BWV Fans - Tell Me About It

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'm really starting to think about my upcoming BWV stay this summer, I cannot wait! So, all you BWV fans, tell me about the resort! We've never stayed there, have visited a few times, and it is our DVC home. What do you like about it? What is your favorite part of the resort? Anything I need to make sure I see or do while I'm there? Any tips or hints?

Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

My favorite thing about the BWV is that it is within walking distance of MGM and EPCOT and right on the Boardwalk (can you say ESPN Club). It makes it very easy to come and go to the parks and to the restaurants and entertainment.

HBC

 

[bunnymkc]

We will be at my favorite resort 2/22 and can't wait..the area is just hopping and there are so many things to do..my children have eaten at the flying fish and tell me the food is the best..I'm always babysitting so I never get a chance to go..we will be hitting Atlantic Dance and Jellyrolls this time for sure as I always miss getting to go..in the morning the guys will walk down to the bakery and buy our breakfast..sweet goodies that we would never eat at home..sometimes we eat at the gazzbo sp? on the BW AND that is fun also..you will love the pool and being its in the summer you will spend as much time in it as possible..easy walk to EPCOT and you can either walk or take the boat to MGM..ANY KIDS GOING WITH YOU?..you could also go over to the BC and eat at Beaches & Cream,Cape may or yacht club gallery is good for a nice sit down breakfast..are you going to rent a car? as soon as we arrive we will go over to ESPN cause its really fun and the food is great..wings are good and the beer is ice cold..anything else I can help you with let me know..have a great time..marianne

 

[travelbug]

My favorite aspect to BWV is definitely the location. I love being within easy walking distance of 2 parks, and having all the entertainment and restaurants at the Boardwalk so close. I also enjoy nice leisurely walks around the lake there, sitting on a bench on the Boardwalk for great people watching, and taking the boats to and from the parks when I have time or when I prefer not to walk.

On my last visit, I had nieces (4 and 7) and a nephew (13) along. They really enjoyed the community hall during non-park or non-pool times. Their parents (sister and BIL) enjoyed the free video checkout from there too. So if you'll have kids along, check out the community hall.

Something else fun that we've enjoyed is renting water mouse boats from the marina over at Yacht Club. Lots of fun! The clown slide at the Luna Park pool is also a great time!

Did you know that your DVC card gets you a 20% discount at the restaurants at Swan and Dolphin right near BWV? Something to think about.

(One suggestion - you may want to request a room reasonably close to the elevator. I knew that people joked about the length of the hallways at BWV, and I found out on my last stay what they're talking about. We had a room that was the second last one in the hall, and it is indeed a pretty good hike. There are stairs at the end of the hall that we used for going down sometimes, but we chose to use the elevator whenever we were going up. Anyway, just a suggestion.)

You will love BWV! Have a wonderful time.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Woohoo, sounds great! Keep the opinions coming.

I know BWV has complimentary valet parking for DVC Members. I also heard they cut down on valet spaces to make more room for self parking. As a BWV member & BWV guest, what happens if the valet lot is full? Will they still take our car? We really don't like to mess with self parking at the resorts, as sometimes they tend to be far away and crowded (esp the GF).

BTW, can't wait to try Beaches & Cream! We stayed at the BC a couple years ago, but never got a chance to go there! It was busy the one day we planned to go, so we went to the YC Galley instead --- we really liked the Galley, though.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

As a BWV member & BWV guest, what happens if the valet lot is full? Will they still take our car?

Yes, you won't even realize that the lot is full.

B&C is great. Our four kids, our nephew and his finance' just finished off the kitchen sink when we were there in December/January.

HBC

 

[Boardwalk4us]

Spoodles had a very good all you can eat breakfast. Dont' know if they still do but if so it was very good. If you want a good character breakfast then I suggest Cape May. We usually plan on a morning that we are getting "going" later or not going to the parks until later in the afternoon. We make priority seating for about 10:00 or 10:30. That takes care of two meals for the day. By 10:30 am the restaurant usually starts to clear out and we are able to spend much more time with the characters, if you have children with you they will love it and so will the adults.

Beaches & cream seems to get busy after Epcot closes. Go at off times and you will not be dissapointed.

We really enjoy the vaudeville type acts on the Boardwalk at night
The chili dogs at the vendor stand on the boardwalk are not to missed if you like that type of food. They are a meal in itself.

Also on our walk back to the Boardwalk after Illuminations we have on many occasions stopped at the Beach Club "beach" and stretched out on the lounge chairs and looked at the the lights and activity going on at the Boardwalk at night.

We are going home in December and can't wait.

Have a great time.

 

[mtdewhead]

We're going on our first stay at BWV in June, and now you've got me really excited!!! I can't wait, it's 4 degrees here and I checked the weather in Orlando and it's in the 70's! I wish I was there now!!!!

 

[mtdewhead]

We're going on our first stay at BWV in June, and now you've got me really excited!!! I can't wait, it's 4 degrees here and I checked the weather in Orlando and it's in the 70's! I wish I was there now!!!!

 

[lrdgrifter]

Originally posted by mtdewhead
We're going on our first stay at BWV in June, and now you've got me really excited!!! I can't wait, it's 4 degrees here and I checked the weather in Orlando and it's in the 70's! I wish I was there now!!!!

Bah! Four degrees is balmy! As I speak, it's -30 degrees outside here!

Here's a quick question: I'm planning my trip for Nov 04, and my ffiance will be turning 20. I, on the other hand, am 24, and would llove to check out the brew pub at the Boardwalk. Have any of you run into any problems? Obviously, she won't be able to drink alcohol, but will her presence cause problems?

 

[bunnymkc]

any one can go to the big river brew..we went with our 2 grandsons for burgers there..have fun and be careful of the birds if you eat outside!..marianne

 

[MikeBW]

Location is what really sells the BW. There are so many options for food, fun and walking distance to 2 theme parks. There is mini-golf just the other side of the Swan, surrey bikes to rent and the community hall at BW has lots of games, videos and kids' activities for free.
I'll be there soon, so I will post a report when I return.

 

[Ms. WDW]

We bought sight un-seen, so you can imagine how I felt the first time we went "home". Even with all the trips to WDW before becoming DVC Members, I had NEVER been to the boardwalk.

We love the location. Being able to walk into Epcot or MGM if we so choose is the best. Also, now that our DS is a teen, being so close to Epcot is just up his alley!!

And the choice of restaurants is nice too. ESPN is probably our favorite with Spoodles and B&C a close second! DS and DH are not much on seafood but one day I"M GOING TO EAT AT THE FLYING FISH!!!

Speaking of Spoodles, someone mentioned the all you can eat breakfast. The buffet is gone. But they do have a "family" style breakfast and if my memory serves me right they will bring seconds of whatever you want. Please don't quote me now. My favorite at Spoodles for breakfast was the Mickey Waffles!!!

 

[trishy]

Oh, you're gonna love it!!! The atmosphere in the evening is so incredible. One thing I would advise you to do is if you like to jog (or just walk) - take an early morning loop around the boardwalk, then grab some yummy pastries and coffee at the bakery on your way back to your room. One of my favorite things is being out and about on the boardwalk in the morning as it starts to wake up. It's a lovely place.

 

[Villain Dude]

Bus service is terrible!!

Good thing you can walk to Epcot & Disney Studios!!



Dude

 

[bnlbebes]

What I really like about being on the Boardwalk is being close to the Bakery and Spoodles take-out in the morning. get your refillable mug as early as you can and use it as much as you can. The pastries at the Bakery are to die for and you can fill up your mugs with just about any beverage. They're also refillable at the BW Pool later in the day. Even if you're not hanging out there, it's worth swinging by for something around lunchtime.

 

[gopherit]

THANKS, everybody! I'm proffiting mightily off this thread -- we own at BWV since '99 but this will be our first trip there! 12 nights, in fact -- so give me the scoop, cuz August can't come soon enough!! (LITERALLY) We've got several inches of the white stuff outside and it's 3 degrees here (yes I know there are colder places -- but one man's balm is another man's Brrrr...)

About those mugs -- since we're staying for so long, I thought I might pick up a pair of BWV refillables for me and dh and also a pair for SIL/BIL. Where do I buy them and where / with what can they be filled? We've never done the refill-mug thing, but in the summer heat, I figure we could get our $$ worth! (And it would make a nice souvenir, I assume, from our REAL home!)

THINKING WARM!
THINKING SUMMER!
THINKING BWV and WDW!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I thought I might pick up a pair of BWV refillables for me and dh and also a pair for SIL/BIL. Where do I buy them and where / with what can they be filled? We've never done the refill-mug thing, but in the summer heat, I figure we could get our $$ worth! (And it would make a nice souvenir, I assume, from our REAL home!)

They will be in your room when you arrrive wrapped in shrink wrap plastic. Just take them, wash them out and start using them. When mousekeeping comes to your room for the cleaning, they will charge your room for the number you take. I had six in my 2BR the last time I was there. I don't buy them but my sister has in the past she has filled them at the pool bar and at the bakery with soda or coffee. Not sure if you can get anything else in them. If you could, I might buy one.

HBC

 

[Judique]

I am really enjoying this thread. thank you for posting it! BWV are my home resort. We own at several resorts, but have the most points at BWV. We have only stayed there once - in a studio for three nights! We've made many DVC trips - stayed at BCV 4 times now, HH, Vero and also at OKW. For this Xmas, I am booking BWV.....our first longer stay. Can't wait to check out my home!

 

[crisi]

My husband was extolling the Bellvue Room last night. In particular he was impressed that you could swing by the Bellvue room, order a few of the rum drinks we'd had at Spoodles the night before, they put them in a plastic cup and you can walk back to the room (not a short walk if you are at the end of the hallway, but rum drinks do require some walking off). But the Bellvue Room is a great little bar - very homey and classic.

And speaking of rum drinks, we like that you can sit in a pool chair and see the whole pool.

We didn't have refillable mugs at all in our two bedroom, and I'm not sure they'd be a great value. Its a hike to the BW Bakery where you can refill them, and with a fridge in your room, probably cheaper to get your pop on your way in (or even buy it at the Screen Door).

The surrey bikes were a highlight of the kids trip - but they are not easy to pedal. My husband and I made it one trip around the lake and that was it.....course, it was towards the end of vacation and the end of a long day already.