BVC or OKW resale?

[nisiemouse]

We are trying to decide between an OKW resale or BCV? We have a 4 yr old and an 8 yr old. I would appreciate any feedback. What made you decide to purchase either resort? I hope that soon I will be as fortunate as all of you and will make the right choice.

 

[BobBrazeal]

There are so many factors that are part of that decision that are personal preferences. Depending on the number of points you want to buy and how you want to finance your purchase, there could be advantages and disadvantages each way. So I really wouldn't know how to address your question right now.

I bought an OKW resale to start as that was the place that I really wanted to own and spend most of my WDW vacations. I later added on at VWL because I also wanted to spend some of my time at WL. These two resorts really fit my vacation style and I haven't been the least bit disappointed. They are exactly what I want when I'm at WDW.

I'll be the first of many that will tell you to buy where you want to stay the most often.

 

[nisiemouse]

How do add ons work when they are at different resorts?

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Having stayed at all three (BWV, WL & OKW) with an infant. I found the BWV to be the most convienent. You can walk to Epcot or MGM (long walk, but nice walk) or take a quick boat ride, then take the monorail to MK. There is more action at the Epcot resorts too. If you like quite, go to OKW. If you want some place with more action, BCV is the one. I also liked the fact I could walk to the Boardwalk Bakery and grab a muffin for breakfast. You can't do this at OKW.

 

[nisiemouse]

Was your home noisy at BWV?We like the location but were worried about the noise. Thanks for your response

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

Not at all. We were pretty far away from everything on our last trip. it was very quiet. on another trip, we were overlooking the clown pool. you could hear people, but when you close the windows, it was quiet. it really wasn't noisy at all. It was noisey when we stayed at old key west! there was a party next to us but that could happen anywhere. I'm not sure of the set up for BCV, but it doesn't look like it would be too noisy. The one thing i didn't like about OKW was it was built 10 years ago and is a little more "used" than the the BCV would be. The rooms are bigger at OKW, but not as new as BWV or BCV would be. If you like being out away from everythng, go with OKW. It's also nice therei's no elevators to wait for, just walk to your home.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

You might want to consider a BW resale as well. It's a wonderful resort, and the location is excellent.

 

[invalid_char]

Do you like to eat out or eat in? If you like to eat out, there is a tremendous selection of excellent restaurants in the Boardwalk and Epcot area, all within walking distance from BCV and BWV. If you prefer to eat in, then OKW might be better because it takes fewer points to get rooms with full kitchens.

Do you like to do a variety of activities in the evening? Again, there is a lot more to choose from in the Boardwalk/Epcot area. If you like to go to bed early, then you might be just as happy at OKW.

Are Epcot and MGM two of your favorite parks? If they are, it is very convenient to be within walking distance. We have found this to be especially true if you enjoy Epcot at night (i.e. Illuminations). You don't have to compete with the throngs for public transportation back to your room. But if you're more of a water park family, then OKW might be better.

Since BWV and BCV basically have the same great location, if you're trying to decide between the two, ask: do you like to be able to retreat to a lower-energy, quieter place at night or do you like to feel like your home is still buzzing with activity at 10pm? We found that we were so exhausted after Illuminations (I think around 9:30pm) that coming back to a home that was still milling with activity was too much for us. At BCV, the action is just across the bridge if we want it, but we can get away from it too.

But I think the biggest deciding factor between BCV and BWV (besides the fact that BWV is cheaper right now) is the pool. While BWV has a very nice pool, it really can't compare to SAB, which is almost a mini-park unto itself. Does your family like to swim? Do you see yourself spending a lot of time at the pool? Do you foresee spending days or even entire vacations hanging out at the resort as opposed to going to the parks? If so, your children will likely be very happy and entertained hanging out at SAB all day (ours certainly are).

For us, BCV was perfect. It has all of the amenities that adults might want because of proximity to the Boardwalk and Epcot, and yet the kids love the resort because of SAB (and also the BCV ice cream parlor, Beaches n Cream, and the character meals at Cape May).

If we didn't love SAB and the quiet at night, we would have chosen BWV. OKW is wonderful but, for us, the location doesn't work.

And although you can get some great deals on re-sales, getting BCV at $70 pp. (with the incentive they are offering now) is, in my opinion, a good deal too. There was speculation last year that BCV might go for between $85-$100 pp. and there was still interest. Of course, a lot has happened in the past year, but I still think it is a good price!

So, if you are not picky about location and you can live without an extraordinary pool, then I'd go with OKW.

If you only care about location, go with BWV.

If you care about the pool and location, buy BCV. It is the most expensive option though.

Good luck in your decision, and remember, whatever works out best for your family is the right choice.

 

[nisiemouse]

invalid char: Thanks so much for your post. You had a lot of helpful information for us to think about. I tend to feel I would be a little happier at BCV. We love the location and the pool. BWV is a little to busy for us or it would be a good option as a resale. My husband likes the fact that points go farther at OKW. He is the difficult one to convince that DVC is the right thing to do (he is a finance major). Did you decide how many points to purchase? Thanks again for taking the time to post. Congratulations on BCV!

 

[nisiemouse]

invalid char: I just saw your post below on your points purchase. Congratulations!

 

[BobBrazeal]

The main reason that I wanted OKW and then added on at VWL is because they ARE away from the action, so to speak. I love being in the middle of the action during the day and the evening. As a matter of fact, I usually don't get back to my room until midnight or after on any given night.

Once the parks close, I'll take bus to DD or maybe go back to the resort, drop some things off and head over there. I'll wander the shops or even go to PI. I've become a real fan of Adventurers Club. However, once I'm done with my day, I want feel like I've been transported to a quiet place to be out and away from everything. OKW has that feel for me, as does VWL. I'll often sleep in some in the mornings and I like these two resorts being further removed for that too.

 

[nisiemouse]

Thanks BobBrazeal for your input. Hopefully we can sit down and make a list of advantages and disadvantages at each this weekend. Both are appealing to us in different ways.

 

[PKS44]

Here's a method you might enjoy to compare the resorts:

list the factors that are important to you- location, cost to buy in, how far points go at the resort, pool, quiet, whatever else you can think of...Let's say you come up with these 5 things...rank them in order of importance-and assign them a weight--5 for very important, 1 for the least giving each a weighted factor-
Example:

Location-5
Pool-4
Cost-3
Points-2
Quiet-1
You can give two things equal weight if you want...

then score the resorts in order for how they are in each category as a 3 great, 2 average or 1 poor. Use what is YOUR idea of how the resort meets what you want for that value...You can use a more detailed scoring system if you like with 5 or 10 different gradations, 3 is the easiest...

Example: Location-BCV=3 BWV =3 VWL=2 OKW=1

Then multiply the score times the weight:
SO far we would have for location scores corrected for weight:
BCV=15, BWV=15, VWL =10 OKW=5.

Do this for each of the weighted factors and total the sum of the scores--you should find your winner!

 

[TrudyZ]

We went down last spring (we are a family of 3--so far--with a 3 year old) on rented points to check out DVC. We were bound and determined NOT to buy OKW.

We figured that since most of our trips would be to WDW, then we needed to buy one of the DVCs on-site. But, after we heard how dificult it is to get into BW, we figured that is where we would want our points.

Well, we checked all of the resorts out--spent some time at each location; and overall we found that OKW was best suited for us and ended up with a resale (BC was not in the picture at that time--although I don't know if it would have mae a difference).

Why, you would ask?

1. After a day in the parks I just wanted to get away from the noise, the crowds, etc. (and my kid needed to settle down to)--back to peace and quiet--OKW is serene and works well for that.

2. Although we liked the location of BW, it was like staying in the middle of a carnival--some people like that--but it isn't our style.

3. We enjoy the tropical theming (when I come to Fla., I want to see palm trees and gardenias!) We have plenty of pine trees (i.e. WL) at our house here in Mich.

4. A bonus to us liking it the best was that the dues are less and the points required to stay are less--and the rooms (and jacuzzi tub) are bigger. This wasn't what the decision was made on, but helped tip the scale.

5. The pool isn't a big factor for us yet. We spend usually use one of the OKW quiet pools--which we have to ourselves most of the time. We have pool-hopped to SAB, the Poly, etc., but it isn't a factor yet. We are well aware that pool hopping is not guarenteed and always could be eliminated (like a few other things); but we are happy with the OKW pools (we just figure that as our daughter gets older, we will be going to the waterparks anyway).

And, there is some activity to access from OKW. There is a boat that runs from OKW to DD that is very nice.

We have found that a visit to the Boardwalk area for dinner, etc., is only a 5 minute car ride from OKW.

We are going down again in April. We will check out BC at that time--if we like it, perhaps we will add on. If not, I'm always in the market for a good resale!

Also, I checked the resorts carefully; and I did not notice that OKW looked any more used than BW. If you want some idea on how Disney keeps up on things; just look at some of the other WDW resorts. Many of them are 10 years old or older and are kept in tip-top shape.

May I suggest that you take a trip down and check out the resorts--especially BC--since no one has stayed at the villas yet and only a few of us have seen the models? We rented points, it was reasonable and also gave us a good taste of what the resorts were like. And, although we stayed in a studio, we asked the front desk to see a 1 bedroom and they happily obliged.

Good luck, and don't be rushed into anything. There are good resales showing up pretty regularly; and the BC offer won't go away overnight. Remember, not only are you making the inital purchase, but you will be paying those dues annually for as long as you own it--and they can add up.

BTW, it only took 3 weeks from start to finish for our resale and we were in the computer just a day or two after it closed.

Hope this helps,
Trudy

 

[ncligs]

TrudyZ made some excellent points about OKW. We always fly down, so we always have access to our rental car. And no matter where you stay at OKW, you are only 5 minutes away from any other DVC resort, off-site restraunts, Downtown Disney, Water Parks, etc. When we go to the parks, we use the Disney busses. When we go to off-site restraunts (TGIF, Tony Roma's,etc) we like having the convenience of our own car.
The bottom line is all the DVC resorts are wonderfull, the flexabilty of staying at all of them make them worthwhile. The 11 month window is an advantage if you plan on going during "peak times" (x-mas, Easter, etc). If you are pretty flexable on vacations you shouldn't have any problems getting reservations at any of them at the 7 month window, besides peak times.

BCV's or OKW, whatever you decide, you will be very happy with your deciision.

 

[Mooobooks]

Our first trip to WDW after joining DVC was to stay at the Yacht and Beach Club since it was the only thing available on short notice.
The hotel is fine, and being walking distance (a LONG healthy walk) from Epcot and MGM is great, but the bus service to these resorts is only for those who are truly patient. The buses stop at every resort all around the lake: Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, Dolphin, and even (I thinK) Boardwalk. Many many stops before you get where you really want to go to. Something to definitely take into consideration!

 

[nisiemouse]

Thanks so much for all the info. Everyone is so helpful and I appreciate all of your posts. I will let you know what happens.

 

[AnnK]

Nisiemouse,
It all depends on your likes and dislikes. We have stayed ( and own) at both OKW and BWV. Our children ( as well as us) prefer BWV. The pool is more fun. The location to the parks is the best, there is "Little Toots" babysitting service right there, and you can just walk over for dinner or stop at "Dueling Piano"s " for a short time, we like the restaurant choices, and the fun of staying on the Boardwalk, our younger children LOVE the Community Hall and all the free video games, plus you can appeal to your husband that if you bought BWV, they do have "standard view" rooms which have a point schedule very close to OKW point chart. The health club at BWV is fairly new and very nice. If not BWV then I would buy BCV, in fact we plan to buy there. The location and the pool are great. I don't think they have a community hall, and I am not sure, but I would think that they will likely share the health club with Y&B, which is a very nice health club. Good luck with your decision.

 

[TrudyZ]

AnnK,

Can you tell me about the free video games? I have seen this posted before, but since there are none (that I know about) at OKW; I am not familiar with it. Are you talking about something like Playstation for in the room, or an arcade? If it is an arcade, is it open to DVC members, or just DVC members staying at BW?

Thanks,
Trudy

 

[AnnK]

Trudy as far as I know the Communtiy Hall is open to members staying at the BWV as well as guests staying at the Inn.
It is really nice and the kids love it. It has 4 or 5 N-64 systems set up with a variety of games that the kids can choose from. If the game is two player the kids can play with each other. It also has some free video games like basketball and pinball. The it has ping-pong, foosball,art supplies, puzzles, blocks TV with a vcr, drinks, popcorn. It also has scheduled activities and kids 12 and younger can go on fishing trips.