BWV-1st timer-what should We Know?

[jonestavern]

DH has just booked us--DH, me, & DS17-- into a 1 bedroom DVC villa at BW for 12 - 17 Nov.

Any favorite things you BWV experts wouldn't miss or think we should avoid?


Room requests
As for the room itself, we'd like a quieter room--we understand we may be hiking dooowwwnnn those corridors but it would be worth it to us for a view, though not of the pool & doesn't have to be the Boardwalk~any thoughts or room #s in this direction?

We don't necessarily have to be near the foodcourts or restaurants, either.
what we do not want is a parking lot 'view' We're pretty laid back re: room, but parking lot 'views'
Yes, I realize these are only requests

I'm reading where not all the rooms have balconies, we would like one.
Love the thread on balcony pics!

DS17 will be with us, what will he like in or near the resort?

Thanks in Advance for any Help~
Jean

 

[Deb & Bill]

Did you use points? If so, did you get a preferred or standard view? Only DVC members get to choose between preferred and standard view. Std view is only about 20% of the resort and are mostly views of the parking lot and front entrance. The rest are preferred. If you didn't get the BW view, you probably got the water or garden view (basically the same), which is everything else.

No foodcourts at BWV.

 

[jonestavern]

We are using our own pts. DH said he asked for the standard view.

We usually make extensive use of the kitchen when DVCing.
We do sit down lunches in the parks--so maybe we'd hit the Boardwalk for dessert, hmmm...


Jean

 

[travelin' tigger]

As for the room itself, we'd like a quieter room--we understand we may be hiking dooowwwnnn those corridors but it would be worth it to us for a view, though not of the pool & doesn't have to be the Boardwalk~any thoughts or room #s in this direction?

We don't necessarily have to be near the foodcourts or restaurants, either.
what we do not want is a parking lot 'view' We're pretty laid back re: room, but parking lot 'views'
Yes, I realize these are only requests

I'm reading where not all the rooms have balconies, we would like one.

Hi Jean - I'll do my best to answer some of your questions.
Quiet room - as long as you're not near the elevator, I find the rooms I've stayed in to be quiet.
Std. view - all std. views face the front driveway and/or parking lots of the BW. I've stayed std. a few times and never had a problem with the view/noise. If you really don't want this, you'll have to add a few points and ask for a preferred view!!!
Balconies - most rooms have balconies except for ground-level - they have patios. Just request an upper floor w/balcony.
Food court - the BW doesn't have a food court, but I love having so many different varieties of food close by. Some of my favs - BW Bakery, ESPN, Spoodles for breakfast.

HTH!!!

 

[slp87]

We always stay standard and even if you are facing the parking lot, there is a pond and grassy areas in front of those rooms. This is a picture of our room from the driveway. We were in the far right of the red section behind the tree. We were on the first floor and even though we faced the driveway, it was not noisy at all.

Sometimes these show up and sometimes they don't...sorry!

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey Jean...you are going to love BWV. That's my home away from home. I have yet to book a standard view room, but Karen had one last Dec and it was great. I have no problem overlooking the front entrance.
The pools are terrific. We enjoyed the main pool, Luna Park. Patrick will like the slide..I know Katie and George did!!! I liked the quiet pool over by Community Hall. And speaking of CH, go and check it out. It's a fun spot. They had air hockey and ping pong the last time we were there. And you can rent DVDs and Video tapes.
Now, lets see....the arcade is a good one from what Katie tells me. The ESPN CLub is a hoot. The guys will like it there. If you want to play minigolf, Fantasia Gardens is just a short walk away. Head for S/D, and then cross the street. Takes about 10 minutes to get there and was a lot of fun.
There is no food court per se. You can go to the Bakery and get some pretty yummy stuff. And there's that lounge area, that I can never remember the name of that serves a continental breakfast. The shop, Screendoor, is pretty complete so you shouldn't have any trouble getting the stuff you need. If you have a rental car, even better. Make a stop on the way.
I loved having a full kitchen and washer/dryer right in the room.
Most of the one bedrooms have two balconies..one on the living room, and one for the master bedroom. You shouldn't have too much to worry about. If you don't want to be too far down the hall, just ask for a room closer to the elevators. I have had some very distant villas and it was incredibly quiet far from the elevators. Didn't mind one bit.

You are going to love it there. Be sure to make the walk to MGM via the pathway...it is very nice. The walk around the lake is fun also. The nightime entertainment is a blast. I love to just sit and people watch. And of course there is Jellyrolls, but Patrick can't go 'cause he's not old enough yet.....sorry buddy!!

 

[slp87]

And you can rent DVDs and Video tapes.

I always say "rent" too, but actually you check them out for free! My DD loved this!

Another tip...since they only give you 1 load worth of detergent, I used snack sized baggies to measure out a load worth at home then put them all in a large baggy. My DH insisted that I write detergent on the bag so the airline guys wouldn't think I was smuggling drugs!!

 

[jonestavern]

thanks for all the info everyone!
slp87 thanks for the pic--this really puts my mind at rest! I had imagined being right in the parking lot, like a landscaped Comfort Inn! Okay, hit me--I totally skipped over the WDW aspect & went to Motel 8!

Yes, I do the detergent baggie thing too & the thought of being detained for a really interesting experience at the airport has crossed my mind! And while I may have found it exciting as a young, wild woman I've considerably refocused my expectations as a respectable matron & member of the altar guild!

wheeeee..Diane, I love mini-golf! we keep saying we'll try FG or W/S Land, but never seem to get around to it--well, now we have no excuses!
Patrick did ask about the arcades
Are there any pool tables around? don't have to be at the BWI. Seems Patrick is 'studying' to become a pool shark these days! He & his grandfather practically monopolized the pool table at HHI a few weeks back.
And yep, the guys have figured ESPN prominently, in their itinerary

Barbara, we usually do breakfast in the room, but I have been looking for an excuse to go to Spoodles for breakfast, well, you've recommended it & so has Her Majesty, & that will seal the deal! As for the preferred room view I would have to be prying the extra DVC pts from DH's death-grip tight fist Oh, well, makes for a nicer winter '07 trip!

ah, the thought of just ambling 'home' after JellyRolls--no inebriated bus rides, inhaling fumes & featuring exuberant tots & cheerleaders coached by jolly drivers into singing choruses & choruses of IASW

Thanks--I was starting to panic, running back to OKW!
Repeat after me: I will expand my DVC horizons!

Jean

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, I do the detergent baggie thing too & the thought of being detained for a really interesting experience at the airport has crossed my mind! And while I may have found it exciting as a young, wild woman I've considerably refocused my expectations as a respectable matron & member of the altar guild!



Hey Jean...altar guilders have been known to get into some pretty curious situations...especially this directress!!! Ah yes, we have a good time...doesn't matter that every book I've read calls it a 'quiet, reverent ministry'...not my ladies.Oops, and George. He just asked to go on a team!!! And respectable matron??? Ahhh, think not my friend. Don't know which I take greater exception to...the respectable or the matron I've taken those little baggies with me...can only imagine how they showed up in those machines at the airport!!!!

 

[DebIreland]

If you want to play minigolf, Fantasia Gardens is just a short walk away. Head for S/D, and then cross the street. Takes about 10 minutes to get there and was a lot of fun.

Wow!! I was just browsing around trying to find out how to get to Fantasia Gardens from BWV and if it was possible to walk and then I read this thread!! Woohoo!! It sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you Jean and goofy4tink, great thread!

 

[NewJersey]

I'll be a first time stayer at BWV too (studio) with my parents in may. We are non-DVC so i'm looking forward to a pool or water view! This thread was a great help to me. Enjoy your stay in November!

 

[jonestavern]

Hey, Diane maybe I should go church shopping? Our altar guild is very staid
At least I think they are...

DebIreland--my DH & DS17 were in Ireland 2 weeks ago & will be dropping by in another 1-1/2 wks. They are in Wales today. Both of them loved what they saw of Ireland & really enjoyed the folks they met. Visited the Aran Isles, Dublin, Galway, Kinsale etc

Welcome to the DISboards NewJersey!
You'll have to let us know how your trip progresses. We know you are all right because you sure are rooting for the right team! Go SOX!

Is there a path to walk to Epcot? or am I confusing BWI with another resort?

Jean

 

[slp87]

Is there a path to walk to Epcot? or am I confusing BWI with another resort?

Yes, just go out to the Boardwalk and keep going past ESPN. The International Gateway is to the right past the bridge. It is much shorter than the path to MGM. We prefer to take the boat to MGM just because we like to save our walking for the park.

 

[DebIreland]

DebIreland--my DH & DS17 were in Ireland 2 weeks ago & will be dropping by in another 1-1/2 wks. They are in Wales today. Both of them loved what they saw of Ireland & really enjoyed the folks they met. Visited the Aran Isles, Dublin, Galway, Kinsale etc

I'm glad they had a good time. I'm not a million miles from Kinsale! Wales is beautiful too.

I bookmarked a helpful thread about BWV - click here and go to post 11 for a link to a great photo with the the walking paths marked to MGM and Epcot from the Boardwalk and Beach Club and the distances underneath! Very helpful!!

 

[NewJersey]

Thanks for the welcome Jean. The trip is all planned and we just added dining to our package since my mom thinks its a great money saver. I love the ease that Disney now is doing with its MYW tickets, ME, and the dining plan. Only about 4 weeks to go. Definitely looking forward to the trip since it's a few days after I graduate college! (a little nervous though).

debireland,

thanks for the link. I'm reading through it now for some tips.

 

[jonestavern]

Thanks for the welcome Jean. The trip is all planned and we just added dining to our package since my mom thinks its a great money saver. I love the ease that Disney now is doing with its MYW tickets, ME, and the dining plan. Only about 4 weeks to go. Definitely looking forward to the trip since it's a few days after I graduate college! (a little nervous though).

debireland,
thanks for the link. I'm reading through it now for some tips.

Congratulations & best wishes!

My niece, Deanna graduates this May, also!

DebIreland--super map link! I am so impressed--a map big enough to read and with distances!

did anyone catch this thread, too funny!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1090680


Jean

 

[murphy t]

Hi,
I don't think there are any pool tables at the BW, but there are several at the Dolphin, which is just a short walk away. Cost 1-2 dollars to play.
Murphy

 

[kathyg]

I, too, will be a first timer at BWV. Great thread. To slp87, I don't see a picture....am I missing something? Would really like to see it.