BWV renovations

[DeeCee735]

Hi everyone.

I was just looking on the dvcmember website and I went into check availability and under the BWV for the dates I put in (early December) there was a notice up about the renovations taking place at BWV as well as a notice on limited parking.

I have a reservation, but am waitlisted for a bigger room, which is why I was looking in the first place, but this is the first time I noticed the notice.

Can anyone tell me anything about the renovations? I thought they were finished. We are an all adult party of women with a Garden/Pool view and I'm wondering how much this is going to effect our stay there.

Also, anyone know how much it is to valet park there per day? I hold an AP, if that has anything to do with it and one of us is a Florida Resident. We do have a car. This is the first time I'm bringing this group to BWV, I sort of wish I had booked at AKV. Nothing is available in any of the DVC resorts for the first week in December. Anything specific going on to make DVC resorts so unavailable?

TIA

 

[hakepb]

The beginning of December is the most popular time of the year for DVC members.
Basically every reason you wanted to go ...
Decent weather, low park crowds, low DVC points, Christmas decor (but not taking away from actual holiday family gatherings) and the annual DVC member meeting make it very desirable to many DVC members.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We checked into the BWV yesterday 10/29...I requested high floor and we are on the 4th floor....in a newly renovated 2br...a few doors down from the elevator on the right..with the standard view rooms across the hall...love the flooring...room is immaculate... i.I walked down the 4th floor hallway and they are stil working on the 4th floor rooms down the first right you can make...some overlook the main pool and other side overlooks the quiet pool....if anyone has any questions I'll try to get back online tomorrow morning

 

[Splashboat]

We're here now. Staying standard view. Requested high floor and we are on the second floor. There is machinery outside our balcony and about a dozen men working between 9-5 weekdays. I don't hear the noise because I have to run the dryer all day just to get a small load of wash dry. It is literally taking me at least 4 hours per small load to dry.
I am at the point I would rather hear construction then the dryer. (I do think I would be bothered if I was on the ground floor though because these guys are literally right in their doorway windows first thing in the morning setting up - 9:00 AM prompt.)

Also, there are huge cranes and people working near the clown pool. I was nervous about all the construction myself but it really isn't a big deal. It needs to be done and everything else looks very nice. The workers are extremely polite and hold the doors open for everyone they pass.

We also rented a car. If your reservation is here you just scan your band and gate in the parking lot. We haven't had a problem parking yet.

CMs said they are still working on the fourth floor standard view rooms. Apparently working their way down. Although, I did see a crane with workers in a BWV room yesterday when we were at the pool.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks for the replies and the information. I really wish I booked a 2 bedroom or booked at AKV. I doubt I'll get my wait list

 

[jillgunter]

Yes those dryers take forever! But the washer is fast

 

[MsTessP]

We checked out of 3075 - standard 1 bedroom - on Wednesday. It was close to the elevators and overlooked the front entrance and airline check-in. It had not been refurbed. Although there was someone painting on our balcony one morning, we had no issue whatever with noise.

 

[drusba]

Estimated completion of BWV renovation is now April. It started in Jan 2015 and about 60% to 65% is done. Done are the boardwalk view and pool/garden view rooms on the hallway that leads to the boardwalk view rooms, and the hallways that connect to it and have half the main pool area rooms and the activity lawn rooms. For the rest of the resort (standard views, half the main pool views, and the quiet pool views, fifth floor is done and fourth floor is partly done. Floors below that are still to be done.

Parking without valet is possible but space is reduced and there might be issues at times because there are a number of trailers and trucks sitting in the parking area used by the workers. Valet parking is now $25 a day at all the resorts that have valet. The AP only gets free parking at the parks, which you otherwise automatically have if staying on site. A Tables in Wonderland card provides free valet parking for a confirmed restaurant reservation at a resort.

I guess it is possible your wait list could come through but, as noted above, you are seeking a stay during the highest DVC demand week of the year and finding anything at any DVC resort will not be easy.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Oh shoot, requested 4th floor quiet pool yesterday because I thought they were completed. Oh well, at this point I'm just going in expecting the worst and hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[magicaldisney]

Oh well, at this point I'm just going in expecting the worst and hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised.

This is how we are approaching this. We are making it out so bad in our heads, it can't possibly be as bad as we are thinking and then we will all be pleasantly surprised just like you!!

 

[pasta]

Heading down on the 17th, and I am wrapping my head around my room assignment. I've decided not to request anything and see what happens. I think I need to have a better outlook also.

I love hearing the updates from people who are there. Keep them coming!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We hosted our extended family (11 adults) at Disney over the New Year. We were celebrating my mother's 80th birthday.

We booked a BLT 1-bedroom Lake View for my brother and his family and had 3 rooms at BWV... a 1-bedroom Garden View (#5022) for us with my mom in the bedroom, and Garden View Studios for our son/daughter-in-law (#5018) and daughter/son-in-law (#5054). All of our BWV villas were on the 5th floor and were reburbished. The rooms were immaculate, but were decorated inconsistently. Both of the studio units felt more like the charm of old, but the dark wooden entertainment center took away from the ambiance. HOWEVER, the centers pulled down to reveal a child-sized twin bed that I am sure will be much-appreciated by many traveling families. I just wish that Disney had used a lighter wood for these pieces rather than making the room feel so cramped and heavy with that dark wood.

The 1-bedroom unit we had was definitely missing much of the charm we loved about Boardwalk, and seemed to be a mish-mash of styles for the decor. For instance, the bedroom space in the 1-bedroom unit was great, and reminiscent of the Boardwalk feel. There was a shift from mostly blue and white to mostly green and orange, but the fabric patterns and artwork were well-done. The bathroom spaces were also great... with a wonderful walk-in shower that was very appealing. However, the living room space and kitchen were a hot mess with regard to decor. It looked like they used left-over items from other resorts to fill in over at Boardwalk, with contemporary styled metal light fixtures and dark Asian-feeling wood furniture combined with the older painted table, dining chairs, stools, and side chair that were previously present in Boardwalk villas. The pull-out sofa was covered in a very rough, uncomfortable industrial fabric... definitely not homey in any way, but probably quite practical. The new floors were also practical, with a vinyl driftwood-look floor covering the entry, kitchen and living room. The coffee table was on casters and rolled around quite easily... actually TOO EASILY as it frequently rolled away from the sofa and was rendered basically useless as a coffee table in the process! Hidden Mickeys were few and far between in this space. While Mickey is in the pattern on the curtains, we only found him on ONE side pillow throughout the entire living room area.

As an owner, I feel that our money would have been better spent on furnishings that were more in keeping with Boardwalk of old. In my opinion, the decor in the larger reburbished units has removed the feeling of a "luxury" Disney resort and feels more like we are now using our points for a college apartment furnished with a hodge podge of hand-me-downs.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Here are some photos of the pull-down child-sized bed in a renovated studio at BWV... #5018. In the background, you can see the fabric for the new curtains that was used in all three of our renovated villas... a beige pattern with a few hidden Mickeys scattered throughout. The carpet in this photo was used in both of the renovated studio villas and also in the bedroom space of our 1-bedroom villa. A vinyl driftwood-look flooring with groves was used in the living room, kitchen and entry areas of the 1-bedroom villa (sorry, I didn't feel inspired to take a photo in that villa!).

 

[jekjones1558]

We hosted our extended family (11 adults) at Disney over the New Year. We were celebrating my mother's 80th birthday.

We booked a BLT 1-bedroom Lake View for my brother and his family and had 3 rooms at BWV... a 1-bedroom Garden View (#5022) for us with my mom in the bedroom, and Garden View Studios for our son/daughter-in-law (#5018) and daughter/son-in-law (#5054). All of our BWV villas were on the 5th floor and were reburbished. The rooms were immaculate, but were decorated inconsistently. Both of the studio units felt more like the charm of old, but the dark wooden entertainment center took away from the ambiance. HOWEVER, the centers pulled down to reveal a child-sized twin bed that I am sure will be much-appreciated by many traveling families. I just wish that Disney had used a lighter wood for these pieces rather than making the room feel so cramped and heavy with that dark wood.

The 1-bedroom unit we had was definitely missing much of the charm we loved about Boardwalk, and seemed to be a mish-mash of styles for the decor. For instance, the bedroom space in the 1-bedroom unit was great, and reminiscent of the Boardwalk feel. There was a shift from mostly blue and white to mostly green and orange, but the fabric patterns and artwork were well-done. The bathroom spaces were also great... with a wonderful walk-in shower that was very appealing. However, the living room space and kitchen were a hot mess with regard to decor. It looked like they used left-over items from other resorts to fill in over at Boardwalk, with contemporary styled metal light fixtures and dark Asian-feeling wood furniture combined with the older painted table, dining chairs, stools, and side chair that were previously present in Boardwalk villas. The pull-out sofa was covered in a very rough, uncomfortable industrial fabric... definitely not homey in any way, but probably quite practical. The new floors were also practical, with a vinyl driftwood-look floor covering the entry, kitchen and living room. The coffee table was on casters and rolled around quite easily... actually TOO EASILY as it frequently rolled away from the sofa and was rendered basically useless as a coffee table in the process! Hidden Mickeys were few and far between in this space. While Mickey is in the pattern on the curtains, we only found him on ONE side pillow throughout the entire living room area.

As an owner, I feel that our money would have been better spent on furnishings that were more in keeping with Boardwalk of old. In my opinion, the decor in the larger reburbished units has removed the feeling of a "luxury" Disney resort and feels more like we are now using our points for a college apartment furnished with a hodge podge of hand-me-downs.

Our BWV 1 bedroom dining area had a new wood-look laminate table and new chairs with vinyl cushions, much more practical than the old set.

 

[Lisa F]

In your opinion is it easier to pull down the bed for sleeping than it is to pull out the sofa? I am traveling just myself and my 8 year old son. I think he'd get more of a kick out of sleeping in that bed than the pullout sofa. it also seems like it would be easier to open and close that than the sofa on a daily basis (when we stayed at BLT we just left the sofa open).

 

[hakepb]

In your opinion is it easier to pull down the bed for sleeping than it is to pull out the sofa? I am traveling just myself and my 8 year old son. I think he'd get more of a kick out of sleeping in that bed than the pullout sofa. it also seems like it would be easier to open and close that than the sofa on a daily basis (when we stayed at BLT we just left the sofa open).

Based on other Disney Murphy beds, I would say the pull down is easier..but the pull down occupant has a very poor view of the TV right above them (if that matters as you would always have the couch)

 

[Lisa F]

I'd probably let him sit in bed with me to watch tv and turn it off when it was time for bed. I think he'd be tickled as hell to stay in that pulldown.

 

[jekjones1558]

The pulldown would definitely be a lot less of a hassle. If he is okay with that then you are lucky!

 

[Lisa F]

He will be 8 at the time. He is going to be ALL OVER that when I show him the pictures!

 

[jerseygal]

He will be 8 at the time. He is going to be ALL OVER that when I show him the pictures!

Such a CUTE idea.. Assume it is the same as Poly and VGF; Didn't sleep on it, but felt the mattress and it felt plush rather than a "thinner" mattress. Was "picturing" the day when we bring grandchildren one day in the future; perfect!