • See amusing-to-me story below about this*
• Slightly shorter walk to the Skyliner (which we might take to DHS, or to Topolino's)
• Typically shorter walk to the parking lot where we park (we drive to most places at WDW)
• Slight preference for the current in-room theming
  • Potential upside with a hard goods refurb in 6-7 years
• Preference for BCV 1BR layout vs. BWV 1BR layout
  • BCV bedroom door arrangement in a 1BR is much, much better
    • This is more of a BWV con, but I'm trying to avoid a list of negatives, but that BWV 1BR bedroom door is so annoying
  • Preference for the BCV 1BR bathroom layout
• Preference for BCV's quick service options
  • BWV's Pizza Window and Bakery are fine, but menus are limited
• Easier to find a contract in the size range we wanted (140-150pts)
• I think we just prefer being at Beach Club a little bit more

BoardWalk Advantages (for us)

• The views
  • We really like BoardWalk view, find it way better than any BCV view (most of which would qualify as Standard View, imo)
    • On the other hand, losing the BW view booking race at 11m and having to book G/P was a real risk for us as it was only available for our stay this year via walking at 11m
      • G/P might be our least favorite view in all of DVC as the odds of a decent-to-us view are low and the points are exactly the same as the vastly preferred-to-us BW
  • Standard View available if we ever want to save on points that trip, or wanted to risk it for a -123 room
• Grand Villas exist
  • We knew we were going to buy slightly too many points for our needs, as we wouldn't need the full points allotment every year depending on how the calendar fell...and it might have been possible to splurge on a BWV GV once every few years
• Slightly prefer the exterior theming
• Upfront cost is slightly lower (typically)

As others have pointed out, if you're a family of six then you should be seeking a 2BR. For 2BR specifically, BWV has a distinct disadvantage: all BWV 2BR are lock-offs, so you're competing with (often very aggressive) Studio-seekers in addition to 2BR-seekers for booking. At some times of year it's unlikely you'll have success booking Standard View or even BoardWalk View without ramping up your own aggressiveness.

I would lean to BCV for this reason alone, if I were in your shoes.


* During a recent stay we were staying at another resort but had parked at Beach Club for the day (I won't answer how) and finished our day at EPCOT to watch fireworks. As we were walking back past the Skyliner queue we got to the 'shortcut' gate at Beach Club and politely asked if we could get to the gate.

A grumpy gentlemen didn't understand our request and thought we were asking to cut the line, "line starts way back there!" while he pointed to a line that extended to the pathway to Beach Club's lobby.

Someone in his group leaned over to him and said, "I think they're staying here" and gestured at the gate.

"OH! ...oh..." as, I'm guessing, he realized that he had a long queue ahead of him just to take a Skyliner while thinking we were already "home".

Nice job!

Another thing Beach Club wins is 2BR easier to make to date adjustments than BW standard or BW view.

The thing about BWV… we bought it to avoid Pool/Garden. That’s an owner perk to me. Either get the fantastic low points in standard, or guaranteed BW view when paying the higher premium view points. P/G is like premium points with standard view, lol. It makes a great trade-in option but I think part of the value owning BW is ability to get the other 2 options.

BW 2BR all being attached to the studio availability makes date changes harder in the home window than BC.

Like right now BC 2BR is wide open for pretty much the whole home priority window, so if someone wanted to later on add days to their 11 month reservation, or change the week, no problem. BW is already spotty throughout for Std and BW view.

Eta - I forgot Stormalong Bay pool is closed, helping to make availability much more plentiful. It was surprising to see it wide open, which is likely more extreme. Typically it’s still much easier through the home window than BW from what I’ve tracked the last 4 years.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Nice job!

Another thing Beach Club wins is 2BR easier to make to date adjustments than BW standard or BW view.

The thing about BWV… we bought it to avoid Pool/Garden. That’s an owner perk to me. Either get the fantastic low points in standard, or guaranteed BW view when paying the higher premium view points. P/G is like premium points with standard view, lol. It makes a great trade-in option but I think part of the value owning BW is ability to get the other 2 options.

BW 2BR all being attached to the studio availability makes date changes harder in the home window than BC.

Like right now BC 2BR is wide open for pretty much the whole home priority window, so if someone wanted to later on add days to their 11 month reservation, or change the week, no problem. BW is already spotty throughout for Std and BW view.

Very good points, but part of the home window booking availability may be because SAB will be closed for the first half of next year and that makes BC less desirable during that time frame.

 

[tx911]

Why are these 2 so far apart as far as resale prices go? They seem somewhat similar to me.

 

[Genie+]

Very good points, but part of the home window booking availability may be because SAB will be closed for the first half of next year and that makes BC less desirable during that time frame.

Excellent point!