Does BWV have the same relaxing feel as WL?

[sazzifrazz]

I recently stayed at WL (resort not villas) and fell in love. It just felt so calm and relaxing. It never felt crowded or caotic. We are planning our next trip and will need to rent points for 2 studios. We are thinking BWV would be a good location for my mom since she will be using an ECV. I would love to stay at WL again but I think transportation with an ECV will be a hassle. At least at BWV she can drive her scooter to epcot and drive it right on the boat for DHS. Busses are the bigger problem.

 

[Pirate Granny]

HS is a closer walk then EPCOT, and she can go thru EPCOT and take the monorail to MK...they are pretty ECV easy!

 

[gatordoc]

We own at both. I really think it depends on what's most important to you. Having stayed at all the DVC resorts, I don't find any to be as peaceful and relaxing as VWL. Some of the far-flung locations at OKW or SSR might be, but they're less convenient as far as getting around IMO. BWV, on the other hand, is a bustling, busy resort. There always seem to be lots of people around, and lots of activity. As was mentioned, it's hard to beat for transportation convenience, but again, it depends whether that's your priority v. peace and quiet. That said, we love them both, but for very different reasons (and at different times of the year).

 

[jekjones1558]

DH uses an ECV and loves BWV for the very reason you mention--he can scoot to 2 parks. Some rooms, like those overlooking the quiet pool, are fairly peaceful. But we actually love BWV for the BW view rooms, which have balconies to watch all the activity, like boats and street performers and fireworks. Maybe someone who is an expert on BCV will post here. I think you would have a more secluded feel at BCV and you would still have easy access to 2 parks.

 

[gojoe]

First, I've never stayed at Wilderness Lodge. I think Boardwalk is both relaxing and chaotic all at once. We try to get a Boardwalk view and I love to start my day on my balcony watching the sun rise. I also love to just stroll the boardwalk in the evening taking in a boardwalk performer of 2. Grab a snack and people watch. Then to end the night back on balcony watching Illuminations, the Friendship boats sounding their horns, people enjoying the activities on the boardwalk is oh so relaxing. Something always seems to be happening so thats the chaos.

 

[TSMMANIAC]

I always stay at the BW for convience, but my favorite resort for the relaxing ambience is VWL. It's a tough choice but with easy access to two parks I would choose BWV for this trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I recently stayed at WL (resort not villas) and fell in love. It just felt so calm and relaxing. It never felt crowded or caotic. We are planning our next trip and will need to rent points for 2 studios. We are thinking BWV would be a good location for my mom since she will be using an ECV. I would love to stay at WL again but I think transportation with an ECV will be a hassle. At least at BWV she can drive her scooter to epcot and drive it right on the boat for DHS. Busses are the bigger problem.

I think BCV is quieter and more relaxing than BWV. BWV is just a little to close to the action for me.

 

[Sammie]

No I don't think it does. I would never describe BWV as calm and relaxing.

 

[dvcterry]

SSR yes, that would be relaxing. Old Key, another fave, relaxing. VWL, yes. But BWV wouldn't fit my description of relaxing. Don't get me wrong, I like BWV for many reasons, but I wouldn't book it if I wanted a relaxing resort.

 

[sazzifrazz]

One of my favorite things about WL was that it seemed very un-busy. I would have guessed it was a dead-time of year but they were actually close to full the weekend we were there. Does BWV have a busy feeling?

 

[Deb & Bill]

One of my favorite things about WL was that it seemed very un-busy. I would have guessed it was a dead-time of year but they were actually close to full the weekend we were there. Does BWV have a busy feeling?

All the time.

 

[dvcterry]

One of my favorite things about WL was that it seemed very un-busy. I would have guessed it was a dead-time of year but they were actually close to full the weekend we were there. Does BWV have a busy feeling?

I closed my balcony door to keep the noise level down so I could rest, I had a terrible headache. A marching band marched along the boardwalk. Not very restful.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

One of my favorite things about WL was that it seemed very un-busy. I would have guessed it was a dead-time of year but they were actually close to full the weekend we were there. Does BWV have a busy feeling?

Yes. I would not say that it is similar to VWL in that respect. Like was mentioned there are quieter areas and busier areas at BWV but that ambiance is still very different from VWL.

 

[lbv7]

I think BCV is quieter and more relaxing than BWV. BWV is just a little to close to the action for me.

If you like to spend a lot of time at the pool, Stormalong Bay at BC/BCV is the loudest, most confusing, and most crowded of any of the pools on WDW property. In addition the lobby at the BC is a zoo at night, with everyone going to Cape May. Staying at BCV is anything but quiet and relaxing.

All the time.

Not true. The Boardwalk itself is pretty quiet and crowd free in the morning, and into the late afternoon.
The whole theme of the resort is "Boardwalked" based, and to not expect there to be "action" there at night just doesn't make sense.
In fact the majority of guests walking on the Boardwalk are either offsite guests, other WDW guests visiting the property, or people going to eat at the 4 restaurants located there.

What I don't find relaxing is driving into the WL at night.
The turn from World Drive into the WL at night (up to the guard shack) is in complete darkness, with no lights at all. Sort of gives me the creeps. In fact I bet that the "scary clown pool" at the BW would be scared driving into the pitch black entrance of the WL at night.

 

[sazzifrazz]

Hmmm, I guess we need to decide if ease of getting to parks for my mom trumps an over-all relaxing environment. I think it does.

 

[crisi]

Of all the DVC resorts BWV probably feels most like being in a town. There is just a lot of noise at that resort. Noise from the Boardwalk, noise from Epcot itself (the fireworks). There aren't a lot of "quiet garden" type of views - lakes and/or trees like you get at VWL - you are looking at walkways and pools for the most part. There are a few spots that are better than others for relaxing (over the croquet lawn is another potential spot) but IME the staff at BW is horrible at meeting requests. And I agree with Deb "all the time," when the Boardwalk is quiet, Luna park is loud, when Luna park quiets down, the Boardwalk heats up, by the time that quiets down, I'm asleep, and by the time I wake up, there is the rattle of cleaning carts along the Boardwalk getting ready for the day - although unlike Deb, I love the resort, but then, if I'm going to New Orleans, I want to be near Bourbon Street, and if I'm in San Francisco, I want to stay near the wharf. And if I want a cabin in the woods, I want no one within a mile and that too is a very nice vacation.

However, it is very convenient since you can scoot to two parks without bothering with the bus - and if you don't mind getting to MK late, you can take the monorail back and forth (but Epcot needs to be open for you to get through).

BCV does feel a little quieter - although we had the coveted "Epcot View" aka "the road view" and had the sound of trucks and a view of the road behind BCV all vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you like to spend a lot of time at the pool, Stormalong Bay at BC/BCV is the loudest, most confusing, and most crowded of any of the pools on WDW property. In addition the lobby at the BC is a zoo at night, with everyone going to Cape May. Staying at BCV is anything but quiet and relaxing.....

Not BC. Agree that BC can be noisy, especially Stormalong Bay. But the Villas are very quiet since they are back behind the BC. Plus the Dunes Cove pool at BCV is very quiet.

With BWV, the main themed pool for the BW complex is right outside the preferred view villas - plus all the noise. And the BW view villas have all the noise all night long.

Hmmm, I guess we need to decide if ease of getting to parks for my mom trumps an over-all relaxing environment. I think it does.

Getting to Epcot from BCV is very easy and quick. Take the walkway around the BC closest to Epcot and it's easy. And you could get a boat to DHS from Epcot almost as easy as getting from the YC boat dock.

although unlike Deb, I love the resort, but then, if I'm going to New Orleans, I want to be near Bourbon Street, and if I'm in San Francisco, I want to stay near the wharf. And if I want a cabin in the woods, I want no one within a mile and that too is a very nice vacation.

Yeah, that's why we took a trip to Arkansas earlier this summer with no cell service, very little TV availability and we loved it. It's what we didn't like about BLT (inside the circle) a few weeks ago. All the noise all day long from the pool area and the darned water parade each night at 10. For NOLA, I'd prefer the Magazine District or Poydras rather than Bourbon. Quieter, yet still not too far from the fun of the French Quarter - but I'm not a big fan of Bourbon Street anyway - too many drunks and other garbage.

 

[crisi]

Quieter, yet still not too far from the fun of the French Quarter - but I'm not a big fan of Bourbon Street anyway - too many drunks and other garbage.

New Orleans and Las Vegas are for drunks, garbage and inappropriate behavior . Its the charm....

 

[Deb & Bill]

New Orleans and Las Vegas are for drunks, garbage and inappropriate behavior . Its the charm....

Oh, my goodness. You miss all the history.

 

[keishashadow]

I recently stayed at WL (resort not villas) and fell in love. It just felt so calm and relaxing. It never felt crowded or caotic. We are planning our next trip and will need to rent points for 2 studios. We are thinking BWV would be a good location for my mom since she will be using an ECV. I would love to stay at WL again but I think transportation with an ECV will be a hassle. At least at BWV she can drive her scooter to epcot and drive it right on the boat for DHS. Busses are the bigger problem.

we own at both too but prefer WL for the theming and feeling of being removed from the bustle after busy day in the parks. That said, i need to book our October '13 trip tomorrow and keep going back and forth whether I want the convenience of the boat from MNSSHP or being able to walk to Epcot for F&Wand book the standard view to save points.

HS is a closer walk then EPCOT, and she can go thru EPCOT and take the monorail to MK...they are pretty ECV easy!

really?

I think BCV is quieter and more relaxing than BWV. BWV is just a little to close to the action for me.

We love BW but haven't stayed there in years. I always check at the 7 month window to see if BC is open...cannot resist the appeal of SAB. BCV seems to disburse the guests throughout the resort other than the Cape May bottleneck imo. Now that we typically travel kid-free, we tend to spend time at the pools in the mornings/early afternoon at whatever DVC we wind up booking and enjoy 'quiet time'.