BWV or BLT for October

[Valeep]

We will be down there for the food and wine festival and wanted to try a new resort; our home resort is AKV. I see the appeal to be able to walk to Epcot but staying at a monorail resort could be nice too. Thoughts? Is BWV getting a bit old and need of refurb? Is the extra points for BLT not worth it. Help! Thank you in advance!

 

[Missyrose]

I was just at CR for a Food and Wine Festival trip in October and it was a great home base for that. You have a couple options in terms of travel. You can take the monorail to Epcot or you can walk to MK and take the bus to Beach Club and enter directly into the World Showcase.

BWV may be very difficult to get for F&W at the 7-month mark.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They just did a complete refurbishment of BWV about three years ago. Figure on an other 10-15 years before it happens again. Other than replacement of soft goods.

 

[Geomom]

I agree that BWV and BCV are hard to get into at the 7 mth mark during F&W festival. Last year, when I booked about a week past 7 months for Columbus Day weekend, all that was available for studios were AKV, SSR, and OKW. But if you can...it's a great place to stay during any festival time at Epcot! We love walking to Epcot from the BWV!

 

[JWG]

We did a split stay at BWV and BLT this past October during F&W. We, hands down, LOVED BWV for F&W. The 10-15 minute walk to Epcot right into World Showcase can't be beat. I overall like BLT more than BWV, but not in October.

Certain times of year, we find different resorts are our favorites. During festivals, obviously the area to that festival is our favorite.

 

[n2mm]

Not sure what size unit you are looking for. Getting a studio at BWV during October is hard to do. Often we find 1 bedrooms available at the 7 month window, so that is doeable. I'm already waitlisted for a standard studio at BWV for Oct. 22-20. I waitlisted just 1 week after the 11 month window openned. Preferred studios were available then (no boardwalk either that week). I've stayed at BLT in October, 2 bedroom, but also booked at the 11 month window. October is the one time a year that I use the 11 month window and book one of my homes. Of course December is also the only other time I also book at the 11 month window, but that's not a regular time of year to visit for us. Good luck!

 

[bobbiwoz]

For F&W, my choice would be BWV, it's just so convenient! Call the first day you can!

 

[nytimez]

BW is a nice hotel and it's great to walk to Epcot... but the rooms are getting a bit ratty, despite the refurb a few years ago. The room I stayed in a couple of months back had the feel of a well-worn budget motel, to be honest.

That wouldn't stop me from staying there but BLT is fantastic -- I really enjoyed my stay there, and would do so again in a heartbeat over BW. I liked BLT almost as much as my home resort.

 

[Silvermist999]

BW is a nice hotel and it's great to walk to Epcot... but the rooms are getting a bit ratty, despite the refurb a few years ago. The room I stayed in a couple of months back had the feel of a well-worn budget motel, to be honest.

That wouldn't stop me from staying there but BLT is fantastic -- I really enjoyed my stay there, and would do so again in a heartbeat over BW. I liked BLT almost as much as my home resort.

May I ask what size room you stayed in at BWV? We aren't DVC owners but want to stay at BLT in a 1 BR again in May. We stayed there in 2010 but got a 40% discount. This year only 5% discount so looking at other DVC villas that offer larger discounts. BWV is one of them. But I am not sure I like the look of the rooms...especially after your honest opinion!

 

[nytimez]

May I ask what size room you stayed in at BWV? We aren't DVC owners but want to stay at BLT in a 1 BR again in May. We stayed there in 2010 but got a 40% discount. This year only 5% discount so looking at other DVC villas that offer larger discounts. BWV is one of them. But I am not sure I like the look of the rooms...especially after your honest opinion!

It was a studio. It hadn't been cleaned particularly well -- and beyond that, the room was just plain worn. I'd say it had the least charm of any DVC room I've ever stayed in.

But it's a tradeoff. It's a great location and the Boardwalk itself is terrific.

 

[jekjones1558]

BW is a nice hotel and it's great to walk to Epcot... but the rooms are getting a bit ratty, despite the refurb a few years ago. The room I stayed in a couple of months back had the feel of a well-worn budget motel, to be honest.

That wouldn't stop me from staying there but BLT is fantastic -- I really enjoyed my stay there, and would do so again in a heartbeat over BW. I liked BLT almost as much as my home resort.

I am surprised that the room was ratty after a fairly recent refurb. We had a GV, a 2 bedroom and 2 - 1 bedrooms in October and all were in great shape. The decor is themed to be very different from the modern style of BLT, but the furnishings were in good shape. Everyone in our group commented about how clean the rooms were. In fact I contacted Member Satisfaction when we got home to compliment mousekeeping. Mousekeepers seemed extra attentive, checking in with us almost daily to see if we needed anything.
We check into BWV again tomorrow. I will be interested to see if our experience is like our October stay or if we just got lucky then.

 

[nytimez]

I am surprised that the room was ratty after a fairly recent refurb. We had a GV, a 2 bedroom and 2 - 1 bedrooms in October and all were in great shape. The decor is themed to be very different from the modern style of BLT, but the furnishings were in good shape. Everyone in our group commented about how clean the rooms were. In fact I contacted Member Satisfaction when we got home to compliment mousekeeping. Mousekeepers seemed extra attentive, checking in with us almost daily to see if we needed anything.
We check into BWV again tomorrow. I will be interested to see if our experience is like our October stay or if we just got lucky then.

I'm not a complainer. But I ran into the manager in the lobby and told him about the state of my room. He was polite and empathetic and offered to send someone up immediately, I told him I had already taken care of the visible issues with the room.

Maybe I got unlucky. But even if the room had been spotless, I feel like it had a run-down feel to it. I stayed at a non-DVC room at BW a couple of times before, and the DVC room I had was definitely not up to the same quality.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm not a complainer. But I ran into the manager in the lobby and told him about the state of my room. He was polite and empathetic and offered to send someone up immediately, I told him I had already taken care of the visible issues with the room.

Maybe I got unlucky. But even if the room had been spotless, I feel like it had a run-down feel to it. I stayed at a non-DVC room at BW a couple of times before, and the DVC room I had was definitely not up to the same quality.

Wow! Our studio at BWV over NYE was wonderful! I also found Mousekeeping to be very attentive. I would have let the manager send someone up to address my complaints.

 

[jekjones1558]

I stayed at a non-DVC room at BW a couple of times before, and the DVC room I had was definitely not up to the same quality.

I would agree with this. I think that all of the DVCs which have hotel counterparts are furnished less luxuriously than the deluxe hotels.

 

[Silvermist999]

I am surprised that the room was ratty after a fairly recent refurb. We had a GV, a 2 bedroom and 2 - 1 bedrooms in October and all were in great shape. The decor is themed to be very different from the modern style of BLT, but the furnishings were in good shape. Everyone in our group commented about how clean the rooms were. In fact I contacted Member Satisfaction when we got home to compliment mousekeeping. Mousekeepers seemed extra attentive, checking in with us almost daily to see if we needed anything.
We check into BWV again tomorrow. I will be interested to see if our experience is like our October stay or if we just got lucky then.

I would love it if you could post some pics/review of your room when you get back! We are considering booking a 1 BR villa. No idea about room location yet!
Thank you!

 

[chainkid]

I came back in october and had three different units all of which were immaculate. I even called member services to say how delighted I was with everything on this trip. I have only had one subpar room in the 11 years i have gone down and it was due to no hot water not a ratty room. My standards are pretty high as i only stay in luxury hotels but DVC while not as luxurious has nice accomondations at a fabulous location. It is my hands down favorite resort. I am sure housekeeping can be hit or miss and due to complaints at all the DVC units our dues are now going to go up so they can remedy that. I like the new decor very much . I would rather stay at the boardwalk in a room less than perfect than any other DVC anywhere but luckily i have not had issues

 

[jekjones1558]

I would love it if you could post some pics/review of your room when you get back! We are considering booking a 1 BR villa. No idea about room location yet!
Thank you!

I will see if I can do it before my DH, Bob, "Bobifies" the room.

 

[jekjones1558]

I remembered to take photos of our room. Here is a link to the thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43698336#post43698336

 

[tomandrobin]

BWV over BLT for Food & Wine Festival.

Transferring at TTC station is a pain and on the way back, you have to loop around too.