Can't decide between AKV or BCV... HELP! Please?

[its.me.heather]

We don't get to take yearly Disney trips and in 2007 was our first ever DVC trip. It was HEAVENLY. We stayed at the Beach Club Villa's and celebrated my daughters 5th birthday had the time of our lives even with really small kids in tow.

Our next trip won't be till Nov 2009. This time it will be more for my sons 5th birthday.

He loves animals. He's very into Diego because of the "animal rescue" part of the show. He does like Mickey, Donald, Pluto and Goofy the best of any Disney Characters he might have a chance to eat with. He wants to see Peter Pan and Capt Hook, Wall-E and Lightning McQueen but I don't think there is a possibility for any of those is there?

so anyhow.. I LOVED the BCV. I loved walking to the fireworks each night. Having the Cape May Character Breakfast so close I didn't even have to open my eyes to get there. I loved that the Boardwalk was right there and DH and I could go and have a few drinks in the evening. The boat ride to MGM wasn't a bad perk and we ADORED the pool.

what I did not like about BCV is the transportation to MK or Down town Disney. I ended up taking a cab and just paying for it to go to downtown Disney. My daughter did the BBB and thought she went to princess heaven.

So this trip is for the son though that loves animals. I thought to myself "boy he would freak to look out the window and see a giraffe.

Then I'm looking and it seems the walk to the rooms are very long ( I do have MS and while I am so lucky to be very mobile at the time if I overdo it it can get cause problems walking an additional 10-15 minutes to just get IN our room would not be a good thing.. Especially doing those "short trips" to grab a drink or snack or whatever.

Also looks like I will face the same issues getting to MK from AKV and the BCV.

Any input? I'm trying hard to make this vacation about him - at the same time I was so impressed and just darn happy with the BCV - its location mainly and the fact that it has several restaurants to choose from right there that I hate to NOT stay there.

Since I have never stayed at AKV I was hoping someone could tell me more. Give me some ideas of the pros and cons of it.

We stayed on the 1st floor at BCV and I will request the same at AKV if that is possible.

Also what cool activities do you plan for a 5 year old boy? I have NO brothers, and have never planned a Disney trip for a boy. Of course he's been with us and just had fun but he was a baby the first time and turning 3 the second trip. Not much to complain about at those ages. I want this to be a really MAGICAL trip for him. I'll gladly accept any and all ideas!

Thanks
Heather

 

[edk35]

Well I think you would have a great time at AKV too. Are you planning on staying in Kidani Village or Jambo House? We stayed at BCV for the first time this past summer in July. WE LOVED IT.....MY KIDS LOVED IT....COULD NOT FIND ONE NEGATIVE ABOUT STAYING THERE. Even the MK busses were fine and we never waited more than a few minutes. We are sorta in the same situation as you. We were planning on going back next July and staying about 8 or 9 nights at BCV again. Then we decided to do an add on because we wanted more points so we added on to AKV. Our other home resort is SSR. SO then that meant we would do a split stay next summer staying at AKV for a couple/three nights. THEN............our older son asked about staying at Vero for a few nights. He wanted to this past summer too but instead we decided to split between OKW and BCV and stay for 2 weeks. He seem happy with that. So here we are again....him wanting to stay at Vero and I must admit....I would like to try it out too. So I started thinking "do we really want to stay at AKV when it is not completely finished yet?" I have been following the threads about that and some people are worried about staying there starting in May and the LONG WALKS and all too. Do we want to do a 3 way split (NOT REALLY). We have never even stepped inside AKL/AKV so we bought site unseen but it really appealed to us so we are happy we have the 100 points there though. It is all funny really becausde the last two summers we did split stays and I really didn't want to do that this next summer but then we added onto to AKV and so we wanted to stay there next summer. Sorry to hijack your thread.

So if it your trip is all about your son....maybe you should just BITE THE BULLET and stay there or do a split stay. I don't know how long your planning a trip for...but you could split your time between both resorts. I can see why you loved Beach Club ...we did too. Good Luck with your decision. I will be following this thread to see what responses you get. Oh and let me add that no matter where you stay ...your little boy can have a magical b'day. When you make your ressie...tell them you will be celebrating a b'day. We did this one year for my son who was turning 4 and the day we came back to our room on his b'day there was an autographed pictures of the characters, a balloon and a stuffed Pooh. We had his b'day meal at Chef Mickey's and we ordered him a cake there too. Plus you can get the button for him to wear. IT seems the CM's go way out of their way to make a big deal for b'days. I am sure there are loads of activities at AKV too. Have fun and I am sure others will suggest other b'day activities.

 

[Laneychris]

I would try AKV as well. My son (4) is into animals and Deigo and he love being about to watch the animals, he thinks he is staying with the animals.

 

[BraveMom3]

Depending on the length of your stay, you might consider the split stay. My three children and I stayed at AKV the last 3 nights of our 2 week trip in June, and we loved it. The animals are great, and they have a lot of activities for the children. The only thing that you may miss is the feel of the parks. At BCV, you are close to HS and EPCOT and can even see portions of them from the resort. Also, there is the character breakfast at BCV. I don't believe you will see characters at AKV (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and you feel totally removed from the theme park atmosphere. My children are older now (15, 11, and 10 on our last trip), so this was okay for them. Just some things to consider - I know I would do a split stay because we can never agree on one place! We usually end up at three resorts for the two weeks. As far as you medical condition, be sure to reference that in your reservation request to get a room near the lobby. Have fun planning .

 

[daisyduck123]

How about a split stay between the two?

That's what we just did this past summer (1 nights at AKV...that wasn't enough, and 9 nights at BCV) & will do again next summer. We're planning on 2 nights at AKV & 8 nights at BCV next July.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

AKV has some fun daily activities for kids, and the animals are a real plus. BCV also has many activities, though most take place at the pool area, but the nightly movies on the beach was a hit this summer.

There are also some pirate cruises for kids 4-10 that your son might like. There's one at Beach Club and another good one at Grand Floridian (about $30, includes lunch and loot).

We've done split stays more than a few times and really enjoyed them, but not everybody does. You can't go wrong with either resort, IMO.

 

[hakepb]

Lightening McQueen has regular appearances in DHS.
In July there was "only" a cardboard Wall-e in the animator's show at DHS

 

[gamamalovesdisney]

What about staying at BCV and going over to AKL for lunch or dinner and walking around to see the animals?

Even though I love the atmosphere of AK, it really is a long walk back to your room and you have to take a bus to all the parks. The animals are great, but how long are you really going to stay on your balcony to watch them with a 3year old?

I have 4 and 5 year old boys and they would love BCV because of the pool, beach, and movies on the beach. You also a short boat ride over to DHS (where a lifesize lightning mcqueen and mater are on display toward the back. I though my 4 years old's eyes were going to pop out when he saw them!) and Epcot.

 

[its.me.heather]

Thanks everyone!!! I'm considering a split stay but really not into moving all of our stuff and setting it all up again at a new room. That could take half a day itself.
I'm really leaning twards staying at BCV again and just spending a day or two over at AK ( we've never even been to the park at all ). After talking with everyone about what to do and where to stay the family agrees we all want to be able to see the fireworks and have short trips to parks to be able to utilize our park hopper passes in an EASY way Plus epcot, MGM, and BCV all have great character meals... my kids are way into that and we do one a day our whole trip.

I appreciate the help. I'd love to hear more responses because the more information you have the better!

Now..... if only we were going THIS November instead of next LOL

Heather

 

[farrell.johnt]

You can often meet Peter Pan and Capt Hook outside the Pirates ride in MK

 

[drusba]

Some other thoughts on AKV:

1. You cannot get a first floor room. The DVC villas are on the 5th and 6th floors of Jambo; the hotel rooms start on the second floor; when Kidani is finished, DVC rooms will start on the second floor. They purposefully have no rooms at the ground, 1st floor level because the animals are fairly close to the building. Other than designated outside viewing areas and the pool area, there are no exits from the building except in the front/lobby area. Porches are larger than you find at BCV.

2. Depending on room the walk to and from the lobby area can be quite long (akin and even somewhat longer than the one at BWV. They have elavators at Jambo just off the lobby and then also about half way down each long wing. Restaurants, store, main animal outside viewing area and pool area are all near the lobby area.

3. Pool is very good, a slide but not a huge one. It has a zero level entry area-- you just walk in where the water is only toe deep and then it gets deeper as you walk out. Many trees and bushes so that you can even find secluded areas.

4. Bus service is good, you do not stop at any other resort so direct shot to everywhere.

5. Though there are no character meals, restaurants are very good and there is a fast-food cafeteria style place besides the two main retaurants (Boma, which is buffet style, and Jiko which is more elegant and more expensive).

6. AKV is isolated. It is purposefully designed to be that way to give the sense that you are not in Florida but on some savanna. It carries that theme well. You really cannot compare AKV with BCV because they are really entirely different.

 

[edk35]

Some other thoughts on AKV:

1. You cannot get a first floor room. The DVC villas are on the 5th and 6th floors of Jambo; the hotel rooms start on the second floor; when Kidani is finished, DVC rooms will start on the second floor. They purposefully have no rooms at the ground, 1st floor level because the animals are fairly close to the building. Other than designated outside viewing areas and the pool area, there are no exits from the building except in the front/lobby area. Porches are larger than you find at BCV.

2. Depending on room the walk to and from the lobby area can be quite long (akin and even somewhat longer than the one at BWV. They have elavators at Jambo just off the lobby and then also about half way down each long wing. Restaurants, store, main animal outside viewing area and pool area are all near the lobby area.

3. Pool is very good, a slide but not a huge one. It has a zero level entry area-- you just walk in where the water is only toe deep and then it gets deeper as you walk out. Many trees and bushes so that you can even find secluded areas.

4. Bus service is good, you do not stop at any other resort so direct shot to everywhere.

5. Though there are no character meals, restaurants are very good and there is a fast-food cafeteria style place besides the two main retaurants (Boma, which is buffet style, and Jiko which is more elegant and more expensive).

6. AKV is isolated. It is purposefully designed to be that way to give the sense that you are not in Florida but on some savanna. It carries that theme well. You really cannot compare AKV with BCV because they are really entirely different.

What a nice comparison. Thanks so much for this. I appreciate it because I am in a quandry about BCV and AKV too for next summer. Thanks again. :

 

[edk35]

Some other thoughts on AKV:

1. You cannot get a first floor room. The DVC villas are on the 5th and 6th floors of Jambo; the hotel rooms start on the second floor; when Kidani is finished, DVC rooms will start on the second floor. They purposefully have no rooms at the ground, 1st floor level because the animals are fairly close to the building. Other than designated outside viewing areas and the pool area, there are no exits from the building except in the front/lobby area. Porches are larger than you find at BCV.

2. Depending on room the walk to and from the lobby area can be quite long (akin and even somewhat longer than the one at BWV. They have elavators at Jambo just off the lobby and then also about half way down each long wing. Restaurants, store, main animal outside viewing area and pool area are all near the lobby area.

3. Pool is very good, a slide but not a huge one. It has a zero level entry area-- you just walk in where the water is only toe deep and then it gets deeper as you walk out. Many trees and bushes so that you can even find secluded areas.

4. Bus service is good, you do not stop at any other resort so direct shot to everywhere.

5. Though there are no character meals, restaurants are very good and there is a fast-food cafeteria style place besides the two main retaurants (Boma, which is buffet style, and Jiko which is more elegant and more expensive).

6. AKV is isolated. It is purposefully designed to be that way to give the sense that you are not in Florida but on some savanna. It carries that theme well. You really cannot compare AKV with BCV because they are really entirely different.

This sounds like a good place to spend a few days and never HIT A PARK. Hmmmm you have gotten the wheels turning again for me.