BWV favorite features, memories, tips?

[dallasdisneymommy]

BWV was the site of our first family vacation and will always hold a special place in my heart! We were so enchanted that we decided to buy into DVC as soon as we got home (thanks to that great UPS executive that chatted with me poolside about it...wish I could remember his name).

There are so many fond memories I have of that trip...arriving at the front desk to a cheery "welcome home", feeling the wonder, being blown away by how great the room was...venturing out onto the Boardwalk and sipping blue frozen drinks while laughing at ourselves in the funhouse mirror...evenings spent watching strolling piano players, jugglers, card sharks, and the Italian knife trick guy...waking up on our first morning and getting cinammon rolls from Boardwalk Bakery while we took a surry ride around the lake...throwing the kids in the stroller and walking over to Epcot for the first time...CM's in the lobby always taking time out to say hello to the kids and frequently giving them balloons...my daughter's fascination with the pressed penny machine in the lobby...swimming every afternoon and sipping cocktails from Leaping Libations pool bar...the look on my daughter's face as she came out the clown pool slide, utter thrill combined with abject terror...my son proving all my fears wrong by thoroughly enjoying every minute of our trip and being so joyful and well behaved, despite being not even 2 years old...

It was the best!

I don't remember thinking there was anything long or horrendous about the hallways, the wait for the buses, or the lack of restaurants (all things I see complaints about on the boards). I just remember being at Disney and being thrilled to be there. Funny how over time, we find the littlest things to nit pick.

Enjoy your trip. It's a great place. You will love it!

 

[VINN127]

Much has been said about the long hallways at the BWV but think about it...How far do you walk from the main foyer to your rooms at GF or the POLY? How about the CR? Funny thing is in all of those cases you walk considerable distances outside too. We have done it in the rain at all of these other deluxe resorts. I don't have a problem walking down a dry, cool hallway when you consider the alternatives!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We love the BWV's. Here are a couple of tips:

1. Learn where the stairs are located and use them. They provide a lot of short cuts that many people don't even think about.

2. If you take the boat back from MGM, get off at the Swan/Dolphin and walk across the bridge. You will save 15 minutes and burn an extra 50 calories for the brief walk.

3. The walk to MGM isn't really that far. Especially if you follow the hall and go out the stairway back by the canal and nearest the tennis courts. I think Caskbill had the distance at .66 of a mile from the main pool. This is even closer.

4. The walk around Crescent Lake is great. It is .79 of a mile (another nod to Caskbill on the distance).

5. Boardwalk transportation is its weakest aspect. Whatever time you think you will need to get some place, add at least 15 minutes to make sure.

6. Surrey Bikes. You may want to walk around Crescent Lake before renting one. A lot of people rent one and then find themselves having to go up a couple of hills along the way. I jog around Crescent Lake and it's funny when the bike passes me on flat ground with everyone waving at me and then I get to ask if I can help push them up the first hill as I run by them.

7. Make use of Community Hall. My teenage kids love it and they loved it when they were younger as well. They would happily spend half a day around CH and the quiet pool.

Have fun.

HBC

 

[DVCBdwalk98]

BWV are our home resort so maybe I'm partial to it, but there is sooo much to do and see on the Boardwalk. We love the renting the 4 seater bikes in the evening and cruising around the Boardwalk, walking around the Boardwalk in the a.m. to get some exercise then hitting the wonderful bakery for a breakfast pastry and a drink. We are big basketball fans, so in March we like to watch BBall at the ESPN club while enjoying dinner. One year the Dance Hall on the end of the Boardwalk had set up a D.J. and played music outside the Hall, so families with kids could enjoy and get up and dance together, it was great fun to dance with my kids! You must walk around the lake to the Beaches and Cream (50's diner) restaurant for great cheeseburgers, fries, and WONDERFUL ice cream treats, it's located outside by the pool at Beach Club (my kid's favorite place to eat every time). Have a great time!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We bought BWV to have my DM's 85th birthday celebration there in December '04. We took part in the Disboard Christmas tree exchange, and put the little tree on the TV console. Our guests gathered in the living room one evening, and we had songsheets with Polish Christmas carols, and we did our best to sing some for her. DM is a walker, it was nothing for her to walk over to the International Gateway, while I would be waiting for the boat!

I cannot stay at BWV without remembering the fun we had on that trip.

Bobbi

PS. There are so many things to do there. Next year our DGC will be with us at BWV. They were too young, or not born for DM's celebration. Here's hoping that DM can join us for that celebration, our 40th wedding anniversary!

 

[A's Princess]

Again many thanks for your replies! I've got quite a list going - I just hope 5 nights will be enough to make a dent in it.

I agree about the hallways - WDW is a lot of walking wherever you go. We had a good hike to our room from the WL lobby last trip. I just think of it as more calories burned for dessert! Plus with the surrey bikes and the hills around the lake we can visit beaches and cream a few times!

Bobbiwoz your Christmas trip sounded wonderful - I hope you have another great trip next year and happy anniversary!

Does anyone know if you get a detailed map at check-in of the resort with the stairways? The short cuts tip is great!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

We requested a room near the elevator and the got it. We stayed in a one-bedroom this past Jan. and had a fabulous time. It was so convenient to be down on the boardwalk or at the general store and just take a quick elevator ride up to our room. My son actually loved our standard view overlooking the entrance. He would give us reports on what Magical Express buses were arriving and departing, etc. All of my kids really enjoyed the Luna Pool theming, and the smaller size of the pool made it easier for my DH and I to keep an eye on them. I really felt like I was in the "middle of the magic", and the walk to Epcot was great. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Before Magic Your Way...DH and I would choose to do a non-gated Disney activity the night before our package started. In 2002, we decided to check out the Boardwalk area. It was our 10th anniversary trip.

We strolled all the way around crescent lake, checked out all of the hotels, played putt putt, and sat on the balcony overlooking the boardwalk. There were saxaphone players in baseball uniforms performing right below us.

It was magical!

We looked at DVC on that trip, but didn't bite. We don't go often enough to get 150 points. In 2006 we bought a 100 point contract resale and are very happy.

 

[lwilliam]

is the best thing about the BWV to EPCOT and MGM studios. We just returned last week from a 9 night stay in a studio. Having a room by the stairs was really helpful.

There was only ONE problem this time - the bus system - it was AWFUL, but if you are going in January, you won't have a problem, I'm sure.
We waited many times more than 30-45 minutes for a bus, but it wasn't just at the BWV....we were at Contemporary one day, visiting, and waited ONE hour for a bus to downtown Disney.

 

[SteveS]

I agree with everything that has been said. 10 years ago when we bought into DVC we were very disappointed that we had to select BWV as our home resort and not get OKW like we thought we wanted. Boy were we wrong. We love the BWV and are glad to have this as our home resort. Let me add 2 additional comments.

1. At Christams the BW lobby is the best decorated resort. It may not have the biggest tree like GF, but it sparkles. The front entrance give you a magical holiday lift.

2. We love eating outside on the Boardwalk at Big River Grill in the veneing and watching all the activity and people. The grilled meatloaf is great.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Probably my favorite thing about BWV is sitting on my balcony after a long day walking around the parks with a cold adult beverage. I love taking in the beautiful view and watching all of the activity on the boardwalk. I make sure to book 11 months in advance and book boardwalk view and request to be WAY down the hallway! (Better view that way!)

I also love being able to walk over to Epcot and watch Illuminations and then stroll leisurely back to the resort while eveyrone else is rushing to catch a bus back to their resort.

Another great thing about BWV (and BCV) is being able to walk over to Epcot and have multiple choices for meals. Some complain about no immediate counter service choices at the resort - but I love the variety of Epcot and plan my days around that. Or, we sometimes just grab a pizza at the Spoodles carry out window and people watch onn the boardwalk while we have dinner.

So - for us - I guess it comes down to location, location, location.