BWV much less than BCV - why?

[EdmondD]

Looking at renting points in early January and I see that Boardwalk Villas in 2016 were five fewer points per night (S-Th, Studio in January) than the Beach Club. Given that they are in the same location, essentially, and the Boardwalk rooms are superior (in my opinion, having stayed at both), I'm not sure why the Beach Club would be $70 more per night (assuming $14 PP). Is it because of the superior pool? I'd be willing to pay for the pool in warm weather, but not in January.

Anyway, just wondered why the big difference in similar resorts?

 

[DisDadDVC]

You are comparing standard view rooms. BCV does not have any of those. If you compare preferred, the points are the same.

 

[gdrj]

I believe The Boardwalk and Preferred views at BWV are the same as BCV. The standard view at BWV is parking lot, and there are a limited number of studios. Because of the low point cost they are difficult to get. The views either Boardwalk or Pool or Garden IMO are superior to BCV.

 

[tjkraz]

Additionally, there are 10 nights in January 2017 where all Standard View Studios are already booked. All depends on travel dates but renting points for that type of unit may not even be an option anymore.

 

[EdmondD]

Ohhhhhh. Thanks.

 

[EdmondD]

We were looking at the very first week, finishing with marathon weekend (wife is considering running the half). I figured that was typically a low-demand week. But I know...it's hard to predict and there are no more slow times anymore, etc. etc.

 

[tjkraz]

MANY DVC members participate in the Disney marathons. January Marathon weekend is among the most difficult times to book all resorts/rooms/views. BoardWalk Standard View studios are long gone, and I suspect many other options are also off the table at this point.

 

[DisDadDVC]

We were looking at the very first week, finishing with marathon weekend (wife is considering running the half). I figured that was typically a low-demand week. But I know...it's hard to predict and there are no more slow times anymore, etc. etc.

Marathon weekends are very high demand at Epcot resorts.

 

[EdmondD]

Always something new to learn.

Stupid runners. What if we looked at like, Wilderness or AK Villas?

Caribbean Beach, here we come!

 

[gmboy95]

I have always thought the distinct differnce between the two resorts was always the pool

 

[tjkraz]

What if we looked at like, Wilderness or AK Villas?

Caribbean Beach, here we come!

DIS has rules against posting detailed availability information. Fact is availability changes moment-by-moment. Telling you a resort has vacancies now is meaningless because they may be booked 5 minutes later.

Best thing to do is reach-out to someone renting points and ask them to check. And be prepared to book immediately if something you want is out there. Good luck.

 

[EdmondD]

Oh yeah, sorry...I wasn't asking for detailed availability. It was noted that Epcot resorts are tough for the marathon weekend. I was just wondering if going farther away, like AK, would make a difference. But point taken (no pun intended).

 

[crisi]

Looking at renting points in early January and I see that Boardwalk Villas in 2016 were five fewer points per night (S-Th, Studio in January) than the Beach Club. Given that they are in the same location, essentially, and the Boardwalk rooms are superior (in my opinion, having stayed at both), I'm not sure why the Beach Club would be $70 more per night (assuming $14 PP). Is it because of the superior pool? I'd be willing to pay for the pool in warm weather, but not in January.

Anyway, just wondered why the big difference in similar resorts?

Bolding mine......I'm assuming you've stayed at the regular resorts, not on the DVC side.

You need to understand that the DVC side of the resorts are different than the Deluxe hotel side, so you won't be disappointed. Except at OKW, all studios will have a Queen bed and a Full pullout. The DVC rooms are appointed very similarly now across resorts as they go through refurb - there used to be good theming in the rooms, now its far more subtle. Refurb happens less frequently than it does on the hotel side, the rooms tend to be a little more worn before they see a refresh. Rooms generally get cleaned once a week - more often if the room is turning over more often. Towels are only changed every four days. There is very little difference between a BWV studio and a BCV studio once you are inside the rooms - different art on the walls, different colors.

As to availability, you'll have the best luck at VAKL, which is huge and has lots of rooms - but don't plan on getting a Value room - Standard or Savannah. You can probably still get a BCV or BWV room for that week if you find an owner NOW to rent from - and don't book standard. Make a list of the resorts you want in priority order and start looking.

 

[EdmondD]

Actually, c

Bolding mine......I'm assuming you've stayed at the regular resorts, not on the DVC side.

You need to understand that the DVC side of the resorts are different than the Deluxe hotel side, so you won't be disappointed. Except at OKW, all studios will have a Queen bed and a Full pullout. The DVC rooms are appointed very similarly now across resorts as they go through refurb - there used to be good theming in the rooms, now its far more subtle. Refurb happens less frequently than it does on the hotel side, the rooms tend to be a little more worn before they see a refresh. Rooms generally get cleaned once a week - more often if the room is turning over more often. Towels are only changed every four days. There is very little difference between a BWV studio and a BCV studio once you are inside the rooms - different art on the walls, different colors.

As to availability, you'll have the best luck at VAKL, which is huge and has lots of rooms - but don't plan on getting a Value room - Standard or Savannah. You can probably still get a BCV or BWV room for that week if you find an owner NOW to rent from - and don't book standard. Make a list of the resorts you want in priority order and start looking.

Actually, we'd stayed DVC at each BWV and BCV....and we just really liked BW better....better beds and just somehow liked the room better overall.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[crisi]

Actually, c



Actually, we'd stayed DVC at each BWV and BCV....and we just really liked BW better....better beds and just somehow liked the room better overall.

Thanks for the tips!

I prefer BWV as well

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

AKV will be easier than BWV and VWL likely will be too. But the preferred views may be an option too so I'd go in with a request for where I'd really want to stay and then the backups. If you are looking at renting soon I'd guess you should get one of the 3. Good luck!

On the note of points - the preferred view at BWV and the BCV rooms used to be exactly identical for points. But BWV also had a standard view that was less. It makes BWV a very nice option if you can get standard view but that's not always possible.

 

[drusba]

Always something new to learn.

Stupid runners. What if we looked at like, Wilderness or AK Villas?

Caribbean Beach, here we come!

Jan 1 is a Sunday and Jan 2 is the official day off in 2017. For DVC demand, those two dates are still part of extremely high demand holiday time. Then, the marathon weekend (and when I refer to weekend I mean beginning with the Thursday) is tied with Columbus Day weekend for being the second highest DVC demand weekend of the year (first is the weekend in Nov that has the the Wine and Dine half marathon). And that high demand for those weekends applies to all resorts, not just Epcot resorts. Thus, if you intend to rent a DVC studio for that week, you should consider it necessary to do it quickly even if it is AKV or VWL.

 

[EdmondD]

Jan 1 is a Sunday and Jan 2 is the official day off in 2017. For DVC demand, those two dates are still part of extremely high demand holiday time. Then, the marathon weekend (and when I refer to weekend I mean beginning with the Thursday) is tied with Columbus Day weekend for being the second highest DVC demand weekend of the year (first is the weekend in Nov that has the the Wine and Dine half marathon). And that high demand for those weekends applies to all resorts, not just Epcot resorts. Thus, if you intend to rent a DVC studio for that week, you should consider it necessary to do it quickly even if it is AKV or VWL.

Thanks! I just didn't realize that the marathon and DVC rental were so strongly connected. We did rent points at the Beach Club for a week in Jan 2015 starting with the Friday before marathon weekend with no trouble. But I closed the deal on that literally exactly two years ago today (March 8, 2014). We're just not ready to pull the trigger on 2017 yet, so we may or may not get DVC. I never really thought we'd be planning a trip over marathon weekend again until my wife hatched an insane plan to run 13 miles. Who on earth does this???

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks! I just didn't realize that the marathon and DVC rental were so strongly connected.

There are people who buy DVC because they want lodging for runDisney events. So it's not all about "rental" so much as it's about "high total booking demand from members, some of whom may be renting their points to others."

 

[drusba]

High DVC demand times are not the result of or tied to rentals. They are high demand times because DVC members use those times. Race weekends in particular are high demand times with the Wine & Dine race weekend in November being the highest demand race weekend and marathon weekend in Jan the next highest. DVC's low to moderate demand season at WDW actually lasts about 9 months beginning the Monday after marathon weekend in January and ending late September. Even holidays during that time are not high DVC demand. However, the highest DVC demand time during that 9 month period happens to be the Princess half marathon weekend in latter part of February. Also, mid-April joined the Princess Half marathon weekend as a high DVC demand time during that nine month off-season right after Disney announced the Star Wars Dark Side event including a half marathon that begins this year. One of Disneyland's highest DVC demand times is the Star Wars race weekend in mid-January. DVC just apparently has a huge number of members who are fit and into running (or possibly it is just a huge number of members who like to watch people who are fit and into running suffer for a few hours)