BWV or BCV

[jeanninepl]

We just returned from our first trip home to BLT and LOVED it!!! But we decided next year we would like to do our first two nights over in the Epcot area just to see if we like it and then spend the rest of our week back at BLT.

If it is our first stay in the Epcot Area to try it out - which do you recommend BWV or BCV?

A little information about us - we love BLT for its being in the middle of the action and convenience to the Magic Kingdom. My hubby and I also love to sit on the balcony after the kids go to bed and enjoy some wine. Our girls will be 12 and 7.

We do enjoy spending most of the afternoon at the pool. Is the pool at BCV that impressive that it would be worth choosing this resort?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think SAB is THAT impressive, and we bought BCV points to use mostly in the summer months when we can use the pool. We also have BWV points because if you can book 11 months out, those standard view points are wonderful. We especially love our NYE trips in standard view villas. We have one coming up this year!!!!

 

[yekcoh_99]

Stormalong Bay has the best pool on property. It's a big reason why we bought into the resort. And you can't beat the walk to Epcot!

 

[JWG]

Reasons for either:

BWV:
- In the action - the boardwalk is great in the evenings and at night
- Lots of restaurants and the bakery is fabulous
- Closer to DHS
- Love sitting on the balcony with a boardwalk view and watching Epcot fireworks and people
- Bike rental place on the boardwalk

BCV:
- Has a beach!
- SAB
- Do movies on the beach some nights
- Closer to Epcot
- A bit quieter (in my opinion)
- Close to the Yacht Club if you do boat rentals

 

[jksgrammy]

Though we are not DVC owners, we were able to exchange into BCV thru RCI last December (a one bedroom unit). LOVED it and here's why:
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!

Walk to Epcot or the Boardwalk area. Stormalong Bay is wonderful, though we didn't take advantage of it enough. Come to think of it, not sure we ever did use the pool area.

Beaches n' Cream! Love those sundaes.

Have a 2 bedroom unit confirmed thru exchange for Jan. 2011 and we are taking our 2 grandkids. Can't wait to see their faces when they see StormAlong Bay.

Watched Epcot's fireworks every night from our balcony (that is, when we weren't at actually at Epcot).

Cape May Restaurant - gotta love "all you can eat crab legs"!!

Ok - gotta do the happy dance because I'm just so excited about taking our grandkids -

 

[StormalongKay]

If pools are a big part of your Disney vacation, then your kids will love Stormalong Bay. My kids are 13, 11 & 10 and spend hours there. My kids grew into the pool - it was a bit too much for them 7 years ago when we joined. IMO, your kids are the perfect ages.

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you have a preference for Epcot over DHS, BCV is much closer than BWV. If you like Epcot and DHS equally, BWV is better "centerred" for walking to both. BCV's pool, SAB, is much better-can't beat that sandy bottom area and the sand squishing between your toes. On the other hand, the views from a BWV BW view balcony can't be beat.
Just one note-the movies on the beach at BCV can be attended by anyone, at least at this time. I've walked over there from BWV.

 

[patdotson]

We bought at Beach Club for the pool, location to Epcot. Stormalong Bay is the best and the kids will play for hours. Boardwalk is nice but a little too loud for us. At BCV we can walk over to BW for some of the activites and resturants. Both are very nice.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have a solo trip coming up at BWV in Feb/Mar. I'm pretty geeked about being more "in the middle of it" over on the boardwalk---a shorter distance to get "home" from Jellyrolls, for exaample. But, either would be great, and in warmer weather (or with kids) I might have preferred BCV.

 

[Sammie]

Woo, tough one.

Balcony views definitely the Boardwalk.

Pool: Beach Club

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Beach Club and BCV is the best single property in WDW - all things considered


you heard it here first

 

[kendzee94]

Make sure you have a Plan B and Plan C. We were planning on trying to get a 1 BR at BCV for the 1st week of October. I called at 9am at the 7 month mark and was not able to get it. We weren't able to get a BWV board walk view either. Instead, we reserved a 1BR standard view at BWV because I did not want to use more points for a pool/garden view. While our plan still stands at staying at all of the DVC's on property, we seem to get side tracked. The good thing about DVC is there is always the next trip right around the corner.

 

[adminjedi]

Reasons for either:

BWV:
- In the action - the boardwalk is great in the evenings and at night
- Lots of restaurants and the bakery is fabulous
- Closer to DHS
- Love sitting on the balcony with a boardwalk view and watching Epcot fireworks and people
- Bike rental place on the boardwalk

BCV:
- Has a beach!
- SAB
- Do movies on the beach some nights
- Closer to Epcot
- A bit quieter (in my opinion)
- Close to the Yacht Club if you do boat rentals

Re BWV above:
It is a 3 minute walk from BCV to BWV - for the action, bike rentals and the restaurants.
BCV is actually 1 boat stop less to DHS than from BWV.
Ok, the view from BVW Boardwalk view IS better than BCV, but at BCV you can sit on the beach and look at the Boardwalk!

So, really, the big difference seems to be SAB!!!!

 

[quirty30]

I love both properties and while I agree that SAB is awesome, and gives BCV the edge, I don't think you can go wrong with either. I think BWV is a little better location; we walked to both Epcot & DHS and even over to the Swan/Dolphin to check out some of the restaurants. I would never try to walk to DHS from BCV (heck, even the walk to the YC boat dock is a hike - I sometimes wonder if the dock at Epcot would be closer.) Again, SAB is great, and I think your kids are in a great age range to enjoy it. Mine are 9 and 12 they love it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Make sure you have a Plan B and Plan C. We were planning on trying to get a 1 BR at BCV for the 1st week of October. I called at 9am at the 7 month mark and was not able to get it. We weren't able to get a BWV board walk view either. Instead, we reserved a 1BR standard view at BWV because I did not want to use more points for a pool/garden view. While our plan still stands at staying at all of the DVC's on property, we seem to get side tracked. The good thing about DVC is there is always the next trip right around the corner.

those locations are nearly impossible for non-home resort reservations in October....we went on for studios in 2008 at 9:04 on the day the 7 month window opened up and never got anything at Beach or Boardwalk. Food and Wine Festival makes them completely jammed

 

[LSchrow]

we own at both, but greatly prefer the BWVs.
the views at the BWVs are the best on property, imho (BCV views of EPCOT are of a street with a glimpse of fireworks over trees), and there is soooooo much to do.: community hall (a great little treasure), different street entertainers in the eves, surrey bikes, jellyrolls, carny games, and lots of quiet places also.
walks to EPCOT/DHS from either resort are comparable - the difference is just a few more minutes from BWV vs BCV to EPCOT (about 8 minutes total), and a few more minutes from BCV vs BWV to DHS.
we find SAB (BC/YC's main pool) too congested for our tastes - watching children is difficult, swimming impossible in shoulder to shoulder water, all prime area lounge chairs are frequently taken by mid-morning, and extremelly noisy (we found it impossible to relax poolside, reading a book with margarita in hand). btw, we do love the YC, but will only use their quiet pool (beautiful resort, and much quieter than the BC/BCV - which we found incredibly noisy, all day and night, in the lobby, hallways, outdoors, etc).
while the BCVs are beautiful, we (which includes dh, dd (11-14yo during stays there), ds (9-12yo then) my parents, my brother, sil, and nephews between 6 and 12 - would rather not stay at the BCVs again.

have fun deciding

 

[eporter66]

Staying in the EPCOT area is fantastic. We stayed at BWV's in 2006 and loved it. Easy walking to EPCOT (and not bad for HS if you ask me), no hassle after Illuminations, just walk back to the resort!!! The Boardwalk itself is a blast, our daughter loves it and we go one night every vacation just to hang out on the boardwalk.

We have never stayed at BCV, but if you spend a lot of time at the pool, their pool is the best on property. If you are not a pool person, I think the points at BWV are a little cheaper, so maybe that helps your decision?

Either resort is fine in my book

 

[Sandisw]

Just came back and did BCV for 3 nights and then BLT for 3 nights. If you do enjoy the pool, then I would go with BCV.

We are not huge pool people and DD and I just used the quiet pool at the villas (which we really enjoyed) but had she wanted to head to SAB, it looked like a lot of fun.

The ease to Epcot from BCV is wonderful and there were a few nights we walked over just to watch the fireworks and then walked back. I also like that BCV has the marketplace, which BWV did not. Even though it is not big, it offered at least some CS options, refill stations, and snacks without too much hassle. For us, this was important.

We only stayed in a studio and if we went back, would definitely do the 1 bedroom. But, I had no trouble getting the 3 nights at the 7 month window with my BLT points.

Good luck!!