BWV...Let's give it another try!!

[senator74]

After renting a studio at BWV in Sept 2006, I decided to take the plunge and purchase DVC. 2 adults, 4 kids 11 and under, needless to say it was a nightmare. (Sidenote, I know 4 is max to a room...shhh) We all crammed into a studio, and I forever knew that if we were going to come to disney we needed bigger accomodations. So after we got home I called my guide and purchased at SSR 400 points. Enough for two 5 night stays in a 2br from sun-fri each year.

Only problem was, we were there during a terrible case of the lovebugs!! It was surreal. They were everywhere. If anyone was down there during this time, they may remember. I believe it was the 3rd week of Sept 2006. It made doing anything around the resort almost unbearable. (i.e. sit on balcony, pool, walk around resort, etc.)

Since then, we have stayed at BCV and AKV on several occassions and absolutely love both resorts. BCV for the pool obviously, and AKV for the savannah and theme.

Now fast forward a little over 3 years and I just planned a trip to also bring my mom and sister along with her husband and my nephew who is 3 yo. I decided to book two 2br preferred view rooms at BWV. It was not my first choice, as BCV had no availability for 2 rooms of that size.

I must be honest, after our last stay at BWV, I really had no desire to stay there again. But after much thought I realized that you can't always judge a resort by only one stay, especially considering the "lovebug situation". When I told my 14 y.o. DD I booked BWV, her first response was "there is nothing to do there dad". I explained that the first time was under unusual circumstances, lovebugs and 4 kids in one studio and that she would probably enjoy herself much more this time.

My reason for posting is two-fold. One, has anyone ever stayed at a resort and not really enjoyed it for whatever reason, only to give it another try and realize that it was a very enjoyable place to stay? And two, for you BWV lovers, what are some things about your resort that make it special and stand out to you as your favorite?

Thanks, Bob

 

[DebbieB]

What were the reasons you didn't like it?

 

[SFD998]

We have almost a reverse version of what you are asking. My wife and I on a w/o the kids trip decided to venture over to Boardwalk and see what all the fuss was about. We ended up deciding that we weren't too impressed. This was in Dec. 2008. In Feb. 2009 we decided on a last minute trip. Since, there was less than 3 weeks before the trip and it is winter break time our choices were limited. Of the 7 days we were there we changed rooms/hotels 5 times. Anyway, 3 of the nights were at Boardwalk. They ranged from a studio to a 1bdr. We liked it so much that we nearly came back and added on there. I don't know what it was, but something changed. Maybe staying there and getting to experience more of what the resort has to offer made the difference.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

6 in a studio?!? Don't blame BWV for that. BWV is a great location--walking distance to Epcot and DHS, with good restaurants, a fun pool and evening entertainment. What's not to like about that?

When I told my 14 y.o. DD I booked BWV, her first response was "there is nothing to do there dad".

She can stay in the room while the rest of you are out having fun.

 

[senator74]

Good question Debbie.

I am not one to do much complaining about resorts. After all, we are in Disney World!!!

But if I had to point out a couple of things, it would have been no CS, and noise from the boardwalk view late at night. I think we were in "awe" of Stormalong Bay at that time as well. We had not stayed at BCV yet when we were at BWV.

That's just it, I don't really have any big "complaints" about BWV. Just didn't have a great first experience which may have been hampered by room size and lovebugs, which is why I think it is important to give it another try. This time I did a preferred view as to limit boardwalk noise.

Just interested in how many others kept an open mind to staying somewhere again after not really enjoying a stay somewhere the first time.

 

[LSchrow]

we did try......bcv twice.
first time, it was incredibly noisy and sab was so crowded no one could swim .(in mid sept). other than going to the BW, there was little to do.
so we tried it a second time.....guess what? it was incredibly noisy and sab was so crowded no one could swim, and other than walking over to the BW, there was little to do. my kids and dh, my nephews, mom and dad, db and dsil asked to never stay there again.
now it's always the bwv's, where the pools aren't wall-to-wall ppl, community hall is awesome, the lobby, grounds, and resort aren't filled with screaming at all hours, views aren't of cars or streets, and there is so much to do for all ages that we are never bored.

i can't imagine loving any resort, anywhere, if we had that many in a studio though (we will book a studio for no more than 2 people, no more than 4 in a 1 bdrm - any more is just scary).

imho, give any resort at least two tries (especially considering that your 1st experience at the bwv was doomed by extremelly crowded conditions). you might or might not care for it, but at least use a level playing field (i.e., just don't try 6 in a studio in one resort, then a larger accomendations for stays at other resorts).
enjoy your decision

 

[DebbieB]

Good question Debbie.

I am not one to do much complaining about resorts. After all, we are in Disney World!!!

But if I had to point out a couple of things, it would have been no CS, and noise from the boardwalk view late at night. I think we were in "awe" of Stormalong Bay at that time as well. We had not stayed at BCV yet when we were at BWV.

That's just it, I don't really have any big "complaints" about BWV. Just didn't have a great first experience which may have been hampered by room size and lovebugs, which is why I think it is important to give it another try. This time I did a preferred view as to limit boardwalk noise.

Just interested in how many others kept an open mind to staying somewhere again after not really enjoying a stay somewhere the first time.

I do agree no real CS is a drawback. The bakery just does not compare to a place like Roaring Forks at VWL or Mara at AKV.

The thing that keeps me coming back to BWV is the boardwalk view. I just love that view! I've staying in bw view rooms probably 6 times and only once was there a noise issue and that was when we were on the second floor above Big River in the summer. I always request top floor but that time got 2 (most of the times I got 3 or 4).

The other things I love are the walk to Epcot and the carnival atmosphere of the boardwalk at night. If I had to pick one thing to do at WDW, I would go to Epcot in the evening, walk around the World Showcase, see Illuminations and walk to boardwalk. In fact, I stayed at the Swan last June for 1 night before checking into AKV and that was what I did.

 

[Daydreamin]

I'm so sorry that your stay at BWV wasn't all that you wanted it to be. As others have said, you had entirely too many people in your studio. Please note that you need to think about where you buy based on the fact that you'll be owners until 2042. You and your family needs will change through time.

We've been members since 2000 at BWV and have ABSOLUTELY loved the location (though I can't say that we really have liked the theme pool, though Libations pool bar is nice). We joined when our kids were 8 and 11. They helped pick the location as it is the only resort that is walking distance or can boat to two parks (which they both loved then and now) so you don't have to ride a bus all the time. They found the activities on the boardwalk fun, as well as the food options. We've never experienced noise issues from the boardwalk when we get that view as all you have to do is close your porch doors. We did have BCV envy after buying at BWV when we saw the pool, but like someone else said...its always crowded so its hard to enjoy it.

Now that our kids are older, we are glad that we own at BWV as we prefer the restaurant options on the Boardwalk and BCV, as well as the Dolphin, Swan and Epcot. We can always get ressies at the other resort restaurants if we want to go elsewhere. We love walking around the Boardwalk in the am for exercise and being able to walk or boat to Epcot or the Studios. Being able to see the fireworks from both parks is nice too. We've taken adult friends with us prior to a Florida wedding and had a blast. The ladies had a spa day at the Dolphin while the guys golfed at Lake Buena Vista.

We've stayed in a studio, 1 bdr and 2 bdr while there. We've never tried to get a 3 bdr, but I know that they are hard to get.

I'd suggest giving BWV another try in the right size room for your family. Out of curiosity, what are lovebugs? I don't know what you are talking about.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our family is not a fan of BWV either. We just don't care for the BW environment, the hike to the car in the parking lot, the long tiresome corridors and the noise on the BW at night. We prefer the quieter resorts like OKW, BCV, VWL, SSR. And we like to park close to our villa (OKW, BCV and SSR). The size of OKW villas is also a plus.

You can get lovebugs at all the resorts, so don't hold that one against the BWV.

But what some people love, others don't love. That's just the way it is.

 

[DebbieB]

I'd suggest giving BWV another try in the right size room for your family. Out of curiosity, what are lovebugs? I don't know what you are talking about.

They are insects that come out and swarm a couple times a year when they mate. Usuallly around May and September.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovebug

 

[kristytru]

We had our first Boardwalk stay last year. we had a view of the pool and canal which was pretty quiet. We LOVED walking to HS and EPCOT. We had never really liked epcot much in the past, but being able to walk there made us explore more. Once we discovered the Kim Possible missions, my kids couldn't get enough and we saw more of the countries in one trip than we had in the last 10.
I was concerned that the boardwalk itself didn't have much to do, but my kids loved the magician and jugglers they encountered. DD loved getting her hair wrapped. by the end of the trip, they really looked forward to going down to the boardwalk every night to see the performers and, of course, the fireworks.
We own at Wilderness, our last trip was Kidani and our next is BCV. so far, BW is the family fave.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I agree the BWV clown pool does not look as fun as Stormalong bay... But I have never stayed there so don't know what we are missing, I guess!

Our favorite things about the BWV... The quiet pool and community hall... Entertainment at night on the Boardwalk (grab a yummy treat like a funnel cake and just walk around and watch the performers)... The proximity to Epcot and HS... ESPN (my son is just fascinated by this place!)

I agree that a lack of a good CS here is a real bummer. When staying here, its almost easier not to have the dining plan. You can grab a slice of pizza or a corn dog on the Boardwalk but neither are available on the dining plan. We also find that we do more cooking in our room when we stay at the BWV. We usually do grilled cheese or hot dogs and mac and cheese in place of grabbing a CS if we were staying somewhere else. To be honest, its cheaper to do this!

DVC has lots of nice places though and if BWV doesn't appeal to you, I'm sure you will find just the right place for you and your family! We just went and stayed at BLT over Thanksgiving and really enjoyed it!