BWI or Beach Club?

[CrystalCastle]

What to do? What to do? I have a reservation for BWI using the AP rates for Jan 4th - 14th. I have always wanted to stay at Beach Club but when I booked this, BC only had Club Level available and that was just more than I wanted to pay. So I picked my #2 choice which was BWI. Since then I've been gathering information on BWI and practically have fallen in love with the place even though I've never actually been there.

Tonight I decided to poke around on the WDW AP site and plugged in my dates for BC expecting to see nothing available. Well what do you know, Garden View room for the exact same price I'm paying at BWI! So now I have my chance to stay at the one deluxe resort I always thought I wanted to stay at.

Now I'm conflicted. <sigh> I have really fallen in love with the look of the rooms at BWI. So what would you do? Stay with BWI? Change to BC? Those who have stayed at both, which did you prefer? Keeping in mind that I'm going solo and most likely will not be using the pool. I know SAB gets a lot of attention on this board but it's not a big draw for me since my kids won't be there.

Why did I have to look???

 

[305Florida]

LOL if you're not going with kids, then I would say Boardwalk. There's a lot to do and good places to eat. The only draw of Beach Club is, of course, the pool and the ice cream place.

 

[chimo2u]

My. Vote is for BWI....I stayed at BC CL in February with my teen son, and frankly, I wasn't wowed by BC like I was hoping to be....I like the theme and style of BWI so much better, and even BWI pool looks better to me, I really didn't like SAB all that much, it was so big and spread out, I hated having to climb in and out for different things, and areas. I think that clown slide looks like so much fun! ( I know I am in the minority there ).... I am trying my first BWI stay next Oct with my teens and my bff, I really hope I love it as much as I think I will! good luck deciding and have an amazing time no matter where you choose!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with the Boardwalk Inn because in my opinion they have a better theme and atmosphere.

 

[mickeynut1]

The BC is a great resort and we had a great stay there. But with that said, the BWI is on our list of resorts to try. We have visited many times and the resort is beautiful, not to mention I love the look of the new rooms. I don't think you can go wrong with either one, but in your situation and traveling solo, I think I would go with the BWI .

 

[tiggersmyguy]

My vote goes to BC or YC. We've stayed at both YC and BWI and our family did not care for BWI.

 

[krb2g]

We've never stayed at BC (and the pool does look amazing, but if you're going in January, I'd guess that's less of a factor), but we keep coming back to the BWI. If you have any interest in doing clubs/dining around the Boardwalk, the BWI is a little closer. We love the theme of the Boardwalk, too.

 

[Sue M]

Guess I may be in the minority here but we loved our stay at BC in Aug. Love the theming, I went with my adult daughter and my friend was staying in BCV. We all enjoyed SAB, esp floating around the lazy river with our noodles!
Liked the dining options, with Cape May, Captains Grille, and BC Marketplace.
At BWI there is no inside CS.
Our room was very nice.

 

[padawans]

I have just recently stayed at both. My dh and my oldest son prefer the BW. My youngest son the BC, and I am in the middle. I think the staff at the BW is fantastic. The bc staff was ok. I think if the pool at the BW would have been heated like the BC I would be more of a BW fan. The other thing that bothered me was the dryers. We were going on a cruise after our BW stay, and I had a heck of a time getting my clothes dry. I had to rewash everything on the ship because it smelled musty and moldy. They really nead some new washers and dryers. The pool at the bc is a lot of fun for kids, but I agree with pp its kind of a pain getting in and out of pool. I 'm not sure why the built it in seperate parts. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with either resort. The location is great for both.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I went back and forth over BWI, BC, and YC and decided on BWI, since we don't have children, seems like BC would have more children, YC is dark to me and seems more stuffy, but BWI seemed to be just what we were looking for.

I don't think it will be warm enough to swim in January (although I am hoping maybe it wil be), there is just something about that Boardwalk that was the draw for me, and there seem to be all kins of quiet little spots around the resort.

 

[AJA]

I would stick with BW and save BC for warmer weather when you can swim.

 

[pas130]

I would stick with BW and save BC for warmer weather when you can swim.

This is what I would stick with. Save your BC trip for a warmer time (so you can enjoy SAB) and your kids will be with you as well

 

[makthompson]

We stayed at BWI about 8 years ago. Wasnt my favorite, but DH and DM and DD loved it. I prefer SSR

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

At BWI there is no inside CS.

Actually if someone doesn't mind paying for a Continental Breakfast there is The Belle Vue Lounge which offers that from 6:30 AM - 11:00 AM and it's located inside the Boardwalk lobby just before the elevators on the Inn side. As for their other CS being located outside I don't find that to be an issue and when you compare both resorts the Boardwalk has more Counter Service locations then the Beach Club.

Also to the OP I forgot to mention in my 1st post that the Boardwalk is the closest of the Epcot Resorts to Hollywood Studios, so if you use the walkway that goes there it takes about 15 - 20 minutes and is even faster when you walk through the Luna Park Pool to access it.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We do not like the Beach Club at all, its always packed in there and the lobby is so loud, the quiet pool is right on the walkway to Epcot, lots and lots of kids there too

Just came back from a 11 day stay at BWI and it was amazing, so quiet and relaxing, great location, excellent food choices. Cannot wait to stay there again

Big downfall for both resorts? You share buses to DTD and that takes forever going around the loop to 5 resorts and they are always full so you usually have to stand

 

[goodferry]

We are at the BC now, and it's amazing! We have stayed at both and would choose the BC over the BWI every time! Happy deciding

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

I have stayed at both and do prefer the BWI. If you have fallen in love with the look of the rooms there, then I think you will like it better too. I enjoyed staying at the BC very much. But BWI has a look and feel about it that just makes me happy. I think the lobby and room decor is much prettier than the BC. I do like to eat at the restaurants at BC more, as Cape May's is one of my most favorites. But I found plenty of good places to eat at the Boardwalk too. And fun shopping.

I thought that both have great pools and are easy access to both Epcot and DHS. I just think that BWI is lovely. I like sitting on the wicker furniture on the balcony out back looking at the gardens. I enjoy walking down the stairs to the Boardwalk and looking over the lake to watch the fireworks.

You'll be happy either way, but if you are leaning towards the BWI, then I think you should stick with your original reservations.

 

[DanPadavona]

You can't beat the pool at the BC. But if the pool isn't a priority, then go with the Boardwalk. It sounds like you are leaning in that direction anyhow.

I love the Boardwalk area between the resort and Epcot. It's always active and entertaining. The villa rooms are incredible too. If you can get a lake view, you are going to fall in love with it permanently!

 

[Marthasor]

What to do? What to do? I have a reservation for BWI using the AP rates for Jan 4th - 14th. I have always wanted to stay at Beach Club but when I booked this, BC only had Club Level available and that was just more than I wanted to pay. So I picked my #2 choice which was BWI. Since then I've been gathering information on BWI and practically have fallen in love with the place even though I've never actually been there.

Tonight I decided to poke around on the WDW AP site and plugged in my dates for BC expecting to see nothing available. Well what do you know, Garden View room for the exact same price I'm paying at BWI! So now I have my chance to stay at the one deluxe resort I always thought I wanted to stay at.

Now I'm conflicted. <sigh> I have really fallen in love with the look of the rooms at BWI. So what would you do? Stay with BWI? Change to BC? Those who have stayed at both, which did you prefer? Keeping in mind that I'm going solo and most likely will not be using the pool. I know SAB gets a lot of attention on this board but it's not a big draw for me since my kids won't be there.

Why did I have to look???

I've stayed at both and I vote BC, hands down.

 

[pixarmom]

We've stayed at both and love both - so I know this is an extremely tough decision! We've stayed at BC many times - our recent experience includes two stays in 2010 and two stays in 2011. Our most recent WDW visit was in August of this year, and we split between BC and BWI. A few thoughts:

1) Pools: SAB is amazing and we definitely prefer it over the BWI pool (although I love the BWI slide), but it sounds like that's not a factor for OP.

2) Rooms: Both are in excellent shape. I prefer the BC room decor over BWI room decor. One thing I really like about BWI is the proximity of the Boardwalk view rooms to Crescent Lake - the view is amazing. And I love sitting out on the balcony and looking across at BC/YC and the MK fireworks at night. And in the morning, it's quiet and so peaceful. So in the end, it's a tie.

3) Lobby: The lobby at BC very warm and welcoming. Now, that has much to do with Teena the greeter, and Richard, the other greeter. But it's also an open, airy space with great smells and some of the most peaceful resort music on property. On very rare occasions, it's a little busy - like when Cape May first opens or at check-out time. But at any other time of day, it's wonderful.

4) Dining: BC and BWI are so close to each other that I wouldn't choose one over the other for dining. BC Marketplace is my favorite CS in the area, and Boardwalk Bakery at BWI and Picabu at the Dolphin are good alternatives. As for TS, Yachtsman, Bluezoo and Il Mulino are probably my favorites of the Epcot resort options. I like Flying Fish, too, but not as much as the others. Again, they are all so close that it wouldn't influence my resort choice.

5) Refill mugs: Huge advantage at BC because both BC Marketplace and Hurricane Hanna's have self-serve refill stations. BWI only has the "show your mug, get a cup to pour into your mug" situation. While it's easy to hop over to another Epcot resort for counter service, it's nice to have the refill stations right there if you use refill mugs.

If I were booking CL, I'd probably choose BWI because I love the lounge and the CL staff are amazing. For a non-CL garden view, I'd probably choose BC. But I'm about as undecided as OP and I've stayed at both - so all I can confirm is that it's a really tough choice!