BWV Questions

[dcmbshafe]

Apologies in advance for the long post and numerous questions.

In May, we will be staying in a 2BR at BWV on purchased DVC points. There are a couple things about BWV that we're wondering about:

1. Is valet parking free if we are staying at BWV even if we are not actually DVC members?

2. We've read some horror stories about transportation to MK, AK & DTD from BWV, which is a little confusing b/c the "Unofficial Guide" and other guidebooks report commute times to/from those areas that are significantly less than we have read in some of the posts on this board. We will have a rental car, so we are wondering whether folks recommend using the car to go to MK/AK/DTD or whether we should use Disney transportation.

3. If we use a car to go to MK we know that parking is free, but is it preferred parking or general parking?

4. Do you ever have problems getting on buses or boats from/to BWV and are forced to wait for the next bus/boat?

5. Is it faster to walk to MGM from BWV or take the boat?

6. When we made our reservation, we were asked to list room preferences. We have a standard view 2BR and we listed "lower floor" and "nearer to elevator", but after reading some of the posts we're not sure these were the best preferences to list. Can we change these preferences and, if so, does anyone have recommendations? If there are preferences that could give us better chances of being able to see Illuminations from our balcony, we'd likely change them.

7. When we arrive at BWV, is there anything we should say or any requests we should make that might improve our room assignment?

Thanks in advance for anyone who responds to this. Please feel free to answer as many or few questions as you'd like - we just really appreciate any feedback and/or advice we can get.

 

[diathoney]

1. Valet parking - This is a hot topic. If your room key says DVC member, the valet parking will be free. Technically I believe only the DVC member is supposed to get this perk, but hey what are you going to do? Force them to take your money? You'll still want to tip.

2. Transportation to MK, AK & DTD from BWV - We took the bus to MK. It was around 10AM - no problems at all. We waited about 10 minutes. The bus went straight to MK and dropped us off close to the gate (not in the BW bus spot). To get back, we took the round-about way via monorail which was fun.

3. MK parking is general parking. You have to walk or ride the tram to the TTC for the monorail to MK.

4. Missed bus/boat - We missed the boat to MGM one morning. We walked instead which was faster for us than waiting for the next boat. The boats come about every 20 minutes.

5. Faster to walk to MGM or take the boat - We found it faster to walk since the boats stops at the Swan/Dolphin before it goes to MGM. It was a nice walk.

6. Preferences - I think it really depends on what available when you check-in. Talk to the CM, they'll be happy to show you what's available. They do their best to make you happy, but remember that some guest stay 2 days, some stay 7, others even longer so what's available depends on who's checking out the day you check-in.

7. Improve room assignment - Your best bet is to be nice to the CM!

You'll have a great time - the BWV are my favorite!!

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

1. I believe valet parking is free even when you rent the points--I may be wrong as we didnt have a car on our trip but we were treated as members otherwise.
2. The transpotation to MK DTD & AK were fine. That was one of our worries as well but it turmed out to be for not. Be aware that there is no transportation from the PARKS to DTD only from the resorts. (we found this out the hard way one night at MGM)
3. The first time we went to Disney we drove our car and parking is free when staying on property. As far as general or preferred I dont know which it was considered but we were pretty darn close to the entrances.
4. The boats are good sized so we only on one occassion had to wait for a second boat (in Sept right after MGM closed) but I guess this depends on when you go. (crowds wise)
5. I think its faster to walk just because you dont have to wait for the bus to show up etc... just walk out the door and be on your way. Its not a bad walk really.
6. Since you have a standard view you are not going to be able to see the EPCOT fireworks as its on the opposite side but there are some nice views of the canals etc...If view is important to you just request a NON parkinglot view but definetly close to the elevators. The corridors are long.
7. It wouldnt hurt to ask for an upgraded view but they may not have one available. We wanted a boardwalk view but they are very hard to get. I think they like to save them for the actual DVC members. The man who rents us our points said alot of the time HE cant get a BW view.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I just realized that if you ask for and get a first floor room then you dont need to be near the elevators as you would be able to walk right out your patio door.
Hmmm... maybe Ill request that for my trip. If you look at a map of the resort the standard views are the ones all the way in the back on the right around the quiet pool. Ask for a room on the canal/pool side that will avaoid the parking lot (hopefully you will get it!) The person you rented points from will have to change you room request for you ahead of time (only members can call member services.) You can only do it yourself when you get there.
Good Luck!

 

[skfulkers]

We just returned from the BWV in December. We also had a 2 bdrm standard view and we loved the view. We were on the 5th floor overlooking the resort entrance and parking area (I think it was #5075). I just wanted to let you know that we could see the Illuminations fireworks from our balconies. Obviously, these were just the higher fireworks as you cannot see much more than that unless you are inside Epcot, but you could see fireworks nonetheless. I would definitely be pleased to stay in this room again. We had a preferred view studio on a previous trip and the view was nowhere near as nice as this 2 bdrm.
Have a great trip!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by dcmbshafe
...(snip)...6. When we made our reservation, we were asked to list room preferences. We have a standard view 2BR and we listed "lower floor" and "nearer to elevator", but after reading some of the posts we're not sure these were the best preferences to list. Can we change these preferences and, if so, does anyone have recommendations? If there are preferences that could give us better chances of being able to see Illuminations from our balcony, we'd likely change them.

If you are assigned a room that meets your requests, you will not be able to see Illuminations from your balcony. If you want to see Illuminations, ask the member who made the reservation for you to call and change your requests. Ask for a higher room across from the bus stop. FWIW, these rooms are NOT close to the elevators. If your SV room is close to the elevators, the view of Illuminations is blocked by the BWI/Convention Center. You'll have to decide what is more important to you.

WIW, we ask for our smoking preference first and then upper floor across from the bus stop.

7. When we arrive at BWV, is there anything we should say or any requests we should make that might improve our room assignment?

Thanks in advance for anyone who responds to this. Please feel free to answer as many or few questions as you'd like - we just really appreciate any feedback and/or advice we can get.

The BWV almost always pre-assigns rooms. (It doesn't help to call or fax in advance - the room assigners use the info that DVC puts on the reservation to make their assignments). You may not have a lot of "wiggle room" to request a different room because the BWV is usually at or near capacity.

hat said, it doesn't hurt to smile and ask. Sometimes you get lucky. You may get a choice of waiting for a room that meets your requests or getting a room that is ready right now if they aren't totally full.

FWIW, we've stayed in a SV room on at least 6 occasions and never had a bad room! We've been able to see the higher level fireworks from about 1/2 of the rooms we've been assigned. You can always just walk out to the Boardwalk and get a great view of the higher fireworks, so it won't be all that awful if you don't get one of the rooms that have the fireworks view.

BWV is a great resort in a great location. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

Best wishes -

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by SYDNCLAIRESMOM
I just realized that if you ask for and get a first floor room then you dont need to be near the elevators as you would be able to walk right out your patio door.

But that's not really practical due to the fact that you would have to leave your patio doors unlocked if you left that way. I would also feel a little funny walking through some of the landscaping/small shrubs that surround the patio. I don't think it was intended that people use the patio for an entrance.

mmm... maybe Ill request that for my trip. If you look at a map of the resort the standard views are the ones all the way in the back on the right around the quiet pool. Ask for a room on the canal/pool side that will avaoid the parking lot (hopefully you will get it!) The person you rented points from will have to change you room request for you ahead of time (only members can call member services.) You can only do it yourself when you get there.
Good Luck!

I'm not sure exactly what you are looking at on the map, but the rooms that overlook the quiet pool and canal are preferred view. The standard view rooms overlook the hotel entrance, the bus stop, the entrance driveway and the parking lots. IMHO, the view is actually quite nice - lots of flowers and landscaping between the rooms and the blacktop.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

Sorry I was under the impression that both sides of the building were standard view. I thought just the rooms on the promenade and the main pool were the only preferred ones . I didnt realize you could see the fireworks from all the way back there either. My bad.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had a standard view 1 bedroom the past 3 Decembers. All 3 were on the 3rd or 4th floor, one time across from the bus stop the other two times near the pond. All had great Illuminations views. They are far from the elevator but there is a stairway on the corner near the pond that you can use for a quick exit to the bus stop or parking lot.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Standard views are about 20% of the total rooms at BWV. Mostly parking lot views, not pool or waterways or Boardwalk views.

Technically, if you pay to rent points, you are not entitled to any of the DVC perqs, but that's not to say you won't get them.

If you are a guest of a DVC member (no money changes hands), then you are entitled to most of the perqs.