BWV or OKW?

[skw2020]

Hubby and I will b celebrating our 35th anniversary this yr and was wondering which one would b better. Have stayed at OKW several times (and love it) but have never stayed at BWV. Any help would b appreciated.

 

[lovin'fl]

Hubby and I will b celebrating our 35th anniversary this yr and was wondering which one would b better. Have stayed at OKW several times (and love it) but have never stayed at BWV. Any help would b appreciated.

BWV all the way!!! It's our fave so far (and we own OKW and HHI). The location is fantastic...tons to walk to (stuff on Boardwalk...Swan and Dolphin...Beach and Yacht Club...Epcot...even HS). Give it a try and see what you think.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are a lot of things we don't like about the BW. 1-the parking is horrible. We always drive, so we'd have to park out in the north 40 just to park the car. The one time we did stay at BWV, we used valet a lot (because at the time valet was free for DVC members). 2-the busy-ness of it all. We like the quietness of OKW and, for that matter, BCV. You don't have a noisy pool outside your villa (like at BLT inside the C) with all the pool noise at BCV and OKW. But at BWV, if you don't get the leisure pool. you'll get Luna Park which can be noisy during the day. And at night, if you have a BW view, you have the noise from the BW. 3-OKW has so much room in the villa. And, if you have a mind to, two people can share the jacuzzi tub. Like other OKW owners always say, you can sit on the balcony at BWV and reach into the refrigerator to get something cool to drink without leaving your chair. The porch at OKW is much nicer for sitting and relaxing.

Plus you are a nice quiet boat ride away from DTD (the bus to DTD from the BW can be crowded since it shares with Swan and Dolphin) if you want to get lunch at Earl of Sandwich or see a movie.

 

[jekjones1558]

OP, what will be the dates of your trip?

 

[skw2020]

OP, what will be the dates of your trip?

Dates are 4/21 - 4/26

 

[jekjones1558]

Dates are 4/21 - 4/26

Those dates are during Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. I love it and being at BWV means that it is easy to go multiple times and enjoy all of the displays at a leisurely pace and maybe do some seminars and Flower Power music performances. But these may or may not be of much interest to you. I see that you are from Mississippi, so enjoying the flowers in April may not be as refreshing for you as it is for me (from Minnesota!)
Will you be staying in a 1 bedroom or a studio? We prefer the BWV studios because we like having a couch, but we don't really stay in studios anymore. The BWV 1 bedrooms are so much smaller than OKW. If you are used to OKW 1 bedrooms you might be pretty disappointed at the size of BWV 1 bedrooms. But we just love the BW view rooms so the ability to walk or boat to Epcot and DHS plus the BW view means that we (just DH and I) usually choose BWV over OKW. Still, this is an anniversary trip and an OKW 1 bedroom could be awfully romantic. Whatever you decide, I hope that your trip is magical!

 

[a742246]

I love OKW but those dates are in the middle of flower and garden festival at Epcot. Nothing like walking to Epcot and enjoying the spring flowers. I could do that every day........ Therefore, I would choose BVW.

 

[spiceycat]

bwv or bcv - you can walk to the flower/garden festavial at Epcot.

here is some information
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/ep-flower-garden.htm

expect updates from now until Feb

 

[El&Asmom]

When dh and I have gone alone, we always choose BW. Just love walking to EPCOT at night and being on the boardwalk. OKW is just a little too quiet for us, but others like that.

Either way, enjoy.

 

[lovin'fl]

I agree with D&B on some things.

-OKW is very quaint and tranquil.
-OKW has larger and better laid out villas
-BWV has a terrible parking lot set up (if you won't have a car then this won't be a problem)

BUT
-I find BWV not to be too noisy and busy (yes, a bit more than OKW but not terrible).
-While BWV has horrible bus rides to AK, MK and Downtown Dis...OKW has horrible bus rides to EVERY park and they stop running the boat by a certain time (last Xmas we were at Downtown a couple times when the boats had stopped running and we had to bus back to OKW).
-Unless you can book near the hospitality house, you can be pretty far out from the main pool, boat to DD, Olivias, shop and counter service...etc. You have to book close to 11 months out to get near the HH.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm going to be at BWV for some of those dates, because I do love to be there for F&W.

We are at BWV right now, in a studio, and have not had had luck regarding parking.

The 1 bedrooms at OkW are large and special, but I prefer BWV of those 2 resorts.

 

[Kathi OD]

BWV all the way!!! It's our fave so far (and we own OKW and HHI). The location is fantastic...tons to walk to (stuff on Boardwalk...Swan and Dolphin...Beach and Yacht Club...Epcot...even HS). Give it a try and see what you think.

Ha Ha! I am going to suggest the opposite...OKW all the way (and we own at BWV)!

I just love the extra room you get at OKW and the parking situation is sooooo much better! During busier times, BW can be much noisier.

Also, for me, the distance to EPCOT from OKW is no big deal. We've never had a problem with transportation there.


To the OP, congrats on hitting 35 years of marriage. I am sure wherever you choose to stay, you and your DH will have a magical time!

 

[OKW Lover]

We very much agree with Deb & Bill on this. As you can tell from my screen name, I love OKW.

However, I'd encourage you to give BWV a try once just so you can experience it yourself. You may find the perceived drawbacks aren't as bad from your perspective.

 

[dsanner106]

Love both resorts for all the reasons proponents of each have voiced, that being said, BWV during flower and garden had to be the choice. I love walking to epcot and back to the room at will, no transportation issues at all. We park our car and walk to 2 parks, monorail to MK and just bus to AK so rarely need the car. Also, I like to catch a couple illuminations shows the week we are there and can walk back over for that easily, and not fight traffic to drive out, or wait through 3 busses to get on.

D

 

[skw2020]

Thank you all so much for your very helpful posts. You have helped me make a decision. Now I'm off to try to rent some points. Wish me luck.

 

[LSchrow]

just one more?

studios are comparable in size, but OKW has 2 beds & BWV has a sofabed (we prefer a sofabed, where we can sit, rather than just a "motel room" feel).

we've really haven't had problems with noise when staying BW view...we did dislike the close parking (which also means roads), leading to the sights, sounds, and smells of vehicles at OKW and BCV. BWV resort guest parking is about a 2 minute (leisurely) walk from lobby - they have restricted parking to resort guests for the past few years, and we haven't had any problems finding a close spot since.

we found BWVs to have one of the most quiet resort interiors (lobby, hallways, villas). we plan little, but enjoy spur of the moment, which BWVs is perfectly suited for. we can take a quick walk to EPCOT for a grey goose slushie, go to DHS for TSM FPs and just stroll back later, play ping-pong at CH, watch the strret performers, hit jellyrolls, play carny games, walk to mini-golf, or just read a book on the back lobby balcony (or the little sitting nook beneath). we actually come back from WDW rested and relaxed.
i guess that one of favorite things is that BWVs has many options - one need not even use them all, but it is nice to know they are there


have a happy anniversary!

 

[lovin'fl]

Thank you all so much for your very helpful posts. You have helped me make a decision. Now I'm off to try to rent some points. Wish me luck.

Good luck! What did you decide?

 

[skw2020]

Decided to try BWV. . . . . and finding out there's no availability on the standard studios for my dates. Now its either 90 pts at BWV or 70 pts at OKW?

 

[Deb & Bill]

just one more?

studios are comparable in size, but OKW has 2 beds & BWV has a sofabed (we prefer a sofabed, where we can sit, rather than just a "motel room" feel)....

OKW studio is much larger than the BWV studio. The bathroom alone is twice a big and the tub and toilet are not in a closet like some of the other studios.

 

[lovin'fl]

Decided to try BWV. . . . . and finding out there's no availability on the standard studios for my dates. Now its either 90 pts at BWV or 70 pts at OKW?

That's a tough one...I still think BWV would win out (for me)...but just by a tiny bit. Tough decision for you.