BWV or BCV with preschoolers???

[Popovich]

In October, the DH and I are taking our 3yr old and 5yr old to Disney for their first time. We are also taking Grandma and Grandpa for their first time. We plan to go the the MK 2 or 3 half days and to the other parks a half day each. We will be coming back to the room in the afternoons for lunch, naps and swimming.

We currently have reservations at our home resort, BWV for 8 days in a 2 BR PV that we made 11 mos. ago. We requested Epcot view upper floor. I called today and also reserved a 2BR at BCV but most likely no view of Epcot or fireworks. We have only been to BWV once and are having trouble deciding.

Looking for your input regarding pools, transportation, activities for little kids, ammenities etc.! Thanks for your help.

 

[Luv2Dream]

I have stayed at the Yacht Club with a 4 year old and you can't beat Stormalong Bay for that age group. Part of the pool is only 3 feet deep and it's a big portion with sandy bottom, lifeguard, etc. My daughter never wanted to get out. I haven't stayed at the BWV (yet, but we go in June). I'm not sure if they have that same low-level pool. That is the selling point for me. I don't really care about views of fireworks or Epcot, but that's just me.

 

[Lesley]

I'm not sure what BCV has to offer little ones (besides the kiddie pool at SAB, which is pretty cool). BWV has a nice little playground near the pool that seems geared towards preschool aged kids. It was a bit small for my 7yo ds, and my 2yo dd couldn't do everything, but the ages of 3-5 seem perfect for this area. The community hall has coloring pages and crayons out at tables. My kids liked it.

There is live entertainment on the Boardwalk at night...some of it might interest the kids. The kiddie pool at Luna Park is pretty standard. There is a squirting elephant in it.

At either resort you're close to Epcot and MGM.....both parks have fun stuff for the kids to do. There are the Kidcot craft things in World Showcase, the viking ship play area, the maze in the UK and fountains in FW. At MGM the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground is fun for preschoolers. My ds loved it when he was 5.

I'd say either place would work out well. Of course if you're going to be spending most of your time at the MK, there's also VWL! Its a nice resort with little ones because they can roam a bit more freely on the pathways, etc...(unlike at the BW where its often crowded and you need to hold hands)

Have fun, no matter where you stay!

 

[Terry S]

We stayed at BC last October with a 4 and 5 year old and my parents. This made our decision to buy BCV we had such a wonderful time. The kids really enjoyed the pool, there is a big area that is only 3 feet deep where the kids can play in the sand and make sand castles. My kids are good swimmers so they were also able to go in the other areas of the pool such as the sinking sands area. We really enjoyed breakfast at Cape May Cafe also.

Just a side note, this was also my mothers first time to WDW, she loved the BC as well as the whole WDW experience. We arrived kind of late the first night so we went to Epcot she walked into Epcot and we went to the area of the huge fountain and she stood there and cried. It was a wonderful experience to see my parents with my kids in WDW. We are all going back at the end of this month.

 

[zurgswife]

BWV is our favorite with our kids...my 4 yr old hated SAB kiddie pool wanted to go back to the regular pool at the
BW.

So, I vote for BW

 

[maburke]

Stormalong Bay at BC was the selling point (literally -- we just bought into BCV) for us. We have a nearly-2-yo and a nearly 5-yo. But with pool-hopping privileges, you can use SAB anyway (assuming it's not full and they don't pull privileges there on short notice). BWV is so close, that we've walked between the two pools on occasion. I'd stay with BWV if the view is important to you, and just swim at SAB when you get the chance. You probably know what the Luna Park pool at BWV is like, and I believe they have one of those small round separate toddler pools there, as well. They also have the community hall at BWV, I don't know if they will have one at BCV, or whether all DVC members can use the community hall.

Have fun!

 

[Popovich]

Thanks, I forgot that BW has the little playground and I did not know that they had activities for little ones at community hall.

I don't recall reading if BCV has a playground or "communtiy hall" facility.

 

[Boo Mc]

We just got back from BWV with a 3 and 5 y.o. We would definitely stay there over BC. The community hall has lots of activities. Also, I liked that we could see our 5 y.o. go up the stairway for the water slide . You can watch from the pool whereas at the BC they have to go out of the pool area, cross the sidewalk and up a huge stairway. I would not let my son do this by himself (just because I like to be able to see him at all times near water) so unless you want to go up the slide every time then BW seems like it would be more convenient. I'm sure our kids would have loved the sand area at the BC but I'm also glad that I didn't have to deal with all that sand (I know I'm a mean mom). Lastly, at BW I felt like I could pretty much see the whole pool area whereas at BC there a lot of nooks and crannies and I think it'd be harder to keep an eye on little ones. That said, I think that we would stay at BC when the kids are older and better swimmers (in case they wander away) because it is a fabulous pool. But at this age we found the BW just perfect.

 

[Popovich]

I did not realize that about SOB; neither of the little ones are independent swimmers and I certainly don't want to be following them around if I'm not swimming with them. It would be nice to sit and watch. Maybe SOB would be better when they are a little older.

Thanks for sharing info about your trip!

 

[cswans]

We had a positive experience at SAB with our 2 year toddler. She was fascinated with the sand. (It's large and gravelly so it doesn't stick quite as tenaciously as real sand, nor can you make very good sand castles with it.) She just sat in about 6 inches of water and used a Disney provided bucket and shovel and didn't want to go anywhere else. She's normally adventurous, but couldn't tear away from that sand.

She did get quickly bored at the BWVLuna Park baby pool. She liked the play area that's right next to the baby pool though. Although the surfaces really get hot!!

Try to think of what sorts of things your child likes best and good luck deciding!

 

[spiceycat]

Okay you say you were going to spend 3 days at the Mk, and a half day at the other parks - so why aren't you staying at VWL?

the boat ride to the MK, sure beats the bus transporation with all the other Epcot resorts to the Mk, there is a bunch of stuff for the little ones to do there, they have a storytelling at the fireplace most nights, they made things or paint things - sandcastles, t-shirts, kites, etc. VWL has a playground on the beach. and this is possible the prettiest of the DVC resorts. (my opinion)

 

[JonHM]

Given not just the ages of your children, but your agenda for the trip, I would recommend the VWL also - not only is it great for children of their age, but you can't beat the convenience to MK from there. Both BWV and BCV are fantastic choices as well, I just think that VWL fits what you want to do on this trip almost perfectly.

 

[Boo Mc]

I agree that VWL is great for the boat to MK but also consider what you'll be doing at night. If you, or your parents, want to go out at night then the BW area is better for dining and entertainment opportunities. But is you aren't planning on doing much at night then VWL should be fine. Good luck deciding.

 

[Popovich]

I had checked VWL but they only had some of the dates available. I've never done a waitlist so I'm not sure if that would be an option. VWL was our first choice because of proximity to MK and the ease of taking strollers on the boat rather than the bus. Also, I think we'll be too wiped out at night to go out more than once or twice.

Maybe I'll call MS and ask if we can waitlist for the days they don't have.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[Boo Mc]

We used the wait list for our last trip and got in - I'd definitely give it a try. They didn't notify us when ours came through (I think they're supposed to) but I happened to call back about something else and found out that we got in. So you may want to call back if you don't hear anything. We'll also be at WDW in Oct. - can't wait!

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

I'm casting another vote for BWV becuase I agree with Boo MC about SAB. I always thought it was an awesome pool and couldn't wait to pool hop from BWV. (BCV wasn't open when we bought in.) However, after pool hopping their last June with a 8, 4, and 21 month old, I realized for the logistical reasons mentioned by Boo MC it wasn't a good choice for us afterall. It's too difficult to keep track of the kids (who have my husband and I outnumbered.) Even if we could logistically keep up with the kids, I like to see what my oldest is doing (and he likes to show off for me) at the same time that I'm keeping an eye on the younger ones. That's all feasible a Luna Park but not at SAB. I think the kids will eventually prefer SAB, and I hope we can still pool hop when they're old enough to give them a little more freedom, but I prefer BWV over BCV at their current ages.

The kids also enjoyed the BWV Community Hall activities, and there's a key advantage to that as well: my 8 year old wanted to spend more time than I like to admit in there playing (free!) video games, and it was really nice to have the quiet pool just outside where I could sit and relax and read a book nearby. We did that for a couple hours on two different afternoons while the younger two were taking naps in the Villa with my husband, and it was one of the highlights of the trip for both me and my 8 year old. LOL!

I'm sure you'll have a great trip wherever you decide to stay!

 

[Popovich]

Thanks for the idea. We only had to wait list for the Saturday and Sunday of our stay and they already called to tell us we got in. So, we will spend 4 nights at VWL and 4 nights at either BCV or BW; I have both reserved. Now to decided between the two. I was hoping that grandma and grandpa had a preference, but, no such luck! Thanks for all your help!

 

[joepoe]

One nice amenity is the "baby switch-out" at all the rides. You tell the cast member at the ride entrance you want to do a baby switch, the CM gives tou a ticket, then you go on the ride, and after the ride, the people who watched the kids can go through the exit and get on the ride.

Works GREAT! We went with two yr old twins one year. As the long as the little ones have strollers (you can rent at the parks) you can get a lot of fun in. Without a stroller, a 5 yr olds little legs get tuckered out pretty quickly!