Buying resale at either BCV or BWV...which one should we choose?

[disneymomof2boyz]

We have finally decided to take the plunge...we are buying into DVC!
So, now the dilemma is BCV or BWV? We have stayed at BWV and absolutely adored it! BWVs are also less $ per point. We've never stayed at BCV but, I know that BCV is a hot commodity, and not always available at the 7 month window. We are also thinking about the pool because I have two boys (5 and 6).
So, ok, the BCV sounds like the winner, right? My dilemma is about owning somewhere simply because of the pool. What about when my kids are grown? Will I regret not being on the BW and owning there? I have also heard lots of talk about picking the DVC you love, bc we never know when Disney will change policy about staying at any DVC.

So, DVCer's tell me what you would do? And please give me another reason to love BCV other than the pool.

 

[divehard]

Just my humble opinion, but I would save the money. DVC members are allowed to "Pool Hop", and they are close enough that it might be a nice adventure when you've had your fill of the parks. My youngest is 3 and she enjoys the pools more than the theme parks right now. I'm sure that will change as she grows older!

We just purchased BWV resale in March.

 

[Mousewerks]

You can't pool hop to SAB.

 

[Sammie]

You are wise not to base the purchase on pool alone. SAB is a great pool but honestly after you have experienced it a few times, the attraction somewhat fades.

You will have your contract for a loooooong time.

And honestly the pool in my opinion is the only advantage over BWV and the parking lot.

 

[Sandisw]

I would say one of the only other benefits woudl be its smaller and the hallways not quite as long.

But, to be honest, I also do not think you should use SAB as the deciding factor. I got BCV at 7 months in the summer so it is possible.

We are staying in a BW view this summer and I think we are going to love it, which means I will probably want BWV points for my next purchase.

With BWV going for $20 to $30/ppt less than BCV, that would be incentive enough to lean toward BWV.

Good luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

The Stormalong Bay pool is a huge perk at BCV. Many, many people own there because they love that pool. BCV is a very small resort and probably the hardest one to book at 7 months, although it is certainly not impossible.
We are among the minority who are not that fond of SAB. The pool is always crowded and sometimes it is really hard to find a chair. I am a worry wart around pools and it is hard to keep track of kids at SAB because they have to actually cross the path around the lake to get to the slide. There are lots of separate areas at SAB and it can be a challenge to figure out where kids are. Again, I am definitely in the minority and obviously older kids who need little supervision would not be a problem. Two other pluses for BCV are the fact that the self parking lot is closer and dedicated 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds are available.
We chose BWV because we prefer that pool. The slide is fun but the pool area seems more manageable. We adore the BW view rooms. When we first became members we only had 220 points so the standard view rooms were a super bargain. This fall we will do a big family trip and the BWV Grand Villas are pretty amazing and BCV do not have any GVs. The community hall has fun activities for kids and BCV has no community hall.
The BWV or BCV question comes up about once a week on this board. Most people say you can't go wrong with either and that is good advice.
Good luck with your decision!

 

[CarolMN]

We prefer the BWV over BCV because -

BWV has Grand Villas
Lower point cost of standard view villas
Guaranteed Boardwalk view villas (No great views for BCV)
Community Hall
Ability to walk to DHS as well as EPCOT (BCV is closer to EPCOT, but isn't really walking distance to DHS, especially if it's hot
Can walk to HESS station if you need/want some less expensive snacks

BCV has the pool (which for us, isn't a draw), has closer parking (which is) and is a very short walk to EPCOT (but IMO not enough closer to be a huge advantage compared to BWV.

 

[alldiz]

I prefer BWV.

OP. ...have you stayed at BCV with your boys. If you haven't the pool might lose some of the hype when all you do is run around chasing them. Way too stressful a pool for me with young children that might want to go in different directions.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[ShuisFan584]

I personally prefer BWV over BCV (which is why I own there). I'm all about the view, which is why my two home resorts are AKV and BWV. At AKV, I get to watch all the animals from my savanna view room. And at BWV, I love the Boardwalk view and being able to people watch from my deck.

I bought BWV through resale in October 2010, and I too was also considering BCV. But BWV won for many reasons. SAB is really the only reason I would possibly choose BCV over BWV. BWV has the better views (our view was of basically nothing at BCV), more restaurants to choose from, more entertainment, and you can get it for so much cheaper than BCV.

And it's not like I can never stay at BCV if I don't own there. Sure, it might be difficult during Food and Wine season. But I got a 1 bedroom villa in January at BCV with no problem at less than 7 months (I think around 5 months).

 

[corpcomp]

In the long run, you really can't go wrong either way. We have stayed at both a number of times. You can always buy one now and the other in a few years.

But it is a huge difference in price right now. Disney is obviously up to something with BCV otherwise they would not be buying up all the resale points. BCV is smaller and the pool is a big attraction - it is crowded, but then BWV pool gets crowded too. I personally like all the line dancing and stuff the life guards do at BCV, a bit more active than the pool at BWV, plus the vollyball games in the pool, the lazy river, not to mention the whirlpool area, etc..

Either way, both are within walking distances of Epcot or Hollywood Studios and its not much of a walk from BCV to the boardwalk activities.

But remember you cannot use the points you buy through resale for the cruises.

 

[keishashadow]

OP the only reason we picked BW over BC as an addon was the ability to stretch the points for standard view.

 

[ChickieToo]

I never realized it, but I guess I am in the minority here because I would choose BCV (and did when purchasing) over BWV any day.

I like the more "tropical" and "resorty" feel to BCV. I like that I have easy access to the boardwalk, but can go back to BCV and get a totally different vibe.

And I love the pool. I love all the activities: the bingo in the pool, the t-shirt making near the pool, the treasure hunts and volleyball, and as a pp mentioned the "changing of the guard" when the life guards all do a line dance and invite the kids to join them.

I understand what everybody says about the pool being hard to track kids. I guess it isn't an issue for me because I have an only child. We are the kind of parents who like to get in the water with our daughter, and from the time she was 20 months old and played in the sandy area, we would just splash around with her. If one of us wanted to do the slide or something the other would take over. I know that is harder when you have more than one child, but that is my experience. Now that DD is 12 and is a fantastic swimmer--swim team caliber--we still get in the pool with her. We often travel with other families or my niece and nephew and even when we are with others, we use the pool with the kids. Now that she is older and is usually with other kids she does wander around without us some, and we keep track of her. She knows the rules and checks in with us if she's out and about. We don't forsake our own indulgences: we do get our adult beverages at Hurricane Hanna's and we have a good time too.

I realize that pool can be unnerving if your kids dart away from you. I also understand that different people are after different things in a vacation, and not everyone wants to get in the pool with their kids the whole time, and that's fine. But if you commit to using the pool with your kids, SAB is a great experience. I get bored at other pools for any length of time, but I can spend the day at SAB.

I bought where I wanted to stay.

 

[corpcomp]

I never realized it, but I guess I am in the minority here because I would choose BCV (and did when purchasing) over BWV any day.

I like the more "tropical" and "resorty" feel to BCV. I like that I have easy access to the boardwalk, but can go back to BCV and get a totally different vibe.

And I love the pool. I love all the activities: the bingo in the pool, the t-shirt making near the pool, the treasure hunts and volleyball, and as a pp mentioned the "changing of the guard" when the life guards all do a line dance and invite the kids to join them.

And I agree it is the best pool, period - lots of activities and Hannas right there as well as Beaches & Cream for burgers and a Kitchen Sink. We stayed at VWL last July and frankly, the pool was just plain boring - no flames please.

 

[LSchrow]

i would suggest to look over the many threads asking the same question....

with us, we bought BCV after we bought BWV, and regreted it. after a few 9BCV stays, we found the lack of views, noise, and overly crowded pool was not for us.
btw, we have found BCV availability when BWV was booked (we changed our vaca dates in that case).

it is a beautiful resort, but the BWVs have so much more to offer, imho

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

I prefer BWV.

OP. ...have you stayed at BCV with your boys. If you haven't the pool might lose some of the hype when all you do is run around chasing them. Way too stressful a pool for me with young children that might want to go in different directions.
Happy planning
Kerri

No, I haven't stayed at BCV...but, your point is well taken!

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

In the long run, you really can't go wrong either way. We have stayed at both a number of times. You can always buy one now and the other in a few years.

But it is a huge difference in price right now. Disney is obviously up to something with BCV otherwise they would not be buying up all the resale points. BCV is smaller and the pool is a big attraction - it is crowded, but then BWV pool gets crowded too. I personally like all the line dancing and stuff the life guards do at BCV, a bit more active than the pool at BWV, plus the vollyball games in the pool, the lazy river, not to mention the whirlpool area, etc..

Either way, both are within walking distances of Epcot or Hollywood Studios and its not much of a walk from BCV to the boardwalk activities.

But remember you cannot use the points you buy through resale for the cruises.

Does anyone have an inkling as to why Disney is buying all the BCV points???

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

Thank you so much for your opinions, and I didn't know that this subject had been re-hashed before, if not I would've done my research! lol

I didn't know that BCV didn't have the Community Center, my boys love that! I think I am leaning more towards BWV. But regardless of our decision..thank you for the replies.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Neither is my "home" resort, but I feel BCV would be my choice. Reason : if you ever want to stay at BCV, I find it one of the most difficult to get availability at. BWV is usually a piece of cake to get a preferred view (which I've found as late as 3 months out).
But that being said, if you strongly desire the standard view or BW view rooms at BWV, then I'd make that my "home". If you strongly desire SAB, then I'd make it BCV. For the record, I actually prefer BWV to BCV, but just find availability MUCH more limited at BCV. In 11 years of being a DVC Member, it's the one DVC I have not stayed at because I can't get reservations (sometimes I can get some of the days I need, but never all). Also, I think BCV is a shorter walk to Epcot.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Ok, I think may be able to give you some clarity.


Since owning, I've gone on 2 trips to Disney with my sister once to BWV and once to BCV.

We love, love our home BWV, but Sis didn't care for it. Sis was thrilled with BCV, but for me and dh...not so much.

For Sis,

Beach Club is the bomb. Her husband and kids swim like fish. They love being able to relax in the pool after a morning in the parks, and the walk to Epcot is exciting to them. The understated elegance of Beach Club fits my sisters style choices, plus the restaurants fit in well with their family. On the flip side, Sis don't have any interest in having a view, and thinks the boardwalk is a little too gaudy.

For me,
Boardwalk is wonderful. The Boardwalk itself has a very "Main Street" twinkly light romantic appeal. The gilded interior is elegant, and the boardwalk views are unbelievable. The pool area (with the exception of the clown face) is whimsical and fun. It looks fun enough, but frankly dh and I don't swim. Matter of fact, I can't swim. We love being able to take the BOAT to Epcot. Plus, we like being able to stay using standard points sometimes too. A lot of standard view rooms at Boardwalk is better than the only, more expensive view at Beach Club Villas. Plus, we tend to eat all over the place, and don't mind strolling over to the Beach Club restaurants. As for the Beach Club,I think the Beach Club rooms have some kind of weird Snow White thing going for them, and I ran into trouble in SAB. On the other hand...wow, I love the parking lot.

One other thought...our love of Boardwalk as well as the view, price, and points structure made us happy enough to pull the trigger and purchase. Sis, on the other hand, loves Beach Club Villas, but cannot personally justify the price. Of course, that is Sis.

You could buy a few points at each!

I hope this helps!

 

[DizDays]

You could buy a few points at each!

Actually, depending on how often you would like to go, this is a great idea. Then you can switch resorts every other year (or, of course, use your points for any other DVC resort when you want some variety). This way you get the best of both worlds.